This will be a long one. And it'll be the last "cheery" one. More drama and angst and such to come. Might be the last time you'll actually see Elizabetha completley sane, as well ...Thank you Lady Darque : Enjoy!
The First Assignment.
Bellatrix and her daughter Elizabetha spent a week and a half spying on Sirius Black from a small desolate house they had rented out from Muggles. They watched him enter and depart the house half a dozen times a day, unaccompanied. One Thursday he left and met with a friend, who was known as Remus Lupin. Bella and Elizabetha followed cautiously, hidden by an invisibility spell, behind them as they strolled down the street away from Sirius' house. They caught their words.
"Are we going to the Leaky Cauldron?" Remus asked. Sirius nodded.
"The usual, Moony." He mumbled. Sirius appeared moody.
"What's with you, Sirius? You've been really down lately, mate."
"It's just that…" Sirius broke off searching for a way to clarify what he felt to his friend without sounding silly.
"Just that you never see James anymore?"
Sirius nodded. "Yeah. Him and Harry. And Lily I suppose too" They laughed. They were nearly a block away when both apparated.
Sirius sat at the bar next to Remus, and they ordered Merlin's Fine Beer. They didn't talk but just sipped their beer. Bella and Elizabetha arrived just in front of the bar.
"Liz, you'll have to go in alone. Sirius knows who I am. Besides, I trust you to do this right."
Elizabetha nodded. "Of course, mum."
Bella looked at her daughter uneasily. "It's rather odd to hear you calling me that." Elizabetha smiled.
"Don't worry. You'll get used to it." She smirked.
"I was afraid of that. Well, if you need me I'll be back at that damned muggle house. I really do hate it there, Elizabetha, so please hurry on with this Sirius assignment!" Her mother apparated and Elizabetha turned and strolled into the pub. She noticed the men sitting at the vacant and murky bar; so, she casually sat down next to Sirius. The bar was empty except for them, and 2 others.
Elizabetha looked over at the men just beside her and stared at their drinks. She had never tasted a Merlin's Beer before nor had she tried any others. She tapped Sirius on the shoulder. He spun around so his handsome face met with hers.
"'Scuse me," she began in a friendly voice, "How is that drink you ordered? I've never tried it before." Sirius smiled vaguely.
"Well, I think it's good, obviously if I am drinking it." She smiled at his smart remark.
"Do you have any recommendations? I'm ashamed to admit that I've never been to a bar before." Sirius nodded, taking a swig from his beer.
"Well, Firewhiskey's always good, but that's a bit too heavy. Black Dragon's Scotch is brilliant and so is Lucky Dan's beer. If you just want a light drink to start off with I suggest you order up a white wine, specifically One Star." He smiled sweetly at her.
"Thank you. I will order a white wine, then."
"Any time. Why is it that a girl like you says you've never been to a bar before? If you don't mind me asking…" She waved it off.
"It's alright. Just never had an interest, really."
"Oh. It's just that you look nearly my age," she frowned. He noticed. "No, not that way. I'm only of 20 years." Her face softened.
"Oh. That's good then. I'm of 18 years." He smiled.
"What's your name by the way?" Her lips curved into a sly half-smile.
"Elizabetha. Elizabetha Snape." He frowned slightly.
"Are you related to a Severus Snape?" She frowned also, realising the name she had chosen.
"No, never heard of him." He nodded.
"Good. Never did think Snivellus did have any family. Right, Remus?" He nudged his friend and he looked up and nodded with a smile. "I'm Sirius Black and this is my friend Remus Lupin. Remus this is Elizabetha." They exchanged greetings.
"So what's it you call that man? Snivellus?" They laughed.
"Yeah. Poor guy used to cry a lot. Well, at least whine. I think James and I used to pick on him too much. We went to school together at Hogwarts."
"Oh. Lovely school, of course." Elizabetha realised she had never been there and now they were on the subject of it. She knew plenty though from reading Hogwarts, A history. Tom the innkeeper came and took her order of One Star white wine.
