Vanish [book 1 Harry Potter]

Ch. 8

[Natalie's POV.]

Saying that I was furious when I got the letter from Albus and James was a massive understatement. I was outraged, shocked, hurt and, most of all, horribly worried for my two friends. Naturally, I'd informed Lily Potter, as she was worried sick. And now, listening to her rant, I realized just how bad the situation was.

"Can't believe them..." Lily was saying, rage clear on her features. "Stupid...idiotic gits... Endangering themselves..."

"I know, Lil." I agreed softly, shifting over slightly. "Maybe we should...you know...go after them?"

Lily looked momentarily shocked, but soon enough, she was nodding. "That sounds good. I'm so worried about those two..."

I nodded in agreement, taking a deep breath. "Let's go then."

~

"Lumos." I hissed, relief flooding through me as the tip of my wand was flooded with white light. "Lily, you alright?"

The second year nodded, eyes flashing in the darkness. "I'm fine, Natalie. Don't worry about me. Let's just keep moving."

Then, there was a crackling noise in the trees, and I froze, yanking Lily closer to me. Quickly robbing the light from my wand, I pushed my back firmly against the trunk of a large oak tree, hardly daring to breath. Beside me, Lily was stiff, her entire body tensed. "I sense they're near...very close now indeed..." The voice was cold, yet recognizable: Corinna.

Lily was trembling with fear now, and I wrapped an reassuring arm around her narrow shoulders, holding my breath. And then, a pale face peered around the tree at us, laughed manically and screeched, "We've got them now, Emory!"

I yanked out my wand, but it was much to late, as I saw Emory's pretty, sneering face come into view. "Crucio." She spat, her face eager.

Immediately, I was filled with unbearable pain, like an anchor attached to my heart. I began to scream bloodcurdlingly, thrashing onto the Forest floor. Faintly, I heard Lily scream, her voice full of fear and outrage. "NATALIE!"

Emory smiled coldly, and through my blurry eyes, I watched her casually flick her wand towards Lily. "Colloshoo." Lily's face froze with panic, and I recognized the spell: it stuck ones feet to the ground. "Now, watch me torture your friend, little blood traitor."

The pain from Emory's curse was still unbearable, but I hefted myself to my feet, wincing as horrible jolts of pain left my head spinning and swarming. "STUPEFY!" I screeched, relieved when Emory hit the ground and the pain vanished.

I sent a Jelly Legs charm towards Corinna, and as she began to stumble around, I calmly Stunned her as well. With a last flick of my wand, I tied them both up to the oak tree, then grasped Lily's hand quickly. "Let's go."

Lily scurried after me, darting around the widespread trees, and I winced as thorns stabbed into my robes, piercing my skin. "I wish we could Apparate." Lily muttered, shaking her head with a sigh.

"So do I." I muttered, clutching at my wand.

And then, a flash of green light, and suddenly, splitting agony was in my stomach, and I began to writhe. "You thought you could get away so easily, hm? No. Aerona Riddle is never fooled, you dimwitted girl." The cold drawl of her voice was close to my ear, but the pain was unbearable. I could simply not stay conscious any longer. I faded away into the darkness.

-

I awoke to cold, silver shackles on my wrists, chained to the stone wall of a torch lite dungeon. Lily was beside me, and when I looked at her pale face, I nearly fainted again. She was bloodied, with bruises lining her cheek bones, and I sucked in a sharp breath. She, to, was chained to the wall. But the thing was, we weren't alone.

There, chained tightly to the wall, was a ragged, grime-streaked girl of about thirteen years of age. Her hair was long and blonde, dirty and unkept. Her eyes were a clear blue, her skin fair and freckled, and she looked rather long-limbed and lanky. She grimaced as I stared at her, knowingly looking at Lily.

"A relative, maybe?" The girl asked, her voice rough and hoarse from lack of usage.

"No." I replied, shaking my head slowly. "A friend of mine. Where am I?"

"I dunno. This is simply the place Aerona puts her prisoners of war. In other words, anyone who speaks out against her or angers her even the slightest bit. I did both." The girl replied quietly, struggling against her shackles. "My names Rowen, by the way. And you are?"

"Natalie Norcross." I replied, glancing towards Lily, who groaned, rapidly sitting up.

She looked faintly lightheaded, her eyes unfocused, and she began to tug at her bonds. "We have to find a way out." I muttered, thoughts unclear. "Soon. Lily, how are you holding up?"

"I'll be alright." Lily replied, grimacing slightly as she sat up. "She's taken our wands, though...how are we to get out?"

This, to, troubled me. "I-"

Then, a burst of wand light, a screeching sound, and the shackles on my wrists shattered. Shocked, I leapt back, and Lily's broke as well, along with Rowen's. "Hurry up!" A masculine voice hissed, and a hand grasped tightly to my wrist, hauling me forward.

Now, in the dark corridor, I could just make out the face of a familiar man: Harry James Potter. "Harry?" I whispered, surprise rushing through me. "How'd you know we were here?"

"I'm an Auror, Natalie." Harry reminded me breathlessly, jerking his head to look at Lily and Rowen. "My little girl." Harry sighed in relief, briefly clasping Lily's cheeks before pulling three wands from the folds of his robes.

"I recovered your wands." Harry revealed, his eyes flashing as he handed us are individual wands. "Let's go, before-"

"Before I arrive?" Aerona stepped carefully down the stone staircase. "How positively wonderful. Well, go ahead, then: I won't stop you." She cackled, eyes flashing.

Harry raised his wand, pointing it at her chest. "Stay back, Aerona. I'm warning you: I defeated Voldemort, and I'll defeat you."

Aerona sneered, her voice cold as the arctic winds now. "Oh? Well, then, let's see it."

She lifted her wand at the same time he did, and as she screamed, "CRUCIO!" He yelled "Expelliumus!"

Their spells met, and I snatched Lily's hand, yanking her towards the opposite corridor. "C'mon, Lily! Your dad can hold his own, but we need to get going!"

[Rowen's POV.]

They were both crazy. I could see that now. The one in the lead was the craziest, obviously very daring and impulsive. They were both pretty, the redhead about two years younger than the brunette.

"Hurry!" The redhead squealed to me, briefly grasping my wrist and pulling me around the corner.

I held my tongue, forcing myself to sprint faster. I wished I had my wand, but it was long gone, Aerona having snapped it. Natalie's dark curls flipped up and down on her back, distracting me briefly, and I frowned. Why were yet saving me, when they could have left me? How simply strange and inspiring.

[Emory's POV.]

"Hurry up, the Dark Lady grows anxious!" Corrina whispered harshly, her eyes wide, "it's dangerous to keep her waiting.

I nodded. Corinna was right, it was dangerous. But that was my middle name.