Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, follows and favourites so far, as always! Apologies if I haven't gotten around to thanking you personally as I like to do.
Anyway, please do read, enjoy and leave a reveiw if you have a moment as I absoloutely love reading them!
The Purple Black
Nymphadora had not had an appetite for breakfast that morning. Instead, she sat on her silk sheets staring down at her old pair of black heeled boots as she fiddled with a loose thread of her black skirt. She had been up since five in the morning and (after realising that laying staring at the ceiling would not help her get back to her sleep) busied herself with getting dressed. Though her inability to sleep that day had not worked in her favour, for there were still some hours left before she was due to go to Hogwarts and her insides were still squirming with the anticipation of it all. She couldn't keep her mind from racing, her stomach from aching and the sheer feeling of excitement mixed with slight fear. She was almost grateful as she heard the gentle knock at her door after nearly an hour of sitting in silence.
"Dora?" Bellatrix smiled at the girl as she slipped into the room, closing the door behind her. "Why aren't you still asleep?"
"Probably the same reason you're not still asleep." Dora joked, letting herself smile slightly as her Aunt let out a small laugh.
"Yes, but I've never known you to get out of bed a minute before you've absolutely had to." Bella said, walking over to the girls dressing table. She fiddled with one of the small bottles of perfume on the table absentmindedly for a moment before she caught her nieces gaze in the mirror. She sat down on the small chair with a sigh, turning to face the girl. There was no way of hiding the fact that Bellatrix was full to the brim with excitement that morning, a permanent smile plastered on her lips bordering on a Cheshire cat grin. "Excited?"
"Well, I can tell you are." Dora couldn't help but smirk as her Aunt laughed. "But yes, I am excited . . . and nervous . . ."
"Why should you be nervous?" Bella raised an eyebrow, "You've already proven yourself more than capable of completing whatever task is put before you—and there is no Wormtail to hinder you this time."
"No, you have the pleasure of dealing with that dimwit." Dora rolled her eyes.
"He's infuriating. Why he gets the honour of such a sacrifice—I am his most loyal—" The smile on Bellatrix's lips faltered only for a moment as she discussed the man before she shook her head in disgust "Fool."
"He only requires the flesh of the servant it doesn't matter the loyalty." Dora shrugged, "Wormtail can afford to lose a hand because he's useless and—as you rightly said—a fool. Whereas, as much as I'm sure you would still be able to win a duel against any witch or wizard stupid enough to try to fight you no matter how many hands you have," Dora smirked as Bella let out a small laugh, "you are more important. Let the lesser servants do such a thing."
"Yes," Bella smirked, "he's already missing a finger, why not take the rest off?" Bella let out a small giggle that would have sent a chill down the spine of a lesser witch, though Dora merely smiled at her Aunt in amusement. Her excitement was starting to rub off on her as the elder witch jumped from her seat and went to sit on the bed next to her niece. She wrapped an arm around the girl, pulling her into herself. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks." Dora grinned, leaning her head on her Aunt's shoulder as she missed the smirk on her lips.
Unknown to Nymphadora, Bellatrix had long been well aware that the girl had a strong will to do anything to please her from a young age. Though as the raven-haired witch let herself lean her head on her nieces own she realised that these were no longer empty words of encouragement but the truth, she was proud of her. She bit her lip to stop herself laughing at it all as she thought how proud she was of herself for taking the half-blood child of her blood-traitor sister and turning her into such a loyal and powerful weapon for her master.
"Remember, Dora," Bella whispered as she stroked the girl's hair thoughtfully, "once you succeed in this task you will no doubt be accepted into the Dark Lord's inner circle." Bella let her spare hand gently take the girls left hand, tracing her nails delicately up to the currently bare space on Nymphadora's left arm. "You will be marked as his and serve only him beside myself—and Rodolphus . . . We will be unstoppable. All you have to do is succeed today and you will have what you and I have dreamed of for you for years."
It was this conversation that was running through Dora's mind on repeat as she waited, hidden within the branches of the maze (having to stop herself swearing every other minute when the branches tried to engulf her of their own accord forcing her to send a quick hex to stop them each time). She had gotten herself into the castle grounds just as she had planned, it was easy to go unhidden as an unknown student as the excitement of everyone coming to see the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament was like a fiery storm within the castle. No-one was paying attention to their fellow students, far too eager in taking bets or feverishly discussing who they thought would win and what the task itself would ultimately entail. It was so easy in fact, that Nymphadora had to laugh at it all. Though perhaps it was Barty's involvement that had made it so easy, the man was portraying such an obsessive determination in making the area as safe as possible in his little act that perhaps everyone had just left him to it.
Nevertheless she was sure that the hard part of her task was almost over with. She could hear the crowd already filled into the stadium cheering, chanting and generally bubbling over with excitement. The game had not yet begun, the four that were tasked with patrolling the edge of the maze were to do one walk around the place before the task was to start. A smirk came over her lips as 'Mad-Eye' approached her hiding spot, stopping as he felt Nymphadora's spell that she had placed to alert only him of her presence. The man looked around the area, as if deeply interested in the enchanted foliage though in truth his eyes met the witch in hiding. She couldn't help but smirk, excited to begin the task set before her in earnest.
