Rose woke up with a burning pain in the back of her head. Her vision was blurry and her stomach churned. She figured that she had a concussion. It wasn't really a surprise based on how many times her head had gotten knocked. For a moment, she only remember the first few hours of her capture.
And then remembered how she had been knocked out this past time. She tried to sit up, but dizziness flooded her conscious. She fell back down and heard a tsking sound.
"I'm surprised you're alive." There was a man leaning against the pillar across from her. Rose crawled back, trying to get away from him. "Why did you have to run? Why did you have to ruin everything?"
Rose choked out a breath.
She looked around. The man had moved her into the lit part of the dungeon. She felt like throwing up, thinking that his hands might have been on her body. But it was more probable that he had used a spell, because he wouldn't want to touch her either.
She tried to focus on the man, but her head throbbed. She could tell that he had light hair and fair features. He actually looked… sort of beautiful for a middle aged man. He looked better than he had as a woman.
"The body…" She gasped as she clutched her head. When she wiped under her eyes, she frowned at the wet sensation on her face. Rose looked at her hand and her breath caught, seeing the blood smeared across it.
"Mmhmm." The man looked totally unconcerned.
"Is that…" Rose couldn't finish. She had not seen Atria's mother's decaying bodying in the dungeon. She couldn't believe this psycho had been impersonating Lestrange.
"Isis Lestrange?" The man finished. Rose closed her eyes. "Unfortunately, yes."
"Why?"
Why would he want to kill the daughter of the most prolific Death Eaters? If he was looking to lead the Death Eaters, wouldn't she help? Realization hit Rose. That's why he pretended to be her, so he could lead the Death Eaters without her.
"She was getting in my way. I didn't need her anymore."
Rose breathed. He had murdered, and based on the amount of blood it had been brutal, a pureblood who was descended from a powerful family and who had been a Death Eater. If he could do that to someone like Isis Lestrange, what would he do with Rose?
Rose shuddered at the thought and she laid her head down, trying to hold back tears.
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Atria stopped short. She saw Harry and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement talking. Her adrenaline rush was gone now and suddenly all she could see was Azkaban and what she imagined the inside looked like.
She couldn't do this. She was signing her own death warrant. A one way ticket to Azkaban…
Shut up! She told herself. This is for Rose.
She stalked up to the two men, who were speaking in hushed tones.
"I need to speak with both of you." She interrupted. They both looked questioningly at her.
Harry cleared his throat, "Atria, can this wait-"
"No." She snapped and a few nurses looked at her. She lower her voice, "I have to speak with you two in private." The men glanced at each other. Alvarez, she remembered the other man's name. They had met at several Ministry functions over the past few years.
Alvarez grabbed a nurse, "Is there an office we can use?"
The nurse blinked, "Um… I think that one over there is empty. The healer is with a patient now." Atria walked across the hall the the glass panelling and then went inside and closed the curtains.
"Atria, what is this about?" Harry folded his arms.
"She lives with you?" Alvarez seemed to be remembering her as well. Harry nodded.
"I want something to be abundantly clear before I tell you this." Atria said firmly.
Alvarez shifted uncomfortably. "You're not giving us a lot of confidence in you."
Atria smirked despite herself. "I care so much about all of you. I consider you my family and that's why I'm doing this. Finding Rose is more important than anything."
"Atria-"
She held up a hand to stop Harry. "I think I might have an idea about where Rose is and how she was taken." There was a pause.
Harry looked at her like he was begging her to take it back. "How?"
"You know how."
Alvarez looked between the two of them. "Am I missing something?"
Harry opened his mouth, but it was Atria who spoke. "He found me while raiding a Death Eater hide out." Atria said and Alvarez waited for her to continue. "The girl you're looking for is me. My mother is leading the Death Eaters."
Alvarez's jaw dropped and Harry groaned. "Atria, do you realize-"
"Yes," Atria snapped. "I know that I am signing my own death warrant right now, but if I didn't tell you I would be signing Rose's. I want to tell you that my mother wouldn't hurt her… but I don't know her anymore."
"You're a Death Eater." Alvarez said.
"Not anymore."
"You're the granddaughter of Bellatrix Lestrange."
"Yes, and if I could change that, I would."
