“You look like you’ve gained weight. How untactful of you..I’ll write out a list of foods to permit you to eat…I won’t have our little bride being pudgy.”

It was already the third rude remark from Dorella Malfoy and she had only just slipped the dress on and walked out for the woman to see. She looked to be in her early fifties with almost white hair and fierce blue eyes. She had a height about her to where she was probably even taller than her son and Severus both. Her hair was wrapped into a bun tightly, so that her eyes were the main view point of her face. Her figure was almost skeleton-like, like muggle models that she’d seen from some magazines a girl had once. Over all she looked like the sort of woman who had a beauty that could have made her happy, but instead she’d perfected it into a cruel way of frightening those she saw as below her.

Persephone remained silent as the woman pinned the dress herself her hands almost purposefully stabbing at her. She bit her lip patiently and watched as her house elf nervously twitched back and forth holding the pin cushion. She wished anything to switch places with the house elf, but tried to keep as still and quiet as possible looking over the dress. The skirt was loose enough to allow her to walk but not much more than that, the whole thing almost snow white. Small emeralds and diamonds covered the majority of the silk though, so that it glittered as she watched it. The effect almost made her dizzy. What concerned her most though was the corset of the dress, with the silky ribbons in the back moving with her breaths tightening when she held it too long. It had emerald lines leading towards her face from the bottom all around it, as if pointing her out all the more. Over all it was the most frightening thing that Persephone had ever seen.

“I’m sorry…thank you for the concern.” She remained meekly staring away at the door. They were doing this in the Great Hall since lunch had just ended and it was empty. She imagined that her wedding would occur in a large place like this, and that made her shiver. All those faces staring at her as she walked towards Lucius, almost a funeral march. No, she was marrying Severus. Everything would be fantastic..they would be somewhere beautiful laughing and smiling. The image of him holding her in front of the people that would attend however disappeared as Mrs. Malfoy’s voice replied and her fingers pinched at the young woman.

“Anything for my future daughter in law. Now raise your arms a little bit, your arm is in my way and I would feel awful to hurt you..” Her voice was almost icy and it startled her so she moved her arms quickly giving a noise of worry that she wasn’t doing it all fast enough. It seemed fine for the old woman though as she inserted another pin sharply into Persephone’s side. Then another. She tried to think of the ceiling and how nice it must be outside instead of counting them.

“There…” After a few moments she saw the trail of pins along her sides, across her everywhere. How in the world would she get out of this monstrosity without bleeding to death? She was about to ask just that when the house elf lifted a jar of something smoking and clear to Dorella. The little hands shivered as they struggled with it, but were only met with a disgusted noise. The woman gave no thanks just snatched it and lifted Persephone’s chin. “Look up now..close your eyes it may smoke a little..”

She felt as though someone had pushed her into a furnace covered in gasoline. She wanted to cry out but was too scared of displeasing the woman before her. A hand moved her chin down roughly so she was no longer staring at the sky like ceiling she was staring into those damned piercing eyes and the pins were gone. The dress fit so tightly she couldn’t breathe at first, even worse that she felt the cool air hit her skin after having almost melted. In her mind at least.

“Mm..I suppose that will have to do. The dress will tighten next time around you fairly easy after you’ve lost the weight..” She said as if stating a life sentence to a prisoner, walking around the young woman. One harsh poke into her back and she stood tall as she could.

“I’m glad to know that Mrs. Malfoy..” She whispered stared to look directly at her. It was going fine, she would be out of the dress and somewhere happier any moment. That little dream however was gone when she saw the tiara that Bella had given her. It was put on her head and she felt the full weight of her family’s ambition resting on her body.

“Sit, sit, let’s have a mother daughter chat. I’ve cleared your next class in case it runs long, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy a little free time with me.” Two very straight chairs appeared with a flick of the older woman’s wand and she sat in one patiently putting an ankle behind the other. She sat down in the chair meant for her, the dress making it all the more uncomfortable as it tightened to her sitting position. She tried to cross her ankles as casually but she found it difficult so she remained still.

“Thank you, that sounds very nice to me.” She half whispered watching her patiently.

