I stood up straight and wiped my tears quickly. I had to pull myself together—I didn't know what to think or do, but I wasn't going to let anybody know it. Gabriel wasn't dead…he just wasn't the same anymore. Hopefully he would come back though. As I stood in the corridor my mind raced trying to organize the over load of emotions that were taking over. What was I going to do about work when protocol required me to get a new partner? What was I going to tell Carrigan, who'd be more then happy that Gabriel was alive, but would be completely devastated that he didn't remember her?

"Cadence."

I turned to see Rufus Scrimgeour standing in front of the ward door. He came to me and held my shoulders.

"I know this is difficult," he whispered. "But we have to remain positive."

"How did this happen?"

"They don't know. They don't even know what happened to cause his episode, or why he was having cycles of REM during his unconscious state. I don't think there is any way of knowing what happened. Only he knows what happened."

"Except he doesn't remember," I sighed.

"He's asking to see you," he whispered.

"What?"

"He feels bad about snapping at you I think," Scrimgeour said. "I have to return to the Ministry. You will be assigned a new partner next week. I would like you to come to the Ministry to receive the assignment. I'm pulling you from your current assignment in Hogsmeade."

I frowned and shook my head. "No, Sir," I said. "Please I need to be there."

"Really?" he questioned with a glare. "You've caught Sirius Black? You've found him?"

"No, but that's exactly why I need to stay there."

"No, you've wasted time and Ministry money," Scrimgeour said. I sighed with annoyance and turned away, pacing down the hall away from him. "It's no matter, the decision has been made. I expect you in my office next Friday."

I turned to argue with him but he was already walking down the hall. I rolled my eyes and put my hands on my hips. This day was just going from bad to worse. I took a long deep breath, hoping to relax and went back into the ward. Gabriel was still sitting up in the bed. When I pulled the curtains back and came to the side of the bed he smiled.

"Those charming smiles don't work on me Gabriel," I said. "You know that."

"Actually," he said with a sigh. "I don't." I frowned, feeling guilty suddenly. "But when I look at you I get that feeling."

I nodded as I took a seat down in the arm chair next to the bed. "Scrimgeour said you wanted to see me."

"I wanted to apology," he whispered crossing his arms over his chest. I sighed as his muscles flexed on his chest, torso, arms and shoulders. I bit my bottom lip and looked at my lap for a moment.

"For what?" I questioned. Gabriel didn't answer, so I looked up at him. He was staring at me with stunning green eyes; it was a familiar stare that caused my stomach to flip and heart to skip a beat. He was looking at me as if he knew something.

"For snapping at you earlier," he said breaking our stare.

"It's alright," I whispered. "You must be very frustrated."

Gabriel nodded. "Yes," he looked at me again, looking my body over. "Miss Coleman—"

"Cadence," I interrupted awkwardly. "I don't think you've ever called me Miss Coleman."

Gabriel smiled slightly and nodded. "Forgive me."

"Always," I replied without thinking. Gabriel looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"Cadence, are we involved?"

"To some extent," I whispered.

"So we've had sex?"

I laughed. "No," I said shaking my head. "Not that you haven't tried."

Gabriel rolled onto his side, looking at me closely. "Why haven't we?"

I frowned and looked at my hands. "It's complicated Gabriel."

"We're partners, right?" I nodded my head slowly. "So, you're involved with somebody else but you love me too, you just don't want to leave him. So we're awkwardly involved because we work together."

"What makes you say that?" I whispered with some surprise.

"You're not wearing a ring on your finger, so you're not married," he responded pointing to my hands. I smiled and nodded my head. "Am I right?"

"To some extent," I replied. Gabriel smiled and ran his hand through his hair.

"That's a safe answer," he whispered as his eyes glanced over my body again. "You don't strike me as a safe, prude woman, Cadence. Do you always wear a knife in your boot?"

I pulled the knife out and looked at if with sad eyes. I held it out to Gabriel.

"I took this from your basement after you held my hand and we stabbed you in the stomach so I could escape my Father. It was one of your favorites to use while we were training. It has a matching partner; it is at home, hiding in my nightstand drawer."

"You stabbed me to escape your Father?"

"It was the only way to escape him," I shrugged. "I didn't want to do it that is why you held my hand."

Gabriel turned away, looking disturbed by what I was telling him.

"Who is your Father?"

I frowned. "Lord Voldemort."

Gabriel moved uncomfortably in his bed. "I feel like I should know that name, but I don't."

"Gabriel," I said as an idea came to my head. He looked at me with raised eyebrows. "I think I have a way of helping you remember things."

"How is that?" he asked. I stood up and sat down next to him on the bed, leaning close to him. He smiled a half cocked charming grin as I leaned against his body.

"Well at least I know you're still as sexual as you were before," I whispered as his hot breath grazed my neck, sending shivers through my body. I reached up and touched his forehead with my hand.

"Is that a bad thing, Cadence?"

"No," I whispered. "But you need to look at my eyes, not my breast, if this is going to work."

"Sorry," Gabriel said looking up at me. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to use Legilimency on you."

"What's that?" he asked.

I frowned. This was worse then I thought. Gabriel couldn't remember some of his most used magic.

"I'll show you," I whispered. Before anything else was said, I silently thought of the spell in my head. Immediately my mind was overwhelmed with Gabriel's many emotions and memories. I locked my eyes with him, looking for the memory of the day he let me escape his house when I was fifteen. I found the memory within moments. It was strange to see it this way, from his point of view. I remembered the situation a little different.

"What are you doing?"

Cadence had asked the question as I poured her juice. She sounded bitter, confused even. Perhaps she should have been. I never served her breakfast in the kitchen.

"I thought you might like to eat down here for a change, but please, be my guest and go back upstairs if you'd rather," I said. She made to stand and take the plate with her. "Leave the food though."

She frowned. It was all or nothing.

"Sit," I said pointing to her chair.

"I'm not a dog you know," she said sitting back down and beginning to eat. I sat next to her and helped myself to my own plate of flat cakes.

"I'm very well aware that you are not a dog," I replied. "A pussy cat perhaps…but not a dog."

She glared at me and put more food in her mouth so she didn't have to talk to me.

"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend," I whispered opening a newspaper that was on the kitchen table.. "With how long we've been together Cadence I thought you would have at least mentioned Sirius."

"Excuse me?" she coughed on the flat cake in her mouth and looked at me with large eyes. She didn't expect me to know anything about her life. She didn't expect me to care, to want to know more. I had taken her three months ago, and despite my better judgment I had fallen madly in love with her—not that I would ever admit it.

I moved the paper in front of her and pointed to the picture of her Grandfather and Dumbledore on the front page. She frowned deeply and picked it up looking at it.

The bold headline read: Hogwarts Student Missing for Five Months, Not Giving Up Hope. The article in the paper was talking about her and how her Grandfather, Dumbledore, her friends and her boyfriend (pictured on page A21) were all hoping for her to return soon.

I could see the pain in her eyes as she realized that her boyfriend had been waiting for her to return to him. While he was waiting, pining for her, she and I had been kissing. I held her as if she were my own; as if there were no one else but her.

"Sirius Black none the less," I said slowly sipping my coffee. "Good pure blood family…your Father would approve of him if he were a Death Eater."

She looked at me with a deep frown.

"My Father doesn't believe in love," she said putting down the paper. "Why didn't you tell me I was here for nearly five months?"

"You never asked," I shrugged.

"Why are you showing me this?" she asked looking at the picture of her Grandfather, whom I had killed, and Dumbledore. She turned the pages to see the picture of Sirius. He was sitting in a Gryffindor common room arm chair, with a girl and three boys around him. She reached out and touched his picture softly. He was shaking his head and pushing his black hair out of his face. The girl had tears on her cheeks and one of the boys was squeezing her hand to comfort her.

Tears were running down cheeks and she coughed lightly, closing the paper on Sirius's face. She closed her eyes tightly, which made my heart ache. I suddenly very like a monster. I had caused her so much pain. I reached out and stroked her cheek, wiping the tears away, but she jerked her head away from my touch.

"Don't touch me," she whispered. She could barely speak. She looked at me with a glare and saw the sadness in my eyes. "Are you showing this to torture me? To make me cry?"

"No," I shook my head. "He's a handsome kid."

"Are you jealous of him?" she glared at me with anger.

"What is there to be jealous of?" I asked trying to keep a vicious persona on. I didn't want her to know how much I felt for her. How much she had changed me. "You're here with me, whether you like it or not. I would not give anything to be in Sirius's shoes right now."

"Anita is a muggle born, isn't she?" she said getting into my head before I could stop her, let alone know she was in there. I looked at her sharply and picked up the paper. "That's how she betrayed you. She said she was a pure blood and after all the time you were together she turned out to be a pure blood. You are jealous of Sirius because he has me and you don't—"

I stood up and took her plate from her, throwing it into the sink. The plates shattered and she stopped dead in silence.

"You know nothing! And from what I can see Sirius doesn't have you at all!" I yelled. I was looking at her with anger, but beyond the anger was passion. I saw as I glared that she could see the passion in my eyes. She knew suddenly that I had feelings for her whether it be caring, liking, loving or lusting. She glared back at me and stood up from the table.

"If you care about me Gabriel let me go!"

"I can't let you go, Cadence. It isn't that simple."

"It doesn't have to be complicated," she snapped. "Unlock the damn door and let me out!"

"I'm not in the mood to die today," I said glaring at her. She grabbed my hands.

"Then come with me," she said quickly. "We can leave, Dumbledore will protect you…please Gabriel. Let me go…you can't keep me here forever and I will never be a Death Eater. You know that. I know you do."

"I'm not the one who makes the decisions of when or where you go," I said softly.

"What?" she whispered.

