Chapter Seven

'No thank you,' he replied smiling at her 'there is something I wouldn't mind getting on with if you don't mind.'

'Of course not,' she said returning the smile 'I had hoped to go and do some shopping, so if you're ok here I'll get on with it.'

'I'll be fine,' Anton said sitting down cross legged on the floor making sure he could still see Harry from where he was positioned.

'Wonderful,' Mrs Figg said picking her coat up 'if there's a problem just floo Dumbledore's office.'

'I'll make sure I do,' Anton nodded 'but before you go have you got an old piece of metal cutlery I can use that you don't mind losing?'

'Of course I'll get you a piece,' she said 'though what you want it for I can't imagine.'

'Thanks that'll be great,' Anton smiled again.

She gave Anton an old knife and left the house with an old bag clutched in her hand, Anton set the knife on the carpet next to him and looked out of the window to make sure Harry hadn't moved- he had chosen to think of his younger self as an entirely different person due to the peculiarity he felt addressing his younger self as himself now.

After ascertaining Harry wasn't going anywhere at the moment he got on with what he was doing. He picked up the knife and made a shallow cut in his middle finger spilling a couple drops of blood, next he conjured a ball of fire in one hand and held the bloody knife in the other.

'I call to the Elements,' he said clearly 'as Fire I ask you to return what is mine.'

He paused before continuing 'with my blood and through this metal I prove my stake in the Fire element and what rightly belongs to Fire.'

Anton thrust the blade into the fire, the fire changed to a bright blue and crackled menacingly, heat grew out of the combined items and it burned hotly. Anton held them together through strength and shear effort until eventually the fire began to grow, he held it aloft in his hands and waited as the inferno grew. When it was about a metre across it suddenly extinguished with a snap, and Anton found himself holding his sword, the blood and knife were also gone and all that remained was Anton's shinning black weapon.

Anton smiled in triumph and grasped the handle tightly familiarising himself with the comforting weight 'I did it,' he whispered slightly in awe.

-=-=-=-=-=-=

Four and a half hours later he climbed back through the fireplace and retuned to Sirius's house, Mrs Weasley was waiting for him not looking at all happy.

'Do I even have to begin?' she asked tapping her foot 'reckless yet again!'

'I sat on a settee for four hours watching cats play,' Anton said lightly 'not at all reckless.'

'That would be your opinion,' Mrs Weasley said throwing her hands in the air in despair.

Anton attempted to look downcast but he was still elated about getting his weapon back and the joy was visible on his face.

'Oh come on!' she said eventually 'a meeting's happening right as we speak.'

They entered the room and quickly took their seats, Snape was speaking and it wasn't for a couple of seconds that he realised what exactly Snape was saying.

'The Dark Lord has a new lieutenant,' he said loudly.

This incited worried mutterings among the group and Snape had to wait a few minutes for the sound to die down until he could continue.

'We're yet to be introduced to her but she is powerful and seems to have appeared out of the blue,' Snape said 'she's also rumoured to have powers that are quite rare, I saw her last night from a distance.'

'Have you any idea what kind?' Lupin asked.

'An affinity with water supposedly,' Snape replied sneering 'the Dark Lord was impressed.'

'Please tell me she hasn't got blonde and blue hair?' Anton asked urgently standing up feeling his stomach drop as far was humanly possible.

'Yes…how did you…?' Snape said surprised.

'I thought I was rid of her,' Anton said faintly rubbing his hands furiously through his hair and eliciting worried looks from the people watching him.

'Anton what's wrong?' Sirius asked standing up as well.

'She's an Elemental,' Anton answered 'Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.'

'And?' Mrs Weasley said looking concerned.

'Earth and Wind were killed,' Anton said panicking slightly 'Fire and Water survived.'

With that he lit a ball of flame 'she betrayed us, she sold us out to Dark Wizards to save her own skin.'

A few gasps followed this statement and Dumbledore spoke up 'Anton could you show us what she is capable of? If it's not too hard for you.'

Anton gave a curt nod and placed his wand against his temple drawing out a silvery beam 'I'll show you from the start of our time as Elementals.'

He threw the beam against a wall and the Order got ready to watch it, a lot of them feeling sickened already.

Memory

The four of them were sitting in a dimly lit room, Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Or as they had changed to

Harry- Anton

Ginny- Gia

Ron- Rhoan

Hermione- Ofelia

The rest of the Order watched the unfamiliar people, their faces had been changed and it was no longer possible for the Order to recognise even their own children. Sirius gazed at the screen trying to process the images he was seeing.

He recognised Anton immediately though his hair was short and he was at least three years younger than he was now, they sat in a circle on the floor their faces young and innocent. On Anton's right side there was the only other lad, and Sirius realised this must be his brother. The boy had silver hair and was jumping up and down with childish excitement making mini twisters twirl in the circle. The girl on Anton's left had long brown and green hair and a smile was stretched across her face as she grew a flower out the ground.

Opposite Anton sat the girl that was now the right hand of Voldemort, she had long velvety blonde hair tinged with streaks of blue, to the watching crowd she looked harmless and enthusiastic.

