Chapter 9: The Flashback
Sirius walked back in to Elizabeth's room a few hours later. He saw that she was awake, staring off into distant space. She jumped up when she saw him.
Sirius smiled, "How are you?" Elizabeth blinked a few times and asked confusedly, "What happened?"
Sirius grimaced; even though he was smiling, he was way too angry with her. He managed to grumble, "When you were leaving, you were attacked by a dementor."
Elizabeth snapped, "Gee, I didn't know. How was I saved?"
Sirius became angry. He said, "You have no right to be sarcastic with me! You are the same idiot I met 18 years ago. You don't think about anything you do. You don't care for your own safety. You're so carless. Sometimes, I wonder how you managed to stay alive for 15 years with nobody looking after you. If it wasn't for me, you would be dead by now!"
Elizabeth looked at him unfazed. However, she was surprised. "You saved me?", she asked. Sirius didn't respond. She knew how hard that must have been for him to come upon a dementor. After all, he had been in prison for 13 years, his soul being punctured every day.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth and softly said, "Maybe that's why I left Sirius. I'm a pain to you. You hate me and whatever I do is careless. You were better off without me these 2 years. That's why I left. I'm a burden and you don't want me here."
Sirius still didn't reply.
Elizabeth stood up and walked shakily towards him. She staggered and almost fell, but Sirius caught her around her waist. Sirius looked into her deep dark brown eyes.
Elizabeth broke him from his reverie. "Sirius, I need to tell you the truth before I leave. For some reason, maybe that's why the dementor made me come back to you. Whatever I'm going to tell you now is no excuse for what I did. I want you to remember that."
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She told herself to hold them back…just until she was done with Sirius. She took a deep breath and looked at Sirius.
Without knowing, she grabbed his shirt and took a small step closer to him. Sirius didn't do anything. He was enjoying her presence that was so close to him.
She started in a soft voice, " The day they died was the last time I spoke to Lily. It was dark and stormy outside. I went to Lily's house for tea that day." She sighed, "Legilimens!
*Flashback*
Elizabeth and Lily were sitting at the kitchen table. "Elizabeth", she piped, "how's your relationship with Sirius?"
Elizabeth scoffed, "Relationship? What are you talking about Lily?"
Lily smiled, "I know you love him."
Elizabeth blushed and asked, "How do you know what my feelings are? I don't feel anything for him."
Lily laughed, "Yes you do. Remember at the last fight we had with the Death Eaters? You basically ran right in front of Sirius and took the blow of that bloody curse, "Sectumsempra".
Elizabeth chuckled, "Yeah, I did. He was about to get hurt! Did you expect me to just stand there?"
Lily said quietly, "James was about to get hurt."
Elizabeth sighed, "But you were there for him. And plus, Sirius was much closer."
Lily smirked, her eyes glowing, "Ah, I remember Remus being two feet away from you."
Elizabeth pursed her lips and gritted, "Lily Evans, I wonder how James even won you over. You are such a stubborn pig!"
Lily laughed, "Yes, I am. But my point is, you saved him because you love him. So, stop denying your love for him. You're perfect for each other."
Elizabeth questioned, "What do you mean I saved him because I love him?"
Lily sighed, "Elizabeth, I would never be able to live without James. He is my life. If I had to chose between who to save in a battle, no offense, I would always go to him. Always, no matter what. If James died, I die. "
Elizabeth's eyes widened and she grumbled, "Don't you dare ever say that. If something happens to James, you are the only one for Harry."
Lily shook her head, "No,you don't understand. I would save Harry…but I can't live without James."
There was a small silence while Elizabeth contemplated Lily's feelings for James and compared them to her own feelings for Sirius.
Lily then said quietly, "Elizabeth, if we both die one day, will you take care of Harry?"
Elizabeth frowned, "Lily, you and James won't die anytime soon. And of course I would take care of Harry. I love him just as much as you do."
She picked up Harry who was playing on the floor. Harry giggled, "Auntie Ellie!"
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow and said, "See?"
Lily smiled and asked, "Well, then do you have any objection to being made godmother of Harry James Potter?"
Elizabeth practically stood up and squealed in delight and yelled, "Objection? Are you mad? I'd love to be!"
Lily grinned, "You know this means you'll have to marry Sirius one day."
Elizabeth who was still swimming in delight of being godmother didn't clearly understand what she was saying.
She said, "Yeah, sure whatever."
Lily rolled her eyes. In the next moment James came running into the kitchen. He nearly yelled, "So did you tell her? I just told Sirius and he agreed."
Elizabeth grinned and said, "Well, if Sirius agreed that you are an egoistic fool, then yeah."
James stared at Lily in mock disbelief and croaked, "You think that I'm –what?"
Lily growled, "Elizabeth! No, James, she agreed to be godmother."
James gave a sigh of relief. He sure didn't want to go through another 5 years of convincing Lily that he wasn't egoistic anymore. Elizabeth started to laugh and James picked up Harry and chased her around the room. They finally stopped and Elizabeth gave James a quick hug.
She pulled away and sincerely said, "I'll do anything for that little tyke." James' eyes widened and while handing her Harry he said, "Ok, then why don't you change his diaper? He had a little problem just now." Elizabeth stared at him with her mouth open and then briskly turned to Lily.
"See", she said, "he still has an ego."
