Chapter 10: Threats and Obedience

"Harry!" Iris squealed the instant he was off the Hogwarts Express. The train let out a hiss behind him, and though it was December, he did not feel a chill in the station.

His sister ran out of the crowd with her arms held out, coming straight for him. Harry set his trunk against the ground, held his own arms out, and caught her as she threw herself onto him.

"Harry!" she cried. "I missed you, I missed you so much…"

"I missed you too, Iris," Harry said, kissing the top of her head. He glanced at both sides; more and more students exiting the train were taking notice of them. They knew he was the Girl-Who-Lived's brother, and here was a girl that looked exactly like him, hugging him on the station. It did not take a genius to connect the dots.

They were watching with owlish eyes and reverent expressions. Some of the older students even took hesitant steps forward.

Harry looked at the crowd, and caught sight of Lucius. It was just him this time—Draco and Narcissa were nowhere to be found—and he seemed to have taken notice of the situation as well.

He caught Harry's look and walked a little forward.

"Iris," Harry said, putting his hand on her cheek to bring her face up. He kissed her hair again. "Let's go to Lucius, okay?"

She nodded. Judging from her expression, she wouldn't have objected if he told her they were going to the Himalayas. He looked at her neck and saw that she was wearing Slytherin's Locket, his birthday gift to her.

He took Iris's hand and picked up his trunk with the other, rolling it behind him. Someone from behind called: "Harry, is that your sister?"

He ignored them and took Iris to Lucius. She squeezed his hand and held his forearm with her other arm. She did not look ahead, only staring up at him with adoring eyes.

They met Lucius, and the man gave a friendly smile, holding his snake cane in a backhand grip. "Harry," he said. "Did you have a good semester?"

"Yes, it was wonderful. I'm top of first year."

Lucius's smile widened, and he nodded. "Good, good." He glanced up, quickly scanning the station. Harry looked over his shoulder as well, watching the students. A lot of them were speaking animatedly to their parents, gesturing towards Harry and Iris. The parents looked at them with amazement. Some of them seemed to scold their children for pointing, but they still glanced anyways.

The parents, however, also looked at Lucius, and their eyes became confused, even suspicious. Lucius sighed.

"Harry, we should leave," he said. "Let's forgo the floo. I can call Dobby for your trunk." Harry nodded, and Malfoy turned to his side and said, "Dobby."

The elf appeared with a crack, still wearing that dirty pillowcase. "Dobby," Lucius said, "take Harry's trunk back to the Manor."

Dobby nodded and disappeared with Harry's trunk. Malfoy held out his hand to Harry, and he took it. His sister took the man's other one, the one holding the cane. They were now holding hands in a circle. Lucius turned on the spot, and Harry was put into the tight tunnel of apparition, Platform 9¾ disappearing rapidly behind him.

When they appeared in the living room, Lucius let go of Harry and Iris's hands and began hanging his coat up. Harry stretched, let go of Iris's hand, and went over to an armchair. He sat down in it. He felt a bit tired; he didn't get much sleep, after all, sneaking around Hogwarts at night as he did.

He felt a sudden weight and opened his eyes to see Iris climbing onto his lap. She pulled one of his arms around her and settled back, looking pleased.

"Harry," Lucius said, setting his snake cane into a stand. "Will you be joining us for lunch? It's just in twenty minutes."

Harry nodded. Malfoy smiled, and left the living room.

A few minutes later, a blonde boy in a black suit came rushing in.

"Harry!" Draco said. "You're back! Father just told me." Draco came over and sat in a chair in front of Harry. He grinned at Iris, as if he'd expected her to be sitting on Harry. "How was Hogwarts?"

"Hogwarts was good," Harry said, smiling. "The classes are enjoyable."

Iris lifted her head from Harry's chest and gave Draco a flat look. Harry stroked her shoulder and she put her head back down, looking irritated.

Harry told Draco about Hogwarts, starting from his Sorting. The young Malfoy listened to the story with delight. The descriptions of everyone being surprised at Harry being sorted into Slytherin seemed to give him particular joy.

Lunch was bright and happy. Iris tried to sit in Harry's lap again, but he grabbed her forearm and firmly directed her to the chair beside his. She sat down with a pout, and scooted her chair over so it was touching Harry's. She held his arm as they sat.

Narcissa smiled and asked him how Hogwarts was. Harry told her, and both she and Lucius listened amiably. There was something off about the woman, however; her smiles looked a little forced, and occasionally worry would seep into her eyes before her mask of normalcy took back over.

