AN/- hey guys, I know it's been really, really, long since I posted anything but a rather heavy year has just passed and next month will be the same but I am not abandoning this story...might take a little more time to finish but I hope you'll keep reading. Thanks.
Chapter 65
A month had passed since her stay in that wretched house, never had she felt this helpless, but she stood firm. She was not to cave in so easily. She spoke to no one but Draco, that too was only a lucky yes or a no, nothing else. Her mother who had come to sit next to her every evening acted worried about her, asked her to stop fighting it and asked her to 'Come over'. But Audrey did not even look at the woman, she did not want her to fall any further from her graces—yes she hated her—but falling further below would be dead—Audrey fought tooth and nail to stop herself from agreeing with her conscience. It wanted the woman dead—she deserved to die along with that traitor who made her believe! Her father did not exist anymore—it was Snape now and she regretted the day she set out to find him. Before she knew of his true identity, she had often wondered what it would be like if he would reject her—now she wished he had.
Audrey hardly ate anything that whole month except that morning when Astoria had come over to visit. Astoria had made sure she greeted everybody and had permission from Snape before she could see Audrey, surprisingly Snape and approved without any hesitation. Draco directed Astoria to the room where Audrey had been hiding out and made sure no one was standing outside or cared enough to before he shut the door and threw a silencing spell over it. He then gave Astoria a nod, but she had not bothered about it as she burst into tears pulling the girl sitting limply on the bed.
"What have they done to you?" she asked Audrey who seemed to be looking blankly at the door. Audrey picked up the new voice, her eyes began to focus on the woman hugging her. Audrey blinked and looked at Astoria and smiled, a week since she had smiled. The last time she had was because one of the death eaters was being tortured a few floors below.
"Merlin!" cried Astoria pulling Audrey to her and hugging her tightly.
"How was the funeral?" was the first question that sprouted out of Audrey mouth.
"Beautiful," said Astoria sitting down opposite Audrey as she opened her small hand bag she brought with her.
"I wish I could have come earlier," she began as Audrey looked down her bag.
"But my parents needed to make sure I was on the right side—just because I decided to attend his funeral," said Astoria disgustedly as Draco came towards the two woman and sat down next to Astoria, Audrey glared at him intensely.
"I can't believe you haven't fed her!" snapped Astoria angrily as Draco tried to explain.
"It's not his fault—I don't feel like eating anything they serve me—I don't trust it!" said Audrey as Astoria pouted looking cross at Draco.
"That's what he said you'd do," smiled Astoria as she pulled out the extra large box of cheese flavoured crackers and Honeydukes finest, smiling as Audrey blinked back her tears. She couldn't believe it—he had spoken to Astoria—just so that—she knew he did not trust Astoria either—but for her he had—it had her hopeful—but fearful at the same time—she worried if he would be reckless and come here to rescue her—she hoped Sirius and Remus wouldn't let him.
Audrey took the food boxes from Astoria slowly and ripped open the crackers and shoved a fair amount of those into her mouth.
"I was also told to deliver this letter," said Astoria as Audrey took the letter from her frowning.
"You shouldn't have!" said Audrey looking gravely at her friend as she recognized Harry's handwriting, the envelope also had something bulky inside it.
"I had to—he refused to let me go without it," said Astoria as Audrey nodded.
"He thinks it's his fault—he just wants you back," said Astoria sadly as she placed a reassuring hand on Audrey's as Audrey gulped down her sadness and nodded.
"So have you thought of anything?" asked Astoria directly as Audrey shrugged.
"I haven't gotten out of this room—and I never want to!" snapped Audrey.
"Audrey—you need to get the hell out of here—you never know when that maniac will change his mind about killing you—" narrated Astoria as Draco agreed with her.
"Well what do I do—I don't know a way out!" she said shrugging.
"But we do!" snapped Astoria looking at Draco as Draco smiled at Astoria and her grit.
"Draco has your wand—what else do you need Audrey—get the fuck out of this place, once you're old enough—they won't be able to trace you either!" said Astoria as Audrey sat up straight.
"We could pretend as if you stole the wand from me while I was asleep—you can get out of here at midnight on your birthday," he said as Audrey smiled at him appreciatively. This plan seemed feasible.
"Now listen to me—this is the map to Malfoy manor—the borders end at the cliff—I know this sounds mental—and is risky but—it's worth a shot," said Astoria licking her lips as Audrey nodded.
"I don't have much to live for anyway—I want to risk this, please Astoria!" begged Audrey.
"You need to jump off the cliff and while you're diving into the water you need to apparate right before you reach the surface to avoid splinching—although on your way down you could hit the rocks and kill yourself or you might get shot by the curses they will fire in the water or while diving or before diving—oh Audrey I don't know about this!" said Astoria as Audrey chuckled darkly.
