The Footsteps of my Father

***** WARNING, HUGE WARNING*****

If you thought 17 was bad, this is the worst chapter yet.

It's so sad . . . . . and it will change Sindaria forever . . .


* * * * *

The Footsteps of my Father

Chapter Nineteen

-The Loss of Those You Love-

Spring break came quickly, and none too soon in Sindaria's opinion. The night before the day the Hogwarts Express would come to take the students home, Sindaria stood in her room, packing. Several students had already gone home, including Dominic, Alex, and Brandon, for they had people to come pick them up. But for the Muggle-borns and other non pure-bloods, they had the Hogwarts Express. However, Sindaria wasn't exactly of Muggle-blood, but she was taking the train.

* * * * *

As he neared the back door, he pointed his wand at the locked handle. "Alohomora," he whispered and the door swung open a bit. There was an unsettling feeling filling his stomach as he entered the back pantry. Can I really go through with this?

You made the choice. Follow through with it.

Dominic lifted his mask, hiding it beneath his hood. Taking a deep breath, he walked out into the hallway and, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, he entered the sitting room where his father sat, looking at the fire. Hearing the sound of the door opening, his father stood, facing Dominic. "Dominic! I did not expect you back!" Gabriel said, smiling. "It is good to see you home after all this time."

Dominic didn't say anything, trying to harden his face, but he felt as though he was about to cry. You are nearly a Death Eater!! Harden your emotions!! Dominic swallowed his feelings and set his face in a determined look.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes," Dominic said, his voice betraying no emotion. Trying to steady his shaking hand, he lifted his wand and pointed it at his father.

Gabriel looked at him, confused, and before he could react, Dominic yelled, "Cunctorgelo!" and his father froze, staring at him in confusion. Dominic walked up to his father, looking him in the face and unfroze his mouth so that he could speak.

"What are you doing?" Gabriel demanded. "Who are you? What have you done with my son?"

Dominic smirked. "I'm your son, alright, just not as you know me." He pointed his wand at his father's chest. "You betrayed the Dark Lord. He isn't pleased."

"Wh-?"

"Wondering why? Well, let's just say I got a bit bored with all the 'goodness'. It was making me sick. Macnair, however, taught me much greater things and urged me into Apprenticeship, which I took. You see, Father, I've been loyal to the Dark Lord since before I went to Hogwarts."

A look of betrayal covered his father's face. "Dominic! Why?"

Dominic jerked his wand angrily. "All of you! You make me sick!! Oh, don't lie to me. I know you and mother have wished on numerous occasions that I had been Sorted into Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Well, sorry to burst that bubble, Father, but I'm a Slytherin. But you just couldn't accept that, could you? You and your high and mighty ways, telling us we should be peaceful with Muggles. MUGGLES!!! We are pure-bloods, Father; does that not bring pride at all to your heart? Well, Father, you may have done a bit with your life, but as for me, I'm doing something far greater. Yes, Father, I am very ambitious, it's my house trait after all," Dominic smirked. "You said yourself you wanted me to make something of myself. Well, I have."

"Don't do this, Dominic!"

"You are a traitor!" Dominic yelled. "And traitors pay!!"

"Dominic, what is the meaning of this?" Dominic spun to see his mother standing in the doorway, looking at her son, horror written all over her face.

"Impedimentia!" Dominic yelled and Sarah froze. He stepped back, looking at both of his parents. "I'm sorry that I have to do this. But the Dark Lord commands it, and I obey. You see, I am loyal to him, and I am not a traitor." He said this looking pointedly at his father.

"Goodbye." Dominic pulled his mask down, covering his face. "Avada Kadavra."

* * * * *

Somewhere, in a clearing in the middle of the woods, stood four robed figures. One, the smallest of the four, was struggling viciously against the grip of the one next to him. The tallest robed figure stood on a platform, looking at the other three. "You have brought him to be initiated?" the tallest figure demanded, his voice like a hiss.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Your eldest son is already a member of our ranks and he has done well. Bring your youngest forth."

