Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Last chapter, people. Hope you enjoy it. I might write a sequel about Callie and the end of the war but I'm not sure yet. Quite short compared to the others, but quick. Read on!
Callandra Bellatrix Druella Lestrange stood on the front step of Lestrange manor, looking at it for the final time: the place where she had grown, cried, laughed…and changed.
In her hand was her Nimbus 2001, a Christmas gift from her uncle Lucius. In her pocket, shrunk, was her trunk with her belongings.
There hadn't actually been much time as her parents had gone out on a raid tonight and she had rushed, wanting to get out as quickly as possible.
One guess to where they had raided.
They usually came back very late though Callie wasn't taking any chances.
Dinky was by her side, having been freed previously by Callie, as a thank you for helping her get out.
Taking one last look at the huge building Callie crossed the lawn quickly and went into the forest and hid behind a tree before apparating, along with Dinky who swore she would come with her mistress despite being freed, into a deserted field in Devon.
From what Dinky had said she had picked up from the family they were going by feree to California from South-Hampton, going east round the Atlantic towards Australia then round back to California.
South Hampton it was then.
The moon was full and shone brightly down with the stars twinkling merrily amid the tranquil air.
The calmness made Callie uneasy.
"Mistress we is going to get caught," Dinky's voice came shrilly up.
"Shh!"
She had read somewhere about the calmness before the storm and Callie wouldn't rest easy until she was out of the country and left her family behind her.
Shrinking her broom and placing it in her pocket she took out her wand and made her way to the smallest, and only, hotel. Stopping outside she turned to Dinky,
"Stay here until I get back…" the remembering Dinky was now a free elf due to a spontaneous on the spot decision, so didn't have to obey orders said, if you want?"
"Oh yes mistress. Dinky is very grateful to be freed and still work for a worthy member of the house of Lestrange."
Callie doubted she would be on the tree come tomorrow, therefore a member of the family, but didn't say anything; just nodded her thanks.
Opening the front door Callie stepped into a large lobby carpeted with blood red carpet and dusty furniture.
It was meant to look royal, Callie knew that much, but the only effect it had was tacky.
An elevator at the far end had an out or order sign on it.
Walking up to the counter Callie waited for the young woman to notice her.
Taking two black things out of her ears which emanated music…how did that work? And chewing something loudly she looked Callie up and down.
Feeling irate at the judging look the woman was giving her Callie asked curtly after the Browns.
"Left this morning," was her only reply.
"Left where?" The woman sneered at her,
"The dock; the only place to leave round here; saw em go meself. Nervous bunch," the woman added as an afterthought.
Forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes Callie nodded and turned away, somehow 'forgetting' to say thank you.
Once outside the place Callie made her way to the pub which was a small cosy little place packed full opposite the hotel called 'the royal inn'. Like before Dinky stayed outside so as not to draw attention to themselves
Pushing herself towards the bar, Callie asked after the ship that had left this morning,
"HMS TITAN, left bout 10ish this morning," the landlord informed her kindly, "was there someone on it you was wanting to wish goodbye to?"
"Sort of," Callie said, "do you know its route?"
The landlord pointed at a framed map behind her,
"Here," he pointed at a spot, "then it'll go round here and up here towards Australia which will take six weeks at best, then a change over and round here to California, another six to eight weeks at best. Mebe a bit more. Plane would be quicker unless you was goin on a round the world tour. I was a captain of a round the world tour ya know," he added, looking wistful. Callie tried to look interested in what she knew would be probably a long winding reminiscence that would keep her there for a couple of hours,
"Really?"
"Yeah, HMS Westfield; beautiful ship she was. Sailed magnificently…"
"Come on John, yeh not boring the girl with yer old sea tales are yeh?" a tall grey haired man asked.
"I'm not borin her. I was just showing her the route of the Titan." The man sniggered and turned away.
"Thank you for you help but I've really got to get back to the hotel. My aunt will be pleased with this information," Callie lied,
"That's alright. Can I get you a drink miss? You look mighty cold?"
Callie doubted that muggles sold Butterbeer, or in her case, Firewhisky.
"No I am alright thank you."
Pushing herself towards the door she slipped out into the night. Taking out her wand she waved it and muttered a few words under her breath.
A blue flame appeared in front of her and, taking her miniature broom out of her pocket she enlarged; it swinging her leg over the broom and lifting Dinky in front of her, she kicked off and followed the tracking flame which would lead her to the Titan.
However fifteen minutes into the journey Dinky said,
"Master is calling Dinky, mistress."
