Send My Regards

Chapter Ten

Katie and Oliver ran hunched over through the rain; their shoes sloshing and muddy. The forest gave way and once they were in range, they apparated to Oliver's flat.

"Merlin, it's really coming down out there!" Katie exclaimed and shook the water from her arms. It splattered in Oliver's face.

"So, tell me why we came back here," Oliver said, wiping his feet on the doormat

Katie sauntered into the kitchen. "For food."

"And you expect to find that here?" Oliver followed her.

"Yes. Why wouldn't you have food?"

"Well, because you stayed here last night."

Katie opened the fridge and glared. "Just what is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," he grumbled and went to reluctantly help Katie shove food into a paper bag. "Are we feeding an army or something?" It was almost overflowing.

"No," she said heavily. "I'm packing enough to last us more than one meal. I'm tired of apparating back to your flat."

"Then why don't you apparate to your flat for once?"

Katie cocked an eyebrow. "Because you wont let me, you git. That and you treat my place like it's some sort of brothel."

Oliver blushed. "I do not!"

"You do too. You get all...strange and...fidgety."

He had no response to that or even a reason, really. Katie continued to badger him. "What are you so afraid of anyway? You don't freak out at Angelina's or Alicia's."

"I'm not afraid!"

Katie grinned and approached him slowly like a predator. "Then why are you blushing Mr. Tough guy, eh?"

Oliver backed up into the door. "I'm not!"

"Katie Bell and Her Bordello of Sin," she teased.

"It's not like that," Oliver insisted but he didn't trust his own voice. His heart was racing. Katie was close in front of him; he could smell her sweet shampoo again.

Katie grinned and gave him a little push against the door. "Look at you. You're like putty in my hands."

"You're being ridiculous," Oliver scoffed, trying to sound unfazed. "Are you done packing?"

Katie narrowed her eyes and sighed. "You are absolutely no fun," she said and pushed him again before grabbing the bag of food. But as she turned to shove Oliver out of the way and open the door, something by the knob caught her eye. The wooden crevice that housed the lock seemed to be shredded. Katie furrowed her eyebrows and ran her fingertip over the wood. "Oliver, look," she said.

He leaned down to see the busted lock. It looked like it had been blasted apart. How did they not notice that coming in? Oliver suddenly felt a sickening drop in his stomach. What if someone broke in and stole all his Quidditch magazines and brooms?! He turned around and headed briskly for his bedroom; throwing the door open. Katie was right behind him.

At first, everything appeared exactly as Oliver had left it. His bed unkempt, his clothes on the floor, his Puddlemere banners hung up along his walls. But only one thing struck him as peculiar.

"Did you open that window?" he asked Katie and nodded to the navy blue drapes lightly dancing in the stormy breeze. "You're going to soak my stuff!"

"I didn't leave that open!" Katie said. "Honestly!"

Oliver shut the pane but then noticed something on the window sill; a picture. He leaned in closer to see.

"What is it?" Katie asked.

"Look," Oliver said and pointed to a very small carving of the Dark Mark with growing concern.

Katie stared at it. "What the...? Who did that?"

"I did," a voice said behind them.

Katie and Oliver both spun and before they could even pull out their wands, they were disarmed with a curt expelliarmus. Addison Nott tossed both of their wands well out of reach and raised his own to keep them at bay.

"You really should invest in some stronger locks, Mr. Wood," Nott advised. "Unfortunately, you won't live to learn from your mistake. Avada--!"

"MOVE!" Katie shouted and both Oliver and she dodged in opposite directions. The curse hit the wall between them and smoldered.

Nott was on them in an instant. He raised his wand again but Oliver had picked up a nearby Quidditch trophy and threw it at his head. Wood dived for his wand but Nott recovered quickly from the blow and quickly shouted, "Crucio!"

