Chapter 7

Elethia had to serve detention in the kitchen that night. All she did was wash dishes, and she wished that she told Professor McGonagall that she was defending herself and Remus against Sirius's Flipendo knock back jinx. A part of her wondered why she would even take the blame when Sirius was the one who started it, but if she did, then what? It would still be the same cat and mouse game they play almost every day through a school life of torment.

"Hey! You!" Elethia turned to the elf on the wooden table behind her. "Make sure you don't miss a spot."

The young witch nearly rolled her eyes as she continued her task. She then stopped to grab herself a sandwich at the end of the room. All of the students were enjoying the feast in the Great Hall, while Elethia had a plain sandwich with some juice to the side. She was a confined prisoner, wanting to break free.

Just then, the door opened, and Elethia looked so see James Potter walking in with his hands in his pockets and a small smirk gracing his lips. He looked over at Elethia, who gave her a questionable look, so he winked at her and went over to her.

"Hello, Cromwell."

"Potter." Elethia took a long sip of her juice, trying her best to ignore him. However, a part of her was curious as to why he was here, so she couldn't help but ask, "What do you want?"

"Nothing. I just think it's amazing what you did back there. You, of all people, protected Sirius."

"Who says I forgive him?"

"Then why did you take the blame?"

Elethia finally snapped at him. "Because there wouldn't be a point. If he got detention, then what? He'll never stop pulling these childish pranks."

James gave her a nervous smile and said, "At least you defended yourself. What was that by the way?"

"It's called Protego, and a friend of mine taught it to me."

"Well, I have to say, it was brilliant." James laughed but it soon ceased when Elethia looked down at the table, refusing to meet his eyes because she did not find it funny one bit. "I'm sorry. For everything I did."

She met his eyes and saw the seriousness behind his gaze. "You know how long it's been I've waited for you to say that?"

"And it only took what? Eight months?" They both chuckled, but they soon stopped when they looked over at the elf. "So, ready to get out?"

"What? I can't leave. I'm in detention."

"And that's your problem, Cromwell. You need to learn how to have fun."

She gave him a coy smirk and asked, "You don't think I can?"

"Prove it." James said, gesturing to the elf.

They both smirked at each other before Elethia took out her wand out and pointed to the dishes she cleaned and whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa."

The plates rose in the air and swarmed around the room, startling the elves, while James and Elethia laughed, watching the elves duck under a table or hide behind the corner the room. She then stopped what she was doing, letting the plates fall only to rise in the air again as the elves used their own magic to catch them. James and Elethia used the opportunity to run out the door, hearing the head elf calling them, but they didn't care. Their feet carried them to the other side of the dungeons, laughing hysterically.

"You're alright, Cromwell." James said smirking at her.

"It's Elethia."

They gave each other a smile as James said, "Elethia."

They then headed to The Common Room, where the other Gryffindors were, and to their surprise, they saw Sirius, Peter, and Remus, staring at them. "Why'd you bring, Cromwell?" Sirius asked.

"Come on, Sirius. She's actually not all bad, and don't you think you should do something."

"Pfft. Like what?"

"Apologize." Remus said, narrowing his eyes at him.

Peter was the only who remained silent as he stared in between the group, while Sirius said, "What makes you think I will ever apologize to her?"

"Black." Elethia stepped in. "Look. I don't know what your problem with me is, but whatever I've done, I'm sorry, alright? Why can't you just move on? You don't need to make any enemies."

"So now you're telling me what to do?"

Sirius pushed past her, ignoring his friends as they told him to come back. Elethia still never understood what his problem was. It had to be more than her stepping on his robe on their first day at Hogwarts, but she had no idea what. Only time will tell, but Sirius was a stubborn one. He wasn't just going to tell her so easily, so she went to the grounds at night to think to herself to try to figure out how to get him to talk, but it was no use.

"Elethia?"

The young witch stood from her spot right away as she recognized the voice, so she turned to see Professor Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore."

"You do know full well that you should be in your dormitory at this time."

"Yes sir, but I...hang on. Why are you here then?"

"I thought a stroll would do me good given at the end of the year."

"I still never got to thank you for rescuing me from the Devil Snare."

He stared at her intently and said, "Devil Snare. Quite a strange place for them to be in in the Potion's Storeroom. Madam Sprout had also been wondering where they had gone to." Elethia looked away from him and didn't notice the smile on Dumbeldore's face. "It is quite fortunate that I have found you when I did. A terrible fate it is to be constricted by Devil Snare."

"Professor, I didn't know there was Devil Snare in the potion's storeroom."

"I never expected that you would." He gave her a small smile and said, "Now, I think it's time you head back to your dormitory."

She nodded her head and proceeded to go, but she slowed her pace when she saw that Dumbledore was walking by her side. "You're coming with me, Professor?"

"I have to ensure that you return safely back, and no one would question where you were if you were in my company."

Elethia looked up at him and saw the smirk on his face, so she smiled back, thinking how caring he was to not let her get in any trouble with any of the other professors. "Professor, when you were in school, have you ever had anyone torment you when you were in school?"

"On the contrary, Elethia, I found it to be rather enjoyable, because the people who were there with me helped me forget my surroundings to look forward to the future."

"So you were bullied, but your friends helped you?"

"That is why we must be grateful for those who have aided us in our past for they will light the way when all hope seems lost."

Elethia smiled warmly and said, "Thank you, Professor."

Thank you for reading! I'm so sorry that it's been so long since I've last updated. Everything had just been so chaotic, but I will try to do better. Let me know what you think in the review section.