Chapter 28. Avada Kedavra
"No, no, no, Astrid, please no," Camille sobbed and whimpered from her knees, tears fell down her cheeks, mixing with the blood and dirt that splattered them. Astrid was frozen, struggling for breath she stared sadly at her old friend. Lucius gritted his teeth, glowering at his old friend who had slunk to the back of the crowd, his back against the dark wall.
"I cannot," Astrid whispered breathily, her words barely audible.
"You must," Voldemort cooed, he released her hand and circled her frozen body, eventually coming to a standstill behind her back. He lowered his sickly mouth to her ear and whispered. "You must… or it will be you who dies… choose."
Astrid closed her eyes, she felt as if her body was swaying, her head feeling light. Lucius made a move for her but Voldemort thrust out his hand, ordering Lucius back to halt.
"No!" Voldemort seethed, "She will do this,"
"My Lord, she is not well… the child takes its toll, perhaps-" Lucius pleaded.
"Enough!" The Dark Lord ordered, Lucius didn't finish his sentence, the words just stopped pouring out. The Dark Lord ran his hands up Astrid's arms and gripped her steadily by the shoulders, causing the hairs on her neck to stand on end with disgust. "Stand strong Astrid dear," Voldemort whispered into her ear, more tears slipped down her cheeks as she opened her eyes to see Camille, terrified, begging for her life just a few feet away.
"I cannot," Astrid repeated. Voldemort wasn't taking no for an answer, reaching into his robe he pulled out his hideous wand and thrust it into her hands just as he had that day with the cruciatus curse. It felt alien in her hand, disgusting in her fingers, it made her want to throw it away from her, but she dared not for fear of his wrath. Her hands trembled as the Dark Lord took her hand and raised it, pointing it at Camille.
"Here," Voldemort purred, "You're a smart girl, you know the words,"
Astrid shook her head no, her hair tickling the Dark Lord's neck as he leaned in to her.
"Do it!" He hissed. He looked to Lucius for reinforcement, his deathly stare commanding him to urge the girl on.
"You must Astrid… you must do it… for us," Lucius told her weakly. She shook her head and let out a cry.
"No, I cannot, I will not… please… please let her go," she sobbed. The crowd smiled, some even chuckled, at her weak display.
"If you will not complete your task…" Voldemort hissed fiercely in her ear, "Then I will do it for you…" He forcefully ripped his wand from her grasp and shoved Astrid's petite frame aside, sending her tumbling down to the floor with a yelp.
"Avada Kedavra!" The Dark Lord wheezed loudly, stabbing his wand at Camille. A large flash of green light emitted from its end, blinding Astrid temporarily, forcing her to look away.
When Astrid looked up, no longer dazed, she caught the sight of Camille's body limply dropping forward onto the floor, crumpling under herself face down into the cold black wood. Astrid let out a bone rattling scream, one that made Lucius pale with guilt and sadness. That scream, so deeply filled with pain, would haunt his dreams every night to come.
The Dark Lord chuckled as Astrid dragged herself across the floor to Camille, she turned her over as best she could with her limited strength and mobility.
"Camille? Camille, oh Camille," Astrid sobbed as she pushed Camille's dark blonde locks out of her face, her hair crispy with dirt and dried blood. Astrid caressed her cheek lightly, before giving her a small pat, and then another, and another.
"Camille… wake up, please wake up," Astrid sobbed as she held her friends face.
"She is… dead… dear Astrid," Voldemort informed the young woman. Astrid shook her head in disbelief, she poured herself over Camille, hugging her friend's lifeless body tightly. "And sadly… because you failed this task…. You soon will be too,"
"My Lord, no, please," Lucius pleaded respectfully, "She is still learning, I will teach her to be strong in our ways, My Lord,"
Astrid wailed and whimpered as she buried her face in Camille, her long blonde hair scattered across the body. She wept and bawled for her lost friend, and for her own decided fate.
"I've had quite enough Lucius," The Dark Lord exasperated as he retreated to his throne, where he sat upon it casually, "Wormtail, take Miss Moody to the dungeon,"
"B-but m-my Lord-" Lucius pushed, he hoped to be able to negotiate with his master. But fear had taken over his body, and his usual confident negotiation and persuasion skills were not quite up to par… His beloved and his child were about to be ripped from him, and he knew he was powerless to stop it. He watched helplessly as Wormtail took hold of Astrids arms, forcefully pulling her to feet, she kicked and thrashed trying to free herself, but Wormtail didn't give in, he dug his claws into her and dragged her towards the door.
"Silence Lucius!" Voldemort commanded. "Stop your babbling! She will carry out the rest of her… term… in our custody, but as soon as that child comes Lucius, you will kill her, do you understand me? She will die and you will be the to do it."
Astrid wasn't aware that Malfoy Manor had a dungeon, though for some sad reason, she wasn't surprised. The ceiling was low, the walls moist with damp, there was no natural light, only the slight glow of a distant oil lamp. Astrid lay upon the stone floor, the shredded remnants of a blanket draped over her growing body. Her left arm cushioning her head, her right caressing her bump and feeling the movements of her child. She was glad her child was blissfully aware of her imprisonment. Tilly brought her two meals a day, mostly bread with water, it kept her fed and her baby growing, and she was grateful for scraps. Her only comfort now was knowing her child would live, even though it meant she would die.
