Ella felt the blood ooze down the back of her head as she was thrown mercilessly against the wall. Her eyes widened as he stepped foreword, wand outstretched, a look of rage stretched across his snake-like face. A strangled cry escaped her as he came closer and closer, his face the picture of evil. There he stood, only a few paces before her now, the embodiment of her darkest, deepest nightmare; but there was no one, nothing to wake her, no arms to enfold her and rub away the fear which coarsed through her veins like a drug. So she was left to try and squeeze him physically from her vision. She clamped her eyes tightly closed, hoping to fall into a real sleep.

"Come now Ms. Black, I rather thought I was quite handsome," he hissed, now upon her. He snaked his spider-like hand around her neck. She began shivering uncontrollably, not one ounce of Gryffindor bravery left in her at all. He laughed a high, merciless laugh. "Not so courageous now, are we?" He tightened his hold around her throat, squeezing so hard she felt consciousness leave her. What little strength she had possessed faded and her one good leg buckled. Just as she felt she was truly about to faint, he pulled his hand away. Her fingers went up to her throat, weakly tracing where his cold hand had been only a moment before. "Oh how I wish I could force the life from you," his face was right beside hers now, his putrid breath beating against her cheek. "But no, we need you to lure Daddy don't we?"

Ella began to cry uncontrollably, the spasms in her chest constricting her already struggled breathing. His teeth were like daggers, long, yellow daggers, fangs. His eyes were blood red and his nose was nothing but a pair of slits. His thin, almost translucent skin was stretched tightly across his cheekbones. He had no hair, but not as if he had gone bald, no he would not have allowed such a show of human aging. Instead, it looked as if he had never had any hair at all but had, instead, chosen to remain as infantile as possible.

"Oh no, are you scared of me? Maybe you should not have spoken when I had so expressly told you not to," the taunting had left his voice now and was replaced with cold anger. In some distant burrow of her mind she felt a stab of satisfaction at doing something that would anger the darkest wizard of the age. She had never been brave or daring, never thought she would amount to much of anything. Now, at what she could only assume was the end of it all, she took heart in knowing she would leave a mark.

"He-he won't j-join you, never," she choked out, tears still rushing down her cheeks. "He-he would die first."

"Well, he hasn't been given that choice now has he?" Voldemort asked coolly. He knew Sirius Black would never be his loyal follower but, in joining him, in having his daughter's life hung above him, he could be taken out of commission. Even more than that, he could have Remus Lupin, James Potter, Lily Potter, and Harry Potter unable to do anything as well. In this child, this girl, he held the tiny "oomph" he needed to fully take control. "Now, lets force that resistance right out of you." He stepped away from her and, with swish of his wand, he hissed "Crucio!"

Somewhere, far away from Ella, another tortured soul lay, tossing in his bed. Sirius woke, panting heavily. He tossed off his covers and pulled himself to a sitting position, running his hand through his hair and over his face, which still held over a week's worth of stubble. Everything was falling apart; everything had exploded. His Ella was gone, and Leo was all but gone. The things that, only weeks before, had seemed so distant were now knocking at his door. He had been so quick to dismiss the struggle, the war when Leo had awoken. Now he just hoped it wasn't too late; it couldn't be too late could it? He kept telling himself that she was strong, so much stronger than he, and she could take it. She was brave and good and she wouldn't be allowed to die, but he had seen so many of the good and brave perish. He got up and pulled a sweater over his boxers and bare chest. He had to get away; he had to talk with someone who wasn't Remus or Dumbledore. He pulled out his wand and Apparated with a soft "pop", arriving a second later in a familiar kitchen.

It was painted eggplant and held the residual smell of cinnamon. Small bundles of herbs hung from the ceiling and bottles of oils and spices sat in organized couplets on the counters. It was still dark outside though the slightest hint of the coming dawn could be seen against the distant hills. The room was exactly like Lily wanted it, which made sense as the other two members of the household only entered it to get food or pester the cook. Sirius thought, with a hint of self-denial, that he could still smell the slightest hint of Ella among the pots and pans. She had helped Lily in the kitchen often, happy to have another female around.