"He is not your master any more Dinky," Callie replied quickly, though her insides were swimming with nervousness. If her father had got home then this meant that soon they would know she was gone.
Accelerating the broom Callie and Dinky flew into the night
Rabastan, Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange got back to the manor a little bit after midnight, covered in blood and laughing while recounting what had happened amongst themselves.
Opening the door they walked into the drawing room where the lights weren't on and the fire wasn't lit.
Frowning, Rodolphus roared for Dinky and when she didn't appear immediately Rodolphus roared again, this time louder so his voice echoed in the big room.
Nothing happened.
Rodolphus began to have a horrible feeling in her gut.
Ordering his brother to light the room and go and check up on Dinky's nest which was in the kitchen, he left the drawing room with his wife in tow as both made their way up to Callandra's room; half knowing what they would find but refusing to believe it until they saw her betrayal for real.
Unlocking the door Rodolphus and Bellatrix stood in the now cleaned out room, shocked into silence what their daughter had done.
Bellatrix was the first to recover and, letting out an insane inhuman scream she began to trash the room while shouting every vile thing under the sun about her daughter.
Rodolphus however, just stood there, silent, staring round the now trashed room in shock while Bellatrix kneeled on the floor; still screaming: her face alight with insanity.
Taking a deep breath he calmly walked from the room and down the hallway towards the stairs. Ascending the stairs he walked slowly but purposely towards the drawing room.
Opening the door he walked across the room, ignoring his brother and his questioning look. Taking out his wand as he reached the huge family tapestry that his parents, grandparents and every member of his family ha been so proud of; the tapestry that held every worthy person in his family since the fifteenth century.
Pointing his wand at the most recent name he spoke the spell, though in his mind his didn't remember doing it.
A bright flash of yellow and the acrid smell of smoke assaulted his nostrils. Looking down to where Callandra's name had been he was met with a burnt marking in it's place. The vines that was on the tapestry which marked how every one was related and which went down from Bellatrix and himself towards the black burnt mark like a cigarette mark, now looked shrivelled and dead.
Fitting, he thought, the vine is dead just as she is dead to us.
He stood there staring at the tapestry for a long time, reminding himself of his pure blood heritage and the powerful dark wizards he was directly descended from.
Reminding himself what he was fighting for and what muggles had done to his family in, what all psychopaths do, an attempt to self-justify the amount of murders and terror he had created.
He was still staring at the tapestry with his brother when his wife's screaming died down and she entered the room to stand next to her husband who was transfixed by the dead vine which had led to his daughter's name.
"What do we tell the dark lord?" Bellatrix asked softly.
"The Truth; The Dark Lord will see she is punished, as will I for the family's humiliation," Rodolphus responded.
As they left the room they left any remembrance of the daughter they once had behind; the only indication she had ever been related to them a small scorched mark on the tapestry.
Daniel was standing on the top deck, looking out to sea and feeling generally miserable about the world.
He didn't see it at first, putting it off as a large black bird. However as it came closer he, and a few other passengers, squinted. A person…flying, flying what? A broom, someone said, no it was flying on thin air. No, it was Christ come back again for the final judgement. After all the unexplainable events that had occurred it wouldn't be surprising, they agreed.
But Daniel knew better:
"It's Callie!" he screamed, pushing his way towards the rail where the figure was coming closer and, indeed, it was. A very dishevelled, tired-looking Callie, but Callie no less.
People backed off as she landed, gaping at her and gaping at Dinky who was now hiding in her mistress's robes and glancing out.
Luckily there was only twelve muggles who had witnessed this strange event, it still being very early with the sun just risen.
Taking out her wand Callie quickly obliviated everyone except Daniel.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that," he said while Callie shrunk her broom and placed it in her pocket as people wandered off.
Then they were in each other's arms, kissing passionately.
Pulling apart Daniel looked into her eyes,
"You came," he whispered, happiness effulging him.
"And you expected anything else?" she answered teasingly.
Daniel looked down at the elf and remarked,
"Lets get her downstairs into my cabin. I don't know what you did to these people but let's not tempt fate, eh? Then you can explain how you got here."
Kissing one last time Daniel took both Callie and Dinky below ship, holding hands with Callie while the sun rose higher in the sky, promising a bright day as well as a brighter future.
End
Thank you everyone for reading this. Please review and don't forget to check out my other story on my profile: dark days.
Thank you xx
I tried looking for the right route from south Hampton to California and couldn't find anything solid so sorry if my information is woefully inaccurate.
But I've had a lot of fun writing this.
Thanks again xx