"So, you attended school whilst we attended as well?" Remus asked. She nodded. She somewhat panicked inside, but she remained calm, she was skilled at manoeuvring her emotions.
"Hey, you did! You don't look too familiar though. What house you sorted into?" Sirius asked. She hesitated. She didn't know if she should lie.
"Slytherin." She stated bluntly. They raised their eyebrows.
"Into the dark arts, are we?" Remus asked.
"No, not quite. Just a bit cunning and sly. That's all." They laughed. She smiled.
"Of course!" Sirius grinned. Elizabetha received her glass of white wine and she sipped it. "How is it?" Sirius asked. She swallowed.
"Delicious." She smiled. She had never tasted anything quite like it. It was so delicate and sweet, almost like a juice.
"Good. Glad to help out a first time drinker." She laughed.
"Of course." They talked for hours about Quidditch and Dragons and went on to more personal subjects getting to know each other better. Elizabetha beamed at her victory.
"Do you mind if I call you Liz?" Sirius asked.
"No, not at all."
"Good. It was getting rather annoying having to repeat your long name." She laughed. He smiled. Remus just sat there, drinking, occasionally piping in to their conversation.
"Would you like to do this again sometime, Liz?" He asked her with a sweet smile.
"Of course! I'd love to." She said, adding a sweet smile also.
"Good! How about tomorrow night, then?" she nodded.
"What time?"
"Let's say," Sirius broke off into thought. "6'o'clock."
"6'o'clock it is then." She confirmed. They talked a bit more for some hours when Tom the innkeeper said he was shutting down for the night. It was nearly midnight. Remus, Sirius, and Elizabetha walked out of the inn together into the Muggle street.
"Well," began Sirius facing her, "Tonight was lovely. See you tomorrow."
"Of course. It was fun. Goodnight, Sirius. Goodnight Remus. Nice to meet you both." They smiled at her and apparated immediately. She waited a few moments, then apparated to the Riddle mansion.
She arrived in the eerie dining room again to see him sitting there as if waiting for her.
"Good evening, Ms. Lestrange. Any information?" She nodded.
"I just met him tonight, my Lord. We are meeting again tomorrow night."
"Good, very good. Have a seat, if you will." She walked over to the chair and slumped in it.
"No information, I assume." He drawled silkily.
She shook her head. "No, my Lord. You mustn't rush such things." He nodded slightly. "But, I am rather exhausted. I should be getting home soon."
"Nonsense. You can stay here for the night. I have plenty of spare bedrooms." Just then Severus walked in. "Snape stays here, seeing he has no other place." She glanced over at him, who bowed his head to her. She smiled.
"I see everyone's up late here." She commented.
"I heard someone apparate. Sorry." He stated in a deep and tantalising voice. He turned to walk away. The Dark Lord stopped him.
"Please, do sit down, Severus. Be a little social." Their Lord sneered, narrowing his eyes. He obeyed his Lord and sat across from Elizabetha. She smiled at the man who didn't know she had just used his last name as hers. He half-smiled back. There was an awkward silence. The Dark Lord sighed heavily.
"Very well, you may go to sleep Ms. Lestrange. Snape, show her a room."
They stood up and said goodnight to their Lord. Elizabetha followed Severus up a flight of oak stairs and into a dark hallway with many doors.
"This one," he said motioning to the second door on the left "Is mine. The one next door I believe is fine for you." He opened the next-door and walked inside while she followed. A large bed with four posts and a dresser were the only items present in the room. "Yes, it is fine." He turned to her and smiled. "The bathroom is right across the hall." She smiled.
"Thank you, Severus."
"Of course, my Lady." She raised her eyebrows not knowing if this is what they'd call her.
"You don't have to address me like that. You can call me Liz. Please." He smiled shyly and nodded. They stood there in mere silence. "So how long have you lived here?"
"Since I finished school 2 years ago."
"Do you like it here?"
He hesitated to answer but stared into her green eyes that lit up in the darkness.
"I'd rather have my own place." She smirked.
"I understand. But you two must get along so well!" He laughed. She never thought he'd be a man capable of laughing, but she saw there was happiness in him, somewhere. She merely smiled.
