Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Azalea drifted awake slowly. It was time to get ready to go home and she needs to plan on how she will escape Durzkaban she had not time to be locked in a room without food for the whole summer, she had a war to plan and she will not fail. She got up and went to her trunk to pull out clothes for the day. She pulled out a pair of black leggings and a silver tunic along with her undergarments and went towards the showers hoping to at least start the day off well even if it doesn’t stay that way.
She grabbed a hold of her coin to send out a mass message to every member of the Acolytes. “Everyone! You now have permission to bring in trusted family members into the fold. As of the second week of summer I will have a safe house with a total of twenty suites. Enough to hold three people each. If you believe you are in need of a suite then let me know. I will most likely have a second safe house a week after holding about twenty four suites as well as a servant quarters in both for individuals. If necessary we can convert parlours and drawing rooms into more sleeping areas. Note this is only for family members that you trust completely so don’t go blabbing about it in the Alley and make sure to take oaths.” She let go of the coin as she finally reached the shower stall.
She entered the spray and let out a deep sigh. The warmth of the water eased away some of the tension she felt at having to return to her own personal hell. None of the teachers seemed to ever take her seriously that she was being mistreated at home and honestly she stopped trying to get help in third year after being told that she must be acting up for attention. That Dumbledore himself has reassured the teachers that she is absolutely safe where she is even after coming back to school with new bruises. What was the point of reaching out when no one bothered to listen after all.
She shut off the water after she finished and toweled off before getting dressed and spelling her hair into a Dutch braid. She walked out and met up with Nelda in the common room. They walked out astride each other and went to the kitchens where they met up with Daphne and Theo who had already ordered everyone’s breakfast. Not even five minutes later Susan and Hannah entered sleepily.
“Hey girls, catch!” Azalea called out before throwing two Gringotts keys in their direction. They two girls fumbled to catch them before clutching them to their chest with wide eyes. “That's the key to the vaults for the Acolytes. Don’t lose them. We will be selling off excess potion ingredients to fund our army instead of just funding it out of pocket. I transferred the basilisk parts into the vault already along with a starter amount. We don’t have the Malfoy vaults or the Hogwarts funds to use for our side and none of us want to go broke funneling our personal vaults into them. Though small donations are welcome.” Azalea informed them and waited for them to nod before she continued. “I will be escaping the Dursley residence this summer so don’t be surprised if Dumbles comes knocking. I’ll let you know when I’m somewhere safe.” She finished talking before digging into the food.
“If you need somewhere to go you can come to my manor Aza. You know dad wouldn’t mind.” Theo told his closest friend.
“I know that I can Theo but that would put your dad in a precarious situation being a Death Eater and all. And before you start too, Nelda, it would be the first place Dumbledore will look and no matter how intimidating and formidable Augusta Longbottom is I refuse to invite trouble into your home.” Azalea said while making eye contact with the two.
Just then Blaise and Luna entered and sat down at the table with the others. “You’ll have fun this summer Azalea don’t worry. Where you end up is where you need to be.” Luna said cryptically.
Azalea looked at Luna searchingly for a moment before nodding. Whenever Luna said something it typically held more information than what others understood. People always discounted her due to the way she talked, never understanding that Luna was a seer and the way she coped was through the animals that her father told her about to calm her down after horrid visions.
While they ate Azalea noticed that all of them seemed to be matching in colour scheme making her burst out in a giggle. “Did everyone get the memo to wear black and silver today!” She laughed out causing all of the others to break down in chuckles as well. It seemed that each one was taking being an Acolyte seriously, even adopting the colour of their eventual uniform that’s coming in next week.
They quickly finished eating and made their way to where the carriages were waiting to take them to the train station. The three Slytherins shifted to walk behind while the two Hufflepuffs walked ahead of them making it seem as if they weren’t together. They needed the adults to not suspect anything was amiss with the teens. Each group climbed into different carriages as well with the VA members filling in the open spots. Hermione climbed into Azalea’s carriage with Alec trailing behind her with a warm look in his eyes on his otherwise blank face.
