A/N: I don't own HP x characters. :)

Chapter 43: Far from Perfect

Victoria's dark grey eyes flashed open in shock. She gaped up at the man standing over her. His curly long hair fell just above his strong jaw line that carried stubble all along his face. His eyes, a baleful gaze as he gripped roughly on Victoria's face, his fingers pressing into her cheeks. This man looked at her coldly, as if he had done this many times before… as if it was as simple as to just vanish her from his sight. He held her down with all of his strength as the Black tried to wriggle herself free from his grasp, but she was too weak. His fingers pressed roughly along her face, sinking into her soft skin leaving red marks that burned as he gripped tighter with every movement. He wiped his free hand over his face just before reaching into his robe to grab his long dark wooden wand. He pointed it directly at her chest, lifting his chin as he pressed harder on her face. The tip of his wand inched closer with every painstaking heartbeat that drummed against her ribs. Finally, the tip reached the fabric of her shirt and she felt a cold chill run from the top of her body to her feet. Victoria moaned hysterically in sounds of great trepidation. Her eyes began shaking as the man leaned forward towards the girl. Was this it? Was this the end? Has she finally been caught? A tear rolled down Victoria's face as the man gave a low guttural whisper.

"This won't hurt if you don't want it to."

Victoria reached her hands to his, grasping her fingers around his wrist to desperately pull him off her, but he was pressing down hard. She threw her arms down in defeat, her hand smacking against the book beside her on the bed. She looked over, noticing the cover of the book of which she was trying to read last night. That haunting picture of the family on the cover created some sort of adrenalin rush in her body. She was responsible for two now… she wasn't going to give up this easily.

Victoria pushed her legs up with all her force and kicked the man's shoulder. He retracted in pain and loosened his grip on her face. Immediately she bit down on his hand and the man let out a loud yell of pain whilst the click clack sound of his wand tapped down on the floor. Immediately she jumped out of the bed, grabbing her wand and running out of Elise's bedroom and heading way towards the stairs.

"You fucking bitch!" The man yelled from afar.

A bright red spark nearly grazed her fingertips as it splashed against the stairway railing. Victoria jumped down the last few steps and turned around, a bright red spark flying just above the man's head who emerged from Elise's bedroom. It smashed against a picture frame that shattered just above him.

"Don't make this difficult, sweetheart." He said, rolling his shoulders and letting out a loud crack and throwing another spell at her. Victoria ducked down, running towards the back of the house. The man hurried down the stairs, blocking the spells Victoria was throwing at him as she walked around the piano, trying to get to the backdoor so she could have free range.

A blue spark spiraled towards her, and she ducked, allowing it to smash against the tall glass behind her, giving her an easy escape. She hopped over the shards of glass as best as she could, but her bare feet still got slightly cut. She ran around the firepit and towards the tall grass that was behind her house where she used to play her childhood games with Ernie, Lavendar, and Pavarti.

As she passed through the tall grass, she could see the sparks flying around her, brushing swiftly through the overgrowth. She held her hand to her stomach, becoming exhausted with all the energy she once had but now seemed minimized. There was a moment of stillness in the air, and she hadn't seen another spark fly past her. Immediately she pointed her wand out in front of her, a blue light illuminating from the top and creating a wisp like creature until it turned into her dog Patronus. The wispy canine stood before her, as if confused for there was no danger that the dog could mediate. She looked up at the creature, her rheumy dark grey eyes pleading for assistance.

"I need help. Please. I'm at the McKinnon's house." She pleaded, trying to catch her breath.

Just then, a bright ring a fire burned the tall grass all around her, scorching her entire hideout so she could easily be seen. She turned her neck, noticing the tall man with his black robe dragging along the now short grass with his hood down and his wand at the ready. She gestured her wand to the Patronus, "12 Grimmauld Place. Go." She said in a heated whisper as the wispy spell immediately disappeared into the sky.

She was hoping someone would be there… maybe Remus or Tonks would check up on the area, hoping that Victoria would come back at some point. It was worth a try, it was better than nothing.

A red spark aimed towards Victoria's chest but she immediately blocked it. She blocked a few more spells before firing some of her own that were also blocked.

Victoria moved backwards, swiftly shuffling her feet as she dodged a few more spells but had one spear against her shoulder which went limp. She cried out in pain, clutching what felt like a dislocated shoulder as she held up her wand once more, "Bombarda Maxima!"

