A/N: Okay, we left little Elise at Hogwarts with nice Hagrid and mean
Dumbledore, but from the reviews you didn't seem to like Dumbledore so I
cut his whole part out. To sum up, she grew up there and fell in love with
Snape, but never let on because he was in love with Lily. She had some
horrible adventures, too, but they featured the Dumbledore you hate (and I
hate him too!!!) so I cut them out, but they featured Moody the Auror being
clueless and McGonagall (who loves her) and Sirius Black, and some singing
at the Three Broomsticks with a really cool wizard band that had Narcissa
Black as the lead singer. They're all good friends, except Elise can't
stand Sirius Black, and not just because she loves Snape. But I'll clue
you in with flashbacks as to what happened! Don't worry!
So anyway, one day, Lily and Snape broke up, and Elise had something terrible happen to her. Snape helped her out but didn't fall in love with her because Elise, looked like something the cat dragged in, all cut up with an enchanted dagger and fighting an Imperious Curse. But he saw what had happened to her with his Legilimens skills, and that made her all upset, because she was ashamed and didn't feel worthy of him anymore, ever. You get the idea. Anyway, she ran away to hide from him, and a week later he found her and he decided that she was mysterious and worth getting to know (and not a squib like everyone said). So, since he had already seen her beautiful soul, it was pretty easy for her to seduce him with her good looks and beautiful singing voice. So they got married, etc, blah blah. But now we're 28 years ahead, after a lot of things happened. But after this chapter we'll have Harry! Draco! Hermione! The Weasleys! All the cool characters under one roof for the Final Battle! Honest – I promise. Next chapter is Trio and Draco! And Oliver Wood! And we'll talk about what I skipped, too!
Thanks for the reviews! Plz leave more – I love them!! Reviewers are the best!
****
On the Isle of Skye, in a small kitchen in a modest summer cottage, far away from civilization, Sirius Black sat at the table, absentmindedly fingering an ebony medallion hanging around his neck. On it, carved in deep relief, was a nightingale. He did it almost unconsciously, ever since he had found it in the ruins at James' house, near Lily's body. He had done it often in Azkaban, and it gave him momentary comfort when he thought he would run mad. At least this evil was controlled. At least this problem was solved. She couldn't hurt anyone else. Not anymore.
Snape saw the movement and his eyes narrowed. A rage such as he had not known in a long time flooded Severus Snape's heart. His face turned white, and he stood suddenly, knocking over his chair. "Give it back!" he said forcefully, holding out his hand.
"What?" asked Sirius, feigning confusion. He knew why Snape was angry. And he wasn't going to make it easy on Snivellus.
"Give her back," Snape snarled.
"Who?" Sirius snarled back.
"My wife!" Snape shouted and ripped the leather thong from Black's neck.
*
A few hours later, Snape greeted his old colleagues at his door. "Minerva, thank you for coming. I'm grateful for your help."
"Remus came, too. He thought perhaps if you needed help with anything else..."
"I'm perfectly capable of handling Black on my own, but thank you for your concern," he said sarcastically. "He's in the kitchen, drinking the last of the whiskey. If you hurry you might get some for yourself."
"Get some for us both, Remus. It's going to be a busy night," Professor McGonagall said.
Several hours later, Snape looked over their handiwork. A golden goblet encrusted with opals was willed with a steaming potion, made predominantly of rosewater, dragon blood, and a carefully balanced mix of rare magical herbs prized for their powerful healing properties. The potion was extremely difficult to make, even for a potions master, but Snape had researched and practiced creating this particular potion for more than a decade, in preparation for the day when he knew he'd need it. The room was specially warded against Dark Magic, and the table was enchanted with calming, soothing spells, so that whatever was placed upon it would be serene. It would not be good if she fought them – she was fighting too much already. Snape lit the candle which had never burned since his wedding 18 years before - their unity candle. He knew this particular magic wouldn't help, but he thought seeing it might bring her comfort. If they failed, she deserved to die with comfort. But he would not fail – could not fail. It had to work – all the years he had spent planning for this night made any alternative impossible. She would live. He would not fail. He wiped his sweaty palms on his robe and removed the amulet from his pocket, placing it on the bed gently. "Are you ready, Professor?" he said stiffly.
"Absolutely, Professor," McGonagall replied, drawing her wand. "Please proceed."
She's the greatest Transfiguration talent since Dumbledore. Why didn't Dumbledore come? She's focused; she loved Elise; she'll be fine. Why isn't Dumbledore here?
