What was happening at that mont was a weird blur for . I can't recall the reaction of the people around , and I can only rember my boiling blood, wanting to get rid of a problem. One that was slowly walking out to stand before . From the corner of my eye, I saw Draco was dragged away by a sowhat disgruntled and angry Bellatrix. Was she disappointed in her nephew? Well... I couldn't care less at that mont. I was watching the befuddled Lucius, whose surprise was slowly replaced with malice and glee. I could see he was thinking it was just perfect... and the thought that now he could hurt my Father in a way that would be way better than just killing him.
When it was ti to bow, both of us refused to do it. Good. I wouldn't bend my back before soone this scummy, and I wouldn't have felt good receiving it from him. It would have felt like so kind of mockery. I was looking into his eyes, watching without blinking while my ears were picking up the countdown of Bellatrix. I was surprised he didn't try to cheat, but maybe it was because Lord Voldemort was here. But I was unsurprised that he opened with the killing curse at once.
I rember reading in Salazar's book that everything is about intent when using spells. Besides the movent of the wand, the incantations, the third deciding factor of a spell, was the intention behind it. It had to be clear, and it had to be firm. He wrote about how to block or hit attacks. About why sotis spells seemingly passed by each other, yet other tis they clashed mid-air, canceling each other out. If your intent was focused on harming the other wizard or witch, your spell would most likely pass by or through the one your opponent conjured. While if your intent was to defend against it, there was a high chance your spell would hit it mid-air, resulting in the spells clashing.
I knew my intent full well... it was burning my insides, holding my spine, twisting it, literally hurting . I wanted to finish Lucius off so all this farce and problem cos to an end, right here, right now. In turn, I knew that whatever spell I would conjure would pass by his. I had to be precise as I only had one shot at this. I waited until Lucius finished the movent, and I could swear I saw the green light appear at the tip of his wand. He was locked in... it was my ti to make a move. I nimbly rolled diagonally forward, avoiding the jet of jade light, hearing a rushing sound passing by , but I didn't flinch.
He was shocked... but he had experience, so he was already making a move to hit with another spell. My eyes remained focused, looking into his, and I felt the pent-up anger and dark thoughts coalesce in my brain. It hurt... like nothing before, but sothing happened that I had no explanation for. Lucius suddenly froze while casting his second killing curse. He didn't turn to stone, nothing like that... but he was ntally petrified and stopped moving for a brief second, all that I needed as my mind finished the incantation. With my wand pointing at a surprised Lucius, my own spell ca out, glowing green and blasting him in the chest. There was no scream, no exclamation; he simply fell back with the sa surprised look on his face.
Did I feel anything? No. Not really... and that is what made it a bit weird. All that rage I felt was gone, like escaping from with the spell, replaced by nothing but cold, unemotional thoughts. I just killed soone for real; it wasn't planning or fantasizing about it, nor was it sothing done remotely... done by detaching myself from the act. This ti, I did it with my own hands and... I felt nothing.
"YOU-!"
Draco's shout made my blank, uncaring mind return to reality, seeing him rushing towards .
"Ah... yes. You too..." I thought to myself, and before even thinking about it, I pointed my wand at him, and with another green flash, the son joined his father in the afterlife. This ti, I did feel sothing, and looking around, I think it was the shock of the others standing behind us. I didn't care for most of them, whose faces I was looking for were Quincy, my Father... and that's it. Luckily, they looked more relieved than disgusted... or angry. Then, all the noise returned, like being dragged out of a silent room straight into the middle of London on a busy day. It was hurting my ear right until loud claps silenced everyone.
"Wonderful! Just... Wonderful!"
I didn't need to think who it was who was clapping and saying it.
"I think we can settle the issue now!" HE continued, turning to my Father, "I am clearing your family's na and placing Quincy Black under your care as she is the last of the Blacks."
"What...?!" Quincy flinched, surprised by the news, placing a hand before her mouth.
"Ah, yes..." Lord Voldemort smiled, looking at her. It was a dark... cruel smile, taking great enjoynt out of the fact the news shocked her. "Before coming here, I decided that the family of Blacks betrayed our kind more than enough tis, so I killed the old witch myself. As punishnt, all their belongings are now state property." Which ant... HIS property, but I don't think anyone would have dared to say it. "You are now an Anguine, young lady! If you ever leave their family, you will be nothing but a blood traitor. Be grateful to them!" HE laughed, showcasing how much HE was enjoying the show, not even hiding it.
"Thank you, Lord..." Father spoke up before Quincy would do sothing stupid, drawing HIS attention from her, bowing.
"Don't thank yet!" HE raised a hand, "We now have another problem!"
"Y-yes?"
"Your son has killed two of my Death Eaters..." While saying it, HIS wide smile turned into a sadistic grin. "So... I will have to investigate this myself!"
"My Lord...? Investigating...?" Father asked, as bewildered as everybody else; it was the first ti I could see the apparent panic in his eyes... yet I felt... normal. Relieved that all our problems were gone.
