Chapter 2 - Interrogation

The moment that he saw her he knew that they were in for a long night. She was already completely exhausted from the trip and he could tell that she would still have to give birth tonight. He turned to his servant Marcus.

"Quickly go and get James. Tell him that we have a heavily pregnant woman who is definitely going to be having her child tonight. Get him to meet us in the spare room on the first floor and to have everything ready."

Marcus nodded and swept back into the castle to find the doctor for his master. Lord Maximillian Hufflepuff watched as the driver of the carriage and his other servant Jimmy helped the woman up the stairs.

"Lord Gryffindor said to bring her straight to you and make sure that you alone received her." said the driver, as he reached Hufflepuff.

"Quickly bring her this way," and he led them through the entrance hall to the upstairs bedroom to find his doctor James and his assistant Nicole waiting in the room with some medical supplies. "Lay her on the bed then go and find your master and bring him here."

He watched as the driver ran back out into the hall and down the stairs before kneeling next to Jennifer and took her hand.

"Please Max. Don't let them get my baby. They must not get my baby!" she stated shakily.

"It's ok Jenny. No one is going to get near either of you. I promise. Your driver has gone to fetch Xavier, and James here is the best doctor in this area. You are going to be fine." he said to the terrified woman lying on the bed in front of him.

James looked at Jennifer and realised that she was in far too hysterical a state and that if she wasn't settled then she would almost certainly die during the birth.

"Nicole, go to the storeroom and get me some extra towels and some Vexenwelt Potion," said James.

"Why do you need the Vexenwelt Potion master?" asked Nicole glancing uneasily at James.

"Just do it Nicole or this woman is going to die!" he hissed quietly at her so as not to be heard by Jennifer.

She nodded and quickly turned and left the room and headed downstairs to the storeroom.

James began gently pressing a wet cloth to Jennifer's head in an attempt to settle her down a bit to try to avoid complicating the birth further.

They managed to settle Jennifer enough to put her into an uneasy sleep. After waiting for several minutes for Nicole to return though James walked to the door and looked out it.

"Where the devil is Nicole?" he said as he looked left towards the stairs "She better hurry up or Jennifer won't make it."

"Just come back in here and help her or neither will make it," said Lord Hufflepuff.

He walked back to the bed leaving the door wide open and continued pressing the damp cloth to Jennifer's forehead.

Suddenly Lord Hufflepuff jumped up.

"STUPEFY!" he yelled pointing his wand at the corner.

James watched in stunned silence as the flash of red light struck, not the wall as he was expecting, but something a metre or so in front of the wall which he could not see. They heard a thud as the object struck the floor.

Hufflepuff walked over to a strange wet spot on the floor and struck the object with his wand which immediately started to take the shape of a man.

"Where did he come from?" asked James.

"He must have come in when you were at the door before. Do you recognise him at all?" Hufflepuff asked James who had now joined him at the stunned man's side.

"I do." The two men jumped as they saw Jennifer had been roused during the scuffle and was now staring at the figure on the floor with a mixture of disbelief and hatred on her face. "He is Xavier's nephew." She continued.

"Well, in that case, James fetch me that chair. Incarcerous." He watched the magical ropes tightly wrap around the body. Then he lifted the man into the chair further securing him.

"Enervate." He watched as the figure awoke and struggled against the ropes.

"Lemmego!" spat the man.

"What are you doing here Charles?" asked Jennifer looking at him with disgust.

"I said let me go. My father will hear of this." Growled Charles still struggling to get free.

"Charles, is it, 'eh." Said Max staring at the man with his wand still in his hand. "Why don't you answer Jenny's question first 'eh. What are you doing here?"

When Charles still refused to answer Max nodded to James who ducked out the door and returned promptly with a small black vial which he gave to Max.

"Good James, now hold his head for a moment."

James complied allowing his master to pour some of the clear liquid into Charles' mouth and then made him swallow.

"Now I shall ask you again. What are you doing here?"

This time Charles shook for a moment before speaking slowly and clearly.

"My father sent me here to kill her and my uncle so he can take over as Lord." He said.

Suddenly the driver ran back in the door panting and suddenly stopped, staring at the scene before him.

"Did I miss something, Sir?" he inquired of Max.

"We have just located one of the assassins. Did you find Xavier? I would like him to be here for this."

"Yes and no my Lord. I found him outside near the trees."

"Well bring him here."

"I may require some assistance to do that, Sir."

"And why is that my boy?" asked Max, becoming increasingly annoyed with the way the driver was dawdling.

"He's dead, Sir."

The whole room grew silent as the driver said this. Suddenly Charles broke out laughing and they all turned to face him.

"Of course he is! I killed him." He claimed proudly. Then he began laughing again.

"Enough! Show some respect you evil little…" Max began and he started towards Charles raising his wand.

"No Max. Don't kill him." Begged Jennifer. "Not yet at least."

Max stopped where he stood.

"Is there anyone else here with you Charles?" she asked softly.

Charles stopped laughing almost straight away and they could tell that he was struggling against the Veritaserum.

"Yesss." He slowly drawled. "My sister Belladonna. She is downstairs."

"Stupefy." Said Max slowly stunning Charles once more. "You two stay here with her. I will go and find this Belladonna."

Both James and the driver nodded. Then Max quickly disappeared through the door and the room became very quiet for a few minutes. Suddenly Jennifer was experiencing massive abdominal pains which brought everyone's attention back to the situation at hand. Jennifer was having her baby; now.