Disclaimer: I don't own any of it.
A/n: Well, here's the second chapter, I hope everyone enjoys it and don't forget to review. Plus, thanks to my first reviewer, Nicoley117.
Chapter Two: The Beginning
Four people in long black traveling cloaks walked down the deserted street lined with old English manors; they walked towards a house that materialized as they got closer. The person in the front knocked the silver snakehead knocker. The door swung open and in the doorway was a small, ugly creature wearing nothing but a rag around his waist.
"The Dolohovs, here for the party." He grumbled as he stepped aside to let them in, "Kretcher will show you in." He told them as they hung up their black cloaks. The four guests were all dressed in their nicest clothes. The woman was in her early thirties but looked much older, her hair was up in a French twist and her eyes were a chocolate brown that matched her hair. She wore white stain elbow length gloves and a blood red velvet gown. The man with her, her husband, was a head taller then her with dark brown eyes with hair just as brown it was mistaken for black. He wore black dress robes, made of only the finest material. The teenage boy looked almost exactly like his father, just younger; he wore dress robes that matched his father's. But the young girl with them didn't seem to match her parents' appearance as her brother. Her hair was a soft brown, a shade between her mother's and fathers; it flowed down her back in soft curls for the special occasion. Her features weren't sharp like the rest of her family. Her eyes were a dark, vibrant blue; a color that hadn't been in their family for generations, the last one was disowned when she had an affair with a muggle man.
They followed the creature down the hall into a lavish living room that was magically expanded to accommodate all of the guests. The purist of Magical families was gathered in the room filled with food, beverages and seating with soft music playing the background. Once immersed in the crowd, the young girl separated herself from her family; eager to get away from them. She escaped the crowd in the living room all together. She wandered across the lawn into the flower gardens, the hem of her dress dirtying.
"Enjoying my father's birthday?" A voice said from behind her, making her jump.
"Oh yes, very much." She laughed as she hugged him.
"So how's life been treating you?" He said as they walked a little farther into the garden, "It's been a while since I've seen you."
"Yeah I know and it's been terrible. But…"She trailed off leaving him in anticipation.
"But?" She gave him a sneaky smile, "Elizabeth!" He grabbed her, pinning her arms at her side, "Out with it!"
"Okay, Okay." He released her a little, "I got my letter today."
"Really?" He said, his excitement dying away, "I haven't gotten mine yet." His face fell.
"Don't worry, you'll get it."
"But we have the same birthday, which was two weeks ago, and you already got yours." Sirius whined, "Just, what if…"
"Sirius Black you're not a squib and you know it." She said cutting him off. He shrugged and Elizabeth knew that was the end of the conversation, "My parents lectured me all day about the sorting and how proud they were when Antonin was sorted into Slytherin." Sirius was watching the figures passing the windows as she talked and played the petals of a flower.
"We better get back, we don't want them to find us missing." Sirius said.
"I'll race ya." She said before hurrying off, leaving him to catch up. Before Sirius could catch up with her and before they could make it back to the house, Elizabeth ran into someone.
"Oomph." Elizabeth would have fallen to the ground if Sirius didn't catch her, "Bellatrix." Elizabeth said under breath with a roll of her eyes.
"Well, well, what are you two doing out here?" Bellatrix drawled with her sister Narcissa, Lucius Malfoy and Elizabeth's brother, Antonin, "Your brother tells us that you finally got your letter while my dear cousin hasn't gotten his yet." She was almost laughing as she said it. Sirius took a step forward but Elizabeth placed a hand on his chest. Bellatrix and Narcissa laughed while Lucius and Antonin seemed unamused.
"So what's fresh air smell like?" Sirius spat, shutting up Narcissa and Bellatrix, "I didn't think you ever took your noses out of your father's ass." Narcissa and Bellatrix both pulled out their wands.
"Bella, Narcissa." Someone yelled from the balcony above. Andromeda came hurrying down from the balcony above, "What are you guys doing? You're going to get us all in trouble." She hissed. The two girls put away their wands and hurried back inside with the boys.
"Thanks Andy." Sirius said. She scowled at him but quickly changed to a smile.