Was it because she was worried about him? No, she seemed a little distracted for that. Whatever was on her mind, it was something else.

After lunch, Iris dragged him up to their room. As she closed the door behind them, something long and blue dropped out of their bed and slithered over to Harry.

"Massster has returned," Siril said. She was noticeably larger; Iris had taken good care of her pet.

"How are you, Siril?" Harry asked. "You look much better."

"I feel like a new being. Misstress takes such good care of me."

Iris scoffed. "I feed you too much. You'll become fat at this rate."

Siril gave an indignant hiss.

Iris pulled Harry to the bed, and he asked her if she was letting Siril out into the garden.

"Narcissa only lets me do it once a week," she said. "She gets very worried when she sees Siril."

Probably because she's afraid your snake will bite her son, Harry thought with amusement. They sat down on the bed. Siril slithered up on it, too; apparently, the snake was used to this.

"Harry, I missed you a lot," Iris said. "I missed you so much, and I… I…"

"You thought the world was ending," Harry said, smiling. "You worry far too much, Iris. I'm here, and everything's fine."

Except for the thing that snuck into the Chamber of Secrets. Except for my missing Diadem. Those things aren't fine. They aren't fine at all.

"Yeah…" Iris said. She sniffled.

"Do you want to take a nap? I'm feeling a little tired."

"Yes." His sister nodded eagerly.

They laid down. Iris snuggled into his side like she always did, and Harry closed his eyes, letting the curtain of sleep fall over him. He felt something cool and alive slide over his arm; when he opened his eyes a crack to see, he found Siril curling up on his right side.

He gave a soft chuckle. Iris on one side, a snake on the other. There was something vaguely amusing about that.

Harry slept. He needed the rest, because tonight, he would be staying up very late with Bella.

After he woke up from the nap, Harry headed to the library. Iris appeared a few minutes later, rubbing her eyes and glaring at him. They sat together and read books until suppertime.

When supper was done, they took Siril out to the garden, who hissed happily and slithered through the cool evening grass.

Bedtime came. Iris kissed Harry on the cheek and said goodnight. He smiled and said it back to her. What followed was an excruciating half hour where Iris tossed and turned. She couldn't sleep snuggled into his side, so she turned and asked Harry to hold her from behind. He did, and finally, after ten minutes of counting the Fibonacci sequence in his head to pass the time, his sister went to sleep.

Harry gently let go of her, and got out of bed. Iris did not rouse. He went to the door, not making a sound.

"Massster?"

Harry sighed and turned around, finding Siril slowly slithering over to him. "Masster, where are you going?" she asked.

"Where I go is not your concern, Siril."

The snake put her head a little back, as if surprised. "O-Of course, master. But misstress Iris will be disturbed if she wakes and finds you gone."

"She won't wake. Go back to the bed, Siril."

Siril looked at the bed, then back at him. "Very… very well, masster."

She turned to leave. "Siril," Harry said. The snake turned back around. He knelt down, putting his elbows on his knees. "You won't tell Iris about this, okay?"

She raised her head. "She is my misstress. I will tell her about anything she asks of me."

Harry smiled pleasantly. He put out a finger and stroked Siril's scales gently.

"If you tell Iris I left the bed, Siril, I'm going to hurt you very badly."

The snake went still.

"Is that understood?" Harry asked.

"Yes," came Siril's voice. It sounded small. "Yes, that is understood."

"Good. Now return to the bed and sleep."

The snake promptly turned and slithered back to the bed. Harry's smile faded to a flat look as he watched her. Then, he quietly opened the door, and stepped out into the hallway. The door made no noise as he closed it again.

Bellatrix's room was in much better shape than Voldemort had last seen. There was no longer a rank smell in the air, and it looked as if someone actually lived in it.

He closed the door behind him. He'd had to duck his head when he went through because of his other form's height.

Bella had been sitting on the bed, and she turned to the door when she heard the door open. Her face lit up.

"My lord!" She got off the bed and sped over to him. "My lord, you're back!"

"Yes, I am," Voldemort said. "And you look much better."

She did look far healthier. Her skin no longer looked pallid, her body was more filled out, and her wavy black hair looked like it would be the envy of many women.

Beauty had returned to her, as well. She did not resemble a dying anorexic any longer. She had fine looking curves, and her face was lovely. Much like her hair would catch a woman's eye, her body would easily catch a man's.

