Part Four – Captured

Lucinda was the first to rise to her feet when the intruders appeared.

"Get out of my home," she demanded.

"With pleasure," Lucius looked about the small room, still dusty after years of neglect that the returning owners had not had chance to deal with yet. "If you'll all just come with us, we'll be leaving right now."

Leandra stood up together with her father. Leaning on him slightly for support she took the stand she had regretted not taking earlier. "We're not followers of your master and we won't be summoned to his side. You're not welcome in this house. Please leave."

"But the Dark Lord wishes the pleasure of your company," Lucius remained where he was and casually waved his wand. He didn't bother with an incantation, it was simply enough to draw attention to the fact that he was armed and ready.

"We won't go willingly," said Jack as he moved forward.

"Yes you will, mudblood," Lucius spat.

"You knew?" Leandra questioned.

"Of course we knew, we all knew."

"And Severus...?" she could not bring herself to finish the question.

"Well you'll have to ask him that when we get there, won't you?"

"Who do you think you are to barge into our home like this?" Jack demanded his voice rising as he reached for his own wand.

"I'm the one with the power here," Lucius explained as though to a child. "Now he wants you alive, but the others..."

"Okay, we'll come," Jack agreed quickly, patting Leandra on the hand. "Come Lucinda."

They moved past Lucius and headed to the door where Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black stood waiting. Lucius followed behind Lucinda.

"Does the Dark Lord want all of them alive?" Bellatrix asked in a disappointed tone.

"Only the mudblood, the others are expendable," Lucius replied as casually as if he were talking about the weather.

"So they wouldn't miss one?" Bellatrix asked with obvious glee as she contemplated Lucinda.

"Just make it quick Bella," Lucius advised as he moved ahead of Lucinda and jabbed his wand sharply into Leandra's back to hurry her along. Bellatrix entered the house and blocked Lucinda's exit.

"Noooo," screamed Jack as he turned around and saw what was happening. He dove for the door in an attempt to get back into the house. But he already knew he was too late when the flash of green light lit up the door.

"Mother," yelled Leandra as she tried to break free of Lucius who had grabbed her around the waist to hold her back.

A moment later Bellatrix came out of the door and shut the door quietly behind her.

"Shall we go then?" she asked casually.

Leandra looked at her father and realised for the first time that he was old. A lone tear ran down his face and he started to shake. Fighting to hold back her own tears she grasped hold of his arm and turned her head into his shoulder.

"It'll be alright, it'll be alright," she repeated over and over, although she no longer believed that anything would ever be all right again.