|In The Dark|

57

Secret

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

I was standing in the drawing room of the Manor and Bellatrix just twirled her wand in her fingers as she circled me. "Dahlia, Dahlia, Dahlia. My darling daughter," she said. "I'm not your daughter! Remus Lupin and Sirius Black are my parents, not you!" I spat. "The same Sirius Black that I killed?" she taunted. I lunged forward and two death eaters grabbed my arms and yanked me back. Bellatrix cackled and I glared at her. "You're going to die for that!" I said. "Doubtful." she said. "Bella, let's just let the child go. If she is really meant to be a death eater, like you say, then it will happen," Narcissa said. Bellatrix scoffed. "You think if something is meant to be, it happens?" she asked as she narrowed her eyes at her. "In some circumstances-" she started. "What about your dear son? Your little dragon?" she taunted. Narcissa's face went blank. Draco quickly rushed over and stood next to Bellatrix. "Aunt Bella, nobody is supposed to know," Draco said quickly. "You don't trust your dear cousin?" she asked. I stared at them in confusion. "Please. Just don't-" he said. "I suppose it would be a true test of loyalty. What family does Dahlia choose? The real one or the fake one." Bellatrix said. "Bella, don't do this," Narcissa pleaded. "What do you think, Draco? Will she sell you out or keep your secret?" she asked. Draco gritted his teeth and glared at her. I just stared at him. "What secret?" I asked. Draco looked at me and his face faltered. "Anna," he said, his voice shaky and full of fear. "Show her, Draco," Bellatrix said. Draco shook his head. "No. No, I won't let you-" he started. "Show her. Or I let our friends here take her downstairs for some fun," she said gesturing to the death eaters in the corner. My face dropped and my eyes filled with tears. "Draco, please. I'm begging you. Don't let them-I can't. Please." I said. He looked at me and nodded. "Ok. Ok, fine. I'll do it. Just leave her alone." he said. Bellatrix smirked as he looked at me. He pulled up his left sleeve and I froze. The Dark Mark.

