Cissa to the rescue
3rd November 1997
Slytherin Fortress, Unplottable location
Footsteps echoed though the silent halls and Bella, Astoria and Poppy fell silent. Then, the door to their cell opened and in stepped a woman.
"Why did you come Bella?" the woman asked.
Bella recognised the voice, "Cissa" she breathed, "Oh, Cissa. Did…?"
"Yes, they've told me what happened" Narcissa 'Cissa' Malfoy said to her sister.
"Right, you've got to get the locket and cup from him. You know what ones I mean?"
"Yes Bella, I've already been briefed."
"Thank goodness" Bella said with a sigh of relief.
"Hem, hem, excuse us for wondering, but for those who cannot talk in coded speech…" Poppy started.
"What are you talking about?" Astoria finished.
"Poppy? Stori?" Cissa asked with astonishment.
"Yes Cissa" said Poppy.
"How did you…?"
"Captured when they took over Hogwarts. As I'm a Healer, they took me to be their Healer."
"And I was captured with Daph, but she was put under the Imperious curse and made to be a Death Eater." Stori explained.
"She's safe and with Draco and the other's" Bella said reassuringly.
"Yes, she's the one who got the message to me" Cissa added, "Oh, and Daph said that they're working on a plan of action to get you out and will execute it when I get the cup and locket to them."
"Well, go and get them and tell HQ that Astoria Greengrass and Poppy Pomfrey are being held with me. That might ease Daph's mind." Bella said.
"Will do, now, better get out before I'm discovered."
Cissa rose and walked out of the cell leaving Bella, Stori and Poppy alone in silence, each contemplating what they had learnt from Cissa.
AMiL…AMiL…AMiL…AMiL… AMiL…AMiL…AMiL…AMiL… AMiL…AMiL…AMiL…AMiL… AMiL…
3rd November 1997
Gryffindor Castle, Unplottable location
"Guys, got a message from Cissa" Daphne yelled.
"Coming Daph" came the shouts back. Soon the Core of the CoJ had run down to the HQ.
"How's mum?" asked Draco.
"She's fine. Seen Bella and everything" Daphne replied.
"Horcruxes?" Harry asked.
"Going to get them" Daphne said.
"Anything else we should know?" Hermione asked.
"Only that Madam Pomfrey and Stori are being held with Bella" said Daphne, sadness creeping into her voice.
"Stori?" Harry asked.
"My sister. We got captured and well, she's only 13."
"Sorry Daph."
"Plan?" Remus asked Harry.
"When Cissa gets the Horcruxes to us we'll destroy them and go in."
"Good plan mate" Neville said laughing.
"So, I don't bother making plans anymore, every time we would get into a life threatening situation, our plans went to dust" Harry explained.
"Well, one sentence plan is better than no plan" Luna pointed out.
"Accepted" Neville said.
"So, what we're going to do is wait for Aunt Cissa to get back to us?" Tonks asked.
"Yep. Well, I'm going to read" said Harry.
Everyone dispersed to do different things; Hermione going with Daphne and Luna to the library to look up battle magic. Neville and Draco to the practice room. Remus and Tonks to their room and Harry to his and Bella's room to reflect on what had happened. Harry just hoped that Cissa was quick about getting the Horcruxes.
