PART 30

"YOU will be fine , Draco", She said softly , as they pulled away from their tight embrace. "Everything will be okay." He looked down to see the same white feline , with the haunting blue eyes , rubbing against Evanna's legs. Somehow , he always saw the cat when they parted for the summer. In all honesty , he dreaded having to spend a minute away from her - but he had no other alternative. His only comfort was that she had promised him a visit.

"I hope so", He muttered , before clearing his throat - and looking her straight in the eye , saying ,"Thank you for helping me out that day , I really shouldn't have bothered you."

She simply smiled , and shook her head - titling her head to kiss his cheek. And when she pulled away , watching him blush from the roots of his hair to the tips of his pallid fingers - she let out the most melodic laugh the boy with stardust hair had ever heard.

His hand crept out towards hers , and he held it gently - yet in a firm grasp. Rubbing soothing circles across her palm , he listened as she said ,"You will be completely fine. Besides , we will meet this summer , right ?"

"Please do come Evanna , I can't survive in that house alone", He said , not meeting her eyes. She gave him a nod , and a last saccharine smile - before melting into the crowd.

"I'll miss you terribly", He whispered , words disappearing into the chatter of the throng that crowded the station at Hogsmeade.

                                                              ________________________

Melanoid darkness filled the cracks within the arching walls of the Malfoy Manor , a chandelier of crystalline raindrops drooping down from the inky darkness - the corners of the vast room embellished by porcelain vases , and withering flowers that could hardly any colour to the obsidian room. She drew in a deep breath.

This is for him.

Taking on the mark before her scheduled time on her seventeenth birthday would delay her plans - but she knew what she was doing , flames of determination ablaze in her eyes. Chaos brewed in her soul , her mind recklessly adding embers to her carelessness. Walking in through the arching , heavy gilded gold doors - she seated herself next to a familiar lady. Her raven curls were askew , streaks of mercury scintillating in the dim light - her plump , carmine lips were irritated and her eyes glinted with bloodlust.

Bellatrix Lestrange , of course.

The deranged woman's hand rested on Evanna's thigh - raggedly cut nails coated with dust as dark as coal , digging into the soft flesh of Evanna's skin - where previous , smaller scars already marred her. Streams of cerise flowed through the cuts Bellatrix made , staining her navy blue pants a ghastly shade of obsidian. But Evanna did not squirm , nor did she show any movement. She could not afford to show weakness.

Bellatrix's smile widened , as Evanna seemed hardly bothered by the pain the woman was inflicting upon her - before a rush of cold passed through all those present at the table. A gaunt face , snippets of a voice carried flatteringly by the wind , carmine irises and the slither of a well known snake. Her face reflected in a blurry haze upon the varnished silverware , as she waited in anticipation for what was to come.

But not fear , never fear.

The vile wizard took place at the head of the dark wood table , silence swallowing them whole into a void so deep the whisper of the zephyr could be heard. She lifted her gaze from the goblet in front of her to meet the gaze of the woman opposite to her - Narcissa Malfoy. Her hair was as immaculate as always , appearance prim and pristine - yet , a sort of hurry and turmoil pronounced within it. Her usual , tranquil grey retinas shone with apology and gratitude. She was well aware why her son did not have to be at the table - why he had the privilege of being sent off to the Zabini Manor when he should have been the one in Evanna's place. It plagued the woman's motherly soul that someone else was bearing the price of her husband's failure. But at the same time , she was more than grateful to Evanna - the reason why Draco was saved from his fate.

"Evanna , I suppose you are well aware why you have been summoned here", The Dark Lord asked , one hand stroking Nagini's neck , while the other grasped the hem of his wand , as though feeling threatened by a girl who was yet to turn sixteen. 

"Yes , my Lord", She said - nodding ever so slightly. Oh how she despised calling him that. But then again , she hated to call him anything other than 'useless half-blood' or other such names within the safety of her mind.

"Bellatrix", He only said softly. Just her name , and the crazed Lestrange woman stood up - nodding , as though she was already aware of what she had not yet been commanded to do. Her fingers curled around the royal blue scruff of Evanna's tailored robes - and she pulled the Ravenclaw out of her seat , pushing her towards where the robes of the Dark Lord , woven from pure obsidian gems brushed against the maple floor.

"Give her your left arm", The Dark Lord hissed , a feeling of sickening glee invading his senses as he finally had Evanna Frey in his grip , her rightful place.

