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Cokeworth.
An isolated miserable place to hide.
Located in the Midlands, Cokeworth had once been a town bustling with industry just over a century ago. Now, most dark brick houses were deserted. There were many broken streetlamps, a polluted river nearby which was the color of mud and an abandoned mill. The chimneys in town ran on coal and made the already cloudy sky tint with black smoke.
The streets themselves were empty and were usually kept dim due to the broken streetlamps. Besides most of the elderly that lived in the area Nel hadn't spotted any wizards in this deserted town.
It had been hard surviving on her own without the use of magic, but Elowen had managed. She thought of herself now more than ever like a weed. An ugly plant able to grow and thrive in the forgotten cracks of the world. If she had grown a rose, prim and proper, like the other Slytherin girls she would've been wilted a long time ago.
She scavenged the inside of a trashcan digging for scraps of food or goods she could sell or trade to other members of the homeless community. Most of these people self-medicated with drugs or alcohol in hopes of dealing with their traumatic experiences. Nel on the other hand mouthed spells she hoped to eventually master with a nonverbal ability. She had nothing but time to rehearse the practice of occlumency and had taken up the nasty habit of smoking street cigarettes.
Poverty-stricken, filthy, with a bad tooth and finding shelter under the shade of an old woman's porch, regardless of her circumstances. Anything was better than Wool's Orphanage.
"I'm afraid with no legal guardian, you are to return under the Guardianship of Ms. Cordelia Wool," Dumbledore had said to her.
Nel turned on her other side meditating on the unpleasant memory. Dumbledore had summoned Elowen to his office after the incidents of the TriWizard Tournament and Cedric's death.
Nel was numb to all emotion. Her face was swollen and tear stained from the turbulent last hours she had experienced. Cedric was dead. She had survived an abduction and Draco had confessed his feelings for her.
"Professor," She paused stumbling on her words. She didn't even bother register the news of having to return to Wool's for the summer. "Is there a spell to bring the dead back to life?"
With his hands held behind his back Dumbledore turned to look at Nel with unease. He stood by the fireplace looking down at the crackling flames in a pensive matter.
"Necromancy is a branch of magic that has never quite worked."
"I'll make it work," She said determinedly. Her eyes remaining glued to the wooden floor.
"What even is magic? What- or who decides who or what is magical? Why can't muggles do magic?"
Dumbledore paused. The two of them, they were more alike than they knew. Like Nel, the Dark Lord was a notable practitioner of this branch of Dark Magic.
"I'm certain you will only find disappointment Ms. Saintday. Even if you did manage to perfect the art of Necromancy to bring - I assume - Mr. Diggory back, you would only find an empty shell. A creature with no soul or intelligence."
Merlin. Again, Elowen broke down into tears. Cedric didn't deserved that. He deserved so much more. For the sake of the stars, he was the 'Golden Boy.' He was truly good, he had so much to live for.
"The head of your House will escort you back to London if you wish," Dumbledore said getting ready to dismiss the Slytherin.
"No," Nel set her foot down. "Can't I just stay and live in Hogwarts over the summer?"
Once again Dumbledore was struck. Sometimes the more he looked at Elowen the more he saw Tom Riddle.
"With limit resources and no classes it would be impractical and even unsafe for a student to stay at Hogwarts over the summer with little supervision or structure," The Headmaster explained.
Elowen glared at him. 'Oh, but if it had been Harry.' She rolled her eyes. Dumbledore would've given him a penthouse or maybe even thrown a damn party for "The Chosen One."
"I know what you're thinking Elowen. No, even Harry isn't allowed to stay at Hogwarts over the holiday. It might not seem like it to you, but I can assure you Mr. Potter receives nothing but the same treatment as every other student."
Wow. That was probably the biggest lie Elowen had ever heard in her life. And that was coming from someone that was brought up under Cordelia Wool's abusive ways. Instead of responding, she bit her tongue and wiped the tears from her face.
"With Voldemort back," Dumbledore began gravely. "I sense Death Eaters will want a claim on you. The Wizarding World isn't safe anymore."
"Why?" She demanded. "I know you know why." She stood tall staring into Dumbledore's crystal blue eyes that seemed to have lost its twinkle today. She was sick and tired of being kept in the dark about her nature, her parents, her powers, the acceptance Purebloods like the Lestrange and Malfoys had of her.
"You come from power magic Ms. Saintday. You're a bright witch. I'm certain you've realized you've got more in common with Voldemort than what you think," Dumbledore approached her. His footsteps silent as he stood close.
"So?" She spat back. Typical of Dumbledore. Villainizing her existence because of her Hogwarts House.
"Stay hidden Ms. Saintday. I would advice you to drop all contact to any witches or wizards. Specially your housemates," The change in subjects was beyond irritating. Again, typical Dumbledore. Secretly plotting, keeping secrets, treasuring whispers, truths and lies.
