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notwritten: Hi love! Haven't heard from you for a while. I'm hope you're doing okay and glad you're still reading this story :) This chapter is for you! Enjoy and cheers!

Chapter 20: Elementals

THE time was now nine o'clock sharp at night. Many people were still at the premier party of Severus Snape's latest fragrance, Mémoire.

Celebrities were busily mingled with the fragrance's Company productions in hope to get free sample of the said item. Paparazzi were busily snapping pictures of the famous people at the ball left and right.

The Wizarding communities were also busily mingled with the Muggles; some of them even enjoyed themselves dancing on the dance floor with the Muggles at the country-pop song by an American famous country singer.

All in all, it was a good night for everyone who was at the ball.

All except for one.

It's not right
It's not fair
What you're missing over there
Someday I'll find a way to show you
Just how lucky I am to know you

Claire sang the lyric to one her favourite song that was blasting in the ballroom. She was at the Hotel's beautiful outdoor garden, sitting alone under the Oak Tree.

After her unexpected dance with the last man she wanted to see tonight, and to her another favourite song nonetheless, Claire had politely excused herself and quickly fled from the scene before Lucius could say another word.

She had been avoiding him since then. Decided that she needed some fresh air and away from the people at the moment, Claire went out to the ground floor's outdoor garden.

Claire sighed.

She had been prepared for tonight, to face him. Unfortunately, she had not been prepared to be thrown in the spotlight and danced with him! Good grief, she almost had a heart attack when she had turned around to see Lucius Malfoy was the one who offered her to dance!

"Just when I was ready to move on with my life..." Claire lamented softly.

"Do you really?"

Claire screamed shortly before quickly turning around to find the same man she had danced earlier, was standing behind her.

"Lucius!" She put one hand at her rapid heart. "I swear one of these days, you will be the death of me."

Lucius wasn't amused by her words. Instead, he looked at her with forlorn eyes.

Feeling awkward, Claire got up on her feet and briefly get rid of the dirts and grass that were on her dress. She refused to look at him.

"Miss Rollins." Lucius spoke with a calm voice. "Miss Rollins, would you care to at least look at me? Please."

Claire slowly lifted her head and looked at him.

'He looks different. He lose a few weight, though. But he does looks well and calmer compared to all those months ago. Figures. His family has reunited.' Claire thought sadly.

"I'm in the process of getting my marriage to Narcissa terminated."

That got her full attention.

"What?" Claire looked at him with big widened eyes.

"I said, I'm getting my marriage to Narcissa terminated, Miss Rollins."

"But you can't!"

"And prey tell, why couldn't I?"

"Because it's against the law, isn't it? Married couples in the Wizarding World can't simply dissolved their marriage as they are tied together to the holy unbreakable bind until Death tears them apart. That is why taking in Mistresses or have an open relationship is allowed in the Wizarding community."

"Interesting you would know all these stuff in the first place, Miss Rollins. Tell me, do you intend on marrying a wizard in the near future? Is that the reason why you looked up on the Wizarding Laws?"

Claire's cheeks turned bright pink.

"It's not that at all." She grumbled. "I had nothing else to read when I lived with Severus at his home for the whole two months after the... Incident. The only books I had not read were the Laws on his top shelves."

Lucius had to control himself not to grin. Maintaining a cold and hard façade was hard when she looked extremely cute with her blushed cheeks.

Clearing his throat, Lucius said, "I see. Well, you are correct on the Laws, of course. However, Miss Rollins, there is something you do not know about the Wizarding Marriage Law: Only couples who truly loved each other would be tied to the Holy unbreakable binds until the day they both shall die. Narcissa and I however, made a Repelling Vow against the bind on the night of our wedding, before the consummation."

Claire could no longer heard the loud music at the background.

"I don't understand..."