The robed figure hauled the struggling boy up to the platform and threw back the boy's hood, revealing Alex Nott. "I'm not going to follow you!" Alex spat.

Voldemort sneered horribly. "You have no choice, boy."

"My father will not decide on what I'm going to be!" Alex exclaimed, trying to free himself from his father's iron grip.

Voldemort bent down and grasped Alex's chin fiercely, his red eyes burning into Alex's. "You are feisty, but you will learn submission as they all do." He released Alex roughly and Alex glared at him.

"I'm not following you!" Alex said defiantly. Voldemort turned around and then whipped back, slapping Alex across the face quite hard.

"You will do as your father has intended."

Alex's father threw him down on the ground roughly, the dirt piling up in Alex's mouth. Suddenly, he heard shouts.

"Aurors!" he heard Voldemort hiss and with a swish of his cloak, he vanished.

"Brandon! Get out of here!" Alex heard his father yell. Alex clapped his hands over his head as he heard curses being fired from both sides. He heard a thud next to him and lifted one hand to see his brother on the ground, dead.

"Brandon!" Alex cried, lifting his head and moving towards his brother. He stood angrily, facing the three Aurors, two others were down and his father was no where to be seen. Even if his brother had been Death Eater, he was still his brother. Alex whipped out his wand. "You killed my brother!" he yelled and the Aurors spun to face him. After that, it was all blackness and he knew no more.

* * * * *

As Sindaria neared the estate, she immediately knew something was wrong and when she reached the manor, the sight she saw horrified her.

High above the manor, there floated an image that would forever be etched in her memory. The shimmering green Dark Mark. As soon as she hit the ground, she returned to her human form and ran towards the manor. This can't be happening!!! she thought frantically.

She saw Ministry cars and officials swarming the place and then she spotted Dominic, who was looking horror-struck at his manor. She ran over to him, enveloping him in a hug. "Oh, Dominic, I'm so sorry!" she cried.

Dominic didn't say anything and she pulled back, looking up at his emotionless face. He stared at the manor, not moving. "Dominic?"

He blinked and looked down at her. There were tears in his eyes. "I didn't mean it . . ." he whispered.

"Oh, Dominic, it wasn't your fault," Sindaria said, embracing him.

"Yes, it was," he said, sinking to his knees and staring at the ground, his head bowed. His black robes covered the dewy grass around him.

"No, no," Sindaria said, sitting down in front of him. "You weren't here. You couldn't have prevented it."

"You don't understand," Dominic said, looking up at her. His eyes were haunted. "It's my fault." He leapt up and ran, disappearing into the crowd of people.

"Dominic!" Sindaria yelled.

* * * * *

Sindaria sat in a Ministry car, on the way back to Hogwarts, a copy of the Daily Prophet on her lap. It had been a few days since she had seen the Dark Mark above the Conner estate. Now, she was going back to Hogwarts early, since she had no where to go.

The headline 'Eleven-year old boy sentenced to Azkaban' shone boldly on the front. Tears were streaming down her face as she glanced down at the article.

An eleven-year old boy, just beginning at Hogwarts, was put under trial today and sentence to a month in Azkaban for being a Death Eater. Aurors, using an unknown source, tracked down a small Death Eater meeting. There were only three. One escaped, another was killed, and this boy was captured. The month in Azkaban will make him realize that he shouldn't side with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. The boy will be released then and hopefully he will have learned from his mistake.

Rita Skeeter.

Sindaria tossed the paper aside, looking out the window, overcome with grief. She had lost Gabriel and Sarah . . . and now Alex was in Azkaban. The picture of him on the front page struggling against two Dementors would haunt her memory. He was innocent! I know he wasn't involved! His father was forcing him to go! Let him go!

She clenched her hand in a fist. He didn't deserve this. I know the Ministry is getting more uptight because of the war, but that's no reason to put an eleven-year old in Azkaban!!

