Elizabeth woke, shivering, from the pensieve.
It was nearly midnight and she was alone in their sitting-room. Her homework lay, long done, on the desk next to the stone basin. She was not quite sure what had made her fall into her memories. She was even less sure why the blasted contraption had decided to show her those ones.

'Why the Battle of Hogwarts?
'You've been running ever since,' wisped a voice in the back of her head that sounded suspiciously like Albus.
'Hardly surprising after what you forced her to do!' seethed Voldemort.
'Get out of my head! ... Both of you!
'What, don't you want me dear?
'Stop trying to seduce her Tom, she needs to let you go.
'But she doesn't want to. Even though she killed me and loves Severus, she can't give me up.
'Hardly surprising,' she muttered, internally.
'Why?
'Don't be so sharp with her, you old fool. What is it, darling?" She was about to answer when she realised that the question had not come from within her head. Elizabeth turned to see Severus leaning next to the door with his patrolling over-robe still about his shoulders.

"Oh, nothing," she smiled, getting up from the carved mahogany chair she had been curled up in. "Glass o' wine?" He was silent and, as she had her back to him while stood by the shelf where they kept the current bottle and two glasses, she could not see if he had nodded. When she looked over her shoulder at him, she found him in the exact same spot with the same patient glower pouring from his dark eyes. "What?" she asked with a shaky laugh.

"That's what I asked you?" he said, coldly.

"What's happened? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Maybe you forgot the glamour charm tonight," he sneered, gazing pointedly at her stomach. Elizabeth looked down, it was protruding more then it should in rounded sort of way. She sighed and dropped onto the sofa, which was the closest seat.

"I've been meaning to tell you, but it's only been a couple of days since I moved back in and..." He was just staring at her. "I'm sorry, it dates from the end of May, beginning of June."

"I see," he said, curtly, and turned to go.

"No," she sighed and got up. "This is your home, Severus. Goodbye." She walked out, not expecting to ever return. As she crossed the threshold, she flicked her wand and all of her things were sent to her room at Malfoy Manor.

EG

Elizabeth had, at least, thought to grab her cloak on her way out. Now, she pulled it tight around her and made her way up through the silent, night-shrouded castle. She had nearly reached her goal, the head girl's rooms on the sixth floor, when someone spotted her.

"Five points from– Miss Havisham, what are you doing here?" asked Minerva, concern threaded through her voice.

"I... I wanted to... no, needed, to see Hermione," she said in a confusion of resignation and emphasis.

"What's he done now?" The Scot surveyed her and her face registered a slight shock. "He hasnae thrown ye out?"

"No," sighed the younger woman. "I walked out, not that he'll want me back, which is fair enough, there's not many that would..." she rambled and then ran her hand over her bound hair.

"What's happened? Why ye're in such a state?" Minerva, deciding this was probably not the best place for Elizabeth to have to answer those questions, ushered her down the corridor to the entrance to Hermione's suite.

"Crooks' hanks," said Elizabeth, wearily, and the portrait of a portly, yet elegant, Italian witch swung open.

"Liz?" yawned Hermione from her place by the fire. Her confusion melted to shock when she saw Minerva behind her friend. "Professor McGonagall? What's going on?" Elizabeth sighed and slumped down onto the hearth rug. Once McGonagall was inside, Elizabeth waved her wand, warding the door against eavesdroppers and, with another wave of her wand, the paintings were deafened and it was impossible for anything else to enter the pictures.

"I... Oh, Hermione, I'm pregnant and Severus found out," she said and began to cry.

"Why isn't this the good news it should be?" Minerva probed, while Hermione dropped down next to her friend and put her arms around her.

"A-as you know, Mar-Marvolo re-re-removed me from school a-at the end of April."

"Ah... I see."

"You mean... You're carrying Voldemort's child?" Hermione asked in shock. Elizabeth nodded and the other girl sat back, gaping at her.

"And you don't think Severus will stand by you?" Minerva asked gently.

"Why would he?" she laughed, bitterly, sounding oddly like Bella for a moment. "He hated him with every fibre; he won't even want the child to see the light of day. Truth be told, I'm surprised he was even prepared to touch something that he had had pleasure with!" She was on her feet now, pacing as the other two looked on.

"And you do?" Hermione was incredulous. "Want it to live, I mean."

