Lost and Found...Love

Ilex

Story Summary:
The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher...Neville's free spirited Godmother...The love of Severus Snape's life...All the same woman?...BLOODY HELL! The arrival of Anastasia Twigg-Jones at Hogwarts sets into motion a year of intrigue, revenge, laughter, secrets, love and murder that reaches into the past and impacts everyone's future. Secrets...lies...old friends...new foes...anger...hatred...truce? Let's 'hang around' and watch the sparks and spells fly, shall we?

Chapter 19 - Good News & Bad News / Good old plan B...or C

Chapter Summary:
Remus and Narcissa both are faced with life altering events. Good news and bad news. Anna and Winky are left home - alone - or are they? One never knows...do one?
Posted:
12/24/2005
Hits:
1,032


Chapter 19

Good News & Bad News

Lunchtime found Justin and Ernie presiding over the grill, flipping burgers and rolling hotdogs like old bar-b-que pros. Winky had assembled all of the rolls, buns, condiments and side dishes out on the barn's back terrace, which was sheltered from the wind off of the sea and had lots of spring sunshine warming the flagstones. From the terrace, you looked out over the croquet lawn, to the surrounding woods.

Wearing a new spring flowered pillowcase "uniform" Winky hardly seemed the same house elf that had Anna had found in the kitchens of Hogwarts, nearly four months earlier. Smiling at everyone, making sure glasses were filled, clean plates available and bowls filled with food, she was really in her element. Even Hermione was suitably impressed.

"She seems quite happy...busy, but happy."

"Yes," agreed Anna, "she's over the moon with all this activity. Told me the Crouchs never entertained, so she was just doing basic housekeeping for years. Hustle and bustle is what she enjoys. She's been working on getting this place ready for days."

Suddenly, a phone on the wall rang and before anyone could move, Winky had sprinted across the terrace, picked up the receiver, and announced, "Briarwood Manor, Winky speaking."

She listened for a moment, and then smiled. "Yes, Missy Gwen, she is right here. You wait."

Holding up the receiver, Winky stage whispered, "Missy Anna, is Missy Gwen on the telly-a-phone."

With everyone watching, and not a few snickering, Anna took the proffered phone. "Thank you, Winky. Hi, Gwen, what's up? Ah huh, ah huh...really?!? REALLY!?! That's wonderful! No, wait, he's right here. Remus, take it!" Offering the receiver to him, she grinned.

Puzzled, Remus put the phone to his ear. "Hi, how are you? What?" There was a long pause. "WHAT!! Are you serious?!? That's fantastic! You don't know what this means...Oh, right...maybe you do know, better than anyone but me. Still...after all these years! What? Yes, I'll come straightaway. See you in a bit. Love you, too."

Hanging the phone up, he stood, staring for a moment, and then turned to Anna.

"Did she tell you?"

"A bit, but she wanted to tell you everything first. Is it true?"

"Yes, apparently. I can hardly believe it."

"Oh, Remus, this is wonderful!" Anna threw her arms around Remus neck and hugged him. He picked her up and spun her in a circle. Suddenly, they realized the whole group around them had gone silent. Looking about, smiling sheepishly, Anna poked Remus in the ribs. "Tell them."

"Where do I start? Ok...Anna's husband, Christopher, had been trying to find a better treatment for my lycanthropy. He did manage to get the Wolfsbane potion reduced to pill form and then strengthen it so I'm not as adversely affected by my transformations.

"Doctor Gwen Jones, his daughter, has continued the research on her own, not just monitoring my condition and making my pills and she's just called with the most astounding news." He took a deep breath. "She's isolated a virus and she's confident she has found a way to, if not cure my condition, at least make it non-reactive to simulation."

Looking around at the blank, quizzical faces, he looked at Anna.

"In other words, people," she smiled and explained, "put it in remission. Remus would still be, technically, a werewolf, but he wouldn't transform at the full moon. Like any disease, if you take your medicine, maybe you're not cured, but it's under control; you don't have symptoms or outbreaks."

"Like someone who has epilepsy taking Dilantin to control their seizures?" asked Hermione.

"Precisely!"

"Remus, this is fantastic!" Harry clapped him on the back as Hermione threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug.

As the rest of the students realized the far reaching implications of this news, they, too, joined in the congratulations and celebrating.

"I have to get to London. I promised Gwen. Will you be alright with this lot? I did volunteer as your assistant chaperone." Remus turned to Anna.

"I'll be fine. You go. Give Gwen a hug and kiss for me. I'll call you two later tonight."