Azalea slammed close the door to the carriage when she noticed that Ron was heading their way. She then turned to the others with an innocent look on her face. “What?” She asked as if nothing happened causing the others to shake their heads.
Alec wrapped his arm around Hermione’s shoulders causing the girl to lean into his side. “How goes the war prep little General?” Alec questioned the green-eyed girl.
“I have a total of three possible safe houses depending. One is set in stone but two depend on the head of house that owns the manor. I have opened Rosier manor, Peverell manor and Black Cottage. I don’t know Evan Personally, he was my mother's older brother though he wasn’t aware that she was alive so he doesn’t know about me, and then there is Sirius Black. He I know would listen to me as he is my godfather and honestly I’m the last thing he has of my father. As heiress Black and Rosier as well as Lady Potter and Peverell it is within my rights to open manors that aren’t in use but for now I’ll mainly use Peverell manor.” Azalea replied.
“You're Lady Peverell?” Alec asked in astonishment.
“Yes. I am a descendant of Iolanthe Peverell who was the granddaughter to Ignotus Peverell, the youngest of the three brothers. There were no other viable heirs to the name.” Azalea revealed. She knew after some digging that the middle brother had a single descendent as well but as soon as kin slaying tainted your soul you lose the right of inheritance. Voldemort had kinslayed at least twice making him no longer a viable heir and gave her leeway to strip him of the Peverell magics, not that he was sane enough to notice it anymore. Honestly she is pretty sure that Pettegrew screwed up the ritual. She had seen a young Tom Riddle and he was hella more attractive than ol snake face is.
“Is there anything that you think Matt and I need to be aware of?” He asked, still dazed on knowing someone personally with such powerful ancestry.
“Yea. Both Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange as well as Lucius Malfoy, Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle are off the kill list. They are bonded to members of the Acolytes. I will leave it up to your purview if you want to approach them. The Lestrange brothers are pretty funny guys, all things considered don't know about the Blonde Ponce Sr though.” She said nonchalantly as if bringing up two known master torturers and one sociopathic manipulator willing to kill a twelve year old over a house elf, not that she was keeping a grudge about it or anything.
“Right…” Alec trailed off baffled. He was starting to believe that she was just slightly insane.
Before anyone else could speak the carriage came to a halt. They must have reached the station. One by one they filed out of their carriage and into the station. Azalea scanned the area to take note of where everyone was and noticed that Mattaius was standing next to Daphne with an arm slung over her shoulders while intimidating everyone around them. Luna noticed Azalea at the same time that Azalea noticed her causing the fae like blonde to prance over to where Nelda and her were standing.
“Get ready Azalea you will be fleeing a golden bloodhound that has your scent already to seek shelter under an elder crow’s wings.” Luna said mystically.
“Thank you for the warning Nemain. Badb will keep it in mind as she prowls.” Azalea returned in kind.
Then Luna turned to Nelda with a far away look in her eyes. “Andraste will receive a gift from the shadows. Accept it and send back a picture of yourself. It will make you happier in the end.” Luna told her.
“Andraste has heard and accepted Nemain’s council.” Nelda replied softly. Every single member of their group by now knew better than to not listen to Luna. It always ends badly if you ignore what little she tells you.
Soon the doors to the train opened up and they filed into a compartment that Alec led them to. Ironically enough it just so happened that Daphne and Matt were already seated in the compartment with Matt casting a spatial enlargement spell so that the compartment would fit up to twelve. Soon enough the others pulled into the compartment led by Theo who swore that he had a little sister radar and that he could find her anywhere. Theo plopped down next to Azalea, leaning up against her affectionately.
“Hey sis are you going to be alright?” He asked in concern. He has been worried about her since she has admitted that she was escaping her prison. He was also relieved in a sense too that she wouldn’t be where she was abused most of her life anymore.
“Yea, Nemain said everything will be alright.” She answered back while settling into his side and resting her head on his shoulder. She must have still been tired from yesterday because she drifted off to sleep soon after.