Alvarez looked at her for a moment and then started shouting. "You've known this whole time? You've had crucial information that we need and you let people die!" Atria winced.
"No," She shouted back. "I only had a name. I knew nothing of their plans. I didn't know where they were hiding-"
"Then how do you plan to find Rose?" Harry interrupted. Yes, that was why she was here.
"I realized how my mother got into the Ministry."
"So it was your mum."
"I'm assuming yes. The metamorphmagus trait runs in my mother's side of the family. I think she's one too. She could have taken on the identity of any Ministry official and no flags would be raised because she didn't use a polyjuice potion." Atria explained.
"But you don't know for sure?" Harry asked urgently.
"No, but it fits. It would help explain how she escaped from Azkaban. All she had to do was wait for an opportunity… a new guard, a system malfunction and she could get out."
"How could you not know?" Alvarez growled. "She's your mother."
"My mother… it's complicated. She killed my father. After that she changed, as one would expect, she wasn't the same person who raised me. I don't know what she's capable anymore and I don't know all of her secrets." Atria sighed, slightly amazed they hadn't arrested her.
"So where is Rose?" Harry asked.
"I think she's at Castel Lestrange."
"What?" Both men gaped at her.
"It's my family home in Paris. It's very well protected and you have to be part of the family to get in. And even then, you could die. But I went there in the summer, and my mother's portrait was frozen. No one was there at the time and it looked like no one had been there for years. But there's a dungeon and it's nearly impossible to find, much less get in."
Harry folded his arms, "How do we get there?" Alvarez gripped Harry's arm.
"How do we know we can trust her?"
"You're not dead." Atria muttered. Harry looked at her and she shrugged. "I have been living with you for three and a half years, I have had plenty of opportunities to kill you. But I haven't."
"Why?"
She looked at Harry. "Because you're my family now. I didn't want to stay with you and I didn't want to go to Hogwarts. But I haven't looked back. You helped me realize what family is and you taught me love. So for that… thank you. I am eternally grateful." Atria's throat burned and she blinked away the tears. Harry knew she was saying goodbye. She could see in his eyes the regret at how things turned out.
He cleared his throat, but his voice was still scratchy. "So you think Rose is at your house?"
"We have a dungeon."
"Of course you do. So what are we waiting for?"
"There's a problem with getting in. First, assemble all the pureblood Aurors you have. Mr. Malfoy should come with us as well. You're going to need me to get you inside. Also, you need me to get into the dungeon and get out. Once you're in only a member of the house can let you out."
"But we don't know that's where Rose is?" Alvarez asked.
Atria hesitated and then shook her head. "There's still so many questions that need to be answered. I still don't understand why she took Rose."
"For leverage."
"No, that doesn't make sense."
"Can you give us some insight into your mother?" Harry asked.
Atria sighed helplessly. "I don't think so. I never would have thought my mum was capable of murder. She was cold and prejudiced against muggles, but she wouldn't have killed them."
"It seems like you and your mum need to have a long talk." Alvarez said grimly. "You'll have plenty of time to chat in Azkaban." Atria's heart sank. Those were the words she had been dreading. But she had no intention of going to Azkaban.
"Alvarez," Harry sighed, but was cut off by a dismissive wave.
"I'm going to get a team together." Alvarez told him and then turned to Atria. "If you're lying or leading us into a trap… I will execute you on the spot."
Harry let out a low breath as Alvarez went for the door.
"Show me what you look like. The real you." Alvarez demanded. Atria opened her mouth and then ran a hand through her blue hair as it turned black. Her face became slimmer and altogether more chiseled and cold. She knew she looked like her grandmother. Her eyes were black as opposed to their usual vibrant purple. "Put restraints on her."
Atria looked at the ground. She started when the door slammed shut.
"Atria…" Harry sighed.
She shook her head. "I know. I know I messed up. I should have told you the moment the Death Eaters escaped…"
"You should have told us the moment we took you home. Why didn't you? You were just a child then, you couldn't be blamed for your parents… or grandparents. But not, it's more than that, you've lied."
Atria's lip trembled as she spoke. "I didn't plan on sticking around. To me, you were blood traitors. You wouldn't have let me go if I told you and I needed to escape."
