Chapter 38

"Aurelia!" Bella called out to her, moving quickly towards the Spanish beauty. Aurelia turned towards Bella's direction as she looked on at a fast approaching Bellatrix with a raised eyebrow.

'You were there weren't you? You were there with him! You were there on that night! What happen?' Bella could hardly control herself as she started yelling questions at Aurelia who merely looked on unfazed by Bella's sudden outburst. 'Don't pretend you don't know what happen! Don't pretend you had passed out! You're the only one who survived? That's ridiculous!" Bella was now standing right in front of Aurelia, her whole aura that of a wild angry banshee.

"Bella, calm yourself down,' Aurelia said in her usual sweet voice that Bella had always found so damn annoying. 'I understand how you feel."

What the hell? The bitch is patronizing me!

Bella couldn't help her next move as her left hand moved up to smack Aurelia across her face. What was more unexpected was the Dark Lord's presence as his hand swiftly caught hers just as she was about to give the bitch a well deserved slap.

"My Lord," Bella muttered, a look of disbelief plain on her face.

The Dark Lord turned to Aurelia without first addressing Bellatrix, whose hand he still held in a vice-like grip. "Aurelia, wait for me in my den. I'll be in with you shortly." He said swiftly.

Once Aurelia was out of view, he turned to Bellatrix who from the look on her face he knew so well was all ready to kill somebody. Still, he decided to ignore it. "Bella, Aurelia is here at my request and I expect you to treat her with the same courtesy as you have treated all my other guests. As of now, refrain from your foolish childishness. If you are angry at someone, go take it out on someone else! I will speak to you later." With that, he turned at walked back towards his den where Aurelia was waiting.

Bella could hardly believe her ears. She was fuming with rage and hatred for that bitch she could feel a nerve twitching in her temple. Avery's words about Rod's betrayal started to ring in her head once more. Her hands clenched into fists as Bella tried to keep her temper in check.

Rod's been framed by that bitch! I know it! He's been framed…..I have to help him…. Usually I can think of a million other people who deserve to die but tonight all I can think of killing is that bitch!

Oh….wait a minute…the Dark Lord's given me his permission…..I know exactly who to vent my anger at tonight!

And with a cold, intense look in her eyes, Bella stormed off to the dungeon.

….

"You two still here?"

The 2 Death Eaters guarding the Potters' cells turned around to the sound of the voice that had caused an abrupt disruption to their only source of entertainment, playing around with the great Harry Potter. They have both made it their personal aim to see to it that Harry's stay in the cell would be as uncomfortable as their guarding him is enjoyable. Seeing that it was Dietrich, they had immediately backed down out of respect for Dietrich's position as one of the Dark Lord's most trusted aides.

"Isn't it time for a shift change?" Dietrich asked them.

"Well yes but see….the other bastards aren't here yet and we're not allowed to leave the cells unattended. You see the Dark Lord's specific orders to us are to never leave these cells unguarded," replied one of them.

"Yeah, we are to report directly to the Dark Lord if anyone asks to see them," continued the other.

"Well when are the other two coming?" Dietrich demanded.

"Well….in about10 minutes, Sir. We thought while the two blokes aren't here yet…we might have a little bit of fun with them."

"Fine,' Dietrich said. 'The two of you may go for your break. Don't worry about the Potters. I'll take good care of them in the mean time. You both deserve your breaks and besides, it's Friday night. Don't you have plans for tonight?"

"Well of course we do Sir," the first one said, smiling at the mention of Friday as he slung an arm around the other's shoulders. 'We got ourselves a couple of broads for a date tonight."

"Well good for you,' Dietrich gave a rye smile. "I don't mind giving you a head start. You can go if you wish. I'll stay till the other two get here."

"You would do that Sir? For us?' said the other. "Geez….thanks a lot. We really appreciate it!"

"Yeah….we've been out here for so long we're beginning to think this odor is how normal air smells like. Thanks a lot Sir,' turning to his mate, he said "Let's go."

"Well you both think nothing of it and just go ahead and enjoy yourselves." Dietrich replied good-humouredly.

Dietrich looked on as the two started walking towards the exit not looking away until the two of them were out of sight. When he was sure he could hear their footsteps no more, he entered Potter's cell.

The battered prisoner, all shrunken looked up at him with a gleam in his green eyes, "I thought you had forgotten about me."

Dietrich put a finger to his lips, motioning for Harry to stop speaking for a while until he has closed the heavy metal doors behind him.

"Of course I haven't. They told me to wait a few days before I can come out and see you." Dietrich said softly, as though he was afraid that someone might still be able to hear their conversation.

"Help me,' Harry said, a note of desperation in his voice. "They've captured my family. My wife and children are in the next cell. Please…..help me to get them out, quickly."

"I'm trying Harry. That's why I'm here. You don't have to worry,' Dietrich said reassuringly. 'I'll get them out."