She came too as gentle hands shook her awake. “Azalea, little sister come on, wake up little badger. It’s time to disembark.” Theo’s smooth timber drifted through her ears. Her eyes fluttered open and she took in the difference in light outside.
“Hmm? We’re here?” She mumbled out as she stretched.
“Yea we’re at Kings Cross station, it’s time to get off.” Theo said again and watched as she sighed out.
Azalea heaved herself into a standing position and patted her side to check if her bag was still there. Nodding to herself she turned and exited the cart then the train. Her eyes automatically searched out the head of long pale blond hair only to freeze at being caught in his cold grey eyes. A flash of fear ran through her at seeing him staring her down from across the way. She also took note of his wife’s absence and the look of grief on Draco’s face before it went blank. She flicked her eyes back to Lucius and immediately took a step in the other direction. The amount of possessiveness in his eyes was troubling as well as the amount of desire. With self preservation in mind she turned on her heel and headed out to muggle London. She knew her uncle wouldn’t be there to pick her up so she hailed down a cab and asked to be dropped off at the library near her prison.
She paid the cabby 76£ for the ride and got out before starting the twenty minute trek to the Dursleys home. The sun had just started to set when something like paranoia set in. Her instincts were blaring, alerting her to danger and the hair on the back of her neck rose. She had just turned the corner onto Privet Drive when she couldn’t ignore the warnings anymore and broke out in a dead sprint. She had just reached the door and knocked before she noticed someone out of the corner of her eyes and broke out in a cold sweat. There, at the end of her walkway, stood Lucius Malfoy himself.
She had just turned her full attention to him when the door behind her thundered open and her uncle stood at her back, red faced with rage. “FREAK GET YOUR WHORE ASS IN BEFORE THE NEIGHBOURS NOTICE YOU!” He bellowed out, not paying attention to the very dangerous man at the end of the walkway who went rigid with rage. His grey eyes staring the man down behind her like he would like nothing better than to rip out his entrails.
In a fit of fear she did the first thing she could think to do being stuck between two different types of predators. “KREACHER!” She screamed. In an instant a pop sounded next to the girl as an old grumpy looking elf came into view. He took one look at the situation before he took a step closer to his young mistress. Over the course of last summer she had earned his loyalty by treating him the same as Master Regulus. “Take me to safety, please!” His mistress pleaded with fear in her eyes and a hand reaching out to him. Before either man could respond she popped away to the sound of two different yells. One of a bellow of freak and the other a snarled no.
Lucius watched with a snarl as his young soulmate disappeared, running from him again. This game of cat and mouse was both arousing and frustrating. Though she did just lead him to what would be his form of amusement for this night. The thought caused his face to even back out into his typical bored mask. He wiped out his elm wand from his cane before stalking up to the elephant seal of a man in front of him and drawled out “Imperio!” Once the curse was cast the tub of lard's eyes blanked out in a daze. “Walk into the house with me and send any children out to the park.” His voice came out in a deadly whisper. There was no need to be interrupted once he started.
Vernon walked into the house with the blonde haired man prowling behind him. “Dudley, my boy! I need you to leave the house for a bit. Why don’t you go show the kids at the playground who’s the boss around here?” He called out to his son who after a few minutes of grumbling did as his father told him to do.
After the door clicked shut Lucius cast silencing and locking wards around the house. There was a reason that he had stayed in Voldemort’s inner circle and it wasn’t just because of his wealth either. He pulled his hair back and tied it off at the nape before pulling leather gloves out of his pocket and pulled them on. He heard a woman coming down the stairs as he bound his prey to the dining room chair. As soon as a tall thin woman came into the dinning room he bound her and levitated her to a chair that he set up next to the whale of a man.
“What are you doing?!” The woman screeched as he released the imperio on her husband.
“I will be the one to ask questions, muggle.” He said with such disdain.
“How dare you break into this house you freak! We don’t accept your sort here!” Vernon shouted out. “Where is that freak! I bet she set this up!” He continued on as his eyes started to flick around the room in search of that whore.
