Blood (thicker than) Water (but what about) Lemonade?

Welcome Home, Avril.

Ray yanked Avril off the couch and onto her feet. She could feel his thick fingers digging into the back of her neck where he was holding her.

Voldemort came into the light, offered by a solitary candle lit in the corner of the room. He was tall and thin, like a picture Avril had seen of him once in a Defense Against the Dark Arts book. His eyes were large and red. His skin was white, and rather than a nose he had two snakelike slits in the middle of his pale, flat face. He bore long, silky robes of black and held a shining wand in his right hand. A long, thick, angry looking snake coiled at his feet, glaring silently at Avril.

Avril stared in horror at the wizard, too shocked to scream. Ray shoved her down into a bow, and then joined her on his knees.

"Now, now, Lucius, on your feet," Voldemort said silkily, sweeping towards them. "You as well, Lestrange."

Avril tilted her head as much as she could to her left, where 'Sydney' was kneeling as well.

'Lucius' and Lestrange. both slowly got to their feet, though their heads remained bowed.

"My gracious Lord-"

"Here is the girl-"

"The one you wanted."

Voldemort raised an eyebrow at them. "I believe I requested her to be here as soon as possible, Lucius," he said in a deadly whisper. "As soon as possible means the moment you can get away."

"My Lord," Ray said, bowing lower, "Dumbledore personally felt it was best that-"

"Dumbledore?" Voldemort repeated in the same deadly whisper, "Dumbledore thought it best? Since when do my 'loyal' servants consort with Dumbledore? You'll be having tea with Harry Potter next!" Voldemort narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his wand.

Ray obviously sensed some danger to his well being and recovered quickly. "My Lord, I assure you, it was only for fear of being discovered that we succumbed to the Mudblood lover's wishes," he stammered.

Avril felt her face growing hot. Ray's hand was still clamped hard over the back of her neck.

She was concentrating every ounce of her energy not to tremble, but was running out of strength.

Voldemort was standing so close to her that she could smell the foul stench of what seemed like 'eau de corpse'.

"Very well," Voldemort said, turning away from them.

Ray relaxed his grip for a moment, obviously relieved that he was not about to be destroyed.

At the spring of the opportunity, Avril made to get away, ducking and scrambling for a way out.

She wasn't fast enough. Ray was on top of her in a moment, shoving Avril down and whipping out his wand.

Avril covered her face, when-

"Leave it Lucius!" Sydney yelled.

Voldemort watched, apparently amused.

"Yes, Lucius. Bring her here."

Ray half dragged Avril to Voldemort and dropped her at his feet.

"Avril Ardree," Voldemort said softly, "I hear you have met my good friend Harry Potter."

Avril refused to look in his eyes.

"You killed his parents," she whispered, speaking for the first time since her arrival.

"In fact, I have been told that you two are as thick as thieves, I dare say," Voldemort continued, ignoring Avril's comment.

He looked down at the girl at his feet.

Ah, it felt good to be feared again.

"Why am I here?" Avril asked, fighting to keep her voice from trembling.

"First I might introduce you to your parents. Lucius, Lestrange., if you please," Voldemort nodded toward Ray and Sydney.

Avril had already realized that they were not who they had said they were, but had been too overwhelmed by the presence of Voldemort to try and guess what had really happened.

One moment, Ray and Sydney drew the hoods of their long black cloaks over their heads.

******

"I just can't believe she left without word, or saying good-bye," Hermione mumbled miserably, gazing at her cup of tea. She, Harry and Ron were seated at a table in the common room while the other Gryffindors were down to breakfast that morning. The vile of pink liquid sat in the center of the table they were seated around. Harry was gazing at it, thinking exactly what Hermione had just said.

"Well, she did," Ron said, sounding slightly less miserable. Secretly, he was furious at Avril for breaking her promise and not saying good-bye. But then again, had she woken them early to bid them farewell, he would have been furious that she had woken him up so early.

"But why?" Harry asked, speaking for the first time in awhile. "Why did she leave without saying goodbye?"

"Perhaps she didn't want to be rude and wake us," Hermione suggested hopefully.