"Yes. Investigating. Bellatrix!"
I only felt a push coming from behind; my hand was twisted and locked behind my back, and my wand was quickly taken away. She wasn't kind... not at all. By the ti my mind got back all of its faculties, I was led towards their carriage by her and saw Lord Voldemort speaking to everyone around him. I couldn't hear his speech, but he walked over the two dead bodies like they didn't even exist. I saw the Headmaster placing a hand on my Father's shoulder, keeping him in place, while I saw Professor Slughorn and Professor Lockhart doing the sa with Quincy. We locked eyes briefly, and I felt my lips curl into a smile before I was thrust into the carriage like a sack. Soon, we were off, sitting inside with Bellatrix next to and the most powerful wizard of all ti right before , examining with HIS almost glowing red eyes...
...
....
...
I didn't know where we were going... but I knew it was my life's worst ride. Bellatrix said nothing, but the side-eye she gave was worthy of being pricked with multiple burning needles. What was worse was that Lord Voldemort was sitting before , and from the initial scanning look, he kept ignoring .
"Relax a little..." HE said after half an hour, breaking the silence, but it was aid at Bellatrix, not .
"Cissy will not survive the news... And this boy will be the reason for it!"
"Then the woman is not worthy of keeping around!" HE shot back, silencing her at once. "You will go and tell her the news; if she is too weak to handle it, so be it! I will send others to their mansion. You can take the first pick of their belongings... as compensation."
"..."
"Now..." It was ti... HE finally turned towards . I was steeling myself for this mont but with little success. I felt my stomach churning, my body was sweating, and I felt... fear. Such a fear that I never knew would be possible. "Don't be afraid." HE said soothingly, but it had no discernible effect. "I won't kill you... you are proving useful to . Even though you probably did cost two pureblood families!"
"..."
I felt Bellatrix change her position next to when hearing HIS words, but I simply couldn't tear my eyes away from the Dark Lord's. I felt HIM... inside of . I knew HE was reading my thoughts or at least... exploring my mind. What do people say? Think of nothing so they can't read anything?
"I already know what I want. I already knew it the mont Draco Malfoy ca before , and I accepted him into the Death Eaters."
Now I was even more afraid... how much did HE know? Did HE realize Draco had his mories modified? Did HE dig deep? No... I can't think about that, not right now.
"I knew at once he was lying, and it was not him who planned it out." HE chuckled, and hearing it sent a cool air through my mind. HE didn't dig deep... then; HE probably didn't take too seriously either. I am still young, after all... "Neither he nor his father knew that my most loyal servant had already provided with all the information I needed!"
Who? I wanted to ask, instinctively turning towards Bellatrix, but Lord Voldemort chuckled.
"I am speaking about Severus Snape, of course! He brought before what remained of that disappointnt of a snake... All that the Order couldn't bring away... And presented all the evidence I needed to know, Lucius Malfoy was leaking information to the Order!"
By then, HIS voice turned icy and almost savage... surprising not just but Bellatrix too. Although... my surprise ca from the fact that the Headmaster did... what? Did he... did he shield us? Caring for us this much? Why? But I could not ask that from anyone right now.
"I see in your head, you are asking why..." HE licked HIS lips, making realize I was sitting with soone who could tell if soone was lying, even feeling the others' thoughts... I had to focus! "Let tell you why so you may learn from , young Anguine! I let Lucius off the hook because I wanted to bait the Order out... alas, Dumbledore is easy to discard pawns he no longer finds any use for! I sent Lucius to Hogwarts to see what their move would be! I let this nonsensical parade play out because it entertained ! And... I wanted to catch the tail of the Phoenix! Well... It surely was entertaining, but then again... Dumbledore wouldn't look back if one of his followers fell. Not until it affects his plans. In a sense... we are very much alike, Dumbledore and I. The main difference is I am stronger, or he would still be Headmaster!"
What the hell? What was this all for? Ego boosting? Calming himself down? Wanting to awe ? What was going on?
"Draco was simply another puppet... I wanted to see how they would react, but, once again... Nothing. I don't like keeping failures around, so it was ti to finish the little farce and get on to my next plans. But then... I found you."
"Lord...?" I asked, and I felt my voice hoarse. My throat and lips were dry, and I realized I felt extrely weak.
"You are a few years away from your ceremony, yes? When you beco an adult and swear your fealty to the Ministry, to ... Well, based on your show of talent today, I will skip over all that!" With a smile, he grabbed my hand, pulling it out, and before I could ask, he pointed his wand at my arm and branded with the Dark Mark. "You are now not just an adult but a rare and special amongst them! You are now one of us and will be under my personal watch!" He kept up the smile even when Bellatrix's shocked voice wanted to ask a question... yet a simple glance from HIM stuck in her throat. "We are going to a place where I will test your true strength, boy... and we will see if you will be the first to be granted the opportunity to call ... Teacher."
Reviews
All reviews (0)