"You haven't gone anywhere because your Father doesn't want you to," I said stroking her cheek. "Cadence, I've been trying to get rid of you for weeks now. I don't want you here because the longer you're here the more I want you…I can't have that. Your Father would kill me if he knew what happened a few weeks ago. He would see the weakness in me and kill both of us no doubt. Death is the cost of temptation."

"But you didn't give into it," she whispered.

"I wanted to," I said back.

She released my hands and stepped back, leaning against the counter, as if she were surprised that I actually had feelings for her.

"Your Father won't have you anywhere but here."

"He knows you're the best then," she whispered with a forced smile. "He wants me trained by the best."

She touched my chin as she looked in my eyes and she saw the darkness that made her want to turn away and not know me. I was a Death Eater, like her Mother—her Mother—she did not know this, but I had killed her Mother and it was me that she had stabbed with the kitchen knife when she found her Mother at the bottom of the stairs. I was a murderer. I was everything that she hated and never wanted to be.

"The only way for you to leave here with out your Father's knowing is if you kill me," I whispered close to her ear. My hands were on her hips now. I moved closer to her until I there was no where for her to go. I trapped her in my arms. "And I know you can't kill me, Cadence."

"I could if I had too," she whispered with a shaky voice even though she was very unsure if she could in fact kill me. I was close enough to hear her words loud and clear. I tilted her chin up and pulled it closer to me, kissing her delicately on the lips.

"You have to," I said pulling away from her lips for breath. I wrapped her completely in my arms and kissed her even more deeply. She had never been kissed by a man in that way. My kisses were dripping with passion, wanting more then just her mouth. I wanted every inch of her body; I wanted to make her feel wanted, needed, and beautiful.

I took her hand and made a dagger appeared in it. I held the dagger against her palm until her hand took it, then I wrapped my hand around her wrist, my other arm still wrapped around her tightly. My eyes were looking directly into hers. I was not going to make her do this alone.

"We don't have to do this," she whispered quickly, losing her nerve before she had even gotten a hold of it. Her hand was shaking now.

"We have no choice," I said. "I am not one to run, and I will not go into hiding under Dumbledore's protection. This is the only way."

"No," she said quickly trying to pull her hand out of mine. "No, Gabriel, I won't do it. I can't kill you."

"I know," I said tightening my grip on her. "This is for you Cadence. It's the only way. The front door is unlocked. Take the cloak in the front closet, make sure you change your clothes before you leave. Get as far as you can as fast as you can."

"No. Gabriel. Please…don't make me do this."

"Your Father is coming for you today."

"Then I will be gone and you won't have to deal with me—"

"Cadence," I said sternly tilting her chin up to look at her dark green eyes. "You are not meant to be a Death Eater. Your strength is not that of evil…you are not your Father's daughter. You are a good person and I can't contain you. I won't let your Father break or destroy you. Your goodness is what makes me want you so bad and I won't let him destroy that. If I just let you go he will kill me. I would rather die by your hand then his."

"Gabriel," she sighed with tears running down her cheeks. "I won't kill you—"

I pulled her hand against my body and the dagger sunk into my stomach. She screamed and released the dagger as she stepped away. I fell back against the counter and held my stomach as pain seized through my center. I pulled the dagger from my stomach and dropped it to the ground as my blood began to spill.

"Gabriel," she cried holding onto me as I fell. She fell with me, leaning against the counter as I bleed onto her and the kitchen floor. "You bastard!"

"Change your clothes," I sighed with a slow breath. "The cloak is in the closet by the door. Your wand in the drawer of my nightstand…clothes for you in my closet."

"I hate you," she said sobbing and shaking her head. "I hate you."

"Shut up," I said. "Go. Your Father is coming and I don't know when."

"Gabriel, I won't leave you here like this."

I picked up the knife and held it over my heart.

"I'll stab myself again if you don't go."

She glared into my eyes and knew I was telling the truth. I was not a bluffing man. She leaned forward against my bloody body and kissed me softly on the lips. I loved the taste of her lips against me, and I prayed that she would remain, just a little longer. The warmth of her body was intoxicating to me. I wanted it never to leave.

"Thank you for everything you have done," she whispered. "I owe you my life."

I said nothing and she got up, dashing out of the kitchen to go upstairs.

I pulled away from Gabriel's body as I gasped, looking at him with tired, tearful eyes. I had never known that he had such feelings for me from the beginning. I knew he cared—but like that? I wiped my cheeks as I looked up at him. There were tears on his cheeks also, which broke my heart. I had only seen Gabriel cry once—when Anita and his daughter Jennifer had died.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't realize it would be that painful."

"It's alright," he nodded. "I understand what you mean by complicated now. How is that I came to work for the Ministry?"

I sighed and folded my hands on my lap. "Wow. That's a complicated story too, Gabriel. I think I could write four stories on our complicated lives and relationship."

He nodded slowly. "Can I see your memories?"

"Do you remember the Legilimency spell?"

"Teach me," he whispered touching my cheek. "Surely after twenty years the student as surpassed the teacher."

I smiled as he leaned in close to me. "No, you will always be my Guardian and I will always be your student…as is our fate."

Gabriel's lips touched mine gently. I couldn't help but smile as we kissed, old feelings sparked inside of me and I expanded my mine back into his.

You remember kissing me like this? I asked.

I remember many things about your lips…and your body…

He pulled away and looked at me with raised eyebrows. "How is it we've never had sex?"

"I don't want to prove Sirius right," I shrugged.

"Because you stayed with him? He suspects us even now?"

I smiled. "Yes, even now."

"But you two are not married, are you even still together?"

"No," I shook my head as I frowned. "Gabriel, twelve years ago Sirius betrayed the location of two of my closest friends to Voldemort. He is responsible for their deaths, and the deaths of fourteen other people, including another friend of mine."

Gabriel frowned deeply. "So he's locked up?"

"No, he escaped about nine months ago. You caught him twelve years ago; you were determined to be the one who caught him now—we were assigned to Hogsmeade to watch the village and Hogwarts. We think he is going after Harry Potter."

Gabriel was still frowning. It was obvious that his mind was on over-load, which was unfortunate.

"How is it I survived you stabbing me?"

"Anita found you," I whispered. "She nursed you back to health."

"Was I married to her?"

"No, not that I know of," I said slowly with a frown. I was afraid of telling Gabriel about his dead daughter, Jennifer. She had died when she was about two in a house fire set by Death Eaters. We had never caught who had murdered Jennifer and Anita.

He looked at me and before another word was said I felt him enter my mind, fast, almost without detection. My memories flooded my head, as if I were watching an old video with clips of our relationship edited together to make a horrible sad romance film. I let him channel my mind. I let him see the memories of us together. The cliff notes version. It was easier to let him watch the memories then to tell him, but it drained me emotionally. Everything I had ever felt for Gabriel was over-whelming my system. I hoped it would over-whelm him just as much; but he had always known how torn I was between him and Sirius—maybe all these emotions wouldn't be news to him.

Gabriel and the Death Eater were wrestling again, and it looked like Gabriel was winning as he slammed the Death Eater's face into the wooden floor of the kitchen. He grabbed the Death Eater's head and pulled his hands in opposite directions. I heard a nasty crack and closed my eyes tight. He had broken the man's neck.

"Cadence?" Gabriel whispered out of breath. "You okay?"

"Yea," I nodded biting my bottom lip. "I'm fine."

"Sure?"

"Yes," I said with some annoyance.

I didn't know it, but there were small tears on my cheeks, not from the pain but from taking another man's life. I would never forgive myself…it was just like I had feared so often…I was trained to kill and because instinct and adrenaline took over I didn't stop myself. I hadn't wanted to kill him. There was a monster raging inside of me and I wanted to rip it out, killing it so it couldn't kill anymore.

Gabriel helped me up and I fell forward into his arms, not able to stand at all. Gabriel looked down and lifted his hand, which was covered in my blood. He frowned and picked me up, cradling me in his arms.

"What are we going to do?" I whispered putting my arm around his shoulders. He looked at me and moved forward down the hall. "Only one more Death Eater, and I bet you he's in the room with Sirius waiting for us."

"They're going to want me for him," I whispered.

"We're not trading," Gabriel said sternly. "We're leaving with Sirius. Period."

We reached the end of the hall where the third bedroom was. Gabriel lifted his foot and kicked the door in. He marched into the room carrying me, not thinking at all how he would be able to kill a Death Eater with me in his arms. For a split second I thought we were wrong…Sirius wasn't in the room…and then the horrible feeling in my stomach exploded…everything seemed to freeze as my eyes fell on Sirius's limp body in the corner of the room, leaning against the wall. His head was slumped on his shoulder, and his body was beating and bloody. I screamed and tried to break free of Gabriel's arms, but he held me tight and moved forward; dropping to one knee next to Sirius's body. I moved forward and lifted Sirius's face, tears welling up in my eyes. He was so white…but still warm…I lowered my fingers to his throat and felt for a pulse.

"He still has a pulse," I whispered with some relief. "But it's weak."

"Alright, let's get him out of here." Gabriel stood up and moved forward to pick Sirius up and throw him over his shoulder.

"Why would they just leave him here?" I asked as Gabriel wrapped his arm around my waist and helped me standing, holding me against him. He held Sirius over his shoulder with his other arm and I felt my heart pulse for him. Gabriel was amazing.

"I knew you'd come for him, whether he be dead or alive."

My heart dropped into my stomach as Gabriel turned around quickly, jerking my body around like a doll's. He backed up against the wall and I could fell his heart rate pick up with fear.

In the opposite corner of empty room stood a handsome older man half in the shadows. His voice had haunted me endlessly since May when I had escaped him in Gabriel's old home. I had slipped right under his nose, escaping from the house as he searched the second floor for me…and now here he was…I was face to face with him…and those hauntingly dark eyes. He stepped forward into the little light that there was and I broke free of Gabriel's arm, leaning against the wall to support myself. I glared harshly at the man, my dark eyes matching his.

