Assassination Attempts
Marie' sat on the bed in her hotel room. She knew there had been some shady dealings and assassinations in California lately but she had never connected them with her parents. Or imagined her parents would stoop so low as to have her brother – Emile' – attacked.
Memories of her brother ran through her mind and Marie's throat choked up with tears. He was dying. Killed by the people that had given him life. But Marie's parents hadn't bothered to hide their tracks and they had no idea what Marie' was capable of. They. Would. Pay.
Marie' had sent Sarah back to her parents, her caring, honest, loving and most of all decent parents. They would look after Sarah as she came to terms with the fact that Emile might never wake up. Now all that was left was for Marie' to step up and do what Emile had for her.
"Christian! Aimee'! Are you all packed?" Marie' called down to her brother and sister another flash of worry for Emile making her voice crack. He'll be fine. She assured herself. He'll recover.
"Yes, but I left some zhings with our parents." Aimee' said in a frosty tone. Marie' swallowed hard, she didn't like Aimee' and Christian knowing how bad their parents actually were.
"Eet doesn't matter. I 'ave long since 'ad my own way of organising funds; our parent's money feeds into our account regularly. We can buy new zhings." Marie' assured Aimee'.
"Okay zhen. " Aimee' said nodding.
"But at least we are going to 'ogwarts!" Christian said reassuringly to his twin some of his old excitement creeping into his voice.
"And Emile will be fine." Marie' added. "Now let us go to England and 'ave fun."
Her own words didn't reassure Marie' as she led her brother and sister out the door, locking it behind her.
Emile was comatose, her parents were criminals connected with the last rising of Voldemort and the Italian would be dictator Achille. She was in her most vital year of schooling and she was completely responsible for the care of Christian and Aimee'.
Marie' led the twins into what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse but was in actuality the International Apparitions and Other Transportations Centre. Long story short they were connecting to Europe's Floo network from here.
The door sat ajar a powerful enchantment protecting it from exposure with a nod at Aimee' and Christian, Marie' walked inside.
Straight away she was presented with a solid wall, which was not quite as solid as it appeared, because of their magical abilities the three of them could walk though it and into what was essentially the wizarding airport.
Bright light and noise assaulted Marie's senses from everywhere, the smell of deep fried fat surrounding them.
"Ugh do zhese American's know zhat zhere are other forms of cooking other zhan za deep fryer?" Christian asked nose wrinkled in disgust.
"I 'ave no idea." Marie' muttered showing the guard who was scowling at Christian for his comment, their passports.
"We hope you enjoyed your stay in California –" The guard began in a drone.
"Eet was great." Marie' cut him off flicking her wand at their luggage and walking off towards the terminal dubbed "Europe"
"What's wrong?" Delilah asked worriedly.
"She didn't say." Ruby replied in a quiet voice.
"The letter had no details but I'm fairly sure Marie' has finally had enough and if she chooses to get revenge – well Marie' is an awfully dangerous person when she focuses her energy on something." Wendy said frowning.
"Please she wouldn't do more than stomp on someone's ego." Abbey scoffed.
"She will crush anyone that harms her in any way." Wendy disagreed.
"When has she ever done that?" Delilah demanded.
"She hasn't needed to." Wendy pointed out.
"I personally think that the person who needs to be most worried about Marie's actions is Erin Goodings. Marie' will not take her shit." Ruby said biting her lip.
"And Erin is throwing a lot of shit around at the moment." Delilah added, voice a growl.
"Is there something you're not telling us?" Abbey demanded spinning around.
"Erin is suggesting that Nate move out and in with her. He'll pay for it all of course, or rather our parents." Delilah said.
"It has been three weeks is she high?" Wendy asked disbelievingly.
"Not even."
"This is ridiculous. Nate has to dump her!" Ruby burst out in frustration.
"I have no idea what's wrong with him to be honest." Wendy agreed shaking her head.
"He needs to grow up. Oh I have a girlfriend how exciting! Now I'm going to shun my entire family and all my friends to hang around with her, probably neglect my studies as well." Delilah said in a mocking tone.
"Nate's just having fun, he'll get over it."
"I just want him to get over her." Delilah said in a cutting tone.
"Oh calm down Lilah, she's just a summer fling." Wendy said waving her hand dismissively.
"She had better be."
McGonagall paced her office glancing at the clock every few minutes as she did so. She had to meet Kingsley Shaklebolt, the Minister for Magic in a quarter of an hour and she was worried. Something was wrong. She could tell in the mere tone of his letter that Kingsley was worried. After all she had read many of his essays in the past and knew his style. And when Kingsley Shaklebolt was worried that usually meant only one thing.
