Chapter 2: The Child is Gone
All is Forgiven and Forgotten
It had been a day Blaise never wanted to forget. Seeing the boy in her dreams filled her with a rush that she never felt before. It bordered somewhere between flying on her father's broom and her first taste of chocolate. She promised to herself that she'd find a way to see him again. At least, before school started. She could drag Cedric with her too. She never once questioned why she had this urge to see Harry Potter again. She was just a child, acting on her instinct. Acting on her heart.
The horizon glowed a dusky lavender as Zon and Blaise walked up the steps to their home in Creer Upon Libby. Zon reached for the golden knob just as the door flew open and Vanessa threw herself into his arms, sobbing loudly.
"ZON! Where have you been?! Something terrible happened! I can't find her anywhere! I – BLAISE!" Vanessa slammed on her knees and scooped Blaise into a fierce embrace. Just then Amos Diggory apparated behind Zon.
"AH! I see you've found the little one, Zon!" Amos sighed patting the stunned man in the back. "Van went into a frenzy here just after you left. The whole Ministry went into action. Not every day a wizarding family loses a child. Haven't seen that since the days of You-Know-Who."
"Uh, no. We haven't," Zon stammered. "Blaise was with me, Amos. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding." Amos waved his hand.
"No harm done. It's good to know the Ministry acts quickly. Had several Aurors already looking into some of You-Know-Who's correspondents. The patrol had its hands full questioning muggles and wizards alike. But you get inside now. Calm down, Van here. I'll let everyone know Blaise's alive and well." He tilted his hat and disappeared as Zon pulled Van into the house. Blaise followed them silently.
Vanessa pulled Blaise into the couch next to her and fussed over the girl checking her eyes, her throat, her hands. "Where in Merlin's name did you run off to?! I saw Cedric playing Quidditch with the twins but he said you never came. I searched the whole house for you! I called the Lovegood's, Molly Weasley, even the Vanderbeek's who live two villages down from here! I threatened to sue the Law Enforcement Patrol if they didn't step into action! Oma's worried sick as well!"
Zon placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Calm down, Van. Blaise followed me. She was with me the whole time." She twisted up to him.
"You knew?! And you didn't bother telling me?!"
"I'm sorry. I had no idea you'd worry. I planned on coming back straight away-"
"It's been three hours, Zon! The patrol wouldn't do anything until she'd been gone for ten hours. Do you know what could happen in ten hours?!"
"I'm sorry, Mama," Blaise said sniffing against Vanessa's robes. Vanessa stopped her rant and pulled Blaise closer to her.
"Sweetie …" She sighed closing her eyes. "You can't go off running away like that. There's a different world out there. Not everyone is like Oma, your Papa, and me. Not everyone is your friends like the Weasley's or the Diggory's. You … You had me so worried. I had the most awful fears. I didn't know what to do." Zon sat next to Van and wrapped his arms around both.
"Van, I promise I'll let you know everything. We're both sorry." She nodded and kissed Blaise on the forehead.
"Blaise, go to your room. It's okay, sweetie. Papa and I just have to talk." Blaise nodded reluctantly and ran up the stairs. Yulee followed her with a glass of milk.
Zon sighed and cradled his head in his hands. "I was an arse to forget. I know how sensitive you are to these things, Van." She bit her lip and wrapped an arm around his.
"Do you now, really?" She whispered. "You can't imagine what came into my head. I thought someone took her away. I-I thought she'd been locked away somewhere, calling for us, but we weren't there. Can you imagine what she'd go through? That fear? That frustration? I lived all that once, Zon. For three hours, I lived it again. Only it was our little girl …" She choked back a sob. "I'd take her place in a heartbeat."
He squeezed her trembling shoulders. "Van, it's okay. Blaise is okay. Please … stop this. Be angry with me, but just stop reminiscing about the past. That's never going to happen again."
"How can you be so sure?" She asked in a hushed voice.
He kissed her on the forehead, pulling her closer to him so that she could feel his heart beat next to hers. "You're not a little girl anymore. And Blaise and I are your family now. He can't hurt you anymore. None of them can."
Vanessa closed her eyes. "I just … I just want to keep all that ugliness from her, Zon. It just gets tough keeping it from her when it's still in my skin. And I just can't … I just want to scream and take it all off! I just …" Vanessa choked back another sob.
"Breathe, love." Zon murmured.
"I love that kid so much."
"I know. I do too."
"If something bad happened-"
"Nothing happened. She had an exciting day. Riding on the Knight Bus, playing in the park. It was a good day for her. Please … seeing you like this will upset her."
"You're right. Zut! I wish I could just erase all the bad stuff in my brain. I wish nothing haunted me, Zon. I wish it wasn't there breathing down my neck. Forgetting it all would make me a better parent."
