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 – DamonSalvatoreLover & J-Star Black & Starsprung & kogatami

Author's Note – I know no one really reads these LOL But, sorry for the delay and hope this extra long chapter will suffice!

Chapter 15

Dolohov did not speak which only reaffirmed Voldemort's statement. Voldemort continued, "I am glad to have a disciple that would go to such lengths for me. But, next time you intrude, I will not be so lenient."

Dolohov nodded quickly and looked down, unable to meet the dark lord's eyes, "Yes, my lord."

Voldemort narrowed his eyes until they resembled the beady slits of a snake and then turned his attention to his followers. He had a plan and was supercilious enough to believe his strategy had no imperfections.

Lara woke up to find the sun pouring through her window. She rolled over and glanced at the wall clock. She rubbed her eyes and squinted back at the clock hands. It was 8:00 in the morning. She yawned and slowly got out of bed. She could smell breakfast cooking downstairs and her stomach rumbled. The fresh scent of coffee, toast, and eggs weaved its way towards her bedroom. She opened the bedroom door to find Ulysses was walking through the hallway, a cup of coffee in one hand and the Daily Prophet in another.

"Good morning," he said brightly.

"Good morning." She found herself hiding behind her bedroom door, afraid that he had seen her in her pajamas. Why did she care so much if he had seen her?

He walked downstairs; his hair still a little ruffled from having just woken up. Of course, he had had the decency to change out of his pajamas and into something more suitable. Lara locked her bedroom door and turned to look back at her bed. She suddenly felt this urge to look her best even though it was only for breakfast.

After freshening up and putting on some makeup, she looked through her closet of hand-me-downs that Mrs. Jorkins had given her. All the clothing that she had worn in Albania was still there, in the hotel room. She felt a twinge of guilt for leaving him. She took in a deep breath and reminded herself to stop thinking about Albania. She finally settled upon a grey plaid dress with a full skirt. On the hanger, it did not look like much but when she put it on, she felt beautiful. She turned towards her mirror image and fixed her hair. She realized that she had not felt this good about herself since she had met Tom. Thinking about him made her smile vanish and she turned her back on the mirror; she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and opened the bedroom door.

She could hear snippets of conversation between Mr. Jorkins and Ulysses. The talk was mostly about the Ministry of Magic and politics. She walked down the staircase and Ulysses looked up from his newspaper; holding his cup of coffee in suspension between his lips. Mrs. Jorkins smiled up at her, "You look lovely, Lara," she exclaimed. "Come sit with me. I'm sure you and I can find something else to discuss other than the ministry and Minister Nobby Leach."

"You don't know the half of it," Mr. Jorkins began.

"Here we go again," Mrs. Jorkins rolled her eyes.

"They marched for their rights," Ulysses spoke up. "Everyone deserves rights and we treat them like lesser beings. I don't blame them for wanting something more from life than being shunned."

"What is going on?" Lara whispered to Mrs. Jorkins.

"It's all over the newspapers," Mrs. Jorkins whispered back, "there was a riot. A large group of squibs were marching for their rights and a group of radical purebloods decided to make trouble."

Lara's brow wrinkled, "Those poor people. Why would someone want to hurt anyone?"

Mr. Jorkins exchanged glances with Ulysses. Lara observed Mr. Jorkins and Ulysses' behavior. Ulysses looked down at his newspaper again and turned the page with a soft crinkling sound. Mr. Jorkins uncomfortably cleared his throat and intensely stared down at his empty plate as though doing so would cause another serving of eggs to appear out of thin air. She did not understand why they had suddenly grown so quiet. Inquisitively, she spoke up, "Why are you two being so secretive?"

Ulysses uncomfortably gulped his coffee down and glanced sidelong at Mr. Jorkins. Mr. Jorkins sent Ulysses a look that read shall-we-tell-her. Ulysses shook his head as if to say that it would be a bad idea to let them know. Mrs. Jorkins had a hard enough time keeping things to herself and if she were to tell Lara more; it would only lead to more problems. There was silence as Lara eagerly leaned towards Ulysses as though she were expecting an answer. When he remained silent, she sat back in her chair; her expectant appearance replaced with realization.

"You're not going to tell me." Lara said softly, "I'm not the naïve girl that you seem to think I am-"

"I don't think you're naïve," Ulysses interrupted.

"Just silly?"

"I never said that."

"No, I suppose you didn't." Lara said trying to avoid confrontation. She uncomfortably looked down at the placemat in front of her.

"Let's not worry about this," Ulysses smiled. "We should be focusing on your training."

"That's precisely my point," Lara locked eyes with Ulysses. "You say that I should be training in case you are not there to protect me. Don't you think I should know what I would be up against in case something like that happens?"

Ulysses took in a deep breath and bowed his head slightly, looking down at his folded hands. He pushed the newspaper towards Lara, "Everything that you want to know is in there."

