Out of the Shadows [Book Three]

Chapter Eight:

[[A/N: THIS CHAPTER IS SO INSTRUMENTAL IN THE REST OF THIS BOOK BUT ALSO SERIOUSLY SAD AND OMFGGGG, ya'll better comment and vote and all of that because this is probably the best chapter since book two during Amy's near-death scene!  dedicated to maddiefinnigan13 for her support on the last book!  from now on BEST COMMENTS WILL GET DEDICATION TO THE NEXT CHAPTER]]

Chapter Eight: 

"No."  

"Excuse me, girl?!" 

"I said no.  I won't do it."  

With shaking limbs and lips blood-coated from biting down on them, I spoke to the Professor of Muggle Studies, Alecto Carrow, and denied doing what she demanded of me.  Torturing a student.  As it was, Gryffindor had been pretty good about cutting of the Cruciatus Curse nearly as soon as I screamed but one of the students cared less about me and more about getting Gryffindor some points to win the House cup.  He should have been put in Slytherin; but then again that's where I belonged too.  

The boy was lucky that I was desperate to not be sucked back into the Dark Arts otherwise I could have done so much more damage to him; if I had wanted to I could have tortured him until death but instead I put myself up for a second round of target practice by the year seven Gryffindors.  I actually felt proud of myself for not getting revenge on the boy.   

"All of you may leave except for Potter."  

"Actually, legally I am a Malfoy, Professor," I corrected.  

"Well, we go by blood here, girl."

Closing my mouth, I realized that I was an idiot for opening my mouth in the first place to correct her about my legal-name but it was too late to regret it so instead I sat on the stands with Alecto as Amycus left with the sixth years before he rounded up all of the seventh year students.   No students were separated, all grouped together with me forced to stand in front of them.  My lips no longer bled but my tongue was sore, swollen and still I was forced to spit out blood every once in a while.  

"This is sixth year, Amaryllis Potter.  Blood traitor, house traitor, Death Eater.  Today we are practicing the Cruciatus curse and she is your target.  For every second you hold the curse on her, we will add a point to your House, you may stop the curse whenever you like without repercussions but this is your chance to prove your loyalties, to prove your worth to us and to the Dark Lord. For those who refuse to practice on her, you will be spending a week in detention with my brother, Professor Carrow, where he will be practicing the curse on you instead.  I want the Ravenclaws to go first.  Mandy Brocklehurst!" Alecto Carrow called out, her voice echoing over the field.  

My eyes connected with a small girl with blonde hair and brown eyes that were nearly too large for her face and gave her an overly innocent look.  Her hands shook slightly as she raised her wand and muttered 'Crucio'.   Nothing happened.  

"You have to mean it girl!  If you can't do this, think about what will happen to you!  Let hatred flow through you or you too will be in her place!" 

"Crucio!"  

In a mere moment I had hit my knees with the force of the curse, and though I tried desperately to not make a sound so as not to give the Carrow's the satisfaction, it couldn't be helped.  White hot knives were drilling into my body repeatedly, my head felt as though someone was taking a giant sledge-hammer to it and slamming it into my skull over and over and though it seemed to last a lifetime, it was possibly no more than a few seconds though it was simple to lose track of time when feeling the worst pain of ones life.  

"Padma Patil!"  

Down the list we moved, the curse never lasting for more than a couple of seconds at a time if I had to guess but we'd gone through all six Ravenclaws, three Hufflepuffs and three of the Gryffindors.  Honestly, I had never been so happy that so many students had been removed for being muggle-born otherwise I'd have had to go through several more than I already was.  

Only Parvati Patil and Neville Longbottom remained, then all of the Slytherin.  

I couldn't hold still, my limps wouldn't stop shaking and my brain felt rather like it had been dipped in boiling oil, I could feel warm liquid coming from my mouth and nose, dripping down my chin and onto my clothes and down my neck.  

"Tell you what, Potter, if you will admit that you chose to join the Dark Lord willingly, I will end this now.  The rest of the students can all practice on a house elf, and all you have to do is tell the truth."  Alecto's voice whispered into my ear, soothing and not at all malicious like it had been the entire time beforehand.  But suddenly she was repeating it louder.  "I've just told her that she can end her misery if she only admits a single truth, a very specific truth.  She is a Death Eater and she became one of her own volition." 

"Lies," I muttered, trying desperately to not pass out with the amount of pain that was still running through my body like volts of electricity.  "I was under the Imperius curse." 

Carrow nodded, before calling upon Parvati.  

Once she had done it, she asked me again if I wanted to tell the truth.  I wanted to, by Merlin and the Gods I wanted to but as I glanced up to do so, I caught Neville's eyes and I knew that I couldn't.  I couldn't be hated by him; anyone else but not him.  He looked like he'd been crying and if I had the energy to do so, I would have smiled at him to let him know I was all right but I could barely shake my head at Alecto to let her know I would not admit that.

"Neville Longbottom."  

His eyes widened as if he was honestly surprised that his name had been called and he immediately shook his head.  Fear, not for me but rather for him, tightened in my chest into this ball that restricted my breathing.  Don't say no, Neville, I whispered fervently inside of my mind, urging him silently yet desperately to agree to whatever they wanted him to do, Don't wind up like me.  

"If you refuse, Professor Amycus Carrow will deal with you, using the Cruciatus curse, during detention, is that what you want boy?" 

"If that's what I have to deal with so I don't become as bad as you, then yes."  

"Do it, Neville," I murmured quietly, hoping that my voice would carry because I felt as though if I spoke any louder, my throat would begin to bleed.  

"I think she's speaking to you, boy," Alecto called out.  "What did you say, Potter?"  

"Do it, Neville," I repeated, somewhat louder.   

"I don't think he can hear you, you'll have to speak up." 

"Do it!  Do it, Neville!"  My hoarse tone was loud enough to echo, I practically screamed at him.  "Please!"  For the first time in a very long time, I cried.  I sobbed, I begged with him to do what she wanted but he wouldn't.  He refused.  

"Fine then, moving on to the Slytherins.  Draco Malfoy!"  

I choked momentarily on the blood filling my mouth, feeling it spill over my lips and down my chin as I stared at the boy I once loved.  Coward, he was, but I still loved him; though not in the same way I had done.  He was my brother, not by blood but by choice.  I nodded at him, trying to show him that he should do it because I saw the hesitance, the horror, the love in his eyes as he looked down on my as I kneeled on the ground no longer able to stand.  Slowly, his wand lifted but you could see the tremor in his hand as he pointed it at me.  

"Crucio."