Disclaimer: I will only say this in this chapter. I feel no need to repeat myself more than once. I do not currently own any rights to the Harry Potter franchise, and I probably never will.
Chapter one: Escape
A slight breeze brushed across the well trimmed lawn in front of the Cradell estate. The Japanese cherry trees charmed to be in full bloom all year around were releasing a pleasant scent along with tiny pink petals. Strange, magical insects that glowed in blue and purple hues chased the petals, lighting the fountain and the statues that were elegantly placed around the garden. The moon was not out, and so the corners of the garden faded into the night as crickets played soft music from the tall grasses.
It was in this landscape, that a mysterious figure accompanied by a young girl made their escape; one with a canvas bag full of precious metal items, and the other with a tote bag full of clothes and necessities. The faint sounds of nature were magnified in their ears, as the quiet tension on the night air bit at their skin. The girl, whom had never left the estate's grounds, was trying not to panic from the large amounts of fear and anticipation. The beautiful house that was once her prison became smaller as she made progress, and she had never felt more free.
Mundungus, who had been leading the girl away from her parents' estate, was bitter. He had not planned to bring the girl along. Merlin, he hadn't even planned on stealing from the Cradells'! There he was, minding his own business, when an especially juicy offer for a simple trinket from their private collection fell into his lap. It was not in his nature to steal from high-security places, no, he loved his life too dearly for that. He had foolishly made an exception, all because of greed! How could he have been so careless! He had always scoffed at people who said that greed was something to fear, and here he was, suffering because of it. Now he was stuck playing nanny for some rich girl who insisted to be taken away from the most beautiful, luxurious house in all of the United States. He couldn't imagine anyone being unhappy with such a comfortable lifestyle, but he made a point to not care about the things he stole. No, all he cared about was how much they would be worth when they left him. Though, he thought, he would let this girl go for free. Aye, the sooner he got this troublesome girl off his hands, the better.
Ebony Cradell was, as she had been for the past few hours, both excited and scared out of her wits. How she ever managed to make it out of the front door was still a mystery to her. She had never so much as reached for a forbidden cookie jar, and here she was, disobeying her parents in one of the most extreme ways: escaping. However many ways she looked at it, she came to the same, simple conclusion that she could never, ever, go back. Charms and wards aside, if she was ever discovered on this property again, she knew that she, whether it be her parents or their fancy friends, would be greeted with the magic equivalent of pitchforks and torches. The fact that she would not put it past her parents to use unforgivable curses, made her decision even more final. She would never be seeing these beautiful gardens, which had been her only sanctuary in her unbearably dull life, ever again. However the undeniable bright shine of freedom gave her feet a joyous spring as she hurriedly followed her companion.
The two neared the misty forest that marked the edge of the property. As the bulkier of the two briskly walked ahead, happy to get away from the traps and spells, the other paused for a moment. She looked back, one last time, at the only things she knew in the world. She was not good at making decisions, but she was confident in this one. Not that, there was any going back.
Ebony shook her head at her foolishness, and stared determinedly into the strange unknown forest. She stopped herself from thinking. Nothing good ever came from that. She cautiously trudged onward, clutching the strap of the bag around her shoulder.
She had come this far. There was no stopping her now.