Chapter 26: Never to Return.
Amelia was dragged through the darkness, of this little secret building and the crowd of people. Some showed their faces, but Amelia didn't know any of them. Others wore masks to cover their faces but their judging eyes could been seen through. They looked at her silently, their eyes thirsting for something from her. She kept her mind as clear as she could showing Harry, Dominic and Snape everything she saw. She was so terrified by what she was seeing but she tried to make mental notes about everything around her. She didn't say a word to any of the people that were all around the room. No one spoke to her but they all stared. She was crying uncontrollably as Lucius Malfoy pushed her along. Soon she was pulled out a door and into the dark forest. It was here that the crowd stopped following and only Lucius and Draco were left with the girl. They were leading her deep into the forest. She was afraid of the things she saw, dark creatures all around. The sun was no longer in the sky and though the trees were bare they still cast darkness all around her. She began to plead with Draco to let her go but he did not say a work, nor did his father. Amelia grew angry with herself, how could she be so foolish to not listen to her friends. How could she open her heart as she had to someone so hated by so many people. She was helpless now in the darkness of the forest as they walked along a path that lead deeper and deeper into the unknown.
Hermione and Ron ran ahead of the group to the castle. The doors were crowded with students trying to make their way in. The wind was picking up and the cold was returning. Winter was not going to give up. They pushed at some of the students to try and make way but it wasn't working. Most of the students couldn't hear Snape yell over the chatter of the rest of their class mates.
"What are we going to do?" Dominic asked, "all the other doors are locked at this time except the grand entrance."
"Fly to the owlery and come around to unlock the side door," Hermione said as she pointed to the tower.
"We'll meet you at the door that leads down into the dungeon," Snape said as he and the group ran around the castle.
"Wait," Dominic yelled panic stricken, but they didn't hear him, "Oh my god how am I going to fly up there?" he cursed himself, "I can't concentrate on this right now!" he was angry.
"You can do it Dominic," He heard Amelia's voice in his head, "please you have to." he could hear her sobs.
"Alright," Dominic said closing his eyes tight, "I'm sorry for everything I said Lia, fly away from them at any chance you get!" and with these words his body shrunk and he was in the air. His white owl feathers were bright against the darkening sky. Snow was beginning to fall again.
Dominic flew fast around the castle and in through the open owlery bars. He hesitated a moment as he few down through the teaching levels of the school, feeling a bit disoriented as to where he was and was very startled by professor McGonagall who had spotted him flying in the school. But he was able to make it to the door that Snape had intrusted. He changed back from his animagus and pulled his wand from his pocked, "Alohomora," he half whispered and soon he was able to pull open the door. Hermione, Ron, Harry and Snape all ran in together.
"Alright, now what?" Ron asked.
Snape was silent for a moment, then turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger you are the voice of reason here, what is the best course of action?" he asked catching Hermione off guard.
"Well," she said a little hesitantly, "we know why they have Amelia, its to get at Belinda so I think the best bet would be for Dominic to fetch his mother and bring her to us before we even go to Dumbledore." it was evident that Hermione was putting great thought into this task.
"But we would be wasting time," Dominic nearly yelled.
"Not if you go now and say nothing. Don't worry your mother as of yet! Get her to Dumbledore before anything is said," Hermione said sternly as she pointed down the hallway and in a flash Dominic was in his animagus form and flying off to fetch his mother.
"What are we to do then?" Harry said feeling worried and impatient.
"Connect with Amelia as much as you can. Both of you," Hermione said as she looked at Snape, "the better link you have on her the better we are to find her."
Snape agreed and looked at Harry, "I know that you have been working with Dominic and have become far more advanced than I. Help me to see her more clearly."
Harry nodded in agreement and reached deep into Snape's mind.
Snape's eyes grew wide as everything became clear. He could see exactly what Amelia was seeing and not only hearing her cries for help.
"Just hold on to her," Harry said finally.
"I will," Snape said.