'We need to make a pact,' the green haired girl said suddenly 'after all we're the only ones that are left.'

Everyone else's faces hardened at this pronouncement and eye's clouded over in grief

'You're right,' Anton agreed 'we should promise to tell each other the truth no matter what the cost.'

'Why?' the blonde haired girl asked innocuously 'we already know we can trust each other, I've known all of you for years, we practically grew up together.'

'We need to make a pact so we'll stand against Voldemort' Rhoan insisted 'to make sure our family and friends didn't die in vain!'

'We are the only one's left' Anton said quietly 'if we don't trust each other then who can we trust?'

'You're right,' the blonde girl agreed 'we'll do it tonight, a pact that we'll stand together and fight no matter what the cost.'

'No matter what,' the green hair girl repeated growing vines in the centre to entwine Rhoan's twisters.

'No matter what' Anton said adding fire to the mix in the centre.

'No matter what' the traitor nodded creating spurts of water.

The Elements combine to create a solid block of white light, the colour of power and purity.

Anton pulled the memory of the wall and putting his wand to his head he barely paused before drawing another two beams of light.

Memory

A cage hung from the air, it wasn't possible to see what was in the cage from Anton's memory but a limp bloody hand hung out from the side and a lock of green and brown hair left no on in doubt of who exactly it was.

Anton and Rhoan stood beneath both shaking in shock as if unable to believe what they were seeing the grief was evident in their faces, there clothes were grubby and their hair was longer and knotted.

Rhoan gave in first, he collapsed with rackin sobs against Anton pulling him to the ground as he fell. Anton clung to his brother silent tears running down his face as he clutched the sobbing teenager.

'I promised' sobbed Rhoan 'I promised to keep her safe and I failed, I failed Mum and Dad.'

'We failed' Anton said trying to draw himself together for the sake of his friend 'but we are not to blame this is her fault, she betrayed us.'

'She wouldn't!' Rhoan screamed drawing back 'She would never have killed her, she loved her, she was her best friend,'

'Then who else was it?' Anton said angrily rubbing his streaming eyes 'how do you explain this?'

'I don't know?' Rhoan wailed a fresh wave of sobs encompassing him 'I just want her back!'

'I know,' Anton said hugging his adoptive brother 'I know exactly how you feel.'

The memory ended as harshly as it had begun, Anton's face was stoic and cold as he waited for the next memory to take place, he was trying not to look at the Weasley's, they didn't know it but they were watching their own son break down and that fact was breaking Anton.

Memory

They watched as the teenagers sat miserably in the cold at least two years had passed by and both lads looked grubby and tired.

'I'm going to get some wood' Ron/ Rhoan said quietly walking to the door of the old shack he and Anton were sharing, there was no furniture and the only clothes they had to protect themselves was the ones they were wearing.

'What, now?' Anton asked studying his best friend closely taking in the dark tired bags and pale face.

'I need a walk' Rhoan growled taking a swig on some old bottle, he looked out at the dark windy night 'I'm Wind what's this little bit of breeze going to do to me?'

'Let me come with you!' Anton said slightly desperately as he looked at the state of his friend.

'NO!' Rhoan half yelled 'I need some time to myself' he paused to compose himself 'I didn't mean…I just need some time, please Anton just let me be.'

Anton nodded unhappily 'just be careful we don't know who's out there.'

'If that bitch is here I'll kill her' Rhoan said his voice slightly slurred by alcohol 'but right now I just need some time.'

'Ten minutes and then I'm coming to look for you' Anton said sternly.

'You're not my Dad' Rhoan said stumbling over his words 'remember he's Dead!'

'I was there as well,' Anton muttered turning away from the former red-head.

'Everyone was there' Rhoan grumbled yanking the door open and stepping out into the roaring wind 'even Mum was there.'

When he had gone Anton buried his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes hard as if trying to dispel a nightmare. Thirty seconds had barely passed when a yell could be heard clearly in the hut, the door was burst open by a strong gust and it howled

'Anton!'

Anton didn't pause he grabbed his sword and ran from the shack, he ran through the pitch black forest night not stopping until he heard a shout of

'Avada Kedavra!'

Anton stumbled and fell to his knees in despair, pushing himself back up he started running again. He burst through into a clearing and halted as he saw Rhoan's prone body on the ground.

'No' he whispered.

'Looks like he's dead' a voice said.

Anton and the Order all watched as the blonde girl stepped into frame she was dressed in a silver robe and as Anton stared at her she twirled on the spot

'Appropriate?' she asked innocently 'I had it made especially to kill Rhoan, after all it was his colour.'

Anton snarled and raised his blade 'why did you do it?' he said bitterly.

'Power' she smiled 'I did it for power, goodbye old friend.'

Anton hurled a rocket of flame at the empty spot she had just been standing in and screamed 'Bitch!'

His anger left him and he turned round to look at the dead body of Rhoan and a sob burst from his mouth.

Anton clicked his fingers and the memory vanished, he regarded the stunned Order with a look of defiance on his face.

'When I get the chance I will kill her' he whispered before fleeing the room.

