This chapter contains scenes of violent actions. Please read with caution.

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'' You're right. I don't care.''

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Days passed, and Adrian didn't even look at her. He didn't spare her a single word as he muttered in complete quietness.

This was — to her, the worst type of punishment. The silence, because she knew that after calm weather, a storm would arise, and Adrian happened to be the worst of storms.

She stood in her room, looking over herself in the mirror in front of her, and all she wanted to do — was to cry. The dress Adrian had bought her this summer fitted her perfectly. It was dark green, elegant, clean, and his favorite color.

She was beautiful and ready, yet — she would do anything not to go because no matter how easy it seemed to be there, at the autumn dinner Adrian's mother had invited them to — it was still frightening to her.

To Amelie, those gathering could end up in flames, and her being burnt by the sparking fire was almost inevitable. Her father would be there — Andrew Avery.

A well-respected, educated man within the darkness of Death Eaters, and if Amelie as much as spare a thought not to go, he'd be furious with her.

There was nothing more important in this world for Andrew, her father, than to properly represent his last name — being an Avery was more than holy to the vicious man.

Even if she could go — she could hold her breath, and the night would be over in a heartbeat, but nothing kept Andrew from flickering in his evil mind and punishing her for something he believed to be wrong.

If there was anyone in the misery of life she seemed to be living, she feared more than Adrian — it was her father.

_____

'' Amelie.'' Adrian's mother greeted her with open arms, '' I'm so happy you both made it.''

Her green eyes — the same eyes her son possessed, darted between Amelie and Adrian as they stood on the steps to his childhood home.

Amelie's arms wrapped around the lady's petite figure, '' I missed you, Ana.'' Amelie whispered into her hair as they hugged each other tightly.

The scent of his mother — that calming smell of jasmine filled her every sense, and it eased the shaking nerves she held.

Ana pulled away, clinging her arms around her son instead, '' I missed you both.'' She smiled, leaving a gentle kiss on Adrian's cheek.

Amelie couldn't help but smile at the moment she witnessed. It wasn't often she watched Adrian like this, but whenever she had the chance to — she took it.

'' Effie.'' Ana called out, making the housemaid rush around a corner, '' Would you be so kind, and take care of the bags?''

Amelie's hand clenched around her purse, and she couldn't help but feel bad, '' No, Ana, both Adrian and I are more than capable—''

'' Here.'' Adrian hewed her off, snatching the bag from her hold as he nearly threw it on the maid.

Amelie's eyes grew wide. Her sight started flickering again as she felt ashamed of Adrian's behavior.

His hand slowly moved in between them, and he gripped her, tugging her closer, for no one else to see.

'' You should really learn how to behave, Amelie.'' Adrian seethed into her ear, '' Or there will be consequences.''

She swallowed before forcing a smile, holding on to that last piece of bravery, '' Of course, darling.'' She answered politely.

With his hand on her lower back, he guided her towards the kitchen, feeling how the smell of home-cooked meals soared through the rooms they passed.

But she halted in her steps, the instant her eyes placed on the man leaning over a counter, laughing at something Ana said. She felt sick — nauseous to what she had to watch.

Her father stiffly nodded towards her before continuing the cheerful conversation he seemed to have, and just as Amelie wanted to leave again — just as everything felt as if it crumbled around her,

'' You look beautiful tonight,'' Adrian smiled behind her, leaning close to place a kiss on the back of her head. His hands traveled up and down her bare arms.

She couldn't help but smile, tilting her head against the hand she felt on her shoulder, '' Thank you.''

'' Come on, darling.'' Adrian urged again, ripping her away from the kitchen as he guided her through the mass of people.

It wasn't always bad with Adrian, most of the time — she loved her boyfriend, and she couldn't bear the thought of ever being without him, yet, in other times, there was nothing she wanted more than to escape his cruel ruling.

Amelie's eyes flickered all over the dining hall, and the setting Adrian's mother had made for this dinner was more than remarkable.

The room was filled with golden and burgundy red decorations to celebrate that a new season was on edge to rise. Her sigh kept wandering until it landed on a familiar face, seated at one of the tables with a glass of liquor in his hand.

