Friends and Findings
Luna awoke; it took her a moment to recall the events of last nights. She shot up suddenly.
"Luna?" asked Ginny, who had been sitting by her bedside "lie back down," she told Luna quietly. Luna did as she was told.
"What happened?" she whispered "After I passed out."
"Neville carried you back here, and I got some of your clothes. Luna, I am so sorry. I should have done something earlier; I could have done something earlier!" Ginny told her, holding Luna's hand tightly.
"Ginny, the only person who could have changed this is me. You have suffered so much already that you shouldn't be getting involved with anybody else's troubles!" Luna squeezed Ginny's hand, in a sign of friendship and to tell her she was okay.
"Still Luna, you're my best friend. I left you at the hands of that bastard if it wasn't for Neville…"
"Where is Neville?" Luna asked, cutting off Ginny.
"He left," Ginny whispered "said he had set up some security and that he would be back soon. If he stays here and Death Eaters come knocking he's dead."
Luna only nodded. She feared that Rolf would come knocking, and take her away. He would be furious with her and she wasn't looking forward to it.
James was lounging in the common room reading another book when Declan walked in.
"Alright mate?" he asked,
"Yeah…I guess…" James murmured, barely acknowledging his presence. Declan pulled the book from James's hands and looked at it.
"Tracing spells?" asked Declan
"Well…I was thinking if I found a spell that could trace apparation then I could find Adele easily," James said "and then all I would have to do is get her out."
"Mate, finding her should be the easy part. Let's think about this logically…she was taken by Deaters?"
"Death Eaters" James told Declan, Declan had a tendency to abbreviate names. Death Eaters coincidentally were called Deaters.
"Whatever, douche bag Deaters took her, so there's a tiny chance she's traceable. You need to limit down your options, I'd start with Deaters. List as many as you can think of, speak to your Ma she'll know a few. Then think strategically about their homes and how close they are to You-Know-Who, you'll be able to find her then."
James stared at Declan for a moment, "Who have you been talking to?"
"What do you mean?" asked Declan, in pretend innocence
"You can't think of all that by yourself mate, even I know that!" James threw a cushion at Declan, who threw back the book.
"Well, I was talking to Stella, who was talking to Lily, who was talking to Rosie, who was tal—saying that she was probably taken to a Deaters house…" Declan had nearly let it slip that really it had been Scorpious's idea, he had figured this out.
"I'm not gonna talk to her again if you're gonna start on me as well."
"James, you should apologise." Declan said as he headed for the staircase "I mean, you blamed her for Addi getting taken. It wasn't her fault mate, it really wasn't."
James frowned and watched as Declan headed to his dormitory.
Lily sat with Stella; they were talking quietly to each other,
"I wish he would talk to her, I mean it wasn't her fault!" Lily said
"I know," said Stella "I'm sure he'll come round."
"Brothers are idiots. I didn't think Hugo would be so stupid though."
"Yeah, what was that all about anyway?" asked Stella
"If you two are bitching about me, you can stop." Said Hugo as he walked up to them,
"You know what Hugo, we are." Said Lily, suddenly mad at the attitude Hugo had used, "I know Rosie shouldn't have told Scorpious, but for Christ sake the weight of that secret (whatever it is) was crushing her. I can see a noticeable difference, even though she's been crying about you and James hating her. Maybe she just needed someone who would listen to her problems!"
"I would." Said Hugo shortly,
"Hugo, you're her little brother! Not her best friend, she isn't going to off load her problems onto you, especially if they're all related. You really don't get emotions!" She said in exasperation.
Hugo frowned and turned away. He hated to admit it, but maybe Lily was right.
James and Declan were sitting with Frank and Zach; they sat leaning over their homework.
"Merlin," sighed Declan, pushing his potions essay away from him "I can't do this, how smart do they think I am?"
"Pass it here," Frank (who had already finished his work) took Declan's and began correcting it. James smiled slightly as he watched the usual routine of Frank helping Declan, and then a sharp tapping sound entered the empty common room. Turning round, James saw an owl pecking at the window, he opened the window and the owl flew in. It dropped a letter at James's feet before flying out again.
James,
I can't say much, but you have to pass a message onto Lorc, Ly and Stel. Luna's not well; I had to get her away from Rolf. He isn't what he used to be. Tell Lorcan, Lysander and Stella to stay safe, and stay away from Rolf. All of you keep out of trouble, if we need to, we'll have to get you out of school so be prepared.
All my love, Mum x
p.s send my love to the others
James stared blankly at the parchment for a few minutes. Then a look of fear and worry crept across his face. He turned to the fire and dropped the note in to the red flames; they licked the paper, turning it to ash.
October merged into November, and life hadn't got any better for Adele. She spent most of her time shivering in her small prison, with the occasional piece of stale bread and normal glass of water. Her normally curvy and well-toned body was becoming weak and skinny. She now struggled to walk and found herself being dragged to her torture room once or twice a week. She barely saw Lucius Malfoy, but she would rather have faced him then the regularly occurring Bellatrix. Addi had not uttered a word to her since the second night of her torture, occasionally a sarcastic remark would be thrown at someone, but never Bellatrix. She was too dangerous, too deadly.
Today was not a Bellatrix day; it was a Draco Malfoy day.
"Hello, love." He said, walking up to her with a plate of food, she stayed curled up on the floor "Don't you know it's polite to stand and show your respect to your superiors?"
"When my superiors deserve my respect, I shall give it them." She replied shortly, Draco gave a bark of laughter.
"Get up." He ordered, and Adele did as she was asked. Once she was standing, however, she spat at his feet.
Draco looked at her in disgust; he walked up to, pushing her up against a wall.
"You listen very carefully bitch. I am in charge here you do as I, or any of my family members, ask. And if you dare disrespect any of us like that again…" he pressed his wand lightly on her neck, sending a shiver down Adele's spine "things may get a little nasty." Draco pressed the wand on her cheek, and with a light hearted flick, cut a diagonal line in her cheek. "You know what, you don't deserve this food…a house elf can have it." Draco turned and walked away, food and all.