Chapter 20 - The Worst Christmas Ever

Darren followed his grandfather through barrier on the platform and the train station. He made a concerted effort not to look for Cho as he knew that she would be upset about his having ignored her on the platform. He felt badly about it, but he also knew it was for the best. He and his grandfather had not spoken since entering King's Cross Station proper and now they were outside. Janus was hooting in his cage but Darren did not try to quiet him. It would not work anyway. Janus knew that they were taking a portkey as they always did, and Janus hated that way of traveling. In the alley beside the station Alexander walked up to a rusted can on the ground next to a garbage bin. Together he and Darren squatted down and touched it on the count of three. Darren felt the jerk as he and his grandfather were whisked to Mortice Manor outside of Ballyhurst.

Wispy opened the door and welcomed her master home. She gave Darren a small smile of encouragement as he said hello to her and let her take his trunk to his room. Alexander turned and spoke to him then.

"Follow me Darren. The Dark Lord is waiting for you in the study."

Darren followed him slowly and entered the study cautiously. Voldemort was sitting in the green chair next to the fire and Lucius Malfoy was standing next to him. Darren noticed that Malfoy was holding his wand by his side. Peter Pettigrew was on the opposite side of the room and looked as if he was waiting for instructions. The fingers of his silver hand were flexing as he was anticipating something that was about to happen.

"You have not gotten what I want yet Darren," Voldemort said quietly. "I am very disappointed in the lack of effort you have shown so far."

Darren chose his words carefully before he spoke.

"I used the Veritaserum as instructed and Neville knew nothing about the prophecy. He said it was broken and lost in the Department of Mysteries. Harry doesn't know it either. Neville said when it broke that neither of the heard what it contained."

"That is not important now. What is important is that you find a way to use the Longbottom boy to get what I need. Why have you not used the Imperius Curse yet?"

"I was scared that Dumbledore might notice it, or Professor McGonagall or one of the other teachers. I thought it might be too dangerous to try."

"It is up to me to decide what is or isn't dangerous for you. And to remind you of something, you are playing a very dangerous game here Darren, so I would remind you that your family's safety relies on your success in the task that I have given you."

"I got onto the Gryffindor quidditch team as instructed, so I might be able to get close to Harry that way."

"No, Potter would never tell you the contents of the prophecy. However, he may be willing to tell one of those two friends of his. After all, he is far too trusting of them."

Darren tried to think just what Voldemort meant by that remark, but Voldemort continued talking.

"You will use the Imperius Curse on the Longbottom boy. He is weak mentally just like his parents and will be easily controlled."

Darren could not help but think that Voldemort might be wrong about Neville. Neville was lacking in confidence, but if he had helped fight Death Eaters last year, he obviously had more heart than Voldemort thought.

"And what am I to get him to do?" Darren asked.

"You are to get him to find out what the prophecy said, and if that does not work, you will use your other ability that we helped you develop in the last two summers. I am sure one of his closest friends might be able to get the information, don't you?"

Darren just nodded his head and looked at the floor in despair. He was in a hopeless situation now and he could see no way out of it. Whatever it was that Voldemort wanted to find out had better be important, because Darren had lost his father over it simply in order to get Darren to work for Voldemort.

"You may leave my presence now Darren,"Voldemort said dismissively.

"I want to see my mother and sister."

Voldemort looked at him and smiled through his thin lips. "Very well, let him see them Alexander."

"Yes, my Lord," Alexander said with a bow.

Darren then followed him out of the room into the foyer. His grandfather called Wispy down the stairs and told her to take Darren to see his family.

"Come with me Master Darren, we go see the little one now," she said happily.

Wispy then took Darren's hand and led him upstairs and down a long hallway that led to a door that was locked on the outside.

"Master makes me keep them locked in here Master Darren," she said at the door, "and the little one is doing better Master Darren. But, your mother is not well at all I am afraid."

"What is wrong with my mother Wispy?"

Wispy cautiously looked around to see if anyone might hear her before answering. "She does not eat or sleep much anymore. She is still mourning Master Andrew and she is so worried about you too."

"And my sister? Does she still not remember what happened here that day?"

"No, she is happy here. I play with her whenever I can, and she is getting big too," Wispy told him with a big smile on her face.

"Well, thanks for the information, but I really want to see them now Wispy."

