Ella pulled at the fraying hem of her top, playing with it under the table as the large group of occupants at the Burrow chatted easily over mugs of hot chocolate, the topic rarely straying from the upcoming wedding that was now less than a week away. Her easy smile never falted as she joined in with the idle chit-chat, masking her increasing nerves about her mystery meeting. Glancing at the clock in for the fifth time in the last ten minutes, Fred noticed the falseness of her smile and spoke for the both of them.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I'm knackered," He stood up with a fake yawn, "Elle?"

"Yeah, me too," She smiled, forever greatful for her boyfriends intuition, "Goodnight everyone."

Once the couple reached the room, without a word, Fred wrapped his arms around her reassuringly.

"It's okay if you don't want to go, no one's forcing you," he said gently in her ear.

Ella just shook her head. "No, I need to go. Don't forget the other night, when we were moving Harry," she sighed, releasing herself from his embrace, "There's a traitor among us, and this could help me find out who." It had been her first thought when she'd recieved the note. There was something this person wanted her, and her alone to know. Not knowing who they could trust had been tearing the Order apart, and now with no clear leader, they were in a terrifyingly weak position. If there was something she could do to help, Ella was determined to do it.

Fred agreed with her, knowing there was no use in trying to pursuade her not to go. Instead, he just pulled her into his side so her head was resting on his chest as he laid out on their bed, stroking her hair comfortingly until 10:53 rolled around.

"You best get ready to go," he almost whispered, placing a kiss on her head. She nodded, pulling her jacket off the hooks from the back of the door, tucking the moleskin pouch Scrimgeour had given her earlier that day in her pocket and taking the portkey pen in her hands. Fred stood along side her and cupped her face between his hands, "Remember, whatever it is you learn tonight, don't run away and try and save the world on your own. Whatever it is, remember we're a team, okay? Just make sure you come back,"

Her heart almost broke as she looked into his eyes, which glistened with worry and fear and her heart panged as she remembered how hurt he'd been the last time she'd ran away, and the time before that. She'd vowed to herself she would never do that to him again, and she meant it. No more running away.

"I promise," She said, kissing him hard, making sure he knew she truly meant it.

At that moment the portkey in her hand began glowing, and Fred stood back as he watched his girlfriend disappear without another word.

As Ella landed with relative ease, she was relieved to note that the portkey had indeed taken her just outside of a small pub called The Bell Inn. She took a quick glance around the semi-rural village, before heading inside taking a moment to compose herself. It was a fairly standard British pub with little that was remarkable enough about it to make it someone's destination of choice. It was a muggle pub, she knew that much from one glance at the clientele. She walked hestitantly over to the bar, ordering herself a rum and coke to calm her nerves. As the middle aged barman set to making her drink, she looked around the various tables and booths to try and spot anyone remotely familiar. She had no idea who she was looking for or who HBP was, but before she got chance, the barman returned with her drink.

"That'll be 3 pounds please miss," She smiled and reached into her pocket for change, knowing there was a muggle note in there somewhere. Just as she was recieving her change, a familiar, but unexpected voice spoke from behind her.

"I invited you here because I wanted to talk, not drink," It drawled.

Ella spun round to see her former potions master in what she assumed was an attempt at muggle clothes.

"Most pubs don't take too kindly to you using their tables if you aren't going to use anything," She retorted.

"She's not wrong," the barman chuckled, "What can I get you sir?"

He looked affronted, but Ella replied for him, "He'll have the same as me," she smiled politely, placing the correct change on the bar, "What?" She responded to Snape's scowl, "It looks strange if you don't have a drink and if you don't like it, well then more for me," She chuckled, as he grudingly picked up his drink from the bar and led the way to a table in a quiet corner of the pub.

They sat in awkward silence for a few moments, as they each took a sip from their drinks. Eventually Ella decided to break the ice.

"So why did you bring me here? What do you mean Harry and I aren't safe at the Burrow?"

Snape together another sip from his glass, although he didn't seem to be particularly enjoying its contents.

