Chapter 22

Catch Me if You Can

Hessa still had the key to her father's shop along with others. She kept them on her in case of an emergency and for sentimental reasons. Her hand practically clawed at the door as she unlocked it, the lights were left off so as not to attract attention, but she could still see the store well enough. All the wand boxes had a thick layer of dust on them. Hessa had a small smile on her face with a hint of sadness across it as she remembered her father picking out wands, his patient reactions to all the bad accidents when they were being tested. Then the memory of seeing Harry for the first time, how Hagrid had to practically drag him away…

Then a wave of nausea and Hessa headed to the bathroom to be sick in it. The picture of scattered limbs danced in her head had made it all the worse. How much time had passed now? She washed out her mouth and looked at herself for a moment. Her pale skin seemed paler, her blue eyes seemed royal blue from sadness and heartbreak, it occurred to Hessa…she would never be able to give them a decent burial. Voldemort would discard their bodies as if they were garbage, he we just getting rid of something in his way. Nothing more, nothing less. Hessa would not get to say goodbye.

She closed her large eyes as tears came down softly and then mentally slapped herself because there was not time for this…it would have to be later.

Hessa looked around one last time, taking in as much as she could because it was very likely she would never see it again, and for the first time she thought, 'I wish I was never born.' Sluggishly she pulled a secret lever in the back of the store and a trap door slid open leading to a lower room and a passageway to a tunnel. Ollivander designed this during the old times, the first war and it was there for her now.

She went down the stairs and looked on the shelves. There was a bag with a good bit of money in it, both wizarding and muggle, fake IDs…no wonder he took so many pictures of her…and there was a letter that said 'Hessa' on it. She touched it with love, but couldn't read it now. Then a map and an amulet? It was beautiful, prettier then she'd ever seen. She could only guess it was for protection. Then everything was put into a nice leather bag, Ollivander always did have good taste, and Hessa place it over her head and on her shoulder, messenger style. The tunnel, she knew, would lead to the outskirts of wizarding London. From there, she would call the knight bus, having her own way to call it, and head into France. "Be with me, Harry…you used to do this too…"

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Draco headed to the store, Hessa had been there, he sniffed around and looked into the office…nothing. But her scent didn't carry anywhere else, she had to have gone somewhere!

Then it dawned on him…

Most wizards, if they could afford it, had secret passages, the Malfoys did, why wouldn't Ollivander? He just had to find the lever. Draco sniffed around like a bloodhound and soon found Hessa's scent concentrated on one wand box. He pulled it and the secret door in the floor slide open. Draco jutted his jaw in annoyance as his father once did. Hessa never told him this…but it shouldn't take him long to catch up to her.

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It was a long passageway, but when you're traveling to the outskirts of London, what else could you expect? Hessa was so hungry, but she doubted she could eat anything anyway. At least she was glad for the water she decided to take. The tunnel lighted automatically for her, torches were set ablaze with each one she passed.

She suddenly felt like a coward.

All of her friends had been killed, her wizard and lover as well, and here she was running. Remus was in her head, legitimizing her actions, saying that she had to continue the fight. But the truth was, she knew she wouldn't, she couldn't. Not without Harry Potter to give the people hope, they would all shrink in fear and within days, the wizarding world would fall into darkness once his death was confirmed.

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He could smell her, she was close. There was no light but his vision was better in the dark anyway. In Draco's heart he knew he needed her, and in more than just the Conk and wizard aspect. He need his conscience, his soul, his reason for his existence, but even Draco thought like his father sometimes…the perfect source for a strong heir to the Malfoy name…maybe heirs, unlike his father, he always wanted more then one child.

In the direction they were going, ti looked like they were headed out of town. Clever Ollivander, this was an escape route built a while ago. Most likely they would be headed out of the country, perhaps France. Hessa did know how to speak French…actually, she knew three languages. The day he found that out, this was before he knew she was a Conk, he was impressed; it explained why his shop was very popular amongst foreigners. Yet he had to get to her before she got out of the country, otherwise it would make it harder to track her, even with the help of the other Death Eaters. Her ability to blend was going to complicate things as well. Yes indeed…she was worth her weight in galleons.

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Hessa saw the door, it was just as few feet ahead of her now. In a way she relaxed and suddenly felt very tired. She removed the key from the messenger bag and started to fiddle with the lock. Then she heard his voice…

"Hessa…"

With her hand still on the lock, she turned to find Draco not that far down. "Shit," Hessa started to tremble.

"I won't hurt you, my love, but it's time to come home."

In her head she head Harry's voice, "she's MY Hessa!" Her own voice was caught, that pull was there again, that instinct she had that knew he was technically her wizard. Now the other one was dead and there was the only the one to serve…

She shook her head and her eyes teared…she wouldn't allow it. Her hand turned the knob and opened the door…

"HESSA!" Draco's eyes widened as she started to shut the door, her face in pain, her tears of sorry.

"I'm sorry, I can't do this," she said softly but he heard her.

"The hell you can't!" and Draco started to charge. But she managed to shut and lock the door before he got there. He tried opening it with the traditional locking spells but nothing, he couldn't even apparate out and he started to panic. His eyes turned red, his hands started to beat on the metal door, putting dents in it. Hessa fell back in surprise… the hinges started to come loose already! Now he was starting to use his feet, "run," she told herself.

Her legs never moved so quick, thank the Gods Hermione leant her some of her clothes., she would never be able to move this fast in her traditional garments. Finally she got to a proper road and use the special little device shaped like a coin to call the knight bus.

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Draco finally kicked out the door and he wasn't happy. He followed her trail…

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Hessa kept looking behind her…where was the blasted knight bus? Finally it arrived and before the boy could say anything, she quickly gave him the money and sat down. The boy looked at her, she was absolutely stunning to look at and barely heard what Hessa was saying, "excuse me?"

"I said, the French border, please."

"Oh, right, miss. Hey, Stan, the French border!"

Hessa felt the bus take off quickly and when she looked out, Draco had just gotten to the street.

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"NO!" he just missed the bus and it would be too dangerous to try and stop it…especially the way they drove the blasted things. He pressed on his tattoo and a few of the Death Eaters showed up. "I want you to go to anywhere that bus stops and I want one of you to go to the French border, if you see her, stun her immediately, don't give her time to deflect any of your spells!"

"Yes, Sir!" they took off in a puff of black smoke.

"I will find you, Hessa. And when I do, you will come home and STAY HOME."

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Hessa sat there quietly, the boy looked at her…she looked so sad.

"Why the long face?"

Silence.

"Well, it's dark times with you-know-who running about, but I think Harry Potter will catch'em," he said cheerfully and stood by the driver. "Don't you think so, Stan?"

"Sure do!"

Hessa looked up and thought, 'no…he won't.'