A/N First off I would like to thank you all for your continuing to read and review my story. Thank you also to my lovely beta reader EllieHathaway for her work on editing this chapter.
I would also like to take the time to thank my good friend Jellybeanlover2010 for her support during this hard time in my life. Anyway let's get back to the story shall we!
Chapter 10 Tri-wizard Tournament
Ellenore woke early on the morning of her fourteenth birthday to the smell of banana walnut pancakes wafting through her bedroom door. She jumped out of bed and changed into her favourite set of olive green robes. As she entered the sitting room, she heard her father turning the page of his morning paper. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Good morning, daddy. Is there anything interesting in the morning paper?" Severus arched an eyebrow and smiled mischievously.
"There's nothing too interesting, unless you count a certain girl's birthday today." Ellenore smiled gleefully.
"Dad, you know I seriously doubt that the Daily Prophet would consider my birthday so important that it would be in the paper," she said.
"Really," said Severus as he turned the page. "I wouldn't say that, if I were you." he said as he handed his daughter the paper and guided her hand to a certain section on the page. Ellenore began to read the section out loud.
We would like to wish many happy returns to Ellenore Eileen Snape. Birthday's come but once a year, may your birthday be particularly special this year. All my love, Daddy.
P.S. Go to my office and look in the top drawer. There is a special something that I want you to have.
Ellenore dropped the paper and flung herself into her father's arms.
"Daddy, you didn't have to do this." she said as she hugged him a little too tightly. Severus untangled himself from his daughter's grasp and turned her in the direction of his office door.
"Go and get your first birthday gift of the day, Elly." Ellenore didn't bother calling for Amiri since the entrance to her father's office was attached to his living quarters.
She walked into his book strewn office and took a seat behind his large black desk. She opened the top drawer and felt around inside for her gift. Her hand ran across a flat oval shaped parcel that was wrapped in silk cloth and tied with a satin ribbon. There was an envelope with her name on it tucked neatly under the ribbon.
She carefully pulled the parcel out of the drawer and set it on her lap as she tugged the envelope free. She opened it carefully and read the letter before ripping into the gift.
Dearest Ellenore,
In this life there are many things I have done that I regret. Your creation and birth is not one of those things. There are many times thus far that I, as a man, have not been able to help you with, due to the fact that there are just some things that you will never feel comfortable sharing with me. It is for that reason that I have decided to give you one of my most precious possessions. The ribbon holding it closed is, in actuality, an emerald green choker that used to belong to your grandmother, Eileen Prince. She was in Ravenclaw house but, like you, loved the colour green. The wrapping is a light summer cloak that I gave your mother on our wedding day. She wanted you to have it. I will not be sending you home on the Hogwarts Express today; instead I will be taking you out for a special birthday dinner before we go to our home for the summer. Do not spoil your appetite by filling up on sweets.
Love,
Daddy
Ellenore put the envelope in her pocket and carefully untied the ribbon that bound the parcel closed. In the centre was an oval shaped locket that had the Prince coat of arms on it. Inside the locket was a moving and talking portrait of her grandmother, Eileen Prince, and another of her father. Both voices greeted her ears when she opened it.
"You see, mother, I told you that she'd open the locket first," said her father's voice from within the locket.
"All right, Severus, I will admit that you know your child better than I thought you did," said her grandmother. "Your father thought that this would be a good way for you to always have your family with you, wherever you go," said Eileen Happily. "I am glad to see that your father's harsh upbringing has not taken its toll on you, my dear." said Eileen.
"If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask us." said her father. Ellenore closed the locket and tied it securely around her neck before she began to open the gift. Tears came to her eyes after the silk summer cloak was free of the oval shaped picture frame. A voice that she hadn't heard since the morning of her eleventh birthday came from within the frame.
"Shhhh, don't cry, darling," came the voice of her mother, Vivian Snape. "I'm sorry that I left you and your father alone, but it couldn't be helped. I may not truly be alive but I will always live on in your heart. Your father was right about your appearance, my dear, you look a lot like I did at your age." said her mother's portrait. Ellenore was speechless. She hugged the portrait close to her chest and sobbed.
"Mummy, I thought I lost you forever." she said, with tears flowing freely down her face.
