Seduced By Darkness
folder
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
23
Views:
9,493
Reviews:
74
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
23
Views:
9,493
Reviews:
74
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Betrayal
Note : Look at me go! Another chapter, Rated R for violence? Evil Bella, but what could you expect from her and her twisted rationalization of things. Once again, thanks everyone who is reviewing, you guys ROCK! Enjoy!
\"I\'ve crossed the last line
from where I can\'t return
where every step I took
betrayed me\"
-- \"Sweet Surrender\" by Sara McLaughlan
***
Chapter 13 : Betrayal
Knott was informing Tom that the family that they were watching was not yet at their home. Only three of the family members were there, the other four would be back shortly however. Tom was trying to pay attention to his Death Eater but a sudden worry entered his mind and with it he thought of Claudia. He dismissed the man and frowned at the night sky, even now he was thinking about her. He really needed to talk to her and clarify their boundaries because this would not do. Still the suspicion that something was wrong did not easily leave him.
***
“What is it princess you don’t have a witty comment? You think that you are too good to beg for your life?” Bellatrix taunted. Claudia’s mind was racing furiously, what could she do? She had no wand, no one was around to help her and this madwoman was obviously not going to be reasoned with so she decided to attack the problem head on. “He will kill you. You know that” Bellatrix’s manic laugh rang out, “Oh, you think you are THAT important do you little whore! When I kill you whatever hold you have on him will break and he will come back to me. The only thing I regret is that I must make it quick as I have somewhere to be at the moment princess.”
“Then get it done. Do you think you scare me? That I will throw myself at your feet and beg you for anything? You really are more pathetic than I originally thought.” As Claudia finished Bellatrix screamed in rage and stunned her. Then quickly raced up to her, pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the abdomen. The pain was unlike anything Claudia had ever experienced. When the arrows had pierced her she had screamed from shock but they had numbed her and she had felt no pain. This time she felt the knife pierce her skin and muscle and slide inside her body as if it belonged there, it was all so easy. Her mind rebelled at that thought, why was it so easy? Why had Thomas not known that this could happen? Why hadn’t she known it? Did she really feel that safe in this place where everyone but him wanted her dead? She really was an idiot she thought solemnly. Bellatrix took the blade out and leaned over her, “You see princess the blade is poisoned. In less than thirty minutes you will die. Don’t bother trying to scream as the poison will stiffen your limbs and you’ll be barely able to whisper.”
She leaned her face inches from Claudia’s and whispered, “The best thing will be that he will think that you killed yourself princess.” She said as she brushed her lips against Claudia’s and then stabbed her again with an identical knife which had no trace of poison then she put the bloody knife in Claudia‘s unmoving hand. “Goodbye little whore.” She got up and left her sprawled on the floor, bleeding all over the carpet. Bellatrix had to get back to Lucius before he noticed her absence so she disapparated. She was glad that she could disapparate from the castle even if she couldn’t apparate inside, it saved her time.
Claudia thought that she should be panicking now but at the moment all she could think of was ‘So this is what dying feels like?’ It was painful and her bones felt cold. She didn’t want to die, not alone in this place. She wanted her family, she wanted… She wanted Thomas ….
***
Moments later, Lucius ran past a sentry as he went inside the castle. Spotting Nagi he quickly asked, “Where’s your mistress and have you seen Bellatrix?” The elf turned frightened eyes to him, “No master ... I have not seen the missy in many hours and that other woman I have not seen her.” Looking around he told Nagi to go upstairs and see if Claudia was there as he kept checking every room downstairs. He passed the downstairs study and when he found it locked he narrowed his eyes, “Alohamora.” He bellowed and the door opened. When he spotted Claudia all color drained from his face. Lucius quickly knelt beside her and gently took her into his arms. He noted the knife in her hand and discarded it. “I d-didn’t ... S-she... H-help m-me...” Her words were almost incoherent and barely audible.
