Heart Scars

Thirty One

On October 6th Dumbledore allowed her to use the floo in his office to visit Lestrange Manor.

The manor was cold, quiet. No one greeted her at the fireplace when she stepped out, no one was around. She doubted anyone hardly stayed in Lestrange Manor; the occupants being too busy on death eater missions.

Adhara dragged her feet through the manor, ever so slowly. It got colder as she got nearer to the doors that led to the dining room. He was in there, waiting for her. Waiting to kill her or praise her. Neither seemed like a very good option.

He was still as she walked into the room, his eyes followed her as she walked, like a snake watching its prey. He was waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Miss Black." His snakelike voice said after a few moments of silence. She bowed, her eyes on the floor and her shoulders back.

"My lord." Play the part. Play the part of the obedient servant.

"I have intel that you were seen with that blood traitor brother of yours. Even sympathizing with him over mudblood causes." His voice was like a knife, cutting her with each sharp syllable spoken.

Her blood ran cold.

"My lord, I have no-" he silences her with a wave of his hand.

"I do not wish for excuses. I do not tolerate traitors in my ranks, but, I am a merciful lord. And you, Miss Black, have served me so well." His voice was soft, almost caring. Adhara let out a small breath of relief.

"Crucio."

She was on fire. She had to be. He was stabbing her over and over again with thousands of burning hot knives. He was smashing her lungs, melting her brain. Surely he was killing her.

She gasped for air when he finally removed the curse. She was on her side, on the ground. She didn't remember falling; didn't remember biting through her lip, but the metallic taste of blood told her she did.

"There is my mercy. Remember it." And then with a loud crack, he was gone. Adhara was left alone in the cold dining room of Lestrange Manor.

///

It felt like days later when Bellatrix finally came along to move her; though Adhara knew it was only hours. Bellatrix stood over her, staring down at her with those cold, grey eyes.

"Andromeda adored Sirius from the moment she laid eyes on him. I hated him. I was only eight years old, but I understood that Sirius Black would always be better than me. It didn't matter that I was older, that I was obedient, that I believed so strongly in pureblood values. It didn't matter because I'm a woman." She shook her head, Adhara had no choice but to stare up at her.

"Cissa loved sweet, baby Regulus. She used to carry him around everywhere and dote on him so. He adored her equally. No one's ever been able to say a word against Reggie without Narcissa snapping at them. They're so alike; gentle and quiet."

"Then there was you. No one really paid you much attention; sure Andromeda and Narcissa entertained you from time to time, but they had their favorites. I wasn't drawn to you at your birth like Andy and Cissa were to Sirius and Regulus. I did pity you, though. Even at your young age I knew you would crave everything Sirius had. The favor, the title, but most of all the love from aunt and uncle." Her face twists into hatred.

"You were about two when I finally decided you weren't half bad. You never cried, almost like you knew they wouldn't listen to your calls for attention. You just sat quietly; watching them with Sirius and occasionally Regulus. That's when I became partial towards you. I carried you around, fed you, played with you, brushed your hair and told you stories. You responded to me in equal fondness. You searched me out whenever we attended public events, you'd get so excited when I came back from Hogwarts, and you used to fuss when father would punish me. You were about eight when I realized what you were doing to me-"