Chapter 34: Flight and Fight

Ellie's depression didn't go unnoticed. Everyone who saw the sad expression fixed on her face asked what was wrong, but Ellie never gave an answer. Just as Mr. and Mrs. Richards prepared to send their daughter to see a psychologist, the new school year began, and Ellie finally had something to distract her from the loss of Harry.

It was the night of December 20th; the winter break had just begun. Ellie was home alone. Her parents were attending a Christmas fund raising dinner, and Dennis was out wreaking havoc on the neighbourhood with the rest of his goon friends.

Ellie was sitting on her bed with her back against the wall, pouring over the magical contents of the shoebox she kept hidden under her bed. It had become a new pastime of Ellie's to read through the old letters Harry had sent her months ago. Her heart ached every time she read them, but she had great difficulty ignoring them as well.

Ellie was staring blankly into the box, lost in her memories, when she heard the sound of footsteps walking up the stairs.

"Odd, I don't remember hearing my parents come home." Ellie thought to herself.

She quickly stuffed the letters in the box, and slid it under her bed.

Ellie watched the approaching shadow underneath the crack at the base of her door. She had expected a knock, then her mother poking her head in, but instead, nothing happened. The shadow remained perfectly still.

"Something is not right." Ellie whispered to herself.

She stood from her bed to open the door, but before she could even take one step, the bedroom door burst into tiny shards of wood. Ellie quickly shielded her face, but still received a gash across her forehead and scratches on the back of her hands from the airborne slivers. She remained perfectly still, terrified to see what could cause her door to explode like that. Ellie finally lowered her hands and saw a black cloaked figure standing in the doorframe. It was a Deatheater. The Deatheater raised his wand and pointed it directly at Ellie.

"Stupify!" The voice hissed.

Ellie tightly shut her eyes as she braced for impact.

Ellie groaned as she rolled over in her nice warm bed. Her head was throbbing. Why was it throbbing? Ellie cracked open one eye and was startled to see that she wasn't in her bed at all. She wasn't even in her room. Ellie rubbed her head in confusion. That's when she felt the long gash on her forehead. She suddenly bolted upright, remembering the Deatheater who blew apart her bedroom door.

When her panic slightly ebbed, Ellie took a good look at her new surroundings. There was a very musty smell about the room. The only sources of light were a few rays that escaped through the cracks of the boarded windows. A thin layer of dust covered everything. It looked that no body had been in this room for a very long time. Ellie was sitting in the middle of a queen sized four-poster bed, with moth eaten linens. The green velvet bed curtains were tied back. To Ellie's horror, it sounded like a swarm of bees were tangled in the folds.

Ellie cautiously climbed out of the bed, careful to stay as far from the curtains as possible and walked to the door. It was locked, just as Ellie had suspected, but she figured it wouldn't have hurt to try. She stood quietly, straining her ears to make out any sounds from the other side of the door. However, there was nothing but silence. Ellie then made her way to the boarded up windows. She peered through the wood planks, but the windows were so grimy, she couldn't make out any of the surrounding area. The window curtains were also buzzing, just like the bed curtains had. Ellie slowly backed away, and surveyed the rest of the room. Over in the far corner, the walls were covered with deep claw markings, as if some sort of large creature desperately wanted out. Below the scratches lay a pile of hay. Ellie went to take a closer look and discovered that imbedded in the straws were small animal bones and a few grey feathers.

A large dresser with a shattered mirror, a tall wardrobe, and two bedside tables also decorated the room. However, Ellie was very wary of searching any of the cupboards or drawers. If the curtains were swarming with bees, she didn't want to know what could be hiding elsewhere. Ellie carefully returned to the bed, since it was the only place to sit.

Hours passed by and the house remained quite. Who ever captured her didn't even bother to check in or provide any food. After trying very hard to fight back the hunger pangs, Ellie eventually fell asleep. She was suddenly awoken by the sound of the doorknob jostling. Ellie propped herself up on one elbow, as she watched the door swing open.

A figure stood in the doorway, holding in one hand, what looked to be a penknife, but instead of a blade, it was a jagged key shaped attachment. A rolled up bundle of dark red cloth was held in the other arm.

Ellie almost yelped for joy, but quickly thought better of it. She didn't want to draw any unwanted attention.

Harry sat next to Ellie on the bed, and Ellie instantly threw her arms around him.

"I told you we would see each other again." Harry whispered.

"Well, if I'd know this is what you had in mind, I would have suggested something else." Ellie quipped.

Harry didn't reply, but unrolled the cloth, which turned out to be a robe, surrounding a wrapped sandwich and a cloth. He took the cloth and began dabbing Ellie's forehead with it.

"You have some dried blood there." Harry gently spoke.

"I'm fine." Ellie said staring into his green eyes.

Harry and Ellie both suddenly snapped out of their temporary daze.

"Eat this quickly. We don't have much time." He said hastily, handing Ellie the sandwich.

"What is this place?" Ellie asked before taking a bite.

"Number twelve Grimmauld Place." Harry muttered.

Ellie stared at him in disbelief, then swallowed her mouthful of food.