My eyes widened and my face paled. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes and he pulled it back down. "See, Dahlia. He's one of us. You can be too," Bellatrix said. "I will never, ever be one of you," I said and I spit in her face. She laughed as she wiped it away. "Fine. Have it your way. I know your father took a shot at this but I'll give it a try too," she said. The death eaters threw me to the ground and my body hit the floor with a thud. "Crucio," she said. I screamed as hot knives pierced my skin and the air escaped my lungs. "Stop! Please! Stop!" Draco yelled. The spell broke and Draco knelt next to me. "That's enough, Bella!" Narcissa yelled. She stood in front of my shaking body and looked back at us. "Draco, take her upstairs and heal her. She'll need rest," she said. Draco nodded and picked me up bridal style. My head fell limp and I fought to keep my eyes open. He brought me to his bedroom and laid me on the bed. He gave me a strength potion and pressed a cold washcloth to my head. He was looking at me with sorrow and guilt but I avoided his gaze. He had a dark mark. He was a death eater. How the hell did this happen? "Anna, please. Look at me," he said gently. I sat up and picked at a loose thread on my dress. "Anna, you know me. I'm your friend. Please, just let me explain," he pleaded. I looked up at him and nodded. "Explain," I said quietly. "I didn't have a choice. It was because my father failed him. He was going to kill me and my mum if I didn't do it." he said. I just nodded. "He gave me a task. I have to fix a cabinet that will form a passage into Hogwarts. And I have to kill Dumbledore. I know it's crazy, I know. But I have no choice," he said. I stared at him. "Please, Anna. You can't tell anyone. I'll go to Azkaban. The Dark Lord will kill my family. You can't say anything to anyone," he begged. My stomach lurched. "You are a death eater who's going to try and kill our headmaster and you want me to keep that a secret?" I snapped. "I know it's a lot to ask-" he started. "Are you mad?! My father is a part of the order. Sirius died fighting for that same cause. You work for the man that wants to kill Harry, a boy who is more my brother than anything. You want me to lie to our friends, our teachers, everyone. You want me to play dumb when our headmaster is murdered and say I had no idea. You have to be joking!" I exclaimed. "I'm sorry, Anna. I am. I'm so sorry, for all of it. You were never, ever supposed to find out. This was supposed to be a burden I shoulder alone. But now you know and you can't tell anyone," he said. I shook my head. "No. I'm sorry, Draco. But I'm not going to help you help the man that wants to destroy everything I believe in," I said. I stood up and started to walk away and he grabbed my wrist. "I can't let you leave, Anna. I have people to protect too," he said. I yanked my wrist away. "What are you going to do, Draco? Are you going to tie me up?" I asked. "What-I-" he started. "Torture me until I promise to keep your secret?" I continued. "No-I wouldn't-" he started. "Are you going to let your death eater friends rape me?" I spat. His eyes widened. "Is that what you think of me now? You think I would do that? You think I'm one of them?" he asked. "Draco, you are one of them," I said. He drew his wand and pointed it at me. "Don't make me do this, Anna. You'll only make this harder on yourself," he said. I got deja vu to that night, flashbacks of Donovan's words and screaming and begging him to stop. "Donovan said that exact same thing to me before he raped me," I spat. Then I drew the wand Enzo snuck into my jacket and fired a curse at Draco. He blocked it and I ran. I fired curses as I ran, dodging and ducking. I ran down the halls and I hid behind a large couch. Draco ran right by me and I sighed in relief. I stood up and I was almost to the door when I heard her voice. "Dahlia!" her voice said. I turned around, keeping my wand pointed at her. I froze when I saw Bellatrix pointing her wand at Narcissa. Then Draco ran in. "Mum!" he exclaimed. "Don't move, Draco!" Bellatrix snapped. Narcissa gave him a small nod and he froze. "Put the wand down, Dahlia or Aunt Cissy dies," Bellatrix snapped. Draco looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please, Anna. Please, just do it," he begged. I sighed in defeat and put my wand down, raising my hands in surrender. "Good girl. So obedient. You'll make a good soldier," Bellatrix said. "Let Narcissa go," I said sharply. "Not yet," she said. "What do you want?" I snapped. "The same thing your dear cousin wants. Reassurance that you'll keep his secret. We have our orders and the Dark Lord doesn't like to be disappointed." she said. I looked at Draco and nodded. "I'll keep your dirty little secret," I spat. "Good. Because if you tell anyone at Hogwarts or your faggot werewolf father or even one of the mudbloods or blood traitors you are friends with, heres what happens. First, Draco and Narcissa die. Then you will be held prisoner here. But don't worry, it won't be boring. The death eaters will be using you to tend to any needs that they have." she said. My stomach sank and I felt ill. "Is that understood?" she asked. "Yes," I said, gritting my teeth. "And don't try to stop this, I'd hate to have to kill your other fake dad," she said. I wiped a stray tear that had fallen and she smirked. "Good. Now go to Draco's room. He can keep an eye on you until you leave tomorrow," she said. Draco walked over and placed his hand gently on my arm to guide me. I jerked away from him and started walking. We went into his room and he shut the door. He slumped against the wall and buried his face in his palms. I just stood there. "I'm sorry, Anna. I never meant for any of this. But my mum-" he started. "I know," I said quietly. He looked at me as I walked over and sat down next to him. "I would do the same if it would protect my family," I said. He nodded. Tears fell to his cheeks and he choked back sobs. "I don't think I can do this, Anna. They made me torture people and- I- I didn't want to hurt them. I'm not like them." he stammered. Tears rolled down his cheeks and I pulled him into my arms. He sobbed into my chest and his body shook. I could feel his tears hit my dress like bullets. "I don't want to hurt people. I- I can't. I can't kill someone. I can't do it," he sobbed. "It's going to be ok." I whispered. I stroked his hair and held him close. "I'm going to help you get through this. You won't be alone," I whispered. He just cried and cried. I started to hum a gentle song until eventually, he cried himself to sleep in my arms. I just held him as he slept and wondered how the hell I was going to do this. I can't lie to my friends and help Draco but I can't turn him in. No matter what I do, people I love are going to die and I can't stop it. I'm so sick of this. Theo wonders why I want to die so bad. Well this is why.