A/N: Here's the major chapter you guys! It's mainly dialogue…not too much description other than a brief bit of "action." I hope this isn't a disappointment. It isn't overly exciting…but my story is more about my character than a surprising, action-themed plotline. I would really, really like feedback for this chapter and the last one…I want to know if they were okay and such. So be lovely and review. Enjoy this chapter!
"Come on my dears," Rupert said smoothly, gently placing a hand on Eleanor's shoulder. "I fancy a walk in this lovely British weather."
Eleanor gulped as Rupert steered her out of the pub into the downpour; she shot a terrified glance at Rosaline who had no choice but to follow them because of the binding spell. The trio made their way away from the Hog's Head, towards the infamous Shrieking Shack. An evil smirk remained plastered on the face that wasn't really Rupert's as they came to a halt in front of the fence surrounding the supposedly most haunted building in all of Britain. After a few moments of standing in front of the terrifying house, Rupert prodded the two girls through an opening in the fence.
"Great place, isn't it ladies?" Rupert sneered as they trudged through the thick mud.
Eleanor could not help but shudder as they crossed through a large open window to get into the house. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and in the corners of the room they entered; dust resided on all the broken furniture and ripped drapes. It didn't appear to be haunted, but the place was absolutely disgusting. A spider fell onto Eleanor's shoulder as they approached a rickety pair of stairs; she screamed, and Rupert snickered cruelly.
"Shut up!" Rosaline snapped, overcome by anger. "Leave Ella alone."
A resounding smack echoed up the stairs as Rupert slapped Rosaline across the face. "Quiet Rosaline. I have heard more from you these past few months than I ever wanted to hear. I was planning on taking care of Eleanor first, but perhaps I will take care of you before her! That way I will be rid of you, and Eleanor can watch you suffer."
"Wh-what?" Eleanor gasped as they entered a semi-destroyed bedroom.
"Did you think we were just coming up to this slum for a chat?" As Rupert said this, his disguise began to fade. The features that Eleanor had come to fear were slowing appearing in the dim light provided by Rupert's wand. His grey eyes sparkled with malice as they peeked out from his shaggy black hair; his huge hands twitched slightly around his wand.
Surprising even herself, Eleanor whipped out her wand and pointed it at Rupert. "No! You will not hurt Rosy like you hurt Mum!"
Despite having a wand pointed at him, Rupert smirked again. "Well, you aren't as stupid as I thought you were. I'm glad to see that you thought to bring your wand. However, any harm that is done to me, will be done to your sister – oh ho! Got you there, didn't I? I worked very diligently on forming the perfect binding spell."
"Let her go, Rupert! I am the only person with whom you have a score to settle. I'm here now, so you don't need her anymore!" Tears of frustration were trickling down Eleanor's face; she just could not hold them in anymore.
"I can be a reasonable man; we can make a bargain. If you give me your wand, I will allow Rosaline to leave. She will be perfectly safe, but she will not be able to contact any wizard until she is a hundred miles away from us. Then, once she is outside of the hundred miles, she will not be able to return here for 24 hours because of a spell I will place on her before she leaves. I'll be quite done with you by then."
"How do I know that you won't break that bargain? Would you be willing to form an Unbreakable Vow?"
"Is that not a bit extreme?" he asked.
"I have learned not to take my chances with you. Rosy can perform the spell for us, and she can leave after that. Then I will be completely" – she shuddered – "at your mercy."
"NO!" Rosaline shouted. "I cannot agree to that Ella." She rushed over to her younger sister, pulled her close, and whispered to her sister, "I'm the one who is supposed to be the defender as the older sibling. I failed to do that when I left for my job, but I can defend you now by not allowing you to put yourself in further danger."
"If you stay, both of us will be hurt or even dead," Eleanor hissed back. "Please, just do this for me Rosy. I will be fine; I promise you. You told me once, that I am capable of handling myself, and now I have the chance to."
Lips trembling, Rosaline released Eleanor. "Fine. I will perform the Unbreakable Vow with you two."
"Here you go, Miss Rosy," Rupert drawled, handing over her wand. "Get on with it so that you can leave."
Ten minutes later, Rosaline was gone, and Eleanor and Rupert were standing silently in the room, eyeing each other. Without a warning, Rupert flicked his wand and let out a lazy "Crucio."
Screaming, Eleanor fell to the floor in horrible pain. Her limbs twitched involuntarily in every direction as Rupert let out a low laugh. With another flick of his wand, the pain stopped. She hardly had the chance to catch her breath before he hit her with the curse again. The pain was extensive, and she could find nothing at all to compare it to in her mind. However, after two more Crucios, Eleanor found the pain almost manageable. To Rupert's displeasure, she stopped screaming and sobbing and proudly remained silent as he tried to throw a stronger Crucio at her.
"Think you're tough my dear? Perhaps we should try something a little different…"
Rupert started to call out curse after curse, cutting Eleanor, throwing her against walls. Within a few minutes, Eleanor had the sense to run. She dodged a spell by ducking behind a dresser and then sprinted out the door. Obscenities spewed out of Rupert's mouth as he lumbered after her. Gasping for air, Eleanor practically threw herself down the steps to escape her deranged step-father. Tripping on the last step, she fell to the ground and released a cry of pain as she practically impaled her shoulder on a broken chair leg. Blood seeped through her cloak as she stood back up and darted into what appeared to have been a kitchen at some point. Quietly she ducked into a pantry and hid in the very back. She dug into her bag that was miraculously still slung across her body and found a potion for her shoulder. Her skin sizzled slightly when put in contact with the potion, but the nasty wound scabbed over much more easily than it would have for a muggle. Gripping her shoulder, she steadied her breathing and listened for the sound of Rupert approaching. His footsteps sounded as if they were rooms away. Perhaps she could manage to sneak out the kitchen window and make a run for the Three Broomsticks – Madame Rosmerta would help her. With extreme caution, she made her way back out of the closet and started to peel the boards away from the kitchen window.
"It is quite amazing how well the Sound Throwing Charm works," Rupert purred, causing Eleanor to jump three feet in the air. "Perhaps it is time for me to finish you off; I have had my fun."
Eleanor's short life suddenly began to flash before her eyes. Visions of her mother, Rosaline, and Leigh swirled around in her mind. Immediately, she was glad that she had somewhat made peace with Severus that night. With that thought, she also immediately found herself upset that she had ordered Severus not to read her letter until later – perhaps he could have saved her if he had read it then. She pushed the sad thought from her mind and focused on how her sister was safe, how much she loved her mother, and how much she was going to miss Leigh.
"Avada Ke" –
"DON'T YOU DARE!" a voice yelled. Severus. "STUPEFY!"
Rupert fell to the ground, and the immediate threat was gone.
Severus Snape raced over to Eleanor and enveloped her in his arms. "Ella – Oh Lord, Ella! Are you okay?"
"I am now," she whispered, before everything went black.