"my love, my life"

"Elena," the train pulled away from the station. Her parents were tearfully waving the two of them away. She reluctantly tore her eyes away from their retreating figures to look at him. "I haven't been completely honest with you."

She wished she could summon some form of anger for him. But she couldn't. She hadn't told him everything, there were still secrets, even with their deal of no more secrets.

She touched the ring on her finger looking for some sort of comfort. She had taken to it, a sort of coping. She struggled with everything now. "Well spit it out than."

"Not here. When we get sorted into Slytherin there's a place we can talk. But I need you to know. I can't hold it in anymore." His facial control was getting better, yet he still exuded the energy of an eleven year old. His facial structure allowed for such clear innocence that sometimes even she couldn't tell when it was an act. She searched his eyes for some sort of explanation.

So much time spent together and she still wondered how much she actually knew him. He was her only friend at this time. She had to trust him, she had no choice.

She let out a small breath and forced herself to stop touching her ring. "Okay when we get there-"

"Sorry is this compartment taken? Can I sit here?" Without waiting for an answer a girl even shorter than Elena walked in. She had thought herself rather petite but looking at the blond girl she realized she must be rather average size. "I'm Nellie Greengrass and I'm going to rule hogwarts."

Her mind went blank. Nellie Greengrass had died at 14 years old in a murder suicide. Her father would never breathe a word about her. Her mother would cold mention a boyfriend. She only saw one photo, the only time her father showed a hint of emotion was when he saw that photo on her birthday. Her hand went to her ring. She gently rubbed it and tried to breathe. Her facial expression was under control.

"-Eveline Greengrass right? My brother mentioned her." Regulus was talking for both of them. Bless him he usually let her talk. She remained quiet as her dead aunt sat next to her.

"She just graduated, she ruled hogwarts with an iron fist. I need to follow in her footsteps but better. What's your name by the way? Sorry I forgot to ask, my manners are bad I know don't mention it." Nellie threw her hands up in a sort of what could you do about it manner.

"Elena Potter." She finally spoke. It drew the girls attention to her, an invitation to scrutiny. They stared at each other in the eye challenging the other.

"Oh." She smiled slightly, she should be higher in the food chain. But by virtue of being engaged to a Black they were equal. "I see."

"Regulus Black." He nodded to her and smiled slightly more reserved.

"Oh thank Merlin! I was scared I stumbled across some stupid Muggleborns. With you two we could totally achieve my plan."

Another plan. They really didn't have time to be dealing with this. Daphne had ruled hogwarts herself back in her time, covertly nowhere near as public as the rest of her family members had been. She knew how taxing it was to deal with.

But her aunts face as she spoke about her dream to be better than her siblings melted her. She felt drawn to the girl, prettily laughing and twirling her dark blond hair around with one finger. On her finger a ring laid. Her first engagement, serious enough to warrant a ring. Alexander Slughorn would slip off to France when he turned seventeen and would never be seen again. She could save them both. They would.

Regulus caught her eye and cocked an eyebrow. Would they? Could they? It's not like they had anything better to do. The early years of Hogwarts would be the most boring, they were also the most critical when plotting domination. She knew without them what would happen to Nellie. It hurt but she couldn't allow it. She wasn't a Greengrass anymore, but still she felt something for Nellie. She reminded her of Astoria, before she turned away from her.

She nodded at him. They could make time, their plan was more convenient. Nothing would stop them, this was just entertainment in the meantime.

Regulus couldn't help but stare as Nellie, she had insisted that he never call her Greengrass to her face, and Elena animatedly chatted with the girl after.

Nellie was terrifying while they attended Hogwarts. He had never crossed her before but he knew people who had. The thought of what she could do to them was enough to scare him. But what she could do for them if given enough time to cultivate her. Being on her good side would have immeasurable benefits. Everything she could do for them, if she remained the same Nellie. Demon Greengrass.

