CHAPTER TWENTY: The Ugly Truth

It was so fantastically brilliant! Her mind raced with the taste of freedom. But Draco stared at her with a deer in the headlights look. It was so insanely stupid, and yet amazing at the same time. She was related to Voldemort. She could get past the wards, and apparate herself out of there. He was her great-something-cousin.

"That's mad!" Draco exclaimed. Evangeline grinned.

"But it makes perfect sense!" she argued. "If we are related, then I have the same privileges that he does. He doesn't even realize what a huge mistake he's made."

"Angel . . ." Draco said with extreme hesitancy. "It's dangerous. He will kill you if you leave."

"What about Verity's happiness?" Evangeline asked.

"She won't be around. He could just tell her that you went home."

Evangeline paused, seeing the logic in his words. If she was the only thing holding Voldemort back then, what if she was there? She smiled at Draco, placing a chaste kiss on his lips, even though she wanted to do more.

"Then we'll just have to take Verity with us."

oOo

Evangeline waited in the dark cellar. Draco had gone upstairs to get her more food. She was famished. A new fire burned in her. She would get them out, and save Verity. Draco didn't like the plan but he had no choice. She wasn't going to stay here if she could leave.

It had been three days since she had brought up the idea. Draco wanted to prolong their departure for as long as possible. She knew he was scared of what might happen if they were caught, or if the plan went wrong. Nothing she could say could change his mind.

A week passed and Evangeline grew restless. She would pace the dark cellar, until Draco could come and see her. And slowly she began to feel better. The food was amazing compared to wild mushrooms, and berries.

Another week. Evangeline couldn't take it. She wanted to see the sun, feel the wind, and most of all find out what Harry and the others were up to. When Draco came down that day she let him know that today was the last day she would wait.

"Can't you wait another week?" he asked tiredly.

"I'm going stir crazy in here!" she said throwing her hands into the air. "I can't be cooped up forever."

Draco sighed, kissed her and leaned his forehead against hers.

"Alright. I am going to leave the door open. Verity's room is still the same. I know the plan," he said. Evangeline smiled at him, hugging him and returning a kiss.

"You're too nice to me," she whispered in his ear. He shivered. Pulling away, she saw that his eyes were dark, but he turned and went to the door. He glanced at her one more time before closing it. But not all the way.

Now she waited. Counting, until she was sure that five minutes had passed. Evangeline pulled the door open and climbed the stairs softly. A small knife lay on the ground, she picked it up. She owed Draco, big time. The hall was empty, so she skirted around the edge until she was near the large staircase that Bellatrix had dragged her down. Silently she went up the stairs, looking down the hallway on the landing and hurrying to Verity's room.

The dark door was shut, but when she tried the handle, it opened easily. Like the last time she was there, the room was a little girl's paradise. Dolls lay on the floor, the bedding a pale pink color. And Verity sitting on the floor, playing by herself.

"Verity!" she whispered. The little girl looked up, surprised and them a happy smile spread on her face.

"Is your time out over?" she asked.

Evangeline nodded.

"Then you can play with me!"

"Shh, Verity. We're going to play a game," Evangeline said. Her eyes grew wide and eager.

"What kind of game?" she asked.

"An adventure game. I'm going to pretend that I am a bad guy and your mommy is going to try and save you, understand?"

"Mommy is going to play!" she squealed.

"Shhh!" said Evangeline pressing her fingers to her lips. "I am going to grab you, and you have to scream, okay?"

Verity nodded.

The moment Evangeline touched Verity, she let out an ear piercing shriek. Evangeline couldn't have asked for anything better. She dragged her out of her room and down the stairs. Below she could hear someone scrambling towards her, glancing behind her showed that Draco was running towards her, a determined look on his face. He almost looked frightening. Evangeline was halfway down the staircase when Bellatrix appeared at the end, breathing heavily.

"Let go of my daughter," she hissed. Evangeline raised her chin defiantly.

"Or what?" she challenged with a sneer. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, giving her confidence. Verity struggled against her grip, just like she had been told to.

"I'll make you pay," she said, her heavy lidded eyes locked on her. "Draco, be a dear and help me?"

Evangeline glanced over her shoulder at Draco who stood at the top of the stairs, his mother's wand pointed straight at her back. She turned back to Bellatrix, pulling Verity closer to her body. Bellatrix was panting, knuckles white as they gripped the dark banister.

"NOW, Draco!" she screeched. Draco lunged at her, and Evangeline turned, catching Bellatrix's smile, and grabbed Draco. She turned on the spot and apparated.

oOo

They tumbled to the ground, gasping. Evangeline still had a firm hold on Verity, which she was glad for. She could hear Draco moaning beside her, Verity had started to cry. Evangeline sat up, shaking her head.

