An Auror's Work is Never Done

Chapter 13 The Getaway, the Beacon, and Traps

My years of training in the Auror program served me well on the run. I knew Dad and the others would never give up trying to find me so I was taking every precaution I knew of to stay two steps ahead of them. Before I did any type of magic I covered my tell tale signature residue. I took to traveling in Animagus form at night, disguising the phoenix as a common barn owl. By day I transfigured my hair and facial features. Dull brown hair and eyes allowed me to blend in with people perfectly. No one would remember a quiet, mousy girl passing through the cities I visited.

Early into the hunt Draco had tried to use our Bond against me. Both times I'd blocked him and sent a nasty vibe back in return. Some times I would go five or six days before I would hear whispers of the search party. (It pays to hang out in the local bars. None of the patrons noticed me, and liquor loosened their tongues. They were always eager to talk about the group of Aurors and Wizards looking for a girl with reddish-brown hair and jade eyes.) I'd been on the move for three months, trying to outrun the reminders of that black day. In New York it took them two weeks to catch up.

"Damn them! Why can't they get it through their heads I don't want to be found?" I yelled in frustration, scaring a flock of Central Park pigeons. My mind raced going over my options. Suddenly it hit me. I knew exactly where to go. "They'll never think of that."

I was back in Romania for four days before IT started to beckon me. Its lure was a siren song urging me to return. I fought the desire to for roughly twenty-four hours before giving in and apparating to the site. The tower was just as I'd left it, door torn down, manacles lying on the floor, a few small drops of blood on the wooden post I'd missed when cleaning. Memories assaulted me and I dropped to my knees. Scene after scene flickered through my mind. I felt the sting of the whip, heard the chain being lifted once more.

"No! You have no power over me!" Screaming with rage I used my Wind Taming powers to destroy the room. A mini tornado infused with lightning swirled around me. Everything but the post was demolished when I was finished, even the window he'd once mocked me with.

"Why didn't it break?" I muttered confused, placing a hand on the wooden column. The handcuffs came to life and captured my wrists. I struggled, screaming over and over again. I grabbed hold of my ID bracelet and when nothing happened, the pendant. Still nothing. "No! I can't go through it again! I'd rather die! Just kill me and be done with it!"

"Aurora?" a tentative voice cut in.

I craned my neck and put the mental blocks up. "Dad? Oh, thank Merlin. Get me out of these." I watched as tears filled his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Pumpkin, but I can't."

"Daddy? Please." I asked sobbing, trying to con him into letting me out so I could escape.

"I can't, honey."

"And why the FUCK not?!" I ranted, straining harder against the imprisoning cuffs.

"Because only I can release you, Aurora." Professor Dumbledore emerged from the shadows of the room.

Maybe I could play him. I had to get out of here. I let my body sag. "Why are you doing this to me?" I whispered as pathetically as I could.

"It was the only choice you left us with, dear girl."

"Please," I begged. "Take them off. TAKE THEM OFF!" I started crying. "Please, I'll do anything. Just take them off."

Dumbledore walked over and removed my bracelet and pendant. He then waved a hand over the manacles. They dropped. I let Dad rub some salve on my aching wrists. I waited until he stepped back and lunged for the open door. Sirius and Tonks were there to stop my flight. I tried to transform but couldn't. Tried to apparate out. It was no use.

The wind swirled around me. "Don't make me do it," I warned.

"I will not let you hurt them, Dear One. They merely try to help, as do I."

"You should have let me die, Nicholae. It would've been better than what I feel now."

"That is where you are mistaken, my young friend."

I turned to my former teacher. "What would you know?"

"I'm not certain but I fear what you are experiencing is the Acerbitas Ampulla or Wizard's Locked Emotion Syndrome."

"What?"

"Witches and Wizards are not like Muggles. We cannot keep our emotions locked away forever. When one does this all the good feelings seem to simply go away. Eventually all that is left is hate and anger."

"Really?" I mocked.

"I believe this is how Tom became the person he was at the end. He was unable to bring himself to ask for the help he needed. He had no one who truly cared about the boy that he was. From what you've said and Harry and Nicholae have told me I think this is what is now happening to you."

'Backstabbers! But could there be an end to the blackness that was consuming me?'

"If you trust us, yes, there can be, Sis."

"Draco."

"Come home, Aurora."

"I can't. It doesn't feel like home anymore. No where does."

"Albus can help you, honey," Dad said. His eyes were so sad. I never meant to hurt him.

"Can you really?"

"Yes, Aurora."

"Okay," I said trying to put my trust in him once more.

The professor decided the process would take place the following morning. "So you don't have time to change your mind," he stated with a slight smile. "Where would you be most comfortable?"

I looked at Draco and silently asked, 'The Marauder Room?'

'If that's what you want.'

"Hogwarts, sir. Um...there's a room we used to hang out in."

"The Marauder Room, I assume?"

I nodded. He definitely knew more than people gave him credit for.

"I'll see that Dobby has it ready for us."

I slept peacefully for the first time in months that night. Shawna had crawled into my bed around midnight. Not long after Draco had joined us. Shawna cuddled with me while Dragon rubbed my back. Love exuded from them both. I tried to drudge up returning feelings. Slowly a sense of comfort pervaded me. I slipped off to Nod with a smile on my face. The feeling of peace was the first good emotion I'd experienced in months. Maybe it would be all right.