"You will never lose me forever, Ellenore. I will always be here for you when you have need of me."
"Mum, what happened that day? You were the best potions mistress that I've ever known." said Ellenore.
"Let's just say that I should have listened to you, when you told me that my proportions were off," said Vivian. "I thought that you were too young to understand such things. I should have known that you were more your father's child in that regard. For that, I am sorry. I underestimated your ability." said her mother.
"I love you, mummy." she said as she walked back into her father's living quarters.
The rest of that day passed quickly for Ellenore and her father. While Severus was busy attending to his duties as head of house, Ellenore and Amiri ran all over the castle saying goodbye to her friends and the other professors.
Later that summer, Ellenore was invited to attend the quidditch world cup with the Malfoy family. Her father did not go, as he only liked watching the Slytherin team. He tried to convince Ellenore that the crowds would be out of control, but in the end let her attend. Lucius gave him his word that she would be safe at all times. So off she went with Amiri and the Malfoys to the world cup.
As they climbed to their seats in the Minister's box, Draco caught site of Harry and the Weasleys.
"Hey, Potter, try not to get hit by a bludger, won't you? You seem to be a bit of a magnet for them." He said, remembering their second year. "We're sitting in the Minister's box by personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself." he said in a snooty tone.
"Don't boast Draco, there's no need with this lot," said Lucius snobbishly. "Do have a good time while you can." he said as he winked at Harry. Ellenore was so embarrassed by Draco and her godfather's attitude that she hid her face in the back of her godmother's robes. She was so angry with Draco that she didn't speak to him through the whole match. As the quidditch match drew to a close and people were celebrating Ireland's viktory over Bulgaria, Lucius went missing.
Narcissa guided Ellenore and Draco out of their extravagantly luxurious tent just as screams of terror ripped through the night. She ran with them as fast as she could into the woods and ordered them not to leave that spot, no matter what happened. "I'm serious, Draco, you stay in here with Ellenore." she yelled as she ran back towards the campground with her wand raised. Ellenore and Amiri cringed as they heard the sounds of people screaming in terror, explosions, and the sounds of feet running all around them.
"Draco, what's going on? Where's your father and why did your mother leave us here alone? This is not my idea of fun." she said as tears ran down her face.
"Don't worry, Ellenore, it's only the death eaters." he said as he attempted to see what was going on with his omnioculars.
"DID YOU JUST SAY DEATH EATERS? WHAT THE HELL IS A DEATH EATER, AND WHY DO I FEEL THE NEED TO RUN?" she yelled as the screams intensified.
"Death eaters are the followers of the Dark Lord. The most powerful and most feared wizard in the world," he said dreamily. Draco cursed under his breath as he handed his omnioculars to Ellenore. "Hold these and stay here. I'm going to go and see what Saint Potter and his friends are up to." he said as he ran away from Ellenore. Ellenore squeezed Amiri's hand and thought of Spinners End.
"Amiri, I order you to take me home, immediately. It's not safe here and I don't like being alone in a strange place," she said as the tears started flowing.
Amiri apparated the two of them back to Spinners End and led her mistress safely into the house. Severus looked up in surprise and placed his potion in stasis when he heard the sound of the front door closing. He knew that the only ones able to enter his home without being invited in were his daughter and her guide elf. He walked upstairs just in time to see Ellenore collapse onto the sofa.
"Ellenore, what are you doing back so soon? Where are the Malfoys?" asked her father as he sat beside her on the sofa.
"Daddy." she began to sob uncontrollably.
"Sh, calm down, poppet. Tell me what happened." said her father calmly. "Amiri, get two cups of tea for your mistress and I," he said as he pulled Ellenore into his arms. Amiri bowed and left the living room. Severus removed a handkerchief from his robe pocket and wiped away her tears. "What happened?" he asked.
"Daddy, the quidditch match was amazing, but afterwards was utterly frightening. One minute, uncle Lucius was with us celebrating Ireland's victory, and the next he's nowhere to be found. I got woken up by the sounds of people screaming in terror. Aunt Narcissa came and dragged Draco and I out of the family tent and into the woods, then she left us there alone and people were screaming and running all over the place. I asked Draco what was going on and he said that it was only something called death eaters. He told me that they were the followers of someone called the Dark Lord then he left me all alone just to go and harass Harry Potter and the Weasleys. I was frightened and alone so I ordered Amiri to bring me home. I don't know why but I just didn't feel safe." she said as she shook in her father's arms.
