AN: sorry for the delay! I'm really super busy at the moment (: but I'm not forgetting about the story. I always write bits and pieces whenever I get the chance. I won't leave you guys hanging! The story means way too much to me! The next update won't take so long, I promise!

Chapter 33: Another Visit

The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere - Michael de Montaigne

It was a very warm day when Joelle heard the familiar sound of birds out in the yard. Their songs always woke her up. Her first reaction was to check if next to her, Tom would be there, but he wasn't. He hadn't come back for exactly 37 days now. A growl of frustration escaped her lips. What was the idiot doing? What was she doing, caring too much? Then again, she could justify her doubts with fearing that he may or may not have attacked somebody dear to her while he was gone. And did Joelle want that? Of course not. Quite in fact, she felt like it was her fault. She shouldn't have provoked him that much. But has she even provoked him? Was she unable to see her wrongdoings herself? Or was she unable to see his wrongdoings by now?

"Joelle. Wake up."

A rough voice. Joelle frowned; she was not entirely sure who it was. It wasn't Black nor Lestrange. It couldn't be Rosier or Nott. Could it be?

"Didn't you hear me?" Asked the voice. The door opened and in strode none other than sharp chinned Avery with his ever so piercing steely eyes. He had gained a decent amount of muscles since Joelle has last seen him.

"As you can see, I'm already awake," said Joelle distantly. She turned her face away and looked out of the window. She hated these situations. Every time Tom wasn't around, some of his puppets took care of her. And nothing, absolutely nothing happened while they pampered and tucked her in her bed at nights. The only change now was that Avery was back - after those months of Joelle believing he was actually killed by Tom.

"I am not like Black or Lestrange. When I say you will eat the food - you will. Have I made myself clear, girl?" Avery asked. Joelle narrowed her eyes and glanced at his pale face again that had a slight bit more color than Tom's. His slicked back, blond hair and the arrogant tone in his voice made him seem stricter than before. Joelle merely shrugged and looked away again, but Avery grasped her wrist and yanked her along, walking downstairs with her.

"I am also not going to bring you the food. While I am in charge, you will learn discipline. As you should. You are a woman."

John. Joelle narrowed her eyes. She saw John in Avery - everything about him was her stepbrother.

"A very traditional man, aren't you?" Joelle asked with acid in her voice. Avery glanced at her, his eyes narrowing a little when she said "steadiness cannot lead to development. You have to shake a little."

"Tsk. Silliness. I'm not very fond of the recent emancipation movements. Nature hasn't made women weaker for no reason."

"Weaker," Joelle chuckled. Was she weak?Was Avery saying he could dream up a person holding more power over Tom than herself? She did not ask. She did not bother. Joelle was above those discussions. Still yet, she couldn't shake off feeling mistreated. Quite obviously she wasn't only a mudblood in Avery's eyes - she was a female mudblood. Welcome to wizarding 1946. Welcome to a time where women had to be reminded of her archaic position again. Joelle growled. She had not grown up like that.

"Sit down," said Avery firmly. But Joelle kept standing. Instead of sitting down, she narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms.

"You women. You're like children. You need a firm hand in order to work, don't you?" Avery suddenly forced her to sit down with his wand. "I am not playing."

Joelle glared up to him. A part of her wanted to threaten him with telling Tom about how Avery treated her - but she knew she would never resolve to such pathetic measures.

"I'm quite surprised to see that you're still on your feet," said Avery then. He didn't have to add the "because somebody like Tom would usually dispose of mudbloods like you" - it was clear enough.

"Not nearly half as surprised as I am to see that you're still alive," said Joelle collectedly, inwardly smiling at the glare thrown her way. Apparently the memory of Tom almost fatally hurting Avery was enough to shut him up for the next two hours.

"I swear to Merlin. If you don't eat the food now, I will force it down your throat, girl. Don't test my patience," Avery muttered hatefully when he saw that Joelle had not touched anything of her last meals. It was not even her fault; she didn't refuse eating because she wanted to infuriate somebody. She just couldn't keep anything in.