Voldemort, my Father, smiled at me with a twisted grin that made my skin crawl. Every bone in my body was shaking with anger and hatred. I wanted to rip the bastard to pieces, destroy him and the hell that he was responsible for creating.

"Now, now, Kieran," he said crossing his hands in front of him. I could see his wand in his left and looked back up at his eyes. Why was he calling me Kieran? "I'm not creating a hell, I'm just ensuring our future."

I hadn't even felt him in my head. How had he gotten in there so quickly and smoothly?

"Because I am the most powerful wizard," he said with his cruel smile. "Tell me, Kieran, what did you plan to do once you got to your precious Mr. Black?"

"Kill whoever was guarding him," I said harshly.

Voldemort laughed out loud, smiling at me. He apparently enjoyed my remark. He lifted his wand and flicked it at me. I fell to the ground and slid across the floor, being pulled by some invisible force, until I was at his feet. With another swift flick of his wand I was lifted off the ground and standing in front of him.

"You seem to be hurt," he said touching my bloody hip. I stepped back away from him and cringed in pain.

"Don't touch me."

He pointed his wand at my hip and I felt the blood running back into it, the muscle and skin repairing itself. I took a long gasping breath as the pain left and looked down at my hip…he had healed it. I looked back at up at him and he took hold of my arm, dragging me closer to him.

"It was so wonderful to see you Quintin," Voldemort said. I tried to break free from his grasp, but his cold spider hand was locked tightly around my arm. "It is also good to know that your loyalties lie with Dumble—"

"—with her," Gabriel said sharply interrupting my Father. Voldemort looked down at me, squirming in his grasp and his lips curled into a god-forsaken smile.

"With her?" he repeated. "My darling daughter, Kieran…oh, I see…you love her." Now, Voldemort was taunting him. "So, to stay loyal to your love you'll save the man she loves? Hardly seems fair Gabriel…well I suppose it's no matter…I'm going to kill you now."

"No!" I screamed trying to move forward, but he still held me strongly…

"…How serious is it?" I asked as I walked next to Gabriel.

"Let's just say that it's serious."

"I don't like you dancing around the situation," I said with a sharp look at him. He put his hand on the small of my back and ushered me up another set of stairs. I could feel his fingertip against my body and they sent shivers all through me. He filled me with so much desire that I wanted to scream. My body was growing tense…and the only thing I could think about was Gabriel's hands all over me to help me relax.

"You need to relax," he said.

I bit my bottom lip and cursed myself for not putting up a stronger mind block around him. He could have been wreaking through my brain the whole time and seen everything—from the dreams I'd had about him and I, to the feelings I felt when we were close together…he could know everything and that was the last thing I wanted.

"You're the one stressing me out," I snipped. "Tell me to relax when there's something seriously wrong…yea okay, like it's that easy."

He smirked at me as we stopped in front of the statue guarding Dumbledore's office. Before either of us could try a password, it sprang out of the way revealing the rivaling staircase.

"He's expecting you," it said.

It always creeped me out when the statue knew who was expected. Gabriel ushered me up the stairs and knocked on Dumbledore's door lightly.

"Enter," came his soft voice from behind the door. Gabriel pushed it open and allowed me to enter first. "Ah, hello Miss Coleman. I wasn't expecting to see you as well."

"I thought it best she be here," said Gabriel. "And we ran into each other on the way up."

Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes, of course," he said sitting down. "I'm surprised it took you so long to get out here."

"I didn't read the paper until after breakfast," Gabriel said taking off his cloak. He was wearing black slacks, a red button up shirt, and black vest that was unbuttoned half way. His shirt was also unbuttoned a little, revealing his muscular chest a bit. His skin was tanned and smooth; it took me a few moments to pull my eyes away from it. He pulled a newspaper from the inside of his cloak then threw it on the back of a chair. I sat down slowly across from Dumbledore and eyed the newspaper Gabriel had just thrown on the desk.

The headline was bold and took up the whole top half of the page: Daughter of Dark Lord Discovered!

I jumped up out of the seat and snatched the paper up, staring at it in complete shock. A picture of me standing near a fireplace in a room that looked like it had been burnt badly by fire, looking slightly mad was plastered across the page under the jeering headline. I looked at the picture more closely, as my figure paced around the room. It was from when my Father had held me captive over the summer and cut me open. I could see my arm bleeding all over the place; this was taken before I had thought of cauterizing it with the hot poker. As my figure paced in the room I realized that my face wasn't perfectly clear, but anyone in Gryffindor House would probably be able to place me—and anyone who had heard the rumor that Snape started the last day of term last year would immediately think of me.

"B-but…how did this…what is this?" I was shaking with fury and confusion. I didn't understand where or how the picture was taken, and how or who had put it in the paper. What did my Father gain from revealing who I was? I stood up straight and dropped the paper. Did he want people to fear me so they would fear him more also? Was he trying to make people think that we were together and becoming a frighteningly powerful force?

"Cadence, sit down," said Gabriel taking the paper from me.

"Don't tell me to sit down!" I yelled violently. I began to pace in Dumbledore's office. I had to move. If I didn't I would scream and start throwing things…something…I had to keep doing something. I squeezed my hands together tightly to try and remain calm and stop them from shaking, but it didn't help. Rage was pumping through me like my own blood and if it stopped I'd die.

"Does it name me, in the article?"

"No," Dumbledore whispered shaking his head.

"Early Tuesday afternoon a letter arrived at the Daily Prophet headquarters presenting a letter (and the photo you see above) about a young woman who was in company of Death Eaters this past August. The young woman, as seen above, is believed to be the daughter of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The letter that was sent with the photo does not reveal very much of the girl…only that she goes by Kieran.

"Although not very much information was given in the letter, it is believed that the daughter of the Dark Lord is attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is in her seventh year. What Headmaster Albus Dumbledore will do upon learning of the girl's existence is unpredictable, but it is sure to be a topic of the council of lords…"

I stopped to listen to Gabriel's soft voice as he read bits of the article.

"If you look closely to the photograph, you will notice a dark shape on the young woman's right arm. Is it a Dark Mark? Or is she going to fight against her Father's dark ways? Many arguments lean towards her following her Father—why else would she have a Dark Mark, and have spent part of her summer with Death Eaters? Hopefully, more information will be learned about this, Kieran, and we will all know if she is also to fear like her Father."

My mouth was hanging open.

"Cadence," he whispered looking at me. "I'm so sorry…"

…"Cadence," said a familiar voice. "Cadence, it's me."

I blinked and the candles relit casting little light onto the face of the person before me. Gabriel Quintin's dark features greeted my eyes and I almost melted into him with pleasure. But as his present settled into me I realized what he was doing and I instantly panicked. He couldn't be here it was all a trap to get him, not me.

"Gabriel!" I said in complete shock. "No, no, what are you doing here? You can't be here!"

"Saving you, you idiot," he said bending over and cradling me into his arms. "Really, how bad did they torture you if you have to ask me what I'm doing here?"

"No, you don't understand," I said quickly in his arms and starting to struggle against him. "It's a trap!"

Gabriel stared at me for a few seconds with dark eyes that made my insides turn to mush. I would never understand how he did that to me, or any girl for that matter, but it felt good….and I loved how he made me want him. His strong arms were the only place I wanted to be, and it didn't matter suddenly that I had broken ribs, was tortured, or weak…because Gabriel had come for me.

"I told you," he whispered, his lips so close to me. "I would come for you…"

"….No," I shook my head. "No, don't hurt him."

Voldemort laughed at me. It was a high pitched laugh that made my skin crawl. I wanted to rip out his vocal cords the moment it started…but there was nothing to stop it.

"You're so naïve," he said jeering at me and moving closer. "There is nothing you could do to stop me from hurting him, Kieran. He's brought this upon himself by betraying me. If he didn't have so much valuable information I would kill him now."

"He betrayed you for me," I hissed. "He is loyal to me."

"I can't believe you're begging for me to not hurt him," Voldemort said suddenly very angry. He was glaring so harshly at me and Gabriel below him that I was afraid I might be cursed just from the look in his eyes. "What the hell did you teach her!"

He lurched his wand forward and Gabriel's loud moans of pain filled the room. I moved back away from him and watched in horror as his body squirmed and rolled on the ground before me. I had never seen someone tortured before, but as Gabriel's screams rang in my ear, and his body withered before my eyes I knew I wouldn't be able to bare it. I felt so weak and my heart shattered when Voldemort pulled his wand away and I saw tears rolling down Gabriel's cheeks. It broke my heart because I had always thought Gabriel indestructible, and yet here he was crying just like I had. I went to him immediately.

"Gabriel," I whispered. I wiped his cheeks with my thumbs and looked into his dark eyes…they were hazel nut brown today. "I'm sorry; don't hate me for letting him do this."

"There is nothing you could do to stop it," Gabriel whispered with dry mouth. "Don't hate me for not be able to take it."

"I would never," I said rubbing my hands through his hair.

I glanced up at my Father and saw the satisfied look in his eyes that caused a fire of hatred and disgust to burn within my stomach.

"Tell him you love, Kieran," my Father said with distain. "Tell him you love him and you're going to get out of this, knowing that it's a lie."

I looked up at my Father and then back down at Gabriel, who was looking at me with his dark hazel eyes. There was a smile in his eyes that said he already knew that I loved him and I wouldn't have to say it.

"SAY IT!" Voldemort screamed. I knew why he wanted me to say it, because he knew it would destroy me. If I told Gabriel I loved him it confirmed all the conflict within me that I was denying. It would break me in two and I wouldn't know where or who to go to.

I looked back to Gabriel who took my hand and kissed it.