“I’ve had a discussion with my son, he has informed me you were…harsh when he wanted nothing more than a kiss from you.” She spoke the words quietly but it seemed entirely like a vicious threat.

“Your son…did not want a kiss from me Mrs. Malfoy. He asked me to do something I had no intention of doing with him…”

The woman gave a cold laugh and she felt herself silenced as she watched. She reached a hand out to touch Persephone’s patting it as if they’d just exchanged a joke between good friends. “Oh I know exactly what happened..I was just wording it properly child. It just gives no explanation about your reaction towards your fiancé.”

“Because we’re not married yet. I assumed that any such actions would be..”

“Persephone Black I never thought you were a fool of all things. My own husband requested that very thing of me weeks after our engagement. You have obligations..your only responsibility is towards the happiness of your husband. That is what being a wife in your station means. So I hope I’ve cleared that up.”

Persephone stared at the woman her whole face quite pale. She was encouraging her son’s attempt to force himself on her. She stared down at the dress and felt the weight of each stone in the material keeping her trapped there. She wanted to cry, until she heard footsteps. She looked back expecting Dorella’s house elf to be there or something but instead she found Severus bowing politely to the woman who was to be her mother in law.

“I’m sorry..but Professor Slughorn wants Persephone to discuss one of her latest essays. It seems that someone had copied off of her..” He acted as if he had never spoken to Persephone before and she felt forlorn but in his eyes she saw him, her Severus. The weight of the dress still kept her pinned there though she wanted to run to him instantly.

“Fine, our little chat was about to end anyway.” The old woman stood up and raised her wand with a jab towards Persephone and an almost tent appeared around her. It moved a little and as it retracted the dress was hanging from a pole and Persephone was wearing her robes. She stared at the dress a moment picking up a blonde hair off of it. “I dare say, Abraxas and I are anxious to see you and my son happily wed soon. I am sure that Lucius will be visiting soon…since your little lover’s quarrel..”

“Thank you Mrs. Malfoy…I appreciate all that you’ve done for me.” She whispered the words as the old woman approached and felt the icy touch of the old woman’s lips on her cheek as she walked out with the house elf busily putting everything together to take with them. Persephone left after Severus and they walked with a large distance between them until they were alone in a corridor. Her eyes filled with tears and she leaned helplessly against him. Severus did his best to hold her up, silent as he witnessed her helplessly. He felt his stomach drop that he hadn’t been able to pull her away before it pushed her to this.

“It was awful Severus…I just kept thanking her and whispering..I didn’t know what to do..” He could feel her shivering and tried to warm her up but she felt cold from fear. “All of the Malfoys…it’s as if I’ve been sold to them as a pet. She practically told me that I have to let Lucius…if I feel Lucius touch me I will die from agony..”

“Shh, you and I both know it won’t happen. You can’t let that woman or her son get to you Sephone. I love you, I won’t give you up to him for anything. Just let them think that they have you..but I’m right here. I swear on my life that I’ll do all I can to keep you here in my arms.” He whispered it all into her ear as she sobbed into his chest. She fumbled to take the tiara from her head; it had been left there by mistake. She couldn’t and her hands shook so instead he gently removed it letting it drop to the floor with the sound of metal against stone echoing.

“We’ll go to our place..I don’t trust the portraits even to see us.” She whispered fearfully. It took a moment for her to regain her composure and she carefully lifted the tiara as if it were the fire she’d felt against her skin earlier. They walked in silence with his fingers touching her’s as their hands remained only inches apart enough to reassure them both that the other was there. Once they made it there she combed her hair out going over the whole conversation with him. When she explained about the dress fitting it made him wince.

“I have to go to the loo for a minute, wipe my eyes a little. I’ll be right back..” She whispered to him kissing him as she walked out. He watched her go and knew that she must have felt as he had the night before.

It had been as he’d imagined, the few muggle hating fanatics he knew seeking wizards over them finally. Lord Voldemort himself though, the way his eyes burned with something so harsh. It almost seemed like in place of pupils his eyes were taken over with a lust for blood so much his eyes reflected it in their harsh crimson gleam. His whole body gave off something, a complete hate of something. Just the sight of him could easily have frightened anyone. Including Persephone..the reason he’d agreed to this damnation in the first place.

