Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 51

Hermione is on the floor, sobbing. Bellatrix steps over her, glaring. She pulls me close and says, "Kill her."
"Bella," Mum warns.
"Cissy," Bella snaps, spinning round to her, "Why is Atlas not capable? Tell her why you really looked after her. Tell her why you looked after her."
"Mum?" I say, looking between them. Mum sighs and says, "The Dark Lord told me to. He wanted to use you to lure people into situations, where he could've killed them. I expected so much more from you."
I take a step back, lowing my gaze to the floor. Bella says, "And?"
Mum looks like a huge weight has been taken off her shoulders and she says, "And you being in Gryffindor was the worst thing that ever happened to this family. You are like Sirius. You are a disappointment."
Bella turns to me. She uses her hand to lift my chin up, making eye contact. Her voice is raspy as she says, "I know you can do great. I know you can prove them wrong. You can do so much Atlas. I know it hurts for them not to love you, but I love you. Show them that they are wrong. Prove to the Dark Lord you are right. You can even get the Dark Mark now. I can do it for you."
I shake my head and whisper, "I can't have it done."
"Why is that?" Bella whispers back down my ear so nobody can hear. I hiss, "I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough for you all right now."
Bella nods and says, "Soundproofing needs removing. Finish her."
"Finish?" I say, grabbing my wand. Bellatrix lays her hand on my shoulder and whispers, "Do it Atlas.... do it...."
She leads me to Hermione and I kneel down next to her. I sit down and Bellatrix crouches next to me. Bella holds my hair, and twirls it round her finger. She breathes deeply, saying, "Her blood is dirty. Her death will be insignificant."
"I can't kill her." I say, looking away from them both. Bella grabs my hair tighter and hisses, "And why is that?"
"I don't mean it enough. It wont go right. It might rebound."

Bellatrix lets me go and says, "Hold her still then. It wont effect you if I just have a little more time with her..."
A spell shoots across the room, whacking Bella's wand out her hand. Hermione is grabbed away from me and propped up, a knife at her throat. I say, "Bella, give her to me."
Bellatrix ignores me and I repeat, "Bella give her to me now."
She shoves Hermione into my arms and I cling to her. I stroke her hair and grimace as Lucius pulls up his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark. He is about to press it, when a little squeaking noise breaks our focus.

I look up to see Dobby, unscrewing the chandelier. With barely a second to spare, I jump out the way, grabbing Hermione from Bella. Bellatrix looks at me and I say, "It was so you could move without being hurt. You being a more important witch...."
She nods and then turns her attention to Dobby. Ron grabs my arm, pulling me over and I stop, my eyes wide.
"YOU COULD'VE KILLED ME?" Bella screams. Dobby bows his head, before looking right back up and saying, "Dobby never meant to kill. Only maim, or cause intense pain."
I lift my head and say, "I think I should say this now. I have never supported your ideas. I never liked you Bella, and quite frankly, you disgust me. I hate everything you've ever done for me as a matter of fact."
Slowly, Ron holds up my arm, showing his tight grasp. Mum nods, before raising her wand. She is about to say something when he wand flies from her hand and into Dobby's. Bella gasps and screams, "How dare you steal a witches wand? HOW DARE YOU TAKE FROM YOUR MASTER?"
"Dobby has no master," Dobby snaps, "Dobby is a free elf."

I squeeze my eyes closed, and feel myself apparate, landing with a soft thud. My hands clench into a fist and I open my eyes. A sea stretches out ahead of me and I turn to look at Harry, who is clutching something. I crawl a little closer to him, coughing. I stop, and gasp. Dobby. He is bleeding. He can't be. He can't be. He is dead. It's obvious. I stand and walk against the wind, into the sea. Waves lap over my knees and I can't help but start crying. I want my mum. I just wand my mum. A voice breaks me from my thought.
"Voulez-vous entrer?" Fleur's voice is calming. I turn round to see her stood with her arms wrapped round her chest. She holds out a hand, and I take it. I whisper, "Pouvons-nous nous asseoir ici un moment?"
Her hair flies wildly in the wind and she nods. We sit just far enough away from the sea to be close, but not close enough to get wet. She leans my head on her shoulder and says, "I'm sorry Atlas."
"Fleur?" I ask, staring into the horizon, "Am I like my family?"
"No," She says, shaking her head immediately, "You are a beautiful, brave young lady, and you have a kind heart. Lucius Malfoy went to Azkaban. Bellatrix is a murderer. You did not. You are not."
I don't respond and she shuffles round to face me. She says, "Atlas, you must listen. It is very important to me that you know how much you are needed. Tell Molly of this and I will kill you, but Molly loves you like her own daughter. She loves you so much Atlas. You are so loved."
"I hate my family." I say, "I wish I wasn't related to them."
"Blood doesn't make family," Fleur says, holding out her hand to the sky. She stands up and says, "Come inside."
"Why?" I say, as I stand.
"I need to show you something."

She stands me in front of the mirror in her bedroom and says, "Look at you."
I do, standing awkwardly as she says, "You are so unique. You cry, you laugh, you frown, you smile. Your hands have mended, and broke. Your hair has grown and been cut. Your knees have been scratched, and they have healed. Your body has felt awful and amazing. Your brain has thought. Your mouth speaks and sings. You think for yourself. You stand up for your friends. You, Atlas Black, have a name. That name does not define you. You define that name. People will know your name, people will know your family, but not all people get to know about you. They may know your face, but they will never know your heart. You speak French. You navigated people round your school during the year of the champions. You speak German. You have had conversations with Narcissa that people will never understand. And you are amazing. You may not be perfect, and you may have your flaws, but you are a noble young girl."
She flourishes her wand, and a curtain covers her mirror. I jump back and she says, "Now, lets discuss other things. Are you okay? I know that little Dobby's death has probably hurt you. Would you like a cup of tea?"