A swift spark spiraled towards the man and his eyes widened upon its arrival. A large bomb set off and the dirt and grass jumped up more than 10 feet in the air. For a few seconds, there was silence. She stood there, watching as the dirt created a plume of thick fog. It wasn't long before she started running back to the house in a limp, holding her shoulder as tears began rolling down the side of her flushed cheeks.

Her hands began shaking as she reached her fingers to her head, raking them in her short black hair.

"Fuck… fuck… fuck…" She looked around, unsure on what to do. There was nowhere to go, nowhere that would matter. She had no idea how to apparate, and she certainly couldn't make it to the town nearby, and even if she did, she would be putting innocent muggles in danger because she knew this man wouldn't stop to save the muggles a show. She was stuck. She turned in a circle with great vexation and frustration, running her arms along the top of the table and brushing away all the contents so they fell on the floor. Glass shattered from picture frames and a vase exploded into pieces by her feet.

She hurried up the stairs, across the hallway, and into her room where she closed the door and locked it. As she let out light whimpers and deep breaths, she surveyed her surroundings, opening and closing drawers and checking inside jewelry boxes. 'Where was it?' She thought.

Finally, she opened a box on top of her nightstand and found it. That small diamond necklace Harry had given her for Christmas. She had left it here after she visited the graveyard with Remus so long ago.

She heard the muffled sounds of the man approaching up the stairs from outside her bedroom. She took the necklace and placed it around her neck, hurrying under the bed and pulling the bed-skirt down. She placed a hand above her mouth, trying to suppress her breathing as the doorknob began to jiggle. A bright orange light flashed through her door and it swung open easily.

Victoria's pulse skyrocketed as she saw the man's feet casually walk around her bed. He began opening her closet and bathroom doors and grunted in annoyance when he couldn't find her.

Her breath shook underneath her grasp, her heart drumming loudly against her chest as fear twisted in her gut.

What did he want with her? What would happen to her?

She clenched her fingers around her wand, not seeing the view of his feet anymore. She turned slightly so she was on her stomach as she crawled little by little towards one end of the bed, just to have a peek….

A pair of hands grasped at her ankles, causing Victoria to release a loud yelp before he started dragging her out from underneath the bed, her head bobbing forward as it slammed into the ground. The desperate Black dug her nails into the wooden floor, clawing her way out against his force, but he was too strong. She tried kicking, but it wasn't going to work this time. Once he pulled her fully out from underneath the bed, she looked up at the mysterious man going through great lengths to get to her.

Her body tensed up, and he slapped the wand out of her hand. Her dark grey eyes began to sting as they watered; no air was allowed to escape through her lungs.

"You're a piece of work, aren't you?" His face now was covered in dark spots of soot from the bomb Victoria had let off. He didn't look quite happy with her, in fact he looked irritated – and she had no idea what he was capable of.

"Pl-Ple-Please…" She begged, her words stuttering out of her lips. "Don't hurt me..." She had never begged for her life before…

He shook his head, "Should've thought of that before you put up such a fight." He pulled down on her arms which were held up at her chest. He pulled down her right arm to the floor while using his foot to secure her, standing up and looking down into her widened eyes. Her breath hitched and he stomped his dark black boot directly onto her hand, cracking the bones against her floorboards.

"AH!" Victoria screamed at the top of her lungs, rolling over to her side and holding onto her broken hand as the pain began to pulse. Tears ran down her face as he gave her a malevolent grin from above. He squatted down, looking over her with great torment.

The man let out a tsk, "Now that you can't use your hand, I suspect there will be no more struggle." He said, grabbing her wand and placing it inside the interior pockets of his robe.

Victoria's hand was pulsing uncontrollably, she couldn't even move a single muscle in that hand without it feeling agonizing. She fell over on her back, her broken hand laying limply by her side. She looked up at him, her eyes rolled, and her cheeks reddened. Her entire body fostered the pulsing pain now. Her hand and her shoulder were becoming too much for her to physically and mentally handle.

She let out a light laugh, knowing she felt as small as a mouse compared to her kidnapper. "Just kill me… please…" She asked, knowing she wouldn't be able to take more torture.

He raised an eyebrow, pulling out his wand and aiming it towards her. "I don't want to kill you, sweetheart. That's not my job."

Victoria blinked up at him, "What do you want with me then? My money?"

He laughed hysterically, "Your money? I don't need your money. I'm just following orders. Besides, I am sure I'll get a pretty penny for findin' you anyways."

