"Some days, like rain on the doorstep
She'll cover me
With grace in all she offers
Sometimes I'd like just to ask her
What honest words

She can't afford to say"

"Sirius! The post is here," Remus called up the stairs from the kitchen. Sirius stumbled down, still pulling on his shoes and socks. To say that he had completely recovered from his daughter's capture would be foolish dreaming, but he was definitely doing better. Work had done him no end of good and having Leo with him hadn't hurt either. The two were virtually inseparable when Sirius wasn't at work.

"Anything for me?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of tea from the pot on the table before slumping into a chair. Remus flipped through the small stack of letters.

"One from Dumbledore for me, a bill for you, oh, this one's addressed to you as well but it doesn't say who it's from." Remus handed Sirius the letter and waited expectantly for Sirius to fill him in. Sirius took the small, cream-colored envelope from Remus and opened it. At first, it looked empty and he was about to discard it as a prank. Right before crumpling it, however, he caught sight of a single, silvery hair at the bottom. With the tip of his finger, he drew it out.

"What's this Remus?" he asked, examining it more closely. Remus stared at it for a moment, a look of concentration on his face.

"Do you have a pensieve Sirius?" he asked, realization dawning on him.

"Not here; James and I share one at the office. Why?"

"Because I think that's a memory." Remus answered, still looking slightly baffled. Sirius nodded and put the hair back in the envelope.

"Why don't you and Leo come with me to the office and we'll have a look. I'll wake Leo." Sirius hurried up the stairs, not able to shake the feeling that something truly horrible was about to happen. "Leo," he said, pulling the covers from his sleeping son.

"What" Leo asked stupidly, desperately grabbing at the covers.

"Get up; we're going to the Ministry right now." Sirius explained hastily. Leo's eyes blinked open and he scrambled up, sensing the anxiety in his father's voice. He began to move toward the door, completely starkers, before Sirius stopped him. "Leo, you might want to put on some pants." Leo stopped dead in his tracks and blushed ruby red.

"Right, pants," he muttered distractedly, looking around the room for any clean cloths. He grabbed a pair of ratty jeans and pulled them on while moving toward the door. After pulling a wrinkled Chudley Cannons t-shirt over his head, he grabbed a pair of snow boots and hopped down the stairs while shoving them on his feet.

"Ready?" Remus asked, catching Leo as he tripped over the rug at the bottom of the stairs. Leo nodded and Sirius brought out a purple, lacy bras from the pocket of his robes. Remus looked at him with raised eyebrows, wondering very much where this was going.

"It's a portkey for emergencies," Sirius explained defensively. "Grab hold; it'll get us right to my office." Remus rolled his eyes but put a finger on the strap while Sirius grabbed hold of the more fleshy, substantial piece of the garment. Leo did the same, causing Remus to thank his lucky stars Leo hadn't been allowed around all of the Hogwarts girls. He would have been a miniature Sirius and Remus wasn't entirely sure the student body could take it.

After an uncomfortable few minutes, the group landed roughly in the Auror's office at the Ministry. "James must have it; I'll go get it," Sirius mumbled nervously, running off toward James' office. He returned a moment later with the pensieve and two very curious looking Potters.

" 'Lo Harry," Remus greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"Auror training; we have to follow one around for a couple days and Dad got hold of the list," Harry elucidated, rolling his eyes.

"Okay, I'm ready," Sirius said breathlessly, pulling the envelope from his pocket. His hands shook furiously as he brought the hair out with the tip of his wand. He dropped the hair into the swimming water and prodded it with the tip of his wand. "I'll go first then you all can follow," he directed, diving into the pensieve.

He found himself in the office of what looked like a very old house. The other four men appeared, looking around. Sirius saw Ella first and his breath caught in his throat. She was sitting in a chair, her beautiful hair matted and in clumps on her shoulders. Her skin was smeared with dirt and blood and her once beautiful dress was now brown and splotched, ripped in more places than one. Ugly bruises spotted her arms, neck, face, everywhere and her lips were chapped and puffy.

Leo nearly fell over, a look of horror on his face, but Harry caught him around the middle. "It's his office," the boy breathed hoarsely, all of the fear and weaknesses flooding his senses again.

"What?" Sirius asked gruffly.

"This is You Know Who's office," Leo repeated, his eyes watering.