"You're a great parent, Van. You're a great mum."
"I … I just get scared thinking I might fail her."
"We all do. I think it comes with the territory. But as long as we're looking out for each other … we'll make it. You're the best figure for her. You're strong. You're a fighter. The kid can see that. I do. I always did."
They sat there locked in each other's embrace. Zon's words warmed the chill that had crawled down Vanessa's spine. He always did that for her. She knew she couldn't get through the day without it. She twisted her neck to him and kissed him softly on the mouth.
"Go now, Zon. You still have time for your errands." He kissed her hand.
"You'll be fine here?" She smiled in reply.
"I need to clean the place. I got a little agitated in my search." She gestured to several overturned tables and unhinged portraits. "But I'm going to check on our daughter first. I don't want her to go to bed thinking the wrong things." Zon nodded and stood to his feet. He pulled Van up beside him.
"Okay. I'll be back soon. Love you."
"Love you more."
Vanessa flicked her wand and left the furniture up righting themselves. She went quietly up the stairs to find Blaise sitting on the top step. Yulee sat beside the child, urging her to have some milk or a bit of a sandwich. When Blaise saw her mum approach, she shot to her feet, twisting the hem of her dress in her hands.
"Mama, I'm so sorry," she said tearfully. Van jogged up the remaining steps and pulled Blaise into her arms. She nodded to Yulee with a grateful smile. The elf curtsied and popped out of sight.
"Don't cry, sweetie. It's okay. Mama's not mad."
"But I made you mad at Papa."
Vanessa tutted as she carried Blaise to her room. "I wasn't mad at Papa. I was just worried. That's normal. Mamas always worry." They sat down on Blaise's little bed. Vanessa brushed the hair off the girl's face.
"But I went even when you said no. That was bad."
Vanessa sighed. Zon was right. Blaise was upset. And as much as Vanessa wanted her daughter to understand the danger that was out there. She didn't want the girl to grow up fearing it. So she told Blaise a simple truth.
"Blaise, you don't have to do everything I say. I know I'll try to make you, but you don't have to. All I can do is tell you everything I know and hope you make the right decisions on your own. And you don't always have to be right." She bit her lip as her seven-year-old daughter blinked her eyes up at her. Vanessa began to feel ridiculous talking to her child like this, when Blaise nodded and squeezed her hand.
"I understand, Mama. It's like choosing to not let bullies make me cry. And … keeping a broken watch because I still like it."
Vanessa nodded not really understanding what Blaise meant, but the child seemed to know what she was talking about. Making Vanessa feel relieved that Zon's intelligence rubbed off on her.
"I just care about you, you know? Look at this way. You were with your Papa. So you were safe. And that's all that matters to me. I just want you safe and happy." Vanessa quickly blinked back her tears. "Papa said you had fun. Did you?" She asked hoping she'd find something cheery to think over.
Blaise smiled shyly. "Kinda. I went on the swings. And I met the boy."
"You-you did? The boy with the scar?" Vanessa rubbed her forehead. She suspected Blaise didn't tell Zon this.
"Yeah!" She beamed. "Only I didn't know it was him right away. I wiped the dirt off his face. He faced all these mean kids. I fixed his glasses, Mama! And I think he's my boyfriend."
Vanessa's mind reeled. Dumbledore would be cross with them. Rhonda would have their hides. "He saw you? And … did anything else happen?" Her stomach squirmed painfully inside.
"We pushed a boy down. A mean, fat arse. He cried. Sissy."
Vanessa snorted loudly in spite of herself. "Language, Blaise." She tried to speak calmly when she asked, "And … did you tell the boy about … us?"
Blaise wrinkled her nose. "You mean about wizards?" Van nodded. "No."
Van closed her eyes. "Good. Padre would have a hernia if you did." Blaise bounced on her bed.
"Can we go back tomorrow, Mama?"
Van snorted. "Blaise, this's not a field trip. There's a lot of things about that boy that I can't say."
"Please … we can all go to the park. I know where it is. I know how to get there. The driver on the Knight Bus knows me. He'll take me straight home-"
Van frowned. "Sounds like you're willing to go there on your own-"
"Not by myself. If you don't wanna go, can Cedric?" She bounced higher on her bed.
Van's expression grew stern. "No, Blaise. No traveling on the Knight Bus. No talking to this boy. You don't know him-"
"His name's Harry Potter! He lives on Privet Drive!" Blaise sang loudly. Van sighed and pulled the girl beside her.
"Blaise, stop it. You can't go on telling that to people."
"Please, Mama. I wanna see him again. I wanna be his friend."
"When you're older you'll get that chance. It's just not safe now."
Blaise's lips trembled but no tears fell. This worried Van. The girl seemed to take this harder than she expected she would. But no tantrum followed. Just a look of disappointment and a bit of desperation that Van didn't like seeing on such a young face.
