*CHAPTER 10!*
Raven appeared in the old house and followed the sound of voices to the second floor. She came to a room lit dimly by a few candles. The raspy sounding voice stopped almost immediately after her entrance. "Ah, Ms. Malfoy, how good to see you again." said a voice from a high backed chair. The voice sent chills down ravens spine, but she was able to keep the tremors from her voice when she spoke, "I apologies my lord, I was a bit..." here she paused, not knowing how much to tell him "…preoccupied, when you called me."
A cold laugh came from the chair, causing Ravens hair to stand on end. "Yes, I heard of your argument with your father. Quite bold of you, saying those things, and then running out." the voice was silky smooth. She could hear the question in his voice but there was no way she was going to explain anything to him. Besides, there was nothing to explain, the inevitable had finally happened. She knew, standing on that platform four years ago and seeing her fath- no, seeing Lucius smiling after her brother, she knew it was only a matter time before she would have to leave.
"I suppose. Was there something you wanted talk to me about?"
The voice chuckled again. "Always straight to the point. A good quality. However there was something, I want you to keep an eye on our friend Mr. Crouch." Raven narrowed her eyes, he didn't trust the man he had given the job to? Was this some kind of test? "He can be... Reckless at times and I would like you to keep him in check."
Raven thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Why me? Why not Draco, or Snape? Why choose me?"
"Why you? My dear girl, do you think I would entrust such matters to a clumsy oaf like your brother? He would go bragging around that he had a special job for me and blow our plans sky high. And as for Snape, well it would look suspicious if an 'ex- Death Eater' went snooping around an ex-Auror. You are careful, calm, and subtle. You would not draw too much attention to yourself if you talked to him, or stayed after in his class. You will be looked at as merely a curious student, and I don't have to worry about you running off to your friends and bragging." he said to her approvingly.
Raven still had her doubts about his true intentions, but there wasn't much she could do about it. With a sigh she said to him "I accept. I will do my best to keep him in check. I'll make sure not to draw too much attention to myself in the process." she said obediently.
"Good girl. I expect nothing but the best from you. You may go. Oh, and Raven, room twelve is all yours." Raven assumed he meant at the leaky cauldron and she quickly apparated.
…
Raven walked the remaining mile or so to the Leaky Cauldron and again thought to herself how useful Lucius could be sometimes. When Raven first joined with Voldemort, there was the issue of needing to apparate, and use spells without getting caught by the ministry. He was able to get into the ministry and tamper with her trace. Now it's like it never existed. Raven entered the Leaky Cauldron and asked about room twelve.
"Ah yes." Said Tom, "A strange gentleman came in and got the room. Are you Mistress Raven?" Raven nodded, not wanting to give away any other information. Sensing that he wasn't going to get any sort of gossip from her, he showed her to her room and left. Raven flopped down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she sighed. "All my clothes are back at the manor." Rolling over she grabbed a quill and a bit of parchment from the bed side table.
Dear Draco,
Bring trunk to Leaky Cauldron ASAP. Room 12.
Your Sister,
Raven M.
Raven threw open the window and whistled. Soon a black owl came swooping in and looked at her expectantly. She tied the letter to its leg and told it "Take this to Draco. Only to Draco, Understand? No one else can know about this. Try and get there before morning." He hooted at her, and took off.
"What would I do without that owl?" She thought to herself, smiling. Suddenly a breeze blew in from the opened window. Raven inhaled deeply and smelled the grime and filth of Diagon Alley.
"I'm free." She said aloud.
And this time she knew it was true.
…..
Raven awoke the next morning to a loud banging on her door. She groggily opened her eyes and pulled off the blankets. She opened the door and was surprised to find her brother, Draco, standing there with her trunk.
"Hey, why are you here so early?" Raven said glancing down at her watch.
"I got your letter last night. I had to wait until mother and father were gone before I could risk getting your things. Father is still pretty angry. After you left he stormed around the house screaming things like 'Family disappointment' 'disrespectful creature' and-"
Raven cut him off, "I think I get it. He's still pissed."
Draco frowned at his shoes. "Are you sure you're ok here all by yourself?"
Raven couldn't help but laugh. Draco look startled. "I'm a big girl Dray. I think I can handle myself in Diagon Alley. Besides," Raven said composing herself again "it's only for a little while. Just until term starts again." Draco looked almost sad now "What about Christmas?" Raven stopped.
"What about Christmas?" She asked.
"Well what are you going to do on Christmas?"
Raven shrugged, "I don't know, I'll figure something out by then."
"Raven Christmas is a family time. The family should be together!" he said exasperated. "I just don't want us to fall apart…"
Anger swelled inside Raven "The family!" She boomed "What family! The convicts or the ones who escaped! Our family is nothing more than a criminal gathering! I've had enough of it! Or maybe you missed that part last night! 'Christmas is a family time.'" She said mockingly. "You're just a kid Draco. I wouldn't expect you to understand." She spat at him angrily.
With this Raven grabbed her trunk and shut the door. "Draco is only a child. A loved, pampered, spoiled, child! He has no idea what the real world is like." She thought. Then sighed and collapsed onto the floor. She never thought a break could be so exhausting. Sighing Raven went to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
When Raven had finished, she grabbed a brush from her trunk and began the process of untangling her long black hair. Raven then threw on some plain black robes, pushed her encounter with her brother from her mind, and headed out to enjoy her first day of freedom.
*Thank you everybody for the support! I would never have gotten this far without you! And many Thanks to my wonderful beta as well!*