Still don't own Harry Potter.

Ch. 3

Alecto peered into the dark room her brother now resided in. It had been three days since he yelled at her. As far as she knew, he hadn't left it for much of anything.

"Its time we both went our separate ways Am," she whispered. "We're not always going to be there for each other and both of us must accept that now. I'm sure we'll see each other again but for now, I'm doing as you suggested and leaving you alone."

She placed a folded letter on the table beside his bed and scurried out. She passed a few other deatheaters as she fled past them. After a few days, many followed her lead and left. There were still things that needed taken care of after the dark lord's defeat. Regardless, Amycus Carrow sat alone in the darkness. He was consumed by his anger on a dangerous level.

"Everyone gets pissed on occasion," Snape began. He had been called in to try and get Amycus to snap out of his near comatose state. "Alecto was trying to help you and as for Pettigrew, we knew he'd do anything to save his skin. Just let it all out and move on. Your sister left, Pettigrew is dead, you are the only deatheater still here reliving that night and feeling sorry for yourself. You're lucky Chloe promised Alecto she'd keep an eye on you. She's the one whose been bending over backwards for you. Had it not been for her you would be dead. Bled out from that gaping hole in your abdomen gasping for mercy from whatever wizard found you."

Snape watched the young man's eyes dart helplessly around the room. Perhaps something else was vexing the wizard. Feeling defeated in his effort, Snape began to leave the room.

"I hurt Severus," he heard Amycus cough. "I hurt inside and out for no reason. Make it stop! Please make it stop!"

Amycus shouted inaudibly before resorting to what sounded like babble.

"Please god help me! I can't take this pain."

By now, the woman who had heckled him days before was in the room watching him. He blindly reached for her whimpering in distress.

"Can you do something for him Chloe?"

She grabbed his hand and tightly squeezed. His cries ceased and his body fell limp. She shook him violently for several moments. His eyes fluttered open and he looked around.

"Amycus can you here me? Its Chloe, the woman who took care of you and your sister. I called you Amy when we talked last."

There was silence before he finally spoke again.

"Please don't let that happen again. I felt like I was being ripped apart."

Hours went by before Amycus saw Chloe again. She entered the room with a plate of food.

"Hope you're hungry Amycus. I've got more where this came from."

He Shoveled the food down in less than a minute. He had neglected to eat since he woke up. A sensation of content filled him. Chloe brought a second and a third, even a fourth plate for him. A smile stretched over her face. Amycus stopped half way through a sixth plate and pushed it away.

"Alecto would have told me to stop by now," He chuckled. "Always looked out for me like she was my mother. Don't sit like that, watch what you eat, it was always something."

He looked at his arm and frowned.

"Sounds like she was a control freak. Why didn't you snap at her sooner. Besides your an adult, make your own decisions."

The two spent the evening talking until Chloe yawned.

"I would stay up and chat but I have been up since dawn and need sleep. If you need anything, I am down the hall on the left. Good night Amy."

She slunk out of the room. Amycus sat there with an almost dazed look on his face.

"Good night Chl... My name isn't Amy. Don't call me that."

It was quiet for a moment. It was calming and in a way terrifying. Amycus was alone in the darkness. Thoughts swirled around his mind. Where was Alecto? What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't show his face without being caught. His family was gone except for his sister. The thought had never struck him to consider a backup plan should the dark Lord fall.

Down the hall, Chloe sat on her bed with a pile of papers. She skimmed through each of them. They were letters and notes from Alecto. Each one had information about Amycus and where to find Alecto should she need help.

She cared for him. It was obvious to everyone who knew them. But that didn't mean neither of them needed some space for awhile.

"I'll take care of him don't worry," Chloe muttered.

She turned out the lights and closed her eyes. The quiet soothed her as she fell asleep instantly.

The next morning, Chloe woke and went to Amycus' room. She could hear a loud snoring growl as she opened the door. Peering in, she smiled and snuck to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she had breakfast going. Once it was finished, Chloe took it into Amycus' room. He was still snoring when she entered. Before she had the plates down, he was awake. He rubbed his eyes and looked over.

"Thanks but I'm not really hungry right-"

A loud grumble came from beneath the sheets. She looked at him for a moment, her brow raised in doubt.

"Ok I'm a bit hungry but Alecto usually only allows me to have a light breakfast."

Amycus looked at her and grinned uneasily. Something about her he found interesting. Perhaps it was her attitude or the way she treated him. Whatever it was, he knew she was going to get her way.

"So because your sister, who isn't here, wants you to follow her rules; I'll have to throw out these fresh eggs and bacon in exchange for a piece of toast?"

He thought about it for a few minutes.

"Well I suppose since you were kind enough to make it..."

She sat the plate on his lap and smiled. "No rules here,"she whispered. " I'm not going to treat you like a child."

The two sat in silence before Amycus spoke. "Any chance there's some extra? It was good."

"All you have to do is ask Amycus. I can get you whatever you want."

Before he could react, Chloe kissed his cheek and left the room. It was the first time anyone other than Alecto had done so. Did she...like him? A lady like her with soft auburn hair and a sleek curvy figure was interested in a rugged looking guy like him?