Amelie's heart nearly missed its beat as her skin flushed. She was scared of Draco and the interest he took, in finding out the truth about her, especially following the incident that caused Theodore to end up in the infirmary.

The blonde had caught onto something, and that could either be her greatest blessing or her gravest curse.

'' Amelie, dear.'' A soothing voice called out from behind her, bringing her mind back to presence.

'' Looking lovely as always I see.'' Narcissa smiled towards her, stretching a hand up to her cheek as she stroked it.

'' Narcissa.'' Amelie smiled back, tipping her head to meet the lady's gesture, '' And you're the one to talk, I see.''

Amelie nodded towards the breathtaking dress Narcissa was wearing as she blushed by the comment.

'' Adrian,'' She nodded towards him before looking back at Amelie, '' I heard about Theodore and his visit to the infirmary the other day. Is that poor boy alright?''

She felt herself swallow thickly as she peered up at Adrian, noticing his jaws clenched by Narcissa's words, and just as she was about to answer the question — he cut her off.

'' He's fine,'' Adrian spoke, sounding annoyed, '' A fall off the stairs isn't anything our beloved Nott couldn't handle,''

His grip around Amelie's waist tensed, and she could feel his temper devising,

'' A fall off the stairs, you say?'' Draco's voice approached from behind, causing all three of them to look at him.

'' I didn't realize that you could break your nose and get bruises around your neck from a fall off the stairs, Pucey,'' The blonde taunted him, making his whole figure visibly shake out of rage.

'' Avery. Good to see you,'' Draco smiled evilly, a cold hand placed on her arm as he trailed his fingers down it, gripping her hand in a smooth move and even if all of them were watching — Draco settled a soft kiss on the spine of her hand.

Her jaw dropped, her lips parted as she stared at him wide-eyed.

'' Something wrong?'' Draco mocked, but what Amelie didn't know was that the blonde had his own intentions with his doings.

He had come to the realization that something was terribly wrong with the girl in front of him, and he needed to know what — not because he cared, as his father used to say,

Malfoy men don't care. They are cared for.

But he wanted something to provoke Adrian with, and to watch the boy who's girl he'd just kissed on the hand, tremble out of fury, made him feel powerful.

'' Watch it, Malfoy.'' Adrian snapped, '' You must not touch what isn't yours.''

Amelie's eyes dragged lower, and she felt ashamed. He called her his property in front of all those people, and that was to her — embarrassing beyond explanation.

Narcissa quickly caught on to Amelie's sunken shoulders and the fingers twitching against the palm of her hand, '' Come with me, dear.'' She took her arm in a soft hold before leading her away from the hostile tension.

'' Are you alright, Amelie?'' Narcissa held a concerned look, '' You seemed a bit... off, in the hall, love.''

The drowning feeling washed over Amelie because she knew that she couldn't be honest about this, and lying — lying was something she wasn't proud over.

'' I'm fine, Mrs. Malfoy. I think I just have to—'' Her head bowed against the stairs, '' I think I need to lay down for a minute.''

Narcissa's hand stayed on her arm for a brief moment. Her red coated lips pressed together into a firm line, '' If you say so, but dear. If you need anything, let me know.''

Amelie rushed her way up the stairs, closing the door to Adrian's room behind her as she leaned her back against the wall next to it.

It hadn't even been an hour, and Amelie was already exhausted. She strolled up to the bed, nearly out of breath — all she wished to do was to shout, scream, yell.

She didn't want to be here.

But out of all the things she could do, that — wasn't an option.

She loved Adrian, and he loved her — that is the way it's supposed to be.

Her whole body coiled as the door swung open, revealing the fuming boy in the doorway. He slammed the door shut without taking his eyes off of her.

'' Why would Malfoy do that, Amelie?'' His jaws gritted, '' Why in the bloody hell would he touch you like that?''

Amelie didn't answer. She sat frozen on the edge of the bed.

'' Answer me,'' Adrian growled. His eyes turned dark again.

The lack of Amelie's words made him furious, and before she could even understand what was happening — he stormed up to her, forcing her back into the mattress as his hands found her neck.

