GO ON SERAPHINA — YOU KNOW THE SPELL
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Rhea's first birthday went by and Seraphina couldn't believe an entire year had passed already. For each day that passed it became more and more obvious that the girl would grow into a spitting image of her father.
Rather than inheriting Seraphina's fiery red hair, Rhea's hair was a dark shade of brown — nearly black — and her eyes were grey. Time would tell if Rhea came to inherit any physical attributes from her mother; at this age no distinctive features had developed.
"Such a good girl," Seraphina smiled widely, holding out her arms as Rhea hobbled towards her with small steps. Lyra sat on the ground one metre away from the red haired witch, ready to catch the toddler if she fell backwards.
Seraphina found herself looking forward to and dreading the day Rhea learned to walk on her own. Rhea hadn't stopped crawling since she learned how; Seraphina could not place her on the ground without the toddler speeding away from her like a puppy that had seen something interesting.
Rhea giggled loudly when she reached her mother who sat on her knees on the carpet in the hall outside her room. Having been assured by Lucius that there were no planned meetings in the manor that day – not to mention that most visitors were banned to venture up to the second floor – Seraphina felt safe having Rhea out in the open.
Leaning down to kiss Rhea's cheek, causing the toddler to giggle even more, Seraphina asked, "Can you walk back to Lyra now?" Helping her daughter out, Seraphina held onto Rhea's hands and turned her around.
Lyra had scooted backwards, creating a bit more distance between them to create more of a challenge. In contrast to Seraphina's excitement, Lyra looked a little bored — which pretty much was her usual expression — as she held out her hands, "I don't have all day."
Rhea didn't care about the blonde girl's lack of enthusiasm as she unsteadily moved towards Lyra. "Human babies are frighteningly undeveloped, have you ever thought about that?" Lyra stated when she caught Rhea who stumbled at the last step. "Foals can stand and walk on their own hours after being born, puppies when they are like a month old — it shouldn't take more than a year."
"And your point is?" Seraphina asked, words laced with amusement.
"Nine months isn't enough to develop a functioning human," Lyra concluded, observing Rhea closely. "She'd have needed at least a few more months inside your stomach to be ready for the world outside."
"As the one who spent two days trying to evict her from there, I must disagree," Seraphina said, smiling in amusement when Rhea got her hands on a lock of platinum blonde hair and Lyra tried to swat her hand away without making Rhea cry.
"Let's get you back to your mummy," Lyra put her back on the ground. "Off you go," she urged.
"Mu-mmy!" Rhea babbled as she stumbled back towards her mother. This time when Rhea reached Seraphina, she picked up her daughter and stood up.
"The day she actually learns to walk on her own, you'll probably complain about her running around too much," Seraphina said to Lyra even though her attention remained on Rhea whose tiny hand grabbed onto her mother's nose gently. Seraphina grimaced playfully, making Rhea laugh again.
"Duh," Lyra said, "it's my charm."
"Whoever told you that was lying," Seraphina teased. However the atmosphere changed when Lyra spotted somebody appearing down the corridor; even if the change in the blonde's demeanour was minimal, Seraphina could see the way her shoulders got rigid.
Knowing that only one person could cause this reaction, Seraphina turned around and said, "Tom, long time no see."
"Miss. Malfoy, could you watch Rhea for the remainder of the evening?" Tom said, ignoring Seraphina's greeting completely; he may have phrased it like a question but they all knew it was a command.
"Yes, My Lord," Lyra said, showing just enough respect to the Dark Lord to not get murdered.
Seraphina kissed Rhea's forehead before letting Lyra take her. Thankfully, Rhea was comfortable enough in Lyra's presence to not cry about being taken away from her mother.
"I feel like I'm about to get scolded for something," Seraphina said awkwardly, "so just assume that I am innocent of whatever you want to chastise me for."
"Good to know," Tom responded drily. "Come with me." He started walking down the same way he came and Sera quickly followed him. "It has nearly been two years since I first asked you to join me."
