And So It Begins

May 1998
Ellie

Ellie found herself once again in Alecto Carrow's office, the woman in question walking in a slow circle around her.

"I knew I would find you. You can't hide from me," Alecto said coldly. Ellie just stared at the wall, clenching her fists and trying to keep her panic at bay. She wasn't even sure how she got here in the first place, but she wasn't about to let Alecto see her weak.

"It would seem that you've gotten more of your parents' stubbornness than I originally expected," Alecto said, her voice echoing around the stone chamber. "Oh… but I will break you…"

"I'd like to see you try," Ellie said, sticking her chin up slightly. "Though I wonder how Selwyn will take it… wouldn't want to ruin his plan, would you? Think that involves keeping me alive."

"True… but he never said anything about what condition I was to deliver you in…"

Suddenly, there was nothing but pain. Ellie shrieked, falling to her knees as it overtook her. She could see nothing. Hear nothing. All that existed was the pain. And this time, she knew that it wouldn't end.

"NO! STOP! MAKE IT STOP! JUST KILL ME!"

"Ellie! Wake up! It's just a dream!"

Ellie shot up on her cot, breathing heavily as her entire body shook uncontrollably. She looked around, her heart pounding, but Alecto was nowhere to be seen. Instead, all she saw were the curtains surrounding her cot. And Seamus' worried expression as he crouched next to her. She swallowed and tried to take slow, deep breaths, willing herself to calm down.

It had been the same thing every night since she moved into the room of requirement. She woke up several times, screaming. After that first night, Seamus had set up a small, private space for her with noise-blocking charms. She had been rather embarrassed that she woke up the entire room with her shouts and screams but refused to take any potion to help her sleep, worried she would need to wake up and run at a moment's notice.

Normally Seamus slept on a cot just outside, but as the nightmares continued, he had taken to sleeping on a pallet on the floor next to her. She had told him that having him close by helped. And it did. Ellie found that she couldn't sleep without knowing he was there.

"It's alright. It's just a dream. She can't get to you," he said softly, taking her hands in his. Ellie nodded, sniffling slightly. "Was it the same thing?" She nodded again, looking up at him.

"It's always the same thing," she said dully. Seamus reached out and pulled her to him, rubbing her arm gently. "Will you… could you just… maybe hold me… until I fall asleep..."

"Of course," he said softly. The two maneuvered until they were lying side by side on the small cot, Seamus' arms still around her. At the back of her mind, Ellie couldn't help but think that her mother would have something to say about this, but she didn't care.

And more and more, she was beginning to think that as long as she was in the castle, she'd never be able to get a good night's rest. She would remain terrified of the Carrows finding her and taking her to him. She needed to get out.

"Any luck with Aberforth?" she asked softly, though she knew that no one could hear them.

"We're still working on it," Seamus replied. "Just not sure the best way to get out of the village…"

"Because of the trace," Ellie finished. Seamus nodded.

"I could apparate us somewhere, but he says they've got loads of wards around the village. And alarms. It's harder to get in and out. But not impossible," he said. "We'll find a way soon." Ellie nodded, snuggling closer to him. "In the meantime, there's no way that any of them can get in here. I won't let them get to you."

"But they still could…" Ellie replied. Seamus looked down at her, gently lifting her chin so that she met his eyes.

"Don't even think about it," he said. "Focus on the plan to get out of here." He smiled slightly and leaned down, kissing her lightly on the lips. She stared at him a few moments, before kissing him back.

For just a moment, she allowed her instincts to take over. To forget about the nightmares and the Carrows and the war, giving in completely to the sensation of kissing him, holding on to him. His arms around her. And for that moment, it was as though nothing could truly get to her. It was just her and Seamus, lying on her cot.

But then he stopped, pulling back. They stared at each other a bit, both breathing heavily.

"Ellie," he breathed, his brow furrowed. She sighed and leaned her forehead against his.

"I know," she replied softly.

"It won't be much longer. We'll be out of here soon," he said.

"And then what?" Ellie asked, her voice weary. "We just… hide out… until this is all over with? Praying that Voldemort doesn't win?" While she wanted out of the castle more than anything, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she had no idea what came next. Outside of her mother locking her up in her room to keep her from running off again.

"Maybe," he said. "Maybe we do some things for the Order."

"There's no way my mum is going to let me join the Order," Ellie retorted. Seamus chuckled.

"Probably not," he admitted. "But I think more than anything, it's important to find somewhere safe." Ellie found herself nodding. This was true. They needed to get out of Hogwarts and somehow find a way to Greenthistle Manor. Then she could think about what came next.

"Ellie! Wake up!"