"I meant what just that. Neither of you are safe there. The Dark Lord wants you both dead, and once the ministry falls under his control, which will be any day now, the pair of you are sitting ducks waiting at the Burrow,"

"The Dark Lord?" Ella scoffed, having briefly forgotten the he had been the one who killed Dumbledore in her relief that the person she was meeting wasn't some creepy strange axe murderer, although she was, she now realised, sat drinking with a murderer, "I forgot you're one of them," She spat, standing and taking her coat from the back of her chair, ready to leave.

"Stop," He commanded with moving, "You need to listen to what I have to tell you," Ella just scoffed and continued putting her coat on. "Have you opened the pouch Dumbledore left you yet?"

His question surprised her enough to catch her attention. How had he known about it? Was it just coincidence that he asked to meet with her the same day she had recieved it?

"No," She answered flatly, "how do you know about it?"

"There's a letter in there from Dumbledore. You need to read it," Snape instructed, not answering her question.

Hesitantly she sat down and took the pouch from her jacket pocket, placing it on the table in front of her.

"First," She stated, "tell me how you know about it,"

Snape grunted, clearly growing annoyed with her games, but gave her an answer nonetheless, "I know about it because I was present when Dumbledore wrote the letter inside it. The letter he wrote you explains it better than I can, but he knew he was dying and he wanted to ensure that this letter got to you without any interception from the Ministry, or anyone else for that matter," he added.

"Dumbledore was dying, you killed him," Ella hissed back, careful to keep her voice quiet so as not to draw the muggles' attention, but still furious at his refusal to even acknowledge his role in the Headmaster's death.

"I did, but he was already dying. He knew the Dark Lord had instructed Draco to kill him, and asked me to do it instead of the boy,"

His face was void of emotion, but there was some form of emotion in his voice that Ella couldn't quite place. It was no longer straight frustration at her questions, but nor was it quite sorrow for his former boss.

"Read the letter," He insisted again.

This time, with Snape sat awkwardly across from her, she obliged.

Dear Ella,

I shall begin by apologising that you are recieving this via letter and not in person, as if you are reading this then as I suspect might happen, time has gotten away from me as such things often do. I am not a well man, and while there is much I have yet to teach you, there is one thing I must pass on before I leave this world. You may recall that after we met with your lawyer in London a couple of years ago, we spoke briefly about the regret I held in my role in placing you in that French Orphanage. I told you that it was a decision made due to the unusual amount of magic you were already displaying as an infant. I told you at the time I was unaware of why this was the case, but I am afraid that was not entirely the truth. I had an inkling, but I wanted to more certain before I shared it with you. Since then, I have travelled far and wide, to anciet magical libraries across Europe to research what you head described to me. You see, using magic in infancy and being able to perform wandless and nonverbal magic without trying at a young age, as I'm sure you will appreciate, is most unusual. Upon further study, I believe it is due to a form of old magic. As you are aware, you descend from a very old wizarding family. The Potter family line can be traced back to Medea, the neice of Circe. She was a powerful witch and a renowned prophet. It required a lot of searching on my part, but I eventually found some records of her prophercies. They were in questionable condition, but one appears to prophecise that one day, one day, 'one would come again and in that witch, she would be reborn'. She foresaw that a member of future bloodline would once again walk the Earth with her power. I am sure you have figured out by now that I believe you to be this relative. I do not tell you this to worry you, but it is vital this information does not fall into the wrong hands. In order to help your brother defeat Voldemort and his followers, you must embrace your power, connect to it and harness it. It is important that you accept who you are, and utilise it. There are only two people I have entrusted with this information; yourself and Severus. I understand and appreciate the opinions you must hold of him once you have heard that he has killed me, but know this, he only did so at my request. You can trust him. And just as I have entrusted him to not share the information he holds on you, I also trust you will not share the information I have divulged to you about Severus. It is important the Voldemort truly believes in his loyalty. And with that, I bid you farewell and wish you luck.

Warmest Regards,

Albus Dumbledore

Ella just stared at the letter numbly. It was too much to comprehend. She read it again, and for a third and forth time, yet it still made as little sense as it did the first. She was somehow related to Circe? And was some wierd reincarnation of Circe's niece? According to the mythology, Medea was a raging sociopath that went around killing people for fun. Or did Dumbledore mean it was just her powers reborn. She felt a wave of anger come over her. She had so many questions. How could he not tell her all this while he was alive? But then she remembered what he'd said. You must accept it and embrace it, she thought to herself. Regardless of who Medea was, Ella knew who she was, and she wasn't evil.

