"Lumos."
"I changed my mind, we shouldn't be here," Juliet said nervously.
The stairs creaked beneath their feet, "We can't turn back now, we're already here."
Juliet rubbed her cold hands together, "Did you tell anyone we were here?"
"No."
"Harry! You should've, how is anyone going to find us?"
"You know the others would've wanted to come too and I can't exactly go to Professor McGonagall and tell her we're going to see a fugitive."
Harry shone his wand around, illuminating the dark and old place. There were cobwebs everywhere and some of the floorboards were coming apart.
Juliet ran a finger along a window sill and continued up the stairs.
"How do you know she's really coming?"
"I don't," she whispered, "I think you should leave."
"You're not going to be able to do this by yourself. This is your mum too," he whispered back.
"Why didn't you tell Professor Lupin?"
"He would've told Sirius and he would've told my parents."
"I just have a really bad feeling in my stomach and if anything happens to you, I'll feel guilty forever."
"I'll know it's not your fault I'm so stubborn," Harry replied.
Once they reached the top of the stairs, Juliet put a finger to her lips. She carefully opened the door and peeked inside. It was empty.
"I thought she was coming for sure."
"I thought I told you to come alone."
Juliet and Harry whipped around and saw Bellatrix walk through the door. Harry grabbed Juliet and pulled her away.
"Isn't this sweet, you have someone to protect you," she sneered.
Juliet pushed Harry off, "I don't need protecting, he followed me here."
Bellatrix laughed menacingly, "Oh your father would be so proud, associating with a half-blood."
"He's a half-blood too!"
Harry whispered to her, "I thought Rodolpus was pure blood?"
Bellatrix cackled, "You haven't even told your own best friend who your real father is?"
"I...he told me I wasn't allowed to!" Juliet shouted.
"Still, you're weak, I thought you would've told somebody."
"I'm not weak!"
Juliet pointed her wand and Bellatrix laughed, "You don't have the guts, you're so weak, you'll never become a proper witch."
"Expelliarmus!"
Bellatrix's wand flew out of her hand and landed on the floor. Bellatrix merely laughed again.
Juliet felt the anger build up as she watched her mother laugh at her. The heat from her cheeks rose as she pointed her wand again.
"Stupefy!"
Just before the spell hit, Bellatrix disapparated.
Juliet panted, "Do you think she's gone?"
"I don't know," Harry answered.
A cracking sound came from behind Juliet and suddenly she felt like she was spinning. Once the spinning stopped she found herself in an alley.
It was almost pitch dark except at the end where there was a small light.
"Did you really think I'd let you get away with that?" Bellatrix whispered in her ear.
"Where are we?"
"Some town that I had stopped by in."
"You have to take me back."
"I don't have to do anything," she murmured.
"They'll be worried..."
"Worried? About you? I don't think so. You're just another silly little girl."
"Stop calling me silly, I'm better than you are."
"Impossible, I have more experience that you do."
Juliet gripped her wand tighter, "I think you're forgetting something Mother."
"Oh?"
"I was trained by the Dark Lord himself."
Bellatrix remained silent as Juliet screamed, "Crucio!"
Bellatrix collapsed to the ground and started yelling in agony.
"Crucio!"
The red light hit her again.
Juliet took off running towards the light and saw the sun rising. A little cafe down the road had just opened so she ran to it.
The owner looked at her in surprise, "Are you alright dear?"
"No, someone just kidnapped me and I managed to escape."
The owner motioned her towards him, "Please, stay hidden in my office. Is there someone you can contact."
Juliet thought for a moment, "Yes I think so."
The owner handed her a small phone and left her alone. Juliet took a few calming breaths before dialling the number.
"Three Broomsticks emergency line, how may I help you?"
"This is Juliet Lestrange, I'm a Hogwarts student and I need Dumbledore immediately."
"Yes Ms. Lestrange, he will arrive shortly."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I have valid reasons to expel you Ms. Lestrange."
"I know."
"You don't deny sneaking out of bed and leaving the school grounds?"
"No sir."
"Mr. Potter was with you correct?"
She hesitated, "No sir."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled, "How do you think I found you so quickly?"
"I called you sir."
"You gave Mr. Potter quite the fright, he ran up here to get me right away," he chuckled.
"I can't imagine why."
"I think you've been friends long enough to know why."
Juliet smiled, "Yes sir."
"I won't expel you today, obviously it was important for you to meet your mother after school hours."
"Thank you sir," she let out a sigh of relief.
"You may go now, you have exams to study for."
"Yes sir, thank you again sir."
* * * * * * * *
"Those exams killed me."
"They weren't so bad," Juliet and Hermione said in unison.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Easy for you two to say, you're both top of the class."
Juliet nudged him, "You could be too if you worked harder."
Ron glared at her, "Not likely."
He turned around, "What's the matter Harry? Cat got your tongue?"
"Sorry, just feeling tired."
Juliet slowed her pace and walked next to Harry, "You've been acting weird since I got back."
"Who is your father Juliet?" he whispered.
"I'm sorry Harry, I can't tell you."
"Why not."
"It's not safe."
"For who? I thought we decided that I can be trusted."
"You can, it's not to keep you safe, it's to keep me safe."
"That bad?"
"Worse than you think."
"Hey are you two coming!" Ron shouted.
They jogged to catch up to them as they made their way to the final feast.
"Hey Juli, everyone is coming over this summer to stay at my place, you're invited if you'd like."
"I don't know Ron."
"Think about it. We're going to see the Quidditch World Cup!"
She giggled, "Sounds like fun, I'll try and make it."
* * * * * * * *