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november 1996
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"𝚊𝚕𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚝"
𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚡𝚑𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
Not too long after Violetta's first successful curse ― the girl nearly disappeared. She spent her days in her room or somewhere downstairs, training with Bellatrix or attending meetings. She no longer ate dinner with her family nor wrote to Draco. She was a stranger to her best friends whom she didn't see even if they asked.
She had become a shell of her former self.
Now that things were (about) clear with Tonks, Violetta was able to direct her focus on her work as a Death Eater. She was the one who sat on the left from the Dark Lord, just opposite of her aunt. She would do the Dark Lord's bidding without questions asked which began to worry her brother.
Violetta was often a girl who questions things ― no matter who orders her around. Regulus knew that Violetta was very aware of how the Dark Lord was no longer after muggles but was more and more obsessed about Harry Potter.
But it seemed that Violetta was in denial. She didn't want to believe that what she has believed her entire life was now just a tiny fraction of the Dark Lord's plan.
On top of all this, Violetta was still working on Regulus' book. Ever since visiting Borgin and Burkes a week ago, the need to finally manage to open the book became an obsession rather than a mission. Violetta would spend hours and hours in her room, wondering and thinking what could be so important and personal to Regulus Black.
Violetta had thought about going back to 12 Grimmauld Place but figured that Regulus Black wasn't an idiot who would keep the key or key-like object anywhere near the book. The easiest thing would be to ask from her mother since she was close with Regulus but Violetta didn't want to risk her mother finding out.
The woman has too much in her mind already.
"Why didn't you tell me you and Fleur broke up?" Regulus asked one evening when he and Violetta were heading to their rooms from a meeting.
"Hush," hissed Violetta.
While their mother was already sleeping and the only person awake in the manor now that the meeting was over ― was Bellatrix who can't hear anything from her own mutterings and mumblings ― Violetta has always felt like the walls of her home have ears.
"Why?" Asked Regulus again.
Violetta sighed and turned to look at her brother. "We just did. How do you even know?"
"I saw Fleur yesterday," said Regulus, completely surprising his sister.
"You saw her? Why did you see her?"
Violetta was quite literally gobsmacked by her brother's news. She knew her brother was supportive of her and Fleur's relationship ― or past relationship ― but she didn't know he was close enough with the French girl that he would actually talk with her.
"I visited her," said Regulus.
"What?"
Regulus sighed and stopped walking, stopping just next to his room. "It doesn't take a genius to see that you haven't been yourself lately, even before the whole 'you did the Cruciatus Curse' - thing. I bet your break up was one of the reasons you managed to do it, because you're angry. Anger makes you different like you lose a part of yourself and no, I am not judging. I do that too."
"But my point was that I went to see Fleur to ask her and confirm what I already suspected."
"Okay so yes, we broke up. Or she actually broke up with me," sighed Violetta.
Regulus nodded. "Are you okay?"
"I managed to torture a bunny just after things ended with Fleur. What do you think?"
"I figured as much," said Regulus, offering a sympathetic smile. "Mum asked me if I knew what's been going on with you."
Violetta sighed heavily. "What did you say to her?"
"I told mum that her daughter broke up with her girlfriend and is now using her anger to channel whatever dark forces she needs to do Unforgivables," said Regulus sarcastically.
"Aren't you funny," mumbled Violetta.
Regulus rolled his eyes. "I said that I don't know. So you should expect mum to come and ask."
Violetta grimaced, bid her brother goodnight and went to her room. Unlike the rest of her family ― she didn't sleep at all. She was up all night, trying to figure out what to do with Regulus Black's diary.
She sat in the middle of her room, in the darkness but surrounded by candlelight. The book was on the floor just in front of her ― basically mocking her.
The problem was that no matter how hard Violetta thought, she couldn't just come up with things important to Regulus. She was a young child when he passed away.
Violetta thought about what the book contains and why the Dark Lord wanted it so bad. The only thing Violetta could come up with was that whatever is in the book might explain what happened to Regulus Black.