"Why did you stay? Why didn't you tell us later? We wouldn't have cared-"
"Yes, you would have! Even if you know in your heart that it doesn't change who I am, you can't help but wonder… you can't help but see the resemblance." Atria whispered. "I stayed because you showed me how good life could be with people who loved you. And I didn't tell you later because I didn't want to see that love disappear. The person that I was before I met you no longer exists. There was no reason to tell you, because I had no connection to my old life."
"And then the Death Eaters escaped from Azkaban."
"I regret not telling you then, but I was scared." Atria wiped under her eyes. "I was so scared that you would have to arrest me. I didn't know anything at that point. I was so far removed from my past life, but I was afraid that you would think I was hiding something…"
"So why tell us now? Alvarez wants to send you to Azkaban… and after everything that's happened…" Harry didn't need to finish. No one would argue if she was sent to Azkaban. "And you know this, so why now?"
"Rose." Atria said simply. "She is my best friend. I would die for her. And it looks like I'm getting the chance to prove it. Before, I didn't know any more than you. My mother is a stranger to me, but as soon as I had information I came forward." She said defensively.
"Attie, I can't save you."
Atria's throat contracted and her eyes burned. "I know." Her voice cracked.
"How do we tell…" Everyone.
"You have to let me tell Albus. He needs to hear it from me."
Harry's eyebrows raised slowly. "Albus?" He repeated and Atria nodded, hoping she wouldn't have to spell it out.
"He know's that I've been hiding something, but I couldn't tell him what."
Harry looked like he had been knocked over the head. "Albus?" He said once more.
And despite everything Atria smiled. "Yes. You sound so surprised."
"You share a bathroom."
Atria barked out a laugh. "Why is everyone so stuck on that? Look, to be fair this is the first time we've shared a bathroom since we started going out."
"When were you going to tell us?" Harry said loudly and this was the most emotion he had shown in the whole conversation.
"Out of everything I just told you, this is what you're most concerned with?" Atria looked at him and Harry shook his head.
"I just never thought…"
"We fought it." Atria sighed.
"This is going to crush all of them. Not just Albus, but Lily and James, and when we get Rose back… she's going to be rescued only to find out that it cost you your freedom."
"It's worth it."
Harry was silent for a minute. "Tell me the truth." Atria held her breath. Those were her least favorite words. "Do you think Rose is still alive?"
Atria took a deep breath. "I don't know."
Harry looked at her for a moment and then nodded.
"I need to put a magical binding on your wrists."
"Can I talk to Albus first?" Atria asked hopefully.
"I have to restrain you, but I'll bring him up here." Harry told her and she held her hands together. He pulled his wand out and a gold light flowed out of his wand and around her wrists. "Try to move your hands." Atria pulled her hands apart, but only managed get an inch.
"Please…" Atria said as Harry was leaving. He turned back. "Please, tell Hermione that I'm sorry. And tell Ginny that she… she has been a good mother to me." Harry nodded and then turned away quickly. The door shut with a soft click.
And in the quiet, Atria finally broke down sobbing.
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Harry had tunnel vision as he walked through St. Mungo's. He couldn't imagine how he was going to tell the family. He thought about Atria throughout the years. He had watched her grow up to some extent. It was stupid of him to not have considered the possibility. He had found her near a Death Eater hideout.
She had never spoken of her past. But he had watched her with Hermione, a muggle born. She wasn't prejudiced. She wasn't cruel. And then he thought about all the times Albus had insisted that she wasn't as great as everyone made her out to be. Harry knew she could be… impatient and reckless. Albus had said that she was careless and harsh. And now, Harry had to tell his son that he had been right all along.
But for once, Albus wasn't going to want to hear it.
All of the children were with Scorpius. Harry closed his eyes.
He didn't know how to say it. They were going to ask questions, and he didn't know how to answer them. And how the hell was he going to tell Ron and Hermione?
Harry stopped procrastinating and opened the door.
"Atria-" Amanda cut herself off. "Oh, Mr. Potter, did you see where Atria went? She ran out of here like someone lit a fire under her a-" Amanda cough, "um… her butt."
Harry looked at the four of them. It was probably a good thing that Lily and Hugo weren't here. "Yes, she wants to speak with you." He looked at Albus.
"Why?" Scorpius asked and Amanda smirked knowingly. Harry wondered if they knew.
