Hey! I know it has been so long since I last updated. I really wanted to; it's just that I have been really busy with my other story. Now that that story is almost finished, I will have more time to work on this. I hope that you like this chapter. Please, Please, review and let me know what you think. I also want to thank my reviewers. You guys are wonderful! And don't worry, I haven't given up on this story at all. I had just put it on halt for a little.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone that you recognize from the Harry Potter books. I do however own Elissia and the plot line to this story, well half of it.


Chapter Four
Long Awaited Explanations

The room was in an uproar, as many of the highly respected witches and wizards jumped to there feet, startled by this new realization. They all began yelling frantically to each other and at Dumbledore, stating there concern for such a drastic action to have been taken, without consulting them first… She was the sister of there most villainous enemy and she was standing before them as real as any other person in the room. Only a few of the order remained seated, just starring at there unexpected guest with curious eyes.

Elissia stood calm and poised in her position as if she had already known of there reactions. Her face was creased with amusement and her lips curved into a smile. She looked around at each person individually, studying them one by one. Most of them could not keep eye contact and looked away. However, when Elissia reached Sirius who was sitting at the far end of the table, fidgeting with the edge of a piece of paper; she was angered by the fact that he of all people, did not even have the decency to look her in the eyes.

The continuation of all the angry voices and harsh comments had yet to die down and Elissia turned to Dumbeldore. However, something happened that even she did not expect. Before Elissia could say a word, she broke out into a fit of laughter. Without and explanation why, she found the situation to be rather hilarious. Elissia continued laughing and soon the whole room was silent, starring at her in disbelief. For her laugh was soft and full of warmth, yet it seemed out of the ordinary coming from a creature of such darkness. Every pair of eyes in the room, except one, seemed to be starring curiously at her teeth. Nevertheless, the dark haired witch continued laughing, as if nobody was watching.

Dumbledore starred down at Elissia adoringly, as she now held her side that was cramping up from the laughter. Not a single witch or wizard in that room could understand what was so funny and they unknowingly agreed that she was quite out of her mind. Elissia had even gained the attention of Sirius, who was now looking at her with strange curiosity. Soon the laughter died down and Elissia could breathe easily again. She stood up straight, her shoulders back and turned to speak to Dumbledore. However, Arthur Weasley spoke first, unable to hold back in agitation.

"What may I ask, is so funny," Elissia turned her body around quickly and looked at the red headed figure standing only a chair apart from her.

"You are Arthur Weasley, if I'm not mistaken." Elissia spoke softly and smiled willingly at him, trying to ease the tension that was easing its way into the room. He nodded his head, looking only for a few minutes into her sparkling gray eyes and then turned his gaze onto the wall behind her.

"Well Arthur, if you really wish to know." Elissia paused for a minute and everyone who had now returned to there seats, leaned forward in there chairs. "I find it rather hysterical, that even after I had left Hogwarts exactly twenty years ago, every single one of you still have the same arrogant foolhardy perception of me as you did when you were children. It makes me sad to think that even in a room full of such highly respected witches and wizards, not one of you even have the decency to look me in the eyes when we speak." Elissia steadily began to get louder and the light fluttery tone in her voice had vanished.

"It's FUNNY…How you can sit comfortably there beside a werewolf and yet still somehow find me so horrible frightening." Remus Lupin, who sat two chairs beside Sirius, looked down at his hands.

"As far as I am concerned, not one of you has any right to lay judgment upon me. Especially when you have not even the slightest idea of who or what I am. Please tell me someone…anyone, why I should be forever condemned when I have done nothing to deserve it, except being born." The smile on Dumbledore's face had turned into concern and his grip tightened on her shoulder.

"But what I find really funny, is how I actually convinced myself that maybe; just maybe…things would be different this time. That after you had actually found out what my brother really was, that you would realize the difference between good and evil." Elissia finished and not a single person spoke.

"Elissia, you must stay calm." Dumbledore stated firmly, but she just swept his hand from her shoulder. It was his fault that she had come here and had to face such humiliation for the second time in her life.