His fingers dug deep into her soft skin, and she whimpered, over and over. She couldn't breathe — her hands slammed against his arms, and her body squirmed.

He had her trapped, once again — he failed her.

'' Why would he do that, Amelie?'' Adrian groaned again. With a knee on each side of her body, he nearly suffocated her completely, '' Tell me right now.''

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she couldn't fight back anymore. She had no strength — it was as if her body didn't want to fight, as if it wanted to give in.

'' Not so fast,'' Adrian muttered when he watched her body cave.

He let go of her, making the wind in her lungs flutter again, " It was worth a try, right?" Adrian mocked her heaving self.

He shoved himself off her, shooting her a look of disgust, " You mean nothing to me, do you understand that?"

She nodded in complete obedience to him. Amelie didn't want to set him off again — she didn't dare to.

" Pathetic." He muttered, taking long strides towards the door, brushing his suit off, " And Amelie—"

Her eyes matched his as he turned around, " I want you out of my house after dinner, am I clear?"

"You—" Her voice broke out of the pressure he had put on it, her skin sore, " Yes."

Adrian slammed the door shut, and she wished for everything that he wouldn't come back.

Sometimes he did. Sometimes he realized as he was walking away from her that he wasn't finished with her yet, and that was her worst nightmare.

Amelie kept her breath, doing everything possible not to cry, but the second she stumbled into the bathroom, and her eyes leveled her own,

Her hand cupped her mouth in the attempt to muffle the trails of sobs that kept coming.

Her throat was damaged. Adrian's hands and fingers had clenched so tightly around her skin that she had what looked like burn marks.

Amelie's fingers gently dragged across the mess her boyfriend had created, feeling as the tears drained her skin.

" Avery?" Draco's voice heard from outside the bathroom, and not even seconds later — the blonde stood tall in the doorway.

His hands shoved into his pockets, and he looked at her, how her skin had so desperately ruptured.

There wasn't anything Amelie hadn't seen in this world, from pain to hurt to heartbreak. She had seen it all, but never — not once had she watched someone in that grave torture Draco seemed to find himself in.

His eyes narrowed at her neck as her hand was placed over it. She didn't want him to see.

Amelie was embarrassed, and she felt at fault — but so did Draco. He sought to hide how guilty he held for provoking Adrian in the way he did.

'' I'm fine, would you just give me a minute, wait outside and I'll—''

'' What happened to you?'' His jaws gritted.

Amelie's eyes flickered as she felt the panic of anyone finding out, grow within, '' Nothing. I fell down—''

'' Don't.'' His tone hoarse, severe. '' I took you for a lot of things, Avery, but a liar isn't one of them.''

He was right. Amelie loathed the untrue tells.

'' I'm didn't mean to lie.'' She admitted, avoiding the grey eyes she felt burning into her, '' It's none of your concern.''

Draco rose a brow, '' None of my concern?'' He nearly scoffed at her, '' You and Adrian leave for ten minutes, and then I find you like this—''

His large hand gestured towards her bruised neck, '' And you tell me that it's none of my concern?''

'' Because it's not—'' Amelie began to feel upset, almost questioned,'' It's not anyone's concern, but mine.''

Draco's tongue rolled on the inside of his cheek, and his face stoned, '' Are you sure about this because I can't help you if you don't let me.''

Amelie huffed, gripping her skin tighter, '' You don't have to care—''

'' Care?'' Draco hissed, his shoulder against the doorframe, '' Who said I care?''

The grey eyes searched hers, and she could nearly feel the air in her lungs as it tightened. The anxiety wavered her,

'' No one,'' Amelie whispered.

'' That's right, Avery. Do you know why no one said that?'' He kept on going, making her spine collide with the sink behind them,

'' Because you don't care.''

Her face fell as she caught her own words — and the emptiness she felt weighted her even more.

Draco swallowed, thickly and his face held a stern look, '' You're right. I don't care.''

He turned around, leaving her just a little more broken than when he found her because she knew — she knew he was right.

_____

Adrian pulled a chair out for her before seating himself next to it. Amelie's cheeks were still flustered red from the moment in his room, and there wasn't anything she could do to hide it without looking ridiculous.

