Lost and Found...Love

Chapter 20

Garden Party Deja Vue

Whipping out her wand and spinning toward the front door, Anna heard a CRACK! Too late, she realized that it wasn't someone coming through the door that Christopher was yelling about, but the grandfather clock. The last piece of wood holding the splintered, old, heavy wooden case together lost its fight with gravity and the whole giant structure was heading toward the floor. She and Winky were in its path!

Instinctively tossing Winky out of the way, Anna tried to roll clear, but her right side took the full weight of the clock as the ancient oak case hit the floor. There was an almighty CRASH! as glass flew, and one of the chimes rolled across the floor.

"ANNA!" Christopher shouted. "ANNA, are you alright?" The dust and darkness made it hard to see.

"I'm just stuck. Winky, help me shift this pile."

Between the two of them, Anna was soon free of the debris and sitting, propped against the door jam.

"I can't see you from here. Are you hurt?" Christopher inquired. Anna scooted over to look up at her late husband.

"Well, ah...my right arm's broken...possibly my ankle...I think I have a few cracked ribs...a nasty bump on the head...a cut or three but otherwise, I'm fine. How are you, dear?"

"Don't get smart with me young lady! You sit right there and wait for help. I'm going to go and update Albus as to what's happened."

"Fine; go and tattle." Anna good naturedly replied, then grumbled, "Outwit three Death Eaters and get downed by a clock! Old Father Time's revenge on me for always being late, I suppose."

"Stay put!" Christopher stuck his head back in the frame. "I mean it! Let the Ministry deal with Lucius Malfoy. You've done enough."

"Ok, fine...go already!"

Christopher gave her a hard look, wagged his finger at her and then left to talk to Dumbledore.

"I thought he'd never leave. Winky, help me up."

Winky climbed over the wreckage of the clock and helped her mistress stand. Anna tried stepping on her hurt leg, winced and then reached over and felt her arm.

"Ow! That really hurts. And I feel a hellacious headache starting. Wonderful."

"Missy Anna can fix. You's a Healer!"

"Not with this."

Anna picked her wand up and Winky gasped. It was broken in half and the tip was dangling on the piece of dragon heartstring that had been its core.

"I suppose I'll have to leave the healing to the fine folks at St. Mungo's. But, this broken wand will come in handy. Go get the duct tape, Winky, so you can get to work. We'll lock their wands in the desk. Oh, and bring me my box."

Winky's eyes got big. "The box, Miss?"

"The box, Winky. I need to have something, if I'm going to capture Lucius. Hurry, I'd rather face him outside than in here. And he may decide to leave if he doesn't see or hear something soon."

"Yes, Missy Anna."

Winky jumped over the remains of the clock and raced to the kitchen, returning with a large roll of duct tape, which she dropped by the unmoving form of Macnair. Running across the hall to the study, she returned with Anna's metal safe box. Winky unlocked and opened it, holding the box up for Anna, who, using her left hand picked up the revolver and jammed it securely into her back pocket.

Unbuttoning her blouse at her waist, she gently inserted her right arm to take some of the pressure off of the broken bones. Her whole right side was starting to throb painfully. Hobbling to the front door, she turned and gave Winky a smile.

"Remember, mouths first, then hands and then get creative. And put their wands in the desk, too, don't forget. Help is coming and will be here soon. Tell Christopher not to worry, I'm Ok."

"Yes, Missy Anna." Winky ripped a short length of duct tape and plastered it over Macnair's mouth. "Bad wizard!"

"You were superb, Winky. I've got a lot of bragging to do about you!"

"Oh, no, Missy Anna, you did the good fighting, you stopped the bad wizards."

"But you did all the set up and everything worked perfectly. AND, you were very brave. I'm going to buy you a big surprise as soon as I can."

"Oh...my...Missy Anna." Winky started to protest, but Anna had turned and gone out the front door.

X # X # X

Anna pulled out her 'sunglasses', put them on and looked around. It was very dark, despite the clear, starry sky. The woods on either side of the gardens were deep black shadows. Then she saw him, off to the left near the drive, under the trees behind the rose garden.