"Alastor?" a man's voice called; a voice that Nymphadora recognised.
"Filius . . ." 'Alastor' mused, reaching out into the bushes as if inspecting the branches, though Dora narrowed her eyes at him as he instead placed a hand on her shoulder. He soon let go as the other man's footsteps became ever nearer, stepping back and nodding to where Nymphadora stood. "Are we sure this is safe? This bit of the maze doesn't look right."
"Well . . ." The man sighed, walking right in front of the girl then turning, it didn't take a moment for him to step forward and realise that what he was looking at was not a bush. He went for his wand but it was too late.
Dora groaned as the man was petrified and fell straight into her gut. "Did you have to do that?" Dora hissed, not yet moving from her hiding space as she put the man at her feet.
"Well, yes." Barty smirked, a look that seemed odd on the face of Mad-Eye Moody.
"And did it have to be him?" Dora hissed, "Couldn't get McGonagall?"
"You want the extra hassle of trying to catch Minerva off guard you be my guest." He grunted, "Now hurry up and morph into the man. Or can you not do it?"
"Of course I can do it." Dora hissed, she looked down at her old charms professor for a few moments before with a deep breath she screwed her eyes shut and concentrated.
"Dear Merlin, warn me if you're taking his clothes off—I don't want to see that." The Death Eater hissed, looking away as the girl leaned down to the man before he smirked, "Though tell me when you're getting changed."
"Piss off you pervert." Dora smirked, "I'm just taking his wand—ours aren't exactly similar. I'm transfiguring my robes." Dora did as she said, transfiguring her clothes to match his with her own wand before she pocketed it and picked the old man's up in turn. When she stepped out of the bushes Barty was still smirking down at her.
"You ought to keep your mouth shut," he said as he went to carry on with his initial patrol, he lowered his voice as Dora ran to catch up with him. "I know it's hard for you but you barely sound like Flitwick."
"I feel ridiculous." Dora rolled her eyes.
"You look ridiculous." Barty laughed, they could see the beginning of the maze now and he purposely slowed his walk, "Now look, they'll tell us to split up, but you pretend to split up then stick to me, understood?"
"I can look after myself you know." Dora sighed.
"Just do as I say—listen to orders."
Dora didn't say another word, she could see the main crowds now and the four champions were all waiting, their Headmasters and others by their side as they readied for the game to begin. Dora made sure to keep up the charade of Flitwick's personality as she mimicked his composure to as best as she could remember from her Hogwarts days. Though before she knew it it was time to go back to patrol the maze, she let "Mad-Eye" go ahead of her, pleased when he slowed down enough for her to catch up on her much shorter legs once they were out of sight.
The man smirked as he looked down at Nymphadora, his eyes flickering in the direction of where the champions would enter as the sound of the first canon notified them that Potter would be entering the maze. She watched him as his eye whizzed furiously around the maze until he caught the spot that gave him a clear view of Potter. Dora couldn't help but admit it was slightly strange to see a man with one eye barely visible as he turned to face her, the other natural eye looking right down at her.
". . . You look strange." Dora sighed.
"So do you, Filius." He smirked.
"I—" Dora bit her lip as she watched the man fling a curse through the maze. "What was that for?"
"We need to make sure Potter gets to the centre of the maze now, don't we?" he grunted, turning back to the maze as he kept his wand at the ready.
"So what did you do?" Dora asked curiously.
"I made sure he gets there." He rolled his natural eye.
"You know what I meant." Dora sighed, looking around to ensure that McGonagall or Hagrid was not approaching.
"I know." Barty smirked, "Now shush, I need to concentrate."
Nymphadora made sure to remain silent, though she couldn't help but begin to pace the area slightly, looking to her accomplice every few moments when he would shoot another spell through the boundaries of the maze. She was sure the silence was about to kill her when suddenly the man let out a triumphant yell and she jumped at the shock of it, almost falling over the back of her robes.
"He's gone." Barty laughed, "Idiot boy took the Cedric boy with him but it needn't matter, The Dark Lord will simply dispose of him."
"They both took the Portkey?" Dora breathed, unable to help but grin herself as the man nodded. "So the plan has worked?"
"Our plan has worked," Barty said, laughing again before he grabbed Dora in his excitement, kissing her head before he let her go with a laugh, "we won't need these disguises much longer, Nymphadora. Soon our Lord will rise, stronger than ever before." The man dropped his walking stick, ripping up his left sleeve and staring at the bare skin, "If only I could see it . . . See him call those who have betrayed him and forgotten him. Though I was still loyal—we are loyal. Me, Rodolphus, Bellatrix, you. We will be rewarded."
"Don't make me too happy," Dora laughed, "my hair may try to go pink and Flitwick with pink hair—though a funny sight—would be entirely out of character."
"I think it would suit him." Barty grinned.
"Maybe." Dora laughed, "But—"
"Oh!" Barty groaned as if pleasure was flowing through every last piece of him, leaning against the wall of the stadium as he closed his eyes and breathed, "He's called them. It is done."