She closed her eyes, putting her head in her hands, sobbing. Why is everyone that I love leaving me?

* * * * *

Her best friends were waiting for her when she came back and helped her through the next few days, where she nearly slipped into an ever deeper depression than before. If not for her friends, she didn't know what she would have done.

The week of spring holidays, the Three Musketeers rampaged over the school, exploring and playing pranks. It helped Sindaria immensely to be able to focus on something else other than the horrific memories. Several times, Sindaria visited Hagrid and being around animals made her feel calmer. She helped him prepare his lessons for Care of Magical Creatures and a few times, she would wander through the Forbidden Forest as an owl, searching for Krishna, but she never found him.

When the students returned, Sindaria searched for Dominic, but he wasn't there. No one, not even the professors, knew where he was and Sindaria had this horrible feeling that she would never see him again. And she couldn't bear that; not after losing her family and the Conners.

Sitting in Transfiguration, she couldn't hold back the tears, looking at the empty seat where Alex should have been sitting. Raven put an arm around her and Sindaria laid her head on Raven's shoulder, closing her eyes, the tears flowing.

Every meal time, Sindaria kept looking over at the Slytherin table, hoping that she would see Dominic and Alex sitting there, laughing, and realize that it had all been a bad dream. But they were never there. They never would be.

* * * * *

One afternoon, Vicki was feeling particularly vicious and stood up on a table in the middle of the common room and shouted, "Stay away from Olsen! Everyone that gets close to her dies!!" Then Vicki looked at Sindaria, sneering. "Or should I say . . . . Macnair?!"

Gasps filled the entire room and every student looked at Sindaria, their eyes wide and mouths hanging open. Raven walked in front of Sindaria, facing Vicki. "Shove it, Wilkes!" Raven yelled, whipping out her wand.

The confident look on Vicki's face wavered but then she smirked. "You'll just get into trouble."

"I don't care!" Raven said angrily. "I'm not going to just sit here and let you humiliate my best friend!"

"Ooh . . . . the Three Little Orphans," Vicki sneered. "How touching."

"I'm warning you -"

"What? What are you going to do? Miss Everybody Loves Raven? You going to entertain us with your wit?"

"I'll do better," Raven growled. "Nequeo Respiro!" Suddenly, Vicki's eyes went wide and her hands flew up to her throat, scratching at it as if she couldn't breathe.

Raven held her wand steady. "Take back what you said! Or I'm not lifting this curse!"

The students were staring in shock, watching the entire encounter. Finally, one of them scrambled up and ran out of the common room to fetch a professor.

Vicki's face was turning purple and finally, she collapsed onto her knees, nodding her head. Raven lifted the curse and watched smugly as Vicki gasped in air, looking up at Raven with pure hatred.

"You're just like your parents! Lestrange!" she spat and Marissa suddenly appeared at her side, helping her to stand. Vicki was lead off and Sindaria and Liriel turned to Raven.

"Raven?" Liriel asked slowly. "What's going on?"

Raven looked at them, putting her wand away. "What?"

"That was Dark Magic, Raven," Sindaria said softly.

"I was just teaching her a lesson. Come on," Raven said, laughing. "I wasn't going to let her die! I'd be expelled."

"What did Vicki mean at the end?" Liriel asked. "About your parents. . ."

"Oh." Raven swallowed, the smile disappearing. She took a deep breath and motioned for them to follow her to a secluded area. "My parents were Aurors and they were killed by Death Eaters, as you know. Wilkes, Vicki's father, knew my parents from before."

"Why did she call you Lestrange?" Sindaria asked.

"Because -" At that moment, Professor Flitwick walked in and Raven stopped, standing and heading over to him. They went into a deep conversation and then Flitwick led Raven out of the common room.

Liriel and Sindaria looked at each other. "That was . . . interesting . . ." Sindaria said slowly.