Putting her glasses on the top of her head, she reached back inside the front door and flipped on the decorative lights that edged the paths through the gardens and highlighted some of the larger trees.

Walking gingerly to the edge of the flagstone terrace, she leaned on the stone wall and eased herself down the steps to the lawn. Making her limp as pronounced as she dared without looking like she was faking it, Anna approached the gravel path that led through the rose bushes. Leaf buds were just greening out and in a month the first blooms would be opening.

Christopher always loved these roses. Anna thought absently.

Then she looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy emerging from the cover of the trees.

X # X # X

"Good evening, Lucius. You're looking well." Anna smiled pleasantly, advancing toward him.

"Where are they?"

"Oh, inside...Winky, my house elf, is taking care of them...she just loves guests." Anna winced as she hit a rough spot in the path. "Ouch."

"Not feeling well...perhaps?"

"Aside from the injuries, I feel fine. But I forget my manners. Would you like to come inside and join me for a drink or a light nosh?" Anna halted about twenty feet from Lucius.

"Thank you, no. I have other plans for this evening. Oddly enough, they include you, Anna, if you haven't already guessed."

"Truthfully? I did overhear something to that effect, but still, it is getting late. Wouldn't you rather come inside out of the chill?"

"Again, no, but I would like to know what you did to those obviously incompetent fools I sent to bring you to me."

"Let me see...the last I saw of Crabbe and Goyle they were relaxing on the sofa in the drawing room and Macnair was in the front hall being taken care of by Winky, hand and foot. She loves playing assistant hostess. Best move I ever made, getting her as my house elf. But that begs the question, Lucius; what do you want with me? Is your Master throwing a scavenger hunt and I'm on the list?"

"The Dark Lord doesn't know that I'm bringing you to him. You will be the guest of honor at Draco's marking ceremony and the victim of his first killing spell. He'll be pleased."

"Draco or Voldemort?"

"How dare you speak the Dark Lord's ..."

"Oh, lighten up, Lucius. I'm injured, you're armed and we're alone in a garden...again. Sound familiar?"

"It does indeed," Lucius replied with a nasty grin.

"We've got to stop meeting like this." She gave him a thin smile.

"Oh, I'll take care of that. Now," lazily flicking his wand at her, "are you coming with me without a struggle or should I just kill you and dump your body at the Dark Lord's feet?"

"And deprive Draco? Tut...tut."

Malfoy gave a bark of a laugh. Anna shifted her weight, and a small groan escaped her lips.

"Aren't you at least going to come in and get your playmates, or are you abandoning them to their fate like the last time?"

"They couldn't do a simple task, the three of them together, so I believe the Dark Lord is better off without their dubious services."

"Now, now, give them some credit; they did try, bless their hearts."

"And you are attempting to keep me talking until the re-enforcements get here, aren't you? Well, it won't work. We're leaving."

"You figured that out, did you? Well, before we go, I would like to ask for one more moment of your time, to give you a piece of advice you might be prudent to listen to, even if it is from me."

"Certainly." He gave a small, mocking bow. "They'll be busy inside for a few minutes when your 'help' arrives. I'll be able to get the both of us out of here without too much trouble, if you co-operate. Or, I'll just take your body with me. Either way, I'm rid of you. So, what is this marvelous piece of advice?"

"Well...my late husband, Christopher..."

"The Muggle."

"Yes, that's the one...anyway, he always told me, 'Anna, when all else fails...'". Anna pointed to her broken arm and then showed him the broken pieces of the wand. She cocked her arm and threw the broken pieces off to her left, as hard as she could fling them without throwing herself off balance.

Lucius watched the pieces cartwheel through the air, sparking faintly, to land with a splash and tiny sizzle in the nearby koi pond. Turning back to Anna, he saw her holding something in her left hand and she was pointing it straight at him.

" '...just shoot the dumb son-of-a-bitch!'."

"What!"

"You're coming inside, Lucius."

