Eleni's Missing Years

Chapter 13

Getting the information the man required wasn’t difficult. All she had to was hide behind a door or under a bed and wait for the house elves to begin talking. They were hard workers but liked to gossip amongst themselves. And they adored both her parents and her brothers. It was all they ever discussed.

Each day she was able to feed the man a little more information.

At least fifteen people would attend the secret meeting. Many would be from the Ministry. The meeting was to discuss a new list of names that a death eater defector had given her father.Some of those named were thought responsible for a spate of massacres that had hit both the Muggle and Wizard world in the previous months. This time she told the man, there was enough evidence to send them all to Azkaban.

It was going to be the biggest breakthrough for the extermination of the death eaters yet.

That was why the meeting was top secret.

But for security reasons, no one was allowed to Apparate directly into the room where the meeting was to be held. Instead they had to approach the house and use a series of secret passwords to pass through the heavy wards that would be put in place.

‘I need to know the passwords and spells,’ the man told her a little breathlessly with what she thought was excitement.

‘I’ve tried listening to everything they’ve said,’ she said, ‘but the elves don’t seem to know.’

‘I want you to think,’ he said. ‘Where would your father keep something like that?’

‘I suppose in his study,’ she said. ‘But I don’t think I’d be able to get in, it’s secured with spells and wards. Even the elves aren’t allowed to go in there.’

The man hanged his head with sadness.

‘It’s going to be mighty disappointing if we have to cancel the surprise,’ he said. ‘I was so looking forward in telling them how clever you’ve been. I know they’d be so proud of you.’

‘You really think they’d be proud of me?’ she asked, simultaneously eager and hopeful at the same time.

‘Undoubtedly,’ he said. ‘That’s why you must find a way to get the passwords.’

‘But how,’ she began. But then suddenly, she clapped her hand over her mouth and squealed. ‘I know,’ she cried out, ‘one of my brothers is arriving back early. He’s allowed to use my father’s study and he goes in there all the time. I’ll sneak in after him, wait till he goes and then search for the passwords.’

‘Wonderful,’ said the man. ‘You’ve been entrusted with a very special assignment. But I want you to be careful because no one is to find out what you’re doing. If you succeed you will be richly rewarded.’

* * * * *

Moments after Harry, Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing, Professor Dumbledore Apparated into the room.

‘My apologies,’ he said, when he saw Snape and McGonagall’s startled faces. ‘I came the moment I heard. Apparating into the hospital wing seemed the quickest way.’

‘But Albus I only just owled you,’ said Professor McGonagall, ‘how did you…’ She stopped when she saw the familiar twinkle in his eyes.

‘Where is she?’ he asked.

‘Over there,’ she said. ‘However she is still unconscious.’

Dumbledore moved to Eleni’s bedside and studied her face, which was contorting and grimacing, as if in pain. Her eyes continued to move desperately under her eyelids.

Dumbledore turned to Snape. For a moment every crease and fold in his face, showed its age.

‘Severus I want you to tell me everything, from the beginning.’

Snape collapsed back into the chair, the same chair where he had kept vigil over Eleni. He covered his face with his hands.

‘Headmaster I don’t understand what went wrong,’ he said.

Dumbledore touched him lightly on the shoulder, causing Snape to flinch.

‘Severus don’t, just tell me what happened.’

‘Minerva woke me during the night,’ he began, his voice quiet but articulate. ‘She said that several students had heard screams from Eleni’s room and that she was missing. I searched and found her weeping, deep in the Forbidden Forest. It was clear that she had remembered everything and was obviously distraught. However before I could do anything, we were attacked by “Vampirimots.” I have never seen them this powerful. They succeeded in draining my wand of its power. The only explanation I have is that they must have aligned themselves with Voldemort and rewarded with extra power and mastery. We were lucky that the Centaurs arrived and held them off, while we got out through a passage underground.’

‘I presume the “Vampirimots” attacked her,’ said Dumbledore.

‘She was an easy target,’ said Snape. ‘In the emotional state she was in, they succeeded in almost sucking her dry.’

‘And you’re sure Voldemort is behind it?’

Snape touched his left sleeve. ‘The moment I stepped into the Forbidden Forest, my mark began burning. They must have been lying in wait.’

Dumbledore shook his head. ‘Severus you should have heeded me and not left the castle confines. I did warn you.’

‘As did I,’ said McGonagall.

‘What else could I do,’ said Snape. ‘When I realised where she had gone, I had no choice but to get her out safely.’

Dumbledore studied Eleni’s furrowed face.

‘Do you have any idea what went wrong with the potion?’

‘No headmaster. Till now it was working perfectly.’

