AN: Sorry for the wait…my stupid schoolwork kept me busy all week. Can you believe I had to read five chapters in three different books in one day? Not to mention all my Spanish. I haven't had any time to write at all!! It's makin' me nuts!!!! I swear, my schools have never understood my creative mind.
So here's more of it, the first part is kinda slow but necessary. That's why I gave you two sections. Oh, and I may have made up some rules for the portkey, but I'm pretty sure I got the spell right, so run with it ok? So here goes….erm…what part are we on? I'm confused…
Don't sue, etc.
Forgiving our fathers
Parts 5 and 6
His daughter…
It was Malfoy's only thought as he gradually became aware of his surroundings. He felt the cold, damp ground beneath his face.
His daughter…
Someone was shaking him and calling his name. He was too lost in thought to respond.
His daughter…
He understood it all now.
Suddenly his eyes popped open. He found Hermione looking down at him. "Thank God!" she breathed, "I thought for a second…what happened?"
He sat up and spoke very excitedly. "Hermione, he kidnapped me. I was tied up somewhere and he told me to leave him alone."
"What? Who?"
"Voldemort."
Hermione gasped. "So he is alive?" she suddenly looked terrified, but Draco was too preoccupied to notice.
"Hermione," he said, "I have to get back there."
"What? Are you crazy? We can't go up against Voldemort alone! I have to get back to the ministry. We'll assemble a committee and decide what to do. Then we'll—"
"No, you don't understand. I have to go there now."
"Did you hit your head or something? That's suicide!" Hermione said angrily.
"Ok, well, think of it this way." He thought quickly. "You want to be sure it is Voldemort right? We can just go back and…observe him. Then we'll actually have something useful to report to the ministry."
Hermione hesitated. "No, it's too dangerous, and I could get fired!"
"I'm sure all will be forgiven when you come back with concrete evidence. You could even get a promotion."
Hermione sighed. "I guess there is a way, but I—I still don't agree."
"I know you can do it, Hermione." He said, grabbing her hands, "You can do anything."
Hermione felt herself blush. "Well, alright." She said. "But if this doesn't work," she added quickly, "I'm holding you completely responsible." She pulled her wand from her cloak. "Oh wait!" she said, "How will we know where we were? Did you touch anything?"
"Um," he said, searching his memory, "Voldemort touched my hands."
"That'll have to do. Now I'll…"
He stopped listening, and he watched half-interested as she examined his hands. He couldn't believe it worked. He didn't like the idea of lying to Hermione, but it had to be done. He had to go back. He had to see Adrian again…
Hermione pointed her wand at a rock and whispered "Portus. There," she said, "this should get us close." She motioned to a small rock sitting at her side. "It's a temporary portkey." She announced.
"Great." Malfoy replied. Together they touched it and soon there surroundings dropped away.
* * * *
Hermione swayed slightly as their feet landed on solid ground. "I hate portkeys." She mumbled.
Draco looked around. "It looks like we're still in the woods." He said, squinting in the failing light.
"But it's night here. It was morning back on the island."
Draco continued to search the woods around them. Off in the distance, he saw a break in the trees. In the clearing was a soft light, like from a candle. Without another word, he took off towards it.
"Where are you going?" Hermione called after him, but he was already out of earshot.
He reached the edge of the clearing and found himself looking at a modest house. It was painted white and had a matching picket fence around the perimeter of the clearing. The light he saw was coming from one of the windows.
He was debating what to do when something caught his attention. He saw Adrian in the room. She was sitting across from the window at a piano. Though the window he could hear slow, soft music flowing from it.
He watched her for a few minutes, playing the beautiful song on the old piano. From time to time, she would toss her head back, shaking her shiny hair and allowing him glimpses of her face. She was beautiful, and when she smiled he could see that there was something very familiar about her.
All too soon, the song ended, and I was brought back to reality by another sound. Someone was clapping, and a moment later, Voldemort stepped into his view.
Malfoy cringed as he felt anger rising in him. Again though, he managed to fight the urge to break in an attack him. It must be Adrian, he thought, the girl must have some strange calming effect on him.