"Right. Well, goodbye everyone. I'm popping off to London to get all the details. I'll send an owl to the school with a full report. Ok?" Remus addressed the group.

"Sure, go!" "Great, we'll look for it." "Have fun!" Our love to Gwen!" "Bye, Professor!" "Great news, we're really happy for you."

Giving Anna a quick peck on the cheek, he Disapparated.

"Well, back to the party, fun seekers."

X # X # X

Lucius Malfoy Apperated in a clearing, just deep enough in the woods behind Briarwood Manor to see the house but not be seen. Walking over to the three wizards watching the house, he took a quick look and then faced them.

"Where is she?"

"Over by that big barn. The werewolf, Lupin, just left, but he might be back. And there are about two dozen Hogwarts students there, too. Some kind of party."

"Well, they'll have to go home eventually. We'll just watch and wait. I won't need her until midnight."

Lucius walked further back into the woods and settled himself on a fallen log, stretched out his legs, crossed his arms and smiled.

"Take turns watching, but stay hidden under the cover of the trees. Don't let anyone see you or I'll kill you, myself," he instructed.

"What if those kids don't go home?"

"Don't be stupid. She can't have all of them stay overnight. They'll leave later tonight, in all probability. Then she's mine."

X # X # X

When everyone had had some lunch, Anna stood up and clinked her glass for attention.

"Ok, now that we're well stuffed, would anyone care to take the grand tour of the house and grounds, to walk off some of your lunch? Or feel free to use the game room. Oh, yes, look over the video library and make your choice and I'll set up a movie for after dinner this evening. You can, of course, go back to the pool or just relax, it's up to you."

Most of the girls opted to tour the house, but a few decided to lie out in the warm sunshine for a little rest and a good start on their summer tans. The guys headed into the barn, with about half checking out the video games, pinball machines and rows of videos on the shelves. The rest went back to the pool.

The afternoon passed quickly, ending with a fierce, free-for-all croquet game. Then they settled down to have a leisurely dinner and movie as the sun began to set and the spring chill returned to the grounds.

X # X # X

"I have to go to Malfoy Manor and have a word with Narcissa. Stay here and keep an eye on things. Don't go sneaking up to peek through the windows, even though it's sundown. I won't have this plan ruined when I'm this close to getting her."

"Don't worry, we'll stay here."

X # X # X

Narcissa stood gazing out the window, watching the shadows cast by the setting sun lengthen across the front lawn. The grounds of Malfoy Manor were showing signs of spring; daffodils and crocus were blooming and tulips were pushing up through the earth. Some of the trees were blooming; others had fat green buds ready to open.

But she saw none of this; her mind was far away, detached, looking for answers. A door opening and closing behind her brought Narcissa back to reality. She turned. "Draco?"

Lucius stood there, looking at her.

"Lucius! What are you doing here?"

"I won't be long, my dear, so don't worry your pretty little head."

"Are you insane? There are Aurors coming every other day, looking for you!"

"Then don't let them in. Where is Draco?"

"Out. He went over to the Parkinson's to go horseback riding with Pansy."

"Ha. I bet horses aren't the only thing he'll be riding."

"Lucius!"

"When he gets home, tell him I'll be returning at midnight. He should be ready to go with me."

"Where are you taking him?"

"To meet my Master, his Master, after tonight."

Narcissa gasped.

"Do I sense an objection?"

"Yes. He's too young, Lucius. Let him finish his schooling first. Please."

"Nonsense; he's had enough schooling. That fool Dumbledore can't teach him anything useful. I'll see he gets a proper education, at our Master's knee, starting tonight at his marking ceremony. I'd invite you to join us, but the pre-ceremony 'festivities' might not be to your taste."

"Festivities?"

"Oh, the usual; a little rape, a little torture." Lucius smiled, but it was more of a leer.

"Lucius, please don't do this...he's too young..."

"Stop whining. He'll be of age in two months and I know what's best for Draco and how to get him started on his path to greatness, in service to the Dark Lord. Also, I'll have a surprise for him that I think he'll enjoy. His favorite professor will be the guest of honor."

"Severus Snape is ..."

"No, not Severus...although I do believe he'd enjoy what I have planned. It's a secret, you see, but actually, I was speaking of Anna Twigg-Jones. She'll provide the 'entertainment' for the evening."

"What are you saying?"

"She will be my redemption in my Master's eyes. I bring my son for his marking ceremony, provide the perfect victim for Draco's first killing spell and rid my Master of an Auror and former thorn in my side all at the same time. Plus provide someone for the others to vent their 'frustrations' on. Draco, too, if he doesn't get enough satisfaction over at the Parkinson's. This should be a night to remember."