He hadn't been to the Potters in a long while, not since before Ella and Harry had come home from school. That seemed an eternity ago. "Sirius?" a voice asked from behind him, cutting into his reverie. He turned around and spotted a petit red-head standing in the staircase, dressed in a pair of pink pajama bottoms and an over-sized t-shirt Sirius was sure belonged James.

"Hi Lily," Sirius choked out, trying in vain to crack a smile. The effort of the facial expression seemed to break a dam behind his eyes. Lily stepped down from the steps and hurried to Sirius' side, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Sirius put a shaky hand to his face and allowed himself to be lead to a kitchen chair.

"Shh, Sirius," she murmured in his ear. "I'll put on a pot of tea."

Sirius replied with a derisory snort. "M-maybe something a bit stronger," he put in shakily. She gave him a disapproving glance before walking to the stove and flicking her wand at the lavender kettle. It immediately began to hiss. She took it off the burner and pulled out a teapot, tossing in some tealeaves and a bit of dried lavender from a small jar next to the stove. She poured the hot water over the tealeaves and prodded the pot with her wand, speeding up the steeping process. The whole business with the tea was done in silence. Lily brought the pot to the table along with a bowl of sugar and a small, glass jar of cream. She busied herself with making up a big cup for Sirius, which she pushed across the table to the ill-kempt Auror. After finishing making a cup for herself, she sat across from him.

"Now Sirius, why are you here?" she asked, her voice calm and prompting.

"I needed someone to talk to," he mumbled, wrapping his fingers around the mug.

"Aye, and might I say you're looking just fantastic," she said, trying in vain to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, well things haven't exactly been going well in case you hadn't noticed."

"Sirius, you're not going to find her by moping and meanwhile, you're grinding on Remus' already frazzled nerves and not helping your son who needs some attention as well. I hope you don't mind me saying you need to buck up." Sirius balked at Lily's candidness. She had never been one to hold back but he had expected sympathy, not a rebuking.

"Yeah, and I suppose you would have been a bundle of sunshine if Harry had been the one taken?" Sirius shot back angrily. This was not what he had had in mind when he had come looking for comfort.

"No," Lily replied calmly. "I would have been doing exactly what you're doing; though I wouldn't have been sporting any stubble mind you. But you and Remus would have been there to knock me out of it."

"Lily, I just, I love her so much and. . .and I don't know if she knew that. I was so horrible and we never really patched it up. What if she isn't. . .and I am never able. . .never given the chance to-" Sirius fell silent, unable to finish his sentence. Lily paused for a moment, unsure of what to say.

"Sirius," she began tentatively. "She knew you loved her. Everyone knew you loved her; maybe you didn't exactly show it in the best way but she knew. As for the latter part, Sirius, you just have to make sure that doesn't happen. I know it seems hard now but, well, no one wants her to die." They fell silent for a couple of minutes before Lily asked softly "How's Leo?"

"He's not talking; he barely moves. It's like he's living somewhere else. We don't know why." Lily got up and walked around the table to where Sirius was slumped. She pulled him into a hug. "You've had it hard for a bit but it will all come out right. Tomorrow will be better; it just has to be."

"Thanks Lily," Sirius said in a soft voice, slightly heartened.

"Now, after you've finished your tea, you get upstairs and take a long, hot shower. I'll floo Remus and he and Leo can join you here for breakfast." Sirius nodded and finished his tea in what seemed like one, long gulp. After putting his cup in the sink, he got up. Things would be better; he would make things better.

For the first time in a week and a half, he showered. The water felt wonderful against his bare skin and he had the sensation of being reborn. Wherever his Ella was, he would find her and bring her back, no matter what it took. He wouldn't join Voldemort; she had told him not to and whatever pain there was in losing her to death, it was nothing to the pain at losing her from his own cowardice. He washed the sleep from his eyes, the grime from his hair, and the sweat and self-loathing from his body.