"Now!" Harry demanded as he looked at Dietrich with steely eyes. Dietrich said nothing and simply nodded. He had wanted to apologize to Harry. Things were not supposed to happen this way. The New Order of Phoenix members had promised Harry that the mission would be completely safe for his family. They assured him that they would protect them for they could not afford anymore distractions amidst the chaos caused by the Dark Lord and his followers who are gaining power by the minute.

Harry looked on as Dietrich turned and left the cell. If only Harry had had the strength and also the knowledge that the next shift of guards were coming in the next 5 to 7 minutes, he would have balled out at Dietrich for their failure to uphold the promise that no harm was to befall his family. But Harry simply could not spare the time and energy to that. All that matters were the lives of his family.

They must escape this hell. They must survive! Harry could only pray in his heart.

…

[Dietrich's POV]

I was feeling utterly horrible after I had stepped out of Harry's cell. I could never begin to understand how he must have felt seeing all his family captured and knowing they could have been killed at any point of time but being unable to do anything to prevent it from happening.

It should never have happened! I must focus now! I must help him set things aright,

I have only been to this part of the Riddle Manor twice, this time included. The first time I was here, I remember how hard I had to resist the urge to belt. The Dark Lord after all was at that time giving me a personal tour around his abode and it seems to me that this was his most treasured most favorite part of the house.

I reached the next cell. Harry's wife and kids seem to have been placed in different cells to prevent any form of communication between them. At the very next cell, was Harry's eldest, James. I opened the cell door and entered through, The young boy was asleep on the cold, hard floor. At least he wasn't chained up like his father.

"James." I called out to him. He stirred a little upon hearing my voice. I had to call him a second time before he looked up at me.

"Mr Dietrich?" he had muttered.

Relieved that he had recognized me, I said "Come boy! There's no time to lose,' I pulled him to his feet and placed his right arm over my shoulder. He was shaky and though it was quite dark, I could see tears streaming down his cheeks.

'You're a strong boy and you're going to help me find your brother and sister and get out of here. Quickly, there is not time to waste!"

I was grateful that he did not ask a lot of questions but I could see is jaw tightening in his cheek. I think I just gave him a new sense of purpose.

'Do you know where they've put your brother and sister?'

'I know where they put Lily but I don't know about Al,"

'Well that's alright son, we'll get Lily out first then.'

"Yes Sir….I think she's in there," James pointed to the last door of the dungeon as we kept on walking not missing a beat. My own heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I felt that I would really be embarrassed if this little boy next to me were to find out how scared I was of being caught.

I was well aware of the limited time that I have of getting the Potter kids out. Damn it! I am sweating in this cold, damped dungeon. We reached the end of the dungeon after what seemed like a whole 2 minutes. The door was just as I expected, locked and no simple 'Alohomora' could work. I have to make a quick decision. I had no choice; I have to blast it open.

'James, call out to your sister.'

'Lily!,' James stood on is tiptoes as he called to his sister through the small rectangular hole on the door. There was no reply from inside the cell. "Lily!" he called out again, a little louder this time. 'I think she can't hear me Sir. Something must be wrong," There was worry in his voice.

'Alright. Stand back. Reducto!'

That's it….now there's no turning back now. I've blasted the door open and the Death Eaters for this shift are definitely going to notice this door or at leasr, what's left of it. James had entered the cell before me and now looking around for his sister.

'Lily?' James cried out as he saw his little sister sitting at the far corner of the cell, hugging her knees to her chest. He ran over to her and shook her by her shoulders. Even upon her brother calling out her name, she still refused to open her eyes and acknowledge. She was definitely in shock.

"James, it's alright. She's alright, she's just in shock."

I told him as I saw his eyebrows knit and his forehead creased with worry lines. He just nodded back at me. As gently as I could, I carried Lily into my arms knowing well that in her condition, she was unfit to walk on her own.

"Let's go find the others."

I said to him as I got Lily into my arms. She had struggled at first but hearing James voice consoled her and had helped her calm down. Quickly, we got out of the cell, James leading the way.

"I'll go find Albus, Sir." He said as he glanced back for a second at me. I was glad that he was brave enough to take charge. I was glad it was dark in here so he could not see me sweating. Truth be told, I was afraid we would be found out. The Dark Lord is definitely not one to be fooled. As I followed him from behind, he kept moving from cell to cell looking for Albus and Ginny. At the third cell down on the left, Ginny's voice rang out.

"James? Is that you darling?"

"Mother! It is me Mother! Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine sweetheart!" There was sadness in her voice, a voice of someone who was just crying.

"Don't worry Mother! I'll get you out!' He said as he peered through the hole in the door of Ginny's cell. 'Sir! My mother is in there, please, would you…"

I put my free hand on his mouth. A big problem just came up; I can hear voices making their way into the dungeon. Now what was that rule that the Dark Lord was telling me when he took me in this dungeon for a tour…oh yes: One way in and one way out.

For us right now it means, no way out.