Dragon's Tears

Relative Stranger

When I returned to my flat, I made new plans. I had wanted to wait a few more years, until I had managed to approach all the girls. But there was no time left. I'd have to speed things up. Teecie was still too young, so I'd simply have to make do with whatever small contact I could make with her now. Whatever I accomplished would have to be it. By Christmas, I and the girls would disappear. And father would be alone. Just like he left me.

Reni was less than pleased with the present I brought her that year. After the gorgeous cloak, she had expected something even more exciting this year. But I couldn't risk it, so instead I gave her another of the trinkets that Lucius had given me. This time it was a small dragon that was animated. It immediately jumped to her shoulder when she opened the package, then curled around her neck. She liked it, but I knew that it wasn't as big or as flashy as she had been hoping. She obviously wanted something that would outdo her sister's broom.

Time passed quickly that year. I visited with Reni infrequently, not wanting to set up any pattern that Lucius or Snape would recognize, so I had to make sure never to visit on the same days of the week, and never more than once a week.

I visited with Kali even more infrequently. She was still unsure about me, but now she knew me at least. And though it wasn't as exciting as the broom I had given her the year before, she seemed to quite enjoy the small stuffed snitch that I gave her for her birthday in August.

After Kali's birthday, I began to work on Reni once more. I had to get all the girls out of the house at the same time, so that I could take them. She was even less pleased by the idea of introducing me to Teecie than she had been the idea of introducing me to Kali. But I persisted. I had to meet the girl at least one time before I could proceed with these plans. It was time. And eventually I managed to convince Reni. As unhappy as it made her.

One gorgeous September day, after the girls had begun their schooling with Lucius again, Reni appeared at the top of the hill once more. I couldn't help but think to myself that I might have to do what I had done with Kali, and threaten to stop coming until she brought Teecie with her, when I noticed a small figure appear from behind her. Reni glared down at the toddler, and I heard her tell the girl to "Hurry up, already, brat!" I smiled. Perfect.

I hurried to meet them, and when Teecie saw me, she looked up at me with huge eyes. At first I worried that the girl was scared of me, so I knelt down to make myself less imposing. And was soon to be quite disabused that my youngest sister would ever be scared of anything. She approached me cautiously, then reached out a hand and pulled at my hair. "Daddy hair!"

Reni crossed her arms. "Yeah, Teecie, he's got hair like daddy's."

God, how had I not realized how strong a child's grip was? My eyes watered as I carefully disentangled Teecie's chubby fist from my hair, then stood up to get the target out of her reach. "Hello, Teecie. Nice to meet you."

Teecie frowned up at me. "Down," she told me, stamping her foot.

"No, I think I'll stand, thank you." That was a mistake. Teecie's shriek was loud enough to be heard back at my flat, many miles away. I hid behind the tree, worried that Lucius would appear. After several minutes, he had not, so I returned to talk to the girls once more. Reni was now holding Teecie, who was still glaring at me.

"Dragon, we need to go in soon."

"Right. Well, it was nice to meet you, Teecie." The child looked away from me, and I was horrified by how much this annoyed me. I was supposed to capture their hearts, not vice-versa. I turned to Reni. "I'll come back as soon as I can, Reni." She nodded unhappily, then turned to go back down the hill.

Now that I had met all the girls, it was time to work on the second half of my plan. I went off to the place I had planned to go once I had the girls with me. I was startled that most of the paintings were still on the walls, and all of the furniture was still in place. I stocked up on food, blankets, and started a warming spell. The place had not been used in many years, and so I also needed to cast a few cleaning spells. I wasn't about to be surrounded by filth while I waited for Lucius to arrive.

Once that was finished, I returned to my flat and prepared the things I would need to carry out my plan. I pulled out four of my pawns from that lovely chess set that Lucius had promised to use with me. Three silver pawns, and one gold. I wondered how long it would take him to recognize them.

The next step involved bringing Reni in on my plans a bit. I sounded her out about Lucius, as I knew that she was often annoyed with him. I asked if she had ever wanted to get back at him, or perhaps run away. The answer was a resounding yes. I asked if she would like to come and stay with me for a while, and that made her even more pleased.

But she was less pleased when she learned that I wanted her to bring her sisters with her. "Why?" she wanted to know.

"Don't you want to really make him suffer? If all of you go, he'll have to come get you all."

"But then I won't know if he's coming because he wants me back!" she pouted.

"But he'll definitely suffer. Isn't that what's important?"

"I guess." She thought for a moment, then looked at me, a particularly Slytherin glint in her eye. "So, what do I need to do?"

I explained to her what I would need her to do. But I made it plain that we had to do this at just the right time. Before her mother returned for Christmas break, but late enough in the year that Lucius would be easily distracted by the coming holidays. She agreed, then returned home.

After that, time seemed to drag. Reni and I visited a few more times, but no long visits. I was too nervous. Now that my plans were approaching fruition, I didn't want to risk Lucius seeing me. I began to leave Reni notes stuck to the tree. I would watch her read them, then look up and smile in my general direction, then return home.

I also went for a final visit with my mother. I had no idea how things would end up, and I wanted to be sure she was well taken care of. There had been no further messages from Snape, but knowing him, I knew better than to let down my guard. He and Lucius had trained me well.

Finally it was December. Reni and I had planned everything for the first Monday of the month, to be sure that woman was out of the way, and that Lucius would most likely be overloaded with holiday plans and presents. I had told Reni to use three of the soldiers I had given her, and put one on each of their pillows. I wondered what Lucius would make of them. She was to grab the bag that I had told her to prepare before hand; a few clothes for each of them. Then she was to bring her sisters up to the hill. Once I saw the girls were there, I would place the pawns on the welcome mat, lead the girls to my car, and we would be on our way. And there would be nothing he could do to stop us.

I wondered, as I waited for the girls to appear, how long it would take for Lucius to track us down. I hoped he would suffer. Immeasurably. The way I had been suffering for years.

I watched as Lucius exited the house and moved away from me, towards the barn, a pale swinging from his hand. When I saw the girls exit the house, my heart sped up. It was working. I could do this. I got out of my car, and walked slowly to the front door. The pawns were in my pocket, and they felt heavier with every step. I held my breath as I made it to the porch and placed the pawns on the mat, then turned swiftly and made my way to where the girls stood.

Reni and Kali seemed happy to see me, but Teecie clung to her older sister, and glared at me. I smiled at her, but she hid her face. I reached out for Kali's hand. "Come on." I proceeded to walk down the hill, then noticed that Reni was not following. I turned back to see her struggling with Teecie. Teecie was tugging at her sister's hand, and trying to head back towards the house. Damn. I dropped Kali's hand and hurried back to Reni's side. "Get Kali to my car. I'll deal with Teecie."

Teecie's eyes went round as her sister disappeared, and before I could do anything, that horrifying shriek rang out again. I grabbed her hand, then quickly cast a silencing spell to head off another shriek. She tried to scream again, but no sound came from her, and her eyes narrowed at me dangerously. Take that, you brat, I thought. But too soon, I discovered that she was far from without other weapons. To be specific, claws and teeth. I ended up wrapping her in my cloak and hurrying to my car. I shoved her into the back seat, told Reni to buckle her up, then started the car.

It had been worth it, I told myself as I rubbed a long scratch on my arm. I had succeeded. And Lucius would pay. I hoped the woman would kill him when she discovered the children were missing.