Ellie shot up from the cot, finding herself alone. She groggily rubbed her eyes and looked over, seeing a serious Ginny standing there. She had gotten up earlier and dressed, eating something. But then the long hours of just sitting around in the room, taking in the glum expressions around her, had taken its toll. She had gone back to her cot to read and then must have fallen asleep.

"What is it?" she muttered, wondering how long she had been out. Glancing to the floor, she saw that Seamus had been in at some point to fold up his pallet.

"You need to get out here now," Ginny said, motioning for her to follow. Ellie threw off her blanket and stood, following Ginny out into the main room. There was a bit of a commotion going, which she was shocked to have slept through. From the look of things, it was late in the day. Blimey, she must have slept through lunch. Though considering she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, she supposed she had needed it.

"What's going on," Ellie asked as they walked over to a cot where several others were crowding around someone.

"Move," Ginny ordered and immediately they cleared away. Ellie's mouth dropped open as she saw a battered Nott seated on the cot. He had the start of a black eye and his lip was split. He was also bent over, grasping his midsection, likely from a broken rib or two. Bloody hell, they had gotten to him. They found out that he had been helping her. Ellie bit back her tears though she couldn't help the guilt rising up in her.

"Oh my god," Ellie said, dropping down in front of him. "Who did this?"

"I'm fine," he said, wincing slightly.

"I found him while out patrolling… he was wandering around Gryffindor Tower," Ginny said. "He begged me to bring him to you."

"They caught me… sneaking around Carrow's office," he said. "She's been having you followed, but they haven't found this place."

"What the hell were you doing there?" she nearly shouted. He shook his head, his expression turning grim.

"It's him. He's here. And he's looking for you," he said. All the color left Ellie's face as she plopped down on the floor, her fingers raking through her hair. Evan Selwyn was here. In the castle.

"How do you know?" Neville asked, not completely trusting him.

"I overheard some of the prefects," Nott replied. "And then I went to confirm. Saw him near Carrow's office. Nearly didn't get away, but thankfully I'm a bit faster than the others."

Ellie barely registered what he was saying, her thoughts focused on the sole fact that Evan Selwyn was somewhere in the castle. She then looked up and around the room.

"Where's Seamus?" she asked suddenly. She looked up meeting Ginny's eyes. "Where is he?"

"He was out on patrol in another part of the castle. I don't know where he is," she said, Ellie's fear reflected in her own eyes. She looked around frantically before jumping to her feet and walking back to her cot.

"What are you doing?" Nott shouted after her. She came back, her wand in her hand and a pair of shoes on her feet, her face set in a determined glare.

"Going to find Seamus. If I know Alecto and Evan, they probably already have him," she said.

"No, that's what they want! You can't go after him," Nott shouted, causing her to stop. "I did not get myself beat up for you to just go… running there!"

"I'm not going to let them kill him because of me," she said.

"I'm going with you," Ginny said immediately.

"Me as well," Neville replied. Ellie opened her mouth to complain, but then snapped it shut. She knew that realistically she would need them there. Even with three against two, she was a bit unsure of the odds. They were going up against two, full grown Death Eaters. She then nodded and the three of them started towards the door.

"Ellie!"

She stopped and looked back, seeing Nott push himself up from the cot, though he was grimacing in pain.

"Be careful," he said. She nodded once.

"I will."

The three stalked quietly through the halls of the castle, heading towards Alecto Carrow's office. If they got ahold of Seamus, she was sure that's where they would be keeping him. She couldn't help as she jumped at every sound, the three of them hiding around corners and behind statues every time they heard someone coming nearby.

"We're nearly there," Ginny whispered as they crept down a hallway. She then stopped, motioning for the others to stop as well. Slowly, she looked around the corner and then turned back to look at Ellie and Neville. "Crabbe and Goyle are standing watch outside her office."

"Then they must have him," Ellie said, gulping down her fear. This was likely a trap, she knew that. But she couldn't just leave him at the mercy of Evan and Alecto.

"I'll stun them, you two cover me in case there are others. We'll go in and get him then get back to the room as quickly as possible," Ginny whispered. Ellie and Neville nodded, gripping their wands. Ginny turned back to face the corner, taking a deep breath. "One… two… three…"

She then jumped out and stunned the two seventh years as Ellie and Neville followed, wands out and eyes training around the hallway. They moved quickly to the door as Ginny did an unlocking charm and pushed into the room. Ellie followed, seeing Seamus tied up in a chair. His face was bloodied and bruised, eyes wide when he saw the three enter.

"You shouldn't be here. It's a trap," he hissed.

