𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐙𝐄𝐒 ☾ r. lupin

₃₁ crucio

Thalia was on the ground in mere seconds, her body convulsing as she groaned. She went stiff for a second, trying to get used to the feeling, but she hadn't been crucio'd in so long that she forgot that pain. Her whole body stuttered on the floor as she clenched her eyes shut.

"Thalia!" Remus had called, staring as Bellatrix Lastrange held her wand out at the girl. There was a smirk on her face as she watched Thalia wither against the floor.

"Just- LEAVE!" Thalia yelled, letting out a scream afterwards.

Torture.

Traitor.

Her vision began dotting around the edges as the pain continued. Thalia's eyes watered but she blinked away the tears. She couldn't let them see her cry. Especially not Lucius. Her family loved him, how he got sorted into Slytherin, how he wanted to become a death eater.

Thalia grit her teeth as she shut her eyes, her body on fire from Bellatrix. Of course it would be her, she was always the unhinged one in the Black family. Always the one teasing, always the one taking the jokes a little too far. Yet, no one did anything. They all stood there, watching as Thalia writhed on the cold, hard floor.

"I can't just-" Remus was interrupted by Lucius sneering at him.

"You want it next, Lupin? We'd be happy to give it to you," he said, clutching his wand. Remus gulped and looked down at Thalia. Her eyes were still clenched shut, but her hands were no longer clenched into fists. They were relaxed down at her sides.

His eyes widened as he realized that Thalia was losing consciousness. Her body was still screaming in agony, her brain working haywire trying to find a way out of this situation. Then it stopped. Bellatrix was looking down at her, her lips turned up in a bone-chilling smile. The crazy look in her eyes made Thalia's stomach flip. This was someone who had no mercy. Someone who didn't know when to stop. Didn't care.

Thalia closed her eyes again for a second, allowing her body to get used to the nothingness again. Her breathing was still shallow; whenever she took a breath her chest burned.

"Blood traitor," Bellatrix sneered, lifting her wand again. Narcissa placed her wand against Bellatrix's, lowering it slightly as they made eye contact with Thalia.

"Just let her go, she isn't worth our time," she said, lowering her wand.

As soon as the words came out of her mouth Remus was helping Thalia up off the ground. His arm was slung underneath her own as she leaned into him, barely being able to take a step in front of her. 

Remus noticed and quickly lifted her up, cradling her to his chest as they left the room. The rest of the group was standing there, Maeve was bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet while wringing her hands. When the two emerged, she was the first to run forward.

"Is she okay? What did they do?" She asked, examining Thalia's body.

Everything hurt. It was like pins and needles stabbing into every single one of her body parts, threatening to go deeper, to cause more damage. Thalia opened her mouth to talk but quickly coughed, squeezing her eyes shut as pain spread through her chest.

"Merlin..." Marya muttered. 

"We need to get her to the infirmary," Lily said, looking at Remus and then back to Thalia. 

Everyone knew she wasn't going to be okay. Thalia's skin was slick with sweat, she was paler than normal, and her hands were shaking. Her eyes were shut but she would twitch occasionally, causing her face to scrunch up in a wince. 

Remus started off towards the infirmary, careful not to jostle Thalia too much in his arms. But every time he took a step a shooting pain would travel its way throughout her body, making her wince and tense up. She just wanted the pain to go away. Remus held her closer to his body, trying to keep her still. 

It was a comfort she never got. Someone holding her tight, scared that she might break. She liked it, she liked being seen as fragile. Everyone at home thought she was immortal, every cut, every bruise, every broken bone, it was seen as a bump in the road. Nothing more than a scratch. So this was different. 

The last thing Thalia remembered was a last shot of pain before she passed out. She was still in Remus' arms. 

_____ A/N _____

this chapter sucks i'm so sorry. it's short too so i'm also sorry for that. but hey, i'm in a slump rn soooo bear with me here. anyway, i hope you're all doing wonderful, finals are coming up so i hope you're all studying for those. anyway, thank you all for tuning in

remember to eat and drink water !

<3