"You don't have to say it," he whispered. "I already know…."

"….There's a curfew now," Gabriel whispered to me as we walked up the street.

"So why did you want to travel at night then?" I questioned.

"It's harder to see us in the dark."

"You're wearing a white shirt!"

Gabriel grabbed my arm and turned down an alley suddenly. He pinned me against the wall and leaned his head down low to me, pressing his lips against my neck. My body grew tense as his lips danced up my flesh to my ear, where he tickled lightly.

"Relax," he whispered. "Two Aurors are coming down the street. Just relax."

Relaxing my body against Gabriel's wasn't difficult because deep down in me I wanted this. I wanted him pressing me against the wall, kissing me with passion and depth, and holding me like I was the only one that mattered. I felt guilty as I let him kiss me, but I tried to heal the guilt with the circumstances behind the behavior. I wrapped my arms around his waist and closed my eyes, allowing him to kiss me. He turned my chin and kissed my lips deeply. As he did so I could hear the footsteps of two people shuffling by us on the cobblestone. They could see either of our faces because we were buried in the others, and hiding in the shadows of the alley.

I was afraid they might see us and stop, to tell us it was pass curfew and we needed to head inside. If they got one look at us it could cause trouble because no doubt they knew our faces, and that we were wanted.

"Excuse me," said a voice. My stomach plummeted, this was going to be very bad. Gabriel pulled away from me slowly and looked at the man approaching us. His partner was waiting in the light on the cobblestone street. "Good evening, Sir."

"Hello, Sir," said Gabriel moving forward and hiding me from view. I didn't move to be seen, only leaned over slightly to pull my wand from my boot. I clenched it in my hand and prayed that I wouldn't have to use it.

"You are aware that it is passed curfew?" the Auror asked with his wand in his hand by his hip. Gabriel rubbed his hand through his hair and looked at his watch. He must have been standing in the darkness still, because the Auror didn't seem to recognize him. It was that or the Auror was an idiot. Gabriel's picture had been plastered all over the papers in an attempt to stop pictures of me being printed. Everyone in the Wizarding world knew who Gabriel Quintin was.

"No, no we didn't," Gabriel laughed looking at his watch. "We just got back from a night out—heading to our hotel."

Gabriel pointed up the street to the hotel that we just left.

"Well, see that you get there soon, Sir," said the Auror. "Have a good evening."

The Auror turned and began to walk away slowly. I came forward and touched Gabriel's lower back. The Auror stopped next to his partner and they appeared to be talking. Gabriel took my hand.

"Let's go," he said. He led me forward, keeping me behind him slightly so the Aurors wouldn't see my face. As we approached the cobblestone street, and turned to head back towards the hotel the Auror who had been waiting in the light while his partner spoke to us called out.

"That's Kieran!"

"Hey! Stop!" called the other Auror, who must have felt like an idiot.

Gabriel gripped my hand tighter and we broke out in a run. The Aurors were still yelling behind us and red jets of Stunning spells flew over our shoulders. Gabriel pulled me down another alley and we ran into a few trashcans against the wall.

"Come on," Gabriel said pulling me close against him. I knew he was going to Apparate so I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the unsettling feeling that Apparation brought upon the body.

"Oh, no you don't!"

I turned my head to the voice as a body tackled Gabriel and me to the ground. The Auror was lying on top of me, squishing me against Gabriel's body. He gave me a sharp look and I tucked my head down into his chest as he punched the Auror on top of me. The Auror fell back and I jumped off of Gabriel, turning and kicking the Auror's wand out of his hand. His partner turned the corner to the alley and I lifted my wand disarming him with a silent spell. The Auror was caught off guard and froze on sight because he was wandless. I realized then that Aurors should be trained as I had been—like Death Eaters were—for hand to hand combat; because by the look in the Auror's eye before me he thought he was going to die.

"Don't move," I said sharply, holding my wand out with an intense stare. "I don't want to hurt you."

Gabriel was getting to his feet beside me. He picked up the Aurors' wands and cracked them in two. He wrapped his arm around me to Apparate, but before he could the Auror on the ground before us threw a small silver bottle at us. It hit the ground at our feet and shattered releasing a cloud of silver smoke. The smoke swirled and reached our noses, entering our bodies.

"Gabriel," I sighed as my body took to the potion faster then his. It was some kind of sleeping potion. I fell forward and Gabriel caught me as silver clouds danced before my eyes and blocked my vision. It was only a matter of seconds before I fell into a deep sleep, and all was black.

When I woke up, to my horror, I was in a cold dank brick cell. There was water dripping somewhere in the distances, and straw on the floor in the corners of the room. There was a horrible stench of feces, urine, and mold. I put my hand to my mouth and stood up in the cell. There was a door on the opposite side of the room, with a barred window on it. I went to it and looked out with great shock at the hall outside my cell. It was just as dark as my cell, and it appeared to be lined with other doors just like mine. I moved away from the door and looked around the cell.

"Gabriel?" I asked. I wasn't sure if I was alone or not. I moved around the cell to find out if there was anyone else in it with me and nearly tripped over someone's body. I caught myself on the wall and followed it down to the floor, where I touched a man's stomach. "Gabriel?"

I shook him and sighed with frustration. I looked to the far corner of the room and lit a fire on the straw on the floor. The fire glowed brightly in the room and sent light around it, casting my shadow on Gabriel who I was leaning over. I knelt down next to him and lifted his chin. He was still out cold.

"Wake up," I hissed shaking him again. He didn't move. I sighed and sat back on the floor as a chill came over my body. I stood up and went back to the door. The bars on the window were being glazed over with frost. I took a step back in shock as I watched the bricks of the room also crystallize with ice. A rush of cold air covered my body. I felt like icy nails were being pressed into me at every point on my body. I wrapped my arms around me and leaned against the door looking out at the hall.

Darkness seemed to cloud my mind, I could remember all the fear and lonesome I felt my whole life. A hole was in my heart as guilt filled me from any attraction I had to Gabriel and how badly I had hurt Sirius—and he didn't even know. The sadness of my Mother's death, and then the betrayal of her loyalties crept into my emotions and I had no idea where it was coming from.

The fire in the corner of the cell went out as a shadow appeared before my door. I took a few steps back, and the door opened. A hooded ghost like creature hovered in the threshold, looking at me with no face. It floated back and the Minister of Magic entered my cell. She looked grimmer then usual, but her beauty still remained. I imagined the grim appearance was because of this place we were both in.

"Minister!" I said with surprise.

"Cadence," she whispered. "I'm so sorry this is where we meet again."

"Where are we?"

"Azkaban prison," the Minister said looking at me like I was stupid. "Is Gabriel awake yet?"

"No," I shook my head. "What is going on?"

"You were arrested," she whispered. She went to the door. "Thank you, that is all." She was speaking to the ghost like creature. I realized that it must be a Dementor, because I was in Azkaban. I shuttered as the thing drifted away and warmth seemed to fill my body again.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"Like I said, Cadence," she said coming farther into the cell. "You and Gabriel were arrested in the alley in London. Unfortunately even your loyalties with me cannot save you from the justice system."

"What do you mean?"

"You face trial," she whispered softly.

I looked at her dark eyes and sighed. "What am I on trail for?"

"Being a Death Eater."

"Well that's ridiculous," I whispered. "I haven't done anything to harm anyone—and they have no evidence."

The Minister nodded. "Dumbledore and I aren't worried about you. Rather, we think that the trail may help your reputation. When you are proven innocent you'll be able to come and work for me at the Ministry like I want you to."

I was shocked by what she said. It was only a few hours ago I was speaking to Gabriel about trying to fix my reputation with the magical world, and this seemed to be the best way—it had landed in my lap.

"Why do you look so worried then?" I asked. "If you think a trial will go well for me?"

"I don't think Gabriel's trial will go as well," the Minister said stepping towards Gabriel. I relit my fire in the corner and let the flame's light decorate him. The Minister looked at Gabriel's sleeping body with sadness in her eyes. "After all, he was a Death Eater."

"But he isn't one anymore," I said quickly coming forward.

"I know that," the Minister said looking at me. "But unfortunately Gabriel was involved with many dark things, and there are witness who have already been collected to testify against him."

"What?" I said in shock. "No, no…I'll testify for him…"

"…It's fine Gabriel," Millicent said forcing a smile at me. "Cadence, I want you to start working next week in the Auror department. Rufus Scrimgeour is the head of the department, he'll be your main supervisor."

"So, I go to him for my work and if I have any problems?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest. I wasn't really sure what she was expecting me to do as an Auror. There was also an unsettling feeling in my stomach because she wasn't making me go through the Auror program at all. I knew it was a long and vigorous training program that ended with an exam. If you passed the exam you became an Auror, if you didn't you started over again.

Gabriel had been pushing me for the last few months to keep exercising my powers and practicing numerous spells. He had also made a point of stopping by Hogwarts to give me personal dueling lessons—wand dueling was never something he had taught me. It bothered me that Gabriel and I had gone through so much work, and for what? It made me nervous the way Minister Bagnold just gave me things and put me in positions of power when I didn't work for them, or in my opinion, deserve them.

Stop it, said Gabriel's voice. You do deserve it. I turned and looked at him to see his dark velvet eyes glaring at me. It was then that I realized he had connected to me using Legilimency. I didn't realize that we could communicate that way. I smiled a little and turned my attention back to the Minister.

"No," the Minister said. "You won't go to Rufus directly—if there is something to be done he'll come to you."

"Then who do I go to?" I asked with confusion.

"Your partner."

"Great," I hissed. "Dare I ask who that is?"

"Gabriel," Millicent said point to Gabriel with her hand. She gave me a soft smile and picked up a pen, beginning to write on some papers before her.

"What?" Gabriel and I said at the same time. We looked at each other and then back at the Minister.

