Chapter Twelve
Elladora's mouth opened but no sound come out. She stared at the man standing opposite her. It was Greyback. His hair was still long, grey and matted. His yellow pointed teeth were showing which was already covered in blood. Elladora wondered who he had attacked earlier this night. Elladora could see his long yellow nails scratching the palm of his hand and she could smell his odour. It was repugnant; it smelt of sweat, dirt and blood.
'I've been searching for you my prey,' he growled.
'Why?' Elladora asked. She was trying to stall for more time, to figure out what she was going to do. 'I told you I was going to kill you, that you didn't deserve to live. And now I want to finish the job.' Elladora felt her heart thumping against her chest. Greyback was the one person or thing she feared most. She didn't want to die like this. She knew now that all she wants is to live.
Greyback took a few steps towards her and Elladora moved backwards. What was she going to do? 'I thought you'd only want to kill humans,' Elladora said shakily not taking her eyes from Greyback's. He snarled at her, 'And why is that?'
Elladora shrugged, 'Well, you and I are both dark creatures, so why would you want me dead?'
'You're not a werewolf. I prefer my own kind. I can't change what you are, so might as well kill you,' he said in a low voice. Elladora finally took her eyes off him for a couple of seconds and looked to the right of her then the left.
'There is no escape for you my prey,' he whispered. Greyback walked towards and Elladora hit a brick wall. She gasped and tried to run sideways but Greyback moved so fast that all Elladora saw was a blur and he held her against the brick wall by her throat.
He moved closer and licked her cheek and Elladora turned her head away in disgust. His face was so close to hers that she could see all individual grey whiskers and hairs on his face. 'I'm going to enjoy finally gutting you,' he hissed. Elladora could see saliva dripping from his mouth. She could tell he was excited. Her fangs lowered and Greyback laughed. Elladora started to breath hard. How would she do this if she were human?
Then it came to her. She lifted her knee and connected it hard to Greyback's groin. He yelled in fury and fell to the ground. Elladora took her chance and ran down the dark street as hard as she could. When reaching the end she could see that Greyback was only just starting to get up. Elladora ran further until she was a few streets away. She knew he would still find her. Elladora wasn't sure what to do. She took out her watch and saw that it was almost eight. Had that taken almost an hour? Elladora found the Leaky Cauldron by accident and went inside. She couldn't believe she found a place that she knew.
She sat down in a corner at the back and decided she would stay there for a couple of hours before going to Grimmauld Place in case Greyback followed her. Elladora kept her eyes on the window and the door but she never saw Greyback walk past or enter. When it reached just after ten o'clock Elladora walked back outside.
The night air was cool but it was now a little cloudy. Elladora hoped it wouldn't rain until she got back to the Order. She looked around her but all she saw was an empty street and the dark houses which looked empty too. Elladora walked cautiously into a Muggle part of London. She hoped that Greyback wouldn't think to come here.
After ten minutes of walking Elladora eventually came to place that she didn't know, she decided to go back but when she turned around Greyback was standing there once again. Elladora gasped and took out her wand. Why hadn't she thought to take it out before?
'You don't need that my pet, can't we play nicely?' he asked almost tenderly. Elladora's eyes narrowed. What was he doing? Greyback growled so loudly that Elladora jumped back and yelped. 'That wasn't a very nice thing you did,' he said slowly. 'I will protect myself against you,' Elladora said back.
Greyback smiled viciously. 'I'm the thing you fear most,' he stated.
How did he know that? Elladora felt more panicky and ran once again. This time Greyback caught her halfway up the street. He leaped at her and they both crashed to the hard ground. Elladora felt her shoulder crack and she was sure a couple of ribs had too. Greyback pushed her onto her back and slashed at her stomach with his nails.
Elladora screamed out in pain and tried to fight back but at this point her efforts were futile. 'No one is here to save you this time,' he said ferociously. When Elladora looked at his face she realised how inhuman he looked. She wondered if that's how she looked when she attacked Susan. Greyback shifted and slashed her again, this time on the shoulder that bared no scars. Elladora screamed again and this time tears leaked from her eyes rapidly. She could feel the blood gushing from her wounds.
Greyback ripped her robe off her and her shirt as well. He went to bite her neck but Elladora managed to free her wand arm and she slashed her wand at his neck. It made a small cut but it was deep enough for Greyback to be distracted from her and move slightly. Elladora took the opportunity and she picked up her robe and fled once again.
