Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to JK Rowling's characters. Any characters that are not from the world of Harry Potter are of my sole creation and I own the rights to them. This is a slightly AU story.

Special Thanks:xxstarlightxxdreamerxx and DamonSalvatoreLover

Chapter 10

He smiled sarcastically, "Find your way out now."

Lara watched in horror as the room transformed from pure white to a dull, grayish red. The windows and doors had vanished becoming encased in brick. She found it hard to breathe without any windows to look out of or even open. She cursed under her breath for not practicing her magic when she was younger. She was more interested in singing and music to bother with that. Her parents told her to practice her magic but she had wanted to become the next Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald and magic just got in the way of that. Oberon had become a natural at wizardry, but, for some reason she just could not do magic even when she applied herself. Looking back, she knew she could have tried harder but her heart was not in it.

She recalled the day when she told her parents that she was not going to focus on magic any longer. She had told them that music was her passion and she wanted to be happy. They did not think that she could build a future from that but they did not stand in the way. She knew that if she had decided to do the whole magic thing, she would have been miserable. She remembered her mother telling her, "You don't have to give up your music. You can practice both." Her father chimed in, "One day, you will need to defend yourself. Don't you think that it is better to practice your magic?" At the time, she felt that they were dissuading her from focusing on music but now she understood that magic was necessary. She knew some simple spells like Accio, Wingardium Leviosa, and Alohomora but nothing that would get her out of this prison.

She hated admitting it, but she wanted to kick herself for not listening to her parents.

"I should have never come with you," Lara shook her head. "I think I knew, in my heart, when we met what kind of a person you were, but, I was blinded by your charm."

"What kind of a person am I, Lara?"

Lara did not answer him. She stood up and walked towards where the window had been. She reached out to touch the wall and was surprised to find that magic bricks felt like real bricks. She wondered how she could get out of here. Regrets filled her mind and she turned back to Tom, "I miss the girl I used to be. I miss my family. But, I am wise enough to know that I can never be the same." Lara narrowed her eyes, "I am also too wise to tell you what kind of person you are when you already know the answer."

Tom grew silent; the lines in his face grew softer for a split second. He quickly turned around and sat upon the couch, his long fingers trailing the surface of the coffee table. He looked back at Lara nonchalantly. After some hesitation, she walked towards the couch and sat next to him, staring down at her folded hands.

"I was going to," Tom began.

"I was thinking," Lara simultaneously started.

Tom softly chuckled and Lara smiled as she was reminded of when they had first met. She reached out and touched his cheek; turning his face towards her. She took note of his bloodshot eyes, his blurred features, and shook her head, "What have you done to yourself?"

He smirked, "That's not my idea of a compliment."

Lara laughed, "It's not supposed to be."

Oberon stood in the forest surrounding the hotel. Oberon was a man of principal and virtue. He did everything by the book though most often wondered to what book he was referring. He was the opposite of Lara in everything including looks. While Lara had blonde hair, he had hair so black that it almost seemed bluish in certain light. He had deep-set brown eyes that were like two acorns. His wavy hair was neck-length and curled just above his shoulders. He was quite tall and loomed above most people and to some; he seemed like a deadly scorpion.

"Ill met by moonlight," he thought to himself as he looked upon the hotel.

He turned around when he heard footsteps. Two men stood behind him; their wands at the ready.

Oberon smiled, "I thought you guys would never get here."

A man raised an eyebrow, "I was surprised. Don't hit wizards usually work alone?"

Oberon recognized the man as Thomas Worple, an auror with an ego the size of England. Oberon pursed his lips, "This situation calls for reinforcements."

Thomas drawled, "Yes, I heard about your sister. What I don't understand is why you had to bring us into your family affair?"

The other man stayed silent as he watched Oberon and Thomas square off. "She is my family," Oberon admitted, "but, that's not the reason why I-"

"Dragged us into this mess," Thomas interrupted.

Oberon's eyes blazed, "Do not interrupt me. That's not the reason why I asked for reinforcements."

"Isn't it the other way around?" Thomas narrowed his eyes, "You're my reinforcement."

Oberon squared his jaw, "When you find out where it says that, by all means, show me." Knowing that he had caused Thomas to be quiet, Oberon addressed the other auror, "This is a sensitive mission. We have every reason to believe that she is in danger. I believe that he is the man that killed Hepzibah Smith, but, we don't know for sure because her house elf admitted to it."

"Oberon," the other auror named Ulysses Knutsen spoke up, "If the house elf admitted to it, then why are we here? The case has been thrown out. The house elf admitted to accidentally poisoning Hepzibah's drink."

"Something doesn't sit well with me," Oberon shook his head, "I just don't know what it is yet." Oberon took in a deep breath, "It's not like my sister to leave everything behind. I think she was taken here by force." Oberon's features darkened, "You heard about the house elf, Hokey, right?"

Ulysses nodded, "Yeah. She was convicted for accidental murder. She died in Azkaban at the hands of the dementors."

Oberon looked down; slightly disturbed, "I-I didn't know that she had died."

Ulysses raised his eyebrows; surprised that Oberon felt bad about Hokey's death. He cleared his throat before Thomas could catch on, "I hope you don't mind me saying this, but, what if Lara is the killer?"

"The thought crossed my mind but I don't think my sister has it in her to be a killer," Oberon observed.

"It wasn't a magical murder," Thomas chimed in, "it was a poisoning. Anyone could have done it, even your sister. It's the kind of nonsense you read about in those muggle novels."

Ulysses glanced sidelong at Thomas, "Since when do you read muggle novels?"

Thomas smirked, "They're actually quite good especially those Agatha Christie ones."

Ulysses snorted, "Well, too bad we can't have her help us on this mission."

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