Tears of Gold

Tears of Gold: Chapter One

The parting of the thick velvet curtains revealed a warm tableau within Avery Hall, isolated in apparent unconcern from the bleakness of the world existing beyond the exclusive and impenetrable barriers of the four gilt walls. The gentlemen within sat laughing and drinking around a cluttered dining table, their appetites well satisfied from the meal they'd just eaten.

Draco Malfoy stared in boredom around him, wondering why he had accepted Avery's invitation rather than putting up in an inn. How quickly he'd forgotten how outrageously dull these Death Eater supper parties were. He smiled cynically as he remembered that Avery, after all, was his host.

"What is it that you find so amusing?" asked Nott.

"A mere thought at my own expense, Nott, nothing more," he answered lazily, the smile momentarily widening over his aquiline features.

No one noticed the velvet hangings move imperceptibly as if a draught had disturbed them, and none thought anything amiss until a masked figure emerged silently from behind their concealment.

"Please, gentlemen, no sudden moves. If you will just keep your hands upon the table like good boys, I'll not be forced to kill you." The voice that spoke was clear and liquid - a woman's voice. She held a thin sword deftly in one hand, the blade pointed at Avery's neck, and in the other, she held - a wand.

Avery jerked upright in his chair, and felt the cool blade at his throat.

"Gently, my friend, gently," mocked the woman, her voice soft, caressing. An incredulous look of surprise spread across his broad features. A murmur of shock passed through the room as the other gentlemen reacted similarly, dismay mixed with outrage showing in their expressions, except for one who remained casually at ease in his chair, his gray eyes indolent and amused.

"Very wise of you, gentlemen," the bandit commented softly as they remained motionless as ordered. Their own wands had been set aside in the coatroom, as society rules dictated. None of them had even feared anything remotely similar to the situation at hand would happen. None but Death Eaters could legally carry wands. The rest had all been confiscated and burned seven years ago, at the rise of Lucius Malfoy.

The masked woman laughed softly. "Now, who was it who said that Death Eaters were shallow-brained half-wits? My apologies, gentlemen, for you are certainly showing a degree of intelligence tonight."

"Why - you - " Avery began speaking, rising in outraged dignity from his seat, only to be silenced as his skin was gently parted.

"Lady Jane," hissed MacNair, eyeing her flaming hair. Gasps of surprise came from the diners as their assailant was named.

Practicing a twisted form of magic that balanced black with white, the notorious Lady Jane stole from the rich and gave to the poor, baldly flaunting her wand to an infuriated but helpless Ministry. Common wizards revered Jenny Wesley as a modern day Robin Hood.

A figure of mystery, for she always wore white with a single white rose in her hair, and none had ever seen her face. But she was beautiful, and all of London knew this to be true, for on one or two occasions, Jenny had left behind her usual mask, and instead donned an extraordinary one that covered only half her face, from forehead to chin, while the other half was left bare.

"You'll pay for this, Jenny Wesley," Avery sputtered angrily, careful not to breathe too hard.

"You have to catch me first, and the Ministry is better with words than deeds," taunted Jenny.

"You b*tch! This is an outrage!" MacNair snarled, his face turning a mottled color in his rage.

"Oh, no," said Jenny, tossing her bright head. The rose fell from her hair into Draco's lap. "This is a robbery, and I intend to relieve you gentlemen of some of your pretty trinkets."

"The small gold ring, I think, and possibly the watch, MacNair," she mused. "Yes, definitely the watch. A bit ostentatious, I should think. Try an enameled one next time. These rubies and diamonds are much too large."

MacNair clenched his hands as if he held the woman's neck between his fingers, and glared impotently at her as she Summoned the ring and watch to her. She made her way down the table, selectively picking only one or two items from each Death Eater, leaving the rest untouched.

She stopped at Draco. "No jewels for the poor?" she demanded. "Come now, don't be shy."

Draco's eyes stared like burning coals in his face as he shrugged and handed over his ring and belt, which had a solid gold buckle.

"You have it but on loan, for I will redeem it in due time, m'lady."

"I'll look forward to the transaction with pleasure."

He lifted the white rose slowly so that it was level with his face, and snapped its stem in half. His eyes never left her face.

"Until then, Jenny."

She lifted her head.

"Until then."

With a sweeping curtsey, she backed to the window before swinging herself out. For an instant all was still, then MacNair cursed violently and made to rise, Avery following, when a flash of silver sped past their startled faces and knife embedded itself with a thud into the middle of the table.

"I wonder what the lady does for an encore?" Draco commented lazily, feeling oddly refreshed by the strange incident.

For a second there was silence, then confused conversation exploded in the dining room, with no one voice being heard. Draco stood silently looking out of the window, a speculative look in his eyes and a slight smile on his lips.

"Cursed nuisance," growled MacNair. "Third watch she's had off me."

"Indeed?" asked Draco indifferently. "Curious how she only took a few items at a time. Certainly not greedy, is she?"

"That's just it! Damned impertinence."

At this moment Avery called for them to go to the salon to join the ladies. Draco watched as they filed out, still talking amongst themselves in exciting undertones. Then, walking over to the table, he removed the knife from the center. He examined the hilt, touching his finger gingerly on the sharp tip, and with a grim smile, wrapped it up and took it with him.

***

With a small pop, Jenny appeared inside the warm, cozy cottage just outside London. The old woman sitting on the hearth looked up, a welcoming smile on her face. Jenny watched as the worried lines around her mouth smoothed themselves out, and walked forward to drop a kiss on her forehead.

"How have you been, Aunty?" she asked, to the woman who had cared for her for over seven years. The only years of her life which she remembered. When she had waken up that day seven years ago in this very cottage, she discovered that she had lost her memory, which mean that she had lost herself. There was nothing for her to do but rebuild the shattered pieces of her life.

Old Hannah Gray had found her at the bottom of a dry well and brought her here. In the years that followed she learned to use magic, though the Ministry forbade it, and Hannah had helped her acquire a wand. The cottage was both unplottable and concealed, and together they had fought against the Death Eaters in whatever small ways they could. Hannah had lost her husband and all her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the war, and fighting back was the only thing that kept her alive, for she was nearing one hundred and seventy years old and growing extremely feeble.

"You're later than usual," said Hannah reprovingly.

Jenny smiled. "Late, but profitable. I wish you wouldn't wait up for me, Aunt Hannah."

"You know I can't sleep until you return home safely, child," she said.

Jenny gave her a hug. "Well, I'm home."

"Tomorrow we bring some of this stuff to the Taylors," said Hannay. "They've been short on funds ever since Robert Taylor was killed in that 'accident.' Bah! The Ministry set it up on purpose. Everyone knows it."

"Tomorrow we go to the Taylors," said Jenny soothingly. "But for now, let's get some sleep."