"Oh thank god," they both heard Amelia sob, "thank god I now have the three of you clear in my mind." they heard her said as they watched through her eyes at everything that she saw. Deeper and deeper into the forest they were going. The wind was getting cold, they could feel Amelia shivering.
"What should I do Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Go to Professor McGonagall and tell her why we are not in the common room. If she feels she needs to be involved any further bring her to Dumbledore's office," Hermione said as she hugged him, "but please hurry back!"
Ron ran off quickly through the halls, he knew where he had to go and what was to happen. He was happy to be able to help in any way.
Dominic came running back clutching his mothers hand tightly in his. Snape stood to meet them as they arrived in the darkness. Her face was filled with fear as she looked at him, "what has happened?" she asked tears welling in her yes, "where's Amelia?"
"Come with us," He said taking her other hand and they ran for Dumbledore's office.
The Phoenix statue moved slower than usual. They reached to door and could hear Dumbledore fighting with someone inside. He seemed distressed about something. But this could not wait. Snape grabbed the door handle and burst in. The room was filled with flashed of light and Dumbledore trying his hardest to keep the door shut.
"What are you doing?" Dumbledore yelled, "quick get in, close the door."
Once the door was closed again the lights stopped and Fawkes perched himself angrily on Belinda's shoulder.
"The bird has been going wild," Dumbledore said exhausted as he fell into his desk chair, "what is wrong with the lot of you?" he asked.
"Malfoy has Amelia," Snape said as he felt Belinda falling at the words.
"What!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "how did this happen?"
"Yes," Belinda cried as she grabbed onto Snape's shirt, "how could you let them take her? How could you do this to me again. Why have they got my baby," she sobbed as she beat on his chest as hot tears ran down her face.
"Mum, Professor Snape could do nothing," Dominic said trying to calm his mother, "Amelia was taken by death eaters and Snape is no longer part of their circle. He knew where they took her but he can't access it anymore," Dominic said as tears ran down his cheeks as he grabbed Snape's arm and rolled up his sleeve to show his bare unmarked arm, "he tried to help her mum, he really did but it didn't work," Dominic couldn't hold back his sobs. In fact no one in the room could. Harry and Hermione stood in a corner, Hermione's face berried deep in Harry's jacket. Tears flowed freely down Harry's face as well. Snape couldn't speak to the poor sobbing woman in his arms nor could he help but place a comforting hand on Dominic's head. Tears rolled down his stern face as well. Fawkes perched quietly on Dumbledore's arm, his head bent low and his feathers looking dull. The bird seemed to sigh and shiver as the mood in the room became dark and dreary.
"What are we going to do?" Belinda sobbed.
"We are still connected mum," Dominic said as he perked up, "I can hear and see everything that Amelia sees right now. So can Professor Snape and Harry."
"Is this true?" Belinda asked as she looked deep into Snape's eyes.
He nodded.
"Show me Dominic," Belinda said as she turned and took her son by the shoulders, "open my mind to her, I know you can."
Dominic placed one hand on his mothers head and like a burst of light her eyes were opening. Her mind was filled with the dark reality that was seen through the eyes of Amelia. She was still walking with the Lucius and Draco through the dark forest.
"Oh my baby, hold on," Belinda cried out loud and in her mind.
"Mum," Amelia's voice was heard by all, "please hurry, I'm so scared." she sobbed.
"Dumbledore what can we do?" Belinda cried, fear and anger in her voice, "you have to do something."
"Be calm," Dumbledore said walking toward Dominic, "its time for you to become the teacher Dominic," he said very softly, "you must open my eyes as well. I have not the powers of occlumency to obtain this myself."
Dominic reached out, as he did for his mother, and the images were lit within his mind as well. He could hear and communicate with Amelia and asked her to look for any identifying marking that could tell him where in the dark forest they were.
Hermione looked up at Harry as tears rolled down her face, "maybe I should go? I think I have done all I can to help," she said sadly as she knew she was not able to be connected with Amelia in the same way as the others.
"Wait," Dominic said as he looked over at Hermione hearing what she had said to Harry, "if we can open the all seeing eye in occlumentics then shouldn't it work in others as well?" he asked as he turned to Dumbledore.
