Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga
Chapter 11
Warning: Graphic domestic violence.
Ron staggered, what was an unnatural off balance to his equilibrium now becoming his normality. "I hate that", he thought as he collected himself. Losing an arm had really knocked any sense of surefootedness he realised he'd always took for granted.
He'd side apparated alongside Mad-Eye and looking round, saw a small sign. 'Dunstone Hamlet, Dartmoor', there was a little symbol of swords and shields by the words. Looking round he indeed spotted the telltale signs of the old Saxon settlements they symbolised. Having been born and raised in Devon, he understood what to look out for.
Looking out down the valley, Ron held a hand over his eye, "Hey, are we close to Widecombe in the Moor?"
"You're staring at it" Mad-Eye growled, "the village is just under a mile away".
"I thought I recognised that church, I'm sure dad took me there once when I was younger".
Mad-Eye nodded, "that's right, came to see me, you were… seven I think".
Ron skipped a step to keep up, "known each other a while then?"
Mad-Eye turned them down a short trail, passing only a few grey stone cobbled houses. "Oh aye, a good while. I told you, good people your mum and dad, I never forget those who were good to me".
Ron was about to start asking, 'what that meant, how they met?' when Mad-Eye came to a holt, opening a garden gate. Ron stopped dead at the sight.
Mad-Eye might as well have not bothered opening the gate, it was already half hanging off. Within the boundary of the dilapidated stacked stone country walls, was a pigsty of a garden. In fact, Ron surmised he'd once owned a pig, or some farm animal due to the long since stained tub buried into the ground.
The cottage door looked as though a first year could breach it though why they'd want to he couldn't say. The place looked run down, devoid of any maintenance in at least twenty years.
"What the hell have I agreed to?", he whined internally.
Mad-Eye wrapped the but of his wand against the door in sequence and it slowly opened, juddering as it did. Wishing he knew how to Apparate, he considered just how much, he knew, that there was no way he was staying in a place like this. As far as he was concerned the Burrow was a visage of wealth and fine standing in comparison.
Inside was no better. The place was rank with a musty smell that seemed to rot his teeth. He prayed the man didn't own a cat because the smell of its piss was rife, but its body must have been decaying nearby. One room they passed seemed hoarder like, how he ever went in there was beyond Ron.
At the far end of the corridor Ron spotted the kitchen, visible through the door. He saw the piles of unclean plates and kitchenware stacked as high as he was tall. "Good god!" he thought desperately.
Mad-Eye entered a room to the left, before the kitchen. Entering Ron saw it was almost the opposite, bare beyond measure. Other than the sizable, uncleaned fireplace, there was a single torn and pathetic looking single seater couch, a side table and a wireless radio.
But as Ron stood, ready to heave in this filth he had a thought, and it rocked him. "This is his home; he lives like this. He's a bloody hero and an old man, and he lives like this!" A wave of pity struck at him and in that moment, he shamed himself.
"What do you think?" Mad-Eye nodded with pride, "couple of bachelors".
Ron nearly choked hearing this, but it didn't beat back the pity in his mind. "It's bloody nice Moody", he nodded trying to sound as sincere as he could.
Mad-Eye paused, his eyebrow raised at this. "Jeez lad I got you wrong, you have a great deal of decency in you don't ya'". Ron raised an eyebrow of his own in confusion. "It's a shit hole", Mad-Eye growled with a chuckle.
He limped to the fireplace and grabbed the poker, raising it in hand he tapped several bricks in the surrounding arch around the fire. There was a sound like giant lock's disengaging and Ron jumped back when he saw the whole fireplace sink into the ground, an iron grate sliding over the top.
Limping over the grate, Moody walked on through the fireplace, like passing through a veil or shadow, he was gone. "You coming or what, hurry though that grate will hit you in the arse if you're not quick".
Confusion reigning down on him, Ron followed. Passing through the veil and walking into a wide open, contrast of luxury. He was stood in the spacious Livingroom of a country home with a refined glory. Bright walls rose to meet the stained brown wooden beams that ran the length of the room. The fireplace, the only thing identical but gleamed clean, Iron and bronze polished to a reflective surface. There were multiple luxurious couches, tables with decanters and glasses waiting to pour. An old but cleaned wireless and small muggle television.
"What the…", Ron's mouth was open, but it was Mad-Eye's chuckling that got him. Annoyed he slammed his bag down and marched out of the room in disbelief. The sound of metal sliding on stone told him that whatever they'd stepped through, the grate and fireplace had moved back into position.
Storming about the house he saw every room was cleaned and maintained beyond anything he could imagine from the man. The kitchen was, "Woah", he thought, "the magic mum could work in here!" Then he looked out of the large window as it snatched his attention, "The fuck?" he breathed and ran outside. Walking backwards he saw the house was completely different. The place was a prim and proper white idyllic country cottage.
Walking round his jaw fell that bit more with each step. The sky an Ice blue and picturesque here, that's what caught his attention through the window. They weren't in Deven anymore, they just entered coming in out of a bright but dull grey, this was a winter wonderland. Walking more of the garden he came down a walkway to see it stretched out where it met a small lake.
"Bloody hell" he choked, "that bastard!"
Moody exited the cottage and was walking down to the water's edge where Ron stood. There was a small stream that cut through his land and opened into the vast body of water. The wild wetlands catching the attention of all manner of wildlife that lived there. A little slice of nature in what, opposite this, seemed to be a well-kept and maintained garden complete with furniture to sit and watch the wilding area that ran the boundaries of the property.
"Like it?" Mad-Eye asked gruffly.
"Amazing", Ron breathed, then he turned to him, losing his temper. "What the hell was that, you old bastard", Mad-Eye only laughed, "you git, I felt so awful for you, living like that".
"Oh, my heart bleeds, you big girl. Come on, the kettles boiled. Get to complete your first test, making a decent bru", Mad-Eye clapped his shoulder.
Ron was passing him his tea a few minutes later and sat opposite at the kitchen table. This was after his existential crisis where he'd made his first cup of tea since hospital. The act was easy enough at first, then when he came to hold the mug, intending to press the teabag into the side of the mug, straining it's flavour he had to sigh through the pain. "Of course", he moaned in his head, "how could I forget", and he had to find new way to struggle through the task, an hand short.
