Christmas couldn't have come sooner. She missed James terribly, at first it was easy not to be so concerned with him. As time went on though she realized that his prescience was something she took notice of. They weren't especially close yet she cared enough.

Elena wasn't sure how to feel about any of it. Better to push it away. She promised herself she would deal with it another time. She simply didn't have the mental space to deal with it. Of course she could make the space, but it was rather inconvenient.

The break was just on its way. Her mother had left for the train station, she would bring James directly here she had promised. Elena and her father had both opted to stay home. Elena because she wanted to surprise James with the new hair look, her father because he was planning a little surprise for James. Not that their mother knew, but that wouldn't kill her.

She would have disapproved, her mother wasn't a fan of pranks and mischief. Pranks were harmless though, besides seeing James getting pranked was awesome. His face is what made it fun.

Elena sat in the front room, close enough to the door to where she would see them walk in but far enough to where they wouldn't see her. Her hair was up in high bun with a few hairs falling out at the front. It was home, so her hair could stand to be slightly messy but messy. Her comfort James wouldn't notice but someone like her mother would.

She had been rather uptight about her upkeep for years now. She had never let herself slip. Elena struggled and continues to struggle over her identity. Daphne could never allow herself to grow comfortable, not even at her home. Her hair was always done, in braids and away from her face. Her makeup, when done, was immaculate and never ran. She was always so put together.

She was young, a child. She wasn't expected to do any of that yet. She relished the lack of expectations. She only had to do so much, pre Hogwarts was a time to live. She embraced her life as it was now. She couldn't wait to attend Hogwarts, but she would miss the freedom.

Daphne wouldn't have liked the idea of losing freedom. Truth be told neither did Elena. She was separated from her old self, was it a conscious decision? She wasn't sure. Leaving a lot of things behind was hard. She was actively reconfirming her own identity. She mourned so many things and yet couldn't remember others.

She had passed away. Daphne was dead. Astoria hasn't been born. Her parents were alive and careless. They wouldn't be married for another year. Their families were friendly, the potters and the Greengrass. She had seen glimpses of her uncles and aunts. Younger and significantly less uptight. It was strange to see them. She wasn't sure how she would handle seeing her old family.

The door was opening. She sat up from her slouching position. Comfortable or not there were just certain things she couldn't allow herself.

James bundled right through with all the energy that only an eleven year old could muster. He looked different in a good way. He had filled out, he was still skinny but in a less scrawny way. His hair was longer and curled now. He was looking around and drinking in the house. It had only been a few months but he acted like he hadn't seen it in years.

She stood from her seat and slowly walked over. She hadn't lost any of her flair for the dramatics. In that Elena and Daphne were the same. Despite all their differences they stood united on that topic.

He stopped his animated chatting immediately when he saw her. His mouth was still moving but his voice wouldn't come out. Elena found it comical and couldn't help laughing at him. Their mother patted James on the head indulgently and walked away from them to get his stuff back in his room.

"Your hair!" It was the first thing he had spoken to her since he had left in September. He was still staring as if she was a ghost. "Mum let you dye it?" he said.

"No," she smirked. "she didn't."

"Then how-" he stopped. "Hey where are you going?"

"What's in your bag!"

"Don't touch it!" James bounded behind her as she tore up the stairs. "Eler please!"

If he thought he could throw her off with the old nickname he was wrong. Elena had saw something poke out behind the corner and immediately knew where it came from.

"I can't believe you brought a cat!" She screamed as she lunged for her the fluffy monstrosity. "It's so cute!"

"Put him down! He doesn't like being-" he winced "See I told you! He doesn't like being held. Scratches like a dragon." James reached from behind her and plucked the cat from her hands.

Elena rubbed at her face. Tears pricked her eyes as the cuts stung her face. Daphne wouldn't have cried. She's stronger than anyone in hogwarts. She would have thrown the cat, Daphne simply didn't care.

She still was Daphne, just in a new body. Who was she kidding herself? She could never escape her past. The cuts were burning, she couldn't stop crying. What was wrong with her? Daphne would never be so weak.

"Elena."

She hid her face from her brother. His worry was making her more embarrassed. She was so weak, how could she allow herself to fall so hard? She was a Pureblood. Purebloods do not show weakness. They do not cry, they do not whine. They hide everything from everyone and anyone. No one knows you, you don't know anyone.

She was just a little girl. Why had they done this to her? Why couldn't they treat her like everyone else? All the other children had parents who loved them. They smiled at them. Even Draco smiled sometimes. Why had they been so different? What were they hiding?

"-darling please?" Her father's large hands pried her hands from her face. Through her tears she saw the blood covering her hands. All she could see was her sister. Astoria was bleeding. She wouldn't stop bleeding, she didn't know enough. She wasn't smart enough to run.

The blood was cleared immediately. Her mother was yelling at James. She couldn't hear anything anymore. Astoria was screaming at her. Why was she so weak? Why wasn't she good enough for her?