"Of course, it's illegal to make a Repelling Vow. But you see, Miss Rollins, Narcissa's and I, our marriage was solely based on our families' interest. We were the only ones who are compatible with each other compared to the other Pure-Blood partners. Of course, we worked well together as a couple. However, there is no deep love between us other than respect and devotion. In addition, Narcissa had confessed to me that for years she had longed for freedom and was only granted when she had stayed with her older sister. Because of her faithfulness and loyalty to me in the past years, it is my duty as her husband, that I set her free and grant her only wish. Hence, we went to the Ministry's office earlier yesterday to dissolve our marriage. All we need to do now is wait for the paperworks to be approved by Minister Shacklebolt."

"Wait. Narcissa wanted to be freed from you? From the marriage?"

"Yes. Free from being burdened by her family's responsibilities. It may sound a bit uncanny to you, but Narcissa has been following her family's wishes at an early age of eleven. All Pure-blood high-class families do that to their children in order to preserve the Pure-Blood bloodlines."

Claire slowly nodded. She began to understand and felt sorry for Narcissa. No child would like to be pressured by their parents to be married, let alone to be married to the person of their parents' chosen and not their own.

"What about you, Lucius?" Claire asked a moment later. "What do you want?"

Dark grey eyes looked at her straight in the eyes.

He didn't need to say the word. She could feel it from the way he gazed her.

"You." Lucius took a couple steps forward.

"Lucius..."

"The only one I ever want in this world is you, Claire Rollins. You, the Temptress who rules my mind and dared to leave me empty. You who conquered this cold heart of mine.

"Lucius!" Claire backed away.

"You. Just you."

Unexpectedly, Lucius grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into his arms.

Time seemed to have stopped the moment Lucius pulled her into his arms and held her tightly, as if she would disappeared again if he didn't.

"I'm a total wreck. I can't eat. I can't sleep. I can't even close my bloody eyes without seeing you in my mind. I can't do anything without you. I'm addicted to you... My beautiful Claire." Lucius tightened his held.

Claire's knees were literally shaking.

"I want to be happy. I know I don't deserve it, with all the horrible things I've done in the past, I truly don't deserve you, Claire. I am already out of my mind. I know I said before, that I won't stand in your way should you chose another man, but I no longer want to share you. I'll make you happy, Claire. So don't leave me... Never leave me again..."

My heart... Feels like it's jumping out of my body... At the sweet words he said to me..

Claire closed her eyes.

Lifting her arms, she finally wrapped her hands around him.

"Aw, we've just missed the good part!" Draco Malfoy grunted lowly at the balcony overlooking the couple below.

"I didn't." Willy grinned widely. He couldn't get rid the grin off his face even if someone had punched him across the face.

Standing in between them, Severus Snape let out a long concerned sigh.

"Are you sure this will all ends well? What I meant is, he's a Malfoy, and she's a Muggle. Hearing Narcissa was surprisingly taking everything well, and you, Draco. I'm still in shock to be frank, that you would support them like this, the Pure-Blood Community won't be taking this very lightly. Especially on Rollins."

"I know." Draco looked down at the couple still embracing each other.

"If I hadn't seen it for myself how much Father loves her, if I hadn't witnessed it myself how losing her really affected him; leaving him with a truly broken heart and nearly sent him to insanity, or how my parents' marriage has truly fallen apart, and the only reason why they are still pretending everything is fine and well all because of me, I wouldn't have encouraged them like this. But I knew. I knew none of my parents are happy with each other. So I had to do the right thing. I had to set them both free, tell them the truth and let them chose their own ways. That's why... Even if I'm still reluctant to accept my father's relationship with a Muggle, fact is, I love my father. If having Miss Rollins in his life makes him happy, then seeing him happy makes me happy. And my mother, if setting her free makes her happy, then I will be happy for her as well."

Snape patted the young Malfoy's shoulder. He felt proud of the young man and could sense how much he had matured and grown after the war. No longer was he the ignorant little runt who always relied on his Father's protections.

"And you're quite right, Snape." Willy suddenly spoke. "The Pure-Blood communities won't be as kind to my dear Claire as we are. However, that's the reason why we are here, isn't it? We shall be the ones to protect her from their nasty and snotty attitudes, won't we?"

