Hi guys! Sorry it's been so long I am a terrible person, please forgive me! This chapter is thanks to me needing to study for exams and wanting to procrastinate. I hope you enjoy it, it is considerably longer than my other chapters and I really hope it was worth the wait!
Princess Leasha.
Chapter 44
Charlie's POV
Alexis had been pacing the living room impatiently ever since we had returned home, chewing her bottom lip furiously, mulling over countless schemes, dismissing each one with a tiny shake of her head.
"Lexy come sit," I said, patting the space on the couch beside me.
She sighed and plonked down on the couch beside me, I took her hands in mine and squeezed them gently.
"I want him home."
"I know Lexy, I know. I want him home too. Harry will find him and bring him home," I told her, kissing the tip of her nose.
"But I want him home now."
"I know but the best thing for you to do now is rest. You haven't been able to walk for months and all this pacing is exhausting you. Just have a nap while we wait for Harry to contact us, there is nothing else we can do. I'll go make you a hot chocolate."
I went into the kitchen and started preparing her hot chocolate, pulling the vial of sleeping draught out of the back of the pantry. The mediwitches had given me the vial when they moved Alexis back home, and instructed me to give it to her if she became particularly restless, but I hadn't wanted to give her any against her will so the vial was still full. I put two drops into her hot chocolate, just enough to get her to sleep for an hour or two, before sprinkling some mini marshmallows on top. I put the vial always, feeling somewhat guilty as I walked back into the living room and gave Alexis her drink.
"Thanks Char," she said with a smile, taking a sip.
She looked slightly confused and took another sip. She licked her lips and her eyes widened, setting the cup down on the coffee table.
"Sleeping draught?" she asked.
I nodded sheepishly, "It's for your own good."
She shook her head as her eyes closed and she fell sideways onto my lap, fast asleep.
Alexis had been asleep for a little over an hour when Harry flooed into the living room, looking slightly concerned.
"Charlie we have found where Pansy is holding Lucas. That's the good news. The bad news is we have tried everything and cannot get in. We've tried to blow the wall out and it hasn't budged."
"So what you're telling me is that we aren't going to get him back?"
"No, I'm not saying that at all. She has said that you, Alexis and I will be granted access to the building, in order for us to watch her kill Lucas, which isn't going to happen. She has the upper hand at this stage but with the three of us on the inside we will be a lot closer to getting Lucas home than we are standing on the outside trying to blow up walls."
"What if it's a trap?"
"Charlie, we will get Lucas out of there and home safely, even if it kills me I will get him home with Alexis."
"So what's the plan then?"
Harry sighed, running his fingers through his hair, "Honestly, I don't know. I don't want to take Alexis in there, she's too impulsive. I don't want her to do something stupid and end up getting herself killed."
"You and me both."
"We need to assume that she will have others with her and that we will be outnumbered, any move we make will probably end up with us getting killed or tortured so we will need to be quick. I doubt it will be possible to apparate out, given the fact that we can't apparate in."
"Shield cloaks from the twins shop and a portkey?" I suggested.
"Shield items could be useful, they won't help against unforgivable curses but most other curses they should prevent. As for a portkey, it's going to be difficult. We're all going to need to be together at the right time to get out or else we'll get left behind."
"Four portkey's," Alexis mumbled groggily from the couch.
Harry nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, four will work. As long as we can get one to Lucas. And they will all need to be set for the same time so Pansy and her crew don't realise what's happening. We will just need to all stay alive long enough for them to activate."
"Ten minutes? That will give us time to get in and get a portkey to Lucas," I suggested.
"How are we going to get it to him and make sure he's touching it at the right time?" Harry asked.
"I'll ask to talk to him. I'll give it to him. If it's something I can put on him we won't need to worry about him holding it," Alexis said, unclasping the chain around her neck and handing it to Harry.
Harry nodded slowly, "This could work. Alexis I need something for you, and you as well Charlie."
I handed Harry my watch and Alexis took of the gold and sapphire bracelet Ginny and Hermione had given her for her seventeenth birthday and gave it to Harry.
"Okay, I will go back to the ministry and get these made into portkey's. Charlie, can you arrange to get the cloaks from the twins? I will meet you in my office in half an hour and then we will go and get Lucas," Harry said before apparating out of the room.
Alexis sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes, "Why the sleeping draught?"
"Because I didn't want you to work yourself up any more and go and do something stupid and get yourself killed. And you're exhausted, you haven't been able to walk for months and you're tiring yourself out. I need to go see the twins to get some shield cloaks, do you want to come?"
Alexis nodded, latching onto my arm before I apparated to the apartment above the twins shop. I filled Fred and George in on what we knew and what the plan was, they looked concerned and protested at us going.
"We have to go. She will only let Harry and us in. No one else," I told them.
"What about polyjuice potion? I'll go and Alexis can stay here," George suggested.
"No. I'm going. I need to be there for this to work. And if it doesn't work I need to be there to kill her."
Fred shook his head as he stood, "I'll go find some cloaks."