Both Katie and Oliver screamed but Katie's was different; that of terror as she watched Oliver writhe on the ground as the curse hammered away at his nerves. But then she noticed that she was just standing there while Oliver was being attacked. She growled and jumped on Addison's back; batting his head with her fists. He shouted and spat and grabbed at her until he managed to grip her wrist and swing her off. Katie yelped and fell next to Oliver who was already recovered and on his feet. He collided with Nott and tried to wrestle the wand away from him but the older man was surprisingly strong. They managed to keep the weapon at bay until Nott planted his foot in Wood's stomach and sent him flying back into the wall. Katie, again, attacked but this time, Nott was ready.

"Stupefy!"

Bell stopped in her tracks and went limp. Everything was now under Addison's control. He approached Wood, who was now sitting slumped against the wall in a daze; a thin red line of blood trailed down his head. Nott reached down and grabbed Oliver's collar.

"I had hoped to kill you quietly, as instructed, after all. But you always have to be such a show off."

Oliver blinked. "...Instructed?"

"Yes, but don't worry about the girl. She'll be in good hands. Care of William Flint, or as the press will think by the lovely Dark Mark on your window sill: Marcus Flint."

A new sort of rage came over Oliver. He clenched his teeth to will away the dizziness and then launched himself at Nott once again. They fell back against the floor and struggled; roaring in frustration as they threw kicks and punches. Wood managed to knock Nott's wand away just as a brutal kick was dealt to his stomach. He curled up and coughed. Addison wasted no time. He rolled Oliver onto his back and throttled him.

"I don't need a wand," he hissed. "I'll kill you with my bare hands."

Oliver tried to attack but the only thing his brain could focus on was breathing again and the only way to do that was to remove Addison's hands. Nearby, Katie was beginning to wake. She stared around the room in a foggy daze. If Oliver could just reach his wand...

His head began to throb; screaming for oxygen. Nott's grip was strong so Oliver did the only thing he could; he reached up and jabbed his thumbs into Addison's eyes. The trick worked. Nott cried out and reared back and Oliver stole his chance. He swiftly connected his fist with Addison's chin and the man flew back. Their wands were only mere feet away. Oliver dived but Nott was right behind him. He tackled Wood and again they began to fight.

Katie, now, was becoming fully aware of what was happening around her. She watched the blurry image of Oliver and Nott rolling around on the floor, throwing fists, and heard them shouting. Only when it became clear that she realized she had to do something to help Oliver and fast. She inched over to her wand.

Oliver was now standing; glaring poisonous daggers at Nott. His lip was bleeding profusely. Addison was going to steal Katie over his dead body. A wand lay nearby but he would never be able to reach it in time. Then he saw Katie crawling, silently, towards her own. His eyes flickered to her only for a moment but it was enough to distract Nott. He spun just as Katie raised her wand.

"AH!" Katie screamed as binds shot from Nott's wand and tied her down.

Oliver stole his chance. He dove to the side and reached his wand and raised it just as Nott turned back around. Both shouted a spell at the same time that collided in between them and sent them flying back. Katie screamed as Addison hit the wall but Oliver smashed into the window and it shattered from the impact. He fell through and down several stories before coming to a sudden stop on the pavement below and remained motionless.

"Fuck," Addison whispered and peered over the window's edge. He'd have to make this quick. In the meantime, Katie had to be contained.

"YOU BASTARD!" she screamed. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! I'LL KILL YOU!!"

But she could only mildly wriggle as Addison hauled her up and turned a nearby lamp into a portkey. There was no time to waste. Nott had to kill Oliver before anyone saw him.

"Hold this for me, won't you, darling?" Addison said to Katie and forced her to touch the portkey.

In an instant, she was gone. Nott ran over to the window but to his horror...so was the boy.

***

Marcus Flint was finally dozing off with Angelina when the cabin door knocked. He ignored it, hoping it was just a dream and it'd go away but when the wrapping became persistent, he groaned and opened his eyes. Angelina still slept.

