A/N: This is a slightly longer chapter than usual because there wasn't a convenient point to break it off. Hope you like it and watch out for the cliffie.
x – X – x
Chapter 47 – The importance of family
"Daddy?"
The small whimper broke into Robert's thoughts and he tore his gaze away from the strange woman and tried to reach his daughter again, but barely a second later Katy started screaming again, curled up a tight ball and the woman tutted.
"I told you, Mr Avery, you're not to go near her." She gazed at him with those small grey eyes and smiled as he stumbled backwards, but Katy kept screaming.
"Leave her alone," he yelled, but the woman shook her head.
"You've got to be taught a lesson, Mr Avery. We'll leave her be when you've learnt it and not a moment sooner."
"You'll kill her!" shouted Robert, grabbing the woman by her shoulders and shaking her.
"Oh I don't think so," said the woman calmly, delicately removing his hands. "We don't want her dead, Mr Avery. We just want her to know what kind of man her daddy is, Mr Avery. We want her to know that all this pain is your fault, Mr Avery. Tell her that, and we'll stop, Mr Avery."
Robert stared at her as his daughter sobbed in the corner. "You're insane," he whispered, but the woman's eyes were hard.
"Tell her, Mr Avery."
"Stop and I will – she's not going to be able to listen to anything like this," said Robert determinedly. The woman surveyed him for a moment, then gave the barest of nods. Robert looked at Katy; she was still hunched over, but the curse had been lifted. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, staring helplessly at the woman.
"Do you want us to start again, Mr Avery? Tell her-"
"You said you wanted revenge – revenge for what? What did I do to you?" asked Robert, thinking quickly. "Did I hurt some mudblood relative? You should be grateful."
The woman's face contorted with rage and Robert smiled inwardly; Katherine would have hit him round the head for that last comment, but he needed to keep her talking. If she was angry, she might forget about Katy...
"Grateful?" the woman hissed, pushing her face up close to his. "Grateful?"
"If they were anything like you, I've done the world a favour," he said softly, searching the woman's features for anything vaguely recognisable. As far as he could remember, he'd never seen her before in his life. "That's what we do – rid the world of all the filth and scum-"
"She was eight years old," snarled the woman. "Eight years old and you killed her – used dark curses on her so she bled to death. Didn't even have the decency to make it quick." The woman glowered up at him, eyes burning with hatred. "And you have the nerve to call other people scum."
x – X – x
"Nicola!"
Severus Snape froze at the voice; it wasn't so much the name as the way it was called. Carefully he put down the jar of lace wings he'd been about to open and trod softly out of the room to the staircase. A shape was silhouetted against the rippled glass beside the door.
The knock came again, hard enough to break the door down.
"Nicola!"
This time the voice was more like a sob. Making up his mind, he went down the stairs and opened the front door. Cassandra was standing there, long blonde hair falling wildly over her shoulders, face chalky white.
"They've gone," she said, swallowing hard. "Robert and Katy – you've got to help me, I...I don't know what to do."
And then she was sobbing and it was all Severus could do to usher her inside and shut the door.
"What do you mean they're gone?" he asked, as Cassandra leant against the wall, shaking. "They were taken?"
"I don't know," said Cassandra quietly, wiping furiously at her eyes and trying to breath properly. "Boreas said...said Katy went missing and then...there was a portkey – her teddy – and Robert vanished too. I don't know where he went. Please, Severus, you've got to..." She trailed off, speech failing her and shook her head.
"Nicola's not home," said Severus quietly. "She went to an office party or something. Go into the sitting room, I'll get her back." But Cassandra didn't move.
"What's she going to do?" she asked hopelessly. "I only came round here because there was nowhere else to go. I don't think this is an Auror matter, Severus. Aurors don't kidnap children."
"Well it's not a Death Eater matter," said Severus firmly. "I'd have heard." He paused. "Did you say there was a portkey?"
Cassandra nodded, tears rolling silently down her cheeks. "Hector."
"What?" Severus was confused.
"The teddy," said Cassandra. "He's called Hector; he was the portkey."
Severus hesitated for a moment, then disappeared into a side room and a few seconds later Cassandra heard the rush of flames. It was a couple of minutes before Severus reappeared, dusting soot off his hands.