"You didn't say you were going to stick her with me," he said quickly. "I refuse."

I looked at him with surprise. As much as I didn't want Gabriel for a partner I was hurt that he would refuse the position.

"You're not being given the choice, Mr. Quintin," said Millicent harshly….

…."Is that what you had to tell Sirius?"

I nodded. "I have nothing to tell him now."

"The child may be fine," he whispered. I opened my eyes and he moaned in pain, stopping in his tracks and nearly falling over. I frowned, I had broken concentration. I forced his blood back into his body again and he took a long breath and then continued to walk.

Nothing else was said the rest of the walk back. It felt like it took forever to get there and finally when we did neither of us had enough strength to ring the bell. Gabriel leaned against the threshold and I kicked the door with my foot. It took a few moments before someone answered and I was surprised to hear Sirius's voice.

"Who is it?"

"Gabriel and Cadence," said Gabriel's voice. He was more put together then I was as the pain in my torso began to consume me. "Sirius, we're hurt. We were attacked."

"What is my daughter's name?" Braven's voice came through the door.

"Haiden," whispered Gabriel close to the door. He took a sharp breath and leaned against the threshold.

"Cadence," Braven was going to say something but I cut him off.

"I have nothing to tell him, Braven," I snapped and tears filled my eyes. "I have nothing to tell him now."

The door opened instantly and I knew then that Braven knew I was going to lose the child. He looked at me with wide eyes as Gabriel carried me in and down the hall to the kitchen. He placed me on the cleared off counter and stepped back, leaning against it and holding his stomach.

"I can't hold it much longer," I sighed looking at him. He was only looking at me.

Sirius came to me and looked me in the eye, holding my face with concern. Braven went to Gabriel and lifted his shirt and cloak, looking at the stab wound.

"If I can control things, and conjure them, why can't I conjure you body to heal?"

"Do you know where the cells and muscle and skin go?" Gabriel asked.

Braven shrugged and held his hand over Gabriel's wound, closing his eyes. Gabriel yelled in pain and leaned back against the counter more and Braven grabbed onto his torso, forcing him to heal. I stared in amazement as Braven healed Gabriel. I had never heard of anything like that in the magical world. Gabriel collapsed to the ground and looked up at Braven with wonder.

"You are powerful," he said.

Braven beamed and held out his hand, Gabriel took it stood up. Braven clapped Gabriel's shoulder and beamed.

"Why'd he have to carry you in?" Sirius asked.

"We need to get her to St. Mungo's," said Gabriel coming forward. "She had broken ribs and some internal bleeding I think."

"What happened?"

"They beat the shit out of her, Sirius," snapped Gabriel starting to cradle me.

"Gabriel," I sighed.

"She needs to go now," said Braven.

We all looked at him and he motioned to the counter under my thighs where blood was starting to pool. I frowned. That was incredibly embarrassing and I knew it looked like I was violated in an act of violence and I saw the fear in Sirius's eyes as he moved to the closet and pulled out a cloak. As Gabriel picked me up, Sirius wrapped me in it, and then all three men moved to the front of the house with me. I was surprised that Sirius said nothing about Gabriel carrying me, but perhaps he knew now wasn't the time to fight. Braven and Sirius pulled on cloaks and Sirius looked at Gabriel very seriously.

"I'll get her there fine," he whispered quickly. "Don't worry Sirius. Take Braven, he doesn't know where he's going."

Sirius looked like he was about to say something, but he didn't. He took hold of Braven's arm and they Disapparated from the house.

"You don't want him to know?"

"No," I whispered resting my head on Gabriel's chest.

"I'm sorry, Cadence," he whispered. "I'm sorry—you should have told me. I wouldn't have let anything happen to you."

"If I had known something like this was going to happen I would have told you," I said. "I'm more concerned about how my Father knew I was pregnant. Only Braven knew."

Gabriel nodded his head. "Let's get you to the hospital and then we'll worry about that…."

"…Sirius?" I called going to the steps. No one answered from upstairs. I sighed and rushed up the stairs wondering if he was still in bed maybe. I opened the bedroom door and saw that he was still lying in bed. He sat up as I entered the room and looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

I sunk onto the bed and embraced him tightly.

"Everything okay?" Gabriel asked coming into the room behind me.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius asked rudely. I pulled away from Sirius and moved to Gabriel.

"No one in the house?"

Gabriel shook his head with frustration. "No, he must be going to pick up Haiden."

"Sirius," I turned back to the bed. "Did Braven say if he was going anywhere?"

"No," said Sirius shaking his head. "I haven't left the room this morning."

"Did you hear him leave?" Gabriel asked in an aggressive voice, which Sirius did not appreciate. He got out of the bed, in his pajama pants and gave Gabriel a very nasty glare.

"See here, Gabriel," said Sirius harshly. "This is my house and I will not have you speaking to me that way."

"Sirius, I don't give a damn if this was the Queen's house, I'd still talk to you this way—"

"Enough!" I yelled over the both of them. The room shook violently causing pictures, books, and lamps to fall over. They shattered on the ground and I waved my hand at them, repairing the broken items instantly.

"Sorry," muttered Sirius to me.

"You should have better control over your emotions," Gabriel's words were harsh.

"Gabriel," I snapped. "This is me controlling my emotions, if I stop controlling them you're going to disintegrate into a million little pieces of dust."

Gabriel grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm going to go to Dumbledore. He'd know where Haiden was being dropped if her transfer to the country was approved."

"Well I'm going with you," I snapped as Gabriel marched out of the room….

…"I'd like to stay with you here," Gabriel smirked.

I made to punch him but he grabbed my wrist and twisted my arm behind my back, about to pin me to the wall. I popped my shoulder out of place, catching him off guard and he released me. I turned and kneed him in the stomach, then elbowed him over the head. He fell to his knees and I pushed him back against the stairs, pinning him down.

"Don't play games with me, Gabriel," I said.

"Do you want me to set your shoulder?" he asked gently, still smiling.

"I can do it myself," I said moving away. I threw my shoulder against the wall and it popped back into place. I sighed and rubbed it, remaining in the hall really angry with Gabriel. He came up behind me and touched my shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he whispered in my ear.

He was close to my neck and I could feel his breath on my skin. It sent shivers through my body and for a few moments I forgot myself. I imagined us pressed together, arms holding the other's body and kissing like we truly loved each other. I blinked and the image was gone. I stood up straight and pulled my body away from Gabriel's.

"Why do you tempt me?" I whispered shaking my head and walking down to the kitchen.

"I don't mean to," he said following me. "I give into temptation myself when I don't mean to."

I nodded, not looking at him.

"I'm sorry, Cadence," he said close to me. "I never want to hurt you. I just wish…"

He stopped and I turned to him. "What?" I asked looking up at him. "What do you wish?"

"Nothing," he shook his head. "If you're going to come out with me you need to put some black clothes on."

He had changed the subject again. He always did when it came to his feelings for me, and perhaps that was fair. I wouldn't admit it out loud but part of me wanted to hear him say that he wanted me, and yet the other part didn't want to hear it. If he said what I knew he wanted to say then there really would be conflicted—because I'd be torn. I'd have to make a choice…or had I already made my choice by being with Sirius?

"Cadence," he whispered. "I don't want to make you choose between me and the man you love. You belong with Sirius because you love him and he loves you. Why would you leave that? Even if I could love you better then Sirius, you wouldn't love me…it's not worth it then. You belong with whoever you wish and I want you happy. That's all that matters. I'll wait for you on the porch…."

"…Take her to see Mr. Quintin," said Voldemort. "Then bring her to the bedroom. She'll stay there."

My hands were grasped by the Death Eater and he led me down the hall. I counted the steps it took.

"Steps," the Death Eater said in a scratchy male voice. We began to walk down the steps. At the bottom we turned left and walked twelve steps, where we stopped. The Death Eater opened a door, by the sounds of it. "Steps," he said again, and we descended into what I imagine was a basement.

The air was much cooler at the bottom of the second set of stairs and to my surprise the Death Eater didn't remove the bag on my head. He led me thirteen steps to the left and opened another door. We went down half a set of steps and he opened a door at the bottom, shoving me into the room. A door slammed behind me and I didn't move at first. I pulled the bag off my head and looked around.

I was in a cellar, which didn't surprise me. There were wine bottles lining one of the walls and a few barrels in the corner of the cellar. I moved forward and saw Gabriel lying on the ground in a corner. The smell of feces and urine reached my nose and I covered my face with the bag so not to throw up.

"Gabriel?" I said approaching him.

He looked up at me and moved instantly. "Cadence."

His voice was dry, and as he moved to stand I realized how frail he was. I wondered if they had fed him at all while he was down here—they must have, otherwise he wouldn't be healthy enough to torture. His hair was longer, and he had a lot of facial hair. He was still tall and lean to my surprise, but thinner. I threw my body into his arms and he clung to me, kissing my head instantly.

He took a step back and looked at me. His eyes were still sea-foam green. I touched his cheek and kissed his forehead.

"I've been so worried," he whispered stroking my hair. "I had no idea…what did they do to you? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I whispered embracing him again. "Don't worry about me. They're taking care of me."

"You're thinner," he said interrupting me.

"I'm fine," I stressed. "They're torturing you to break me. Voldemort comes to eat a meal with me everyday and asks me if I'll join him. They're using you to break me."

"I won't break," he shook his head.

"I won't break either," I smiled lightly. "I don't even know how long we've been here."

"Fifteen days," he said touching my cheeks and kissing my forehead again. "I've been keeping track on the wall."

"Have they fed you?"

"A few times," he nodded. "I'm fine."

"How long do they torture you? Do they do it at the same time everyday?"

"No," he shook his head. "They use different methods. I'm surprised they haven't killed me yet."