"Oh please you two," Ron scoffed, pushing away from the table, "since when did Avril care about bothering people's sleep? She didn't even hesitate to wake you up that one night Harry, remember? I heard you two. Something about spellbooks-"

"Spellbooks," Harry muttered. Then-

"Spellbooks! Ron! Hermione! I've just thought of something!" He pushed his chair out from the table and looked at each of his friends.

"Avril knew those Thaumaturgism spellbooks were at her house in BC," he said, trying to keep his voice low, "Voldemort wanted those spellbooks! Think about it- the day after Avril realizes where they are, the hostages are let go, and her parents, who were supposed to be dead, just turn up out of nowhere! Doesn't it sound at least a little suspicious?"

Hermione pushed her chair out too. "I think you're right, Harry!" she gasped, swiping the vile off of the table. She tipped a little into her hand and sniffed it.

"I could be wrong, but this might be a slug draught," she said, touching it lightly with the tip of her tongue, "it's often used on delicate creatures who can't handle stunning charms- unicorns and such. It slows their systems. If Avril drank this, she would have had a lot of trouble moving her body-"

"-And anyone could have just carried her off!" Harry realised. "We should go see Dumbledore!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ron cried, holding his hands up to stop Harry and Hermione, who were already halfway to the portrait hole. "Wait just a minute here! Don't you think you're being a bit hasty? I mean, those are an awful lot of conclusions to jump to."

Hermione strode over to Ron and firmly placed her hands on each of the arm rests of his chair.

"Did I hear you correctly, Ron Weasley?" she demanded, pressing her face angrily at Ron's, "Avril, one of our best friends, could be in serious, life-threatening danger and you think we're being too hasty? Is that what you said? Because if so, I just might be required to slap the freckles off your face!" She said this fast, her face red with anger and pent-up anxiety.

Ron paled slightly and shook his head. "Er, I meant to say that we need to be hasty and er, see Dumbledore."

With that, Ron sprinted out of his chair and to the portrait hole.

"Coming?" he asked, swallowing hard.

Harry grinned nervously at Hermione, who beamed, her face flushed, and followed Ron out into the hallway.

They burst into Dumbledore's office five minutes later.

He and McGonagall were sitting across from one another, looking over a roll of parchment.

"Professor!" Harry said, rushing to his desk, "Avril's gone! We think she might be in trouble-"

"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore said, holding up the parchment. "Her parents left this note-"

"But Sir, they may not be her parents!" Hermione blurted, brandishing the potion vile.

"Please, Miss Granger, let me finish," Dumbledore said, holding up a hand to stop her. "Professor McGonagall and I have already interpreted that. The note is not one of which Sydney Ardree would write:

Dumbledore: we have take Avril back to her rightful home in Canada. We do not expect her to return, as Ray and I have both decided that Hogwarts is no place for our daughter. Please inform Snape when he returns from prison that he is forbidden any further contact with the girl, and any violation of this rule will result in his being transfigured into something unnatural. This goes for anyone attending Hogwarts. Do not seek us out.

Sydney"

"That's awful!" Hermione said, taking the note and looking over it. "Please inform Snape that when he returns from prison- wait! Avril told me they hadn't inquired to Snape's- sorry, Professor Snape's whereabouts at all! How did they know he was in prison?"

Dumbledore took back the parchment. "In addition, Sydney Ardree would never attempt to keep her daughter away from a person she had grown attached to; Sydney was always one to try and make people happy."

Harry studied Dumbledore's face. "So what you're saying is..."

"I believe that Avril has been kidnapped," Dumbledore confirmed.

Hermione gasped, though she had already assessed that. "But why would her parents do that?"

"I am afraid, Miss Granger, that the Ardrees may not have been whom they had seemed," Dumbledore sat down again. "And I fear that Avril may be in considerable danger."

"What do we do, Albus?" McGonagall asked, paling.

"There are necessary steps to be taken," he replied, picking up a quill, "Harry, I am writing to Sirius with details. We may need his help."

"What do we do?" Ron asked, feeling the need to contribute.

"Contact Arthur and ask him to round up the remaining members of the true ministry," Dumbledore ordered.

At the look of puzzlement on their faces, he put his quill down and explained.

******

Ray and Sydney had pulled their hoods off. Avril hadn't really expected to see her parents' faces; she'd given up any hope of them being any help towards her- maybe it was due to Voldemort calling them Lucius and Lestrange.? She was right. A man's long (though quite delicate) and pale face had replaced the classic attributes that were once Sydney's best features.

