By observing his surroundings, Lord Voldemort saw that there was no other way to escape but through the door or the window. However, both remained closed, and even if he managed to stand up on his hind legs, he would be able to reach neither.

He thought of waiting until the dark when everybody fell asleep, but he quickly realised that this thought was quite ridiculous; he wasn't some sort of a fairytale princess who would turn back into her human form by dusk, or whatever happened in such stories. So unless someone opened either of the said objects, he would be stuck.

The Dark Lord was pondering every possibility, but none of them seemed good enough. He was sure of one thing, though: if he wanted to get out, then it must be when the kids weren't around.

"Mr Butterpaw!" squealed Melanie, startling Voldemort awake from his thoughts. "Do you want me to tickle your tummy?"

"Tickle my wha-"

But the girl had no sooner turned the cat over and began to rub his belly than she let out a scream of pain and drew back her hand. Voldemort didn't know how it happened, but it was as though his body sprang into defensive mode the moment his stomach was touched. He had clawed at Melanie's hand, causing a small wound in it, which was nonetheless bleeding.

"You idiot, cats don't like that!" her brother yelled at her.

"But I thought - I thought Butterpaw was different!" she sobbed, looking at her injured hand. "I thought he will love it!"

Jerry groaned and pushed his crying sister towards the door. Voldemort, glad that his chance had finally come, made to follow them, but the boy stretched out a leg to block his way.

"No! You stay here, Tom!"

Sure enough, Voldemort wasn't going to do what he was told. But just as he made to jump and slip through the now slightly open door, Jerry shut it promptly. They heard their mother call their names downstairs.

"Oh, no, mum is gonna kill us!" he whispered, looking from Melanie to the cat as he seemed on the verge of tears. "Mum is gonna kill me!"

Melanie wiped her tears with her sleeve. "No, don't worry, Jerry. I'll go and wash my hand before she comes up here. You try and hide Butter- you try and hide Tom, ok?"

Then the girl picked up Voldemort and thrust him into her brother's arms. Of course he tried to resist using his claws, but the boy was quicker. He wrapped a blanket around him, put it on his bed and sat upon it, making the Dark Lord unable to move and about to suffocate.

His mother entered the room.

"I have been calling your name, Jerry, darling," she said. "Where have you been? And where did the cat go? I thought you were playing with it outside."

"Been here all the time, mum," replied the boy, making an awkward move as Voldemort tried to use his claws again. "The cat ran away right after you left and we couldn't chase it because you told us not to leave the house."

"That's my good son," the woman beamed. "Where is Melanie by the way?"

"I dunno, maybe at her room," the boy shrugged, looking very uncomfortable.

"I will see if she is there," his mother said, turning to leave the room. Then suddenly she spun round again. "Are you sure you are all right, Jerry?"

The boy nodded, biting his lips.

"But you are sweating.."

"Yeah. It's hot in here."

"Shall I open the window for you?" the woman said incredulously.

"Please do." The boy managed to summon up a smile.

At this moment, Voldemort stopped fighting. It was only a matter of time before he had his freedom again.

"Gran has made lunch by the way," the child's mother added. "So if you are hungry...."

"I will be downstairs in a minute!" he said quickly, smiling again.

Voldemort heard a click as the woman closed the door. Jerry heaved a sigh and stood up, taking the blanket off Voldemort.

"You stay here, do you understand?" he hissed angrily. "You have caused enough trouble already!"

Knowing that this would do the trick, Voldemort looked up at the boy and meowed innocently. The boy grinned at the adorable cat and walked out of the room, not suspecting him the slightest.

An empty room and an open window was all what the Dark Lord needed. He jumped from the floor on to the bed then on to the table beside it. Extending his legs a little, he succeeded in reaching the window sill.

Voldemort looked down to the street below, trying to figure out how high the jump would be. It wasn't too high, but hitting the ground would be really painful, and the last thing he wanted now was physical pain. He stood still in his place, gazing into the grass of the front garden. Then he remembered something.

Cats land on their feet.

Smiling to himself, not sure how it looked on his cat face, Voldemort took a jump out of the window. He felt the cold air against his body for a moment before he reached the ground, as expected, safe and sound on his feet.

The Dark Lord didn't hesitate to break into a run as he wanted to leave that house as fast as possible. He took leap after leap, not looking behind, not looking anywhere but ahead. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw blurry figures, but he ignored them. One of them was approaching, but he didn't care. He heard a loud grind penetrate his ears and felt a jet of air hit his body. Then suddenly, he ceased to hear, he ceased to feel..

Everything became dazzlingly odd again as Voldemort rose towards the sky. He looked down at the road and saw a car next to which a small body lay motionless. He saw the door of the car open letting a man out. The man knelt down to check the cat his car had just killed.

The Dark Lord couldn't care less. He was glad to be finally free, and now he considered where he should go.

Maybe Albania was a good choice.

The End.

A/N
I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thanks a lot for everyone who voted, commented or read a word! It means so much! xx