“Unfortunately, Miss Potter seemed to escape me again.” He sighed out before a look of deranged possession crossed his face. “I will eventually have her. It’s not like she can run from me forever. After all, no one but I can have her.” He said in a dazed tone as his mind wandered to what he will do to her when she is finally in his grasp.
“She is not a possession.” Petunia mumbled out. She might resent the girl but Lily was still her sister and if she were to die now then she could at least do this.
Lucius' eyes snapped to her face in absolute awareness. Glacier grey staring into baby blue for the longest of moments before a smirk started to creep across his lips. “But you see my dear, she is mine. She is my soulmate. I don’t know or care if muggles have any soulmates but in the wizarding world that means she can’t marry anyone but me now that she has the mark. Especially since no one would want to be on the receiving end of my wrath, which you and your husband seem to have done. Now on to my question. Has my soul bonded ever come into harm in this abode?” He asked calmly but his eyes were anything but.
“That freak got what it deserved. She should be thankful that I didn’t drown her when she got here.” The vitriol that came out of his mouth seemed to even shock his own wife. She might not have liked the child but to have wished to kill her was a completely different matter.
“I would never let you kill her Vernon. She is still my niece.” She blurted out, shocking even herself.
“That bitch has tainted my house for fourteen years, Pet. She should have been taken care of like Marge said!” He shouted indignantly at the mere thought that his wife just didn’t shut up and agree.
“She is blood. I didn’t like her either Vernon, but killing her is a little much. The orphanage would have been the best action.” She argued. “I actually suggested that in the first place but you told me no. You said that there was no need to take her there!” Her voice started to become shrill. “You said that we had the money to take care of her due to a raise!”
“If we took her to the orphanage then Dumbledore would have stopped paying us Pet!” He blurted out before clamming up. He had never told her the truth about where the money came from and he had never planned too. It must be this blonde freaks fault, they always were at fault.
A look of realization came over her face as her mind cleared for the first time in fourteen years. “What else did Dumbledore give you?” She seethed out, some things were clicking in her mind that she prayed that she was wrong about. Her husband couldn’t have betrayed her like that, right?
“Nothing you need to worry about. You women need to leave the thinking to your husbands.” He stated as if it were fact, making the other two people in the room look at him incredulously. The blatant disrespect and disregard he just showed to his wife was astounding.
“I believe your wife asked you a question you wretch.” Lucius spoke up for the first time since the argument started as he dug his wand into the man's neck causing him to gulp.
“Alright, alright, he’s been giving me a potion to keep you complacent and casts spells to make you listen better. He said it’ll make you listen because you would protect that whore in the beginning from me and it needed to stop. He said that it would make you stop getting in the way. What else was I supposed to do? A good wife should obey the husband and there you were disobeying me!” He said rapidly in fear of the man digging a wand into his throat with a blank look on his face.
“Release me.” She said in a cold voice. She was beyond furious by what she just heard. For the first time in her marriage she acted as an Evans and not a trophy wife. As soon as Lucius released the bonds keeping her trapped to the chair curiously to see what she would do she whirled and punched Vernon in the face hard enough that she broke her own hand as well as his nose. “How dare you, you good for nothing brute! How dare you take away my freedom to choose! That isn’t yours or any man's right! My sister was right, you are a miserable ignoramus knave!” She shouted as she reared back her other fist to punch him directly in his groin causing Lucius to cross his legs in the chair that he sat in to watch the show. Vernon gave a high pitched scream as the hit landed. The pain from the blow caused him to break out in a cold sweat. While her soon to be ex husband was bent over she turned to the wizard next to her. “Where is my niece?” She asked calmly.
“Unfortunately I do not know as she has run away from me again.” He sighed out. He couldn’t exactly kill the women now. Not after such entertainment. “Come now Mrs Dursley. It’s best if you leave. Your son is at the park.” He said as he opened the door though keeping the wards still in place.
“It’s Evans. Honestly my mother would be rolling in her grave. ‘No female Avery ever lets a man control her!’ And all that.” She mumbled as she walked past the now stunned man.
“What was your mother’s name?” He asked, stunned.
“Dahlia.” She answered as she walked upstairs to pack a suitcase for herself and Dudley.