"So where are we?" he asked the older man.
"Buttermere in Cockermouth"
"Cockermouth! you're telling me were in the Lakes right now?" Ron said in disbelief.
"It's on the boarder of the Lake District yes, and before you ask, yes we really were in Deven five minutes ago".
"How, we didn't flu, and that wasn't a portkey…", Mad-Eye gave him a look and he felt the pressure of his eyes, a pressure to show his intelligence. He took a small moment to think, "Shiftgate Charm?" Mad-Eye smiled, "really, you Translocated your house? But isn't that…".
"Expensive", Moody nodded, "very good though, Hermione?"
"No actually I came across it one of the last times me and her had a fall out and she wouldn't help me with my homework. So how did you do all this".
"Well if you read up on it you tell me?"
Ron sighed, he wasn't in school right now, it was the holidays. "Well you can't just translocate one house you need two", Mad-Eye nodded as he went, "you sacrifice the one house, the Dartmoor one, and through it's value of magical transference you get to protect the object house, that's this one".
"Very close, good though", Mad-Eye raised his mug to him. "You're creating something stronger and more permanent than any kind of Fidelis Charm. The only way into the property is through the Dartmoor property. The only way into that property, is by permission of the owner. The door, that's to say the Fireplace, has traceless magic, so by all means, take a year to dig through the house, you'll not find it or the combination". He took another swig of his mug, "you have to enter there", he stressed again, "but you can exit this house here. And you can be transferred anywhere you like, instant portal. So, there's never an inconvenience, to me at least. Apparate to there, to get to here, exit here to get to… wherever the hell I want".
Ron felt as though he understood the reasoning, unsure if he should say it or not he crossed that bridge instantly. The two had already built a repour, they knew where they stood. "The kidnapping", Ron said evenly.
Mad-Eye nodded jutting his bottom jaw. "Put up the fight of a lifetime up on that hill didn't you", he said airily, Ron nodded in understanding, "still got you though, a boy. Imagine me, Ex-Auror, battle worn, pride myself on vigilance and swift justice and I failed. That humbled me boy, oh I can still go when I need to, but I'm no young man anymore. I had this place already, almost fully renovated as my winter home, then the idea came to me, Translocate the bastard".
"How did you do it?" Ron asked in awe, he had no judgement on the old man, there was no shame in relying on ultimate security after something like that.
"Dumbledore, he introduced me to the little Charms fellow at Hogwarts, bloody genius to watch him work. I was sad to see the life drain from the cottage; I'd lived in Dartmoor for forty years in that house". He growled fondly as he looked around, "but I can find no fault in the idea of living out the rest of my years in a place like this".
"It looks about as good as it gets to be fair, Christmas in a place like this will be something", Ron downed his tea, "so, where do you want me?" Ron stood shouldering his bag.
Mad-Eye cracked up laughing, it was heartily and unexpected, he started coughing as he regained composure. "Oh no my boy, you're not staying here, no no!"
…..
"Rolo!", heaved Pansy as she wretched again into the toilet.
The little elf appeared, instant concern on his face, "Miss, again Miss?"
"Rolo please, does anyone know I'm this sick, I can't take the worry".
"No Miss, you were clever with your requests, I have been able to say nothings. Rolo will defend Misses secret", he returned to holding her hair back, she appreciated it deeply.
"Do you have access to the family owls?" Pansy asked hopefully.
"I do miss, I has one that is only for house elf business, for Gringotts uses and such".
Pansy knew that was the case in some families. Like Rolo, Dotty had exclusive access to her families vaults so she could complete tasks like shopping with use of magical transaction, taking away the hassle of the Master and Mistresses need to be involved. For all their mistreatment, Elves were most trusted, it was unthinkable that an Elf could steal or swindle.
"Can you send a letter for me? I've written one, it's on my bed", he smiled but she stopped him, grabbing his arm. "No Rolo, this is not good, this is bad. I'm asking you to do something dangerous, they can't know".
Rolo patted her hand, "Rolo knows this miss, you cannot stop me helpings you. Like the door, it is already done, and done well, they will not know Miss".
"I'm dragging you into a dangerous game", she said sadly. Her head raised, eyes looking down when she felt light pressure on her stomach.
Rolo's hand was on her belly, large eyes focused on hers, "Misses life is not game. Rolo see's this".
"Getting choked up by a damn Elf", she thought with watery eyes.
The task of shaking off this nausea and cleaning herself was completed after a short time. Then as time progressed further, she guessed she was ready to see how influential her uncles had been, she allowed her hand to try the door. She was somewhat braver since the night before, hence the rebellious decision to write to her friends, desperate to be allowed a visitor. And that same bravery allowed her to try the handle and leave for the dining room whether or not she was summoned.
Her uncles had stayed for some time with her when they brought her to her room. The ground it into her that the subservience they were witnessing was to end and that such things like her locked doors and wand would not continue. The seemed correct, as her hand drew down the handle fully until it engaged, the door opening.
Feeling very nervous, just with walking a corridor she braved it all the same. She remembered how Rodolphus' words to Bellatrix, while entirely vulgar, were impactful to the extreme. Her face paling as she stopped mid stomp as though physically impacted by her spouse. And Lucious, he did not appear to hold the confidence to take on either of them let alone the two. No, right now, she didn't feel it, but she knew her chances for small victories had risen.
She had been alone for some time when Narcissa entered, visibly taken aback to see her would-be daughter-in-law sat so uninvited. She huffed but did little to hide the slightest up curl on her lips. Pansy stood, but it was visible to Narcissa's eye that her speed and diligence to their former teachings was not as there as it had been the day before.
As Pansy had risen, Narcissa made over to her, her swiftness making Pansy brace for impact for what she assumed would be punishment. But the only hand Narcissa raised to her was the back of her hand, caressing gently at her cheek.
"I'm glad your up child", she said softly, "please know that I did what I did as a duty to my own husband. But I kept you caged not to trap you but protect you. This is a house used by the darkest of wizards, even as one raised on the correct side, there was much I wished to shield you from".
