To Kill a Puppy Dog

Chapter Ten:

Traitor in our midst

Aubrey awoke the next morning to a sharp pain in her abdomen. She doubled over and looked up in time to see a man in a black cloak with a mask glowering at her.

"Take the girl," she heard a slimy voice order. "Find the wolf and anyone else that is here with him."

"They should be upstairs," she heard a familiar voice tell the group. She heard footsteps as they ran up the stairs and she heard doors open and close in frustration. She was struck across the face.

"Where are they Aubrey?" the female voice demanded. She looked up at the figure and recognized the eyes.

"Annabelle?" she said in horror. "Take off the mask." she said. Again she was struck and the woman laughed manically. She removed the mask and it was in fact Annabelle. "How could you?" Aubrey demanded.

"Simple. It's in my best interest as a Death Eater," Annabelle said an eerie grin on her face.

"I trusted you!" Aubrey screamed before she was gagged.

"Take her away." The slimy voice instructed. Aubrey found herself bound with her hands behind her with magical chords. A green silk scarf was wrapped around her eyes and another around her mouth. She felt herself being led away and a familiar voice purred in her ear. Telling her she would be rescued. It did not comfort her. The only comforting thought she had heard before losing consciousness was "My lord, they are not here."

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Severus Snape stood back and watched as Annabelle slapped Aubrey. He had learned that Aubrey was Sirius and Remus' Secret-Keeper and wanted to tell Dumbledore immediately. He went along with the group to kidnap the girl. He could not let them take Aubrey away without being told her whereabouts so she could be rescued.

"Take her away," the leader of the group, one Lucius Malfoy instructed. Severus moved to execute the order.

"What are you doing?" Lucius demanded.

Severus looked to Lucius and with a sneer said, "I've dealt with her personally and I would like the opportunity to show her that what I told her was true."

"Very well, take her away." Severus led Aubrey away. As soon as they were not within earshot of the others he whispered. "Do not fret Miss Phoenix, you shall be retrieved." The others followed behind Severus.

"My lord, they are not here." She heard someone say. The next thing Aubrey felt was a sharp pain and the world went black.

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Remus and Sirius lay motionless on the bed. They knew that as long as they did not move and Aubrey didn't tell anyone that they were there, they would not found. As soon as they heard the last Death Eater leave they began to speak.

"Annabelle turned us in."

"Worse, Annabelle is a Death Eater," Sirius said. "But it doesn't matter. As long as Aubrey doesn't tell them anything, they won't know we're here."

"I know but we have to save her," Remus said.

"We need to get to Dumbledore. I recognized one of those voices," Sirius said. "I think it was Snape."

"He wouldn't..." Remus couldn't finish the thought.

"No, I don't think he would," Sirius said. Rising from the bed he helped Remus to his feet. Springing to action they ran to the fireplace. Throwing Floo Powder into the fire they yelled "Dumbledore's in a hurry!" and stepped into the flame.

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Aubrey felt a sharp pain and heard the sickening crack of her arm breaking.

"Ahhh!" she screamed.

"Awake are we?" Annabelle taunted. She struck her again. "Make it easy on yourself and just tell us where they went."

"No." Aubrey said through her clenched teeth. She would personally run Annabelle through with anything she could get her hands on once she got out of these binds. "You were there, you tell them."

Annabelle struck her again so hard that blood spurted from her nose and mouth. "You know that it doesn't matter what I say, if you don't give up the secret, I could be in the house sitting on Black and I wouldn't know it."

"Sucks to be you," Aubrey said angrily. She would not tell. She was not Peter Pettigrew. She would die first. Annabelle ripped Aubrey's blindfold off. Aubrey looked around at the small group of people witnessing her torture. Logging their features in her mind on the off chance she survived. She saw a short chubby man with blond hair. Pettigrew. She thought. She turned her attention back to Annabelle.

"Fine. You want to play hardball, I'm game." Annabelle said. Aubrey felt a source of heat coming toward her and heard what sounded to be iron being dragged against stone.

Hot pokers. Oh god. Aubrey thought. She heard one of the iron rods being lifted. She opened her eyes and saw that she was correct.

"Now Aubrey, I don't want to have to use this," Annabelle said. "But I will. Just tell me where they are and this will all be a bad dream."

"No," Aubrey said quietly.

"Tell me!" Annabelle demanded.

"Never!" Aubrey shouted as loud as she could.

"Tell me now!" Annabelle roared.

"Fuck you!" Aubrey shouted. "You'll have to kill me."

"Defiant bitch," Annabelle said striking Aubrey across the face with the iron rod. She felt her face burn and her cheekbone break. She inhaled sharply and bit down as best she could. It hurt like hell.

"Tell me." Annabelle whispered leaning close to Aubrey. "Just whisper it into my ear. No one would blame you. You're in a lot of pain." Her tone suggested that she cared but Aubrey knew she did not.

"No." Aubrey whispered fierce and determined. Annabelle stood and took a deep breath. Aubrey looked up and saw Annabelle raise the poker. It had a sharp point that would run right through her. It was more of an iron javelin than anything. She knew she was going to die.

"Last chance." Annabelle said.

Aubrey spat blood at Annabelle, which landed on her shoes. "Go," she said taking a deep breath and glaring at the woman she used to call her friend. "To Hell."

"You first," Annabelle said as she plunged the red-hot javelin into Aubrey's stomach.

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