Chapter 4: Spring Love is in the Air

"How'd the visit to Hogsmeade go?" Elaine asked without looking as the twins stepped into the shop.

"Well, it went better for us than for Ron," Fred remarked.

"Yeah, he got poisoned." George rubbed his nose irritably. "And they're not allowed to Hogsmeade anymore."

She turned around to face them at this. "Are you serious? No joke? Why on earth would they do that?"

"Apparently, during the last visit, Katie Bell was Imperiused and brushed a cursed necklace. Really spooked a lot of people."

Verity walked in. "Welcome back, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley."

Elaine frowned. "So does that mean we're still purchasing Zonko's?"

Fred answered this. "It's a possibility, depending on circumstances. But not yet at least."

"Well, anyway, we're done today. We were just leaving as a matter of fact," Verity said, hitching her bag up higher on her shoulder.

"So did you make dinner, Elaine?" George asked, looking hopeful. Her smile swept that hope away.

"You have to learn to cook sometime."

"I was serious," George whined.

"So was I."

"Please."

"Not tonight boys. I have a date."

"A date?! With who?"

"I do have a life outside work, you know. His name is Matt." Rolling her eyes good-naturedly, she followed Verity out of the shop.

George frowned at her back. "You know, sometimes I just don't get her."

"Sometimes?" his twin said, "I'd say all the time."

Elaine Apparated the instant she was outside the shop. She rushed into her house and up the stairs. She flung off the magenta robes, and changed into Muggle clothes. She threw on a chocolate brown long-sleeve, v-neck shirt and a pair of jeans. She put back on the boots she had been wearing that day. Quickly and pointlessly, she ran a bush once through her hair.

The sound of a motorcycle cut through slight tapping of rain on the roof. Elaine slid down the stairs, hurrying to get to the door. She reached it just as the doorbell rang. She pushed the door open and stepped outside. Standing on her porch was a helmeted man, wearing a black riding jacket.

"Matt!" she said and wrapped her arms around his neck. A laugh issued from the helmet as the man lifted it off. He patted his messy brown hair in a vain attempt to flatten it. His blue eyes twinkled brightly in amusement.

He kissed her. "Ready to go for a spin?"

"Of course."

She climbed onto the back of the motorcycle and placed the helmet over her face. Still smiling, Matt replaced his helmet and sat in front of her. Her gunned the engine and sped off. He popped a wheelie and started to drive off into the sky.

"You never told me you charmed the bike!" Elaine shouted over the roar of the motorcycle and the wind.

"You never asked!" he called back.

Verity was closing her window when she saw Matt's motorcycle lift into the sky. Elaine's laugh drifted back. "Is that who I think it is?" she asked herself, amused. Shaking her head, she pulled the curtains shut.

A short time later, the employees of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes found themselves at Dumbledore's funeral. Elaine could hardly believe that earlier in the year her former headmaster had been waiting for her in her house. Yes, it had been Dumbledore who she had met the first night she had started working for the twins. All he'd done was ask her a couple questions regarding her knowledge of Tom Riddle. Not that she knew him personally; she would have been too young while he was still alive. It was mostly information she had picked up listening in on her mother. She had a sneaky suspicion that some how the information she gave Dumbledore had led to his death.

Elaine knew that her mother had made a habit of knowing everything she could about everything, including the Dark Lord's past. Elaine had heard her mother raving about using it to blackmail Lord Voldemort in her last days when she lay delirious. It hadn't made much sense then, but she told Dumbledore everything she had picked up from her mother's senseless rambling. One of the oddest things she remembered, and told him as much, was that Voldemort had returned to a shack in some little village for no reason at all.

So she sat there in her seat, right next to Verity, wondering why she felt the urge to laugh. She twisted her sapphire robes in her hands, thinking about how Dumbledore always knew how to liven up the school. Elaine looked up into the sky and stared out into space.