"I told them if you were dead I'd kill myself."

"Don't say that," he shook his head. "You don't need me that badly."

"Gabriel," I put my hands on his cheeks and looked at him very seriously. "I'm not leaving here with out you alive. If you die…I don't know what I'll do…"

"You'll avenge my death and kill your Father," he said smartly. "You don't need me as much as you think you do."

"Gabriel," I said his name again not really sure why I said it. He touched my cheek and his fingers glided over my lips.

"Why do we always get caught in these situations?"

I smiled slightly. "I would have thought you'd stop hanging around me by now because of it."

"Never," he said smiling. "You'd never get out of these messes if I left."

I nodded. "You're right."

"They'll come for you," he whispered close to my ear. He was holding me tight against him. "I know Sirius and Dumbledore will come for you."

"I'm not leaving here with out you," I told him again, pulling out of his arms and looking him in the eye. "You're my partner, I'm not leaving you behind."

"Promise me one thing," he said sternly.

I blinked at him and nodded. "Anything."

"If it comes down to it," he whispered. "And it's my life or yours, you'll let me go."

"I can't promise that," I shook my head.

"No," he said sternly. "You have to promise me."

"That's not going to happen. I'm not promising that."

"You said anything," he scolded.

"Well I lied."

He leaned forward and kissed me full on the mouth, catching me off guard. His hands rubbed my back as he pulled me tight against him and continued to kiss me deeply, passionately. I melted in his arms and held onto him tightly, not sure why I was letting him kiss me…maybe it was because I was afraid we were both going to die, and this would be the only chance we ever got to be in each others arms…

"Promise me," he whispered pressing his forehead against mine. "That you'll let me go…"

"….I'm leaving to clear my head because a lot has happened these last couple of months," he said stroking his hand through his hair. "I just need a few weeks time to let everything sink in. I've lost a lot and I'm not sure why I'm fighting anymore…so I need to straighten some things out and I wish you'd let me take that time and respect that."

I nodded. "I respect it. But if I die while you're gone, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your miserable life, and trust me I'll make it miserable."

"You already do," he said with a smile.

I knew that despite his joking tone he meant every word. I did make his life miserable because I was with another man…but I couldn't help that I loved Sirius more then I loved Gabriel. I sighed and turned to look at the sunny hills again. I didn't want to think about how complicated Gabriel and my relationship was, because despite loving me he never stopped my actions towards him…I never felt like I was leading him on, and he never accused me of doing so. He just accepted the situation as it was and we lived…I guess that's all that matters.

"You know I'll come for you if you ever need me," he said. "Just call for me."

I nodded as he leaned against me, wrapping his arms around me. "I'll always come for you."

His voice was so low and husky it made my heart break. I kissed his arm and leaned on him for a few moments before breaking away. He helped me stand up and handed me my crutches….

….."You'll listen to his advice," said Gabriel looking at me very seriously. "You won't listen to mine anymore."

"You haven't given me the chance to listen because you left. You've been gone for almost two years now…I wonder why I wouldn't listen to you," I said harshly. Gabriel ignored the cut at him and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked at me from the corner of his eye.

"Aren't you freezing?" he asked looking at the baggy sweater I was wearing. I had crossed my arms over my chest and tucked my hands between my arms and breast to keep them warm. I don't know why I had left with out my cloak. Maybe I was too caught up in my thoughts. I hadn't even felt the cold until Gabriel asked me if I was cold. I didn't answer him. He stood up off the bench and pulled off his thick winter cloak. I made to speak, objecting but he put his finger to my lips hushing me.

"Don't," he said wrapping the cloak around me. He leaned down and kissed my forehead then took a seat next to me. I could only stare at him as I pulled the cloak around me. Why was it that when Gabriel was around I could feel again?

"I know you don't understand why I left, Cadence, but you said you respected it."

"I respected it because I believed you were going to come back," I said. "It's been two years, Gabriel! James and Lily are having a baby! Voldemort is still growing stronger, there is more chaos now then ever before, and you are hiding from it!"

"You're acting like I've been sitting on a beach in Italy tanning all this time."

"You do look more tan," I snapped with frustration.

It was true too. He was darker skinned. His hair was shorter but he kept that five o'clock shadow that made him look dark and mysterious. His eyes were deep, despite not changing color, and showed some sign of life. His frame and body were well defined and sexy. I'm not going to lie…he looked as good as he did when I had first met him. I honestly thought that Gabriel would never grow old or look bad. He looked good when he looked bad…that said a lot.

Gabriel caught me off guard when he took my chin and leaned forward, kissing me square on the mouth. It was a passionate, meaningful kiss that I couldn't pull out of despite everything inside of me screaming to do so.

He pulled away slowly and planted smaller kisses on my lips. Why did he do this to me? And why was I so weak to him? Why didn't I punch him in the face because I had a boyfriend, who I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with? Why?

"I never meant to make you feel abandoned," he whispered kissing my ear softly. I was crying and I didn't even know when the tears had started to fall. I pulled farther away from him, moving down the bench a little….

"…How am I supposed to trust you?" I questioned with a glare. I crossed my arms over my chest and continued to raise my eyebrows at him.

Gabriel came to me, took my hands and held them against his heart. He reached out slowly and touched my chest, between my breast. "You know you can trust me. You know, here in your heart, that I would never betray you."

I looked at him with sad eyes. It frightened me that he knew me so well…that he could touch me and I would believe anything he said. He held some kind of power over me and that made me even more nervous. It was suddenly very clear why my Father wanted Gabriel as a spy. My Father was right, I trusted Gabriel immensely and would never suspect him to go back to Voldemort. But Gabriel was mistaken that I could trust him, I would have trusted him more if he had come to me to begin with and told me what was going on. Now, I didn't know what else he was keeping from me.

Gabriel could see in my eyes that I wasn't convinced.

"How can I make you see that I have not betrayed you?"

"You have," I said softly to Gabriel. "Even if you are not feeding him information, you have betrayed me by not telling me."

"It was not your concern," he said quickly, breaking away from me with frustration. He threw his hands over his head and rubbed them through his hair as he turned away. "Why can't you see that I was protecting you?"

"From what?" I questioned. "My Father? I hate to break it to you Gabriel, I will never be safe from him, and nothing you do will protect me from him."

"I know that," he yelled. "Just like nothing I do will make you let me love you!"

I was caught off guard by his comment and stood back. This is what we were arguing about? How I was choosing Sirius over Gabriel and wouldn't let Gabriel love me? He had returned to my Father and was risking his life by feeding Voldemort fake information because I wouldn't let him love me?

I was staring at him like he was crazy. Gabriel had never let his emotions get the best of him like they just had. He was always very composed and understanding of our relationship. I don't think he had ever actually told me he loved me…and for him to say that word made my stomach turn. I realized very quickly that this was a horrible mess that I had gotten myself into…and it was the last thing I needed when Voldemort was running around trying to take over England.

"I know you don't need protection Cadence," he said staring at me with sad dark green eyes. "I know you can take care of yourself."

And just like that he turned off his emotional faucet. The flood gates were back up, and Gabriel Quintin was not going to share his true feelings about me. He had realized his mistake and now he was trying to control himself. I couldn't say anything. I was still too shocked and I just stood there. The tension between us had grown since earlier that day, when he had checked on me in the bathroom. He knew about the fantasy I had on the staircase…he knew that I wanted him…I knew that he loved me and that I would always love him…

I went to him, and touched his cheeks, not even sure I knew what I was doing.

"Don't do something you're going to regret," he said to me as he stroked my cheek and looked into my eyes.

"I already have," I whispered not turning my eyes away from his. He leaned down and kissed me full on the mouth. His arms engulfed me and I could do nothing but kiss him in return. I wanted it, him, every touch and caress. I wanted everything that he could offer.

It was a deep fiery kiss that only he could provide. No other man kissed me like Gabriel did. I wasn't sure if it was his lust for me, his passion, or his undying love that made those kisses so magnificence. I only knew that he was better then even Sirius. I pulled away slowly and Gabriel's lips fell down to my neck where he kissed me ever so sweetly. I moaned slightly as Gabriel's fingers pushed up my shirt smoothly. I took his hand and squeezed it, pulling away slowly with small tears in my eyes.

I was scaring myself with how the scene playing out in the graveyard was like my fantasy on the staircase earlier that day.

Gabriel kissed my finger tips and looked me in the eye. I saw desperation in his eyes, he wanted me to be his so badly, and I felt my heart break. How could I stand here and break him, when he did everything for me? How could I stay with Sirius when Gabriel so clearly loved me better? It was a question that I would never stop asking myself.

Despite the desperation, I could see him reading me like an open book. He knew that I was still going to pick Sirius over him. He touched my cheek and sighed, pressing his forehead against mine.

"I love you," he whispered to me. "I will never betray you because I love you, Cadence. You are all I have and I won't lose you, to anything."

I sighed and wiped the tears off my cheeks quickly. Hearing him say it made it even more difficult to bear. He touched my cheeks and gave me a small smile.

"I know you won't say it back," he said.

"I love you," I said gripping his wet shirt and clinging to him like a small child. I don't know why I said it. To prove him wrong probably, but that didn't mean I meant it any less. "But, Gabriel…you have to understand."

He nodded and pulled me tightly against him. "I do. I know how you feel…trust me Cadence, you were the last woman I wanted to fall in love with."

I smiled and pulled away. "This stays in this graveyard, Gabriel…."

"….That is exactly what Voldemort wants," said Alessandro. "He wants her to snap. Dumbledore hasn't been open with how powerful Cadence really is. He is confining her and if it continues she will be lost forever."

"I have no control over that," Gabriel said. "I'm following Dumbledore's order."