"Orders? From who?"

He leaned in, so he was just inches from her face. She could feel his breath calmly spill down on her skin as the corners of his lips turned up. "Death himself."

A bright red light sparked from the tip of his wand, and before she could say another word, or think another thought, the world around her turned dark.

X

Victoria slowly peeled open her dark grey eyes and was immediately blinded by a brightness shining directly towards her. Her brows drew together as she lifted her chin to see what the source of the light was. Suddenly, she felt a warm touch at the base of her shoulder. She turned around, looking up at the owner of the hand with great relief and warmth.

"Dad?" Her eyes widened with excitement. She pressed off on the heels of her feet and threw herself onto him; wrapping her arms tightly around his torso. She couldn't believe it. She felt his body, and his touch as he wrapped his arms around her as well.

"I'll never get tired of hearing that." He placed a kiss on the top of her head, his hand running down her short black hair. She looked up at him, like some sort of miracle had brought him back to her. Her nose got stuffy and her eyes grew red. He managed a grin, "Shorter hair, I see."

"I cut it." She said, still burying her face into his chest. Trying to memorize the scent he gave off.

"You look beautiful. Your mother would have never dared to cut her hair so short. I am sure she would have had some convincing words for you as well."

She grinned, "I needed change."

Sirius nodded his head, resting his hands on either one of her shoulders and releasing the grasp she had around him so he could see her better. She looked up at his long black wavy hair, the beard that was forming along his face, and his dark grey eyes that looked into her lovingly. "That isn't all that has changed, now is it?" He gazed at her carefully.

She looked down, placing a hand directly onto the bump on her stomach. She was about 5 months pregnant, but the bump was easily hidden underneath Elise's sweater. She bowed her head, shame spiraling through her.

"How did you know?" She said, guiltily.

He pressed a finger underneath her chin, allowing her to look up into his eyes. "I'm always watching over you. I know what troubles my little girl, and it pains me that I cannot make it better. Not in this life."

"Does mum know?"

He nodded slowly. "You gave a speech that will never be forgotten at Godric's Hollow, my dear."

"Is she ashamed of me?"

Sirius kneeled down in front of her so he was looking up into her eyes. She shrank back with embarrassment. She felt like a failure – disgusted of herself. She couldn't believe she got herself into this sort of position, and in the middle of a war. It was almost too painful to look into her fathers' eyes now that he knew. Victoria tried to look away but he put a hand to her cheek, clearing away the tears that fell down her reddened face and turning her gaze back to his. "Ashamed? We could never be ashamed of you. We're so proud of you, Victoria. Yes, what has happened is not ideal, not for someone your age or in your position… trust me, we know that. But you're so strong…" He grabbed onto her hands with a firm grip. "You have no idea how much you have already accomplished, and how determined you are. Hey, you wouldn't be a Black if you were perfect…"

The corners of Victoria's lips turned slightly, she couldn't help it.

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Whatever you want."

"What if it's just me? I can't take care of it… not by myself."

"That is a decision to be made, when the outcome is known. You don't know what will happen… so don't dwell on things that are uncertain."

Sirius pulled his daughter in for a hug, wrapping his arms around her tightly and taking in a long exhale. "I am here because I want you to know that things are going to get tough. It is going to seem like you are hopeless, when indeed you aren't. You need to believe that, otherwise things will get difficult… very difficult."

Victoria pulled away, looking into her fathers' eyes. "What do you mean, difficult?"

"When you wake up, the world around you will be cruel. Much too cruel. You will have to be a fighter…"

Victoria could feel herself sinking away, as if something was pulling her apart from her father as her arms reached out for his, her fingers slipping from his jacket sleeves until they reached his fingertips, then finally they were apart.

"You won't be alone," Sirius called out, "I'll be there… with you."

"Sirius?" Victoria yelled out as she watched her dad disappear through a fog. She tried to fight it, she tried to run back to him but it only seemed like no effort was being made… "Come back! Please!" She called out for her father, but nothing seemed to work in her favour…

A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so very much for reviewing and linking this story! Thank you for sticking around! I know I haven't gotten to post in a few months but life has been flying by with a lot of responsibility and it's been so hard to find the time and energy to write. I finally have a week to just relax to myself and write some more! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I know it is fairly short but I wanted to get something out for you guys while I am having some brain farts. :D

Most Importantly: Thank You!