Albus quickly said, "Where is she?"
"She's on the fifth floor in the Head Healer's office."
Albus raised his eyebrows. "Why?" Harry glanced at the clock on the wall.
"You need to go… now." Harry stressed. Alvarez would be back for Atria any minute and then she would lead them into what had she called it… Castel Lestrange? And after that, she would be sent to Azkaban if Alvarez kept to his word.
Albus frowned, but then stalked out of the room.
"Why does she want to see him?" James asked.
Amanda smirked, "Because they're together."
Scorpius scoffed, "No they're not."
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Yes, they are. It was a little bit obvious that something was going on, but it was confirmed today." James's mouth flopped open like a fish.
"Atria and Albus?" He said slowly.
Amanda nodded.
Scorpius leaned back, "How could we not have seen that?"
"You and Rose were too busy with your Head Duties." She shrugged.
"Still."
Harry didn't want to disrupt the normal conversation they were having. After they found out who Atria was they would never be able to have a normal conversation about her again. Depending on how things played out they might never be able to have any conversation about her.
Harry regretted the way things played out. He wasn't as surprised as he thought he should be, but the more he thought about it the more it dawned on him that Atria could spend the rest of her life in Azkaban, or worse, be given the dementor's kiss.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
Harry hadn't realized that they were all looking at him.
"I have to tell you something. It's going to be difficult to hear…"
Scorpius jerked up, "Is Rose alright?"
Harry nodded, "We haven't found her body if that's what you mean. We actually have a lead."
Scorpius smiled for the first time since he found out Rose was missing. "That's great! What's the plan? I'm going with you wherever she is."
"You can't come with us." Harry said automatically.
Scorpius's brows got real low. "Why not? Rose is my best friend."
"It's not about that. Look, I'm just going to say it. We have confirmation that it was Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter who took Rose. There were some things that the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement didn't tell us… like that Bellatrix Lestrange also had a granddaughter…" Harry's throat tightened.
"Albus already told us that." Amanda folded her arms.
Here it goes… "Atria is that girl. She thinks she knows where her mother took Rose and we're going to search."
All three of them were shocked into silence. Amanda was the first to speak. "That's impossible," she shook her head in denial.
Harry sighed, "I know it's a lot-"
"It's more than a lot! Amanda's right, it's impossible. Whoever told you this-" James burst out.
Harry cut off his son, "Atria told me this. She came to us and told us everything."
Scorpius growled, "How could she do this to Rose?"
"She hasn't been in contact with her mother since before she came to live with us." Harry said, not wanting them to blame Atria for the current situation.
"Why didn't she say something sooner?" Scorpius demanded.
"It's complicatde, but she thinks her mother is a metamorphmagus."
Amanda frowned, "She doesn't know?"
"I get the feeling that she didn't have the most open relationship with her mother. She thinks that's how her mother got into the ball."
"So where is Rose?" Scorpius snapped.
"Atria thinks her family home is where her mother would go. Apparently the have a dungeon."
James looked at Scorpius, "Do all pureblood families have secret lairs with dungeons on hand? Because that's creepy." Amanda glared at James and smacked his arm. Scorpius didn't even seem to register his question.
He shook his head absently, "Why didn't she tell us? If she has nothing to do with them, why not be honest? Or at least she could've told me." He whispered.
Harry sighed, not knowing exactly what to say. "She was scared. When we found her, she was only fourteen years old. And think of everything that she must have been told."
"It's amazing she's not a maniac." Amanda muttered.
Harry nodded, "It really is."
"So what's going to happen to her?" James asked the question that Harry had been dreading. How was he supposed to respond to that? Because the truth was horrible, but they all had to be prepared for it.
"Honestly… I don't know."
"But she hasn't done anything wrong," Amanda said. "I mean, you can't help who your family is." Harry's heart warmed to hear that, but unfortunately that wasn't the end of the story.
"They're not after her because of her family. Alvarez doesn't even think she had anything to do with the attacks…"
"Then what's the problem?" James demanded.
"I think he's going to accuse her of hiding or withholding important evidence. Which to be fair, he does have a point, but I don't believe that she knew any crucial evidence up until today. And she came to us immediately after she did realize."
"I still don't understand…" Amanda shook her head. "She didn't know that her mother was a metamorphmagus? Did she know it was her mother orchestrating the attacks?"
