Diagon Alley, June 1, 1976

Ella kept up her Lady Mora appearance as she walked through Diagon Alley. She had already begun to acquaint herself with the more prestigious sort that tended to roam Diagon Alley. And so she traded the occasional polite nod. Nearly all the gentry had wanted to meet her, the youngest to ever graduate from Hogwarts.

But that was not her business today. No, today she was going to meet a very old friend who hopefully would remember her. She walked confidently through the front doors of Gringotts, and only paused to scan the room. When she found the figure she was looking for, she walked straight to his line. It was rather short, with only two people ahead of her. She smirked. Two very important people, high in the Wizengamot. If Griphook recognized her, this would do wonders for her reputation.

Griphook did indeed recognize her, if only by the curious ring she wore on her right hand. He called over one of the younger goblins.

"Lightscar, please take over for me. I have more pressing business to attend to." Both of the influential persons in his line looked affronted, not even beginning to imagine what would be more pressing than their business. Griphook merely grinned a Goblin grin and stepped down from his pedestal.

"My Lady, if you would follow me." He bowed, slight enough for only the goblins and the Lady before him to recognize it. All the goblins stopped what they were doing momentarily, surprised to see a goblin bowing before a witch. They all memorized her face, making a note to give her the best service possible whenever she walked through their doors. A friend to Griphook was a friend to all goblins. And goblins rarely made human friends. And all the humans inside the bank turned to stare at what the goblins were looking at. Ella hid a smirk. This day alone would grant her more alliances and trust than the entire summer put together.

Ella let her eyes twinkle at Griphook, to assure him his usage of a title was appropriate. She was so grateful for the goblin's discernment. Without another word, he led the way to a private room. As they entered, she waved a hand casually at the door behind her. Several wards began to shine different colors, and Griphook looked at them in dissatisfaction.

"Have you no faith in this establishment?" He asked, disgruntled. If it had been any other human, Griphook would have thrown them out on their rear. As it was, he finally let the grin he had been hiding stretch his mouth, revealing pointed teeth.

The girl in front of him quickly transformed. Her bright red hair turned into wild black curls that cascaded down her back. Her green eyes turned grey, and her height decreased a bit.

"Griphook!" She said joyously as soon as the transformation had finished. "Aren't you a bit old to still be working the floor?" She said good naturedly.

Griphook shrugged. "Perhaps. But it does a nation good to see its King willing to work hard."

Ella's eyes opened wide. This was very good news. She had not been expecting this. "King, Griphook?" She quickly bowed a goblin bow. Griphook tried very hard not to react. This was the first time a human had bowed to him. And such a powerful one, at that. The humans held Merlin in such high respect. How would they react at knowing that this slight girl of fourteen in front of him was far more powerful than Merlin could have ever dreamed?

"Before we move on, there is two things I need to tell you, Lady Sinclair. The first is that there has been a Prophecy made about you. It was about five years ago, when Tom Riddle began gaining power. It's not known to the public, as I thought you would appreciate it being kept quiet."

Ella nodded, her eyes serious. Prophecies were dangerous things, especially in the wrong hands. She closed her eyes for a moment in grief, hardly daring to remember the results of one such Prophecy in the wrong hands.

"Reveal it to me, Griphook." She spoke quietly, and Griphook wondered what memories tormented her. But he recited the Prophecy without hesitation.

When the Dark One has cheated death itself

And returned to destroy the one who lived

A Sinclair will rise with him

To give the boy a power the Dark One knows not

To return the world as it should be

To live and let live

Ella nearly shivered at the power behind those words. This Prophecy was made by one visited by Fate herself.

"Who made this Prophecy?" She asked. Griphook looked at her.

"Aurora Lovegood. She has recently married Xenophilius Lovegood. She was a Ravenclaw, highly talented in Potions. She has never made a Prophecy before this, though Seer blood runs through her veins."

Griphook stated these facts while examining Ella closely. She seemed to be thinking about something.