"Draco knows about this?"

"No, he doesn't. It's a surprise; for him and my Master. Haven't you been listening?"

"She'll never let you take her alive. She'll kill you, Lucius. Draco told me about her. She's not some wet behind the ears, newly graduated Auror anymore. She's quite capable of defending herself, according to him. Please don't do this, Lucius. You'll get hurt, or worse, killed."

"Such concern on your part, my dear," Lucius remarked sarcastically. "I appreciate that, but I'm perfectly capable of subduing that Muggle loving bitch. If it's necessary, I'll just dump her body at my Master's feet. Personally, I think Draco exaggerated. She's nothing more than a glorified..."

"She'll kill you."

Turning slowly, he regarded her through narrowed eyes. "You doubt my abilities?"

"No...you're a very powerful wizard. But, I am concerned she's faster, her skills might be sharper and she'd not stupid. She'll not be taken, Lucius. I'm begging you; don't do this."

"Begging? My, my...your heart felt pleading is touching. What's your ulterior motive, Narcissa? Surely not my welfare, there must be something else."

"I'm just afraid for you, Lucius. And Draco..." Turning away, she hung her head.

"You're a terrible liar, Narcissa." He walked up to her, grabbed her chin and pulled her head around; forcing her to look at him. "Why are you so concerned?"

She looked at him for a long moment and then dropped her eyes.

"I'm pregnant, Lucius."

"Whose child is it?"

"Yours... a little New Year's present."

"That's your story. Well, get rid of it, just in case it isn't mine." Letting go of her chin, he turned away.

"No."

He froze and turned back.

"No?"

"I want this child, Lucius."

"And I don't. Get rid of it...or I will."

"No."

In two steps, Lucius was on her. Grabbing Narcissa's arm, he backhanded her across her face, cutting her cheek with his signet ring. Then he hurled her across the room, where she crashed into a console table and fell heavily to the floor. Lucius stalked over and yanked her to her feet, shook her violently and backhanded her again.

Putting his face close to hers, he hissed, "When I return tonight, I want proof that you've gotten rid of it. Do I make myself clear? If not, you'll be coming with Draco and me to visit my Master. Perhaps he'd enjoy ridding you of your 'little bit of baggage'. Think of the fun we'll have; just one big happy family, doing things together."

He threw her, hard, against the wall, where she collapsed in a heap. As Narcissa struggled to lift herself into a sitting position, Lucius walked over to her, knelt down and grabbing a handful of her hair, yanked her head back.

"Get rid of it!"

He flung her down and her head hit the floor with a nasty crack. Standing, he kicked her. She grunted and rolled over. Lucius kicked her again, turned and stalked out of the room. Narcissa heard the door slam, just before she lost consciousness.

Good Old Plan B or C

"What are we watching?"

Anna stood next to the shelves full of videos, ready to grab their choice and pop it into the player.

"Well, the girls wanted 'Dirty Dancing' and the guys wanted James Bond, but we compromised and settled on 'Young Frankenstein'." Neville informed her.

" 'That's Frankensteen'." Anna wagged here finger at him, grinning.

"What?"

"Watch and see."

Laughing, Anna ran her finger down the titles, and finding the right box, slid the tape into the machine and dimmed the lights slightly. She looked around at the students, not surprisingly paired off, sitting at the small tables set around the room, facing the big screen TV at the far end. Tears formed on her lashes.

Dear God, she thought, let them survive this war...it's not their fault...why do they have to suffer and pay. Ah, well, just give them strength, courage, and a bit of luck, to face whatever they must.

She wiped the tears away and retrieving her plate, settled down next to the table where Harry, Luna, Ginny and Neville are seated, laughing along with them, Voldemort forgotten for a short while.

X # X # X

As eleven o'clock neared, everyone searched for and gathered their scattered belongings and checked to make sure they have their own lei. In twos and threes they made their way to the front terrace of the house.

Anna hugged everyone and stood next to Winky on the stairs, while the kids spread out on the lawn.

"See you at school. Thanks for coming."

"Bye, Anna!" "We had a great time!" "You really know how to throw at party!" "Bye, Winky!"

Pop...pop...pop...pop and they all disappeared.

Winky looked up at Anna and smiled. "We had a good party, Missy Anna, didn't we?"