"Oh Elena-"

"Come on-"

"James Fleamont Potter! When I-"

"Daphne why were you there!"

She couldn't breathe.

She woke up in her bed. Her face felt tight and uncomfortable. It felt like someone had replaced the skin of her cheeks.

She wanted to cry some more but her eyes were dry. She sat up and promptly laid back down. It was too cold to move. She was tired, she could still hear her mother's screams. Her brothers fear. Her father panicked. She could feel her sister's blood.

The door opened slightly and in walked the devil cat. Proud and fluffy. It strutted into the room with all the arrogance only a cat could pull off. It jumped on her bed and made its way to her pillow. She wished she had the energy to push it away.

She sat up startled as she felt her face. She had a scab on her cheek. In the same place, he had thrown a rock at her face hadn't he?

You died.

He had thrown the rock and hit her cheek. It scratched her. She cried. She hadn't cried in so long, not in front of people. She was so weak.

She had died, he had died. But how? How?

She couldn't allow herself to cry. She couldn't pretend to be ten anymore. She wasn't ten, she was so much older. She was almost an adult. She envied those around her who were so ignorant. There was only one person who understood.

She couldn't see him now. Not like this. Her parents would never allow them to see each other before hogwarts. Not for long periods of time at least. Still, nothing forbade them from writing to each other.

She threw her legs off the bed but the door opened again. This time with a bang. Her brother ran in, followed by two boys. The scream she let out stopped them from moving in more. She threw the blankets around her and hid her face.

"Come on little sister!" Sirius black cried out. She peaked out of her blanket to see him standing a respectable distance away. Good. Not all manners were left behind.

The other boy stood behind Sirius with a nervous smile. He was holding a bear and chocolate. Small and stubby the boy looked like a chipmunk.

James was the closest, he was hesitating next to her. But when she glanced at him he took it as invitation to hug her and cry out a hurried apology.

"-listen mum really tore into me! Something about illegal pets and the ministry-"

"We told him it was a bad idea sister." Sirius interjected.

"-and well you know how I feel about rules."

She had never realized how much she hated those two. She loved her brother she did, but right now? No. Sirius was smirking at her and the other boy shuffled closer.

"My mum told me to bring this for you. She uh said it would make you happy." Awkward but nice enough. Peter was the type of boy that could possibly grow up into someone you would like to know. He died though. Sirius black had betrayed the potters and murdered peter. Everyone knew that. But why?

This Sirius, the one laughing with James as Peter flushed, couldn't hurt a fly. He called her sister and laughed so brightly. He was so happy. Happy people wouldn't do something so bad.

She could change the future. She didn't have to let them die.

"Thank you." She tried to smile at Peter but her cheeks still hurt.

"Hey why aren't you wearing the ring?" Sirius broke every code of propriety and climbed onto her bed. He yanked her arm out of the blanket and searched for the aforementioned ring. "Aunt Druella went through a lot of trouble for it, you should be wearing it."

She frowned at her and took her hand back. She didn't mention that manners dictated you don't wear jewelry to bed she hadn't needed to.

"Sirius do you ever pay attention?" Regulus peaked into her room and kept his fixed on Sirius. She covered herself with her blanket even though she didn't need to. James moved onto her bed as well and blocked her from everyone's sight. "Jewelry in bed is a big no."

"Get out Regulus." Was that James? James had never spoken so stern before. He was so soft spoken and sweet. She couldn't believe it. "You know the rules."

"Your friends shouldn't be in here either Potter." She winced at the insult. She wanted to step in and tell them off. She couldn't though. She would make a fool of herself. Daphne was coming back to her. Daphne always watched.

"Pete can you oh thanks. Sirius do you mind?" The sound of footsteps.

"Elena my mother, and I'm quoting here, if you may step out of your room and show her your pretty face." She peered over James shoulder and noticed the slight pink tinge on Regulus.

"Please tell Lady Black I'll be down soon." She waited for Regulus to leave before continuing to James. "That wasn't nice."

He stiffened and turned around to face her. He still looked angry. The devil cat walked over from its spot on her pillow and sat in his lap. "He knows better than to be in here."

"You know better than to bring anyone but family into my room."

"Sirius is practically family already! He calls you sister and everything-"

"Sirius probably doesn't remember my name."

"-Pete wasn't even really in here, he was just in the door."

"James please leave. I have to face Lady Black and I need to hurry." James frowned at her again. She was starting to hate that expression more and more.

"Listen if he bothers you I'll do something. I have another friend Remus, I've told you about him in it last letter, he's really smart. He could probably figure out how to get you out of that stupid contact. You don't have to do anything." She already knew how to break the contract, but she wouldn't do it. Still the thought counted.

"That's nice Jamesy dear but please leave now."

Lady Black was exactly as she remembered her. Beautiful, intimidating, and cold. They had only talked for a few moments before both her and Regulus had been kicked out to the back gardens.