Lily laughed and took Harry from her hands. Elizabeth glanced at the clock and gathered her cloak and wand. She gave a peck on Harry's cheek.
She sighed, "All right guys. I'll see you tomorrow. It's getting late." Lily and James waved goodbye.
Elizabeth felt a chill down her spine as she walked outside. She glanced back at the house. She didn't want to leave but she didn't want to intrude on James and Lily's private time. She heaved and trudged her way along the sidewalk until she walked into her cottage. She entered her bedroom door and switched on the light and fell asleep on the bed. She woke four hours later giving a big yawn.
Suddenly, a patronus of a phoenix entered her window. She ran to it knowing that it was from Dumbledore.
The patronus said in booming voice, "Elizabeth. Sirius is in trouble. The Death Eaters are at his house. Some Order members have already arrived. I'll be coming shortly."
Elizabeth's heart started beating heavily. Sirius was in trouble. How could her Sirius be in trouble? Of course, he was Secret Keeper. She rushed out of her cottage glancing at Lily's house on the way. It had been decided that from now on anything concerning them would be kept from them. They were safe without knowing.
Tears streamed down her eyes. She found a good spot to apparated in. A few minutes later she was on Wisteria Walk. She ran down the pathway and found herself in front of an apartment building. But, she noticed that the Dark Mark wasn't there. No one was there.
Fearing for Sirius, she entered the apartment. But, he wasn't there. On the table, he wrote a note. It said, "Gone to Diagon back soon."
Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows, she glanced around the house looking for any sign of the Death Eaters. She didn't see anything. Nothing was wrong. Was it a mistake? She racked her brains trying to figure out what was happening.
That's when it hit her clearly. She had fallen into a trap. Sirius wasn't in trouble…James and Lily were. She closed her eyes and apparated five minutes away from Lily's house. She sprinted across the sidewalk and Lily's yard.
The door was open. Everything was dark inside except for one light on in Lily's bedroom. Elizabeth quietly walked in and nearly gasped in horror.
James was sprawled across the floor. She leaned down beside him and felt his pulse. Nothing. She whispered, "James. Please wake up. Lily needs you. Wake up."
She didn't hear any response. She was trying not to cry too hard. She stood up and bolted up the stairs looking for Lily. She heard voices coming from Lily's bedroom. Her hear beat with every step she took. Elizabeth knew Voldemort was in there.
She had a chance against him….after all she was Dumbledore's student. But, she couldn't defeat him….she could only bide time for Lily and Harry to escape. She took her wand out from her cloak and stepped in trying not to be seen.
She almost stopped breathing when she saw Lily's dead body sprawled across the floor. Her body was shaking in anger….she clenched her teeth. Voldemort raised his wand at Harry. "I'd stop there if I were you…..Tom", Elizabeth whispered harshly. Voldemort spun around and found himself shocked. "Elizabeth, how interesting."
Elizabeth glared. Voldemort laughed, and said coldly, "I'll take care of you later." Elizabeth laughed frostily, "Take care of me? The order members will be coming. I'd run if I were you."
She was trying to distract him and was taking small steps toward Harry. Voldemort shook his head and clicked his tongue, "I'm sorry Elizabeth. Crucio!"
Elizabeth writhed in pain and suddenly felt her body go tight. She couldn't move. Her wand escaped from her hand. Voldemort chuckled at her pitiful condition, "You're no match for me." She screamed, "HARRY!" Voldemort spun around and the last thing she heard was the last thing she wanted to hear, the killing curse.
She was in Dumbledore's office, her face white and sickened.
Dumbledore sighed heavily, "Elizabeth, there was nothing you could have done. I'm sorry Sirius misunderstood you. It's unfortunate that he was sent to Azkaban."
Elizabeth sniffed, "Is there any way you can get him out?' Dumbledore shook his head, "I'm afraid not. I am not the Minister of Magic. At this particular moment, I wish I was."
Elizabeth nodded once and asked, "What about Harry? Where will he stay? I'll take care of him, please?"
Dumbledore shook his head again, "No, Harry will be safer with his Aunt Petunia. His mother's blood saved Harry. He will be protected with his aunt's blood." Elizabeth simply nodded. Dumbledore softly explained, "Elizabeth, you didn't do anything wrong."
Elizabeth flinched. Dumbledore sighed, "Don't be afraid of death. Death is only a stop to pain in life. You live beyond death. Right now, Lily will be happy. Her son is alive and safe."
There was a moment of silence. Dumbledore continued, "Elizabeth, you call yourself weak. Yet, you were courageous enough to stand up against Voldemort. That isn't weakness, it's bravery. You stayed loyal to me today. Instead of running off when you suspected Voldemort's presence, you stood up against him."
Dumbledore's eye's glistened and he wore a small smile upon his face. Elizabeth still didn't say anything.
Suddenly, she stood up. "Professor, I was not loyal today. Anybody in the Order would have done what you say I did. But, no one would have been foolish enough or idiotic enough to fall into a trap."
Dumbledore replied, "Elizabeth, you need to remember that Voldemort was always a good trickster. One of his major advantages is making things seem extremely real. He's an illusionist."
Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. Tears fell out of her eyes.
She whispered, "I want to leave the Order. I feel like I'm more of a complication than a help. Goodbye Professor."
