A/N: Thanks to Kate3110 for the review! Ellie's life is definitely going to be a lot different and more complicated from here on out.

Here's another update on the heels of the last one because I just looooove reviews. More reviews=quicker updates so please either tell me what you think or drop a comment!

November 7, 1980

Ellie only lasted fifteen minutes at Evan Rosier's funeral.

Surprisingly, it wasn't the endless stream of sympathizers that prompted her departure, nor was it the vast number of purebloods in attendance. No, what caused Ellie to storm out of Mr. and Mrs. Rosier's manor just minutes before the eulogy was the unexpected arrival of her parents.

She'd heard her mother long before she'd laid eyes on the woman. From her position next to the casket, the unmistakable shrill voice of Lorella Stroud had permeated her ears. Ellie hardly had time to wipe the horror from her face before the petite witch was in front of her, cerulean eyes seemingly staring into Ellie's soul.

Later, Ellie would swear her mother hesitated as she approached. She would swear that there had been some recognition in her eyes. Some doubt that this was the right daughter. There simply was no way a mother would mistake one of her children for the other; twins or not.

"Ariella, darling, you must be devastated."

Apparently not.

Thin arms clad in black and the overwhelming smell of roses enveloped Ellie. It took everything in her not to flinch as her mother hugged her, and even more effort when her father appeared and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Go over and talk to that Dolohov fellow, poppet. I hear he did well during the mission yesterday."

Ellie fought back a gag. Was this what Ari had dealt with? Father pressuring her to "talk" to Death Eaters?

Luckily, her mother spoke up. "It's far too soon, Mervyn. Everyone will think she's a harlot,"

Thank you, Mother.

Lorella turned to her daughter, "You'll approach him after tomorrow's meeting. He'd be a fool not to accept an offer from one with blood as pure as yours. And so dedicated to the cause too."

Ellie turned heel and left the room, the sound of offended socialites following her all the way to the door and out of the manor.

"Ari!" Ellie stopped at the sound of heels clicking on the stone steps behind her. Narissa, looking as harried as she'd ever seen her, had followed her. "Where in Merlin's name are you going?" she hissed.

"Away from here," Ellie spat back with just as much vehemence. "I can't be around these people a moment longer."

Narcissa's cold hand gripped her arm, "These people are your friends. Your family," she scoffed. "They would have your back through anything, yet you treat them as if they were scum."

Abashed, Ellie averted her eyes, "I didn't mean it like that," she muttered.

"Then how did you mean it?" Narcissa asked, finally relinquishing her grip on Ellie's arm.

"I just...this isn't where I'm supposed to be. Not right now at least."

Narcissa turned her attention to her wide brimmed hat. She fiddled with the large bow on the front and adjusted it on her head. If Ellie didn't know the witch any better-or at all-she'd have to say the she was nervous.

"I may have happened to hear a...rumor...that Estella's funeral began at eleven. I know it's a bit late now...but you might be able to catch the end of it."

Ellie stared wide-eyed at her newest and most unexpected friend, "Where?"

Narcissa rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Ari. This is a terrible idea."

"Where?"

"McGonagall apparently owns a house in Moray. They're holding it there."

Ellie let out a relieved breath, "Thank you."

Narcissa glared at her, "Don't thank me. If I go back in there and make your excuses, you owe me, Ari."

She narrowed her own eyes, "And what exactly will my repayment be?"

"Hmmm….Do you remember that lemon tart you made last Christmas?"

"Erm, yes?"

"You'll show me how to make it."

Shit! "Fine."

"Fine?" Narcissa looked at her incredulously, "I've asked you no less than a dozen times for the recipe and you insist it's a secret."

"It is...was." Ellie stammered, "It was a secret between Ellie and me. I...I doubt she'll mind me sharing if it means I can go to her funeral."

She could feel Narcissa regarding her. It would had unnerved her, had the prospect of baking not done that already.

"Very well." The witch finally said. "You'll have to Disapparate closer to the road. There's a charm on the house preventing it." Ellie started when Narcissa wrapped her in a tight hug. A warm breath brushed her ear. "Do not forget to be back at the manor for this evening. You know how he hates tardiness."

Without another word or glance she released Ellie and walked back into the house.

Ellie stood on the cobblestone street, staring at the modest house she was trying to talk herself into entering. It was quaint; a light beige colour with dark green shutters and a matching front door. There was no audible noise coming from inside, likely the nature of the gathering played some part in this. Going inside would be foolish, she knew. Everyone here was well aware that she was responsible for her sister's death. She stood in front of the house for several more minutes, her heart beating rapidly.

Suddenly, a commotion sounded from the garden. The sound of china breaking and chairs overturning caused her curiosity to outweigh her fear, Ellie bypassed the front door in favor of the white gate on the side of the house. She made her way to the noise, sticking close to the side of the house and out of sight.