"What the fuck," Marcus grumbled. If it was Wood again, he was going to kill him. He stormed over to the door and wretched it open. But it was not Oliver on the other side; it was Victoria. She was shivering and wet though the raining had stopped.

"May I come in?" she asked and held up a plastic bag. "I brought some food and drink."

Marcus said nothing but left the door open for his mother to enter. "Keep it down," he said. "Johnson's sleeping."

"No, I'm not," Angelina replied sleepily and stood up rubbing her eyes.

"Forgive my intrusions," Victoria said. "I thought you might be hungry."

Angelina lazily made her way over to Marcus's side to peer into the bag. Victoria pulled out the contents: a loaf of bread, a stolen butterbeer, and a silver flask she handed to Marcus.

"I figured you could use a good drop of brandy," she said.

Marcus gave his mother a grateful nod and began to take swigs. Angelina took the butterbeer. "Thank you," she said. "Are you ok? You look frozen!" She used a spell to dry Victoria instantly.

"Bless you," Victoria said thankfully. She tried to smile but her eyes kept darting to Marcus; watching him finish off the brandy. He offered some to Angelina but she only wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

"Where are the other boy and girl?" Victoria asked.

Angelina raised her eyebrows. "Who? Katie and Oliver? They went to get food, actually. Been a while, though. Probably arguing..."

Victoria nodded but her face was expressionless.

"Is something wrong?" Angelina asked.

"What? I'm sorry, no, not at all."

Again, she looked at Marcus who was enjoying every last drop from the flask. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and seemed to be wobbling a bit.

"All right there, Marcus?" asked Angelina with a giggle.

Marcus blinked. "I...I feel funny," he slurred and then promptly drooped onto the floor and passed out.

For a moment, Angelina could only stand and stare. "Wow," she said, finally. "You weren't kidding. That was one hell of a flask of brandy."

"High alcohol concentration for his nerves. Mother knows best," Victoria sighed.

"Well...I did want him to get some more rest. Will he be ok?" She began to walk over to him and saw that he was perfectly asleep and peaceful.

"He should be fine," Victoria said. She paused and then spoke again. "Angelina, dear? Would you care to take a walk with me? Just around the cabin?"

Angelina hesitated; looking at Victoria and then Marcus. A little voice in her head told her to stay put. Marcus would be terribly angry with her if she left the cabin. But then she remembered they were on unplottable land and she really did crave some fresh air. A little stroll around the cottage did sound nice.

"Ok," she said. "But we have to make it short. Marcus would worry."

That last part sent a pang of guilt through Victoria. She paused by the door and didn't dare look at them. "A short walk," she agreed. "Come tell me all about the life you created with my son."

With one last glance at Marcus, Angelina followed Victoria outside.

The forest was dripping with rain; plopping on their heads. Lightning still flickered, occasionally, across the grey sky.

"Is this safe?" Angelina asked, ducking under some branches as she walked.

"We're safe enough," said Victoria and they began to stroll. "So, tell me all about yourself."

Angelina took a deep breath and shrugged. "What...did you want to know?"

"You went to school with Marcus, did you not?"

"Well, yes." She paused and shook her head. "But we were horrible enemies then. Stayed that way until this year, actually." And then Angelina proceeded to tell Victoria all about Hogwarts, the Quidditch matches, and what a rotten cheater Marcus was...is. They had a good laugh.

"So, how could you grow to love him so much?" Victoria asked.

Angelina didn't answer at first. It really was hard to explain the feeling in her heart. She had loved many people over her life but no one filled her with as much excitement as Marcus did.

"About a half a year ago, Marcus and I met again in Hogsmeade Village. We got into an argument and...there was a portkey or something in the alley we were in; a sock. I know it sounds strange but the next thing I know I'm stuck in the middle of a forest with my worst enemy. At least, that's what I thought.