Liriel nodded, looking over at where Vicki was sitting with a group of her friends, looking as confident as ever. Liriel stood. "I want to talk to her."

"What? Are you mad?" Sindaria asked, standing and stopping her best friend. "That's a snake pit over there!"

"I want to know what Vicki's problem is and I want to know what she meant at the end."

"Shouldn't we just wait and ask Raven?"

Liriel looked at Sindaria. "I want to, but I don't know what's going to happen and Raven might not come back if she gets expelled. So, I'm going to go find out."

Liriel walked around Sindaria and headed over to where Vicki was sitting. Sindaria hurried after her.

"Yes?" Vicki said nastily. "Can I help you?"

"What did you mean when you called Raven, 'Lestrange'?" Liriel asked.

"Because that's what she is," Vicki said simply.

"Her last name is Sanders, not Lestrange," Sindaria pointed out.

Vicki rolled her eyes. "That's what her adopted parents' last name is. Her real last name is Lestrange."

"Why should we believe you?" Liriel asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Vicki smirked. "You don't. But it's the truth. You can ask any of the professors."

"How do you know this?" Sindaria asked.

"My father and Raven's real parents were friends. Of course," Vicki added bitterly. "Now they're all in Azkaban. But precious Raven, unlike some of us, actually got adopted and had a chance at a happy life."

Sindaria frowned. "So that gives you the right to make her life miserable?"

Vicki glared at Sindaria. "My life is a living hell!" she yelled, standing up and looking Sindaria in the eyes. "What do you expect me to act like? I have no family!! Even you!" Vicki stabbed her finger into Sindaria's chest. "You grew up in a happy home! Well, if I can't be happy, no one should! And that includes you sickening Three Little Perfect Angels!!" she spat. "Your father is a Death Eater; how does that make you feel? MACNAIR!!"

"How do you know about that?" Sindaria said softly, trying to control her anger.

"My father knew your father as well. You don't remember, but you and I were always stuck together while your father was out on certain business. My father was in Azkaban already and so I had to stay with you. Oh, you don't know how happy I was when your father decided to get rid of you! And then, of course, I found out that you were living a joyous life with Muggles! You were happy!!! And it made me sick!! I was stuck in an orphanage and when I got my Hogwarts letter, you have no idea out relieved I was! You were a Squib, so I'd never have to put up with you again. And then, lo and behold, you get accepted into Hogwarts!! And in the same house on top of it!! Do you have any idea how sickened that made me?!"

"You must live a sad life, if you can't even accept the little things and appreciate what you do have," Sindaria said quietly, but her voice was edged with ice. "I pity you." She turned and walked out of the common room, leaving Vicki steaming in rage and Liriel standing in shock.

Sindaria found the secret passageway and headed up to the secret courtyard, leaning on the ledge to calm the raging turmoil inside of her. A cool breeze washed over her face, rustling her silvery hair.

"Thinking?" a voice said behind her and Sindaria turned to see Draco standing near the bench, his robes flapping in the breeze. He smiled and walked up to her, leaning on the ledge next to her, looking out at the lake. "I come out here when I just need to think. Sometimes it gets too loud in my common room, what with all the parties that are always going on."

Suddenly, a memory flashed before her eyes, back on the time when she had overheard her father talking to her mother . . . Draco's mother. . . . . .

If we can pull this off, I will not have to put up with him any longer and Draco will be safe. That's the only reason I'm doing this, Macnair. You'd best be remembering that," she said coldly.

"You know I'm only looking out for all of us, Narcissa," he said.

"Yourself, you mean," she scoffed.

"No, my daughter and your son as well."

"Our daughter, and if you were actually looking out for the rest of us, I'm bloody innocent. . . . . . .

Sindaria looked over at Draco, who was still looking out at the water. A few strands of his silvery hair had fallen in front of his eyes, but he ignored them. Hair identical to my own. I don't know why I didn't realize it . . . Sindaria thought.