Narcissa took a step forward, producing Pansy's wand holding it out to her. "I am sorry Pansy", she looked around quickly before going on in a whisper, "Lucius has wormed into Cornelious' favour for years, there's a ministry ward up that doesn't monitor the trace within the grounds. He wanted to give Draco an edge when out of school, the freedom to practice. He would not want me to disclose this, you understand?"
Pansy nodded, "thank you", accepted it, feeling a piece of herself returned, it vibrated at her touch. "I will continue to respect your house", this time as she bowed her head it was with an honesty and not a forced pantomime.
Pansy stilled as Narcissa's hand returned, Pansy's own hand joining Narcissa's as she continued to caress her cheek, Pansy noticed a pain in her eyes.
Narcissa continued in the silence they shared, then her voice lowered beyond that of her whispering. "I'm scared Pansy, for my son. What's happening with him and why do I feel as though I've been entertaining a girl betrothed to my son against her will, rather than a request of love as I was made to believe?"
Pansy felt another shift in power as Narcissa began to confess her true worries, echoing her true feelings and self to her. She felt the time to be honest was now. "Mrs… Narcissa, Draco is not well! he-…".
She stopped, her eyes drawn to the door, Narcissa's followed, and she straightened at the sight of her son.
"Here they are, the two most beautiful women in my life", Draco said, though his tone was hidden of any suggestion of friendliness, and yet to blank to any hint at being sinister.
Both women found they had stilled sharing a very knowing look between them both. Then Narcissa reverted to motherhood. "Darling, your awake, are you hungry?"
Draco stalked towards Pansy, "starving", he said as he passed his mother, "but food can't satisfy me". Stopping as he reached Pansy his hands took her waist, and he pushed his lips onto her. Pansy turned but they still found her neck where they remained for a nauseatingly painful moment.
Pansy gratefully reprieved, Narcissa spoke up, tutting her disproval. "Draco please, control your emotions".
Draco pulled back scowling and circled Pansy, his hands remaining around her waist as he held her from behind. "It's only a kiss mother", his chin lowering to her shoulder.
But Narcissa was fixed to the sight of Pansy's face, Draco blind to it. Narcissa's fears, continuously and increasingly being more and more confirmed with each passing day. The sight of the girl, so uncomfortable ate at her and fuelled her concerns.
"I said enough!" Narcissa's shout echoed through the room, striking at each of them.
"What's, this racket", came a deep voice from behind the door, where it remained open. Its frame being filled with the large frame of another.
"Uncle!" Pansy breathed; she went to move to him but was held fast.
Rabastan saw this and his eyes locked with Draco's, who's defiance was plastered to his face. His challenge ignored, Rabastan took one meaningful step closer, and Draco's hands instantly parted, releasing her. Pansy staggered, meaning to rush to him but controlled herself. Reaching her uncle she only meant to great him cordially, but his presence was tangible to her. A strength that she could feel like the foundations of the room they stood. And to that; she couldn't help but fold into his embrace, seeking that strength.
Pansy automatically stepped back as Narcissa walked over to him. Pansy recognised the formality of welcoming the man into her home, but there was a smile to her eyes now that seemed to alleviate the concern that had just been there. It spread to her lips as he closed the distance to her, her hand rising for him to take, he breathed a kiss to her knuckles. There was nothing in the act of course, other than an older form of manors from her uncle. But then she saw him go one further, leaning in and doing the same to her cheek.
Now Pansy saw the unmistakable flutter of her eyes as he did this, with a side note that saw him linger a second longer than necessary. Narcissa's eyes were sparkling as they parted.
"It's so good to see you", she breathed. Not counting the day before, she hadn't seen her younger brother-in-law by proxy, not since the days of his trial. Rodolphus had been with Bella to the Manor, but she was gifted no sign of the younger man.
"It's good to see you too", he smiled, seemingly forgetting Pansy and Draco existed. The moment stretched and Pansy felt a heat rise in her face as she felt an understanding that Draco's face, though annoyed, remained unenlightened. An arm wrapped her shoulders when he spoke again, remembering her finally. "I thought I'd join my niece for breakfast, and the lady of the house, if it were to her liking of course".
"Rolo!... set places for four at the dinner table", she said without shifting her gaze from his eyes. Draco began to march off, clearly not happy for the intrusion. "Not, so fast", she halted her son, it was with a tone which Pansy hadn't heard yet, absolute authority. As though her wandering mind remembered she was the parent in this story, "sit!"
Breakfast was a cordial affair with only Draco sulking, waiting until dismissed. Though Pansy too had remained silent through the affair, listening as she did to what became a rundown of things he'd missed while being away.
"Narcissa", the word came out with more difficulty than it had earlier, but no punishment came, se was rewarded with a smile from the woman.
"Yes Pansy?"
"Might I ask permission for a visit to the manor, from a friend?" She felt now was the time to capitalise on this blindsiding from her kin. "Uncle Rabastan said he was happy to arrange it for me if you gave your blessings", she lied. She felt the need to shrink under his gaze.
"Forgive me Pansy, it slipped my mind", he eyed her knowingly before turning back to Narcissa, "you wouldn't mind would you, Cissy".
"Who!" Draco demanded; he was ignored.
Narcissa faltered, "that might be difficult, it would depend on the matter of the guest", she said carefully.
"She's a member of the families, and she is… as we are", Pansy added as equally careful.
"Who?" again Draco whined for attention.
Rabastan's hand rested on his hosts, "come now Cissy, I could chaperone her to the estate, we could take tea as they spend an afternoon socialising".
Narcissa blushed furiously and Pansy's interest in this peaked. "If they are one of the families and a friend to you Pansy, my love, then you are welcome to invite them".
"Thank you, mother…", Pansy's eyes, like with Narcissa, widened with shock at her words. They had slipped out only as she had meant to thank her with feeling. "In law… to be", she bowed her head as her eye's welled. The slip had been an accident, the thought of her mother was raw in her mind still and Pansy's emotions equally as raw. The kindness Narcissa had shown her that morning had felt especially kind and meaningful. It had lulled her into a false sense of motherhood from the woman.
