Tomorrow

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

xoxoxoxoxo

Consciousness crept in gradually, starting with a susurration of voices growing in her subconscious. Caitlin became aware of her surroundings by the unfamiliar sounds and smells. She wanted to rub her eyes and mouth, but found her hands bound above her head. Her bladder was hinting that it hadn’t been emptied for a while. Without opening her eyes, Caitlin went back through her memories of earlier in the day. With an inward cringe, she realized who now held her captive.

“You could have at least found two or three more.” The male voice sounded annoyed.

“We wasn’t supposed to find nobody, you stupid git.” This voice sounded familiar, one Caitlin had heard at the shop. “We don’t know who she is, so we better find out then, hadn’t we.”

“She’s just a useless squib, Yaxley. You should have just used her and wiped the memory.”

“She heard everything, you stupid berk, and she ran away. Who knows what she spouted when she ran back to the market. It was you who let her get past you.”

Suddenly, Caitlin started and cried out as the one called Yaxley cruelly pinched her nipple through her robes.

“Welcome back to the world of the living, love, at least for a little while.” He laughed at his own joke, as the others joined in.

“Where am I? What are you going to do with me?” Caitlin asked fearfully.

“I know what I want.” said the one sitting at a table on the far side of the room.

This comment brought more laughter, making Caitlin even more afraid.

“We know what you want and all, mate, but we’d like to let the one who’s coming talk to her first, while she can still speak, like. Merlin knows, after you’re done with a woman, she’s lucky to be breathing.” This came from the third man who was sitting at the window, apparently keeping a watch. The same one Caitlin had escaped from.

“You’re a jealous git, you know that, Wilkes?”

“Jealous, of you, Rabastan? Who’d want to be a Lestrange, with the reputation your family has? And your sister-in-law -- bloody nutcase, that one is.” Wilkes retorted.

Rabastan Lestrange stood and began walking towards Wilkes. “You want to watch what you’re saying ‘cause I might take exception, mate.” He spat out the last word like an epithet.

Yaxley stood between them. “Alright, that’ll do, you lot. He’ll be here soon. There’ll be hell to pay as it is. I don’t need to explain your bollocks all over the place as well.”

Lestrange backed off. “You wait, Wilkes, you wait.” He nodded and sat back down, apparently seething with anger.

Caitlin watched them, her fear cloying at her insides, making her feel ill.

“He’s here,” said Wilkes, suddenly. He stood up and went to the door to admit the newcomer.

Caitlin saw a tall dark man enter and glance around the room. He was clearly in charge here.

“Well?” asked Snape of no one in particular.

“There were some problems, Snape. The, eh, apothecary didn’t have everything.” Yaxley had answered, but kept his distance.

Snape sighed. “I thought you had impressed upon him the need for co-operation on your first visit.” He raised his eyebrows and looked at each man in turn. “Incompetent fools.”

“We left him with a little attitude adjustment,” said Lestrange. “He’ll remember every time he looks in the mirror from now on.”

“He has a lovely scar right down his left cheek, that, with a bit of pain from the Cruciatus should get what we need,” said Wilkes with confidence.

“You lack any common sense, the lot of you. No matter, I’m sure our Lord will deal with you appropriately.” He turned his back on them and set a rat cage, occupied by a shivering vole, down on the table. Using his wand, he opened it. The rat scurried out and jumped to the floor where it transformed into Wormtail.

Peter stood and brushed himself off, clearly still cold. “I say, that was uncalled for, you know.”

“Shut up, you wretched excuse for a wizard, I didn’t have the time or inclination to listen to you whinge. Be thankful I brought you along, and didn’t just cage you and leave you there.” Snape then turned his back on him and took notice of Caitlin.

“Who is this?” He indicated her with a jerk of his chin.

“Just some chit from the village who happen to be in the apothecary when we were conducting business,” replied Lestrange.

“Why is she here?” He looked at Caitlin with an unfathomable expression.

“She overheard our conversation,” Yaxley replied. He jerked his head towards Wilkes. “We’d have just obliviated her, but this one managed to lose hold of her and she escaped. We caught her when she was on her way home. She’s just a stupid squib.”

“What do you plan now,” asked Snape in disdain.

“Dunno,” replied Wilkes.

Lestrange leered. “I know what I plan.”