"Daddy, who is the Dark Lord? Why are people afraid of these death eater things? Should I be afraid?" she asked as Amiri placed a hot cup of chamomile tea in her hands. Severus was at a loss on exactly what to say to comfort his daughter. On one hand, he wanted to tell her that he was an ex-death eater and a spy for Dumbledore, and on the other hand he feared how she would react when she discovered exactly who the Dark Lord really was.
"The Dark Lord is not a person to anger, Ellenore. He can be cruel and heartless at times. Some of his followers are, quite frankly, deranged and demented but not all of them are bad people. It's not something that I want you to worry about at this time." he said as he drained his tea cup. He was about to take his cup back to the kitchen until his daughter offered to take it for him.
Ellenore took the empty cup from his hand and turned to enter the kitchen. Before she could get too far, however, a vivid vision flooded into her head. She felt a burning sensation in her left forearm and saw a strange tattoo of a skull and snake. Then the vision changed to a strange bald looking man standing over someone in familiar black robes, who was kneeling at his feet. She felt fear coming from the man who knelt at the bald man's feet. It changed once more to show her father standing in a strange house of some sort with the same bald man and a very large snake. The snake lunged at her father sinking its fangs into his throat, and she screamed out in horror, as she dropped both tea cups and collapsed to the floor. Severus rushed forward and caught her before she hit the ground. She was holding her head and screaming for him hysterically.
"DADDY, DADDY, DADDY!" she screamed over and over.
"Ellenore, I'm here," he soothed. "What's wrong? Are you in pain?" She started babbling incoherently. "Amiri!" he yelled. The elf popped into the living room and took in the scene. "Go to my laboratory downstairs and get me a calming draught."
Amiri bowed and popped out of the room. She returned quickly and handed him the vial of potion. Severus forced the potion down Ellenore's throat and carried her up to her bedroom. She didn't speak for the rest of the summer. Even when her father asked her questions she just nodded or shook her head. Severus was starting to long for the bustle and commotion of the school term, just to hear the chatter of students. He tried, on numerous occasions, during the summer to penetrate her mind but she was now very skilled at occlumency and hid her thoughts too well.
The start of term feast was different this year. After the new students had been sorted, Professor Dumbledore made an announcement about the tri-wizard tournament and welcomed students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Another interesting change was their new D.A.D.A professor, who was an ex-aura named Mad-eye Moody. According to the other sixth years in Ellenore's class, he was an ugly man with one beady black eye and an odd electric blue eye that could look through the back of his skull.
"Greetings sixth year Slytherins and Gryffindors," he began. "I am your Defence against the dark arts professor. This term I will be teaching you how to, hopefully, survive what would otherwise be fatal. I am talking about the three unforgivable curses. The Ministry doesn't want you to know about these curses and what they do, but Headmaster Dumbledore and I both think that you need to know what you're up against."
Professor Moody continued his lecture and demonstration of the unforgivable curses on an enlarged spider. He had shown the students the imperious curse, and was in the process of showing the class the cruciatus curse when he noticed Ellenore Snape covering her ears and grimacing in pain. He stopped the curse and walked over to Ellenore's desk with a look of concern on his twisted face.
"Miss Snape, are you deliberately not listening to my lecture, or is there some sort of problem that I should know about?" he asked as she removed her hands from her ears.
"No, professor, the sounds the spider was making were hurting my ears." she said as she straightened in her seat.
"I didn't think the sound was that loud." blurted out Fred Weasley. Professor Moody turned on him and glared.
"Maybe you would like to give me the last unforgivable curse, Mr. Weasley." said Professor Moody as he placed the spider down on top of Fred's head.
"Um, Sir, is this spider poisonous?" asked Fred. Before he could utter another word, Professor Moody laughed out loud.
"Wrong answer, Mr. Weasley," he said as he pointed his wand at Fred. "Avada Kadavera!" he yelled out. Fred was paralysed with fear as a bolt of green light left the tip of Professor Moody's wand. His aim was extremely accurate, because the spider fell from the top of Fred's head and landed on his desk, dead as could be. "Let that be a lesson to you for speaking out of turn in my class, and for your inconsiderate behaviour towards your classmate.
