A/N: Hi everyone. I hope all of you like this chapter. Let me know what you think. :)

This chapter is dedicated to Violet1994. I hope you would make an account, so I could reply to you. Anyways, thanks for your reviews. I've missed hearing from you. :)

XOXO

Chapter Eight

"What!" Ginny yelled out in surprise.

"Bloody hell, Hermione," Ron gasped.

"I thought you had to be in your seventh year to be Head Girl," Harry mentioned. Their shock and responses overlapped with each other's and I let myself smile at them.

"It seems that no seventh year girls had high enough qualifications, the only one who did turned down the job due to their N.E.W.T.s," I grinned at their faces and Elena looked at them rather amused before turning to me once more.

"You will be the youngest Head Girl in the history of Hogwarts, dearie," she absolutely beamed. "This calls for a bit of celebration." I looked at her worriedly.

"I don't need a celebration," I protested earnestly. Not with this war going on.

"Nonsense," she blew over. "A ball perhaps?"

"A ball?" I repeated a bit put out.

"No, never mind that idea. A ball would simply be too hard to plan at such late notice. The one ball for your birthday is enough to appease that thought in my mind. A gift is well in order though," She ranted off quickly. I looked at her with wide eyes.

"My birthday?" I looked at her quizzically. She couldn't possibly be thinking of doing such a grand event during a wizard war. She must be insane. Her smile confirmed her insanity.

"Of course. You're coming out, being as you will be formally of age, a celebration is in order. I have cleared it up with your Headmaster already, you will be excused for that entire night from duties and liable to miss a few classes," she waved her hand as if it wasn't much trouble executing such a feat. "Though I still need to get a wizard to escort you, one who I approve of."

"I can't have a birthday ball," I reasoned. "We are at war, this circumstance surely negates the need to have such an event."

"Again, I must say nonsense. Having a ball is not much trouble, even in a war."

"It is enough trouble," I pushed.

"It cannot be cancelled now," Elena insisted. "Letters have already been sent out to nearly all prominent families, all my other connections and your approved friends."

"We weren't invited," Harry decided to cut in.

"You didn't invite them?" I questioned Elena, somewhat alarmed.

"Heavens, no," Elena said a bit confronted. "I had invited Luna. And only she will be going. That is final." I looked at her quizzically. She must have been mad to not invite the boys. They were one of my closest friends, after all.

"Why? We are her friends too," Ron argued.

"I see that," she looked over Ron's face before trailing down to his crumb covered shirt. "However, certain associates of mine will not be pleased with your presence in such an event." The insult was clear and Ron glowered at the accusation.

"Don't say a word," I said swiftly to Ron and the others.

"But-"

"Elena," I said gently.

"Yes dear," she replied politely.

"Explain." She gave a sigh before looking at me directly with her piercing eyes.

"Everyone there will be of age. Those not of age will be accompanying a family member of which you must create an association with. Every person there has been selected by me for certain reasons. Each association you will make there will give you the connection you need for the future," she explained. Most likely, all the associated their will be someone partitioning in the dark arts, or of high power. Needless to say, someone not in the know of such things that I was delving into was to not be included. "Weasley and Potter are not of age or fits the other criteria," she added more insistently, trying to make me clearly see her reason.

"But you said that those not of age can go with their family," Ron insisted. His argument was poor sounding to my ears.

"And those few will most likely be men seeking her hand," Elena countered, immediately shutting up Ron. I looked at Elena in question, she knew I was with Severus already. So why try to set me up?

"Elena?"

"Never mind the boys who approach you, nor the men as well. I already have you set on marrying another man," She patted my hand gently, letting my nerves calm.

"Hence the escort?"

"Hence the escort."

"You're alright with being married off?" Harry looked a bit enraged.

"Yes, so long as I actually approve and like the man. Which I assure you, Elena has taken into consideration," I lied. I already knew it was Severus. I belonged to him completely. He would kill anyone who so much thought of touching me in that way.

"But-" Harry tried to speak.

"Elena knows my preference. I get the last word anyways," I waved it off. "Please drop it," I added. He looked at me concerned, the second time already that day. I looked at him pleadingly and I could see him fighting within himself before settling down to my wishes. Ron in his seat still bubbled in anger, though kept his mouth shut, in and attempt to restrain himself. Ginny sat forgotten in her seat, silently taking the talk in.

"Now I still need to think of a present to give you for achieving such results and your new position," Elena changed the topic abruptly and I thanked her silently for it.

"You don't need to get me a present," I countered. "My birthday will be coming soon enough already."

"Dearie, how many times must you make me say 'nonsense' to you today," Elena joked. "You will get a present from me, and I suspect from some others."

"Just know that I have enough clothes for this season and next," I gave up.

"Hermione, dearie," she let out with a large grin. I feared what she would say next as her grin grew larger and larger, finally deciding on what to give me.

"I don't know what it is, but I can tell you right now that it is too much," I sighed.

"It is indeed a lot, but I assure you that you will absolutely love it." Elena smirked.

"Just tell me now before I die from anticipation."

"We wouldn't want you to die," Elena teased. "You are much too pretty to die so quickly. Your uses have not dried up yet."

"I hope not," I sniped.

With a wave of her hand she conjured a small box that was just a bit bigger than the size of a card. She handed it to me and I gingerly picked it up from her opened palm.

"You have made me very proud today," she whispered earnestly. "Now open it."

I lifted the cover of the black wooden box to unveil a dark green cloth, no doubt holding something precious. The satin easily slipped off the object and I let out a loud gasp, unable to help myself.

"You cannot be serious," I let out.

"I assure you, Hermione, I am very much serious." She let out a small chuckle as I lifted the object. A shining silver key, adorned with various glittering emeralds and diamonds gleamed in the light.