"It should," Dumbledore said with a slight grin.
"Harry, you helped Snape, now help me," he said as he came close to Hermione.
"What are you going to do?" Hermione asked filled with fear.
"Do you trust me?" Dominic asked as he motioned for her to take a seat.
"Yes..." she said hesitantly.
"Alright close your eyes,"Dominic said and called out to Harry in his mind, "put your hand over her right eye and I will do the same with her left and help me to find her minds eye," he instructed as Hermione sat still in the chair.
Suddenly Hermione pushed Dominic and Harry away from her. She had begun to breath very deeply. Her eyes were wide, red and filled with fear, "I can see her. I can here her. She can here me," Hermione said tears running from her eyes again.
The same was done to Ron as he came to the office. Soon everyone was mentally connected with Amelia. Comforting words were passed to her to stay strong and everyone watched and discussed what would happen. Dumbledore instructed that they should remain silent as they all stood in a circle and watched on as the plot unfolded.
Amelia walked on, forced by the hands of a boy she had trusted. She had been passed over to Draco as his father pulled a white mask over his face. Draco had done the same moments before and had remained calm and quiet through the whole journey. Amelia could hear her mother now in her mind as well as Hermione and Ron. She tried her hardest to keep her calm as she tried to described where she was being led. The forest was strange to her. She didn't know how to described what she was seeing. Suddenly a light appeared ahead of them along a path. Amelia's heart sank, the end of her journey was surely at that light. She could hear the comforting words of her family and friends but this could not stop her from feeling absolutely terrified.
The light grew nearer and nearer till right before her was a bright red fire. To one side a small tent and to another a large rock slab, like an alter in this clearing. Sky could been seen through the open trees, snow fell softly around them. Amelia shivered with cold as she looked around her. She could feel the fire before her but it did not take away her chill. Finally Lucius Malfoy spoke.
"Take her Draco and ready her for meeting our lord," he said and pointed to the tent, "don't leave her alone either while she is changing, she's a licensed Animagus. She just might fly away on you."
Draco pushed her toward the tent and then inside. The tent was small but tall enough to stand in. There was a mirror set up at one end and a large chair in the other. On the chair was a long white dress, much like a wedding dress. It was made of white silk, with silver beading, "come here," Draco said as he pulled her, by one hand, to the dress, "take off your cloths, now!" he said.
Amelia began to shake uncontrollably, "why are you doing this to me," she sobbed.
"Just do it," Draco said coldly as he gabbed at the front of her jacket, "or I will."
"Be strong Amelia," she heard her mothers voice.
Amelia did as she was told. Slowly she removed her jacket, her shirt and pants. Her shoes and her socks, until she stood in only her underwear before Draco. Tears rolled down her face. She shivered in the cold. Her lips were turning blue, her cheeks were red and hot.
"Put it on," he said shoving her violently toward the dress.
Amelia reached out and picked up the cold fabric that was this dress. She stepped into it and pulled it up around her waist. Draco grabbed at her back as he laced up the bodice.
"Take off your bra," he said angrily, "you can see it with the dress."
Amelia did as she was told. Soon she stood bare foot in the middle of the tent dressed in a white silk gown that touched the floor. She still shivered with cold. The fabric was light, her feet were bare on the cold winter ground. Draco grabbed her by the arm again and pushed her into the chair.
"Sit and don't move," he said as he drew his wand at her, "or I will curse you."
Amelia sat, as Draco waved his wand around her head. Curls appeared in her red hair, and a jewel incrusted snake entwined itself within her curls. When he was done he pulled her violently out of the chair.
"Come," he said dragging her by one arm out of the tent.
Her bare feet landed softly in the snow. The cold stung as she walked through it. She breathed deeply. She could see her breath as she exhaled.
"Bring her here," Lucius said as Draco dragged her toward the stone slab, "he has not yet come," he said as he pulled a black woolen shall around Amelia, "we must wait."
