Pt2

Esme watched, completely still, as the Undertakers wrapped Theodore's body in white sheets. He stood behind her with his hand on her shoulder, a cooling pressure preventing her from doing anything reckless in her grief, which she was she sure she would've done. The indignation of Theodore's parting was still raging inside her and with nothing to vent herself with, she fell to the darkness inside her, it threatening to swallow her whole. Frustrated, she shrugged his hand off her shoulder and walked out of the room.

Healer Tonks, her supervisor, had given her the next few days off; claiming it was for traumatic stress. The Aurors still didn't know why she hadn't been killed too; Death Eaters weren't known for showing mercy but Andromeda Tonks nee Black was not someone you wanted to mess with in Mother Hen mode and so they were cast out before they could question the young girl. Esme was grateful in some ways but at the same time distraction was what she needed most and that was always her work for her.

Esme changed out of her green robes quickly and switched into more comfortable skinny jeans and a t-shirt. It was a strangely sunny summer's day this time round and so she saw no need to put on a jacket as she stepped out into Muggle London. She wasn't sure where she was going but she was in her territory and walked with a strange, sly confidence whilst in its embrace.

Esme didn't know for how long she had walked but she knew it must've been a while because it wasn't long before she was standing in front of the gates of Hell. The ruined remains were scattered and charred; the old forbidding grey stone walls reduced to that of a demolition site. What little left of nature had overgrown and wilted, giving off the impression that stepping beyond the gates meant you would begin dying, so very slowly.

She closed her eyes. Memories were running across her mind but the most vivid was her first day. The day she, along with three others, had been dragged to the gates of Hell, kicking and screaming inside.

*FLASHBACK*

The social worker opened the car door and waited impatiently for the scared five, six and seven year olds to get out. They didn't move an inch, staring in fear at the building before them. They had little reason to be as terrified as they were, at least to the outsiders, but children had always had good instincts and they knew that the moment they crossed the threshold there would be no going back.

"Hurry up brats," the social worker, Marianne Jones, snapped.

Warily, the four children scurried out of the car, each clutching their small bags of personal belongings. Mrs Jones slammed the car door loudly and briskly led the way up to the gates. After a moment's hesitation, the children followed, wishing with all their hearts they were anywhere but there. It seemed their faerie godmothers were taking the day off as no-one answered their prayers. No-one ever did.

Mrs Jones rapped on the large oak, iron-cast doors, and stood tall and pinched waiting. One of the doors creaked slowly open and a large, burly man appeared. He was balding and had only wisps of ginger hair left and his malicious brown eyes flashed at the sight of them.

"So you're the new ones?" he said, grinning a toothy grin that for the next six years would only mean pain and torment.

The four orphans shrunk back, already shaking.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

Esme shivered and unconsciously rubbed her left wrist. Shaking her head, she turned on her heel and walked away; it would do her no good to dwell on the past. No matter how much it controlled her, whether she admitted it or not. She stepped into an empty side-alley and flicked her wand, Apparating away.

First of all, thanks for all the favourites, follows and reviews- it means a lot. Second of all, I'm sorry but it's another short chapter as I don't think you can add anymore to the end of that. Third of all, this chapter is more of drivel although it does hold clues to her past, present and future if you look hard enough. And finally...

Review Responses:

ToriAlwaysPotterHeart1313: Thanks, and yes it was a little bit sad. It's going to be a fairly sad story I'm afraid but I think that's what's going to make it all the better.

Emma22901: Thank you, I can only hope this chapter lives up to follow the first one.

KiyiyaTheHowlingWolf: Thank you so much! And it's nice to know my grammar was al'right- I do proof read my stories but sometimes a few mistakes still slip through.