Yaxley looked at Snape, who was looking at Lestrange with disgust. “We thought she might have told someone in the village about our visit. That’s why we brought her here. Can you find out?”

Snape looked back at the woman lying bound on the cot. “Untie her. She’s obviously harmless.”

Wilkes pulled his wand and released the cords that held her wrists bound to the cot. She sat up slowly, rubbing her wrists to ease the ache.

“What is your name?” asked Snape.

“C-caitlin,” she stammered.

“Are you a squib?” he asked.

She shook her head.” No, I’m a witch.”

“She’s lying. She had no wand.” Lestrange smiled evilly. “I know that for sure, ‘cause I made a very thorough search.”

Caitlin grimaced in horror. What had he done while she was unconscious?

“Silence!” barked Snape. “I don’t need your useless comments.” He turned back to her. “Where is your wand?”

“A-at home.” She didn’t look at anyone as she spoke.

“Why would a witch leave her wand at home? How stupid are you?” asked Snape, derisively.

Caitlin looked up at him. “I’m not stupid. I didn’t have a choice. He wouldn’t let me take it,” she bit back. She surprised herself by her sudden boldness and now bit her lips.

“He, who is He?” Snape asked, curious enough to want to know more.
“My grandfather,” she replied quietly.

Snape walked closer to her. “What is your family’s name? Are they pureblood?” he reached down and pulled up her chin to look into her eyes. “What is your full name, woman?”

“Caitlin Prince,” she replied. For a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in this man’s eyes, and then it was gone.

Snape gazed into her eyes, then, without permission, used Legilimency on her. “Think of what happened today,” he commanded.

Caitlin did as he asked without question. She felt she had no choice. It was odd to feel him sift through her mind, pulling out and rejecting images and impressions of her day. Several minutes later, he released her.

He turned back to the men. “She knows nothing, nor did she speak to anyone about what happened.”

“Right then,” said Lestrange. “We’d best just get rid of her then. I’ll look after it after I have a bit of fun.”

Caitlin sat on the cot, trembling in fear. They would kill her, but first she was to suffer abuse. She knew it was useless, but she made a desperate bid for freedom, running to the door and opening it. She was caught around the waist by Yaxley.

“No!” she screamed. “Don’t touch me! Let me go!” She had been lifted bodily off her feet, which were now flailing around. She watched as Snape approached. “Please, don’t let them hurt me. I won’t tell anyone, I promise. Please...”

“Put her down,” he ordered, quietly. He took her arm and held her when she was standing once more. “How did you all get here?” he asked the room in general.

“We Apparated, of course,” replied Wilkes.

“From where you captured her?” asked Snape, again quietly.

“Yeah,” Yaxley replied to the obvious.

“Stupid idiots. She’s going to be declared a missing person. The Ministry can trace Apparition when it’s a recent event.” He glared at their stunned looks. “They can trace all of you back here, you fools.”

The three captors looked at each other. “Oh, bugger,” said Lestrange, pulling on his cloak. “We’ve got to move.”

“What about her?” asked Wormtail.

Snape looked at the woman he still held and made a decision. He pulled out Peter’s shrunken broom and threw it at him. “Here, you can go where ever you want. I don’t care, as long as it’s not with me.” He sat Caitlin on a chair. “Don’t move.”

He turned back to the rest of the men. “I’ll take the woman with me. At least she’ll be in one piece if our Lord wants to see her. I hope he’ll take the news of the loss of one of his safe houses well when you tell him.” He smiled at their fearful looks. “I shall take whatever ingredients you have procured and begin brewing. A pity I won’t be there when you pass on the information.”

Snape picked up some parcels and stored them in the deep pockets of his robes. He looked at Caitlin then pulled a blanket off of the cot. He transfigured the blanket into a cloak which he placed on her shoulders.

“It gets cold while we’re flying,” he told her.

“Flying?” she asked.

“On my broom,” he replied.

He grasped her arm once more and pulled her along behind him and out of the small cottage. His broom rested against the wall. Caitlin eyed it warily. Snape noticed her look.

“You’ve flown before, haven’t you?” he wondered.

“Not since school, and not well then.” She didn’t have time to think before he grabbed her and set her astride the broom in front of him.

Snape kicked off quickly and left the others behind, not caring one way or another, what happened to them. This strange woman, however, had him intrigued. He had to know more about her... more about his own family.