"SIRIUS!" Tonks was screaming, as she burst into his room. "Carly! She's gone; she's gone to stop it!"
Almost as the words left Tonks' mouth Sirius was out of his bed, and pulling his wand out.
Carly know her way around the building, she'd been here many times before, it was old, and falling apart, but beautiful in some twisted sense, she'd always admired it as a child, and was, in many ways, unsurprised to find herself back here.
She was silent in her movement, knowing that the slightest sound might give her away, and she had not come with a total death wish.
She moved until she reached a doorway that looked slight out of place, seeing as it was set right between two other doors, it was unlikely to hold a room of any sort, but Carly knew better and she carefully opened it up, and looked down into the darkness that led to a basement.
She knew that prisoners were taken here; she'd often been given the threat that they'd lock her up in there too. Carefully she stepped forward, and down into the darkness, not daring to cast a lumos, as that may give her away.
Other then the echoing dripping that was often heard within the dank dungeon, there was no other sound, and Carly thought for a second that she'd wasted this chance, because she really just needed to get Draco out, and no one, absolutely no one could know how to do that like Carly did.
Pushing forward she peeked around the large stone columns that held up the ceiling, and saw to her delight that there was someone in the last cage. Moving silently towards it, she saw the body was still breathing, she didn't know who it was, but the chances were they shouldn't be in there.
She opened the cage, and poked the body, and let out a breath of relief when Draco sat up. The Sentiments were not returned.
"I knew it."
Carly froze.
"How are you this fine night, Charis?"
Slowly Carly got back to her feet and stood at her full height, facing him. He'd not changed at all, she'd not expected him to, he was still a monster, and she knew he always would be.
"Who's Charis?" Carly asked, raising her eyebrow at him, his followers were behind him, all glaring at her.
"Don't pretend you don't know who you are, who you truly are." He replied, a laughing note in his voice. "You can do whatever you want Charis, but you will always be my daughter, you will always have my blood running through your veins."
"No, I have my mother's blood, not yours." Carly replied, trying to remain calm, because she knew he wanted to piss her off.
"Keep telling yourself that Charis, but the truth cannot be forgotten or ruled out. You are my daughter, and nothing will ever change that." She wanted to scream at him, to defend her real dad, but she couldn't – wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead she was going to do something else, something possibly very stupid.
"I want to marry Draco."
"You what?" She'd heard them... Voldemort and Lucius talking about the impending wedding. It was something that once made bile rise in her throat, and now she was actually asking for it. He was confused by this sudden declaration.
"Keep Draco alive, under your rule, and don't hurt Sirius and I'll marry Draco, just like you want me to." Draco looked like he himself was about to protest, and Carly was not sure if it were to the thought of marrying her, or to being under Voldemorts rule.
"I'm surprised by the turn of events." Voldemort admitted. He eyed his daughter with a clear expression, but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
"Just don't hurt them" He knew who she was talking about, and seemed surprised that she even asked.
"Now Charis, you may be my daughter, but I do not think the union between you and Draco will be enough to stop me from killing every single one of your little friends, starting with Black." His voice was so smooth; you wouldn't have thought he was talking about murdering innocent people if you didn't hear the words he was saying.
"Please." Her voice was breaking, knowing that maybe all her attempts had been wasted, because there was nothing she could do that would even make him consider letting those she loved live.
He looked at her for a second, before simply walking out of the room, leaving her behind to wallow in the total misery that was the existence she lived.
She felt someone touch her arms, and jumped, forgetting that Draco was just behind her.
"You shouldn't have left them, you should have stayed safe." He told her, as he moved towards her, and out of the small cage he had been in, and in the dim light Carly saw that he was muddy, and bruised.
"I couldn't leave you. I couldn't let them hurt you." Carly told him quietly, tears falling from her eyes, she swiped them away and sniffed, as she felt him stare at her.
"You don't know me." Draco told her, almost confused.
"I know you, I was you… I was the kid who couldn't get out, I was the one who did as they were told, hoping one day it would end. I know you better then anyone else out there." Carly replied, not looking at him.
She was surprised then, when she looked up and he was right before her.
"No one-" He seemed unable to say whatever he had intended, as his brows furrowed in frustration. It seemed though he had found a way of communicating what he had meant, when he leaned forward and kissed her.
"Sirius being like this won't help any!" Tonks yelled, as Sirius stormed up and down the corridor, as he waited precious second for everyone in the Order to turn up.
"Like you care!" Sirius roared at the younger woman, who stepped back in fear, she'd never seen Sirius so… Hurt before, not like this, and Tonks realised that he really did truly love Carly like a daughter, and she could see, for the first time, why he felt like that. She gave herself up to protect someone who needed help, to protect the people she loved.
"I do Sirius." Her words were so sincere, that he did not doubt them for a second, which was surprising to him, but that thought process was quickly diverted when he heard screaming on the floor above.
"I DON'T CARE! HARRY! I AM GOING! CARLY IS MY BEST FRIEND!" Ginny voice was betraying how furious she was at Harry in that very second.
"We'll get to her Sirius." Tonks said, turning his attention back to her. "We can't not get to her."
"This could be our chance, our real chance to get them, all of them." He was almost giddy as their plan came together; he knew that now was the time. "Get them, and bring them with us, I'd like for them to see this."
Most the members of the order had made it, but as they all gathered together to plan, the fire erupted into emerald flames and professor Snape burst out of the fireplace.
"Voldemort has come to the school!"