"I come up here a lot, especially as of late. My father . . ." Draco swallowed. "I'm going to have to make a choice in two years . . . and I don't know if I'm ready to make that choice."

"I know what you mean," Sindaria said softly, looking at the lake.

Draco looked at her. "What?"

"My father is Macnair."

Draco was silent for a few moments and then he nodded, saying, "Right . . . I know."

Sindaria looked at him, confused. "What?"

Draco sighed, looking at the ledge and moving a finger along the etched lines of the stone. "My mother told me. I've actually known that I had a sister for quite some time, since before the World Cup. That was why, when I saw you, I thought, 'no way . . . this is my sister?' I wasn't sure exactly, but then you were accepted into Hogwarts and my mother told me that you were, indeed, my sister." He chuckled bitterly. "Isn't it nice to live over half of your life not knowing you had a sister? So, you come into my life . . . and everything is tipped upside down." He shook his head. "I'll admit, the first time I saw you at the World Cup with Dominic, I really hoped that you weren't my sister and I was slightly jealous that Dominic had already become your closest friend." Draco pounded his fist on the stone. "And now you're in trouble, and he's not even here. Who knows where the hell he went? The war is beginning and . . . I don't know what to do."

"Dominic's parents were killed."

"I know. I saw the pictures. It was horrible. I'm sorry."

Sindaria leaned against the ledge, her back against the cool stone and her elbows propping her up. Draco looked up at her. "Why are you being so nice? Don't you have a reputation to hold up?" she asked, but she had a small smile on her face.

Draco chuckled, smiling slightly. "Trust me, I hold up my reputation. But I'm different with my friends." He straightened. "And you're my sister." His face grew serious. "Our fathers both expect us to follow in their footsteps, but whether or not we choose that path, will be up to us to decide later on. But not now. Be glad that you have two amazing best friends that would do anything for you, even die to protect you. I've never had friends that would do that for me. Sure, they're my friends, but there's nothing really beneath the surface. Raven and Liriel would defend you to the end, and I suppose that's why the name The Three Musketeers fit you three so well," he added with a smile. "I'll see you later."

He turned and headed back inside, his robes swirling behind him. Sindaria turned to face the water, bending over so that she could lay her head down on her folded arms. She stood there, thinking, for a long time and didn't go back indoors until the sun had set.

* * * * *

"It is time."

"Now?"

"Saturday."

"Are you sure this is wise?"

"It's a war, it'll be expected."

"So why don't we do something that's unexpected?"

"We're hitting Hogsmeade and that's the end of the discussion. You heard what he told us. Now stop whimpering and get to work! We have to have this planned perfectly. No mess ups. We've already lost several others; we can't afford to lose more. And make sure that girl's not there! Make sure she stays at Hogwarts! If she gets killed, the Dark Lord will kill us!"

"Of course. I know that. I'm on my way."

"Good. Remember. The Dark Lord wants Lestrange. Make sure you get her and bring her back. Anyone else, remove them."

"I know."

"Oh, and Nott?"

"Yes?"

"Don't mess up this one. I think losing both your sons should have taught you to be more careful."

"You don't have to rub it in my face, Lucius. I'm going."

* * * * *

"I don't believe you're not coming to Hogsmeade!" Raven exclaimed, sitting on the edge of Sindaria's bed in the hospital wing. She had come back that afternoon and told them that she wasn't expelled, thankfully, but she had detention for the rest of the school year and she had to clean the Trophy Room all by herself and with no magic. It could have been worse, so Raven's lively spirit wasn't dampened in the least. Liriel and Sindaria hadn't questioned Raven on her being a Lestrange, but they were going to talk about it before the Hogsmeade trip that afternoon.

"I can barely move," Sindaria rasped, lying against her pillow. That morning, she had awakened with an extremely sore throat, a fever, a terrible cough, and an upset stomach. If she moved even a tiny bit, her entire body ached.