The weeks that turned spring into summer passed in a flash. Business was up, despite all of the horrid things going on. All too soon it was July. "We've got to do something for the Order, so guard the shop tonight," Fred said as they exited the door. "Not sure when we'll be back. Moody wasn't very clear on that."

"Well, good luck with your mysterious mission," Elaine said, polishing the wood counter one last time.

"I'm sure we can hold the fort here," Verity added, crossing her arms.

"We don't expect anything to happen, but just be on the look out," George called back as they stepped into the street.

"Don't worry. I'm here, aren't I?" Elaine added. That was both a comforting and worrisome thought at the same time. On the one hand, Death Eaters always seemed to be within her immediate area. Still, no Death Eater had gotten the better of her yet.

"Still, be careful. You never know with these things," Fred replied as they went out the door and Apparated.

"I just don't get those two sometimes," Verity muttered.

"I am completely with you on that. We're just as tough as they are. And I don't see why they can't tell us what this mission thing is anyway. We're practically part of the Order!" Elaine grumbled. "It's not our fault they aren't accepting new official members right now."

"Why was that again?"

"Something to do with security I think. With all this crap going on, they don't want the possibility of infiltration by Death Eaters. As if I'd join the people I've spent half my life running from and killing," Elaine scoffed. "Oh I can just see them welcoming me into their ranks."

Verity laughed. "Oh yes, like they'd want the shopkeeper for a couple of bloodtraitors either."

It was Elaine's turn to laugh. She resisted the urge to point out that they very much were likely to want that. After all it represented a direct line to the other side. Still, it felt good to laugh. She'd enjoyed it much too much the past months, always having something to laugh about.

The two witches agreed to wait until the twins returned. It was not a good idea to leave the shop unattended, especially if something big was going down, as the twins had more than hinted at. Then again, it might be the safest time to leave the shop unattended, as all the Death Eaters were likely to be to busy to worry about thieving from a joke shop. Elaine had always figured that trying to rob the store was a last-ditch effort that was more a distraction than anything. Voldemort seemed to have realized it would take personal involvement and wasn't really worth his time.

The minutes ticked slowly by. There were times when Elaine thought her watch had stopped working altogether. The two of them even set to work creating a large supply of products that weren't really needed yet, but it wasn't the same. The shop seemed far to quiet even with the accompanying bangs and booms the came from the creation of the products. Left with nothing much to do, Elaine mechanically polished the counter continually, despite the fact she might have been wearing a dip into the perfectly flat surface.

The next she remembered was waking up, stiff and sore from standing all night and sleeping in such an awkward position, with her head resting on her outstretched arm. She groaned and stretched. She looked about for Verity and saw her leaning against a shelf, asleep. Elaine wondered what had woken her up. She glanced around the shop, mentally taking inventory. Nothing had been taken, at least not that she could see. Thinking it might have been the sound of someone Apparating, she walked over to the door and peered out into Diagon Alley. She couldn't see anyone in the early morning gloom. Giving another suspicious look about the street, she opened the door and stepped out.

There were two figures a little ways down the street. Elaine approached them slowly, her wand ready. She raised it and said "Lumos!" at the same time as one of the figures. The light revealed Fred, George leaning on his shoulder. "Oh it's you two," she said, relived it wasn't a couple of Death Eaters. Her eyes got big as she observed the scene again. "What happened to George?!"

"Long story. I'll tell you once we're inside," Fred replied, grunting a bit as he supported his twin's weight. "Give me a hand, will you." Elaine took George's other arm and put it over her shoulder.

"Sorry 'bout this, but according to Mum, I shouldn't be walking around too much yet. Still a bit faint from blood loss. Told her we had to get back before opening time and I wasn't going to die if she let me out of her sight," George said conversationally, as he was helped back to the shop. Inside, Verity was awake and conjured a chair for George to sit in.

Fred recounted the events of the night, at least what the twins knew for sure what had happened. "And he just appeared! And he could fly! Nearly scared me to death!"