Dark Magic. Shuddering at the thought of a war like the two-year spanning battles inside one war she had spent much of her time as a Professor fighting McGonagall continued her pacing.
Voldemort was impossible, this time they knew how he had been destroyed and destroyed he had been. Grindewald was died only a few years ago. Bellatrix Lestrange the only possible person to pick up Voldemort's rule was dead with the fall of his rule.
She didn't understand who could be stirring the Death Eaters so. They would never submit to the rule of a new, younger Lord, they would only accept one of their own as a new leader and no one really stood out.
McGonagall shook her head. She was overreacting. It was likely something far more trivial than Dark Wizards. Probably some civil matter of great urgency or something similar, glancing up at the clock at the clock McGonagall saw it was high time she left and moved to the fireplace. Flames already emerald green, McGonagall spun out of her office and into another.
"You wanted to see me Kingsley?" McGonagall asked as she stepped out of the grate assisted by Kingsley's readily provided arm.
"Yes Professor, I believe we may have a problem similar to that of two years ago which required the help of several Professors." Kingsley said tone grave.
McGonagall felt alarm stab at her. Hadn't that been repressed?
"Something's wrong with the prisoners. We are expecting an attempt at mass breakout." A voice behind McGonagall added stepping out of the shadows and revealing a grave looking Sirius.
"Who's leading it?" McGonagall asked sitting down heavily.
"Bellatrix's widower Rodolphus Lestrange, or so we believe at this point. We feel it may be safer to merely move him to another prison and keep all the death eaters apart. Non Death Eaters are making no returns to sanity."
"Could it be -?" McGonagall asked fearing the answer.
"No, I've spoken to Harry. His scar remains silent. However his followers were dangerous in their own right, we're lucky to have Bellatrix out of the equation." Kingsley answered this time.
"Very lucky." McGonagall agreed thinking.
"I just wanted your council on the matter. From both of you." Kingsley said returning to his seat across from her.
"I can't say that I know exactly what to do but the prisoners should be prevented all forms of contact and although we agreed it was cruel and painful at the end of the war – I feel it may be a good idea to place the charm that will quash the magic in them." Sirius said looking a little unhappy at his own suggestion.
"I have considered it, it may be the only way to keep our community safe." Kingsley acknowledged leaning back in his chair.
"That's the only thing I can suggest." Sirius said heavily.
"I have to agree with Sirius." McGonagall agreed slowly. "There is no other way, perhaps if Dumbledore was living –"
"But his not." Sirius finished for her.
"Very well." Kingsley said in his deep booming voice.
"I'll return back to the castle now Kingsley, we have less than a month left now and I have dozens of curriculums to look over." McGonagall said, her way of agreeing to the plan that stung her sense of ethics.
"Good day Professor." Kingsley said nodding his head.
"Minnie." Sirius said with a wave, the old twinkle lighting up his eye.
"One day Sirius you are going to get in trouble for your sass." McGonagall reprimanded him taking some Floo powder from Kingsley's store.
"I live with Elizabeth. I get in trouble everyday." Sirius said with a grin.
"At least you eat your peas." McGonagall said in amusement, remembering an eleven year old girl ordering the legendary Marauders to eat their vegetables, as she threw the powder into the fire.
"It's not as if I mind her punishments." McGonagall heard Sirius say to Kingsley as emerald fire filled her vision.
"You're sick Sirius. Absolutely sick." Kingsley replied.
"Oh come on James you did not get her that quickly." Louis scoffed throwing a pillow at his cousin.
"Ruby wanted me as soon as she saw me."
"Sure once she got over me." Louis teased making James scowl blackly at him.
"Calm down I'm not going to steal your lady, it seems almost incest to sleep with her." Louis assured him wrinkling his nose at the much-repressed memory.
"I know." James said dropping the glare and flopping down beside him on Louis' previously made bed.
"So what's happening with you?" Louis asked rearranging himself so that his elbow wasn't practically in James' mouth.
"Well things are awesome for me but we may have an issue outside of that." James said suddenly frowning.
"Another one?" Louis demanded thinking of Freddy, Ruby and Nate's problems. All of who could be given a name, Charlotte, Julia and Erin.
"We don't know what or more likely who it is exactly but she said she would never return to her parents in France." James said tone worried.
"Never?" Louis asked sitting up, suddenly alert.
"Never." James repeated gravely.
"But she has two younger siblings -"
"She's bringing Aimee' and Christian with her." James said and Louis felt his eyes widen.
"Something serious has to have happened." Louis said frowning along with his cousin now.
"That's what Ruby said." James agreed. "But we'll find out tomorrow. She asked me to get talk to Elizabeth and Sirius; she's going to stay in England. Permanently."
"Is it wrong to be secretly happy that we will now be able to have her over at Christmas time?" Louis asked James.
