Life in the caves was happy for Lila. The woman who had been watching her gladly allowed Sirius to take charge. Lila's things were moved to the room adjacent to Sirus's where his godson's children already slept. Since James and Hermia were thirteen and twelve respectively, they left Lila alone to her own devices.
Lila enjoyed having meals with Grandpa Black instead of with all of the other children. The two of them would talk about anything and everything, except for the current war. Sirius started taking over Lila's education as well, teaching her all of the 'muggle' skills he knew. The other elementary aged children were learning from one over-worked teacher and recieved little individual attention.
Only rarely did news from above come through the halls of the caves. The food and supplies were provided by brave house elves that had improved their skulking skills. Although they avoided any wizard contact outside the caves, the elves dared steal from enemy stores and warehouses as well as abandoned homes. Only local news could be picked up on the runs. Thankfully there were currently no patrols in a fifty mile radius of the caves.
Few knew the location of the mass refuge facility. A complicated version of the Fidelius charm had been placed on the enterance. It was combined with a sort of cloaking charm so that unless you knew what you were looking for, there was only shear rock. Also, no one who possessed a dark mark could enter the caves. They would be burnt to a crisp if they tried. Passwords had been abandoned long ago. One truth potion lead to the discovery and death of close to three hundred people, including women and children.
The very young were always taken before killings. The enemy would secure them and then take care of the rest. Those children and infants were taken to a stronghold and reeducated. Any memory of families or friends was wiped clean. In its place sat the best learning of the dark arts a child could learn. If there were any who resisted the teaching, or found it difficult to perform, they were instantly executed. The graduates of the schools were all hard hearted, cold blooded killing machines. Valdemort is prodigiously proud of them.
It was one of the graduates that was able to catch Harry completely unawares and capture him. The captor had been a best friend to Harry in their school days. Only by those dirty moves did the enemy gain the upper hand. To have their greatest general captured by his good friend and brother-in-law, Ronald Weasly, destroyed all hope and trust. The red head had been presumed missing for almost three years. There were scars on most of his exposed skin that spoke of the horrors that he had undergone. No one knew the scars on his mind or the spells he had been under. Maybe no one ever would.
The children did not know about the situation with their uncle and father, only that both were gone and their mother was searching for them. They adapted well to life in the caves, but at night, they clung to eachother in dispair at loosing their parents. Few had hope. Too many tears had been shed. Any happy thought was precious and held onto tightly long into the dark.
Thanks for reading! No shout-outs this time. :( Hope you enjoy!
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