"What did you do?" asked Cassandra, voice sounding small in the large hallway.
"Called my cousin – he works for Robert. He said he'd try to find a location for the portkey."
"And if it's unplottable?" asked Cassandra, gazing at him with mascara streaked eyes.
"We'll deal with that if it comes to it," said Severus firmly, summoning a bottle from his room. "Come on, I'll make you a drink."
"Alcoholic?" asked Cassandra as she followed him into the kitchen and sank into a chair.
"No, magical."
"One of your special potions?" Cassandra laughed hollowly. "It's been a long time since I had one of those."
"They're not just for curing hangovers," said Severus dryly as he set a mug in front of her. She looked at it unenthusiastically.
"Smells awful," she muttered, pushing her hair out of her eyes and picking up the cup gingerly.
"If you want something that looks nice you're welcome to try one of those abysmal concoctions they print in Witch Weekly, however, if you require something that actually works, I suggest you drink this," said Severus brusquely, waving his wand so that something silvery shot out of it and darted away.
"What was that?" frowned Cassandra, pausing with the mug halfway to her lips.
"Patronus," answered Severus, eyeing the mug. "I thought Nicola ought to know what's going on."
"So she can keep an eye on me?"
"What?"
Cassandra sighed, looking dully at the murky surface of the potion in her mug. "You won't find her," she said softly. "And even if you did, she wouldn't come."
Severus stared at her for a long moment; they weren't talking about Nicola any more.
"She might."
Cassandra gave a slight shrug and sipped at the drink. "Have to find her first."
"No need," said Severus softly. "I already know where she is."
That got Cassandra's attention; she stared at him, shock in her clear green eyes.
"But I thought-"
"Julian told me," said Severus shortly. "She's visiting...a friend."
Cassandra's eyebrows creased into a frown at the slight pause, but at that moment there was the noise of the front door opening and Nicola's anxious voice.
"You're wrong, you know," said Severus softly, as Nicola burst into the kitchen. "She's incapable of giving up on anything. Especially us."
x – X – x
Grey eyes gazed into brown and Muriel smiled. She'd been waiting twenty three years and six months for this.
"Not going to deny it?" she asked softly, as the man before her swallowed hard, something like guilt in his eyes.
"Let Katy go."
"But you haven't told her what a nasty man her father is yet," said Muriel pleasantly, stepping back and observing him. Avery's gaze flickered to the small girl in the corner and she saw a pained expression cross his face.
"Why do you want to hurt her? None of this is her fault."
Muriel sighed theatrically. "I think you know why we have to do this, Mr Avery." She looked at him, leaning back against the wall now as though his legs wouldn't support him. "It isn't enough to hurt you, Mr Avery. Physical pain is nothing compared to that feeling of helplessness you're experiencing now."
Avery looked up at her and she smiled with satisfaction at the defeat she saw there.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked weakly.
"Nothing."
"You're just going to keep me here?" asked Avery angrily, glaring at her.
"Not forever, Mr Avery," she answered calmly. "Just for as long as it takes."
Avery scowled at her and looked away. She smiled again and turned to look at the child.
"She can't see me, you know," she said lightly. She heard Avery move and laughed a little. "She can only see you."
When she turned back to look at him, the light brown eyes were full of fury.
"Oh yes," she whispered, dark delight dancing in her eyes. "She probably doesn't understand why her daddy's hurting her. Maybe you should explain."
Avery looked away again, and she scowled this time.
"I'm losing patience with you, Mr Avery."
"Katherine..."
Muriel rolled her eyes. "And the rest of it. Katherine, I'm an evil man and-"
"Take Katy and run!"
Muriel stared at him, completely thrown by this outburst and it was then that she realised he wasn't avoiding her gaze, he was looking at someone else. She whipped around and met the sapphire blue eyes of a stranger.
"What-?" she began, but the woman was already diving for the blonde haired girl and even though Muriel screamed at her hidden accomplices to stop her, the two of them were gone before the first stunner was fired.
Behind her, Avery laughed, his voice shaking with relief. Fuming she spun back, pointing her wand at his heart, but he only grinned, holding up his hands.
