Chapter Two

House Calls and Confusion

Both girls' expressions could have been carved from stone as they marched from the dusty bus. The hot summer sun was brutal as it beat down on the twins, washing out all color from the brown paint peeling on the mobile home. River reached the door first and paused, her hand on the handle, as she and Angel shared a look. They could hear the tv, louder than the cicadas droning on around them. The school bus was already gone, a hint of dust lingering in the air the only proof it had been there at all. Reading the trepidation in Angels eyes, dark green now with fear, River gave her a reassuring nod. Her brown eyes hardening, River quietly pushed open the door and stepped in.

The living room was pitch black, the heat and humidity from outside battled by a groaning window unit air conditioner. Stepping in quickly, Angel shut the door as quietly as River had opened it. Wasting no time, both girls crept down the hallway on silent feet. They passed an open door where the bathroom was, also dark. Then they slowed, River glancing inside a room with the flickering light from the tv. No other lights were on. No sounds heard save for the mechanic on tv babbling about how to fix an alternator. There, in the blue light, was an armchair facing away from the door. A man's arm was flung limply over the side and heavy breathing was heard. Rivers shoulders relaxed, seeing all the glass beer bottles on the floor around the chair. Looking at Angel, who had stood still while River checked on their father, she nodded her head towards the third door in the hallway. Angel gave a sharp nod and taking a breath, slipped past the open door. River quickly followed and they grinned at each other, white teeth flashing in the darkness as they reached their bedroom door. Just as Angel put her hand on the knob, someone pounded on the front door.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Angel paled and whirled around, dashing to the front door on silent feet and hoping she got there before they woke her father. A grunt came from their fathers room as River followed her sister.

Angel yanked open the front door, the bright sunlight from outside spilling into the room. As she blinked, hoping her eyes adjusted quickly, a cheerful voice loudly proclaimed:

"Ah! Hello my dear. At your parents in at this time? I have a wonderful announcement for all of you!"

River, her eyes adjusting quicker than Angels, stared at the sight before her. There was an old man... a REALLY old man, standing at the door. He was wearing a glaringly bright yellow dress and his beard almost reached his knees. Angel slipped out of the way, letting her sister take lead.

"I'm River. My father is sleeping so please keep your voice DOWN."

River whispered harshly. Angel cocked her head sideways and nudged her sister, murmuring,

"He's not the only one out there, Riv. "

The demented old man blinked his baby blue eyes.

"Oh, forgive me! I'm Albus Dumbledore," he motioned behind him and a man River hadn't even noticed seemed to materialize out of the old gentleman's shadow, "and this is Severus Snape. Is there no way to wake your father at this time?" His voice hadn't lowered at all and River clenched her teeth, but before she could say anything a deep voice came from behind her.

"Whatever your selling, I'm not interested. Why don't you and your associate leave...NOW." Angel closed her eyes in horror as River swallowed, her mouth dry. Turning she looked at her father. He slouched in the hall entryway, his blue jeans dirty and reeking of booze. His bloodshot blue eyes glared at all of them and his lips were twisted into a snarl.

"Father, " Angel started to explain, and apologize but without even looking at her, he backhanded her with his meaty fist.

Teeth clicking shut, Angel blinked quickly to stop the tears, not a sound escaping her trembling lips. However, something happened she didn't expect. The dark man that had hidden in the shadows was suddenly nose to nose with her. She stared into his glittering onyx eyes, captivated by his pale skin as he reached up two fingers and touched her cheek.

She felt a warm tingle run through her, from head to toe, and almost didn't realize what was going on behind him.

While Snape cared for the girl, Dumbledore had pulled River outside. He had a stick in his wizened hand and River looked at him askance.

"What the HELL is a stick going to do here?!" She yelled, "if you can't help my sister, I will. Just get out of my way!" As she started to push past him, she was dumbfounded when a red light suddenly shot out of the stick at her father.