The killing curse is the last of the unforgivable curses and the most deadly. There has been only one survivor of the killing curse known to date, and he happens to be a fourth year in Gryffindor house. Class is now dismissed." said Professor Moody as the last bell of the day rang out.
"Miss Snape, would you mind staying behind for just a few minutes?" asked Professor Moody. "You're not in any trouble, I'd just like a private word with you." said Moody as he waited for the class to file out. Ellenore resumed her seat, still waiting for the classroom to empty. As she waited for the other students to leave, she couldn't help catching the distinct scent of polyjuice potion coming from somewhere nearby. She then heard the sound of Professor Moody limping across the floor, dragging a chair in front of her desk.
"I have to be completely honest with you, Miss Snape. When I lost my left eye I thought that it was the end of the world. Seeing how you handle yourself makes me have a great deal of respect for you. I'm going to show you something very personal." He took his magical eye out of its holder and placed it into her hand. As the prosthetic eye was placed into her hand, she had a brief vision of it being taken from her Professor by a man in black robes. She got slightly frightened and quickly handed it back to him.
"What is this sir?" she asked as she handed the smooth orb back to him.
"That, my dear girl, is my magical prosthetic eye. Granted, it is an older model than they have now, but it allows me to see like an eagle. It might be something worth looking into, in the future," he said as he took the eye back from her and replaced it. "You may go now; I only wanted to share that with you."
Ellenore's head whirled in deep thought as she sat in the great hall, listening to the students go back and forth putting their names into the tri-wizard cup. Fred and George Weasley were walking up to the cup, shaking aging potions.
"Don't bother, it won't work." said Ellenore as Hermione took a seat beside her on the bench.
"Why not, little girl?" asked George.
"Do you see that ring there, around the cup?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah, what about it?" asked George.
"That is an age line. Professor Dumbledore drew it himself. Do you honestly think that magic preformed by a brilliant wizard like Professor Dumbledore, can be fooled by something as dim-witted and simple as an aging potion?" asked Hermione.
"That's what makes it so brilliant," said Fred. "It will work because it's so simple that there's no way that it could fail."
"If the potions genius could actually see, even she would agree with us." said George as he patted Ellenore on top of the head like a little child. In that brief contact from George's hand on her head, Ellenore had a fleeting vision that made her burst out laughing.
She got up and started for the doors of the great hall. "Hey, where are you going, Ellenore? Don't you want to hear us succeed?" asked George. Ellenore turned and made a face much like the wicked looking smirk that frequented her father's face when he was about to exact punishment.
"This isn't going to end well. I'm going to warn Madam Pomfrey that she should get the shaving kit ready." She turned and left the room with a light skip to her step. Hermione followed her out.
"Ellenore, why don't they ever listen to either of us?" asked Hermione. Ellenore smiled as they walked.
"They don't listen to you because they think that you don't know what you're talking about. They don't listen to me because they think that I'm a teacher's pet." Seconds later they heard fighting erupt in the great hall. Professor McGonagall had to break up a fight between the twins.
A few days later, all of the students sat in the great hall, awaiting the selection of the school champions. Fleur Delacour was chosen as the champion for Beauxbatons, Viktor Krum, was chosen as the champion for Durmstrang and Cedric Diggory was chosen as the champion for Hogwarts. The schools erupted into cheers until one last name erupted from the goblet of fire.
"Harry Potter!" yelled Professor Dumbledore. Stunned silence surrounded Harry as he walked into the room that the other school champions now occupied.
A month later it was time for the champions to take part in the first task. Each champion was to retrieve a golden egg from the nest of an angry mother dragon. Ellenore attended the first task with her fellow Slytherins but still wouldn't speak to Draco, no matter how hard he tried. She sat with Millicent Bulstrode, who was explaining every move taking place on the field eagerly. When it was time for Harry to take his turn with his chosen dragon, Ellenore heard the snap of the heavy metal chain before the dragon took off in hot pursuit of Harry, who was flying around on a broom. She heard the screams and the crash as the dragon whipped its tail and smashed through the stands where the teachers were all seated.