She had cast a spell Theodore had taught her, to hide the marks on her neck, but to do that on your face wasn't an option.

" Amelie, is everything alright, dear?" Adrian's mother spoke from across the table, making her eyes snap,

'' I'm fine, thank you.'' Amelie forced a smiled back, '' I'm just—''

'' She's alright, mother.'' Adrian hewed her off, granting his mother a bothered stare, '' Isn't that right, darling?''

His hand on her thigh, and she could feel the pain of it clenching around her flesh.

'' Right.'' Amelie stared down at her plate again, avoiding every stare of curiosity around them.

The room crowded with voices as they began to eat — but Amelie couldn't. She simply shoved the food around on her plate. She wasn't able to eat even if she wanted to because her throat hurt severely.

'' Amelie, how is school going? Is year six going to be your year?'' Narcissa smiled from further down the wood. Her tone shifted in intoxication, '' I heard you were second to that Granger girl, this year too.''

That the wives of the mighty Death Eaters drank their way to happiness at parties similar to this one wasn't a rare thing.

Amelie smiled as she thought of Hermione and nodded towards the lady, '' That's correct.''

'' Don't talk about those people at dinner, Narcissa.'' Lucius snarled, his eyes flickered over his friends of embarrassment, but his wife didn't bother.

Narcissa took another sip of her wine before raising the glass towards her son, '' Which means that Draco is third, isn't that right, son?''

The blonde rolled his eyes, narrowing his eyes into Adrian, who fiddled with the glass of moonshine held in his hand.

'' Well, it's a shame she ended up in Ravenclaw.'' Her father's voice came unexpectedly from the other side of the table, and the men all laughed at the comment he told.

'' Your schoolwork won't impress the Dark Lord, and if you only had taken a bit interest in the real world, perhaps I would've been proud of you.'' His fist struck the table as it sent a rattling sound through the glasses.

Amelie's head tipped forward. Her fingers in her lap twitched against the palm of her hands.

'' It's a shame.'' Her father kept going, '' But see it as a lesson gentlemen, daughters won't do you any good, be happy most of you were gifted with sons.''

This was the way he spoke to her all the time. He didn't even talk to her, he disrespected her in front of everyone, and there was nothing he loved more than to make a fool out of his daughter.

Adrian let go of her thigh, showing her no support, and the loneliness nearly suffocated her.

'' Well, I think it's an honor to have such a bright and clever student here.'' Ana rose her glass at Amelie's father, nodding provokingly at him, '' Thank you for being here, Amelie.''

Her father's eyes darkened, and he dropped his fork onto the table, '' Here, Amelie, right now.''

She swallowed, feeling how her eyes shut close for a mere second.

'' Right now, Amelie.'' He threatened again as her heart dropped. He pulled out a pack of cigars from his chest pocket, lightening one as he impatiently waited for her to do as told.

Every stare in the majestic room turned to her, and the entire room hushed. Amelie knew what this meant. Her father was once again taking out his frustration on her.

She pushed her chair back as her sight grounded, each step she caught up to her father was painful, but there was no other way.

Her eyes stayed floored, and she stretched her arm up to her father, avoiding that wicked grin she knew was climbing his lips.

Her father snatched her by the arm, dragging it closer to him as he lit the cigar on fire.

" Andrew—" Narcissa whispered, her kind tone tore through the embrace of hatred, " Please—"

Her father ignored her plea for him to let Amelie go; instead, he took a deep breath of the cigar, blowing the smoke right at her. She could feel her whole body shaking, and her fingers curled into fists — she was preparing for the pain.

Amelie was terrified, more than it, even if she had felt the torture of his rage so many timed before — this was different. He had never punished her in other's company before.

She could feel how the guest's eyes burned into her skin as they so strangely watched, but one pair of eyes stung more than the other's — and she didn't want them to, the grey eyes,

'' Ready, dear?'' Her father chuckled, and her eyes squeezed close. Her breath ceased.

He hated her. She knew he did — ever since her mother died, he resented her more than anything in this world, all because she reminded him of her.

The saloon echoed in voices as everyone overlooked what was passing because this the way it's supposed to be.

She knew that.

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