Slowly she brought her gaze to meet Severus'. He was watching her with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Any questions?"

"So you're not a..." she trailed off.

"A murderer? A Death Eater?" He mused. "I guess in many ways, I am both, but not in the ways that matter, which brings me to why I asked you to meet me," He sighed, "You're in a lot of danger if you stay with the Weasleys. The Dark Lord may not know of the truth behind your power, but he does regard you as a threat, one he wishes to disarm,"

"So what are you suggesting? I run away? I've already promised Fred that I wouldn't do that..."

"No," He interupted her, "It would be futile to run, I am suggesting you disarm yourself as a threat in his eyes,"

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" She almost laughed. Was he suggesting she faked her own death? Or killed herself? Surely not.

"I think you should join him," This time Ella really did laugh. He had to be joking, or on drugs, "I'm serious," he repeated flatly, "With my help, we can make him believe that you wish to join the ranks of his followers. Of course, he is not a foolish man, he won't believe you've had suddenly had a drastic change of heart, we would have to go with a half-truth, play to your strengths and make him believe that your only ulterior motive is self-preservation,"

"You mean make him think I am changing sides because I want to be on the winning side?" She asked.

"Exactly," He nodded, "That way, not only are you protecting yourself, but you can keep a eye on your brother, or at least ensure they remain one step behind him,"

She nodded slowly, "I have just one more question," She stated plainly, "Why do you want to help us? Harry and me?"

Snape's eyes bored into her. It was the one question he had hoped she wouldn't ask, but he knew is he was to gain her trust, he had to be honest, "Because you were right. I did love your mother. I still do," He sighed, refusing to meet her shocked gaze, "When I failed to protect her, I made a promise to myself that I would protect her children. She died to save you, it was the least I could do to make sure her sacrifice wasn't in vain,"

Ella nodded, satisfied with his answer. And it would certainly be a relief to her if there was something she could do to help protect Harry. It killed her that she was facing the prospect of sitting on her backside playing house with her boyfriend, whilst her little brother was off saving the world. She took a long sip of her drink, her head swimming from the onslaught of information she'd recieved in the last half an hour.

"I need to think about it," she finally said.

Severus nodded, accepting her decision, half-surprised that it wasn't a flat out refusal, "Don't take too long," He cautioned, "If you stay with the Weasleys too long, not only are you putting yourself in danger, but also all of them,"

The pair stood, finishing their drinks and putting on their jackets, and walked slowly together out of the pub. Stood on the pavement, Severus turned to her once more,

"Potter, this probably goes without saying, but don't talk to anyone about anything we have discussed tonight. To do so will only put them, and us, in more danger," He warned.

"I'm going to tell Fred," She said resolutely, "If I'm going to disappear, he has to know why, or at least, partially why,"

Severus scoffed and rolled his eyes in a manner that annoyed her, "If you must, but know I advise against it. We shall meet here again in two days at 10pm to discuss your decision," He informed, rather than asked, her, but she nodded nonetheless, and with that they both disappeared into thin air with a crack, going their separate ways.

After arriving at the edge of the Burrows charms and enchantments, as you could no longer apparate directly into the home, Ella used the walk up to her room to reflect on the evening. She battled with herself over whether she should hide the truth from Fred to protect him, but as much as she wanted to keep him safe, she knew couldn't lie to him. He knew her too well to know when she was feeding him full of shit, so if she didn't want to tell him the truth, she would have to not tell him anything at all, and that was the one thing she had promised him she wouldn't do. Quietly and carefully, she climbed the wonky staircase up to her's and Fred's bedroom, where he was waiting for her expectantly.

At the sight of his girlfriend, safe and unharmed, he immediately pulled her into a tight embrace, allowing the relief to wash over him. Although she'd only been gone a little over a half hour, it had felt like a life time to him. However, he couldn't help but notice she slightly less enthusiastic in returning his embrace.

He pulled back, tipping her chin to look into her eyes, which looked deep in thought.