"So what do you think?" George asked, clasping his hands together and tilting his head to display his missing ear.

"Oh yes, very holey," Elaine quipped back. They all laughed. "Now, both of you look ready to drop. So get yourselves to bed. Immediately. No argument."

"Yes, Mum," the twins replied in unison and dragged themselves up the steps to the flat.

Elaine turned to Verity. "Do you think you can manage the shop today?" she asked hurriedly, distracted by her thoughts.

"Sure."

"Thanks so much." Elaine grabbed her bag and ran out of the store. Her eyes flickered back and forth rapidly. She conjured her patronus out of habit more than anything. She was worried about something. Her worry showed in every movement, every glance. She passed a fountain in a square. Abruptly she stopped and sat down on the edge of the fountain. She stared into the water.

Worry was not productive, she told herself. "Too deep," she muttered anxiously. Elaine closed her eyes and breathed deep. At the sound of footsteps, her eyes flew open. Masks stared back at her. Death Eaters. She looked at their eyes. Putting her hand on her hip, Elaine smiled. He'd sent imperiused ones. "Easy as pie." She let her bag slide off her shoulder.

Laughter filled the silent square as she lunged for the nearest Death Eater. Ducking under his extended wand arm, she jabbed her fist into his stomach. He went down with a grunt. The others closed in. Judging from their movements, a couple of them were women. That might be enough to deter any man with a sense of honor, but Elaine was no man. She had no qualms about attacking women. In this world, if you don't fight dirty, fight to win, you won't last too long. Using the fountain as a spring board, she leap up into the air, firing stunning spells down upon them. She landed lightly on her feet. Those summers of gymnastics her grandmother put her through had never helped her more.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted a flash of green light. Green light never boded well, especially when dealing with Death Eaters. She dropped into the splits. Swinging her legs around, she flipped herself up facing the caster of the killing curse. It was one of the women. Cocking her head, Elaine pondered why the woman wasn't on the ground, stunned like the rest of them. She was sure she'd hit her dead on. Ahhh, there it was. She was wearing a Shield Cloak. One of the newer bunch, meaning it was her own spell. Elaine would not be defeated by her own charm.

The woman raised her wand and Elaine snatched it from her fingers. Surprised, the woman fell back against the fountain. In less than a second, Elaine was on her, pinning her shoulders with her knees. "Death Eater, eh. Eat this." Elaine jammed the woman's wand down her throat, killing her. She stood up and backed away, stoney-faced. She was tiring of the game. Her silver tiger was circling the field of battle. Elaine dismissed it. Silently, she crept into a dark alley between two houses and revived the Death Eaters. They stood up and saw their comrade dead.

"She Apparated," stated one of them. They grabbed the dead woman and disappeared themselves. Elaine stepped out, smile on her face. Shouldn't they have figured out she didn't usually do things that wizards think of first. Thinking like a Muggle had its advantages. She walked home, smile still on her face.

George was walking down the street that led to Elaine's place. He didn't usually come by after hours, but today he had something to ask. It was the thirtieth and he needed to let her know they had just received word that there was a shipment coming in the next day. Actually, it was more of an excuse to go talk to her. "Just ask her. Nothing complicated about it. Just ask if she wants to come with you to Bill and Fleur's wedding." It was odd; he'd never had trouble with this kind of thing ever before. He stood on the doorstep and adjusted his robes. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.

"Elaine!" he blurted out as the door opened.

"Baby, someone here to talk to you!" the man at the door called back into the house. His blue eyes cooly observed George.

"Matt, I presume?" he asked with a smile. But inside he felt his stomach turn with dread. George knew he had no chance of getting a yes.

"Yes. Which one are you?" Matt asked in return, rather rudely, in George's opinion.

"George. Nice to meet you."

Elaine came to the door. "George!" She sounded pleasantly surprised. "What are you doing here?" Matt seemed to dislike her tone and draped his arm around her shoulder.

