Chapter 10
Encounter with Wizards
Michelle awoke to find herself lying on the ground. Her back hurt from the hard ground and she was covered in dirt. She groaned and sat up slowly. Looking around she saw that it was early morning. In the light she could see more of the alley. Many of the shops were boarded up. It didn't look like people ever came here. Michele stood up and walked to one of the shop windows, peaking in through the grim. It was to dark to see anything.
"I wonder what happened to this place," Zar said. He was on the ground, slithering here and there, leaving marks in the dust.
Michelle turned away from the window. "I don't think it was a pleasant place." She stared at the filthy walls for a moment. "Look! There are drawings on this wall."
She crossed to the other side and began drawing her finger along the lines carved into it. She read them softly. "The Dark Lord Lives."
"I wonder what that means."
"I don't know but it sure is creepy. How do we get out of here?"
But just then, Michelle heard footsteps echoing down the empty alleyway. She ducked into the shadow and stared as two people turned around the corner. They were both tall, with sleek, blonde hair and sharp profiles. She stared at them as they came closer.
"See, Draco. The place is abandoned. The Dark Lord's realm is over. I knew it would end."
The taller man was speaking, staring at the other person, a boy that looked about Michelle's age.
"Father? We are not loyal to him, are we?"
"No, Draco. The marks we bare on our arms our but reminders of how the Dark Lord almost tore are family apart."
The boy called Draco stopped in his tracks. "But, what if he returns? What if he manages to come back?"
The taller man turned and stared hard into Draco's face. "Then we shall hide."
"But he'll find us, father! You know that!"
"Silence!" the man yelled, and it echoed across the alley. His voice changed into an abrupt whisper. "The Dark Lord will not return. Potter has made sure of that."
Michelle noticed how the man spoke the name Potter with disgust.
Draco murmured, "Potter is still a half-blood, with his mud-blood mother and friends. I still hope I live to see the day when he is finished."
Suddenly, the taller man pulled one of the sticks, or wands out from his dark robes and pointed it at his son. "Never speak those words in public, Draco, or the Ministry will be after us. We will end up in the same place as the other Death Eaters. My opinion on our blood will always stay the same. I will never be a Muggle lover, but no one must know that, Draco, no one!"
"Yes father," Draco answered.
The man put the wand back inside his cloak. "Come; let us leave this place of unwanted memories."
But to Michelle's horror, Draco was staring right at her. His eyes were wide and looked almost hungry. She tried to back into the shadows, but he had whipped out his wand and had it pointing at her.
"Father! It's the girl in the Prophet! The one that was running amok in Diagon Alley yesterday!"
The taller man whipped around, his wand also pointing at Michelle. She let out a squeak of horror as they stepped closer.
"Ah! I do believe that there was a reward for her capture and return to the Ministry. They, of course, don't want people to be afraid that she is a Death Eater."
Michelle suddenly found her voice and she said loudly, "I am no Death Eater! I don't even know what that is. But I don't believe in magic! I don't believe you have wands and I don't believe you are wizards!"
If Michelle had known anything about these wizards that was the last thing she would have said.
"She's a Muggle!" Draco shouted. "How did she get in here?"
"I don't know, Draco, but I'm sure the Ministry will be pleased to here that the Malfoys have found a Muggle wandering around inside our world. They'll want to take care of her memory. You can have the pleasure, Draco."
Draco turned his eyes onto Michelle. He pointed his wand at her, but as he stared at her, he froze. His eyes became huge, not at all like when he had first laid eyes on her, but with fear.
"No," he whispered.
"Fine!" his father yelled. "I'll do it you coward!"
"Father! Wait!"
But the man had already turned toward Michelle, raised his wand, and yelled, "Stupefy!"
Suddenly, Michelle's word went black.