"You're very welcome dear", Narcissa said gently. It was only now that the girl's loss truly hit her, she had to fight an urge in her mothering instincts. Quite as oppositely, Draco's continued griping averted her attention, and she snapped at her son. "Oh Draco, if your done leave, I've had enough of your colic whines".
Rabastan stood, "might I take a walk with my niece", he asked with yet more grace than someone as intimidating as he should have. Pansy noticed the flash of disappointment on Narcissa's face, "I promise to seek you out before I leave", he assured her, gaining him a smile in response.
Pansy pulled off her cloak, shivering in the light snow as it fell. Rabastan had led her out only minutes ago, after she had returned with something fitting to wear in the bitter cold. A mild relief washed over her as she cast a warming charm. The use of magic, it coursing through her, channelled by the most precious pieces of wood soothed her after so long without it.
She sighed into the feeling, the mixture of the cloaks warmth making the bitter cold a light kiss on her prickled skin. She was glad she had the foresight to collect her gloves and scarf.
"So", Rabastan said without being so bothered by the cold, "would you care to tell me why I lied for you". Pansy paused, remembering that slightly damning detail. Pulling her wand she paused, recognising the twitch of his hand under his cloak. He chuckled as their eyes met, "sorry, bad habits of being a Death Eater".
"Sorry", she uttered, but he waved her off. Pulling her wand fully she effected the Incomunicados spell and saw his eyebrow arch. "It masks conversations when its impractical to erect a silencing charm".
He laughed, now getting the same gesture back, "sorry, I'm just pleasantly surprised how seamless your magic seems at your age, and that's only from two spells". His face fell sad as he led her slowly on their walk. "But that's to be expected when your mother is an especially gifted witch".
Again, they stopped and again turned to each other. "I'm sorry Pansy, I know you won't want the reminder. She was your mother after all, but she was also my sister, I miss her dearly. As I missed you while away in Azkaban".
"It's ok uncle", she tried to pat his arm, it felt strange reassuring one so strong looking, as though she was doing it to Ron. The thought of him made her tense, she missed him without question, her hand found her stomach. "Was mother so gifted? I mean, she was to me, but I wanted her love and attention so much I couldn't see past all her teachings, but she never actually did that much magic around me".
"Parisa loved you Pansy, more than anyone in her life, you were her gift", he started to stroke her arm, and she linked his as they walked. "I never enjoyed her parenting style if I'm to be honest, I always enjoyed you being a tear away toddler, Parisa wasn't one for sparing the rod. I pulled her on it once, but she assured me every moment with you was precious to her, but she wanted to raise you strong and independent. She always blamed me and Rol for that, said she wanted you to be as hard as we were".
Pansy's chest burned as she heard this, it meant so much to hear. "I always wondered, I always thought I wasn't enough, then when Paris was born, she was just so much happier…".
Yet again they stopped. It seemed that today, for the two, it most certainly wasn't about the destination, but the journey.
"She truly loved you; I was distraught when I heard of Paris' passing, it truly wounded me knowing how much she must hurt. But she was only so cold with you because of… to satisfy his need to control you both… that fuck!", he spat, then froze realising his actions.
"You mean my father don't you. Mother said you and uncle Rodolphus always hated him". She saw the frustration build in his face.
"Pansy, you need to understand-…".
"-Uncle, its fine. I hated him!" She winced as she said it, the engraved manners haunting her words, "I know I should never speak ill of the dead, or of my blood, but I hated the cunt!"
Rabastan blinked, his face twisted, something on the verge of his lips, but he only sighed. "You'll hear no complaints from me. But yes, he was, I had planned on murdering him myself not long after your birth, but Parisa assured me his treatment of her was only mild, and a one off…". Again, he paused, eying her.
"I'm well aware of what she went through uncle, she wasn't his only punching bag". She heard the creaking sound of his leather gloves as his hands balled into fists. She continued on, determined to pull him from his grief. "She spoke of you both often, she loved you without question. I remember visiting Azkaban, but no real details of the place, although I remember not being scared oddly".
Rabastan smiled as she spoke like this, this was the kind of thing he felt he'd missed out on in his life. "I regret losing so much time with you, I enjoyed being an uncle. You were such a quiet baby, but when I had you, I'd get you laughing and then that was it, you couldn't be stopped".
She smiled, she'd never been able to recall memories like this in her home, the novelty made her think to Ron and his family, the enjoyment they revelled in with their stories. Her stomach churned; her hand went to it. I wasn't unnoticed. "I have a memory of you, a proper one I mean, but I know I was really young". He smiled hearing this, "Christmas, Grandfather Ramacus and Grandma Sicilia's house. You and Uncle Ramacus was there and-…".
"…-Dad set the tree on fire when the Christmas pudding flew off the plate", Rabastan barked out laughing, "oh you were only just two, it was our last Christmas before the trial. Parisa refused to bring Arachnus, wise choice as Rol was planning on poisoning his wine. Gods that was a good day!"
"I miss Pa', and Ma' of course", She smiled at him weakly, "as I grew, Grandfather insisted I dropped formalities with him".
Rabastan smiled sadly, "he was a good man, and mother was very loving. Another source for Parisa's hardnosed parenting skills was father, he was so gentle with her, stern with us". The snow picked up, but it was still pleasant, Pansy realising just how enjoyable this was. "But yeah, very gentle with Parisa. He loved his niece, but I think he was always meant to accept her as the daughter he never got, I'm not surprised if his delicate affections passed to you. I'd never seen him as happy as the day you were born".
"They did, when they died it broke me. They were the only family I could just be myself with, just to be a child", Pansy paused, not wanting to press this if it happened to be as delicate as her own parents passing. "Pa' spoke of you often when I visited, he still loved you both even after the trial".
Rabastan remained quiet, but Pansy saw a flicker of surprise grace his features. "Did father speak much of Rodolphus to you?"
The question didn't seem to quite fit the run of the conversation, and she had to think. "He did", she nodded, "he spoke of you both, especially when you were younger. But looking back I feel like he did speak of uncle that bit more. Why do you ask?"