"Of course Master Darren," she said and then took a key from a pocket that had been sown on the curtain that she always wore.

The door opened and Darren saw his family for the first time in almost four months.

His mother was sitting in a chair crying and sobbing into a tissue. Ellie was on the other side of the room playing with a doll that she had gotten when she was two. That was almost five years ago now and she was indeed growing. She was now a tall and pretty blonde child of seven and Darren felt his heart melt when he saw her. He was responsible for her now but he felt so helpless.

"Darren!" Ellie yelled in excitement. The doll fell to the floor as she ran into her big brother's arms. His mother looked up at the shout and jumped up and ran to her son.

Darren held them tight for a long time before pulling himself away from them. He could not help but notice that they both did not look well.

He turned to Wispy then. "Would you excuse us Wispy, I would like some privacy for now."

"Yes, of course Master Darren," she said and left the room. Darren could hear the key in the lock and then the click as it was turned.

"Mother, what has been happening since I went to school?" he asked.

Darren's mother sat down on the bed before answering him. "Your grandfather is keeping us locked up like animals. That little house elf brings us meals and we are only let out of the room for a few minutes at a time. She gives Ellie her lessons and she tries to make it easier for us, but your grandfather watches her like a hawk."

"How is Ellie holding up? She hasn't been hurt again has she?"

"No, but that crazy woman with the black hair likes to come in sometimes and use some spell to make Ellie do cartwheels and jumping jacks. She laughs and likes to see me get upset at it. I know she is just trying to terrify me, but it is working Darren."

'Bellatrix Lestrange,' Darren thought to himself.

"Mother, don't make her angry. She is a psychopath and will enjoy hurting you or Ellie just to do it. It is fun to her and she is very dangerous."

"I know she is dangerous Darren, they all are."

"Yes mother, I know, but we have to be strong for now. It will all be over soon, I promise."

Darren said it, but he didn't really think or believe that this would end any time soon. Voldemort had him, and he would not let him go easily. He would probably never let him go. Darren knew that Voldemort would use him until he had no use anymore and then he would kill him and his family because they were no longer necessary. Voldemort needed Darren's family right now, and that was the only reason they were alive. His own grandfather had said he wanted his daughter-in-law and granddaughter dead just because they were Muggles and had tainted his blood, and as long as their lives were in jeopardy, Darren would have to do whatever he was ordered to do.

"Mother, what else has happened?"

"That man with the fake hand watches me all the time. He will come in here and sit and stare at me for hours on end. I am afraid he might do something to me or Ellie."

"What about Lucius Malfoy?" Darren asked.

For the first time in a long time Darren saw fire in his mother's eyes.

"He comes up here sometimes and seems to think that I am willing to let him have his way with me. I don't think he realizes that I hate him so much. I would gladly give my life to take him with me."

Darren knew she meant it. His mother was a strong woman. She would not have lasted two years here if she wasn't, but he also knew that she was aware that her death would leave Ellie alone and unprotected.

"Mother, do not attack or threaten them. They are very powerful magically and you aren't. Neither you or Ellie can protect yourselves from them."

"Can you protect us Darren? Are you powerful enough to fight them?"

"No, not yet, but I will be some day mother, I swear."

His mother looked him in the eyes and saw the same strength that his father had; the willingness to stand up to the bully and protect others that cannot protect themselves. He could remember the story of how his parents had met.

It had been almost twenty years ago and Andrew Clarkson had met Jennifer Patrick at a town festival in Ballycastle. She had been a beautiful redheaded girl but those looks were gone now from the stress of the last two years. His father had apparently fallen in love with her when he first saw her and Darren remembered his father telling him how he had used the Petrificus Totalus jinx in a bathroom on the boy his mother was at the festival with. When the boy had not returned to her, Andrew had been able to talk to her and ended up spending the rest of the evening with her. The rest had been a whirlwind romance and they had been married less than six months later. Unfortunately, the marriage had driven a wedge between Darren's father and grandfather. It was not until Darren's grandmother died that the split became more pronounced. His grandfather had been very vocal at a family gathering about how his line was now tainted and had publicly asked out loud why Andrew had not married a pure-blood witch. Darren's mother was eight months pregnant with him when that happened and the family did not see each other again until Darren was five. That had been Christmas and the holiday had ended as badly as the party five years before. The father and son had not seen each other for years after that, but Darren had been allowed to visit his grandfather after that. Andrew Clarkson had always thought that Darren should experience both the Muggle and magical worlds, so he let him visit Mortice Manor during the holidays before he left for Hogwarts. Darren now wished with all his heart that he had never met his grandfather.

