Chapter 1
Bright orange flames tore thought the campsite. People were screaming as the chaos spread, lead by a group of ominous figures, cloaked in black, faces obscured by white bone masks.
I was sure that my husband was behind this little demonstration. I was torn by the anger I felt towards Lucius for risking exposure, and the fear that gripped me at being unable to find my son. I looked wildly around for the tell tail sign of Draco's blond hair, desperate to know he was safe. 'He's smart,' I told my self, trying to force myself to remain calm. 'He'll have had the sense to flee. He'll be safe.' Or so I hoped.
A terrified scream stopped my train of thought, making me spin round to see where it had come from. My eyes widened in shock as I saw our new neighbour, Damien Witts run back into a burning tent, trying no doubt to save his wife. His daughter, who looked no older than five maybe, tried to run after him screaming. I found myself lunging forwards, dragging the child backwards out of harms way.
"Papa!" she screamed, struggling to free her self from my grip. I pulled her closer and held the girl tightly in my arms. A loud bang erupted from the tent. The girl screamed as a small explosion covered the tent in flames, blocking it from view. She hid her small grubby face, crying into my shoulder. I was unable to look away, listening as the agonised screams subsided and the flames swallowed the little tent.
Slowly, I stood up, lifting the crying child into my arms, and turned away from the blazing tent. I freed my right hand and conjured a patronus, sending Draco a message, telling him to meet me in the forest surrounding the burning campsite. Holding the girl securely in my arms, I disapparated. We appeared with a loud crack, in the small clearing in which we had arrived by port key. The child in my arms had suddenly gone very pale and I set her down just in time to avoid getting vomit all over my robes. I drew her away from the spot, so that she wasn't forced to smell it, and bent down next to her, pulling a handkerchief from my robes. I cleaned her face and tried to smile reassuringly.
"Don't worry," I said, "It happens to most the first time." Then I pulled Lucius's empty hip-flask from my pocket, filling it with water.
"Drink," I said offering it to her. "It will take the taste away." She took it from me, taking a small sip ,hiccupping as she did so.
"Where's, my, Mama?" she choked between sobs. Tears streamed from the girls dark blue eyes down her ashen face. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't tell her now. Not here.
"Are you hurt child?" I asked, avoiding the question. She nodded and I realised that she was crying as much in pain as fear.
"I need you to tell me where it hurts," I urged.
"My back," she said thickly. I turned her around and gently peeled up the back of her blackened shirt. My hand shot to my mouth, stifling a gasp, an angry blistering red burn sprawled across half her back.
"It's ok," I murmured, more to myself than to her. I carefully lifted her into my arms, trying hard to avoid touching the burnt parts of her back. She cried out for her parents again.
"What's you name sweetheart?" I asked, trying to distract her. I almost felt guilty for not knowing this. Her parents had very recently moved into the small estate that bordered our, and were, had been, a pure blooded family living on the isle of white.
"Sabina," she choked. I tried to smile, but I could tell that it looked half-hearted and forced.
"I'll get you fixed up Sabina," I whispered to her, "I promise." She nodded, tears still rolling down her face. At that moment Draco came crashing through the trees into the clearing. He stopped dead as his light grey eyes fell on Sabina. He looked at me.
"Mother?" he started.
"There's no time to explain here," I said shortly, cutting him off. "We have to go. Now." I added fiercely. He looked at me for a moment, then grabbed my arm, knowing not to argue, and I disapparated.
We appeared in the front hall of Malfoy Manor and I took Sabina swiftly up the stares to the nearest guest room.
"Draco fetch my bag," I shouted at him over my shoulder. I backed into the room and set her down safely on the bed. I lifted up the remains of the burnt shirt and Draco came in with my brown leather bag. Curiosity burned in my son's eyes as he studied Sabina's tears stained face. I pulled out a bottle labelled "Essence of Dittany" and uncorked it.
"Draco hold her shoulders down," I said quietly. His eyes widened as he read the label on the little green bottle. "Just do it," I hissed. I turned my attention to Sabina.
"Sweetheart this is going to hurt, but I have to put the potion on or your back won't heal and you will get very ill," I explained. "But I promise that it will only hurt for a moment." She nodded her head, and I looked at Draco, who placed his hands on her shoulders to stop her from squirming. I looked down at the burn, fixing my eyes on it so that I didn't have to look up at her pain stricken face. I squeezed a few drops onto her back and she cried out, trying to break free of Draco hold.
"Almost done," I told her, sounding much more composed than I felt. I squeezed out a couple more drops, and then bandaged her back loosely. Tears rolled down her face, and I scooped her up, cradling her in my arms. I reached into my bag, and pulled out a small bottle unscrewing the lid.
"Here," I said softly, "drink this. I will take away the pain." After she had drunk the potion, I rocked the crying child gently in my arms.
"Mother," Draco said quietly. I looked up. "That's the Witts girl isn't it? They moved in last week." I nodded.
"Did they…?"
"Use your head Draco," I snapped quietly. "What do you think?" My son's eyes couldn't help but widen as understanding crossed his mind.
"Oh," he said softly. He left, shutting the door with a soft click.
As I rocked the little girl in my arms she looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears.
"I want Mama and Papa," she said thickly. I couldn't stop the tears itching behind my ice blue eyes. How long could I stall for?
"I know," I murmured into her hair. "I know."