"I think not." Raising his wand, he smiled at her. "You're coming with me."

"Don't try it, Lucius. I will use this and even you aren't fast enough to dodge a bullet."

"You'd kill me? After all we've meant to each other?" Lucius laughed, but there was no smile on his face.

"No. I'll just wing you, if you try something stupid."

"Liar."

"Try me."

They stood there staring at each other, Anna swaying slightly, the pain of her injuries becoming evident on her face, her breathing was getting slightly ragged; she was going into shock. Lucius slowly smiled and raised his wand, preparing to cast a spell at her.

"Goodbye little girl."

He whirled his wand and BANG! he was hit in the shoulder, knocking him backward. He looked down, stunned at the flow of blood staining his robes.

"Anna!" There was a shout from inside the house. Remus had come.

Lucius looked up at her, madness and hatred burning in his eyes.

"Don't do it, Lucius, I'm begging you. Please, don't."

Lucius switched his wand to his left hand, raised it and started the killing curse, "AVADA KA..."

BANG!

He staggered again, looked down at his chest, then back at Anna with a bewildered expression on his face, dropped to his knees and pitched face-forward on the gravel path...dead.

"ANNA!"

Remus had rushed out onto the terrace at the sound of the first shot. At the sound of the second, he spotted her and bounded down the stairs and across the lawn. She still had the gun pointed at Lucius, but her hand was starting to shake. She thumbed the safety on and her arm dropped to her side, the gun slipping from her fingers onto the path.

She turned slightly and looked at Remus pelting down the path. He reached her just as she lost consciousness and caught her as she fell. Lowering Anna gently to the gravel path, he looked up and saw Lucius Malfoy's body sprawled in front of them.

X # X # X

"REMUS?"

It was Tonks, followed closely by Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Over here!"

They ran to him and took in the scene in silence.

"Let's get her inside. Watch her arm, Winky says it's broken."

Kingsley conjured a stretcher and Remus laid Anna on it. Tonks picked up the gun and handed it to Remus, who pocketed it. In silence, they moved Anna back to the house, to find Alastor Moody talking with Winky and Christopher about what had happened.

"Where's Malfoy? Disapparated again, to save his skin?"

"He's out there," answered Tonks, pointing. "Dead."

"Humph! Well, that's one gone for good and three more back in Azkaban. And hell to pay for poor Anna. But that'll wait. Christopher, we'll see to Anna, so could I impose on you to go and tell Albus what has happened and that we're taking her to St. Mungo's?"

"Will Anna be alright?"

"I'm sure she will, Christopher," replied Moody, with uncharacteristic tenderness, "Don't you worry."

"Right, I'm off then."

"Tonks," said Moody, all business again, turning to the pink haired Auror. "You help Winky close up the house and then follow us to St. Mungo's. We'll send someone back for these three and Malfoy's body, after Anna's seen to."

"Right. Come on, Winky, let's set the house in order, shall we?" replied Tonks, holding out her hand to the house elf.

Winky was standing next to Anna's still form, crying. "Oh, I wants to go with my Missy Anna."

Tonks got down on one knee to talk to Winky.

"We'll go as soon as we can, but she'd want you to be a good house elf and close up the house properly. She'll be glad to hear everything was done by you, don't you think? And we'll pack a few things for her, for St. Mungo's."

Straightening up, Winky nodded. "Winky knows how to fix everything, just like my Missy Anna likes it. Come on, Missy Tonks, we's got work to do." And taking Tonk's hand the determined house elf led the smiling Auror off toward the kitchen.

Emergency!

KNOCK. KNOCK.

Severus' head snapped up from the book he had been reading. Who would be knocking on the door to his private chambers at this hour? Glancing at the clock on the mantel he saw it was just after midnight. Rising from his chair by the fireplace, he opened the door to find Albus Dumbledore standing there in the hallway.

"Headmaster?"

"Severus, may we come in; it's rather urgent?"

We?"