Once again, Harry didn't have all the information. "I'm not entirely clear on the situation. Technically, it's just a theory that her mother is a metamorphmagus, but Atria seems to think that's how she escaped from Azkaban as well."
Scorpius glared off into space. "Why didn't she tell us who the Death Eaters were as soon as they broke out from Azkaban?"
"She made a mistake. She was afraid." Harry said. "It would be better if you spoke with her about it."
Amanda looked up, "When will we be able to speak with her?"
Harry sighed, "I don't know. But I have to go tell Hermione and Ron."
They all cringed, imagining the pair's reaction to this piece of information.
Scorpius started to get out of the hospital bed. "I'm coming with you."
"Scorpius-" Harry shook his head.
"No. I'm feeling better and I need to be there." Scorpius said firmly.
"We're coming as well." James motioned to him and Amanda. Amanda shot James a look.
"You're not ready to walk, much less go into a dangerous situation. Neither of you are." Amanda argued, glancing at the two boys. Harry had to agree with Amanda.
"Scorpius, I think your father will be coming with us. You need to talk to him."
"I'm adult, my father doesn't say what I can do."
"Not as your father, but as a healer you need his opinion. Furthermore, this is Auror business we can't take students into a field situation." Harry said with a certain finality. The boys immediately started protesting, but Amanda shut them up.
"We have no idea what's happening!" She snapped. "We need more information. All of us." She looked between Scorpius, James, and Harry. "There has to be a plan, and we're going to need Atria's help."
Harry nodded, "She's right, you boys can't go in halfcocked."
"You don't want us to do anything." James argued.
Amanda silenced him with a look. "We need to talk to Atria."
"I wonder what she's saying to Albus."
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Atria looked at the magical cuffs that bound her hands together. Merlin, this was not how she wanted to tell Albus about her past and her family. She was terrified of what he might say… would he still want to be together.
Albus wasn't judgement… anymore. He cared about he and she couldn't believe that he would leave her because of her name. She was worried about him being angry because she kept it from him.
But was it was of Atria to ask that he stay with her? He would if she asked him to, but she wanted it to be for the right reasons. Not simply because he felt like it was his obligation.
She was so caught up in her mental argument with herself that she didn't notice Albus come into the office.
When he saw the look on her face, which she imagined must have been distraught, he came over to her, capturing her face in his palms.
"Atria, what's wrong? My father said… has something happened with Rose?"
Atria shook her head and looked up at the ceiling, trying to blink the tears away. Her throat was tight and she knew that her voice was going to sound choked. "I told you I have a secret…" She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"You said you couldn't tell me yet." She felt his knuckles brush her cheek softly.
"I'm telling you now." She opened her eyes and memorized what would probably be the last non-betrayed look in her eyes. "I told you a little bit about my parents, but I didn't tell you everything." Albus frowned.
"Why are you telling me this now?" He asked slowly and she saw the suspicion in his eyes.
"Albus, Isis Lestrange is my mother."
His hands stayed on her face, but his eyes were blank. It was like he was looking right through her. Atria put on hand of his, keeping his palm pressed to her cheek.
"Please say something," Atria gripped his hand. He blinked a few times and then he focused on her.
"The woman… that everyone is searching for… is your mother. You're Bellatrix Lestrange's granddaughter." He said slowly. Atria hesitated and then gave a quick nod. "And you're telling me now…"
"I think it was my mother that took Rose and I think I might know where she is."
Albus snapped out of his complacent state. "Where is Rose?" He asked urgently, drawing his hands away from her face. Atria missed the warmth immediately.
"I think she's at my family home-"
"Then what are we waiting for?" He demanded.
"Alvarez is getting a team together and then I will have to explain to them-"
Albus stopped her, "I'm coming with you." Atria opened her mouth and then closed it and shook her head.
"Albus," She sighed, "I want you to come but it's too dangerous."
He stepped away from her. "I get O's in DADA, I'm a better dueler than you-"
"It's not about that." She interrupted. "Look, my house is a dangerous place for anyone, but especially if you're not a pureblood or a Lestrange."
Albus frowned, "So your house is discriminatory?"
Atria wanted to laugh at how absurd it sounded. "Yes."