Elladora wasn't sure how many new streets she turned into when she put her robe back on to cover herself and took out her wand again and was about to conjured her patronus when she heard a loud howl. Elladora turned and Greyback was there again. Elladora had never seen him so determined to kill her before. She started to run again and Greyback chased her.
Elladora lifted her wand and tried to think something happy. 'Expecto Patronum,' she shouted. Nothing but a few wisps of silver emerged from the wand. Elladora looked behind her and saw Greyback gaining. She tried to go faster but she felt her legs becoming weaker. She lifted her wand again, 'Expecto Patronum,' she shouted. This time and large silver eagle appeared and flew alongside her.
She looked at it when she could while running. 'Go to the…Order and tell…them…being…chased…Greyback,' she panted. The eagle flew away and Elladora kept running. She hoped they got her message and fast.
Elladora kept running and Greyback caught her again. He grabbed her arms and threw her to the solid ground. He looked over her and watched her squirm. Elladora sobbed and reached for her head. It was bleeding. She was amazed that she was still conscious. Greyback spat on her and Elladora sobbed with disgust. Greyback moved and kicked her in the ribs. Elladora cried out. She was sure more of them had broken.
'I'm going to make you suffer before you die,' he said maliciously, 'you have caused me far too much trouble.' Greyback picked her up from the back of her robes and he threw her against a wall violently. He growled and grabbed the back of her head and slammed it into the wall. Elladora didn't want to imagine how sadistic he could become.
She felt Greyback grabbed her by the hair again but this time nothing happen. She felt has though he had been blown away from her like a piece of rubbish caught in an updraft. Elladora turned the other way and she could see four people running towards her. She thought Greyback would flee but he didn't. Elladora fell to the ground and she felt Greyback leaning over her.
'Step away from her.'
Elladora recognised the voice, it was Lupin. She couldn't tell who the other three people were though. She tried to look but she couldn't move too much. It hurt. She heard Greyback growl, he had no intention of leaving his prey again. 'You were once my prey many years ago Lupin, do you remember,' Greyback taunted. 'I can never forget it,' Lupin said quietly.
Elladora didn't hear much more and she saw nothing but blackness surround her. When Elladora opened her eyes all she could hear was screaming and whimpering. Elladora stood up and stumbled for a moment. She looked around and saw Lupin, Sirius and Kingsley lying on the ground. Lupin appeared to be the one whimpering. All three were bleeding badly and Elladora cried more. What if they were dead? It would be all her fault.
Elladora looked in the other direction and she wanted to cry out but nothing happened. She saw Greyback lying on top of another person but she wasn't sure who it was. The person Greyback on attacking was the one screaming. Elladora screamed at the top of her lungs and ran towards them. Greyback was slashing and biting this person. Elladora tackled him off the person and she felt all the pain in her body shoot through her again.
'Stupefy,' a deep male voice said. For a moment Elladora thought it had been pointed at her until she realised she could move. Elladora stood up again and walked towards the person that Greyback had attacked, it was Bill Weasley. Elladora felt tears come to her eyes and she was about to collapse when she felt strong arms grab her around the waist. She turned her head and saw Kingsley. He must have stunned Greyback. Elladora sobbed.
'I thought maybe you were dead.' Kingsley shook his head and held Elladora tightly. 'How are Sirius and Lupin,' she asked fearfully trying to wrestle out of Kingsley's grip. Kingsley tried to steady her, 'They're fine. I checked them quickly when I saw you run to Bill's aid. Your scream brought me back so to say.' Elladora chuckled slightly but it quickly turned to despair when her eyes went back to Lupin.
She eventually pulled herself out of Kingsley grip and fell beside Bill. His face was scratched and bleeding, Elladora could hardly recognise him. After what seemed like forever, Elladora looked back at Kingsley who was trying to rouse Sirius. Why were they waiting so long to go to the hospital? Sirius eventually got up and walked to where Elladora was.
'I'm going to take you to the hospital and Kingsley will take Lupin and Bill,' Sirius said looking at her. Sirius grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, he was bleeding at the side of the head but otherwise he seemed fine.
Alright,' he said.
'But Bill…'
'Will be fine, now come with me,' Sirius said quickly. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her up and they disapparated at once.
