Chapter 21: Tortured

Lily slowly rose from her place. Why was the room so dark? It didn't make sense. The last thing she remembered was going into new apartment. Then it clicked. A hand clapping over her mouth. A blindfold closing over her eyes. She remembered the tight pinch of Apportion and stumbling upon landing. Being pushed down the stairs. . . .then everything went blank. There were four stone walls and a stone floor. There was one faint light in the corner of the room that was farthest from her.

Slowly she stood up. Nothing appeared to be broken. She moved over to the light and saw a bared door. She made her way over to it and tried shaking it. It didn't budge. Lily sighed and lowered herself down the wall. I'm going to be here a while, she thought before lapsing into sleep.

Lily woke up to the sound of footsteps. Maybe it's James come to save me, she thought. The footsteps were coming closer and then the door swung open and a bright light shone in Lily's face. "Hello, Ms. Evans, it's nice to see you again," a voice said from behind the wand. Lily covered her face with her hands to keep the light from shining in her eyes.

The man grabbed her arm and pulled her up the stairs. Lily looked at the man next to her. He looked vaguely familiar. His hair was shaggy and falling in his face. It wasn't elegant likes Sirius'; it was more matted and smelled foul. Rodolphus Lestrange was still the same man he had been the last time Lily had seen him.

"Bella, dear, look who's awake," he called, cheerfully like he was a child who was about to get some kind of treat. Lily was pushed into a sitting room and forced onto her knees. A woman who was sitting in an armchair stood up.

"Well, mudblood, it's nice to see you could join us," Bellatrix Black sneered. "You see I was beginning to think that the fall down the stairs killed you. Unfortunate, really, it would have saved me the trouble of doing it. Well, at least I get to have a little fun."

The black haired beauty moved across the room quickly. "Dobby!" she screeched. "Where is that stupid elf?!"

A house-elf only about 3 feet tall appeared out of no where. He had large, tennis-ball-like green eyes, a pencil-like nose and long, bat-like pointed ears. "Yes, Mistress Bella?" he said, bowing low and shaking.

Bellatrix kicked him so that he fell over. "Leave him alone!" Lily shouted, trying to get up. She was pushed back down by Rodolphus Lestrange.

"Quiet, mudblood!" Bellatrix shouted, rounding on her.

"Now, Bella, we wouldn't want her to get killed so quickly," a man with silver hair said, stepping forward. Lucius Malfoy still had the selfrightous look on his face. His blue eyes bore into Lily. "You will serve your porpose. One way or another."

"Yes, but she might be more complable if we. . .loosen her tongue a bit," Bellatrix said, smiling evilly.

"Bella, don't," A tall, woman with blue eyes said. She pushed her blonde hair back and looked down her nose at Lily. Narcissa Black didn't look anything like her sister. She didn't act like Bellatrix either. Bellatrix was more outspoken than her, but their veiws on life were the same, nevertheless. "You know why we wanted her. She has a purpose. When she serves it, you can have your fun with her."

"Of course, you agree with Lucius," Bellatrix taunted. "Must we stop to think why."

"Bella, that's enough," Narcissa said firmly, like she was correcting a child.

"I don't mean to interrupt this lovely conversation, but why exactly did you want me?" Lily spat.

"Shut up, mudblood," Lucius said, hitting her across the cheek.

"Not so tough without Potter to protect you, are you?" Rodolphus laughed.

"I don't need James to protect me," Lily said indigantly. "I can do that myself!"

"Really?" Bellatrix asked. Lucius nodded and stepped back.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix shouted pointing her wand at Lily.

It felt like sharp knives were being stabbed into Lily's body over and over agian. She wondered how James had withstood this. Fately Lily thought she heard someone screaming then realized it was herself. She heard herself repeating one name over and over. "James!" She screamed. "James! James, please." The last part was a whispered plea. A plea for James to come and take her away from this pain.

Narcissa watched as Bellatrix tortured Lily. She had never been a fan of torturing people, but that didn't mean she liked mudbloods. She just thought that it was easier to get rid of them and be down with it. As she watched Lily scream out for Potter, something in her cold heart melted. "Alright, Bella, I think she's had enough," Narcissa said quietly.

"Enough?! This filthy creature doesn't deserve to live!" Bellatrix spat.

"While I agree, she needs to live if we want that information," Narcissa said calmly.

Bellatrix huffed. "Fine, house-elf, take her to the dungeons and leave her there. Give her food once a day."

"Yes, Mistress," Dobby squeaked and grabbed Lily quickly before Disapporating.

When Lily woke up, she was back in the dungeon she awoke in early. She remembered what Bellatrix did to her and shivered. She had seen the war first hand, but had only ever been tortured a few times. Evan when she was working for Dumbledore it hadn't been as bad as when Bellatrix had tortured her. She must really hate muggleborns, Lily thought.

She sat up and saw a plate of food laying next to her. She picked it up and ate slowly thinking. She wanted James here. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her telling her she was safe and that no one was going to hurt her ever again. She remembered the last words she said to him. James. . . . .I-I need sometime to think this out. How could she be so daft? She sighed and laid her head against the wall praying sleep would come.