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Chapter Eleven

Almost a month passed from the day Cole saved me from Malfoy Manor. Never in my life have I spent this much time with Selina, but we surprisingly got along without any bickering. In the heat of things, we realized all of our stupid arguments before were pointless. She explained to me we were at Cole's hidden house. This was where he disappeared to exactly when he left Salem last year. We were somewhere in the Irish country side. It belonged to his Great Grandfather who passed away. I asked her why he joined the Death Eaters. Despite Cole normally getting into trouble and being just as power hungry as Selina, he was never one to join any groups. If anything, he had to be the one in charge. Her response was that he did what he had to do to survive. It wasn't about doing what was right to him, it was about doing what was necessary. His family was involved in the first war, so he joined to escape the consequences of betrayal. Plus, his name was cleared from being 'wanted' by the ministry last year. Being a Death Eater had it's perks since they've completely taken over the Ministry. What Cole really wanted was to be part of the winning side, but he was wrong about that part.

Selina was bored out of her mind before I came because Cole often was gone for weeks at a time. "It's better than being stuck at home," Selina responded rolling her eyes.

"Yeah what happened with that?" I asked her as we sat on the couch eating a bowl of strawberries and blueberries. It was nice to finally have fresh fruit in the house. Selina somehow knew a lovely gardening spell that I made her teach me.

"My mother," Selina groaned with a dark look in her eyes. "After my...incident...last year she has never hated me so much. I was literally locked in my room. There were bars and charms on my window so that I couldn't escape. She burned all of my letters. She told me she has never been so embarrassed in her entire life and that I was a disgrace." I could tell Selina was truly upset because she never spoke this fast. "She kept shoving the Prophet at me with articles about how Undersecretary to the Minister's daughter was an 'addict'. She told me how all her friends have seen it and offered their condolences." Selina shook her head with a scoff. Her mother was very set on impressions. I can't imagine how she reacted to Selina's Icorany incident being in the prophet. "And so, one day she didn't trust leaving me home alone. I was dragged to Old Salem Village with Sofia and her. Thankfully Cole was there on 'business'."

Her face lit up as she was retelling the story. I could only imagine her miserably walking around Salem and finally seeing him. She was so upset last year when she found out he left. "He had been trying reach me by owl and everything. I managed to ditch my family for a moment. Cole asked to get placed in Salem by the Death Eaters so that he could look out for me. We didn't have long, but he told me to be packed and ready by midnight. And that night he got me out of my house," she explained quickly. Wow, Cole had very impressive breakout skills. Then again with the amount of times he has gotten into trouble I didn't find myself surprised.

"I ran into Sofia," I told her picking at the fruit. "She seemed pretty upset." She rolled her eyes and didn't say anything. "I saw your dad too, from far away."

"Oh yeah the 'Minister' now," she replied in an amused tone. "It's all a big set up." She shook her head. It was clear he was placed there by the Death Eaters. Surprisingly she asked a lot about me after that. I told her everything apart from what Harry, Ron, and Hermione were up too but she didn't ask. We were getting along but that did not mean I trusted her. Selina was like Cole, she would do what she needed to save herself when the time came. "So you were actually with Harry Potter?" she asked in surprise. "Wow things really have changed."

We even talked about Kent. There was no way of writing to him since Cole didn't have an owl. There was no Floo network here either. I could apparate, but I didn't know where he was. Plus the Death Eaters were likely after me even more than before, considering I escaped. It was killing me just thinking if Kent was safe or not. I prayed Zacharias never found him.

Cole visited occasionally but it was obviously to see Selina. I did ask him what they made of my escape. Apparently Zacharias blamed it on Pettigrew from being careless with the lock and used the cruciatus curse on him. I felt rather bad since he had nothing to do with it. I wouldn't wish that curse upon anyone who didn't truly deserve it after experiencing it myself. But at least Cole's name was clear. "Alright I have to get back," Cole said pushing himself up from the couch revealing even more muscles than before and a few other tattoos aside from the Dark Mark. He was moving a lot more now than ever. Being skilled at spells anymore wasn't enough, you had to be able to defend yourself physically when needed. Selina's face feel as he kissed her quickly and left. It was possible we wouldn't see him for a few days.