"Tell me Professor…What was the point in bringing me here?" Dumbledore's face remained neutral but the shimmer in his eyes had gone. "You knew they wouldn't change and yet you still made me come!"
"Elissia…just listen to me." The old wizard replied calmly. However, Elissia was tired of listening to Dumbledore make up excuses, for something that would never change.

"Unlikely as it may be, maybe you have forgotten, although everyone else seems to remember quite clearly. That I am… the little sister of the one wizard whom you are sworn to hate." Everyone in the room looked slightly ill at ease. "I mean how could someone who shares the same blood as the most fearsome and purely evil wizard in all the world, not be evil themselves? Nevertheless, the fact that I am what I am, only adds on to conclusion that I have to be a murderer. I couldn't survive if I wasn't." Elissia was in a fit of rage and could hardly think beyond the angry words that she had held inside for so long. She looked at Dumbledore and then continued.

"So what's to say that everyone isn't right? That I am destined to be like Tom…" Elissia paused once more and remained oblivious to the tears that ran down her pale cheeks. "…like Voldemort," she spat through clenched teeth.

Dumbledore who now looked somewhat saddened and concerned, walked the short distance that lay between them and placed both hands on Elissia's shoulders. He started to speak but stopped in mid word. For Sirius had now gotten to his feet and walked over beside them. Elissia turned and for the first time in many years, she looked into the eyes that had haunted her dreams for so long.

"Because…" Sirius spoke and to her surprise, it was not full of anger or resentment. "You despise your brother with every ounce of hate in your body."

Elissia had found her voice once again. "You don't know," She said but her strength was wavering. They onlookers held there breathe as if waiting for something to explode. Nevertheless, the tension in the air only grew stronger.

"I know that you hate your brother because he killed everyone you ever loved." Elissia stepped back "But not you…not you because you would be to powerful for him to waste."

"Shut up…" She whispered as she shook her head, declining his accusation. However, Sirius continued.

"Yet once he killed your mother he had free rain to raise you as he wished. He wanted to warp you into the perfect weapon against anyone who got in his way." Sirius turned his gaze onto her mouth. "It was his fault wasn't it…he made you what you are?" Everyone looked at Elissia with new understanding. However, she continued to shake her head, unable to stop the tears that ran down her soft cheek. Why was she crying? How could she be showing such weakness?

"You don't know…" She whispered and stepped back once more, running into the wall. "You don't know…"

"Then tell us…" Sirius urged as he starred into her now blood shot, gray eyes.

This made Elissia even more full of rage. He did not understand. She could not just sit there and tell them everything. For her, the pain was still too strongly imbedded in her heart. Sirius just did not understand. To talk about it would only stir up unwanted emotion.

"Yes, Elissia. You know your brother better than anyone in this room. Help us to know our enemy. Only then will we be able to destroy him." It had been Molly Weasley who spoke.

"NO!" Elissia found herself screaming. Sirius flew backwards in the air, crashing hard against the table as if an invisible rope had been tied around his waste. "Don't you understand?" Elissia shook her head and starred back at Sirius as he stood from off the floor. "I tried to tell you…back when there was still a chance to save me." Elissia began walking backwards once more and stopped when she hit into the kitchen door. "You may have guessed a few things correctly about my past Sirius but you don't know me. You left before you had the chance." With that, Elissia turned around on her heels and exited the room.

To her dismay, she did not get but a few feet down the hallway before someone grabbed her arm. She turned around with a swish of her hair and almost smacked into the chest of Sirius Black. Elissia struggled to get free but he held both of her wrists tightly in his grasp.

"Let me go!" She yelped in pain. Sirius released her arms quickly and looked down at his own hands. They were covered in a deep crimson liquid. Elissia quickly tried to escape while Sirius was busy studying his hands but when she went to leave, he grabbed her upper forearm. Elissia knew that she had the power to have easily escaped if she wanted to, but for some odd reason, the look Sirius gave her made her refrain from moving.

"No," Sirius spoke forcefully as his sullen gaze quickly turned to her wrist. He let go of her left arm and pulled up her right sleeve with his free hand. As Sirius starred, closer he could just make out the faint scar's tarnishing her flawless skin. However, what worried him the most was the fresh gash, which was dripping blood as it ran from her elbow all the way down to her thumb.

