Stars Go Blue: Chapter 11
Standard Disclaimer still applies. Mature.
Mara sat down at the lake, pensive and distressed.
Grandfather promised me acceptance, but who's to say what form that would take? You may be his granddaughter, but you have helped his enemy. And he doesn't sit well with traitors. But how can you be a traitor, Mara? You've never been near him! He's never responded, in all this time, to all those letters you sent... Why now? But then, what could possibly be here, on the "light" side for me now? Harry... Well, I'd rather not think on that whole scenario. I suppose it serves me right... After all, he was Ginny's first. All that has happened since you came to this so called "safety" is that you've gotten hurt. Ugh, Merlin! I sound so fucking ANGSTY. Draco tried, and you know it. But you chose his ex-master. Well and so, who can blame you? After all, the only reason he likes you is because he's pinning unrealistic hopes of who you may be to him... Hoping that you will fill all the gaps in his life. As far as Tom goes, you know he'll use an Unforgivable... He wants to test at the very least. So walk in head high. Who knows? Maybe showing your strength of will will impress him. After all, that's what you want to do, isn't it?
With the matter resolved in her mind, she headed to the Whomping Willow, poked the knot with a long stick, and slipped down the passage to the Shrieking Shack.
Upon entering she was greeted by an ominous looking gathering of masked wizards.
There, in the centre of them all, stood her grandfather. He looked at her steadily, then, raising his wand, said the expected word. Mara braced herself...
"Crucio."
~*~*~
Draco sat beside Mara as she pondered the next step near the lake, careful to make no sound. He was wearing Potter's cloak, and for once was glad Potter owned it.
Everyone from the Order was waiting to see where Mara would meet her grandfather. Draco had placed the tracking device on her. Some strange thing inspired by those damn Muggles Weasley loves so much.
After placing it on her, he was to return to the castle, yet, knowing the Dark Lord's wrath and probable intent to hurt her made him reluctant to leave Mara's side.
Abruptly she stood, and walked to the Whomping Willow. She disabled it and walked calmly to the Shrieking Shack. As he followed her, his thoughts ran along in a deluge.
Let her go, Malfoy, the Order will handle it. Although, they don't know how soon he'll hurt her. They expect that he'll explain to her... But the dumb thing is... He never explains -- and you never ask... You always know. He'll hurt her first, then talk to her, if she is deemed worthy. Oh CRAP!
With the expletive still resounding through his brain, he flung himself in the path of the curse, casting a silencing charm on himself simultaneously.
Fuck that hurts! was the last thought before the pain built to mind-numbing proportions.
Mara was glad her wand was in her hand then; realizing that someone else had taken the hit intended for her, she swiftly disarmed her grandfather. No one moved for a long, intense moment.
The Dark Lord started to laugh.
~*~*~
"Seventeen years old, and already you have a minion dedicated enough to you to throw himself in front of an Unforgivable curse... And smart enough to use a silencing charm too!" Voldemort's voice sounded like a snake hissing, to all in the room except his granddaughter.
"As well he should, Grandfather -- not only can I be as charismatic as you were at my age, but I have two things that you lack... Well, three if you count your wand," she hissed, as she twirled said instrument in her fingers, knowing full well that she couldn't afford to show weakness.
"And what are those things?"
"Beauty," she hissed, and then, reverting to English to truly state her point, "and I have compassion."
Seeing the look on her grandfather's face, she explained, "Your followers do so out of fear. If not at first, then definitely soon after entering your service."
From the corner of her eye, she could see several Death Eaters nodding nearly impreceptibly. Encouraged, she continued, "Mine, however, follow out of love. Something you knew once...Tom, and threw away."
With that, she knelt and murmured a cheering charm for Draco, who was still covered by the cloak.
"I came to see what you had to offer me," she reverted to Parselmouth, "and I have found it, and you, sorely lacking. Don't think that I don't know you could order a minion kill me now... I am not stupid. However, life and death isn't all there is. If you have a soul that is."
She looked at the eyes of her mother's father and saw a brokenness.
"We shouldn't be enemies, Mara."
"Nay, we shouldn't. Stay on my good side and we won't need to be."
With that final declaration, she grabbed Draco's invisible hand, dropped Tom's wand, and Disapparated to outside the Hogwarts grounds. Once there, she tore the cloak off of Draco and proceeded to scold him.
"Draco Malfoy! What were you THINKING? You could have been KILLED!! Tom Riddle is NOT a forgiving man... And you're on the RUN from him, you FOOL!"
"You disarmed him," Draco said in awe, "No one does that and lives."
"That's it? That's all you have to say? After all.... And obviously I do! C'mon Draco, use your head... Tom is big on his history, but he doesn't forget the need for a future because of that... I AM his future. The worst he's likely to do to me at our first meeting is the pain curse... But you, you he deems perfectly expendable. He'd kill you in a heartbeat!"
"Not now he won't," Draco said confidently, sitting beneath their willow and looking smug.
"What do you mean by that?"
"My little stunt back there not only made you look good in his eyes, but also made it seem I left him to serve you," Draco smirked at her, "Do you think he didn't know who was there?"
"But wouldn't that just make him more angry with both of us?"
Mara sat beside him, a desire to know her grandfather replacing her anger.
"Now then, you have to understand... Voldemort has anger in abundance, but he hoped something would prove to him that both you and I are ready and willing to be his allies. You see, he wanted to feel you out. You've helped destroy parts of his soul. Add that to the fact that you are his granddaughter, and he suddenly is extremely vulnerable when it comes to you. And now... Now he is more so."
"Why?"
"Because he fears you!" Draco crowed triumphantly.
"But Draco," Mara sighed, bringing the gloating boy back to earth, "I just want him to love me."
