Time Has Come (Henri, Sean)

[Aurelia Krizova]

Aurelia was alone in her apartment when the letter came. Henri had wanted to stay with her, but she had insisted that he go to work. She was doing better than she had been at first, as fear and worry melted into anger. She was furious, now that she knew Pavel had taken their daughter, out of some insane attempt to get her back. Well, it wasn't happening... no matter what it took, she would leave with her daughter, safe and sound. She was not going back with him, not ever.

She had begun to clean her apartment, just anything she could do to keep her mind off of the situation. Dani was all right... she knew that now that she knew Pavel had her. He was a bastard, but he wouldn't hurt Dani as long as he still hoped to get her back.

Aurelia had just finished cleaning the floors when she heard a tapping sound at the window. Looking up, she saw an owl outside, and she rushed over to let it in. After she had removed the letter and given the owl a few owl treats, she sat down at the table to read it.

It was from Pavel, of course. He wanted her to meet him the next day at some park on the far end of London. Of course he wanted her to come alone, and without her wand.

Immediately, Aurelia dashed off a quick reply: "I will be there." Then she attached it to the owl's leg and sent the animal on its way. Then she took the ransom note and walked over to the fireplace, using the Floo Network to go directly to the Ministry. She went to the Auror office first, searching for Henri. She found his desk, but he wasn't there. A woman named Kit informed her that he'd be back shortly, so she sat down to wait, her fingers drumming nervously on the desktop.

[Henri Gillet]

Small bits of his memory started to return. Somethings still did not make sense to him. It was a long process, but at least he remembered more about Aurelia and who Pavel was. While he was at his desk, Henri caught himself falling asleep. He kept thinking about Dani and Aurelia last night. Dani's disappearance bugged Henri to no end. He felt the need to go after Pavel himself, but Henri knew he couldn't do something like that.

Henri had left his desk to go get a cup of coffee and just to stretch his legs to wake himself up. He told Kit if anyone happened to come by needing him to tell them he'd be right back. Rubbing his face with his cup in his hand, Henri returned to the Auror's office with coffee in hand. Getting closer to his desk he saw Aurelia sitting there. He sped up his steps to get to his desk.

"Aurelia," he said reaching her. "Tout va bien? Everything okay?"

[Aurelia Krizova]

Aurelia didn't even answer his question. The moment she heard his voice, she turned and launched herself into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. Pavel had taken him away from her once, and now he had taken her daughter. Well, she was not going to let him... not this time. She was going to get her daughter back, and she wasn't going to lose Henri, either. She couldn't.

Pulling back at last, she looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes and a tear-dampened face. Without saying a word, she pressed the ransom note into his hands.

[Henri Gillet]

Henri barely had enough time to sit his cup down to prevent anything from spilling before Aurelia buried her face in his shoulder. He put his arms around her. The kidnapping was taking a toll on just about everyone, Aurelia moreso. He wished there was some way he could get Dani back without any issues, but Henri knew nothing was that easy.

Feeling her press a piece of paper in his hands, Henri looked down. He glanced over the note and then started to mutter a few words in french to himself. Looking back up at Aurelia, he knew that he was not going to let her go alone.

"When did he send this," he asked.

[Aurelia Krizova]

Aurelia sniffled and began dabbing at her eyes with a tissue that she grabbed from a box on Henri's desk. "It just arrived a few minutes ago," she replied. "I came here as soon as I finished reading it. I won't go alone, no matter what he says. And I'm not going to let him take me.... not after what he's done to Dani. She must be so frightened..."

She sniffled again, trying to imagine her daughter. It seemed like so long since she'd seen her little girl's face, and Aurelia silently vowed to herself that if even one hair was out of place on Danica's head, she would make Pavel pay dearly. She was absolutely done being a victim.

"What can we do?"