--=-=-=-=-=-=-

The room exploded in noise as people began speaking of the power and nerve their new enemy possessed, Sirius ignored it and after urging a look from Mrs Weasley he hurried after Anton.

He found the boy sitting on the stairwell staring at nothing, Sirius sat down tentatively next to him and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, Anton continued to stare into space his face grief stricken.

'Anton,' Sirius said softly 'I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that again.'

Anton turned his head slowly and gazed at his unknowing Godfather 'they're dead,' he said miserably 'I never saved them and I didn't even realise my own best friend was a murderer.'

'The people we trust the most are often those who cut us the deepest,' Sirius said sadly.

'I failed them,' Anton said a lone tear trickled down his face 'I was alone for so long without them.'

'Trust me when I say I know how that feels,' Sirius said thinking of Pettigrew 'but the pain does get easier.'

'I had to bury him on my own,' Anton whispered 'there was always someone to do it with before, but when he died…'

'He'd be proud of you if he could see you now,' Sirius said firmly 'you have nothing to be sorry for.'

'I just want them all back,' Anton said real tears beginning to spill down his face 'I want my parents back, I want my friends and family back, and I want my Godfather back.'

He seemed to deflate in energy and he let hot angry sobs peel from his body 'I want them back!'

'I know,' Sirius said his own tears visible on his face, he pulled the young man who was barely older than a teenager closer to him.

Anton put his head against Sirius's shoulder and let all of the pain he had been keeping inside him spill out, Sirius clutched him around his shoulder, just like he had held Ron when Earth had died. Anton savoured the first real contact he was having with his Godfather, what he had wanted ever since he had been a child.

They sat there for a long time with Anton crying like the child he had never had the chance to be, for Sirius it had brought back his own similar feelings of pain, loss, betrayal and loneliness.

-=-=-=-=-=-=

That night a knock came at Sirius's door.

'Come in,' Sirius called looking up from the photo album he was going over.

Lupin pushed the door open and walked in, Sirius's old Gryffindor room was gone and was instead taken up by a more adult blue and silver, grey colour scheme, Sirius himself was sitting at his desk with his feet propped up on the antique bureau.

'I'm sorry I missed it tonight,' Lupin said apologetically 'I heard the meeting was eventful.'

'Did Molly tell you?' Sirius asked looking at his friend.

'No Kingsley did when we swapped' Lupin replied 'was it as bad as he made it sound?'

'Worse,' Sirius said groaning 'it was awful Anton had to match the memories all over again and it brought back…you know.'

'Peter's betrayal,' Lupin said quietly 'is that why you've got the old photos out?'

Sirius looked down at a picture of himself, Lupin, James and Peter 'memories' he muttered 'sometimes they're good sometimes…'

'How was Anton?' Lupin asked concerned.

'A wreck,' Sirius said honestly 'he was completely lost, we got him to go to bed eventually, after he'd spent so long bottling it all up it was like it opened the floodgates.'

'How did everyone else take it?' Lupin said.

'Pretty understanding, most have lost people themselves,' Sirius said 'we all have the memories, we just saw Anton's in a bleaker light.'

'Do you think he'll be ok?'

'I think so,' Sirius said tentatively 'but Goddamn it he's only twenty one, we were still pulling pranks at that age!'

'And look where that got us,' reminded Lupin 'maybe it's better to be prepared.'

'You and I both know that's not true,' Sirius retorted 'you shouldn't have to give up your childhood to fight off bastards. Looking at Anton makes me worry if that's what Harry's going to have to face.'

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Anton sat in his bed with the bedclothes wrapped round his feet, his mind was still in the future and the deaths to come. His door opened and Sirius stuck his head round taking in Anton's depressed state.

'Can I come in?' he asked gently.

Anton nodded and Sirius pushed the door open, he was carrying two mugs and he was balancing them to make sure he didn't spill any of the liquid.

'Coffee?' he said shaking one of the cups.

Anton held out a hand and took the silently, Sirius sat on the end of the bed and took a sip of his own drink watching Anton closely.

'How are you?' he asked.

'Fine,' Anton muttered looking up 'thanks for…' he trailed off after giving Sirius a meaningful look.

Sirius smiled in understanding 'I'm just glad I could have been there,' he said truthfully 'though you should get some sleep you look beat.'

'Can't,' Anton said staring at the light brown liquid.

'Well at least have something to drink,' Sirius said gesturing to the cup.

Anton quirked his lips slightly and took a big gulp just to satisfy the man, as soon as he had swallowed it he felt drowsy his eyelids began to droop and he tried to blink to clear the fatigue. The mug was plucked out of his hand and Anton looked at Sirius's apologetic face trying to process what it meant.

'You drugged me,' he said his voice slurring.

'Desperate times call for desperate measures,' Sirius said shrugging 'and you look shattered.'

Anton flopped back into his bed yawning.

'It's fast acting,' Sirius said looking guilty.

'No shit,' Anton said succumbing to sleep.

Sirius placed both cups of coffee on the bedside table and stood up, turning to Anton he pulled the covers him and turning off the light he picked the cups up and left the room.