Brief Lesson: The next three assignments will be focusing solely on the three unforgivable curses, so make sure you have your wits about you if you plan to take on Defense Against the Dark Arts! Please be thoroughly aware that if you attempt to use any of this curses, you will be in deep deep trouble!

The Imperius Curse is one of the most powerful and sinister curses of wizarkind. When cast sucessfully, the curse places the victim entirely under the casters control, though a person of exceptional strength of will is capable of resisting it. An adequately placed curse will cause the victim to do anything the caster wishes, be this political corruption, murder or even suicide. A victim of this curse will be placed in a strange, pleasant trance, which makes it quite unlike the other two unforgivables.

Task: Consider the theme of Valentines Day for this assignment. Thinking about what you have just learned about the Imperius Curse, I would like you to write about a controlling, one-sided love. The other person may be scared of the controlling force, or even controlled by another source, such as the Imperius Curse or a strong love potions. So long as the love is prominently one sided, that is the task.

Bound Princess

Druella Black nee Rosier delicately sips a glass of wine as she watches her invited guests mingle in the ballroom of Black Rose Hall This night, she is hosting the Black family's traditional winter solstice ball and so far it seems to be a success. It was a personal victory, to have the ball in her home, as her sister-in-law, Walburga, was usually the hostess. It took a year of cajoling for her to have the honor and she is almost euphoric with her victory, but something is off.

Druella was never under any illusion that any of her in-laws (including Cedrella, who was not spoken about among the family because of her marriage to Septimus Weasley) liked her. Oh, in polite company they provided a united front but behind closed doors, she found herself friendless. Yet leading up to this event, Dorea, Cassiopeia, Lucretia were helpful with tips on how to make the ball a success. It was Walburga's behavior that puzzled her the most. She handed over the reins too easily, and while she did not outright help her, she did not hinder the others from assisting. That in itself was troubling.

Silvery laughter reaches her ears and her eyes tracks the source of it. The laughter comes from Narcissa, who is standing with her two sisters and some friends by one of the refreshment tables.

'I might not have given birth to sons, but I have given birth to three daughters, jewels worthy of being among the stars in the sky.'

"I only see two beautiful jewels – the center stone has become cloudy as of late," Walburga says. Druella flinches slightly, unnoticed to all but Walburga. Druella hated when her sister-in-law sneaked upon her. It only meant trouble whenever she did.

"What do you mean by that, Walburga? My daughters are perfection."

A mean smirk crosses Walburga's face and a sinister glint enters her eyes.

"So you haven't heard? You haven't noticed the looks the guests are giving you and Andromeda? It's such a shame, to have such gossip floating during such an occasion as this one. No one will remember the ball, only the information gleaned while attending."

"None of my daughters have done anything to shame me or our House," Druella hisses in response and without further comment, she walks away.

Despite the bravado she displays in front of Walburga, Druella is worried. Since the moment it was pointed out to her, she noticed the looks in her direction, the speculation in their eyes. Appearance is everything and she refuses to let anyone see that she is rattled. However, she has been shaken and when it became noticeable to her that Andromeda is avoiding her, she knows without a doubt that there is a reason why conversations ceases when she approaches certain groups of people.

Later in the evening, when all the guests are seated for the midnight meal, Walburga stands to make a toast.

"To Druella Rosier Black, for providing such a lovely, entertaining evening."

The other guests echo the toast and Druella dips her head demurely, all the while thinking -

'If it wouldn't discomfort Cygnus, I would kill her right where she stands.'

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It isn't until three days prior to returning to Hogwarts when Druella confronts her middle child.

Personality wise, Bellatrix is her father's daughter and Narcissa is Druella's reflection both in looks and temperament. Andromeda however, is a mystery to her mother. Andi, as her sisters' likes to call her, has the same passionate spirit as her older sister, yet she is not ruled by it. She is compassionate, thoughtful and kind, although a bit introverted. Druella often wondered why Andromeda was Sorted into Slytherin rather than Ravenclaw or even Hufflepuff, but over the winter social season, she learns something new about her daughter. Andromeda is just as sneaky as the rest of her Slytherin family.

Bellatrix and Narcissa are aware that Andromeda is interested in someone; however they disagree on who that person is. Neither had details, but Andromeda had never been the one to flaunt any of her dealings for all to see. Bellatrix thinks Andromeda is interested in her fiancé's younger brother, Rabastan, and is waiting for Bellatrix to marry in late spring before announcing her own engagement. Narcissa thinks the wizard her middle sister is interested in is someone in Ravenclaw. Both are very far from the truth.

"I look at you, Andromeda, and I wonder, where I failed in my duty. As a daughter of The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, you have certain expectations. You have lived up to all of them except for one, and because of this, I am seen to been remiss in my duties as your father's wife."

"Mother, of what do you speak? I've been a good daughter. Since entering Hogwarts, I have not made a grade below an E. I've been made Perfect and there's talk that I might make Head Girl. I have never shamed my House in public."

"But what about in private, Andromeda? What about the times you think no one is looking, Andromeda. Tell me about them."

Andromeda's eyes widen and Druella can see the panic in her daughter's eyes. She can tell that her daughter wants to bolt, to run away from this confrontation that is playing out. However, Andromeda cannot move and she knows right in that moment that she is truly trapped.

"To make it in our world, your reputation has to be beyond reproach. We already have few allies due to the unreasonable reach and influence Albus Dumbledore have in the Ministry of Magic and because how he runs Hogwarts like his personal fiefdom to promote his ideals to another generation. You know how our ways are slowly dying, being push aside due to what he calls progress. So tell me, Andromeda, why would you ally yourself with someone who would see our way of life as archaic and better off ended?"

"Love, Mother."

A bitter smile crosses Druella's face.

"Love," she scoffs. "A four-lettered word thrown around by witches and wizards alike to get what they want from the person they are saying that word to. Since you have such faith in love, let us see if the saying 'love conquers all' is true. Imperio!"

~~**~~**~~ Page Break ~~**~~**~~

'There's something off about `Meda since she returned back to Hogwarts after the holidays,' he thinks to himself.

Ted Tonks always knew of the Black sisters – the wild one, the unapproachable one and the ice princess, but he did not get to know Andromeda until he was paired with her so she could tutor him in Ancient Runes. It took three weeks before he stopped being anxious around her. It had been years since he had had that feeling, but that anxiousness had returned, and stronger than ever.

He attributed his nervousness to the fact he planned to ask Andromeda to marry him. He knew there were odds facing them – his blood status, her family, a possible arranged marriage he knew nothing about. However, he was not going to let any of those things prevent him from asking her. Ted was pretty sure Andromeda loved him as much as he loved her.

He reaches the greenhouses, where they are to start their Perfect patrol for the evening, first. He takes a moment to calm himself, yet Ted's heart starts to beat faster when he sees Andromeda walking towards him. He conjures a bouquet of orange roses (Andromeda's favorite) and white spider flowers. He smiles as he hands Andromeda the bouquet that expresses the words he cannot say.

"These are for you."

"Orange roses, my favorite! They're lovely, but why the white spider flowers? Surely you do not mean . . . I cannot accept these," Andromeda's voice ends in a whisper as she gives the flowers back.

"Why not? I thought . . . I thought . . .," Ted stammers, as he notices the signet ring on her left hand for the first time. He Vanquishes the flowers and their evening patrol is completed in utter silence.

Ted waits until he reaches his bed before he lets the first of many tears fall.

'I was only fooling myself when I thought I could pluck the bound princess out of the sky.'