"Thank you, Griphook." She said, her eyes staring at something he could not see. "Keep it well hidden. I imagine some will wish to see it in about twenty years. Let them." Ella blinked, and looked straight at Griphook. "Let's move one, shall we?" Her tone was all business, so the Goblin King replied likewise.

"Of course, my Lady. The second thing is somewhat harder to tell you." He bowed his head in grief. Ella sat very still, with only her white knuckles revealing her inner turmoil.

"I already know, Griphook." Just saying that took a good deal out of her. The goblin looked up, hardly surprised. "It was one of the first things I found out, when I got here." Her grief had overwhelmed her then. The only thing that had made her come out of her trunk then was the magical oath she had made to an older Harry Potter. She still hadn't cried, even then. She knew her parents would die, she just didn't know it would be at the hands of a Dark Lord.

She struggled to maintain her composure. "Thank you for your bravery in telling me and your friendship. But I have no time to grieve now. Please, let us continue." The goblin eyed her suspiciously red eyes, but continued anyway.

They went through over 70 years of business rather quickly. Though she seemed not to, she trusted the goblins implicitly. She left much up to Griphook's judgment, only asking that he make as much money as he could. And Griphook was only too happy to comply, as he made a percentage off of her account.

All her properties had been rented out over the years, as she had asked. She could have let them lie all these years, but a magical house was most satisfied when occupied. That way, the wards and the ancient magic within all of them were being replenished every year.

"Over the next few years, Griphook, I want Lady Mora to buy out share holdings in the Daily Prophet. Do it discretely enough that no one will stop you, but not so discretely that no one will notice." The goblin grinned, loving the Slytherin side that was coming out to play in this Lady.

"I want to purchase a building in London for my use this summer. It doesn't matter where, just a decently sized one surrounded by Muggles. Somewhat like the Black residence, in fact. I'll rearrange and furnish it, though I want to purchase a house elf. They're dead useful, those elves are. In fact, could you make the purchase now?" Ella paused after she asked the question. Griphook nodded.

"Fornuk!" Griphook called. A middle aged goblin entered, looking bemused at the wards that barely let him in before they closed shut again. "Find an elf that's smart, capable, and well trained. Offer a bid, and get it here. Price is no matter." The goblin bowed and left.

""Your elf should be here within the hour." Griphook said, slightly smug. Ella smirked and raised a glass of wine she had just poured.

"May your efficiency never waver." She said.

Until the elf got there, Ella continued to discuss her Plan with the goblin. Most of it was political. The goblins knew more of wizarding politics than the average Wizengamot seat holder. Griphook advised her on many things, for which she was very grateful. If Ella had a weak point, it would be politics. She detested them, but they were necessary in her Plan.

Finally the elf arrived. She popped in, and looked around with large intelligent eyes.

"Mimsy at your service, Lady." The elf said as she curtsied. She was rather attractive for a house elf, but clearly starved and clothed in stained and holey rags.

Ella was outraged. Who would dare treat a house elf like this? In her time, the elves were treated well in every home. Though regarded as magical creatures, they were respected for their talents.

"Who were your previous masters?" Ella questioned the elf in a quiet voice. Griphook knew it well, and feared for the previous Masters.

The elf looked up at Ella. "Lady Walburga Black and her poor husband, Lady." The elf was wondering why the human looked so speculative now.

"Black, you say?" Ella knew Sirius' parents were supporters of Voldemort, but to treat an elf like this? The elf was curious. What would her new Lady do with this information? Mimsy thought she should speak up.

"Most elves just be happy to serve. Most elves in houses treated exactly like Mimsy. Is just Mimsy that didn't like Blacks. Excepting young Sirius."

Mimsy decided that her new Lady didn't look any happier with this information.

"So you're telling me, Mimsy, that no one treats house elves well?" Ella calmly asked.

"No, Lady. Just most." Was Mimsy's reply.