"Time flies," Seraphina said, keeping her gaze forward. It somehow felt like an eternity ago and yesterday. So much had happened in those two years. From finding out she was pregnant to Reggie dying to Rhea being born it had been both the best and absolute worst years of her life. "Am I correct to assume that you're not bringing this up because you're planning an anniversary party?"
"You are correct," Tom said, hands folded behind his back. "I must say that I have grown to endure your company – but it's not why I brought you here. When I asked you to join me in building a new order, I hoped you'd do more than what you have so far."
"You have not once asked me to do anything," Seraphina reminded him. "In fact, Tommy, you've done everything within your power to keep me hidden and sheltered."
"We must all remain hidden, I am afraid. For even though many support our cause, there are those who want to destroy everything I have worked so hard to build," he said with a snarl, a dark look on his face. "Albus Dumbledore is building up an army against me."
Tom stopped abruptly and turned to look at Sera, "For our cause to succeed, Dumbledore and those loyal to him need to be defeated. Are you willing to help me in achieving that?"
Seraphina held his gaze – knowing this was the moment she'd been waiting for and dreading for two years now – and with a calm voice she responded, "I'll do what is necessary."
. • ⚯͛ • .
Clad in a black, hooded cloak Seraphina stood in front of a small cottage in the outskirts of London; beside her stood Tom in a similar cloak and black dress robes. After their conversation in the manor, he'd told her to get dressed and then apparated to an unknown location. Seraphina's heart pounded loudly in her chest as she feared what she was about to witness.
"Where are we?" Seraphina asked, walking closely behind him across the snow-covered lawn. The only thing lighting up their path was the lamppost out by the street. "Who lives here?"
"A member of the Order," Voldemort responded, "they are getting sloppy lately."
Fuck...
Seraphina's panic only grew now, fearing what awaited her on the other side of those doors. If Voldemort brought her with him to come to an Order members house, it was not difficult to figure out what he expected of her.
"Keep your guard up – and remember what I've taught you," Tom told her as he reached the front door. On top of the lessons in how to control her additional magical abilities, he'd taught her a few things about duelling too. Pointing his wand at the door, he said, "Bombarda!"
The front door exploded and the remains fell down to the floor with a loud thud that made Seraphina flinch. Throwing a glance over her shoulder, Seraphina made sure no one had witnessed it but the late hour and cold weather kept most people inside. Turning back around when she heard Tom move, Seraphina noted the absence of light inside, making her question if anyone actually lived there.
"Check in there," Tom commanded and then he strode away from her into the next room. Internally panicking because she honestly had no idea what to do if somebody jumped out on her, Seraphina prepared herself for an attack as she pushed through the closest door that led out into a tiny kitchen area.
"Lumos," Seraphina mumbled, a light appearing by the tip of her wand. Her eyes flickered from the small round kitchen table to the dirty dishes in the sink in search for any clues of who might live there. The scent that filled the entire cottage seemed somewhat familiar to Sera, causing her stomach to twist uncomfortably.
It didn't take long to conclude that no one was hiding in the small kitchen. Just as she was about to exit the kitchen, Seraphina noticed the pictures hanging on the wall just by the door and her heart dropped.
No...
No...
All hope that it was her mind playing tricks on her disappeared when Seraphina crossed the room and got a better look at the framed photograph. On a red couch sat four girls smiling brightly at the camera while people danced and chatted in the background: Lily, Alice, Marlene and Dorcas...
This couldn't be true...
No.
Just no...
A pained scream rang through the house, breaking Sera out of her frozen state. The screaming didn't stop for a second as Seraphina practically ran through the cottage, following the sound until she reached the living room where she was met by the sight of the Dark Lord standing in front of Dorcas Meadowes who cried from the pain caused by the Cruciatus Curse.
Because of the excruciating pain Dorcas felt, she didn't notice Seraphina's arrival unlike Voldemort who smiled in a way so unlike the one Sera was used to seeing; this smile made him seem less human. A shiver ran through the redhead as she felt the change in atmosphere brought by the Dark Lord's presence.