Both men firmly nodded.

"For the sake of my Father, I will do anything."

"Good! That's the spirit! And say, even if it turns out not to be a happy ending for them, in the end, as for now, I think it's the best way from them to be."

They all nodded agreed with Willy's statement.

LUCIUS was the one who released her first. He lifted her chin, much to Claire's surprise as she was not expecting it, and slowly brought her face forward.

Their lips almost touched each other had it wasn't for the sound of the noisy and annoying buzzing sound on the top of their head.

A dark blue beetle.

Lucius flapped his hand, wanted to get rid of the beetle but it won't go away.

"Get lost, you pathetic insect before I decide to kill you!"

"Wait, Lucius!" Claire grabbed his flapping hand from killing the beetle.

"You are not against me killing this annoying beetle, do you Claire?"

"I'm not. However, I do believe the beetle isn't unlike any other beetle." Turning to the said Beetle who was flying on top of her head now, Claire said, "You're Rita Skeeter, aren't you? I saw a photo of you in a jug that Hermione kept you in."

The Beetle made a noise before it flew across them and changed it's form.

"How unpleasant surprise that you knew who I was, Miss Claire Rollins. Or is it 'Madam Malfoy' now?" Rita looked at the younger woman shrewdly. "Pity to have such a beautiful face, but very cheap dignity."

Lucius stepped in between the two women, facing Rita.

"Talk to her like that again, and I'll make sure you'll get fired and won't be able to find any decent job. Ever."

Rita snorted and rolled her eyes. "Please, Mr. Malfoy. With your reputation after the war, you don't scare me, let alone a fly."

Lucius' face grew red from anger. He was ready to burst if Claire hadn't stepped forward and shielded him from the obnoxious witch.

"What do you want, Rita Skeeter? If you're only here to harass us, kindly leave at once while you still can."

Rita looked at the couple before she glanced at her surroundings.

"Let me tell you something... The reason why I took the risk of coming here is because this whole place is protected by a barrier spell. The moment I walked out of this place however, I have no doubt my life will be in grieve danger."

"What are you talking about?" Lucius asked.

Rita didn't answered. Instead, she looked at the two of them.

Crossing her arms, she said, "Which is why I want protection from all of you."

"From whom?" Said a baritone voice coming toward them.

Severus, Draco and Willy had been watching earlier and the moment Rita transformed to her human self, the trio had rushed downstairs to the garden.

"From the enemy, of course. The one whom you have been seeking for months without any success."

"What makes you think we trust you anything you said so easily?"

Rita shrugged. She handed a large envelope to Severus.

"Inside, you will see many proofs and articles I have gathered." She didn't let go when Severus took it. "I want my protection. Are we clear?"

"We shall see." Severus roughly pulled it from her grasp and began to look through the many papers inside the envelope with Draco.

"While they both are going through with your stuff, I shall determine and see whether you're telling the truth or not." Willy spoke up, standing in front of her.

"You are not using Legilimency on me, are you? I forbid it!" Rita protested.

"Oh, I don't need to dear. In fact, I've already did it." Willy smiled brightly before turning his back at her and faced everyone.

"She's telling the truth. Also, there is something about the papers..." Willy went to Severus who was busily looking through the piles of papers in his hands.

Meanwhile, Draco looked astonished at what just happened.

"When did he... Used Legilimency on her?"

"That's the Wonka's speciality, if you have to know." Claire explained. "The 'Time-Stopper. He is able to stop the time and even space as he wishes. What he had just done to Miss Skeeter was the example of it." Claire showed her her watch.

Five minutes had passed by.

"Astonishing!" Rita breathlessly.

"It seems, Miss Skeeter, that you have proven yourself to be truthful for once in your life." Severus said as a matter of fact. "You've gotten yourself a deal. However, you will need to stay here at the hotel until we can ensure you whoever is threatening your life is no longer a threat. Thank Merlin they've given me the Penthouse Suite."

