Chapter 2: Todd, 1973

I switched the sign around to say Closed. I undid my apron and hung it up behind the counter. The apothecary was silent…not that there was ever much noise during the day. Voldemort had seen to that. Him and his horrid Death Eaters. How had they gotten any power? They made everyone a nervous wreck. It was bad for business.

I sighed. Now, with hindsight, I realized that it was probably a good idea that Ted and I hadn't started our own apothecary. There was no way we'd be able to support ourselves and our wives. I didn't even know where Ted was. When Voldemort had taken control, he and Andromeda had practically vanished off the face of the Earth. He could be dead for all I knew. I hoped that wasn't true, but it was a possibility. It would explain the lack of communication.

The last I had heard from Ted was that he and Andromeda had eloped. They couldn't have a real wedding because he was a Muggle-born and she was a Black. Bellatrix, Andromeda's older sister was a Death Eater and she had marked them for death. I wished I could do something…but I was not a dueler. Ted had pointed that out every time I had ended up in the infirmary.

Shaking my head sorrowfully, I went into the back room. As much as I missed the Tonks's, there wasn't much I could do besides mope and moan to Cecelia about it. I clocked out on the schedule and grabbed my cloak and soda. I was very fond of those Muggle drinks. Checking the next time I was supposed to be in, I flung my cloak over my shoulders.

Bring. I froze. The front bell shouldn't be going off. The store was closed and I had locked the door. I rolled my eyes. I hadn't locked the door. Still, the sign clearly said Closed. I sighed and turned around. You would think that people would learn how to read. I was about to swing the door forward when a familiar voice stopped me. A voice I hadn't wanted to hear ever again.

"Maybe my dear brother-in-law will come out of hiding if his best friend makes the news. He will want to save the widow." It sneered. I back up faster than a rear heavy truck. Bellatrix was talking about me. She wanted to kill me in order to get Ted out of hiding. Somehow, I knew Ted wouldn't fall for it. He wasn't stupid. I had to get out of there.

"Well, where is he? The store's supposed to be closed. Did he leave already?" another familiar voice asked. Why oh why did they have to be together? This was a nightmare. I ran through the back room to the back door. Turning off the alarm with my wand, I snuck out back. If I could make it to the end of the alley, I could Apparate home and put this all behind me.

"What's taking so long? How much time does it take to kill one blood-traitor?" a grumbling voice at the end of the alley asked.

"Beats me, shouldn't take more than a matter of minutes if you ask me." Another male voice grunted. I rolled my eyes. They sure roamed around in packs. Keeping my wand at the ready, I advanced slowly.

"Bellatrix is probably playing with him. She never could just kill and go." Lucius grumbled.

"Yeah, she does let her temper get the better of her most of the time." Antonin grunted.

I crept closer, hoping that the snow would muffle my footsteps enough that they wouldn't hear me.

"I hear you're engaged Lucius." Antonin said casually.

"Yes, to Narcissa Black. Not my first choice, as she ran off with a Mudblood, but she doesn't argue and seems to worship me. Easily controlled really,"

I gripped my wand tighter. Ted was ten times the man Malfoy would ever be. I pointed my wand at him. He would go first for his dirty mouth.

"Stupefy," I whispered. A jet of red light hit Lucius square in the back. He crumpled. Antonin whipped around and shot a curse at me. I dodged easily and threw a curse his way. Suddenly, a smile split his face.

"Expelliarmus!" a voice behind me shouted. I was thrown off my feet and my wand flew into Thorfin Rowle's hand. He smiled wickedly. Bellatrix Black came up from behind him smiling like Christmas had come early.

"Trying to get away, are we Riley? I think not. Naughty, naughty," She pointed her wand at my chest. "Do you know what happens to naughty children? They are punished."

The others laughed. I crawled backward trying to get out of reach.

"I haven't done anything to you. I haven't hindered nor helped you. I am a neutral party; you have no right harassing me." I attempted to persuade. Bellatrix laughed evilly.

"On the contrary, we think you know where my sister and her Mudblood husband are."

"The Bahamas? Timbuktu? I don't know where they disappeared to after graduation. I haven't heard from them in years." I spat hoping they would let me go. A foolish hope, but one nonetheless.

"I fail to see the humor in your comments." Bellatrix said. Rowle grabbed the front of my shirt and lifted me off the ground.

"Where is Tonks?" he growled.

"I told you, I don't know!" I shouted. The louder, the better, someone was bound to hear and come help me. Bellatrix walked over and slapped me.

"Quit lying you filthy half-blood and tell me where my ungrateful sister is." She hissed.

"If you would open your bloody ears you would know that I don't know!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. The sky was dark. Nobody was bound to be out. Nobody stayed out after dark anymore for precisely this reason.

"Drop him Thorfin." Bellatrix commanded. Rowle simply let go and I tumbled to the cobblestones. Bellatrix pointed her wand at me. "Crucio!"

My body seized up. It began to shake uncontrollably. Pain coursed through every nerve. My body was on fire. I screamed in agony. I tumbled over onto my side, screaming. I squeezed my eyes shut, almost automatically. I couldn't control myself. It was as if someone had turned off the control panel.

The pain stopped. Someone came over and kicked me in the gut. I seized up and wrapped my arms around my torso. There was laughter.

"Going to tell us yet, Riley?" Malfoy asked derisively.

"I…can't…" I gasped.

"I think you won't." Bellatrix spat. "Since you won't tell us, we'll make him come out. Crucio!"

Again the pain filled every nerve. I shook uncontrollably. Agony was all I knew. This time the pain didn't stop. I could vaguely hear the Death Eaters cruel laughter. I couldn't breathe. My lungs were unable to move without pain shooting through my chest. My eyes began to water and my vision blurred. My voice was growing hoarse from screaming. I was going to die…

A beautiful face replaced the dark, blurred alley. Her creamy skin and rosy cheeks stood out like they never had before. Her wavy brown hair floated around her face, framing it and making her gorgeous smile radiant. Even though she smiled, her eyes betrayed her. They were filled with sorrow. She reached a delicate hand to touch my face, but she couldn't reach. Slowly, her lips turned the other way. Tears glistened in her eyes.

"Todd…" she whispered longingly. I could feel warm tears rolling down my face. Whether from pain or sorrow, I didn't know. Her pain was far greater than mine. I hoped I was crying for her. I wanted to let her know how much I loved her. How much I was going to miss her…

"Cecelia…"

"I love you, Todd…"Cecelia whispered. Her lips formed a kiss. Then she began to fade.

"No, don't go…I love you…please stay!" I begged fearfully. No amount of pleading would snag her back. She vanished, as did the nerve-deep pain. It was sweet relief to feel nothing but soft grass beneath me…

Grass? I opened my eyes (when had I shut them?) and gazed at my surroundings slightly dazed. Bright light prevented me from seeing where I was right away. After adjusting, I saw that I was no longer in the alley. I was in a white meadow covered in white flowers. A few feet away sat a girl. She looked vaguely familiar. She stood, wide-eyed, holding a bouquet of white daisies.

"Todd Riley?" she gasped. My jaw dropped. I hadn't seen her since I was a fourth year at Hogwarts.

"Romilda Lupin?"