"What about Voldemort mother? Has he done anything to you, or said anything to you?"

"No, I haven't seen him since that day in the study. Although it is easy to figure out when he is here because all the others jump to attention when he is here. Even your grandfather bows to him, and it is his own house." She made a derisive snort at the mention of her father-in-law.

"Well, if he is here, be especially careful what you do or say, okay?" Darren implored.

"I am not going to give them a chance to hurt us Darren, I promise."

Darren sat quietly for a few moments with his mother after that. He watched his sister playing with her doll in the corner. He was pretty sure that she was unaware of what was going on, but it was possible she did know. Darren knew that she had more strength and intelligence than the normal seven year old, but she was helpless now.

"Remember when you would do magic tricks for her when you came home from school for the holidays Darren?" his mother asked as she took his hand in her own.

He smiled at the memory. "She liked it when I made her doll jump around the room and when her crayons would float in the air."

"And you father would tell the Ministry that it was him that was playing with her to keep you out of trouble."

Darren half smiled and half frowned at the memory. He could remember his father teaching him about quidditch and taking him to the matches to see the Ballycastle Bats, Darren's favorite team since he had known what quidditch was. He also could remember the day his father had determined that Ellis was a Muggle and probably would not show any magical ability. He had been disappointed but Darren knew that every witch or wizard developed the ability to perform magic at different ages, but since Ellie was almost eight now, he knew it was too late for her.

"Ellie, come here," he said to his sister. She came over and he lifted her into his lap.

"How is my little sister doing lately?" he asked her cheerfully.

"Fine," she told him as she fiddled with her dolls' hair.

"What do you do all day Ellie?"

"I play dolls, and mommy reads to me, and Wispy teaches me sometimes."

"What does she teach you?"

"Stuff," she told him.

"Stuff?" he asked playfully again. "What kind of stuff?"

"Just, stuff."

"Well, are you ready for Christmas then?"

"Yes."

"What do you want this year Ellie?"

"For daddy to come home," she told him.

Darren fell quiet then and his mother stifled a sob on the other side of the bed. Darren should have known that Ellie knew something was going on, but he hoped that she didn't know exactly what. However, he could do nothing about it now, and he had no idea what he could do anyway. Suddenly the door opened and Lucius Malfoy stormed into the room.

"Come with me Darren, now," he told Darren.

Darren put Ellie on the bed and told her goodbye and that he would see her later. He could see Malfoy staring at his mother and he felt the same anger rising in him again, but he put it down for now and followed Malfoy out of the room and downstairs where they entered the study that Voldemort had apparently laid claim to. Voldemort was in his usual place, beside the fire in the large green chair.

"I want to remind you how important it is for you to do as you have been ordered. If you do not, I will have your mother killed and I will let Lucius have his way with her first."

Malfoy smiled out of one side of his mouth at Darren and Darren felt his skin crawl but he had to listen as Voldemort continued talking.

"I assure you, it will not be a good or painless death for her, and if I have to, I will kill the child as well. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

"Good, then what will you do when you return to Hogwarts in two weeks?"

"I will place Neville Longbottom under the Imperius Curse and use him to find out about the prophecy."

"And then what will you do?"

"I will use the portkey that Mr. Malfoy hid outside of Hogsmeade and bring the information to you."

"Excellent. I am glad to hear that we understand each other then. You may leave us now. Go to your room and confine yourself there."

Darren wanted to ask to stay with his family, but he knew it would be futile. These people were not only using him, they were enjoying it too and he could not make a mistake now, not after he had gotten this far.

Darren turned and left the room. Outside he saw Wispy. For a minute he thought she had been listening at the door, but Darren hoped she was not that stupid.

"I will bring dinner to your room Master Darren," she told him.

"Thanks Wispy, I appreciate it."

"Would you like anything else sir?"

He remembered the emaciated look of his mother and how his sister was starting to look a bit sickly. "Yes Wispy, I would like a little extra food for my mother and some fresh fruit for Ellie if possible."

"I will try Master Darren, but I can promise nothing sir."

"I know Wispy, but if it can be done, please do it for me."

