French Affair

Chapter Four

"Oliver! Oliver!"

The boy turned his face towards then portrait hole and saw a very upset looking girl running towards him. Her hair was sticking to her face and a single pearl of sweat trickled down her cheek.

"Alicia, what's-" Oliver wanted to say, but the girl cut him off. "It's Ina! She's gone! I was at the library, but she wasn't there. But all her books were still in place and her wand was there. She wouldn't have left without it! She hasn't left out of her free will!

"Oliver we have to get Professor McGonagall and we have to inform the Ministry of Magic. What if something bad happened to her! Quick!" She dragged the startled boy behind her and soon they were running through the castle.

"Professor McGonagall!" The teacher turned round and saw two Seventh Year Gryffindors running towards her. They didn't look like they wanted to know anything about Transfiguration right now.

"Mister Wood, Miss Spinnet. What reason causes you to run through the school in such a state? You could hurt yourself or other people around you," she told them in her usually matter-of-factly tone and gave them a stern look when they came in a halt in front of her.

"Professor, quick, something has happened. A student, Ina, she has been kidnapped. Please, you have to come with us!" Alicia and Oliver talked at the same time and the teacher had problems to understand anything.

"What are you two saying? I believe that you know that making jokes about such a serious matter will be punished."

"It's no joke Professor! I swear, but please can you come now. We should go and see Professor Dumbledore, Immediately!"

Professor McGonagall saw that the two students were really not kidding and that they were honestly concerned about their friend's whereabouts. She hadn't been a teacher for nothing and those two kids really needed their help.

"Let's go then!"

~~

Ina woke up and her head hurt. She touched her forehead and it came back wet. She must be bleeding, she couldn't see it though. All around her it was dark and she new that she couldn't be dead.

It felt too real for that.

She looked around, but it didn't help much. It looked like a cave and the girl heard water dripping somewhere. "Hello?" she asked. Who the hell had her brought here?

"Ah. You're awake," a voice said from the corner of the room? Cave? Dungeon? She turned round trying to make out who the man was. "Who are you? Why have you brought me here? Voldemort?"

"Oh, that would really fit, wouldn't it? Sorry to disappoint your expectations, no. I'm not the Dark Lord. Not himself."

Ina heard a muttered 'Lumos' and a small light appeared. "I'm your father, Malvina."

The girl coughed and it sounded like "Darth Vader". She saw a tall man sitting on the floor. He had dark eyes and black hair. He didn't look like her father at all.

"Sorry, but you can't be my father. I have a father. You have taken the wrong girl! So, why you don't just let me go and we forget about the whole thing?"

"Watch your tongue girl! Or one day it will cause you much trouble. You don't believe me? Right, I'll tell you a story then." The man stood up and walked a few steps, looking like he had to collect his thoughts.

"There was once a beautiful girl. She had long brown hair and brown eyes, just like you. Her name was Isabelle. I met her at school, at Beauxbatons to be exact. We got to know each other and slowly we started to develop feelings for each other.

"We moved in together after our graduation and soon she got pregnant. With you. When you were born, we were very happy. Together. As a family. But after five months everything changed.

"I started to meet Voldemort and went to Death Eater meetings. Your mother didn't like that at all and she often told me so. But she had no power over me. Unlike him. My Lord. And all broke down, when I received my Dark Mark. She had threatened me before that she'd go away with you if I would ever get the mark.

"I never actually listened to her. I never thought she wouldn't dare to leave me. But she did so. Isabelle found another man and they went of to England. She forbid me to ever see you again and I couldn't do anything against it.

"She got protection from the Ministry of Magic and I couldn't make out where they were. But after ten years I got a tip from a fellow Death Eater, who worked at the Ministry. I went there and fought against your father.

"But the Ministry men came soon and your mother could escape me again. But at least I had seen you. You were such a beautiful child. And you are still."

He brushed lightly over Ina's cheek, but she jerked away from the touch. She couldn't believe it. Her father? And the man with whom she had lived for over sixteen years was not her real father. How could her mother trick her like that?

But the man continued and she forced her attention to his words. "You went to school in France and I waited. I knew where you were, but it still was too dangerous to get to you. And I knew you wouldn't believe me. And I'm not sure, if you believe me now."

He eyed her closely, but now emotions were shown on her face and so he turned away. "I lived near you for a long time. I watched all your actions, every day, every waking minute of my life! And it hurt me that I couldn't touch you, couldn't tell you, because your bitch of mother thought I was mad!" he shouted and the girl flinched.

But then his voice softened and now he really looked like he was a lunatic. "But I'm not. I've never been more clear on my mind. Don't be scared, love. I wont hurt you. But you have to understand that I will never ever let you go.

"You understand, love. I know you do. You're not like your mother. Please, please don't be scared. I just want the best for you."

"But why do you keep me here? You have to see that's not a good life for me. Living in a cage, not seeing the daylight. I won't live long!" Ina spoke with a shaking voice and had to hold back the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

"Oh, don't think about that. You won't live long in any way!" He smiled at her crazily and she went white. "What do you mean?" she croaked.

"I'll give you a poison that will slowly kill you. But don't be afraid to be away from me, I'll take the same. And then we'll be together. Forever. And nobody can tear us apart!" he smiled and looked like a child on Christmas.

Ina felt like she was going to throw up. This was sick. He couldn't do that. Not if he really loved her. And she said that.

"Oh, love you don't understand," he looked at her slightly disappointed. "I'm not doing this even though I love you, I do this because I love you. We'll be together, and nobody not even your whore of mother can prevent me from my plan!

"Prepare to say goodbye to this shameful world," he said in a sing sang voice and the man came nearer. The girl saw a vial blinking in the light of his wand and backed away from him.

She was scared to death and she didn't even had her wand with her. Her throat was tight. Ina couldn't even cry, she was too shocked to do anything.

"Stupefy!" a loud voice called and her father fell to the floor, knocked out. Ina turned and saw Albus Dumbledore standing at a small entrance, wand raised and she had never seen him that angry before.

"Ina!" Oliver called and made his way to her. He dropped himself on the ground next to her and she flew herself in his arms. The boy held her tightly, slowly rocking back and forth and tears were streaming down the girl's face.

"Shh, it's over. Everything's going to be alright. I have you," he whispered, but his voice was also shaky. Alicia came to them and placed a trembling hand on Ina's back, rubbing it slightly. "You have really scared us, Ina."

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat and the three teenagers looked at him. He had his twinkle in his eyes again. "I want you to come with me now. I'm sure you all want to leave this place as quick as possible."

They got up and made their way outside. It was dark night and Oliver held Ina's hand tightly. She clung to it like her life depended on it and was so glad to have this special boy next to her.

"How have you found me?" she suddenly asked, curious. "After we found out that you had been kidnapped, we contacted Professor Dumbledore and he thought that you couldn't be far away because nobody can Disapparate from the Hogwarts Grounds.

"So we found you in the cage near the Forbidden Forrest and tadaa! We were there and saved you! Okay, it was Dumbledore, but we helped," Alicia ended and smiled at Ina.

"Thank you," she whispered and snuggled closer to Oliver. She had never felt so close to anyone before.

"We're here," Dumbledore said and motioned them to go into the castle. "You three will now go up to the Hospital Wing and Madam Pomfrey will take care of you. I see you tomorrow then and don't stay up to late!" He winked at them and went to his own room.

Ina, Oliver and Alicia made their way up to the Hospital Wing, exhausted and so glad to be again in the safety and security of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.