"Um...Oh yeah! Shipment, tomorrow. Just a heads up. I know you'll be there anyway, but I just wanted to make sure you weren't surprised by it. You know, attack the owls thinking they're Death Eaters."

She laughed. Matt looked irritated by that fact. "Well, thanks for the heads up. I'd invite you in, but we're just going to dinner."

"That's fine. Don't worry. I understand." She looked at him oddly.

"Elaine, let's go. We don't want to miss our reservation."

"Yeah, I'm coming Matt." The two of them got onto a motorcycle George could not believe he had missed walking up. "Sorry, we can't talk more, but I'll see at work when you get back." She smiled, then put on her helmet.

George watched them ride off. With a sigh, he Apparated back to Diagon Alley.

Back at the shop, a little more than a day later, Elaine was showing off something to Verity. "Isn't it lovely?" she said, showing the other witch the sparkling ring on her finger. "Matt proposed! We're engaged!"

"That's wonderful!" Verity agreed that the ring was beautiful. "I'll go get some firewhiskey and we'll have a drink." She left the room. Elaine picked up a basket of merchandise to return to the shelves.

Suddenly, Fred's patronus appeared in the shop. It startled her so badly, she dropped something for the first time since working there. The bottle crashed to the floor. The patronus spoke. "Ministry's fallen. You know what to do." It bounded away.

"Verity!" she called. Verity came running. "Ministry alert!" Verity nodded. They'd been worried about this. Thus, they had made contingency plans. They secured the shop, using all the spells they had decided on earlier. As they worked, Elaine frowned. She had never liked Scrimgeor, but he'd done fairly well, considering the circumstances.

"I'm going to take a walk, Verity." Elaine started to walk down Diagon Alley. Out of the Leaky Cauldron entrance, came Matt. She looked at him. He enfolded her in a hug.

"Are you okay? I'm here now, I've got you covered."

"Why shouldn't I be?"

"The Ministry had fallen to the Dark Lord."

Elaine's eyes betrayed none of her thoughts. "How would you know? How would you know!" she shouted at him. "You bastard!" He grabbed her wrist.

"Calm down."

Her voice became quiet but deadly. "You son of a bitch. How long?"

"Oh, a couple months. They paid well. How else do think I could afford to buy the ring for you?" He grabbed her shoulders. "I love you. Otherwise I would not have done any of this. It was for your own good. I can protect you now."

Elaine looked down at the ring, which moments ago had seemed so pretty. She closed her eyes. She dropped down through his hands and avoided his grip. She yanked the ring off her finger and threw it at him. It bounced off his chest and landed with a clink on the cobbles. His blue eyes were anguished. "You don't know me at all. I don't want to be protected. I can do that for myself." She turned her heel and ran.

"You're nothing like your father!" Matt yelled after her, aiming to hurt, thinking she could not possibly know who it was and would come back to find out.

She looked back, a tear sliding from her eye. Her face went hard and angry. "Good!"

He watched her quickly receding back. He felt his heart breaking. His father would be so proud. For doing to Elaine what his father had done to his mother. Matt couldn't stand living anymore. He walked right out of the Leaky Cauldron and onto the street. He started to run against the flow of traffic, trying to get in the way. A speeding car hit him and he crumpled gratefully to the ground.

"Oh my God! Someone call and ambulance!" There was a woman with short black hair standing over him.

"Elaine?" he asked, blood bubbling from between his lips. He focused on the face. It wasn't her. "S'not your fault," he told the woman thickly. "Suicide." He smiled. Elaine was finally safe from him. His last thought before the darkness closed in was that he'd told the Dark Lord where her house was. His smile turned to an expression of horror. Then he was gone.

Standing outside the Leaky Cauldron was Elaine. She saw the whole thing. She turned away her face to hide the tears. Matt had been great, even though he had spied on her. She brushed the tears away and got onto his motorcycle. He'd left it there. She put on the flight drive and sped away. It was time to confront her memories.