"Shut it. We're here to rescue you," Ellie hissed in return, quickly undoing his restraints as Ginny looked around Alecto's desk for his wand. Neville helped him up as Ginny tossed him his wand and the four made their way to the door. Ginny stepped out first, her wand out as she looked up and down the hallway. She motioned for them to follow.

They didn't make it very far before they heard a chilling laugh.

"So predictable."

The four stopped, slowly turning to see Evan Selwyn walking up behind them.

"Told you," Alecto said, coming up from the other side, an evil smirk on her face. "Knew she'd come for her little half-breed boyfriend." Ellie took a deep breath, trying to keep her heart from racing and focusing on her surroundings. It was four against two. Though Seamus was injured and she wasn't sure how much help he would be in his state.

"Hand yourself over and I won't be forced to hurt your friends," Evan said.

"Like hell," Ellie growled. "You won't get me or them."

"Figured you'd say that," he replied. At the same time, he and Alecto opened fire on the four, barely saying anything as they shot hex after hex. The four students did their best to shield themselves while attempting to fire off whatever hexes that they could, but it was still hard work. What's more, they were surrounded and couldn't move. Ellie knew they needed a plan. And fast.

She focused her sights on Evan, narrowing her eyes as she took a step away from the group, edging towards him.

"Ellie, don't!" Seamus shouted. She ignored him, putting up shields as she went.

"Cover me!" she shouted. Evan laughed loudly.

"Yes, come after me," he said, backing up slightly. Ellie just grit her teeth and pushed forward, shooting any and every hex that she could think of. It only made him laugh harder, a manic glint coming into his eyes. "Keep fighting, Elliana. This will end with you coming with me."

"Over my dead body!" Ellie shouted back.

"Don't even," Ginny shouted at her.

"Oh, that can be arranged," Evan retorted. Ellie just continued to fire at him, allowing her rage to take over. This was for everything that he had put her and mother through.

"Ellie! Come on!"

She felt someone yank her arm, pulling her back.

"No! I'm not finished!" she shouted as a look of shock came overEvan's face.

"We've taken care of Carrow! We've got to go!"

Spells flew around her, causing Evan to duck out of the way, barely getting up a shield in time.

"Ellie, run!"

Groaning, she turned jumped over the professor's stunned body, then started sprinting down the hallway, shooting one more spell over her shoulder.

"Run, little Ellie! You won't get far!" Evan shouted with another laugh.

Ginny continued to glance behind them, shooting hexes. When Ellie started to turn around, she grabbed her and shoved her forward.

"We have to go!" she shouted. Ellie growled in frustration again but continued moving forward as they raced through the castle, taking back corridors and such so they wouldn't chance running into any Slytherins. She could swear that she could still hear Evan laughing behind her.

Ellie wasn't sure just how they got there, but she felt relief when she saw the door to the room of requirement, if anything so she could stop running. They quickly made their way inside, Neville dropping Seamus on a cot as others came up to check him over. Ellie sat down next to him, quickly assessing how injured he was.

"That was incredibly reckless," he said, looking at her sternly.

"I didn't even get a real chance at him," she complained, causing Seamus to sigh and roll his eyes. "And you're welcome. Or would you have rather I let you stay with Carrow and Selwyn?"

"They could have gotten you," he pushed.

"But they didn't," Ellie said cheekily. Seamus just shook his head.

"Thank Merlin you're back," Nott said, walking up to the two. He was still a bit beaten up, but at least he was no longer grimacing in pain. Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie saw Neville walked up to the portrait over the passage to the Hog's Head and then open it, walking through. Whatever he was doing she could worry about later.

Seamus stood, staring Nott down. Ellie sighed.

"Seamus," she said in warning. "He got beaten up while trying to get word to me. He helped." He didn't reply, just put his hand out.

"Thanks," he said gruffly. Nott took his hand and shook it.

"I hadn't intended for her to go running off after you," Nott replied. "I didn't even know they had you. Just that she needed to stay away from him."

"Well, we both know that Ellie doesn't really listen," Seamus said, glancing over at her, a slight smile on his face. "Though at the moment, I'm kind of glad that she didn't." Ellie stood, looking from one boy to the other.

"Didn't honestly think I was going to let him have you, did you?" she replied. Seamus just rolled his eyes and slid and arm around her waist, kissing her cheek.

"Hey, you lot… we've got a visitor."

Everyone stopped what they were doing, looking towards the portrait hole where Neville had just emerged, a smile on his face.

He then stepped aside, revealing none other than Harry.

As you can see – we're getting to the end. Lots of things happening in the next few chapters. Buckle up, folks!

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