Heart Scars ||| Remus Lupin

Sixteen

Adhara wore long, black robes on the day that she would take her mark. Her hair was pulled in a crown braid, and she wore dark jewelry that had been passed through the Black family for generations.

She had thought about using her charm bracelet several times, she had thought about escaping to the Potter's.

She couldn't though. She couldn't leave her brother behind, and he wouldn't leave. He still has faith in their parents, he still told himself that deep down, they loved him. Adhara knew it was bullshit, especially after what their mother and father did to her.

"Ready?" Her mother walks into her room, her eyes staring at Adhara coldly.

She nods, and follows her mother out of the room. Regulus and her father are already waiting downstairs, both dressed in black robes. If Regulus was afraid, he didn't show it. His face was void of any emotion, and he stood as still as a statue.

They apparated to the Lestrange Manor, where Voldemort had been hosting his meetings, on insistence from Bellatrix. Adhara gripped her brother's hand tightly as their father led them into the dining room. Her mother didn't follow them in.

Adhara looked around when she entered, and she almost stopped dead at the sight of the man at the head of the table.

"Ara-" Severus looks at her with worried, wide eyes. He goes to stand up, but Lucius Malfoy pulls him back down.

Adhara was sure she looked awful. She had a gash on her head that still hadn't fully healed, and multiple bruises on her collarbone and jaw.

She takes the open seat next to Severus, and Regulus sits beside her. Their father sits by Abraxas Malfoy and Rodolphus Lestrange.

Severus grabs Adhara's hand under the table, and squeezes it lightly. She tries to smile at him, but she's sure that it comes out as more of a grimace. He looks at her with understanding.

"Welcome to our young friends, the Black siblings." His voice was only comparable to a hiss, just like a snake. Adhara wanted to shiver, but she pushed the urge away and stared at her and Severus' intertwined hands.

"Step forward." He orders. Neither her nor Regulus moves, but after a few moments Adhara stands, and makes her way over to the man.

"Look at me." He orders. Her grey eyes flicker to look at his face.

He had deep brown eyes that had maroon around the edges of his pupils, and black curly hair. His skin was pale, and his jaw line sharp. She would have called him handsome if she weren't so afraid.

"Miss Adhara Black, I've heard much about you." He smiles as her, revealing his pearly white teeth. She just clenches her jaw.

"Give me your left arm." He orders, and she slowly holds out her trembling limb. He holds her hand in his own cold one, and caresses it lightly and carefully, almost like a lover would. He pulls out his wand and points it at her forearm.

She doesn't hear the spell he uses, or if he even said one at all. All she can think about is the agonizing pain that shoots through her left arm and spreads like wildfire to the rest of her body. Adhara bites her lip to keep from screaming, and the metallic taste of blood fills her mouth.

Severus stands and quickly helps her back to her seat. She closes her eyes and leans her forehead against his shoulder, not wanting to look down at her arm.

Regulus is next, and her eyes squeeze shut even harder when a few whimpers of pain flow past his lips. He refuses help back to his seat, and walks by himself.

Adhara opens her eyes and looks at her baby brother. He's already looking at her with a grimace on his face.

Adhara tries her hardest to block out the talk about the rest of the meeting, but her head instantly shoots up when Voldemort begins speaking to a name she's heard before.