"I'll come too," Alexis said, standing and following Fred down stairs.
"Is there any way to make her stay?" George asked.
I shook my head, "No. Not unless we knock her out or something but she wants to be there. And if the plan doesn't work at least she will get to say goodbye."
"It will work Charlie. It has to work."
Fred's POV
Alexis followed me down to the shop to get the shield cloaks, her eyes darting from shelf to shelf, looking for something.
"What are you planning Lex?"
"Nothing, why?" she answered a little too quickly.
"You're looking for something. And I know you; you've added something to the plan haven't you?"
"No, I'm just trying to figure out if anything else in here will be useful."
"Liar. At least tell me what you're looking for and I'll give it to you. You don't even have to tell me what you're thinking. Or I could just go over here and turn my back and you can take what you need and I won't even know. You want three cloaks right?"
She smiled, "Yes, thanks Fred."
I turned my back on her, searching for three shield cloaks amongst the shelves full of pranking products. I found the cloaks and charmed them again, hoping to make the shield stronger even though I knew they would do nothing against the unforgivable curses the Death Eaters were so fond of. I grabbed four boxes of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder as well, figuring it could be useful to stall for time before the portkey's were set to leave. I glanced around the shelves looking for anything else that might be useful before going to find Alexis.
"Did you get what you were looking for?" I asked.
She nodded, putting her wand in her pocket and following me back towards the stairs.
"Hey Fred," She said, grabbing my arm.
I turned to look at her, her eyes wide with concern and the faintest hint of doubt.
"What's up Lexy?"
"If something happens and Charlie and I don't make it will you guys look after Lucas?"
"You're all going to be fine Lex, you will all come home."
"But if we don't you and George and Katie and Ang and Lee and Alicia will look after him right?"
"Of course Lexy, if it ever came to that we would, but it won't. You guys are going to go in there and bring Lucas home."
I hugged her tightly before we made our way back upstairs to George and Charlie.
I gave the cloaks and powder to Charlie, before we all said goodbye and Charlie and Alexis apparated out of the apartment.
Charlie's POV
Harry was pacing in his office when we arrived; deep in thought, with our portkey's laid out on the desk. I cleared my throat loudly and he jumped, startled by our presence.
"Okay, we have the cloaks and Fred gave us some of the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder just in case it comes in handy, there's some for each of us and Lucas as well," I told him.
Harry nodded, "We have about twenty minutes before the portkey's activate. Aurors will be surrounding the building but only we will be permitted to enter. Once we are in there don't do anything stupid. We need to get Lucas his portkey and then all we need to do is keep her talking long enough for the portkey's to activate so we can get out. Do not draw your wand on her or anyone else in the room. Do not do anything to provoke them. Are you sure you are both ready for this?"
Alexis and I nodded as the three of us fastened our cloaks and put on our portkey's, pocketing the powder Fred had given us. I helped Alexis fasten the chain that would be Lucas's portkey around her neck, she gripped the locket tightly in one hand and sighed.
"Okay, let's do this."
Harry took both our hands and apparated us outside a large house. It was warm and welcoming on the outside and did not strike me as the sort of place a Death Eater would be living. Harry spoke to one of the aurors, who reported that no one had come in or out of the building and no further messages from Pansy had been received.
I took Alexis's hands and looked down into her eyes, "I love you Lexy. Just in case something goes wrong and I don't come back I just want you to know that I love you and Lucas so much."
"Don't be silly, you will come back with us."
"But I want you to know, just in case."
"I know Char. I love you too."
I kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly before we turned back to the house. Harry led the way to the door without a word. He knocked twice and we waited for a response. After what seemed like eternity the door swung open and a Death Eater beckoned us inside with a wand pointed at us the whole time. The inside of the house was dark and foreboding, the way I had expected the whole house to be. It smelt musty and was filled with creepy old furniture covered in cobwebs. The rooms were barely lit by the candles along the wall and the décor looked like it had all come from Borgin and Burkes. We were led down a long corridor to a large room, the walls were lined with about 20 Death Eaters and one I assumed to be Pansy sat on a large wooden chair in the middle of the room. Lucas was sitting on the floor against the far wall, he looked unharmed and relieved to see us.
"Well, well, well, long time no see Alexis. Oh and you still look hideous, any self respecting witch would've got that sorted out. But I suppose you never have been a self respect have you? Always running around with the filthy blood traitor weasels. And you even have one with you today! How charming! I like how you chose not to have children together, save them from that unsightly complexion, and not to mention that hair. Or is this weasel not able to procreate? That would be a blessing to the wizarding world if there were less weasels running around."
"Hi Pansy, nice to see you too. May I speak to my son please?"
"Oh yes, yes you may. Go ahead. I'll give you one minute to fill him with false hope about how you are all going to get out of here alive and go home and live happily ever after in a rundown weasel hole with the rest of them. That will give me some time to catch up with my old friend Harry."
Lucas's POV
Mummy and Daddy Charlie and Uncle Harry had come inside, which meant the bad lady was going to kill me soon. But I wasn't scared because I knew they would save me from her. Mummy came over and sat in front of me, giving me a big hug.