His fate was very unfortunate and shared a lot of different opinions.
Frustration took over her and she took the book. She began to forcefully rip the covers as a rather weak attempt to open it but her efforts were for nothing. Violetta tossed the book aside and stood up.
She walked over to her dresser and was about to take her wand from one of the drawers when her eyes landed on a small but important object.
The snow globe Fleur gave her a long time ago was on top of her dresser, just behind a framed photograph of Violetta with her best friends.
Violetta took in a shaky breath and the need to just go and run to Fleur's was so strong. But she remained in her room, not moving an inch. She reached for the snow globe and swallowed the taste of bitterness on the tip of her tongue.
Bitterness which was really just sadness and she knew it.
She was sad.
But she couldn't say it out loud because she feared that the sadness which she manages to transform into anger and bitterness and hatred would lose its power ― making her aware of certain things.
Things like Marcus Flint whom she needs to marry preferably before the year changes or Abraxas will have her head.
Things like not being able to help her father.
She does whatever the Dark Lord tells her to do and yet, he has not made an effort to free Lucius from Azkaban. Violetta thought that maybe if she manages to open Regulus Black's book, the Dark Lord might help but even she knew her wishes were unlikely to come true.
It took everything she had to turn away from the snow globe but she did so, and faced the mirror just above her dresser. Violetta felt her fists clutching and the next second, she was staring at the mirror in front of her, or more the lack of it.
Just a few seconds ago, she had smacked it. There were pieces of glass all over her room and her fist was red with blood. She wasn't even sure how she had done this or why. It was like she had lost the sense of herself and something or someone else had taken over.
She suddenly heard footsteps approaching her room and she panicked. Her mother must have heard the smacking of the mirror. She glanced at her fist again, blood floating down her fingertips. Before she could have taken any action, her mother rushed into her room and stopped on her tracks the second she saw the broken mirror and blood.
"I-I don't know what happened," Violetta stuttered, her eyes fixated on her mother's. "I swear mama, I didn't mean for this to happen."
Narcissa didn't even manage to nod ― her only focus was the blood covering Violetta's hands. The sound of blood dripping on the floor made Narcissa feel light-headed.
"Wait I thought you were asleep," said Violetta, her brows furrowing. "I woke you up..."
Violetta knew her mother had had a hard time sleeping now that her home was a death trap and her family was in danger no matter what time of the day.
"Oh it's all right," sighed Narcissa once she was regaining her focus. She could still see the blood and almost smell its rusty scent hanging in the air.
"Let's get you cleaned up, okay?" Said Narcissa.
She gently placed her hands on Violetta's shoulders and led the girl to her bathroom.
Violetta turned to look behind and groaned. "The blood is going to stain," she said as she looked at the path of blood which followed her.
"The house-elves will clean it," Narcissa assured while taking a wet cloth and pressed it against Violetta's fists.
"I'm sorry..." muttered Violetta.
Narcissa sighed heavily. "What happened?"
"I don't know," said Violetta, making her mother arch her brows. "I really don't know. One minute I was just doing nothing and then I broke the mirror."
"From out of nowhere?"
Violetta nodded. "Yes. Mama I swear I would never do something like that."
"Something like what?" Narcissa pressed the matter even further.
"It was an accident. I don't know what took over me but I promise there's nothing to worry about."
Narcissa removed the cloth from Violetta's fists and took a good look at the cuts the glass had made on them. She then turned to look at Violetta and was about to speak but was stopped by her daughter.
"I'm fine mama," she said.
"No you are not," Narcissa shook her head. "You barely leave your room and when you do, it is when you have a meeting or mission. Otherwise you are in your room, you don't spend time with Vivian or Gabriel anymore."
"I've been busy," mumbled Violetta.
"I'm just afraid that you are spending too much time with...." started Narcissa but didn't finish because of the face Violetta made. "Oh don't do that."
Violetta rolled her eyes. "I am spending my time doing what I'm meant to do, to make our world better for us."
