December 18, 1973
The storm continues to rage on, with the freezing rain pounding against the glass windows of the Room of Requirement. Inside, the Slytherins are gathering for their next Dark lesson. NARCISSA and MAFALDA stand off to the side, quietly conversing.
MAFALDA: You ready for the last lesson of the year?
NARCISSA: I'm really not interested in this nonsense anymore. I don't care what Bella says.
MAFALDA: I guess you're done with any ambitions to become a Death Eater, huh?
NARCISSA: Let's just say that my destiny may lay elsewhere.
BELLATRIX: Gather up, everyone. Let's get to work.
The Slytherin students congregate near the center of the room. BELLATRIX stands before them, when suddenly the door opens and STEBBINS enters. NARCISSA rolls her eyes.
STEBBINS: Sorry I'm late.
BELLATRIX: What do you think you're doing here, Stebbins? You haven't bothered to come here at all this term.
STEBBINS: Thought I might give it a try. (He stands next to LUCIUS and takes out his wand).
BELLATRIX: Is that so? (She smoothly walks over to him and stands directly in front of him, staring at him with her dark, heavily-lidded eyes). Let's see if you have what it takes, then.
BELLATRIX walks past STEBBINS, who lets out a sigh.
BELLATRIX: (pointing her wand towards the ceiling) Avis! (A single mockingbird is conjured from the tip of her wand, flying and chirping throughout the room).
BELLATRIX: For the last lesson of this year, we will learn the most important and critical curses known to wizarding kind. Everything you have done up to this point has been building to this moment. This is the apex of magical power. This is what separates the powerful from the weak, the kings from the vagabonds.
Suddenly, she turns around and aims her wand for the mockingbird.
BELLATRIX: (coldly) Avada Kedavra!
A jet of green light strikes the bird, which falls to the ground, dead. NARCISSA lets out a small gasp and closes her eyes.
BELLATRIX: The Unforgivable Curses. In order to fight for the Dark Lord, you must master each of the three curses. You must learn to both cast them and withstand them. Who can name them?
STEBBINS: The Killing Curse.
BELLATRIX: Correct. The Killing Curse, avada kedavra, is used to end the life of another wizard, and it will be the least common that you will use, but it is the most powerful. What else?
LUCIUS: Imperio.
BELLATRIX: Indeed. The Imperius Curse is used by the Dark Lord to enlist those powerful wizards who will not fight for him. The curse is used to completely control another human being. It is very difficult to successfully execute, and even more difficult to fight. And last?
The Slytherins look at each other, warily keeping silent.
BELLATRIX: (smiling coldly) No one? (She walks before them, stopping in front of her sister) Narcissa?
NARCISSA: (looking at her sister and hesitating) Crucio.
BELLATRIX: My personal favorite. The Cruciatus Curse is used by the Dark Lord to- persuade his victims to act as he so desires. It will be the curse that you yourselves will use the most, and therefore it is the one that must be perfected before all else. In order to successfully use this curse against your enemies, you must know its powers. You must feel and understand the torture that you are inflicting upon them.
She stands still before them, gazing over the students, who nervously look down at their shoes.
BELLATRIX: Narcissa. Stand forward.
NARCISSA, clearly scared, slowly walks forward and stands before her sister. BELLATRIX raises her wand and points it at NARCISSA'S chest.
BELLATRIX: Are you ready for this?
NARCISSA stares into her sister's dark eyes, remaining silent.
BELLATRIX: This is something you must understand, Narcissa. This is what I must do. (She brandishes her wand and begins forming the incantation in her mouth) Cru-
LUCIUS: Stop! (He steps forward, standing in between the sisters) Stop, please.
BELLATRIX: Step aside, Lucius. Now!
LUCIUS: Do it to me. Let me go instead.
BELLATRIX stares at LUCIUS for a few seconds, then finally nods.
BELLATRIX: Very well. Cissy, step aside.
NARCISSA stands back with the others. MAFALDA rests a comforting hand across her shoulders. BELLATRIX continues to point her wand at LUCIUS.
LUCIUS: Let it be done to me.
BELLATRIX: Crucio!
YOU ARE READING
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FanfictionIn 1973, the Marauders enter their third year at Hogwarts and are immediately thrown back into a world of magic and mayhem. James, Sirius, and Peter, under the guidance of Minerva, devise an unorthodox way to help Remus during his transformations, a...