Ella thought carefully about this. This would be something else she would change in the future. But she didn't have time now. She would just send a little present this summer to Walburga Black.

"Mimsy, you are my first elf, and as such, you are my Head elf. Are you okay with this?" Ella asked carefully.

"Oh yes, Lady. Mimsy is good at Head jobs, but Lady Black was never allowing it. Preferred Kreacher she did. And he's no good." Mimsy looked conflicted of speaking of her previous Lady like that, but shook her head soon enough. She wasn't a Black elf anymore.

Ella saw the struggle of the elf, and was happy that the elf was strong minded enough to resist punishing herself.

"Good. Now I know you are bound by house elf laws, so I will not disrespect them by demanding your secrecy. I know you will take my secrets to death with you." Mimsy nodded fervently, happy to have a Lady that knew house elf laws.

"I give you permission to get away if ever caught. May you always find your way back to me or my house." The last sentence was infused with Ella's magic. No force on earth could ever keep Mimsy away. Only death. Ella waved her hand over the elf, giving her many protections. Most were well kept Sinclair protections, guarded by centuries of Sinclairs and passed down through the generations. Mimsy gasped as she felt the protections cling to her.

"Oh, my Lady is far too kind, to be giving an elf all these!" Mimsy was close to tears.

"No, Mimsy. You will be given much responsibility. And you belong to me. That alone comes with my protections. Along with that comes decent clothes and housing." Ella waved her hand again. Instantly, Mimsy was clothed in a dress. "It is not real clothing, Mimsy." Ella spoke just as Mimsy was beginning to panic. "Just the finest pillowcase transfigured into a dress. Wear it with pride." And so Mimsy did.

"I have many things to accomplish this summer, Mimsy, and you are going to help me do all of it." Mimsy stood up straighter. "First, find me a house in London. It needs to be unremarkable and surrounded by Muggles. The goblins will make the purchase. That will be your house, so take care of it. If you need them, get more elves. Make sure they will do good work, but it would be even better if I could take them from homes who do not appreciate them. Next, start sending out invitations to all the elite in Magical Britain. I need to make many allies this summer, and hopefully a few friends. Next, make sure no elves except mine can enter the house. I will have more tasks for you, but for now, that is all." Mimsy bowed to her new mistress and disappeared without a sound.

Griphook had watched the entire thing, more sure than ever of the girl in front of him. So when she turned to him and asked him a question, he was sure of his answer.

"Griphook. There will come a time when the goblins will have to fight. Now, it could be with me, or it could be without. You know Tom Riddle will not stop at Muggles and Muggleborns. He intends to wipe this world of all he thinks unworthy. I know the Council takes time to decide anything. Over the next twenty years, convince them to fight with me. Not for me, as you are born warriors, and I am not. If you do not fight, and I am defeated…" Ella let the sentence hang in the air. But Griphook was nodding already.

"It is a hard task, but one I will endeavor to finish. Be assured, I will do my best." Griphook stated.

"I couldn't ask for anything more." Ella replied, her heart warm. With the goblins, Harry would have a greater chance than ever.

"One last question before we part ways today, Griphook."

oooOooo

Ella knelt at her parent's graves. She knew she could see them again, someday. But only when the Plan was complete. She fought her tears. A Sinclair never cried in public. It didn't matter that she was the only living soul in miles. No, she was surrounded by Sinclairs, and so she would not cry.

Everywhere she looked, her eyes rested on the Sinclair name. Grindelwald had done his best to exterminate her family. And he had nearly succeeded. She was the only one left, without a male to carry on the name.

Cold stone stared her in the face, mocking her. She was cold. Ella grit her teeth and stood to her feet. It would take more than a power hungry Dark Lord or two to break her.

"Mimsy, I'm ready." Ella wrapped her cloak tighter around her as her elf pooped in and popped her back out. She found herself standing in front of Azkaban.

"Thank you Mimsy, I'll call when I'm done." The shivering elf nodded, only too glad to pop away from this cold place.

