Chapter 29

I will admit, coughing up a hair ball while in my current predicament was inopportune. But in my defense, it wasn't like it was something I could particularly help! So there I was, listening to that old dilapidated hawk of a woman go on about how 'very intriguing' I was, while simultaneously trying to think up a way to get the hell out of the Lestrange's house.

It was obvious, from the way she was speaking to me that she thought I was the cat, however, it was really no more than an educated guess seeing as there were no witnesses. Not even the poor chap passed out on the floor saw me transform.

Speaking of the poor chap (whom I'd just duped into thinking he could get away with kidnapping me and go on as pals), thanks to the ever so erratic Bellatrix, Mr. Gullible Death Eater Walden was now up and about, sporting a fairly large welp on his head. My healer-centric mind instantly recognized that a bit of murtlap essence would cure the swelling, but given the current state of affairs, I kept the observation to myself.

Once fully conscious, poor Walden began bumbling around looking for his wand (still hidden in the potted plant) saying, "She punched me... She punched me..." over and over as if he could hardly believe it. "She—she punched me. Me! She punched me!"

"Oh get it together you idiot!" Bellatrix hissed.

"She punched me—"

Walburga made a face of irritation and rose from where she was observing me, wand in hand. "We are well aware of your incompetence, dear. No need to continue informing us." she said through her teeth in that saccharine sweet, scathing voice she often used.

Taking advantage of the dilapidated hawk's momentary distraction by way of poor, probably concussed Walden, I instantly and silently ran out from under the couch and out the door of the sitting room.

I don't know where I was really planning to go; I didn't have a plan beyond getting the hell away from those crazies. Once I got my bearings, I decided that I would try to find a door out. I knew there was a good chance that they'd set wards on the outside to keep me from popping out the front door, but it was still worth a try. At the very least, I figured I could hide away long enough to try to find an owl to send word of where I was or better yet, find some floo powder to get home before Sirius had a total melt down.

Sirius… Poor, sweet Sirius… My mind instantly flashed to the look of horror on his face as I was ripped out of his arms, his screams of anguish reverberating in my mind like some sort of sick broken record. I had to get away. I had to tell him I was okay.

I eventually found myself down some random hallway and had managed to put a sizable distance between me and my kidnappers, but I could still hear Walburga complaining loudly about the other two's incompetence and knew it was only a matter of time before they realized I'd snuck away.

Suddenly, I saw a light at the end of the hallway. A door had been opened and sunlight poured through the drab January sky like a beacon of hope!

My little paws propelled me further and further, faster and faster as I chased after my means of escape— until suddenly, I ran into someone's legs.

"What the hell... Elephant? What're you doing here?" a familiar voice said kindly, picking me up into his arms, and stroking my fur.

Great. Just great. I'm now forever going to be known as 'Elephant the cat'.

"You're a long way from home..." the familiar voice said sadly. I looked up and saw two grey eyes looking down at me with quiet concern.

He began to walk and I watched the light of the open door grow fainter and fainter in the distance. It took a moment to really put it together, but eventually I realized that Regulus had just found me. Regulus was holding me. Regulus was now carrying me back to the loonies who kidnapped me...

Nope. This could not be happening.

"Woah! Calm down! You're alright— stop squirming, Elephant!"

"WHERE IS SHE!?" screeched Bellatrix from just out of view.

Regulus and I both flinched. That psycho's voice made my fur stand up on end and I began squirming even more, desperate to get away.

"Someone's in a bad mood..." Regulus muttered under his breath as he entered the room I had just worked so hard to leave— I'm still not sure if he was referring to me or his cousin, but it would be safe to say he meant both.

"Hello, Mother... Is something wrong?" he asked politely upon entering the room, petting my fur casually in order to calm me.

Walburga rounded to face him, and her angry face morphed into a terrifyingly happy one. Never a good sign.

"Regulus, my darling... I see you've found Elizabeth..." she said in a too sweet voice.

I looked up at Regulus (who seemed worried for his mother's sanity) with big pleading blue eyes, praying that he would tell her I was only a cat.

"Her name's Elephant..." he said hesitantly, holding me closer, afraid to correct his mother.

"SHE'S AN ANIMAGUS!" Bellatrix cried out savagely, pointing at me accusatorially.

Regulus looked down at me in confusion, studying my little feline features closely, probably trying to look for some sign that what she said was true... Finally a spark of recognition lit within his eyes— I could practically see him putting the pieces together, remembering back to the first time he saw me after Sirius got hurt by Benny. Then he looked up.