"Merlin's beard, that dragon just took out the stands where the teachers were sitting!" screamed Millicent.
"Is my dad hurt?" asked Ellenore.
It turned out that the teachers had gotten off lucky. They escaped with minimal scratches and bruises and Harry finally managed to outsmart the dragon and claim his golden egg.
—–
December was dreaded by most of the boys in the school.
"Today, ladies and gentlemen, you are going to be taught how to put your best foot forward," said Professor Mcgonagall. "It has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament that the school holding the competition plays host to the Yule Ball. It is for that reason that we are going to learn to waltz. The Yule ball is, above all, a dance." said Professor Mcgonagall.
Ellenore found the surge of boys and girls making arrangements for the Yule Ball sickening. She was asked to attend the ball by Crabbe, Goyle, and Marcus Flint. She turned down Crabbe and Goyle with no explanations. Marcus Flint, however, questioned her as to why she refused his request.
"Come on Ellenore, we're friends aren't we? I've always liked you for who you are. Why won't you go to the Yule Ball with me?" asked Marcus.
Ellenore sighed and thought carefully before she answered him.
"Marcus, I know that you're my friend and I know how you feel about me. However, you are not taking my father's feelings on this into consideration. I'm only fourteen and you're sixteen. My father might not approve. I'm not in the mood to go to a dance anyway. I have a lot on my mind. Will you please forgive me?" she asked. "Besides, I know for a fact that Daphne Greengrass and Millicent were both arguing over which one of them could get you to go to the ball with them." said Ellenore.
Later that evening, before dinner, she was on her way to the Divination tower to speak with Professor Trelawney about her most recent and reoccurring visions and dreams, when she was stopped by her father's voice.
"Elly, I've been looking all over for you, poppet. Where have you been?" he asked. "I noticed that you did not purchase a dress for the Yule Ball." he said as he reached the place where she was standing.
"I'm not going to the ball, daddy."
"Nonsense, Ellenore, everyone is going. I've noticed several boys in our house asking you to the ball and being refused, in some cases quite coldly. Don't bother telling me that you don't know how to dance, either, because I've seen you dance on numerous occasions at Malfoy Manor. We are going to find the perfect dress for you to wear next week," he said as he turned her around and guided her back downstairs. "Furthermore, you will be going to the ball with Mr. Malfoy. He tried to ask you on numerous occasions but he said that you wouldn't even listen to anyone speak about the ball." Ellenore stiffened and made a face that made her father laugh. "Don't make faces like that, Ellenore. You look too much like me when you make that face," said Severus as they approached the front doors of the castle. "You're too lovely of a girl to make faces that make you look like me. You're going to the ball and that's final."
The evening of the Yule ball found Ellenore dressed in a lovely floor-length Emerald green ball gown, trimmed in silver. She put on the gown and modelled it for the portrait of her mother.
"You look lovely, Ellenore. Simply lovely." said her mother.
"Your mother is right about that," came her father's voice from the door of her room. "I see you're going to wear your mother's earrings. Have you decided how you are going to wear your hair for tonight?" he asked as he reached for her hairbrush.
"I was just going to brush it out and wear it down." she said as she felt around for her brush.
"Sit down," ordered her father as he guided her to a chair in her room. Once she was seated, he began to run the brush lovingly over her long, black hair. "Your hair is getting long, Ellenore. How long are you going to let it grow before you agree to get a trim?" asked her father as he ran his hand through her silky hair.
"I'm not cutting my hair until it's the same length as mum's was." she said.
"I have a little something that I retrieved from your mother's vault at Gringotts. I think that it would look lovely with your gown." he said as he placed a box in her lap.
"What is it?" she asked as she opened it.
"That," came the voice of her mother's portrait. "I haven't seen that since our honeymoon. Severus I can't believe you were able to find it!" said her mother with a note of sadness in her voice.
"Don't start crying, Vivian. We wouldn't want you to drip out of your frame now, would we?" asked Severus with a slight smile. "I pay attention to things that matter. Your mother wore that tiara on our wedding day. I had it made for her years ago." He put the brush down and reached for the silver tiara that sparkled with emeralds, and placed it tenderly on Ellenore's head. "Now, my princess, you may go to the ball."
