Draco scoffed again, brushing his hair to the side.
"She left her whereabouts yesterday," he said.
"What are you talking about?" I demanded.
"She was staying with Goyle Sr. She left."
"Where did she go?" I asked. "And who is Goyle Sr.?"
"Goyle Sr is Gregory Goyle's father." I gasped at that. "As previously stated, I don't know where she went."
"Why did you bribe me into sleeping with you if you didn't even know where she was!" I exclaimed. I felt my face go red with anger.
"I did know where she was! I told you, she left!"
I ignored that. "Where is Goyle Sr. located?"
"He's in South London. He lived only a mile or so north of my house."
"That doesn't help, Malfoy."
"Either stop calling me that, or get out." I practically growled at him.
"Do you know any famous buildings near his house?" I asked.
"No." I rolled my eyes at him. This small bit of information was not worth the night I just spent with him.
"Thanks. You're such a great help," I said, my words dripping with sarcasm. I walked outside and shut the door almost in a slam.
I felt like crying. My eyes didn't want to stay dry any longer.
"Annie, stop," I heard.
"What do you want Mal-" I stopped myself. "What do you want?"
"They took your brother too."
I fell to my knees. Oxygen didn't suffice at this point. My lungs stopped functioning, and it felt like my heart did too.
A tear fell from my face.
"Where is he?" I asked, ignoring my cracking voice.
"He's in the Malfoy Manor."
I pushed another tear away from my eye and stood up. Everything was black from the dark and blurry from my tears. I began to run back. It was too cold to walk. I quietly went inside, making sure not to wake anyone up.
It was 11:30.
I grabbed my bag and filled it with about everything I had. I walked to my pillow to take the letter my father wrote Harry from underneath it.
"Do you have a bag any smaller than that?" Hermione asked me. I stopped packing. I didn't want her knowing a thing.
Why did she keep initiating conversation with me? It wasn't like our friendship had gone back to normal...
"Yeah. Why?"
"Let me see it." I found my handbag and tossed it to her.
"Tractus non possint deprehendere et accusam." She flicked her wand upon my bag and handed it back to me.
"What did you just do?" I asked her, still half in shock she was willing to speak with me.
"Undetectable extension charm. It'll make it easier for you to put your stuff in."
"Why are you helping me?" I asked in a timid voice.
"Because you have too much stuff in this room. When you try to stuff your junk in those bags, it makes this room look even more cluttered..." She went on and on. "...which is not what we need in this room. It's already cluttered enough with this many people in it."
Naïve little Hermione over there had no clue she was helping me pack.
"Thanks, Hermione." I smiled half heartedly and transferred everything into the handbag.
She climbed back into bed and put the sheets on herself. I finished packing and climbed into bed as well. I took out my wand and pointed it at the middle of my mattress.
"Portus pecuniam," I whispered. It lifted the top seven or eight layers of my mattress. I hid money there. Lots of money. My father used to send me some every year on my birthday, nearly 130 galleons every year.
(130 galleons is equivalent to $1309 or € 959)
He taught me this spell to hide all the money. Portus Pecuniam. You point it anywhere. It takes off the top few layers off any sturdy object and lets your stash your things there. Then you mumble a spell back on it and nobody would ever think I've done a thing at all to that object. I used alot of the money up already on my plenty trips to Hogsmeade. I spent about 250 of those galleons in the past 5 years.
I never wanted to waste them. I always told myself I'd get a new broom when I went into my fifth year so I'd have a motif for saving all that money.
I put all the galleons into that small handbag.
I left some things there like my textbooks and robes, but I took the majority of everything else.
I put the handbag under my pillow and fell asleep. I tried my best to enjoy the last night of sleep I'd ever have in this bed.
I woke up the next morning with a headache and a stabbing pain down there. I groaned and waddled out of bed. I stepped into the shower and waited for the cold water to hit my back like ice. I stood in the shower motionless for a few minutes. I didn't really want to do anything.
As much as I needed to leave, I longed to linger in the castle for longer.
Eventually, I turned off the water and wrapped my body in a towel. I reached into the pouch Hermione enchanted for me and yanked out a pair of underwear and a bra. I then found a shirt, pants and a comfortable jacket. As I slipped them on, I scanned the room to make sure I hadn't left anything important there.
I'd never return.
