Darkness on the Horizon

Ch. 17

After that incident things had been quiet. No letters since and I began to ease slightly. I was still concerned and cautious but it wasn't my sole focus right now. I was currently getting ready to take Danielle to Hogsmeade to buy an outfit. I tried to reassure Danielle that she didn't need new clothes to meet the rest of the family but she insisted. Severus had made an exception to let Danielle come to Hogsmeade as a first year with the understanding I would be with her. Today was the day that she would meet the rest of our family. I adjusted my black leather jacket before looking at my outfit in the mirror. The black jeans hugged every inch of my body and my black stiletto sandals completed my look elevating it. I had a cream silk tank top on underneath the jacket to soften the look up a touch. I exited my room going to the gates where I would be meeting Danielle. I had agreed to let her ride in the carriage with a few older students rather than apperating to Hogsmeade.

"Isabelle," Danielle waved me over to a small group of girls.

"Hi girls," I said with a smile. "Are you all excited for Hogsmeade?"

"Oh yes. And for once Danielle gets to go with us," a girl with red hair said as a carriage pulled up. We all climbed into the carriage with Danielle taking the seat beside me. I mainly looked out at the passing landscape in an effort to give the children privacy to talk on the short ride to Hogsmeade. When we got there her friends ran off to get candy while Danielle and I headed to a clothing store.

"What do girls in the family wear?" She asked me as I looked at her.

"Something nice. Sophisticated but still their style. I wear outfits like this sometimes a dress," I said gesturing to my outfit. "They won't judge whatever you select Danielle. They are excited to meet you," I told her before she started to browse the store. I stayed close to Danielle but also looked for some jewelry. I wanted Danielle to get something to connect her to the Black side of her family like my father had done with the crest that still hung around my neck. I found a simple silver heart shaped locket with a small emerald on the front of it which I quickly purchased while Danielle was inspecting some dresses. After I bought it I used my wand to carve the Black family phrase 'Toujours Pur' on the back. I put the locket in my pocket to give it to her later. I walked over to where she was looking at a white knee length dress with a black floral pattern on it.

"I like this one," she announced to me and I quickly took it off the rack before she could look at the price tag. She was very cautious about spending a lot of money on herself and I didn't want her to skip the dress she liked. I wanted her first meeting to go smoothly.

"Great let's get it," I said with a grin. I returned to the register to purchase it.

"I assume I should take the dress into the changing room since we are leaving soon to go to your house," she said after I had finished paying for the dress. I glanced at the clock surprised to see that she was right.

"That's a good idea. I'll wait out here for you," I said handing the bag to her. She rushed off into the changing room to put the dress on. She emerged with a confident smile on her face. "You look pretty Danielle," I complimented as I walked closer to her. "I got you a little something extra. I wanted you to have something to remind you that you are and always will be a Black." I stated pulling out the locket. She looked at the delicate necklace with wide eyes. "The inscription means 'Always Pure' and it's something Blacks say about the family."

"It's beautiful," she said as I helped her put it on.

"It doesn't have a picture inside the locket yet because I wanted you to decide what goes in the locket," I told her softly.

"Can I go show my friends?" She asked as I nodded following her out of the store. She found her friends standing in a group down the street. I lingered back giving her some space. I couldn't help the joy filling my features as I watched her babble excitedly at her friends about the locket. A sharp pop caught my attention causing me to turn. I didn't get time to react before I was thrown onto the road. I groaned as my body hit the unforgiving pavement. Pain flashed across my body as I looked towards the person who attacked me. I couldn't see the person's face as they advanced on me. I got up quickly only for the person to send a spell towards the children. I blocked it instantly with rage radiating off me as I face the person.

"Isabelle," Danielle yelled out in panic and I knew I needed them safe. I used a burst of magic to send Danielle and her friends to my parents house knowing they would be safe there and I may get help in return.

"Who are you?" I demanded icily as I gripped my wand tightly. My power crackled around us as I glared at the person in front of me. I heard a chuckle in response before everything went black.

When I woke up I felt immense pain all over my body. I could barely breathe as I sat up slowly. I held my hand out calling for my wand. Nothing happened. My eyes glanced around the room to find it completely bare with only the bed that I was sitting on. I got up pulling on the door. It didn't move. I tried a wandless spell to open the door. Again nothing happened. My body continued to ache as I stood there. I didn't know where I was or how to get out of this. The only good thing about this situation was my ability to protect the kids before I was knocked out. I still wasn't sure how they were able to knock me unconscious but they did. Maybe there was more than one person. At the moment that was my only explanation. I touched my family crest trying to find some comfort in this situation.

The door swung open crashing against the wall loudly. I jumped bracing for what was to come. Shock filled me as my eyes met a familiar pair of blue eyes. Eyes that reveled in my pain, eyes that tore through private thoughts without a care, eyes that belonged to Albus Dumbledore.