A Little Bundle Of Hell
A/N: Blame me for the insanity contained within this chapter. Blame Lils for the title. :p
Sometimes, when storms blow in from the north, strange things accompany these savage winds. These creatures of the deep, so often feared by all who encountered them, are then left to wander the borders of our world, choosing victims at random as they search for their next meal.
It was during a storm in the depths of winter that another of these unearthly beings was torn from its nest, its body carelessly tossed about like a paper doll, until it landed and began to cry outside the home of Maisie and Amycus Carrow.
Maisie was first to wake up, hair falling into her face as she lifted her head off the pillow. She could just make out a sound like cloth rippling and snapping back in the wind. This sound was accompanied by a high pitched, mournful wail that broke and hitched in strange rhythms, its haunting call echoing in the night.
This terrible noise appeared to be coming from the old apple tree outside their bedroom window, and when Maisie rose from their bed and looked outside, she could just make out a length of cloth, its thin form dark and ragged, tangled in the skeletal branches.
"Wake up, Amycus," said Maisie, returning to their bed and placing a hand on his shoulder. "It sounds like some poor beast is caught in the tree."
"Hmm, pancakes," Amycus muttered in his sleep, rolling over and slapping Maisie in the face with his caterpillar tongue. A warm trickle of saliva dribbled down her neck, his tongue curling around her arm and caressing the curve of her waist. "Good pancakes. And a most delicious syrup." He then snorted and came awake with a start. "Wait, you're not a pancake," Amycus said, blinking and staring at his fiancée. "You are delicious, though."
Maisie couldn't help but smile a little, a smile which quickly faded as the creature unleashed another harsh, plaintive moan.
"Listen, Amycus. Can you hear that?" She motioned towards the window. "I think there's something outside."
Amycus lifted his tongue and cupped his ear with it. He listened for a moment, noticing how the noise rose in volume whenever the wind blew the tattered strip of fabric against the hollow bark.
"Whatever that is, it isn't human," he said, lowering his tongue and using it to pull back the covers. "Perhaps we should investigate."
.oOo.
Amycus was the first to step outside, his tongue wrapped around the doorknob, holding the door open for his beloved Maisie. "I certainly hope this is worth the effort," he muttered, glancing at the sodden bundle in the tree.
Maisie joined him on the porch, her robes pulled tight about her chest to keep out the cold. "Do you think you could get it down with your tongue?" she asked, sounding somewhat hopeful.
"First off, we do not know what it is," said Amycus, holding up a finger. "I'm not about to swipe something off a branch like a common Snatcher without first knowing if it is dangerous. You don't want me to lose this perfectly pleasurable pendant, now do you?" He ran a hand down the slick surface of his tongue as he said this.
Maisie shook her head.
"Right. I didn't think so. Secondly," he held up another finger, "I can summon the creature if need be."
Lightning flared overhead as Amycus withdrew his wand, illuminating the figure that was still tenaciously clinging to the branch.
"Good heavens," Amycus breathed, his eyes widening. "Is that what I think it is?" He made a brief motion with his wand, detaching the ragged clump and sending it soaring through the air.
Maisie caught the bundle as it flew towards the porch, positioning it carefully so that she could see its face beneath a swath of decaying fabric.
The pungent smell of death permeated the air as the infant opened its mouth, hissing and spitting like a rabid animal. The stench was so horrible that Amycus pinched his nose with the tip of his tongue.
"What is that?" Maisie asked, and was greeted with a hoarse, rattling cry.
"I am baby Dementor! I suck much face!" The creature then launched itself at Maisie, latching onto her and dangling from her cheek like a leech.
Amycus cringed, repulsed by the wet, sucking sounds that followed the Dementor's attack. "I thought Dementors were supposed to suck souls."
"Well, apparently this one sucks face," said Maisie, sounding very much like Wednesday Addams. She grasped the Dementor around its waist, pulling it off and holding it at arm's length. "What's your name, little one?"
"Les," the baby burbled. "I want suck face now."
Maisie chuckled, amused by the infant's statement. "She's adorable, Amycus. I think we should bring her inside and look after her for a bit."
"Really, Maisie?" Amycus raised an eyebrow, giving the Dementor a look which clearly stated that he was uncomfortable in its presence.
"Yes, really." Maisie smiled and held the squirming bundle against her chest. "But don't worry. It'll just be until we can find her parents. In the mean time, it might be fun to introduce her to your sister. Who knows? Maybe the Dementor likes riceplay as much as she likes sucking face."