"I don't know. You'll have to ask Marie'." James said with a shrug but he was grinning which let Louis know he agreed.
"Hey what –" Louis began but Ginny's voice cut him off.
"JAMES HURRY UP! WE'RE LEAVING!"
"I'd better go." James said grimacing.
"If you want to survive." Louis agreed. "Both of our mother's are down there, you know their disagreements. They both think they're right and they are both wrong."
James snorted as he searched for the jacket he had dumped somewhere in Louis' messy room. "You tell them that then mate and see how well it goes down."
"James unlike you I rather value my life." Louis snorted derisively.
"Oh because that's why you break the hearts of so many girls with wands then is it?" James asked grinning.
"Oh shut up." Louis said throwing something at James which conveniently enough turned out to be his jacket.
"Thanks man. I'll see you soon." James said heading out the door.
"Alright." Louis agreed. "Let me know when Marie' returns."
"Will do." Then James shut the door behind him, his retreating footsteps telling Louis he had left. Louis breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright you can come out now." He said to Clarisse.
"Well that was fun." She said pushing open his wardrobe door and stepping out.
"Oh yeah, really fun."
"I can't believe he didn't notice you were shirtless and beltless." Clarisse said shaking her head in disbelief.
"James is oblivious sometimes. " Louis granted her bringing the brown-eyed girl into his arms.
"Now where were we?"
"I believe we were taking advantage of the skills granted by being the two most prominent players in Hogwarts history." Clarisse said hands trailing down Louis' back.
"Oh yes. How could I possibly forget?" Louis agreed meeting her lips with his. Oh how he loved being part veela.
Marie' knew she was in Britain the second she hit ground. It was the air. Cool, damp and smelling strongly of rain. She smiled in recognition.
"Ah eets good to be home." She said loudly causing the guard to give her a odd half smile.
"I'd think you were a little more French by your accent." The guard said good-naturedly glancing at their passports.
"An accident of birth." Marie' said with a smile. "Zhere iz nowhere I would rather be."
"Not even California?" He scoffed seeing their stamp.
"Doesn't even compare." Marie' said airily, her parents, Emile's unlikely recovery, Sarah's depression and all her problems suddenly seeming a little easier to bear.
"Well then I know I'm a lucky one then don't I?" The guard said with a grin.
"Oh trust me you are." Marie' agreed directing their luggage in front of her before motioning to Christian and Aimee'. The two had fallen silent looking around with dull, uncurious eyes, blank expressions not quite hiding the upset and anxiety in their eyes.
"Have a nice day!" He called after them.
"We will!"
"Marie'?" Aimee' asked in a small voice.
"Yes?" Marie' answered turning to her sister trying not to show her how very worried, angry and hurt she was.
"Where are we staying?"
"With a lovely lady who will cook us chocolate chip biscuits and 'elp us feel better about zhis whole mess – and all my friends as well."
"Zhats a big house." Christian commented.
"Eets a manor actually." Marie' corrected nearly able to smile thinking of where they were going.
"A manor?" Aimee' asked eyes lighting up and Marie' really did smile to see her sister looking so happy.
"With eets own Quiddich pitch." Marie' added.
"No way!" Christian burst out unable to contain his excitement.
"Why don't tomorrow we go to Diagon alley and look at a new broom for you Christian and some new shoes for you Aimee' – Madam Malkin's stocks Juliette De San." Marie' suggested hoping to keep her brother and sister thinking about Hogwarts and things they enjoyed rather than the pathetic excuses for humans that were their parents.
"Wee!" Aimee' squealed. "I want to see 'er personal line of custom made designs, I've 'eard eet iz zhe best place for eet in all of Europe." Aimee' gushed.
"Oh and the new Arrowhead is fabulous, eet's turning is unsurpassable." Christian added shaking his head in amazement.
"Oh I think zhat Bolt's new design would be worth a look as well." Marie' commented to him. "Eet is reputed to be faster than even the Firebolt series was."
"Well eet depends on what I want more." Christian agreed. "Am I allowed a broom at 'Ogwarts?" He asked suddenly.
"Not technically but eef we bring yours instead of mine we'll 'ave the better broom and next year Aimee' who only flies for leisure can have mine, you can have yours and I'll upgrade." Marie' said waving a hand dismissively. "Rules are for zhose without creativity."
"Breaking zhem is for zhose who can 'andle detention." Christian pointed out.
"Eet's not so bad." Marie' said with a shrug.
"Zhat iz what you say now." Aimee' scoffed.
"Oh shush." Marie' said to the pair of them pulling out her wand to lower their luggage.
"We 'ave to drag the bags now, muggle London."