Claire and Lucius raised an eyebrow at the mention of Penthouse Suite but didn't say a word.

Claire looked at her watch again and softly gasped. "Oh my... It's already half past ten! I should best get going."

"I shall send you home." Lucius offered.

"In that case, I shall leave her in your capable hands." Willy spoke calmly. "I will be spending time helping with the case here. I don't think I will be back very soon tonight. So if you could.."

"Of course." Lucius nodded. He then looked at his son. "Will you be staying too, Draco?"

"If it's not too troublesome, I'd much rather if he stays. Is that okay with you, Lucius?" Severus said.

Draco looked at his former professor than to his father.

"Of course. At least owl or tell your mother you won't be coming home tonight. At least Severus' room is big enough for all of you to sleep in."

"Yes, Father."

"Now then, Claire. Shall we?"

THEY used the back door of the hotel to escape the wild papparazi. Instead of apparating at her front door, Claire suggested they took a stroll to her home, which Lucius agreed.

The couple, now reunited again, walked together side by side and holding hands.

Come to think of it, this was perhaps the first time they walked together in public as a couple.

The last time Lucius had walked her home was after their second date and first outing, when she had kissed him for the very first time.

All the sudden, Claire blushed at the thought and what had happened a moment ago.

Lucius had almost kissed her if it wasn't fo Rita.

Speaking of which...

"What are you thinking about?" Lucius asked smoothly.

"Rita Skeeter."

"What?" He nearly shouted at the otherwise empty road.

"I was just wandering if she would do or say anything that would sabotage our relationship. After all, she did see that we'd almost..." She turned to look at Lucius who only raised an eyebrow at her.

He stopped, so did she.

Lucius brought both hands on her face and softly stroke her cheeks

"Almost what?" He asked, teasily.

Claire's face was bright red and she was sure it was hot. Damn him. How could he did this to her?

"Forgive me. I can't hear what you're saying..." He brought his lips closed to her.

"I said 'kissed'..." Claire closed her eyes slowly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as their lips touched softly.

At the background, there were few couples shouted at them to find a room. But none of the two cared what was said to them.

They had been missing each other for far too long, by the time their lips broke away, all they could see, was that love was reflecting in each other's eyes.

It didn't take them long to arrive at the front door of Claire's flat. As soon as she opened the door, Lucius suddenly pulled her away, much to Claire's own surprise.

As soon as she was being pulled away, something came forward and hit on the front door, burst it into pieces.

Claire gawked at the broken door. She turned to look at the culprit - who wore a deep red robe with a Death Eater's mask, and was playfully holding his wand.

"You've broken my bloody door!" Lucius pulled her to get behind him immediately, with his wand already pointed out at the culprit.

"Get away from here as fast as you can."

"I'm not going to leave-"

"Go! NOW!"

Claire studied his face carefully before nodded her head. Reluctantly, she ran out, leaving him behind with a heavy heart.

"Now then..." Lucius took his place in battle. Raising his wand that was still pointed at the culprit.

"Shall we dance?"

Lucius threw the first Curse spell at the culprit and engaged in battle.

While Lucius was battling upstairs, on the second floor, Claire had managed to get to the lower ground of the flat using the staircase.

Claire was halfway running toward the exit when she abruply halt as another Death-Eater appeared at the exit.

It was a female this time, wearing the same dark red robe as her previous accomplish. However, unlike the culprit earlier, this Death-Eater does not took out nor carries a wand.

Claire looked at her enemy, the only obstacle that was standing between her and the exit.

"What? No wand?" Claire tauted.

The Death-Eater shook her head. She instead, raised one hand in the air and a ball of energy force gathered at her hand.

Claire remained alert and frowned. Her legs were twitching to run.

From above, she could hear Lucius' battle cries. She immediately worried about him.

At her lack of concentration, the Death-Eater took the chance to throw the energy ball at her.

