The Enemy of my Enemy

The Reminder

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?"

"It looks like you're packing. Why are you packing? School doesn't start for another three weeks."

Avery huffed and stuffed the rest of her clothes into her bag. "I'm leaving!" she announced. "Mother and Father basically threw me out last night, but I had nowhere to go. I'm going to stay with Narcissa for a little while."

"They didn't throw you out, Avery."

"They told me that I couldn't follow him," Avery argued, whirling around, and glaring at her sister. "I'm almost seventeen. I should be allowed to do what I want."

Caroline shook her head. "Do you really not see that he has corrupted you?" she asked.

"I don't understand how you cannot see his views. Mother and Father's stand against Muggles has always put them beneath us, we are superior. But now someone is actually taking a stand against them they want to bury their heads in the sand!"

"It's not about taking a stand against them," said Caroline. "We may be superior, but that doesn't mean we're better."

Avery scoffed. "Of course you would stand with them. You and that Muggle-loving boyfriend of yours," she sneered. "When are you going to open your eyes, Caroline? Realise that they want to be ruled. They desire order and dictatorship, they're just too afraid to ask for it."

Caroline shook her head. "You don't know them," she said. "Benjamin has lived amongst them since leaving school. He understands them a lot better than most Wizards."

"He is filth!"

"Stop it, Avery."

"Or what, big sister? Going to use your abilities against me?" Avery asked, scornfully. "Mother would not be impressed if she found out. Not her little angel breaking the rules, after all."

Caroline glared at her sister. "What happened to you?" she asked.

"What happened to you?" Avery retorted. "I thought we would be in this together. Sisters, you, and I, until the end of the line."

"I don't agree with his methods."

"I do."

"Torture? Murder? You agree with that?"

Avery shrugged. "Sometimes a little force is all you need," she said. "The Mudbloods and Muggles will fall into line without retaliation, and everything will be ours. It's like it is meant to be. You'll see."

"But -"

"What, Caroline?" Avery snapped. "But what?"

Caroline sighed and stared at her little sister. What had happened to the fun-loving girl that only cared about fireflies and tadpoles? The little girl that wanted adventure after Hogwarts, who wanted to see new places and discover new things. The little girl desired the taste of freedom and knowledge.

"She grew up," said Avery, sensing her sister's questions.

"You didn't just grow up," said Caroline. "You changed. You allowed yourself to be manipulated."

Avery groaned in annoyance. "I have not been manipulated. Everything my Lord has showed me, everything he has said, it's true. I believe him when he says that it is for the Greater Good that we take our rightful places above the Muggles. We wouldn't be the superior race if we didn't."

Caroline watched as Avery turned back to packing. "What happens if he is wrong?" she asked.

"He isn't."