Again, I want to apologize for the delay. My son, Anthony, is still in the hospital, but I am finding time to get back to my story. He was supposed to have heart surgery this past Monday, but still has not had it yet. It could be a few more months before he is home. But he is trying so hard to be here, and I am so proud of him for how far he has come. If it is not too much to ask, please pray for us, for Anthony. We can use your support. Thank you.

My seventh chapter is quite different. I thought I'd give this a try, and some of you may like it. I was very upset with J.K.R. for killing off my favorite character. So, this chapter is my imagination really coming out. It maybe a little confusing because I don't have all of the fine details worked out yet. Hopefully, I will be able to make it a little more understandable.

So, on to the long awaited seventh chapter. Hope you are pleased.

Chapter 7

Lucas awoke sometime later, stiff and cold from sleeping on the concrete. He wasn't sure what woke him up. He knew he wasn't completely asleep yet, but he was having the strangest dream. He was exactly where he was now, sleeping and silently hoping someone would come rescue him, but he didn't feel quite asleep and the strangest thing kept happening.

Sure, this place is old, maybe haunted, but this didn't look like a ghost. This figure was definitely solid. Ghosts are transparent. The figure Lucas saw was not.

As if apparating, this man kept appearing out of thin air in the middle of the room. Then quickly disappearing again. Lucas knew he must have been apparating, because his mother and Harry did it all the time. Although, the telephone proved to be very useful to them, so they use that a lot of the time. Sometimes, Harry would use the fireplace. Only his head came through the fireplace, never his whole body .

Except, now Lucas can see this man's entire body, meaning that this man was trying to apparate somewhere. His clothes were shabby, like he hasn't been able to change them, or buy a decent wardrobe. He didn't look entirely groomed. His beard was growing long and his hair was past his shoulders. Unless that's the way he likes it. His hair was black, as were his robes. His eyes looked to have a grayish tint to them. It was hard to tell. He never stuck around long enough to get a proper look.

From what Lucas could see of this man, he looked tired, utterly exhausted. He was determined to get somewhere, and not having much luck. He never seemed to notice Lucas, but still Lucas didn't feel like this was a dream. I seemed too real.

Five minutes later, the man appeared again. This confirmed that Lucas was not dreaming. He looked at Lucas and tried to say something, but he disappeared too quickly. Lucas got up to hide, not wanting to make conversation with this man if he worked for the kidnapper.

Lucas waited for his mysterious guest to return. It took about three or four minutes before he showed. He took a look around the room, and then disappeared again. He didn't return again for a few hours and that time he came through the door.

Lucas looked down at his fingers, which were still red, puffy and oozing with blood and puss. He knew better that to try pulling out the splinters again. Instead he sat back down on the cold concrete. This woman didn't bother to make him comfortable. Lucas supposed it was due to the fact that she was going to kill him anyway.

There was a loud click at the door and it flew open. His captor walked in carrying a tray of food. She looked mad. Lucas wondered if Hermione was getting closer to finding him. The lady didn't bother to look at him or slap him, like she usually does; she just put his tray down and started to walk away.

"There was a man in here earlier. Does he work for you?"

She had her back to him when he asked. She stopped abruptly and Lucas could tell she was probably shocked. That man was not one of hers. She turned around slowly.

"A man?" She asked. "What did he look like?"

"Sort of old and tired looking, black hair, and he looked lost. Is he one of yours?"

It took a few seconds before she answered, and her answer wasn't very helpful anyway. "I don't know what you are talking about." She slammed the door behind her muttering something about blonde hair.

Lucas turned his gaze to the tray of food. He stared at it for a few moments then picked up a bottle of water. After opening the seal, he poured a little on his hands and splashed it on his face, then poured a little more over his swollen fingers. He drank the little bit that was left.

Wincing in pain, he remembered the lump on the back of his head from falling against the wall when that lady smacked him. He felt the back of his head. It didn't hurt so badly anymore, but it formed a large knot. He tossed the empty bottle back on the tray and forgot about his head.