"It was so dangerous. Every step we took we were attacked by something. Quicksand, spiders, trolls, centaurs, you name it. We were in those woods for five days." Angelina stopped and smiled as the memories came flooding back. "But there was this unicorn and I remember she was giving birth. And Marcus--you should have seen him; he was so nervous--he stayed with me and helped me bring this golden baby unicorn into the world. And for some crazy reason, it was then that I realized he wasn't such a bad guy. He didn't even try to take advantage of me; not once. From the first day in that forest, I trusted him."

Victoria was smiling and staring at the ground as she walked.

"Marcus is a brave man," Angelina continued and then bit her lip. "A bit stubborn, temperamental, and sly...but I wouldn't be standing here alive if it weren't for him."

"Even now," Victoria said, "after everything that's happened with William; after all the danger you're in being with Marcus, do you still love him?"

"Of course I do!"

Victoria faced her; her eyes filled with sadness. She took Angelina's hands.

"No, I meant...would you ever trade him in for security? If you would have known this would have happened would you have chosen differently?"

Angelina shook her head. "Absolutely not. Marcus can be a prick but I love him."

Victoria's hands were trembling. She licked her lips and stared at the ground in shame, swallowing hard. It appeared as if she was battling with herself and soon, she looked up into Angelina's eyes. "Then, how can I possibly take that away from you?" she whispered.

"What?"

"Listen to me carefully," Victoria said quickly, lowering her voice. "I've changed my mind."

"Changed your mind? What?"

"Just do as I say. Quickly, return to the cabin. Wake Marcus and get out of here. Get far away."

"What are you going on about?"

"Just do it! I'll explain later. You're in danger. How could I have been so stupid?"

Victoria's breath quickened and she glanced around the forest. Taking Angelina's hand, she led her back to the cabin.

Angelina could not understand what sparked such urgency in Victoria's voice. "What is going on?" she asked, stumbling over a log.

"We can't talk here. I'm so sorry," said Victoria and rushed her.

Angelina's heart was in her throat. She hurried over the wet forest floor. The cabin wasn't far ahead.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Victoria kept whispering. "I was wrong all the while! I'm so blind. I can't do this."

"Can't do what?"

"This isn't how to keep him safe. Please." They stopped at the cabin door. "I can't do this anymore."

"What are you bloody talking about?!"

"I'm so selfish! You've been deceived! You've made my son happier than I could ever hope to and I almost took it away. Please, I'll explain everything later. Just get inside."

They opened the cabin door and rushed in. But when the door closed behind them, they gasped in surprise. In the kitchen stood a man. It wasn't Marcus--he was still passed out on the floor--but rather someone Angelina recognized immediately. Suddenly, the image of the 'fan' she met in Marcus's hallway flooded back to her mind.

"Angelina Johnson," William said with a grin; twirling his wand. "A pleasure, again. Back from your walk so soon?"

Victoria shook her head and stepped protectively in front of Angelina. "You won't take her."

Angelina, however, glared at the strange man right over Victoria's shoulder. "Who the hell are you?"

He stepped forward, extending his hand. "William Adellius Flint."

The color drained from Angelina's face. She glanced at William's outstretched hand and then turned around. "Marcus!"

But before she could run to him, Lucius Malfoy entered the cabin and contained her in an instant.

"Let go of me you bastard!" Angelina shouted and kicked at him.

"Ah, Lucius," William said happily. "I was getting worried."

"Well, we should all know better than to trust you with actual plans," Lucius said. "I half expected them to escape by now."

"MARCUS!" Angelina shouted. "MARCUS, WAKE UP!"

But Marcus did not wake.

"This has gone too far!" Victoria said. "Release her at once!"

William tossed back his head and laughed. "And what if I don't, you loose hag? Look at you. Just as useless as you've always been!" He violently backhanded his wife across the face and she cried out and fell over.

Angelina continued to scream Marcus's name as she and Victoria were dragged out of the cabin. She kicked and struggled but then something hit her in the back of the head and all went black.