"Well, we can always stay here with you," Liriel said. "I mean, I don't want to leave you sitting here alone."

"No, go," Sindaria said. "We've been planning this for weeks."

"We'll make sure we bring you back lots of sweets from Honeydukes," Raven said, grinning.

"Just don't get caught."

"We won't. We have your Invisibility Cloak, remember?"

Sindaria smiled, although the movement made her wince in pain. "Oh, yes, I remember."

They sat in silence for a few minutes and then Liriel spoke what was all on their minds.

"Raven, can you explain to us what you were going to last night?"

Raven nodded. "Yes. No secrets, right?"

Liriel and Sindaria nodded. "Right," they said.

"I was born in Azkaban . . . where my parents are. Yes, I am a Lestrange. It was shortly after they were first put there, while they were still able to think straight . . . before the Dementors got to them. A pure-blooded wizarding family by the name of Sanders had lived next door to my parents for many years and they were the ones that brought my parents in; they were accused of torturing the Longbottoms . . . and were sentenced to life in Azkaban. Mrs. Sanders knew that my mother was pregnant, but she wasn't sure when I would be born. So she visited my parents a few months later and one day she and Mr. Sanders came and I had been born the previous night. They told me about the fight that my mother gave before they had to Stun her. A baby could not be brought up in Azkaban, so they adopted me and I became Raven Sanders instead of Raven Lestrange. I knew I was adopted as soon as I was old enough to speak and understand what they were saying. When I was eleven, right before I went to Hogwarts, they told me the entire story. And Vicki knows because her father used to be friends with my parents; that was what the Sanders told me anyway, and I believe them."

"Bloody hell," Liriel whispered. "That must have been hard."

"The Sanders were the only family that I knew. My parents . . . they're just a couple of Death Eaters rotting away in Azkaban to me . . . I never knew them to be able to love them."

"That's so sad . . ." Liriel said.

"I know how you feel, in a way," Sindaria said. "Of course, I'd almost rather be in your position . . ."

"You had better not let that Death Eater force you down that path," Raven warned.

"I don't plan to."

"Good."

"Miss Sanders; Miss Vantura, Miss Olsen needs to rest," Madam Pomfrey said, coming over to them.

Raven nodded. "We're going," she said, standing. Liriel did the same. Raven winked. "Don't worry, we'll bring you back plenty of stuff," she whispered.

Sindaria smiled. "Thanks."

"Shoo! Shoo!" Madam Pomfrey said, shooing Raven and Liriel out of the hospital wing.

Madam Pomfrey came back, handing her a potion. "Drink this. It'll help."

Sindaria nodded and took the potion, drinking it. She handed it back to Madam Pomfrey and laid back down on her bed, closing her eyes and trying to catch some sleep. She knew when Liriel and Raven came back; they would have stories to tell and would most likely keep her up all night if they could.

* * * * *

"They're at Hogsmeade."

"Good; and the Lestrange girl?"

"We'll bring her back to you, my Lord."

"Very good. Go."

* * * * *

"RAVEN!!! LIRIEL!!!" Sindaria sat bolt right up in bed, breathing hard. She looked around the hospital wing, her eyes wide. She didn't feel sick anymore and instead was extremely alert.

Madam Pomfrey ran in, looking quite worried. "Miss Olsen, what is it?"

"I have to see someone! A professor! Anyone!" Sindaria said, climbing out of bed.

"Oh, no you don't. Sit back down." Sindaria sat. "The only professor left is Professor Snape. The rest, including the Headmaster, are at Hogsmeade with the school."

"Please, get him for me. It's urgent! Life or death!"

Madam Pomfrey bit her lip, the lines on her forehead creased with worry. "I will . . . but stay here."

Sindaria nodded and Madam Pomfrey left the hospital wing. Sindaria fiddled with her blanket, her hands shaking. What happened? I don't remember dreaming . . . I just remember that awful feeling in my stomach. Oh, God, please, don't take my two best friends from me . . . I couldn't bear it!