"Don't be shy, Seraphina," Tom said, seeing her standing there frozen in the doorway. "Come in and greet our host."
Now that the torture stopped, Dorcas could finally concentrate on her surroundings and when she looked up, she was met by the shock of her life. The betrayal in Dorcas's eyes as she withered in pain on the floor made Seraphina's stomach turn. All her instincts told her to run to her friend's aid, to get Dorcas and apparate away from the house, but the reasonable part of her brain made her remain silent and still.
The house was enchanted to prevent anyone from apparating in or out of it, meaning that in order to get away, Seraphina would have to carry Dorcas — who clearly was in no state to run herself — out of the property. Something that would have been possible if Lord Voldemort wasn't standing beside her, wand in hand.
"You," Dorcas gasped, blood trickling down from the open gash on her forehead. "You're with him!"
Seraphina struggled to keep her tone even and emotionless as she said, "I'd say it's not what it looks like — but it is."
"After everything he's done," Dorcas yelled, anger replacing her fear as she seemingly forgot the Dark Lord's presence to focus on Sera. "After all the pain and suffering caused by him and his Death Eaters — you've joined him! You're one of them!"
Seraphina had no idea what to say — how to act. She couldn't risk blowing her cover by trying to excuse her presence; she also couldn't act like Bellatrix Lestrange since that also would cause suspicion.
"Seraphina understands what needs to be done," Voldemort saved her from having to respond herself. "She understands that sacrifices must be done to rid our world from those who try to ruin our bloodlines."
"You're monsters!" Dorcas yelled. "Both of you-"
"Crucio!" Voldemort raised his wand and Dorcas's screams once again rang through the cottage. Only Dorcas' screams faded into the background as her previous words echoed in Sera's head.
You're monsters... Both of you...
"This is it," Voldemort lowered his wand and turned towards her. "She's all yours."
"Wh-what?" Seraphina stuttered, hoping she'd misheard him.
"You know what must be done," Voldemort said and Seraphina once again considered her options. If it was possible for her, Dorcas and most importantly Rhea to get out of this alive.
She drew a blank...
Seraphina couldn't prevent her hand from shaking as she raised her wand, pointing it towards Dorcas. Meanwhile Dorcas didn't let her fear show; she kept her chin up and gaze firmly plastered on Seraphina, forcing the red haired girl to look her in the eye. "Go on, Seraphina," Tom said encouragingly, placing a hand on her shoulder as he stood behind her. In a whisper he added, "You know the spell."
Letting out a shaky breath, Seraphina tried to summon the strength to do something. She couldn't just stand there. Not doing anything was just as bad as acting. If Seraphina hesitated – Voldemort would happily step in and make the entire ordeal more painful. Only this wasn't just any spell. It required great skill, power and most importantly intent. Without genuine willingness to perform the spell nothing would happen.
For a second, Seraphina glanced back at Tom whose face showed no hint of emotion as he gave her a nod, silently repeating his command. Refocusing her attention on Dorcas, an unwelcome sight flashed before her eyes.
Seraphina's first night at Hogwarts was most definitely not the best night of her eleven year old life. Homesickness didn't really hit her until it was time to go to bed; in that moment Seraphina felt more alone than ever before. Especially since the four girls in her dormitory showed little interest in even acknowledging her existence. They were all clearly familiar with each other already and Seraphina felt like she was intruding on their privacy.
The next morning, Seraphina made her way through the maze-like hallways of the castle towards the Great Hall alone. A majority of the students were still in bed, leaving the Slytherin table pretty empty as she sat down to eat her breakfast by herself. By the time more students started arriving, Seraphina grew uncomfortable sitting there surrounded by large groups of friends.
Her first class ever at Hogwarts was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. The Head of Gryffindor's classroom was completely empty when Seraphina got there and took her seat on the second row closest to the window.
With nothing else to do, Seraphina opened her textbook and started reading the first chapter. After getting through a few pages, Seraphina suspected their first class would involve something akin to turning a match into a needle.
