Stolen Time

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I was woken with a start from Cissy shaking me awake. I dreaded today. Cissy's husband, Bella, and I, as well as Severus Snape, were being branded today. Cissy was lucky, she wasn't a part of the inner circle, she just did short mission for the Dark Lord.

"How did I get myself into this mess?" I whined to my cousin at breakfast. I've been eighteen for two days and this was already upon me. The only thing I'm grateful for is that I'm not only seventeen like Severus.
"You just had a bit too much -er- fun." She tried
"Where's Lucius?" I deterred the subject.
"He's coming to bring you to Malfoy Manor in about twenty minutes."
"Alright." I sighed. "I should go get ready."
"No." Cissy ordered "You are going to eat some food first. I won't have you passing out from exhaustion during all of this."
"If I eat anything I'm going to throw up." I said sadly
"Just one bite?" she coaxed
"Fine." I indulged
"Thank you Percy." I laughed
"You're going to be a great mother someday." she beamed with pride. I took a bite of the toast before racing back upstairs to my room in Grimmauld place. I pulled out a dark green dress from my closet. I quickly slipped it on and grabbed my mask. My violet eyes peeked through the small slits. I pushed my large awkward shoes into some silver, strappy, stiletto heels. I tripped twice on my way downstairs.

When my mother saw me she started crying.
"My darling girl!" she sobbed "The only child I am proud of fulfilling her destiny. Oh, Orion!" she called my father
"Well don't you look splendid." he had tears in his eyes as well. All the commotion had called Sirius downstairs. I raised my eyebrow at him.
"This is rare." I teased
"So you're actually going through with this." he snarled
"I am." I said coolly. "Unlike you, I don't wish to disappoint our parents."
"Your parents now." he growled "I'm don with this 'Most Ancient and Noble House of Black' crap. Have fun dying at the hands of your master"
"Where do you even have to go?" I shot back
"James'" he mumbled. I smirked. I knew I had him.
"You just expect them to take you in out of the kindness of their hearts? Huh? Have fun with your blood traitors, Sirius. Merlin knows you deserve to rot in hell with them."
"I guess I'll see you there." with that he stomped back up to his room.

I took a deep breath before returning to the dining room.
"Another screaming match with Sirius?" Cissy sighed.
"Yes." I grumbled "How dare he think he has the right to do this to us. You, me, mother, Regulus. He threatened to run to the Potter's again" I spat the wretched name. The name of the awful waste of good blood that dared to brainwash my once innocent brother.

A short rap of knuckles on the door of our house came from outside.
"That must be Lucius," I sighed. As much as I would never admit it, I almost agreed with Sirius. I don't want to be killed by this.

"Lucius" I flashed him a quick smiled "Cissy wanted to say hello before we go." The newlywed couple had had barely any time together due to our commitment to the Dark Lord. I let the two be for fifteen minutes before snatching Lucius away from his wife. We sure as hell didn't want to be late to this;

The two of us apparated into the large entrance hall of Malfoy Manor.
"Bella!" I squealed. "How I've missed you." I wrapped my arms around her.
"I'm proud of us cousin." She laughed. I think she's slowly slipping to insanity. I worry sometimes.

"Welcome." Called a cool voice through the dining room. I flinched as the incredibly attractive Lord Voldemort slowly moved to the opposite side of the room, running his hand along all the chairs, mine included.

"I trust you are all eager to get this over with." his voice, though cold was almost a melodic drone. "Persephone." he beckoned me forward. "You first." I tried to act confident. "Morsmordre" he hissed. A drop of jet black ink dripped from his wand onto my forearm. It burst into a searing fire on my arm. I bit back a scream as I crumpled at his feet. The fire on my arm on subsided after what seemed like an eternity. I exhaled loudly before standing again. A red scar splashed over my arm.
"I am honored my Lord." I tried to keep my voice even as I bowed.
"Lucius." my master spoke "You are next."

I watched Lucius go through the same fate I went through. Then Severus, and lastly Bella. I was the only one who bit back the screams.

Except Bella.

She laughed.