|In The Dark|

28

Exactly Who You Are

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

"I know exactly who you are." he sneered as he backed me up against the wall. Theo and Draco were watching and I looked to them for help. "Mr. Malfoy, she did nothing to you, please just-" Theo started. "Silence!" he shouted. I flinched and turned my head, closing my eyes. "Lucius, leave the girl alone. She's just a child." Narcissa pleaded. "I know you are." he spat.

"If you know who I am, then you know who my fathers are. I would carefully consider your-" I started. Then I felt it. The stinging as he hit me across the face with his snakehead cane. "Don't!" Draco yelled, launching towards me. "Belle!" Theo exclaimed as he tried to get closer. I grabbed my cheek. It was bleeding and a bruise was forming. "I know the truth," he sneered. "I don't know what you are talking about." I lied.

"I know that you were adopted by Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. But  I know your real parents. Your real father is Barty Crouch Jr and your real mother is Bellatrix Lestrange." he said. My eyes watered. "How do you-" I started. "I know everything about Harry Potter's fake sister. It wasn't too difficult to find out." he spat. "You know nothing." I said glaring at him. He gave me a cruel grin. "Oh you'll see. Soon enough, you'll see it all." he said. Then he stormed off. I crumpled to the ground and Theo and Draco dropped in front of me. "Belle- Belle are you ok?" Theo asked. Draco held a handkerchief to my cheek and tears fell down my cheeks. "How did he know?" I asked. "I don't know." Draco said.

"Your- my niece." Narcissa said, looking at me in shock. Draco and Theo helped me to my feet in front of her. "That's what my sister wanted to tell me before she was arrested." she said. "She told me, they are going to take Daliah away." she said. It was as if she was speaking to herself. Draco stood in front of his mother and held her hand. "You knew?" Draco asked. "Not everything. But I knew she existed." Narcissa said. I sat down and stared at the blood on my hand as they continued talking.

"They must have changed her name during the adoption." Theo said to Draco. He nodded. "We never should have brought you here." Draco said. "He's right, it's not safe." Theo said. "No. I'm not leaving. Draco, you are my cousin. And Mrs. Malfoy, you are my aunt. You are the closest thing I have to a real family." I said. Mrs. Malfoy walked over and hugged me. "Call me Cissy." she said. I nodded.

Later that night, We were sitting at the table eating dinner and there was a lull in the conversation. I was curious about my family. The family I was so harshly taken from.

"Cissy-" I asked. She looked at me with a kind smile. "Can you tell me about my mother?" I asked. Her face softened and Draco and Theo looked nervous. "Of course. But you may not like everything I tell you." she said. "My entire life has been a lie. Things can't get much worse." I said. Winky brought in tea and biscuits and she began. I held Theo's hand the whole time.

"Bellatrix was complicated. She wasn't always but she is now." she said. "Why is she in Azkaban? What happened?" I asked. She sighed. "Bellatrix believed that Frank and Alice Longbottom had knowledge about You-know-who's whereabouts after he killed the Potters. She tortured them for information. That's why she went to Azkaban." she said. My thoughts were racing. My mother did that to Neville's parents. I hope he never finds out because he won't forgive me. "What about my father? Do you know anything about him?" I asked. "I was the only one that knew. Bellatrix and Crouch weren't married. Bellatrix was married to Rodolphus Lestrange." Narcissa said. "She cheated on him?!" Draco exclaimed. Narcissa nodded with disappointment. "Bloody hell" Theo mumbled. "Are you alright dear?" she asked me. I just nodded. "You children should get to bed. It's been a long day." Narcissa said. We all nodded. 

As we walked towards the stairs, Draco swiped a bottle of whiskey. "Meet me in my room in 10 minutes." he whispered to us. Theo and I nodded and we went to our rooms. I got to my room and changed into pajama bottoms and a tank top. I put my hair in a braid and looked in the mirror. There was a dark bruise on my face and a cut. Fuck Lucius Malfoy. I snuck to Draco's room. Him and Theo were sitting on the floor passing back and forth a joint. I shut the door and sat down as I plucked the joint from Theo's lips. "Hey" he groaned. I smirked as I took a drag. It immediately hit me and I relaxed. Draco reached out and tilted my face to the side and looked at the bruise. "Fucking hell Anna-" he mumbled. "I'm fine." I said. "I can't believe he did that." Theo said. "It doesn't matter, can we talk about something else?" I asked. They nodded.