The Seventh Year

Mr Ollivander

Luna hummed with the faint sound of the radio playing upstairs. The cellar began to feel like the only place she was safe. Whenever she was forced to leave, they used the Cruciatus Curse on her. 

One lady, in a black corset with dark curly hair, always took pleasure in the torture. Her name was Bellatrix, but they called her Bella. She remembered the name from one of Neville's personal stories. He told her why he didn't live with his parents, and the witch's name came up. 

Harry would want to know everyone that was at Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix, she thought to herself. The list of names was growing too long to remember.

Luna thought she would have been pretty in her younger years, but her beauty faded after being barred in Azkaban for fourteen years. Her rotten teeth, wide eyes, and maniacal laughter were hard to forget. 

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head, hoping to forget the horrors she went through that previous night.

----

"Please! Stop," she cried weakly. Powerless and unable to move, Luna lay on the cold stone tiles. After feeling like her bones were on fire, the cool floor was soothing. The brief moment of relief was cut short when cackling echoed through the spacious sitting room. 

"And why would I do that, dearie?" Bellatrix laughed. "You going to cry to your dead mother?" More giggles sounded. She moved to stand in front of the fireplace, directly in front of Luna. "Crucio!" she screamed and smiled, showing off the yellow and black teeth she had left. 

"Pl—" she struggled to spit the words out. Her whole body felt like fire was burning her from the inside-out. "Please, just let me go back to the cellar!" Bellatrix mocked her, but Luna ignored it. She focused on trying to find an out.

Luna looked frantically around the room, searching for Draco Malfoy. She used all the strength she had left to tilt her head down to face the black leather couch. 

He sat on the opposite end of his parents; his body language was closed off and tense. He was attempting to not look at Luna as she wailed in agony, but when he took another glance at her, their eyes locked. 

Please, she mouthed to him. Please help me! Luna widened her eyes; it was her last attempt to seek his help.

----

Since Luna arrived at Malfoy Manor, Bellatrix had her taken out of the cellar twice a week for as long as she wished. She always said it was to "practice" the Cruciatus Curse. 

Draco and his parents were always present each time she was tortured for hours; it confused Luna. 

Draco always tried his best not to watch, but whenever his parents noticed him looking away, they forced him to look at Luna. If he didn't, his father would take him out of the room for various amounts of time. Each time they returned, Draco's eyes were glossy and red from, what Luna assumed, was crying; Lucius came with his walking stick in hand, harshly tapping the floor with it. 

Each tap caused Draco to flinch ever-so-slightly, and Luna pitied him for it. Luna supposed Lucius used the walking stick to strike Draco. How could a parent be so cruel to their child? It brought tears to her eyes each time she thought about it.

The memory of the night before began to creep back into her mind; her head fell into her hands, and she began to sob quietly. 

----

Draco looked away again and shook his head slightly. At that moment, her body relaxed, and she no longer felt like fire was running through her veins.