Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

112. Torture

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but I do love a good evil Harry fic

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Bel had been escorted back to Hogwarts by Barty Crouch himself.

The search for the mysterious man turned up nothing.

The attempts made for Bel to reverse the Dark Mark were also unsuccessful.

The remaining pain in her chest had finally subsided.

Her concern for her friends and about the entire situation hadn't.

But when she eventually got to talk to Dumbledore alone, it was clear she wasn't the only one who was worried.

Bel had become very good at detecting the faintest shreds of panic emitting from the wise old wizard.

Because that was all he ever showed.

Even when chaos was raining all around them, Albus Dumbledore always kept a level head and appeared calm.

It was something Bel appreciated greatly and had benefited from in her time in the Wizarding World.

But after three years spent in his company, she had learnt just when he was truly calm and when something was bothering him.

"What do you think it all means, sir?" Bel asked from her usual seat opposite Dumbledore's desk in his office.

"I can only hope nothing, little one", was the answer she received from behind her as her mentor paced up and down.

Again, Bel knew when she would receive information (which was rarely) and thus when to tap out of pushing for answers.

Dumbledore was thinking, and sometimes even when he had decided on his answers, he still wouldn't tell her anything until absolutely necessary.

This incident might have been a one-time thing.

Just some sort of mistake.

"Before I insist you get some much-needed rest, is there anything else you wish to ask me?" Dumbledore asked after he had finished his silent pacing and thinking, taking his seat opposite her.

"Not so much ask as ... confess", Bel started as she caught sight of Fawkes entering the room.

Dumbledore placed his unwavering focus onto his ward, listening intently.

"The Dark Mark in the sky. I didn't know what it was when I first saw it. But it almost called to me. I felt connected to it somehow. And I think it must have to do with my blood relation to Voldemort."

Bel wasn't planning on revealing this to anyone.

It scared her.

Having these connections, having them be so out of her control, trying for years to suppress that side of her and yet still faltering on occasion.

Bel was terrified that such small connections to a mark in the sky would only be the beginning.

Which is why she decided to confide in her mentor.

It had become more and more evident to her over the past few months that it isn't just thanks to her mother that she is able to tackle her naturally possessed evil.

Dumbledore had truly worked some kind of magic too.

Her training had come in handy in so many ways, some of which she didn't even think of when it had all started.