"I'm sorry, Blaise. I'd love for you to be his friend. But-"
"He would never hurt me, Mama. Please. Privet Drive," she said with a trembling voice. Van had to look away.
"Blaise, stop this. Just forget you met him. Harry Potter has a past that … Well, I'll explain it when you're older."
"Mama …"
"Stubborn little girl," she mumbled admirably under her breath. But Blaise's persistence only fueled Vanessa's fears. This was a bright girl. Too bright. Too confident. Too fearless. But still, Van didn't want to instill fear into the child. She wanted Blaise strong. She wanted Blaise to fight. But this fixation on The-Boy-Who-Lived was too much for a mum. Not when Van knew that the threat really stalked out there. Staring at the scars on her own wrists, Van came to a difficult decision.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. But I can't let you go wandering off to see him again. Forgive me. But one of these days, I hope you understand."
Blaise looked up tiredly. It broke Van's heart. "Understand what, Mama?"
Van covered the child's eyes.
"Obliviate."
Guardian Angel
That day at the park was a trip Harry never expected would happen. But it seemed Aunt Petunia only stringed him along for Dudley's amusement, so the big oaf would stop whining for another bike. He apparently broke the other one. And the other one before that. It seemed even steel couldn't bear the bulk of Dudley Dursley.
Harry had hoped he'd meet some kids at the park. Kids that would talk to him for a change. But he forgot Dudley would be there too. As soon as Harry dangled gingerly on the monkey bars, Dudley and his friends began kicking sand in his face. Somewhere in the tussle, someone smashed Harry's glasses, pulled his hair, scratched a few buttons off his already knackered shirt.
It made Harry sick to his stomach. Not because the kids teased him, but because … in the back of his mind, he knew this would happen. He couldn't help feeling this pain in his chest thinking how the one day he had to hang at the park would never turn good for him.
Until he heard a voice. The sweetest voice he'd ever heard. And he looked up, and for a moment … he thought he had seen an angel. The sunlight framed her hair like a halo. Her sleeves billowed around her arms lifting as she swung lightly beside him … like wings.
And when she wiped the grime off his face, it made Harry think about all the times he saw Aunt Petunia fuss over Dudley. All the mums he saw wiping the dribble off their babies. He always sniggered at that smothering. But he found he welcomed her touch. He certainly never remembered anyone doing this for him.
Most of all, she stood up to Dudley. This also fueled Harry's suspicion that she wasn't real. Because all the kids at school and in the neighborhood feared Dudley. And they all helped bully Harry around. So maybe she was his guardian angel. He saw pictures of them at church. She did look like them. He wished it was Sunday already. He wanted to see those pictures again. Maybe she was in there. He just didn't notice before.
But it's been weeks since Harry stepped outside his cupboard again. Sighing quietly as he crossed a leg over his cot, Harry taped his glasses back together the best he could in the dark. Uncle Vernon said it would only be fair for Dudley to break his glasses again since Harry pushed him in the park. Dudley tattled on Harry naturally. But he never mentioned the girl. Fact is that his cousin never brought her up for as long as Harry knew him. Harry figured either Dudley had been too embarrassed to talk about it. Or she really was an angel and changed Dudley's memory of the whole incident. Can angels do that? Well, she stood up to Dudley and fixed the glasses, so probably yeah.
Harry finally left his cupboard when school began again. He'd walk past the park every morning and afternoon hoping for a glimpse of the girl on the swing or standing by a tree. She never did come back. But Harry expected that she wouldn't. She had been one of those unexplained things that happened around him. Like his hair growing back overnight.
Soon the years passed and Harry grew older. He forgot about the angel at the park. His memories filled with moments of Dudley tormenting him. His narrow escapes from thorough beatings at school. Everyone around Harry seemed to make his humiliation and alienation their life's ambition. You could say he grew jaded over the years. Not believing he'd attain to much. Believing he'd be stuck with the Dursley's forever. That kind of mental funk would leave little room to believe in an angel. Much less for an angel-visiting in Little Whinging.
Still, even though he forgot why, Harry Potter kept the busted watch she clasped on years ago.
One of the Big Kids Now
Eight years old is an awkward age. Blaise figured that out soon enough. Suddenly, she was too heavy for Oma to lift up and too big for Papa to swing around. And she didn't like all the big kid clothes Mama made her wear. She hated the belts and button-up shirts. She wanted her Sesame Street shirt and her tattered trainers. Now Mama adorned her with itchy lacey dresses and sandals that pinched her toes painfully together. As much as Blaise found herself fascinated with them, she didn't like becoming a Barbie doll herself.