"I'll show myself out," She snapped with her hands coiled into tight fists or frustration.
"You wanted to hurt him, didn't you?" Dumbledore asked to her back. The girl was silent for a second. Crouch?
More than anything.
"Yes."
She would've enjoyed it.
"Harry has my utmost confidence Elowen," the Headmaster said. "You, on the other hand, don't."
Nel ignored his commend and continued making her way out, through the spinning staircase.
"A warning," Dumbledore raised a hand she did not see. "Remember, power can be alluring Ms. Saintday."
Fuck him.
Since Nel had spent the summer stealing, scavenging through trash, tricking other homeless and running errands for some of the elderly in town in hopes of making a measly living or even being paid with a warm meal.
Unable to find peace at the unpleasant memory Nel left the porch before being kicked out like she was every odd morning. Walking around Cokeworth she loitered outside of a grocery store pickpocketing strangers while chewing on a piece of gum.
She eyed a man who was busy eyeing some apples in a crate and had his wallet exposed. Fingers itching she approached him with ease. Moments away from swiping his wallet a hand came down over hers.
"Don't even think about it." A deep voice hissed in her ear. The large hand gripping her wrist tight enough to make it bruise. The shock was enough for her to swallow her gum uncomfortably.
A chill went down her spine and Elowen screamed loudly making her victim scurry away uncomfortably. The man did not release her limb instead his hold tightened.
"Professor Snape!" She shouted. All the blood had drained from her face and she stood horrified as she looked at her towering professor.
"Is this where you've been all summer long? Is this what you have been doing? Petty pick pocketing strangers in Spinner's End?"
If it was anybody else Nel would've denied it.
"Yes!" She shouted pulling her arm back to her torso and nursing it close to her chest. "It's not as easy as it looks!"
"You didn't return to Wool's!" He scolded raising his voice.
"That place is hell!"
Again, he reached for her upper arm burying his fingers into her skin. "Do you realize all of the Wizarding Community is looking for you? Good wizards, evil wizards? Your stupid friends?" Merlin, Snape had had it with his student. He couldn't believe how dumb this girl could be. He didn't even want to think what could have happened if You-Know-Who or one of his most loyal servants got his hands on her.
"They're not looking very well then, are they?" She shot back bitterly.
"You are still a minor Ms. Saintday. I am delivering you back to the custody of Ms. Cordelia Wool."
"Everything alright 'ere?" A plump woman stepped out of the grocery store holding a phone with an extended cord on one hand ready to call the authorities.
"Come on," Snape growled and put a hand on the nape of her neck as he led her, head tilting down, away from the store.
"Foolish girl!" He snapped. "Do you realize what could've happened if you were found?"
"Pray tell," She retorted sarcastically as they turned on an alley and whipping his wand out the dark door of a home opened and she was pushed in.
The sitting-room could've have been more than 10 feet wide. Books were stacked from bottom to the top of the ceiling. A thick layer of dust cloaked most of the furniture like a gray blanket. There was a small fireplace and one single sofa chair that looked worn.
"You live in this dump?" She retorted in a snarky tone earning her a smack in the back of the head from her teacher. Whatever. She rubbed the back of her cranium. Worth it.
Severus inhale a deep breath hoping to ease his nerves. This child would be the death of him. "Can't I just stay here? The least I can do is keep the place clean." This time Elowen looked at him with large eyes, she hoped that maybe the one man she saw closest to a father figure would want her around.
"It's not safe here," He grumbled.
"But- you're here. How can it not be safe?" She protested with a deep frown.
"Wait here," Snape ordered holding his wand. "I'll be back," He said flatly before stepping out and hexing the door so Elowen wouldn't find a way out.
With a defeated sigh the girl slumped on the comfortable sofa chair. Well, when in Rome… Or in this case Snape's.
With not much to do the Slytherin decided to scrub the house from top to bottom. She swept the floors, and polished every surface she could find, going even as far as dusting the books.
Snape had such interesting titles in his collection. Diary of an Alchemist, Poisons, Potions and other Deathly Substances, The Nightshade Guide to Necromancy- Wait.
Her eyes jumped back to the thick black book. She eyed the silver letters before opening it wide. This was what she was looking for.
"Necromancy is a branch of magic that has never quite worked." She could still remember Dumbledore's words. Words that sounded almost mocking to her and made her fume with anger.
Why did Snape even have this in his collection?
Hearing the doorknob rattle, Nel panicked and shoved the book inside of her loose jeans hoping her oversized ragged shirt would hide the bulge on her back.
Snape soon returned scowling looking irritated. The young Slytherin kept quiet, trying her best not to look suspicious.
"Don't make yourself comfortable Saintday, we're leaving."
"To where?"