"Of course!" yelled Elizabeth, rounding on her friend. "It's my child and... I loved him," she whispered. "Oh, why did it have to me?!" she cried and collapsed to the floor. "Why couldn't he 'ave just let Potter do it?! Why did I have to kill him?" She was sobbing again and was crouched forwards. Minerva came and put her arms around the girl and Elizabeth snuggled closer, unthinkingly. This was her real mother, just as Lucius was her real father; the family she had built for herself, that was all that really mattered.

"How far are you?" murmured the Scotswoman.

"Four months," she sniffled.

"So, February or March for the birth." The 19-year-old nodded.

"I thought I'd be married by now. I thought I would be settled with Severus and we'd be planning our lives and now everything's gone wrong." Minerva looked down at the girl sadly and sighed.

Elizabeth had been doomed the moment Voldemort had regained power. He was bound to want the only other living descendant of Salazar Slytherin as one of his Death Eaters. Dumbledore had known this and had prepared her to be his spy. Of course, there had been no way of knowing that the bit of Voldemort that was still human would fall in love with her. But, he had and now she had to live with the consequences. It really had not been fair of Albus to ask Elizabeth to kill Voldemort. Then again, Albus had believed it was all for her cover, he had not realised that she had loved Tom in return.

"Come on. You can sleep here tonight." – Hermione was too shocked to speak, but she nodded encouragingly – "And tomorrow, you can go to Hogsmeade with everyone else." Elizabeth shook her head.

"I'm going to Lucius' tomorrow." Minerva merely nodded; if there was anyone she trusted with Elizabeth, when the girl was distressed, it was Lucius Malfoy, loathed as Minerva was to admit it, even to herself.

EG

When Elizabeth woke up the next morning, she thought she was in Severus' quarters for one, golden moment. Then she remembered the scene that had played out when he had returned from patrolling. The young woman sighed and tried to sink further into the bed, while forcing back the tears that were threatening to overcome her. Thankfully, at that moment, the last events of the previous night flooded through her.

Hermione had lent her the silver-trimmed, forest-green nightgown that Elizabeth had given the other girl, as a joke, for Christmas last year. After she had changed, cried herself to a stand-still and finished her toilette, the other two had helped her to bed and then returned to the sitting-room.
It had taken a good half an hour to cry herself to sleep with tears she did not know she possessed.

Something shifted in the bed next to her. Probably Crookshanks. Elizabeth dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom where her clothes were still piled on the shelf.
Even though she was going to be putting on dirty clothes, Elizabeth decided to take a shower before getting dressed. She had been under the water for what seemed like a blissful eternity, but was only ten minutes in actuality. Someone tapped on the door.

'Oh, go away, Hermione.' They knocked again, this time harder. 'Fine.' She turned off the water, stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around herself. On the way to the door, she grabbed everything she would need to get dressed. The person on the outside banged on the door.

"I'm just coming!" she called in irritation. Checking that the towel was tight around her, she went and opened the door. It was not Hermione waiting to go into the shower, it was Severus.

"What–?" she started, part-indignant, part-angry. He stepped towards her and she backed away, he smirked malignantly. They went on like this until she was backed against the shower wall. "What do you want?" He put his hands on her shoulders, pushing her against the wall. She put her hands to his chest to push him away, forgetting the towel.

"Isn't this what you want?" he sneeringly rasped, pushing himself tight up against her. "You wanted back in my bed. Here you are, I'm dominating you, just as you wanted."

"No. This isn't what I want." She pushed him away and he stood there gazing at her for a moment and then swept out. Elizabeth crumpled to the tiled floor and cried, until she ran out of tears again. Then she got up and got dressed before heading down to breakfast.

EG

He was not at breakfast, for which she was grateful. She was also grateful for Draco who, having noticed her red eyes, was sitting with his arm around her waist and letting her slump against him. He really was the best friend she could have ever had hoped for.

After a cup of hot chocolate and a couple of croissants, Elizabeth had revived and turned a grateful, sleepy smile on Draco.

"Are you ready to go?" The boy only nodded; he, like Minerva, thought Lucius was the best one to deal with her when she had worked herself into a state and Draco did not want to risk saying anything that would provoke her. They got up and their host of followers and friends rose too and they all headed out in the direction of Hogsmeade.

"Hey, Elizabeth!" called a rather familiar voice from behind them. "Wait up!" She sighed and Draco stiffened, expecting her wrath to break, but she merely turned to the out-of-breath youth who was hurrying after them.

"What is it, Theo?" He looked at her curiously as he caught his breath, but then straightened and came towards her.