“Shush, you will be alright. Don’t try to speak, I’m here. I will make sure that you get well.” He tried to sound as soothing as possible, trying very hard to keep the fear out of his voice so that he wouldn’t upset her further. That bitch, what the hell had she done? The Dark Lord wouldn’t care that she had tricked the damn stable boy. Lucius had been in charge and if Claudia died it would be his responsibility. Even if the Dark Lord didn’t hold him responsible he found that he didn’t want any harm to come to her. Lucius noticed how cold she was, her breathing very shallow. So much blood, everywhere, he realized that she was dying. “P-poison… s-she…” But she fainted and didn’t finish her sentence. He quickly took some blood from her wound into a vial and then went to the fireplace. He was not a master healer, so with the Dark Lord away there was only one person who could help him.
***
Tom felt a stabbing pain on his side. He wondered what the hell it was, as they were getting ready to begin their attack. The family was gathered together finally. The feeling that he had earlier about something being wrong with Claudia came back. It didn’t let him think. He felt cold and a bit sick, frowning he turned around. She was safe, his mind reasoned. She had to be, how could she be in danger? Yet, the stabbing pain did not ease his side and he could not stop thinking about her. “Knott, call them off. Tell them to go home and await further instructions from me. I have to go back to the castle now.” Knott opened his mouth to protest but simply nodded when Tom pinned him with a vicious glare. Tom still did not understand what he was feeling, only that he had to get to Claudia as soon as possible.
***
“Severus!”
Severus was crouching under his table, trying to pick up a book that had fallen underneath it. When he heard his name being called with such urgency his head snapped up so fast that he hit himself with the side of the table. “Fuck!” He closed his eyes as blinding pain raced across the top of his head. Tentatively getting up and opening his eyes he saw Lucius’s head in his fireplace. “Lucius, are you mad? The floo network is watched, I cannot believe that you...” Lucius glared at him, “Shut up Severus, this fireplace is untraceable and I could care less even if it wasn’t. Here!” He said as he handed Severus a vial filled with what looked like blood. Before Severus could ask about it he explained, “Claudia has been poisoned, I don’t have time to explain now but she’s dying Severus, I tried to close the wound but it keeps reopening and the poison is running through her system. Our Lord isn’t here so I need your help.”
After he’d heard the word poison Severus raced to one of his cabinets and took out a potion and rushed to Lucius’s side. “Give her this, it should counteract a little with whatever she was given, I will test this and have an antidote ready for you within the hour. Come back in exactly sixty minutes Lucius, not a minute longer!” Lucius nodded and disappeared from view. Severus thought of going to Dumbledore but there was no time, if the poison was what he feared they had precious little time to waste.
***
“Nagi go and get her clean clothes. Like pants and a shirt, I need to be able to treat her wound.” As the elf left he lifted her head and made her drink the potion. He could barely even see the rising and falling of her chest anymore. This was going to be one of the longest hours of his life. He cursed Bellatrix to hell and back every five minutes during his wait. Nagi had come back and changed Claudia into a light blue cotton cami tank and matching bottom. He sent Nagi out when it was time to go back to Severus. “Is it done?” He asked when he popped back into Severus’s fire. His impatience earned him a glare from the potions master, “Yes! I made you two bottles. From the first bottle, pour half of it into her wound, then heal the wound. Make her drink the rest. Give her half the other bottle in two hours and then the other half two hours after that. It has to be precise Lucius.” Nodding fervently Lucius began retreating when Severus stopped him. “Listen, if she doesn’t wake up within twenty four hours...” He didn’t say anything more, he didn’t have to. Lucius saw it in his eyes, if they were already too late then she would die anyway.
When he got back to the study he did as Severus told him. Gently picking her up afterwards, he took Claudia to her room, thinking that she would be more comfortable there. He concentrated on getting her warm, so he built a fire with his wand, then put a warming spell on her blankets. Focusing on taking care of her he forgot to send someone to tell his Lord what had happened.