He took a deep breath and calmed himself, then looked at his colleague. Her face radiated confidence that he was sure she didn't feel. She knows what happened. She knows because I told her – but did I tell her everything? Did I see it or dream it? He lifted his wand and said a little prayer to whatever power still cared enough to protect him and his. Then he waved his wand and transfigured the amulet back into his dying wife.
She took a rattling breath and vomited blood out the side of her mouth. McGonagall roughly grabbed her shoulders and propped her up and Snape poured the potion down her throat. She coughed half of it back on them, and her body twisted on the bed as he cast all the healing charms he knew at her – to stop the bleeding inside, to counteract the curses, and to counteract what she had done to herself with her own powerful healing magic. Writhing in torment, despite the soothing spells he and McGonagall cast, she was healing. Healing in spite of herself. He slipped an arm under her shoulders and cradled her against his chest. He wiped her face with a warm flannel, and whispered in her ear desperately, "Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone again."
She winced and drew a ragged breath, looking up at him through spiky lashes. Her body relaxed and he felt a thrill of fear as he imagined the worst. Then she slowly raised her dirty hand to brush the hair from his face. "You look terrible," she whispered with a faint smile, her eyes shining with love.
He kissed her forehead and laid her back on the bed. "And you look like a goddess," he said gallantly.
"Never expected the little troll to clean up so pretty," she said, quoting the first thing he said to her on their wedding night.
McGonagall diplomatically left the room, though neither of them noticed. He cleaned Elise up gently, gently sponging away all the signs from her ordeal, and reassuring himself that she was indeed back, alive, and with him, in his bed. The first natural smile in what seemed to be two lifetimes broke across his face as he watched her, the light playing across her hair and making the auburn highlights glow. Her body warmed under his ministrations, as did his own. She reached for him, pulling him down to her lips, and he pushed her gently away, his eyes filled with pain. "Elise, we can't," he said, his mouth muffled by hers as she refused to break the kiss.
"Severus, don't take this from me. Not now," she begged. "If you ever loved me, let me keep this! We have no time!"
"I couldn't take it from you if I tried," he said, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her brow with anguish. "How long?" he asked against her hair.
"An hour, maybe less. You tried, sweetheart. You did well," she said, sighing and settling into the fluffy featherbed, finally surrendering to the relaxation charm they had cast on the bed..
"I can do better," Snape said, pulling a silver amulet from his shirt. "It's been a long time, Elise. I've learned much over the...time you've been away. Give me your hand."
"I gave it years ago," she muttered, half asleep. She squeezed his hand gently.
He slipped the silver disk between both their palms, pressed together, and passed his wand over their hands. The amulet glowed red hot., burning them.
"Severus, no!" she cried, trying to twist away from his grip. But he wouldn't budge, and cast the Alcestis curse. He shared his life with hers, magically truing up their lifespans. Hers would be extended, and his shortened. He privately thought the spell misnamed – it was more of a charm. He had lost her once already, and could not bear losing her again. Lost her once, twice, third time...Definitely not a curse, no. And since he cast it, he would die first. A comforting thought.
"It's done, Elise. There's no taking it back now."
"And no time for regrets."
"I don't regret anything," he said solemnly.
"It is what it is. It's too late to change it. I'm sorry."
"No regrets, Elise. There's no time."
"I don't understand?"
"He's back, like you," Severus said, stroking the hair from her brow.
"He's never been gone. There's nothing left - just appetite. He can't hurt anyone. What of it?"
"He's back. He has a body. He's alive. And he's hunting."
"No! He was harmless – or nearly so. He couldn't live – incorporeal! Less than a ghost! I saw him, Severus! He can't – no!" "Someone helped him"
"For God's sake, why?"
"I don't know, Elise. I don't know."
"But it's our mess and we have to clean it up again. I understand."
"There's a prophesy, Elise. Lily's boy..."
"I know – I heard. You don't believe that codswallop, do you?"
"It doesn't matter – he does. Dumbledore and the Ministry have been building up this child – the Boy Who Lived – into the savior of the wizarding world ever since the Dark Lord fell. Now they want him to save them again."
"The Boy Who Lived – nice handle. Who thought it up, Lucius? Rookwood? Bellatrix? She always did have a good ear. Sounds a lot better than 'nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah'," she said in a teasing sing-song. "Much more noble and powerful. And now the boy's bait. Lily wasn't enough of a sacrifice."
"It will work, Elise. One last time."
"Will it? Really?" she said, looking at him with anguished eyes.
"Trust me, Elise."
