Chapter Seventeen Hope?

News spread fast through the school.

Before the professors had the chance to formally notify the students, almost everyone knew that their headmaster had been killed. Professor McGonagall informed the Gryffindors in the early morning as they crowded into the common room that all classes and examinations were postponed. This left some of the students in a confused state.

"What are we suppose to do until the train gets here?" A third year demanded.

"Funeral arrangements are being made, as well all the professors are concerned about your continuing safety. You are to remain at the school until travel arrangements can be made," The professor explained.

"The train'll probably be here early," Elizabeth whispered to Seamus. The pair accompanied by Lavender and Dean were standing near the portrait hole waiting for Professor McGonagall to finish so they could go to down for breakfast. When Elizabeth had gone to her own dormitory early that morning she had found her friend in a state of panic as the other girl had woken up in a vacant dorm after the night's battle.

After she'd addressed a number of other trivial questions, Professor McGonagall turned to the exit, which the foursome climbed out of before her.

"I suppose my mum'll be wanting me home as soon as possible," Lavender said gloomily as she slumped into her seat at the Gryffindor table.

"I don't think my parents will understand much," Elizabeth put in, relieved that her parents wouldn't be worried.

Elizabeth looked around to find that the Great Hall was not as empty as she had expected it to be. Clusters of students sat eating breakfast in tight groups – much like their own – while owls flew in through the high windows, depositing letters. It looked like a normal morning.

A small barn owl dropped a letter in front of Lavender's plate as she was helping herself to a piece of toast. She jumped for it and after reading it quickly she handed the small roll of parchment to Elizabeth with an apologetic expression.

"Mum's coming tonight to get me," She explained to Dean and Seamus. Elizabeth noted that her friend looked put out but also relieved.

They finished their breakfasts in silence and as they stood the decision to go visit Neville was made so they moved to the Entrance Hall.

"Mam?" Seamus spoke softly and Elizabeth looked up questioningly. She stopped in her tracks as her eyes fell on the figure of Seamus's mother walking into the Entrance Hall through the large double oak front doors. One of her hands was at the small of her back, the other supporting her thirty-four week pregnant stomach.

"What're you doing here?" Seamus asked, stopping a few feet from his mother.

Elizabeth noticed Dean and Lavender continue inconspicuously up the marble staircase. Inching closer, but still maintained some distance behind Seamus, Elizabeth could see Lavena's eyes water at the sight of her son and Elizabeth recognized the longing look she saw, knowing how she wished to embrace her son but also the fear at what might happen if she did.

"I'm taking you home," Lavena said shortly and quietly.

"What?" Seamus demanded; his brow furrowed in genuine confusion.

"Seamus please, let's just…" She paused, taking a small step forward. "Lets just get your things and go."

"Wh– no," Seamus said firmly, replacing the distance with a discrete step back.

"Seamus… please," Lavena pleaded. "Don't make this anymore difficult than –"

"No," Seamus's voice had surpassed normal conversation volume, which caused a passing student to stare for a moment before he sped out of the atrium. Seamus took another backward step so he was standing just in front of Elizabeth's shoulder.

"The school isn't safe anymore, we're goin–"

"What d'you mean it's not safe?" Seamus demanded defensively.

"Professor Dumbledore isn't –"

"And what about the other Professors? Do you think they just forgot how to protect us?" Seamus looked angrily at his mother. "Did you forget who brought me back?"

"Seamus pl–" Lavena's voice rose and Elizabeth's heart ached for the woman.

"I can't leave," Seamus cut her off once again. "Now isn't the time to be walking away."

"Seamus," Elizabeth whispered. He turned to her and behind the anger; there was pain and fear in his eyes. "She's just scared. Think about it from her perspective," She paused, trying to ignore his livid expression. "I know you've been through a lot but remember what you said to me? There are other people affected by what happened." Seamus blinked slowly and Elizabeth saw his eyes soften slightly.

Walking around Seamus, Elizabeth went to his mother who had a single tear streaking down her cheek. With some difficulty Elizabeth wrapped her arms around the older woman's neck, kissing her cheek just as she would her own mother.

Lavena sniffled hard and held Elizabeth tightly, burying her face in the youth's shoulder.

They remained in that position for an indefinite number of minutes until Elizabeth felt a hand tenderly caress her hair, then lift Lavena's hand from her shoulder.

"After the funeral," Seamus compromised, his eyes on his feet. He gently pulled her towards himself and – though Elizabeth saw a muscle in his jaw tense – he allowed his mother to hold him.