". . .Please, have some tea," the dark lord said to Ella who shook her head. It was then that Remus, Sirius, and James noticed the tray of tea and biscuits on the desk.

"No," Remus breathed. "She's wouldn't."

"She doesn't have a choice," James replied, horror filling his voice, struggling to hold Sirius back.

"No? Why not? You must be very thirsty and hungry; come now, it's very good tea." Ella shook her head again, tears beginning to trickled down her face. "You do realize I can make you drink it don't you?" Voldemort grinned.

"Then you'll just have to force me." Ella's voice cracked but she looked straight into Voldemort's face, revulsion and fear evident in her eyes though she did not waver.

Sirius, Remus, Harry, James, and Leo watched in silence as Voldemort brought up his wand. "Imperio," he hissed. Ella's hands twitched a little as if she was trying to resist but a moment later, her fingers wrapped around the cup and went up to her lips. Sirius watched as the last of the tea slipped down her throat, all the while wishing he could do something. By the time she placed the cup back on the tray, Sirius was openly sobbing. Remus looked utterly horrified. The little girl they had raised from infancy was being murdered before their eyes; perhaps she was already dead. Ella choked, doubling over and falling to the floor. All the color had rushed to her face which was becoming the color of a tomato.

Voldemort got up and stood over her, sneering at the struggling girl. "That should speed Daddy up now shouldn't it? Does it hurt Ms. Black; I do so hope it does. That potion will kill you my dear, slowly and painfully like knives I'm told. Maybe your father should have given me what I requested." Sirius moaned as it seemed Voldemort was now talking directly to him.

A moment later, the picture went blank and the five-some once again found themselves in the Ministry. Leo was shaking, overcome with remorse and fear. Remus did not look much better; his face had gone completely white and his lips were pursed together like he was holding back sobs. James and Harry had no idea what to do or say and Sirius, Sirius had gone blank. He didn't look at anyone as he walked out of the office. Remus looked up at the door. "I'll follow him; James, can you watch out for Leo until we get back?" James nodded vigorously and Remus bowed his head slightly before heading out the door.

"Sirius! Wait up," Remus called out, jogging to catch up with the Auror. Sirius made no sign of acknowledgment as he continued walking. Remus caught up with him and grabbed hold his shoulder, spinning him around. In a move quite uncharacteristic of the normally mild-mannered werewolf, Remus pulled back his fist and sent Sirius spinning into the wall.

Sirius sat on the floor, blinking at Remus for a few moments. Remus, meanwhile was rubbing his fist and looking at least slightly apologetic (possibly more so because of his now injured hand than because of Sirius' possibly broken jaw). "Wh-what was that for?" Sirius stuttered, making no move to get up.

"How," Remus began, his teeth clenched. "Can you even think about giving up right now? We need to find Ella and you just left? How could you? Do you have that little hope in finding her? Sirius, I'm your best mate but I swear to Merlin, you're acting like a-like a."

"Child?" Sirius posed, trying to stand up. Remus nodded. "I-I it's just-well- you wouldn't understand. . ."

"WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND?" Remus boomed, causing a couple of Ministry employees to poke their heads from their offices. "WHO WAS THERE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY SIRIUS? WHO COMFORTED HER WHEN SHE HAD NIGHTMARES OR READ HER STORIES? WHO PUT BOWES IN HER HAIR AND CHANGED HER, FED HER, CLOTHED HER? DON'T PRETEND, NOT FOR ONE MOMENT, THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE SUFFERING HERE?" By the time Remus had finished his diatribe, tears were streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry Re-"

"Don't be sorry Sirius, help me find her and bring her back." Sirius nodded slowly, a bit afraid of his friend. Remus helped him up a bit more roughly than was necessary and lead him back to his office.

Meanwhile, Andrew had Ella's head in his lap. She hadn't woken in nearly two day and his desperation was getting increasingly more defined. The fresh bucket of slugs lay untouched near the door and he was frantically devising a plan for escape. Before, he wouldn't have even dreamed of attempting something so dangerous but given the circumstances. . . well he didn't really have another alternative.

Ella was cold to the touch and pale as snow. He could feel the very life in her spilling out. "Don't worry," he murmured, "I'll think of something." His mind raced. What could he do? How could he get out? If it had just been a matter of giving up his life, it would have been easy but. . .