‘Perhaps unbeknownst to you,’ said Dumbledore, ‘she had stopped taking it.’

‘Even if she had,’ said Snape, ‘the reaction wouldn’t have been this severe.’ He reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty vial. ‘Minerva searched Eleni’s room and found this empty vial. When I have a moment, I’m going to test its properties.’

‘Severus,’ said Dumbledore, ‘I suggest you go and do that now. The sooner we get to bottom of this, the better.’

Snape looked at Eleni and hesitated.

Dumbledore smiled. ‘I’ll stay with her,’ he said. ‘You might help her a lot more if you have that empty vial analysed.’

‘Very well,’ said Snape, before swishing away in his black robes.

* * * * *

Obtaining the secret passwords was easier than what she had ever imagined.

Her brother had arrived home and gone straight to their father’s study. She had followed and hidden in the cupboard across the study in the hallway. She waited quietly, wandering is she dare open the study door and try to sneak in. But if her brother caught her? Then what? However to her delight, he did not remain in the study long and because his mind was preoccupied, he left but forgot to reapply the usual spells and wards their father had set up.

When it was clear that the coast was free, she crept out of the cupboard and took the few steps to the study door, opened it and entered.

She had never been in her father’s study and was momentarily thunderstruck by the huge bookshelves lining the walls, the expansive desk and leather armchair behind it. She spent many long moments, swivelling round and round in her father’s leather chair, unsure and a little fearful about opening the drawers and searching for the secret passwords.

But then she saw them. Right in the centre of the shiny wooden desk. A simple parchment, with a list of wordswritten on it. It was titled “Secreto”.

This has to be it, she thought, picking up the parchment with trembling fingers and examining the words. She quickly wrote down the words on a scrap of paper and crept guiltily out of the study and back to her room.

That night she had strange dreams about the man in the park. His face friendly and kind, suddenly changed into a snake’s and his long fangs dripped poison as it poised to attack her parents, who were seated in the dining room.

She awoke the following morning aware that the man would be waiting in the park, waiting for the passwords. But she remembered the dream from the previous night and was doubtful and afraid.

What if she didn’t go? What if she stayed in her room and never returned to the park?

But what if it was true about the surprise party? What if it was her big opportunity to make her parents proud? Perhaps if she told her brother and explained the situation, he’d tell what to do.

She ran to search for him but the elves told her that he had left early that morning and wasn’t returning till the day of the meeting. She went to sit on her bed, her head burning with the knowledge that he hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye.

It renewed her resolve. There was little hesitation later that day, when she handed theman the piece of paper.

‘Good girl,’ he crooned, almost snatching it from her hand. ‘You’ve been very clever. You will make your parents proud.’

‘I hope so,’ she said, ‘because I shouldn’t have been in my father’s study.’

‘I want you to be at the meeting too,’ he said.

‘But they’ll never let me.’

‘Then hide,’ he said. ‘They’ll never know and I want you to be there for their surprise.’

The man then smiled, showing a row of sharp gold teeth.

* * * * *

It didn’t take Snape long to extract a drop from the empty vial. He watched as the drop slid down the test tube and settled at the bottom. He then held the test tube over a flame and studied its reaction to heat.

Curious he thought, it’s not reacting, as it should. In fact as the droplet turned dark brown, it let out an odious odour.

Snape placed the test tube down and went to sit in his office. He was weary but he searched his vast memory, certain that he had seen that same reaction. But what is the potion he asked himself.

Eventually the scattered pieces of information formulated in his mind. He stood and quickly scanned his bookshelf before picking out a book on deadly potions. He quickly leafed through the pages and found what he was looking for.

He stared unblinkingly at the ingredients listed and the effects it incurred, before angrily sweeping his arm across his desk and knocking everything to the ground.

* * * * *

When her parents arrived home, she wanted to confess and tell them all about the man and what she had given him. But each time she tried, she was brushed aside.

‘Later,’ they told her. ‘Can’t you see how busy we are? Now go to your room because we must finish the preparations.’

The meeting was to be held in the dining room. For two days the house elves cleaned and scrubbed till the room was spotless and sparkling.

She snuck in an hour before the meeting, after the last house elf had completed a final inspection. The long table was covered in a thick, rich cream tablecloth, which she crept under. All day she had been thinking about the meeting and the surprise that the man had planned. Yet there was a nervousness deep in the pit of her stomach. Since giving the man the secret passwords she had not seen him. Each day she had gone to the lake and waited but there had been no sign of him.

Perhaps he was busy preparing the surprise she told herself as the worry continue to rise.