"Wait for who?" Amelia sobbed.
Amelia did not get an answer to her question. A green mist began to fill the clearing where the fire was. The fire changed from a brilliant red to a sick green and out from the fire stepped a man. A man with sick green eyes, hair as black as night and skin as white at ice. Draco and Lucius released Amelia and bowed to the man who emerged from the fire.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked Amelia ask he came closer. His voice was low in tone.
Amelia couldn't speak she had seen the eyes before. She had heard the voice before.
Lucius stood from his bow and pulled the black shall away from Amelia. She stood shivering in the cold as her tears rolled down her face.
"Take my hand," the man said walking closer to Amelia. His hands were covered with thin black gloves. They looked like oil in the fire light.
"Do as you are told," Draco said as he pushed her forward.
"Now, now Draco, don't scare her anymore than she needs to be," the man said with a smile.
"Don't touch him Amelia," she heard Dominic's voice in her mind.
"Take my hand," the man said again.
Amelia stepped back from the man as he came closer.
"You will take my hand of your own free will, or I can force you," the man said, "I am the most powerful dark wizard there is, you know. It should be an honour for you to be invited to take my hand, now do it."
Lucius and Draco stood behind her, she had no where to go, "I have to Dominic," she sobbed into her mind and reached out and took the black gloved hand.
Amelia could feel the boney fingers within the glove grasp her hand. Her body felt colder. She couldn't move her fingers or her arms. The cold spread quickly as she felt herself falling. The man caught her in his arms.
"Ah my dear,"Voldimort smiled, "at last you give in to me," he laughed.
"His gloves they were wet," Amelia cried out into the vastness of her mind, "I can't move, it came on so quickly," she mind was filled with panic.
"You pour helpless child," Voldimort laughed, "I feel for you, really I do but I need your help. I will let you go if you bring to me the bird."
"Never," Amelia said through her tears, "curse me all you like but I would never turn over to you the people I love."
"Ah, a true Gryffindor heart," Voldimort laughed, "that's alright," he said as he lifted her right up off the ground now, "I have a feeling I will get what I want."
"Dumbledore wont let you," Amelia stated as she tried to move.
"Ah, but I am sure your mother will do all in her power to regain her child," Voldimort laughed as he walked around the stone slab, with Amelia in his arms, and placed her down on the cold stone surface.
Amelia could no longer hold herself upright. She was paralysed. She laid flat on the stone slab as Voldimort paced around her, arranging her dress on the alter, "stillness will come to our sacrifice," he said as he looked over at Draco and Lucius, "soon her mind will be free and sleep will come."
"It's the ice potion," Snape said to the group as they watched what was happening, "his gloves would have been covered with it."
"Its why she was subdued so easily," Dominic said as he began to pace the room.
"She was so cold when I found her last night," Snape said but didn't realise it.
"What did you say?" Dumbledore asked looking sternly at Snape.
"When I found her in the dungeon, she was cold to the touch. I brought her back to my classroom and gave her tea. I mixed some of the warming potion into it and she was fine." Snape said.
"What does he mean by sleep," Hermione asked looking at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore's eyes grew wide.
"What are you doing?" Amelia was heard screaming as everyone was brought back to her, "get away!" she yelling into the night.
Voldimort was advancing quickly. He brought his face close to hers. He smiled at her as she yelled at him. His white teeth sparkled in the light of the fire. They heard his voice tell her not to worry. His mouth came close to hers. "The dream professor!" Amelia screamed as they watched his lips touch hers. Voldimort's lips were cold as ice. A sick sower taste came away from them. Amelia remembered the taste it had come to her before but not as strong it was in her dream and then the realisation set in. She knew what would happen to her, "what have you done?" she screamed up at the evil men, "what have you done to my mind?" she was losing the connections. Hermione and Ron were the first to let go. Colours swirled before her eyes. Panic set in, "you monster!" she screamed as loud as she could in the darkness of the forest.
Dumbledore bolted away from the group. He ran as quickly as he could to his desk and began to through things away from it.
