Chapter Ten

Elaine arrived at the Burrow eight minutes before noon, Rowan holding on tight to her hand. The letter from Molly inviting her to come to the Burrow for Christmas day had arrived shortly after she'd made it back to her rooms after talking with Dumbledore. She hadn't wanted to show up late, and therefore hadn't opened any of her own presents, but she didn't want to be the first one there either; and now she was frozen on the edge of the apparation point.

She was still staring at the building when the door opened and Molly exited, carrying a bucket that she emptied into the grass. She glanced up and saw Elaine, her face splitting into a wide smile. "Elaine!" She bustled over, dropping the bucket and enveloping Elaine into a hug. "It's good to see you, dear. I'm glad you made it. And little Rowan!" She patted the boy on the head. "Come on in! The boys are in the kitchen, I'm sure Harry will be pleased to see you." As they walked, Molly chatted. "He was actually the one who suggested I invite you, he's got a present for you and everything. I think he's happy to have family, poor thing."

"Oh," Elaine managed in surprise as they reached the front door. They entered, and Elaine saw everybody seated for lunch. She froze again as her eyes caught Remus'. "Oh," she said again. She let Rowan slide from her arms, and the three year old rushed over to Harry, grinning at him and holding up the toy wand Elaine had bought him as one of his presents. Nearly everyone was wearing similar sweaters, except for an extremely blonde woman who was seated next to Bill Weasley, who she recognized from her first day at Hogwarts when Peeves had pelted them both with water balloons.

"Everybody, this is Elaine Davies," Molly announced, gesturing to a seat next to Harry. "Sit!" A high chair was summoned and Rowan was soon wrestled into it, and they all sat down again, Elaine looking down at her plate.

"Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair," Ginny stated, leaning across the table and picking it out. Elaine raised her eyebrows, confused, but let it go.

"Ow 'orrible," the blonde woman exclaimed, and Elaine silently agreed as she fought with Rowan to eat a spoonful of potatoes, and so missed the conversation around her until she heard Molly call out her husbands name and push her chair back. She looked up, startled to see the older woman's face pale, one hand pressed to her chest. She opened her mouth to ask if she was okay when she noticed two figures walking through the snow filled yard. One was Percy Weasley, and the other was the Minister of Magic.

"Excuse me," Elaine said quickly, lifting Rowan out of his chair and shutting herself in the bathroom with him.

She'd met Rufus Scrimgeour once, right before Rowan was born. He'd made advances towards her, and the then nineteen year old had been very uncomfortable. She hadn't been pleased when the man had been appointed minister, but was comforted by the fact she'd have no reason to ever be in the same room as him again.

A quiet knock on the door caused her to jump, and she pulled it open to see Arthur Weasley on the other side. "The minister has left," He informed her.

"Oh," Elaine whispered, brushing her hair out of her face, which was turning red. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." There was a pause. "Harry's waiting for you in the living room. He'd like to give you your christmas present."

"Hi," Harry said quietly when she entered the living room, holding up a brightly wrapped present. "Um. I know you probably weren't expecting anything from me, and I meant to send this by owl but it got late, and - Uh. Hermione helped me with the spells for it." Elaine sat down next to him and he passed the present to her. "It's nothing big," Harry rushed as Elaine began opening it. "I just - you're family." Elaine pulled the wrapper aside and smiled at the photo album. She opened it and gasped at pictures of their mother. "My first year, Hagrid wrote to a bunch of mum's and my dad's friends, and they all sent him pictures of the two of them for me, and he put together an album. I figured - well, you deserve copies of them too. There's also space at the end, so you can add your own pictures of you and - and your son. Rowan, right?"

Harry sat shyly in his seat as Elaine flipped through the book, unable to find words. "Thank you, Harry," she said finally. She closed it and set it aside, watching her brother. After a moment, she let out a small sigh. "I wanted to tell you, the moment I found out," she said. "Du-there were people who didn't want me to, and so I did what they asked." Harry just nodded and stood up.

"I know," he said, moving to leave. He turned back. "I want to get to know you more," he told her. "I just don't know if I'm ready yet." And he left.

Elaine arrived back at Hogwarts late, having managed to avoid being trapped alone with her father. Molly had retired to her room, crying, after Percy had stormed out of the house, and Elaine had ended up spending time with Bill's girlfriend, Fleur, while she played with Rowan.

She paused outside the staff room, noting a lone figure sitting by the fire, a heavy book in his lap and his head leaned back against the chair. She knocked quietly on the open door and Severus looked over. "Merry Christmas," she told him, heaving Rowan into her lap as she sat down in the chair next to the potions master. "Was yours eventful?"

"Not particularly, no," was his response. "Yours?"

"Harry asked the Weasleys to invite me for lunch," Elaine said softly. "That was all." They sat in a comfortable silence, which was broken by Dumbledore coming into the room.

"Elaine, you've returned." She nodded sharply. "Good. I've been speaking with some very good friends of mine, and from what I understand, should a custody battle occur, you are in the best standing to keep young Rowan, as you have a job and a place over your head, and you are the immediate biological parent."

"Custody?" Severus demanded, sitting up straight. "What is going on?"

"Chester." Elaine explained past the lump in her throat. "He informed me that he's filed for custody of Rowan. He doesn't think I'm a fit parent. Dumbledore's to help me, in exchange for me fully joining the order."

"Are you serious?" Severus snapped, looking at Dumbledore. "You knew she wasn't comfortable with joining the order, Albus!"

"She agreed," the headmaster said mildly. "I just wished to inform you of the updates, and now I have my dinner waiting. Hope the rest of your Christmas is just as merry."

The letter from the ministry arrived the morning classes began again. Elaine sat at her desk in her office just before breakfast, fiddling with the unopened envelope. A sudden knock caused her to jump. "Come in," She said, putting the letter aside. Kyle entered, slowly, looking around before shutting the door behind him. Elaine refrained from sighing. "Yes, Kyle?"

"I just - I wanted to tell you I'd fight for you to keep Rowan," he murmured, avoiding looking her in the eyes. He kept his head down, and Elaine stood.

"Kyle, what's wrong?" The boy finally looked up and Elaine gasped, startled at the large cut across Kyle's face. She hurried to the boy. "What happened?"

"I don't know." The twelve year old broke down. "Uncle Chester - he's not - he's different. He changed when Ben died, and he's - he's not -" Elaine wrapped him into a hug.

"I'll talk to Dumbledore," she told him. "Maybe we can arrange for you, and Roger too if he wants, to come stay with me and Rowan when school's not in, okay? At least for this summer."

"How can you if Chester takes Rowan?"

Elaine hesitated. "I don't know, but I'm going to try, Kyle. For you and Roger and Rowan - I will try."

I'm sorry guys. I was on vacation and then I was busy. But here's the next chapter; not much happens but I wanted to move on with the story!