"We better get back inside." She said, making her way towards the stairs to the balcony.
Sirius held out his arm for Elizabeth, she giggled but gladly accepted.
The guests were slowly trickling out, Sirius and Elizabeth kept to the sides of crowd as the people slowly left. He kissed her cheek and pulled her in a tight hug.
"Don't worry." She said before disappearing into the crowd.
An owl flew through her window, which took her off guard; she usually never got personal mail. The owl dropped the letter on the bed next to her; she sat up and broke the seal.
I got it.
-S.B.
Elizabeth smiled as she fell back onto her bed with the letter clutched in her hand.
-----
Elizabeth and Sirius were dressed in their new school robes, immersed in a sea of first years in the magnificent Great Hall. No one tried to look calm and not scared, the unknown sat on the stool in front of them in the form of a hat. Slowly their numbers dwindled as in alphabetical order they each made their way up to the hat; Sirius was one of the first.
"Black, Sirius." He took a deep breath and pushed his way through the crowd. All the eyes were on him as he sat on the stool with tattered black hat perched atop his head. The hall was quiet until,
"Gryffindor." Was shouted from the brim of the hat. A loud gasped filled the room, eyes bugged from heads and whispered conversation hissed through the room. Sirius slowly slid off the stool, he looked towards McGonagall for conformation and she shooed him towards his table.
Elizabeth forgot to breath, gasping for breath when she realized it. This was supposed to be their time to be together. She watched him slowly walk towards the Gryffindor table; she watched as the other Gryffindors welcomed him indifferently. He sat down at the end, he looked uncomfortable but he probably fit in better there then in Slytherin but he knew how to deal with Slytherins.
"Dolohov, Elizabeth." She ripped her head away from Sirius towards the front of the hall; she had forgotten about her sorting. She cautiously made her way towards the stool, more scared now then ever. She sat on the stool with her shoulders back and her head high, she glanced at her brother at the Slytherin table then at Sirius at the Gryffindor table before the hat was placed on her head; anything was possible. She listened to the mumbles and rambles of the hat while it went back and forth between Slytherin and Gryffindor. She wanted to close her eyes and plug her ears as the hat neared its decision; she just closed her eyes, waiting for the decision.
"Gryffindor." She felt her heart stop and her head perk up. The hat was removed, Elizabeth slowly walked away from the stool in the direction of the Gryffindor table. She could feel all the eyes in the hall on her and she concentrated on her hands, not looking around and too afraid to look at the Slytherin table. Elizabeth didn't realize she had made it to the table until she felt a pair of arms engulf her in a strong hug.
"We did it." Sirius whispered in her ear. Elizabeth pulled away from him and looked into his eyes, slowly shaking her head.
"How can you be so happy?" She asked quietly, "Wait until they find out." She said grimly.
"It doesn't matter." Sirius said pulling her down onto the bench to watch the rest of the sorting.
It was that night they got their first of many howlers that they would receive over their seven years at Hogwarts but Elizabeth knew Sirius was right and she watched her howler burst into flames after her mother's voice disappeared, collapsing onto the large red couch with Sirius.
Classes started the next day and the tension between Slytherin and Gryffindor was already evident. After their first lecture of Transfiguration, Sirius and Elizabeth squeezed their way through the hall towards the charm classroom. As they approached the classroom, two older Slytherins were pushing around a slightly plumped boy with blonde hair. Sirius slightly recognized the boy and pushed his way through the crowd with his wand in hand.
"Hey." He called as he stepped out of the crowd.
"Sirius, no." Elizabeth hissed but he ignored her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sirius and a boy with messy jet-black hair said at the same time as they both approached the three boys. They both looked at each other for a second then turned back to the scene they had started.
"Leave him alone." The boy with messy hair said.
"What are you going to do about?" The older Slytherin said with a laugh. Sirius smirked and in a flash the boy was dangling in the hair, above them.
"Why you little…" The Slytherin's friend aiming his wand at Sirius.
