QLFC Season 10 Round 4: Will you trust me, darling?
Main prompt: Hoping to make a few bucks, Spider-Man and frenemy the Human Torch head to California to star in a movie together. Unfortunately, it's a trap, and they have to stop bickering long enough to put the bad guys away. - The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #4 (1967)
Main prompt: A trap. Checked with mods that it's adequate to focus on trap.
Additional prompts:
1. [Emotion] disbelief
2. [Plot point] a wedding
3. [Dialogue] "Oh, I didn't realize you were going to be here."
Word: ~3000 words
Warning: Implied paedophile and paedophilia.
A/N: Thanks to Bellwhether2.0 and Plasticmoonandstars for beta reading.
Andromeda sat by herself, watching the people. She had seen Albus Dumbledore speaking to her parents and Abraxas Malfoy passing by Arthur Weasley without so much as a snide remark amongst the... uncommon interactions. People of opposite sides of the blood racism spectrum had maintained civility, and there was not a single case of petty shenanigan.
Andromeda smiled wryly. At least in this instance, these people knew to maintain propriety and respect for her sister's wedding. Perhaps, she owed an apology to her parents - they were right to invite indiscriminately. Everyone who was someone with remarkable wealth or reputation, or ideally both, was invited. Most of them were in attendance. Of course, very few would dare to miss a Black's wedding. It was a grand occasion, and one where prestige and fame overruled everything else if only to boost the fame of her bloodline.
As the people moved, she saw a familiar face. She saw his head shake, and he turned away. He had just left behind Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius' father and a very strong supporter of blood supremacy. When her eyes met his, a surprised grin stretched over his face. Immediately, he strode towards her.
"You're late, Antonin Dolohov, precious protégé of Filius Flitwick," Andromeda teased as she patted the seat beside her.
"Oh, I didn't realise you were going to be here," Antonin protested lightly as he smiled fondly. "Hello Princess."
"If not here, where would I be?" she asked with a roll of her eyes. Surely, even he knew that propriety demanded that she sat through the entire duration of her sister's wedding.
"Mingling with your guests. Someone as pretty as you shouldn't be a wallflower, especially not at her beloved sister's wedding," he answered softly as he shrugged and glanced at Bellatrix. Andromeda's eyes followed his gaze and watched her older sister socialise easily with the various groups of guests.
"Congratulations, Princess. Your mother must be thrilled."
Andromeda blinked and looked at the sea of people. As soon as she spotted her mother, she smiled wryly. "I'm sure she is. The Lestranges are pure and rich."
Dolohov nodded slowly. "It'll be your turn soon," he reminded softly and gently. "Who has she chosen for you?"
"There aren't many choices especially since Father has saved Lucius for Cissa," she sighed heavily as she watched her younger sister speaking coquettishly with Lucius.
Dolohov looked at her. He hated that forlorn look in her eyes as if she was forced to play a role she did not want. "They're a perfect pair," he drawled and nodded slowly. "Both of them have an equally inflated ego."
Andromeda blinked. She stared, slack-jawed at him. "That's my sister you're talking about!" she exclaimed as she hit his shoulder. He had some decency to pretend to be hurt.
"I call it as I see it," he muttered as he rubbed his shoulder.
"You're insufferable!" Andromeda laughed. She could not remember a time when she would not laugh in his company. Antonin was truly her best friend. He had always taken her misery away, and given his undivided attention to amuse her. It was how he came up with the nickname Princess. He complained that she was difficult and demanding, yet he had always protected her, defended her honour and shielded her from the scorns of society. It was unfortunate that her family did not like him, especially when he openly began hunting Death Eaters.
After all, Antonin had been the vigilante - uprooting their budding syndicates, subduing rioters, and sometimes murdering criminals. He had been a menace and a thorn to the Death Eaters, but he, alongside the Order of Phoenix, had also kept the roads and communities safe. He was all manners of ridiculous and brazen - he waltzed into a respectable event where half the guests regarded him as an enemy and wanted him dead, and the other half were wary of his death count and ruthlessness, and preferred him to be locked up. Despite everything, Andromeda felt safe and protected in his company.
"Thank you for attending my sister's wedding," she said earnestly as she looked into his twinkling eyes.
"I see you made it, Dark Knight of the Order." Andromeda froze as she looked down at the shadow that fell on her. She knew that voice, and she slowly raised her eyes to meet her father's cold, unfeeling eyes. A hand covered hers, and squeezed reassuringly before Antonin stood up and subtly stood between her and her father.
"Good evening, Mr Black," Antonin greeted calmly but Andromeda was not ignorant of the tension that ballooned in their small space. "Congratulations."
Her father nodded stiffly. "Do you rejoice in sending your fellow pure-bloods to Hades?" he asked curtly as he glared warningly.
"There were a few. Do you mean Tadius Nott?" Antonin asked calmly. Andromeda knew that look. Antonin was not even pretending or feigning innocence. If anything, he had already prepared plans to deal with the situation. "Surely, even you would kill the cradle robber who hunted little girls?"
Her father narrowed his eyes. "You mean to justify your murder?" he challenged sharply.