Astrid prayed for the thing that once haunted her, she wished to go naturally, during the birth… it was better than the alternative… death by the hand of her beloved. She didn't wish that upon herself, or Lucius, though angry at his compliance and cowardice, she still didn't hate the man. He came to visit at first every day, but soon his visits became more sporadic, and now they were as rare as pixie dust. She knew her third trimester was coming to an end, she had lost count of her days long ago, but she could feel it within her, her bump had expanded quickly, her child growing restless inside her.
The glow of an oil lamp appeared outside her cell, Tilly the house elf was clutching it high, in her other hand a plate of bread and a small cup of water balanced upon it.
"Your breakfast Miss," Tilly squeaked sadly, propping the plate on the stone floor and sliding it through the iron metal bars of Astrid's prison.
"Thank you, Tilly," Astrid croaked as she sat up with a sigh, she could no longer crawl, her stomach too big to allow her, and she couldn't stand, her legs too weak to carry her. Instead, she opted to shuffle across the floor with a small whimper and a groan, Astrid clutched her stomach as her child kicked her relentlessly.
"Are you okay Miss, should I fetch the Master?"
"No, Tilly, it's not labour… just… this baby is strong, each kick is like a punch in the gut," Astrid sighed, picking up her bread and ripping it away with her teeth, most uncivilised, but she didn't care anymore.
"It won't be long now Miss, you'll be-" Tilly cut herself off suddenly, upon the recollection of what Astrid faced after the birth. "Sorry Miss, Tilly forgot," the house elf eyes teared up, she began scratched at herself nervously.
"It's fine Tilly," Astrid breathed, "Don't get yourself in a tizzy, I've come to accept what's coming…"
"Master has finished the nursery," Tilly informed the prisoner, hoping it would bring her some cheer.
"He has? What is it like?" Astrid asked, pulling herself closer to the bars and wrapping her hands around them eagerly.
"Light chestnut walls, with a large pastel rainbow. The furnishings are wooden, natural, Tilly likes the room, it feels different to the rest of the house," Tilly told her. It gave Astrid some warmth in her heart that Lucius had followed out the plans she had made with him before that fateful night, they had only discussed it casually, what she would like the nursey to be like, but he had remembered and executed it, despite knowing Astrid would likely never see it.
"That sounds lovely Tilly, thank you for telling me," Astrid smiled as she placed a hand on her bump, feeling the lively kicks of her baby.
"My pleasure Miss," Tilly said sadly, "I wish there was a way to help you Miss, but Tilly can do nothing,"
"I know Tilly, I appreciate the sentiment, you've been so kind to me…" Astrid sighed. Tilly pressed her small hand through the bars and touched Astrid's bump, the baby's kicks causing her eyes to go wide with wonder.
Astrid was awoken one night by the glare of an oil lamp, Astrid covered her face with her arm, screwing up her eyes against the sudden assault on her senses.
"Miss, Miss," The whisper of Tilly the house elf made Astrid peer over her dirt smeared arm.
"Tilly? What time is it?" Astrid asked groggily as she tried to peer through the blinding orange glow.
"Late, Miss, I brought a friend, someone I think… can help you," Tilly whispered, lowering the oil lamp she reveals a second house elf, this one wearing what looked to be a potato sack, tied at the shoulders were make shift straps. "Miss, this is Dobby… he used to work here until he was freed by my master,"
"Mr Harry Potter helped free me," the house elf named Dobby said proudly, "He is a friend of yours,"
"Yes, yes he is," Astrid breathed, sitting up, a slight panic ran through her… "Harry's not here, is he? It's too dangerous!" Astrid whispered, her eyes darting to the low ceiling above her, up there somewhere the Dark Lord resided.
"No, Miss Moody, Harry Potter is at Hogwarts, safe." Dobby told the witch, earning a sigh of relief from the girl. "Tilly came and found Dobby, told Dobby of Miss trapped in the dungeon," Dobby explained.
"Dobby told Mr Dumbledore," Tilly whispered with excitement.
"Dumbledore knows I'm here?" Astrid asked, her heart skipping a beat at the news.
"Yes Miss, Mr Dumbledore told Dobby to get Miss Moody from Malfoy Manor, so Dobby is here," Dobby told the girl. Adrenalin coursed through Astrid's veins at the news, on trembling arms she pushed herself up from the cold dirty floor and stood on two unsteady feet.
"Is this a rescue, Dobby?" Astrid asked, her voice trembling.
"Yes Miss, now please, stand aside," The house elf told the girl. Astrid did as she was told, pressing herself against the side wall of her cell, Dobby raised his hand and the locked cell door that separated Astrid from her freedom flew off its hinges, hitting the back wall of the cell and clattering to the floor.