After a week Elladora woke up in a room she recognised. She was in the hospital. The same room she had been in before. She looked around at the white walls, the white floor and the white bed in which she laid. Elladora tried to sit up but found she couldn't move. Elladora sighed impatiently. There were invisible bonds holding her there like last time.
Elladora wondered if Bill and Lupin were alright. Elladora almost yelped when Sirius walked into the room. 'What are you doing here?' she asked. Sirius conjured a chair and sat down and smiled. 'No one told you?' Elladora shook her head. 'I'm a free man,' he said happily. 'Found out a few weeks after your summer holidays ended.'
Elladora smiled faintly at him. She was happy for him but she couldn't get past what happened the other night. 'How long has it been?' she asked quietly. Sirius just looked at her, 'Since the attack?' Elladora nodded. 'It's been a few days,' he said softly. Elladora wondered how she had stayed asleep after all that had happened. 'How is everyone?' she asked. Elladora wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer.
'Everyone is fine and alive,' he said gently, 'Dumbledore and Lupin will come and see you later.' Sirius stood up and walked towards the door. 'Do you have to leave?' Elladora asked quickly. Sirius turned around and looked at Elladora in surprise. He shook his head, 'No, I don't have to.' Sirius walked back to the chair and sat down.
'Harry must be happy you're a free man?' Elladora said. Sirius smiled broadly and nodded, 'Yeah, he couldn't stop smiling and telling me everything we could do now.' Elladora wanted to smile back but she felt unable to feeling anything but despair. What happened in London only happened because she was there. Elladora couldn't shift the huge weight of guilt that sat heavily on her chest, which was threatening to realise itself at any moment.
'How did I stay asleep this long?' she asked. 'They gave you a sleeping potion but you kept waking up from nightmares, about every few hours, so Dumbledore told them to give you a dreamless sleeping draught. And it appears to have worked. They gave it to you a couple of days ago.'
Elladora nodded but couldn't think of what else to say. Sirius and Elladora didn't say much more between each other.
Dumbledore, Lupin and Kingsley visited later in the evening and Sirius left to see how the others were. Lupin walked straight over to her, removed the invisible bonds and hugged her. Elladora hugged him back slightly. 'I'm so happy you're alive,' Lupin said uneasily, 'we thought the worst had happened when we didn't hear from you on the night you left.'
Elladora tried to smile but it didn't turn out right. 'I'm happy you and the others are alive too,' she said stiffly.
Dumbledore looked solemn. He stood at the end of Elladora's bed, watching her. 'I'm very sorry I made you go there,' he said inaudibly.
Elladora shook her head, 'You didn't make me go there, it had to be done and I was the only one who could do it,' Elladora replied. Lupin sat next to her and kept his hand on her arm. 'How did things go with the other vampires?' Lupin asked gently.
'It went well. They have agreed not to join with Voldemort, Salvini gave me his word,' Elladora said. 'Why didn't you return the night you left?' Dumbledore asked.
'Salvini insisted that I stayed the night and I thought it impolite to refuse.' Lupin smiled and nodded understandingly.
'And what happened tonight with Greyback, before we arrived?' Lupin asked. It seemed to pain him to ask. 'I don't know. He seemed to come out of nowhere. I arrived in London and tried to find my way back and he found me. I panicked. I didn't think of calling for help.' Tears ran down Elladora's face. Lupin squeezed her arm but didn't say anything.
'Is Bill alright?' Elladora asked quietly.
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. 'Yes, he's fine. His face is badly scarred from the incident but he won't be a full werewolf but he will always carry the scars,' Dumbledore paused for moment, 'and once again, so will you.'
Elladora frowned. She forgot that Greyback had scratched her twice.
Elladora moved the shirt on her shoulder and saw four large deep scratches which were turning into scars. Then she checked her stomach and again saw four large deep scratches across her stomach. The tears poured down Elladora's face. Her body was now even more damaged and mutilated. Lupin squeezed her arm again. 'Elladora, you did a brave thing. You saved Bill's life,' he said quietly.
Elladora pushed him off, she didn't want to hear it. 'Get out,' she said loudly, 'I want to be alone.' No one in the room moved. 'Get out!' she screamed. Dumbledore, Lupin and Kingsley all left together. Elladora rolled onto her side with her back facing the door and she cried for hours and cried herself to sleep.
