Chapter Five, Christmas Time Horror

"I think it was a waste of money to buy it." Ailla sighed as she Demelza and Verity rode back to Nampara from their shopping trip in Turo. "It wasn't a waste Ailla. Ross will live ter see yer in the dress." Demelza assured her cousin. "The mine is profitable you've made sure of that and they have a hardy ladder so there'll be no accidents, how could it be a waste?"
"I must agree with Demelza on this Ailla. It is not a waste to treat yourself once in a while and Ross will agree with us on this. How did he take to finding out you've been going down the mine to help them while he sleeps?" Verity asked curiously.
"He was concerned that something would've happened to me and he wouldn't be there to stop it. But I don't regret it as all of the water is gone so there's no chance of anyone drowning." Ailla said proudly.

"It's a waste as my measurements won't be the same for long." She told the two discreetly stopping them in their tracks. "My dear you don't mean?" Verity asked excitedly Ailla nodded her head happily.
"Oh Ailla that is wonderful news. I get another nephew or niece and Teddy gets a little brother or sister. I can't wait to see Ross's face." Demelza gushed excitedly when realisation crossed her face. "That's why you have been throwing up a lot and can't eat certain foods. Ross was scared you'd caught a bug or something." Demelza said as they continued their short ride back to Nampara where Ross stood waiting for them. He helped Verity and Demelza off of their horses then rushed to Ailla and swept her up in his arms checking her over to make sure she was alright.

"I'm fine Ross." Ailla said grabbing Ross's hands stopping him from checking her over for a second time. "Fine? You're looking rather pale love forgive me if I do not believe you to be fine." Ross answered rather frantically. "I wish you hadn't gone that ride into Turo it has upset your stomach further."
"How's Teddy?" Ailla asked changing the subject to find out how her first son was and to calm Ross down. Ross blinked for a second startled before he smiled. "He wouldn't go down for his nap, he wanted his mamma but I finally got him to sleep. Now don't change the subject."
"Ross. Would you have a little more love left in your heart?" Ailla asked nervously.

"What do you mean my love? For you and Teddy always." Ross answered confused.
"What about for another child?" Ailla asked putting a hand on her still flat stomach. A wide smile spread across his face from ear to ear as he realised what she meant. "You're with child?" He asked excitedly placing his hand on top of hers. "Yes Ross." Ailla answered. "We're going to have another son or daughter, Teddy is going to be a big brother."

Ross cheered and swept Ailla up into his arms spinning her slightly as he kissed her happily, though he quickly set her back down when her face tinted green. "Sorry my love." Ross apologised kissing her head softly. Verity and Demelza looked on happily they couldn't wait to be aunties a second time round.

***

"I don't know if I should go down I feel so ill." Ailla complained to Verity as she sat at the vanity Verity doing her hair. "I won't lace you too tightly." Verity assured. "And you don't look fat you look radiant especially in this emerald green dress that had silver beads on it. "You look beautiful Ailla." Demelza complimented coming into her cousins room she was dressed in a Gryffindor red dress and gold beads, the two cousins had a laugh when they saw the dresses and had to get them especially as they suited them so well, and Demelza wanted to show off her cousins house and a house she would be in if she had magic.

"So do you Demelza." Ailla complimented her looking at cousin in the mirror. "Teddy will be fine Ailla." Demelza assured when she saw the frown on her face. "You know Prudie adores him, so dies Jud." Ailla nodded knowing she was right as she slowly stood up soothing out the skirts of her dress. Once Verity had deemed the two cousins ready the three headed downstairs where Ross and Captain Ben Henshaw was talking to Francis waiting for them. Demelza and Ben had not long started courting much to Ailla's happiness.

When the three men turned at the sound of their entrance Ben's and Ross's mouths fell open causing Francis and Verity to smirk at them. "You look stunning Demelza, as do you ma'am." Ben complimented as he kissed Demelza's hand then Ailla's. Demelza and Ailla blushed and said soft thank you. "I'm surprised you do not have more of a fight on your hands cousin." Francis jested bringing Ross out of his shocked dazed. "Oh I do Francis. You look absolutely stunning my love words cannot describe." Ross replied as he kissed his wife. "As do you Demelza, Verity." Ross complimented.
"Thank you Ross. We best not keep our other guests waiting too long." Verity said as she and Francis led the way into the dinning room.

Dinner was a rather awkward affair especially when Ailla refused a drink and asked for water the questions doubled and strengthened. "Why are you refusing a drink it is custom to have a drink at the holidays?" George Warleggen sneered.
"It will interfere with the medication I have to take." Ailla replied cordially as she sipped at her water a hand discreetly on her stomach, they had decided not to announce the pregnancy just yet. "Oh and what that be for?" George's uncle asked scornfully. "No doubt due to living in scrawler all her life." He muttered what was meant to be under his breath but made sure everyone heard.

