The Meeting
Scarlett's POV:
"It's been a week since the Halloween dance and Adrian caught me leaving my dorm the next afternoon and apologized. Explaining to me that it looked bad on him that I would be showing that much skin around other people. I hesitantly apologized, but apologized no less and told him that I would be more modest. “Good girl” he said as he kissed my cheek and walked me to class.
Draco and I have our meeting with the Dark Lord tonight and we have been in the room of requirement every night trying to get this damn thing open. We are no closer than when the term started. Needless to say, we are bloody stressed.
Slipping into my wand into my jumper, I stand outside Draco and Theos dorm. I knock on the large oak door twice. “Come in.” I hear Draco's voice call. When I open the door I see Draco pacing back and forth from his bed to Theos, mumbling to himself. Seeing as my lovely cousin is having a sort of panic attack I take a seat on the edge of Theos bed.
The bathroom door to my left squeaks open. “Hey, tell me if you see my father will you? Oh, and feel free to throw him under the night bus if you get the chan--” He pauses looking at me with his seductive smile. “Bambina, I didn't hear you come in.” Theo is wearing just a towel that is low on his hips and water is dripping from his chest and disappearing under the towel.
Say something Scarlet! I yell at myself. “I uh. Yeah. Draco said it was okay to come in.”
“Well it's more than okay. Are you here to keep me company while our Drakey goes to see the Dark Lord. “ He says that last part with a very dramatic Italian accent while using another towel to dry his curly hair.
This stops Dracos pacing “What? No Theo. She is coming with me. The letter from mother specifically said her presence was required. I’m only invited because hes at the Manor.”
“What? Why do they need Scarlet?” Theos eyes start to gray while he is looking at me with concern.
“I am not sure.” Draco says digging through the mess of blankets on his bed, looking for his wand. Once his wand is secured, he holds his hand out for me, I stand up to grab it when I am stopped with a loud thump from behind me. Theo now has a black jumper on and is struggling to put his pants on.
“Hold on. I am coming with you.” He says once his pants are on and he's reaching for his own wand.
“Theo. No. You cannot come.” Draco is pulling us away from the brown haired boy. “The Dark Lord requested her. Not you.”
“You're bloody mad if you think I am just going to let her get thrown at his feet. You know what he is capable of.” His face is red and his eyes are fully gray now. Anger radiating off him in waves.
“Theo.” I reach for his hand, pulling his attention off of Draco. His eyes snap to mine and lighten slightly. “I will be fine. I promise. He probably just wants me to attend because I essentially live with Malfoys.” I give him my best convincing smile.
If I am being honest, when Cissy wrote that he requested me to be there as well I was flooded with panic. It's all I have been able to think about. But Theo cannot go. I do not want to anger The Dark Lord anymore than he will already be.
“Please. We will tell you everything we can when we get back. I promise.” I squeeze his hand reassuringly.
Still looking unconvinced he pulls me into a hug and kisses the top of my head. “Please be safe, Bambina. Draco, please bring her straight back here.”
With Theo releasing him from their man hug, he puts his hand on Dracos shoulder and steps back. With one final look, Draco takes my hand in his and the uncomfortable twist and pull from the belly we are home. Malfoy Manor.
Aunt Cissy is standing outside the gates of the Manor awaiting our arrival.
“Mum. Is he here already?” Draco asks quietly while hugging his mother and giving her a chast kiss on the cheek.
“Yes. He's inside waiting for you two.” She pulls me as well and kisses my cheek. “Come on. We have to hurry. Need not anger him. Remember what I taught you both?” Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I locked all my doors. Stealing myself off. I turn and see Draco doing the same.
Making our way into the manor feels like a death sentence. As soon as we walk through the doors we can hear screams. Female screams. And then that laugh that haunts my dreams. My mothers laughed.
There, sitting at the dinner table on a large wingback chair sits the Dark Lord.
“Ah, my Protégés have arrived. Sit. Sit.” He waves his hand out to indicate for us to sit next to him at the table. As we make our way around the table I see many familiar faces. Nott Sr. Umbridge. Snape. The Carrows. Crabbe Sr. Goyle Sr. Aunt Cissy, Lucius, and of course my mom and dad. Bellatrix and Rodolphus.
“Little Lestrange. Your father tells me you have come a long way with your training.” His red eyes are trained on me. I can feel a pinch in between my eyes. I try to focus on his words. “Yes my lord.”
The room is silent. “Then how come… You and the young Malfoy boy have yet to fix the cabinet?” I feel Draco stiffen next to me.
I am starting to sweat, “Well my lord.” I swallow hard. “It has proven to be more difficult than we originally anticipated..” He is pushing through now. Breaking all the locks he sees.
“And here I was… hoping your father wasn't lying to me. That you could in fact be useful.” out of the corner of my eye I can see Rodolphus seething. “Stand up Little Lestrange.” Taking a deep breath I stand up beside my chair.
