[Chapter Forty-Eight]

After Bellatrix dared to mention the Dark Lord within the home, Éponine found herself with a lump in her throat and her eyes wide in reaction. Of course, she had heard about the one who had deemed himself the Dark Lord. He had been active for decades, but in recent times, his follower count seemed to grow exponentially. He had been the topic of many discussions shared between pureblooded families and his recruitment already found itself within the walls of Hogwarts, she knew that first hand.

Severus Snape had taken it upon himself to use his bitterness over Lily's rejection to start recruiting students in Slytherin. He had pledged his loyalty to the Dark Lord, the one who wanted to end muggle-borns and their supporters. Which meant, he wanted to see people like Lily Evans and Gian suffer. Severus had tried to get Regulus interested by hazing his mind with thoughts of being able to save Sirius from persecution if the time came. Thankfully, Éponine felt as though she had intervened at the right time to save Regulus from making such a rash decision that was only based on emotion rather than logic.

"I've heard of him, yes," she finally answered, too afraid to meet Bellatrix's gaze afterwards. "What of it?"

"What of it?" Bellatrix repeated in a mocking tone. "Have you heard anything about what I just said? While our mothers destine us for a life of basically becoming them, the Dark Lord has better promises. We have freedom and power in the world he wants to create."

"H-How does he go about doing that?"

Bellatrix curled her legs beneath her, pulling her long skirt over them as she leaned back against the sofa. There was almost a dreamy look on her face as she stared off into the distance.

"If it wasn't for blood-traitors, we would have never had to deal with squibs and those mudblood products. They tainted magical blood all those times ago and to this day, our people are still paying for it. Our families wouldn't be so caught up on who married who and the need for children wouldn't be so desperate if the world had just remained how it was supposed to be. If wizards and witches had kept it pure, we would have more options and as women, we would have more freedom to do as we please."

It appeared that Bellatrix was reciting words of another, a practice preaching that had sold her from the very beginning. Just from their earlier discussion, Éponine knew that Bellatrix had been angered by the idea of just becoming a housewife after Hogwarts, especially after being the top of her classes. She wanted nothing more to show that she was powerful, but the only power her family would grant her came in the form of becoming a mother.

Without a child, she had just become another one married off and all eyes turned to the next generation such as Éponine and Regulus to carry on the pureblooded lines.

"But how does he go about accomplishing such a world?" Éponine questioned again since her question had yet to be answered. "Muggle-borns and blood-traitors already exist now, they have for decades. How does he create a world where purebloods are given options and freedom again?"

Bellatrix laughed. "Use your imagination, choose the curse of your liking!"

While Bellatrix found the idea of torture or something far worse, to be amusing, Éponine could hear her heart pounding in her chest.

"Is that necessary?" she whispered back. "I'm not one for violence."

"What do you think would work then? We've tried the peaceful way with segregation and where did that get us? There are more blood-traitors then ever, not to mention, mudbloods seem to be popping up more frequently, and filthy squibs. Salazar Slytherin tried segregation and it got him nowhere. The Dark Lord seeks to take action, he plans to keep his promises."

"What makes you so sure that he can keep such promises though?" Éponine couldn't believe she was so bold to question the Dark Lord in Bellatrix's presence. "I mean, there have been others before him, like Grindelwald. He ended up failing-"

"The Dark Lord will not fail. He has his loyalties and those that aren't loyal to his cause will soon learn the consequences. Grindelwald was soft for obvious reasons, the Dark Lord is far from soft. He has a vision and nothing gets in his way if he wants something."

If Éponine wasn't mistaken, it no longer sounded like Bellatrix was a loyal follower, but perhaps a woman describing her admiration for someone she was crushing on. She had never heard her speak of her own husband in such ways, yet, it seemed the Dark Lord held such an influence that Bellatrix was willing to fight anyone who didn't believe in his cause.

She was ready to call the conversation to an end as she was feeling terribly uncomfortable. But just as she went to stand up, Éponine was stopped as her wrist was grabbed and held firmly keeping her in place. Immediately, her skin became chilled as the smile had long faded from Bellatrix's expression.

"We weren't finished talking, it's rude to leave a conversation abruptly, Éponine. Didn't your mother teach you any better?"

Éponine contemplated ripping her hand from the grasp and hurrying off, but for some reason, she found herself sitting down, like an obedient puppy. "Wh-what else is there to talk to about, Bellatrix? I understand that you strongly believe in the word of the Dark Lord and perhaps his promises are great, but I don't condone violence. There's enough of it in the world already-"

"You're soft."

Bellatrix said it as if it were an insult of some sort, but Éponine didn't find it as one. There was strength in being soft, especially in a world that was all about an eye for an eye mentality.

"Is that your excuse then?" Bellatrix continued, a smirk forming. "Your excuse for befriending a mudblood?"

It was impossible, Éponine thought to herself. There was no way that Bellatrix could have known about Gian, she hadn't even confided in Regulus when it came to the matter. She no longer attended Hogwarts, so how was she aware of her odd relationship with Gian? She had to be speaking of him because Éponine had made no efforts to befriend Lily Evans.

"I-I-I don't know what y-y-you're talking a-about," she stammered, scolding herself internally for not coming across as a better liar, especially during such a crucial time. "I'm not friends with-"

"Gian Norton, first year, sorted into the great house of Salazar Slytherin, only to taint his name with such filth. A mudblood in Slytherin."

