Dark Blood // D.M.

DARK BLOOD

Armena Riddle-Lestrange

I could feel something tickling in the back of my brain, as I kept my head down at the table. I knew The Dark Lord, or this version of Tom Riddle, was trying to snake his way into my mind. I slapped up the thickest occlumency shield and thought of nothing, absolutely nothing.

It wasn't working and I knew he would break through and see my plan for him. I turned my head and stared at Naomi's lifeless body resting on the floor. She looked so peaceful, so calm. I had to do it, I had to look. I forced myself to look over to the other body on the floor, the body of Professor Snape. I could feel my emotions start to overflow, bubbling up in the back of my throat.

"I am so so sorry, I am so sorry... Please forgive me."

That was the last thing that I said to him before I killed him.

In that moment, he let me inside of his head. He let down his walls, not caring if The Dark Lord saw them or not. He let me see all of the memories that I shared with him in his office. How he grew to enjoy the company of the hot headed, stubborn, defiant, frustrating and intelligent Lestrange child. 

"It's okay" my favorite Professor told me. "I have done all that I can to help you in this life." 

I felt the emotions threaten my body, it was vibrating with my magic and it was being fueled by what I was feeling in that very moment.

"This isn't the time..." my inner thoughts hissed.

No it wasn't the time. I couldn't lose control of my emotions. I had to make my favorite teacher proud. I couldn't give up now, Draco's life was on the line. Naomi's life was on the line and quite literally, in the palm of my hand. Pansy, Oliver and Blaise all trusted me to carry this out. 

"More blood, Armena" Tom Riddle circled the table, watching me closely.

With a shaky hand, I picked up the dagger and sliced into the already prominent wound. Watching as the dark blood poured out of my hand. I was losing too much blood by the looks of the table and the now crimson stained journal. It was clear I was getting weaker and he was getting stronger. I needed to hold it together. I looked up at him with a smile, bearing all of my teeth to him.

"Is that good, father?" I hissed.

"Excellent my child" he hummed.

My stomach flipped, as disgust filled every crevice in my body. I shook my head, trying to organize my thoughts but it only made it worse. I was starting to spin, I could feel my brain slowly being deprived of nutrient enriched blood. I was trembling from the loss of blood, the fear and the energy it took to keep up my occlumency walls. I glanced at Rodolphus who nodded his head slightly. 

We were almost there. 

I glanced towards Oliver who sat by his father, completely composed. Blaise and Pansy should be on the other side of that door, ready to do what needs to be done, which is get Draco and Naomi out. I had to do this for Draco. He was the only reason that I was still holding on. I felt my self begin to slip as the warm feeling in my head began to grow. 

"Do it..." the dark voice of Tom Riddle crept up in my mind.

I slammed down my Occlumency walls fast, refusing to let him in any further than he already was but it was too late. He had seen the boy that clouded my thoughts. 

"Draco" Tom Riddle's voice was cold. 

I found myself setting more upright in my chair, my teeth on edge as my skin began to crawl.

"Yes?" Draco spit, the venom evident in his tone. 

"Now Draco, play nicely. I mean no harm..." Tom Riddle snickered. "I only wanted to ask you if you believed that your father deserves a second chance, well in his case, I guess it would be a third. Do you think he has proven himself loyal to my endeavors?"