Draco waited at the foot of the stairs with Crabbe and Goyle and their dates, as Severus led Ellenore up from the dungeons. Crabbe and Goyle both elbowed Draco hard in the ribs as they saw Professor Snape leading his beautifully dressed daughter towards them.
"Oi, Draco, you've got the best looking girl in the school." said Goyle as Draco rubbed his ribs vigorously.
"Mr. Malfoy, I'm leaving my daughter in your care, I trust you'll be a gentleman about it?" said Severus as he stopped in front of the group of Slytherins. Ellenore rolled her eyes and turned a light shade of crimson. "She doesn't have her cane tonight, so don't leave her alone. Furthermore, I will be watching you, so keep your hands off of places that they should not go. Do I make myself clear?" he asked as Draco took Ellenore and tenderly placed her hand in the crook of his arm.
"Really, dad, as if Draco would ever be anything less than a gentleman with me." said Ellenore.
Severus turned and walked away, then turned back and narrowed his fierce black eyes at Draco, who had now pulled Ellenore into the crowd of Slytherins. Once they had entered the great hall and the ball had begun, Ellenore was guided into the first dance of the evening before she could protest. When Draco guided her hand to his shoulder and placed his own hand on her waist, she felt a fluttery sensation in the pit of her stomach.
"Ellenore, please listen to me before you bite my head off. I know that during the quidditch world cup I was a major jerk, and I should have never left you alone in the woods. I've been attempting to make it up to you ever since school started. I will do anything to make it up to you. Please forgive me. We've been close friends ever since we were babies." he said as he whirled her around the dance floor.
Ellenore was quiet for a moment and then she sighed and leaned closer to Draco as they danced.
"Draco, I am glad that we are talking again. I've had a lot on my mind lately and really need to talk to someone who I can trust. We'll stay at the dance until dad goes on patrol then we'll go to the common room so we can talk in private." she said.
"Okay, Elly, but you're dancing several dances with me until then. Your father wants you to have a good time and I intend to make sure that you do just that." said Draco as he lifted Ellenore off of her feet.
The more they danced, the more she could feel a strong tingling sensation where Draco's hands were resting. She felt extremely comfortable in his arms, more comfortable than she had ever felt when touched by any other boy. Even Marcus Flint never made her feel so safe. She sniffed and caught the scent of the cologne that Draco had pilfered from his father's room, yet again, on his skin and burst out laughing.
"Honestly, Draco, I wish that you would find your own cologne to wear. I feel like I'm dancing with your dad." she said.
"If you really don't like the way I smell with dad's cologne then you can go with me to the shops in Hogsmeade to buy a smell that you like." said Draco as he snuck a quick, light kiss on her cheek.
When his lips touched her skin, she saw a vision of an older version of Draco with his blonde hair combed neatly and his dazzling grey eyes gazing at her. She felt an overwhelming feeling of love that seemed to warm her from head to toe. Then the vision was broken with his light kiss.
They danced for a few more hours then left for the common room when Draco had decided that he had danced enough for the evening. He loved the way that Ellenore looked in the emerald green and silver ball gown. The tiara and jewels that she was wearing enhanced her beauty. He loved the way that they flowed around the dance floor. Holding her felt so right. They entered the common room and he guided her over to the sofa by the fire.
"So, Elly, what's on your mind? You've looked so distracted lately." said Draco calmly as he gazed into the blazing fire.
"Draco, I'm afraid for my dad's life. I've had a vision where I saw a strange mark on what I now know is his arm and felt a strange burning feeling. Then I saw him kneeling at the feet of a strange-looking bald man. After that, he was in an old house with that same man and a monstrously large snake. The Snake-" she cut off in mid-sentence and turned away so that Draco couldn't see her face.
Draco watched her quietly for a moment before he realised that she was sobbing quietly. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she broke down.
"Elly, what happened? Please tell me." he said as he ran his hand over her face, wiping the tears away.
"Draco, the – the snake k-killed my dad." she stammered. Draco pulled her into a tight hug and held her until she stopped crying.
"Elly, are you sure that it wasn't just a dream?" he asked.
