Chapter 28 Standing Up

The rays of the sun fell sweetly around the village, birds sang cheerfully and a weak breeze rippled the grass on the hill where the Riddle family stood. Michelle's arms were still wrapped tightly around Shayna, her tears moistening her robes.

You have a very annoying friend there Shayna" Voldemort said motioning to Warren's unconscious body "But there are more important matters to discuss. As you may have gathered I've regained my power and am rebuilding my empire. In light of this I want you girls to come and live with me, at the Riddle manor. Shayna dear, you need to learn how to run the family business."

Michelle grabbed Shayna tighter and cried out into her robes. "I'll die first." Shayna growled Something odd was going on inside of her. It seemed her emence burning hate for Voldemort was enough to conceal her fear. But as she stood there snapping at him her stomach was flipping, her heart was thumping, and she seriously doubted she'd ever see Hogwarts again. However, as long as he didn't know this all was well.

"My child" he said in what was probably as close to concern as he could come "Why would you squander this. You have been born to a privilege that most would die for. How can you toss it aside with out thinking. Imagine, just for a moment, the power you could have. You're enemies couldn't touch you, you would be unstoppable. I do not understand this distaste you seem to have developed for me."

For a moment Shayna looked at him with something more then hate, disbelief. Could he really have not guessed she would do this? "You killed my mommy." Michelle said faintly through her tears and Shayna's middle Voldemort leaned nearer, he must not have heard. "That's right, you killed my Mum too." Shayna said

The Dark Lord pressed his white lips together in thought. "Did I? I mean it's possible, I kill allot of people."

"That's the point!" Shayna spat, her hate peaking again "You may very well be all powerful, but look how you've gotten it. Look what's left of you. All you do is take happiness from the innocent. And I would rather join them in death, then join you in the killing."

"And another thing!" Shayna was now yelling, seeming to be making up for all the parental fights she never got to have. "I will have you know that Albus Dumbledore is brilliant man. You only hate him because you're afraid of him. We both know he's the only thing that might stop you. Him and little Harry, who happens to be one of the sweetest boys I've-"

"Enough!" Voldemort roared "Grown Wizards do not dare to speak to me like this, much less my own daughters!" He stretched his wand toward them "Crucio!"

All at once every muscle in Shayna's body seized with pain. A think flame was running under her skin, her limbs thrashing involuntarily. She couldn't think of any thing but how bad the pain was, and how she'd do anything to make it stop. The only thing she could hear beyond her own screams were those of Michelle.

And then the pain ceased, just as abruptly and terribly as it had begun. Shayna lie on her back, sweat covering her shaking frame. Her breath was coming in uneven gasps, and it was a moment before she could open her eyse and see why her father had stopped.

"Get off me boy!" she heard him yell Shayna saw it now, Warren had leapt up from the ground, and tackled him. He was now struggling to keep his wand arm pinned to the ground.

"Warren!" Shayna shrieked "Warren are you crazy!?" She scrambled to her feet and pulled out her wand, she had to think of some way to help him! "Run Shayna!" he instructed "But-" Shayna stammered

"Damn it Riddle! Now is not the time to argue with me. Get Michelle and RUN!" And her panic there was little more she could do but what she was told. Praying the whole time for the impossible, that all three of them would get out of this place. Michelle's eyes were tightly shut and she looked to be very ill. Shayna slung the first year over she shoulder and began to pound off in the other direction

A loud crack followed by a soft thud stopped her though. Her father had once again flung Warren to the ground, this time he had him at wand point. "You are a fool." she could hear him telling Warren "You might have lived through this had you stayed where I left you."

Everything around Shayna seemed to move very slow, but her movements seemed the slowest. She was no longer thinking, it was more like she was watching herself screaming "Move faster! HURRY UP!" In one motion she dropped Michelle, pulled out her wand, and clenched her eyes shut. Some where she heard her own voice says "Expilarmus!"

And Voldemort's wand flew into the air and as he went after it Warren scrambled to Shayna as fast as he could. "I've got an idea!" he panted "Pick up Michelle and gimme your hand!" She did so, and there was a split second in which she was sure her cheeks had gone pink. "I'm gonna aparate us outta here!" he explained

"What! You can't apparate on or too the Hogwarts grounds." Shayna explained

"Fine then we'll go to Hogsmead!"

"Have you done this before?"

"There's a fist time for everything.

"Warren, it's illegal!"

"Hey do you got a better idea?" Shayna looked over her shoulder to see that Voldemort had secured his wand and was coming toward him. She nodded to Warren and shut her eyes tight, fearing the blow that was about to fall.