Avril didn't see the man's dull brown eyes for very long, however, as he immediately pulled a white mask from his robe pocket and slipped it onto his face. Avril turned her attention to the man she had thought was her father, Ray, and saw the stern, cold, pointed face and gray eyes that were that of Lucius Malfoy's.

Avril didn't know this for sure, of course, but had heard of Draco's father and connected the similar features between father and son, plus the man's first name.

He too put a bland white mask over his intimidating glare and stood ready and waiting for his master's instructions.

"Why am I here?" Avril asked again, fighting to arrange her thoughts.

Voldemort closed his eyes, mulling over his story, over the brilliance and simplicity of his plan.

"Perhaps you are thinking that Potter is the reason you are here," he said, twirling his wand leisurely between his long pale fingers. "As bait for my nemesis. I kidnap you, and hope Harry Potter arrives to rescue you. I then kill him and in turn, you as well. If that is what you are thinking, I am afraid you are mistaken. No, that would be too effortless. My own plan is slightly more complicated."

Avril eyed Voldemort warily as he began to pace the room.

"I returned to full form just last summer. I managed to concoct a potion that could restore me, body and mind. I had my most loyal servant trick Harry Potter- use a port-key, to bring him to me." Voldemort stopped for a moment, and looked pained. "I had him them," he whispered, barely, so Avril could barely hear him, "he was almost mine-and he got away!"

Voldemort opened his eyes again and resumed pacing, as if nothing had happened.

"Potter managed to escape, and I ceased my growing obsession with his death. I had more important things to do. For instance, there was the little matter of two Aurors- Canadians- who were continuously getting in my way. Little did I know that by killing them, I would ruin an easy chance to attain the four things most imperative to my growing reign of terror. To claim what was rightfully mine!" Voldemort began glaring at Avril with a strange look in his eyes- a look that frightened her out of her wits. She saw him tighten his grip on his wand.

Avril backed away and stood up.

"The Ministry knows I came home," she blurted, not knowing what to say- anything to make him stop staring at her like that, "Dumbledore will have told Fudge I disappeared!"

Voldemort gave a dry laugh.

"You underestimate me," he said, circling her. "You underestimate my intelligence."

Avril turned whenever Voldemort went around, making sure her back was never to him- she wouldn't give him a chance to hurt her.

However, nothing Avril could do could prepare her for the blow that came next:

"Fudge gave into my power long ago."

*****

McGonagall went round the school, trying to presume her place as Deputy Headmistress, running the school while Dumbledore, Ron, Harry and Hermione worked to contact their allies.

It was numbing work; a steady rhythm was constantly pounding in the back of Harry's head: save her save her save her.

Hermione looked ready to cry, but kept her face hard as stone while she sat, listening to Dumbledore's instructions.

Ron had written his father, then his mother, explaining the situation.

He now sat still as well, as if not daring to breath.

"Harry, when Sirius arrives, he is going to retrieve Severus from Azkaban by way of secrecy. They will return to Hogwarts, where we will gather together with the allies of the ministry- those who have remained loyal to our side."

Harry nodded as Dumbledore spoke, taking everything in.

Fudge, on Voldemort's side? Why didn't anyone see it at first?

And Ray and Sydney- Harry hadn't meant it when he'd accused them of being suspicious- he'd only been trying to keep Avril from leaving.

And I didn't, he thought miserably to himself It's my fault if she dies.

"Do not blame yourself, Harry," Dumbledore said, staring at him with his piercing blue eyes, over the edge of his half-moon spectacles. "There was no way of knowing what was going to happen."

"But when you think of it now, it all seems so clear," Harry protested. "Why didn't we see it Professor?"

Dumbledore didn't have time to answer, as the door to his office was flung open and a large black dog entered the room.

"Ah, Sirius, I'm glad you came," Dumbledore said.

"I got your owl- what do I do?" Sirius asked, glancing briefly at Harry.

"Do not sit down, you're to leave immediately," Dumbledore said, standing. "I need you to retrieve Severus Snape from Azkaban, and now that you're here, we've not a moment to lose."

"Wait- Snape? I'm going to save Snape?" Sirius asked, looking suspiciously at Dumbledore, "why? How'd he get there?"