Her birthday had been a quiet affair. She only requested Susan, Cedric, Oma, and her folks' attendance. Something about the big crowd of people didn't appeal to her anymore. It always made her feel wanting. Like someone should be there, but he/she wasn't. God knows, Hannah 'Bogey-brain' Abbott always was.
Oma invited the elves to join the family for dinner. Her house arrest made Rhonda desire constant social interaction. Only Rusty joined them, since Rusty had wizard blood in him. The kids loved the tall, slender, blue elf. He trained as a warrior and almost died in a scuffle with trolls when Oma rescued him. He indebted himself to her ever since.
Blaise and Susan watched avidly as Cedric and Rusty reenacted Rusty's nearly fatal scene with the ferocious troll Bern. Cedric grunted and howled his part as Bern while Rusty pretended to pelt the moaning boy with arrows. Cedric lunged at the elf when Rusty gestured to Blaise. That was her cue.
She sprung to her feet and shot out her left hand.
"Stop right there, troll!" She bellowed. Cedric posed feigning the perfect expression of mortifying fear. "I, Oma Rhonda Zabini, the Great Auror of Villa Monteverde, command you to stop!" She dropped her voice as Susan hugged her knees excitably. "Or you shall face the sequins!"
"CONSEQUENCES!" Rusty barked through the corner of his lip.
"Yeah! Come-sequins!" Blaise roared. Cedric fell to the floor gasping in laughter. Even Rusty gave into chuckling. "I tried," Blaise snorted falling back beside Susan. "You gave me all the big words, Rusty."
They looked up just as her parents walked onto the veranda.
"Hate to cut the fun short, Blaise. But everyone has to go. Cedric's got a big trip tomorrow." Cedric jumped up to his feet and shimmied around the yard.
"Whoo hoo! Hogwarts, Blaise!" She and Susan danced around him.
"I wish I could go too!" Blaise sighed throwing her arms around him in a bear hug. "Mama, can we speed up my birthday? Do I have to wait 3 years?"
Vanessa laughed and wrapped her arms around Blaise's shoulders. "Yes. And I'm perfectly fine with that. Gives me three years to my baby girl." She smooched loudly on Blaise's cheek making her groan.
"MAMA!" She wiped at her cheek as Cedric and Susan snickered at her.
"Oh, so you're a big kid now?" Van teased. Blaise stuck out her lip but jumped into her mum's arms.
Blaise went with McGee to bid Cedric good-bye. She met Susan at the train station and both girls clung onto the boy's robes. Both wailing as Cedric smiled down goofily at both of them.
"I promise I'll write, Blaise. It's only a few months and I'll be back for the Winter Holiday. I'll write and even send those pictures that move. You'll love it." Mrs. Diggory smiled tearfully at the picture the three made. She quietly took a picture herself as Cedric continued to whisper to Blaise.
"B-But you're going on a t-train! That means it's f-far!" Blaise sniffed as Susan waved good-bye to her cousin Althea. Cedric ruffled Blaise's hair and laughed.
"Just think, Blaise. You'll be in Hogwarts soon too-"
"Yeah, in three stinking years!"
"And, when you get there, I'll know all the cool places to go, the nice professors. I'll show you the ropes."
"But you won't be around to play! Who's gonna chase the pixies with me?" Blaise's lip trembled. The train whistled. Another tear cascaded down her cheek.
Cedric sighed and took Blaise by the shoulders. He smiled encouragingly at her. She sniffled noisily back.
"Look, Blazy. You're one of the big kids now. Don't be scared. You still have Susan. And I'm always gonna be there for you. Don't worry. You're not gonna lose me. Okay?" She nodded slowly in response. Cedric tickled her making her giggle loudly. "See? You're smiling already. You'll be fine, Crazy Blazy." He ruffled her hair and pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back squeezing her eyes shut in the effort. He said bye to Susan and to McGee. Then he boarded the train.
Blaise ran beside his window waving to him until she reached the end of the platform and couldn't run any further. It felt like a big chunk of her left with him. It'd be another three years before she truly got that chunk back.
A warm hand pressed on her shoulder. McGee smiled down at her. "How 'bout I treat you to some ice-cream?" Blaise smiled.
"It's okay, McGee. I can go home now. Mama's by herself. I want to stay with her before I go to the island again." Gwenyth nodded biting her lip. They turned and headed out the gate with the other families.
"Sounds like Big Girl Blaise is taking charge," Gwenyth mused keeping her arm around Blaise's shoulders. Blaise nodded quietly.
They reached Creer Upon Libby just a few hours before lunch. Gwenyth turned to Blaise. Their houses seemed so quiet with Papa back at Durmstang and Cedric in Hogwarts.
"Are you sure about that ice-cream? Why don't you ask your mama to join us? It'll be my treat." Blaise broke into a full grin. First one since they left the station.