"You must know more than what is in the newspaper."

"Actually, yes I do," said Ulysses.

Lara opened her mouth to protest but Ulysses held his hand up to silence her. "You forget that though I am your friend, I am still a ministry official. I cannot simply tell you everything I know."

Lara pursed her lips, "Fine. I understand. I don't like it but I understand."

Mrs. Jorkins spoke up, "Let us change the subject. This sort of talk is ruining the morning for all of us."

Lara could not believe that she had forgotten that the Jorkins were there. For some reason, when she and Ulysses spoke to one another, she forgot whom she was with and where she was. It was almost as if no one existed. She did not understand why she felt this way.

"Perhaps you can start training Lara today," Mr. Jorkins suggested to Ulysses.

Ulysses nodded towards Lara, "I think that is a good idea. The longer we have to train her, the stronger she will become."

There was a knock on the front door. Mrs. Jorkins stood up, "Wonder whom that could be?" She walked out of the breakfast nook and towards the foyer. Voices could be heard that were undeniably friendly.

Mrs. Jorkins reentered the room; smiling at Lara, "Lara, someone is here to see you."

Lara stood up from her seat; brushing off crumbs from her dress. Anticipating what seemed like good news, she waited for the guests to enter the room and once they did; she could not help but rush over to them. Her mother, father, and Oberon stood in front of her.

Her mother and father took her into a deep embrace. Tears escaped her mother's eyes, "Lara, I thought we would never see you again." Oberon watched on, "I told you that I would find a way for them to see you." She smiled at her brother, "Thank you."

She noticed someone standing behind Oberon and tilted her head to the side to get a better view of the person. It was Evangeline.

"What is she doing here?" Lara furrowed her brow.

Mrs. Jorkins motioned towards the sitting room, "Let us sit down."

Lara sent Oberon a stern look. He pretended not to notice. Evangeline sat quietly and accepted a cup of tea from Mrs. Jorkins with a gracious smile. Lara sat across from Evangeline and watched her through narrowed eyes. She knew this girl too well. She did not want to remember it but she had been the one that had tried to flirt with Tom at the dance. There was always something or someone that would not let her forget; no matter how hard she tried.

Mr. Bagshot and Mr. Jorkins were busy discussing what was in the newspaper and various current affairs. They were both in their own world discussing these events. Events that Lara did not want to hear about again especially after the strained conversation that she had with Ulysses. "Perhaps, the march could have been better organized, but," her father began. Lara tuned them out. She had heard enough politics today to last her a lifetime.

After awhile, Oberon spoke up, "I have an announcement to make. Evangeline and I are getting married."

Lara's eyes widened as everyone stood up and shook hands or exchanged hugs. Slowly, Lara stood up and approached Evangeline. She extended her hand and said, "Congratulations."

Evangeline smiled, "We are sisters now. We should embrace."

Lara smiled thinly as Evangeline hugged her. Mrs. Jorkins smiled, "This is such good news. We should have dinner here tomorrow night."

"Dinner would be lovely," Evangeline smiled.

"Then it is settled then," Oberon smiled at Evangeline. "I confess we can't stay long today."

Lara took hold of her mother's hand, "Just a little longer?"

Mrs. Bagshot looked at her daughter and said in concern, "You look so pale and thin, Lara. Please eat more." Her mother lifted a rose petal petit four from the tiered serving tray, "Here. Eat this."

Lara took the small cake in her hand and exchanged a smile with Ulysses who was watching in amusement. Lara took a big bite of the cake, "Better?" "Much," her mother mused.

Oberon announced that it was time for them to leave. He still had to get to work and tell everyone the good news there. Mrs. Bagshot hugged Lara tightly, "Please take care of yourself for me, Lara. I love you." Lara smiled through tears, "I love you too, mum."

Mr. Bagshot kissed his daughter on the forehead and said, "Your mother will worry if you don't take care."

"I know." Lara smiled.

After the door closed, Lara hurried upstairs. Ulysses followed her, "Lara?" She paused before her bedroom door and turned towards him, "Yes. What is it?"

"You seem upset."

"I'm not."

Ulysses raised an eyebrow, "Then why are you crying?"

Lara shrugged as Ulysses continued, "Do you miss your parents?"

"Yes, but, it's not that."

"Then what is it?"

"I thought I would be the one getting married first."

Lara looked at Ulysses and burst out not in tears but in laughter. She had not laughed in a long time and it felt good. Ulysses smiled as she wiped her tears away.

She shrugged, "I know. It sounds silly, but, there it is." Lara rolled her eyes, "I don't know what he sees in her."

Ulysses cleared his throat and digressed, "We're going to start your training today. I suggest you wear something that's, erm, not a dress." He looked away uncomfortably, "Something more suitable for exercise."

Lara nodded and awkwardly replied, "Okay."