She was a valuable friend to have. She hadn't had any in their original time, none that he knew of at least. Her death was tragic but not unexpected. Everyone knew it was a matter of time before she targeted the wrong person. Elena would want to save her, she would have to be calculated into the plan. His head was already hurting. The plan was complicated enough without adding another person into the mix.

They couldn't do anything yet, but they could plant the seeds.

The compartment door slid open and in waltzed Sirius and Potter. Potter glared at him and made a motion at his neck. Sirius shoved the other boy away from the door and took his place.

"Oh Reggie you've got another little friend!" He wanted to bang his head on the wall. He loved his brother, he wanted to save him from his own fate. But this? He was making it tempting to let him rot in Azkaban.

"Sirius if you mind?" Elena, Merlin save her, stood and pushed him out of the already cramped compartment. She stuck her head out of the doorway. "James?"

"Oh um make sure to get dressed. We'll be at hogwarts before you know it and-"

"Potter! You're already messing with the first years!" In walked the pretty redhead. Lily Evans was the most spirited of Sirius' crew. Elena groaned and put her head into her hands. He frowned and kicked her ankle. Unbecoming of a Lady engaged to the house of Black. "I'm sorry about him really don't let him bother you too much. He can be an actual tosser."

This time it was his turn groan. Both Nellie and Elena looked offended. "Listen here-" Nellie stood her face turning bright red. Her infamous temper was rising right up.

Elena grabbed her arm and pushed her back down. "Evans yes? Don't worry I live with him. If he does anything Mum and Dad will know. Right James?" She was pushing him out as well. "So if you guys don't mind arguing out there? Oh thank you! Hello there Peter! So sorry you have to deal with this. Alright then goodbye I'll see you at hogwarts!" She slammed the compartment door in their face and turned back.

She was trying to suppress her smile and was failing miserably. Nellie wasn't even trying. She was on the floor laughing. "Did you see their faces? Hilarious! Elena you have to teach me!"

He found himself laughing with her, surprised he stopped. He was losing control around them. Around Elena? Not surprising. But with Nellie? A girl who's name previously struck a cord of fear in him?

Looking at the tiny little blond he couldn't help but picture her older self. Short, thin, and ruthless. She smiled so easily as she tore you apart. She was a lion through and through. Yet somehow she dug her way into the house of snakes. Eat or be eaten as she would cheer.

"You two messed up your hair." It was true of course for Nellie, her hair was falling out of its tight pigtails. Elena screamed and touched her hair. Riling her up was the best part of his day. He reached out and started to undue Nellies hair. "I've got it don't worry. I have to do Elenas all the time." He rolled his eyes in her direction as she tore her hair out of its careful bun.

She started to try to braid it but she was obviously growing anxious about it. He felt guilty all of a sudden for messing with her. He knew better than to mess with her when she's in such a delicate state. Why had he done it?

Because you're an impulsive eleven year old.

He finished with Nellies hair and tore Elena's hands from messing with her own. She wouldn't let anyone care for it but him. He had to learn to care for it fast, she had a tendency to pull it out when she got too anxious.

Nellie hummed as she watched the two of them. "So you guys are engaged." It was said more as a fact rather than a question so he didn't respond. Elena just looked down. "How long?" She was quiet now.

"Officially? A few years. Unofficially probably since we were like two." She was far more calm now she was toying with a piece of hair he braided.

Nellie nodded but before she could say anything else the trolley lady showed up. They ordered as many sweets as they could handle. They strayed away from topics like their engagement or her anxiety. They didn't mention the fact that Nellie was quiet and less boisterous now. They talked happily and when the train arrived at Hogwarts they cheered. He couldn't wait for seven years of this.

"Black, Regulus!"

The sorting had begun. Elena couldn't have been more scared than she was at that moment. The hat could read your mind how could she have forgotten such a crucial thing? She doubted it would speak about anything if she begged it but still.

"Slytherin!" Expected.