"Okay! I'll ask her right now!" Gwenyth laughed at the girl's sudden enthusiasm.
"Good then! Call me when you're ready. I'll be in the orchard." Blaise watched Gwenyth head for their backyard. She then spun on her heel and ran to her front door. She reached for the door chime when something shattered inside.
"Mama?" Blaise called through the door. She peeked through the window on the side. "Yulee? It's me, Blaise." She tapped lightly on the door.
Just then, she heard someone scream. Blaise pressed her face against the window and squinted inside. What she saw had imprinted itself forever in her brain.
Vanessa thrashed on the floor, screaming in agony as a man Blaise didn't recognize stood over her pointing Mama's wand at her chest. He said something under his breath making Vanessa scream louder. Across the room, Yulee and several other elves lay on the floor bloody and unconscious. Hopefully just unconscious.
Blaise reacted on instinct. She slammed herself against the door. "MAMA!" She screamed kicking at the panel. "LEAVE MY MAMA ALONE!" She beat her fists against the door until she felt splinters dig into her skin. Inside, she heard her mum's screaming stop. The swung open and the man grabbed at Blaise's collar and threw the child roughly against the wall.
"NO!" Vanessa gasped stretching her hand across the floor. "Leave her alone, frère. Please, don't touch her. DON'T HURT HER!" She cried as the man pulled Blaise to her feet.
The man smiled at Blaise, but for the first time, she didn't return this stranger's smile back. She tried to pull away from him, but he locked her against the wall, wrapping his large hand around her neck.
"This is your girl, Vanessa? It's a miracle." He sneered. "Une belette, no? Funny she looks nothing like you. Still, you were quite pretty this young, I remember." The man eyed Blaise as his wand dragged down her shirt. Vanessa staggered quickly to her feet.
"DON'T YOU DARE!" She snarled jumping on his back. He released Blaise leaving the girl to choke for her breath. Vanessa dug one of her fingers into the man's eyes. "RUN, BLAISE!"
Suddenly the door from the kitchen burst open. Gwenyth stood there wand in hand. "Vanessa?! Blaise?!" Her eyes widened. Blaise ran to the woman. "Go to my house. Barricade the doors. Call for the Aurors. Quickly!"
The man cackled as Gwenyth stepped toward him. He held Vanessa again at wandpoint. Blaise ran for the backdoor in the kitchen.
"Vincula conjicere!" The man hissed. The doors wouldn't budge. Quickly, Blaise crawled on the kitchen counter as she heard Gwenyth address their intruder.
"What are you doing here? You know the Aurors are hot on your trail. You have no chances of escaping," she said as Vanessa whimpered on the floor. Blaise pulled at the window. It wouldn't move an inch. Holding back tears, she cast her eyes around the room searching for a way out. A way for help to come. Papa, hear me. She pleaded inside. Papa, come home.
"Out of my way, witch. I have no business with you-"
"You have no business with my neighbor either!"
The man laughed sending chills down Blaise's spine. She crawled to Yulee and shook her. The elf didn't wake. Blaise bit back her tears as her eyes went to the oven pyre. The chimney led to the roof …
"I see you haven't been forth-coming with your friends, Vanessa," he drawled. Vanessa sobbed against the power of his wand. It made Blaise cover her ears and rock on her heels.
"Stop it!" Gwenyth snarled. "Expella-"
"Stupefy!" Gwenyth's body flew through the kitchen doors. She slammed into the counters and fell to the floor, unconscious. Vanessa sobbed in the other room.
"No more, Antonin! NO MORE! I'll come with you! Just leave my house. Leave my family alone!" Blaise grabbed Gwenyth's wand. She wouldn't let that happen. Her mama was staying here.
"I knew you'd see it my way," the man sneered. "But don't look so sad, mon petite. I'll take that girl of yours as well. Just like old times, eh?"
Vanessa clawed weakly at his face as he shoved her back to the ground. He sauntered into the kitchen kicking aside Gwenyth. He gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes across the room. He saw the door to the broom closet creaked slightly open. He yanked it hungrily as Vanessa crawled quietly into her office.
"Oh mon petite," the man whispered hoarsely. "Uncle Antonin is here. Do not be afraid. I'm going to take you and your mum with me. She owes me a favor, that's all." He leaned forward into the closet.
Suddenly, the oven door kicked open. He spun around as Blaise aimed the wand. "Scourgify!" She cried one of the basic spells she knew. Antonin howled as his eyes filled with soapy bubbles. Blaise pushed herself out of the oven and ran into her mum's office. Vanessa already slumped over the desk.
"Merde! He cut off the lines!" She threw the phone across the room. She kissed Blaise feverishly on the forehead. "I hoped you'd get out before he locked us in."
"Mama, who is that man?"
