-The Graveyard, Chapter Twenty Six-

CECILY POV

I stared across the room before answering. "As soon as he realized Harry was gone, he got into one of his rages. For the first time in a long time, he was beating me up again, but harder than before. I don't know how long it lasted, but before the sun rose, I was in the sarcophagus for the first time." I kept my gaze fixed firmly on the wall.

"We moved soon after that. I was injured, so I didn't try getting out then. Whenever we traveled, I wasn't fed, so when the trip was finally over, I was hungry, but the food didn't come. Harry dreamed of me soon after, he just barely got away. Voldemort was furious, but what could he do? He decided to set a trap for Harry, a dream of him beating me until I died. I contacted him the only way I knew how, through a mirror, and warned him. It took all my energy, so when I woke up, I was strapped down." I took a deep breath, but forced myself to continue.

"He tried to get information out of me, but for the first time, I was denying him what he wanted. He even threatened me with Avery, but I still blocked Harry from my dreams. Time passed…too slow to be real, it seemed. Then, I actually heard people upstairs. I had figured out I was in a basement, but I didn't know where. These people were singing Christmas songs, quite drunkenly, but loud enough for me to hear. That night, I got introduced to all the Death Eaters from Azkaban. I still wasn't being properly fed, but I wasn't even hungry anymore. My body had healed from the beatings, but my next contact was with that Draco Malfoy." My voice turned angry without my realizing. I saw Harry stiffen again, and I felt so bad for him.

"It wasn't pleasant, but it was the first food in about a month, so I was happy…until I smelled it. The food was drugged, with Veritasereum no doubt, so I didn't eat it. I buried it under the robes I had torn off, and didn't give away anything when I was questioned. Voldemort gave me the Quibbler awhile later, unknowingly giving me information. The date, and depressingly, information that the Ministry of Magic wasn't searching for him. But it told me that Harry was alright, and that was the only good thing Voldemort ever did for me. Then, we were traveling. I slept through the whole thing, my body was trying to heal itself, but without fuel, it wasn't doing much. When I woke up, all I could hear was water." I looked over at the both of them. "And I believe you know the rest." I finished quietly. The spirits nudged me softly, like a hug.

We were silent for a while. "What happened to your hair?" Harry asked quietly. I absentmindedly brought my hand up and touched the short locks. I had gotten used to the sudden change of my length of hair.

"I scared Bellatrix, so she cut it off. It was worth it though." I responded, curling a lock around my finger, and gasping as it came out of my head. It floated down onto the blanket, feathery and pale. Dead; like me.

"I have to apologize to you Cecily. I believed you to be dead, so I did not bother with a search. Your parents were trying to keep you two a secret, to protect you. Somehow, the world found out about Harry, but not you. I couldn't ask for a search because no one knew you existed." Dumbledore said slowly. I didn't respond, but played with the lock of hair on the bed. It really wasn't Dumbledore's fault, but I still felt like I should blame someone for what had happened to me.

There was a knock on the door, and Moody stuck his head around the door. "The next guard is here, Dumbledore." His eye rested on me as he talked. I found it strangely comforting now, for reasons I couldn't explain. His normal eye held pity yet strength, and I felt better just by meeting his gaze. It was another subliminal reminder to myself to stay strong.

"Send them in." Dumbledore said calmly, and Moody opened the door. A tall slightly balding red-haired man entered, with a girl with shocking purple hair. The both nodded politely at me, which I returned after a slight hesitation.

"This is Nymphadora Tonks, and Arthur Weasley. They will be taking over for Lupin and Mad-Eye for the moment." Dumbledore said. I nodded again, quicker this time.

'But if you call me Nymphadora I'll have to kill you. It's Tonks." Nym-Tonks said with a shudder. I felt a ghost of a smile rise to my face for the first time in a long time. Her spunk was a pleasant surprise.

"Pleasure to meet you Cecily, a real pleasure." Mr. Weasley said, extending his hand. I was instantly confused. What was I supposed to do?

He carefully picked up one of mine and shook it up and down. I frowned. What the hell did that mean? "I'm sorry, I don't know what that means…" I trailed off pathetically at the look on his face. It instantly brightened into a grin.

"It's a greeting!" Tonks said enthusiastically, and wildly shook hands with Dumbledore. The look on his face was priceless, and the smile returned to my face. I cautiously shook Mr. Weasley's hand. My bony hand looked strange in his, and the movement felt odd. Our skin tones contrasting was comical, and his hand had amazing warmth compared to mine. It was strange, but not unpleasant.

"He's the dad of one of my good mates." Harry said as they all left except him. He looked exhausted.

"You should get some sleep. Where do you live?" I asked, realizing I had no idea where he was staying. Harry certainly wasn't staying at the Hospital. He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. His resemblance to dad was striking. I smiled to myself, shocked at my own happiness.

"I'm not leaving you, no way. The school year just ended, I go to Hogwarts. It's a wizarding school that kids go to until they are seventeen." He explained without me having to ask.

"You need to sleep though, and I won't let you sleep on the floor. But where do you go after school? Do you stay with Mr. Weasley? He seemed to be really…connected with you, I guess." He smiled tiredly, and forced back a yawn.

"I'm not leaving Cecily. And usually during the summer I stay at mum's sister's place. They don't use magic—their Muggles—but if I can get away, I stay with the Weasley's, yeah. My good mate, Ron, I stay with him. He has 5 older brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George. Then he has a younger sister, Ginny."

"Wow. I would like to meet all of them, if I could." I said, interest spiked as he yawned again, stretching in the white stiff chair he was sitting in.

"Of course you can, his mom, Mrs. Weasley, has already tried to get in here. She's like the mom I never had, you'll love her." He mumbled sleepily. "Oh, and then my other good friend, Hermione, her parents are Muggles, but their alright. They are both dentists, they take care of Muggles' teeth."

"I've seen both of them, I was with you in the Department of Mysteries. I think I've seen Ginny, I'm positive she was with you, and I've seen your brunette friend. Is she alright?" I asked, just remembering about Dolohov and the curse. It seemed like ages ago. Harry jerked out of his dose.

"Why wouldn't she be alright?" He asked, curious. I shrugged.

"I blocked a spell from Dolohov, and if it took a toll on me, it must have hurt her too." Harry stared at me, open mouthed. Then he shook his head.

"She's fine, honestly. I still can't believe you were there though, I'll have to tell her." He was starting to fall asleep again, so I stayed quiet, and watched him fall asleep, the strange sense of security in my heart.