"It's gunna be okay Lukey, we'll be out soon I promise," she whispered in my ear.
Mummy took her necklace off and put it on me.
"Keep this on okay?" she said and tucked it under my shirt.
I nodded as she put some stuff in my pockets and hugged me again.
"There's darkness powder in there. You'll start to feel funny in a few minutes, use it then."
I looked at what else she had given me and was confused, "Mummy this isn't a trick one, it's your real one."
"I know, I want you to hold onto it just in case. You can give it to me when we get outside okay? I love you Lucas. And Charlie loves you too. We all love you and I just need you to be really brave okay? Don't talk to her. Just sit here and be brave for me. Don't take the necklace off and use the powder when you feel funny in the tummy, Harry, Charlie and I will use it at the same time. We'll see you on the outside soon Lukey."
"I love you too Mummy. And Daddy Charlie too. And you be brave too Mummy. I'm happy your legs are all better now, can we go to the park later?"
Mummy hugged me and kissed me lots, "Yes Lukey, we'll all go to the park later. I love you."
"Okay, times up. Get back over there Alexis."
"I love you Mummy."
"I love you too Lukey," Mummy said and walked back to Daddy Charlie and Uncle Harry.
Charlie's POV
"So now you've told him everything is going to be okay I suppose it's almost time to kill him," Pansy taunted.
I estimated that we had maybe four minutes until the portkey's activated. Four minutes to stay alive and keep Pansy from hurting Lucas. It was going to be a long four minutes.
"Hey Pansy, remember that day I turned you into a slug? That was pretty fun. What was it like being a slug? Do you remember it? Do slugs have good eye sight and hearing? If you don't remember I can always do it again for you," Alexis laughed.
I heard Harry sigh on Alexis's other side as Pansy advanced towards Alexis.
"I don't know why you would offer that right now Fuller. You are in a room full of Death Eaters with their wands pointed at you, you wouldn't even get your wand out of your pocket before you were cursed. You never were very bright," Pansy said, before disarming the three of us.
Alexis laughed again, "You can't be too sure if you just disarmed us. Just imagine running your little group of Death Eaters as a slug. If you want I could transfigure them too and you could be Queen Slug, with an army of slug minions. And then you could go and slime on people's faces. Wow this is a great idea! I could make you a little crown for your slug head too!"
"Alexis," I warned softly.
"DO NOT SPEAK IN MY PRESENCE WEASLEY!" Pansy shouted, turning her wand on me. "It's bad enough looking at you let alone hearing you speak. CRUCIO!"
I collapsed as I was hit with the most unimaginable pain. My whole body was hurting; it felt like I was being stabbed over every inch of my body. I saw Lucas cover his eyes across the room before I was blinded by the pain. The pain seemed to be getting more intense with every passing second. I withered on the floor in complete agony, biting my tongue, not wanting to give the sick twisted bitch the satisfaction of hearing me scream. The pain stopped and Pansy laughed as I regained my breath before standing. Alexis took my hand and squeezed it gently, staring at Pansy with sheer hatred.
"Well that was fun. Would you like a turn Potter? How about you Fuller? I think that would be nice don't you? Then your boy can see you tortured and then you can see him killed, I think that sounds fair."
It had to be almost time for the portkey's to activate. Surely we had to be leaving soon.
"Why not just kill me instead? He's only a kid, you aren't going to get any satisfaction from killing him, he hasn't done anything to you. Me on the other hand, I turned you into a slug. And your precious Malfoy into a ferret, that was pretty fun too. All you have to do is say the words. It's not hard. Just two words and I'm gone. It's really simple, I've done it before to one of your Death Eater buddies. Just two little words. Can you do that Pansy? Point your wand at me and say the words. I'll give you a clue, the first one starts with A," Alexis taunted.
Harry and I exchanged a glance over Alexis's head. What the hell was she doing? She was going too far and we weren't going to get out in time. Pansy smiled and raised her wand, pointing it at Alexis.
"I suppose you do have a point Fuller. And after I kill you I can still kill the child and make these two watch on helplessly. I'm sure weasel here won't mind his girlfriend and kid being killed in front of him."
"Do it Pansy. Look me in the eye and kill me. Your wand is already up, all you need to do is say the words."
I began to feel a faint sensation in the pit of my stomach as Pansy opened her mouth to speak. The portkey's! We were going to get out, but not soon enough. I moved slightly and Pansy glanced at me. She shot a body bind curse at Harry and I before turning back to Alexis, grinning.
"Now that those two can't interfere, let's get on with it shall we? Avada ked"
I closed my eyes as Pansy began the spell, not wanting to see the flash of green light I knew was coming.
Pansy was laughing. Not maliciously like she usually did. I opened my eyes to find her doubled over in laughter. I felt the pull of the portkey and saw Lucas, wand in hand, throw a handful of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder on the floor in front of him before we all disappeared in front of a group of very confused looking Death Eaters.