Vanessa didn't answer. As Antonin struck her with a curse that made the woman scream and jerk beside Blaise.
"Trying to call the Aurors, are you?!" Vanessa screamed louder.
"BUGGER OFF!" Blaise hurled a paperweight at the man. It struck him on the forehead. He keeled over, dropping the wand. In a second, Blaise jumped and grabbed it.
"No! Don't go near him!" Vanessa gasped.
He snatched Blaise around the waist.
"Your girl is giving me a hard time, Vanessa. I see she lacks discipline. Shall I teach her what I taught you?" He then pulled Blaise by the hair and dragged her into the living room. Blaise kept both wands under her shirt. But the man seemed more interested in her than in the wands. He pushed Blaise to the sofa as he unbuttoned his shirt.
"LEAVE HER ALONE! I'LL DO ANYTHING, ANTONIN! TAKE ME! DON'T! PLEASE DON'T!" Vanessa sobbed pulling herself along the floor. He kicked the office doors in her face.
Blaise didn't know what the man intended to do undressing in front of her, but the desperation in her mama's voice ignited an anger inside the girl. How dare this man come into their house and throw them around like they were garbage?! Did he not know who her father was?! Who Rhonda Zabini was?! But Blaise knew her heroes weren't with her. It was just her.
"It hurts at first, little girl," he smiled. His breath reeked. Blaise fist tightened around the wands. She thought of the spell he used making her mum cry. She knew only mean people could cast a spell like that. She knew it was an Unforgivable. Being the granddaughter of an Auror and child of two of the most intelligent wizards in Britain had its benefits.
The man chuckled at her stance. "Think you can hex me? Do you even know what that means?" He stepped back. "Okay. One shot, little girl. Let's see what you got. Let's see you try to save the day." He had his back to the window, grinning at her. Mocking her. She never felt so much hate for anyone, for anything. The anger boiled hot inside her and it took all her self-control to hold back her tongue.
She pulled the wands from under her shirt and aimed both at his heart. His eyes widened.
"STUPEFY!"
The strength of her command and the two wands shot the man threw the window. He slammed onto the road in front of their house. The broken glass had torn at his skin. He lay still. Blaise shivered and dropped the wands.
"BLAISE!" Vanessa pushed the doors open and stumbled to her daughter's feet. She searched Blaise's face. "What did he do? Oh, please tell me nothing happened, sweetie! I'd die if he-"
"I'm okay, Mama," Blaise said quickly hugging her mum tightly. "He's out on the road. He won't hurt us anymore." Vanessa's lip trembled.
"I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry. I brought this to our house. I thought I could escape him-"
"Mama, is Gwen and Yulee, okay?" Vanessa nodded and took the wands in her hands. Blaise helped her hobble to Gwenyth.
"Ennervate," Mama said quietly. McGee fluttered her eyes open.
"Oh my god, Van. What happened?" She glanced from Van to Blaise. "How did he get here?"
Van bit her lip and glanced awkwardly at Blaise. She revived Yulee.
"Yulee, please revive the others and take Blaise down to your quarters. Gwen and I will clean up here." Yulee nodded wide-eyed. Blaise didn't like that Mama wanted her away. She just knocked the bad man down and she has to hide under Yulee's bed still?
But she didn't argue. Though, usually she would. She followed Yulee to her chambers.
"Stay here, Lady Blaise. Be safe here," the elf said caressing Blaise's hand. She could still hear the women talking through the vents.
"Yulee, can you make the sound from the vents a little louder?" Blaise asked. Happy to help, the elf did. And Blaise sat quietly on Yulee's bed as Gwen and Vanessa's conversation coursed through the elf's room.
"I know this won't make any sense. But we have to give the Aurors a different version of the events that happened here." Blaise heard Mama say.
"What do you mean by that? Wait. WHY do we have to do that? Blaise and I came home from dropping off Cedric. I heard screaming, came in and saw that bloody Death-Eater standing over you and Blaise. Somehow the girl disabled him-"
"Gwen … I don't want Zon to know about this. I mean … I don't want to him worrying that the bastard got as far into the house as he did. We'll just say he came through the door. You and I were in the living room, saw him, blasted him back to the pavement. Simple. We don't have to tell them about the Unforgivables or you being stunned."
"Van, you're not making any sense. Let's take a deep breathe and be rational-"
"You and your rationale!" Mama snapped. "Have I EVER asked you of anything, dear friend? Have I ever asked you to do something of this magnitude?! Admit it, Gwenyth. This is the only favor I'm asking of you. Compared to the ones you've asked of me-"
"Please! Let's not be bitter with each other. We're on the same team." Gwenyth sighed. "What about Blaise? You can't expect her to lie along with us?"
"I-I handle it," Vanessa said uncomfortably. Blaise heard a chair drag on the floor.