Oh how wrong he is , Evanna thought - as her eyes faced the ground , her cherry crushed lips lilting upwards into a small smirk.

The ghost of a smile played on Bellatrix's parched lips , and had she not been in the presence she would have inflicted such pain upon the girl who infuriated her soul like none other - and then cackled at the sight of the blood gushing from the girl's veins.

But her job , as of now , was to only mark Evanna. The Evanna Frey who had stolen the deserved the rank of her nephew. Had she not been chosen last moment , the wonderful opportunity would have been given to Draco. But no , of course she had to make away with this chance as well.

Her arm inched out towards Bellatrix's looming figure , the rips in the latter's tight-fitting black robes coruscating against her porcelain skin. The woman smiled , baring her sharpened canines at the girl in an attempt to scare her , before dragging her crenulated nails against Evanna's soft flesh as she lifted the latter's sleeve and held it tightly in place.

Evanna closed her eyes , as she felt the tip of Bellatrix's intricate , onyx shaded wand press against her wrist. A rope of scalding , ardent pain twisted within her core - crystalline branches of pain taking root in her lungs , prodding at her purple pink heart through the gaps in her ivory ribs. A myriad of blooming rose thorns pierced her arteries , drawing blood trickle by trickle - a pain that could slowly kill her. It travelled down her spine , rushed through the numerous veins in her body - keeping up a pretense of never ceasing. She gritted her teeth , not letting a single tear or a scream escape the depths of her throat - she had survived pain worse than what she was receiving now.

Twirling flames of torment agonised her bones , and she could do nothing to keep it at bay. Her innards were tumbling down , turning into the rubble of a destroyed civilization - and yet , on the outside she smiled.

Few things had surprised Bellatrix in her life , and watching Evanna smile - as though the pain was but a dull throb - made her astonished , a sudden rage at failing to make the girl fearful and wail rushing up her lungs.

She pulled way , panting for breath , taking in Evanna's standing form. Although her shoulders had drooped slightly , she seemed fine.

But it was taking everything within her to not collapse. Standing straight , she dusted her clothes slightly , before studying the mark of the melanoid serpent coiling it's tail through the mouth of the skull - a symbol of eternity - embedded on her arm. The snake hissed , baring it's forked tongue - it's figure shifting ever-so-slightly.

"Excellent", the Dark Lord whispered.

"Evanna , I am sure you are aware of a Vanishing Cabinet at Borgin and Burke's ?", He questioned , standing up slightly - as he motioned Bellatrix to take her seat at the table of Death-Eaters.

Evanna merely nodded , deciding to keep quiet.

"Well , it has a twin at Hogwarts. Specifically , in the Room of Requirements", He said , baring his yellow teeth at her - the sight of which made Evanna want to curl up and vomit. How could one forget their hygiene while trying to conquer the world ?

"I want you to fix it-"

'So Death-Eaters from Borgin and Burke's can flood Hogwarts ?", She enquired. He nodded , a pleased smile making it's way onto his lips.

"Very clever. I always knew there was a reason why I favoured you , Evanna", He said , refraining to mention the fact that it also stemmed from her being his own flesh and blood.

"As well as , assassinate Dumbledore", He said softly , coming uncomfortably close to the girl , making her almost recoil and gag at the sight of him. Bellatrix could have chosen so much better.

As much as she had a burning hatred igniting her veins for that old man , she did not wish to kill him His intelligence was a useful asset to her. But it would come at the cost of both her and Draco's life. She did not wish to die so soon , so meaninglessly , and as long as she would stay alive - she would keep the boy with moon-like eyes alive as well.

Oh the things she would do for that wretched boy , and she did not where this 'self-sacrifice' suddenly appeared from. She was quite firm of the idea that she would never do this for anyone else.

Then what was so different about him ? She did like him , yes , but only enough to keep him around from time to time - she believed that she did not need anyone in life , and could survive quite well on her own. But then why did she need him to survive ?

Fate whispered , Because , darling if he dies , so would the last of your humanity.

And she nodded. But the survival of her humanity was not the thing she was worried about , it was about the safety of the boy. And it plagued her that she allowed herself to feel this way. 

He was only a distraction.

"Do you agree to the proposition ?", Came the question from the thin lips of Lord Voldemort.

"Yes", She answered , without missing a beat. 

But sometimes , even distractions were too bewitching to let go.