"The Dark Lord has risen?" Dora asked, her eyes alive with excitement and awe as Barty nodded, "You're sure?"
"Nymphadora," Barty sighed, his eyes flickering open ever so slightly to look at the girl, "there is no mistaking the Dark Lord's call. It is as if every aspect of your very soul is screaming at you to join him, to serve him. In that moment you are one with him and you must answer."
"Aunt Bella once told me it burnt a bit . . ." Dora whispered, blushing slightly as Barty let out a huff of laughter at her words.
"It does." Barty shrugged, looking at the girl in earnest, "Though don't all the best things in life hurt, just a little bit?"
"I suppose . . ." Dora said, looking around them for a moment before frowning at the man, "What now?"
"Now, we wait." Barty grinned, "We must ensure that the boy cannot be saved."
"He's dead, isn't he?" Dora frowned, "Your mark—"
"The Dark Lord will not kill the boy without an audience." Barty snickered, "Not his style. People must see the boy who lived die a pitiful death at his hand."
"That sounds beautiful." Dora smirked.
"It is." Barty returned the smirk, he focused both of his eyes on the girl for a small moment before he gestured for the woman to join him leant against the wall of the stadium to which she obliged.
"Should we not leave?" Dora asked.
"No . . ." Barty shook his head, "We should wait, ensure that the boy does not return . . . we will wait a little longer, then think to leave."
"Will it not become harder?" Dora frowned, "When Dumbledore realises the boys are gone—"
"We can still play our parts if needs be." Mad-Eye shrugged, "We search the grounds, that will be the first thing that he'll get his little staff to do. When that happens, we make our exit."
"That seems risky . . ."
"What's life without a little risk?" Barty shrugged.
Dora was unsure. She had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach that if the boy did return it would not be as easy as Barty had said to simply leave the grounds. She cursed herself as she wondered why she had not thought of this part of the plan before, she had been so focused on ensuring that she fulfilled her task and helped Barty to deliver the boy that she had not spared a second's moment for their escape from the castle. Though she let herself trust in Barty, reassuring herself that the man had come this far in his task that he could be trusted. But wouldn't they search the maze first? Dora went to talk to Barty, though it was just at that moment that the crowd erupted in applause and Barty stood straight to attention, his eye going crazy as it searched the crowd through the maze.
"What is it?" Dora asked, straightening herself as she grabbed the man's arm, "Wait! Tell me what's happened!"
"He's back. He's injured . . . he's moving! He's alive! Clutching a body that is not his!" Barty breathed, his eyes wide before he gritted his teeth and glared at the girl as Dora gripped tighter onto his arm, "Let me go, Nymphadora. I will kill the boy myself."
"No!" Dora shook her head, suddenly sure that Barty was on the wrong path, "You can't!"
"I can and I will!" Barty growled, "I have a plan, Nymphadora, now let go!"
"Your plan flawed." Dora shook her head, now in a panic as she looked to the man pleadingly, "Potter knows he is back! He will warn them, he may know very well by now who you truly are or at least the fact that the cup was a portkey and you placed it there! This will alert Dumbledore of your true identity!"
"The Dark Lord needs him dead!" Barty hissed, pulling his arm away as he went to storm off but Nymphadora quickly ran in front of him.
"And what if The Dark Lord doesn't need him dead? What if the resurrection hasn't worked yet?"
"The Mark—"
"Has been going off all year!" Dora snapped, "It has been getting more and more powerful and who is to say that he was not able to call his followers simply because Potter was there? What if he wanted to make a show of his resurrection, prove to his followers that he could do such a thing and was unable to complete the task before the boy escaped?"
"Then we must get Potter and bring him to him." Barty hissed.
"With all of those people around him?" It was Dora's turn to laugh, "You think Dumbledore will allow you to kill Potter yourself? . . . He is The Dark Lord's the kill. Besides, is it not better for us to return to The Dark Lord to aid him than have both of us die trying to fulfil a task that is rightfully his and his alone?"
Barty glared at the girl furiously, an internal battle going on within his mind before clearly, the girl's judgement won. "If this is the wrong choice, it is your choice, understood?"
"Understood." Dora nodded.
Relief flooded her as the man grabbed her arm roughly, drawing his wand and storming to find a weak spot in the stands far from the crowd. Through the cries and swarm of worried voices, it was easy to see how Barty blowing a small hole in the back of the stands of the stadium went unnoticed. Dora struggled to keep up with his long strides as they slipped through the hole and made their escape, looking back constantly terrified that Dumbledore himself would soon be after them. It was only as they reached the safety of the forest that Dora let herself morph back to her usual self, transfiguring her robes as she was grateful to see that Barty's polyjuice potion was beginning to lose effect. They didn't speak as they made their way back to their master, though Dora could not help the screams of thought racing through her mind as she worried about the consequences of their decision to run.
So, I hope you enjoyed reading that as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please do leave me a review if you have a moment as they really do make me smile.
Thanks for reading!
The Purple Black