Darkness Within||Draco Malfoy Fanfiction

Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Unforgivable Curses

I avoided Draco for as much as I could, not even catching his eye at mealtimes. Only Bellatrix was the most energetic, skipping round the manor in evil glee, teaching me whatever she could. I had already shown him the spells I had created, and he seemed pleased with them. Voldemort had already told Dolohov to include them in their war plans, and teach the curses to the other Death Eaters. Although I refused to try the darker of Dark Arts, I still had to learn about them.

"Look, maybe you don't want to damage your soul yet, but it's going to have to happen eventually," Father snapped one morning.

"I know that, but not yet."

"Very well. But you have to start using the Unforgivable Curses." I froze.

"But, as you said, I don't need to use the Cruciatus," I said.

"What about Imperius and the Killing Curses?"

"I'm not killing anyone with that curse!"

"The Imperius then," Voldemort sighed, glaring at me.

"But what about the Trace on my wand?" I asked desperately. Father laughed.

"Oh, I can easily remove that, and the Ministry will have no idea." He held out his hand. Slowly, I placed my wand in it, and he grasped the slim frame, studying it with his slitted eyes.

"Hmm...Cedar wood, am I correct?"

"Yes, with a phoenix feather core," I answered. He paused.

"Phoenix feather core...."

"It's different from yours and Potter's," I added quickly, "Ollivander told me himself."

"I see." He tapped the tip of his own wand against it, muttering spells under his breath. I watched as a rippling sheen of shimmery magic coated my entire wand. Then wisps of black smoke curled out, coiling themselves around my wand. There was a bright flash of light, then the black smoke seemed to disappear into the wand itself whilst the sheen vanished. Father tapped it again, then handed the wand back to me.

"There. The Trace is gone. You'll be able to do whatever you want with it with no fear. That includes using magic outside of Hogwarts. Now, you were able to use magic in Malfoy Manor because of enchantments that I placed on the estate, but now you can use magic anywhere and whenever you like." I admired my wand in wonder. That actually sounded pretty cool.

"The first rule of Unforgivables: you have to mean them. If you don't, it won't work." He had taken to teaching me himself, which meant he was in the manor more often now and I could see it deeply troubled Narcissa and Draco, though they did their best to mask it. Bellatrix, however, was more animated now that her master was in the manor so often.

"Right," said Voldemort a few days later, "I feel like you have mastered the Imperius Curse. We shall, of course, need someone for you to practise it on." There was an evil glint in his eye.

"Bellatrix? Will you fetch-"

"Certainly, my Lord." She hurried away, and I felt a knot tighten in the pit of my stomach. Who was it? I heard her foosteps minutes later, and my heart plummeted downwards when she led Draco in. No. No. He couldn't do that. It was horrible. It was clear Draco had no clue what was going on, but he seemed frightened to be in the presence of the Dark Lord. I turned my wand in my hand nervously. I couldn't use an Unforgivable on Draco. I couldn't.

"Ah, Draco," said Lord Voldemort silkily, "Roxy has just mastered the Imperius Curse-" His eyes snapped to meet mine, and I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting to see the shock, disapproval and accusation in his grey hues.

"-and so I have decided she needs someone to try it on. And, naturally, you are the perfect candidate." Draco froze, and my heart rate sped up. No. I couldn't do this. He was shaking a little, and I really couldn't blame him. In that moment, I really did feel like a monster.

"Roxy?" Voldemort asked, smiling. He knew that Draco wouldn't dare defy him. Narcissa slipped into the room, her eyes landing on Draco and the Dark Lord.

"Narcissa, how kind of you to join us," smirked Voldemort, "I've just told Roxy to practise the Imperius Curse on Draco. You and Bellatrix can give her feedback." Narcissa's eyes widened, and I bit my lip. Yep, she and Draco would undoubtedly hate me even more after this.

"Well? Roxy?" I inhaled deeply, raising my wand with trembling fingers. I tried to steady my hold, chewing on my lip to avoid screaming in frustration. It wasn't fair. Anyone but Draco. I heaved in shallow breaths, focusing my wand on him. He just looked at me with a blank expression, his grey eyes scorching me. I could see him trembling slightly though.

"Roxy, stop doubting yourself. Your wand movements were more than accurate. Casting it would be easy." Fuck Voldemort. He thought I was hesitating because I was unsure I could do it. No, you stupid motherfucker, I was hesitating because I didn't want to do it! My conscience screamed no, but my head screamed yes. If I didn't do it, then Voldemort would know my allegiance to him was faltering, and would begin to have his doubts. It would only get both Draco and I killed, and not benefit anyone. I shut my eyes, then opened them.

"I'm sorry," I mouthed to him.

"Imperio."

Draco's entire body went rigid, his eyes blank, and I saw Narcissa wring her hands, her face pale and drawn in worry as she kept her eyes on her son. My arm was shaking as I held the curse. I could feel the rush of power surge through me. I made him walk to the other side of the room, then made him skip back again before jumping in the air. Before I could stop myself, a quiet giggle had escaped from my mouth. It was actually kind of funny, watching him. I was in full control of what he did. But then I felt my control weakening. Voldemort saw it.

"He's fighting against the restraints," he said matter-of-factly, "Hold it. Focus your concentration. Don't let the control waver." I nodded, my eyes narrowed in concentration. I could feel his mind battering against my control, attempting to release himself.

"Tell him to harm himself," Voldemort drawled lazily. My eyes widened in horror, and a small gasp escaped Narcissa's lips.

"Now that would be interesting," smirked Bellatrix, her eyes gleaming. She had been watching the whole thing gleefully.

"I can't make him hurt himself!" I protested, "That's sick!"

"Well, what do you think we use the Imperius Curse for? Make people do circus tricks?" snapped Voldemort, "No, we use it for much more severe things like that. You're lucky I'm not making you do something worse. Now do it." He had made me control Draco, but there was no way I was going to hurt him. I shook my head.

"No." And then I lifted the curse. Draco collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily, his forehead coated with sweat. I looked at him with troubled eyes, then met my father's seething expression. His eyes were glowing red. I felt Cybele stir around my arm. Despite being in jewellery form, she could still sense danger.

"Did I say you could lift it?" Voldemort hissed in a deadly voice, "How dare you defy me! Do not mistake the fact that just because you are my daughter, you suddenly have the power to do whatever you like. I am still in full power here, Roxanna. Because nobody defies me." I shook slightly from his intense look and the anger rolling off him. But I supposed that there must've been more of my Gryffindor self left than I thought, because I wasn't scared of him.

"He had no control whatsoever over the whole situation. He didn't even have control of his own body. Now, if you brought someone who had actually done bad things in their life to me, then it would've been a whole different story. He hasn't done anything."

"You foolish girl. You think you have a choice when it comes down to this? You are my daughter. You will torture and kill as I say. You have powerful blood running through your veins. So stop being weak and cowardly," he sneered, "You are no exception, Roxanna. And there are consequences for rash actions." I swallowed as Voldemort directed his wand at me. I was going to endure torture, and I knew it. But I would do it if it meant Draco wouldn't come to harm.

"Crucio!"

I braced myself for the pain.