"What is going on?" Hermione asked, "the image is gone."
"Amelia," her mother cried, "stay with me."
"Mum I can't my mind is getting hazy," Amelia cried out, "he's done something," her voice was filled with panic.
"I've lost her," Belinda broke down into sobs.
"So have I," Snape said as he grabbed onto Belinda, "Dominic, Harry hold on."
Harry and Dominic began to frantically call out into their mind. Trying their hardest to keep the bond with Amelia.
"Come on Amelia, you can fight this!" Harry pleaded.
"Your mind is stronger Amelia just hold on," Dominic yelled.
She had stopped answering them but they could still see what she was seeing until her eyes closed and then she was gone. The bond between all of them had gone completely. Dominic fell to the floor exhausted from fighting the effects himself. Snape rushed to him pulling him up, "what has happened?" he asked.
"Blurry, things are blurry in my mind and I have a terrible sower taste in my mouth," He said breathing deeply as tears rolled down his face, "I have really lost her for good this time," he sobbed as his eyes grew heavy.
"Don't sleep," Belinda cried.
"If your bond is this strong with Amelia we can't let you fall subject to Voldimort's curse," Dumbledore yelled from across the room.
Amelia's scream echoed through the room as glass shattered on the floor. Everyone turned quickly to see Dumbledore smash something on the floor.
"What are you doing?" Snape yelled as he heard the scream again.
"Just listen to Amelia's prophesy," Dumbledore yelled, but it was too late the prophesy was finished, it had already happened. Dumbledore through his hands down on the desk filled with anger and despair, "we waited too long," he said, "its my fault I should have brought her here before the Hogsmade trip, I am sorry Belinda," Dumbledore said as tears swelled in his eyes.
"What did he do to her Dumbledore," Belinda cried, "tell me! What has he done to my children!" she sobbed as she ran and took Dominic in her arms, "don't you leave me too, please baby hold on."
"What have you done?" Draco asked feeling a fear take over.
"She will merely loose consciousness," Voldimort said putting one hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Is it reversible?" he asked not even realising he was asking the questions.
"It doesn't matter Draco she is not your friend," Lucius scolded.
"Now Lucius be calm," Voldimort laughed, "no, its not reversible," he said to Draco.
"You killed her?" Draco gasped.
"No," Voldimort smiled, "I simply stole her mind. Should we please she may lay as a sleeping beauty, as a living statue to my great power. Or we can let her be found and she will live out her days in St. Mungo's," he said, "come we have what we need now they much bring the rest to us." he said as he placed an envelope in Lucius' hand, "send an owl to Dumbledore."
"He used the Basiatus Mortalitatus on her," Dumbledore sighed, "Dominic is feeling it to because of the human bond between them."
"A kiss of death?" Hermione gasped.
"Not exactly," Dumbledore sighed, "it is a curse that paralyses the mind."
"But it can be revered right," Dominic yelled panic in his voice as he stumbled to regain his balance.
"If it is caught," Dumbledore said as he tapped his wand to the side of Dominic's head saying, "confutus."
"Ouch," Dominic said rubbing the side of his head, "hey the taste is gone."
"Oh thank heavens," Belinda sobbed as she hugged him.
"Now what do we do?" Harry said feeling angry as he paced the length of Dumbledore's office.
"I am afraid, Harry, that we are not under the constraints of time," Dumbledore sighed, "we can only wait until will are told by Voldimort what he wants and how he is to receive it."
"We can't wait to save Amelia!" Dominic yelled, "she could be lost forever."
Dumbledore lowered his eyes to the floor. Belinda ran to him, she grabbed his arm as tears rolled down her face, "it is too late isn't it?"
"The bond is broken," he said as the woman fell into him sobbing, "her pain is over she will feel no more."
The office of the headmaster became a very dark place. Silence and sobbing took the place of fear and hatred. Helplessness took over as the seven wizards stood together. It was vowed that they would bring Amelia back to this place and to punish the wicked that was done against her. Waiting now was the only thing that remained for them. Voldimort was to make the next move.