It had been quite some time since Éponine had engaged in a good cry and she felt something along those lines coming to the surface. All morning she had been debating whether she should go against the teachings of her parents and what had been preached within their families because of how she had been feeling as of recent. She had pushed them to the back of her mind, hoping that it was nothing more than a mere phase influenced by what had been going on that term so far.

But now, Bellatrix practically had her by the throat, threatening her with the information she somehow knew.

That's when it finally clicked in her mind.

"Severus," she uttered out, " he's the one who told you, isn't he?"

"Does it honestly matter, Éponine? The Dark Lord has followers everywhere and it so happens that we have eyes and ears inside the Slytherin house. You've been treading dangerously close with that mudblood knowing what he is. Now, what would possess you to do such a thing?"

Éponine shook her head. "I don't know. It was the start of term and he let it slip that he was a muggle-born, I didn't want to cause any trouble. There was nothing that could be done anyways, the Sorting Hat had already placed him! I had already spoken to him without knowing, I'm a prefect, it's my duty to look after fellow students in the castle. And...and...and I've been so angry with everything...especially my parents, I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to get back at them-"

It wasn't true for the most part, no matter how upset she was with her parents, she wasn't going to get back at them in such ways. There was no correlation between her parents and Gian, but she hoped it would be enough to gain some sympathy from Bellatrix.

To her surprise, it worked.

Suddenly, Éponine found herself pulled into a hug as Bellatrix pulled her close. The hug was nothing like Éponine had experienced before, as she felt no comfort coming from it. As she tried to pull away, Bellatrix continued to hold onto her.

"Learn where your loyalties lie, Éponine," Bellatrix whispered to her, "because if you don't, the next time Ernest Nott comes knocking, you just might find yourself alone in a room with him and no one will be around to save you. Not me, not my aunt or uncle, not even Regulus, I'll make sure of it. There's no room in the Black family for blood-traitors, do you understand?"

Finally being able to move, Éponine leaned back, all the while nodding her head. "My loyalty is to my family and the Black family, first and foremost," she promised. " I swear it."

"Don't swear it, prove it."

After Bellatrix left her with a threat looming over her head, Éponine left the living room,  no longer wishing to be confronted by anyone else that day. Her Christmas had pretty much been ruined in such a short amount of time. It was clear that her thoughts about switching sides had been halted by Bellatrix making it sound like she would arrange a meeting between her and Ernest where Éponine wouldn't be so lucky.

Just the thought of being alone with the man left her shivering in disgust. Bellatrix truly knew how to threaten people to get her point across and she was making it known that if Éponine didn't approve of the Dark Lord, she had better start.

With her mother's music box in her hands, she took to winding it up, hoping the music and the dancing figurines could help her nerves. However, she could already feel the burning of the tears threatening to fall. All she could think of was the bastard Severus, who definitely was the eyes and ears in the Slytherin house. She knew who had sent the note to her before the break of the holidays.

She wanted nothing more than to hex the hell out of Severus Snape when they got back to school, but now she had to play her cards right. There was no room for wavering thoughts anymore, she had to commit to one side and face the consequences. If she chose to side with her traditional beliefs, she could keep her family, her good standings, Regulus, and she would be safe from the likes of the creepy Ernest Nott.

If she decided to explore the new waters of everything she was starting to question and took on a new stance, maybe she would find some good, but there would be plenty against her.

The music box song came to an end but she didn't feel any better as the dancers became swans once more.

"Épi?"

Startled by her name being called, she nearly dropped the box, only to look up and see Regulus standing before her. There was a look of concern on his face as he didn't expect her to look so miserable on Christmas day. Especially as he came racing into the room, excited to finally present her with his gift.

"Épi, what's wrong?" he asked. "I've been looking for you. Why are you hiding away?"

"I'm sorry," she said, " I was just sitting here with my music box, letting it play through the songs. It just made me think of my parents and well, I guess I just happened to make myself sad. Silly me."

"Well, I don't want you sad on Christmas," he said sitting beside her and nudging her shoulder with his. "It's supposed to be a jolly holiday. But I think I know exactly what you need to cheer you up."

"I don't think I can stomach any more treacle tart, Regulus-"

"No, it's not that!" Regulus laughed. "Come on, haven't you noticed, I haven't given you your Christmas gift yet. Aren't you curious as to what it is?"

Éponine found herself red in the face as Regulus neared her, inching closer and closer until their noses were practically touching. She thought he was leaning in for a kiss, but just as she went to lean into it, he stood up abruptly and offered his hand.

"Come, come, Éponine. We don't have time to waste!"

She almost fell forward after he rose to his feet but managed to catch herself, seeing the cheeky grin pulling at his lips. Rolling her eyes at his behaviour, she couldn't help but let out a small giggle before pushing herself up. Éponine left the music box behind on the last step before following Regulus, wondering just what her Christmas gift was that he couldn't hand it to her.

He led her through the home and close to the kitchen and just when she was about to ask him what he was up to, she came to a halt.

Standing near the table were her parents.

"Maman? Papa?" she said under her breath. She wanted to be angry with them at the time, she wanted to turn away from them and demand an apology for their neglective behaviour. However, Éponine didn't have it in her as she was so relieved to see them finally that she raced over and practically threw herself at them.

They seemed equally as happy to see her as they showered her with affectionate kisses and took turns hugging her. But she didn't understand, they had told her that they wouldn't be around for the holidays.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked. "I thought you were...you were..."

"Regulus told us it was very important that we spend the holidays together," Victor said, placing his arm on her shoulder.

Éponine turned around to see Regulus nod in her direction before he turned to leave to give them a moment to themselves, but not before wishing her a very Merry Christmas.