"Yes Master," she said and then went off to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal for the household.

Darren went upstairs and lay down on the bed in his prison that was called a bedroom. He tried to get a bit of sleep, but his mind was racing and he could not sleep. His trunk was at the foot of his bed and he opened it and pulled out his Transfiguration textbook. He did not feel like studying, but he had to have something to keep him occupied or he would go stir crazy here. His eyes looked at the pages, but his mind was elsewhere. He started to wonder where his father's body was. He knew where his spirit was. In Malfoy's wand, and the only way to release him was to destroy the wand. That would be gratifying Darren was thinking when wispy came in with his dinner.

"Dinner time Master Darren," she said cheerfully."

"Thank you Wispy."

She then leaned in close to him and whispered in his ear. "I put an extra serving on each plate for Madam and Mistress. For the little one I brought orange juice and an apple too."

"Thank you Wispy, you are a good elf."

"Oh no Master Darren, Wispy is a bad elf," she told him.

"Why do you say that Wispy?"

"Wispy should protect her Master's family, even if her Master is the one that is hurting them."

"Wispy, you are helping them by looking out for them, and I appreciate it very much. I just want you to be very careful what you say or do from now on. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Master Darren, I understand, but I wish that young Master and his family could leave soon, and take Wispy with them."

"Well Wispy, if everything works out, I would be glad to have you come live with us at our home."

"Wispy could have a good master then, not a mean one." Her ears went limp when she realized what she had said and she picked up Darren's book and began to hit herself over the head with it.

Darren grabbed her to keep someone downstairs from hearing. "Wispy, stop, stop it now. You said the truth; there is nothing wrong with that, do you understand me?"

"House-elves is not to talk bad about the master of the house, ever."

"Wispy, I am ordering you to not punish yourself again, do you understand me?"

"No, Wispy is a bad house-elf, a very bad house-elf she is."

Darren gave up and decided not to argue with her anymore. He was too hungry and tired to fight with Wispy tonight. He wanted to eat and then go to sleep. He asked Wispy to leave him alone for the night and to not even bother getting the empty plates; just to let him sleep uninterrupted for the night. After the elf left, Darren ate quickly and changed into his bedclothes. He started to read the spell book that Cho had given him and his thoughts went back to her. He kept trying to think how he could possibly continue to see her and not put her in danger as well. If Voldemort found out, that is if he didn't know already, she would be held over his head as well, and that he could not have. It wasn't fair to her to put her in that kind of situation, especially when she had no idea of what was going on in Darren's life. As he flipped absentmindedly through the book, he saw a spell that caught his attention. He folded the page to mark it so he could find it easily when he returned to school and put the book on the bedside table and blew out the lamp and then drifted off to sleep.

Three days later was Christmas day, and Darren had woken early to spend the time with his Mother and Ellie. He had gotten an enchanted doll and a huge chunk of Honeydukes chocolate in Hogsmeade during one of his visits. Even though Ellie was a Muggle child, she was still a child and loved chocolate, just as Darren did. For his mother he had a new quill, an inkwell and a large roll if parchment so she could write the poetry she had always enjoyed composing. He knew she would probably never use it, but he had to get her something and that was all he could think to get for her this year.

"I'm sorry I have nothing for you Darren," his mother told him through her tears.

"It's okay, I'm not worried about it at all mother."

"No, it's not okay Darren. It is Christmas, and you are my son and I should have a gift for you," she said defiantly.

"Mother, just seeing you and Ellie is a big enough gift for me."

His mother wrapped her arms around him and cried on his shoulder. "You are so much like you father Darren. You even look like him more and more as you get older."

"Well, that is good, because dad was a pretty good looking guy, wasn't he?"

"Yes, he was Darren, very handsome."

An awkward moment pf silence passed between them until his mother changed the subject.

"So, have you met and nice girls at school this year?"

"Mother, lets not talk about that now, okay," he said with a warning glance at the door.

His mother fell silent and their holiday ended soon after. His grandfather had come in and ordered him back to his room. Three days later he had told his mother and sister goodbye and gone back to London to take the Hogwarts Express back to school. On the train he had shared a compartment with Neville, Seamus, and Dean. They spent the time talking about the gifts they had received and the time with their family. Darren just sat quietly and listened. He was glad that Neville had had a good holiday, because things were going to take a bad turn soon he was afraid.