"Expelliarmus." The messy haired boy said and the other boy's wand flew through the air landing at his feet. Both Slytherins looked shocked and the two young first years shared matching grins, "I guess you'll be leaving then." He said sending his wand down the corridor and with of a flick of Sirius's wand the boy in the hair landed on the stone floor and skidded down the corridor after the wand with his friend hurrying after him. Both Sirius and the new boy went to the pudgy boy they saved and helped him up and gather his stuff.
"That was an awesome curse, by the way." The messy haired boy said, "James Potter."
"Thanks. Sirius Black." He took his outstretched hand.
"Show me it some time." James said, "What about you mate, what's your name?" He asked the pudgy blonde boy.
"Peter Pettigrew." He said his voice was soft and slightly timid, "Thanks, by the way."
"Don't mention it." James said.
"We're all room mates, huh?" Sirius asked.
"I do believe we are." James said, in a light voice. Sirius laughed and so did Peter, "Going to charms?" The other two nodded, "Where did you learn that charm anyways?" James asked Sirius as they walked inside the classroom with Elizabeth hurrying after them once the bell tolled.
James, Sirius and Elizabeth were wondering the castle, after staying up all night. The sun was just peeking in the horizon, the full moon had disappeared and the sky was glowing in orange and pink. They were just passing the doors the grounds when one clicked open; they three darted into a dark corner. A thin figure stumbled over the threshold, his head hung and a loud groan escaping his lips. He walked with a limp and one arm clutching his ribs. Elizabeth slowly stepped out from behind the suit of armor, intrigued by the seemingly frail boy. Sirius reached out to grab her but she jerked her arm away. The boy they were watching fell to his knees and Elizabeth darted towards him as he tried to stand up.
"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked trying to help him up. He looked up at her, fear screaming all over his facial features. He had a long cut on his arm and one just above his right eye.
"W-what are you doing up?" He said fearfully, "No one is suppose to be up." He knees gave out again; Elizabeth tried to keep him standing.
"Help me." She cried out to the boys still hiding in the corner. James and Sirius quickly placed one of each of the boy's arm around their necks, "We have to take him to the hospital wing." James and Sirius nodded and followed her up to the hospital wing. He passed out the moment James and Sirius laid him on the bed.
After lunch, Elizabeth dragged James, Sirius and Peter up to the hospital wing to check on the boy they had brought up earlier that morning. Pillows propped up his back and his nose buried in a book.
"Hey." Elizabeth said quietly after sticking her head around the corner; the boy looked surprise to see her and the three other guys she brought with her.
"What are you doing up here?" He asked, not closing his book but looking up long enough to ask her the question.
"We wanted to come see how you were doing."
"Yeah, you were in a right state this morning." Sirius asked. Elizabeth noticed the boy had started chewing on his lip.
"I'm Elizabeth and this is Sirius, James and Peter." She said pointed to each of them in turn. The boy nodded and returned to his book, "And you are?" She asked slightly annoyed that she even had to ask.
"Remus." He must have finished his book because he closed it, placing it on the bedside table but still not making eye contact with any of them.
"You look much better." Elizabeth said.
"Yeah, the nurse is a miracle worker." James added. Remus gave him a weak smile.
"So, how long you up here for?" Sirius asked.
"Tonight or tomorrow morning I should be able to leave." He said.
"I bet it's pretty boring up here." Sirius said looking around at the empty beds. Remus nodded.
"How about a game of exploding snap?" Peter asked, pulling out a deck of cards from his pockets.
"Yeah." Everyone but Remus chimed.
"I don't think that the nurse…" But no one listened as they gathered chairs around the bed and Peter began to deal out the cards.
-----
"I wasn't sure if you would come or if you would even get my letter." Remus said, drawing Elizabeth out of her gaze. He sat down behind her desk while she gave him a small smile.
"I wasn't sure if I would come." Elizabeth laughed. They felt comfortable but still unfamiliar; it wasn't like it use to be.
"When did you get back?"
"About a month ago." Elizabeth said.
"Where did you run off this time?"
"Argentina."
"I miss your post cards." He said, Elizabeth's eyes fell from his, "I still have them all." She snorted.
"You never did throw anything away." Her eyes slowly traveled around the room, resting on the door and her thoughts traveling back to boy she saw sitting in the second row, "Do you really think he'll come?"
A/N: Please Review.