"What have I done, it's too late for that,
What have become truth is nothing yet,
A simple mistake starts the hardest time,
I promise I'll do anything you ask...this time."
- Snow Patrol 'Chocolate'

Chapter Eleven - Christmas

Christmas was very difficult for Adele. On Mr Weasley's orders, the foursome remained inside Shell Cottage for the duration of the Christmas period and had no visitors as it was obvious themselves as well as members of the Order would want to travel and see family. Mr Weasley decided it just wasn't safe and the family remained apart.

Fleur grew increasingly weepy and irritable as Christmas Day drew closer as she was unable to see her own family and she missed Gabrielle terribly. She spent many hours alone, pretending to sleep or was just honest and told everyone she was pissed off and wanted to be alone. This caused further troubles between her and Bill who was at his wits end on how to deal with his wife thus leading him to question Adele constantly on how to understand Fleur better. Of course, this led to the problem of Adele never having a minutes peace with herself or indeed Charlie. They still had not spoken about what had happened at the Ministry and Adele still had a few niggling questions about their time in Romania and about Cassie. Shell Cottage was a very grey place in more ways than one.

Christmas Day evening rolled around and with the advice of Adele, Bill had managed to coax Fleur from their bedroom and downstairs to join everyone for a nice meal that had caused Adele and Charlie a substantial amount of bother. They also had the job of decorating the house as Fleur had point blank refused to have any kind of Christmas themed decorations in the house but Bill thought it would be nice if they made the effort.

So while Adele wrestled with the turkey in the kitchen, Charlie had stood looking at the cardboard box of decorations with a look of bewilderment and determination on his face for a good ten minutes. Finally, he swished his wand around and around the room until it was coated in red and gold.

"Merry Christmas everyone," Bill said, raising his glass when everyone was seated at the table later that night.

"Merry Christmas," Charlie and Adele chorused back, fixing smiles on their faces but everyone was aware Fleur was sitting with her arms crossed and staring at her plate.

"Come on darling, it's our first Christmas in our new house and as husband and wife," Bill said softly, looking at Fleur. She shifted in her seat and guilt creased her face slightly.

She picked up her glass and raised it. "Merry Christmas."

Everyone chinked their glasses and Bill took a very long sip. Adele smiled at Fleur and she smiled back gratefully. As the girls were facing each other, Fleur reached her hand across and squeezed Adele's hand tightly which was resting on the table.

"Thank you, eet looks delicious and the 'ouse looks lovely," Fleur said a small voice.

"That was me," Charlie grinned, forking some turkey. Adele smiled, grateful Charlie hadn't noticed that she had rearranged most of it. "Nice turkey."

"Mmm, it is nice," Bill nodded in agreement. "Good job Adele."

"Well, I do try," Adele joked and tried some for herself. It did taste OK even though she had had to scrape off quite a large chunk of burnt bits from the bird and had to have three attempts at roasted potatoes.

They ate in silence for around five minutes which was not as awkward as it looked. Fleur seemed to be enjoying the meal and Adele was glad that Bill wasn't questioning her on the dynamics of a woman's thinking. Charlie finished his meal first and excused himself for seconds.

"There is Christmas pudding too you know," Adele said when Charlie sat down with as much on his plate as the first time around. "Hope you've got room!"

"Oh trust me, I will have," Charlie grinned as he tucked in and Adele rolled her eyes at Fleur who nodded and smiled.

After the meal, Fleur and Adele washed up in the kitchen while Bill and Charlie attempted to start a fire in the living room and roast some chestnuts.

"I'm sorry for being such a moody cow," Fleur said as she passed Adele a plate for her wipe dry. "It's just that Christmas is a family occasion and I miss them."

Adele swallowed hard as she took the next plate from Fleur. They both knew the reason they were stuck like this was because of Adele's stay.

"I'm really sorry for putting this all upon you Fleur, I really am. If it wasn't for me, none of you would be in this mess," Adele said quietly, not meeting her eye. "I am so sorry."

"Don't be ridiculous girl, you aren't responsible for You-Know-Who wanting to start a war or ze Ministry sending Muggleborn's to Azkaban. I chose to invite you to stay 'ere and zat's zat," Fleur replied diplomatically, passing more plates to wipe as she spoke. "It's part of being in ze Order."