"Yes, but you get the big chunk of the credit, Winky, and my thanks, for making this a good day for the kids." Anna bent down and gave Winky a hug. Straightening up, she shivered. "It's getting chilly, let's go inside."

Heading for the front door of the house, Anna heard 'SNAP', coming from the shrubbery surrounding the terrace. Winky heard it, too, and stopped.

"Keep walking Winky, we must get inside and don't look around." Anna whispered.

They got through the door and Anna bolted the lock. Seeing Winky's frightened expression, she got down on her knees and gathered Winky in her arms.

"Winky, this is what you and I have been preparing for. We can do this, together. I'll not let anyone hurt you and they sure as hell aren't going to get me, either. Ok, let's get Plan B in motion. You know what to do?"

Winky nodded, swallowed, straightened up, and lifted her chin. "You'll be proud of Winky, Missy Anna. This is my house, too. Bad wizards - HA! We'll show them!" She turned and trotted off to the back of the house.

Standing in the center of the Hall, Anna turned around in a circle, pointing her wand. Windows closed, locked and sealed, curtains closed, bolts on doors slid home and latches clicked shut. Walking into the drawing room, she turned and looked at Christopher's portrait. His chair was empty.

"Damn."

Going up to the frame, she put two fingers in her mouth and whistled. From a great distance, she heard a bark and in a few moments the two labs came bounding into the frame, wagging their tails at the sight of her.

"Hello, you two good old things. Where's Christopher? Where's Christopher?"

They sat and cocked their heads at her and then looked to the side of the frame, where they had entered.

"I need you to bring him here. I don't care if he's winning a card game or swimming naked in the ocean with a mermaid. Go back and bark at him until he gets the message. It's important. I need his help. Will you do that for me? Fetch Christopher!"

They jumped up, gave a bark and both bounded out of the frame, the sound of their barks getting fainter as they raced away.

"My luck, he's down in the dungeon discussing potions with Severus," Anna mumbled to herself. "I don't need him showing up. That would give the whole game away. Please let Christopher be playing cards or some such thing."

X # X # X

"Missy Anna!" Winky came skidding into the parlor. "They is outside the kitchen door!"

"Did you manage to get everything in place?"

"Yes, Miss, everything is ready."

"Ok, get up the stairs and wait for my signal."

"Yes, Missy Anna, I'll be ready." The determined looking house elf turned and scurried up the stairs to the landing and crouched down between the potted palms.

Anna walked across the hall, waving her wand to turn off the lights in the drawing room, hall and other rooms in the house. She did light one candle on a side table, giving just enough light to navigate. In the study she flipped the switch on the computer and sat down. Typing quickly, she paused as she heard someone trying the knob on the kitchen door and a crash; one alarm bottle broken.

Fools, she thought, shaking her head.

Anna stood and walked through the door to the billiard room, picked up a jar of rubber marbles and scattered them on the rug and floor. Unscrewing the bulbs in the light fixtures with a flip of her wand, she returned to the study, hit a few more keys on the computer and then walked across the dimly lit hall to the drawing room.

The sound of the bolt on the kitchen door sliding open and the creak of the hinges alerted her to the start of the invasion. Anna peeked up the stairs and gave Winky the thumbs-up. Winky nodded and returned the signal, although Anna could see she was trembling. Just then Christopher rushed into his painting.

"Anna!"

"Shush!" Anna warned him, "and keep the dogs quiet, too."

Christopher turned and whispered to the dogs to lie down and be quiet.

"What's wrong, Anna?" he asked, turning back, concern etched on his face.

"Invaders. Please go to Remus and...oh, no wait, he might not be at the townhouse. Go to Albus and have him raise the alarm. I need help...Mad-Eye and the troops. And quickly."

"How many?"

"Just two, by the footsteps." Anna had her ear to the dining room door. "But there's always a lookout or backup outside."

"I'll hurry! Be careful!"

"Got it covered. Winky and I are prepared. GO!"

Christopher took off with the dogs following. Now the footfalls could be heard entering the front hall. Anna silently opened the sliding door between the parlor and the dining room, just enough for her to slip through. Tiptoeing to the hallway door, she peeked out and saw the two figures heading toward the study door, from which emanated the greenish glow from the computer screen. Grinning, she positioned herself so she could also see across the hall to the billiard room.

Cautiously, the figures paused outside the study, then, wands out, they rushed into the room. Looking around, they lowered their wands, realizing no one was there. However, their attention was drawn to the computer screen, on which an animated version of Winky was waving at them, beckoning them to come nearer. Perplexed, they looked at each other, shrugged and walked over to the desk. The monitor bathed their faces in green light. Fredrick Goyle and Stephen Crabbe looked at each other again.

