Well, wasn't it a shock when I was greeted at the door of my own home by Aunt Bellatrix herself.

It was like coming face to face with a celebrity. I was literally awestruck. Her presence was unnerving, the vividness of her beauty even more so.

I hovered uncomfortably as she stood blocking the threshold, surveying me through heavily lidded eyes as though contemplating whether or not to permit me entry.

Just when I was about to call over her shoulder for my mother, she stepped quite suddenly forward and gathered me into a fierce, unexpected hug. My nostrils were suffocated by the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon. This was a surprise. She always struck me as someone who would wear the scent of a poisonous plant... something bitter and offensive.

"Draya, Draya," her gravelled voice spoke above me as she lovingly stroked my hair, "we finally reunite. Aunt and niece... mentor and mentee..."

"Um... hi?" I said, my voice muffled against the folds of her dress as she held me tighter against her. Merlin, talk about over stepping the boundaries. I wasn't used to being around extended family members - but surely this was a bit much? And what on earth was she rambling on about - mentor and mentee?

"Bella. Is that my daughter?"

My mother's sharp voice rang out in the entrance hall behind my aunt. I couldn't help but notice the strain of her tone, and I was almost too afraid to look up and no doubt see the misery swimming in her eyes.

Slowly, and if seemingly a little reluctantly, Bellatrix let me go and stepped aside, revealing my mother who had just reached the bottom of the grand staircase.

I had to stifle the gasp at the sight of her. Her face had hollowed significantly, and, below her sunken eyes, dark shadows had taken residence.

"Darling," my mother said, her smile tight, "welcome home."

She did not look like she wanted to welcome me home at all. In fact, she made no attempt to close the gap between us, no attempt to envelop me in her arms as she always did upon my return from school.

A coldness swept over me and I swallowed, suddenly wishing I was still on the train amongst my friends. Seeing Mother like this... it made my father's incarceration suddenly feel all too real.

"Um-" I said awkwardly, trying to ignore Bellatrix's curious gaze. "I might just go up and settle back in my room-"

"I'm afraid your aunt is currently occupying it." Mother interrupted. "Although I'm sure I can get the house-elves to make up another-"

"Oh, don't be so silly, Cissy!" Bellatrix laughed as she wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. "Draya and I will share, won't we? After all, we could do with a nice little girly chat. We do, after all, have so much to discuss."

We did? Unless she wanted to talk about the highs and lows of prison food vs school dinners, I was completely stumped.

To my surprise, my mother continued to look uneasy, wringing her hands together. "Bella, I don't think that's a good idea. Draya is a teenage girl who needs her own space-"

But Auntie Bella wouldn't budge, railroading both me and Mother in agreeing to let her stay put. I wondered why Mother was suddenly so anxious to keep our new house visitor away from me, especially as she previously seemed keen on the idea.

So there it was. I was stuck with a fucking roomie all summer. As if it wasn't bad enough I had to share at Hogwarts.

Bellatrix insisted we share my double bed ("Don't worry, darling niece, I don't bite... much!"). But that was just a step too far for me and instead opted to pull out my sofa bed. My aunt found it hysterical that I wasn't allowed to do magic, and cackled away as I struggled to work out the mechanics of the bastard thing.

"Well, you could always do it for me." I gritted, narrowing my eyes at the wand she kept teasingly twirling in her hands.

"And where would the fun in that be?" She trilled, her eyes gleaming manically. "Besides, I'm sure that silly rule won't apply to you much longer."

I looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, let's just say that a little bird told me that things for you will change a great deal soon."

My heart raced uneasily, not liking the wild look on my aunt's face one bit.

"Is it something to do with my father?" I asked carefully.

But Bellatrix just threw her head back and cackled. "That old white-haired fool? He'd fail to organise a piss up in a brewery. Merlin only knew what my sister was thinking going after the likes of him. Still, I suppose the gold helped."

"Mother loves him," I snapped, a little sharper than intended. "And he loves her."

Wasn't sure I believed it myself, but I refused to think otherwise. The thought that anyone could marry for anything other than love sat very uneasily with me. Especially when it came to my parents.

I noticed Bellatrix was staring at me with quite some interest, her black eyes boring into mine as though she was trying to delve into my very soul. I quickly looked away, feeling highly uncomfortable.

"You have a weak mind, Draya," she drawled, her heavy lidded eyes still scrutinising me as though she disapproved. "It will not do. The Dark Lord won't like that."

Well, fuck him then, I thought angrily as I turned to throw a pillow down onto the shoddily made sofa bed. Like I give a shit what his highness thinks of my mind.

"You should," Bellatrix said sharply. "You should care very much. It is an honour what he is asking of you, after all."

