The dark shadows shifted and a lone shadow inched its way along the alley carefully pausing at the end before continuing. Looking this way and that, only moving out onto the sidewalk until it was certain that it wasn't being followed by anyone from the Ministry. The shadow passed underneath a lamppost and all you can see was the long cloak billowing behind the person. Then the person was back into the darkness. Within moments, the figure came to a deserted house. Pausing at the front door, the figure ran a hand along the doorway, then went inside. Once inside the figure pulled back the hood of the cloak and long silvery blonde hair spilled out around the shoulders. The person waved her fingers and a comfy chair appeared in the middle of the living room. She took a seat and sat there, listening to the sounds surronding the house. She knew she would be safe here for a night or two but not much longer. Wanted by both sides for different reasons. The Dark Lord wanted her for her powers, she can do magic without a wand. Handy, and useful. The Ministy wanted her because of her father. She frowned at the thought of her father. Surely he knew of her existence but yet he never was there for her. When growing up, she figured that he wanted nothing to do with her but as she grew older she learned what became of him. And what became of the young boy who caused his abstence in her life. If it wasn't for the boy, she would have know who her father was or at the very least have a relationship with him. She sat there for several hours until she sensed the presence of another close by. Closing her eyes she sought out the source and realized that it was only an teenager and not much of a threat. There was a knock on the door and she opened it without getting up. The teenager came into the room looking around, holding out her wand. The girl was an open target and didn't even realize it. Finally the girl spotten her sitting in the chair and came in, pointing her wand.

"You are the one they are searching for."

She just stared at the new girl reading her mind.

"You are very bright Hermione."

Hermione looked startled but quickly recovered.

"How did-?"

"Will Ron and Harry be joining us?"

"No, they don't know where I am."

"Brave as well as smart. Nice combination. What can I do for you?

Hermione tilted her chin.

"Who are you?"

I studied the girl through narrow eyes before responding.

"You can put the wand away, I won't harm you."

"I prefer it out thank you very much."

My eyes narrowed even further and pointed at the wand, which flew from her hand and hovered up around the ceiling. The girl looked shocked but recovered.

"Would you like to sit down?"

"But there are no-"

Before she even finished, another chair appeared behind her. She sat down on the edge of it facing me. We sat there staring at each other.

"Now, what can I do for you Hermione?"

"You can start by telling me who you are?"

I stared at her for a few beats, then crossed my fingers in front of my body.

"Do you think you can handle keeping it a secret?"

"Absolutely."

"You will never tell anyone, not even Ron or Harry, until I give the okay."

She nodded, and I looked into her mind to see if she was lying, which she wasn't.

"My name is Elizabeth Merope Riddle."

It took several moments before my name sunk into her head.

"Riddle?"

"That's what I said."

"You are related to Tom Riddle?"

"Yes."

"The same Tom Riddle who became He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"You mean Lord Voldemort?"Hermione gave a slight cry.

"Why do you fear a name? You have nothing to fear from a mere simple name."

"I know."

"So say his name."

"It's a Taboo!"

I gazed at her with a level look and she looked ashamed of herself for a moment.

"Say the name."

"Lord Vol-Vo-Voldemort."

"There, now doesn't that feel better."

She nodded.

"Now, what else can I help you with."

I knew what she was going to ask of me before she even spoke.

"I would like you to come back with me and join us."

I sighed and closed my eyes.

"Hermione, I will come back with you but I will not join sides in this war."

She opened her mouth to respond but I cut her off.

"Nothing you say will change my mind."

She closed her mouth and merely nodded.

"When will you like to leave Hermione?"

"Whenever you would like to -?""You can call me Liz."

She nodded.

"How about right now?"She stood up as well as I did. I grabbed her by the elbow and closed my eyes. Moments later we were standing by the gates looking up at the castle. Hermione shot me a look.

"How did you know?"

I shook my head and pointed towards the castle. We could see numerous shadows moving towards the castle. One was larger than the others and appeared to be carrying something. Hermione and I started at a run. I put the disillusioned charm on us, rendering us invisible. Hers vanished once she was mingled with the other students, meanwhile I kept mine on. Moments after we arrived, a cold voice rang out.

"Harry Potter is dead. He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war..."

He continued on but I made my way into the castle and into the Great Hall. Keeping the hood of her cloak over her head, she merged with the crowd of students, Aurors, and Death Eaters. All stopping their duels to watch as Harry Potter and the Dark Lord face each other for the last time. Silently passing people she spotted the one she was looking for. Drawing up next to the witch, she whispered to her.

"Headmistress, it is urgent that I speak with you."

McGonagall passed her a quick glance which they briefly locked eyes. Instantly recognizing her, the Headmistress nodded. Together they departed from the Great Hall and strode quickly along the deserted hallway. They entered an empty classroom and shut the door behind them. Only after placing a silencing charm upon the room did they dare to speak up. She lowered the hood of her cloak allowing her long silver hair to spill around her shoulders. The Headmistress was the first to speak.

"Out of all times to show yourself, why pick now?"

She set down the glass paperweight that she was staring at before responding.

"True the Dark Lord is gone but do you think that the danger is gone as well?"