Mara sat down at the lake, pensive and distressed.
Grandfather promised me acceptance, but who's to say what form that would take? You may be his granddaughter, but you have helped his enemy. And he doesn't sit well with traitors. But how can you be a traitor, Mara? You've never been near him! He's never responded, in all this time, to all those letters you sent... Why now? But then, what could possibly be here, on the "light" side for me now? Harry... Well, I'd rather not think on that whole scenario. I suppose it serves me right... After all, he was Ginny's first. All that has happened since you came to this so called "safety" is that you've gotten hurt. Ugh, Merlin! I sound so fucking ANGSTY. Draco tried, and you know it. But you chose his ex-master. Well and so, who can blame you? After all, the only reason he likes you is because he's pinning unrealistic hopes of who you may be to him... Hoping that you will fill all the gaps in his life. As far as Tom goes, you know he'll use an Unforgivable... He wants to test at the very least. So walk in head high. Who knows? Maybe showing your strength of will will impress him. After all, that's what you want to do, isn't it?
With the matter resolved in her mind, she headed to the Whomping Willow, poked the knot with a long stick, and slipped down the passage to the Shrieking Shack.
Upon entering she was greeted by an ominous looking gathering of masked wizards.
There, in the centre of them all, stood her grandfather. He looked at her steadily, then, raising his wand, said the expected word. Mara braced herself...
"Crucio."
~*~*~
Draco sat beside Mara as she pondered the next step near the lake, careful to make no sound. He was wearing Potter's cloak, and for once was glad Potter owned it.
Everyone from the Order was waiting to see where Mara would meet her grandfather. Draco had placed the tracking device on her. Some strange thing inspired by those damn Muggles Weasley loves so much.
After placing it on her, he was to return to the castle, yet, knowing the Dark Lord's wrath and probable intent to hurt her made him reluctant to leave Mara's side.
Abruptly she stood, and walked to the Whomping Willow. She disabled it and walked calmly to the Shrieking Shack. As he followed her, his thoughts ran along in a deluge.
Let her go, Malfoy, the Order will handle it. Although, they don't know how soon he'll hurt her. They expect that he'll explain to her... But the dumb thing is... He never explains -- and you never ask... You always know. He'll hurt her first, then talk to her, if she is deemed worthy. Oh CRAP!
With the expletive still resounding through his brain, he flung himself in the path of the curse, casting a silencing charm on himself simultaneously.
Fuck that hurts! was the last thought before the pain built to mind-numbing proportions.
Mara was glad her wand was in her hand then; realizing that someone else had taken the hit intended for her, she swiftly disarmed her grandfather. No one moved for a long, intense moment.
The Dark Lord started to laugh.
~*~*~
"Seventeen years old, and already you have a minion dedicated enough to you to throw himself in front of an Unforgivable curse... And smart enough to use a silencing charm too!" Voldemort's voice sounded like a snake hissing, to all in the room except his granddaughter.
"As well he should, Grandfather -- not only can I be as charismatic as you were at my age, but I have two things that you lack... Well, three if you count your wand," she hissed, as she twirled said instrument in her fingers, knowing full well that she couldn't afford to show weakness.
"And what are those things?"
"Beauty," she hissed, and then, reverting to English to truly state her point, "and I have compassion."
Seeing the look on her grandfather's face, she explained, "Your followers do so out of fear. If not at first, then definitely soon after entering your service."
From the corner of her eye, she could see several Death Eaters nodding nearly impreceptibly. Encouraged, she continued, "Mine, however, follow out of love. Something you knew once...Tom, and threw away."
With that, she knelt and murmured a cheering charm for Draco, who was still covered by the cloak.
"I came to see what you had to offer me," she reverted to Parselmouth, "and I have found it, and you, sorely lacking. Don't think that I don't know you could order a minion kill me now... I am not stupid. However, life and death isn't all there is. If you have a soul that is."
She looked at the eyes of her mother's father and saw a brokenness.
"We shouldn't be enemies, Mara."
"Nay, we shouldn't. Stay on my good side and we won't need to be."
With that final declaration, she grabbed Draco's invisible hand, dropped Tom's wand, and Disapparated to outside the Hogwarts grounds. Once there, she tore the cloak off of Draco and proceeded to scold him.
"Draco Malfoy! What were you THINKING? You could have been KILLED!! Tom Riddle is NOT a forgiving man... And you're on the RUN from him, you FOOL!"
"You disarmed him," Draco said in awe, "No one does that and lives."
"That's it? That's all you have to say? After all.... And obviously I do! C'mon Draco, use your head... Tom is big on his history, but he doesn't forget the need for a future because of that... I AM his future. The worst he's likely to do to me at our first meeting is the pain curse... But you, you he deems perfectly expendable. He'd kill you in a heartbeat!"
"Not now he won't," Draco said confidently, sitting beneath their willow and looking smug.
"What do you mean by that?"
"My little stunt back there not only made you look good in his eyes, but also made it seem I left him to serve you," Draco smirked at her, "Do you think he didn't know who was there?"
"But wouldn't that just make him more angry with both of us?"
Mara sat beside him, a desire to know her grandfather replacing her anger.
"Now then, you have to understand... Voldemort has anger in abundance, but he hoped something would prove to him that both you and I are ready and willing to be his allies. You see, he wanted to feel you out. You've helped destroy parts of his soul. Add that to the fact that you are his granddaughter, and he suddenly is extremely vulnerable when it comes to you. And now... Now he is more so."
"Why?"
"Because he fears you!" Draco crowed triumphantly.
"But Draco," Mara sighed, bringing the gloating boy back to earth, "I just want him to love me."