Disclaimer: Unless a black hole has sucked up all the sense in the world, I do not own Harry Potter.

Author's note: Thank you for waiting! I realize I haven't posted lately...


CHAPTER SIX: A long night...

Bethany's PoV:

It's funny how often we use the word, "unbearable" and still manage to bear it. For instance, the unbearable, unforgivable Crucio curse, is not quite unbearable. Horrible, yes. But if it were unbearable, I would not have survived the encounter. Which might have been a good thing, because then I would not have been sitting in the dimly lit basement in Malfoy Manor, with no one knowing where I was, and I couldn't walk through walls anymore, because I was visible with no one to see me.

Leaning my head against the wall, I sighed. Nothing to do now but wait. And waiting is "unbearable" to me.

Unfortunately, I wasn't waiting long. Right when I was about to fall asleep, Bellatrix walked in, angry, wand in hand, and ready to take out her anger on anything. And I, sadly, fell into the "anything" category....This was going to be a long night.

Scorpius's PoV:

I am a third year, with limited magic. I need more magic. How? That was what was going through my head as I sat under the tree by the lake.

I was still pondering this when William Stone came up behind me and sat down to my left.

"What are you thinking about?" William asked.

I looked at him, a sudden idea came to mind. I answered truthfully, "Your sister."

That seemed to surprise him. "Well, why? I mean, I think about her too, but you didn't know her," William responded, a confusion filling his face.

I shook my head sadly, "I know her Will, and why do you speak past tense about her?"

He looked even more confused then ever, "You can't have known her. And, well frankly Scorp, it's been two years. Most missing children don't make it past two days."

I laughed despite myself, "Will, you're a smart kid okay? But your sister is not 'most missing children'. She is not even missing...well, wasn't until this morning...."

"What are you talking about Malfoy?" William asked me sternly, I flinched. I hated being called Malfoy.

"What I'm talking about, Stone, is that your sister was here. In the castle. For two damn years and no one could see her, hear her, or feel her until this year when I..bumped into her. I was the only one who could see her, and now my not-so-dead Aunt Bellatrix has come and captured her this morning. And unless you really want to lose her, then you'll help me get her back. Because she's my best -and only- friend, and your sister, so I don't think we can let her rot in wherever my aunt is holding her."

I had done it. William now believes I have gone over the deep end. "You're insane Scorpius. You never met my sister, she never even made it to the train. And Bellatrix is dead."

I shook my head in frustration. "Then how would I know that her name is Bethany Sylvia Stone? How would I know that her birth-day is August 31?"

"You could have heard that from when we were searching for her, we gave a lot of information then," William said defensively.

"How would I know that when you were ten you wanted to be a surfer, so you took the ironing board and tried to stand on it in the minnie pool in your backyard, that is now my backyard? How would I know that when she turned seven you gave her a rose for her birthday, and soon found out that she very allergic?" I challenged him, looking straight in his eyes that looked so much like Bethany's.

His mouth opened and closed, he blinked several times, searching my unwavering face. I could see the gears working in his mind, trying to figure out how to respond. I could also see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Then fear flashed over the hope as processed what I said about Bellatrix.

"So you...knew about my sister this whole time?"

Now I could see hurt in his eyes. I should have told him earlier. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I know you had the right to know, More right then I did. But William, your sister is in Danger and I have to help her, and I can't do it without you."

He was silent for a long time, then, with a determined look, he nodded.

I realized what I had just gotten myself into. William, a seventh year, and me, a third year, had to find and defeat the most crazy, and angry, and evil, Witch there ever was. Then we had to find Bethany, make sure she wasn't evil yet (You know, if she had excepted the offer...) and get her out of the place. But I figured we should start with finding out where Bellatrix was holding Bethany.

I was ticked with those Men In Black freaks, because they disappeared saying they would "collect" me during the first visit to Hogsmead, which, I realized with a sinking heart, I was supposed to take Bethany to.

Sighing, I stood up. I looked at William, who was obviously expecting me to go into some heroic rant again and go after Bethany right then and there, and said, "I'm going to bed. Talk to you tomorrow. Don't mention a word to anyone." Without waiting for a response I turned and walked away, silent tears slipping down my cheeks.

I hated crying with a passion, but right then, there was nothing I could do to stop the flow of salty water.

I was going to murder my great aunt, and do it happily.

***

That night I was racking my brain, trying to figure out where Bella would be keeping Bethany.

I was still thinking of this when I fell asleep on the couch.

"CRUCIO!" Bellatrix's voice carried through the door that led into the basement of Malfoy Manor. Screamed echoed up the stairs.

"You could still help us girl," Grandfather's voice now mixed in with the screams. "End this all now, just say yes."

The screams died down, a shaky voice floated around my ears, "I want it finished, yes. I want you dead, yes. I won't join you, yes." Bethany.

Another cry of crucio, another round of screams. Laughter, hysterical, rang through the empty house.

Gasping, I woke up on the floor in the common room. I had fallen off the couch...

But that didn't bother me, I knew where Bethany was, and I had to get her out. Her screams still echoing in my ears, I ran out side, needing fresh air.

Sprinting outside, I collapsed onto the cooling, dew covered grass. Rolling onto my back, I discovered heavy, frozen water droplets (Also known as snow), falling from the sky. I savored the refreshing snow in the early morning, the sun was about to rise.

My heart ached knowing what Bethany was going through while I was watching the sun rise.

My heart ached for Bethany.

Now more then ever I had to save her...This was going to be a long morning.