I carried the pouch with me and walked to breakfast. I was going to get something to eat very quickly and then go on my journey.
Last Saturday
I was looking for a way out of the castle. Fifth, sixth, and seventh years were allowed to Hogsmeade today; I went alone this time.
I walked into a few restaurants and an occasional store or two just to inspect. I looked for a sign of anything underground or a hidden door. I knew they would all be covered up pretty well, but I looked anyways.
After around the ninth restaurant, frustration was building and I felt I was beginning to go insane. I walked into The Three Broomsticks and asked for a Butterbeer.
"What's wrong?" the bartender asked me. "You seem a bit distracted." I looked at him.
"Nothing is wrong with me." I paid for the drink and left. I saw two tall gingers walking into Zonkos.
The twins.
I strutted in there, trying to catch up.
"You know Fred," I heard George start. "We could do some serious damage with these here stink bombs..." I smiled. I was a bit too far for them to see me but I could hear them just fine.
"If only we could get these into the school without being noticed..." Fred completed. I literally walked into the conversation.
"Maybe if there was an underground passage that led in or out of Hogwarts..?" I proposed. Fred smirked.
"There is the Marauders Map, George," Fred said. I kept listening.
"It's with Harry though. I'll ask Harry for it. Great idea, Annabelle. There's six hidden passages out of Hogwarts. I'm sure one leads into Zonkos." I gaped as George spilled me information.
"Where do the others lead?" I asked.
"There's a passage on the sixth floor behind the mirror on the wall, but it's been caved in a long time ago," Fred said.
"There's another through the statue of the one-eyed-witch's hump that leads into Honeydukes," George interrupted.
"Where does the mirror on the wall lead to?" I asked.
"I know it's underground and runs a half a mile leading somewhere beside the Hogwarts Express tracks. The entrance caved in a few years ago though..."
"Hey I have to go. Have fun smuggling stink bombs," I exclaimed sarcastically.
I walked into Honeydukes and found the owner of the store. I took out my wand. There was hardly anyone in. I walked to the back behind the employee door.
"Hello. May I ask you a few questions?" I asked with a smile.
"You aren't supposed to be back here, but yes, go ahead."
"I've heard there was a passage in this store that leads into Hogwarts."
"I do not know what you're talking about." I smirked and pointed my wand at her.
"Imperio." I whispered. She sniffed a strange looking gas and looked a little kinder. "Now. Tell me where the entrance is."
"It's in the One-Eyed-Witches hump."
"Where is this 'one-eyed witch'?" I asked, my wand still pointed at her.
"On the fifth floor in Hogwarts. It is standing adjacent to the cabinet used for cleaning supplies."
"Now tell me, this tunnel that begins through the hump, where does it lead?"
"The cellar in the basement of this store," she said. "If you keep walking down the tunnel, there is another exit about an eighth of a mile down that leads outside the gates of Hogwarts near the Hogwarts Express' train tracks."
I smirked. "Obliviate."
I practically jumped for joy as I left the store. I had all the information I needed.
I could finally leave Hogwarts.
I picked up a plate and set nearly 20 pastries on it. I quickly swallowed a few until I felt an urge to vomit. Then, making sure nobody saw, I set a few napkins on the top of the plate. I stuffed the plate into my bag and walked back to my room.
I scanned the room a last time for anything I may have missed. I sighed and walked out. I slowly paced outside of the room, Harry's face flashing through my mind. I longed to say goodbye, knowing that it was likely I would never see him again. I wanted to kiss him; to express my love for him. I wanted him to hold me, to love me like he did before. I wanted to kiss him one last time, but I couldn't. I quickly dispersed the image of him from my mind, sneering at the thought of his lying self.
I slowly walked upstairs to the fifth floor.
"Where're you going?" I heard Ginny ask. I turned around slowly with eyes as big as globes.
"Um. Professor. I have to speak with my Professor." I started walking again, not giving her a chance for more inquiries. I made it to the top of the stairs and onto the fifth floor. I slowly walked down the hall looking for the statue…
About five minutes past until I spotted a closet. That was the one that lady was speaking of. I looked beside the closet and spotted the One Eyed Witch. I laughed and nudged at her back hump. I felt the stone-like rock that was her back scoot to the side.
This was it.
I crawled into the witches back and slid down into a tunnel. I pulled out my wand. "Lumos."
