You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 32

 "What do you mean you broke up!?"

"Technically we didn't break up. We just had a huge argument and let's just say we're not on speaking terms at the moment"

Mira and Barty hadn't found the time to see one another during the holidays until it was three days before they went back to Hogwarts. That meant they had a lot to say to each other. Firstly they talked about her and Theo and how none of his friends were talking to him at the moment. The only company he seemed to have was Christina with the occasional addition of the Carrow twins and Mulciber. Everything she heard was predictable of course. What she didn't expect to hear was the huge argument Barty and Evan had just before New Year's .

"What happened ,Bart?"Mira asked ,taking a pause from her walking and taking a hold of her friend's hand. "We're in the middle of nowhere. No one will hear you" she said , sending him a reassuring smile, seeing his clear hesitation. They had started their little walk down at a muggle village, just fifteen minutes away from Potter Manor, but Barty had insisted they go somewhere a little more private to discuss everything that had happened the past two weeks. That's how they had ended up, up a hill, far away from everyone and everything.

"He didn't want me to get the dark mark. Said it's too dangerous and that I should stay out of it. Honestly I don't understand where all this came from. He has it. Almost everyone we know does for the matter. And I tried to explain to him that he can't control my decisions-'

"Bart..." she stopped his rant, her eyes full of concern. "Did you do it?" she asked with a tone of urgency in her voice. Barty looked confused , he didn't expect that kind of question. Half her friends were death eaters already, so why would she react this way?

"Why do you sound scared , Mira?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows. But the girl seemed to be lost for words. She just kept shaking her head left and right, completely speechless. "Yes" he finally replied to her question, before taking his hand from hers and sliding up the sleeve on his right hand. Mira couldn't help but look at the dark figure looking back at her in fear. She was surrounded by death eaters everyday and yet no one had the mark on display like it was nothing but a tattoo. Even Theo, Evan and Regulus, whose families were known for being loyal to the Dark Lord, had it hidden. "Mira I really don't understand why you react this way!" Barty exclaimed in frustration , pulling down his sleeve and walking away from her.

"Do you have any idea what you have done to yourself?"

"Yes, Mira!I thought you were on of us! With us!" he shouted , turning around to look at her. Mira had never seen him so furious before , he looked like an entirely different person.

"I'm not one of you! Not in that sense at least! And I reacted this way because I would never wish this fate upon you! I wouldn't wish it on anyone! You say Evan didn't want to to get it, well guess what! I didn't want you to either!" she shouted back, her breathing getting faster by the second.

"Well then you're not gonna like what I have arranged for our evening" Barty replied, and yet it didn't sound like him at all. His voice was cold, his eyes unapproachable and his words sounded more like a threat.

Suddenly the sun disappeared and clouds filled the sky. A dark grey mist emerged from behind some bushes nearby and Barty went straight to its direction. Mira could make out a figure inside the mist. A figure of a man. It didn't take her a long time to figure out who he was though, even if she couldn't see him from the start.

"Bart?" she turned to the one she called her friend. The person she trusted. She was terrified and yet the disappointment she felt was greater. "Why?"

"You should've been careful with who you made friends with. Mira" was all he said before he bowed to the man who had now fully emerged from the mist. The Dark Lord in all his twisted glory.

He let his eyes wonder all over her, inspecting every last part of her. Mira had been frozen up in her place. There was nothing she could do to save herself. She had no magic and even if she decided to make a run for it she still wouldn't make it safe back to Potter Manor, or at all.

"I've heard about you. The Potter girl in Slytherin. It's very interesting." he said in a low voice. A voice that send chills down her body. All she could think about was that his wasn't the voice she wanted to hear before everything ended. Evan if he did kill her , nothing would really happen to her. She would simply go back. But she wasn't ready to. Not just yet. "I have an offer to make to you." he announced, taking slow steps closer to her. "Currently I'm between sending Theodore Nott to one of the deadliest missions of all times or and older, more talented and experienced follower of mine."

"And what will determine this decision?" Mira asked, trying her hardest to make her voice firm.

"You, of course" he replied with a sinister laugh. "You see ,I was thinking. I really like the idea of branding a Potter. So here's my offer. You let me give you the dark mark, and mind you I won't ask you to do anything for me, and I let Nott out"Mira's eyes widened at his words. Getting the dark mark wasn't something that was supposed to happen to her. She wanted to save Theo, she really did but she also couldn't trust Voldemort. "It's up to you, Potter. You just have to decide if it's worth it" If he was worth it , was what he meant , of course. "Perhaps I should motivate you a little more" out of sudden he appeared right behind Barty , his wand pointed directly at his neck. "Agree or I'll kill them both"

"Bloody hell, just do it!" Mira shouted,fear lacing her voice. Of course it was worth it. Of course they were worth it. It didn't take him long to appear right in front of her. He slowly pointed his wand on her forearm and she took a deep breath before lifting up her sleeve , her hands trembling. A dark shadow left the tip of his wand and penetrated her skin. It was painful but she wouldn't let him see that it was hurting her .

"There" was all he said before he completely dissapeared, leaving her alone with Barty.

"Hide it" she demanded bringing her hand right in front of Barty's face, not even sparing him a glance. He did as he was told, not even questioning why she couldn't do it herself. Once the mark on her forearm was no longer visible she gulped and put her sleeve back down. "Now get lost" she said in a calm tone .

"Oh, come one Mira, You're being-"

"Get lost!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE
Thank you so much for 500 reads. You have no idea how excited I am to write the rest  of the story!
Who is here from tik tok?