a n c h o r

s e v e n

After Draco and Narcissa helped Alexandra on Christmas morning, she had been left alone for over a week while Voldemort attempted to come up with a new plan. He wanted to hurt her, but he needed her alive and sane until he could capture Harry Potter and kill him in front of her eyes. Doing this, he thought, would undoubtedly destroy the one thing that makes her so powerful; love.

"She's still alive," Draco told Ginny when he returned to Hogwarts. "As is Luna."

When erasing Hermione's memories that night on the Astronomy Tower, he also erased any memory she had of him suggesting the Unbreakable Vow. He didn't know, though, that Ginny knew this information as well. She decided to spare him the embarrassment, however, and neglected to mention her knowledge of his desperation.

"I still haven't been able to contact Harry," Ginny told him. "But I'll keep trying."

Their conversation ended as quickly as it began, with the two parting ways and returning to their respective houses.

Three days after Christmas, Snape's patronus finally approached Harry. Luring Harry to a frozen lake, the patronus revealed the location of the Sword of Gryffindor; the item that would be later used to destroy the locket. Around the same time Harry found the sword, Ron had returned.

Hermione, staying behind in the tent, held Alexandra's key between her fingers. When rummaging through her bag for some clothes, Hermione stumbled upon the small item.

The key did not have a number engraved on it, meaning it was not for any vault. The only other option she could think of was that it had to open something within Hogwarts.

"Bring me the girl," Voldemort demanded, waiting as Alexandra was dragged into his presence once again. He motioned for everybody else to leave, deciding it was time to speak to her alone. "I warned you."

"I know," Alexandra responded, watching as he approached her. "I was willing to die for my friends then, and I'm willing to die for them now."

"I once admired your courage," he told her, circling around her. He stopped when he stood in front of her once again. "I was foolish to think we could rule together."

"I was foolish to think I could love you," she told him. He laughed. "Why did you call me here?"

"Join me," he offered, smirking almost devilishly. "Return to the life you once lived, Alexandra. Your family-"

"I have a family," she stated sternly.

"A family that does not love you, that cannot protect you," he continued. "Join me, however, and their lives will be spared."

"Everything He tells you, every promise He makes is a lie," Ron's voice echoed in Alexandra's head. "Do not give into him unless absolutely necessary, do you understand?"

"No," she told him. Disliking her answer, Voldemort threw the girl against the wall behind her and held his hand around her neck, feeling nothing. Alexandra, feeling rather confident despite her current situation, decided to give him an explanation for her answer. "Love is weakness."

Taking his wand out, Voldemort turned to torture once again. With his grip around her neck, Alexandra was unable to breathe. Each scream made her chest and lungs tighter until all air became trapped, causing her to black out completely. Voldemort made sure that Harry Potter could see the damage he's done, dropping the unconscious girl on the ground before she was escorted back to the cellar.

"What is it, Harry?" Ron asked, rushing to his friend.

"He's killing her," Harry admitted, catching his breath. "You can't tell Hermione."

"Are you mad? Our friend is being tortured-"

"We can't go looking for her without a plan, or she will most certainly be killed," Harry defended, disliking what he had to say as well. He wanted nothing more than for his friend to be safe, but he also couldn't trust what he was seeing. Voldemort had placed false memories in his head before, and he couldn't fall for them again without risking Alexandra's life as well as himself, Ron and Hermione's. Until he knew for sure where Alexandra was, he couldn't make a move. "You've just got to trust me."

"If she dies-" Ron began, walking threateningly towards Harry with the sword still in his hand. After his departure, he stayed at Shell Cottage with his brother. Together, they did everything they could to find Alexandra, but had no luck. Ron mentioned the possibility of her being held in Malfoy Manor, but even Bill said it was dangerous to go without a plan. That is the main reason Ron decided to return to his friends; he thought that the only way they could help Alexandra is together.

"I know," Harry answered, standing up and brushing leaves off of his jeans. "Remember, don't-"

"Don't say anything to Hermione," Ron finished. He already felt guilty about leaving her, and now he had to lie to her. "Got it."