"No, Draco, this was more than a dream. I was awake when I saw the vision for the first time. I was taking dad's tea cup to the kitchen when the vision flooded into my mind. It freaked me out so badly that I collapsed, screaming for my dad. It took him forcing a calming draught down my throat and staying with me until three in the morning before I realised that it hadn't really happened."
Draco pulled Ellenore into his lap and held her close as she continued to cry quietly.
"Elly, have you told anyone else about the vision?" he asked as he gazed into the fire.
"Only professor Trelawney," she said softly. "I know that I should share this with my dad, because I took an unbreakable vow never to hide things from him, but how do you tell someone you love that they are going to be killed by a giant snake? I've tried to tell him more times than I can count but every time that I try the words just won't come out." said Ellenore as she leaned against her childhood friend.
"I don't know what to tell you about that, Ellenore. However, you have to tell him something soon." said Draco as he allowed Ellenore to leave the comfort of his arms.
"You're right, Draco. I'm going to go and get my cane and summon Amiri. The sooner I get this off my chest, the better it will be for all involved. Thanks for listening to me, Draco, it really means a lot." said Ellenore as she walked to the centre of the room.
"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Draco.
"No, Draco, this is something that I have to do on my own. Amiri, I need you." she said as she held out her hand to nobody in particular. Amiri popped into the room and handed her mistress her winter cloak and her cane.
"Amiri is here and ready to help the mistress. Where would mistress like to go?" asked the elf as she took hold of Ellenore's hand. Draco stood there in shock.
"Ellenore, how did she know to bring your winter cloak and your cane? You didn't say anything about it." asked Draco with a note of confusion.
"We have a type of mental link. I don't have to say things out loud unless I want to." said Ellenore as she had Amiri lead her from the room.
Once outside in the fresh cold air, Ellenore thought of her father and Amiri apparated her to where he was patrolling the carriage yard. Igor Karkaroff jumped in shock as he heard the sound of the house elf apparating behind him.
"Vat the hell?!" he swore at the sight of the elf and the girl in her black fur-lined cloak.
"I'm sorry if we frightened you, headmaster Karkaroff. I need to speak to my father." she said as she removed the hood from her head.
"Your father is at the south end of the carriage yard. Vould you like me to take you to him?" asked Karkaroff, with no true desire to place his hand on the daughter of one of Voldemort's most trusted death eaters.
"No, thank you, sir. We can manage fine on our own." said Ellenore as Amiri began to lead her forward.
On the south side of the carriage yard, Severus had just caught two Ravenclaw students snogging in one of the carriages and had gleefully taken ten house points from each of them and gave them a month's worth of detentions each. It was a few minutes after this when he noticed his daughter's guide elf leading Ellenore across the frozen cobble stone carriage yard.
"Ellenore, I had expected you to be at the dance for at least another hour. Where's Mr. Malfoy? Did he leave you alone?" he asked, a note of anger in his voice.
"Dad, Draco didn't come with me because I told him that I wanted to speak with you alone. It's important that I share something with you." she said as she reached out for her father's robes.
"Well, if it's that important then Karkaroff can watch over the carriage yard by himself for a while," he said as he wrapped his arm around Ellenore's shoulder and led her out of the falling snow. He led her into the old carriage house and sat her in front of the fire, before taking his seat next to her and handing her a cup of hot tea. "Now, Poppet what's on your mind?" he asked.
Ellenore chewed her bottom lip nervously before she answered. She reached for his left arm and unbuttoned the sleeve of his black blouse. Severus shivered as he felt the slight burning sensation of the dark mark that his daughter was now tenderly running her fingers over.
"Daddy, I had a horrible vision where I saw this snake and skull tattoo on your left arm. I could feel it burn as if it were on my own arm. Then the vision changed to show you kneeling before a frightening looking bald man with red eyes and a strange-looking face. You were begging for him to forgive you. Then it changed again you were in a strange looking house of some kind. The man was standing over you, laughing, he made his snake-" Ellenore now broke off suddenly, tears streaming down her face. Severus pulled Ellenore into his lap and held her close as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Elly, what did the snake do?" he asked quietly. "Calm down and tell me the rest of your vision." he ordered. Ellenore gulped and buried her face in his chest.
"D-daddy, th-the s-snake," she stammered. "the man ordered the snake to kill you. I saw the snake lunging at you with its mouth wide open. I saw its fangs coming closer and closer to you. I-I felt when the they sank into your neck over and over again." she sobbed, shaking profusely.