After his shower, he shaved off the near-beard that had formed on his chin and cheeks, looking into the mirror for the first time. He would make it all work. He found a small, organized stack of clothes Lily had left him sitting on the toilet lid and he pulled them on. They were James'. He pulled his hair from his face into a low ponytail, something he hadn't done in a long time. Ella made fun of him, telling him he was trying to look younger than he really was.

With an energy he hadn't had for what seemed a long time, he hurried down the stairs to find Remus, Lily, Harry, James, and Leo standing around the kitchen. With a fleeting thought that Lily had somehow laced his tea with a little something extra, he entered. Leo was looking down at his hands while Harry looked like he would have very much liked to be in bed. Remus was haggard and casting Sirius a wary look. James looked the mirror of Harry and Lily was standing over the stove with her back turned to the kitchen.

"Good morning Sirius," James mumbled, his voice still full of sleep.

"Good morning," Sirius echoed.

"I," Harry began, "will never forgive you for making me get up before nine." For the first time in a long time, Sirius laughed. Leo shivered and Sirius looked at him with a mix of curiosity and worry. He would have to have a long talk with the boy later.

"Moony, why don't you go take a shower; it did no end of good for me," Sirius said, his voice a bit louder than he had intended. Lily snorted into the pancakes she was preparing.

"I can see that," Remus responded in a monotone. "Do you mind James?"

James shrugged. He then launched into an inaudible, fragmented monologue, something along the lines of "six o'clock in the bloody morning. . ."

"I think I will then." He disappeared a moment later up the stairs. By that time, Sirius was sure Lily had slipped something into his tea. He felt unable to become disheartened. It was a good feeling but one he was sure wouldn't last.

After Remus had reappeared, fully showered and clothed in the wrinkled robes he had been wearing for the past three days, they all sat around the table. Sirius packed down an inhuman amount of pancakes, drenching every last bite in globs syrup. Remus seemed in slightly higher spirits and James and Harry came round after Lily had given them some caffeine. The only person who didn't seem particularly "there" was Leo who continued to gaze sullenly at his hands.

Breakfast lasted a short while, after which Sirius proclaimed to the table that he would be going back to work the next day. He needed to find Ella and working at the Ministry was the best way to get that done. James then leaned over to Lily and whispered something in her ear, giving her a dirty look. Remus only caught one word "happy tea" which didn't really have any meaning for him but which seemed to have quite a lot of meaning for Lily as she blushed heavily.

When the breakfast dishes had been cleared away, Sirius, Remus, and Leo took their leave with two identical "pops" back to their house. James rounded on Lily, his eyes narrowed. "Lily," he began warningly. "What did you do to Sirius?"

"I-I. . .um. . .," Lily stuttered, trying to avoid her husband's accusatory gaze. "He was just so depressed; you can't fault me James. I-"

"Lily! He's going to crash now. After the tea wears off he'll be just as bad as before."

"James, I just had to give him a little push. Sure, he won't be Mr. Smiles and Sunshine when the tea's effect peters out but by then he'll be back at work. I couldn't just let him stay in that state James!" Lily finished and James opened and closed his mouth several times.

"How much did you give him?" he asked. Lily blushed and averted her eyes.

"Just enough to last him a couple of days."

"A couple of days! Good Lord Lily, you. . .I. . .it. . .never mind. . ." James trailed off, throwing his hands in the air in exasperation. Lily adopted a self-satisfied smirk.

For Vela, things were far from sunshine. "Vela," Andrew said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. He had been working up the courage to talk to her for a good hour, ever since she had been thrown bodily into the room by a couple of burly Death Eaters. She hadn't spoken or even looked at him in that time. She shrugged off his hand, not turning from the wall. Andrew could only imagine what she had gone through. He had heard, after it was too late, that Voldemort himself had summoned Ella. "Come on, look at me," he cried desperately. She responded with a sniff and shudder.

In a move which even surprised himself, Andrew drew her into a tight embrace, resting his chin on the top of her head. She resisted for a moment before collapsing against his chest. The sobs she had been holding back since Voldemort had lifted his wand fell upon her. She could not even speak. "Shh," Andrew murmured, stroking her curls. "It will be alright," he comforted though he could give no substantiation. They could not lose hope for it was the only thing that gave them strength.

