We Didn't Have a Choice

50 - He Knows

"O-oh! M-my lord, come in," she stammered as she opened the door to the nursery, only to reveal Voldemort.

Shit. Maybe we had not escaped his tasks.

Blair stepped to the side to let him in. It was quite odd and chilling seeing him anywhere but the meeting room. There was just something off about him being in my daughter's room.

"What brings you here?" Blair asked as she stepped between where I sat with Cordi, and where Voldemort stood, putting a hand in a pocket which concealed her wand.

Please don't tell me she is stupid enough to draw her wand on the Dark Lord.

"Well, I've been wanting to have a private talk with you, Blair, but you and Draco just left the meeting so fast!"

Chills ran down my spine at his words and I could see Blair freeze up. This is exactly what she does not need right now...but then again, it's not like he cares about her mental health either.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, my lord. What is it?" she spoke, her tone shaking.

He stayed quiet for a moment before walking past her and over to where I sat. Instinctively, I pulled Cordi close to my chest.

"How long have you known?" he spoke as his hand glided across the top of the rocking chair.

"Known what?" she asked, her voice quivering.

"Blair, I know you know what I'm referring to."

But she remained silent, and she also wore a look of confusion which was understandable given his unexpected confrontation.

Voldemort tisked disapprovingly and made his way back over to Blair. Rage washed through me as he reached a long, skinny, white finger and tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.

"You're a pretty girl," he spoke, "but so, so dumb."

"My lord, I don't know what you are talking about," she said as her eyes met mine. It was clear she wanted me to get out, but leaving would look bad, and it could be even more unsafe in a way.

"Eyes on me, Blair. Not him," he spoke shrilly.

Her eyes immediately averted off of me and back to him. "My lord..."

"My Lord," he mocked. "I would kill you right now," he said blatantly, making Blair freeze up, "but I won't of course because that would only affect me," he added.

"W-what is this about?"

"Will you just stay quiet?" he spat as he started to walk back over to where I sat. I heard Blair curse silently under her breath as he opened his arms out to me. Knowing what he was asking, I passed Cordelia into his arms, even though everything in me was screaming not to.

Voldemort awkwardly handled my daughter who was beginning to fuss.

"I mean, I could even kill this little rugrat," he jeered as a loud scream came from Cordelia. "Always screaming and crying. Such a brat...but, I won't do that because what good would it do to kill a pureblood?"

I wanted so badly to comfort both my girls during this moment. Blair has already been doing bad enough the past few weeks, she doesn't need Voldemort coming after her on top of it...and my daughter. She's done nothing to deserve what's happening to her right now.

"My lord," I finally said, "what brings you here?"

"Maybe the fact that a part of me lives with your wife!" he seethed, "and you all just so happened to know!"

Blair and I went silent as he glared his cold, penetrating, stare.

"W-we didn't know what that meant...we still don't," Blair lied.

The room was silent for a moment, but thankfully, he seemed to believe her small fib. "Well, many years ago, I made a mistake and now, a part of me lives within you. You're a horcrux," he said, not giving us a clear explanation, what so ever.

"So what does that mean for me?"

"It means if you die, a part of me gets hurt. So, that is why you won't be returning to school. You will be staying here, where you can be protected and kept out of harm's way," he snarled.

Blair's face faltered. I knew she disliked Hogwarts, but I also knew she hated being cooped up here.

"But I just went back! And Snape, the Carrows, and Draco are there! They will keep me safe!" she argued.

However, Voldemort only shook his head. "Do not defy me. You will be staying far from there in case Potter shows up. Clear?"

Blair sighed but nodded. "Of course. Anything for you," she murmured.

"Great," he seethed as he finally set our daughter, who had been crying the whole time, in her crib, and made his way to the door.

The second it shut, I rushed over to Blair who still seemed to be in shock.

"Darling, he's gone. It's okay," I murmured in her ear as I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her towards the crib so I could retrieve Cordi.

"Did you not just hear what he said?" she spat, her tone harsh. "I might as well be dead at this point!"

With one hand, I held onto Cordi, and with the other, I kept a firm grip on Blair's waist because I knew she was bound to break down any second now.

"Blair, things are going to be fine. He's going to keep you alive. No more tasks or fighting," I reassured.

"Yeah, because I'll be stuck in this stupid house for the rest of my life," she jeered.

And she was right. As horrible as the situation was, there really was no way for me to take her mind off of things.

"But you can be with Cordi now," I reminded as she took her from my arms to comfort her.

"Yeah, whatever," she mumbled.