Voldemort approached her and laid one hand on top of her head. Malfoy leaned as close to the window as he could without being seen. He listened.
"That was wonderful Adrian. I'm very proud of you." He said to her. "But now it's time for bed."
She looked at him, the candlelight from the room casting a golden glow on her face. "Oh father," she asked, her voice sounding almost like music, "Just a few more minutes?"
"I'm sorry, darling. You know the rules. You can play more in the morning."
"Alright." She replied sweetly. She got off the bench and padded softly from the room.
Malfoy crawled to the next window. He found Adrian there, getting ready for bed. She was standing at the sink, brushing her bright smile.
He watched her in total awe. Every little thing she did amazed him. He watched her brush her hair, give one last look in the mirror, and leave the bathroom.
He had to search the windows for a few minutes before he found her again. Now she was in a bedroom, decorated in pink and white and she was wearing matching pajamas. Stuffed animals and toys lined the walls, along with shelf after shelf of books. A small lamp with a base shaped like an angel sat on a small white nightstand. The pink lampshade cast a soft light around the room.
She was standing on her small, ruffled bedspread. He smiled as he watched her jump up and down and laugh.
Then Voldemort entered. Adrian dropped effortlessly into a sitting position on the bed. They exchanged a few words, but the window was closed, making it impossible for him to hear.
He watched as Voldemort tucked her in. Then she sat with her hands folded in front of her and her head bowed. She could see that her eyes were closed and she was saying something.
It took him a moment to realize what was happening. She was praying.
In another moment she relaxed her hands and looked up at Voldemort. He picked up a book from her nightstand and opened it. He began to read.
He noticed as he spoke that she was mouthing the words along with him. She obviously knew whatever he was reading very well. Soon that was over as well. Voldemort stood, and without warning, Adrian stood on her bed. She threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. Then she laid down again and pulled the blanket over herself.
He bent down and kissed her forehead tenderly. Then he turned out the light and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Now Malfoy could barely make out her form on the bed. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could see her. She tossed and turned a few times but then settled.
He watched her sleep for a long time, watching her chest rise and fall slowly and evenly. She looked like an angel.
Now the house was quiet and totally dark. It was time to make his move.
He checked the window and was relieved to find it unlocked. He slid it open silently, and as quietly as he could, stepped inside. He crept to her bedside and looked down into her face.
How? He wondered silently, How can someone so perfect have been raised by a monster? Well, he was about to change all of that.
As gently as he could, he grabbed her by the arms and tried to sit her up. Instantly her eyes opened, and the light turned on by itself. Adrian looked shocked, and she gasped.
"Shh—" Malfoy started to say but she interrupted him.
She recovered from the shock quickly, and after a deep breath she let out an ear-splitting scream. "Father! Help me!"
The light began to flicker wildly, and Malfoy could see that the light in the hall was strobing too. Thinking quickly, he clamped one hand over her mouth, silencing her.
He pulled her out of bed and into a standing position. She fought back bitterly, kicking and scratching at him.
An instant later, the lamp exploded, sending colored shards of glass raining on them both. Malfoy stopped for an instant, looking at the broken glass which had settled on the old book. He wasn't sure what possessed him to do it, but he found himself grabbing the book and shoving it into his pocket.
He dragged Adrian towards the window as she kicked wildly and tried to scream. After a few paces he gave up and hoisted her over one shoulder. He pulled her through the window and took off running into the woods.
After a few minutes of running, he heard someone calling him.
"Malfoy!" Hermione shouted, "There you are, I—" It didn't take long for her to notice the girl that was slung over his shoulder. "What the hell!" she shouted, not knowing what to say.
Draco spotted the portkey wrapped in a blanket in her hands. "Hermione," he said breathlessly, "You're just going to have to trust me."
With that he took her bare hand and forced it onto the bare stone, bringing all three of them back to the island.
Things are getting pretty interesting huh? Plenty more to come, if you all keep reviewing.
Love Ya,
Eveie