My stomach churched in anxiety as I waited for him to speak. I never thought Regulus was the type to sell someone out, but he was a Slytherin—self preservation was in his nature... I braced myself for the worst.

"She's my cat." he lied, much to my surprise. "Well, she was Sirius's cat, but he left her behind when he ran away..."

"Sirius didn't have a cat!" Walburga spat fiercely, spittle flying from her mouth with the ferocity of her delivery. "You do not have a cat— Your father's—"

"Yes, allergic—I know—but that's the reason Sirius got her in the first place, you see—to bug you all..." he shrugged. "But she's actually really sweet... and when he left, I didn't have the heart to get rid of her, not right after she'd been abandoned like that... So I kept her locked away in my room so it wouldn't bother father and planned to find her a new home when I got back to school." Regulus explained calmly. "When we came to visit, I brought her with me and had her locked away in my room upstairs... but she must've got out." he said softly, petting me again. "I know I should have told you though and I'm really sorry—"

He was an excellent liar. Seriously, he nearly had me convinced that I was his cat.

"If you are lying Regulus— I swear I'll—!"

"Mother, I wouldn't lie to your face like that... I'm not Sirius." he said sounding hurt that she would insinuate such a thing. "Now, if it's Elizabeth you're looking for, I think I saw someone outside— I just figured it was one of Bella's friends though."

Walburga clenched her jaw and shot a look to Bellatrix and simply said, "Go." nodding toward the door.

A mass of dark, unruly curly hair huffed passed us, and Regulus held me closer. "Mother... Is it alright if I bring her back upstairs, now? I think she's a little frightened from all the commotion..."

Walburga sat down not the couch wearily, shooing him off distractedly, saying, "Yes, fine— go—just go—" at the same time Walden began saying, "She punched me," again.

Within seconds Regulus was off, walking out of the room calmly until he was out of sight, then began sprinting full out, leaping up the stairs two at a time.

Eventually we made it to the third floor and entered what I supposed was the room he was staying in— it was very neat, decorated in the same disturbing gothic style as the room downstairs, a large fireplace was situated in the center of the room with an intricate mantle, and a broom was leaned against the wall near a large window framed by some ugly maroon curtains.

He set me down on the big bed next to some quidditch magazines, then closed the door and muttered a few spells.

"Okay, no one will hear us now... and I put a permanent sticking charm on the door frame, so they shouldn't be able to get in..." he said, a little out of breath. "Unless they blast through the door..." he frowned, analyzing the door, probably trying to calculate the likelihood of that actually happening. "Dear Merlin, I hope you're actually Ellie, or else I've just adopted a cat... I don't even really like cats— no offense." he added, looking over his shoulder and finding me, sitting on his bed, still in cat form.

"Merlin... please be Ellie..." he begged desperately.

I was hesitant to reveal the fact that I was an illegal and unregistered animagus, but considering the fact that he'd just gone through all the effort of lying and saving me, I figured Regulus Black was worthy enough to be entrusted with my secret.

"Oh thank goodness!" he sighed as I transformed back into human form. "Are you okay?! What happened?!" he asked in a rush.

"Well, aside from the fact that your psychotic family just kidnapped me at my birthday party andthreatened to kill me, I'd say I'm doing fine—" I said bitterly, now up and searching his room for some floo power. In hindsight, I really should have been more appreciative of him basically saving my life, but I was still a smidgen pissed about missing out on my sweet sixteen—again, WE WERE GOING ICE SKATING, DAMMIT!

Regulus groaned and flopped backward on the bed, running his hands over his face. "Ugh... They weren't going to kill you, Ellie."

I laughed humorlessly, lifting up an tacky green vase and peering inside. "Tell that to your cousin—"

"Ellie, they wouldn't have—"

I semi-aggressively placed the apparently empty vase back on the fireplace mantel so that it wobbled forebodingly as I said, "No! Regulus, that lunatic cousin of yours literally stood right in front of Sirius and I and said she was going to kill me!"

Were all the members of the Black family this thick headed?

"No! Ellie, listen to me! They wouldn't have— they can't! Bella was just trying to wind Sirius up— they're supposed to be recruiting you!"

I nearly laughed again. "Well that's a fruitless endeavor if there ever were one." I scoffed, checking behind a painting, again on the search for the ever illusive floo powder. "Why would they want me anyway?!"

"Well you're a pureblood—"

"Bloodtraitor." I corrected.