“Pet! Where do you think you're going!” Vernon bellowed out after his wife in rage.
“I’m leaving!” Her voice came drifting down from the second floor.
“NO YOUR NOT. I’LL KILL YOU BEFORE YOU DO. DO YOU HEAR ME?!” He raged against the bonds holding him in place. “Wait till I get free Petunia. When I’m done with you there will be nothing left to bury!” He continued to struggle before he had to stop to regain his breath.
Petunia completely ignored him as she walked down the stairway and out the front door with two suitcases and packed the car. She came back in and took four bottles of water and some fruit in case she and Dudley got hungry on the road. She then walked over to stand in front of Vernon. “My mother drilled two things into mine and Lily’s head, Vernon. One was that no Female Avery ever allows a man to control her and two Ut Omnes Hostes Sanguinem In Terra Effundan, May All Enemies Blood Seep Into The Ground. You have become my enemy and I will bleed you dry.” She snarled. She turned and walked out of number four Privet Dr for that last time, heading over to find her son. It seemed that she would have to do damage control for the past fourteen years.
Torture scene start
“Now it’s just you and me, you beast.” Lucius said. Even if he no longer had two playthings one should be enough. He walked closer to the imbecile and stood absolutely still in front of him. Before Vernon could say anything though Lucius cast two bone breaking curses in quick succession on both ankles. As Vernon screamed he started to cast slicing curses up his shins and around his calves. He continued on with a look of glee as he broke both knee caps and cut deeply into the stomach hitting the organ and causing acid to pour out into his abdominal cavity. By now a pool of blood started to pool around the chair but Lucius ignored it as he crushed the bones in Vernon’s right hand with a well placed curse. He then sat back and watched as blood continued to pour out of his soulmate's abuser. To keep him from dying too quickly of blood loss he spelled the gaping wound to slow the flow but not stop it completely as well as to keep him awake. He knocked the chair back onto the floor forcing Vernon on his back making his toy sob out in pain, tears and snot trailed down his face and into his hair. To make things worse he went into the fridge and found a bottle of lemon juice that he mixed with broken glass that he made by shattering a cup he found in a cupboard and walked back over to Vernon to pour it into the wound on his stomach. As Vernon descended into desperate feeble moans Lucius ground his heel into the wound making Vernon howl in agony. Eventually his heart gave out before he could bleed to death leaving the empty shell of his body behind like a macabre piece of art.
Torture scene end
Lucius let out a happy sigh. ‘Ahh how I have missed this.’ He thought to himself in glee. People always seemed to forget that he was right up there with Bellatrix in the nightmares people had about the last war. He might not be as insane as his now deceased sister in law but he was just as creative. He took pride in his work and honestly didn’t see anything wrong with it. Now how would he leave his calling card? He pondered that for a moment; he typically left a coin in his victims mouth but he didn’t come prepared for making such a masterpiece. He looked around before finding a 50p coin and slammed Vernons teeth closed around it. He studied it for a moment before spelling all blood off himself and erasing himself from the scene leaving no other evidence of him behind then he lowered the wards and sauntered away.
________________________
Nelda had just settled into a bench in her greenhouse when a massive black owl swooped down and landed next to her and hooted. She studied the bird for a second taking note of how gentle it was as it scooted closer to her and lifted a leg for her to take the envelope from around its leg. She dug into her bag next to her and pulled out a piece of deer jerky and handed it to the owl and gently stroked it's feathers and giggled as it pushed into her hand with a blissed out look in it’s striking green eyes before she turned her attention to the envelope in her hands. She gently opened it and smelt the envelope in search of poison or anything that could harm her. When she didn’t notice anything she reached in and pulled out a bag of seeds and a letter. She placed down the seeds in her lap then unfolded the piece of parchment.
Dear Nelda Longbottom
I write to you in hopes that one day you shall deem it fit to respond to my attentions. When I met you in the Department of Mysteries for the first time since you were one I couldn’t help but notice that your mere presence is akin to that of the sun. You lightened up a place of total darkness within my mind and soul. You were like a goddess of war and beauty as you took vengeance for your family and I was awestruck at your power and grace in dispatching Bellatrix. As I sit here writing I can still remember your scent and the feel of your supple skin as you healed everywhere that we touched with your cleansing soul.
