Friendless » Fred Weasley

clxxviii. the news

The woods had an eerily silence on a Tuesday as Harry and Hermione sat outside the tent. Hermione was silently reading to herself while Harry watched the woods around them, almost daring something to appear.

There was a sudden racket from inside the tent, causing both Hermione and Harry to run inside. Ron was standing in the center, his eyes widened as he stared at the radio. Two pans were on the floor though Ron seemed to have no intention of picking it up.

"What?! What?!" Hermione shrieked. Ron said nothing, only pointing his wand at the small radio on the table.

The track reversed itself, and Lee Jordan's voice filled the silent tent. He was listing off the names of those who had gone missing. Harry did not recognize any of the names so far, but with a look at Ron, he could tell something bad had happened.

Harry and Hermione proceeded to listen intently. Lee was still listing off names, and Harry's heart began to beat faster. Who was it? Who was it?

There was a pause on the radio as Harry could practically hear Lee read himself the next name. There was another long pause, and Harry wondered if the connection had cut out.

There came a sad sigh from the other line and Lee spoke the name."Victoria Silvers."

The atmosphere around the trio hardened immediately.  "That doesn't mean she's dead, it could mean a lot of things," Hermione said, though it seemed she was trying to assure herself more than Ron and Harry.

Ron didn't speak. He just stood in the center of the tent, no doubt thinking about his brother. Harry sat himself down on a chair, leaning back.

"She spoke to me at the Ministry... they probably knew..." Harry mumbled, holding his head in his hands.

The tent was quiet other than Hermione's many theories that this didn't mean she was dead, but possibly lost. No one paid much attention to her though.

Ron announced he wanted to take a walk and no one argued with him against it. Everyone had the same thought in their heads.

Was Tori really gone?

✧ ✦ ✧

Malfoy Manor was a dark house, with even darker things going on inside it. The windows were always covered, leaving room for no light whatsoever.

Draco Malfoy could always hear his Aunt Bellatrix screaming about some sort of nonsense. Every time he heard the door opened he flinched, a pounding feeling in his chest.

He barely wanted to leave his room. At least there he could feel somewhat safe from the horrors that could be waiting outside his door. His house's basement had been turned into a cell where several people, even students from Hogwarts, were kept.

On Christmas Day, Draco decided to leave his room. He regretted it instantly, for when he proceeded to walk down the stairs he could hear his aunt having a discussion with clearly a new prisoner.

Draco swallowed, about to turn around when the voice of Bellatrix's new captive. "Please! I told you! I don't know!" Draco felt his breath hitch, recognizing the voice immediately. It was Dove's sister, Victoria.

"LIAR!" His aunt shouted. Draco peered around the corner, hiding himself. His mind raced to the thought of Dove finding out about this. She would hate him for the rest of her life.

Draco knew Dove was still fond of her sister, despite the two barely seeing each other. Draco had to admit, he had some admiration for her too.

"You spoke to Harry Potter, and he was seen in Godric's Hallow this night. Where did he go?" Bellatrix demanded. Victoria shook her head.

"I don't know!" She sobbed, tears running down her face. Bellatrix called her liar once more before pulling out her wand and performing the Cruciatus Curse.

Draco flinched as Victoria's screams filled the house. He hid himself further into the shadows as his father came into the light.

"Victoria." He said. "All we need is this one piece of information... you can help us. You can join your family again."

Victoria was breathing heavily. She looked up at Draco's father, pausing. "I... I..."

"Yes? What is it? Tell us, you foolish girl!" Bellatrix stepped towards her excitedly. Victoria took a deep breath. "I rather drop dead." And she spit on Lucius's shoes.

"Then you shall! Crucio!"

Draco winced as Victoria's screams flooded the house once more. He suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Frightened, he turned quickly only to see it was his mother. She walked past him, coming into the clearing.

"Enough of this! Now." Narcissa commanded.

"Cissy!" Bellatrix frowned, she stopped her curse. Victoria to stopped her screams of pain.

"Enough. She clearly doesn't know. This is Eleanor's daughter you are speaking too." Draco's mother said firmly. "She would have cracked by now."

"No, no. She's an Auror, those slimy pests know how to keep a secret down..." Bellatrix said, glancing at the ground to watch the sobbing girl.

"Well, you're never going to get it if you make her become the next Longbottoms. Pettigrew, take her down in the cellar with the others." Narcissa turned to the man who was now cowering in the corner. He nodded weakly, skimping over and pulling the shaking girl upwards.

"Cissy!" Bellatrix hissed. Draco's mother turned to her sister. "Let me tell you this Bellatrix. This is my house. And I will not allow it to turn into another torture zone for your victims!"

Bellatrix formed her lips into a thin line. "Fine. But the Dark Lord will not be pleased!"

"The Dark Lord won't be pleased when he finds out you've been wasting your time! Potter is still out there." Narcissa replied.

"Don't you think I know that!" Bellatrix shouted, stepping dangerously close to Draco's mother. "I'm the only one doing anything to try and track him down! She may have the answer!"

"She's nineteen."

"So?"

"She's still young. You think Potter would trust someone who could slip it out at any moment?" Bellatrix paused for a moment. It was clear she had not considered this.

Narcissa shook her head at both her sister and her husband before making her way back to her son.

dang that's sad