All these lives that you've been taking; deep inside my heart is breaking -- December 2004

I was out and about to find some gifts for my daughter's first birthday.  It still seemed odd that I was a mum and living a semi-normal life after all these years of being labeled as a Carrow.  Yes, I still enjoyed the darker side of potions -- that would never change -- but Gabe had helped my anger go away and my daughter was the light that I had needed to truly start changing in every aspect I had.

When I reached for a cute little outfit for Ava, a rough hand grabbed onto mine.  I jumped and mentally kicked myself for not being on the lookout more; I was finding Death Eaters to pay for my sins... and they knew that.  My tension did not cease when I saw that it was my older brother; if anything, my dread increased.  "Amycus," I said, removing my hand from beneath his.  I did not take a step back or anything.  I was not going to back down from my brother.  If anything, I hoped to keep him here long enough for me to send word to the Ministry to catch my brother.  He was the only Death Eater keeping me from being completely off their radar.

"I thought that you would never turn like you did," I said to her quietly.  "And to keep family away?  I am correct in assuming that she's yours?"  I was hurt by Alecto's betrayal.  She was highly aware of that.  And now... well, she was keeping family away from me and I was not going to tolerate that.

My eyes narrowed at Amycus.  "I do not know who you're speaking of," I said to him coldly.  "My life is no longer a concern of yours.  If you are not careful, you will land yourself in Azkaban just like our dear sister."

My eyes narrowed to match Alecto's.  "Be careful of how you speak to me," I said to her in a dark tone.  "You are my sister, therefore, your life will always be a concern of mine."

I moved around Amycus.  "I have barely been your sister since you basically disowned me, Amycus," I said to him simply.  I stopped when I felt his hand on my shoulder.  I sighed and turned to face my older brother.  "What do you want from me?"

I was not going to let Alecto walk away from me.  "I want you to actually listen to me," I said to her a bit forcefully.

I laughed at Amycus.  "Listen to you?  What for, Amycus?  You tried to darken my mind before and now that I'm finally out... I know you haven't changed, so why would I want to hear what you have to say?" I questioned angrily.  I really did not want to make a scene, but it was starting to happen.

"I practically raised you,"I spat at her. "I have every right to see that daughter you are hiding from me." I took a deep breath to calm myself a little bit. "Family is everything, Alecto. Don't ever forget that." Even if she hated to admit it, our values were still there in her mind or else she would not have married another pureblood.

I sighed. Despite me loathing the fact I was about to say something in regards to my family and Amycus, I said it anyways. "I know you are my brother; if I knew you weren't a threat, perhaps I could think of a way for you to be a part of my life," I said, knowing that there was plenty that I owed to my brother -- even if he tried to darken me before I had the chance to think on my own. "I just don't trust you and I know who you truly are. I cannot have that in my life anymore."