***
Tom apparated inside the castle. The wards that were in place did not apply to him and so he did not have any problem doing this. “MASTER! You’ve come back.” Tom eyed the elf warily, her eyes were rounder and bigger than usual. “Where is Claudia?” He asked, although he was already heading for the stairs. “In her room, Master Lucius is with her.” Tom’s step faltered and he turned back to the elf, the look in his eyes made her shrink away from him. “Why is Lucius in my wife’s room?” She stammered a few times before forming coherent words, “Missy is hurt badly Master. So much blood, so awful! And the poison” She shuddered then burst into tears and was not able to continue. Tom didn’t wait for her to compose herself. He apparated upstairs quickly and burst into Claudia’s room.
There he found Lucius bending over her, feeling her forehead and checking her abdomen. “What the hell happened Lucius?” He asked, but he was not looking at him. His attention was solely on Claudia. Her breathing was shallow, the rhythm of her heart chaotic, and her face was extremely pale. Then he saw an angry red welt on the side of her stomach, following his Lord‘s gaze Lucius explained, “It was an open wound. It’s been closing slowly due to the poison she was given. I went to Severus’s for an antidote my Lord. I have no skills in the healing arts and there was no time.” Tom didn’t care, he could have taken her to a bloody muggle doctor and he wouldn’t have cared less as long as it saved her life. “How did this happen?”
Lucius told him about Bellatrix and about what Severus had said. The more Lucius talked, the quieter Tom became. For a moment Lucius thought that he was too engrossed in making sure that Claudia was breathing and had not paid him any attention. However, when he looked at his face and eyes he saw that he was furious, it made him take a step back. “I should have killed that bitch when she vocally threatened Claudia in my presence. It was a stupid thing to do. To let her live!” Lucius nodded, “I am sorry my Lord, I should have seen this as well. I feel that I am responsible.” Tom’s eyes remained hard and unyielding, “Find her and bring her to me Lucius. Right now I will take care of my wife.” Lucius bowed and quietly left them alone.
Tom got into bed with Claudia. He handled her as gently as if she were a delicate doll that would break from the simplest touch. She moaned in pain, “I know baby, and I am sorry that you are in pain. I’ll take care of you now. I promise.” He whispered. Tom could not recall really ever being frightened in his life. Angry, detached, resigned, sad even but never scared. He was scared now and it made him feel helpless, which gave fuel to the rage he was feeling towards Bellatrix. All he could do was try to comfort her and hope that the potion would do its job so that she would be alright soon. He kissed her forehead, tenderly smoothing her golden hair away from her face, “Wake up Love, please.”
\"I\'ve crossed the last line
from where I can\'t return
where every step I took
betrayed me\"
-- \"Sweet Surrender\" by Sara McLaughlan
Chapter 13 : Betrayal
Knott was informing Tom that the family that they were watching was not yet at their home. Only three of the family members were there, the other four would be back shortly however. Tom was trying to pay attention to his Death Eater but a sudden worry entered his mind and with it he thought of Claudia. He dismissed the man and frowned at the night sky, even now he was thinking about her. He really needed to talk to her and clarify their boundaries because this would not do. Still the suspicion that something was wrong did not easily leave him.
“What is it princess you don’t have a witty comment? You think that you are too good to beg for your life?” Bellatrix taunted. Claudia’s mind was racing furiously, what could she do? She had no wand, no one was around to help her and this madwoman was obviously not going to be reasoned with so she decided to attack the problem head on. “He will kill you. You know that” Bellatrix’s manic laugh rang out, “Oh, you think you are THAT important do you little whore! When I kill you whatever hold you have on him will break and he will come back to me. The only thing I regret is that I must make it quick as I have somewhere to be at the moment princess.”
“Then get it done. Do you think you scare me? That I will throw myself at your feet and beg you for anything? You really are more pathetic than I originally thought.” As Claudia finished Bellatrix screamed in rage and stunned her. Then quickly raced up to her, pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the abdomen. The pain was unlike anything Claudia had ever experienced. When the arrows had pierced her she had screamed from shock but they had numbed her and she had felt no pain. This time she felt the knife pierce her skin and muscle and slide inside her body as if it belonged there, it was all so easy. Her mind rebelled at that thought, why was it so easy? Why had Thomas not known that this could happen? Why hadn’t she known it? Did she really feel that safe in this place where everyone but him wanted her dead? She really was an idiot she thought solemnly. Bellatrix took the blade out and leaned over her, “You see princess the blade is poisoned. In less than thirty minutes you will die. Don’t bother trying to scream as the poison will stiffen your limbs and you’ll be barely able to whisper.”