As was proper for pre hogwarts children they walked side by side not touching. They walked at a leisure pace out the doorway and into the hallway. For some time after they continued in silence.

Stepping into the garden she grabbed his wrist and dragged him to her secret spot. A little hole in the bush. Just big enough for two children. Regulus had made a fuss about getting dirty but she dragged him after her.

If she was risking her hair he could risk his trousers. "Listen this is important," she was fully reminded of their first real talk in the gardens at black manor. "I don't want to change the future. But I can't let some things happen."

"That's great!" Regulus lit up immediately. He went from a sullen child to a hyper one. "We could get started as soon as-"

"No that's not all. I don't want to be involved in this you know who business. I just want to protect my family. Which means by extension I have to protect your family as well. We're all tied together even in my time." She bit her lip and kept her arms close to her chest. Their knees were already touching.

"Oh." He fell flat once more. "We don't have to fight. I'm not joining again, I already know what will happen. How much do you know? We have to trust each other. No secrets between us. Deal?" He stuck his hand out to her.

She could only stare. A pureblood man must never shake hands with a lady. You are to defer to your husband. You must not lower yourself to their standards. He was so forward she could hardly believe it. "Have you always been like this?" She couldn't help the question slip.

He didn't seem to deterred in the least. "I've been different, I think I'll act older as I age. It's just weird okay I can't control it. See? No secrets." She pursed her lips but lifted her hand away from her chest and shook his.

"Okay deal than. You help me I help you."

"Right so we need a plan. I need to know what you know, you come farther than me. You said you were a Greengrass right? Lucky, I'm still me. I was Regulus Black." She couldn't believe it. This forward little brat was an actual Black? At first she thought he was like her, a reborn new one. She couldn't even remember the original Lord Black having more than one son. He could have actually for all she knew. They hadn't focused on personal relationships.

"I hope you realize this means every slip up for your manners is inexcusable. I was ready to let you go for it, but you were raised to be perfect! How could you forget such little things-"

"Okay so the plan!" He cut her off with a fond smile. "So we need to take him down. He's rising right now, my cousin Bella has been talking about joining up. In my time she was a high member of the hierarchy."

"Right Bellatrix Lestrange. She was his right hand man. An absolute lunatic, ah no offense." She smiled prettily. "But really she escaped Azkaban. She was insane."

"That sounds about right. That's the Black Madness. It targets everyone differently. She got I think obsession but it might have gotten worse in Azkaban. So step one of our plan is to make sure she stays away from them. Without her he might lose a lot of political clout. He doesn't have the backing of the old purebloods yet. We're neutral right now, but Bella pulls us into the war."

"Right we need to stop his rise. The Potters won't join, that's a given. How do we stop the Blacks?"

"Sirius."

"Sirius?"

"He abandoned the family when he was 16, he ran away to the Potters." Regulus plucked at a leaf and threw it in the dirt.

"Oh."

"Yeah so we need to make sure Sirius stays this time. If he's heir he has a lot of power to influence what we do. Grandfather is going to die in about four months, father will take the official title of Head of House right after. Sirius will be groomed even more." She bit her lip and looked up. She wasn't ready for this.

"About Sirius he went insane." It was out now. She would have to tell him eventually.

"What?"

"From what I heard in the papers he was a psycho murderer and got my brother and his wife killed. They were like 20?" Then again it was the Prophet and everyone knew not to believe a word it said.

"Oh Merlin."

"This is going to be difficult isn't it?" She couldn't help but laugh at his expression. Indeed they would have time for it. She was determined to change things just enough, maybe she could be happy again.

"You have a leaf in your hair."

"What!" She jumped out of the bush and screamed as she tore the leaves out. Her hands were covered in mud. Her hair had little flecks of bush in it.

"Elena Merlin stop it! You're making it worse!"

"Get it out! Get it out now!" She stomped her foot as regulus tugged pieces of mud out of her roots.

"Hey! Get your hands off my sister!"

"Merlin Reg! What did you do?"

"Are you serious?" Sirius opened his mouth ready.

"Don't you dare say it!" She shoved regulus away from her hair for a moment to glare at Sirius. "Get it out of my hair." Her voice went icy. She hadn't felt so much like Daphne in so long. It was like meeting an old friend again.

Her brother and his friends stopped laughing at her tone. She was happy that she still had that effect on people. Even if they were twelve.

"Ammery!" The dutiful little elf appeared quickly and took charge of the situation.

As all five children walked quietly into the tea room they acted as if they had not slung mud at each other moments before. They ignored the obvious that Regulus and Elena were far too giddy. James was glaring suspiciously at the two. She didn't let that stop her smile.

She would protect him even if he didn't know. James and his son. Because even if she wasn't close with Harry, they were family now. Family stuck together.

"Oh what happened to your face by the way?" Regulus just had to ask her. The smile slipped from her face immediately. She was ready to rearrange his face for asking.