Then his gaze traveled past Dumbledore's shoulder and Remus Lupin stepped forward into the light of the corridor torch. Severus' years of practice at not displaying his emotions almost failed him. ANNA! he thought, and he actually felt his heart skip a beat and thud against his ribs. He stepped back and let the two wizards enter where few, indeed, had ever been admitted. Closing the door gave him a few seconds to compose himself totally.

"What has happened?" he asked, turning to look at Dumbledore.

"Anna Twigg-Jones was attacked by Death Eaters at her country house. She was injured but not too seriously; certainly nothing life threatening. However, that is not why we came down here at this late hour and disturbed you. I have a task for you."

"You did not interrupt anything of importance, Headmaster. What is it you would have me do?"

"I think you should to go to Malfoy Manor."

Severus straightened up, his face taking on a thunderous look.

"Was Lucius one of the attackers?"

"Yes, along with Fredrick Goyle, Stephen Crabbe and Walden Macnair. Those three were captured in the house by Anna and Winky. Lucius, however..."

"Disapparated...again?"

"No, Severus." Remus stepped closer. "He's dead. Anna killed him."

Snape swung around to face Lupin, his penetrating gaze settling on the tired, worried looking man, who didn't, to his credit, flinch under Severus' scrutiny.

"They dueled?"

"No, she was already wounded when she went outside to the garden to face him."

"The woman is beyond foolish!"

"I agree," Remus replied with a small smile, "but when he started to throw the killing curse...Anna shot him."

"Shot?"

"With her gun."

"Anastasia has a Muggle gun?"

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "Christopher insisted she carry it, always, for protection; as a last resort. It appears his instincts were correct."

"I see. And you want me to go to Malfoy Manor to break the news to Narcissa and Draco?"

Dumbledore nodded. "As Draco's Head of House, family 'friend' and classmate of Narcissa's, I think it might be better coming from you, Severus, before the Ministry of Magic descends on them. I talked to a few key people and they assured me the 'official' visit could wait until later this morning. AND, you could keep anyone from outside of the Ministry from intruding." He glanced at Severus over the top of his half-moon glasses.

"Like Rita Skeeter," Remus injected. "She'll go wild with this story." He shook his head at the thought.

"For once, Remus, we agree about something." Severus glanced over at him. "You look dreadful, by the way. Could I offer you a strengthening potion?"

"No. Thank you, Severus. I must get back. I've already taken Gwen to St. Mungo's to help with Anna's care, but I need to give a report at the Ministry, as soon as possible." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Then I will leave for Malfoy Manor. I'll contact you, Headmaster, later today."

"Yes, do. Remus, I can count on you to keep me updated as to Anna's condition?"

"Of course, Albus."

"Splendid. Well, shall we?" Dumbledore swept his arm, indicating the door. Severus grabbed his traveling cloak and followed them out into the corridor.

X # X # X

Click! Draco winced and then pushed the front door of Malfoy Manor open, just wide enough for him to slip inside. He was late getting home and didn't fancy a lecture from his mother. It was quiet and still in the hall.

Good, he thought, she's asleep. Think I'll have a little drink.

Entering the front parlor, Draco flipped his wand to light some candles and walked to the drinks tray on the sideboard. He grabbed a short tumbler and unstoppering a glass decanter, poured himself a finger of whiskey. Turning, he started to walk to the sofa when he saw Narcissa sprawled on the rug. The glass shattered as he dropped it, running to kneel next to her.

"Mother!"

No response. Turning her over gently, he gasped as he saw the bruises, blood and swollen face. He felt for a pulse, sighing with relief when he felt blood pumping through the vein in her neck. Jumping up, he went quickly to the fireplace, grabbed a handful of Floo powder, threw it in and stuck his head in the green flames that shot up.

"St Mungo's...it's an emergency!"

"St Mungo's Emergency Service." The Healer on duty looked up at him. "How can we assist you?"

"I'm Draco Malfoy. My mother has been attacked. I need someone here at our house, now!"

"That's Malfoy Manor?"

"Yes! Hurry, damn it, she's been badly hurt!"