When Elladora awoke in the morning she looked around. There was no one in the room except for Bill, who stood in a corner. Elladora looked away, she couldn't face him. Bill walked over to the bed and hugged her closely. A few tears leaked from her eyes. Elladora could smell the wolf on him. When he let her go he sat on a chair next to her bed.
'Thank you,' he said quietly. Elladora turned her head away. She was glad the room was dark.
'What's wrong?' Bill asked worriedly.
Elladora's body shook slightly as she tried to hold her tears in, but failed. She burst into tears and Bill held her for a while. Eventually Bill let go and Elladora took a deep breath. She turned to the door; she could hear faint footsteps outside the door. Bill heard them too.
'Would you like me to tell my family to go away?' he asked. Elladora shook her head, 'No, it's fine.' Elladora shifted onto her back and she finally looked at Bill properly. Elladora barely recognised him. His face was badly slashed and ripped, it was grotesque looking. 'If it wasn't for me this wouldn't have happened to you,' Elladora said quietly.
Tears kept leaking from her eyes. She wasn't sure if she would be able to stop. Bill kissed her on the cheek and stroked her hair. 'You're a member of the Order and you needed help. We were all aware of the dangers,' he said simply. Elladora said nothing and Bill sighed faintly. 'If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here at all.'
Bill stayed with Elladora for hours until Lupin came to see her and Bill left to find Fleur. Elladora frowned. Lupin was carrying a large round object, which appeared to be heavy. He placed it on the table and walked over to Elladora. He grabbed her arm and lifted her off the bed. 'Wh-,' Lupin cut her off, 'There is something you should see.'
Lupin pulled out a small vial from his robes and poured the contents into the bowl. Lupin saw the confused look on Elladora's face.
'This is a pensieve. It belongs to Dumbledore.'
Lupin grabbed Elladora's hand and he jumped into it pulling Elladora along with him. When they landed Elladora looked around. They were in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Elladora frowned, what was this about?
Elladora looked at the present Lupin who stood beside her. 'What…?' she started. But Lupin held up his hand again, 'Just watch.' Elladora felt impatient at Lupin's shortness. She took a deep breath and watched what was happening. The Order was sitting around the table. No one was moving much. Harry and his friends were present as well.
'Why hasn't she come back yet?' Hermione spoke up. Elladora looked in her direction in surprise. Hermione seemed worried, upset? Elladora couldn't tell.
'It doesn't mean something bad has happen,' the memory Lupin said. Hermione just nodded. Suddenly Elladora looked towards the window where there was a sudden bright flash of silver. It seemed to circle the house then came in through the door.
'Being…chased…Greyback,' the eagle said, and then it disappeared. Elladora looked around the table. Everyone looked in shock and no one said anything. Many minutes passed before someone said anything. 'That's Elladora's patronus, we need to go find her,' Lupin said quietly. Sirius was nodding his head vigorously, 'I agree.'
'She could put everyone in this room in danger, especially since she's got Greyback chasing her,' Molly said firmly. 'Molly,' Kingsley said looking at her, 'she is a member of the Order and if this was anyone else we would help and rescue them too.'
Molly seemed a little angry, 'Greyback could attack and kill one of us if we go.'
'He could kill Elladora as well. What if it was your child being chased by Greyback?' Lupin asked firmly. Elladora thought Lupin looked outraged by Molly's disagreement. Molly glared at Lupin, 'It's not the same thing,' she said through gritted teeth. Lupin shook his head. He seemed angry as well. Elladora had never heard Lupin defend her so greatly.
Elladora wondered if it was going to get worse. Molly elbowed her husband as though trying to rally support. Arthur seemed unsure what to say. 'I think Lupin is right. If it was anyone else in the Order we would go find them,' Arthur said slowly.
Lupin nodded and stood up, 'Whoever would like to help find Elladora, please stand up.' Elladora thought maybe no one would, but she was wrong. Hermione stood up first, quickly followed by Sirius, Harry, Kingsley, Moody, Tonks, Snape, Charlie, Bill, Arthur, Dumbledore, Fleur and McGonagall. Elladora smiled vaguely as she watched, she couldn't believe how many were so willing to help look for her.
Elladora noticed though that Molly, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny were still seated. After a few moments of looking at each other Fred and George stood up as well and so did Ron after Hermione kicked him in the shins. Ginny stood up after the hard look Harry gave her across the table and Molly was the only one still sitting. She looked defeated and still angry but she stood up, ' I see that I am outnumbered. So let's go.'