"What is this thing?"

"Some Muggle devise, I think it's called a 'come-put-here'."

"What does it do?"

"I don't know."

"Look!"

The house elf on the screen was pointing and gesturing for them to punch the 'Enter' key. Intrigued, Goyle reached out and pushed the indicated button. Instantly, the screen changed to a picture of Anna, who turned and waved at them, then the stereo turned on and blood curdling screams erupted from the speakers.

Crabbe and Goyle jumped back and started blasting the computer, but then turned their attention to the various speakers, hitting them with spells rather haphazardly, as they can't quite understand where the screams are coming from. Finally, silence descended in the study, now filled with smoke and settling debris, the computer monitor sparking once or twice. Looking around, Crabbe hit Goyle on the shoulder.

"What'd you do that for?"

"I don't know. Where do you suppose she is?"

"Halfway to Hogwarts or London. We better search, though, just in case. Lucius will be mad enough we fell for her trick, we'd better find her if she is still here."

Hearing that, Anna flipped her wand toward the billiard table and one of the balls rolled across the surface knocking two others into the mesh pockets. Clunk, clunk.

"What was that?"

"Quiet. She's in the next room."

Moving cautiously to the slightly open connecting door, Crabbe slowly pushed it further and peeked in. The billiard ball rolled to a stop. Anna used her wand to move the hallway door, it creaked and Crabbe ran in, yelling over his shoulder, "She's going out into the hall, cut her off!"

He took three running steps, hit the rubber marbles scattered in his path and fell backward as his feet flew out from under him. Crack! his head hit the floor and he gave a grunt and passed out. Goyle went running out of the study into the hall looking around. He heard the crash and tore down to the door of the billiard room and ran in. Zip! Bam! he joined Crabbe on the floor, knocked senseless.

Anna retraced her steps to the parlor, checked the painting - no Christopher, yet - and then peeked out into the hall, smiling up at Winky and waving. Then, cautiously, she walked across to the study, where she whispered 'Reparo' and the stereo speakers flew back together. The monitor, though, was beyond magic, the tube having been smashed.

"Damn."

Anna quickly typed on the keyboard, hit enter and the stereo shut off.

"Ok, plan C."

X # X # X

Heading back out into the hall, Anna mouthed 'Plan C' to Winky, who nodded. Just then, the sound of another bottle crashing to the floor from its perch on the side door's knob alerted them to the location of the third invader.

Anna held up her up her hand to tell Winky to stay still and they both listened for the next tell-tale sound. Suddenly, muffled curses were heard issuing from the back hall staircase. Anna grinned up at Winky, who put her hand over her mouth to keep from giggling. A small jingle bell, hanging on a thread, dropped several inches and tinkled softly as it swayed under the balcony edge.

Anna motioned to Winky and the house elf shrank back into her hiding place by the potted palms and reaching up, grabbed her ears and pulled them down, thereby almost completely disappearing from view in the dark shadows. Anna walked across the hall to the parlor.

Crabbe and Goyle were moaning and groaning and the noises were taking on an ominous growl.

"I'll get her yet..." BANG! someone fell again.

"What the...get the lights!" CRASH..."OW!"

"Where?" BOOM! "Shit!"

"Over there - that button on the wall"

Click, click. "They don't work. Stupid Muggles."

"I'll kill her myself if..." CRASH!"

"Crawl out; she's got something on the floor."

Crabbe and Goyle emerged into the hall on hands and knees and then stood.

" 'Lumos'."

"Yeah, 'Lumos'."

"Where's Macnair?"

"Probably still watching the side entrance."

"I'm up here," came Walden Macnair's voice from the upstairs hall. "She's not in this wing. Want me to check the other hall?"

"May as well, she knows you're up there now, big mouth."

Macnair appeared on the balcony above Winky's head, his wand tip glowing with 'Lumos', also, and looked down into the entrance hall.

"Where are you two?"

"Right here."

Crabbe and Goyle walked toward the front of the hall and looked back up over their shoulders at Macnair.

"She's here, trust us," said Goyle, rubbing his head. "She's playing games with us. Lucius better appreciate the grief we're going through to bring him his victim. I'm going to enjoy watching him 'play' with her."

"Maybe we should have some 'fun' with her, ourselves, before we deliver her to Malfoy." Crabbe leered. "He's not getting his hands dirty, why should we rush."

"We have to get our hands on her first, and she's a slick little girl, our Anna," answered Goyle, as he looked around.