"When did you stop being loyal to me?" I asked stepping forward into the kitchen where they could see me. Both men looked at me with surprise. "When did you decide that it was better to be loyal to Dumbledore then to me? Gabriel, if Dumbledore has been keeping things from me I would have you tell me because you once swore to my Father that you were loyal to me and no one else."

"Cadence," Gabriel said softly. I could see that he was whispering because if he did not he would yell. He came to me and touched my cheek and I felt tears in my eyes. How could he possibly look at me with such love when he was hurting me so badly? "I am only trying to protect you."

"Then tell me what Dumbledore is keeping from me? What am I not being told?" I questioned. "What has changed in the last nine months that keeps me here, you at Hogwarts, and James and Sirius on missions?"

"Things aren't so black and white, Cadence," Gabriel said. "While Dumbledore is fighting for good, it does not mean that how he does things is good. He kept information from you because he thought it was best for your safety."

"It's funny that everyone seems to be deciding what is safe for me," I snipped pulling away from him. "And if you are so keen on keeping me safe why aren't you here, with me? You didn't tell me you were working for my Father again in attempts to keep me safe, look at how great that turned out!"

"That night, when I told you I was working for your Father again," Gabriel said harshly. "I went to your Father's side, and he told me to bring you to him. Because he knew, Cadence. He knows that I betrayed him."

"Gabriel," I sighed rubbing my face and not looking at him.

"I can't protect you anymore," he said harshly. "I trusted Dumbledore's decision for you to remain here under Alessandro's watch so you would be safe. If I could protect you it would be different—"

"I DON'T NEED YOUR PROTECTION!" I yelled viciously. The walls around us shook, and pictures that had been hanging on the walls fell off. The cabinets in the kitchen swung open and dishes fell out of them, shattering everywhere. Alessandro came forward and took my arm, pulling me back from Gabriel.

"Cadence," he whispered in my ear as he held my back to his chest. "Cadence, control it."

I was sobbing at his point. "I want out! I'm leaving! I can't trust any of you! I'm better off on my own, with out your stupid rules and garbage."

I pulled out of Alessandro's arms and marched out of the kitchen, heading upstairs.

"Where are you going?" Gabriel yelled at me.

I slammed the bedroom door and began to pace in the bedroom, fuming with anger. The room around me was shaking. I was shocked when there was a knock on the bedroom door and it opened. Gabriel walked in slowly and shut the door.

"I'm sorry," he said instantly.

I didn't say anything and continued to pace, not looking at Gabriel. I was furious with him and everything around me. I didn't like being controlled, and at the same time I didn't want to be angry at Gabriel. I wanted him to make it all better.

"I can't stay here," I said. "Not if I'm going to be controlled and left in the dark."

"Cadence," Gabriel came to me and took my face in his hands. "I've never forgiven myself for being away from you. I know you don't need my protection, but I want to protect you."

He kissed me on the lips, just as passionately as he did the last time we kissed. Despite how badly I wanted to kiss him and be in his arms, I pulled away and slapped him.

"Don't you dare try to charm me like that," I hissed. "I am not stupid, Gabriel. If you give a damn about me at all you would have told me what Dumbledore is keeping from me."

Gabriel looked broken, standing there before me. I couldn't believe it. I only saw him like that once before—when Anita and Jennifer died. I frowned and turned away, brushing my hair out of my face. I couldn't handle him looking like that…as if I had just destroyed his whole world. Well maybe he shouldn't have kept things from me. I was a bitter, scornful woman. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at the bed. Sirius and I had made love there last week. If Gabriel knew that it'd drive him mad.

"Your powers can kill you," said Gabriel with some hesitation. "Dumbledore isn't sure how. That's why he wants you here, where you're safe and not using your powers at all. He doesn't know what will cause you to…destroy yourself…" His voice faded and I looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"That's the big secret," I said with some disbelief while staring him down. "Gabriel, why wouldn't you tell me this?"

"Dumbledore didn't wish me to."

"Since when you do you listen to him?" I snapped. Gabriel didn't answer which only annoyed me more. I turned away from him and paced back and forth, putting my finger to my lips and thinking.

"I think Alessandro is right," I whispered. "Being cooped up here is what's going to make me destroy myself. Why wouldn't Dumbledore see that? I still can't believe he didn't tell me! You would think he'd have the descents to tell me when something is going to harm me."

"He didn't think it was your concern."

I glared at Gabriel.

"What did you think?"

"That there are more pressing issues at this time," he said coolly.

"You are impossible to read," I said calmly. "Do you give a damn about me, or do you just give a damn about the possible fuck you'd get from me?"

I was being ruthless, but rather I be ruthless with my words then lose control of my anger and destroy things. I could have destroyed Gabriel with a blink of my eye; I only had to wish him to be dead. I could disconnect his veins from his heart, cut off the flow of oxygen to his brain. I could do it…if I really wanted to.

"Don't threaten me," he said viciously in return. I hadn't blocked him from my mind, so he read my horrible thoughts easily. "You may be more powerful but you don't know how to control your powers enough to kill me. You never had it in you…and if you did…well you're not the Cadence I know then…"

"…When I met Divinity a year ago, she revealed to me that I am more then just a wizard. I have a greater purpose in the great design," Gabriel said very carefully. He knew that I was going to think all of this was crazy. "Some wizards and witches believe that there are certain people of our kind who are specifically meant to guide strong young witches or wizards. They are brought here to this world for that reason alone, and once they have guided those that they are meant to, their destiny has been fulfilled and they die."

Gabriel was pacing around the office, not looking at me, but the ground. He was rubbing his hand through his hair. As he spoke, he sounded as if he only half believed the story he was telling me. I wasn't sure if I believed a damned word coming out of his mouth simply because I didn't know what I could trust anymore…

"Divinity, and your Father apparently, believe that I am one of these guardians," said Gabriel pausing and looking at me for only a brief moment. I could only stare at him. Sometimes, I really felt like he was making this crap up as he went along. I had heard so many of his stories, so many excuses and explanations for everything…the fact of the matter was that there were some things that couldn't be explained and I was tried of Gabriel always having an answer.

He sighed with frustration and turned away from me. He knew just by looking at me that I didn't believe him.

"It doesn't matter if I believe your story or not!" I yelled suddenly. We had been reading each others thoughts with Legilimency, and the silent argument was driving me nuts. "How do you expect me to ever trust you!"

He stopped pacing and looked at me sharply, as if I had just offended his honor—I didn't care if I was offending his honor, he had offended it himself when he lied to me. I jumped out of my chair and smacked him across the face.

"You're supposed to love me," I sighed with small tears in my eyes. I was completely exhausted by him. I did not even want to hear his story this time because I was tired of it all. I was tired of the lies.

"I imagine Sirius would feel the same as you do now if he knew how much I loved you," Gabriel spat back at me. "Especially if you told him how you love me."

I smacked him again and he let me, which was something Gabriel never did. He either wanted to be hit because he felt he deserved it or he let me hit him because he knew I had to get frustration out. Or perhaps he was letting me retaliate for the physical abuse he had caused me a week and a half ago.

"You are the only one I have been loyal to," Gabriel said wish desperation. Gabriel was anything but a desperate man, and when he looked at me with that darkness in his eyes, I knew I had broken him. I had destroyed everything that gave him strength…and I was kicking him while he was down. "I am loyal to you because I love you—I would rather not! How do you think it feels to be completely devoted to someone who is not devoted to you…who teases you like she actually does love you, but every night goes back to her boyfriend? I wish I could wash my hands of you, but I have lost everything and you are all that is left. You!"

"You said it yourself," I retorted. "Sirius would have fought for me—"

"And yet, I am always the one saving you," he said, interrupting me….

"…I don't ask you to love me, Cadence. I ask you to follow your own heart," he said. "And choose a side. Choose me or Sirius, do not play us both. I will always love you, no matter what….no matter who you stay with. Divinity didn't see you in my future, but she often reminded me that futures change because of the choices we make."

I sighed, trying very hard not to think about what he was asking me to. "She said that you were meant to die with her. When she was no longer your student, your destiny would have been fulfilled…and you would die."

"I think we both know that isn't going to happen for a long time now," he said cupping my cheek. I closed my eyes as a small tear leaked down my cheek. Gabriel leaned forward and kissed it delicately.

"Gabriel," I moaned as he moved to kiss my lips. He kissed me softly, as if he knew it would be our last kiss. Never would we share such intimacy again. "You have exhausted me, and I can't…I can't love you anymore. It hurts me to love you, and it hurts you. I can't do it. I won't do it."

Gabriel stood up straight and nodded. "Then this is really the last time…" His voice faded off and I grabbed his hand, clinging to him. He pushed me away slowly and brushed his finger tips against my cheek.

"I forgive you," I sighed. "I will always forgive you."

He smiled slightly. "I will remain your Guardian. You're all I have left."

Whenever he said that I knew he meant that he loved me…he just didn't want to say it. I sighed and nodded my head. So this is how it was going to be…we were going to secretly love each other, and we were even going to keep it secrets from ourselves. That's how it used to be, years ago, and perhaps that was the best way for it. Gabriel would always be with me because, now as I understood it, he was my Guardian and that was his purpose. He would remain with me because I was constantly his student and constantly needed to be taught by him. I realized as we left Hogwarts that he had to be loyal to me—it was in his nature. And I had to trust him, despite how much I didn't want to….

…"You didn't tell me Sirius left you," he whispered sitting down next to me.

I didn't look at Gabriel as he sat next to me. I wasn't sure if I could look at him. When he said Sirius' name my heart stopped for a moment and I felt it break. I put my head in my hands and sighed loudly.

"I came to tell you the other night when you were with Ondrea," I whispered. "I didn't want to bother you."

Gabriel lifted my chin from my hands and made me look at him. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I truly am."

I shrugged and stood up off the bed. "He's just upset that I said no to marrying him."