Later that night, the guards came into the room, forcing Andrew and Ella up and out. They pushed them down the hall, quickly joined by the prisoners from the other rooms. In varying stages of shabbiness, they were shepherded down the winding staircase toward the cold belly of the house. Down, down, down they went until the great, black gates came into view. A leering giant with a tangled mass of oily grey hair swung the gate open and the guards pushed them all through. After the last prisoner had been thrown inside, the giant slammed the gate shut and locked it with a click.

Ella and Andrew found a dark corner. They huddled against the darkness, clutching ragged, threadbare blankets in their cold fists. A woman with a wailing infant sat beside them, too tired to even attempt to quiet her child. This was their hell, a room full of lost souls just waiting for respite. No one dared hope for escape. A hoard of Death Eaters sat right up the stairs even if any one were lucky enough to escape "the cage".

"Would you shut that thing up?" an irritable, shabby young man spat at the woman.

"With what? She's tired, cold a hungry isn't she? I've nothing to quiet her."

"Yeah? Well if you don't shut her up I'll do it for you."

"I'd like to see you try," the woman hissed. The man glared at her but did nothing further. Wearily, she half-heartedly attempted to tempt the baby with a finger. The little girl was not tempted. With an inkling of her old self, Ella scooted over to the tired woman.

"Would you like some help?" she asked softly. The woman turned to her with a dirt-smeared smile.

"You can try but there's really nothing to be done." She handed Ella the baby who weighed nothing at all. Ella wrapped her in the blanket, which seemed to work a bit.

"What's her name?"

"Helia Rose."

"It's a beautiful name," Ella said, smiling.

"Her father was Greek," the woman began, rolling her eyes, but was interrupted by a commotion at the gate. Four Death Eaters pushed their way inside, weaving through the crowd. Ella recognized the center man as André Yaxley from her father's wall. He was larger and more brutish than the others. She felt a shiver rush up her back; he was known for his brutality according to her father. The prisoners parted like the Red Sea for the four men, hoping against hope they wouldn't be chosen for the night's "fun". They looked drunk; their eyes were slightly glazed and their cheeks and noses rosy.

Ella attempted to sink into the shadows with Helia still in her arms. It was hard to gain anonymity however, with the child's screams. Everyone watched in silent revulsion as the men came to a stop before Ella and Helia's mother. "What have we here?" Yaxley touched the infant's cheek roughly, which only made her scream louder. "What the hell is wrong with her?" Ella didn't know how to answer. "Shut the thing up," he demanded, clutching his ears with his boorish hands.

"She-she's cold and hungry. Perhaps if she had a blanket and a bit of milk," Helia's mother began in a near whisper.

"I said shut the urchin up! Do I look like a delivery service?" Yaxley boomed, his yellow, rotting teeth flashing in the dimly lit cell.

"Yeah, do we look like a delivery service?" an oafish man to Yaxley's immediate right laughed, a dumb grin spreading over his thick face.

"If you can't shut her up, I will." The young man who had admonished the mother tensed. Ella and Helia's mother tried desperately to silence the little girl but to no avail. Neither could have stopped Yaxley's words as he brought up his wand. Helia's mother attempted to swipe his wand but Yaxley kicked her aside. With a twitch of his hand and "Avada Kedavra," Helia was silenced forever. A visceral grown clawed its way up Helia's mother's throat as she dove toward Ella, snatching up the now stone-cold baby.

Satisfied for the evening, the four men stumbled out, guffawing loudly as they went. Ella sat, numb, looking with unseeing eyes at mother and child. There was nothing to be done. . .

A/N: So what did you think? I'm dying to know. It's my Christmas wish and you wouldn't deny me that now would you? I happen to know (there's a new "hits" calculator thing that tells me how many people read the chapters) how many people are reading and not reviewing. Please, please, please, please, please review! It would secure my undying affection; I swear. Anywho, a bit thank you goes out to Tawa for beta-ing this chapter and being such a fantabulous reviewer. Merry, Merry Christmas and REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!.