"I'll have someone there in just a minute, Master Draco. Stay calm. Is she conscious?"

"No, but she's breathing. It looks like she's been beaten."

"Is anyone else there at the Manor?"

"No. I just now arrived home and found her. She was here alone."

"Right. A healer is just leaving."

"Thank you."

Draco pulled back out of the fireplace. As he stood and turned around, he heard a 'pop' in the front hall.

"In here," he called.

The Emergency Squad Healer came through the door. Draco pointed and the Healer hurried over and knelt by Narcissa. Draco started pacing nervously, trying to stay out of the way. After quickly checking her, the Healer took his wand and carefully floated Narcissa onto the sofa.

X # X # X

" 'Rennervate'" Her eyelids fluttered.

'Pop...pop' Draco heard two more people Apperate in the front hall. More Healers, he thought. Good.

Narcissa opened her eyes and looked around, trying to focus. She saw Draco and held out her hand.

Going to her, he knelt down next to the sofa and took her hand in his.

"Mother, who did this to you?"

"Your father," she gasped through her swollen lips.

Draco stood, livid with rage.

"I'll kill him!"

Narcissa grasped his hand tighter.

"No, Draco! You don't understand!"

"How could he do this to you?"

Narcissa pulled herself up a little. "Draco, what time is it?"

"What?"

"What time is it?"

"I don't know, 12:30 maybe. Why?"

Narcissa collapsed back onto the sofa.

"You're too late, Draco. He's already dead. She's killed him."

"What? Dead? She who? Mother, you're not making any sense..."

"He said he'd be back at midnight. He's not here, so his plan failed."

"Plan? What plan? I don't understand..."

"I told him she'd never be taken. I warned him not to go; I begged him."

Tears were streaming down her face and she started to sob. Then she pointed past Draco.

"Ask them," she whispered hoarsely, "they know."

Draco whirled around. Severus Snape and his cousin, Nymphradora Tonks were standing there.

"Professor! Tonks! Why are you two here? Where's my father? What the bloody hell's going on? And what," pointing at his Mother, "is she talking about?"

"Draco...Narcissa..." Severus walked forward. "Lucius is dead. He was killed during an attack upon and unsuccessful kidnapping attempt of Professor Anastasia Twigg-Jones."

"What!" Draco went pale.

Narcissa's sobs were the only sound. Tonks walked around Draco, sat down on the edge of the sofa and gathered her aunt gently in her arms.

"Oh, Aunt Narcissa. I was at St. Mungo's and heard Draco's emergency call for help. I just had to come."

Narcissa buried her face in Tonks' shoulder.

"Why would he attack her?" Draco looked at Severus, disbelief on his face.

"Frankly, I have no idea. Professor Dumbledore was alerted about the attack on one of his staff members and asked me, in my capacity as Head of Slytherin House and old family friend, to come here to break the news to you and be of what help I can.

"I was given few details; just that your father and three other Death Eaters went to her country home. She subdued and captured three of them inside and went out to the garden, severely wounded, to face your father."

"They dueled?"

"No. Apparently her wand and arm had already been broken."

"Then how...?"

"She shot him...with a Muggle gun."

"It was self defense, Draco," Tonks said over her shoulder. "Your father was going to kill her."

"Shut up, Tonks!" Draco spun around, hands clenched.

"I was there, Draco! I saw what had happened and there's a witness, too."

"Draco." Narcissa held out her hand toward her son. "Your father said if she wasn't captured alive, he'd take her to his Master, dead. He didn't care which way."

"Where is she?" Draco turned back to Snape.

"St. Mungo's; gravely injured, I'm told."

"I hope she dies." Draco spat.

"Unlikely," Severus replied, turning toward the sofa. "However, what we need to think about right now is you, Narcissa. How is she?" addressing the Healer, who had been fussing around his patient the whole time.

"Numerous but superficial bruises, cuts and abrasions. Two cracked ribs and some trauma to the abdomen with slight internal bruising. The baby is, however, unharmed."

Draco spun around to stare at the Healer. "BABY!?! What baby?" He looked at his mother. She nodded.