"You're as good as your mother ever was at avoiding the hard questions I see", Rabastan smirked, "so tell me, just when did I agree to arrange your friend to visit".
"I'm sorry", Pansy offered with a grimace, as her own question left her head. "But you don't need to do anything I already sent the letter", she winced as she let this slip.
Pansy was very aware in the moment with just how conflicted she was about the two men who barged into her life with solid threats to the very powerful family they were joined with. She'd grown up on stories of love and warmth from her mother, tales of arrogance and danger from her father. Then beyond them was the general fear that the rest of the families seemed to share when it came to the brothers. They were evil, callous, heartless murderers who believed in nothing but the cause.
And yet, they were her only family. Now thrusting into her life with what she could only see and feel as a genuine love. Something she'd only had from her Grandparents and her mother in moderation.
"And just how did you manage that without help", Rabastan quizzed, and for a moment there was a slither perhaps of what made him dangerous about his face. She found she didn't fear it, quite surprisingly she didn't fear him at all. She truly felt akin to the man.
"I… well, I just", she blanched.
"I'm waiting child. You forced my cooperation, now I demand yours".
"Please don't get him into trouble, I made him, he's been the only one kind to me", Pansy begged.
"Are you protecting the elf?" Rabastan asked incredulously.
"Please uncle, no, they'll beat him or worse…".
Rabastan grabbed her arm, staring down into her face. "It's like I only see my sister when I see you. Look at you, your beauty goes beneath the skin doesn't it, like hers".
"What?" Pansy said, face full of confusion.
"Your mother was uncommonly kind. In ways I doubt she showed you. Her best friend growing up was our house elf Oria, well, her and Rodolphus. I was more the annoying brother. You're like her in every way". Then his face hardened, "the Elf is the only one to be kind to you?"
Her mind somewhat struggling with this, as she pieced the many times, she found Dotty sat in her mother's room with her, she pulled back to his words. "Well, Narcissa was never nasty, I think her hands were tied. She tries to be warm when she can and she's even stopped Draco when he was…", again she tried to halt her words.
"When he was what?" Rabastan demanded. He stopped, and his eyes moving beyond her, it wasn't missed on Pansy who spun round.
Pansy turned to see Rodolphus, quite out of nowhere, stood imposingly over her. His muffled voice echoing through the spell she'd cast; he was unable to hear them. She dropped the ward.
"Just what has that little twat done to you exactly", Pansy's head tilted in curiosity, "I know how to lipread girl, and just who my brother would pull a face like that for".
"I thought you were waiting", Rabastan said irritated.
"Well, you took your bloody time didn't you", Rodolphus didn't take his eyes off Pansy, "so, what did he do?"
"It's nothing uncle honest…"
"I asked you a question!" his voice raised.
She should be terrified of him, but she wasn't. He wasn't as warm as Rabastan, he was colder, stoic and rougher around the edges. Physically that bit more intimidating, she just knew she should feel, but she wasn't. "What good would it do!" she snapped back.
"You are a child, girl, you are my blood, you will do as we expect of you. And right now, I expect you to do as your told and answer".
"As I'm told! As I'm fucking told!" Something strange came over her. She wasn't angry, she was relieved to see him here, happy even to see the anger in him at the idea of Draco doing something inappropriate. But that didn't stop a wave of injustice. "Where the hell were you! Or you!" she scolded both men. "I found my mother and that cunt dead, me, with my own eyes. I've been here suffering for God knows how long. I know I wasn't good enough to be given a clock, so I've had truly no idea. Two weeks? I know I've sat in a room with no windows, too devoid of life to eat, only living off water. I've sat waiting on the slow inevitability of being shackled to that psycho. The only relief being the steadily growing bravery of welcoming Death's embrace as I got steadily closer with a knife each night. Me, a child?"
Both men's faces hardened, wincing as they heard this.
Pansy took a step forward towards them both, unknowingly mirroring a habit of theirs, though her tiny frame all the less intimidating. "Perhaps I'm the child of that 'runt' as your wife seems to enjoy claiming, enduring her jokes to poison me and save her precious nephew. Where were you then, while I suffered, alone?"
"The Dark Lord sent us away, on business".
Her wrist flicked her wand, subconsciously taking care to ward the conversation just as her words spilled out. "Oh, the Dark Fucking Lord hey!"
"Watch it girl", Rodolphus warned.
"What, watch what I say about 'The Boss'? I'll gladly give my life for him, right as I go to scratch his eyes out for what he did", her head finally filling with anger as her deepest thoughts were finally bubbling to the surface. Dumbledore's depiction of Ron's memory's returning to her, the declaration that the Dark Lord was sending a message to Potter.
"I know I've given up on more than I care to admit because of that… I live here, in fear of the murders of those I love because I can't live with walking into another house and finding my heart ripped out, dead in front of me. I know this 'child' fought to save her lovers life on that fucking hilltop!"
Pansy's eye's flashed in terror, stepping back, it was all she could do to stop her hand reaching for her mouth, and not display her shock even further. "The fuck have I done!" she thought desperately as she looked between them both, knowing she was wrong. She was angry, and she'd let it consume her, not filtering her secrets.
"Your what!" Rabastan said in shock.
"I… no!" she stumbled; his face darkened as he glared at her. The threat in her eyes diminishing, she subconsciously rose quickly back up in challenge to her uncles. "That's not what I meant", she snarled, "besides, that's my fucking business". He blinked as he saw her hand twitch in moving to her stomach.
Rodolphus, for his part, remained placid in his viewing of her. But then a hand extended, stroking her cheek and she stilled at the shock. "It's like I'm eighteen", he breathed, "and she's chewing me out all over again".
"It's uncanny isn't it!" Rabastan said with a strained voice, though he couldn't pull away his hard gaze as he tried to read something about her.
"Why the fuck are you here girl", Rodolphus said as he came round, "how could you be so stupid".
"Me!" Pansy choked, "I didn't want this, he's the one who…"
"This is about Weasley isn't it", Rodolphus ground out.