"Do what you like." The smile twisted into an expression of disgust. "I probably deserve it."
Muriel scowled down at the blond man before her, seething with rage. How dare he be so docile, so calm? Where was the fight she'd expected? The anger? The hurt? He wasn't supposed to give in this easily; how was she meant to break his spirit if he refused to show any?
Behind her, she heard Aubern and Reynolds shake off their concealment charms and saw Avery's dull gaze flicker over them as Reynolds cleared his throat.
"How do you know Katherine Riddle?" he asked, pale features drawn together in an expression that was half curious, half anxious. Muriel turned slightly, her grey eyes narrowed in a frown.
"What?" she asked. She'd only caught a glimpse of the woman before she'd disappeared, but surely it couldn't have been...
Reynolds gestured to the corner that had previously occupied the child, his hazel eyes fixed on Avery.
"That woman was Katherine Riddle. She's been in the papers with the rest of them. You know, she's mates with Antonin Dolohov and Bellatrix Lestrange and-" He stopped, looking sharply at Avery. "What's so funny?"
Avery, who was biting his lip on a laugh, shook his head. Aubern and Reynolds exchanged puzzled looks, but Muriel, delighted at the sudden show of emotion, raised her wand, a smile curling round her lips. Avery looked up at her, his grin fading, attention focused on the wand tip.
"I would say that you're going to regret your little friend's intervention," she said softly, meeting his gaze with hard grey eyes. "But I doubt you'll live that long."
x – X – x
Nicola trudged up the beaten path, pulling her cloak around her to keep warm. She'd forgotten how cold it could be up here; in the distance, she could see the castle, a black silhouette against the night sky, dotted with tiny squares of light where people had lit candles in the windows. Snow crunched beneath her feet as she reached the castle gates and swore softly. They were locked. Now what was she supposed to do?
She shivered and looked about her, wondering if there was another way in; Sirius Black had certainly found one. Hadn't Severus found him? Maybe if she went back now, she could ask-
A hastily stifled whimper made her turn around and squint into the darkness.
"Hello?"
A figure moved in the shadows and dark eyes gleamed in the starlight.
"Katherine?"
Katherine frowned, gazing at her uncertainly.
"Nicola? What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you – Julian told Severus you were up here," said Nicola, taking a step towards her. Katherine eyed her cautiously and took a step back, the small bundle in her arms moving. "Katherine? What's wrong?"
The bundle moved and another face peeked out at her, green eyes round with fear.
"Katy?" asked Nicola, breath catching. "You found her?"
Katherine nodded, eyes narrowed.
"Where's Robert?" said Nicola suddenly, looking around, as though expecting him to appear at any second.
"Still there," said Katherine softly, as Katy struggled, reaching out her arms for Nicola. "Who was the fourth boy you went out with in sixth year?"
Nicola stared at her. "What?" She laughed slightly, but Katherine's expression didn't change so she shrugged and answered: "Shaun Marriott. Technically - it was only one date."
Katherine gazed at her for a moment, cool eyes blank, then grinned. "You liar." Nicola frowned, confused, as Katherine held out the small girl. "Take her to F- to Professor Belle, will you? I think she needs checking over and I have to go find Robert; he didn't seem to be putting up much of a fight."
Nicola pulled her cloak around Katy as the small girl clung to her and stared at her old friend.
"What do you mean I'm a liar?" she asked, sounding a little affronted. Katherine smiled slightly, drawing her wand and meeting her gaze.
"If you didn't give a toss about him as you claimed at the time, why'd you remember his name?" she asked softly, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
"It was only one date, Katherine," frowned Nicola.
"Precisely."
Nicola half scowled at her, but decided there wasn't time to waste on petty arguments.
"Is Faye a Healer, then?"
Katherine nodded, then froze, staring at her in shock. "How-?"
"Doesn't matter," said Nicola, shaking her head. "Can you trust her? I mean, your family isn't usually very reliable-"
"You can trust her," cut in Katherine, though Nicola could tell she was still trying to work out how she knew about Faye. "Just...don't tell her anything, all right?"
"About what?"
"Anything she asks," shrugged Katherine, running a nervous hand through her hair. "You work at the Ministry, Nic, you should be good at dodging questions."
