They awaited Severus's return.
Severus left from the presence of the Dark Lord hours after Hermione's escape. The Dark Lord was in a rage at her escape. Believing Pettigrew had something to do with the event he was instantly killed. Voldemort then continued to torture the others in the room. Severus knew when Hermione had began speaking, she was no longer going to hold her tongue. He had quickly placed the imperious curse over Wormtail so Severus could get the locket to her.
"Welcome home," someone spoke as he stepped into the house.
Severus looked up to see Hermione waiting on the stairs. "Quite the escape artist."
Hermione smirked, "Well I had someone helping me."
"Pettigrew is dead," Severus said grimly.
"I hope you don't expect me to feel terrible."
"No I don't, but a life was lost either way." Severus sighed.
"How did he die?" Hermione asked him.
"Voldemort believed he was the one to help you escape. In his rage threw the killing curse at him as I lifted the Imperio. He didn't know what hit him." Severus looked around the darkened house. "Where is everyone?"
"Sleeping," Hermione explained as Severus sat down beside her. "Things were crazy for a while here."
"How's Elaine?" Severus inquired, concern apparent in his deep voice.
"Lucky," Hermione sighed. "She will not be a werewolf but she will have Lupine tendencies. He tore deep into her shoulder. Helena said she healed what she could the rest would have to close on its own."
"Richeau?" Severus asked.
"Pretty shaken up but physically fine, Sirius is upstairs in their room helping Elaine. Helena gave Richeau a sleeping potion though it should have worn off by now. Papa has the ring Severus, this is almost over."
Severus looked at her sharply but before he could answer a voice broke into their conversation. "Excuse me."
The duo turned around to see Richeau standing at the top of the stairs. "Bathroom?"
"I'll show you." Severus said standing up. Hermione cocked an eyebrow that Severus matched with a sneer. Hermione walked up the stairs to watch Severus and Richeau turn the corner disappearing into the darkness.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Has she woken at all?" Helena asked stepping in the room, closing the door softly.
"No." Sirius set up rubbing his eyes. He was definitely tired but couldn't sleep.
"Very well, these are for her when she wakes." Helena handed him four potions vials. "If she needs assistance getting up, help her. I don't need those wound to begin bleeding again."
"I'm up. Who are you?" She asked watching Sirius who stood from his chair.
"I am Sirius Black, this is Helena Potter. We're with The Order of the Phoenix. Your father contacted us to rescue you and your sister."
"Alright. Elaine Devereaux." Elaine nodded trying to sit up but hissing in pain from the bite in her shoulder.
"Let me help you." Sirius spoke coming over to the bed. "Don't move your shoulder. Wrap your other arm around my neck and I will sit you up."
"Thank you," she spoke giving him a small smile.
"You're welcome. Do you remember anything?" Sirius asked cautiously.
"Yes, I remember what happened," Elaine looked up with watery eyes. "Will I turn?"
"No." Sirius said instantly. "Helena could you get her sister, please?" Helena nodded quickly leaving the room.
"It wasn't a full moon was it?"
"No that's why you won't turn but you will be agitated around the full moon." Sirius grabbed her hand softly. "You'll be okay."
"Elaine," Richeau spoke from the door.
"Richeau," Elaine said with a sigh of relief.
Sirius took this as his cue to leave, "Take these, if you need anything, let me know. We will contact your father in the morning." Sirius left the room leaving the sisters to talk.
"Are you okay? I was so worried." Richeau said sitting on the bed only to look up and see her sister glaring at her. "What?"
"Oh I see how worried you were," Elaine grumbled looking down at her neck. "Where did you get the hickey?"
Richeau's eyes widened quickly covering her neck.
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"Minister Devereaux." Albus spoke to the man who had just stepped through the fireplace the following morning. "Your daughters are up stairs."
"Thank you Albus for returning my daughters to me." He said quickly.
"I need to inform you about Elaine." Devereaux's eyebrows furrowed. "She was bitten by a werewolf. She will not turn due to it not being a full moon, but she will be very irritable around and during the full moon."