His bloodshot eyes wide, he collapsed in the hallway, gentle snores coming from his crumpled figure.

"I think," Snapes voice was like dark honey, "that it would be best if we left now." He came outside, Angel following close behind but abandoning him for her sisters side. River reached out, she and Angel holding hands.

"What...what is going ON here?!" Angels voice trembled slightly, as River held her hand tightly. Neither one noticed how Angels hair had darkened to almost black.

Raising an eyebrow, Snape responded, "You will be given an explanation shortly. "

Dumbledore shook his head as he held out a sock.

"Please hold tightly into this, my dears." River clenched her teeth.

"You... are bat-shit crazy. Why would I need to hold onto a sock?" Sighing, the old man shook his head. Before he could answer, Snape swore under his breath and grabbed Angels arm in his left hand and the sock in his right.

She squeaked, clenching to Rivers hand.

"Peanut butter," he snapped before Angel could pull away.

Suddenly Angel couldn't breathe, River gasping and clenching her hand even tighter told her that she couldn't either. It was like being pulled into a suction tube, a horrible rushing noise filling their ears.

Rivers feet suddenly felt the ground again, jarring her teeth as she landed sharply. She swallowed a few times to avoid sticking up. Angel wasn't so lucky. She hit the ground with her knees, heaving before she could stop herself. Snape swept over, he was wearing a black dress in the same cut as Dumbledore, and swooped Angel up into his arms.

River couldn't speak, her eyes wide with shock as she followed both men up a hill. They were at a castle, it's glittering windows were beautiful in the sunlight. It was much cooler here, she made a mental note to find out where they were asap. They entered the castle and started up a long staircase.

"The HELL?!" River gasped before she could stop herself. Her chocolate eyes were bugging out and she just KNEW she was going crazy. She had seen some of the paintings MOVING. Dumbledore smiled at her.

"We will explain everything once we get to the infirmary, dear." River immediately balked. She HATED needles. And nurses. And anything hospital related.

Snape had gotten far ahead of them and River groaned. She couldn't let these nutters take her sister out of her sight.

Shaking her head, she rushed to catch up the the dark man just as they reached a set of double doors.

Opening one, River followed and was startled when Snape barked a word out,

"Poppy!"

The flower? She wondered, confused.

Then a sharp faced woman hustled in, her plump frame draped with another one of those weird dresses, gray this time.

"Severus? What's going on?"

Her voice was clipped, but the tone friendly enough.

"Full scan on both, please."

River glared at him,

"I don't need-" she fell silent as the woman waved another stick over her and paper started coming out of the end... a lot of it.

Dumbledore gently pushed River into a seat by the cot that Snape gently lowered her sister onto. Poppy turned and did the same to Angel, who's hair had returned to the vibrant red River was used to seeing.

Poppy grabbed the two thick piles of paper and perused them, her lips pursed.

"River Takashi. Eleven years, four months and three days old. Multiple healed fractures-not all done correctly, lung corrosion from possible drowning experience, scars on various parts of her body and malnourished. Angel Takshi, same age. Mutiple healed fractures, also not healed properly. Mutiple scars on the bottom of her feet, and various other body parts, malnourished and exhaustion." Her eyes narrowed at Snape and Dumbledore.

"I think a dreamless sleep and bone growth are in order for both. I have a potion that will fix most of Miss Rivers lungs but nothing can be done for the scars."

Snape nodded, a frown on his face as he pulled two purple vials out of the cabinet. He went to Angels cot first, the red head was passed out, and gently tipped the vial to her lips; massing her throat so that she swallowed it. Turning to River he held it out.

River closed her eyes...

"Fuck it." She took the vial from the dark man and swallowed it. Before she could ask what was going to happen next, her body went limp as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Authors note: I in NO WAY condone violence against children. I was raised in an abusive household, and take most of the abuse scenes featured in this story from my own history.

Chapter three coming soon! What to expect:

Angel has a very angry episode. River shows a soft side.