"That's why your father beat me, darling. He insisted I get rid of it and I said...no...so...he beat me."

Draco's mouth moved, but no sound came out.

"Oh, Draco," Narcissa whispered, tears welling up in hers eyes. "What am I going to do?"

"Might I suggest," interrupted the Healer, "taking Madam Malfoy to St. Mungo's?"

"NO!" Narcissa gasped, shaking her head. "I won't go there, not like this."

"Very well. Have I your permission, Master Draco, to move your mother to her bed chamber, where she could at least be made more comfortable?" the healer addressed him. "I can start administering the healing charms as soon as she's settled."

"Certainly," Draco agreed. He looked down at his cousin. "Tonks, could I impose on you to show the way? Second door on the right."

"Of course, Draco."

She rose from the sofa and gave him a kiss and a hug. He held her tight for a moment.

"Thanks Tonks," he whispered in her ear.

The Healer had levitated Narcissa onto a stretcher and proceeded out of the door and up the staircase, following Tonks.

X # X # X

Draco stood next to Snape watching their progress and then his shoulders slumped. He was suddenly a kid; a lost, sad, hurt, bewildered, scared kid. A noise escaped his lips, whether a sob, gasp or curse didn't matter as he brushed away the few tears that fell on his cheeks.

"My father was a fool! Look what he's done; left us alone, my mother's pregnant, I'm not of age or even out of school yet and the Dark Lord will want to know what happened and why. I don't have the answers."

"Why should you? You're not responsible for your father's personal activities, Draco. The Dark Lord will have to accept the fact that Lucius' death was the result of his own decisions and actions. You and Narcissa had nothing to do with any of it."

"But she's got a lot to answer for, hasn't she?"

"Your mother or Professor Twigg-Jones?"

"Twigg-Jones."

"And answer to whom? The Wizarding community or the Dark Lord?"

"Both. And to me," Draco sneered.

"First," Severus began, "the Wizarding community will applaud her actions and be appalled by your father's.

"Second, the Dark Lord will want revenge, if not for your father's death, then for the inconvenience she's caused, depriving him of four of his followers. To say nothing of making him look like a fool for not having his followers under control. Or he'll be blamed for the failed attack. He won't be pleased, either way.

"Third, and most importantly," Severus concluded, "if you learn anything from your father's mistakes, you will see that trying to exact your own revenge on Professor Twigg-Jones looks, at the least, ill advised and at worst, suicidal."

Spinning to face Severus, Draco exploded in rage and grief. "She killed my father...bastard that he was, he was my father!"

"In self defense," Snape answered quietly.

"Shot him! With a Muggle gun!"

"She's notoriously resourceful."

"Whose side are you on? Are you defending her?"

"No, simply stating the truth. When it is kill or be killed, self preservation is a strong instinct. How would you act in the same situation? Think Draco!"

Draco ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head.

"I can't," he answered softly, looking down at the floor. "My mind's not working properly. When I think about it all, I just get raging mad; at Father - at that bitch Twigg-Jones - at Mother - no, not at her, she didn't do anything except try and stop him. God, Severus, she's pregnant and he beat her, knowing she was. How could he?"

Snape let is pass that Draco had called him by his first name.

"If it's any consolation, I have had first hand experience, dealing with a similar situation of my own. My father attacked my mother when I was also in my sixth year. She did not survive, however. Your mother, thankfully, has. You have to focus on that, Draco. She needs you, so let us handle the next few hours and days, one at a time. I'll stay, if you wish, in order to lend my guidance and support.

"Thank you, Professor. That would be a great help to me and a comfort to my Mother, I'm sure. I'm sorry...about your parents, I mean. I had no idea."

"That's quite alright, Draco. The subject rarely comes up. Most students assume I crawled out from under a rock."

That brought a wan smile to Draco's face

"I better go up and see Mother. Will you come with me?"

"Certainly."

Putting his hand on Draco' shoulder, he gave it a small squeeze, and then they headed upstairs.