I'm sorry I couldn't get to you -- December 2018

I brought out Desdemona when instructed.  I had some fun with her by letting out my other side  She had scratches along her neck that were bleeding.  I held tight to her as she tried to free herself from my grasp to help Charlie when the Dark Star cast his spell.

"No!  Leave him alone!" I shouted when they started torturing my husband, and I hoped my voice drowned out the shout from my daughter... but I knew it did not.  If I heard it, so did they.  I struggled against Nolan and felt tears in my eyes as I watched Charlie writhe on the ground before me.  Only when my tears fell down my cheeks did Riddle lift the curse.

I had been watching Desdemona while having hte curse on Charlie.  I had wanted to hear her beg -- say 'please'... but her ters were good enough for now.  I lifted the curse off of Charlie and looked between the two.  "Your lives could be spared," I said softly -- barely above the panting of Charlie Weasley who was trying to be so brave... so strong...

I stared into Charlie's eyes and could not tell what he was thinking.  My sight was still blurry from my tears.  I tried to get thorugh to CHarlie that we needed to stay strong; we would get through this somehow, right?  I could hear the others still struggling to get towards our daughter and I knew that she was still safe.

I could see the fear that Desdemona was trying to hide.  I was still refrained and I wished I could do more.  Tearing my eyes from my wife, I looked at the Dark Star -- Riddle.  "We're not bargaining with you.  You won't get what you want," I spat.  I heard wood fall -- was the fire spreading or was that the others getting through to Quinn?  I could see smoke billowing around us, and I hoped that our protection spell would not prevent Quinn from escaping that.

Raising my eyebrows, I sneered at him.  "And what exactly do I want, Weasley?" I questioned.

What was Charlie doing?  If we could get out... save Quinn... ourselves... We had to.  I would do anything to keep Quinn from harm.  If the Dark Star killed us, he would surely just move onto Quinn, would he not?  Destroy the entire house?

I laughed slightly, glad to see how it irritated the Dark Star.  "You want us to beg -- something I won't do," I said.  I was happy that my voice sounded confident -- much more confident than I really felt.

They were no longer hurting them, they had to be speaking.  The protections spell was still working, but it was weakening.  My entire room shuddered and I could almost see the dome around it cracking as curses after curse hit it.  I screamed slightly when my room rattled enough and things started to fall off my walls.

I heard Quinn scream slightly and my fear heightened for my daughter.  I needed to save her.  "But..." I started to speak, but trailed off.  I would not beg, however, what was the price of staying alive?  Of keeping Quinn alive?  They were going to get her!

His laughter made my blood boil.  I waved my wand and a curse hit Charlie, making him fall backwards.  I turned to Desdemona when I heard their daughter let out a frightened scream.  "Well, well," I said.  "It sounds to me like your wife is actually thinking.  Go ahead..." Another wave of my wand and I gagged the bothersome husband.  He need not interrupt his wife.

My voice was shaky when I spoke.  "why are you doing this?" I questioned instead, coughing from the mounting smoke.

They deserved to know why they would die, did they not?  I smiled darkly.  "I will tear apart the Lupin family -- oh yes, I know you were the halfbreed's sister, though your name was different -- the way the Lupin family tore mine apart.  So... yes, this is my revenge for the death of my mother."  How she would be so proud ofher son, I was sure.

I gasped, which made me cough all the more.  "Hasn't taking away Chloe, Remus, and Will enough?!" I shouted despite myself.

I wanted to tell Des to stay strong and not show how all of htis was affecting her, but it was her family -- my family, too.  I could not blame her for doing what she was; I would be doing the same if it were not for me trying to get her out of here.  I just could not see how I could pull it off... unless I dueled and sacrificed myself.  Which I would do for my family.  That would give her time to get to Quinn and to safety...