Ella strode through the doors, barely feeling the cold. She was already cold, what were a few dementors? An Auror looked on as she crossed the threshold. In all his years at the prison, he'd seen maybe five visitors. And none had been able to withstand the dementor's effects like this mere girl without a Patronus. He looked at his own tiger stalking around him. His orders had been to let the girl through to see one of their max security prisoners, from the Head of the DMLE himself. He shrugged. Who was Kingsley Shackelbolt to try and understand the inner workings of the Ministry? But he would keep an eye on the girl. She interested him, and he liked interesting things.

Ella walked forward, not bothering with the dementors at all. She knew how to destroy them, and they would fear her quickly enough if they tried to attack. Of course they were bringing her worst memories to the surface, but she didn't let that stop her.

Before long, she was standing in front of a metal wall. Two guards were standing in front of it. Both of them looked at her, and one opened his mouth. Before he could say anything, a rather large black man stepped out from behind a corner.

"I'll take her through gentlemen. Thank you." Both men nodded deferentially, and stepped aside. The bigger man waved his wand at the wall of metal. After about thirty seconds of creakings and groanings, a human sized hole opened up. Ella walked forward, numb. She found herself in a small room, with another door in front of her. The black man stepped in behind her and waved his wand at the wall behind them. It slowly sealed itself back up. He stepped forward to open the other door, but Ella stopped him.

"I would prefer to go in alone." Her tone brooked no argument, but still the man in front of her hesitated. "I will be fine. Even if he does manage to overpower me and get my wand, he still has to get out the door. Where you will be waiting. Now go." The ice in her heart had crept into her voice. The man raised his eyebrows, but without a word, he nodded and stepped back.

Ella adjusted her cloak, making sure the guard couldn't see her and stepped through the remaining door. She did not know what to expect, so what she saw did not surprise her.

A swarthy man sat hunched over a desk, furiously writing. Under his dark complexion, he was pale. It was clear he used to be big and strong, but he had lost all that but his height. Grey streaked through his hair and beard, soon it would take over the black. At her entrance he looked up slowly, a sneer on his face. She lowered the hood of her cloak.

As he met her silver eyes though, the sneer faded, as did whatever color he had left. A quill dropped from his hand.

"No." He rasped. "It can't be. You're dead. They all said you were dead!" The last was a shout, and he threw himself at her. The ice took over her body. With a flick of her eyes, she suspended him in the air. She quietly tucked her wand away.

"No." She said, softly. "I'm not dead." His eyes never left hers, even as fear started to creep in them. Without a second thought, she forcefully entered his mind. He shuddered under her attack. She paused gleefully at his first thought, he was scared because he had never seen someone control their magic like she did. He quickly reassembled his mind protections. She was mildly impressed, Dumbledore had taught him well. But not well enough. With a silent snarl, she blasted past all his protections. She mercilessly found all she wanted to within seconds. She sorted through his memories until she had all she needed to. Ella broke the connection, but kept him in the air.

She looked out his small window, at the endless water. She wanted to destroy this man like he destroyed her family. Her parents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins. The ice hardened in her heart even more. Some of her cousins had been little more than babies when this man had killed them.

"You are lucky Dumbledore still loves you. Anyone else would have had you Kissed, or worse." Ella still didn't look at the man she had in her grasp. Just a flicker of her eyes, and he would be gone. Crushed to death before he could blink.

"This prison, this cage, is not luck!" he shouted at her. "If Dumbledore loved me like he said he did, he would have set me free years ago! I-" The man found himself unable to speak anymore. Ella slowly turned.

"You think you deserve to be free?" She spat the word at him. But she needed no answer. She could see in his eyes that he felt no guilt.

She flicked her hand and her wand shot into her palm. The ice had hardened in her eyes as well. If he felt no guilt, then she would feel none as well.