"I'm so lucky to have you as a friend," Adele smiled rather tearfully and threw her arms around Fleur. She remained stiff for a few seconds but allowed herself to fold into Adele and the two girls hugged fiercely in the little cosy kitchen with levitating plates dripping soap suds on the floor.

"Hey, come on, we've got it going at last! Oh..." Bill said, poking his head round the door then realising Fleur and Adele were having a moment.

"Oh Bill!" Fleur cried and let go of Adele and threw herself at her husband instead. "I'm sorry for ze way I've been acting!"

Adele squeezed past the embracing couple and into the living room where there was indeed a roaring fire. Charlie was knelt in front of it, poking it with his wand. Adele went and knelt beside him, admiring the flames.

"Hey you," Charlie smiled and draped his arm around Adele's shoulders. "Good dinner, thinking of keeping you around," He added and kissed her cheek. Adele grinned and rested her head on Charlie's shoulder, feeling the fire warm her cheeks.

"Cheers," Adele replied. "Always did have a way with words."

"I try," Charlie shrugged as they shifted so they could sit against the sofa but remain on the floor. They cuddled and watched the fire and Adele came over rather sleepy until a burning sensation in the pocket of her jeans roused her. She knew what it meant, it was a bewitched Galleon that burned when Dolohov wanted to summon her.

"I'll be back, just need the loo," Adele explained as she pulled away from Charlie regretfully.

"No, stay with me," Charlie teased sleepily, pulling on her hand.

"I'll be right back! I've got to pee!" Adele replied, pulling her hand free and excusing herself from the room. She shut the door and stood in the chilly hallway. She quickly put on her coat and opened the front door very quietly and carefully. The cold night air hit her in the face as she ran down the garden path and into the road. From here she could Apparate and that's exactly what she did.

Adele landed with a thump on the pavement and she looked at her childhood home with longing. It was in darkness and the Christmas lights from the neighbouring houses didn't add any warmth to her own.

"It's Christmas fucking Day!" Adele hissed bitterly as the Deatheater Dolohov emerged from the shadows, a dark wool coat buttoned to his throat. "Don't you have a family?"

"I wanted to give you a present in the hope that you have the gift of news for me," Dolohov spoke softly. "That's my Christmas wish this year."

"I don't have any information yet, no-one speaks of him! No-one knows where he is or what he's up to especially not me!" Adele explained quickly, wondering whether to explain about the Fidelius Charm or not. "My aunt, how is she?"

"This is not good news," Dolohov replied slowly, ignoring the last question of Adele's. Adele panicked further at his tone. "Time is wearing thin and the Dark Lord is growing impatient. I must deliver him the boy soon or I'll be delivering you. How pleased he'll be to have a Mudblood to play with."

"Don't," Adele uttered, shaking at his words. She thought she'd die through fear on the spot if she was faced with Voldemort. The thought was bad enough. "Please, I'm trying, I'm doing my best, I can get to him, get him for you!"

"I think it's time you learnt just how serious I'm taking this matter, now do you wish it on your aunt or yourself?" Dolohov asked rather conversationally. Adele stared at him. What kind of decision was that? Dolohov had retrieved his wand from his coat and was waiting for her answer.

Adele swallowed hard, was he serious? "You can't do this," She said slowly. "You can't."

"I can and trust me, you do not want to rouse my temper any higher than it already is. Choose now," Dolohov replied, flicking his wand in his fingers.

"Me," Adele said, almost choking on the word. "Do me."

"With pleasure," Dolohov replied.

- - -

Adele opened the front door of Shell Cottage very carefully and the warmth invited her in. She closed the door very slowly until she heard the click of the latch and shrugged off her coat and hung it on the peg. She had no time to think and plastered a smile on her face as she re-entered the living room. Fleur, Bill and Charlie were kneeling by the fire and laughing. Adele could see they were huddled around a frying pan full of chestnuts that were popping and trying to escape the pan.

"Hey, I wondered where you'd got to!" Charlie laughed as he noticed Adele. He out stretched his arm and pulled her down to kneel between him and Fleur in front of the fire. Adele guessed she had been gone for over half an hour or so but they hadn't noticed.

She tried not to think about what had just happened and although she had healed herself on the surface, her insides were burning with shame and rage because she knew her days at Shell Cottage were numbered.