Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 80 - The Heiress

1st of May 1998

The easter holiday had ended up being far more eventful than you had anticipated, first the mysterious meeting between the Dark Lord, Draco and his father which you had not been permitted to stay in. Then there was the strange events which unfolded in the drawing room later that night, in which your friends had suddenly found themselves at the mansion after being abducted by snatchers. They had just barely made their escape before the Dark Lord returned, and they had even successfully freed those imprisoned in the cellar – Ollivander and Luna. The Dark Lord was not pleased, it seemed they had gotten away with something else too, something quite valuable.

Evidently your father had become much more fearful and dangerous than ever before. For most of the remaining holiday you had been locked away into your chambers, which you were rather thankful for given how unnerving the situation in the manor had become.

Only once more before you returned to Hogwarts, did your father call for you. It had been quite late at night, and he had ordered everyone but you to leave the room. The moment they left he had gone to great extents to make sure no one would listen in on your conversation, with a spell he locked all doors and windows and with the muffliato charm he made sure no-one but the two of you would hear of anything spoken in the room that night.

It felt like some strange dream, you had not understood much of it. To listen to someone you hated with such gruelling rage had proved itself very near impossible, as much as he had wanted to mentor you. He had spoken of dark magic, that one day not long from now he would pass onto you the most valuable knowledge of all – of the most forbidden and dangerous kind. But that first you needed to ready yourself and let go of your humanity.

"The moment you plunged that letter opener into my heart I saw myself reflected in you for the very first time, your foolish attempt at my life failed of course... but from then on I saw the greatness of your potential"

"You're wrong, I'm nothing like you" you had spat back in anger, but the dark lord had laughed menacingly at your denial.

"And yet when I brought Umbridge before you on Christmas day, you diligently complied. For the first time, you cast the cruciatus curse successfully, because you hated her enough, but when the moment arrived and you were to deliver the coup de grâce, you failed."

It was true, you had even chanted the incantation of the killing curse but thankfully it had not had any effect. The moment after the last words had left your lips you had become so fearful, so incredibly full of regret that it had somehow prevented it. You thanked all higher powers then, but still Dolores Umbridge's life was only saved for just a moment longer before the Dark Lord himself, delivered the final blow. The whole ordeal had taken such a toll on your psyche and soul that it took months before you could even feel anything at all.

"One of these days you will fulfil your destiny, and take your righteous place as my heir. I will teach you true invincibility, and there will never be a witch more powerful or great than you"

You shivered just by recalling it, as you followed after Draco down the dark halls of Hogwarts. He seemed to be utterly indifferent about it all, and it disturbed you even if you knew he had his reasons. You had so many questions but you were still far too angered to ask them, as well as knowing that you could not possibly like the answers he'd give. What had gone down in the sitting room that day? What had the Dark Lord asked of him this time?

As you walked down the hall after supper you took notice in how the castle was much more heavily guarded by death-eaters than usual, so you could tell something was going on. One could definitely tell that there was something in the air, as if the castle itself was holding its breath in anticipation for what was to come. Pansy was holding your hand, seeming happily oblivious to this sentiment. The only thing she was interested in was to question you if there had come any more news about your wedding plans during the holiday, to which you could easily make something up to satisfy her curiosity. Pansy lived in a world of her own.