I find that I must seek forgiveness that might never be given for when I took liberties with having you held so closely in my arms. The feel of you against me makes this bleak existence livable as I close my eyes to remember the fire in your voice. My body yearns to hold you in my arms again and I have never felt so cold as when your warmth left me to continue your battle.
In an effort to extend even just the slightest bit of good will I have gifted you with seeds of the Blue Moon Lotus that I have found in my family vaults under stasis. I'm sure you are aware but they are an extremely powerful healing agent as well as extremely beautiful though they still pale in comparison to your radiance.
With the highest regards,
Rabastan Lestrange
Nelda let a slow breath out as she stood up. She pulled out the picture she had been carrying all day that she had tucked into an envelope and tied it to the bird's leg then headed towards her manor as the owl flew off. It was time to talk to Nan.
She entered into her Nan’s study and stood in front of the desk quitely to wait for her Nan’s attention. It only took about two minutes before Augusta looked up from the documents that she was reviewing.
“How can I help you Nelda?” Augusta said calmly as she gestured for Nelda to sit down in the chair in front of the desk
“I have both good and bad news. Which would you prefer I start with?” Nelda answered back with her own question.
“Start with the bad, my dear.” The older woman sighed.
“Rabastan Lestrange is my soul bonded.” Nelda said bluntly with no hesitation.
“Well that is unfortunate dear but we both know that that is out of your control. I’m happy that you told me though so that I will refrain from killing him. What about his brother?” Augusta said with a faint smile.
At that Nelda laughed. “Unfortunately Rodolphus is Luna’s.” She responded with mirth in her eyes.
“Oh dear, she is going to drive him mad isn’t she?” Augusta said blandly. “Now what is the good news then?” She asked curiously.
“I have brought honor onto myself by taking vengeance on one of my parents' torturers. Bellatrix Lestrange née Black has died at my hand. Nan, I finally got her!” Just saying it brought tears to her eyes. She finally was able to give her family some solace.
Augusta stood up and lunged over the desk to drag her granddaughter into her arms. Never before had she felt this amount of pride for anyone. Nelda has truly brought honor onto herself. She was becoming a fine woman. Though the knowledge that her baby was in her first battle unsettled her a bit.
“How did you get close enough to fight her, my granddaughter? Is Albus recruiting so young now?” Augusta asked cautiously.
“Dumbledore doesn’t recruit Nan, he just throws pawns around. I am a member of a third faction. I am actually the second in command Nan, in an army made up of children that both sides have used then thrown away. We have a leader who is my age and a council made up of my peers. We are grey aligned or neutral and we don’t give second chances to enemies. We took a total of four Death Eaters out of the fight completely.” Nelda said while hedging around the names. She knew that Azalea had already given the go ahead to tell people but it felt weird. “Nan before you ask, if you want to know more than we require an oath of silence. That is a requirement for everyone, no exceptions.” Nelda stated sternly, reminiscent of the women across from her.
Augusta pulled out her wand and held it up straight next to her ear. “I wear on my magic that I will keep quiet about everything that is mentioned about the neutral faction of the war, so mote it be.” She intoned then waited patiently for Nelda to start. She had made the mistake of not joining her son but she will not fail her Grandbaby in the same way, no matter how old she’ll get.
“We are called the Vipertooth Acolytes. We chose this name as a dig against Dumbledore with his Order of Phoenix and the fact that he fought against Grindelwald’s Acolytes. We started out as a defense club due to Umbridge banning practical work but Azalea doesn’t do things in halves. She said if she was going to teach us defense then she would teach us how to survive war at all cost. She taught us all the patronus as well as many underhanded ways to fight and dark curses and how to fight off the lure of them and she taught seven other members how to become animagus. There are now forty two members in total with two being spies on the Death Eater camp. We have one safe house being made ready now with two that might follow. There are nine teams with four members each that specialize in different areas necessary for warfare of any kind whether political or on the battlefield and one three man potion team. We have members of all factions too like my generation's Carrow twins to the Weasley twins and Ginny. We have members that are muggleborn, pureblood, and half bloods. As you can probably tell Azalea is our General, our leader and I am second in command but the power structure is different then in the other groups. To stop one person from holding all the power we created a council of eight members. To put things into motion more than half have to agree. It’s the same for vetoing ideas as well. When it’s put to a vote all members are equal.” Nelda informed as she tried to remember anything that could be important.