"Can't we just apparate?" Aimee' demanded scowling, Marie' opened her mouth to retort that no they couldn't just apparate but then closed it again. Actually they could just apparate.
"No reason actually." She admitted to Aimee' making her and Christian smirk. "Make sure you're holding onto all the luggage." She ordered the pair of them as they held onto each of her hands.
"Where are we going?" Aimee' asked looking up at Marie' and in that moment reminding her just how young her brother and sister were. Her huge blue eyes were filled with trust but her face clearly showed the mark of previous tears.
Marie' had planned to go straight to Sirius and Elizabeth for some rest until the pair got home but perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to go to the dinner at the Weasley "homeland" and have Christian and Aimee' fussed over.
"To the burrow." She said with a smile, then a second later a loud crack was the only sign they had ever been there.
Ruby laughed as Mrs Weasley described Harry and Ginny's faces when she and Mr Weasley had walked in on the pair kissing for the first time, helping herself to another piece of the delicious turkey Mrs Weasley had cooked.
Beside her James sat holding her hand under the table, the other side occupied by Freddy who was rather quieter than usual as he listened to the conversation around him. However he didn't seem particularly upset, just not quite himself, so Ruby wasn't too concerned. In fact in that moment Ruby was feeling perfectly content – except for one little worry nagging at the back of her mind.
Marie'. What was wrong? What was happening? Why was she coming home so early? Why wasn't she ever going home to her parents? Was she okay? Questions swirled around her mind constantly in the back her mind ready to leap into focus the second she had a moment spare.
"And oh do you remember the time that we walked in on Andee kissing Dean -?" Elizabeth was saying laughingly to Sirius.
"How could I forget her face? Good job? That's not what you're supposed to say!" Sirius mimicked his daughter, voice going nasal and high.
"Oh bite me!" Andee snapped at her father grinning.
"Challenge accepted." Sirius said leaning across the table making Andee jump back.
Ruby laughed along with the rest of the table and was about to speak up when a loud crack interrupted the dinner party.
"Mrs Weasley?" A familiar voice called.
Mrs Weasley stood up frowning in confusion.
"Mrs Weasley?" The voice repeated again coming into view and revealing a very haggard looking Marie'. Not haggard for a normal person but for Marie' she looked half-asleep. No make-up or jewellery was present, she wore all black – a colour which washed her out – her shoes were flat and in short she didn't look like she had paid any attention to her outfit. Highly unusual.
Behind her two small children stood nervously looking around Marie', eyes the exact same blue as Marie's marking them as her siblings.
"Marie!" Mrs Weasley said in shock.
"I'm sorry to intrude." Marie' said voice cracking. "But I've just had some rather – unsettling news."
"Oh, no dear that's quite alright –who is behind you by the way?" Mrs Weasley assured her looking at the children, her mothering expression firmly upon her face.
"Uh zhis iz Aimee' my little sister and 'er twin Christian my little brother. Zhey're for 'Ogwarts this year." Marie' said drawing the two children out from behind her.
"But where are your parents? Don't they know where you are?" Mrs Weasley asked looking shocked.
Marie's face blanched in a very unusual show of emotion on her part.
"Eef I ever see my parents again eet will be too soon." Aimme' spat before Marie' could reply.
Mrs Weasley stared at Aimee' in shock and Ruby had to admit she was shocked. The little girl's tone was quite grown up and very, very angry.
Marie' took in a deep breath then said something that shocked Ruby to her core.
"My parents, unknown to me and my siblings, get all zheir money from zhe wizarding assassination company zhey run." She deadpanned.
"What?" James demanded disbelievingly.
"True story." Christian said in a bitter tone, voice shaking.
"Not only zhis but zhey were paid to target my brother who iz essentially an unspeakable in California. Emile is now comatose." Marie' said her voice cracking.
"They went ahead with it?" Sirius asked sounding horrified.
Marie' nodded dumbly and the room fell into shocked silence.
"I'm sorry to ruin zhe mood but I thought zhat Mrs Weasley was probably za best person to help me with knowing what to do for Aimee' and Christian." Marie' apologised again. Unthinkingly Ruby got up from her seat and moved over to her friend enveloping her in a hug.
"Anything you need." She said. "Any of you." She added looking at both Aimee' and Christian who were now holding hands but nodded bravely all the same.
"Marie', what are you parents names?" Ron asked unexpectedly.
"Alyssa and Emile Jantour." Marie' replied around Ruby's arms.
"We'll look into it for you – if you want that is." Harry assured her.
"Throw them in za scummiest prison you can find." Marie' said heatedly.
"Are you sure?" Ron asked gravely.
"One 'undred percent. Zhey are no concern of mine." Marie' said looking down on her brother and sister. "My only concern now is ensuring Christian and Aimee' have everything they need."