Working Through Fear

Minds Without Fear

I shut my eyes tightly, searching for Albus or Scorpius. I don't know where they are, but I can look, or I can try. The world is silent, my mind is silent.

And then I can see clearly. I'm back in the room where I found Rosario's cage. I ignore the rising nausea in my stomach and try to concentrate on where I am.

I can't pull out of whoever's head I'm in until I know exactly what is going on. Harry will want details. And I don't want to do this more than once.

I look around the room as best I can from inside another person's mind, and I see Albus kneeling by the door, fiddling with something.

"Albus," Scorpius' voice echoes through me. "Albus, stop. You won't be able to open it. And even if you can, she might be out there."

"I need to try," Albus doesn't look up. "I'm keeping my promise."

"Albus..."

"Delphi?"

I jump as Draco's voice reverberates around my head, and I take a deep, slow breath. I need to stay calm.

"I know where they are," I murmur. "They're...they're..."

"Yes?" Harry's voice echoes differently to Draco's and I do my best to ignore it.

"Albus is trying to unlock the door..."

I stop narrating again, watching them. Albus stands up, backing away from the door nervously. Scorpius, I, look at him and then freeze as a key turns in the lock and the door opens.

I start to shake as Rodolphus walks through the door, his wand raised. Albus and Scorpius remain silent, but I can't stop my tears. I'm scared.

"No," I whisper. "No...please."

"Delphi?" Draco says.

"You know, Albus," Rodolphus smirks, "if you want to get out, you should have been a little more subtle."

He walks towards Albus and I try to cry out, but they can't hear me. Albus scrambles away from him as Euphemia walks in, laughing quietly.

"It was my idea," Scorpius blurts.

"No," I whisper. "No!"

"I suggested picking the lock."

"Did you?" Rodolphus grins.

I scream as he grabs Scorpius by his robes and drags him up. Somewhere in my head, I can hear other voices, demanding to know what is going on, but I don't listen. Rodolphus keeps walking, dragging Scorpius, and I think Albus starts to follow.

Euphemia doesn't stop him and he pulls sharply on Rodolphus' sleeve, shouting at him to stop. He doesn't, shaking Albus off as he throws Scorpius forward. I cry out again as Scorpius smashes into the door frame, blood beginning to trickle from his nose.

I can't tear my gaze away. I can't get away. But I can't stop screaming. I think my knees have buckled and I can't stop shaking. Or someone is shaking me.

"Delphi. Delphi!"

I scream again, tearing my eyes open, and I realise that I'm curled in a sobbing, screaming mess on the office floor.

"Here," Draco puts a mug of water down next to me.

I pick it up, shaking, and it spills over the floor. Harry sighs angrily and walks towards me. I look at the floor, trying not to close my eyes. I don't want to go back. I really don't want to go back.

"What happened?" Harry demands. "Did you find them?"

"She has them," I whisper. "I know where they are...he...Albus..."

"What is going on?"

"Rowle Manor. Room. Entrance hall. Close to..."

"What happened?" Harry says. "What happened to my son?"

"Not – not Albus. Scorpius...Scorpius stopped...him..."

I scream again, burying my head in my knees, sobbing. I can't do this. I can't keep fighting.

"We know where they are," Hermione says. "Do we know how many people we're up against?"

I don't reply. For some reason, I can't form the words to tell them how many people they are fighting. I don't mind selling out Rodolphus and Euphemia; I'd do that a hundred, but I don't want to form words about Antlia.

She used me, manipulated me, hurt me. But she did save me before. Borgin would have killed me that day if she hadn't stopped him. I owe her my life and I am grateful. So, I'll make even.

"Rodolphus Lestrange," I whisper. "And – and Euphemia Rowle."

"That's it?"

I nod, staring at the floor. They continue murmuring plans, who to take, routes to travel by. I just sit, silent tears running down my cheeks. This is my fault.

"Does she come?" Harry gestures to me.

"She knows her way around," Draco points out.

"She's dangerous. If she gets a weapon, we could all die."

"I don't want to come," I murmur. "I know I'm dangerous. I know I could snap. I don't want to snap. Please. Please. Please!"

"You won't," Draco says calmly. "She has to come, we know that, but we don't have to remove the cuffs."

"And you're okay with that?" Ginny raises her eyebrows. "To send  her into this with no form of protection?"

"We take her wand," Hermione says. "It's downstairs. We take it and she can use it under watch when she has to."

Draco offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet. I sway slightly, and Draco takes his wand out. I flinch away.

"May I?" he asks Hermione.

She nods and he taps my wrists. The silver cuffs disappear and I feel my heart beginning to race as something, energy, flows through my body.

I am Delphini Riddle. I am scared. But I am safe. I think.