&

Elizabeth left Lavena and Seamus together in the Great Hall and went to Hogsmeade in search of a room for Lavena. Every inn was full up but she was fortunate enough to convince the landlady of a small house on the same street as Honeydukes to sublet the place for the week at inn rate.

The security on the grounds, contrary to her expectation, was less than they had been all year. Elizabeth was able to pass from Hogwarts to the village and then back to the school without any sort of confrontation. She assumed it was because of the extreme amount of ministry workers and members of the public who were pouring into the area.

Elizabeth finally returned to the school around midday. She went to the Great Hall and found Lavena sitting by herself at the end of the Gryffindor table.

"Where's he gone now?" Elizabeth asked sitting across from the woman.

"You didn't say in your letters that he's still taking potions," Lavena said with only a hint of accusation in her voice. Pouring a goblet of pumpkin juice, she pushed it toward Elizabeth.

Blood rushed to Elizabeth's cheeks and she opened her mouth to apologize but Lavena put her hand up, stopping her with a small sad smile on her lips.

"Its alright," She said then gestured to the juice which Elizabeth took a sip of. "I'd just thought he was finished with them, that's all."

"He will be at the end of the month," Elizabeth reassured, tracing her finger around the rim of the goblet. "I hadn't even thought to mention that in my letters… I guess when you get so used to things…"

Lavena's hand was suddenly on Elizabeth's. She looked up and found the woman smiling warmly. "Thank-you for taking care of my baby."

"I didn't do any–"

"Then I think you and Seamus need to get your stories straight," Lavena cut Elizabeth off and squeezed her hand. An involuntary smile spread across Elizabeth's face.

"Speaking of babies…" Elizabeth grinned. "How's it going?"

"I think it's going to be just like its brother," Lavena answered, rubbing her side with a warm chuckle. "I swear this child never stops kicking!"

"Does it really?" Elizabeth asked with a small sigh in her voice.

"Here," Lavena's face was aglow with a brilliant smile as she reached for Elizabeth's hand. The younger girl leaned across the table as her hand was placed on Lavena's protruding stomach. Almost instantly the queerest sensation reached Elizabeth's palm as something moved.

"Doesn't that hurt?" She asked incredulously sitting back down shocked, at the force she felt behind the movement.

"Not at all," Lavena shook her head and helped herself to some juice. "Seamus was much worse," She paused reflectively and put the pitcher down. "I guess he hasn't really stopped that, has he?"

"He hasn't been like that in weeks, I have no idea why he was so angry," Elizabeth voiced the shock she'd felt at Seamus's reaction to his mother's appearance.

"He said it had to do with a certain promise he made last night," Lavena said with a raised eyebrow.

Elizabeth blushed as she realized what Lavena said. Lavena laughed at her complexion.

"Just be responsible," She said in a warning tone.

Elizabeth chuckled darkly, which caused both Lavena's eyebrows to rise. "Its hard," Elizabeth said slowly. "He doesn't really trust yet."

Lavena's features softened. "Has he told you anything?" She asked in a slightly hopeful tone.

"Only that… ugh," Elizabeth groaned in disgust. "One of them used my DNA in the polyjuice potion. I was hurting him. I didn't put that in the letters either, I guess I just want to forget that part…"

"He knows it wasn't you," Lavena reassured which caused Elizabeth to look up.

"Did he tell you anything?" Elizabeth asked slowly. Her previous want to learn all she could had given way to caution.

"Nothing, I just know."

"How –"

"The way he talks about you," Lavena answered, holding Elizabeth's hand again. "He loves you very much."

Elizabeth swallowed hard and nodded.

"Are you coming back with us then?" Lavena asked, taking her hand back to rub her side again.

"Can I?" Elizabeth asked hopefully.

"We're going to need you," Lavena answered sadly. "I don't really know how this is going to be now with Seamus... Like I said, just be responsible."

Elizabeth didn't blush this time. "Even if the circumstances were different, we're too–"

"Don't say young, I was your age when I was pregnant with Seamus," Lavena said in a slight rush which caused a small blush to form on her cheeks. Elizabeth's jaw opened to retaliate – she had already known this piece of information – but she was cut off. "There was a war, these things just happen. The world is in the same state now as it was then…"

"Contraceptives are more popular now than they were then," Elizabeth said smoothly, a devilish, teasing grin on her lips as Lavena looked up in shock. "What? You were asking for it!"

They both laughed; Lavena's a relieved laugh; Elizabeth's a free one though to her it held a sad undertone.