Chapter Eighteen

"Lyall, Elaine, don't leave just yet." Elaine had turned to go, but turned back at the Dark Lord's command. Severus caught her gaze, but all he could do was leave; the dark lord hadn't requested him. So Elaine and her grandfather walked up to their master, bowing low. "I have a task for the two of you. A personal one, in fact." Elaine refused to look at Lyall as the dark lord continued. "I want you to bring Remus Lupin to me." Elaine retrained from making a comment, but Lyall didn't.

"My lord, he's my son," the older man stated, bowing again. "I - what is it you want with him?"

"Is that your concern?" The dark lord snapped. "Do what I say. Crucio!" The man fell to the ground, his master standing above him. Elaine stood off to the side, watching this happen without emotion. She could feel it twisting inside her, but she could not let it go further than her stomach. She felt the dark lord turn to her. "Any concern from you?"

"No, my lord. It shall be as you say," Elaine said softly, keeping her head bowed. The dark lord eyed her, as if he was thinking, but he finally gave a nod, dismissing them both.

Elane caught up with Severus outside, and without speaking they apparated right outside Hogwarts' wards. Still without a word, they made their way to Dumbledore's office, Elaine's insides twisting as she thought of what she could do to save her father. She didn't know him all that well, true, but he was still her blood.

Dumbledore could tell something was wrong as she sat across from him, trying to collect her thoughts. Finally, she decided to go straight to the point. "Is Remus Lupin in a safe house?"

"I-" Dumbledore looked taken aback. "Yes, in fact, he was sent to one yesterday morning. Why? Has something happened?"

"The dark lord has commanded Lyall Lupin and I to bring Remus to him," Elaine explained softly. "I wanted to make sure he was safe."

Dumbledore looked relieved. "And by moving him yesterday, your role is safe," he said.

"Yes, if there's proof he was moved prior to my finding out he was in danger," Elaine said darkly, fidgeting with her bracelet.

"No risk there," Severus informed them, speaking for the first time since the meeting had ended. Dumbledore and Elaine looked over at him as he explained. "The dark lord told me a few days ago he would be asking you and Lyall to kill Lupin; however I explained to him then that the Order was in the process of moving Lupin, and that if he indeed wished him dead he had to set you the task prior to him being moved. I informed him before tonight's meeting that the moving had been finalized."

"We've been set up to fail?" Elaine whispered. She shook her head. "I'm not surprised, actually," she added with a snort. "The dark lord tends to do that with people, doesn't he? Me, Draco..." she stopped. "I - I should go to sleep, I think." She walked out of Dumbledore's office and made it to her rooms before collapsing on her couch, her mind blank.

"It's tonight." Elaine looked up from her papers to see Severus standing at her office door, his hand tightly gripping his wand. "It's happening right now." Elaine immediately stood, whipping out her own wand, her chair falling to the floor. Severus looked at her for a long moment, as if he was memorizing her face. "You will need to make a decision on which side you will stand on after tonight," he told her softly. "With me, or with Harry." Elaine stood there, frozen. She was thawed when he grabbed her and held her close. "Things are about to change."

"I know," Elaine whispered, kissing him fiercely before he pulled away, gave her one last look, and took off. She followed him, in that split second making her choice. As she raced through the castle, past the battles going on, side stepping the death eaters, she found her head pounding. After she did this, there was no going back. After this, Harry would never forgive her - Remus would never forgive her - Rowan would probably never know her. But Severus couldn't do it alone, and if he failed, they would all die. And so she would sacrifice herself, rather than lose them.

She caught up with Severus right before he started up the stairs to the astronomy tower and he saw her standing there. He looked at her imploringly, but all she said simply was, "I've made my choice." Without hesitating, he grabbed her wrist and together they climbed up the stairs.

"Draco, do it, or stand aside so one of us-" Elaine heard from above her, as she and Severus came upon the landing.

There stood Amycus and Alecto Carrow, alongside Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback. Albus was leaning against the ramparts , looking extremely pale, with Draco Malfoy's wand pointed straight at his chest.

"We've got a problem, Snape," Amycus said, his eyes briefly going to Elaine before focusing back on Dumbledore. "The boy doesn't seem to be able-"

Albus interrupted, his eyes too on Elaine and Severus beside her. "Severus," he said softly, his voice sounding pleading. Elaine's chest felt tight as Severus stepped forward, pushing Malfoy out of the way, toward Elaine. Elaine wrapped her arms around the teenage boy, feeling him tremble slightly as he walked.

Severus stared at Dumbledore, the hatred of what he had to do etched on his face, but Elaine knew that to anyone else, it would seem the man hated Dumbledore himself, even as Dumbledore spoke again.

"Severus... Please..."

Severus raised his wand, and without any more hesitation, said the words. As the green light hit Albus straight in the chest, Elaine chanced looking away, knowing nobody was watching her. She looked away, holding back the tears in her eyes, and so she didn't see Albus blasted in the air. "Out of here quickly," Severus hissed, grabbing her wrist and Malfoy, and they took off through the door ahead of the rest. They made it to the top of the stairs before a spell came from behind them, coming from Harry, who Elaine hadn't had a clue was there. She caught Severus's eyes, pain evident in them, but they kept going, through the crowds, through the fighting.

"It's over!" Severus roared. "It's time to go!" They went on, past the Weasley girl, past McGonagall, past Longbottom, Elaine's heart feeling as if it were not a part of her, as if the world was going by her too fast and she couldn't keep up. But she did keep up with Severus and Draco, the battles speeding by them. They'd almost made it to the exit when a red jet of light sped past Severus's head.

Elaine turned, wand out, but her heart nearly stopped when she saw Harry there, hatred clear on his face. "Run Draco!" She shouted, and the blonde took off as Severus and Harry faced each other.

"Elaine, go," Severus snapped at her, focusing on Harry. Elaine could only shake her head as Harry began to intone,

"Cruc-" But Severus knocked Harry aside before he could complete it.

"Elaine, GO!" Severus roared, and she didn't wait this time, couldn't distract him, and she took off, apparating to Malfoy Manor with her heart in her throat.

This is still on mostly a break,I'm working on it very slowly as I have several other things going on in my life, but I'll be uploading as I can. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.