Chapter 19

/I find it extremely amusing that although everyone thinks this story is 'so great' no one's reviewed this chapter./

Shut up, Ginny.

/Why should I? We both know it's true./

Yes, it's true. But people have other things to do as well, Ginny. They might just be busy.

/Stop lying to yourself./

This chapter is dedicated to searching4romeo. Hope your grandma gets better soon!

There was a quiet knock at the door and Meryll peeked in. "Ye wanted te see me, Professor?"

Khalidah smirked. "Hello, Aine."

Meryll blinked. "Khalidah?!"

Khalidah's smirk widened. "Long time no see, Aine. Of course, to me it feels like only yesterday. You haven't changed at all."

What little colour Meryll did have immediately left her face. "Neither have ye." She squeaked.

Suppressing the urge to blow Meryll's cover sky high, Khalidah turned back to Albus. "It was nice talking to you again, Albus. Remember to give Katrina my congratulation, now."

Albus's eyes twinkled. "I will, Khalidah."

Khalidah left the room, Meryll trailing behind her.

"Wha' brings ye 'ere, Khalidah?"

"Aine Fey's an interesting name." Khalidah mused. "What made you choose it?"

"It's my real name." Meryll said impatiently.

"Well, I'll always think of you as my little Meryll, the girl I met on the streets of Cairo twenty years ago." Khalidah cooed.

Meryll glared at her. "Na 'ere." She snarled.

Khalidah's smile widened. It had always been a favourite pass-time of hers to rile the un-rileable Meryll. Nice to know she could still do it. "Where then, Aine?"

"Stop callin' me tha'." The tiny brunette pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh. "This isna the best time fer a social call, Khalidah. Some o' my friends 'ave been taken by Voldemort an' they canna get back because o' me. I canna deal with yer teasin' righ' now."

Khalidah immediately dropped her teasing manner. "Do you know where they are?"

"Nay." Meryll's arms hugged herself around the middle tightly.

"You mightn't." A gilr with blonde hair and silvery eyes said, "but Annie does."

Khalidah looked around, noting the curious students who were watching them. Poor Meryll seemed to be on the verge of tears, and the two girls both smelt of anger, tears, and fear.

She narrowed her eyes. Something about the younger girl's scent was familiar...she shrugged. Later, perhaps, she would pick up on it. "Let's do this somewhere else." She suggested. "Perhaps the Gryffindor Tower?"

Aine trailed behind her friends as they headed for the Gryffindor Common Room. She felt sick and sad inside. 'Is this what it's like to be mortal?' She wondered. 'I wish I could go back to the way I was before.'

She nearly smiled when Khalidah yelled at the Fat Lady (I was the one who painted you, you grotesque obese bint!), but the flicker of amusement died when she once again thought of Harry and Ginny, and how they'd have loved to see this.

"Ok," Khalidah said as they all sat down, "I believe-"

"Aine! Ron hasn't returned!" Hermione wailed, running into the common room.

Khalidah growled. "As I was saying, I believe introductions are in order. I'm Khalidah. You guys are?"

"Luna Lovegood." Luna said, looking angrier than Aine had ever seen he. "And this," she nudged Annie, "is Andromeda Lestrange Tonks."

Aine felt cold despair settle in her stomach. "Why?" She whispered.

"I didn't know!" The eleven-year-old sobbed. "I'm sorry, Aine! But I give you some idea as to where they are. I hear Uncle Lucius say they were 'at the house which had served them so well' to Professor Snape."

"The Riddle house!" Hermione exclaimed. "Hermione Granger, by the way," she added before Khalidah could ask.

"Well," Aine said, and everyone but Khalidah stared at her, surprised by the coldness in her voice, "it's time we did somethin' abou' tha'. They shouldna be in'abitin' empty 'ouses."

Ron chose that moment to burst in. "Aine!" He panted, "there's a Vampire looking for..." he trailed off when she saw Khalidah.

"Hello, Ron." Khalida said calmly.

"You stunned me!" Ron accused.

"Why'd you do that?!" Hermione asked. "He's on our side! That was wrong!"

"I'm a Vampire, Hermione. I don't give a fig about right or wrong." Khalidah said, rolling her eyes.

"Stop it!" Aine interrupted. "We don' 'ave time fer all o' this. We 'ave te find a way te get 'Arry an' Ginny out o' the Riddle 'ouse withou' bein' massacred."

"We need Draco's help." Annie said.

"We don't need that git's help; this is probably his fault in the first place!" Ron snarled.

CRACK! A red mark appeared on Ron's face and Aine surreptitiously rubbed her tingling hand on her robes. "Ye never badmouth Draco in front o' me, got it?" She stood up and began to pace. "We need te get the majority o' the Death Eaters away from the house, or we'll na stand a chance."

"I can take care of them." Khalidah said; dark eyes full of wicked pleasure. "Got a score to settle with them anyway."

"Ok." Aine nodded. "I 'ave a way te get us 'ome," she touched the locket which was once again hanging around her neck, "so now all we need is a way te get there."

"We can sort that out." Luna said, poking Annie. "Let's go get Draco, Annie. We'll meet you in the Room of Requirement."

"Good idea." Aine said, watching them run off. "Now," she said, "there's only one more thing."

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

"Voldemort's consort Cleo. She's mine."

"Draco!" Draco turned around and smiled at Annie before he glared at her companion, one Loony Lovegood.

"We need to talk to you." Loony said, coolly returning his stare.

"What?"

"We need your help."

Draco sneered. "What makes you think I'll help you?"

"Aine needs your help too."

"I'm in."

Aine looked around at the small group of people who had all come together for one reason, to rescue Harry and Ginny. Each house was represented, and they all seemed to know each other. However, the fact that the two Slytherins were being ignored was hard to miss.

She sighed. Even when they were united for a common goal it seemed the Slytherins were always on the edge of it all.

Seeing that everyone was getting restless, Aine began. "Um, ok, we all ken why we're 'ere. 'Arry an' Ginny 'ave been taken by Voldemort," the majority of the group flinched. "Voldemort, get used te the name. Anyway, they've been taken by Voldemort, an', in typical adult fashion, the teachers 'ave been runnin' around like chickens with their 'eads chopped off. We need te do somethin' te get 'Arry an' Ginny back ourselves. If we wait fer the grown ups, the next party we attend will be 'Arry an' Ginny's wake."