Chapter 2: The Panicked House-Elf.

Alistair, accompanied by the House-Elf Saxx, quickly made his way towards his father's study. Being backed into a corner, with his mother's life on the line, Alistair was now forced to do the unthinkable. His only regret was that he had to wait for his mother to draw his father's ire, primarily because he needed the man's death to look like an act of virtue.

He needed it to appear as if he took action to protect his mother, which would only be half the truth. The other half being that his father had already begun grooming him to serve Voldemort. That last bit would not be happening. Alistair was about to make certain of it.

'Damn… it might be worse than I thought.'

Arriving near the door leading to the study, Alistair could already hear his father's angry shouts and his mother's frantic sobbing. Knowing what he was about to walk in on and what he would have to do, Alistair yet again hardened his resolve. He then turned to Saxx and gave him a single command.

"Go and request assistance from the gentleman I sent you to last time."

"Tell him to hurry, I will attempt to calm my father in the meantime."

Nodding his head profusely, Saxx responded.

"Yes, young master. Saxx will go at once!"

Saxx was by no means dimwitted, he understood that something bad was about to happen.

"Please… be careful, young master."

Then, with a resounding "POP" … Saxx disappeared, teleported away through an advanced form of magical transportation known as "apparition". Shortly after, Alistair let lose a deep sigh, all the while, looking towards the door to his father's study.

"Careful, huh?"

"If only that were an option."

Alistair knew what he had to do, and why he had to do it… but this would be his first time killing another person. And though he had never been a nervous sort, the magnitude of that act made him take pause. Shaking his head to clear his doubts, he walked towards the door to his father's study.

'There is no more time for doubt.'

'This is literally the point of no return.'

"Sigh."

Reaching out, Alistair turned the handle and the first thing he saw upon entering the room, was his father violently throwing a large book at his mother's already battered face. Upon seeing her, any apprehension Alistair might have had was gone. And anger took its place.

---

A rather severe looking woman, wearing an emerald cloak coupled with a pointed hat and square-rimmed glasses, was briskly walking through a dimly lit hallway. Taking quick, firm steps, she soon reached the hallways end, stopping before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle. She then called out in a loud tone of voice.

"Butterscotch!"

After she spoke, the gargoyle sprang to life and stepped aside. At the same time, the wall behind it split open to reveal a hidden staircase. The woman then resumed her pace, ascending the stairs at the same brisk pace with which she had walked through the hallway only minutes before.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she walked into a large and beautiful circular room, full of peculiar noises. Several odd silver instruments sat atop spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting miniscule puffs of smoke. The walls of the room were covered with portraits of men and women of varying ages, all of whom were mysteriously moving about in their frames.

There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and sitting behind It, was a thin old man. He had majestic silver hair and a sagely beard, both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, with a purple cloak which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots.

The man looked up with bright, sparkling blue eyes, hidden behind half-moon spectacles which lay perched atop his long-crooked nose. He paused briefly, before smiling lightly and speaking to the woman who was now standing irritably before him.

"Ah… Professor McGonagall."

"To what do I owe this visit?"

With a curt nod of her own, Professor McGonagall returned his smile, then replied.

"Forgive the late hour Headmaster, but there has been yet another incident involving Bellatrix Black."

"She hexed three more of my…!"

Mid-speech she found herself interrupted by a loud "POP", accompanied by the rather loud yelling of a diminutive House-Elf.

"Help the young master, help the young master!"

"You must…you… you must!"

"Saxx, begs of you!"

The poor elf was on his knees, pleading with all his might. Terrified that his master might harm the young boy that sent him here. Seeing how upset Saxx was, the elderly man, the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, walked out from behind his desk in order to calm the frantic little fellow.

He had recognized the small figure as soon as he appeared. Saxx had come to deliver a letter to him a little over a month ago from the young son of one of his former students. The child brought to his attention some rather troubling accusations regarding his father's tendency toward abuse.

And on a more personal matter, he also brought to light a very disturbing, almost fanatical relationship between his father and one "Tom Marvolo Riddle", who had taken to calling himself "Lord Voldemort" these days, though he had suspected such a relationship given the two's long history.

Indeed, Dumbledore had long known that Voldemort was gathering followers, but in recent years he had begun to fear that given Tom's fascination with the Dark Arts and his hatred for muggles, that outright war lay upon the horizon.

A war that could very well ignite the deep-seated issues between wizards and witches. Specifically, those issues regarding matters of blood purity. Dumbledore had seen such a war before, and he had no desire to see such pointless atrocities committed, ever again. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at the still kneeling elf.

"Saxx, was it not?"

"Calm yourself, my small friend."

Seeing Saxx nod his head in understanding, Dumbledore continued.

"Good… good… now try and tell me what happened."

"Why does the young Avery need help?"

Saxx stared at him with pleading eyes, his body shaking, very nearly losing control of his emotions again. Struggling through, he forced out the words, detailing for the old headmaster what had happened. After a few minutes had passed, Dumbledore realized that the situation was much worse than the young boy had let on.

Dumbledore had notified the proper officials in "The Ministry of magic" regarding the alleged abuse, but apparently, they had either not taken the matter seriously given the Avery families status or more likely, they were too busy with other problems.

They were keeping close tabs on what Tom was up to, as well. Regardless, action was required. Seeing that Professor McGonagall was still present and had heard everything, he asked his old friend for a small, but important favor.

"Minerva, could you please fetch Madam Pomphrey, then meet us at the Avery household."

"And I would think it wise to send word of this incident to the Ministry as well."

Not having the time to await her reply, Dumbledore took the small, still shaking Saxx by the hand before speaking again.

"Saxx."

"You must take me there quickly, there is no time left to lose!"

With a worried look on her face, Professor McGonagall headed towards the school matron's quarters.