It was over a day before he had a weak plan formed in his head, all the while, Ella was slowly leaving the world. He would need the help of someone who didn't care about preserving her own skin, someone who was just as desperate as he. He would need a wand, that was the only way anything would work. It was a shot in the dark but also the only alternative he had.

"Vivie," Andrew whispered in the darkness, scooting over to the woman. She had gotten progressively worse since Ella was no longer there to help her.

"What?" the woman asked in a faraway murmur.

"I need your help; Ella needs your help. Without you, she's going to die," Andrew began, performing his lines just as he had rehearsed them.

"What could I possibly do?"

"When the guards come in, I want you to, to lure one over to you. Then, now Vivie, you have to listen to me very carefully," Andrew paused, waiting to make sure that Vivienne was actually listening. She nodded and he continued. "Once he's over here, I want you to take this rope," he produced a tattered curtain tie which he had attained from his room. They had been there for the taking and he was surprised he hadn't noticed them before. "Then I want you to strangle him; I want you to kill him. Before they take you, Vivie, get the wand to me. Look, I know it's a lot to ask but-"

"I have nothing else to live for. If I can have a hand in saving Ella I'll do it." Andrew smiled a true smile for the first time in weeks. He pulled Vivie into a warm embrace, unable to believe that people could still be charitable in such terrible captivity.

"Thank you." Andrew handed her the rope and she put it behind her back just as three guards came in, wheeling in the meal cart. Vive stood, filled with a dignity Andrew had never seen in her. She kept the piece of rope concealed in the folds of her skirt as she walked up to the meal cart. Andrew watched in amazement as she walked right up to one of the guards and whispered something in his ear. To Andrew's surprise, the guard blushed and followed her as she lead him to a dark corner of the cage. The guard was young and slightly overweight, a black robe pulled tight over his bulging middle. Despite his age, he was going slightly bald and was just an all around repulsive sight.

Ugliness aside, he looked extremely eager as she positioned herself behind him and began pulling up his robes. He couldn't have seen what was coming; it happened far too fast. In a flash, the curtain tie was around his neck. Vivie covered his mouth with her arm as she used the other to pull rope tighter and tighter around his neck. The guard's face turned red and then purple before collapsing onto the floor. Without lessening her grip around his neck, Vivienne pulled the man's wand from the pocket of his robe. Unobtrusively, she rolled the wand across the floor, only a couple feet from where Andrew sat in complete shock.

It was only after Andrew had the wand safely concealed that the other guards noticed what was going on. "Hey! What are you doing?" the oldest guard boomed, charging over to where Vivie stood over the unconscious guard, the curtain tie still in her hand.

"Just giving him what he deserves," Vivie stated, her voice not shaking a bit.

"Why you little wench." the guard spat, bringing up his wand. "Avada Kedavra!" Vivienne crumpled to the floor in a flash of green light and was reunited with her daughter. "Get him out of here!" he roared, gesturing to the unconscious yet still breathing Death Eater. "What are you looking at?" he questioned, glaring at the prisoners menacingly. "There's nothing to see but I swear, one more person steps out of line and there will be hell to pay, and that goes for all of you." The guards walked out of the cage, slamming the gate behind them.

Andrew pulled himself to Vivie's side and, with a small pang of guilt, closed her eyes. He didn't have time to feel sorry for himself though; this was the time to act. He still couldn't believe the whole thing had actually worked. He felt the cool wand against his forearm, hidden in his sleeve. Now all he had to do was wait till everyone was asleep to make his move.

It was far passed midnight before he could put his plan into action. All the while, he went through everything in his head, over and over, hoping against hope everything would go as he planned. When he was sure not a soul was awake to see what he was doing, he pulled the wand from his sleeve and turned to Ella's sleeping form. With a wave of his wand, she shrunk into a small, brown mouse without even opening her eyes. With a silent prayer, he shoved the wand up his sleeve again and transformed into his animagus form. He picked up the mouse Ella and tiptoed toward the bars of the cage. Andrew's cat form, like his human form, was abnormally thin and, as such, could slip through the bars easily. He stayed close to the shadows and avoided the troll-like Death Eater who guarded the gate. Slowly and cautiously, he made his way up the stairs, trying not to make a sound. His heart was pounding in his chest as he got to the top of the stairs. Drunken laughter and candlelight flooded from an open door. It was the only light given to the dark hallway that Andrew was quite sure went on forever.

