Goodbyes – Deathly Hallows

Andee apparated a block from King's Cross station with her mother, her trunks and the small puppy her mother had bought her which Andee had tearfully named Padfoot.

Life was at an all-time low. Snape was a traitor. Dumbledore was gone. The Ministry had fallen and Elizabeth's task of guarding Harry Potter was on the line with Harry on the run from Death Eater's.

Elizabeth held tightly to Andee's arm. So tight that her long fingernails, painted a dark black since the death of Andee's father Sirius Black, dug into Andee's arm.

"Ouch Mum." Andee hissed voice quiet.

"Sorry. I'm just so –" Elizabeth didn't need to finish her sentence. Andee understood.

Once upon a time Andee's mother had been a much happier person. In all the years Andee truly remembered her, Elizabeth had always had a melancholy sort of outlook to life. It was a part of her personality to be a little sad all of the time.

It had not always been so according to Remus Lupin, once Elizabeth had been a ridiculously optimistic person. But no longer, still Andee had not known her to be so sad, so hopelessly lost as she was now.

Everything Elizabeth said, did or wore, reflected her grief and the state of permanent mourning she had been thrown into. Her hair was slowly turning silver and Elizabeth had once dyed the silver purple. Now it was simply black, her fingernails, her clothes and her make-up – all were black.

Still she was better this year. Last year both Andee and Elizabeth had been broken but ever since Andee started dating Dean…It was getting easier to deal with.

The two of them walked together into the packed muggle station and found a trolley.

As they loaded Andee's trunks onto it Andee asked her mother a question she had been meaning to ask for some time.

"Hey Mum?"

"Yes Andee?"

"What are you going to do when I go back?" Andee looked directly at Elizabeth as she asked this question and she noticed a wave of guilt pass over her mother's face.

"Something illegal, dangerous and probably stupid." Elizabeth replied.

"Mum he's gone. Dad's gone." Andee said choking a little as she said it.

"Not precisely. He's trapped in-between the two worlds. James would tell me if he had arrived."

Elizabeth always talked of Andee's dead Uncle this way. As if she could still speak with him and he was only around the corner. It was a little weird but Elizabeth was weird full stop.

"You're not going to try and –" Andee couldn't even manage to say 'bring him back'.

"He's not dead Andee. He's just stuck." Elizabeth said "But I'll only try once. Promise."

Andee shook her head at her mother's insanity but had to admit it she would never rest knowing it might have worked.

"Alright."

"So what are you going to do?" Elizabeth demanded hands on hips.

"Uh- " Andee said not wanting to tell her Mum what she had in plan. She so did not want to be told she couldn't.

"No ideas? I'm disgusted! I expect full-blown rebellion Andrea Christine Black understand me? Undermining authority, pranking, blowing up toilets, vanishing teacher's undergarments, hexing Slytherin's ears off or flooding the Great Hall. You have the blood of a marauder, of two separate marauders'. Do not let us down!" Elizabeth glared at Andee who grinned in delight.

"Are you serious?" Andee asked in excitement.

"No I'm Elizabeth." Elizabeth said instantly then she bit her lip sadly.

Andee smiled up at her Mum and linked arms with her as she pushed the trolley towards platform 9 ¾.

"I think I can make you proud quite easily." Andee said with an evil smile, which her mother returned. There were no traces of sadness in that smile and Andee felt her heart leap.

It was one of those looks Elizabeth sometimes gave Andee, sometimes. There was no sadness for the loss of her brother, the loss of her sister, and the loss of her parents and the betrayal of a closest friend. In that moment Elizabeth gave Andee a look full of pride and Andee could see what her mother didn't often say or show.

Elizabeth loved her; Andee knew that Elizabeth was living for her. Only alive, only eating, sleeping, breathing and functioning for one single reason and that was Andee.

"Just for me?" Andee asked aloud not realising she spoke her thoughts.

"Of course. What other reason is there?" Elizabeth asked looking genuinely surprised that Andee hadn't known that earlier. Just then they reached the barrier.

"Bye Mum." Andee said kissing her on the cheek and wondering if she'd ever see her again.

"Bye Andee." Elizabeth replied holding tightly to her for a moment longer than normal. "I love you and goodluck."

"Thanks Mum." Andee said walking towards the barrier and as she melted through the barrier she heard Elizabeth quietly say.

"You were worth it all."