"I don't want to eat," she said softly. "I can't. I'm not begging for your understanding. Just respect my decision. I ate an apple."

"An apple is, by no standard, enough," Avery grumbled and scattered down to Joelle's level. She was sitting on the ground with a book.

"I'm giving you to the count of three. One..."

"Two," said Joelle bored, flipping to the next page. Avery ripped the book away from her, throwing it against the wall.

"That was Marvolo's diary by the way," she snickered, seeing how Avery's pale face turned a ghostly white color. He instantly ran over to it and picked it up, checking for any sort of scratches. He was about to hand it back before something caught his attention.

"Why would you have his diary?! Are you spying?!"

"Go check the pages," said Joelle with another vibrating tone of boredom. "They're empty."

Avery did check the pages, then sighed and shook his head. "Silly girl. It could be a spell to hide it."

"There's none."

"How would you know? You're not capable of the magic he can do. You couldn't dream it up. Anyway. I'll put this away, we don't need you sneaking around."

"Sure. Do whatever you want, Avery."

"Stop that arrogant tone."

"Is there something I can do or say that will not infuriate you?"

Avery considered Joelle for a moment before he inhaled deeply and stared at her. He narrowed his eyes while he did.

"You don't know what he sees in me, right? Neither do I. You could do us both a favor. Either let me go. Or go yourself. I don't have a wand - and as you very well realized, I don't have much magical power. I couldn't escape if I wanted to, otherwise it would have happened by now. So instead of further making my imprisonment more insufferable, I suggest you just leave."

Avery still stared at her, he still considered her. Then narrowed his eyes. His eyes followed her curves before he turned his attention away. But something in him drew it back to Joelle. The latter did not even realize what was going on, her gaze was brought to the opposite direction of the room, she seemed to be deeply in thoughts about something. But Avery got up.

"I will lock this door when I leave," he suddenly murmured.

Joelle nodded. "Feel free to do that."

"It can only be opened from outside," he added.

Joelle nodded again.

"Somebody else, probably Nott will be here in the morning. It's late already and...you can't get out. I don't have to stay. That's good..."

"Now get lost," said Joelle suddenly, receiving a glare from Avery. He bit his bottom lip, his fingers twitched towards his pocket, but he did not dare. He simply turned around, Joelle heard the door locking and heavy footsteps from outside echoing as Avery left. She really loathed him.

And he loathed her back.

The night was exceptionally cold. Even though the temperatures increased drastically within the past few weeks, the nights were still unpleasant sometimes. It was especially cold in this large manor. She was downstairs in the drawing room as always. It was the only place with a huge fireplace. Most importantly it had the large window front that Joelle loved to see. It was tall and wide - and it led into the endless garden where she could watch the birds and butterflies to at least bring closer some life to her. Joelle did not mind sleeping on the couch and she did not mind being locked in here until the morning. She had all the food she needed, and a bathroom was connected to the drawing room as well. There were plenty books. And no soul.

It was a scary place when Joelle thought about it. She never tried to think about it all too much. But did she have a choice now? She was alone in a huge dark manor, alone in a huge dark manor with shaking trees she could watch from her beloved window front.

She did mind that she was locked in the drawing room.

She did mind that she was alone. Joelle shook her head at a thought. Before she would drive herself mad, she decided to cuddle down on the couch and try to sleep. And slowly, she dozed off.

Rustling. Joelle grumbled and turned over. The wind blowing outside was unpleasantly loud. It howled and some twigs kept on thrashing against the windows. Banging. Joelle wondered what it was, but she was too tired to think it could could be something to be scared of.

Talking.

Joelle blinked her eyes open, she sat up and looked around but gasped when shrill light blinded her. She held her elbow to her eyes.

"Whoah! Look at this! Jake! Look at this! It's a lady! And what a beauty. Ey! Ey, girl!" Shouted a man. He came closer to Joelle, still shining his flashlight to her face.

