RIDDLES PROPERTY

chapter 48

Tom stood in his shop with his hands running through his hair.

"Perhaps Dolohov took her on a stroll," he suggested.

"You're bloody kidding me. That's a load of bollocks. Where is she Tom?" Emelia mourned.

Her first child had disappeared and she had no idea where Ophelia was. Tom looked somewhat worried to which said a lot. Emelia paced the shop back and forth, looking for any signs of where they may've gone.

"DOLOHOV!" Tom yelled.

The tall wizard came shuffling upstairs from the basement and bowed.

"M'lord."

"Where is she? I instructed you to look over the child. Where is Ophelia?"

"Sir, I was just going down to the baseme-," Dolohov tried to explain, but was cut off by Emelia's cries.

Tom glared daggers at him, but went over to comfort her. The second he touched her shoulder she backed away and pushed him off.

"Should've never met you again. Should've never went to see you, it seems as if there's always trouble surrounding you, Riddle."

He stayed silent for a moment. Internally, he deserved it. All the slander coming towards him from Emelia was justified.

"Why do we always argue?"

"My child is missing and you're worried about this silly argument? Get your priorities straight and then come talk to me. Actually...I wouldn't mind if you stayed away," she replied fiercely.

Tom heard a snap and turned around to see Emelia gone. She'd disappeared to Fred and George's shop.

As she burst through the doors she saw Fred putting ice  his head where she'd dropped him. He looked over at her and winced.

"She's missing."

He knew exactly what she'd meant judging by the state of her.

"How long?"

"10 minutes or so. I left Borgin and Burke's to see you and she wasn't there when I came back."

"Why were you at Borgin and Burke's? Why were you at Knockturn Alley? It's dangerous there. If I find out you're meddling with dark magic...never mind."

Emelia felt so ashamed. She'd left her child with a man she barely knew in a sketchy alley with lots of dark wizards and witches.

"I'm sorry," she muttered.

He placed his hand on his temple and muttered something under his breath. It was inaudible, but she could tell he was disappointed. Fred got up and went over to the supply shelf. He picked out a glass jar with dark black powder inside it.

"Let's make our way to Knockturn Alley."

They, unwillingly, held hands and apparated to Knockturn Alley. Emelia wasn't sure what the powder was for nor was she sure what he planned to do it.

"Fred, why are we here?", she whispered.

He didn't reply, but continued to walk with her on the dark cobblestone road. People kept their distance from them since they'd already been hexed by Tom. Fred approached an old wizard who seemed to be invested in his hands.

"Oi!"

The wizard looked up, but was surprised. His tongue was constantly moving in and out and he was twitching often.

"You're the bloke who was interested in this new private shipment the other day? Barty, wasn't it?"

The wizard named Barty nodded. Fred leaned in closer to him, but not enough to raise suspicion.

"My daughter just went missing and if you can find her and bring her back to me then it's yours. I know you have connections."

Barty scratched his head and his eye twitched, stopping on Emelia for a mere 4 seconds.

"You've got a pretty one, haven't you? I shall bring her back, but you must swear on it."

"Talk about my wife like that and I'll jinx off your tongue so you can't speak or make those god-awful movements. I swear."

"NO! It must be a special swear... do you swear on the Unbreakable Vow to bring me Peruvian Darkness powder, if I've found your daughter? "

Fred paused. He knew he'd heard of it somewhere, but was in a rush to get Ophelia back.

"I do."

Barry's wand touched his hand and Emelia saw the transaction happen. Her eyes were filled with horror. It seemed as if Fred had gotten himself into a deal with the devil. Barty disapparated into thin air and they were processing what had happened. Almost instantly Barty returned with Ophelia in his hands. Emelia had nearly cried tears of joy when she saw her child, but saw something wrong.

There was a deep scar running across her face. She was fast asleep, but it still hurt to see her in such a state. Fred saw and put his wand against Barty's throat.

"What'd you do with her?" he yelled.

Barty gave him a mischievous smile and held his hand out.

"You made the Unbreakable Vow. Hand over the powder unless you want to leave the poor girl without a father."

Fred snarled and handed him the powder. He cackled before disapparating again.

"We need to go to St. Mungos, NOW!" Fred demanded.

"No, no. This...this looks like something Remus has seen. In fact," her voice broke. "I believe Remus knows exactly what happened to her."

He grimaced and looked at his daughter. Ophelia's breath was faint, but her heart was still bearing. Yellow puss had started oozing from her forehead and he grabbed Emelia's hand quickly disapparating. The last sight she saw was Tom running out of his shop towards her, but unable to make it in time.