His mother would be more than furious with him if he didn't go there. Sirius she noticed wasn't animated anymore. He was sad but not surprised. She wondered how James would react to her own sorting. Would he be disappointed with her?

On the names went. Each proclaiming a new house. Regulus had been joined by one other boy so far and one girl.

"Greengrass, Nelona!"

Nellie bounded forward, she was confident. She was so perfect. Everything about her exuded the vibe of a Greengrass. Refined, cold, confident. Nothing of the Nellie she had known on the train remained anymore.

"Slytherin!"

She wished she was surprised. Her heart was in her throat as it got closer to Potter. She was scared of the inevitable. Would she be in Slytherin? What would the hat know?

"Potter, Elena!"

A hush around the Great Hall. It had fallen still once for Nellie and once for Regulus. Two practical royalties. Then there was her. Engaged to Regulus, the sister of the infamous James Potter (and how had James managed to get so much fame in one year?).

She stepped forward calmly. Her control was immaculate. She was no longer Elena. She wasn't Daphne either. She was something in between the two. Cold but naive. Sweet but cruel. She was a perfect balance in those few steps up to the stool.

As the hat whispered into her ear and asked her questions of sorts she knew in her heart where she should be. The hat if it could smile would have. Her heart leapt once more to her throat as it opened its mouth and proclaimed loudly to the hall.

"Hufflepuff!"

The hush around the hall was different now. No one moved, no one breathed. No one so much as breathed a word. She didn't dare allow herself to glance around the hall. She took off the hat and handed it over.

She stood and started to walk to the Hufflepuff table. A few seven years stood and led an applause. The rest of the table soon joined and started to cheer for her. She sat down at the table and smiled at the second year around her. She was the only first year so far.

The hall never seemed to recover from the shock that was her sorting. Even as dinner started they broke out into whispers and gossip. They couldn't see it now could they? Elena and Daphne, one in the same. They wouldn't let this opportunity slip. She was a Potter. She was a Greengrass. She had the life experience of two people. Of two families.

She knew so much more. She knew how to play people now. She had no interest in ruling Hogwarts, not again at least. But that didn't stop her from craving a sort of fame. She finally allowed herself to look at the Slytherin table. Regulus had been trying to catch her eye the entire time. He only raised an eyebrow at her but it was enough. Nellie was different, she was practically bouncing in her seat. By the time dinner had been announced she had settled a plate, stood up and walked over to the Hufflepuff table.

She didn't say a word as she ate next to her. Silent acceptance. Even at eleven she knew? She hadn't learned exactly how to play this tactic until thirteen. She couldn't believe she was the only first year in hufflepuff. She was sure this hasn't been a thing before. Where were the other first years? No one was acting like this was strange. The older years were so happy and kept patting her head.

She didn't pay attention to anything for the rest of the night. She hardly comprehended the speech that Dumbledore gave. It was the same as always of course. Death death death death.

She stood with the rest of her house and started to make their way to the dorms. Regulus caught her arm and pulled her to the back. Her house mates glanced at them and seemed ready to step in. She waved them off and moved to the back with him. She was numb.

"Okay?"

"Sure." She replied.

"Meet before breakfast tomorrow in the front of the great hall we can talk more." He smiled, that small smile he always reserved for her. She couldn't help but smile back.

"Okay." He walked away from her and she was faced with the thought that she had no dorm mates and was alone in a house full of overly nice people.

James would never let her live this down. Wasn't this good though? Everyone trusted a hufflepuff. Even James would have trouble being mean. After all she's a hufflepuff, how could you do that?

She smiled freely now, she folded into a persona. Just as Daphne would. Just as Elena found herself doing while in the muggle world. She would play her part and she would do it well. But she was scared more than anything.

Because as she walked closer and closer to the kitchen all she could see was the bodies of house elf's. From a future that never was and never could happen. She could see Astoria walking ahead, her hair loose and waved. She could see her smiling, she could see her bleeding.

She exhaled and turned away. Hogwarts was home.