Claire dodged the ball at the very last minute, caused the staircase's door behind her to scatter after being hit by the energy ball. She looked at the scattered door in horror. That could have been her very head had she not avoided it in time!

Looking at the Death-Eater who, Claire could clearly see her grinning behind the mask, Claire gritted her teeth and clenched her knuckles.

"You don't play fair, do you?"

The Death-Eater simply shrugged at her question.

"Alright..." Claire took a deep breath. "Bring it on then!"

"Elementals? You mean like Elementalists?" Draco asked.

He put down a stack of heavy books he brought from the manor on the desk beside the sitting Severus, who was scrambling something on a piece of patchment.

"Correct. What is the differences between Elementals and Elementalists?"

Draco thought for a little while.

"Well Sir, I do know Elementals are wizards or witches who are able to control one of the five elements; Water, Earth, Fire, Air or Quintessence. There are only five at one time and their spirits are reincarnated after they die to produce five more elementals. So far, there are only ten known elementals as the rest did not make their powers known to the wizarding world..."

"Excellent. How about Elementalist?"

"Elementalist are people, not necessarily Wizards or witches that are also able to control the elements. Unlike the Elementals, Elementalist can be taught to practise the use of the elements. Even muggles are able to practise it with the guidance of an Elemental Master."

"Brilliant, Draco." Snape raised from his seat, bringing the patchment he had written on earlier and walked toward Rita Skeeter who was sitting at one of the many sofa seats in the room, sipping on a hot cup of tea.

"Tell me, what made you think the Elementalists are the ones who are responsible behind everything that's happenin lately?"

Rita snorted. "Why ever not? It's no secret that Harry Potter and his little band 'Merry men have captured the leftovers Death Eaters. With your and Malfoy's leads, of course. But they're the ones who have taken most credits."

Severus narrowed his eyes at her.

"Answer the question, Miss Skeeter."

"Well alright." Rita sighed. "I began my research on Elementalist when I found an uncanny similiarities between 'Madam R' and the Death-Eaters that Potter has captured recently."

"Prey tell, what is it?"

"Elements. When Potter has captured Ian Walker, his robe was covered with ice."

"Surely that couldn't possibly be the real reason-"

"It was bloody Summer. Then, when Ronald Weasley brought in Xian Markenzi, the lad's skin was on fire that was as hot as the bloody sun! The whole department on the Fourth Floor of had to be brought in to treat the lad for the 'suspected' Spell Damage."

Rita flipped one papers from the stacks and brought it toward her.

"Neville Longbottom captured Sila Mitten, who had him strangled using a tomatoes vines."

"George Weasley captured Tino Lion, who sparked electricity from his tongue. Honestly, aren't any of these things sound a bit suspicious to you at the very least?"

"Now that you've put it that way, it does. Are they are all Elementalists?" Said Draco, agreeing.

"Yes. Based on the data and resources. However, I strongly advised you not waste your time focusing on them as they are nothing but just low rank servants. It's the Natural-born Elementals you should be more concerned off."

"..And you know this because?" Severus asked.

Rita kept quiet. She glanced from left to right from the corner of her eyes, before she whispered in a lowly voice.

"Madam R is one of them - the Natural-born Elementals. What's worse, she's the combination of him and probably an Elemantal practistor somewhere..."

"You've mentioned this 'him' several times now, Miss Skeeter. Could you at least tell us who he is now? We've already secured this whole building with powerful barrier." Willy said, assuringly.

The moment after he had said that, Rita abruptly stood up.

She looked wildly at each one of them in the eyes.

Six chilling words came out of her mouth made them gasped.

"He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

THE waterpipe burst as it got hit by an energy force sent by the female Death-Eater.

Claire's beautiful dress had been torn apart, especially the lowe parts.

She had few bruises on her arms and thights, few cuts on her chin and lips from the assaults; ones that she couldn't avoid.

Her dress and partly her face was covered by mud and dirts.

Claire was pissed.

Until now she couldn't do anything but avoid getting hit by the damn energy balls aimed at her.