"I honestly don't know how I tolerate such a place as this."
"I couldn't. But I see now why he calls you his most faithful."
Severus seemed to blush slightly. Elizabetha stared at him, at his long stringy hair that fell on his face so perfectly, at his eyes that complimented the hair so well and held many secrets she wanted to plunge into and discover. He took his hand and moved some hair out of those eyes, and she felt the urge to grasp it and never let go. She felt the need to throw her arms around his neck and for him to hold her close, embracing in the tenderest way. She couldn't believe what she was feeling. It was none of what she had ever experienced.
"So, um, I'll be going to sleep now."
"Oh." He said softly. "Goodnight then." He took her hand and kissed it lightly, in a taunting way. She shivered.
"Goodnight, Severus."
"So what's your favourite animal then? Bats or snakes?" Sirius questioned her. It was only Sirius and she this time at the bar and it still only had two other occupants.
"It's tough."
"How is it tough? Which one do you fancy more?" He flashed his famous smile that was so handsome at her.
"I don't know. They're on the same page I guess." They laughed.
"Alright so that's two favourites for you and one for me."
"Why do you favour the dog so much, Sirius?"
"It's because I am one." They laughed. "No, seriously, though."
"You're an animagus?" She almost choked on her Seven Pirates Rum.
"Yes."
"Ahh, interesting."
They had been talking for hours and enjoying their selves so much that Elizabetha had almost forgotten why she was befriending this man.
"James oughta meet you. I'm sure you two would be good friends."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
He leaned back on his stool at the bar and thought. "Maybe last year sometime."
"May I ask something?"
"Go right ahead."
"Why don't you see James anymore?"
Sirius seemed to hesitate and be thinking about his answer. He trusted Elizabetha even only knowing her for 2 days, which seemed almost impossible, but still seemed to think that it was too early to actually rush into assumptions, especially since James' whereabouts were very confidential.
"Classified actually. Sorry, doll."
She shrugged. "It's alright, I understand quite well. We have only known each other for a couple of days."
"Yeah. And what an amazing time we've been having together. Two complete strangers!" They smiled at each other and he brushed his long dark hair out of his face. It reminded her of Severus. She shuddered.
"Cold?" he asked in a considerate manner. She shook her head.
"No, just a little chill."
He stared at her jade coloured eyes and then stared dreamingly at the freckles on her face. She caught him staring and blushed slightly. He smiled.
"Are you doing anything tomorrow night?" He questioned.
"No, nothing at all. You're hardly busy are you, Sirius?" He chuckled.
"No, not ever. I live alone." He lied slightly. What she wouldn't find out till much later was that a secret organisation known as the Order of the Phoenix, whom tried to bring down the Dark Arts, held meetings there every so often. But otherwise, he was completely alone.
"Oh, must get pretty exciting." She stated sarcastically. He snorted.
"Yeah, really now. Watching mildew grow is the most thrilling experience you'll ever have. You honestly haven't lived till you've seen that." They laughed loudly and brightly, as if they were old friends.
He cleared his throat. "So would you care to join me for dinner tomorrow night?" She smiled greatly.
"I'd be delighted to." He returned the smile. He hollered at Tom the Inkeeper for a quill and paper and Tom immediately got it for him. Sirius scribbled something on it and handed the paper to Elizabetha.
"That's my address. It's right on the outskirts of London. You'll have to think about it. It's not exactly out in the open." He winked at her.
"Right." She had known his house was hidden; she spied on him nearly everyday! But now she knew the secret. She smiled.
"Well, we should be going. I'm going to want to tidy up the house if you're stopping by tomorrow." She laughed.
"Of course. Six o'clock again?"
He nodded. "As always."
They walked together out of the pub and into the same Muggle street they left at the night before. They faced each other. He drew his hand close to her face and he caressed her chin lightly and drew away.
"Goodnight, doll. Sweet dreams."
"Goodnight, Sirius." She whispered.