"Who are you!" She yelped and pulled the blanket up to cover her chest, but another man walked in. The both of them were rather tall and, by the looks of it around Tom's age. Oh no. They were one of those ever so curious people about Riddle manor. Was the house only protected as long as somebody with a wand was here? Joelle couldn't help but wonder.

"You shouldn't be here, girl! Being here is illegal!" Said another man. Joelle raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" She asked dryly. But she realized something. This was her chance.

"Guys..." She then said, trying to be fully awake now. But how could she ask them to help her out of this? The both of them stared at her as if she was some piece of strange art that they had to describe and interpret - they clearly didn't expect somebody around. Joelle could faintly make out their looks. One of them had dark brown hair and a pointed chin and pointed nose and maybe blue or green eyes; the other one had black hair and was more tan than the other; his eyes were dark as well. They kept on asking her questions - of course they didn't keep quiet. But Joelle blocked them out as she thought about how to address them. How could she tell them that she was held captive? If they could get in so easily, surely they would wonder if she couldn't get out as easily.

Did she not promise to herself that she would give Tom a chance? Did she not want to repay her debt? But how could she - now that her chance to escape was as close as this? Who would blame her?

"Guys, guys, please be quiet, let me talk, listen...I need your help!"

And the two of them were quiet.

"What is it, doll?" Asked the black haired.

"I must get out of here," Joelle said softly. "How could you get in?"

One of them held up a large metal stick that Joelle had no idea of what it was. It didn't matter.

"Is the door open?! The entrance? Can we get out?" She asked excitedly and jumped up, but she did not see the exchange of gazes below her. The two guys suddenly pulled her back down.

"Now, now, where do you think you're going?" Asked the brown haired.

"I need to get out! We need to get out, I have to-"

"Shhh! Why aren't we going to enjoy our stay here, hm? Make it an unforgettable night."

"Cheaa, good idea, Dave," said the one that Joelle now remembered must be called Jake. She shook her head when the both of them pressed her against the couch.

"What are you doing?!" She screeched. Were they out of their mind?! She had to tell them something - there was no time for silly things like this!

"You shouldn't be here, girl. We have been here before - it was abandoned. We know you're staying here illegally. But don't fret, we won't tell a soul, if you agree to pay a little price for it" whispered Dave with his black hair falling to his face. Joelle narrowed her eyes and tried to push away.

"You must be kidding! Please, I need to get out! Listen to me-"

But they were just laughing and talking wildly about how much she would like it and that it would be something crazy to do - and that she should enjoy herself and that they wouldn't hurt her. Dave began to slowly pull on Joelle's dress from behind while Jake held her down - and that was when Joelle began to struggle for dear life. She screamed and kicked and shouted but it was to no use - the guys were hellbent on exploring this adventure.

"You will enjoy it! Don't be like that! Just relax!" Chuckled Jake. "Dave, hold the stupid bitch down."

"NO! NO!" Joelle yelled when two hands started to spread her legs. And just before she could feel their cold fingers invading more of her privacy, a loud growl from the back of the room interrupted the actions. A flash of green light hit Dave and he collapsed to the floor with glassy eyes; Joelle could not see where it came from nor who it was; she had her eyes squinted shut and ears covered. It all happened in slow motion to her. Jake gasped and realized and let go of Joelle, looking down to his lifeless friend; Joelle saw him shaking his shoulder.

"Dave?! Da-" but his voice was cut off. Joelle squinted shut her eyes yet again and she turned her face away, only seeing a fair amount of blood flying from the shadows that danced on the opposite wall. Another man sunk down to the floor and within the next moment, she felt herself ripped off of the couch roughly. Joelle covered her face by holding up her arms protectively.

"Look at me."

There they were again. Tom's eyes, after so many weeks. He looked crazed, more crazed than before, his irises red and trembling with both rage and something Joelle could not determine. He pulled her up, grasping her face in his hands - and for once Joelle could see what kind of shade it was that she saw in his eyes; it was nothing but fear and panic. Fear and panic to lose her yet again.

He kissed her with such intensity that she could almost taste every bit of his emotions.