But even as she mouthed the word, "Crucio…" her heart wasn't in it. Warmth came rushing back as well as shame. What would her parents say about this? They would say to forgive. She struggled internally for a few more moments. She had seen her parents die in his memories. She had felt his glee as he tortured them to death. Her hand shook as the memories overwhelmed her. Not only did she see his memories, but her own.

Because of men like the one in front of her, she had seen more pain and suffering than she had ever wanted to. Power began to build around the young girl as she remembered. She was no longer cold, no she was hot now. Her skin burned, she felt like her blood was boiling underneath it.

A memory of an older man stumbling on a New York street filled her mind. A man in black sneered down at the figure. Even as she reached out, a green light filled the air, and Harry Potter was no more.

A scream was torn from her throat. Agony tore at the walls of her throat on the way up. The guards outside shared a brief glance before all three were trying to get through the thick metal wall.

Ella was blind with grief, with memories. And yet, her captive still could not move. In fact, as her power continued to build, it slowly started to overwhelm him. He struggled, but even with all his immense power, he still could not even blink. He stared helplessly at the girl in front of him, hating her. Her eyes were wide and unseeing. Her pupil had dilated until there was barely any silver left. He could barely hear the sound of the door opening over the girl's screaming. He was aware that she had nearly tortured him, before starting to scream.

Ella could barely stand the grief that she had tucked away for so long overflowing all at once. She was strong, but not this strong. Ella just wanted to give up.

Suddenly, a greenish light filled the room. Ella stopped screaming abruptly. She recognized a Time Stop when she saw one.

"Do you truly give up, little one?" A sage voice spoke all around her. A warm light pulsed around the green.

"We can help you with that, Daughter." The last voice echoed for what seemed an eternity. "You always have a choice."

Ella froze. She would recognize these voices anywhere. And they were offering her a way out.

The green light pulsed again. "But everything would happen as you saw it. You would have never existed, the timeline will never change. You are our only choice. We will send no other."

Ella slumped. There was a choice, but never for her.

"No, I do not give up. Lady Fate, Mother Time, please release me. I have much to do still."

The lights vanished and Ella stood standing at the man in front of her again. With a wave of her hand, she stopped time again. The sounds of the door opening faded again.

"Grindelwald, your punishment has not had the effect some hoped." The once strong man stared at the girl in front of him. Her scream had been abruptly cut off, and now she was standing in front of him like nothing had happened. The authority in her voice rang through his bones.

"As such, I bestow a new punishment on you. The punishment of guilt. From the moment Time begins anew, you will be ravaged by guilt, forced to relive every wrong you have wrought. This is your fate, until you meet Fate herself. So I speak, and so I intend. So mote it be."

Ella released her hold on the man, sure he would not be able to move. She had felt her power move out from her in her distress, and knew the affect it would have.

She was right. He could barely focus on just breathing, let alone moving.

"You hunted my family down to find me. You guessed at who I was, and wished to control me. It would have never worked."

Grindelwald panted, realizing that truth even now.

"I came here to kill you, but I will not be a murderer. I will not take a life. Though it is within my power, as surely as it is within every mortal's power, it is not my right. No matter how much you have wronged me. I have not plagued you with guilt beyond what you have done. Not even guilt for what you meant to do. I have also stripped all magical power from you. You are a Squib, effectively. You will never see me again."

With one last glimpse into his stricken eyes, she pulled the hood of her cloak on and left just as the guards finished opening the door. They rushed in, expecting to find Grindelwald standing over her crumpled body, her wand in his hand. Instead, the young girl brushed past them without a second look. And it was Grindelwald who was lying crumpled on the floor.

oooOooo

Kingsley Shackelbolt took in his surroundings with an expert eye. What he saw made no sense. They had also felt the power building with the scream they heard. It had shaken the stone floor beneath their feet. They had assumed it to be Grindelwald. But the man was a blubbering mess, muttering something about Squibs and time.