"What are you … NO. Absolutely not. I forbid you to use a Memory Charm on her. Van, how could you even think of that?!"
"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do with MY daughter!"
Gwenyth cursed loudly. Blaise's head ached with the venom in each woman's voice. She never thought McGee and Mama hated each other. But the animosity showed itself well today.
"Van, Memory Charms on a child that young could damage her. And no doubt you'll need a hefty charm for her to forget all of this. Too much or even too little effort could seriously affect her mind. Are you willing to take that chance? She might lose the very smarts that helped us today. And her childhood! You're willing to take away that?!"
"You mean what's left of her childhood," Mama said quietly. Then she began to cry. "I failed her. I knew I couldn't do this. I told Zon I couldn't do this-"
"Now you stop that talk, Van. I know you and I never got off on the right foot but you're going to have to listen to me. I'll do this favor you ask me. But you have to hold yourself together, woman. Our baby girl needs you to be strong. That's the only way she's going to get through this ordeal. Now go to her. I'm going to contact the Aurors at my house. Tell them we found their escaped convict."
Blaise pretended to sleep as Vanessa kneeled next to the bed. She felt her Mama brush the hair away from her face, button up her shirt, dab ointment on the bruises. Blaise didn't know why she pretended to sleep. Maybe she didn't want Mama to cry and feel sorry for herself. Maybe she didn't want Mama asking her to lie to Papa.
The sounds in the room told her of Yulee fussing in the background, McGee's kiss on her forehead, Mama's cold hand around hers. Still, she felt very alone. Blaise could still see the man in her mind, standing over her, mocking her, challenging her. That white-hot anger churned deeply in her chest. And she hated that she had to suffer what she did. Where was her Papa? Why couldn't Mama and McGee fight harder?
Blaise woke the next morning to find Mama sitting at the kitchen table. She had dark circles under her eyes. A full ashtray and a half-empty bottle of Firewhiskey were in front of her. Until yesterday, Blaise never thought Mama drank or smoked. Van smiled weakly at her and patted the chair next to her.
"Blaise, I have to ask you something. Papa's coming, you know. H-He can't stay long but he's worried, you know. He wants to make sure we're all right. And …" Van looked away. Blaise reached out and squeezed her hand.
"It's okay, Mama. I know what I'm supposed to say. I heard you talking to McGee. You don't have to say it." Vanessa's lip trembled.
"But I do. I'm making you lie to your Papa. That's just wrong."
"But you don't want him to be sad. So that's good. I don't want him to be sad either."
"But … what about you? Are you sad, sweetie?" Mama whispered. Her hand shook as she lifted a cigarette to her lips.
"I'm sad when you're sad, Mama," she said. She pulled the bottle away from her. "Please don't drink and smoke. I don't want you to die."
Vanessa smashed the cigarette into the ashtray and pulled Blaise to her. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm sorry this ever happened. I wish I could take it all away." Blaise held back her tears. She never heard Mama this upset before. And it killed her knowing she could do nothing to make the woman feel better. She wished it never happened too.
And that gave her a plan. On her next birthday, she'll make that wish. She'll make sure all the candles go out. Neville said that would make the wish come true. Yeah, that's what she'll wish. She'd wish that every year until it comes true. It doesn't matter what she got anymore. She only wanted that wish.
She wanted Mama to stop crying. She wanted Papa to quit his job at Durmstang. And most of all, she wished that sick man was never born.
Vanessa kissed her forehead. "Now you go freshen up before Papa comes home." Blaise nodded and headed for the stairs. "And Blaise …" She turned. "Mama loves you, sweetie."
"I love you too, Mama."
Chain of Letters
Dear Blaze,
Hey! Like the new nickname I'm giving you? Professor Sinistra teaches Astronomy and I saw Venus through the telescope. The professor also showed us a side of the sun. It was cool. I saw rays coming of out of the sun's surface. Like strings of blazing hair. Reminded me of you.
I'm really glad you didn't get hurt when that Death-Eater escaped Azkaban. I can't believe he went all the way to Creer Upon Libby! Dad suspects his escape was an inside job. He said a lot of You-Know-Who supporters are still out there, even actively in the Ministry. Dad got so mad when he found out that Fudge won't have the man put to death. I'm mad too. I mean, he tried to attack you and our mums. But still, it is a man's life we're talking about.
School's great. My favorite subjects so far are Herbology and Charms. Transfiguration is cool, but real tricky. But I think you'll get the hang of it right away. I got sorted into Hufflepuff! I heard the house is popular for producing the best Mediwizards. I think it's because everyone in Hufflepuff's got that bedside manner down. Our nurse Madame Pomfrey was in Hufflepuff.