"Sirius! Sirius!" James's voice yelled, "Calm down!"

"I have to check!" The sound of Sirius's hoarse and disparaging voice was very nearly her undoing. Ellie raised a shaking hand to cover her mouth and quiet her gasp.

"She's already been buried, mate. There's nothing we can do!"

"Un-bury her!" His command was met with silence. Ellie continued forward, peering over a shrub in order to see what was going on.

By the look of things, the gathering had been very intimate. Less than a dozen people were in attendance, likely having left after the burial. Ellie felt a brief moment of sorrow at having realized she'd not get another chance to say goodbye to Ari. This feeling passed, though, when she caught sight of Sirius. He was kneeling on the ground, head clasped in his hands. He still wore his clothes from yesterday, and he very clearly had not bathed. Matted hair framed a too gaunt face. Ellie felt as though she were looking at a corpse.

The sound of crying drew her gaze from Sirius. Lily was sitting on a bench, Remus's arms wrapped around her as she sobbed, tears running down his own face. Peter stood next to McGonagall, he looking down into a clear and empty glass and she looking upon Sirius pitifully. Dumbledore and James were both hovering near Sirius. Ellie suspected they were prepared to take the necessary measures should he attempt to exhume Ari/Ellie's body.

Why on earth would he want to do that, she wondered.

"Perhaps we should humor him. Give the poor lad some piece of mind," Dedalus Diggle suggested.

"Dig her up over a birthmark? Don't be ridiculous. If it wasn't Estella then her sister would have said something." Emmaline Vance retorted.

"She was too busy running away."

"Exactly! If Estella wasn't the one killed, why would she have run? I doesn't make sense." Many eavesdroppers on the argument seemed to agree with Emmaline, though Dedalus still stood by his earlier statement.

"It still wouldn't hurt to make sure," he insisted.

During the whole conversation, Ellie felt as her heart beat harder and harder, until she feared it would burst from her chest. Her birthmark. She'd completely forgotten about it when trying to make Ari look like her. And now they were going to dig up her poor sister's body, realize it wasn't Ellie, and Ari's death would be in vain. Ellie would die herself before she let that happen. She gathered her wits, took a deep breath, and prayed she was skilled enough to do what needed to be done.

Stepping from behind the bush that had concealed her, Ellie walked over to Sirius. "Perhaps I can put your mind at ease."

There was no movement for several seconds. Everyone seemed stunned that she had appeared. It was after a moment, though, that James and Frank Longbottom rushed her. Frank pinned her arms behind her back while James fished her wand out of her pocket. Luckily, the only difference between Ari's wand and hers was that Ellie's core was unicorn hair while Ari's was dragon heartstring. They were otherwise nearly exactly the same. James took her wand and stepped back to stand next to Sirius. Along with everyone else, they pointed their wands at her.

"What are you doing here?" Sirius hissed.

"I merely wanted to say my goodbyes. Surely you wouldn't withhold that right from me." Ellie would have patted herself on the back had her arms been free. Her voice hadn't shaken at all.

James looked at her with contempt, "That was extremely foolish of you, Stroud. We all know what happened."

"Fool. You know nothing."

"I know enough."

Ellie forced a smirk, "Ah, but not enough to warrant the Aurors to come after me. You didn't see what happened. There's. No. Proof."

"You're a murderous bitch." Lily spat at her, tears still streaking her face.

Ellie's heart broke in half. The vehemence with which Lily spoke cracked it, but the truth in her words finished the job. She was a murderer. Knowing she needed to respond, Ellie gave her best attempt to sound like Ari when she was playing her pureblood Death Eater role.

"How's the baby? Harry isn't it? I hope you have someone looking after him. It would be such a shame to lose him so young due to carelessness." She really should have expected the slap. Lily before motherhood had a temper, but Lily as a mother was not to be baited. Ellie hung her head, trying to keep the tears at bay.

The sound of Sirius's cracking voice forced her eyes back up.

"Tell me you're not her. Look me in the eyes and tell me you aren't my Ellie." His eyes were puffy and red-rimmed. She had never seen Sirius look so broken. Not even when Regulus died.

Blue met grey, and Ellie forced out the lie, "I am Ariella Stroud. Estella is dead. If you need any further proof, check my right hip."

Sirius shattered before her eyes. He crumpled to the ground even as James stepped forward to lift up the hem of her blouse. Ellie had never tried wandless magic, and so she prayed that the Vanishing spell she was mentally casting would work. She felt a cool breeze on her hip, and the look on James's face was evidence enough that her spell had been successful.

"I told you," she muttered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend." Before anyone could react, Ellie threw her head against Frank's face as she called wordlessly for her wand. Free from her captor and wand in hand, she ran back through the white gate and towards the road. Just as she reached her mark, James's hand reached for her, grasping nothing but air as she Disapparated.