“Who are the council members then dear?” Augusta asked in interest. If there had been a group like this in the last war she would have joined them. She was never one to blindly follow the orders of a man with absolute power.
“That would be Azalea, our leader, Theo Nott our head strategist, Daphne Greengrass our Treasurer, Susan Bones our legal head, Hannah Abott our head of healing, Blaise Zabini the head of interrogation, Luna Head of Negotiations, and myself who like I said is second in command. Then there are the non-council positions, Tracy Davis our Head potioneer, Lavender Brown our Human resource and recruitment head, Hermione Granger our Head of Research and Development, Fred and George Weasley our Heads of sabotage, and Colin Creevey our Head publicist. Each one of them answers to a council member. We are much better organized than either side. We don’t trust Dumbledore at all so we aren’t in league with him. He seems to find too much enjoyment out of putting children in harm's way.” Nelda explained.
“What do you need help with?” Augusta asked, now completely intrigued with what her granddaughter has found herself embroiled into.
“Honestly we are lacking adults. There is no witch or wizard in our army that is above the age of twenty. No one to tell us what tactics in battle that the enemy used in the last war. Nor do we have anyone who is on the political side of the wizarding world. No one that is an auror like Shacklebolt or an unspeakable like Rookwood. Nor do we have anyone that sits in on the Wizengamot like Malfoy or Dumbledore. Plus we are going to need an adult that we can confide in, someone that doesn’t expect us to be okay after coming back from a battle and having to take lives before we graduate school.” Nelda said getting quieter at the end. There was no adult in the school that ever just sat them down and asked are you okay. There was no one but themselves that they could lean against.
“Where do I sign up?” Augusta asked without hesitation. That one complete show of support brought tears to her eyes.
Azalea popped into what seemed to be a grand floo Hall with white marble floor and dark silver walls. She scanned around the room and noticed that above the floo was a massive plaque with the Black coat of arms. She also took in what appeared to be a crystal chandelier that hung off of a high ceiling sending shimmering rays of light throughout the hall. She turned back around towards the entrance of the room at the sound of heels casually strolling towards her.
After about a minute an enthralling older woman with class that outshone anyone that she has ever met entered the room. She had long silken curls that danced around her head in a veil of black with a single streak of grey at her left temple. She had striking liquid silver cat like eyes that sat atop of high elegant cheekbones and a straight nose with full lips that she coloured red with makeup. Her skin was like porcelain with the only thing betraying her age being light laugh lines that were barely noticeable at the corners of her eyes. She was wearing an elegant A lined off the shoulder floor length champagne dress with black lace overlay that flowed around her body like water. The lace sleeves of the dress hugged her slim arms and went just past the wrists displaying a floral design against pale skin.
“Ma’am you are utterly graceful.” Azalea said in awe, causing amusement to shine through in her eyes.
“Thank you young lady. May I ask how you got in here and who you are?” The silken cultured voice seemed to cause some of her tension to slip away, but never her paranoia; after all, Constant Vigilance has been drilled into her head so much that it's permanent .
“I had called out to Kreatcher to take me somewhere safe ma’am. My name is Azalea Potter, daughter of James Potter. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. May I have the name of the Lady of the manor?” Azalea said with a flourish.
“Oh dear it looks like I finally get to meet you after being denied by Albus since you were one. My name, dear grandniece, is Cassiopeia Black. I am Dorea Potter’s younger sibling. You look just like her my dear. Welcome home.” The newly dubbed Cassiopeia said with a slight quiver of happiness mixed with grief.