The temperature suddenly dropped in the room and Ailla tried to get a hold of her emotions said nothing as she clenched her fork. Demelza finally having enough snapped at the vile men before her sister lost control of her magic, she shared a look with Ross, Verity and Ben who also knew about Ailla's magic. "Enough!" Demelza shouted. Her knuckles white around her utensils. "You have no right to speak to my cousin like this she tops every single one of you in this room; not only with her wealth but also with her kindness, love and gentle heart. She is a better a person than most I can say in this room. And she injured her leg when she was.." Demelza stopped herself when she realised what she about to say and quickly changed. "It is none of your business why and how she injured her leg unless any of you process a medical profession which none of you do, so I ask you kindly to mind your own business."

There was silence for a while after Demelza's outburst until Francis awkwardly cleared his throat. "Ross, Ailla? How is my little nephew Teddy?" He asked adoringly. A wide and happy smile spread across both parents faces. "He's a little terror." Ross laughed. "Eight months old and already into mischief. Ailla has rubbed off on him."
"You have too my love. Poor Remus will be rolling in his grave."
"He was just as much as a trouble maker as your father and Sirius were Ailla all the stories Sirius and Remus told us." Demelza laughed. Ailla, Ross, Verity and Ben laughing as well, the latter three having been told these stories by Demelza and Ailla.

"It's in mine and Teddy's genes I'm afraid, so you'll have to get used to it Ross." Ailla said cheekily.
"Along with your temper that you get from both your parents. Poor Ron an' Hermione." Demelza laughed.
"I feel like we're missing something." Francis said perplexed.
"The stories that I could share cousin." Ross laughed. "Ailla is a trouble magnet."
"I do not go looking for trouble my love it just happens to find me." Ailla retorted. Ross smiled taking her hand from across the table and kissing it. "I know my love."

After they'd all finished eating Ailla excused herself and made a beeline for the bathroom where she proceeded to bring up everything she'd eaten that day leaving her feeling shaky and weak. When she finally felt like she could move she cleaned out her mouth and freshened it up with some water and a spell and slowly made her way back down only to come in as Elizabeth finished playing the harp. "Do you play the harp Mistress Poldark?" Ruth asked. "Oh did your Governess not teach you?" She asked scornfully. Ross having had enough of everyone's sniping at his wife intervened with a smug grin on his face. "Ailla sings."
"Please sing for us Ailla?" Ben asked knowing how beautifully his friend sings as he's heard her when she's healing everyone from the scrapes they get from the mine. Sighing as she was now outnumbered Ailla plucked a few notes on the harp before starting to sing.

"I'd a pluck a fair rose for my love.
I'd a pluck a red rose blowin'
Loves in my heart, I'm tryin' so to prove
What your hearts knowin'
I'd a pluck a finger on a thorn
I'd a pluck a finger bleedin'
Red is my heart, wounded and forlorn
And your heart needin'
I'd a hold a finger to my tongue
I'd a hold a finger waitin'
My heart is sore, until it joins on song
With your heart matin'." Ailla finished singing looking straight at Ross who was smiling widely at her, one of the ones who was cheering the loudest for her as he came and gathered her into his arms kissing her softly.

"Well, well little itty bitty baby Potter can sing." A high cackling voice called from behind them. Ailla span around out of Ross's arms with a grace of someone who was accustomed to fighting and war, as her wand dropped into her hand. As she faced the door her wand pointing out in front of her only to come to face an empty door way. "I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black." The voice called again ending in a insane laugh. "Ailla." Demelza spoke softly looking at her cousin's tense body as her eyes scanned everywhere at once. "How did she find you?" She asked scared for her cousin for she knew all that this deranged witch had done to her.

Ignoring her cousin Ailla spoke to her husband, her voice hard and firm sounding much like a Captain in war. "Ross get them out." Ailla said only to finish in a scream as Bellatrix shouted.  "Crucio." Causing Ailla to drop to the floor writhing and screaming as Bellatrix laughed above her. Ailla was only under the spell for two seconds, but felt hours to her when her magic blasted forth from her sending Bellatrix flying back from her into two rooms over. "Ailla? Love? Please answer me!" Ross said frantically as he checked her over. "R-Ross." Ailla croaked as her eyes fluttered open. "The baby's fine...magic protected." Ailla said between gasps as Ross slowly sat her up.

"Teddy." She gasped. "Kreacher." Ailla called her voice showing how frightened she was for her son as it quivered. A loud crack sounded as Kreacher appeared in front of her causing those who didn't know to gasp or exclaim in horror. "Mistress called Kreacher." Kreacher says as he bowed low to her and to Ross who he called, "Master."
"Teddy. Is Teddy okay? Bellatrix is here." Ailla said frantically.
"Yes Mistress young master Teddy is fine Kreacher warded the house against Dark Magic. No one with Dark Magic can get in the house. New young master or miss be fine Mistress." Kreacher assured as he touched her stomach, Ross and Ailla let out the breath they didn't know they'd been holding.

"Thank you Kreacher. I want you to take Ross, Demelza and Ben back to Nampara and ward it as tightly as you can. Once I leave this room ward this room also and where the servants are and get Ron and Hermione please." Ailla asked in sighting much protest from those mentioned. "Yes Mistresses." Kreacher bowed. Ailla slowly stood up waving her wand over herself changing her elaborate dress to her dragon skin armour that clung to her body like second skin, which consisted of black dragon hide leggings, a green one sleeved dragon hide shirt which also had matching green fingerless gloves, a black dragon hide arm brace from the shoulder and ending in fingerless gloves and forest green dragon hide boots.