Lara did not own anything suitable for exercise. She had to borrow clothing from Mrs. Jorkins and felt ashamed in doing so. Mrs. Jorkins did not mind, but Lara felt as though she were asking too much from everyone lately especially Ulysses. He did not have to train her and she could not help but think that she was imposing on him.

At first, they had thought of doing the lessons in the attic but decided against it. It would have been too noisy. Instead, they opted for the cellar. The house was old and was most likely from the early 19th century. The cellar was mostly unfinished though it boasted a tiled floor. It smelled of staleness that only a cellar could possess. Lara shivered feeling a cool draft drift through the room. Ulysses busied himself; crouching in one corner as he got various exercise items out of a box. Lara cleared her throat, "What are those for?"

Ulysses turned his head to look at Lara. "We have to make you stronger physically before I teach you how to apparate."

"We do?"

"I told you before," Ulysses stood up, "when we had that conversation in my room. Remember?"

Lara was taken aback. He recalled things she had said to him. She had never met a man that remembered anything a woman said or cared to. "Oh yes," Lara smiled, "I remember."

"Don't look so shocked," Ulysses smirked, "it's my duty to keep tabs on you."

Lara's eyes darted towards Ulysses. "I'm not shocked."

"You could have fooled me."

Lara smiled derisively, "I wasn't shocked."

"Oh really?"

Lara sighed, "Okay, maybe pleasantly surprised. But, I was not shocked. I suppose you've won then."

Ulysses shook his head, "No. I have not won anything yet. When I do, you'll be the first to know."

Lara's eyebrow wrinkled in confusion, for, she did not understand his comment and she did not want to know. Not know when everything had become so confusing. She changed the subject and said, "Shall we start this lesson?"

Ulysses nodded and held two eight-pound weights in his hands, "Take each of these in one hand." Lara followed his instructions, "Now what? These are heavy."

"They're only eight pounds."

"Yes, but, I'm holding two of them."

"They're eight pounds each." Ulysses said, "Okay, so you need to work on your arms and legs. You have weak form."

"Weak form?"

"Yes." Ulysses continued, "Let's start you off with lunges." Ulysses demonstrated for Lara, "Do this back and forth the length of the room four times. You will be holding the dumbbells in both hands while doing this."

"What?"

"Do lunges back and forth the length of the room. I would like you to do this for four times while holding the eight-pound weights in each hand." Ulysses repeated.

Lara took in a deep breath, "Okay. Fine."

She began to lunge across the room as Ulysses had demonstrated. But, with the addition of the weights, it felt as though her arms were going to fall off and by her second time across the length of the room, it felt as though her legs were going to fall off as well. She paused in the middle of a lunge, "Can we just call it a day please?"

"You haven't even done a full set yet."

"Ulysses, I feel as though my arms and legs are melting off. How can you be so cruel?"

"I'm not being cruel. I am trying to help you. Now finish the set."

"I can't." Lara lunged again, wobbling uneasily on her back leg.

"Yes, you can."

"I really can't." Lara lunged again and all the while cringing in pain.

"You just did."

"Ulysses," Lara began, "I can barely move."

"It's just lunges."

"Just lunges?" Lara grimaced, "Just lunges? Why are you being so insensitive? I am in pain."

"Everyone goes through some kind of pain in life. This is just a new kind of pain for you. You'll get used to it."

Lara stood up straight and turned towards Ulysses, "New kind of pain?"

"I didn't mean it that way." Ulysses awkwardly looked down, "Look, just finish this and we'll take a rest tomorrow. You're going to be doing these training sessions three times a week."

Lara tossed both dumbbells onto the floor and crossed over to where Ulysses was standing, "New kind of pain? I do not want to get used to any kind of pain. This is too much too soon. Why can't we take this in baby steps?"

"For this, you're going to have to get used to the pain."

"You're being brutal. I don't see the point in physical training," Lara explained.

"No," Ulysses clarified, "I didn't think you would. Being physically stronger gives you that advantage that most wizards do not have. I highly doubt that Tom Riddle has ever lifted a single weight in his life."

At the mention of his name, Lara narrowed her eyes and picked the weights up again. She focused upon the wall; a determined look entered her eyes as she lunged across the room again. Once she had finished her training session for the day, she placed the dumbbells upon the floor and turned towards Ulysses.

"I still think you were brutal."

"Would you stop calling me that? I was trying to help you."

"You could have helped me by introducing exercise in smaller intervals and not everything all at once."

"We don't have that much time. You need to learn fast." Ulysses sent her a sympathetic look, "You need to learn how to apparate as soon as possible. Or would you rather be found by him?"

Lara shook her head and walked away from Ulysses. He furrowed his brow, "Where are you going?"

Lara did not answer him as she walked up the cellar stairs. Furious did not even begin to describe the amount of pain and anger she was going through. When she had said that she could not do it, she really meant it. Why couldn't he listen to her? Why didn't anyone listen to her? Why did everyone have to mention her worst mistake?

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