-1Disclaimer - Do I really have to do this every time? It's not mine, I'm just having a bit of fun with the characters, alright!
The Bitterest Pill I Ever Had To Swallow
The Eastern European team had managed to catch six Death Eaters within three weeks of arriving in Europe, and the group were feeling optimistic about their mission. Twenty eight days into the mission, Chloe was woken by a Ministry owl, summoning her back to the Ministry of Magic immediately. She apparated back, and was greeted by Kingsley Shacklebolt, who took her into his office.
"Chloe, we've had some bad news."
Knowing exactly what was coming next, Chloe tried to leave the office, muttering about doing her duty and abandoning the mission.
"Chloe please sit down, please," Kingsley asked her, gently placing her into the chair on the other side of his desk. "Chloe, your parents were found dead at their house this morning."
"No," Chloe cried, "No, this can't be true! This can't be happening, Kingsley, it's not true, it can't be!"
"The Avada Kedavra curse was used on them so far as we can tell, but it looks like your mother put up one Hell of a fight."
"But my father was a muggle." Chloe whispered, swallowing as if she was trying to ingest a tablet stuck in her throat.
"I know, I understand how you feel. It's not fair Chloe, this wasn't even his war. But you know what He Who Must Not Be Named is like, he doesn't care who he kills."
"Where are their bodies?" Chloe asked, not knowing if she wanted to hear the answer.
"They're here in the Ministry. We weren't sure if you wanted to see them."
"Yes, I want to see them. I need to." Kingsley sighed.
"Very well, I'll take you down now."
After seeing her parents bodies Chloe was told she was being given compassionate leave from the mission, and she could take as much time as she needed. In a daze, she made to leave the Ministry, before a thought struck her.
"Kingsley, do you know who it was?" He hesitated for a split second, and it was then Chloe knew that they knew.
"We have no proof, but we believe it was Bellatrix Lestrange. It seems to bear all the hallmarks of one of her attacks." Nodding, Chloe left the Ministry, and walked back to her house in London.
After a few hours wandering aimlessly around London she arrived back at the house, greeted by the sympathetic faces of Hermione, Ginny and Tonks.
"We heard," Tonks said quietly. "I'm so very sorry Clo." Chloe nodded in acknowledgement, her throat feeling like it was made out of sandpaper. She retreated upstairs to her bedroom, and sat in the same position all day, listening to the same song on repeat, ignoring Hermione and Ginny's attempts to get her to come out, and Mrs. Weasley's attempts to get into the room and talk to Chloe when she went around.
Later that night Fred and George arrived at the house, having heard the news from their mother.
"How is she?" George asked anxiously. Hermione shook her head.
"We've no idea, she hasn't spoken to anyone all day. She doesn't even know that Tonks has gone to take her place on the mission. I think she's just sat up there smoking all day, smells like it."
"And she's listened to this song all day as well, I think she has it on repeat." Ginny added, rubbing her already red eyes.
"I think I'll go up and see if she'll talk," Fred said, "it's worth a try."
Ten minutes later Fred was back in the living room, a mournful look on his face.
"She didn't say a word. Didn't even open up the door. I don't know what she's charmed it with, but nothing worked."
"I know, we tried everything to get in there." Hermione sighed. "I don't know what we can do for her."
"I think I'll give it a go," George said, "you never know, she might let me in at least."
As George climbed the stairs the music got louder and louder, and he wondered if she would even hear him through the door. He couldn't go without trying though. Reaching her door, he tapped on it gently.
"Chloe? Are you ok? Chloe let me in, please?" He was surprised to hear a soft click, and felt the door give way when he pushed it. Chloe was sat in the darkness on her bed, her back against the wall, which appeared to be the only thing keeping her upright. Her head was resting on her knees, and George could see an ashtray holding several cigarette butts on her bedside table.
"Your Dad smoked, didn't he Clo?" She didn't move. He moved slowly towards the bed and sat down next to her. When she still didn't move, he put his arms around her, and she collapsed against him, burying her head in the crease between his neck and shoulder. They sat in the same position for a while, until George manoeuvred them so they were lying on the bed, Chloe's head resting on George's chest. They laid there in silence for nearly an hour before Chloe spoke.
"He did. He smoked Marlboro Lights, and Mum hated it and tried to make him quit, but it never worked." she whispered. "He used to say smoking would be the death of him…" her voice cracked, but she didn't cry.
"Clo, what are we listening to?" he asked gently. Chloe sniffed.
"It's called "Blinded By The Lights". It's all about drugs, nothing to do with death. I didn't want to be reminded of mum and dad tonight, I just like the song."
"Fair does. Hermione and Ginny said you've been up here all day."
"My parents were murdered George, what do you want me to do, dance up and down Diagon Alley?"
"I'm not saying that, but don't you think you should talk about it?"
"If you've just come up here to bug me then you can piss off, alright? I'll deal with it my own way." George was slightly shocked by Chloe's reaction, she had never spoken to him like that before. Knowing that he wasn't going to 'piss off', and leave her on her own that night, he stayed silent, wrapping his arms more tightly around her.
In the middle of the night, George woke up to Chloe crying softly on the edge of the bed. He reached out and pulled her close to him once more. She turned to look at him, and he thought his heart would break at the sight of her tear streaked face in the moonlight. At the same time he was irresistibly reminded of another time Chloe's skin had been bathed in moonlight, at Bill's wedding, and mentally punched himself for thinking about that night at such a time.
"I'm sorry George, I'm so sorry." He hushed her, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"You've nothing to be sorry for Clo." He pulled her so she was lying flush against him, and made to kiss her on the forehead. At the same moment she tilted her head up to say something, and found his lips covering hers. Time seemed to stop as they kissed, before Chloe fell asleep in George's arms.
The next morning George woke up in Chloe's bedroom, and noticed Chloe sat at the end of her bed, apparently after showering and dressing.
"Clo?" he asked uncertainly.
"I'm going to find her George. I'm going to find Lestrange and I'm going to fucking kill her." she replied in a cold voice, which scared George slightly.
"What do you mean Clo, you're going to find her? How are you going to do that?"
"I just will George. She killed my parents, and I'm going to make her pay."