Seeing wasn't a problem with his cat-vision but he knew he couldn't get caught now, not when he was this far out. He slunk through the shadows, passing the doorway as quickly as he could. Drunk with satisfaction at successfully getting passed the guards, Andrew didn't see the suit of armor in front of him and ran straight into it. The whole thing clattered to the floor with a loud crash. Andrew froze, Ella still in his mouth; she didn't stir.

"What was that?" Lucius Malfoy hissed, hurrying to the door, a glass of firewhisky clutched in his hand. Ornice Jugson quickly joined him, looking over the blond Death Eater's shoulder.

"Why Malfoy, it's just a little pussy!" Jugson exclaimed, sloshing his drink onto the floor. To Andrew's horror, Jugson scooped him up roughly, carrying him into the room full of Death Eaters. "Look what I found boys, and, umm. . . girls too I s'pose." He held Andrew and Ella aloft. Andrew clawed at the oaf's hand. "Pesky little bugger ain't yeh?" Andrew answered with another swat, this time digging his claws into Jugson's arm.

"Just dispose of the thing Jugson," Malfoy ordered, his nose turned up.

"Righ' I'll do that," Jugson said, rolling his eyes. He walked over to the window which was only about ten feet above the ground and dropped Andrew gracefully to the ground.

Andrew couldn't believe his luck. Not only had he been able to get passed the Death Eaters but they had actually helped him escape. He lost no time in bounding toward the town which lay beneath the manor. He was free.

If only Sirius could have known about Ella's escape. But, alas, he did not. It was nearing midnight and Sirius and Remus were sitting at the kitchen table, trying desperately to devise a plan. Time was running thin and their hope for finding Ella alive was faltering. A knock at the door pulled them both from their conversation. "Who could that be?" Sirius mumbled, picking up his wand from the table and getting up. He walked to the front door and opened it, pointing his wand at the intruder's face. It took a moment for him to recognize the "stranger". He didn't speak for a moment. "Regulus?" he asked disbelievingly after a few moments of silence. The man nodded and looked around shiftily.

"Who is it Sirius?" Remus asked, walking into the foyer from the kitchen.

"It's Regulus Black and I need to talk to both of you," he whispered. "Can I come in?" Sirius balked.

"Of course you cannot! Stinking Death Eater." Regulus rolled his eyes.

"Sirius, would I be here alone in the middle of the night if I were actually a Death Eater?"

"I don't pretend to know how that slimy mind of yours works."

"Sirius, I can tell you things about your daughter." Regulus stepped over the threshold.

"How-how do you-"

"Sirius, please, just close the door and I'll explain everything." Sirius closed the door and pushed Regulus into the kitchen and into a chair. "Could I bother you for a cup of tea?"

"Don't push your luck Regulus. There is very little keeping me from ringing your neck," Sirius barked. Regulus nodded, laughing lightly.

"Okay, I'll give you the short version. I stopped being a Death Eater a year ago but only announced the change publicly a couple weeks ago. Now Voldemort's after me and I was hoping, in exchange for information about finding Ella, I could get a little protection."

"Just tell me where Ella is and I'll give you anything you want," Sirius said hastily, ignoring Remus' wordless protest.

"Fine, I can get you there."

"How, I thought he would have used the Fidelius Charm and he couldn't have possibly made you his secret keeper." Remus spoke up for the first time, his eyes piercing through Regulus like a laser.

"Voldemort would never trust anyone enough to use the Fidelius Charm," Regulus explained slowly. "Look, I found out about Ella a couple of weeks ago or I would have come to you sooner. The thing is, I can't tell you exactly where she's being held, just the general area. You're going to need a large army to get yourself in there but I just wanted to offer whatever help I could."

"Yes, in return for your sweet hide," Sirius laughed cruelly.

"That, brother, is a nice perk but I would suggest showing a little more gratitude." Sirius sobered at Regulus' words.

"I'll arrange a meeting with Dumbledore tomorrow. Until them, I suppose you can kip on the couch."

Disclaimer: So, what do you think? It's very long, much longer than any other chapter I've written. I'm hoping for a little feedback though I've somewhat resigned myself to the fact that you all just won't review. Anywho, Happy New Year.