Charlie tried to struggle, but he hardly had any momentum left. He was left standing in the middle of Malfoy Manor, entrapped with the characters of his nightmares. There was a scrambling to the left of him, where the Death Eaters stood, and he noticed them watching him with a curious hunger.
"Oh goodie!" laughed Bellatrix, practically jumping up and down from excitement. "Let me do it! I'll be happy to do it, my Lord."
"No," a difference voice bellowed, and Charlie looked up to see Narcissa Malfoy parading down the staircase, Draco at her heels. "Let my son do it. Let him prove that he was destined to bare the mark."
"Great idea, Cissy!" beamed Bellatrix, her wicked smile growing larger.
Draco, however, clearly hadn't agreed to fulfill the necessary precautions against Charlie. His eyes widened, and Charlie watched him gulp in nervousness. The two boys shared a pitiful look, subconsciously wondering what they had gotten themselves into.
For the first time, Charlie had noticed the white bandage wrapped around Malfoy's left forearm, which was damp with blood. Upon realization of Charlie's wandering eyes, Draco pulled his suit jacket sleeve down with a huff, pretending as if he was fine. Charlie noticed the fear behind the boy's eyes, however, and opened his mouth to call out for his help. His father ultimately beat him to it as Fenwick's loud, angry voice echoed around the room.
"It was my idea," he barked, and Bellatrix frowned with the utmost disappointment. "And he is my son."
Without being given a moment to react, Charlie was thrown to the floor harshly. He was ready to take the few seconds he had as an opportunity to escape, but as he whipped around, he was met with his father's wand pointed directly at him.
"F-Father, pleas-"
"Crucio!"
The incantation was muttered with such profound venom that it was almost deafening as it ricocheted off the walls. The jet of red light flew from his wand tip and slammed into Charlie's chest, and a single tear slid down his cheek as he fell to the ground, jerking uncontrollably.
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Charlie screamed out in pure agony as he started to writhe in pain. His bellows of pain carried across the manor, but caused nothing but an uproar of cheer from the colony of Death Eaters watching. It felt like a huge hole was carving inside of Charlie, everything was collapsing inwards, twisting down into this miserable, cold black vacuum.
Like a wave, it started from his spine. Dozens of snaps echoed through his body, and for a fraction of a second, it felt as though all of his bones were being broken. Charlie writhed on the floor, unable to cope. His movements only intensified the pain, and he realized this too late. A scream ripped from his throat, rising into the air, matching that of a victim taken by a murderer.