"Come, Miss Moody, quickly Dobby will lead you," Dobby said urgently, part of her wondered if it was a trap to see if she would attempt an escape, but she didn't care, on wobbly legs she climbed over the fallen door and took Dobby's small hand in hers.
"Tilly must go, master will have heard the noise," Tilly said as she apparated away.
"Can you apparate us away from here? I cannot apparate within the house," Astrid told the elf.
"Neither can Dobby, Miss Moody, I no longer serve this house, we must make it to the gardens," The house elf said confidently, as he dragged the girl up the dungeon stairs. Pushing the door open to the main house, Dobby and Astrid peaked through, only the odd oil lamp lit the dark dwelling. No souls could be seen or heard so they emerged through the door, and they shuffled through the house towards the door that led to the gardens.
"What was that noise?!" The screech of Bellatrix Lestrange called out. Astrid and Dobby frozen, pressing themselves against a wall as they heard heels clicking on the wood floor of the room around the corner. "Elf!" demanded Bellatrix, the faint pop of apparition could be heard, followed by Tilly's squeaky voice.
"Yes, Mistress Bellatrix?" Tilly asked obediently.
"Wake your master! I fear something is amiss in this house, go!" Bellatrix ordered fiercely, as she stomped around the room. Dobby pulled Astrid back down the corridor they had just come from, pushing her into another room, it was what looked to be the kitchen and laundry. They heard the distant sound of Bellatrix shouting… "Yaxley! Yaxley!"
"This way Miss Moody," Dobby instructed in a hushed tone as he led Astrid through the kitchen to a service area, double doors here led to the sitting room, and on the far side of that, was the glass exit to the gardens. Dobby and Astrid listened for any sign of Bellatrix, and carefully pushed one of the doors open to take a peek, the room was empty. The two of them pushed through, and whilst crouched (as much as Astrid could crouch in her condition) made their way behind the sofa.
"What is so urgent Bella?" The gruff voice of Lucius called, causing both Dobby and Astrid to freeze behind the velvet sofa. The clicking heels of Bellatrix Lestrange entered the room, followed by a clicking of a cane.
"There was a loud noise Lucius, I'm surprised you did not hear it!" Bellatrix spat as she looked about the room. "I fear your… darling baby mama… is trying to escape,"
"She is nine months, she would not stage an escape now, the time has passed for that… just leave it Bella," Lucius sighed, turning on his heels to return to bed, but his leave was interrupted by a flustered Yaxley.
"The girl is gone, the cell door off its hinges!" Yaxley panted.
"I told you!" Bellatrix screeched, "Search the house, she can't be far!" Yaxley nodded at Bellatrix's order and left the room, beginning his search.
"Don't hurt her," Lucius called after his associate. Bellatrix simply laughed menacingly.
"Don't hurt her? She's trying to escape Lucius! I wouldn't be surprised if it's you that's helped her," Bellatrix accused, withdrawing her wand.
"You know it wasn't me, I was asleep!" Lucius defended exasperatedly. Astrid and Dobby listened as the bickering faded out, the two leaving the room to search. Dobby pulled Astrid along the sofa and the two made a break for the glass doors. Freedom was in sight as Dobby played with the charm on the door, until their escape was interrupted by a blood curdling cackle.
"Oh no you don't you little bitch!" Bellatrix screeched, aiming her wand at the duo. She was soon joined by Lucius, Yaxley and a giant of a man covered in dark greying hair.
"Astrid," Lucius breathed, "Don't do anything silly, please," He pleaded.
"It's too late Lucius," Bellatrix seethed through her twisted mouth, "She will die for this!"
"You will not harm Miss Moody," Dobby protested, holding out his hand.
"You filthy little house elf, how dare you!" Bellatrix screamed. Dobby took no time in registering her threat, as she raised her wand to curse the pair of them he waved his fingers, sending the sofa toppling into the group of death eaters, throwing them off their feet.
"Come, Miss Moody!" Dobby shouted, dragging Astrid through the now unlocked glass door. The two ran for their lives, flashes of green and orange sparked the ground around them as they high tailed it down the moonlit path to the beautiful staircase. The death eaters were in chase.
"Avada Kedavra!" Bellatrix squealed, her spell narrowly missing the blonde. Yaxley and the large man also shot various spells at the fleeing duo, all of them missing their mark.
"How far Dobby?" Astrid panted as she gripped her bouncing stomach, her legs could carry her no further.
"Down the stairs, Miss Moody!" Dobby shouted urgently as he dragged her down the stairs, at the bottom Astrid lost her footing, stumbling to her knees slightly. "Come Miss! Quickly!" Dobby warned as he pulled her to her feet.
The two set off running towards a grassed area, illuminated by the crescent moon that shone down on the manor. The death eaters were hot on there heels. Dobby led Astrid through the dewy grass and brought her to a halt, the house elf turned towards their pursuers, arm outstretched ready to ward off their attacks. The death eaters stopped in their tracks.
"You dare attack us!" Bellatrix screeched at the elf, "You will pay, you will both pay!"
"No… we won't," Astrid breathed with a grateful smile as Dobby apparated them away.