In the darkness of the night, the moon cast shadows over as much ground as it possibly could. The wind raced around, making the trees tremble in the cold.
The iron gates to the new Malfoy Manor clattered together in the harsh wind. Their ominous shadows covered the path that led to the house. Petals of flowers abused in the wind flew through the bars of the gate, escaping as fast as the air would take them.
In the shadows beyond the gate, a figure stirred. They had been watching the house for a while. Waiting. Just watching and waiting.
The silvery light of the moon illuminated the path that lead from the clanging iron gates, through various wards and spells, to the solid front door, spelled shut in the dead of the night. Slowly, the silver knob twisted.
When the door didn't open, the knob began to jiggle in its place. The silver began to heat up, small wisps of steam floating upward in the night. A tear drop of shining silver metal fell toward the ground, pooling and solidifying as it hit the stone beneath.
The handle jiggled once more, and the door began to open. Slowly at first, hesitating as it ran over the puddle at the foot, the door opened. Slipping out of the door, the person shoved it shut behind them. Sensing freedom, the child ran forward clumsily. Barely a sound was uttered as the child fell. They just picked themselves back up and carried on their awkward running.
The hydrangeas trembled as the person behind them stood up, eyeing the child.
The child whimpered as he grabbed the bars of the gate, shaking them. Inspiration struck the child, and he slipped one foot through the bars. A leg followed, then the rest of his little body.
The figure in the shadows could see the problem that the child didn't. Quickly, a short wand was waved in the air, and the bars pulled apart further to allow the child to get his head through.
The kid didn't even notice. He just began plodding away, one small step at a time.
Cautiously, the person in the shadows began to walk toward the child. Both people shuddered as an icy cold wave ran over their bodies. Inwardly, the older one cursed, waving their wand. Instantly the cold wave stopped.
Stupid wards! How is it I always forget to disable them until they start? How come no one has come to check on them?
The child finally noticed he wasn't alone. However, he wasn't scared. Just curious.
"Where are you going little one?" The child stopped, walking toward the sound of the voice. It was soft, belonging to a woman.
"Can you take me to my daddy?" he asked, watching as the woman stepped out of the shadows. Her hair looked to be dark in the little lighting, and he knew he hadn't seen her before.
The woman stopped, temporarily confused. "Is your daddy not there?" She pointed to the house.
The boy shook his head. "They took me away from my daddy." He wouldn't cry...wouldn't...
"They...kidnapped you?" The woman was confused. She hadn't thought that it was something the occupants of the house would sink to...but then, she didn't really know them.
Shaking his head, the child looked stunned. "No, but mum didn't give me a choice. I have to stay with her. And I don't want to."
The woman grinned widely as a plan came into her head. She got down, looking the child in his brown eyes. "What is your name?" When no reply was received, she softly told him, "I can't help you unless you tell me your name."
The child contemplated for a moment. His mother had always said not to talk to strangers. But this woman was nice, not strange. And she did seem to want to help him. If she could just get him to his daddy, everything would be okay.
She held out her hand. "Sweetie, you have to tell me your name so I can help you get to your daddy."
"Hugo...Hugo Weasley."