Right sorry about the wait had a load of college stuff to deal with. I do not own the Harry Potter series or any of its characters. They belong to J.K Rowling.

The Rothern Legacy

Chapter 34 – Worried and a Blast from the Past

Fleur watched from a distance as the Hogwarts professors talked in hushed voices to Harry and Hermione. Her keen Veela eyes could easily decipher Hermione's closed off expression and see the fear that gripped at the brunette's heart through her eyes. She understood more than anyone at that moment what was racing through the bushy haired teens head, the fear of not seeing a loved one ever again was one thing but to not know what was happening to them, the unknown, was even more grating on ones nerves.

Fleur glanced down at Gabrielle and hugged her little sister tighter to herself as she looked out at the lake. Gabrielle would've died if it hadn't been for Rachel and she had been incapable of helping either of them, it both frustrated her and made her feel ashamed. Gabrielle meant everything to her and someone else had to put themselves at risk to help her while she was forced to sit and hope.

"I am zo zorry Gabrielle zat I did not protect you" whispered Fleur. The youngest Delacour wrapped her arms around her older sister tightly.

"I am safe zanks to Rachel. Do not beat yourself up over zis Fleur zere was nozing you could have done. Not wiz your arm like zat..." Fleur briefly glanced down at her heavily bandaged arm before returning her gaze to Gabrielle's worried face.

"...but Rachel needs to be found. I am worried that somezing 'orrible 'as 'appened to 'er" Fleur nodded in agreement. She felt incredibly conflicted over Rachel's involvement, she wanted to find the girl and yell at her for being so foolish and reckless with herself but at the same time she wanted to thank the girl for intervening when she could not otherwise...no it was not worth thinking about what could've happened it would only depress Fleur further.

"She is frightened" whispered Gabrielle as she stared at Hermione.

"I am not surprised...she loves Rachel more zan she lets on" the brunette was so obviously in love with the young Rothern it was difficult not to notice. The Delacours watched with concern in their pale blue eyes as Hermione grew more agitated with the professors as their conversation continued, Harry placed his hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her as tears began to form in her eyes.

"I feel zo guilty" whispered Gabrielle sadly. Fleur's eyebrows rose in alarm as she looked down at her sister.

"If I 'ad done somezing different...kept 'old of 'er hand or tried to get away from 'im instead of panicking zen Rachel would be 'ere wiz us and 'Ermione would not be on ze verge of tears" Fleur frowned in disapproval at Gabrielle berating herself. The eldest Delacour placed herself in front of Gabrielle and placed her hand underneath the distraught girls chin.

"Look at me..." the youngest Delacour looked up with tears in her eyes "...zere was nozing you could have done Gabrielle. Zis is not your fault. We are going to find 'er and every zing will be alright. I promise"

With a thunderous crack Rachel landed on her back in the midst of a forest. She cried out in pain as her arm seared painfully, sucking in a deep breath through clenched teeth she looked at her outstretched limb and winced. The limb was weeping blood from horrific tears in her flesh that stretched from across her shoulder all the way down to the back of her hand, great chunks of her flesh and muscle tissue having been stripped away. In effect the limb was useless and she struggled to even move her fingers. Just looking at her arm made her feel physically ill. Her nervous system was shot and at any moment her mind was going to fall into shock.

"It hurts doesn't it" echoed a sickly smooth voice as a figure concealed within the confines of a soaking wet cloak approached the convulsing teen. Panicked, unfocused eyes looked up at the figure as he came to stand next to the injured teen.

"Being splinched. It hurts doesn't it?" her chest was rising and falling rapidly as panic flooded her system and adrenaline coursed through her. Silver eyes lazily watched as Rachel tried to reach for her wand that lay a few centimetres from her good hand. A sickly smirk stretched itself across the figures concealed face as he bent down to retrieve the wand. Pale white hands played with the wood in fascination.

"You're probably wondering who I am aren't you?" asked the figure as he turned his back on Rachel and leisurely walked a few paces away from her. Rachel grimaced in agony as she closed her eyes.

"Oh no no no Rachel I need you to stay awake for this. Crucio!" It felt as if a thousand needles were attacking her nerves as the curse struck her. A strangled cry of pain escaped from her as her body twisted under the influence of the torture curse. Convinced that she was at least conscious the figure released her from the curse.

"You see Rachel I thought I had succeeded all those years ago and yet here you are. Crucio!" another cry of pain and movements that imitated that of someone having a seizure followed for a few moments before it stopped.

"Alive...but not so well it seems. Just how did you manage to survive? You're mother didn't and she was a far more accomplished witch than you could ever be and yet here you are." When only laboured breathing answered him he once again pointed his wand at the teen.

"Imperio" he stated. Her body was lifted up off the ground and she was made to stand, her blood dripping from her gaping wounds onto the grass beneath her. He approached the immobilized teen purposefully and when he came to a halt, mere inches from her he whipped off his hood and smiled in a deranged manner.

"Remember me now Rachel Rothern" he stated as his silver eyes pierced her blue ones "My name is Pelious Coldridge and I'm the last person you'll ever see before you die and this time...this time I'm going to make certain I get the job done..."

Fleur watched as Hermione and Harry walked towards them while the professors started to disband, obeying direct orders from Dumbledore it seemed. Ron, Luna and Ginny came rushing through the thinning crowd towards them.

"Fleur what's going on?" asked Ginny, worry written in her face and eyes.

"I do not know at ze moment..." answered the French witch quietly as she kept her eyes on Hermione as she and Harry stopped in front of them.

"Harry bloody hell what's going on mate? Where's Rachel and what's the plan?" the raven haired teen looked up at Ron with quiet frustration in his eyes. He sighed as he wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders and gave her a light, comforting squeeze.

"They'll find her Hermione. I know they will" he whispered encouragingly. Hermione inhaled a shaky breath as she looked out at the lake. Harry looked up at Ron with silent concern.

"What's going on Harry?" asked Ginny. Before Harry could answer Hermione answered for him.

"Professor Dumbledore is certain that Rachel was the real target and not Gabrielle and now he and the other professors are conducting searches for Rachel..."

"Well that's good isn't it? How can we help?" asked Ron instantly. Harry shook his head at the hopeful suggestion.

"We're not allowed to search for her. Dumbledore said that whoever took Rachel is a dangerous sort of character and probably wouldn't hesitate to attack one of us should we find them. McGonagall agreed and forbade us from getting involved, saying that they couldn't knowingly put us at risk" Everyone started to voice their objections once Harry finished, declaring that they were more than capable of searching for Rachel and defending themselves, that there was more chance of finding her if they had more people searching for her.

And while everyone voiced their opinions Hermione stood there quietly, a plan forming in her head while the others bickered amongst themselves. Everyone was so involved in their bickering that by the time they turned to Hermione to ask for her opinion the bushy brunette had vanished and had left no indication as to where she had gone.

"Shit" muttered Harry under his breath.