"It's not personal. I just don't like cradle robbers," Antonin denied easily as he shook his head. "Tadius Nott was, unfortunately, a pure-blood."
Her father pursed his lips. There was nothing else to be said on the matter because it was true. Antonin had killed criminals, regardless of their blood purity: pure-bloods, Muggles and everything in between. If they happened to cross his path and he decided he did not like them, he killed them accidentally in self-defence.
Her father turned his attention to her and asked, "Have you looked at the list of suitors?"
"No, I haven't, Father," she lied softly as she lowered her eyes and peeked at him from under her fringe.
"Bella is now wedded. Do not forget, yours will happen this spring," he warned.
Andromeda sighed heavily as soon as her father left them. She knew that her parents would make it happen, whether she chose someone or not. It was already a mercy that they allowed her a choice from their list of respectable suitors.
"Spring is in a little more than two months," Antonin said offhandedly as he returned to his seat and smiled wryly at her. "You're not impressed by the list."
"Father wants me to marry a Death Eater," she admitted with a resigned sniff. "It's all about prestige and power...and keeping the bloodline pure." For a while, they were enveloped in silence and she glanced at him. Worry coiled in her as she regarded his face. His eyes were fixed on her but she knew that look. He was determined. It was the look he made whenever he was backed into a corner, and he decided to stoop to whatever levels he needed to because he fully subscribed to the belief: the end always justified the means.
"Absolutely not, Antonin! You care nothing for their ideologies," Andromeda protested as she squeezed his hands. "Why'd you want to be branded for something that goes against your beliefs? You'd be trapped forever to serve him!"
"I won't let them trap you in a marriage you've no desire for," Antonin said softly. "I won't watch you live a life of misery just to please your family."
Andromeda hugged him tightly. She hid her face in his neck, sniffing his scent. She knew Antonin killed not because he liked it, but because he felt it needed to be done. He needed to be the iron fist of justice in a world where evil did as it liked and virtue had to be merciful. He was not merciful because mercy to him meant giving the criminals a chance at trial.
"Even if you're marked by You-know-who, there's no guarantee that Father will grant our marriage," she whispered softly. "He doesn't like you." She clung to that fact. She had to. It was the only factor that would stop him and his ideas because how could he ever hope to change her father's opinion of him? If he was convinced that he could not succeed because of her father's hatred, hopefully, he would not pursue the matter. At the end of the day, Antonin was loyal - extremely loyal - and he would do anything for those he cared for.
"He doesn't like me because I've killed Death Eaters," Antonin agreed calmly but Andromeda was not fooled. This was Antonin's calm before the storm. There was nothing calm about his plans. "He'll change his tune if I'm branded and switched sides."
Andromeda withdrew from his neck to stare into his eyes. The burning resolve in those eyes chilled her bones. If her father would not change his opinion, there was no reassurance or promise that Antonin would not accidentally erase him. There was truly no low that Antonin would not sink to. He was not the feared dark knight for nothing. "It would kill you to pretend to be a hater. You'll grow to hate yourself, and I cannot bear to see you suffer," she spoke softly, begging him through unspoken words to let it go. "You'll resent me for your suffering."
"Maybe," Antonin whispered as he leaned his head closer to hers so that his lips were brushing her ear, "but you'll be free, Princess."
Andromeda closed her eyes. Therein lied the crux of the matter and Antonin's main goal. He would do anything to free her from her situation. "Please Antonin, you won't be freeing me - just trapping yourself," she whispered as she turned her head to kiss his lips chastely.
One kiss became two and then three. "I've a mission tonight," he sighed against her lips as he rose to his feet and held a hand to pull her up.
Andromeda hugged him again. "Good night, Antonin. Please stay safe."
Antonin looked over her head and glared at the wedding attendants, before he glowered dangerously at Cygnus Black. There was an unspoken challenge, an unspoken threat between them. He squeezed Andromeda and whispered, "Good night, Princess. Wait a little longer for me, I'll take you away from here."
When they broke apart from the hug, Antonin did not look over his shoulder for one last lingering stare. Instead, he met the eyes of every Death Eater as he left the wedding. He knew they hated him and wanted him dead, but could not kill him because Voldemort wanted him. He also knew that by tonight, everyone in attendance knew she was his weakness. They would know that they possessed a new weapon to test his loyalty and honour.
Two months later, Antonin found himself sitting in the living room of the Black's household. He had been invited by Cygnus Black to discuss an urgent matter about Andromeda. Perhaps, Cygnus had finally understood that Antonin would switch sides if he was promised Andromeda's hand, or perhaps Antonin had annoyed the Death Eaters so much that they were springing a trap on him. Regardless, Antonin was prepared. If he was walking into a trap, he would definitely take a few of them with him to see Hades. There was absolutely no chance he was meeting Hades on his own.
"Dolohov."
"Good afternoon, Mr Black," Antonin greeted warmly as he smiled a little too cheerfully. "What would you like to discuss?"
"You still dare to feign ignorance?" Cygnus snarled as he grabbed a fistful of Antonin's coat. "Where have you hidden her?"