"Well, I don't want to see you break your fists because of it."
"I won't, okay?" Snapped Violetta. "I am fine and I will be fine."
Narcissa's visibly flinched by her daughter's reaction. "Honey, it's different now. Back when you were little, the Dark Lord's main goal was to make this world for us. No more muggles or blood-traitors. But now, it's all about the Potter boy and I just...."
"It's not mama. There's still a reason for all this and once Potter is out of the way, then we can focus on the real job," argued Violetta.
Silence fell upon them ― Violetta's defying look piercing her mother's soul. The girl was too much of a Black for her own good, Narcissa has always known this but now it was more clear than ever.
She feared Violetta might self-destruct herself like so many Black's before her.
Disowned, mad, killed....
"Why won't you go to sleep," said Narcissa, gently patting Violetta's hands. "It's late and you need all the strength."
Violetta sighed but she didn't want to make her mother more upset than she already was.
"Yes, I will do that. Good night mama."
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Violetta grew angrier and angrier each day which scared her mother but made her aunt beam with pride. The Malfoy heiress now managed to cast the Cruciatus and Imperius Curse easily ― but only when Bellatrix had rant about how disappointing Violetta is or how her father had failed and probably will stay in Azkaban forever and only when her victims weren't humans.
Her wand between her fingers, Violetta watched as her aunt tortured yet another muggle-born family.
The young Malfoy woman used to flinch every time she saw someone getting tortured but now she just stared. It didn't feel good but it didn't feel bad either. If she was being honest, she didn't feel anything. She wasn't even sure though if she was taking anything in. She was just blank.
Breaking her mirror a week ago was just the beginning of her spiralling downfall. Violetta became unaware of things happening around her ― such as the show Bellatrix was putting on just before her eyes. Violetta had become numb.
The screams of the tortured ones' sounded like muffled ocean waves, hitting shore on a stormy night.
Bellatrix cackled, her wand pointed at the people in pain. She hit one curse after another, almost like she was conducting an orchestra but instead of instruments, the music to her ears was played by screams and cries.
"Why won't you have a try?" Snickered Bellatrix. "Your auntie needs a little break."
Violetta didn't react to her aunt's words.
A sharp smack to the back of Violetta's head however woke her and she turned towards her aunt.
"You have been doing so well lately, little Lettie, so why won't you take it from here? Have a little fun with those mudbloods," said Bellatrix and pushed Violetta towards the family of four.
"It's just like you have practised. Point your wand at them and just say the word," Bellatrix spoke in a low voice.
Violetta felt Bellatrix's wand against her lower back, a reminder that she would hurt her if she didn't obey. Violetta has had her fair share of Cruciatus Curse ― Bellatrix used it as a teaching method ― and Violetta had no interest in taking them anymore. She wouldn't have to if her mother knew but Violetta had chosen to keep her mother in the dark when it came to Bellatrix's methods.
The Malfoy daughter didn't want her mother to get in trouble ― she would argue with Bellatrix and possibly get hurt.
Violetta tightened her grip around her wand and took a deep breath in. She exhaled the air very shakily. A fleeting moment of fear took over her before she brushed it off by thinking about one of the million things that made her angry and upset.
She could hear the father of the muggle family begging for their lives but she couldn't make sense of his words. They were muffled just like his screams earlier.
With her wand pointed at the family, Violetta whispered "Crucio," and poured all her anger with that one word.
Violetta swallowed hard, forcing the lump in her throat to settle down as she watched the people in front of her twitching in pain. She has done the curse before but not like this. She has done it to a bunny, a spider or two. A rat and a house-elf.
Out of the previous ones, her house-elf was the toughest one.
Feeby had sounded like a human when crying in agony.
Now Violetta was hearing real human beings crying in pain because of her.
She felt empty.
"Marvellous!" Shrieked Bellatrix who was practically dancing around the victims. She then pointed her wand at the people and continued torturing them. "Crucio! Crucio!"
