evergreen • remus lupin

50. meanwhile

june 11, 1977

They only got one more night at the abandoned house before another encounter with the death eaters. It was early in the afternoon when Peter came bursting through the front door of the house. 

"They're coming, we have to go. Now." He spoke quickly

"What?" Sirius asked

"Look." he pointed. The four kids looked outside to where two dark paths of smoke barreled towards the hill, nearing every second. Upon sighting them the five teenagers scrambled to collect all of their belongings and any trace that they had taken shelter there. 

They put everything in the backpacks and reconvened in the living room. James grabbed Selene and Peter and Sirius grabbed Remus, and the five of them disapparated away, only seconds before the death eaters bust down the door.

"Where are they?" One of the voices asked gruffly looking around at the empty house. 

"Let's look around" The second one answered calmly

Two of the masked men started tearing the place apart for the kids or any sign they were they were or where they had gone. Meanwhile the third of the death eaters watched as the other two angrily sifted through the house, smashing things, knocking things over, causing general destruction.

"They aren't here" the man now unmasked, who was known as Avery spoke

"I KNOW THEY AREN'T HERE" the first death eater, Dolohov yelled throwing a chair at the wall, leaving splintering old wood pieces cascading towards the floor

"Calm down Antonin" the blonde death eater spoke, also known as Selene's brother Thorfinn

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" he roared "THIS IS WHAT THEY DO TO YOU WHEN YOU SHOW UP EMPTY HANDED!" he pointed to his face which was deeply bruised, along with his nose that was noticeably crooked

"What do you suggest we do then?" Thorfinn countered calmly. Dolohov huffed in anger before smashing another chair against the wall.

Meanwhile back at the Rowle Mansion, Delston was sitting in his study drinking scotch and looking at a stack of piles regarding ministry work, when one of the grounds keepers burst through the door. 

"What do you want?" He growled still looking at his papers

"You're son is back." he huffed out of breath

"And my pathetic daughter?" he asked

"I didn't see her" he mumbled. Delston stood up and stormed out to find his son and his two most trusted death eaters standing empty handed in the hallway like lost puppies. 

"Where is she?" he seethed

"The house was-" Thorfinn started

"No. I want to hear from you" he pointed at Dolohov, "how five TEENAGERS managed to escape you twice!" he yelled

"The house was empty when we got there" Dolohov said defiantly "The intel was wrong"

"ARE YOU CALLING ME WRONG?!" Delston yelled 

"No, but they were not in that house, that's a fact" Dolohov persisted

"No a fact is that you're a useless fucking idiot, get out of my house. NOW!" he yelled and Dolohov and Avery left quickly. Thorfinn still stood before his father, 

"We need a different approach" The blonde boy told his father

"No I need people who aren't idiots" 

"They aren't the problem. Neither are the bloodtraitors she's with. It's her, Selene is the problem."

"How so?" Delston asked

"She's a Rowle, and she thinks like one, no matter how much she wanted to act like a Gryffindor. She was raised in this household and she's a warrior, no matter where he loyalties lie."

"What's your point?" 

"You need to beat her at her own game. Use the element of the surprise, don't do what she knows you will do. Just get inside her head, and she'll turn on everyone, it's her nature, we've seen it before. And once she's alienated herself, that's when you get her, when she's all alone."

"I think you might be onto something" Delston pondered, as the puzzle pieces fell into place in his mind

"He's right." Vivian Rowle entered the room "They've obviously got a plan. Throw a wrench in it, and they will get flustered."

"I think I know what we need to do" Delston nodded. Before he could elaborate of his point, Angelica Nott entered the room in an angry rage. 

"Angelica, what do we owe the pleasure?" Vivian asked cautiously. It was safe to say the coming experience would be anything but pleasurable

"Where's your daughter?" Angelica asked, her voice cold and venomous 

"She's not here right now, may I ask why?" Vivian said slowly

"Well a little bird told me she was on the run with a couple Gryffindors?"

"Who told you that?" Delston asked

"Doesn't matter, is it true?" Angelica asked

"Yes, but not how you think." Delston spoke up. Angelica went to speak, but he continued, 

"She was put under the Imperius curse by Remus Lupin."

"Who?" Angelica asked

"A half blood Gryffindor, that was in love with her. He and his friends, including Sirius Black, cursed her and now she's under the impression she too is in love with the Lupin boy. They are on the run right now, but we have it under control."

"When will you have her back?"

"Soon."

"I need a date."

"I don't have a date." Delston and Angelica fought

"Will she be back before the wedding?"

"Yes." Delston said firmly

"The wedding's in two weeks Delston" Angelica reminded him

"I'm aware. Ask your son, he will gladly tell you the same" The Nott woman studied the Rowle's faces before disapparting on the spot. 

"Vivian, do me a favor" Delston spoke slowly and coldly

"What do you need?" she asked

"Get me a drink."

900 words

short chapter again

you guys aren't ready for the upcoming chapters >:)

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