AUTHOR'S NOTE This chapter begins the crossover! The only note I have is the phrase "little witchling" is borrowed from Passions – it's what Tabitha calls her daughter Endora.
DISCLAIMER Don't own any of them.
Slowly, consciousness found her again. Cho blinked her eyes to clear the blurry images around her and realized that she was in a crudely furnished bedroom. She also realized that she was chained to the bedpost and that her wand was lying on the beside table, just out of her reach. She sniffed. Chains. How primitive.
She had never tried wandless magic before, but figured now was as good a time as any to start. Reaching out as far as her chains allowed, Cho focused all of her energy and said, "Accio wand!"
Nothing happened. She sighed in frustration and tried again. "Accio wand!"
It rocked a little, but was suddenly engulfed in bluish light and lay still. Cho flopped back onto the bed. She recognized the spell as an Imprisoning Charm and knew that even if she could summon it, it wouldn't move.
The room was almost completely bare. Besides the bed and table, a lone chamber pot sat in the corner. Cho scoffed. Her kidnappers were so considerate.
There were no windows and only one door. A dingy, bare bulb on the ceiling was her only light source. She sighed. This was not going to be a pleasant experience.
She had no idea how long it had been since she'd been stunned and imprisoned. She waited for what seemed like hours before the door creaked open. "Alohamora," a gruff voice said. The chains binding Cho's wrists released her and she rubbed them irritably as she glared at the hooded Death Eater in her doorway.
Peering intently into the shadows of the hood, Cho smirked. She'd recognize that troll-like face anywhere. "Marcus Flint, how are you?" she asked sarcastically.
"Get up," he grunted, brandishing his wand threateningly.
She cocked her head. "What, no pleasantries? Is that how you greet a girl you tried to behead on the Quidditch Pitch multiple times?"
He glared at her and shook his wand. "She wants to see you," he said.
"Who, Mrs. Voldemort? No thanks."
In an instant, Flint's wand was inches from her face. Cho immediately regretted her attitude as sarcasm was replaced by fear. "Never speak our Lord's name," Flint hissed menacingly. "Now move."
She got up from the bed and walked slowly down the small hallway. Flint kept his wand digging into her back. They ended in what appeared to have once been a sitting room. The curtains were drawn, but Cho could see no daylight coming through the cracks. So it was night then.
A voice caught Cho's attention from the head of the room. "Hello there, little witchling."
Cho paled when she saw a raven-haired woman perched on a throne-like chair in front of a roaring fire. A huge snake lay coiled in her lap, hissing as she stroked its head like a dog. "I believe you remember Narini," she added and the snake lifted its head at its name. "A gift from my late master. Unfortunately, her mother Nagini was a tragic victim of Dumbledore's sad little Order."
"Bellatrix Lestrange," Cho said, shocked. "We thought you were – "
"Dead?" Bellatrix supplied and laughed. "Yes, one of my master's more ingenious plots. He knew the war was drawing to an end and needed to secure a worthy successor. I proved my loyalty time and time again and with my husband dead, I was a logical choice. My Lord placed me in a deathlike trance that would break automatically were he to be killed." She grinned coldly. "But I digress. Welcome to our little home. Do you like it?"
"You're the one who changed the Dark Mark," Cho said.
"Well of course," she replied. "My master was a great sorcerer, but I felt that a little personalization was in order. I am in control of things now, after all."
Cho felt sick to her stomach. "So you're the one all the Death Eaters are following now." Glancing around the room, her eyes lit upon a man with familiar white-blonde hair. She smirked. "I see you're taking orders from a woman now, Draco. What would your father say?"
Draco scowled and reached for his wand, but Bellatrix stopped him. "Come Draco, play nice. Miss Chang here is our guest. We don't want to hurt her."
Cho narrowed her eyes. "What exactly do you want?" she asked.
"We wanted to bring you home, dearie!" Her evil smile widened. "Don't you recognize it?"
Detecting a trick, Cho glared back defiantly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Bellatrix sighed. "Oh dear, that's right. I'd quite forgotten. Meddling fool, that Dumbledore."
Cho bristled. "I don't care what you're talking about, but leave Dumbledore out of this!"
"As you wish, little Orderling. We'll speak again soon." With a wave of Bellatrix's hand, Flint turned Cho around and marched her back to the bedroom.
The chains were gone, but so was her wand. The click of a door lock made Cho's heart sink and she sat back on the hard bed, trying to absorb everything. Bellatrix Lestrange was alive and assuming control of the Death Eaters. No one had probably even noticed that Cho was missing yet.
There was something new on the bedside – a book. At first she was curious, but that waned as soon as she recognized Gadding With Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart. She pushed it aside and tried to find a comfortable position. It must have been Bellatrix's idea of a joke.
Darkness closed in around her as the light suddenly went out. She sighed. She'd been sleeping for who knows how long and wasn't anywhere near tired. Instead, she was left on her own in the dark.
…
Several hooded and cloaked Death Eaters apparated into the living room with a loud crack. They joined Draco Malfoy, Marcus Flint, and a handful of others already assembled before Bellatrix. "You summoned us, my Lady," they said in unison.
She smiled her uniquely insane smile, clearly enjoying the blind devotion. "Things are going according to plan," she announced.
"My Lady," Montague spoke up softly. "Forgive my lack of intelligence, but why are we keeping the girl? Holding her here could bring the rest of them."