"Are you mad—it's perfect—is this, what you've been doing the entire month?"asked Audrey gratefully as Astoria nodded and was pulled into a hug.
"Draco helped immensely," said Astoria as Audrey did not look at Draco.
"Where did he help? The part where I get shot by the curses or the part where I fall of a cliff or the part where I hit the rocks?" asked Audrey as Astoria sighed.
"Audrey—I—I don't want to see you get hurt—trust me—I am doing everything in my power to get in contact with anyone from the order—I even sent a letter to Lupin and almost got caught...so I couldn't sent it really," said Draco.
"You sent a letter to Rem—without telling me!" snarled Audrey with more energy than she had shown in an entire month.
"I'm sorry—I just," he began but Audrey sighed.
"It's not your fault," she said closing her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she said running a hand through her mangled black hair that resembled her father's greasy mane.
"I going to do this—I have a plan," said Audrey.
"I need to get an understanding of this place—this cliff—I need you to show me around act like you are forcing me out of the room—I'll manage the rest—I am going to make them think I am suicidal," said Audrey as Astoria chuckled.
"That's brilliant—it might actually work—except that you might just die," said Astoria slowly.
"Well then it's a do or die then!" shrugged Audrey as Astoria sighed.
Severus was strolling down the corridor of Malfoy manor when he heard it. He heard the wretched boy pulling her out by her jacket.
"Get the fuck out you bitch—I've had enough of you!" shouted the Malfoy boy as Severus pulled out his wand. He could see Bellatrix laughing at the scene; he could see her clapping her hands and cheering as his daughter was being dragged out of the room she had holed up in for as long as he could remember. Severus's heart gave a large jerk as he pulled out his wand from his sleeve and lurched forward. A gentle hand came to a rest on his shoulder as he turned to look around. Rachel stood up straighter as she pulled her hand back and shook her head pursing her lips tightly as Severus closed his eyes and sighed. How was he supposed to stand by and watch while his daughter was thrashed around like rubbish by a no good bastard of a boy?
Severus's eyes trailed down to the grand staircase that led to the main entrance hall, through which Draco pulled his daughter—out of the doors and into the sunny lawns. Nobody dared to follow them out as Severus felt like killing Bellatrix on the spot.
"Should have killed that little whore when you had the chance Adams!" she laughed as Rachel glared at Bellatrix but did not say anything, all Rachel noticed was the disapproving look that Narcissa threw her sister.
Draco pushed Audrey into the front lawns as he pulled her along away from the house and towards the garden. He let go of her once he knew they were out of sight.
"Could have been a bit more gentle drama boy," said Audrey clearing her eyes of the false tears she had shed. She kept reminding herself of dead friends to make herself cry.
"Sorry," smiled Draco softly as Audrey gave him a curt nod as he made sure he held her hand gently and showed her around. They spent a lot of time at the cliff she was supposed to jump off in a few days time. Audrey studied it closely as the wind blew gently through her hair. She blinked observing the depth and height, trying to calculate how she would have to jump, but she knew that when she was running that was definitely not going to be one of her priorities.
"Audrey—come away," said Draco gently as Audrey closed her eyes and pushed herself away from the cliff side. This was a suicide mission—it was an obvious attempt to get her killed. But every time she thought about it, her mind kept pushing another opinion forth into her mind.
"If you live-where will you go to throw them off track?"
"The burrow,"
"Not an option, it has to be something they'd never think off!"
"What could that be?"
"Think—you're life is at stake!"
She sighed as she looked at Draco put on his coat before nodding and leaving.
Voldemort was present for the meeting today and it was being held below in the dining room. Everyone was invited; Audrey chose to stay as far away as she could. After she realised what Voldemort was hiding in the dungeons all Audrey did was stay clear of him. Once she was alone in the room she tore open the letter Astoria had brought her.
"Dear Audrey,
I don't know how you're doing and I don't know if you've managed to get this letter but I am worried for you Audrey. I have never bothered about something as I am for you. Remus wanted to devise a plan to bring you home, it is all he can think off, but Mad Eye has made sure that he kept Remus in line. The man doesn't eat or sleep anymore. He and I just hope you're safe Audrey.
Every time I look at Hogwarts it reminds me of you, I can't bear to remember that night, I do not want to recall how I lost you. But I can promise you this much, I will make it my ultimate goal; I shall stop at nothing to get you out of there Audrey, because like Remus it is all I think off. I may need a little more time, but I promise to get you out of there and then you'll see Audrey—we'll be together again soon—I promise.
I will not be returning to Hogwarts this year, I need to finish what Dumbledore's started, it is the only way. I miss you and I wished I never lost you. I don't know if I'll ever get another opportunity to write to you again but I need to get this off my chest. I need you to know Audrey. I need you to know that I love you. Ever since that moment the girl with the obsession for the Irish quidditch team spoke to me, I love everything about you Audrey.