The raw power had shredded every piece of paper that had been in Grindelwald's room. As the man had been writing an autobiography, there was plenty of paper. As it all floated gently around the room, Shackelbolt noted the rest of the destruction. The bed was in pieces, the desk had exploded, all the bedding and Grindelwald's clothing were tattered. It took a great amount of power to do this, let alone shake the foundations of Azkaban.

With that thought resounding in his mind, Kingsley took off after the girl.

oooOooo

Ella walked leisurely along the corridors of Azkaban. She had summoned her Patronus this time, unwilling to again relive her worst memories. The big cat stalked around her, and she absently let her hand brush against it occasionally. Ella ignored the happy sighs of the prisoners around her as her Patronus momentarily relieved their suffering. She also ignored the screams as she passed their cells. Soon, the hulking black man had caught up to her.

"Hello Kingsley Shackelbolt." Ella said softly. She did not stop. The man behind her, however, did. After a moment, he caught back up.

"Who are you?" He questioned harshly, his wand slowly making its way into a defensive position.

"My name is Eleanor Sinclair." Ella still didn't falter. She hadn't counted on this man, but he would be a great asset.

"What were you doing in there?" Kingsley's voice was still harsh. He knew from experience that witches were no less equal in power than wizards. Just different. And still dangerous.

"That man killed my family. I went to kill him too." She said it so matter of fact, that Kingsley nearly missed the meaning of what she said.

"But he is still alive." He decided to state the obvious, hoping it would get him some answers.

Ella laughed humorlessly. "Yes, he is. But far worse than if he had actually been dead."

His eyes widened. What had this witch done? And then they narrowed in suspicion. This witch did not sound very old, and he hadn't really seen her. Just a glimpse of pale skin and dark hair under her hood.

They reached the main gate. He grabbed her arm and pulled her hood down. Pale silver eyes stared evenly back at him.

He swallowed his fear. She couldn't be more than fifteen. "What have you done?" His deep voice was even deeper now.

Ella did not have to answer him. But she wanted to. She wanted this man on her side. She had seen much already, and he would be very useful.

"I took away his magic completely. But I left him his memories. And I gave him a gift." She smiled, but her eyes were dull.

Kingsley tightened his grip on his wand. What kind of magic did she know that allowed her to do that? No one he knew could do that.

"I gave him the gift of a conscience. He will suffer from his guilt the rest of his days." Ella lifted her chin, not ashamed of what she had done.

Kingsley stared at the girl in front of him. Whoever, whatever she was, that man had killed her parents. She had gone in intending to kill him, and she didn't. She gave him a conscience. He didn't know what to think, except that she was very powerful and he was glad she wasn't mad at him.

"There is another who grabs at power like that one did. He is rising, fast." She hissed the last word. "There are those who align with him, those that defy him, and those who ignore him. Only those that defy him can truly win, all others will perish. The time to decide which side you are on is now, Kingsley Shackelbolt. I and my friend, Lady Mora, defy him. If you so choose, meet her at this time in a week at the Shrieking Shack. I will not see you again. Goodbye." With that, Mimsy came out of the corner where she was hiding, grabbed her mistress's hand, and disappeared.

Kingsley stared for what seemed like an eternity where the young witch had disappeared. He had a feeling that something huge had happened at Azkaban today, but he could not even begin to fathom what.

oooOooo

Her aunt had looked worriedly at her as she trudged through the front door, but Ella ignored it. After giving a weary hello, she locked herself in her room. She still refused to cry. She had done it once in a moment of weakness, and she didn't want to do it again. She would cry when she felt strong.

Ella steeled herself. She had much to do still this summer, and feeling sorry for herself wasn't a part of her Plan.

She continued making friends, and determining who was on her side. As the summer waned, she finally faced what she had been dreading.

When she was safely in her townhouse, she called Mimsy to her first. The house elf curtsied, and Ella smiled.

"Mimsy, I'm going to be leaving for a long time. Before I leave, I am going to place a Time Ward on you and the other house elves you've hired. Everything will age around you, but you will stay the same. Keep the house in good shape, don't let anybody in the house but me. You can take messages, but that is all. Make sure everyone is well-fed." Mimsy looked at her with tears in her eyes, but Ella stood firm. "I mean it, Mimsy. I'm trusting you to do this."