Seraphina had finished reading the first chapter when the door opened again and a few more students arrived. Feeling self-conscious about simply being there, Seraphina continued reading her book.
"Seraphina?"
The Weasley girl jumped a little in surprise. Tearing her gaze from her book, she found a familiar auburn haired girl standing beside her with a kind smile. "Oh, good morning, Lily."
"Do you mind if we sit here with you?" Lily asked and Sera noticed three girls, all wearing red and yellow ties, standing behind Lily.
"Of course," Seraphina said, a little shocked that they'd ask to sit with her when all the other places in the classroom were empty.
An awkward silence fell over the group as the four Gryffindor girls sat down on the empty chairs. "Girls, this is Seraphina," Lily put them all out of their misery by starting a conversation. "I met her on the train here. Seraphina, this is Marlene, Alice and Dorcas."
"It's nice meeting you all," Seraphina smiled shyly, once again feeling out of her comfort zone with four pairs of eyes watching her.
"Is that your real hair colour?" the blonde girl blurted out.
"Marlene," a brunette with big doe eyes gasped, like she couldn't believe that her new friend asked such a blunt question.
"Yes?" Seraphina said, though it came out as more of a question.
"That's so cool!" the noirette, who Lily introduced as Dorcas, said, admiring Seraphina's fiery red hair. "I'm jealous."
"Avada Kedavra," Seraphina said, flicking her wand in the movement of a lightning bolt. A blinding green light filled the room and a rushing sound, as though a vast, invisible something was soaring through the air. Seraphina felt surprisingly numb when the green light faded and she found herself staring down at Dorcas limp body on the floor.
She'd done it...
Even when uttering the most unforgivable of all curses, Seraphina didn't think it would work. Deep down she hoped that she wouldn't be capable of killing another person even if she tried to. The Killing Curse required a level of heartlessness Sera wished she didn't possess.
She just killed her own friend. A girl she'd known since they were both eleven.
"Well done," Voldemort praised and she could feel his breath against the back of her neck. Seraphina was in too much shock to respond, waiting for Dorcas to move and prove that her spell failed. "Come now," he urged her, "your work here is done."
Like a puppet having her strings pulled, Seraphina followed Tom out of the house. She threw a glance over her shoulder before exiting, the sickening feeling on her stomach only growing as she watched Dorcas unmoving on the ground one last time. All her self-restraint went to not run back and cry.
Her boots sunk into the snow covered ground outside the cottage and the chilly January air felt like a slap of realisation. Seraphina felt undeserving of breathing in the fresh air when Dorcas never would draw another breath.
"Now for the finishing touch," Tom stopped and turned to Seraphina, who was in too much shock to even react to his sudden change of appearance. For a long time, she'd suspected he used some sort of charm to alter his physical appearance. The difference may not be dramatic but his skin seemed paler – nearly bone-white – and his irises were rimmed with red. Reaching up, he stroked her cheek and Seraphina was lucky the cold temperature masked her reaction to him touching her face. "Just like I taught you."
Gripping her wand so tightly that her knuckles turned white, Seraphina recalled the feeling of casting the Killing Curse as she tried to summon the strength to perform Dark Magic again. It felt like a lump had gathered in her throat, rendering her mute. Clearing her throat, Seraphina moved her hand in an eight-movement and loudly said, "Morsmordre!"
The sky above Dorcas Meadows's cottage roared as a colossal skull, composed of what looked like emerald stars, appeared in the sky. From its mouth a serpent protruded like a tongue. She had seen this very image several times in the Daily Prophet when the newspaper reported another Death Eater strike against some Muggle town or muggleborn family.
Seraphina was well-aware of the terror this mark inspired and felt nauseated by the thought that she now was a part of that terror
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... an extra update this week to because I had a few drafts ready✨
Question for the group: Do you have any suggestions on face-claims for Rhea when she's older (a general description of her appearance right now is in the beginning of the chapter)?