Okay! Here's chapter two, out on Friday night, just like I promised! (Wow, that must be some kind of record or something for me... again, wow...)
Anyway, hope you like it! And, as always, all characters that you recognize and most places in here belong to JK Rowling and her amazing brain. I do own a strawberry shake though. That I'm drinking even though I'm freezing cold... Not the best idea. ;)
Chapter 2: Unanswered Questions
The next morning dawned with a painfully cheery sky and a burst of bright and early sunshine right in Leah's face. She got up blinking the sleep from her eyes, and stumbled to the bathroom, splashing water on her face in an attempt to wake herself up. As she toweled off she heard the sound of the meal bell being rung. She sighed, slung her small rucksack over her shoulder and made her way down to breakfast.
**Two Hours Later**
This was it. She was going, going away from the orphanage. Leaving Carl, Max, Josie, Eden, Jenny, Bobby, Lyra and countless others. Most likely forever. As she trailed after Bellatrix Lestrange she turned back and said a final, silent goodbye to the place.
She had experienced so many bad memories there; Ms. Fawley getting fired, little Joey breaking his arm, getting beaten by Ms. Smith, bullied by the older boys (before they had left of course); the list went on and on.
And yet she had experienced positive things too: Nancy's first cartwheel after weeks of practice, Debbie's homemade board game, Jackson and Jeanelle's piano "recital"... If I could only stay for the good memories... she thought wistfully.
She had dawdled too long. Bellatrix grabbed her forearm gently, but firmly and pulled her through the cast iron gate at the end of the long drive, past the black metal fence and the more natural pine-tree barrier. She led her out into the streets packed with apartments and little shops, the sky gray from smog, and down a narrow alley.
"Where are we going?" Leah asked, confused and slightly worried about why they were going down a dark and dingy alleyway.
"Somewhere we can't be seen! Now be quiet, girl!" Bellatrix hissed at her, anger flickering in her eyes. Leah drew back, startled by the abrupt change in Bellatrix's demeanor.
They stopped a little way from the end of the alley, in front of a large wooden door, and Bellatrix looked around furtively before redoubling her grip on Leah's arm so her manicured nails dug into Leah's skin.
"Ow! That-" Leah started, but her words were cut off as Bellatrix spun suddenly on the spot, pulling herself and the girl into nothingness.
Malfoy Manor
Leah's POV
I felt Bellatrix tug on my arm, then it felt like I was being squeezed from all sides, being crushed as though forced through a straw. I couldn't breathe as my lungs contracted painfully. Just when I thought I was going to suffocate, Bellatrix and I landed on a completely different scene.
We were standing on an unfamiliar cobblestone walkway that was walled in with tall, dark hedges that led to a large, intricately spiraled gate and from there up to a huge manor house.
I felt slightly sick and very out of breath.
"W-what was that?" I gasped, trying to get air into my lungs.
"Apparition." she snapped. "Don't ask questions."
"B-but wh-where-"
"Be quiet girl!" she hissed menacingly, and marched me down the path. She strode right up to the gate and passed through it as though it were smoke. I followed close behind as she was still clinging onto my arm and felt just a slight chill where the gate appeared to be. She dragged me up the remainder of the walkway to the tall front doors of the manor house and knocked twice with the golden serpent knocker.
"Who's there?" asked a soft female voice from behind the still closed door.
"It's me Cissy! With the girl!" She sounded proud, if a little annoyed at the welcome she received.
I could hear the sound of several large bolts being undone and a knot of fear clenched in my stomach. Once I went in, I knew I wasn't getting out.
The large mahogany door swung open into a magnificent entryway. I was getting scared now. The whole place had a dark, spooky feeling to it as though a constant shadow loomed over the residence. Ms. Smith wouldn't have let this Lestrange woman take me if she was a bad person, right? But this was Ms. Smith I was talking about. She did hate me.
Bellatrix continued dragging me, up a flight of stairs now. I could barely stand, let alone keep up with her; she was going far faster than the situation warranted. She stopped before a set of double doors to slow her breathing, but almost immediately pushed them open.
The inside of the drawing room was spacious. It had a gorgeous fireplace and mantel with numerous artifacts scattered through niches in the walls. In the very center of the room was a long table lined with empty chairs set beneath an elaborate crystal chandelier. At the end of the table was a chair facing away from the door. It appeared deserted.
As the door closed however, a man rose from the last chair. His skin was deathly pale and his face was flat, with snakelike slits for nostrils. As he examined Bellatrix and I, I caught sight of his eyes. They gleamed red, though it might've been a trick of the light. One thing I could tell for certain. This was no normal person. Something about him just wasn't human.
"Ah, Bellatrix. And young Miss Potter as well." His voice was silky smooth and I involuntarily shuddered. But why did he say Potter? a voice in my head questioned. My last name is Jacobs.
"Why don't you come a bit closer so I can give our guest a proper greeting, Bella?"
"My Lord." I heard Bellatrix murmur, and she started to pull me towards the snakelike man. This time however, I fought back, standing my ground. "Come on, girl!" she hissed, yanking forcefully on my arm and causing me to stumble forward. The man just gave a high, cold laugh that sent chills down my spine.
"I see you are wary of my presence, are you not?" he asked, a cold smile on his face. "As you should be."
He began to walk towards us, his black robes billowing around him like malevolent waves. In his hand I could see a thin, white stick that looked suspiciously like a bone. I tried to back away as he approached, but Bellatrix tightened her grip, warning me not to move.
As he advanced he was staring directly into my eyes, as though trying to stare me down. I held his gaze defiantly, but on the inside I was freaking out. What was I supposed to do?
He stopped not four feet in front of me and took in my appearance, ultimately focusing back on my eyes. He uttered another chilling laugh that made me tremble.
"Indeed. She does looked extraordinarily like her filthy Mudblood mother." he said smiling sinisterly. "An exact copy."
My heart beat a little faster at the mention of my mother. Did they know her? I thought frantically. Had they been the ones to kill her?They certainly seemed evil enough.
"My Lord," Bellatrix spoke once again. "She does not appear to have any knowledge about us or the Potter boy. Forgive me, but I've seen nothing that we might be able to get out of her. Torture doesn't work on ignorance."
Torture?! I thought, my mind racing. I felt light-headed. Who were these people? What did they want with me? Who is "the Potter boy"? And most of all, why do they keep calling me Potter?