"Why?"

"I'm not ready," I said looking at the mirror that hung on the back of the bedroom door. I looked pale and thin, no doubt because I had slept for five days straight. "I don't want to be married right now. If Sirius and I love each other, live together, and have been together for…five years now, I think it is…well, why does it matter if we put rings on and vow our love for each other? Is that any different then what we were doing already?"

"Yes," Gabriel said standing up. "It is significantly different. If you were to get married it'd justify your relationship, your love. It'd solidify it for Sirius. He's afraid you're going to leave him any day…and now that you've said no to marrying him, well he's afraid that you don't love him after all and it's all been a lie."

I sighed as I looked at Gabriel in the mirror. "It hasn't been and he shouldn't expect me to marry him just because he's afraid that our love is a lie. He should trust me."

"Should he?" Gabriel asked as he approached me.

I turned to him, glaring viciously. I did not like where this conversation was going at all. I took a long breath to try and relax so that I didn't over-react and destroy half the house, or Gabriel.

"If I were Sirius, Cadence, I would have left you a long time ago," he said honestly. "Because the way we act…well…even though nothing has happened…"

I smacked him clean across the face. "Don't you dare imply that I am a whore. In some ways you are Sirius, Gabriel. You haven't stopped loving me yet so don't you dare say you'd leave me if you were in his shoes."

Gabriel grabbed my hand and held it firmly, glaring at me.

"We both know that it doesn't matter how hard I try to stop loving you, it won't make a difference," he said sternly. "You can't use that against me."

"It's not like we took a love potion, Gabriel," I responded. "You could stop anytime you wanted."

"Why haven't you stopped then?" he asked still glaring. I loved the aggressive tone in his voice; it sent shivers through my body and made my knees give a little. I held my ground, however, trying very hard not to let Gabriel seduce me. His husky voice was enough to get any girl's panties off, let alone mine.

I pulled my hand from his and turned away. "Because," I whispered as I watched him in the mirror. "I don't want to stop, despite how much it hurts."

Gabriel came up behind me and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, holding me against his chest. I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed softly as tears welled up in my eyes.

"I don't know how to live," I whispered. "Without Sirius…I don't know…"

Gabriel kissed my neck and rested his head on mine, holding me close and trying to comfort me. He rubbed his hands up and down my arms, with the intention of soothing me, but really he was only making everything more complicated. I turned and faced him, laying my head on his chest as I began to sob.

"I feel like such an idiot," I cried; I don't know where it had all come from. I hadn't cried about Sirius leaving me since it happened almost three weeks ago now. Perhaps the stress of being stabbed, almost dying, and Sirius not coming to my bedside just pushed me to my limits. "Why can't I marry him? But he knew I didn't want to be married…he knew that. Why couldn't he respect that?"

"I find that when two people have two different plans things don't usually work out," Gabriel said softly as he stroked my hair.

"But how did it work for so long then?"

"How long has it really been working, Cadence?" Gabriel asked. "How long have you been completely in love with him? How long have you lied…even about the littlest thing?"

I bit my bottom lip. "You think it should have ended a long time ago?"

"I do," he whispered. "But I didn't want it to because I wanted you to be happy. Lily was right when she said you had worked so hard to be in a good relationship with Sirius…but I don't think good relationships should be hard work."

I stepped back and wiped my cheeks, nodding my head. "I don't know what to do."

"Hold your ground," Gabriel shrugged. "If Sirius loves you he'll come around. And I'm sure he loves you, Cadence. He's just afraid that you don't love him."

"But that's ridiculous," I whispered.

"Is it?" Gabriel asked lifting my chin. "Do you blame him for doubting you?"

"CADENCE!" screamed a voice running down the street.

"GABRIEL!" I yelled over the roaring flames as I dashed across the street. I caught Gabriel's arm before he could jump my gate and run into the burning flames. He grabbed me and forced me to my knees, pressing his wand against my neck. I immediately lifted my hands and looked up at him with tears in my eyes.

"It's me," I heaved with heavy breathes. "You held my hand as I stabbed you in the kitchen after we had a pancake breakfast. I took your blades with me before I left…I…I made stars appear on the grass outside the basement window when I lied about trying to escape…I…"

"I love you," he sighed falling to his knees before me and engulfing me in his arms. He held me close, squeezing me between his chest and arms. I began to cry against him. The only thing I could think about was the man that had kept us apart all these years…Sirius…it had all been a lie. I should have left Sirius long ago so that I could be with Gabriel who loved and knew me better then anyone. I clung to him, sobbing.

"They're gone," I sobbed in hysteria. "He killed them…he killed them. Sirius betrayed them! And Harry is gone! He's gone!"

Gabriel sat back and held my cheeks, wiping my tears away.

"No," he said shaking his head. "No. Harry is with Dumbledore. Hagrid saved him."

I sighed with relief. "I have to see him."

Gabriel shook his head. "Dumbledore is taking Harry to his Muggle Aunt's."

"What?" I stammered leaning away from Gabriel. "What? No! I'm his godmother—"

"You have to leave the country, Cadence," Gabriel said quickly.

"What?" I looked at him shocked. "No. I'm not leaving…no Harry needs me."

"Cadence," Gabriel said shaking me. "Look at your house…it's been destroyed—Voldemort is gone. The Death Eaters are going crazy…Harry killed him…somehow…he survived the Killing Curse and it backfired…your Father is dead."

Gabriel's words weren't making any sense. I could only stare at him in shock. "But you have to get out of here. The Ministry thinks that you betrayed the Potters—because you're your Father's daughter. They think you and Sirius are responsible. You have to get out of here."

"What?" It appeared that was all I could say. "Gabriel, I don't understand…"

"I caught Sirius," Gabriel said. "I caught him at Remus' house packing his things. He's at the Ministry—"

"You what?"

"Then stop depending on them," Gabriel said looking somewhat offended. He was hurt that I hadn't recognized him as the only one I loved who hadn't betrayed me. "Depend on only yourself, you won't be disappointed then—"

He was interrupted by the egg timer going off. I jumped and grabbed my face. Since Gabriel had arrived I had forgotten about the egg timer, and now he'd be here to find out the results too. I didn't know if I could handle that.

"What was that for?" he asked picking the egg timer up off the counter. "You're not cooking anything."

"Well, actually, I might be," I muttered standing up and moving down the hall. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

He didn't answer and followed me to the bathroom.

"Gabriel," I sighed leaning in the door frame hoping to block the pregnancy test that sat on the counter from view. "I'm pretty sure I don't need your help or supervision while I go to the restroom."

"Why'd the egg timer go off?"

"I'll tell you when I get out of the bathroom."

Gabriel looked over my shoulder but said nothing. He stepped back and I slammed the door on his face. Who was I kidding, he wasn't an idiot. He had to have a pretty good idea why it had gone off.

I turned and picked up the test with weary eyes. I shook it nervously as I told myself to pull together. I was an Auror, and had seen worse things then even Alastor Moody; I could look at a pregnancy test and take the results. I locked my eyes shut and took a deep breathe.

The truth was this stick was more frightening then anything I had ever faced in my life. The result of the test was going to change my life in a way that I could not handle. It was going to make my life harder and more dangerous. On the other hand…it could be negative in which case I'd be working myself up over nothing. After all, about two weeks after I had sex I experienced a violent attack where I was stabbed in the stomach. If I was pregnant it would truly be a miracle.

I took a long breath and looked down at the plastic. The whole world stopped and my heart plummeted into my stomach.

"Son of a bitch!" I screamed throwing the positive test into the trash can by the toilet. This was too much. I couldn't handle it anymore. All of my emotions overloaded and I screamed as I cried, gripping the counter and falling to my knees.

The bathroom door opened and Gabriel came in. He had seen the test over my shoulder, and knew I was upset because of it. He knelt behind me and wrapped his arms around my stomach, holding me close against him as I sobbed. I couldn't even describe the flood of emotions that had taken me. The only thing that could sum everything up is how numb I felt. My system was so overloaded with emotions that it went dead and I was numb to the world. There was nothing to feel anymore…I didn't want to feel.

"My baby is going to be just like me," I coughed. "Her Father is a Death Eater…"

Gabriel wiped my hair out of my face and kissed the back of my neck. "It will be alright, Cadence. You're strong enough for this. It will be alright."

I turned in his arms and laid my head against his chest, sobbing into his shirt. Gabriel picked me up in his arms as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and stood up easily. I had lost a great deal of weight in the last couple of months, so it was not difficult for him to carry me upstairs to my small bedroom. He laid me down in the bed as I cried and sat next to me, rubbing my back. He leaned over me and kissed my ear gently, whispering that I was all he had, and he would always be there for me.

I couldn't bring myself to respond to him. The only thing I could think of was that I was pregnant with Sirius Black's baby… Gabriel didn't seem to mind however, he lay down in bed with me and held me tightly. I squeezed his hand once he wrapped his arm around me and kissed it, muttering a thank you for staying with me. Neither of us said anything else as I continued to sob into the pillows. Emotions were flooding my system, overloading me and I couldn't handle it. No words could describe my anger, frustration and fear…finally Sirius had made me feel indescribable…

I gasped for breath and fell against Gabriel's bare chest. His breath was heaving just as quickly as mine was. I had never experienced someone using Legilimency on me like that before. A splitting head ache was separating my head. I rubbed my temple as I sat up. Gabriel looked over whelmed. He frowned deeply and sighed.

"I see what you mean by complicated," he whispered.

I gave him a half smile and nodded. He smiled at me and stroked my cheek. "I still don't remember though…your memories have told me a story of a man who loves you, but I do not feel like that man."

I frowned deeply and touched his hand as he stroked my cheek. "I won't hold it against you. It will all come back eventually."

Gabriel forced a smile and nodded. "I hope so."