Pop. He was gone. She staggered over to the wall and leaned on it. Her face grimaced. Her throat tightened. Her eyes watered. She had become friends with him, and now was left to betray him. It was wrong. He was so different; she knew she wouldn't find another that opposed the Dark side as him but yet was an amazing friend. She knew that he had been special and that they'd become good friends. She feared that entirely. She sobbed quietly, wishing she could spill the truth. But she had to hide these emotions from her Lord. He wanted this task done, he wanted it perfect. And Elizabetha hated to admit that she wished she had never gotten into it. Sirius and her were friends now, and lying to a friend was one of her greatest weaknesses.
She pulled herself together, and apparated back to the Riddle Mansion, where she'd yet again get sucked into Severus' taunting stare, and she'd be left with every bit of emotion that she didn't want also. Then she'd apparate back to the Muggle house on Grimmauld Place, just houses down from Sirius', where she'd have the greatest time of her life the next night.
Sirius and her danced. They danced elegantly, humorously, and compassionately. They danced to old records of jazz, which Sirius swore was his mothers. They laughed, once again like old friends as they shared stories of their childhood. They told each other their deepest most secrets, but still leaving each other with mystery that neither one nor the other knew of. They ate what was praised the "most positively scrumptious dinner of the centuries", as they called it. They laughed more. They reminisced the night of, and the couple of nights before. They crowned themselves best friends.
They sat on the floor of his kitchen as he animatedly talked about an experience at Hogwarts him, James, Remus and Peter had. She laughed at his imitations. His story ended and he stared at her, at her long dark hair, which flowed so gracefully. She caught him staring.
"Sirius?"
"Mmm?"
She hesitated. "We're, good friends right?"
"'Course so. Why?"
"Then why am I under the impression that you have other feelings for me?"
He raised his eyebrows and sighed. "You're the most beautiful thing I have ever met, I won't lie. But there aren't any other feelings there. There could be, but there aren't."
She tried to smile at this, but looked bemused instead. He laughed at her expression. She rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Getting sleepy?"
"Yes, just a bit."
"Want to crash here for the night? I've got plenty of room."
"No, no. It's quite all right, thank you. I'll just head back home." She smiled at him. He stared.
"Where exactly is home for you? I believe that's the one thing you hadn't shared."
"Oh, I'm sorry. That was rather rude of me. I live in York."
"Oh. Lovely town."
"Yes." They sat in silence for a moment or two. Sirius glanced over at her, his dark locks of hair falling over his eyes. He stood up and grabbed her hand to pull her up. They walked out to the front of his house together.
"Um, this weekend I'm a bit busy and for the week I'll be out of town. Send an owl to me, and we'll correspond like that."
"I thought you said you're alone here?"
"No… I'm afraid I really am not all that lonely here. It's much too explain though. I'll share, I promise." She smiled at him.
"Okay," She whispered. She felt her stomach tie into knots as she wished she could tell Sirius who she really was.
They embraced in a goodbye hug, and he watched her walk away and apparate into the foggy night.
Elizabetha panted and ran into the Riddle Mansion. She had never run so much and so quickly before. Her eyes sweltered with tears. She knew it had to be this way, but she still felt like a failure. How was she to frame Sirius now? She tried to remember the stories her mum and father told her, of how that very night she was experiencing right now was the downfall of Lord Voldemort, and how he raised back to power many years later. She remembered them saying how Sirius was framed, but at the moment she had forgotten it entirely. She felt it so odd to be the only one of the time to know exactly what's going to happen. She couldn't share this information with anyone, even though they all knew she was from the future. Everyone but Sirius of course.
She sprawled out on the floor in the entrance of the Riddle Mansion, still panting, as the Deatheater's surrounded her. She moaned of distress.
"Elizabetha, what happened?" Her mother questioned her with utter concern.
"Lord… our… Voldemort's dead! He failed. I failed." She tried to put on the best act, even though she knew it would happen. It was part of an agreement she had with Voldemort that she wouldn't tell anyone the future, not even him. The Deatheater's gasped and exchanged words of shock. She still lay on the floor, steadying her breath, as Severus knelt down beside her. He helped her up and held her in his masculine arms, the ones she had always dreamed of being in. They all grieved the moment, and in minutes battered her with thousands of questions. She had a horrible migraine and Severus told them all to shut up for a bit while he brought her upstairs to lie down. He laid her on the bed. She sat up immediately, tears streaking her pale complexion.