If fate doesn't allow us to reunite, I promise that my heart shall always and forever be with you and that you will forever be in connect with every ounce of my soul. I don't know how this sounds to you, probably odd that it is coming through via a letter. Something I would want to tell you when I am holding you close. But I fail Audrey, I fail miserably, I don't know how to bring myself out of this stage, where I can do something and make you proud, because that is the only thing I can do to win you over. I don't deserve your forgiveness and you don't deserve the way they are treating you.
One day I shall break you out Audrey. But till then all I can say is be strong, be strong for me Audrey, because Merlin knows I won't be able to without.
With love,
You have my heart."
Audrey could not breadth, Harry had just written to her, he had opened up his heart, told her he would do anything to get her out and she still had one person she could turn to, Remus—he still worried for her and of course she was sure so did Sirius.
Audrey sighed as she let the tears fall freely as she laughed to herself with tears falling down. All she knew now was that she had to get the hell out of this place and everything would be—
"Girl!" snarled an angry voice as Audrey crumpled the letter and shoved it into her tight back pocket, she cleared her eyes as she noticed Greyback standing over her bed as she scrambled up and stood on the other side of the bed glaring at the werewolf. The man smirked barring his pointed yellow teeth.
"Such animosity, is not good girl—you know I could bite you—make you what you deserve to be," he snarled smirking as Audrey did not flinch, she had gotten used to such threats over the month—Voldemort tormenting her mind looking for information she was reluctant to let out as he failed ever time he tried.
"You hate my kind...like the rest of them...don't you?" asked Greyback looking at her angrily.
"Not your kind—just you," snarled Audrey, she did not know when she had manged to let that slip as Greyback frowned, he paced himself towards her, she did not have enough place or time to shift away from him.
"Why?" he asked as he pressed her cheeks together.
"You ruined the life of a man I consider my father," snarled Audrey as Greyback squinted his eyes trying to recall.
"Who is this man you speak off?" snarled Greyback. Audrey just looked him in the eye and did not say anything, Greyback grew weary and dug his long nails into her face.
"Tell ME!" he ordered as Audrey did not move a bit, all she did was glare at him.
"Let go of her Greyback!" said someone in the back in a smooth voice as Greyback's nostrils flared at the perfume and so did Audrey's.
"Of course your ladyship," he snapped sarcastically at Rachel Snape who frowned at the state of him.
"Get back to the dining room," she snapped at the werewolf as he glared at Audrey and then left without a word. Mrs. Snape entered the room as Audrey eyed her cautiously while she spoke.
"The dark lord wants your presence at the meeting immediately,"
"Yea—well I want him to go fuck himself—he doesn't seem to listen to me!" snarled Audrey cracking her neck as Mrs. Snape cleared her throat in a motherly fashion at the use of inappropriate language in the house.
"Get ready," she said
"Why don't you just kill me already—should have a long time ago—you still have the fucking chance!" snarled Audrey as Rachel looked at her gravely. The girl was obviously frail, she looked like an Azkaban escapee and she hadn't had a change of clothes since Astoria had come to visit. It was truly a terrible sight. Rachel felt bad for her daughter, imagine having both your parents, people you would trust with your life turn on you so suddenly and imagine having no one to fall on.
"Stay away from me, you sick woman," snarled Audrey pointing an accusing finger at her 'mother' or should she say the woman who betrayed everything Audrey believed in. Rachel gulped down all her feelings-all the motherly feelings that reached her throat were forced back down.
"The da—dar—dark lo—rd wants—your presence—in the room," was all Rachel could manage as she turned around and left.
"fat chance of that!" spat Audrey angrily. What happened after that was something Audrey was used to, the pulling, the threats and within the next five minutes she was sitting in between her 'parents' they sat opposite Draco's family, he kept throwing frightened glances at her as she looked at him and then looked at the table.
"Ah—so nice of you to finally grace us Audrey—I was worried you weren't coming," smiled Voldemort as Audrey did not say anything, so Voldemort smirked and ignored her and instead turned to Severus. Audrey's eyes moved to the end of the room as she leaned over the table slightly to catch a glimpse of something or rather someone floating in the air. She squinted her eyes to have a look as to who it was?
"It will happen Saturday next, at nightfall," said Severus.
"I heard differently my Lord. Dawlish, the auror, has let slip that the Potter boy will not be moved until the 30th of this month, the day before he turns 17," said Yaxley very certain about his source.
"This is a false trail. The auror office no longer plays any part in the protection of Harry Potter, those close to him believe we have infiltrated the ministry" snapped Snape.
"Well, they got that right," laughed a line of death eaters as Audrey glared at them while a few congratulated the deputy prime minster Pius Thickness, who would replace Scrimgeour once they got rid of him.