"You always did appreciate a grand gesture, Severus. But you were never the type to make one," she said, shaking her head and giving him a wry smile. "So, Father knows I'm back now. When does this party start?"
"I sense it as well. We need the boy, but I think as soon as you're both together again the Dark Lord will appear," Snape said with resignation.
"And the boy will come?"
"He'll come. He's a fool."
"So are we."
So anyway, one day, Lily and Snape broke up, and Elise had something terrible happen to her. Snape helped her out but didn't fall in love with her because Elise, looked like something the cat dragged in, all cut up with an enchanted dagger and fighting an Imperious Curse. But he saw what had happened to her with his Legilimens skills, and that made her all upset, because she was ashamed and didn't feel worthy of him anymore, ever. You get the idea. Anyway, she ran away to hide from him, and a week later he found her and he decided that she was mysterious and worth getting to know (and not a squib like everyone said). So, since he had already seen her beautiful soul, it was pretty easy for her to seduce him with her good looks and beautiful singing voice. So they got married, etc, blah blah. But now we're 28 years ahead, after a lot of things happened. But after this chapter we'll have Harry! Draco! Hermione! The Weasleys! All the cool characters under one roof for the Final Battle! Honest – I promise. Next chapter is Trio and Draco! And Oliver Wood! And we'll talk about what I skipped, too!
Thanks for the reviews! Plz leave more – I love them!! Reviewers are the best!
****
On the Isle of Skye, in a small kitchen in a modest summer cottage, far away from civilization, Sirius Black sat at the table, absentmindedly fingering an ebony medallion hanging around his neck. On it, carved in deep relief, was a nightingale. He did it almost unconsciously, ever since he had found it in the ruins at James' house, near Lily's body. He had done it often in Azkaban, and it gave him momentary comfort when he thought he would run mad. At least this evil was controlled. At least this problem was solved. She couldn't hurt anyone else. Not anymore.
Snape saw the movement and his eyes narrowed. A rage such as he had not known in a long time flooded Severus Snape's heart. His face turned white, and he stood suddenly, knocking over his chair. "Give it back!" he said forcefully, holding out his hand.
"What?" asked Sirius, feigning confusion. He knew why Snape was angry. And he wasn't going to make it easy on Snivellus.
"Give her back," Snape snarled.
"Who?" Sirius snarled back.
"My wife!" Snape shouted and ripped the leather thong from Black's neck.
*
A few hours later, Snape greeted his old colleagues at his door. "Minerva, thank you for coming. I'm grateful for your help."
"Remus came, too. He thought perhaps if you needed help with anything else..."
"I'm perfectly capable of handling Black on my own, but thank you for your concern," he said sarcastically. "He's in the kitchen, drinking the last of the whiskey. If you hurry you might get some for yourself."
"Get some for us both, Remus. It's going to be a busy night," Professor McGonagall said.
Several hours later, Snape looked over their handiwork. A golden goblet encrusted with opals was willed with a steaming potion, made predominantly of rosewater, dragon blood, and a carefully balanced mix of rare magical herbs prized for their powerful healing properties. The potion was extremely difficult to make, even for a potions master, but Snape had researched and practiced creating this particular potion for more than a decade, in preparation for the day when he knew he'd need it. The room was specially warded against Dark Magic, and the table was enchanted with calming, soothing spells, so that whatever was placed upon it would be serene. It would not be good if she fought them – she was fighting too much already. Snape lit the candle which had never burned since his wedding 18 years before - their unity candle. He knew this particular magic wouldn't help, but he thought seeing it might bring her comfort. If they failed, she deserved to die with comfort. But he would not fail – could not fail. It had to work – all the years he had spent planning for this night made any alternative impossible. She would live. He would not fail. He wiped his sweaty palms on his robe and removed the amulet from his pocket, placing it on the bed gently. "Are you ready, Professor?" he said stiffly.
"Absolutely, Professor," McGonagall replied, drawing her wand. "Please proceed."
She's the greatest Transfiguration talent since Dumbledore. Why didn't Dumbledore come? She's focused; she loved Elise; she'll be fine. Why isn't Dumbledore here?
He took a deep breath and calmed himself, then looked at his colleague. Her face radiated confidence that he was sure she didn't feel. She knows what happened. She knows because I told her – but did I tell her everything? Did I see it or dream it? He lifted his wand and said a little prayer to whatever power still cared enough to protect him and his. Then he waved his wand and transfigured the amulet back into his dying wife.