She leaned her face inches from Claudia’s and whispered, “The best thing will be that he will think that you killed yourself princess.” She said as she brushed her lips against Claudia’s and then stabbed her again with an identical knife which had no trace of poison then she put the bloody knife in Claudia‘s unmoving hand. “Goodbye little whore.” She got up and left her sprawled on the floor, bleeding all over the carpet. Bellatrix had to get back to Lucius before he noticed her absence so she disapparated. She was glad that she could disapparate from the castle even if she couldn’t apparate inside, it saved her time.
Claudia thought that she should be panicking now but at the moment all she could think of was ‘So this is what dying feels like?’ It was painful and her bones felt cold. She didn’t want to die, not alone in this place. She wanted her family, she wanted… She wanted Thomas ….
Moments later, Lucius ran past a sentry as he went inside the castle. Spotting Nagi he quickly asked, “Where’s your mistress and have you seen Bellatrix?” The elf turned frightened eyes to him, “No master ... I have not seen the missy in many hours and that other woman I have not seen her.” Looking around he told Nagi to go upstairs and see if Claudia was there as he kept checking every room downstairs. He passed the downstairs study and when he found it locked he narrowed his eyes, “Alohamora.” He bellowed and the door opened. When he spotted Claudia all color drained from his face. Lucius quickly knelt beside her and gently took her into his arms. He noted the knife in her hand and discarded it. “I d-didn’t ... S-she... H-help m-me...” Her words were almost incoherent and barely audible.
“Shush, you will be alright. Don’t try to speak, I’m here. I will make sure that you get well.” He tried to sound as soothing as possible, trying very hard to keep the fear out of his voice so that he wouldn’t upset her further. That bitch, what the hell had she done? The Dark Lord wouldn’t care that she had tricked the damn stable boy. Lucius had been in charge and if Claudia died it would be his responsibility. Even if the Dark Lord didn’t hold him responsible he found that he didn’t want any harm to come to her. Lucius noticed how cold she was, her breathing very shallow. So much blood, everywhere, he realized that she was dying. “P-poison… s-she…” But she fainted and didn’t finish her sentence. He quickly took some blood from her wound into a vial and then went to the fireplace. He was not a master healer, so with the Dark Lord away there was only one person who could help him.
Tom felt a stabbing pain on his side. He wondered what the hell it was, as they were getting ready to begin their attack. The family was gathered together finally. The feeling that he had earlier about something being wrong with Claudia came back. It didn’t let him think. He felt cold and a bit sick, frowning he turned around. She was safe, his mind reasoned. She had to be, how could she be in danger? Yet, the stabbing pain did not ease his side and he could not stop thinking about her. “Knott, call them off. Tell them to go home and await further instructions from me. I have to go back to the castle now.” Knott opened his mouth to protest but simply nodded when Tom pinned him with a vicious glare. Tom still did not understand what he was feeling, only that he had to get to Claudia as soon as possible.
“Severus!”
Severus was crouching under his table, trying to pick up a book that had fallen underneath it. When he heard his name being called with such urgency his head snapped up so fast that he hit himself with the side of the table. “Fuck!” He closed his eyes as blinding pain raced across the top of his head. Tentatively getting up and opening his eyes he saw Lucius’s head in his fireplace. “Lucius, are you mad? The floo network is watched, I cannot believe that you...” Lucius glared at him, “Shut up Severus, this fireplace is untraceable and I could care less even if it wasn’t. Here!” He said as he handed Severus a vial filled with what looked like blood. Before Severus could ask about it he explained, “Claudia has been poisoned, I don’t have time to explain now but she’s dying Severus, I tried to close the wound but it keeps reopening and the poison is running through her system. Our Lord isn’t here so I need your help.”