And we didn't. I began getting bored. He said it wasn't safe for me to leave since they were on the hunt for me. I read a lot of the books I borrowed from Grimmauld Place in order to pass time but I was getting anxious. If only there was a way to check up on everyone. I asked Cole about my father before he left, he told me he hasn't heard anything about him, but that was apparently a good thing. Normally when a Death Eater was in trouble with the higher ranked Death Eaters, it was made very well known as a warning to others.

I told Selina all about the fire.  Since I began to control it even more I wasn't waking up to flames. In fact, none were appearing on me randomly anymore. Finally, I felt as if I had complete control over myself.

It was after midnight and my thoughts kept me awake. Selina was asleep on the couch while I sat up reading a new chapter on magical cooking. Then there was a crack. Selina jumped up from the familiar sound knowing that it meant Cole was back. "What did I tell you!" Cole yelled angrily to someone...and he wasn't alone I guess. The two of us curiously made our way over to the door. Selina was ahead of me and opened it, her excited expression turned into sheer shock. Turning to look at me she stepped out of the way.

"What is it?" I asked in confusion as I rushed over to the door. "Oh my-" I said and my heart fell out of me. Tears formed into my eyes. "Kent!" I exclaimed with more happiness than I have ever felt in my life. Running towards him I hugged him tightly, burying my head in his shoulder as I wrapped my arms around  him.

"I can't believe it's you," he responded with a relieved tone. A few tears fell from my eyes but I didn't care, I was too happy. Cole looked at me and rolled his eyes at our overly joined reunion. He walked over to Selina.

"He didn't believe me that I was actually trying to help him," Cole stated with an annoyed tone. "Well you're welcome," he added sarcastically. I looked at Cole through tearful eyes. "You saved her life twice, now we're more than even." His face was serious. This definitely was the last time he would ever help me, but I couldn't have asked for anything more.

"Thank you," Kent and I said at the same time to Cole.

"Maybe we should leave them alone..." Cole said dully but grabbed Selina's hand with a smirk and tore her away from the room.

"I can't believe it's you," I repeated turning back to Kent not wanting to let go as I hugged him tightly. He put one hand on my cheek and then kissed my lips, wrapping his arms around me tightly. It was hard to let go but eventually I stepped back. Butterflies formed in my stomach. Finally. "What happened to you?" I then asked looking at his cut up and bruised skin but I knew the answer...the cruciatus curse.

"Let's sit," he said taking my hand and leading me to the couch. "I'm so glad to finally see you. You don't know how much it has been killing me. From second I got your message about 'camping' I knew you weren't actually going camping."

"What happened to you?" I asked again. "Please. I know you're safe now but I have to know."

"Alright, but you have to promise to tell me everything I missed after," he answered and I nodded in agreement.

What Kent has gone through in the few months we were apart was horrid. The first part of his summer was uneventful apart from the threatening letters they received from the Lestrange family no matter where they moved. After the two of us lost contact, his Grandfather went out of their hiding spot to get needed supplies and was kidnapped. The Death Eaters found them. Kent and Nephele made a run for it. Not long after, he left Nephele with a muggleborn friend of hers where she would be safe. Kent then went to save his Grandfather and find me by looking all over the UK. He suspected I was up to something. That was until last week when he came head to head with his father. I couldn't imagine how horrible that must have been, his father was ruthless. His Grandfather was killed. He told me his father told him about encountering me and made up all sorts of lies to scare him after they got him back to Malfoy Manor.

"And then Cole suddenly appeared in the middle of the night wanting to help me," Kent said with a laugh. "I saw him upstairs whenever I was dragged up there. In all honestly I thought it was a trick but he kept mentioning you so I went for it." I smiled.

"You met your father I see," I added warily.

"Yeah," Kent stated. "He's worse than I ever imagined. Worthless being. I hope he rots in hell after this, or at least goes back to rotting in his jail cell." Kent's eyes were dark while saying this. I've never seen him hate anyone but I could tell he really hated his father. I nodded in agreement. There was no denying his father was a horrible man. "Now tell me what you went through, and don't lighten it up for me." So I told him everything.