"She could fully turn for all I care. As long as I have both of them that's all that matters."
"I will show you to them." Albus said showing him up the stairs.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxx
The American Minister had left reluctantly when his daughters told him they wanted to stay and fight. He could not argue with them when they both pointed out they were of age.
"I can't believe he let them stay."Hermione said watching the girl's father leave.
"I don't think he let them," Remus said giving her a cup of coffee standing at the table. "They are of age and it's their choice."
"Richeau is helping Elaine then they should be down stairs." Helena said sitting down as breakfast appeared on the table."Elaine healed well through the night. She will be fine."
Richeau and Elaine came down shortly after entering the kitchen.
"Morning girls, there's food ready if you would like some." Helena said with a smile.
"I'm am fine thank you. I was going to go outside if you don't mind." Elaine said quietly.
"Of course that's fine." Helena motioned to the back door.
"Want me to come with you?" Richeau asked.
"No," She glanced at the table seeing Severus. "Stay here and eat," she turned going out the back down.
Richeau went to the table sitting down beside Severus.
"Is she ok?" Sirius asked casting a glance to the back door.
"She's dealing with a lot, they both are, Elaine just handles it differently. I prefer people, she prefers reclusion." Richeau sighed as she took an apple from the table. Sirius silently got up and grabbed his coat before going out the back door.
"I know this is the first morning of your freedom but i have to ask—," Albus asked form the head of the table only to be cut off by Richeau.
"Ask whatever you need. His Death Eaters are not very bright," Richeau gave a quick apologizing glance to Severus. "They are very boastful; they talk about plans and other things walking by prisoners. Thinking we are not listening or that we'll will never escape."
"What did they speak of?"
"His plans of attacking the wizarding school here, Hogwarts. He's saying he found a way in to destroy the school while sending other Death Eaters to the Ministry and other locations, attacking them all at one time."
"Making this a multiple front war, spread the herd, destroy them at once while they're thin." Alastor said beginning to follow what the girl was saying.
"Yes, he also has been boasting of immortality." Richeau spoke catching the shared looks between the members. "There's something I am missing isn't it."
"His boasts are true but we have taken care of that. We can't tell you more," Hermione said regretfully.
"No, I understand trust me. I would rather not know. He chose six locations. I don't know the places but I know the names." Richeau explained. "It was Hogwarts, Ministry of Magic, Diagon ally—"
The back door opened again Elaine and Sirius walked in with his coat around her shoulders.
"Elaine, you remember the rest of those names?"
"Azkaban, St. Mungos, and Nurmengard." She said with her teeth chattering.
"Next time don't leave without a coat," Sirius whispered to her. She smiled at him.
The room stilled with the new information until Albus cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention, "Ladies if you wouldn't mind, there is a library upstairs if you would like to use it."
The girls nodded before heading up the stairs.
"Papa, we need to have them inducted, we can't leave them in the dark, If they are going to fight." Hermione stated as soon as the girls' footsteps sounded on the stairs.
"Agreed."
"I need to figure out when this is going to happen so we can finish drawing up the plans of attack," Severus said.
"We need something to draw them away from the places they will attack," James popped in.
"The horcruxs," Lily added as if it was obvious. No one seemed to catch on to what she meant. "Take them to locations near the sites picked to destroy the horcruxs and draw the Death Eaters to you."
"That's brilliant." Remus said.
"It will throw them off track and draw them away from innocent people." Lily said simply.
"As well as throw Voldemort into a rage," Hermione advised.
"Voldemort will be left to Alastor and I," Albus said firmly as the two men left the room. "Now, I am going to induct the two ladies up stairs. Sirius, Severus would you mind coming up with me and Charles."
Severus left the kitchen behind Albus but Sirius stopped next to Remus, "Could you talk to Elaine about the bite? She's not handling it as well as she is letting on."
"Of course," Remus said with a sigh. Sirius nodded before making his way up the stairs.
The war was coming sooner than any of them thought.
OK I cannot even say how sorry i am about not updating. My lack of muse and real life has gotten in the way. Thank you to all who is still reading! Please review!