She took a rattling breath and vomited blood out the side of her mouth. McGonagall roughly grabbed her shoulders and propped her up and Snape poured the potion down her throat. She coughed half of it back on them, and her body twisted on the bed as he cast all the healing charms he knew at her – to stop the bleeding inside, to counteract the curses, and to counteract what she had done to herself with her own powerful healing magic. Writhing in torment, despite the soothing spells he and McGonagall cast, she was healing. Healing in spite of herself. He slipped an arm under her shoulders and cradled her against his chest. He wiped her face with a warm flannel, and whispered in her ear desperately, "Don't leave me. Don't leave me alone again."
She winced and drew a ragged breath, looking up at him through spiky lashes. Her body relaxed and he felt a thrill of fear as he imagined the worst. Then she slowly raised her dirty hand to brush the hair from his face. "You look terrible," she whispered with a faint smile, her eyes shining with love.
He kissed her forehead and laid her back on the bed. "And you look like a goddess," he said gallantly.
"Never expected the little troll to clean up so pretty," she said, quoting the first thing he said to her on their wedding night.
McGonagall diplomatically left the room, though neither of them noticed. He cleaned Elise up gently, gently sponging away all the signs from her ordeal, and reassuring himself that she was indeed back, alive, and with him, in his bed. The first natural smile in what seemed to be two lifetimes broke across his face as he watched her, the light playing across her hair and making the auburn highlights glow. Her body warmed under his ministrations, as did his own. She reached for him, pulling him down to her lips, and he pushed her gently away, his eyes filled with pain. "Elise, we can't," he said, his mouth muffled by hers as she refused to break the kiss.
"Severus, don't take this from me. Not now," she begged. "If you ever loved me, let me keep this! We have no time!"
"I couldn't take it from you if I tried," he said, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her brow with anguish. "How long?" he asked against her hair.
"An hour, maybe less. You tried, sweetheart. You did well," she said, sighing and settling into the fluffy featherbed, finally surrendering to the relaxation charm they had cast on the bed..
"I can do better," Snape said, pulling a silver amulet from his shirt. "It's been a long time, Elise. I've learned much over the...time you've been away. Give me your hand."
"I gave it years ago," she muttered, half asleep. She squeezed his hand gently.
He slipped the silver disk between both their palms, pressed together, and passed his wand over their hands. The amulet glowed red hot., burning them.
"Severus, no!" she cried, trying to twist away from his grip. But he wouldn't budge, and cast the Alcestis curse. He shared his life with hers, magically truing up their lifespans. Hers would be extended, and his shortened. He privately thought the spell misnamed – it was more of a charm. He had lost her once already, and could not bear losing her again. Lost her once, twice, third time...Definitely not a curse, no. And since he cast it, he would die first. A comforting thought.
"It's done, Elise. There's no taking it back now."
"And no time for regrets."
"I don't regret anything," he said solemnly.
"It is what it is. It's too late to change it. I'm sorry."
"No regrets, Elise. There's no time."
"I don't understand?"
"He's back, like you," Severus said, stroking the hair from her brow.
"He's never been gone. There's nothing left - just appetite. He can't hurt anyone. What of it?"
"He's back. He has a body. He's alive. And he's hunting."
"No! He was harmless – or nearly so. He couldn't live – incorporeal! Less than a ghost! I saw him, Severus! He can't – no!" "Someone helped him"
"For God's sake, why?"
"I don't know, Elise. I don't know."
"But it's our mess and we have to clean it up again. I understand."
"There's a prophesy, Elise. Lily's boy..."
"I know – I heard. You don't believe that codswallop, do you?"
"It doesn't matter – he does. Dumbledore and the Ministry have been building up this child – the Boy Who Lived – into the savior of the wizarding world ever since the Dark Lord fell. Now they want him to save them again."
"The Boy Who Lived – nice handle. Who thought it up, Lucius? Rookwood? Bellatrix? She always did have a good ear. Sounds a lot better than 'nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah'," she said in a teasing sing-song. "Much more noble and powerful. And now the boy's bait. Lily wasn't enough of a sacrifice."
"It will work, Elise. One last time."
"Will it? Really?" she said, looking at him with anguished eyes.
"Trust me, Elise."
"You always did appreciate a grand gesture, Severus. But you were never the type to make one," she said, shaking her head and giving him a wry smile. "So, Father knows I'm back now. When does this party start?"
"I sense it as well. We need the boy, but I think as soon as you're both together again the Dark Lord will appear," Snape said with resignation.
"And the boy will come?"
"He'll come. He's a fool."
"So are we."