"Whatever— you're still pureblood and they need someone who—"

Just then, a loud clambering commotion rose up from the stairs. It seemed dear sweet psychotic Bellatrix finally figured out I wasn't out frolicking in her garden as she screeched a steady (and rather impressive) stream of expletives.

"Reg... look. I'd love to chat about all this and—you know—process my trauma or whatever—but I really need to get back home before Sirius and Dad just totally freak out." I said in a rush, heart beating faster and faster the closer Bellatrix's voice grew.

He was reluctant, but eventually he arose from the bed and began digging through some drawer, muttering "Right… yeah… you're right... priorities... we can talk later, I guess... dammit, where is it... ah! Here!"

He then handed me a small, gaudy beaded drawstring bag, that in all honesty looked like something my aunt Gerdy would have gotten me for Christmas. "Erm... thanks..." I said awkwardly.

"It's floo powder. I haven't tried this one out yet... but the fireplace should be connected to the network—"

"UGH! WHERE IS SHE?!" Bellatrix screeched from down the hall.

I looked at the door, and suddenly the prospect of her blasting through didn't seem all that far fetched.

"Elli—go! Please, just go! She won't kill you, but she might still hurt you—please just go!" he hissed, worry marring his youthful face as he practically shoved me into the fireplace.

I looked down at the bag then up at him, then glanced over at the door as if transfixed. I knew I needed to leave—I knew I was arguably in more danger than before, but still I couldn't bring myself to leave.

"Ellie, please! Please go! She's getting closer—"

"No." I said resolutely.

"What the hell!? Ellie, you said so yourself, you need to get back home— You can't take her on! You don't even have a wand and I'm shit at dueling! Please go—

"NO! I SAID NO!"

"She'll torture you—"

"I'M NOT LEAVING WITHOUT YOU!"

Regulus made a face. I didn't need to be a legilimens to know he thought I was acting like the stereotypical stupid, heroic Gryffindor—which, while a tad bit irritating, was sort of correct.

"Regulus, If they find out you lied for me they'll hurt you too. Please. You're not like them—just come with me! You don't even need your stuff—I know our house is all sad and old, but I swear we have plenty of gold in the bank and can get you a new everything! You can just start fresh! Please!" I practically begged, grabbing his arm and looking at him in desperation. "Please come with me!"

The sound of doors slamming and feet stomping echoed through the halls—batty Bella was getting closer.

"Ellie... I know you're trying to help... and I appreciate it, really..." he whispered, despite the fact that he'd apparently set silencing charms on the room. "But it's safer for everyone if I stay—"

"NO! No! You're not safer!" I protested passionately, heart breaking just at the idea of leaving him. "I'm not leaving you! You saved me— now let me save you!"

"I am safer here! Ellie, you don't understand— I can keep you all safe if I'm on the inside—just like Ben—"

"—COME OUT, COME OUT LIZZIE DEAR!" called a deranged voice followed by a thump on the door, effectively ruining the nickname Lizzie for me.

"You need to go!" he growled. "Trust me! I'll be okay!"

He seemed to really believe what he was saying… and he did know his family better than I did… but I still knew that they'd put him through hell if they ever found out he lied for me. "Only if you promise you'll come to my house if they hurt you—if you don't feel safe you come over, okay?!" I compromised

"Okay, Fine—fine!"

"You have to promise!" I said emphatically, listening to another thump against the wall.

"I promise! I promise! Now please just go!" he said impatiently, stepping away and shooing me with his hands to get a move on.

I looked at him one last time. Regulus, the boy who lied... He said he would be safer on the inside, but was it true? Could he really be good, stay good amidst all that evil? That's when something he said stuck out to me... he said he wasn't the only one.

"Wait—what were you saying about Benny?!"

He looked even more anxious and impatient as he repeatedly glanced over to the door. "Nothing—it was nothing— please, El—"

"No! Tell me!" I insisted.

"UGH! I will! Bloody hell I will! —but not HERE— NOT NOW!" he said, looking more angry and beside himself than I had ever witnessed. "You said so yourself, this is hardly the time to chat!"

He had a point there.

"You promise?!"

"YES I PROMISE GREENGRASS—NOW GET THE HELL OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!"

With those last kind parting words I grabbed a handful of the fine powder within the ugly bag, threw it on the found and said, in as clear a voice as I could manage, "The Greengrass Residence!"

In a in a poof of green fire, was whisked away from Regulus and his insane relatives.