She shook her head dismissively. "Our little friend will not be staying with us for long."
A guarded look of confusion passed between the Death Eaters. "I don't understand, my Lady," said Millicent Bullstrode.
Bellatrix was quiet for a moment. "I was one of our Dark Lord's most loyal followers. He welcomed me into his inner council and privileged me with the wealth of knowledge he possessed. Lord Voldemort – " Several of the Death Eaters bowed their heads in deference to their fallen leader. She continued, "He was very close to learning the secret he lusted after so strongly."
"Immortality?"
Grinning, Bellatrix nodded. "Very good, Draco. Unfortunately, he had not the time to find out for sure."
"What does that have to do with the girl?" Goyle asked numbly.
Bellatrix cast her eyes to the ceiling momentarily venting her frustrations with her slow-witted follower. When she looked back, she ignored Goyle's question. "Our Lord uncovered a legend of a creature called Kal-El. This being's blood is much like that of a unicorn, but without the harsher consequences."
Interest piqued within the ranks. "What else is there to the legend?" Draco asked eagerly.
"Kal-El is from a planet once known as Krypton. The planet exploded, but not before his parents sent him off in a spaceship as a baby. He landed here on Earth in a meteor shower and now he walks around like one of us." Bellatrix grinned serenely. "The girl is going to lead us to him."
Narini hissed with pleasure as Bellatrix stroked her head. "With the blood of Kal-El, I will be more powerful than anyone can imagine." Bellatrix's voice was soft, as though she was talking to herself. "No one will be able to stop me. I can have revenge on that miserable little boy who defeated our master." As if snapping out of a trance, she looked back to her followers. "We cannot risk exposure to Harry Potter's pitiful band until after Kal-El is within my power. Don't worry about the girl. When we're through with her, she will have no interest in returning to Dumbledore's pathetic Order."
…
Harry stumbled down into the kitchen. Gabrielle hid a smile. "Good morning, darling," she said.
"Morning." He stooped to give her a kiss and sat at the table. "Breakfast?"
With a flick of her wand, Gabrielle conjured eggs and sausage on his plate. Harry smiled gratefully. "Thanks," he said before digging in. Gabrielle watched with an amused smile. When he finally put his fork down, Harry looked around. "Where's Dobby?" he asked.
Gabrielle smiled. "Buying socks."
"Oh yeah," Harry said with a grin. "Yesterday was payday, wasn't it?"
She nodded. "He should be back soon. He can only carry so many pairs."
Harry finished eating and flicked his wand to clean the dishes and counter. Kissing Gabrielle, he said thanks and headed for the living room. "Hedwig out hunting?" he asked.
"Oh no, I borrowed her earlier. I hope you don't mind." Gabrielle perched herself on the couch. "She should be back soon."
"She can use the exercise," Harry replied with a smirk. "She's been getting lazy."
Gabrielle looked at him teasingly. "Only because you spoil her."
Harry just grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "Where'd you send her to anyway?"
Smiling secretively, she replied, "Just on a couple social errands. Nothing strenuous, I promise."
"You know how I am," Harry said. "She's getting old!"
Gabrielle slid over on the couch and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. "I'm just teasing," she whispered and nibbled affectionately on his earlobe.
"Mmm." Harry pulled her into his lap. "How long did you say Dobby would be gone for?" he asked as he nuzzled her neck.
"Don't know for sure," she murmured. "But knowing Dobby, he'll come back at the most inopportune moment."
Harry sighed and leaned back against the couch. "Good point. Maybe we can lock him out?" he suggested playfully.
Gabrielle laughed. "He'd be so hurt." A tap on the window got her attention. "Besides, Hedwig's back."
With a sigh, Harry let her go to the window. He stroked Hedwig's head affectionately after Gabrielle had untied a role of parchment from her leg. But suddenly Harry's fiancé looked at him with fear in her eyes. He stood up. "Gabby? What is it?"
"Contact Remus," was all she said. "Now!"
…
Remus, Harry, and Gabrielle stood somberly in Harry's living room. Remus held the letter in his hand. "What are the possibilities?" Gabrielle asked quietly. "She's getting old; maybe she just got lost."
"Hedwig has never gotten lost," Harry said firmly. "Ever."
"Owls don't get lost," Remus added. "They can deliver a letter anywhere."
Gabrielle's lip trembled and tears sparkled in her eyes as she looked down at the letter in Remus's hand addressed to Cho Chang. "Do you think she's dead?" she asked quietly.
It was what all three of them feared. But Remus shook his head firmly. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We have ways of keeping track of members of the Order." He sighed heavily. "I'll look into it. Has anyone seen Cho since the last meeting?"
"I don't know," Harry said dully. "I haven't."
"Me neither," Gabrielle said.
Remus sighed again. "I'll get on it right away. If either of you would like to join me at Grimmauld Place, please do, but if Hedwig doesn't mind, I'd like you to send the letter again, just in case."
Harry crossed to where Hedwig rested on a bookshelf. "What do you say?" he asked her. "Will you look for Cho again?"
Hedwig tossed her head, clearly offended that they questioned her ability to deliver letters, but nibbled Harry's fingertip affectionately. He stroked her head and whispered, "Thanks Hedwig." She softly hooted a response and took off through the open window, the letter clasped in her beak. With three loud cracks, Remus, Harry, and Gabrielle disapparated from the living room.