I walked down the tunnel and made sure to keep watch of anyone finding me.
I heard a bit of rustling down the tunnel and gasped. I pointed my wand toward where I heard it and looked.
"Oh you won't snitch will you?" The girl said. She looked around 6th or 7th year. I just caught two lovers in quite a reckless embrace.
I tried to cover my face in case they recognized me and would tell people about how I left later on. I smiled, nodded, and walked on past. The tunnel was wide, nearly twenty feet in width. Up ahead I spotted a caved in section of the tunnel. I assumed this was the part the Weasley's mentioned. I backed up a few feet and whispered, "Bombarda." There was a large explosion and the rocks gave way. There was about a four foot tall tunnel made in the middle of all the rocks and material. I bent down and walked through it.
I started jogging, growing excited and almost impatient to get out of this. Nearly ten minutes of running later, I spotted a ladder and what looked like an exit in the roof of the cave. I smirked and climbed it up. I pushed the exit up and climbed through it. Light flooded the cave.
"Thank Merlin." I checked behind me, making sure nobody was watching. I climbed out and onto land. I laughed from pure insanity and ran. I hadn't thought this far through things. I assumed things would make its way for me by the time I'd gotten this far. It would take five days minimum by foot. If only I knew how to apparate…
I took out a water bottle from my small pouch and drank a bit. I'd forgotten Christmas break would be starting in a few days. I'd have to be far away from these tracks by the time the train came through. If that train would find me, I'd get expelled for sure.
The Next Day
I've been running, literally, on no sleep for almost 16 hours. I wasn't tired, though I wasn't running the entire time. I transitioned from walking to a jog to an occasional run every once in a while.
"Where're you headed, dearie?" I heard. A woman that looked about the age of 60 was sitting on a log to my right. I slowed my run down to a slow walk.
"London. Are you a witch?" I asked.
"Well of course I am, you silly girl…"
"Why are you here?" I asked squinting at her.
"Why not? I have no money, no job, no family…" I thought about it.
"Do you know how to apparate?" I asked.
"Of course I do. Why?"
"I'll give you money. 80 galleons to take me to London?" I asked. She gaped at me and smiled.
"Yes. Please. Oh Merlin bless you, child, may he bless you." She walked toward me and apparated us to London. I've used this method of transportation before. My father was an amazing wizard… I learned to control the nauseating feeling in the stomach.
We arrived in London a few seconds later. I recognized where I was and handed her the cash.
"Thank you. Bless you child. Merlin bless you," she stated again. I smiled a timid one and found a taxi. I was only a few minutes from my house. I pulled out some food I'd collected from Hogwarts and ate it.
I held out a hand and looked for some muggle money…
"6940 SE Williams Avenue please?" I asked. The man drove me to the front of my house and I handed him a little bit of money. "Thank you, sir."
I looked at my driveway and spotted my father's blue Mercedes.
I practically ran to the doorstep, a huge smile on my face. Before bursting into the house, I debated what I would use as an excuse for leaving Hogwarts...
I slowly opened the door and made my way into the small homey kitchen.
There was no food on the stove, nor was there food in the refrigerator. I walked upstairs to find my father, but he wasn't there.
Oh my God.
"Dad?" I called through the house. I waited for a reply back but got nothing. He was supposed to be at home from work hours ago.
I walked through all the rooms of the house, looking for a note he may have left or a sign of where he'd be.
Nothing.
I went to the mailbox outside and checked it. I found mail from 4 days ago. I shut my eyes and inhaled deeply.
He was taken with them.
I went back inside the house and sat down on the sofa. Down my cheek I felt a drop of water fall. A tear fell from my eye into my lap.
After nearly 20 minutes of sadness and anxiety, I felt an envelope drop onto my hand. A white spotted owl flew out the open window and away in the distance.
The letter was titled: Annabelle.
Before you go thinking I even give a shit about how this will turn out for you, know that I'm only helping you because I'm a man of my word. 2947 West Hailsburry Lane. There is a passage to the right of the manor. If you say the words Lieatre Ompreioutivious Actaviete, the gates will open and you will be allowed in. I must warn you, those in the house will very likely take you captive as well. Don't think that just because I'm providing you with information means that I'll go and save you if you put yourself into danger. Nobody except us will know that this ever happened. Have fun, but keep yourself safe. They tend to torture people in there.
PS. Burn this letter.