“Rodolphus, why don't you show us some of your… training methods.” I stiffen, eyes darting to aunt Cissy, only to realize that she can't help me. Breathe…
Then before I realize,He shouts. “Crucio” I try to stay strong. I try to focus all of my energy on staying standing. He is still pushing through my mind and now with me being distracted images of Adrian, Pansy, Blaise and Draco flashes through my mind. Late night study sessions, stolen kisses in alcoves, dress shopping. He rips through my memories one by one.
“Remove the disillusionment charm Bellatrix. Let her show us her true self.”
“Please” I pleaded quietly to the floor. I see her flick her wrist “as you wish my lord”.
My eyes wander to Draco. I have never shown him my scars. I have never told him what goes on when I am not at Hogwarts or here. No one knows but my parents.
My skin feels chilled and I know that the charm was removed as well as the jumper that I was wearing. Gasps and murmurs from around the group. Tears streaming down my face and Draco's eyes are fully gray as he stares at me.
“There she is…” The Dark Lord smiles sinisterly. “Again.” This time it's Bellatrix to cast the curse, smiling her yellow teeth at me.
“Crucio.” I'm screaming. The pain is deafening. White hot blades working their way from inside my skin trying to get out. His attack on my mind doesn't stop. This time. Images of Theo work their way to the forefront of my mind. I try to push them back but I am so weak.
Late nights by the lake. Butterflies in my stomach when he calls me “Mi ragazza”. His smile as he kisses my hand. Falling asleep on him in the common room. The way my heart wrenches when he comes back from visiting his father, covered in bruises and with broken bones.
I can't fight back. I finally break, falling to the floor.
“Nott....” the Dark Lord stops his attack and turns towards the elder Nott. “Ah yes. Your heir… Why hasn't he been marked?”
Nott Sr. Looks confused, eyes narrowed as he looks from me to the Dark Lord. “He doesn't have what it takes my Lord… He is a disgrace and a disappointment to our family name.” Disgust riddles the elders' words.
The Dark Lord contemplates this for a second “Our Little Lestrange here, begs to differ. It seems she cares a great deal for your son…” I am struggling to breathe when I am lifted by my arm, to stand by my father. “Nott… Come forward.” My vision is starting to blur but I can see Nott Sr. coming to stand in front of me.
“What do you think your son thinks of our little Lestrange? Do you think that her feelings are… reciprocated…?” The elder Nott assesses me closely. “I am not certain, my lord.” he says solemnly.
“I see… What do you think, little Lestrange?” I can barely think, let alone will myself to speak.
“SPEAK” The Dark Lord yells, with a flick of his wand I'm screaming, pain coursing through my body. “N-no… M-my L-lord.” I can feel the blood starting to trickle from the laceration he created just now on my collar bone. Blood slithering down my arm and my chest.
Deep in thought the Dark Lord “ Well… What about you Nott. Are you interested in our Little Lestrange?” Stepping up to me I can feel Nott Sr. coming closer. Running his fingers down my scar over my eye.
The other men in the room are watching intently “Well… I guess without all the scars she was quite attractive. Perky breasts. Round behind.” His hand trails from my face down to my collar bone. I try to squirm away but I am unable to while being held in place by Rodolphus. Hands ghosting over my right breast, I involuntarily take a deep haggard breath.
“She seems eager for an affectionate touch from a Nott… How about the rest of you?... Greyback? Dolohov?...” The Dark Lord suggests to the rest of the men around the room. “I hear they can be quite… intense…” The Dark Lord whispers to me.
Both men rise from their seats to come near me, just as eager as Nott. Sr. Tears are flowing freely now. I can still sense them standing in front of me. Eyes trained on me, licking their lips.
My breathing picks up, my limbs locked in place. Whimpers of pain and fear escaping my mouth.
“Now, Now… Settle down Little Lestrange. They won't touch you… Not yet…”
“Sit back down.” He dismisses the men to be seated again and my vision has cleared a bit he speaks to me again.
“You will fix that cabinet. You will get us into Hogwarts. If not…” He goes quiet and looks around at the men who had all been standing around me
“Then you get a taste of what life is like for your precious Nott Jr. at home.” His snake-like smile reaches Draco and with a wave of his hand he calls my cousin to attention. “Malfoy… Get our Little Lestrange back to school. You have a cabinet to fix.”
Draco doesn't need to be told twice. With quick movements he carefully takes me from Rodolphus’ hold and walks me out of the dinner room.
Once we are out of earshot of the others Draco tries to talk to me, I think he is trying to calm me down, but I can't concentrate on what he's saying. He picks me up bridal style and my head lays limply on his chest.
His heart is beating rapidly. Whispering to me. Words unclear. The blood is draining from the new laceration fast. I feel the pull of apparition but as soon as we land back in the dorm I feel as if I'm drying.