Well not this time!

She had it. She had enough of it!

Glaring sharply at her assaulter, Claire stood in a guard stance.

Meanwhile, Claire's assaulter watched in amusement. She had thought the foolish target would be an easy target to kill. However, the Muggle proven to her that it took more than just energy balls to squash her.

She had a tenacity of a crockroach.

'No matter.' The Death-Eater smirked.

Rising her hand in the air again, instead of summoning an energy ball, the ball that was in her had slowly changed its colour to fury red.

Fireball.

Claire gulped in horror. She had been ready getting hit for the damn energy ball not this!

One hit on her skin will burned her alive.

Her left leg subconsciously stepped back and she felt the cold water from the broken waterpipe running down her spine.

The fireball getting bigger, until it was the size of a football.

Without warning, the Death-Eater threw the fireball at her.

Then, it felt as if everything began to move in slow motion.

Claire backed away, ignoring the burst of waterfalls from the pipe.

The water running down on her spine suddenly moved in a soft flow and circular her waist.

All the sudden, Claire felt a surge coming from within her.

Just as the fireball was about to hit her, Claire's dark brown eyes suddenly changed to baby blue.

Claire raised her hand in the air and the running water quickly turned to a wall of ice and created a shield around her.

It protected her from the incoming fireball.

The Death-Eater subconsciously took a step back. Shock and surprised were clearly evidently based on her body language by Claire's action.

'Impossible! She couldn't possibly-'

Before the Death-Eater could say anything else, she was attacked by ice shards heading toward her. The Death-Eater quickly dodged, causing the shards to hit the lower part of Claire's flat, and created a big hole.

The flat now in a disaster zone. The building was shaking tremblemously, the second floor, where Claire's home, was precautiously still standing and only supported by whatever remaining pillars left.

Meanwhile, the first and lower ground were a great mess. The big hole at the lower part of the building, had caused the residents to flee from their homes in pure horror and terrific at what suddenly just happened.

Claire's eyes reverted back to its normal colour and she looked at the chaos she had done.

"Oh no!" Death-Eater forgotten, she rushed back.

"Lucius!" Claire shouted, before gasping in horror as the said man was hanging for his life on the cliff of the building from falling down to his death. His wand was nowhere to be seen, nor did the Death-Eater he had been battling with earlier before the distruption.

"Lucius, hang on!" Desperate to save her love and not caring if everyone was watching her, Claire lifted her hands in the air again.

Nothing.

Nothing happened.

From far distance, she could hear Lucius screamed painfully as his arms began to give up.

"What should I do? What should I do?" Panic began to arise within Claire. Time was ticking. With Lucius hanging for his dear life right nw, it's too late for her to wait for the Fire and Rescue Department to come and save him!

Again, she heard Lucius cried out painfully.

"Lucius.."

Lucius could no longer hold onto the cliff any longer...

The building shook as the first floor began to fall.

He unexpectedly let go of his hands.

"LUCIUS!"

Claire ran with bare feet as fast as her feet could carried her. She forced herself to go faster and prepared herself to dive in to catch him in time.

3...

2..

1..

Claire dove in just in time as Lucius fell and landed on her.

His heavy weight, combined with the pressure when he fell, nearly knocked Claire out unconscious.

Claire coughed and shook her head. She looked at the older man whom she had her arms half-wrapped around his neck.

Lucius had been out of breath himself. The impact of his falling on top of the younger woman, caused him to feel a bit nausea.

Looking at his young beautiful love who looked like she had just came back from the war, Lucius raised one hand and touche the dried blood from a small cut on her left cheek.

"Thank you."

Claire smiled wearily.

Wordlessly, she helped him to get up on his feet, and together, they walked away from the building finally crumpled down.

A/N: The song used for this chapter is "The way you love me" by Faith Hills. I owned nothing of the song whatsover. All copyrights goes to the artist and recording company. Also, I came across HP fandom wiki site while I was doing some search and decided to use the Elementals in the site to fit into the story.