"Is Scorpius going with you?"
"That's up to him."
"He'll want to go."
"I won't stop him, but Alvarez might."
"How much trouble are you in?" He looked at her magical binding.
Atria managed to keep a straight face and say, "I'm not sure, but Alvarez is not happy with me."
"And my father?"
"I think he understands why I lied." Atria said slowly. "But I don't care what they think… I only care about your opinion." He was avoiding eye contact.
"This is a lot to take in…" He sighed. "I wish you had told me."
"I was afraid of how you would react."
"I don't think my reaction was all that bad."
"You haven't really given me one…" Atria said.
Albus rubbed the back of his head. "I think we should talk later." Atria swallowed thickly.
She felt herself nodding. "Okay." She croaked.
A moment later the door opened and Alvarez came in with a hard face. He glanced between Atria and Albus, but then focused on Atria.
"Come with me."
Atria gave Albus one final look before following Alvarez into the hallway. Several people noticed the handcuffs, but thank Merlin for her blue hair and softer facial features, otherwise people might have recognized her. She didn't want to be in the middle of a crowd full of people when they found out it was her mother that put them in the hospital.
He took her into a waiting room that had been closed off to the public. Inside were seven Aurors and one man who didn't look much older than Atria. They all went silent as Atria came into the room. Harry came in a moment later.
"As you all know, we have a lead on the Death Eaters and where Rose Weasley might be. This is Atria Lestrange and she's going to tell us everything she knows." Alvarez announced.
Atria glared at the man for a good long moment. He had completely thrown her under the bus. Now she was receiving hateful glares from almost everyone in the room. Harry nudged her shoulder, queuing her to speak.
"Um… right. I think my mother might be in our family home in Paris." Several eyebrows shot up. "So that's where we're going…" She wasn't really sure what to say.
"How is it possible that Bellatrix had a daughter that the Ministry didn't know about?" One woman asked.
Atria swallowed, "I think my mum was taken to a different country to the British Ministry wouldn't keep track… I'm not sure really. But I was born on a small island off the coast of Africa that has no wizard populous."
"How can we trust you?" Another man asked.
"Well, I've been living with the Potter's for nearly four years. I was a child when they found me and I think that helped change me."
"But if your parents raised you as a Death Eater, does that really ever go away?"
Atria frowned, "You should ask Healer Malfoy. Look, despite what my mother is now, once upon a time she was caring and loving… she didn't want to me to be a killer. That's not to say that she wasn't prejudiced, but she hasn't always been…"
"Insane?"
"Yea." Atria said dryly. "I'm not perfect, but I'm not evil."
"Why didn't you tell the Potter's who you were then?"
"I never planned on staying with them. But… I decided that maybe a normal life wasn't so bad. At first, I didn't tell them because I wanted to escape." Atria looked at Harry. "But then it was because I didn't consider myself to be who I was. I wasn't the same person, so why should I tell them about a former life? I regret not telling them after my mother broke out of Azkaban."
"Do you think you could have stopped these attacks?"
"No. We now know that my mother is a metamorphmagus. Even if you knew her identity it wouldn't have helped. And I didn't know much more than you. I took a trip to my family home and no one was there. I had nothing else to offer, but… I should have said something. As soon as I had relevant information I came forward." Atria said firmly.
Alvarez sniffed, "Don't you think the Ministry should decide what information is relevant?"
Atria shot the man a hard look. "What do you plan on doing with me?"
He looked taken back by the question. "I don't understand."
"When this is all over… what do you plan on doing with me?" Atria crossed her arms. "You want to throw me in Azkaban." Alvarez didn't say anything. "I knew that would happen, so I wasn't going to come forward, if I didn't have anything useful."
"Why come forward at all?"
"Rose Weasley is my best friend. I would do anything for her."
"Even go to Azkaban?" The woman asked.
Atria inhaled. "If it's my life or hers… I know which I would choose."
No one said anything for a while. Atria cleared her throat. "I have something uncomfortable to ask you. Are any of you muggle borns?"
Alvarez sputtered, "I fail to see how that is relevant, unless you want to discriminate."
"Just answer the question." Atria snapped. One man raised his hand. "You can't come with us. My house… it's one giant death trap, even for a Lestrange or a pureblood. But for a muggle born, you would be killed before you even reached the front gate."