"I'll fill you in, Sirius," Harry said, standing as well. "I'm coming with you."

There was a pause. Hermione's eyes darted from Sirius to Dumbledore, then to Harry in surprise.

Ron lifted his head.

Sirius and Dumbledore exchanged glances, then-

"No, Harry-"

"You're too young-"

"We don't want you to be in danger-"

"I can do it!" Harry insisted. "Look, if anything happens to Avril, I'll feel responsible. I let her go, and now look where she is. I can't just sit here and wait for something to happen- I've got to do something!"

Sirius looked grave. "Then you know how I feel. If something were to happen to you there, I would feel responsible; I'm your godfather. There's plenty you can do here-"

"No," Harry said stubbornly. "I can't stay here. I'm coming with you."

Sirius sighed. "Keep up then," he said. He nodded a goodbye to Dumbledore and left.

"Careful Harry," Hermione said, standing. She knew how dangerous it was going to be, especially since Azkaban was no longer on the good side. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Right, I'll bring my bookbag," Harry grinned, feeling his insides writhing.

"Er, sorry about how I've been acting Harry-" Ron began, but was cut off by Harry.

"Forget it," he said. "Take care of Hermione, right?"

"Right," Ron smiled nervously.

"Harry, hurry up- we've only got so much time," Sirius called from outside.

"Coming," Harry called.

He turned to Dumbledore.

"Remember what you're to do," Dumbledore said, seriously, "return here with Severus as soon as possible. And listen to Sirius. He knows what to do."

Harry tried to swallow the goose egg in his throat and nodded.

"Bye," he croaked to his friends.

He then turned without another word and followed Sirius.

******

This took a moment to sink in.

"The Ministry is under my power now, Avril," Voldemort continued, "It was Fudge who appointed the hostages working hours on Christmas Day. He arranged Snape to find out about it first- he sent a note from the Ministry to Snape by owl, explaining the situation, signing his name as one of Snape's old acquaintances. Of course, Fudge was then given a reason to arrest him, as Snape had a motive and no acceptable alibi. My, what a lovely coincidence it was that he happened to be in Azkaban when you're parents arrived to claim you. He had absolutely no say in the matter of you returning home, and wasn't around to identify any strange behavior within his sister. I doubt he'd remember her regardless, but it was an extra precaution that was necessary to take.

Avril let this sink in. "Then he really was innocent!" she burst out.

Voldemort laughed. "My, you are slow."

"Well I'm here now, aren't I?" Avril said angrily, "will you let him go?"

"Of course not," Voldemort spat, "again, you underestimate me. Why on earth would I set him free? He betrayed our circle, Avril. He must now pay for it."

Avril almost begged Voldemort to reconsider- she dropped to her knees, then stopped.

Dumbledore knows, she realized, having remembered the wizard's incredible grasp on things.

He'll send help- he'll save Snape.

"You still haven't answered my original question," she said, sounding braver than she felt. "Why am I here?"

"Because you serve an amazingly important purpose," Voldemort said. He then stopped smiling, and looked frightening and serious. "Where are my spellbooks?"

"How the hell should I know?" Avril asked nervously, trying to edge away from Voldemort. He was entering her personal space, looking quite mad.

"You should know because this is your house," Voldemort spat, grabbing her wrist.

Avril wrenched it away and stood up.

"I don't know what you're talking about!" she protested, knowing what would happen should he get the books.

"Wormtail tells me otherwise," Voldemort said menacingly, his red eyes flashing.

"Wormtail!" he said to the corner of the room.

A trembling, bald little man came out of the shadows, his eyes watering and his lip twitching.

"Yes, m-my Lord?" he squeaked, glancing at Avril for a moment.

"It is true that you heard Miss Ardree speaking to Potter about the Thaumaturgism spellbooks?" he demanded.

Wormtail, shaking from head to toe, nodded. "She- she said they were in this house," he squeaked again. "That her parents had been trusted with them- that there were secret rooms in the manor!" He stood, shaking, as if frightened for his life.

He probably was, Avril reasoned.

"There you have it," Voldemort said, smiling."Now, where are my spellbooks hidden?"

Avril was now trying not to shake.

"I don't know where they are" was all she could say.

Unfortunately, it was the way wrong answer.