The food looked very tempting. His stomach growled. He wondered if he should eat it or not. It could be poisoned, but if she was waiting to kill him when his mother was there to watch, then why would she poison it to try killing him now? He knew better than to test it, so he decided to lie down again and try to get more sleep.

An hour later, while Lucas was still sleeping, his captor returned to take his tray. She noticed the empty water bottle and assumed he must have drunk a little. The sleeping potion she put in was strong enough to work with just a little sip. Now that she knows he's been drinking a little, she thought she'd try the veritaserum again.

She pulled the door shut as she left, and with a wave of her wand it clicked a few times to lock itself. Once outside, she took a look around to insure she wasn't being watched and apparated into her home on another part of her grounds.

'Rita should have been back by now.' She thought as she glanced at a clock with a giant silver snake that was bewitched to circle around the clock as it chimed the hour. She poured herself another drink, deciding that is doesn't matter. She finished her drink, threw on a cloak and went after Rita.

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'This is it,' Hermione thought. 'We're half way there. I'm going to have my son back.'

She looked over at Remus who stared intently at Rita waiting for her to answer. Hermione wondered what he would do once their son was safely back at home. He didn't make it very obvious what his plan was. Hermione didn't want him to go. She wanted them to be a family; she wanted Lucas to have the father he deserved.

Remus looked over and caught her eye. For a few seconds they just looked at each other until he reached over, put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. Hermione smiled and leaned in closer, then turned her attention back to Rita. Only to be interrupted again.

"Sirius!" Harry yelled, jumping up from his seat. Everyone turned to see what he was talking about.

"What are you on about?" Ron asked, looking a little scared.

"Not again!" Lavender cried.

Harry searched the room, determined to find Sirius. Lavender chased after him trying to shut him up and get him to sit down before everyone thought he lost his marbles.

"Harry!?" Hermione inquired. "What is it?"

"He insists that he keeps seeing his dead godfather apparating everywhere." Lavender said, forcing Harry into a chair.

"It was him! I'm sure it was!"

"Harry…Sirius is dead." Ginny said quietly.

"But I saw him! He apparated right over there! I saw him, I swear!"

"Harry, there's no one there! Sit down!" Lavender screamed, still trying to force Harry into a seat.

"No!"

"Harry, He's gone! There's no one – "

"I saw him too." Draco interrupted. "Behind Hermione."

"See! He was there! Malfoy saw him too!"

Hermione turned around, but didn't see anyone. "Harry, I don't see – " She shot up out of her seat and started to scream. "It can't be." She whispered, her hands over her mouth. "He's dead. It can't be…"

"It is Hermione! It's him! I've been seeing him apparate him my house for the past few months. I thought I was going crazy."

Hermione looked at Remus, who just sat there stunned. "He's dead…" Remus whispered. "We saw him fall…we saw…he fell through.."

Sirius appeared again, looking very determined. Harry yelled for him, running over to try and catch him. To make him stay. Sirius seemed to have seen him, but disappeared again to quickly.

"There!" Harry yelled. "Did you see him that time, Lavender?"

Lavender had her hands covering her mouth, but she nodded in response. She started to back away. She slid into the other room to check on the twins. No more than two seconds later her screams echoed through the house.

"They're gone!" Lavender screamed, running back out and sinking to the floor. "They're gone…they're gone…"

"Rita…" Harry mumbled. "What did you do with them?" He yelled, charging at Rita with his wand at her chest. "Where are they?"

"I… I didn't…" Rita backed away. "It wasn't me! I swear…I didn't…I was right here…"

"Potter… look." Draco handed Harry a letter. "It was by the window."

Harry took the letter and read it aloud. "If you want your children back, stay where you are. An owl will arrive with further instructions." He flipped the letter over, looking for more. There was nothing.

"You have two seconds before I jinx you, Rita. Who took them? Who has Lucas?" Harry demanded, taking a step closer to Rita.

Rita took a deep breath and said…

"Narcissa Malfoy."