Antonin looked at the offending fist on his coat and roughly shoved Cygnus off him. "Have you been kept out of the loop?" he chuckled darkly and mirthlessly. "I've no time to hide anyone when I'm rescuing Carrows' victim-"
"Enough!" Cygnus interrupted with a hiss as he glared with undisguised hatred and fury. "We don't see eye to eye, but surely, you're not petty enough to involve her in our fight."
Antonin stared at him fiercely and unwaveringly. Such fierceness was to be expected of a wizard sought after by the Dark Lord, and a man daring enough to openly challenge the governing system of justice for a trial regardless of the crime, and snuffing the embers of revolution. A wildcard should be expected to be at least that dangerous.
"She has run away from home."
Cygnus' words echoed hollow in Antonin, who dropped unceremoniously into his seat. His heart pounded in his chest. Andromeda fled? No, impossible. Why would she? It had to be a trap by Cygnus to weaken him. Antonin's lips curled upwards. So, it had come to this. He should have expected that they would finally use the trump card to threaten and subdue him.
"If it's not you, who else would dare hide…" Cygnus' words trailed off when he noticed the feral grin. The young man did not believe him! Preposterous! "Kreacher!" Cygnus roared as a house elf appeared immediately by his side. "Give him her letter!"
When Antonin received the sealed envelope, he smiled a little at her handwriting. There was no doubt that Kreacher had been sworn to protect the letter to his dying breath. The letter was genuine and untampered with. Antonin opened the letter and read it mutely. His smile gradually faded as he read towards the end of the letter.
He was mistaken. This meeting was not a trap sprung by Cygnus. This was a genuine request for help. Andromeda had eloped! Antonin's fingers curled viciously around the edges of the letter as his heart hammered. His blood was roaring but his bones felt chilled. His breaths were harsh and heavy.
His mind could not understand because truly, what was there to understand? She fled because she believed it was the only way to protect both of them from an unfortunate fate…was she joking with him? Did she think he was too weak to keep her safe? He was drawing Voldemort's attention so that he could have a stronger position to negotiate for her safety. He drew everyone's attention so that they knew if she was hurt, they would suffer his wrath. Was that not enough deterrence?
As if that was not enough, she continued to joke about her elopement with a…muggleborn! How could a feeble muggleborn who was nothing more than a clergyman at the ministry and needed to be rescued from Mulciber, be more reassuring than him who was the menace to the Death Eaters? Easily said, Edward Tonks had nothing to hold above him! How could she choose a mere weakling that he himself had once saved over him? Nothing made sense, yet he could not deny the truth. This was Andromeda's letter to him. These were her words. This was her truth. Whether he could accept her words, that was not the question; she had stolen that choice when she disappeared without any consideration for him!
"She's eloped with Edward Tonks." Antonin's words came out breathlessly. These were not the words of an unfeeling apathetic man, but words from a man broken in spirit.
"Edward Tonks? The Mudblood you rescued from Mulciber?" Cygnus echoed derisively, before he released a roaring chortle that belied a dark amusement that even he had not expected. This was humiliation at its finest levels. What man could accept this sort of fate? To rescue someone who would steal away the love of your life, was a tragic poetry that not even the finest poet could envision. This was the scorned love that fanned the flames of vengeance; after all, there was the old adage: Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned.
Cygnus' laughter echoed through the Black household as Antonin sat wallowing in abject misery. What did it matter if he walked on or sat still? The world was laughing at him. Everyone would know he was the pure-blood who was snubbed in favour of a Mudblood. The fearsome wizard, who killed and baited for Voldemort's attention, was dismissed in favour of a weakling who was easily captured by a Death Eater. He was just a spurned lover. He was pathetic. He was worse than useless Mudbloods. How was any of this fair? How was any of this real?
The laughter and jeering would not stop. His ears were ringing. Antonin looked at Cygnus and he saw it for the first time. On Cygnus' face was pity, and amusement. How dare Cygnus pity him! Why should he be pitied? Was the world feeling sorrow for his misfortune? How dare they look down on him!
Antonin grabbed Cygnus by the neck in a swift, vicious move. For the first time, he saw fear in Cygnus' eyes. Good. The old man feared him. The pity had disappeared and all that was left was undisguised terror. The laughter had finally stopped. The silence was thick with fear. No one should pity him. No one had the right to mock him! "Tell her, she had better keep hidden until the end of time because I'll kill her and every Mudblood until I forget her existence," Antonin swore viciously.
That night, Antonin willingly accepted the Dark Mark from Voldemort. It would remind him of his promise and misfortune, and the reason he murdered indiscriminately. He would erase the existence of Mudbloods and all who dared to pity him. Let Cupid see the error of his ways for ending the love he should never have.
If she could not wait and trust him to protect her, if she would rather a pathetic man's protection than his, if she could not wait for him to free her… then, he would willingly allow Voldemort to tame him. He would serve the Dark Lord faithfully. He would be trusted by the Dark Lord and feared by his fellow Death Eaters. She would learn that his loyalty was never meant to be mocked, never meant to be doubted. If she wanted to hide, she could stay hidden to her heart's desire. He would still bequeath to her the mountain of corpses, and imprison her in an insufferable and inescapable prison of guilt.
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