"What did you need, Miss Olsen?" Snape asked, walking into the room, his black robes billowing out behind him.

"Professor, something horrible has happened at Hogsmeade," she said, standing, her eyes wide.

"What?"

"I can't explain it. I just have this horrible feeling in my stomach . . . can you owl Professor Dumbledore or Floo him or something just to check?"

Professor Snape looked at her oddly. "He just Flooed me a few minutes ago. There's been an attack on Hogsmeade. Several buildings have collapsed."

"Oh, my God! No!" Sindaria cried, her hands flying to her mouth. "We have to go!! Please!"

"Young lady, I don't think -" Madam Pomfrey began but Snape cut her off.

"With all due respect, Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore asked me to bring Miss Olsen with me." The look on his face showed that he wasn't going to say anything more and that she was going.

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Very well. As if he knows my patients better than me . . ." she muttered, leaving them.

"Come," Snape said and walked out of the hospital wing. Sindaria, quickly throwing her robes over her shirt and skirt, ran after him.

* * * * *

When they reached Hogsmeade, the devastation shocked Sindaria. The once bustling street was covered in ruin and several buildings had collapsed. Sindaria broke away from Snape, much to his protest, and began running down the street, sidestepping bodies and wreckage. "Liriel! Raven!" she yelled. Please let them be okay! They had the Invisibility Cloak!

"Miss Olsen!" Sindaria spun to see Dumbledore standing next to a few Ministry Officials dressed in dark blue robes with red trim. Aurors.

"Professor!"

Dumbledore motioned for her to follow him. "You need to see something."

Sindaria's heart thumped wildly in her chest. Oh, no . . . please . . . Dumbledore led her over to where several medi-wizards were gathered round someone. They parted and Sindaria's eyes went wide. "Liriel!" she cried, rushing to her best friend's side. She knelt down next to Liriel, who was bandaged up to try and stop the bleeding. It looked like the building, which had once been Zonko's, had collapsed while she was in it. Sindaria saw the Invsibility Cloak lying nearby.

"What happened?"

"Death . . . Eaters . . ." Liriel gasped. She winced in pain and Sindaria grabbed her hand, holding it tightly.

"Hang on, Liriel. You're going to be fine."

"No . . . Aremis . . . they took . . . they took her. They took Raven!"

Sindaria's eyes went wide. "Raven! Why?"

"I . . . don't know. But she's gone. I . . . I tried to help . . . but I failed."

"You tried, that's all that counts! We'll find her, don't worry!"

"I'm . . . sorry, Ari," Liriel said, closing her eyes.

"No, don't you die on me! Don't you dare!" Sindaria yelled but Liriel said no more. "No, no, no," Sindaria whispered, rocking back, collapsing onto the ground. Tears streamed down her face and she sobbed into her raised knees. "No . . . not my best friends . . . . no . . . ."

"Sindaria . . . I'm sorry," Dumbledore said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Suddenly, she leapt up, glaring at him. "Why didn't you do something?! She shouldn't have died! Why didn't you save her?!!!"

Dumbledore looked at her kindly. "We did everything in our power, Sindaria. She was just hurt too badly."

"You could have used magic!!"

"Magic can only go so far. It's not all-powerful."

"Well, it should be!"

Dumbledore watched silently and Sindaria shook with rage and grief. Then the porcelain face cracked and she ran into Dumbledore's arms, sobbing loudly. "Why did she have to leave?" Sindaria sobbed.

"We cannot always choose our fate or our destinies. We have to deal with what we're dealt and unfortunately, sometimes it can be quite painful," Dumbledore said softly, holding the sobbing child.

* * * * *

He stood in a dark room, pulling on a long black robe. Running his fingers through his dark brown hair, he looked at the mirror. Tonight's the night, he thought and pulled the hood of the robe over his head, covering his face in shadow. Glancing once more around the small room, he Disapparated.