"Where are we?" moaned Draco.

"I . . . think we're not far from Hogwarts . . . not in the forbidden forest. I think we're near Hogsmeade," she said uncertainly.

"Mommy!" wailed Verity, still sobbing. Her cheeks were wet with tears, her small nose pink and running. Evangeline scooped her into a hug.

"Shhhhh! It's okay!" she murmured, "don't cry Verity!"

"Mommmmmmmaaaaaaaaa!"

Evangeline gave Draco a panicked look. He rolled his eyes at her, and got to his knees.

"Hey, Verity, I'm here," he said softly. "Everything is okay."

Verity sniffed looking at Draco with red rimmed eyes. Her bottom lip quivered but she nodded, her black curls bouncing. Evangeline smiled and kissed the side of her head. They set Verity down in the grass, and told her to stay where she was and walked a few yards away to talk without having her overhear them.

Evangeline wrapped her arms around herself tightly and bit her lip, staring at the surrounding woods, and Hogwarts in the distance. Draco took a shuddering sigh.

"Now what?" he asked.

"Honestly, I haven't thought of that," she admitted sheepishly. Draco looked at her eyes wide.

"Don't you and Potter have some sort of meeting place, that you can go to?" he asked.

" . . . no."

"Merlin, Ev! You didn't think about this?"

"It's not like we can stay anywhere! I can't get us a hotel, they'll be looking for us."

"Yes. It's a good thing we made it look like you kidnapped us both," he replied sarcastically.

"Stop it!" she snapped. "It's not like I know many safe places."

Draco ran his hand over his face, pinching his nose with a groan. She watched him silently, as he dragged one of his pale hands through his hair. She glanced back at Verity who was watching them. She sighed and shivered. It was really cold.

"Well . . . since we're near Hogsmeade, lets go see if we can find somewhere to stay. It's too cold to keep Verity out here," she suggested. Draco nodded, his jaw still clenched with frustration. She sighed, and turned to Verity.

"Lets go find us somewhere to sleep tonight!" she said brightly. Verity smiled and stood up, holding out one of her small hands, which Evangeline took. Draco walked past her without saying a word.

The trio silently trekked to the small little village, as it began to snow. The buildings and streets were silent, except for the few people running to their destinations. No one seemed to be stopping to chat.

"Let's try the Hogs Head," she suggested.

"Why not Madame Rosemerta's?" Draco asked.

"Her place is popular, they might look there. And besides the Hogs Head is more low key," she explained, noting the frustration on his face. What's got his panties in a twist? she thought.

At the edge of the village hung the dilapidated sign for the Hogs Head, hanging from one chain instead of two. The front looked like it hadn't been used in a while, empty crates bordered the door. Draco opened the heavy dark door, and entered the old pub. Evangeline followed him and shut the door, relishing the heat that emanated from the hearth, where a fire licked the few logs left in it.

The bar counter was empty, shinning bottles of liquor lining the shelf behind it. Draco approached the counter cautiously and rang the small brass bell. There was a thump from the other room followed by feet.

"What do you low lifes want now?" a voice asked getting nearer. A man entered the room from behind the counter and Evangeline recoiled. She let go of Verity's hand and scrambled backwards, falling over a chair and landed on her back.

"What do you want?" he asked annoyed, his blue eyes staring at her.

"One room, sir," Draco said politely, helping Evangeline to her feet. Evangeline's face was pale, her hands shook, but she held onto Draco like her life depended on it. The man glanced at them, his eyes narrowed on her.

"Don't I know you?" he asked. Evangeline swallowed. He stared at her face. "You're that girl they want, that Evangeline Fallon. Undesirable Number two."

She was speechless, her breath coming in short pants.

"It was a mistake coming here, sorry we wasted your time, sir," she hastily said backing

away towards the door.

"Nonsense!" he said firmly. "I have one room you can use."

He turned his back to them and retrieved something before tossing it at Draco. With his Seeker skills, he easily caught it and showed it to Evangeline. A key.

"Upstairs, to your left. It's the third door. And don't worry, I won't turn you in," he said. Evangeline found herself nodding. Taking hold of Verity's hand she followed Draco up the rickety stairs into a dark hallway. Ahead of her Draco put the key into a door and opened it for them. She led Verity into the room and waited as Draco lit the lights.

It was small, with a full bed and a sofa along the far wall. A small door led to a dingy little bathroom. Dust covered everything. Evangeline sat down on the bed and Verity got up with her. Then she began jumping on the bed. Dust billowed up from the sheets.

"The life of luxury," Draco commented looking around the room. "No one will find us here," he added sarcastically. Evangeline frowned at him.

"What's got you in a foul mood?"