Elissia shivered as he gently wiped off a fresh drop of blood that had began sliding down her arm. It was not until a few minutes later that he spoke. "What are you doing…?" His voice was quivering slightly as he looked up into her eyes.

"What do you care…?" She glared at Sirius and yanked her arm free. However, Elissia didn't move, his eyes seemed to hold her to her spot.

For more that five minutes they remained as stiff as statues, just starring at one another. No one spoke and neither did they move. At last, Sirius broke the silence. "Come with me…" He said. As he walked past her, down the hallway and up the stairs. Elissia who was still in a slight stupor, followed obediently behind. Once on the second floor, she began starring at the dusty walls of the hallway. They where lined with slightly moldy pictures in brass frames. Most of the paintings had faded beyond repair and the occupants of the others glared back at them with scowls on there faces.

There was something about the house that reminded Elissia of the old house she had grown up in during her childhood. However, she could not place her finger on it. Maybe it was the aura of the dark arts that still lingered in the shadows and dark corners of every room. On the other hand, maybe it was the eerie emblem of a snake that was carved into many objects as a symbol of unknown allegiance to her brother.

"Where exactly are you leading me, Sirius?" Elissia asked, looking ahead at the man walking before her. They had just begun climbing up a pair of large, winding stone steps that looked as if they led to an attic of some sort. However, Elissia had only walked halfway up when she came upon a small landing.

Sirius turned and looked at the wall next to where he had been standing. He took out his wand and placed it on the third stone to the right of a hole in the wall. Elissia heard Sirius whisper two words that she could not make out and to her surprise; a small door appeared before them.

Sirius turned the door handle and it opened with a loud creak of the hinges. Elissia found herself walking into a rather large room with floors made of wood and walls lined with empty bookshelves. Deep red and orange flames were coming from the hearth opposite from where she was standing and two chairs made of green satin were placed in front of it. To her right there was a large four poster bed. Its frame was made of silver steel and off of it hung green velvet curtains. The covers were adorned with the Black family crest, along with the pillows that sat on the large rounded couch to her left.

Elissia noticed that a small picture sat on the nightstand beside the bed. A young Sirius Black was standing on the Quidditch pitch and beside him stood a boy with untidy black hair. There was a jerk in Elissia's stomach. That boy was James Potter. He and Sirius had been best friends in school. Elissia looked closer…James had a big smile on his face and was fiddling with something in his hand. It was the golden snitch; the picture must have been taken after Griffindor won a quiddich match.

Elissia turned her attention away from the picture and starred at Sirius. He was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the fireplace. She walked over and sat down next to him. They did not speak for a few minutes, just sat there and starred into the fire.

"Is your life really that bad?" Elissia jumped at the sound of his voice. She turned her eyes from the fire and looked at him. His face was illuminated with the glow of the flames and it made him somehow look younger. It brought Elissia back to the times when they had sat by the fire in the common room at school and talked so many nights until the sun was rising in the distance.

"Yes…" she said sadly. There was nothing else she could say. If she lied, he would see right through her. Sirius turned in his seat to where they were so close that Elissia could feel his knees against her own. He reached out and gently touched her hand. She shuddered from the warmth of his touch against the coldness of her own skin.

"Did you do that to yourself," He asked, talking about the cuts on her arms. Sirius could feel her knees shake and she looked down at the floor. Elissia did not speak but she nodded her head. "Why?" Sirius asked appalled. He could not come to terms with the fact that she was so unhappy that she would hurt herself on purpose.

"Every day I am stuck in a nightmare that I can't get out of. You couldn't even imagine what its like to be only half-alive and yet somehow surviving. You don't know how it feels to want to die and yet not be able to. I have no control over my own existence." Sirius grabbed Elissia's hand as she trembled from the tears that racked her body.

"You know, I would sit alone in my house wondering what I did to deserve such agony. Even in my sleep, I would be tortured by the faces of the life that I could have had. You don't know what its like to be so consumed by sorrow that you feel almost numb to other emotions." She turned her gaze from the floor and looked deep into his eyes once more. "That's why I did it…to see if I could still feel pain."