Updated: Friday 11th February 2005

Disclaimers: See Chapter One

Black Light

By Dante Lewis

Chapter Twenty One: Light Fading

Severus had retraced Estella's steps from her final class of the day some two hours previously and come to another brick wall. The last time any of her teachers had seen the child was as she sat waiting by the gate to be collected, and none of the storekeepers in Hogsmeade had any recollection of an unaccompanied child fitting Estella's description visiting their store. He had searched every alleyway, every park, every café, pub and shop he could think of that Estella may have been likely to have gone. He tracked down the houses of her school friends and traumatised them with his desperate inquisition. All to no avail.

It was early March, and as such the light had been early in fading from the sky. Any moment and the full moon would rise, leaving a child alone outside susceptible to not only the abnormally cool elements, but at risk of attack from the unsavoury wilds of the surrounding woods. Those amongst the Hogwarts staff that weren't required to supervise the students in the evening were combing the forest for any trace of the child, whilst locals from the village assisted by door knocking and searching backyards. As time crept on, the likelihood that Estella had been met with foul play became all the more apparent.

"Severus." The headmaster's grave voice stirred him from his thoughts as the older wizard appeared before him. "The moon is rising. I am afraid we have no choice but to postpone the search until dawn."

Severus waved the man away irritably. "Do what you must Albus," he growled. "But understand that I will not stop until my niece is found."

Albus nodded sadly and squeezed the younger wizard's shoulder encouragingly. "I didn't expect that you would." He stated, "have faith, my dear boy, if she is anything like her uncle she will have the sense to pull herself through this."

Severus sighed, his shoulders drooping under his mentor's grip, and he nodded slightly. "I can only hope," Severus said, pausing uncertainly as though reconsidering the weight of his words, "that for the sake of our professional relationship, you are correct this time."

The older man paled visibly and inclined his farewell with a tilt of his head.

Meanwhile, in another part of Hogwarts, a small girl shivered. After waiting patiently to be collected from school, Estella had made the fateful decision to walk herself home and had invariably gotten lost. One of the narrow streets that served the most direct route back to Hogwarts was akin to Knockturn Alley and whilst Estella had been frequently escorted down that path by a trusting adult by matter of necessity, she was forbidden under any circumstances to traipse down its length unaccompanied. What Estella had then thought to of been an alternative route was in fact a winding, disorientating maze of unfamiliar lanes and buildings.

Finally, in the distance, Estella could make out the derelict chimney of what she was sure was the Shrieking Shack. It had been a long while since her uncle and godfather had taken her to the shack as part of their explanation of where Uncle Remus went once a month, but she'd recognise its neglected features anywhere. While she had no idea how to get back to Hogwarts from the derelict estate, she sought comfort in the fact that Remus would be there that night. Her Godfather would know what to do. All she had to do was get there before the moon rose.

Looking up at the sky Estella noted she didn't have much time. Light was fading.

End Chapter Twenty One: Light Fading