"Little girl?" Anna's eyebrows shot up, mouthing the words silently. "Our Anna?" She shook her head.

"I'll check this other hall, you two stay there," said Macnair as he headed toward the other side of the balcony.

Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other.

"You check the dining room and I'll check the kitchen. Be careful!"

X # X # X

As they headed to the back of the house, Christopher returned and seeing Anna, started to speak, but realizing she was peeking around the corner of the door into the hallway, thought better of it and hissed at her instead. "Pssst."

He motioned for her to come closer. With one more quick look out the door, she tiptoed over.

"Be very quiet, one of them is in the dining room and one's in the kitchen. It's booby trapped, so we'll hear some noise soon. Did you find anyone to raise the alarm?"

"Yes, Albus is contacting the Auror's office as we speak and also sending Fawkes to find Remus. I told him Gwen's address. So, help is on the way, although I don't know how quickly."

"I'll be fine until someone gets here."

They heard a crash in the kitchen.

"You all right?" Goyle yelled.

"Yes...damn, that's going to leave a bruise."

"You idiot, what did you do?"

"Never mind!"

Anna snickered, but Christopher frowned and put his finger to his lips. Her eyes lit up.

"Christopher," she whispered, "I've got an idea. Yell my name, like you are looking for me. Then talk to Goyle when he comes through the door."

"Ok, but what...oh...good hunting." He watched Anna heft a cricket bat over her shoulder and step to the other side of the door connecting the parlor and the dining room. She flipped her wand and lit a candle on the table below Christopher's painting.

X # X # X

"ANNA? ANNA! Are you here?" Christopher shouted.

The sliding door yanked open and Goyle entered, wand out.

"Oh. Hello, have you seen Anna?" Christopher waved and smiled at Goyle, who had turned toward the sound of his voice. "I say, who are you?"

Goyle opened his mouth to answer but only a grunt came out as cricket bat met cranium with a nasty crack. He hit the floor and Anna quickly floated him onto the sofa, sitting with his head lolling back on the cushions.

Returning to her ambush position, she and Christopher heard Crabbe come into the dining room, bumping into the chairs.

"Ouch. Did you say...hey, where are you?" Spotting Goyle on the sofa, he muttered, "What the..." Crabbe circled the table and cautiously pushed the door to the drawing room open a bit further.

"Hello!" Christopher cheerfully played decoy again. "Care to join us?"

"Who..." Crack! And Crabbe joined Goyle on the sofa.

"Two down, one, or rather, make that two, to go."

Anna put down the cricket bat and did a sleeping spell on the Death Eaters reclining on the sofa.

"Are you sure you can do this by yourself? Where are the others?" Christopher whispered urgently.

"One's upstairs, probably on his way back down."

"Where's Winky?"

"On the landing. She'll take care of that one. It's Lucius Malfoy I've got to deal with."

"Lucius Malfoy? Isn't he?"

"Yes, he is."

"Why is he, well, why are they all here?"

"Wish I knew. Maybe I'm a practice session for the escapees. Shhhh, I hear number three on the stairs."

X # X # X

"Crabbe? Goyle? Where are you two?"

"They're in here," called Anna, sweetly, raising her voice. Sticking her head out into the hall, she waved and pointed.

"You bitch."

Macnair pounded down the upper stairs to the landing and as he passed Winky, she stood, reached out, grabbed the end of a rope threaded through the railing and pulled. Macnair caught his shin and pitched forward, tumbling down the lower stairs to crash, spread-eagled, on the floor. Anna stood in the door and gave Winky a thumb's up.

Suddenly, Macnair rolled over and shot a spell at Anna, who sidestepped just in time. Unfortunately, the huge grandfather clock behind her, not being blessed with mobility, took the full blast of the spell.

Before Anna could get off an answering hex, Winky jumped down the stairs, landed on Macnair's back, and clunked him over the head with a small, cast iron skillet.

"You not hurt my Missy Anna, you bad wizard! Winky show you!"

Anna stood there laughing and then Winky hopped up and running to her, jumped up into Anna's arms and received a big hug.

"Winky, that was wonderful!"

"Winky did good, Missy Anna?"

"You certainly did! I told you all of that Muggle silliness would come in handy, didn't I?"

"Yes, Miss. Winky loves movies!"

"God bless Chris Columbus and all who sail with him on the good ship 'Home Alone'!"

"Anna! Look Out!" Christopher shouted.


Bet 'ya never saw THAT coming! I dispise Lucius Malfoy...can you tell?