"Rol!" Pansy heard the warning in Rabastan's voice, like her own mishaps it was too late to hide it. "You can't tell her anything", he added glancing between them both, knowing he'd messed up.
"She deserves to know, something".
Something new hit her now and while anger still traced her outline, a deep dread returned as she feared what was coming. "Why do I suddenly feel so angry at you right now", Pansy breathed as tears filled her eyes, "please don't, don't tell me this!"
"I was the one that guided you to him", Rodolphus said flatly.
"Bastard!" she cried, her hand swung, and her palm met his cheek. It was audible but fleeting.
Pansy recoiled as her own face was struck. Rodolphus' back hand was weak in comparison to what he could have given her. "You don't get a free one, not this time girl. I had no choice".
"There's always a choice", she hissed.
"Pansy, please", Rabastan's hand found her shoulder, she flinched away.
"Were you there?"
He hesitated but dropped his head, "No I wasn't, but Rol had no choice, if he hadn't, the Weasley boy would be dead".
"So, you were the one, the one just good enough to say a few kind words to him, sprinkle some shit on his arm that all but blinded him". Pansy's fury was only contained by her lack of options in where she could run to. "You fucking animal, you tore me apart with what you did".
"Pansy", Rodolphus' voice was so gentle now it stilled her with a mild shock. "The Dark Lord commanded it, it was only meant to be a warning but then Draco went to him, to ask for the honour himself. I don't know what he said but it was an order for death. It was only just before that he couldn't keep his mouth shut about you both, your relationship". He took a step towards her, "I really did try to save him".
"Your uncle's the one who argued to maim him to send a stronger message", Rabastan said gently.
"Otherwise, he'd have been killed while you both walked the cobbles hand in hand", Rodolphus rumbled, a hint of accusation in his voice.
"So, I should thank you, is the only takeaway I get from this", Pansy said somewhat calmer, her eyes drying as she rubbed them. "You were the one who grabbed him", the scene fitting into place in her mind, "the one he thumped" and her voice thrummed with pride.
His hand automatically found his jaw, "Strong fucker he was". He sighed, "I'm not asking for your forgiveness Pansy, I can't. I'm at peace with what I did, he's aligned himself to the front of this war, he knows the risks. Only so much younger than Rabastan when he joined the first time. And for my part I made sure he'd survive, as I said, 'I hoped he would'. I saw a young man fight like a demon to make sure you were safe, I repaid that debt, for what he did for you. But we cannot defy the Dark Lord".
"Then maybe you need to abandon me, because I will never align myself with him", Pansy's words were as defiant as her resolve could last. In that moment her mind went to her lover's body, the perfection that was, in her eyes, torn to pieces. The memory filled her with an undying rage that she'd never be rid of. "Never!"
"So, you came here why, if your so against him", Rabastan asked carefully.
"Draco", she answered honestly, "because of the threats he'd have Ronald finished off in the letter, the knife he pressed to my throat. Or the knife he held to Bulstrode's, his best friend, and I believed in every part of me in that moment he'd slit her throat".
Both men eyed each other, piercing eyes angered by this. "What letter".
"The one he left at Carpenters Nook, to make me think he'd killed mother and father".
"He did what?" Rodolphus said, his anger flashed through the vail of his self-control.
"It wasn't him", she shook her head in defeat, "not how mother was left, she… she was-…".
"We heard how she was found", Rabastan said bitterly, his eyes finding his brothers.
"Well, Draco doesn't have that kind of compassion in him, and why would he? He didn't know her", Pansy said flatly.
"So, then you came here", Rodolphus said sadly.
"I came here", she echoed. "And I'm led to believe that the Dark Lord supports the union now, correct?" She eyed Rabastan, "So, for all of the ten whole minutes that you've cheered me up, pretending we truly are kin, the last of our loving line. The truth is you can only delay this circus. Then I'm to be led to my bedchamber by a boy whose only interest is to 'stick a baby in me. And murder anything that comes out, until I give him his male heir'… yeah, that's what I thought".
She started to walk off, as she did, she was pulled from behind. Rodolphus' arms engulfed her, but she was too angry now, sickened by the pair of them. "I despise you", she whispered. Shrugging him off she turned to leave, stepping away.
Both men watched, anger faded from each of their eyes, leaving only pain. She stopped, her shoulders were shaking visibly, she was crying. Then her hands balled into tiny fists and she turned back, slowly stalking back to them.
"Was it him", she knew both men instantly understood the question, "was it Draco?" Rodolphus took a step opening his mouth but she only wanted an answer so she interrupted what she assumed would be him telling her he couldn't say. "Look I know it wasn't you; I couldn't watch it but Dumbledore gave me every detail of the memory he took from Ron, and I know your role in it now so I know it wasn't you. So, who was the shite you gave a bollocking to. It was Draco wasn't it!"
"Yes". It didn't come from Rodolphus but Rabastan now, both men scowled at each other.
Pansy understood now there was much she didn't know, but both men had varying ideas on how much she should be told, their faces seemed to say more than they wanted to.
"Pansy, you can't do anything abrupt-…", Rabastan turned to her.
"…-Yes uncle. But do you mean something like killing Draco or taking my own life?"
"Don't make jokes about that", Rodolphus growled.
"Who's fucking joking!" she shrieked stepping to him now. She looked at Rabastan, "yes Uncle, I have befriended the Elf, he's kind and about the one person loyal to me". She turned back to Rodolphus, "first week I was here he had to secretly clean the blood from my bed each morning as I got closer and closer to ending it all".
She could see the pain in his face now, both their faces. A sick gratification came over her as she knew this hurt them, but that was good, she wanted everyone to feel the hurt she had endured.
"I told myself I was just too numb to everything, the perfect slave following orders when let out of her little cage. Then at night I got to feel blood leak from ever more daring a cut. I told myself I was too strong to do it of course. But you know what? Every day, I got that bit more desperate, that little way further into the darkness of despair, and it was like the promise of air, if only I plunged it a little deeper".
"That's enough!" Rodolphus shouted, "you pack that in now!"
Rabastan stepped forward, concerned with the anger brewing in his brother.