"Thanks for that, Katherine," said Nicola, arching an eyebrow to indicate her lack of amusement. "Now could you be helpful for once and tell me how on earth I'm supposed to get into the school?"
Katherine gazed at her for a moment, then waved her wand languidly. Something silver flew from the tip and bounded away up the slope towards the castle.
"Faye'll come and get you," she said calmly, as Nicola stared after the shape.
"What was-?" she began, turning back, but stopped, finding she was speaking to thin air. "Oh honestly." She sighed, breath clouding in the frosty air. Katy shifted in her arms and she looked down at her, the small head of blonde hair buried in her robes. Katherine had said she might need looking over, that someone might have harmed her...
And if Katy had been hurt, what was happening to Robert? She frowned, something Katherine had said ringing the set of metaphorical alarm bells in her head. He didn't seem to be putting up much of a fight... A fight against what? Or who?
The hurried patter of footsteps on snow reached her ears and she turned, trying to discern the figure in the darkness; then a cloud moved and the light of an almost perfectly full moon illuminated a woman, blonde hair spilling out from under the hood of her cloak.
"Nicola?"
"Yes?"
Nicola stepped forward so that the woman could see her clearly.
"So you're another of the friends I'm not supposed to meet, huh?" asked Faye, pulling the gate open a little so that Nicola could slip through.
"Another?" asked Nicola, her eyebrows raised. "She's let you meet others?"
"Not exactly," frowned Faye, locking the gate and casting a worried glance up at the castle; there didn't seem to be anyone watching them, but it was so hard to tell. "I've...crossed paths with Snape and...Avery, was it? Yes, blond man, didn't seem to like me very much."
"He doesn't like anyone very much," said Nicola as they crept back up to the school. "Except family." Katy was quiet in her arms, small hands clutching tightly at her robes, eyes gazing around at the unfamiliar sights. "It's ok, sweetheart. Aunty Nicola's here," she said softly, as Katy buried her face in her shoulder again.
"Katherine said you might need to look at her," said Nicola as they reached the huge oak doors of the castle and slipped inside. Faye glanced at the small girl and the expression on her face made Nicola feel she was missing something.
"We'll take her to my room. She can stay here tonight – there's no where safer than Hogwarts at the moment."
"Ok," agreed Nicola softly as they climbed the first flight of stairs. There was silence for a moment then Nicola stopped and considered Faye critically. "Look, did she tell you something? Do you know what happened?"
"No," said Faye, frowning. "Come on, we might be seen-"
"You're lying."
"No I'm not."
"You are," said Nicola firmly. "I've spent my entire life with Slytherins and a good few years around your cousin - I can tell when people aren't telling the truth. What did she say might have happened?"
Faye sighed heavily and her gaze fell on the small girl in her arms.
"Honestly? You really don't want to know."
x – X – x
"Tough bastard, isn't he?" Aubern lowered his wand and looked at Muriel.
"Why have you stopped?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Aubern glanced at Avery, slumped on the floor with his head lolling on his chest, and pushed rusty brown hair out of his eyes.
"He's unconscious, Mur."
Muriel gazed at him, a sour expression on her face, then shrugged and crouched down in front of Avery, lifting his head with one hand and speaking softly.
"Wake up, Robert."
One brown eye flickered open and focused dimly on her thin face.
"Have you had enough?" she asked, as he tried to pull away. "Answer me, Mr Avery."
Avery yanked his head back, out of her hands and gazed insolently at her.
"Oh we're going to play that game, are we?" Muriel asked, sighing deeply. "Well I can keep this up for a very long time, believe me. I wonder how long you'll last." She smiled as Avery looked away, and grabbed his chin again. "Look at me when I'm speaking to you."
Avery glared at her and muttered something under his breath.
"Language, Mr Avery. I'm sure your wife wouldn't like to hear you saying things like that." At the mention of Cassandra, Avery's eyes widened slightly and Muriel grinned; so his daughter wasn't his only weakness. "Who's going to rescue you now, Mr Avery? Where's the infamous Miss Riddle when you need her?"
Avery gazed unblinkingly at her, brown eyes cold with hate and when he spoke it was barely more than a whisper.
"Right behind you."
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