She stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair is stringy, her face thin. She's no longer the beauty that she was when she was in school. She knows this, and she blames him for it. In the end, she blames everything on him. The fact that her little boy refuses to believe the truth. She hates him for it. Annica knows the truth, but Lavender knows she doesn't really care. Of course not. Annica was always Ron's little girl. His baby. Andrew was always Lavender's. Mummy's little boy, Daddy's little girl... everything had been so perfect once. Why, why had he had to go and ruin it? Why had he gone and erased her memory and stolen the children? Was he really that unhappy with her? Did he really hate her that much?

She hears the door open, she hears voices, and she starts laughing. It's about time they showed up. Now she can take care of things. Now she can take care of things, and everything will be okay again. She'll make him see the error of his ways. She'll make him want her again. If she can alter his memory... Yes. They can be a family again. She'd have to do the children as well... But it would be okay in the end. The little one can go back with Hermione. Let them suffer for a little while, while Lavender and Ron raise their family the way that they should have been doing. Yes, things will be okay now.

---

The stairs are crooked, and as he walks up them, he's afraid that they'll collapse. Someone is still laughing, and he knows who it is now. He looks at Harry, who will be going after the kids. There aren't many rooms to search. He thinks he hears a cry from another room, and Harry is already heading toward it. Ron wants to know if it's them, if they're okay, but he also knows that he has to be the one to go after Lavender. It wouldn't be right if it was anyone else.

---

Annica bites her lip. Andrew is at her side, Rose is curled up on the bed, her head in her older sister's lap. She'd heard noises, heard voices, and she wonders if, finally, someone has found them. Three weeks is too long. She's been keeping track of the days. One tally for each day since they had been taken. She wants to go home. She wants to go home, and then go back to Hogwarts. She wants to call out to the people, to let them know where they are, but something holds her back. What if it's not someone who's looking for them? What if it's someone else? That thought is enough to keep her quiet.

Rose cries out. She's had a nightmare, and Annica quickly tries to shush her. Footsteps are moving quickly toward the door, and Annica knows it's only a matter of time before they meet the newcomer. She pulls her siblings close, and everything seems to be in slow motion as the doorknob turns. When the door opens, Rose's face lights up, and so does Andrew's, but Annica is wary.

"Uncle Harry?"

It might not be him, she knows this. There are spells and potions that can change their appearance. She tries to think of a question to ask him, something that can let her know if it is him, really and truly him. She watches as he grins at her, and feels Rose pulling out of her grip, scrambling toward her uncle... or the man who might not be her uncle. His grin fades to something more serious.

"Come on. We have to get you out of here."

Annica shakes her head.

"What did you get me for my 9th birthday?"

She watches as he grins at her.

"A chess set. You crushed me when we played. Now come on, Annie."

Annica smiles and stands up. That's good enough for her. She can only assume her father is in the house too, somewhere. Maybe he's going after Lavender. As her uncle pulls something out of his pocket and sets up a portkey, Annica hopes that he'll be alright, and that Lavender will get the help she needs.

//Author's Note//

Oh my God. I am so, so sorry for the delay in updates. My life got rather hectic, and I was without a computer for awhile, and then I lost my muse... and I started a new school, and I just couldn't find the time. I swear, things will start moving rather quickly now that things are settling down. There aren't many chapters left, so I hope I haven't lost any old fans through the immense delay. Also, if I did not reply to a review you left, I apologize.

--Kayleigh