Her eyes, however, were not the same. They looked wider than normal, and seemed to be… jittering around in the sockets.

"I did what you said." Her voice was breathy, and she sounded eager to please him. "I rested and got better. I've been practicing magic too, my lord, using Cissy's wand."

"That's good. Why don't we sit down, and you can tell me everything."

Voldemort pulled a chair to her bed. Bella sat down in front of him, and told him about her recovery. Her eyes never once left his.

"After I was able to walk, I started going out into the hallway at night. Eventually, I was able to go all the way to the garden. I take walks there often. The air is refreshing."

"You do all this at night because…"

"Because Cissy doesn't want little Draco to see me," Bellatrix said, frowning. "'He's not ready to meet you yet,' she says."

I don't think anyone is ready to meet you, Bella, Voldemort thought.

"What about magic?" he asked. "When did you start practicing?"

"In November," Bella said. "Cissy gave me her wand and I practiced everything I could. Transfiguration, target practice, charms. My crucio is nearly back in full form."

"Okay," Voldemort said, nodding. He twined his fingers together and leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. Bella watched him eagerly. Her breathing was audible.

"Bella, will you tell me something?"

"Yes, my lord, anything."

"What did you do to Narcissa, Bella?"

Her smile fell off her face. Her gaze finally fell, and her eyes darted to the floor. She opened and closed her mouth several times.

"I loved her," she finally said in a quiet voice.

"Loved her."

"She's… she's my sister. I needed to love her, my lord. I needed to."

Voldemort leaned back and rubbed his chin. "She is a married woman, Bella," he said.

"She's my sister," Bellatrix said. She looked like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "We used to do it so much, my lord. She would always come to my bed at night, when we were younger. We loved each other so much."

He took a deep breath. "It is worrying her. She has a son and a husband, and if you do these things, it will cause unnecessary stress to her. You will stop."

Bella snapped her head to him. Her eyes were wide. "My lord. My lord, she's my sister. My baby sister."

"No." Voldemort shook his head. "I need Narcissa focused, and your actions are distracting her. No more."

Bella looked miserable. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it and dropped her head. Her shoulders sagged.

"Don't whine," Voldemort said, getting up from the chair. "Now, come with me. We have work to do."

She looked at him, still frowning. She moved to get up—very slowly. Voldemort felt a stab of annoyance. Every irritation came to him, then, playing like a line of circus performers: Severus being overly dramatic at Hogwarts, Siril hounding him when he left the room, the Diadem being gone from the cupboard, the rat who had snuck into the Chamber of Secrets—

He grabbed her throat in one hand and yanked her up from the bed, bringing her face up to his, forcing her to stand on her tiptoes. He squeezed, and Bella's eyes bulged. Her mouth opened in a soundless scream, and she grabbed his forearm helplessly.

"Bella," he said. "When I tell you to do something, you do it. I didn't bring you here so you could have a holiday at your sister's house."

Bella nodded rapidly. She looked terrified. Voldemort threw her back on the bed. She gasped for breath, clutching at her throat.

"Do you still have Narcissa's wand?" he asked.

Bella shook her head. Her hair was disheveled; it had fallen all over her face.

"We'll need to get you your own. Get up."

This time, Bella got up instantly. She looked at him meekly, holding her throat with one hand and brushing hair out of her face with the other.

They left the manor together. The hallways were deserted and dark; Voldemort's footsteps made no sound, and Bella stepped lightly. When they were outside, he took Bella's forearm, and they both disappeared with a crack.

The wandmaker's little shop was quaint. It almost looked like a house.

Voldemort went in, with Bella holding his arm. He had a dark suit on, with a black mask to hide his face. His hair looked remarkably like Harry Potter's, and his skin was inhumanly pale. He was wearing gloves to hide his hands.

The wandmaker, a tall older man with gray hair, gawked at them. Voldemort went up to the counter.

"Greetings, wandmaker. My lady here requires a wand—would you be so kind as to match her with one?"

Bella gave the wandmaker one of her crazy smiles. The wandmaker looked at the both of them, wide-eyed. He looked like a man cornered by murderers (which, technically speaking, he was).

"U-Uh… v-very well," he said.

He went under the counter and pulled out an armful of boxes. Behind his mask, Voldemort looked in disdain. They were clearly of lower quality. Bella would have to make do with whatever she could get here, though; Ollivander only made wands for people that came to his shop, and he would recognize Bellatrix Lestrange in a heartbeat.