"Oh, don't worry", She lost all concern now, they'd helped her figure out the truth of her situation, "I'm fucked", she thought, "so what do I care anymore!" She threw all caution out the window and smiled, it was a dead smile with no life behind her amber eyes. This showed further as she laughed almost manically.
"Pansy…" Rabastan said, "what is it? What do you mean?"
"It's fine uncle, I'm not really going to top myself, now I really couldn't do that".
"Why?" Rodolphus now had the same worry on his face as Rabastan.
"Because their going to do it for me, or you will, or the Boss… say, who do you think he'll get to do the job when he finds out?" She laughed again, but despite it all she had yet more tears in her eyes.
"Pansy!" Rabastan stepped forwards, taking her hands in his.
"I'm pregnant!" she wasn't sure if she'd laughed this, cried or screamed it at them. There faces looked as though she could have done either.
"Your lying" Rodolphus said darkly.
"Yep!"
"Pansy, stop it now", Rabastan's voice dropped to a pained plea.
"Well!" she cried, smiling through her tears, "no one can aske me to bed him and pretend its his at least. Not when it's going to come out with hair as red as it's dads. Well, at least it would but we all know I'll be murdered before then".
"No!" Rabastan roared, his arms clenching around Rodolphus' neck as he halted him mid lunge.
"How could you be so fucking stupid", the larger man roared, "do you know what you've done!"
"Rol… stop!" Rabastan did a good enough job of stopping him and holding him back, but soon Rodolphus overpowered him, shoving him away. He didn't rush at her again though, but he did bare down on her. Rabastan came behind her, arm over her protectively as he pulled his wand. "Don't!" he warned in finality.
"You…" Rodolphus finally dropped his head, shaking it as he turned his back on them. His arms interlocked behind his head as he took deep breaths. "You know what", he too now laughed as erratically as she did, "yeah… yeah you will likely be killed now".
"Rol!" Rabastan shouted with more shock than anger.
"Oh, you think not?" He got no reply and Rodolphus nodded, "that's what I thought. Well done girl… absolute fucking blinder". He walked away, head shaking as he did until the snow took his frame and Pansy knew he wasn't coming back.
"Oh Pansy…", Rabastan said quietly as he watched him go, "what have you done".
Pansy was sat heavily covered in snow some time later, she was sat silently on a white swing under the canopy of trees. She was sat just inside the small woodland she'd dreamed of the night she saw Death. She didn't know what time had passed but she figured both her uncles were long gone. Just like she figured there would be no more family moments. She was back to being alone, in her impossible predicament, impossible to escape from.
Pansy was made thoroughly aware that they'd both gone when a distant dark figure in the snow slowly came to be visible through the never-ending torrent of snowfall.
"Why you out here in this shite", Draco said irritated, "it's cold and miserable".
"Your cold and miserable", she thought as irritated as he looked. Her hand touched her stomach, nausea was looming. "What do you want Draco".
Immediately his face changed, the darkness in his eyes returned and he scowled. He rushed towards her, "How dare you talk to me like that!"
Pansy was up instantly, her wand drawn she held it with her own quickly darkening eyes. "Don't test me Draco, I've had enough".
Draco stilled, like a little volcano he ground his teeth, ready to blow. The whispering in his head growing louder and all the more blinding. "Put it down and beg for forgiveness and I won't punish you", he managed as he trembled.
Again, that callous recklessness returned to her, and she laughed, this time heartily. "Your pathetic, do you know that ickle Draco", she wagged her pinkie-finger at him, and it was enough.
Her wand drew back as quick as she could, ready to strike, but she hadn't taken the fact that he chosen to run straight into her as he did. He was so fast as he closed the distance, his shoulder striking her in the chest, she crumpled to the floor.
He bent low over her, his hand taking her wrist he squeezed it hard, then pinched the skin on her arm. Pansy instantly screamed, dropping her wand. Draco picked it up as she recoiled, clutching her arm. Her vision wobbled as her head jolted, his other hand slapped her face leaving a red mark.
"You will bend to me", he was snarling in her face now. Quicker than she could think he brought her wand to her eyeline in two hands and snapped it before her.
A second wave of nausea hit her as the pit of her stomach dropped out. Her insides lurched, feeling the pain of the wood snap and the core inside become visible, sparking as he pulled with all his might to rip the pieces in two. Without thought he tossed them into the woods before turning back to her, his hand grabbing her face, fingers digging into her jaw.
"Bend to my every fucking will!"
"Let go of her, be better", Draco shook his head, it wasn't his thoughts, it wasn't the whispering. He didn't understand what it was, but it came from within.
Pansy scrambled to stand, her eyes streaming with tears, her face bright red in the cold. He grabbed her head and twisted the bun her hair was in like he had days before. His other hand raised, poised ready to strike her again.
"Do it!" Pansy cried, the pain in her voice as audible as her defiance. "Do it Draco and make it a good one. Because I promise you, the day we wed I will stop at nothing to murder you in the most painful of ways… argh!"
She screamed again as her hair was pulled, strands ripping out. His eyes flashed at hers and she knew now they were no longer his, someone else was looking back at her through them.
Draco stopped, his hand inches from her face as the voice returned.
"She was your friend once, don't do this, be better. You can let her walk away, it's ok to feel pain"
Draco's face twisted as emotion after emotion battered him and eventually, he let go, falling to the floor with his hands over his temples. His voice trembling as he mumbled. He was aware enough that he heard the quick crunching of snow as she run off. He was less aware when her judgement crumbled in favour of the helpless curiosity that took her as she saw him fall, breaking down.
Not being stupid she kept her distance, saying his name quietly as she watched him. "Draco… you need help", she said as frightened as she'd truly become now.
"P…Pansy, g…get away from me", he warned as he trembled. The voice sat with him, and he tried to heed it's pleads, he tried to do better. But it was all too fleeting as his anger rose again. Thoughts of the girl he wanted to break, to meet his will with subservience as punishment for choosing a boy lesser than him.