That was it, he was standing there for her. To make a life for her, to prove he could be better than Malfoy. Even if he didn’t have money, even if his blood wasn’t pure. His loyalty to his wizarding blood would prove himself worthy, and this man was his key, his guide to all he’d ever wanted. He was not puny Severus anymore, who had watched his father ruthlessly beat away at his mother. He was becoming a man, someone who would protect the one he loved.

Still, he lost most of that sudden courage immediately and was locked in silent fear until the man wrenched his arm with those long pale fingers gripping into him. He would never forget the rush that filled his veins though, the cold icy dread as that wand was raised. The dark mark formed like an outline of a painting all done in red like blood. It felt like a knife, slowly and agonizingly tracing over and over until it began to fill in. He’d heard the boy before him cry when the mark had been made but he forced himself into silence. He needed this; he needed the power that this man could give him. Still, his whole body felt drained suddenly and he had to lock his legs together to keep himself standing. It felt like a slow eternity until finally his arm was let go and that mark was made on him. Marking him as a servant of this Dark Lord and his desires.

“You’re one of us now. Your loyalty must lie to me above all else.” That voice, he felt the dread developing in his whole body. He stared back with all his might and nodded his head.

“My loyalty is to you, and your service my Lord.” He murmured and the Dark Lord left to the next man. Regulus was still wincing and staring at his own mark but Severus didn’t want to stare at it anymore than he had to. He moved his sleeve down covering it up. Regulus eagerly began to whisper about the apparent strength and fear that being a Death Eater would provide and he listened intently. He had to move his way up through this, get to be the one that stood beside this Dark Lord.

He closed his eyes and shook the memories out. He hadn’t liked the feeling of power being held over him by the Dark Lord. He had to find a way to keep his mind intact, locked away from sight. He’d done a little occlumency, and decided that was his best move. To keep doing that, to fix that into the spare time he had. He realized he’d been sitting there in silence a while and got up and peered out the door. Persephone was walking towards him and slipped in shutting the door behind her.

“Sorry, I ran into Sirius…he wanted to apologize for..being cross about us. I think he’s approved though, isn’t that marvelous? Everything feels a lot easier now that I’m away from that dress and that woman.” Her mood had lightened and the tears were gone. He had hoped to bring up the mark on his arm but her sudden swing to a light happiness was too precious to throw away for something so serious. Instead he nodded and let her hug him. “I’m so glad today’s over..”

He winced though when her arm touched the mark against his skin though it emitted no pain. It was just the realization she’d finally touched it. She pulled back staring at him like she’d been burnt again. He opened his mouth to explain but couldn’t think of anything so she just sighed.

“What is it?” She asked quietly wrapping her arms around herself. “You mad at me for something?”

“No I’m not..I’m really not Sephone..”

“Then why’d you do that when I touched you?”

“I didn’t..” He saw the look on her face and he grabbed her hand squeezing it. “Look I’m really tired…and I’m mad that his mother knew what he did and would have let him have you. I was deep in thought that’s all..”

She stared at their hands and moved closer to him with a hesitance. “Tomorrow…let’s skip out on classes. Pretend we’re sick and go to Hogsmeade…I’ll just tell everyone I was thinking about what Mrs. Malfoy said or something like that if they get suspicious.”

Severus stared at her, and nodded kissing her and looking around their safe room. He imagined how soon it would be they’d be somewhere else, maybe a flat in Diagon Alley. That’s where he’d start them out, but he’d give her more. Everything. He watched her smile and begin to chatter on about the dress her sister had for her…and her excitement that they’d be together and she wouldn’t have to marry Lucius. He felt something in the back of his head calling to him asking how he could protect her when he hadn’t been able to protect his mother.

“Severus stop making that serious face at me…you look angry..”

“Of course not. I’m really glad you’re okay though.”

A/N--I think the next chapter will have to be really long to do what I want with it. I really put a lot of thought into Dorella Malfoy. What sort of woman she would have to be and everything. I believe her husband was probably a softer sort of man, and she was the one who gave Lucius his spitefulness. At least in my story. Review if you were pleased, or if not.

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debjunk--Yeah, it's all leading to a point. A whole room of axes...bwahahahaha!