Chapter Nineteen

Elaine and Draco were the first ones back, and as such had delivered the news to Draco's parents, who had immediately called the dark lord there. For the next half hour, they sat back as the death eaters bustled around, celebrating. They didn't speak to anyone, and after awhile, Narcissa came to sit next to them as well, joining in their silence. If Severus was killed-

But no sooner had she thought these words then there was a crack in the distance and Severus came up the walk. The pain was masked, but Elaine could see it in his eyes, in the way he briefly looked at her before shutting himself in what had become the dark lord's office. They were in there another half hour before he came back out and walked over to them.

"Draco, the dark lord would like to see you," Severus said, his voice rough. Draco stood slowly, looking terrified. Elaine gave his hand a comforting squeeze, and watched as he went into the room and shut the door behind him. Narcissa looked as if she wished to join him but she stayed sitting next to Elaine as Severus took Draco's vacant seat. "He is pleased," he murmured, so that only the women sitting next to him could hear. "He's agreed to give Draco leniency." Elaine felt Narcissa sag beside her in relief. "Elaine, you and I are free to leave whenever you wish."

Elaine stood, her legs barely supporting her. She was thankful she would not have to face the dark lord, and so she bid a quick goodbye to Narcissa and began walking out of the Manor. They made it out, and locking hands, Elaine let Severus apparate her away.

They landed in front of a dark house, and Severus went in, leading Elaine to a bedroom off to the side. They collapsed into the bed together without a word, letting the events of the past couple hours fade out of their minds for the time being.

But a few hours later as they sat at the kitchen table, the events had to be discussed. A tea kettle sat in between them, silence filling the room. Elaine was the first to speak.

"He isn't angry it was you, then?" she said, looking over Severus carefully. There'd been a privacy charm on the office door, so if he'd been tortured, none of those outside of that room would have heard.

"He was - disappointed at losing his spies," Severus said slowly, wrapping his fingers around his mug and bringing it to his mouth, taking a long sip. "You and I both let our true colors show this evening, as far as he's concerned. I did receive - punishment - for this."

"For my part as well?" Elaine questioned him softly. Severus gave a brief nod. "I am so sorry."

"I took the blame, don't you worry," Severus told her. "I was able to persuade him that neither you or Draco needed punishment."

"Severus, that's not what I was worried about!" Elaine said fiercely. "I didn't want you to take my punishment at all! I chose to go with you instead of staying with the Order, I chose that! Not you."

"Still, he is displeased," Severus said. He finished his tea and stood, walking it over to the sink. He stopped there, staring out the small window that looked into the street. "I've fallen in love with you, Elaine. I didn't know that I could, after - well. But I love you, and couldn't watch you be hurt."

Elaine stood. "Severus-"

"No. Wait." She stayed by the table as he continued to speak. "I want you to stay here. I've spoken to the dark lord, and he agrees with me that you will only be useful to the cause following Benjamin's death. He is breaking into Azkaban soon to release your husband, and will torture and kill him for fleeing." Elaine sank back into her seat. "You are welcome to say your goodbyes, however, you are equally welcome to stay here until it's all over with. I would prefer you be safe. There will be a lot happening over the course of the next few months, and until we go back to Hogwarts this will be the safest-"

"We're going back to Hogwarts?" Elaine said, looking at him in confusion. "We won't be welcome there, how-"

Severus turned and faced her again. "The dark lord has informed me he wishes for me to take Dumbledore's place as headmaster." His face was grim. "The Carrows have been approached about being the Potions and Defence professors, but I am hoping you will join us this year as well."

"Of - of course I will," Elaine stuttered, the shock of everything making her slightly dizzy.

"Elaine, it's late," Severus said, glancing at the clock. Elaine looked as well, and was only slightly surprised to see it was almost four in the morning. "Let us get some rest and we will continue this conversation in the morning."

There wasn't time to finish in the morning, however, because the Dark Lord called Severus away close to eight. Elaine, unable to go back to sleep, started cleaning the house to distract her mind. A pecking at the window around noon startled her, and she opened it to allow the Daily Prophet owl swoop in. The green skull on the front page nearly took her breath away, and she scanned the article.

Only one person had died last night, to Elaine's relief. Only Albus Dumbledore was killed during the Hogwarts break in. Elaine sank into a chair, reading the rest of the newspaper.

Severus's name wasn't mentioned once. Neither was Draco's, or her's. It only said an unknown death eater had killed the esteemed headmaster, and that an investigation was underway. McGonagall was listed as the new Headmistress.

She was just folding the newspaper back up when a crack sounded on the doorstep and Severus entered the home, looking around in surprise. "You cleaned," he said.

"I did," Elaine gave him a half smile. "I - I was worried and needed something to distract me," she confessed. She held up the newspaper. "The Daily Prophet arrived. They announced Dumbledore's death, but they didn't-"

"Excuse me." Severus pushed by her, going into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him. Elaine stayed where she was as the sound of retching came from the closed off room, and a minute later Severus rejoined her, performing a small mouth cleansing spell.

"Are you alright?" Elaine asked gently.

"He has been celebrating all morning," Severus told her darkly. "All of the rest of them have. It is a great deed that I did last night, Elaine, did you know?" He was bitter as he yanked the paper up from the table and scanned it. "We will be having a visitor join us for dinner, Elaine, so I am grateful that the house is cleaner."

"Who?" she asked him. He looked at her in the eyes.

"Lyall. He has news he wishes to impart on you, and as you will not be going to the Malfoy's home for some time, I requested he come here. The wards will only be temporarily dropped and so he will not be able to randomly show up without permission."

"What on earth could Lyall have to tell me?" Elaine demanded. "We are instructed to kill his son, yes, but that is all we have to connect us."

"You will have to see," Severus said heavily. "I am in need of lunch. Would you care to join me?"

When Lyall showed up later that evening, he came in and made himself comfortable on the couch while Elaine finished her shower. She was having a hard time bringing herself to leave the comfort of the bathroom, and had been staring at her reflection in the mirror, fully dressed, for ten minutes when Severus knocked on the door and informed her that dinner was ready.

The three of them ate in utter silence, the only sounds being the clanking of silverware on the plates. When they were all done, Elaine rose to take the plates to the sink but Severus stopped her, picking them up himself and leaving Elaine and Lyall to talk.

"Our mission has been dropped," Lyall began. "The dark lord informed me himself this morning. He says we may be reassigned in the future, but he is pleased with Dumbledore's death and does not wish to push the blasted Order of the Phoenix any further then it has been."

"That's what you wanted to tell me?" Elaine demanded of him, sitting back in her seat and crossing her arms.

"No, it is not." Lyall watched her for a good minute before speaking again. "Your - Remus has married."

"What?" Elaine hissed, startled. That was something she'd never thought to expect.

"As of this morning. He married Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy's niece, Nymphadora Tonks."

"And you felt that I needed to know?" Elaine snapped, but she remembered back to their conversation months ago, of how he had someone he cared for but couldn't be with. Nymphadora must have been who he'd spoken of.

"He is your father, after all, and I assumed you'd wish to know of the possibility of another sibling, considering the one you have-"

"What? The one I have won't survive the war? Is that what you're saying?" Lyall hesitated, and Elaine remembered who she was talking to. "I don't know my brother well, and if his death is to our master's benefit, then so be it," she snapped. "If that is all you came to tell me, you may leave now. I hope you enjoyed your dinner." She rose, gave Severus a short nod, stormed off to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

SO uh, this chapter came out faster than I'd expected it to! Please review and tell me what you thought!