"No, I must complete my task. I haven't failed yet. No, not yet. I must go." Severus stared at her.
"No. It's over. You must rest, you are so exhausted." He protested.
"Yes Severus! I must go! It is not over, don't you understand? This was supposed to happen. I have to complete my task now, it'll all unfold later, and I promise you." He stared at her blankly. She fixed her robes and smoothed her hair down as she rushed to the door. She stopped and looked at Severus. He stared at her eagerly with those entrancing eyes. She ran over to him and kissed him sweetly on the cheek. She ran out and apparated immediately. She left him standing there, touching the spot where she had laid that heavenly kiss on him, and pondered what could become of them.
She apparated immediately to the scene of the Potter's disaster. Sirius was already there and so was a large man carrying a small bundle out of the wrecked and destroyed house. She ran over to them.
"What is that Sirius?" He turned to her with tears in his eyes.
"My god-son. James and Lily were murdered by He-who-must –not-be-named. I had come for I sensed trouble. It was too late." He wilted his head to the wet pavement of the street. He glanced over at the large and tall man who carried the small bundle. The man walked over to him and Sirius opened the bundle cautiously and revealed a tiny handsome boy. He laid a kiss on his forehead where an unusual scar was forming. "Hagrid take my motorcycle. Dumbledore's waiting."
"Dumbledore? How…?"
"He knew, Liz. Dumbledore knows all. Brilliant man." She choked back what she wishes she could tell him.
"Sirius, I… I'm so sorry." He shook his head.
"It's a tragedy. But you don't have to be sorry, Liz."
"No, you don't understand…" Muggles were now filling the streets and watching curiously as flames still emerged from the destroyed home. She looked at Sirius who was eyeing her. "I know who their secret-keeper was."
"So do I. Peter Pettigrew." He stated solemnly.
"Sirius, He sold James and Lily to Voldemort!" She shouted angrily. He stared at her blankly.
"How do you…? You spoke of his name, are you mad!" He shouted back.
"I'm really, really sorry, Sirius." She cried. Just then Peter Pettigrew had apparated, just as she planned. Sirius glared at him and then stared at her.
"I had an idea he was behind this but… Liz you're scaring me, stop it."
"I didn't mean to. I did, but I don't! Oh, Sirius! Forgive me!" She strolled over to Peter's side. Peter laughed menacingly at Sirius.
"You… This whole time you were on their side! Is this all a lie? All a joke? I knew I should have never trusted you!"
"No, you don't understand. It was real. I just…"
"Used me? Spied on me? Hoping to get directly to the Potter's?" He shouted at her. "And you! I always knew you'd do this to us. You were always the sneakiest and most untrustworthy of the group! You never deserved to be a Marauder!" He shouted at him. Elizabetha winced, stronger than she was before however. Muggles flooded the street and crowded all around them. Peter glanced all around them nervously, as they came up to them and asked questions. Peter seemed to grow impatient and annoyed so he quickly spun around to the muggles. With a bit of wandless and wordless magic, the muggles fell one by one to the ground in a series of thuds. Dead. Peter turned to face Sirius now. Sirius raised his wand to the highest he could go and aimed right at him. Everything now seemed to happen in slow motion to Elizabetha, although it all happened in a matter of seconds. Sirius shouted a mass of words that sounded much like Avada Kedavra and Peter held both his hands behind his back and let out a low whimper as he dropped a bloody finger to the ground. The green light appeared to hit his chest but at the exact moment he transformed into a rat. He scurried away and Sirius laughed, believing he had just murdered Peter Pettigrew. Elizabetha stared in shock, praying Sirius wasn't about to pull that on her. He stared at her, still laughing manically when just seconds later, Ministry of Magic officials were whisking both Sirius and Elizabetha away into the creamy navy night sky, both bonded by rope.