Ten quiet minutes later, Bella had found a wand which seemed to work well enough with her. She transfigured the wandmaker's chair into a tea kettle, then a steel longsword. She shot spells towards a few figurines displayed near the entrance, and they all landed with pinpoint accuracy, shattering into pieces.

The wandmaker watched this with a dropped jaw. Voldemort was leaning with his elbow on the counter.

It would have to do.

He pulled out ten galleons from his pocket and set them on the counter. He slid them towards the wandmaker. "Thank you," he said.

Voldemort pulled out his own wand, and pointed it at the wandmaker. "Obliviate," he said.

"Bella," he called behind him while he was working, erasing the memories and planting false ones in their place. "Turn his chair back."

Bella scampered over, almost skipping like a little girl. She transfigured the longsword on the floor back into a chair, then waited next to Voldemort with her hands clasped behind her back. She was bouncing on her tiptoes and smiling widely.

When they returned to Malfoy Manor, Voldemort took Bella down to the dungeons. It was dark and quiet down there; besides Dobby, who cleaned the place regularly, no one came here.

They went to a large room with a low ceiling. There were pillars spaced throughout, and in the center was a large black cauldron. The water inside was bubbling.

Voldemort went to it, back in his usual dark robes, Bella following closely behind.

"My lord? Are we going to brew a potion?" she asked when they stopped in front of it.

"In a way," Voldemort said. "We will be brewing a concoction that you will step into, Bella, and when you come out of it, you will be different."

Bella was quiet. He saw her licking her lips.

"Different, my lord?"

Voldemort smiled at her. "We're going to make you an animagus, Bella," he said.

She blinked, then looked over to the cauldron. "Oh," she said, as if just understanding.

"It's going to be a long process—it will take a couple of weeks. We'll start tonight. Put your hand out over the cauldron, Bella."

Bella rubbed her hand on her dress, then brought her hand over the simmering cauldron. Voldemort took her forearm, and pointed it his wand at her palm. He used a severing charm to make a cut.

Beyond cocking her head a little, Bella did not react. Blood ran down her palm and began dripping into the cauldron, where it was lost in the sea of boiling water.

"We will do this every night," Voldemort said. "Don't go to bed until we do."

A pleased smile slowly appeared on Bella's face. "Yes, my lord," she breathed.

After the needed amount had dripped in, Voldemort took Bella's wrist and put her hand back down.

"That's all," he said, looking over the cauldron. "You can go to bed, Bella."

Bella did not move.

Voldemort inspected the brewing for a few minutes, waving his wand over the cauldron and uttering incantations. After he was done, he put his wand inside his robes and turned around. Bella was still standing there, looking at him, unblinking.

"Bella, I told you to go to bed."

"Yes. Yes, my lord." She nodded. "B-But… was I good?"

Voldemort raised his eyebrows. "'Good'?"

"Yes," she said, voice small. Her face was down, her dark eyes angled up to look at him. "Good."

Voldemort looked around the room, observing the pillars, the low ceiling.

"You were good," he said.

Her hesitant smile went wide. Her eyes lit up, and she took in a deep breath, as if she'd been holding it this entire time.

"Thank you. Thank you, my lord." She stepped closer, opening her mouth like she was about to say something else. Then she closed it.

She turned around and rushed out of the dungeon.

Voldemort watched her go, feeling slightly strange. He remembered this day's noon, when he'd disembarked the Hogwarts Express and Iris had come running to him. Her expression had been incredibly similar to the one Bella just had on. If you removed Bella's crazy look, turned her eyes green…

He shook his head. There was no point wasting time thinking about these things. He gave the cauldron one last look, then changed back into Harry Potter. Black smoke rose around him, and suddenly the low ceiling looked twice as high as he became shorter.

He went back up to his and Iris's room. The sun was almost up, but he could still get a few hours of sleep in.

What's wrong with her, Iris thought, watching Siril eat the mouse in her cage. Usually, her pet snake was very conversational, but this morning Siril was strangely quiet. When Iris asked her what was wrong, the snake replied, "Nothing, mistress."

Iris shrugged. Maybe she had bad sleeping posture, so her back hurts, she thought. This made her giggle.

She left the room, quickly making her way down to the dining hall. Harry was back, so Iris could finally eat breakfast with him again. Whatever had happened to Siril probably wasn't a big deal. Her snake would be back to normal soon enough.