Alvarez suddenly looked alarmed instead of smug. "The house would kill him."
Atria now turned a smug look to him. "My house has many secrets, most of them deadly. When I went there over the summer the rose bushes attacked me and I swallowed by the foyer. The house will play games with your mind. I'm less concerned about the Death Eaters, and more concerned about someone losing their mind."
"And this is where Rose is?" Harry's eyes widened.
"I think so. But if my mother is keeping her in the dungeon she should be safe."
"The dungeon is the safe place?"
"It's hard to explain, basically it's just a cold dark room though. The difficulty is not to give yourself over to the despair. It won't play mind games with you, it won't make you see things, but it will make you feel empty. Almost like a dementor turned into a room."
"So how do we find this horrid place?"
Atria bit her lip. "That's the thing… the house is always changing. You learn to see the signs and the are hints as to how to get from one place to another, but I've forgotten."
"You said you were in the house recently." Alvarez said accusingly.
Atria rolled her eyes, "Yes, but I was swallowed by the foyer and lost in nothingness for a few hours. Then I checked around before finding the exit and high tailing the hell out of there."
"So how are we supposed to attack this place?"
"You don't. Our goal is to get Rose out and possibly find my mother. I doubt this is where the other Death Eaters are hiding."
Some of the Aurors looked put off. The muggle born was scratching his head.
"So should I leave?"
"No!" Alvarez snapped.
"Yes," I nodded. "I'm honestly not trying to be prejudiced. It's going to be a dangerous mission and it will be tenfold as dangerous for you. But I think we should bring Mr. Malfoy."
"I hope you mean me…" Scorpius said from the doorway. Amanda was propping him up and Draco was on his other side.
Atria didn't know what to say to them. Obviously they knew. They were all standing there, looking at her as if she was a stranger. Atria's mouth opened, but she couldn't say anything.
"Scorpius," Draco shook his head.
"Dad, you don't understand. I have to find Rose," He said in a soft voice that carried so many emotions. Atria's eyes watered just hearing his voice and seeing his determination. Then he turned to her.
"Scor…" Atria reached out to him, but he jerked away.
"Scorpius," Amanda sighed.
"You can barely walk." Harry interrupted our the silent destruction of our friendship.
Scorpius pulled away from Amanda and Draco. "Your house is dangerous for anyone who's not a pureblood." He said stiffly to Atria. "Well, I'm a pureblood."
"You're a child-" Alvarez scoffed.
"I'm top of my class, Head Boy, and I would challenge you to a duel right now, but I think we have better things to do," Scorpius said in a deadly voice.
Atria didn't want him to go. She didn't want him to see evidence of what her family was like. It wasn't logical considering what his family was like, and the fact that they were actually related, but with the way he was looking at her now… he didn't care that technically he was related to her grandmother as well.
"He should come." Atria said, looking Scorpius in the eyes. She could see he was grateful, even though he was angry with her. "He is a brilliant wizard and it will help to have another pureblood. Mr. Malfoy, you should come as well. We might need a healer." She said that last part quietly.
"And me?" Amanda looked at Atria.
Atria almost let out a sigh of relief, when she saw that her friend wasn't looking at her with hatred. It was more like confusion and pity.
"I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I think you should stay here." Harry said, before Atria could say something. But Atria actually agreed.
"Have you told Ron and Hermione?" Atria bit her lip, looking at Harry.
"Uh… yes. They want to come."
"Ron can, Hermione-"
"Can't?" Harry raised his eyebrows.
"I know it seems harsh, but it's for the best. Ron can come, but that doesn't mean I think he should. In fact, Scorpius-"
"I'm coming." He said harshly. Atria pressed her lips together.
"You might not like what you find?"
"Meaning?"
"Meaning a body." Atria didn't mean to sound that cruel, but Scorpius needed to prepared. They all did.
Scorpius jerked back. "You think she's dead?" He voice cracked and he staggered back into Amanda, who immediately took on his weight.
Atria started to speak, but then stopped because if she started speaking in that moment she would have completely broken down. She swallowed and fought the tightness creeping up her throat, clearing away the tears.
"I don't know. And that's what scares me."
Sorry this took so long! I hope it was worth the wait. Let me know what you think. - Alex