"What it that?" Harry questioned.

"It's a key to a house, I believe," I admitted. My gaze fell on Elena who looked at me with such pride. "Which house?"

"Not house. I suppose you can say that it is a manor with a rather vast expanse of land," she clarified.

"Which manor?" I questioned in interest.

"I don't think I've ever mentioned my unusual interest in Morganna?" My eyes widened at the association.

"You couldn't have," I said in shock.

"Couldn't have what?" One of the boys said.

"She's giving me a castle," I whispered out. Their shocked responses hardly registered to me as I shot out of my seat, ungracefully to envelope Elena in a death defying hug.

"I'm thinking you like the gift?" she teased.

"You're giving me Fay Castle," I whispered in her ear. "Of course I love it."

"I'm glad. It can be your little getaway home whenever you wish to have a little vacation," she added. Her charming nonchalant manner made me laugh with zeal.

"What on earth do I need to vacation from?" I teased her sarcastically. "In real retrospect though, Elena, when am I ever going to actually find time to vacation during a war that needs my full attention?"

"Simply whenever you want," she smiled. "Your big sister will take care of everything when you're away."

"And here I thought you wished to be neutral," I jeered.

"Wait," Harry exclaimed. "She's not fighting with us?" He looked startled at the revelation though I didn't know exactly why he thought otherwise. I never said she was on the Light's side, most probably due to her being more aligned to the dark arts. Thankfully with me as a completely other party in the war, Elena would be at least regarding my welfare as well as the few others she decided she liked.

"I am neutral. I do not align myself with a side," she spoke evenly, even with a hint of amusing tainting her otherwise plain tone.

It was at that moment Mrs. Weasley came bustling in from the outside where she was attending to some chores. Noticing the several Hogwart's letters on the table she picked her son's up, beaming at his achievement.

"Splendid," she spoke out. "You've got more O.W.L.s than the twins put together," she beamed. Elena frowned at the comment turning to me for some information.

"The twins are intelligent, they simply do not apply to school work," I muttered under my breath. She nodded in understanding before taking a small dainty bite of her breakfast.

"Why aren't you fighting with the Order," Harry questioned, unable to contain himself. "Why are you neutral?" Everyone looked at Elena and I with confusion. Mrs. Weasley, more so, due to equal distaste for the other witch.

"You don't fight against You-Know-Who?" Her voice was raised and alarmed at the bit of knowledge she gained about the witch beside me.

"No," Elena said simply, taking a small sip of tea once more. "I would rather keep to myself. I do not like concerning myself with such occurrences," she drawled out. "It does horrible thing to a person's age," she added. I coughed to cover up a laugh that escaped me. By the Fates she had to mention age. She was what? Three hundred ninety four years old or was it ninety-five?

"But we are at war," Harry commented. His voice had risen higher, his annoyance about Elena's uncaringness showing through.

"And the war will be fought and won without the need for Elena's direct interference," I said in Elena's defense. Elena patted my hand on the table as a short thanks.

"You can't be serious, Hermione? You're fighting in this war, why not your sister?" Harry interrogated harshly. I let his tone glide over me.

"While Hermione is fighting in this war in one form or another," Elena began knowingly. I took hint to the true words hidden beneath the ones that spilled from her lips. "And while the war will be won, I wish to take no part in it. Unless, until I must be forced to play a hand."

"Elena," I warned her from saying anything more.

"Mr. Potter," she began again despite my warning. "Harry, I am a witch who takes care of her own. I need to place myself in a position to ensure my safety and possibly the safety of those I consider close to me, including my sister. However, should my assistance be required by my sister and only my sister, I will intervene. I do not wish to do so as I have wished to give up fighting battles as weighing as these. Take note that I do not fight alongside the Order. I fight to protect Hermione and the few others." She ended.

"Dumbledore will want to here about this," Mrs. Weasley scowled at Elena's confession. I let out a sigh, wondering how well that would end up.

"Albus knows of my placement in this war in the brief discussion I had with him," Elena calmly spoke, her easiness with claiming to be neutral in a room full of fighters aggravated Mrs. Weasley who grew red in response.

"Why you," the seemingly elder witch began.

Elena's and my own ring burned uncomfortably on our fingers, my own twitching in response while Elena looked like it had never happened. It burned hotter than usual, signaling the importance of the news needing to be relayed.

"Well I need to be off," Elena began looking directly at me, ignoring the looks of all the others. She had that way with her, always ignoring those she deemed irrelevant to her at that precise moment.

"Tell those who expected me that I am sorry for the inconvenience of myself not being present," I said carefully. She gave me a curt nod before standing. I stood with her leading her out of the room to the front entrance. Our steps were silent on the usual creaky floors, neither of us making a single sound until we excited the makeshift house.

"If it is urgent," I let on.

"Then I will come and collect you. At the moment I will simply relay the news to you," she whispered gently beside me. I looked at her, my eyes showing the deep gnawing feeling in the pits of my stomach. I hated being called upon. I always think that it would be terrible news.

"Severus," I said softly, my voice seemed even for normal ears but Elena could feel my magic being shaken.

"Is fine," she tried to reassure me. The elves or my birds would have told us if anyone is hurt," she said gently. I felt her hand caress my cheek and instinctually I leaned towards it searching for more comfort.

"It's just news," I breathed out, just for myself.

"I will be back after the meeting and perhaps a bit of reconnaissance. I will inform you of anything terribly important." Without waiting for my response she stepped back and with a whirl of magic, was gone in a haze of orange and red as if she was consumed in hell's fire. Turning back began a slow trek inside the house, where without a doubt I would find myself hounded my a million questions.

Why couldn't life have been simpler?