"I'm sorry, Liz. I didn't mean to be such a jerk and I'm glad that your happy with Snape. Will you forgive me?"

'It's not like he could know about our problems.
'And you could use a few good friends.' "'Course, Theo," she smiled. "Why wouldn't I? It was just a small tiff, not something to come between friends." He smiled but stood there as though not sure what to do, but before he could step away she stepped forward and hugged him. Theo hugged her back tightly.

"I was so worried," he murmured.

"I know; I was too."

"I don't want to ever loose you."

"Then help me keep a close hold," she whispered and stepped back from him, wiping her eyes. Draco and Theo each wrapped an arm round her as they walked down the curving path towards the gates.

"Uh, Lady Havisham?" piped up a small, nervous, voice on her right.

"Yes?" she sighed, raising her head and looking past Theo to a mousy-looking boy, who was probably in his third year. "What would you like?"

"You must find it very surprising to see me standing here and addressing you when all these noble orators and distinguished citizens remain silent," he said in a firm, carrying voice. She was mildly impressed, Cicero was not widely read, even in the best families. She nodded to indicate that he should continue. "I cannot compare with thy noble acquaintances in either age or influence, but I begged an audience to put forward a very distressing case."

"Oh?" Elizabeth asked, intrigued, slipping out from the supportive arms of her brothers. "Which case would that be, Mister...?"

"Arthur Stebbins, milady."

"Ah, yes," she said, darkly. "I had the pleasure of Mr Thomas Stebbins' company last Friday."

"Yes, my cousin."

"Your cousin. So I should be paying you my condolences."

"Oh, no, ma'am. I am the son of the third brother," he explained.

"That was a risk. So, what can I do for you?"

"It is not what you can do for me, but what you can do for your country." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, this kid was good and knew how to use quotes appropriately.

'Yes, he'll go far.
'He'd definitely be worth taking on as an associate.
'Yes, he would.'

"As you know, my uncle has been accused of a horrendous crime, the murder of his own wife by her brother, who is asking for the return of the lady's dowry." Elizabeth smiled, this was a much better way of putting the case. "In truth, I would not be stood before you like this if it were not for the fact that murder places a stigma on the whole family for generations to come."

'Nice. Not making it about the money, but his own honour.'

"I would dispel these rumours myself, but as a member of the family I hold no credence and also I hold no influence."

"Nicely done," she smiled. "I especially admire a circular argument. Now, your cousin said something about the Wizengamot, if I remember correctly..."

"Yes. My uncle's case is being heard on the 13th of next month."

"You know, it's strange for now I remember, your cousin actually asked me to speak to Cornelius."

The boy muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like: "The fool!" but then turned his attention back to her. "The notice of the hearing was only delivered at the end of August, evidently my cousin wasn't aware of it." Elizabeth laughed.

"You're right, you're cousin really is a fool." He flushed but smiled. "OK, I'll send a few letters and make it known that I do not believe that Anthony Stebbins is guilty of his wife's murder."

"Oh, the hearing isn't about the murder, it's about the money. No, her brother didn't have enough evidence to charge him with murder. However, if the court finds in her brother's favour, then it will be inferred that he murdered her."

"Because the only grounds on which a dowry can removed from a husband's possession and returned to her father's family is if it is proven that he hurt her."

"Precisely. And as she just died, people will infer that that means he murdered her."

"Also, it is very likely that the brother can prove he hurt her, even if it was inadvertent, if she was in contact with her brother... I will try my up-most. Thank you for your effort, Mr Stebbins, it was a pleasure to hear you. I look forward to seeing you again."

"I would be honoured, ma'am," he said, bowing. "Thank you for your assurance of help, my uncle will be so relieved. Good day, Lady Gaunt." Arthur's smile showed that he had deliberately not used that name when addressing her earlier. "Oh, I'm glad you like the ring, I helped my aunt choose it." Elizabeth smiled and raised the signet ring to her lips and kissed it. The 14-year-old bowed again and then set off at a brisk walk towards the village, while she, Theo and Draco stopped.

"Why are you stopping?" Claranne asked.

"Oh, we're not coming with you," Elizabeth answered. There was a general outcry, which Draco cut through.

"We have a standing invitation to dine with my father today. So, we'll see you all later," he told them, sternly. There was a chorus of goodbyes and several people came up and kissed Draco and Elizabeth's hands, unaware of how pathetic the pair thought them.