"Where will he be taken, the boy?" asked Voldemort looking at Snape as his eyes darted in between the man and his daughter.
"To a safe house, most likely the home of someone in the Order. I've been told he's been given every manner of protection possible. Once there, it will be impractical to attack him." said Snape sitting next to Audrey as she took in a deep breath how did he know this?
"Ahem...my lord...I want to volunteer myself for this task...I want to kill the boy," said Bellatrix fanning her torso onto the table for Voldemort to grab a look down her corset. Audrey gulped, she was still a little frightened of the crazy woman. A few screams were heard coming from the dungeons as Audrey frowned, she had never heard those voices before and she raised her head looking at Draco once more.
"Wormtail! What have I said about keeping our guest quite!" snarled Voldemort as Wormtail bowed cowardly as he nodded and left the room to overlook his duties as a house elf. Voldemort got out of his chair and moved forward as Audrey caught her breath in her throat.
"As inspiring as I find your blood lust Bellatrix, it is I who must kill the boy, I am right Ms. Snape?" asked Voldemort as he stood right above Audrey's chair. She did not dare move.
"Come now, Audrey—I asked you a question—where is my Answer?" snarled Voldemort turning her chair around and pulling her head up with the help of his hand.
"Answer me Snape—am I right!" he snarled again looking into her eyes as they gave away nothing but defiance of his orders. Voldemort cringed as he threw her head down harshly as Audrey let go of her the breath she had been holding.
"But—I do find myself facing a difficult situation—you see the boy's wand and mine are connected by the cores, they are in some ways twins...we can wound but not fatally harm each other and if I have to kill him, I have to do it with another's wand," said Voldemort as Audrey glanced up to look at him. Voldemort was not standing in between Draco and Lucius. Audrey froze, she had a terrible feeling that Voldemort would ask for her wand, but nothing of that sort happened instead Voldemort stood silent and smirked at her turning his red eyes down to Lucius.
"Surely one of you would be willing...what about you Lucius?" asked Voldemort as Lucius who Audrey noticed had lost his regal attitude looked even further dishevelled.
"My lord?" he quivered disheartened. Audrey felt bad for the man, failing in Voldemort's eyes, failing in the eyes of his friends and family and now being further humiliated was not how Malfoy was trained. Audrey could see a terrifying look in Draco's eyes.
"My lord?—I require you're wand Lucius," smirked Voldemort as Audrey looked at Lucius pull out his wand from his walking stick and hand it over. Voldemort studied it as he then broke of the snake head wand holder and threw in front of the man. Audrey could see Draco shoving his and Audrey's wand under his socks, Audrey could see the horse head over her wand, she felt relieved to some extent but she knew it wasn't over.
"Seems that your services are no longer required Lucius," he said pointing the wand at the man as Audrey sat up straight; she wanted to shout out, to stop the maniac.
"Something you'd like to say Ms. Snape?" asked Voldemort Lucius's wand still in the man's neck as Draco looked at her and then at his father.
"Tell me girl—who can kill the boy?" snarled Voldemort as Audrey looked from side to side as every time Voldemort said something the wand went further into the man's neck.
"Time is passing girl—I want my answer!"
"Give an answer!"
"Av-"
"YOU—YOU can kill him," she shouted as Voldemort looked at her, she was panting, tears flowing down her eyes as well as Lucius's.
"Say that louder!" snarled Voldemort as she was made to repeat the same a couple of times and then Voldemort nodded satisfied. She fell back into her seat panting as she cleared her eyes once again looking at nothing but her hands in her lap, she could see the entire Malfoy family look at her gratefully perhaps in relief.
"Very good Draco, I see you are teaching her well," snapped Voldemort smiling at Draco as Draco gave the man a simple nod.
"Now... for the night's entertainment I have arranged something special," smiled Voldemort evilly as he motioned Lucius's wand in a flick as the floating body was brought forward. The floating woman twitched.
"For those of you who do not know, we are joined tonight by Miss Charity Burbage who until recently taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her specialty was Muggle studies. It is Miss Burbage's belief that Muggles are not so different from us," began Voldemort as he gleamed and roamed from Draco to Audrey.
"She would, given her way, have us mate with them. To her, the mixture of magical and Muggle blood is not an abomination but something to be encouraged. I, of course, take a contrary view. But we're all civilized here. All adults. We can agree to disagree," finished Voldemort as a non verbal flick of his wand made sure Charity Burbage lived no more as a lone tear of fright left her eyes.
Audrey froze on the spot, her body felt numb and cold as if she had been shoved into an ice box for a few million years.
"Nagini dinner," smirked Voldemort as Audrey was brought back to life, not that she could do much as she watched in utter disarray the snake dine on the body of a woman she lived with under the same roof. She felt her bile rise as she let out whatever she had forced herself to eat to survive this place. She didn't know what happened next as everything went dark.
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