The elf stood straighter. "Of course, Missy Ella. We will do as you say." Mimsy bowed, and left the room.

With a quiet sigh, Ella called Lucius. Within minutes, both Lucius and Sev were standing before her. Lucius looked at her with pain and understanding when they landed.

"It's time, isn't it?" Lucius asked. Ella nodded sadly. Oh, how she wished she could stay. But Lucius could never be hers, no matter how much she wished, or whether she stayed or not.

"What do you want us to do?" Lucius was all business now, while Severus just stood back and watched as his friends hurt each other and themselves. Even he knew it couldn't be helped.

"Make me an army." Ella said bluntly. Lucius merely raised an eyebrow.

"You'll have to be more specific than that." Severus drawled.

Ella walked around to her desk and leaned over it, pretending to read the notes in front of her so she didn't have to see Lucius' face.

"There will be more like you two, forced into taking the Mark by either friends or family. There will be others, who realize too late what they've gotten into and who will want a way out. You two will provide that way out, through me." Ella barely paused, looking past Lucius to Severus.

"The Dark Lord will send you back to Hogwarts to teach and to spy. Lucius will sponsor you for your Potions Mastery, start working on it now. There will come a time when Dumbledore will have reason to believe that you could be loyal to him, and to him only. When that time comes, Severus, you must make both the Dark Lord and Dumbledore believe you are loyal to only them. My protections will guard against the worst all the Death Eaters can throw at you. Do as Dumbledore instructs you, he will also protect you. You will be his precious spy, as well as the Dark Lord's. Rise high in his ranks, my precious friend. It will mean all the difference."

Severus was pale, but he managed to nod. His life was going to be dangerous, but he had given his word. "Severus." He looked back at his dear friend. "Eventually you will be head of Slytherin. Do what you must to gain their trust. There will be several generations that you can influence early on. Please." Ella knew what she was asking him to do, and it was hurting her. Sev seemed to understand though, because he sent her a wry grin.

"And me?" Lucius snarled. "What will you have me do, Arabella? Marry a woman I don't love, then kill and torture Muggles into a place as the Dark Lord's right hand man? And then risk my life to turn other Death Eater's into your soldiers? Well, that's a fine plan." His blue eyes were like ice, and every time they flashed in righteous anger, her heart was pierced yet again.

She lifted her eyes to the man she could have loved, owing him at least that. "Yes."

Lucius hissed, and spun around. Severus glanced sympathetically at Ella. She smiled grimly at him before speaking again, knowing her words would drive Lucius even further away from her. She begged Severus with her eyes to keep Lucius on the right track, to help him as his heart mended.

"Serve the Dark Lord faithfully. Do as he instructs. Raise your son right, Lucius. Don't let him become an arrogant, self-righteous little prick. He can act it, to preserve secrecy, but don't let that become his identity." Lucius had half turned back to her. He nodded stiffly. Even amidst his anguish, he felt pride that he would not only have a child, but that it would be a son.

Hesitantly, he asked, "Even though you won't be here for a while, I know I won't die until you get back. So, will you be the godmother?"

Ella's breath caught in her throat. She didn't expect that. She nodded, biting her lip. His eyes hardened again. She had one last thing to say, and she had to practically force the words through her stiff lips.

"Narcissa is a good woman. She'll love you and your son more than her own life. Lucius, please, love her back." Lucius turned completely back to her, rage fueling his every move. How dare she? He loved her, and she knew it! How dare she ask that of him?

Ella quickly grabbed her satchel that was lying within reach and waved her wand. As she slowly faded away, all she could see were ice blue eyes filled with a fury that quickly changed into sorrow when he realized what was happening.

Before she was gone, she mouthed something that Lucius and Severus barely caught.

I'll be back.