If I survive tonight, I wouldn't change a thing -- June 1998

"No," I said defiantly.  "Leave her alone."  I stood in between my aunt and my sister, glaring at them.  "We're not playing this game.  You have us doing what you want... that's enough."

"Stop!" I said, making my voice as dark as I could. I hoped my tone would shock them enough into focusing just on me. I took a few steps forward to put myself in between Draco and our Father and Aunt. "You can have your fun with me if you want, but you can't hurt anyone else." I told them both. I was the one who's life was worth the least. If anyone was going to get hurt, or even die, I would make sure it was me. Draco had done so much for me, now it was my turn to return the favour.

I smirked, waving my wand, pointing it at my nephew.  When he fell to the ground, I grabbed hold of Juniper.  "I do not take orders from you, dear," I said to her darkly.  I would make her watch as I had a little fun with Draco... it might be more fun than causing her physical harm.

Though they were my children, even I dared not to cross Bellatrix when she was like this.  I leveled my own wand at Juniper, a warning to keep her from interfering.

I bit my lip.  "I don't know about how safe it is," I said, seeing the way that Lincoln was reacting to just being there.  "Why don't i try to whip us up something to eat?  Maybe try to get into as normal a routine as we can while we're worrying out of our minds..."

I looked over at Pansy and smiled slightly.  I was surprised that she was trying to help the entire situation as much as she could.  "I don't think that there's any food in here... and if there is... then, well, I wouldn't eat it," I said, knowing how long this place stood vacant.

She finally raised her wand and I was on the ground, panting.  I looked up at her and got to my feet.  I leveled my eyes at her and spat the blood that had accumulated in my mouth from having bitten the insides of my cheeks onto her robes.  "We're done.  Let's just do this.  Now," I added with authority, trying to steady my body, glad that my voice was clear and strong -- much different from my head and body after the curse.

I was about to put myself between my brother and the curse when Aunt Bellatrix grabbed me around the waist. I struggled to get free but had to force myself not to show how desperate I was to get away. I said they could have fun with me and that's just what they were doing. I just wish I was the one they were physically hurting, not Draco. I turned to look at Father and saw his wand pointed at me. I had to suppress a humourless laugh, did he not realize that I didn't care what happened to me as long as everyone else was okay? I was about to point out the deal they had when Aunt Bellatrix lifted the curse and I was able to free myself from her grasp. I ran over to Draco and made sure he stood up before I turned a glare at her. I saw my twin spit blood at her and put myself protectively in between him and our Aunt, I wouldn't let her hurt him again. "We're done." I said at the same time as Draco, "Do what you're going to do and let's get on with it." I stole a glance back at my brother and wanted desperately to help support him but I did not think it would be a wise idea. Taping into my Malfoy side as much as I could, I turned my ice gaze back at Father and Aunt Bellateix. I would make sure Draco would be okay, he has a family now.

I laughed darkly and looked over at my brother in law.  "Hmm... Have we had plenty of fun yet?" I inquired, my voice bored.  I did not want to stop, but I did want to get them to become Death EAters.

I was not entirely sure if she was finished, but it would be best if we got a move on things before the two children changed their minds.  "Bellatrix, I believe that is enough," I said to her softly.  "it is time they become one of us."

Lincoln Matthews wrote:I looked over at Pansy and smiled slightly.  I was surprised that she was trying to help the entire situation as much as she could.  "I don't think that there's any food in here... and if there is... then, well, I wouldn't eat it," I said, knowing how long this place stood vacant.

I smiled slightly at his comment.  "Well, we need to get some groceries.  We should also stick together.  It will be a quick trip," I said to him, just grabbing the bag of money.  "And we should Apparate somewhere away from here so if anyone is watching us, they would not think we're here."

I nodded at her.  "Good thinking," I said simply.  I looked at her and once we were both ready, I took us somewhere to get food.  The trip was rather quick and we only got necessities.  We quickly got back to where we were staying safe -- the Matthews Chateau really.  I let Pansy go to work in the kitchen an I started to get the other couple of rooms better for us to be able to sleep and live in for the time being.

As grateful as I was that the torture had stopped, I did not like what followed any better.  I clenched my jaw and stepped forward.  "Let's get this over with," I said simply.

I soon had some food made up for us, though I was not entirely sure whether or not any of us would be able to eat anything.  "Linc?  I've got some grub," I said simply, using the words my father would have said if he had been cooking.

"We will never become one of you!" I cried, stepping up next to my brother. I looked between everyone in the room and saw my brother tense. I realized what it was that I had said and decided to correct myself, even if I wanted it to be true. I remembered what Draco had gone through last summer and I felt my pocket for the sonogram picture. I took a deep breath and forced myself to continue. "You can force us to do what you want but we will never become you, no matter what." We may have to become death eaters to protect the ones we care about, but I wanted them to know we would never become one of them.