Anyway, I'm glad Rusty and Gran are teaching you magic. All of Hogwarts knows about that Death-Eater incident. I'm so proud you didn't get scared. It wouldn't hurt to train in Defense now. And that pouch of beads you said your dad gave you sounds wicked! I have to see that when I go home on Winter Holiday. Did he say there were Dungbombs in there too? That's cool he taught you how to orb. I can't learn Apparation until 6th year. But that's wicked you can orb. I asked Professor Flitwick about it and he said not a lot of wizards can do it. It has to be inborn or something. What do you know? You're special! Ha!
Well, I have to end my letter here for now. I'm going to watch the first Quidditch match. Ravenclaw against Slytherin. Nasty lot that Slytherin. Even their House Head is creepy-looking. Well, take care of yourself, Blaze. Keep learning those spells! See you soon!
Love, Cedric
Hey, Cedric!
Blaze sounds cool. Makes spelling easier. Lessons are going well. Rusty hurt himself though, acting out the war of Belgar the Troll and Damaso the Monk. But Oma got his hip back in place right away. He's teaching me how to shield myself now. Good thing he doesn't have to stand for that. He may look young but Rusty's older than dirt. That's what Oma said.
Some beads DO turn into Dungbombs! Papa said Padre gave the pouch first to Oma. And she added all sorts of stuff to it. Then she gave it to Papa. And Papa added a whole bunch of cool stuff. Now he gave it to me. He wants me to pass it down my genderations. I wonder what I can include. Oma said she transfigured a raft and an ostrich feather into some beads just for fun. Papa won't admit to me that he added the Dungbombs. I think he's trying to blame Padre just to save his arse.
The lessons are wicked. I feel like a real wizard now. Or like Indiana Jones? He's in a muggle movie. He's like a treasure hunter for Gringotts. Only there's no goblins. I wanna be like him. Wear a hat and carry a whip. Anyway, I saw that movie at my friend, Dorothy's sleepover party. I couldn't sleep over though. Just great. She's the one muggle who's nice to me and now she thinks I'm a baby because I couldn't sleep over her house. Well, if she starts calling me a freak too, I'll just tell her to bugger off.
But muggle school isn't that bad. The lessons bore me a little. Mr. Barthelman assigned me some advanced homework. He says it's 6th grade level. Now the whole class calls me teacher's pet. I don't ruddy care anymore. At least, I can say I'm smarter than all of them and have proof for it.
Living in the castle's great, but I want to go back to Creer Upon Libby. I don't like leaving Mama all week. She visits with Papa on the weekend, but I'd feel much better if I saw her everyday. I asked McGee to watch Mama for me. She is. Tell her again I said thanks. She loves those raspberry truffles Gobie makes, so I send her a fresh batch every week. I don't think it's enough though. But Oma's owl's getting grumpy with all the work.
Oma's calling me now. She's going to show me some hexes. I don't think Papa wanted her to do that but I can't wait! Tell me some you wanna learn. Maybe Oma'll teach me them. Hehehe. Can't wait to use them on Hannah Dung-head Abbot. She came over with Neville last weekend. Can you believe she wanted to tattle on Oma for teaching me magic?! She only stopped when I said I'd turn her pigtails into slugs. Not that I could. But now I have to learn that curse, so I won't look like a liar. Hey, it's my duty as an honest witch. Hee hee.
Well, have fun in Hogwarts. Tell me everything. Can't wait to see you again. Oma sends her love. Miss you, bogey-eater.
Blaze ^_^
Blaze frowned as she reread her letter to Cedric. Everything she wrote had some truth to it. But Blaise knew her true feelings weren't expressed in it. She really wanted to tell Cedric this:
Hey, Cedric. I'm worried about my Mama. She looks sick and she's always drinking. I want to tell Oma what happened when the man went to our house but I promised Mama that I wouldn't. I can't tell Papa either. And I can't tell you. I don't like keeping secrets from you. I'm trying not to be scared. But at night, I can't sleep. I have bad dreams. I get really mad about it. I fight with the kids at school. It's mostly the boys I fight with. Yesterday, I punched two in the eye and I made another one's nose bleed. The principal doesn't like me much. I think all the girls are just scared of me. I don't really care. I'm a witch, not a muggle. That makes me tougher than all of them.
Blaise repeated those last words to herself. She was tough. She'd beat this. Just like Indiana Jones, she'd rise and be the hero. She'd save Mama. She'll learn everything Oma can teach her. She'll be the best. And she'll keep her family safe.
"All I can do is fight back," she said quietly as she watched Oma's owl carry her 'perky' letter to Cedric. She said those words knowing someone else told her this. She couldn't remember who said it though.
But those words stuck with her. She never let them go. Those words became Blaise Zabini's life.
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Next chapters will have her in Hogwarts. Thanks for reading. Thanks for reviewing. ~Nengski