"Your godfather's house? But I thought the Order of the Phoenix was using this place?"

"They were." Harry answered with a bitter tone.

"What do you mean 'were'?" Ellie asked.

"After Sirius's death, Kreacher became increasingly difficult to control. Believe me, that house-elf can create a lot of trouble when he wants to. Seven months ago, Dumbledore decided it would be best if the Order's base of operations changed location. It's assumed that a few months after that the Deatheaters moved in."

"Why am I here?" Ellie asked lowly.

Harry looked at her with an apologetic expression. "It's my fault." He began. "No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't hide my feelings for you from Voldemort."

"I thought you were able to keep Voldemort from getting into your mind?"

"Well, lately it's been a tough battle." Harry replied wearily.

"So, I'm here as bait." Ellie said in realization.

Harry nodded.

"Please tell me you weren't dumb enough to come rescue me on your own." Ellie said in sudden alarm.

"We need to hurry. Put this on, it's cold outside." Harry said handing Ellie the cloak, but she didn't take it.

"Harry, are you insane?!" She asked incredulously.

"I had to come. They're going to kill you."

"What?!"

"I got a message that said 'The muggle will die the night of the winter solstice', and that's tonight." Harry said earnestly.

"Harry, it's really nice that you're so worried about my well being, but maybe you should start worrying about your own." Ellie commented.

"Don't worry. I'm ready to face Voldemort." Harry began, but the sound of footsteps from one of the lower floors interrupted him.

"Come on. We have to leave, now." Harry said urgently.

Ellie draped the cloak around her and left the remainder of her sandwich on the bed.

Ellie carefully crept into the hallway, following Harry close behind. Harry stopped at the top of the staircase, and cautiously peered down. Once he was sure that the coast was clear, Harry led Ellie down the steps. The entire house was dusty with cobwebs hanging in every corner. Most of the wallpaper was peeling off the walls. Some of the pictures were so filthy Ellie couldn't even make out what they were.

"Just one more flight of stairs left." Harry whispered to Ellie after they had successfully climbed down the third staircase.

Ellie was slightly distracted by the row of shrivelled heads mounted on plaques that lined the wall of this last flight of stairs. These large eared creatures seemed to share some similar features to Dobby the house-elf Ellie had met back at Hogwarts.

"Why would anyone hang the heads of house-elves on plaques?" Ellie thought to herself.

She was so preoccupied with this question, that she didn't notice Harry stop at the bottom of the staircase. Ellie bumped right into Harry, who would have fallen flat on his face if Ellie hadn't caught the back of his shirt.

"Sorry." She apologized, but Harry didn't even bother to look at her.

His eyes were fixed on a spot further down the hall. Ellie followed his gaze and saw an old wrinkly house-elf with large grey bloodshot eyes, and a stout nose identical to the ones on the heads mounted on the plaques. The house-elf was standing next to a moth-eaten curtain. Ellie was curious to what could be concealed behind such a curtain.

"Kreacher was hoping Harry Potter would come for the disgusting muggle." The house-elf mumbled. "My mistress would be very proud of Kreacher…very proud indeed."

"Ellie, run for the door." Harry whispered.

"But –"

"Just do it!" Harry insisted.

Before Ellie could even take a step forward, Kreacher took hold of the curtain next to him and threw it open. Behind the dingy curtain hung a life-size portrait of an old woman wearing a black cap. At first, Ellie wasn't sure what the fuss was about, until the woman let out an ear-shattering scream that was loud enough to wake the dead. Soon other portraits along the wall began screaming as well. Harry grabbed Ellie's arm, and they ran down the hall towards the front door.

Once outside, the crisp night winter air caught Ellie off guard. It was a drastic contrast from the old mouldy air in Grimmauld Place. Ellie continued to run, although she had no idea where she was going. Harry was still holding tightly to her arm. They passed several streets lined with houses, and eventually came across a large park area.

"Just a bit further." Harry shouted, pointing to a thicket of trees ahead.

When they were in deep enough, Harry and Ellie stopped to catch their breaths.

"Exactly…where are…we going?" Ellie panted.

But, before Harry could give an answer, several black cloaked figures apparated, surrounding them both. Harry drew out his wand and started throwing curses at the Deatheaters. To Ellie's surprise, the Deatheaters didn't return fire; they only blocked the spells. It was as if they were biding their time, waiting for something…or someone.

"Predictable as always Potter." Voldemort hissed as he entered the edge of the circle of Deatheaters. "You make it so easy. It really takes out all the fun in planning a trap for you."

"Ellie, run." Harry said through gritted teeth.

"Where? We're surrounded." Ellie replied

"I'll keep them distracted. Just trust me."

Ellie hesitated. "I don't want to leave you."

"RUN!" Harry yelled.

Ellie didn't know what came over her, but she started running, against all better judgement. She ploughed into two unprepared Deatheaters, knocking them to the ground.

"Get her!" A voice shouted from behind.

Ellie ran faster. She could hear the grumbling voices becoming more distant. Just as Ellie started to believe that she was actually going to get away, she felt something hard hit the back of her head. Everything went dark.