"I'm not the one without a plan!" he snapped.

"So that's what this is about? You're mad because I didn't have a plan?"

"You 'kidnap' us from my home and then take us to the wilderness and say, 'I don't know what to do next, lets go to Hogsmeade'!"

"You're unbelievable! It's not like I had many choices!" she hissed.

"You had two weeks!"

Evangeline stayed silent, only the squeaking of the mattress filled the room as Verity kept jumping up and down. Evangeline's shoulders slumped.

"I didn't know where to go," she admitted. "Everywhere that I once knew is no longer safe."

Draco's face softened and he sighed. Evangeline felt the bed dip as he sat down next to her, and he placed an arm around her.

"It's . . . alright. I'm sorry."

Evangeline took his hand in hers and squeezed it. Then kissed him. Draco grabbed hold of her, burying his fingers in her black hair, his other hand cupping the side of her face. Evangeline draped one of legs over his, turning her body so she could get to him better.

"EW!"

Evangeline broke away from Draco breathless and looked at Verity, who had stopped jumping on the bed. A blush rose to her cheeks, and Draco cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"I thinks its time for someone to go to bed," he said. Verity jumped down from the bed.

"I'll help you get ready, Verity," Evangeline said and stood up, cheeks burning. She ushered Verity into the bathroom, catching Draco's smug look before closing the door.

A quick bath, and a made up bedtime story later, Verity was tucked into the blankets of the full bed and fast asleep. Evangeline sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the little girl.

"It's hard to imagine that her parents are murderers," she murmured quietly. "She's so sweet and innocent."

"I couldn't believe it either at first," Draco said. She nodded and stood, joining him at the window, where he sat on the sofa.

"Did you see him? The owner?"

"Yes," he said.

"He looks just like . . . Dumbledore. I mean . . . somehow I know who he is. But I can't remember his name, but I just know who he is. Hermione had some sort of book about Dumbledore after we went to Godric's Hollow. I just never paid attention."

"He does look like Dumbledore," Draco agreed. "You mean Rita Skeeter's book? 'The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore'?"

Evangeline nodded.

"Somehow, it all relates to the Deathly Hallows, and You-Know-Who's Horcrux's."

Draco frowned. But he said nothing.

"I mean, don't you think it's odd that Harry can see what You-Know-Who is doing? That they share some sort of connection? And every time we destroy a Horcrux, Harry sees into his mind and feels what he feels. Doesn't that mean something?"

Draco's frown deepened.

"There has to be a reason why Harry is connected to You-Know-Who. He's the only one that senses when he's near or if a Horcrux is near. . . it's almost like he is . . ." Evangeline's eyes widened. He couldn't be? Couldn't he?

"Why do you care so much about Potter? He can see into the Dark Lord's mind. That doesn't make any difference-"

"Don't you see!" she said excitedly. "Harry is a Horcrux!"

Upon realizing what she had just said, her smile slipped off her face. Cold dread settled in her gut. "He doesn't even realize it." Tears pricked her eyes. If she was right, Harry would have to die, for Voldemort to die.

Ahhhhh. Another chapter closer to . . . the END! Anyway, I am finished with Finals . . . probably failed most of them (cough cough) I didn't study. At. All. Shame on me.

And to my lovely reviewers who are ever Awesome . . . I do hope that your summers will be fantastic!:

TheElegantFaerie: Ev is Voldemort's great-great, great, great, great, great, great to the power of sixth-cousin. I know that's like a lot of 'greats', and basically she's not totally related to him. But! Her family is all pure bloods. So . . . she is as pure as it gets. Plus she can speak Parseltongue, although I seemed to have neglected to write that into the story . . . hm.

Nizuna Fujieda: I aim to make you smile! Because smile's are the best.

Erugalatha Fael-ionath: I know! The thought crossed my mind, I almost seriously killed her right then and there. But that would've been a really sad ending to the story.

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: I'm glad you liked it! I hope this one is good too. Although it's rather short.

Trying to Put Pen to Paper: Mwahahaha! You cannot stop reading the story because it is AWESOME! Just kidding! I'm glad you like it so much.

magicalsparks3721: (your review from chapter one) I'm glad you like the first part of the story! I kinda want to go back and read it myself. :)

The Mysterious E: AW! I love the new fandom! Dravangeline. I LIKE IT!

CherryBlossomTrinity: Sorry for the wait. I did say that I would update every Saturday, but you can see how well that went. :\ But I updated a day before Saturday, so I get Brownie Points! :)

I will try and update sooner now that school is over and I have no homework to complete . . . well, except for summer homework. But I have two months to finish it! And a big hug to those who have favorited, alerted, and follow my story. Party on and be excellent.

~Ciao