"What happened tonight?" He asked, kissing her forehead.

She smiled almost sorrowfully, "We have a lot to talk about,"

Nearly an hour later, she'd finally recanted everything she had learned that night and shown him the letter from Dumbledore.

"Wow," he sighed, "That's...a lot," He rubbed his forehead.

"Yeah," Ella also sighed.

"I can't believe you're related to Circe, and are basically this ancient creature. Does that make you a pedo?" He joked, causing Ella to throw her head back in laughter, smacking him as she did so. "But you're not actually thinking of going to join the Death Eaters are you?" He asked, knowing his girlfriend's hero complex all too well.

Ella just sighed, knowing the argument that was about to ensue, "I am," she said quietly.

"But how?" He asked raising his voice. "How could you even think of playing nice with those monsters? They killed Mad Eye only a few days ago if you didn't remember,"

"Fred, listen," She spoke much softer than he did, hoping he'd listen to her reasoning.

"Not to mention, it's far too dangerous. Are you fucking mad?" He nearly yelled.

Without replying, Ella stood from where she'd been sat on the bed and picked up her wand from the bedside table, placing a silencing charm over their room so they could argue to their hearts' content without waking the rest of the house.

"I'm not mad, what's so wrong with wanting to protect the people I love?"

"How will you protect them. Can't you see you're walking straight into their trap? How do you know you can trust Snape? Regardless of what that letter says, he killed Dumbledore. He could be convincing you to come back to their lair so they can kill you,"

"Fred," She sighed, retaking her seat next to him, placing a calming hand on his thigh, "If he wanted me dead, he could have killed me tonight. But rather than argue more, tell me this; would you do it to protect your entire family? George? Your mum, dad, Ron and Ginny?"

"I wouldn't do it for Ron, he can be a bit of prick," He said sarcastly, earning him a small chuckle.

"I'm serious," She chuckled, "Would you do it?" He nodded. "Well Harry is my entire family. If there's something I can do to protect him, I think I have to do it. But I'll promise you I'll sleep on it and I won't leave until at least after the wedding okay?"

Fred sighed, but nodded knowing that he was never going to convince her otherwise. Her strong mind was one of the many things he adored about her. Silently, the pair got undressed and climbed into bed. They lay there still, Ella's head resting on Fred's broad chest, just enjoying one another's presence, not knowing how much longer they would be able to be this close.

"Make sure you come back to me," Fred said almost so quietly, if it wasn't for the fact his breath had tickled the top of her head she wouldn't be sure he spoke at all.

"I promise," She smiled, continuing to trace patterns on his chest with the finger tips.

"I mean it," He said, "After all this is over, I want us to move out the flat and get our own little house somewhere, with a big garden with a nice patio so we can sit and watch all our children play,"

"All?!" She exclaimed. "How many are you expecting me to pop out?" She laughed.

"Oh, at least three, I'd say," He said, also chuckling softly.

The couple fell back into a comfortable silence for a couple minutes before Ella spoke abruptly.

"Marry me," She said.

"Erm, I think you're forgetting that I already asked you that a few days ago," He chuckled.

"No, I mean it," She sat up, spinning round so their eyes connected and he stoped joking seeing her serious expression, "If I'm going to do this, I want to do it with my Husband to come back to. I don't want to waste any more time,"

He nodded in agreement, "I agree," He kissed her passionately, "When do you want to get married then?" He asked. They could hardly upstage his brother's marriage. It was only in a few days, so they wouldn't have chance to arrange anything before then.

"Week on Saturday?" She propsoed, as though she was arranging what day they were going to go to the shops, "That way we have enough time to arrange a little celebration, but not to far away,"

Fred agreed, "Just promise me one thing," He chuckled

"Anything" She laughed.

"We don't tell mum until the day before,"

"Agreed,"

A/N: Well I guess I can only apologise for the three year long wait, but you know life happens and uni had a habbit of getting in the way. I nearly abandoned this story, but I just kept coming back to it and it was bugging me that I left it unfinished, so now Unis all done and I'm taking a gap year, I guess you'll finally get to find out what happens to Ella. Thank you to those who have left reviews in my absence, and if you make this far well enjoy.