Black and White

8

It's been two weeks since Draco and I got home from Hogwarts, and I still haven't told them I know.

"Zuben!" Bellatrix yells from downstairs. "Get down here! These dishes are not clean!"

I rush down the stairs in my pajamas, having only just woken up. I was supposed to finish them last night, but I had been so tired... I had thought, if I got up early enough, I could finish before she noticed.

"The chores need to be done before the guests arrive!" Bellatrix tells me, shoving me towards the sink.

"Yes, Mother," I say, but my voice is groggy and comes across as an attitude.

"Do not use that tone with me, Zubeneschamali Lestrange," Bellatrix practically screeches.

"Don't call me that!" I snap. This is the first time she's said my full name all summer.

"What?" Bellatrix asks, stunned. I've never yelled at her before. I'm not usually this stupid. Or is it bravery?

"Don't call me Zubeneschamali," I repeat. "That's not my name."

"Of course it's your name-"

"My name is Lucida Vega Black," I state. "I know who I am. You can't hide it anymore."

Bellatrix slams me back into the pantry door, pinning me to it. "Who told you?" she seethes. "Who?"

"Sirius Black himself," I answer, anger coursing through me. "And Dumbledore confirmed it. I am Sirius Black's daughter. Aren't I?"

Bellatrix slaps me, and my face snaps to the side, stinging. "I am your mother!" she cries in rage.

"My mother is Marie Black," I insist, trying not to raise my voice. I'm scared, but I will no longer be known as Zubeneschamali. That's not who I am. I refuse to be Zuben Lestrange.

Bellatrix whips out her wand and traces it down my jaw line. "You. Are. My. Daughter."

"No!" I shout, pushing her off me. "I'm not! I never was! My mother... You're the one who killed her. Aren't you?"

"Yes," Bellatrix smiles. "I killed Marie Black. I killed her, and I took you. You are mine!"

"Why?" I ask. "Why did you do it?"

She smirks. "Rodolphus couldn't have children," she laughs. "I had to get a child from somewhere. I had to stay out of Azkaban." I'm shocked. She hasn't mentioned Rodolphus since Lucius killed him, when I was six.

"I'm glad he couldn't have kids," I say. "I wouldn't want anyone to have to have you for a mother!"

"How dare you!" Bellatrix shouts.

She doesn't even say crucio, but I know that's what she did. I'm on the ground, writhing in pain, but I bite down on my cheek, refusing to scream. I won't give her that satisfaction.

Finally, she lifts the curse, bending down close to my ear. "Fine, Lucida," she whispers. "But you will do exactly what I say, from this point forward."

Bellatrix walks away, and Lucius Malfoy enters, sneering down at me. "She may be done with you," he says, "but I haven't even begun."

I finch at his words. I can already taste the blood in my mouth from biting my cheek so hard.

Luckily, the rest of the summer passes quickly. It's time for the Quidditch World Cup, and Draco talked Uncle Lucius into letting me go.

"Blimey, Dad," I hear Ron's voice from above as we climb the stadium seats. "How far up are we?"

"Well, put it this way," Uncle Lucius calls up to them. "If it rains, you'll be the first to know."

I sigh. He just has to be rude. My face a little red, I discreetly wave at my friends. The twins smile cheerfully at me, while everyone else makes brief eye contact. Apparently, the twins don't understand how to be subtle.