Chapter fourteen: Set in Motion
Mortifera began to fall as she stepped closer to Pansy. Her head raced around her as her eyes closed. Her eyes opened slowly. Horror filled her face. Her worst nightmare was coming true. Her friends surrounded her, held at wand point by Death Eaters. Inches away from her Harry lay unconscious. "Harry," She cried as she rushed towards him. She looked from face to face. Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Ron standing there silently. Ginny's face was pale as she gazed at Harry's motionless body. "He's still alive Ginny," Mortifera called to her. She could feel movement under her fingers. "What happened," Harry asked sitting up slowly. Terror crossed his face as he gazed in Ginny's eyes. "You're a very hard person to get a hold of, Miss Acerabus," Voldemort's voice echoed through her. "That is why I arranged this little party."
"Let them go," she pleaded. "I will, in due time," he answered back.
"I know what you want," she said.
"I figured you did. You were always a step ahead of me. Then you got sloppy."
"How so," she asked.
"You cared a little too much. That gave Pansy here the opening we needed. She planted the letter and then slipped a sleeping potion in your drinks."
"I warned you, Mortifera! Now, Draco will be mine."
"Oh yes, because he'll forgive you for killing me," Mortifera said with sarcasm.
"No one has to die. Not yet anyways," Voldemort said with a sick smile. "I won't let you kill them," Mortifera commanded.
"What about you're precious Draco," he said as Bellatrix pulled Draco forward. "Will you save your boyfriend or your brother?"
Mortifera looked at Harry as if she had been kicked. "Oh, no one told you? If not for Alec, I would have remained clueless. To think all these years, the people you thought loved you lied to you."
"You're lying," she yelled.
"Am I? Really? You've never noticed anything similar between yourself and the famous Harry Potter. It was a great ploy, replacing you, the daughter of James and Lily Potter, with the dead daughter of Alexander and Drusilla Acerabus. You were only four months old. How would you remember? But you did, didn't you. Alec told me of your dreams. He told you, you were looking for your traits in Drusilla. I mean after all, the black hair was explainable, but you were the only one with emerald green eyes. Lily's eyes."
Harry couldn't believe the words. Now starring into her eyes, he saw his mother starring back at him. A feeling rushed over him. It was joy. He had a family again. "It was quite a good plan. They bury Mortifera Insita Acerabus in exchange for Alec and Dru raising their daughter, Lily Audriana Potter."
Mortifera stared at Harry then at Draco. "Hard decision isn't it," Voldemort said taking note of her face. "Save the brother you knew nothing about or the boy you've loved since childhood."
Voldemort turned his wand from Harry to Draco. This was it. Sectumsempra, she thought with all her might. Suddenly, Voldemort was air born then laying on the ground in cuts. The Death Eaters turned their wands to face her. As if by some miraculous force, wands began to fly through the air. Mortifera darted towards Draco. "Run here! Quickly," she commanded. They did as instructed. "Hold on everyone," she said as she closed her eyes tight while holding on to Draco who had been hit with an awry spell. She concentrated hard on her target. Her head spun around her. She fell as they landed in front of the Hog's Head Tavern. She watched as Ginny embraced Harry and as Hermione kissed Ron. She then turned her attention to Draco. "Are you alright," she asked. He slowly sat up and ran his fingers through her hair. "Shouldn't I be asking you that," he smiled. "I meant are you hurt," she said looking at him with caring eyes. "I'm fine, just worried about you. Are you okay?"
"As good as I can be," she smiled. Her eyes followed Draco's only to see Dumbledore and Snape standing there. "Are you all alright," Dumbledore asked.
"We're all okay," Harry said. "Fera, sweetheart," Snape began. "Are you hurt?"
"Is it true," she asked. "Is Harry my brother?"
Snape stood in shock. "The time has come Severus, but perhaps my office would be the better place for this particular conversation."
Dumbledore lead them back to the castle. Mortifera held tight to Draco. "Professor McGonagall will you see the children to their Common Rooms," Dumbledore asked as they entered the castle. "Of course, Headmaster," she said as she led the other students away. "I'll wait for you in the Common Room," Draco said before kissing her gently on the forehead. Mortifera and Harry walked in silence towards Dumbledore's office. Once inside, Mortifera sat down and stared at Snape. "Know that your mother loved you very much," Dumbledore said. "So it's true," Mortifera said in shock. "You were only four months old when your mother found out she was pregnant with Harry. She had already had a close call with Voldemort twice. She thought the Order would be able to keep you safe. When Harry was born, we had thought of implementing the same cautions we had with you. Once we moved Harry, Lily and James to Godric's Hollow we had contacted Alec about placing you back with them. But then."
"Voldemort," she said quietly.
"Yes," Dumbledore continued. "You're parents were murdered, only Harry survived."
"You were too small to remember," Snape said looking at her.
"You knew," she asked. "You knew all this time and never thought to tell me," her voice filled with anger.
"It was for your protection," Snape said in defense.
"Were you ever going to tell me?"
"When the time was right."
"Who was going to decide the time was right? I've spent 18 years not knowing who I am!"
"Audrey," Dumbledore said looking at her. That was her name. It always had been. The sound of it sent a chill up her spine. "You are angry, that is understandable, but know that we only sought to keep you safe."
"I do understand that, sir. But I never had the chance," her voice broke as tears welled in her eyes.
"Harry," Dumbledore said looking at him as he watched Mortifera. "What are you feeling?"
"As crazy as it sound, joy. I know what you are feeling. I grew up with muggles, the nastiest kind. I never knew anything about our family until I was 11. I thought I was alone, that I had lost the only family I had left when Sirius died, but now," Harry said looking into her green eyes. "Now, I have you, my sister."
He smiled. "Severus and I will give you two a few moments, I'm sure there are things you want to talk about."
She watched as they walked out of the Headmaster's office. "What do we do now," she asked.
"I don't know. I'm just glad I'm not alone anymore," he smiled.
"Harry you were never alone. I saw the way you were with the Weasleys. They love you as if you were their own."
"I know. It's just not the same as real family."
"Who dictates real family? I mean I've spent the last 18 years of my life with someone who had no ties to me, but loved me unconditionally."
"You miss him don't you," Harry asked.
"Yes," she smiled. "I still can't believe that he is gone."
"Audrey," Dumbldore's voice echoed behind them. He walked closer holding something in his hands. "This is yours. Lily gave it to me the night she placed you with Alec."
Her name stared back at her from the top of the box. She traced her fingers over it. "Thank you, Headmaster," she smiled.
"You two should probably return to your dorms and get some rest," he smiled. Audrey. The name felt so familiar but still so foreign. What do I do? Do I retain the Acerabus name that I have lived with for 18 years or do I take my birth name?
"We will figure everything out in the morning," Snape said as he walked her to the Common room. She looked at him but didn't say a word. She felt betrayed by him. It was a feeling she didn't like.