Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 35

I walk in through the front door, to where Bellatrix is stood with her wand out. She lets Draco through fine, but pins me to the wall. I hold my breath as she says, "Have you told your little friends about me?"
"No, Aunt Bella," I say, trying to mask my fear. I continue, "You were right anyway. The whole Metamorphmagus thing was wrong. I've stopped that. I don't know why I ever thought I was normal like that."
Bellatrix drops her wand and smiles a little bit. She says, "Muggle borns in their rightful place?"
"With the rest of them." I bite my tongue as she takes a step closer to me. She reaches her hand out and I flinch, only for her to stroke my hair a little bit. Mum sucks her breath in and Bellatrix says, "I knew you would come around. See, Cissy. I told you I fixed her."
She hugs me, wand digging into my back. I don't pull away until she does. She looks me up and down and continues, "Draco? Did you ever finish saying our little thing? Your sister did."

Draco's face pales and Lucius says, "Bella. He is a child."
"That wasn't what you thought about Atlas," Bellatrix snaps, "If Atlas is old enough, Draco surely is. You keep saying about how Draco is more likely to amount to anything. Come on Draco. Agree to finishing it."
Draco looks at me, and I nod. He grimaces and says, "You know I am loyal..."
"Don't speak back to me Draco." Bellatrix raises her head and adds, "Atlas knows not to speak back to me. Don't you, Atlas?"
"Yes, Aunt Bella." I nod.
"You know what is right."
"Yes, Aunt Bella." I have to blink back tears. She looks at me and I force a smile. Her hair bounces as she nods to Draco. She says, "Do you think Draco should finish it?"
I hesitate. Mum looks at me with terror, but Lucius looks... proud? I want to make Lucius proud... I squish that feeling down. I owe him nothing.
"Atlas? Do you think Draco should finish it?" Bella asks again, this time a little more impatient. I wince a little as I say, "If he knows what is right for him."
Draco's face drops and Bellatrix claps her hands, smiling wildly.
"Muggles in their rightful place?" She asks, eyes blazing.
"With the rest of them." Draco mutters. I sigh and Bellatrix says, "See! Not that hard, and doesn't it feel good? Anyway, Atlas, lets focus on you. You've missed out on some important plans."

She drags me to the sofa, and sits me down. I watch as she sits next to me, and turns her wand over in her hands while saying, "I don't want to send you back to school for the rest of the year."
She smiles and I say, "May I ask a question?"
Bella looks at mum, smirking, before turning back to me and saying, "Go ahead."
"Is there a reason I cannot go back?"
Mum sighs and says, "Bella, please. Thi-"
"SILENCE!" Bellatrix screams. I flinch and Bellatrix says, "I think it is a waste. The ministry can't see what spells are done in this house. I could do so much for you. I'd let you send letters, provided you promised not to talk about me."
I nod and say, "Will there be other death eaters?"
"Where?" Lucius asks.
"In this house."
"Not for a while." Mum says, stroking my hair gently. Bellatrix says, "If you stayed here, I would let you do all that Metamorphmagus stuff."
That's a good offer. I know Hermione would understand, but I don't know about Ron or Harry. Bellatrix says, "I could make you so powerful. What is your choice?"
"Would I be able to think about it?" I ask. Bella shakes her head and I say, "I'll stay here."

Mum groans and Lucius says, "Why does she have to stay? You could take her anywhere else? I let you stay here after you break out of Azkaban, and now you are keeping my daughter from school?"
"Your daughter?" I scoff. Bellatrix tilts her head and I say, "My name is Atlas Black and it is his fault. I am not his daughter."
Bellatrix smiles and says, "You, Atlas, will be an incredible addition to Death Eaters."

Christmas day is fine, but all I can really think about is the fact is I wont see anyone anymore, or at least for a while. I must be obviously out of it, because I feel Draco's sharp elbow to my side, followed by, "What's the matter with your face?"
"Draco?" Bella scoffs, "I think Atlas must be thinking. About anything important?"
I nod and say, "I'm just thinking about how nice it's going to be when Draco is gone and we can spend time together. I think it'll be good to be able to be a proper asset."
Mum sighs and says, "You are fifteen darling. Please don't be thinking like this so young."
"Cissy," Bella says, "I knew he was right at fifteen. She doesn't need to get the mark yet anyway. Not until she has killed a few muggles."
"Killed?" I splutter over my potato, needing to be whacked on the back. Bellatrix says, "Of course you need to kill a few muggles. You want to. Don't you?"
"Bella." Mum warns. Bellatrix says, "Come on Atlas. You want to, right?"
I say, "I don't want to kill anyone. Don't you need to mean the spell for it to work?"
"Yeah," Bella agrees, "But this mass breakout business will help you get right on track."
"I don't want to kill anyone," I mutter, "I need to get to my room. I have letters to write."

Bella's husband, my uncle, arrives at the manor once everyone is back at school. More and more death eaters arrive, until I only come out my room to work with Bellatrix. There is so much arguing now. Screaming and shouting. People turn to curses to get what they want. I want to go to Hogwarts. Antonin Dolohov scares me.
I walk downstairs one morning, where they are all sat round, staring at newspapers.
"Dumbledore gone!" Dolohov cheers, shoving a paper at me, "Finally gone. You would know how bad he was getting."
With Dumbledore gone, and Dolores as headteacher, Harry is screwed.