He was on his feet far too quicker than she could have imagined were possible. But she was already going, trying to get purchase on the path she tried to make off as quickly as she could. She managed only ten feet before her hair was gripped from behind, her head being pulled back to look up at him. His eyes were truly lost, and now he truly terrified her.
In the heavy snow there was a mild echo of her screams, pleas for him to stop were met with more sharp loud strikes as his palm struck the side of her face repeatedly. The actions only served to further make him lose control as he watched her in his mind, clinging to the red head, holding him.
Too far from the house, with the snow thick now as it blocked their view, Pansy's screams went unheard. They weren't only screams of pain now but shouts for help as he dragged her bodily by the hair to the woods. Her eyes widened with fear as she watched his other hand freeing his belt and sliding it out of the eyeholes of his pants.
Draco pressed her into a tree, both now shrouded in darkness. To his left and right he saw the vision of something tall and dark. It rooted him on, cheering their appreciation for his actions. He knew he was just, in his actions it truly felt right. He pulled at her cloak, throwing it on the floor. Ripping at her dress, it tore at the shoulders, and he yanked it down, revealing her pale skin.
Helplessly her hand went to her breast, still covered by her plain bra. Draco saw this and sneered in disgust. "I won't touch you there", his spit hitting her as he spoke with such rage, "your tainted!" His head reared back, and he expelled a mouthful of spit, hitting her face. Her cries were pitiful, and she wilted, all fight leaving her.
"P…please Draco", she cried, "your… your so lost, let us help you!"
His hand gripped her face tightly. "I am awakened! And you, corrupted! I hate you". His eye's closed as he pressed his forehead to hers. "I will love you, only when your cleaned of your filth. You will see one day, I do this for you, for love".
But as he pulled back to look at her, she wept again as she saw only darkness in his eyes, the eyes of another. "Disgusting", he breathed.
She pleaded once more as he forced her to turn from him. He pressed her face into the bark of the tree. His hand gripping the belt tightly, looped now in his hands as father always had. Unable to fight off his grip she could only wait, straining to see anything through the sting of tears to her eyes.
"Ron", she thought desperately, "I'm so sorry… please save me from this my love!"
Leather striking flesh sounded, slapping into the air, it rang out with accompanying scream of pain. It became an audible on repeat, the sound of the strike, the cry, the pause.
Eventually he stepped back, Pansy sliding down to the floor where she lay broken. He was far enough in that he wasn't retreating now; he wasn't going to stop and start worrying for her. He'd 'learned her good', as father did the elves. She would be his soon and when she was, she'd come to him willingly.
Stepping over her he gave her a light kick in the back, she jolted as it touched one of the many welts that formed. "You're not hungry today", his voice was distant and calm, the trembling gone. "You stay in your room, and cover that shit up on your face". When she only whimpered, he kicked her again, harder this time. "Did you hear what I said".
"Yes", she moaned quietly.
"Yes Darling!" he gave her another.
"Yes Darling", she wept as he struck her again.
Pausing mid stride to walk off he squat down over her, grabbing her swollen face without care for how it felt. "I told you weeks ago, he's done! Your mine!" Only silence met his words, he wanted more than this though, "What?" his grip tightened.
"Yes… yes darling".
Picking up her cloak he threw it over her then stalked off, "Get to your room, unseen!"
A/N
Yet another unpleasant addition, this one somehow was easier to write at the end as it flowed so easily from the narrative that it meant I could disconnect. Once again I'll state, I derive no pleasure in this, I adore Pansy and her character, particularly her Blood and Bone self so no, I get nothing from this. I just have to keep telling myself it's the story, it's all for their story.
I think this was very mild in many ways, death. wounding, violence, domestic violence, their all very real presences in my life. Mostly through my job which is very difficult and impactful and stay with you. So this to me is light, I can get so much darker but when your around something like that so much, now the choice is mine, as the author, I keep stepping back. It's for the good of the story and the narrative but there's only so much pain I'm willing to put onto my characters. And as steadily dark as this got from Ethereal Awakening (Formally Silent Glances) It doesn't need to go that deep in it's treatments, especially just to be able to call something 'Dark'
On the note of titles. If anyone's into that kind of thing, I recently put some actual effort into my profile page and one part of that was a run through of my stories. One part was the mentioning that Silent Glances has now been changed to Ethereal Awakening.
The reason for this is that while I wanted to keep Silent Glances somewhat separate from the Saga, it is the true starting point. Even though I know there's a difference in the writing and the main themes, it is still the starting point. So rather than saying there's 'that' then the three part Saga. The truer view of it is that it's a collection of works that fits together. Perhaps even in a small way, starting light and steadily darkening as the canon books did. So that's what this now is.
The Blood and Bone Saga:
Ethereal Awakening (Formally Silent Glances) (Part1)
Torn Apart (Part2)
Defiant Blood (Part3)(In Progress – 11 chapters, 12 by tonight as this was a super chapter that I wanted to keep as one but was so big it became three)
Ascension of Blood (Part4) – The final instalment to come.
These have been accompanied by the new art covers I've made that fit the theme better which I've big headedly and soppily fallen in love with. -A lot of the Base images coming from 'Otter and Terrier' so shout out to them.
On that, anyone following will see that Defiant Blood has now surpassed Torn apart on word count. I was still right in thinking that if I wasn't careful, I'd be writing the three stories after Ethereal Awakening at around 120-150k word count. And that, over the three felt like there would be a lot of filler. So, the idea of 80-100k felt better and manageable.
Well, I still think I was right in a way, but my original end point for Defiant Blood is a big moment in the story that had a natural end and starting point for Ascension of Blood. But there are aspects of the story that can't be rushed, and it means Defiant blood might be somewhat a GOF or OOTP of this series in that it's much bigger. So, it's end point is being brought forward a little and hopefully it will be good enough to bring you back for the rest. But it mean's a packed final instalment around that correct 80-100k mark with thankfully, no filler.
I know this has been a long one but, I'm also back to work after a bit of leave so I'm balancing life now that it's 'life-ing' that bit harder. This is still my down time when I'm not putting the hours in at the gym though so It will hopefully still be regularly updated, just at a reduced pace.
Much love – Get well soon 'you know who'
Love and Light
Venom