"But surely with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named gone, the danger will be as well?"

She shook her head.

"No, they are merely without a leader. A headless snake can still bite."

Headmistress was silent for a moment pondering.

"Well, what do you propose we do?"

"I am merely here to seek sanctuary."

The door burst open before another word was spoken. Within a blink of an eye they had their wands pointed at the intruder. Professor Sprout came barreling into the room looking extremely happy.

"He did it! He vanquished the Dark Lord!"

She felt a quick stab to her heart. The Headmistress nodded once before answering her previous question.

"You may seek it here."

She gave a small smile to the Headmistress before fleeing from the classroom. Completely forgetting to cover her hair, she ran towards the Great Hall. Upon entering she saw a mob of students surrounding Harry Potter, though all she saw of him was his black hair. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the body of the Dark Lord. Coming up to it, she dropped to her knees and stared upon the man who should have been there for her as her father. Slowly reaching out she closed his eyes before leaning over and placing a small but gentle kiss upon his forehead.

"May the Angels find mercy upon you tormented soul."

She stayed there for several more minutes until she head footsteps approach.

"Excuse me but I need to get the body out of here."

She looked up at the two Aurors that stood several steps away. One made to grab it but was quickly stopped by a wand against his throat.

"Don't you dare touch his body!"

The man's eyes went wide when she snarled this at him.

"But-"

"But nothing. I will take care of his body."

"That's against regulations."

She snarled once more at the stupid man before grabbing the Dark Lord's cold hand. Glaring at them she shifted out of the Great Hall and into a cemetery. The same cemetery were he came back to power. Levitating his body into a freshly dug grave, she buried him. Her last remaining family member since her mother and her people abandoned her a few years ago. She didn't linger around the graveyard, only to quickly vow that she will return at least once year before shifting back to Hogwarts. She walked along the hallways receiving quite a few glances from the students that were on their way out. As she turned the corner she ran straight into someone. taking an instinctive few steps back, she looked up into a pair of silver green eyes that were shocked as well.

"Sorry, completely my fault.:then her gaze shifted to the man who stood to the right but slightly behind. A small sneer came upon her face when she recognized him as the Senior Malfoy. Then the woman who was quite pretty with her long blond hair and blue eyes must be Narcissa. Lucius must have remembered who she was cause there was a brief flicker of recognition in his eyes before it was oppressed. Pushing what must have been his son behind him, he towered over her. Not that she would ever be scared of him. She can easily beat him in a duel wandless with one hand behind her back. Jucius gave her a small bow which one he did, she placed a hand upon his black clad shoulder. He visibly flinched.

"Mister Malfoy, there is no need to bow to me."

"Yes ma'am."

"Now go home and be with your family."

He gave a slight nod of his head and started off down the hallway again. Before they disappeared out of her sight, she spun on her heel and strode after them.

"Malfoy, hold up!"

All three of them stopped at the same time, turned slightly and watched her as she approached.

"Yes?""Show me your Mark."

There was a silence surrounding her request.

"Why?"

"Please."

Rolling up the sleeve of his left arm he showed her the inky black tattoo. Stepping forward she ran a finger over it. Murmuring a few words she lightly blew on it causing the tattoo to fly off his arm like it was dust. Taking a step back and grinning up at his shocked expression.

"I release you from your obligation from him. Go live your life."

Nodding to the stunned family, she walked past them and up a nearby staircase just before if shifted into a different position. Soon enough she reached her destination and frowned at the fallen gargoyle. Not even bothering with the password she stepped over the crumbling statue and climbed up the stairs. Scanning the room once, the noticed that the door up on the second level was closed. Knowing that's where thy would be, she crossed the room letting herself into Dumbledore's office without alerting the occupants. The protrait of Dumbledore was the first to spot her and a smile came upon his face.

"Ah Ms. Elizabeth, how nice of you to join us."

She gave him a small sneer as she joined the other three near the desk.

"Wipe that smile off of your face you cooky old bat."

Dumbledore looked down upon her looking amused before shifting gazed to behind her. She walked around the desk and sat in the chair. She noticed that the two of the three were looking shocked at her.

"So I see the Albus has failed to show his good manners and introduce me. My name is Elizabeth Merope Riddle."Harry and the red head (Weasel was his name??) went completely white at the mention of her last name. Hermione just gave her a smile, which she returned. Harry recovered first from the news.

"Riddle, so you're related to Tom Riddle?"

She smiled at him.

"So you're telling me that you are You-Know-Who's spawn?"she rolled her eyes at the red head while Hermione gave him a glare."I prefer daughter thank you. Spawn sounds so demonic."

"But you are demonic! You are related to that thing!!"

By now her eyes were narrowed.

"Say one more word along those line Weasel and they will be that last words that you will speak."

He opened his mouth to reply but Potter jumped in."Ignore him, he's just a git."

Weasel glared at Potter begore angrily crossing his arms. An amused look came to her face.

"Where were you during the war?""Around."

Then she silenced anymore questions by turning to face Dumbledore.

"And you Albus, I should bed irrationally irate with you. But I know and completely undersatnd why you did what you did."