After he’d heard the word poison Severus raced to one of his cabinets and took out a potion and rushed to Lucius’s side. “Give her this, it should counteract a little with whatever she was given, I will test this and have an antidote ready for you within the hour. Come back in exactly sixty minutes Lucius, not a minute longer!” Lucius nodded and disappeared from view. Severus thought of going to Dumbledore but there was no time, if the poison was what he feared they had precious little time to waste.
“Nagi go and get her clean clothes. Like pants and a shirt, I need to be able to treat her wound.” As the elf left he lifted her head and made her drink the potion. He could barely even see the rising and falling of her chest anymore. This was going to be one of the longest hours of his life. He cursed Bellatrix to hell and back every five minutes during his wait. Nagi had come back and changed Claudia into a light blue cotton cami tank and matching bottom. He sent Nagi out when it was time to go back to Severus. “Is it done?” He asked when he popped back into Severus’s fire. His impatience earned him a glare from the potions master, “Yes! I made you two bottles. From the first bottle, pour half of it into her wound, then heal the wound. Make her drink the rest. Give her half the other bottle in two hours and then the other half two hours after that. It has to be precise Lucius.” Nodding fervently Lucius began retreating when Severus stopped him. “Listen, if she doesn’t wake up within twenty four hours...” He didn’t say anything more, he didn’t have to. Lucius saw it in his eyes, if they were already too late then she would die anyway.
When he got back to the study he did as Severus told him. Gently picking her up afterwards, he took Claudia to her room, thinking that she would be more comfortable there. He concentrated on getting her warm, so he built a fire with his wand, then put a warming spell on her blankets. Focusing on taking care of her he forgot to send someone to tell his Lord what had happened.
Tom apparated inside the castle. The wards that were in place did not apply to him and so he did not have any problem doing this. “MASTER! You’ve come back.” Tom eyed the elf warily, her eyes were rounder and bigger than usual. “Where is Claudia?” He asked, although he was already heading for the stairs. “In her room, Master Lucius is with her.” Tom’s step faltered and he turned back to the elf, the look in his eyes made her shrink away from him. “Why is Lucius in my wife’s room?” She stammered a few times before forming coherent words, “Missy is hurt badly Master. So much blood, so awful! And the poison” She shuddered then burst into tears and was not able to continue. Tom didn’t wait for her to compose herself. He apparated upstairs quickly and burst into Claudia’s room.
There he found Lucius bending over her, feeling her forehead and checking her abdomen. “What the hell happened Lucius?” He asked, but he was not looking at him. His attention was solely on Claudia. Her breathing was shallow, the rhythm of her heart chaotic, and her face was extremely pale. Then he saw an angry red welt on the side of her stomach, following his Lord‘s gaze Lucius explained, “It was an open wound. It’s been closing slowly due to the poison she was given. I went to Severus’s for an antidote my Lord. I have no skills in the healing arts and there was no time.” Tom didn’t care, he could have taken her to a bloody muggle doctor and he wouldn’t have cared less as long as it saved her life. “How did this happen?”
Lucius told him about Bellatrix and about what Severus had said. The more Lucius talked, the quieter Tom became. For a moment Lucius thought that he was too engrossed in making sure that Claudia was breathing and had not paid him any attention. However, when he looked at his face and eyes he saw that he was furious, it made him take a step back. “I should have killed that bitch when she vocally threatened Claudia in my presence. It was a stupid thing to do. To let her live!” Lucius nodded, “I am sorry my Lord, I should have seen this as well. I feel that I am responsible.” Tom’s eyes remained hard and unyielding, “Find her and bring her to me Lucius. Right now I will take care of my wife.” Lucius bowed and quietly left them alone.
Tom got into bed with Claudia. He handled her as gently as if she were a delicate doll that would break from the simplest touch. She moaned in pain, “I know baby, and I am sorry that you are in pain. I’ll take care of you now. I promise.” He whispered. Tom could not recall really ever being frightened in his life. Angry, detached, resigned, sad even but never scared. He was scared now and it made him feel helpless, which gave fuel to the rage he was feeling towards Bellatrix. All he could do was try to comfort her and hope that the potion would do its job so that she would be alright soon. He kissed her forehead, tenderly smoothing her golden hair away from her face, “Wake up Love, please.”