Time was a strange and fleeting concept to Violetta whenever she was on a mission and soon she was Apparated to her home's gates by Bellatrix.
Violetta walked the long road from the gates to her front-door without a thought in her head. She was almost unaware of her surroundings, all she could see was her aunt's figure running and skipping in front of her ― her wand casting small fires around the grounds.
"Come Violetta! We must inform the Dark Lord of your good deeds," shouted Bellatrix.
The young woman kept her slow pace but kept walking nevertheless. The thought of making the Dark Lord proud made the feeling of emptiness in her a little lighter. She thought about trying her luck this time and asked the Dark Lord to help her father.
Violetta followed her aunt inside the manor. The manor was dark and cold like it has been for a few months which didn't quite match how the manor used to be like when Violetta was younger.
The two brunette women walked into the dining room where Voldemort was already waiting but so were Regulus and Narcissa.
"Aaah Miss Malfoy and Bellatrix," started the Dark Lord and moved towards them. "How was your day?"
Bellatrix almost squealed. "Oh my Lord! Violetta performed the Cruciatus wonderfully!"
Voldemort nodded approvingly, a smirk hidden somewhere under his thin lips. "I am pleased to hear that. I however presume that young Miss Malfoy did not finish them?"
Whatever smile Violetta was holding when the Dark Lord complimented her faded away almost the second he moved on from the announcement.
"No she didn't my Lord..." mumbled Bellatrix, her head now hanging low in shame. "But the next time I'm sure she will do it."
"Of course she will," said Voldemort.
The brunette girl parted her lips a little before saying anything. "W-what about my father? Do you think you could...."
Voldemort barked. "Hah, no! He hasn't learned his lessons yet."
Violetta swallowed before her gaze drifted to her mother and brother. She did not know why they were there.
"Mmm well I am however somewhat pleased with the progress. Now, as you can see Violetta, your brother and mother are here," said Voldemort.
Violetta nodded.
"You and your brother are off to another little mission," explained Voldemort. "We need more people and you are going to get me some. Powerful wizards with no morals, of course."
Regulus walked to his sister and stopped right next to her.
"You must be proud, Narcissa. These two have proved themselves to be useful. I surely hope that the youngest will do so as well," continued Voldemort and Violetta saw her mother giving him a very forced smile.
"Very," said Narcissa and glanced at her two eldest.
"Off you go then young Malfoys," said Voldemort as he walked towards the dining room door. "I expect great results."
And just like that, he was gone.
Narcissa waited until the spine shivering atmosphere Voldemort always leaves behind disappeared from her. When she knew it was safe, she immediately rushed to her daughter who has been quiet this whole time.
Normally, even during the first meeting with the Dark Lord, Violetta spoke up her mind without a second thought.
"I'm fine," muttered Violetta when her mother reached her and placed her hand on Violetta's cheek.
Narcissa wished she could believe her daughter but she couldn't. The girl was just staring blankly ahead, her brown eyes empty and tired.
"Maybe you should go to sleep, you look very tired," said Narcissa, making Bellatrix who was sitting on a chair now.
"I'm not tired and besides, I have to go. We have to go," said Violetta and glanced at her brother who nodded but he also noticed the tiredness his sister was holding.
"She can sleep when she's dead," said Bellatrix.
Narcissa snapped her head towards her sister. "Don't say that Bella!"
"She's right though," snorted Violetta. "And I probably will be dead if I don't go now...."
"Stop making jokes about that," sighed Narcissa and turned back to her daughter and son. Narcissa seemed to bite against her tears and quickly pulled the twins into a hug.
"I love you two," said the worrying mother.
Violetta was the first one to pull away, Regulus following her right away.
"Be safe and look after each other," said Narcissa. "And come back home as soon as you can."
There was real desperation in Narcissa's eyes which Violetta picked up. It nearly took everything she had but she put on a small smile to assure her mother that things were going to be all right.
"We love you too," she said.
violetta is a walking disaster who really needs fleur ;) and she will get her soon, promise!