Her hair was plaited in a fishtail braid and pinned to her head; a ruby hilted sword was strapped to her left hip, her wand holster was on top of her green sleeve on her right arm. Ross openly stared at his wife she looked absolutely glorious he'd never seen her look so commanding before and instantly knew why everyone listened to her and named her captain in her war. "What is going on?" George Warleggen demanded as he openly stared at Ailla with lust in his eyes. Ross would have beat him to a bloody pulp if his wife wasn't in danger. "Ailla please. I know your frightened." Ross started to say but was interrupted as Kreacher returned with Ron and Hermione in toe; they were dressed similarly to Ailla but in different colours, Ron in red and black and Hermione in blue and black.

"We'll look after her mate." Ron told him as he and Hermione flanked Ailla and left the room, the room being immediately warded as soon as they left. Ross banged on the door calling Ailla's name as they all heard a battle going on just through the door. It seemed the deranged witch and brought friends with her. Ross slumped to the floor against the door his head on his knees. "Why?" Ross called out to the room. "Why must this always happen to her?" He raged to no one in particular as he picked a vase up and threw it to the floor. "Master we must go as per Mistress wishes." Kreacher beckoned.

"How did they find her? They were supposed to be imprisoned" Ross asked the elf his voice cold.
"Kreacher doesn't know how they found Mistress. They are angry for she killed the Dark Lord, someone helped them escape. She knew they were coming for her. Mistress always knows." Kreacher said sadly.
"What do you mean Kreacher?" Demelza asked.
"Mistress told Kreacher that she believes her to be cursed. Kreacher told her she wasn't but she would not listen. Do you know what Mistress is?" Kreacher asked. Demelza nodded but Ross shook his head. "It is not a story for here. Kreacher or Miss Demelza will tell you at home." Kreacher told Ross as Demelza took one of Kreacher's hands, Ben holding her hand.

"I demand you tell us what is going on now!" Mr Warleggan demanded. Ross glared at him and punched him in the jaw along with George. "You will demand nothing from me. My wife and unborn child could die at any moment and all I care at this time is to find the person who helped them escape and find her and kill them." Ross shouted.
"Cousin." Francis asked tentatively. "What. Who is that woman who attacked Ailla? It looked like she was tortured." He asked concerned for his friend as they heard two voices shout Ailla's name. "She was tortured. Kreacher let me out. Let me help them." Ross begged the house elf.

"Apologies Master but Kreacher cannot. You will be killed and Mistress has lost enough Kreacher will not let her lose any more. Don't worry Master once Mistress returns home Kreacher will wipe everyone's memory who didn't know of magic." Kreacher assured. Sighing Ross took Kreacher's free hand. Just before they disappeared he heard Ailla shout, "NOT MY SON YOU BITCH!" And prayed they'd be alright and soon return home so he could hold her in his arms. 

***

Ross stood bouncing Teddy trying to soothe his son but knew it was futile as he could likely sense the tension in the air. They'd been home for half an hour and there was no sign of his wife nor her friends. Kreacher had explained that Ailla was the Mistress of Death and Ailla thought she was cursed as every year something bad always happened to her or around her.  "Here Ross let me try." Demelza said as she stood and took her nephew into her arms now trying to soothe her as Ben handed Ross some rum. They'd not been waiting ten minutes when they heard a crack outside and all rushed outside along with Jud and Prudie. "Ailla." Ross called as he ran to his wife and took her into his arms kissing her softly.

"It's over. Bellatrix, Fenrir and Rodolphus are dead. We've fixed the house along with Kreacher and erased everyone's memories apart from Verity. They all think we went home to look after Teddy as he was taken ill." Ailla explained. "Your Aunt and Francis also kept their memories but no one else."
"Come lets go inside and get you all cleaned up." Ross says as he led them inside. "Where is Kreacher?"
"He's took the bodies to the Ministry and gone back to Andromeda." Hermione explained as she cleaned Ailla's wounds and then Ron's, Ron cleaning her's in turn. "Thank you for the tea Ross but we must be off to let everyone know we're all alright." Hermione said as she and Ron bid their goodbyes before they disapperated.

"Let's get you and Teddy to bed love it's been a tiring a day." Ross coaxed as he felt her slumping against him. Teddy now asleep now that he's in his mother's arms. Bidding goodnight to everyone he led his small family up the stairs thankful that his wife and children were safe and were relatively unarmed as he helped her into bed. He placed Teddy in his cot making sure he was safe and secure and tucking him in, kissing his forehead Ross pulled up the cot bar locking it in place before turning his attention to his wife. "Come my love lets get you into bed." Ross said softly as Ailla was falling asleep where she sat. Once she was in get nightgown Ross lifted her legs into bed pulling the covers over her as he kissed her forehead noting she was already asleep. Smiling softly Ross changed into his sleep pants and blew out the remaining candles before joining his wife in slumber.