Hermione spoke up from behind.

"Why would you be upset with Professor?"

"Because he was my Godfather."for several long minutes, no one spoike a word. She spun back around and waited for them to regain their vocal abilities.

"He's your Godfather?"

Hermione was the first to recover.

"Correct."

"What. Who's your mother?"

She stared at them for a moment before deciding."You three must never tell anyone. Not one word. Undertand?"

All three of them nodded. She sighed and leaned back into hthe chaird, crossing her ifngers.

"My mother is Lady Iris. She met my father during his first reighn of terror. He heard arunmor of a clan of Elves that were passing through the area. He knew that if he could just get hem to join on his die he would be unstoppable. For ht erumors are that Elves ar extremely powerful. A force to be reckoned with. So he found out where they were,w hich in itself is a wonder because the majority o the world both magical an dmuggle believ ehte rElves were merely a story tale for hcildere. That's who wthey like it. They didnte want anything to do iwht the mortal reace or their petty wares. His rquest fo trhtem to come out of hiding and join was flat out refused.I t was when he was leaving the small village when he saw her. She was standing next to the river bed over looking it. Her long silver hair flowing behined ther with theh genltelo breeze. As he ap[roached her, she turned tan faced him. He became enchanted with her pale blue eyes. Anyting between them was forbidded. An elf cannot be with a mortal. But Voldemort was seeking immortality and he found it. Elves have the power to grant immortality and also remove it. They began secretly seeing each other. Fro several months they met up until Lady Iris found that shw as with chiod and to not only tell him the good news but also beg for him to become immortal so that they could be together forever. When she went and told him of the fact that she was carrying his child, he never stayed around to hear the second part of the why she so urgently needed to see him. He broke her heart when he left her there crying in that meadow of flowers. Luckily she had a secret admirer who has been watching everything from afar. He came up to her than and offered to protect her only if she became his. She agreed to this knowing she has to protect her child. Lady Iris died ten months after giving birth to a little girl."

Hermione leaned forward.

"Why did she die? I thought Elves were immortal?"

She gave her a small sad smile.

"Elves can die. When one gives themselves to another and that person abandons them, the deteriorate away until eventually they pass away. Lady Iris gave Voldemort her heart and when he fled from her life, he shattered it. It didn't matter that she married another for the sake of the child."

"So I take it that this Lady was your mother?"

She looked at Weasel.

"Yes."

"So that makes you half elf?"

"Yes."

Weasel leaned forward and looked eagerly at her.

"Can I see your ears?"

Hermione reached out and gave him a quick whack upside the head. He rubbed a hand over where she hit him.

"OW Hermione!! What was that for?!"

"I have my ears concealed by a glamour charm. Besides since I'm only half elf, their not as pointy as a full blood."

Hermione sat down upon the chair that was across the desk.

"So do you have a tattoo?"

Both Potter and Weasel looked over at Hermione with a puzzled look.

"Tattoo?"

Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes before answering.

"According to Mystical Creatures: Myths, Legends, or FolkloreElves are given an tattoo made from magic to help portect hem. It also greatly enhances their magical abilities."

"Very good Hermione, you seem to know what your talking about."

Hermione looked pleased with this compliment. Potter finally spoke up.

"So I take it that Elves are private creatures?"

"Correct."

He looked over at her straight in the eyes.

"Then why are you here?"

A smile broke out upon her face. So the highly thought of Potter wasn't as stupid as he looked. There are miracles in this world after all.

"I was abandoned by my people Potter."

Hermione looked stricken at this.

"They abandoned you! Why?"

"Because I wanted to go see the world. I wanted to meet my father just once in my life."

"But your own blood!!"

"So does this mean you're not immortal?"

"Correct Weasel."

"But I thought-"

"When they banished me, they revoked my right for having an immortal life."

No one spoke for several moments.

"So where are they now?"

She looked out the window to the left of the desk and stared at the stars that were twinkling in the sky before answering.

"They are on their way to the Other Life."

Weasel looked at her puzzled.

"You mean they died?"

Hermione sighed as she answered his question.

"No Ronald, they are making the journey to the place where they will live for the rest of eternity without having the threat of the mortal race."

"What is that suppose to mean 'Mione?"

"It means Ron, that if you happen to chop the head off of one, they can die. They can also fall ill from illness in this world. Where they are going, there is no risk of such occurrences happening."

"Oh."

They sat in Dumbledore's office for a good twenty minutes in silence before one spoke up again.

"So where are you going to stay during summer break?"

"Here."

"Are you going to be here when school starts next year?"

"If it even starts next year Hermione, there is a lot of damage that this place got."

"School will start next year Hermione, no need to worry. I will be helping them fix everything up."

Weasel shot her a look.

"How can you help? Just because your half elf doesn't mean your all powerful! I mean I seriously doubt that even Dumble-"

He was cut off when his voice stopped working. It was actually funny watching him talk without hearing any words.

"Hermione, Potter. I bid you two a safe and fun break. Hermione, if you need any help do hesitate to owl me."

With that being said, she shifted out of the room leaving the three of them to stare open mouthed at the spot that she just vacated.