The guests all arrived promptly, many of them dressed in elegant velvet robes. She remained quiet under the table and listened as someone called Cornelius Fudge, brought the meeting to order and made the introductions.

She then heard her father’s voice explaining the reasons for the meeting and how there had been a series of massacres in the wizard and muggle world, which was indicative of the possible return of Voldemort.

His words caused an uproar.

‘But you know what happened with the Potter child,’ a voice said, ‘Voldemort was destroyed.’

Other voices murmured in agreement.

‘No,’ said her father. ‘His return is still possible, which would account for the increased activity of the death eaters.’

‘The death eaters must be wiped out,’ she heard her mother say. ‘A defector had given my husband a list of the active ones, many of whom have been responsible for the recent massacres.’

‘Read us the list,’ said someone.

Her father was about to read the first name, when the room fell into darkness.

‘What’s happened to the light?’ he said.

From under the table, she rubbed her hands with glee. There really was going to be a party.

‘My God did you see that lightening outside,’ said someone. ‘It’s coming in this direction.’

‘It’s an attack,’ cried her father.

No, no, she wanted to cry out. It’s not an attack, it’s a… But before she could finish the thought the windows exploded and a piercing scream shook the walls, as heavy footsteps descended upon the room.

‘How the hell did you get in here,’ boomed her father’s angry voice. ‘Get out!’

Her thoughts whirled frantically around her head. What was happening? This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Needing to know, she slid out from under the table and was shocked to see a group of men, wearing reptile masks, swinging their wands and crying out what she knew to be “unforgivable” curses.

In horror she watched as grown men and women fell to their knees screaming and thrashing, their eyes popping out of the sockets in pain. She looked up and to her horror saw a flash of gold teeth. The man, it was the man from the park. He had tricked her. She watched as he approached her whimpering mother and casually struck her down.

‘Crucio, Crucio,’ she heard sung around her, as her father rushed to her mother and held the inert body in his arms.

The man stepped over bodies and walked in the direction of her father.

‘Look out,’ she heard herself cry out.

Her father looked at her in astonishment before looking at the deadly figure towering over him.

‘Coward,’ he said to the man. ‘Why don’t you take the mask off and show yourself.’

‘Fool,’ cried the man. ‘You thought you could defeat us. Well let me show you what real suffering is. Crucio!’

Her father shuddered to the ground, shrieking in pain. She watched terrorised and repulsed unable to comprehend what was happening. Her father was a powerful and influential figure in the wizard community. But he had been reduced to a quivering mess.

‘Where is the girl?’ she heard the man say.

‘Over in that corner,’ said a nasty voice.

The breath stopped somewhere in her throat, as she watched the man approach. She looked up and saw the gleam of gold. His sleeves were rolled up and she saw a strange black mark on his forearm.

‘Enjoying it,’ he said to her.

‘But you said it was going to be a surprise party?’ she said.

The man rolled back his head and laughed. ‘It is a surprise party although not in the way you intended.’

She jumped up and pounded his chest with her tight fists, crying and yelling. ‘You liar. You lied to me. I hate you.’

‘Shut up,’ he growled, slapping her face before dragging her to the moaning mess that was her father.

‘Now this is my surprise to you,’ said the man, ‘for betraying your father. I want you to watch carefully.’

Through his fog of pain, her father looked at her in disbelief.

‘Oh didn’t you know,’ the man crowed to him. ‘Your little bright spark here is a traitor, she betrayed you. It was she that gave me the secret passwords. See,’ he told her, ‘this is all your doing. Every dead person died because of you.’

‘No,’ she yelled.

The man grabbed her and moved her head till she was facing her father, who was panting in pain. His eyes were a myriad of every emotion.

‘Please don’t kill him,’ she begged the man, who laughed and lifted his wand.

‘Avada Kedavra,’ he roared, as a flash of green lightening catapulted into her father, killing him instantly.

She was faintly aware that she was screaming and screaming.

‘And now,’ said the man, ‘it is your turn. I mean I wouldn’t want to leave any witnesses.’

He laughed and touched her head with his wand. Suddenly an arm came from behind, flinging her out of the way. ‘Expelliarmus,’ cried a voice, as she lay crying on the floor.

The man flew back across the room but the moment he touched the ground, he disappeared.

‘Damn,’ cried someone, ‘they’ve Apparated away. We’ll never catch them now. They were in disguise, I couldn’t see their faces.’

‘Where’s Cornelius Fudge?’

‘Over here, he’s lucky, he’s unharmed.’

She stared at the smouldering remains, at the bodies strewn across the floor. She began screaming and thrashing her arms and legs. Who was she? Where was she? What had happened?