Lupin sighed, 'OK, we need to split into groups. Sirius, Kingsley and Bill will come with me. Severus, if you could take Hermione, Tonks and Fleur. Minerva, Fred and Arthur could go with Alastor. Harry, Charlie and Ron could go with Dumbledore and Molly could take George and Ginny,' Lupin then looked to Dumbledore, 'if that suits you?' he said.
Dumbledore nodded, 'That sounds like a great idea Remus. Ginny may be a little young but Molly and her brother will be with her.' Everyone moved into their groups and left the house together. Elladora noticed that Molly, George and Ginny were the last to leave.
Suddenly the scene changed quickly and they were in a dark street in the heart of London. Nothing was said between the four men as they walked cautiously with their wands at the ready. There was a loud scream in the distance and they all stopped. They looked at each other and they could tell what the other person was thinking. They sprinted immediately to the sound.
Elladora and the present Lupin followed quickly. Elladora gasped in horror at the sight before her. Lupin and Sirius had been knocked to the ground at the same time and Sirius' head hit the curb of the road. Lupin tried to get up quickly but Greyback jumped on him and whacked him across the side of the head, rendering him unconscious, she could see deep gashes in Lupin's head where the nails made contact.
Elladora sobbed quietly but the real Lupin standing beside her did not budge.
Greyback then ran towards Kingsley who fired a few stunning spells at once but they all missed. Kingsley was tackled to the ground as well and Greyback and his wand was knocked out of his hand. Greyback stood up and kicked Kingsley in the head with his booted foot. Kingsley's nose began bleeding profusely but before he could get up he was kicked in the ribs repeatedly until he became still. By this point Elladora looked around, where was Bill and why wasn't Greyback using his wand?
Greyback turned round and so did Elladora but Lupin didn't, it seemed to pain him. Elladora watched as Greyback ran for Bill and knocked his wand out of his hand too. Elladora wondered why Bill did nothing and made no attempt at a spell or curse. Elladora heard a sort of strangled cry from Bill than nothing but screams as Greyback got into what he did best.
Lupin grabbed Elladora's arm when the memory Elladora ran towards Bill and tackled Greyback and they both drifted towards the top of the pensieve. When Elladora opened her eyes she was back in the hospital. She walked over to her bed and sat down. She couldn't believe that Molly and most of her children were reluctant to search for her. Elladora wondered if Molly blamed her for Bill's disfigurement.
'Is Molly angry with me?' Elladora asked. Lupin sat on the bed next to Elladora, 'You mean about Bill?' he asked. Elladora just nodded. Lupin sighed; Elladora got the impression that Lupin didn't really want to have to tell her the truth. 'Yeah, she is a little,' Lupin looked at Elladora then sighed again, 'OK, she's very angry. She thinks if we didn't go and look for you then it would never have happened.'
Elladora felt the tears in the back of her eyes but she didn't let them fall. 'But she's right,' Elladora said quietly. 'We all knew that being in the Order carries a great and sometimes costly risk and we all knew that Greyback was chasing you because you told us, so we knew the risks of going to help you as well,' Lupin said gently. Elladora said nothing.
'Besides,' Lupin continued, 'Bill isn't angry with you. He's grateful that you saved him and Greyback would have killed you.' Elladora rolled her eyes, 'That doesn't make me feel any better.'
Lupin put his arm around her, 'Well it should. Have you ever heard the saying everything happens for a reason?' he asked gently.
Elladora shook her head. 'But this only happened because I got myself into trouble,' she said.
'You didn't get yourself into trouble, trouble found you. And you needed help and you did the right thing call us. You probably wouldn't be here if you didn't,' Lupin said gently.
Elladora knew Lupin spoke the truth, though it sounded awful to her. She didn't want to be responsible for someone else's death. It was the thing she feared next to Greyback, was killing someone again. She sometimes had nightmares about her attack on Susan Bones. She wondered how different things would be if she had just reported her bottle missing. Then maybe Susan need never have died.
Elladora then wondered what would be different if she had left the vampire clan the night she had arrived there. She never intended on staying a night there, maybe Bill would still be whole and maybe Greyback would never have found her trying to find her way back to Grimmauld Place.
