Inferno | Draco Malfoy

068 | The Turning Point

Ever since I returned home a few weeks ago, there have been some new additions to my life. First and foremost, Harry Potter had an article in the Daily Prophet in which he exposed numerous Death Eaters. One of them being Lucius Malfoy. Now, he's serving time in Azkaban while everyone and their mothers have been sucking up to Potter for being so valiant.

People are awfully two-faced, so quick to turn their backs on you.

It's common knowledge to know that Lucius or the Malfoy family had an allegiance with the Dark Arts and Magic. I've always suspected them to still be connected, based on their blood supremacy, and I guess they are. So, in reality, it is Lucius' fault for not being more careful.

I had drafted a letter to Malfoy, asking him if he's alright after hearing about his father – I say drafted because I haven't sent it, and I do not plan on sending it.

I come back in from the gardens as it starts to lightly spit with rain. I notice Mum standing right by the fireplace. She seems to be getting ready. To where though? I approach her while she puts the hood of her black cloak up.

"Mum, where are you going?" I sit my book down on the coffee table.

"Nowhere Adria, I'll be back in a few minutes." She smiles. "You go upstairs and indulge in your interests, don't worry about me."

"What no—" I walk closer to her. "I want to know where you're going. You know it's not safe out there right now, with the death toll rising and the destruction of the Brockdale Bridge."

"Adria, go upstairs." She says more sternly, eyes flickering to the clock. "Go. I will not tell you again."

I can tell that she's going to Apparate at any given second. Without thinking, I grab onto her arm just at the right second. It's unlike her to not tell me where she is going, and for her to get defensive adds to my suspicion. I stumble backwards as we land because I didn't prepare my stance beforehand.

"What are you doing?" Mum pulls my arm, narrowing me in on an already narrow pathway between two houses. I feel the trickles of rain dripping onto my head. "Headstrong girl." She tuts before turning her head around; I copy.

Narcissa. And another woman, with her black hood covering her face. What's going on? Most importantly, where is this place?

Narcissa speed walks, hugging Mum. "Oh Clarissa, thank you for coming." They let go and she pulls me in for a tight squeeze. "You too Adria."

"Duchess," The woman in black gives Mum a peck on the cheek. "and you must be the Lady. What a pleasure it is to meet you." She lifts her hood up, slightly, so that it's out of her eyes.

The moment she does, I'm stunned. Thick dark curly hair, a strong jaw and a manic look in her eyes. Bellatrix Lestrange, an infamous prisoner (escapee now) of Azkaban. They say she served the Dark Lord through thick and thin. I raise my eyebrows, turning around to Mum but, she doesn't meet my eyes.

"This is my sister." Narcissa softly says, seeing the shock lying in my gaze. "Bellatrix Lestrange, previously Black."

Oh. That makes much more sense, it seems like every damn family in this wizarding world is connected to the Black family.

"Pleasure." I smile, despite the uncomfortable feeling I feel around Lestrange.

The vigorous rain started to soak into my light blue dress, though I'm not too cold since it's the warmer season. Mum pulled me by her side, taking her cloak off and giving it to me. However, it was useless when the destination we were meant to be at was only a few steps away.

Narcissa knocks at a black door and I take this as my chance to look around. Houses and more houses, children at a distance and a street name pole that reads Spinner's End. Some of the streetlamps are broken, smashed, bits of glass missing and some are flickering. There are a few windows nearby that have been boarded up with planks of wood. This seems like a less-flattering Muggle settlement, unless there had been a Death Eater raid carried out here. Some have already happened.