I froze. Did she just read my mind?!

Slowly, I turned back to look at her, my heart racing against my ribcage. Her mouth was pulled into a wide grin, revealing a row of blackened, crooked teeth. I shivered.

"I'm here," she said, her voice suddenly soft and dangerous as she began to slink across the bedroom towards me, her eyes never leaving mine, "to help the Dark Lord on a special mission. A special mission involving you."

I swallowed, wanting to escape, to run as far away from this mad, crazy witch as possible. I parted my lips to speak, but my mouth was suddenly very dry.

Bellatrix came to a still before me, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. I was frozen... mesmerised - and above all, shitting myself.

"I am to teach you so much," she murmured, lowering her head to whisper in my ear, her long, dark curls tickling my face. "I am to help you learn wonderful things about your pretty little mind. You, Draya Malfoy, shall have the ability to prove yourself over the coming months. Prove your loyalty, and you and your family will be rewarded with riches much greater than gold."

Instinctively, I shrugged her off, recoiling away from her closeness. The smile never faltered from her face as she waited patiently for my response, eager to see the effect of her alarming words.

So, Voldemort had plans for me, it seemed. And he'd sent my delightful aunt around to mentor me.

For fuck's sake, there goes my plans to Quidditch and Chill all summer.

******

"I won't do it!"

"You will, Draya," my mother said, her patience beginning to wane. "You will do it for your father."

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT HE GOT HIMSELF LOCKED UP TRYING TO KILL MY SCHOOL MATES!"

A throaty laugh rang in the kitchen. I looked up to see my aunt sweep through the door.

"Oh Draya, let's not pretend they're your friends now," she drawled with a smirk, "don't forget what I've seen - what you've shown me."

Damn those fucking Occlumency lessons. Despite my best efforts, she'd managed to retrieve that awful ferret memory.

"Your so called school 'mates' weren't very friendly then, were they?" She continued, reaching inside the refrigerator for the milk. "Laughing at your humiliation. Tut, tut. We'll soon teach them a lesson, Draya. You must show them not to mess with a Black-"

"I'm a Malfoy," I gritted, balling my fists.

"You have Black blood, my dear, like your mother and myself. Never forget." And with that she took a swig of milk straight from the carton before returning it to the refrigerator, slamming the door shut with a bang.

I shuddered in disgust.

******

There was a great flurry of excitement in the Manor on the day of his arrival.

I felt sick. I could runaway, I thought. Maybe Blaise will look after me. But then I recalled how bad things were between us, about how he now looked at me with derision.

However, there was still Pansy, of course. We'd been friends for ever, she wouldn't turn me away.

But then, with a sinking heart, I realised that wherever I went, I would be found. And who knows what sort of punishment my mother would endure in the meantime.

I had to just suck it up I thought dolefully as I stared back at my reflection. I was horrified to see that since I had come back home, my eyes had somehow sunken into my head, with dark shadows settling underneath.

It was only two weeks into the summer - two weeks of barely sleeping as I listened to my aunt snoring upon my stolen bed. Two weeks of demeaning Occlumency lessons as my mind was penetrated by prying eyes. Two weeks of dreading at what was yet to come.

"It is a great honour," my aunt said for the millionth time as she entered the room behind me, carrying what looked like a long dress cover in her arms. "And, as a gift from me, I have had this made up especially for you."

She carefully laid the cover on my bed. Despite everything, I felt butterflies of excitement at the sight of it, wondering what wondrous cloth lay inside it. Shakily, I reached down and unzipped it, my heart hammering at the sight of the beautiful black dress within.

"Aunt Bella- it's- it's- beautiful," I gasped, for there was not another single word I could think of to describe in that moment.

"I knew you'd like it," she said, watching me as I lifted it up to admire. "I wore one just like it for my initiation."

A beat. My blood ran cold. Flustered, I quickly tried to pack it away again.

"It seems a waste-" I rushed out, fumbling with the zip as my fingers slid clumsily over it. "I'd rather save it for a special occasion-"

"Nonsense," she said lazily, placing a surprisingly firm hand on my arm, "tonight is a special occasion. The best honour of your life."

I swallowed, trying to push down the growing panic that had risen to my throat.

"He'll be expecting you in the drawing room at nine on the dot," she said in a quiet, dangerous voice. "We'll all be waiting."

She patted my arm three times before withdrawing her hand. My vision blurred and I refused to look at her, my tears only falling once the door shut closed behind her.

With a frustrated cry, I tossed the dress aside so that it fell messily to the floor. I sank down beside it, soaking my arms with tears until there was nothing left but the sound of my choking sobs.

******