Severus held his terrified, crying daughter close and rocked with her in his arms, attempting to sooth her.
"Elly, how long ago did you have this vision? Why didn't you tell me about it sooner?" he asked. Ellenore attempted to calm herself and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief that her father pulled out of his pocket.
"The day that I returned from the quidditch world cup early. It happened when I touched your tea cup. I have been having the same vision every time that I touch anything that you have touched. I didn't tell you because I just didn't know what to say" she said. "Daddy, what is this mark on your arm? I feel a dark, evil presence, now more than ever." she said as her father pulled his arm out of her grasp and buttoned his sleeve.
"I'm sorry, Poppet, but I can't explain that at this time. There is too much that I have to think on before I give you answers in that regard. I will explain everything to you when the time comes, I promise," said her father as he hugged her close again. "Come now, Poppet, it's getting late. You may either go back to the ball or go to your room. You're welcome to stay in my quarters, if you would like" he said as he led her back to the door. "I have a few more hours of patrol before I retire for the evening. Thank you for telling me about the vision. I'll be careful, so don't worry about me." he said, kissing her on top of her head.
The months passed and the students were now awaiting the last tri-wizard tournament task. The four champions entered the maze and were in there for a long time, the audience sat with bated breath. The tense atmosphere grew with the silence and the knowledge that unknown things were lurking and waiting for the champions; hoping to make them their victims. A commotion brought the audience out of the haze as red sparks flew into the air and fleur Delacour was removed from the maze. Only minutes later, red sparks exploded again and Viktor Krum was removed as well. The only two champions left in the maze were Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory.
Ellenore had to go to the loo, so she missed when Harry returned in a flash of light with the dead body of Cedric Diggory, screaming about Voldemort returning and killing Cedric. She was on her way back to the stands when she smelt the distinct scent of polyjuice potion and was pushed aside roughly by the man who was half dragging a sobbing Harry Potter away. In that brief contact, she felt the presence of someone evil. She saw a dark, slender figure of a man, who was pretending to be someone that he was not.
Fear filled her mind, she pulled her wand from its scabbard and cast her patronus. She screamed in terror.
"Daddy, Harry Potter is in danger. The man who took him away is an imposter. Move quickly or Harry may die at his hand," she said with a tremble in her voice. A few minutes later she was surrounded by her father, headmaster Dumbledore and professor Mcgonagall.
"Are you certain of what you saw?" asked her father.
"Yes, daddy, Professor moody pushed me aside and I could smell the polyjuice potion on his robes. He's not who he is pretending to be. Hurry, please." she begged.
"Amiri, take your mistress back to the Slytherin common room." ordered professor Dumbledore as the three ran after Harry and the imposter.
The three professors got there just in time to rescue Harry and capture the imposter. They also discovered that the imposter had imprisoned the real Mad-eye-Moody in a magical trunk. A day later a memorial service was held for Cedric Diggory and Professor Dumbledore told everyone that Voldemort had returned and murdered Cedric. Harry walked over to the table where Ellenore was sitting and sat in front of her.
"What do you want?" asked Draco, hotly.
"Elly, you don't have to talk to this Gryffindork if you don't want to." said Millicent.
"It's okay, you guys. If Harry needs to talk to me then he is welcome to do so. Besides, I have friends in all of the school houses, not just in Slytherin." she said as she got up from the table and left the great hall with Harry.
"I just wanted to say thanks for warning the professors about how Moody wasn't who he said he was. He could have killed me if you hadn't realised that something wasn't right," said Harry as he ran a hand through his messy black hair. "You saved my life. As far as I am concerned, I owe you a life debt… How did you know that he was an imposter?" asked Harry. Ellenore smiled in Harry's direction.
"I could smell the polyjuice potion on him every time he came near me. Also, when he pushed me aside I had a mental picture of the man who he really was. It's as simple as that, Harry." said Ellenore.
"Well, I'm glad that you were there, Elly. If you ever need me, let me know." he said as he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, a slight blush blooming on his face at his boldness.
A/N thank you once again for taking time to read my story. Please leave a review. Chapter 11 The Professor from Hell is up next.