DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Harry Potter or any of its characters. I also do not make any money from this.

WARNINGS: Yaoi (male x male), Yuri (female x female) adult topics, swearing, sexual scenes and violence

PAIRINGS I know of so far: (pairings will be added as they are mentioned in chapters)

Ron x Hermoine, Blaise x Cho, Neville x Ginny, Saito x Draco (past), Harry x Draco

This has not been Beta'd.

'text' is thought

"text" is talking

Hidden Element

Chapter 54: The aftermath

Elementals:

Ice and Void – Draco Malfoy

Fire – Pansy Parkinson (injured)

Earth – Blaise Zabini

Nature – Cho Chang (injured)

Light – Cherrie Everdeen (OC) (injured)

The Forgotten:

Electricity – Saito Blackstar (OC) (unknown)

Animal – Carsly Hendricks (OC) (dead)

Shadow – Alakai Petrovski (OC) (dead)

Water - Yasmin DiAngelo (unknown)

Wind - Miya Hendricks (OC) (hospitalized)

There was that dreaded feeling in his stomach again. He knew, he just knew what was suddenly waiting on the other side of the door. The sky had turned dark, stars littered its veil. With a slight stretch, he sat up stiffly, giving the blonde beside him a soft look before getting out of bed. He took a shower, got clothed in pajamas and a hoodie and opened the door to face the music.

He soon found them in the living room, soft yet stern voiced guiding the way. Sure enough, none of the elementals were present. Had they excused themselves or had the order asked them take leave? All eyes were on him instantly. Luna was precariously perched as always, a smile present on her face. Ginny and Ron gave him a cursory glance before guiding slightly red faces back to their parents. Hermoine had that tight lipped smile that stated she wanted everyone to get along, yet wanted to scream at them for acting so childish. Neville was unsure how to act, conflicted by what he thought.

"Mr. Potter." McGonagall stated with a heavy tone. He couldn't help but roll his eyes, to which her lips thinned.

"Where on earth have you been?"

"Somewhere to think." Harry sat down next to Luna.

"You had us all worried!" She stated harshly. He ignored them all, eyes falling on the one he felt most sorry for leaving. Remus gave him a small smile in response, one which showed he understood, but that she was also speaking the truth. It made him feel guilty.

"I know, and I'm sorry for that, but I needed to sort things out!" Her face softened.

"I do understand. You of all people have faced so much. Seen so much more than you should have. Grown up before your time and forced to do despicable deeds for what you were told was for the greater good, in the process losing what you held dear. We do understand, but we have gone through so much together, don't you think you should have told someone where you were going? Your intentions at least?"

"You would have tried to bring me back. I just…..wanted to be alone. I didn't mean to make anyone worry."

"You came back is the important part." Remus smiled at him from his seat next to Tonks.

"You came back when you were needed though." Tonks huffed. "Would you otherwise have come back at all?" Remus placed a gentle hand on her leg, drawing her attention towards him. He gave her a brief nod and a quick kiss on the forehead, which calmed her down. Of course Tonks would be more than unhappy at his lack of presence all those years, especially if Remus was the one feeling responsible for not preventing or seeing it happen.

"Hermoine was the one to find you?" He asked Harry at last. Hermoine answered him instead.

"We needed Harry. I would have left him longer, but this was a case of Dumbledores orders."

"So the man demanded another task of him and you go straight to him and push him into another war?" Molly asked softly.

"We did need his help mum, and it wasn't really a demand. He asked it of us, and Harrys name was on there. We couldn't proceed without Harry knowing what Dumbledore had asked. We displayed his options, letting him know that his name had been on there. We would have carried on without him if he wanted." Ron came to his fiances aid.

"I needed to get myself out of there and back into reality. It was the perfect kick start. I needed something to do that would make me feel like I was part of it all again. I got these powers for a reason, didn't I? What use is the boy who lived if he retired now? I need to help, no, I want to help, because I know I can make that difference. When she found me, it was the perfect opportunity, and I took it hands down." Harry sighed, resting back fully.

"But you didn't tell us you were back, Harry." Arthur stated.

"That was partly our fault." Ginny replied sheepishly.

"Not all of it!" Harry growled. He didn't want his friends to take the blame for this one.

"We found the note with our names on it, and we were so sure it had to do with what you were researching. But it only had our names, and we weren't sure if it was Dumbledores way of telling us it was like the hocruxs again." Ron stated.

"Ronald.." his mother started, but he didn't give her the chance.

"Part of me wished I could show you we could do it by ourselves. I love you mum, but I'm an adult now, I've done and seen things before my time, I know, but that has shaped me into who I am today. To suddenly throw me back into the kind of life I had before, that can't happen." She frowned at him, but her sad eyes twitched in recognition of his speech.

"Was it more tricks and rhymes?" McGonagall suddenly smirked, lightning up the mood. They couldn't help but all smile.

"Definitely!" Ginny sighed. "He wouldn't get straight to the point! But I suppose he had their best interests in mind."

"So you're saying this was like the hocruxs, only Harry could really do?" Remus asked.

"Not me, per say, but the group of us." Harry hated to be singled out like that. His name hadn't been the only one on that slip of paper.

"We saw them briefly." McGonagall hummed. So they hadn't stayed long after Harry had followed Draco.

"They were all Hogwarts students at some point. Most of them your age. And if I'm not mistaken, you are all acquainted with."

"Ah! So a matter of relating, or rather knowing them better." Tonks said more to herself than anyone in particular.

"What happened to those that you had been fighting?" Arthur asked.

"We're unsure. One I know is in hospital. The others will have to explain what happened, I was healing the injured, so stayed out of it really. And apart from Harry, the rest of us were fighting the sudden flock of death eaters." Hermoine explained. She didn't know. No one had talked about it. It was unsure whether they had been killed, let go or hospitalized.

"We'll come back later in the week then, to talk to them about this. We would like to know more from their stand point as well." McGonagall stated clearly, standing up and moving towards the fireplace. The rest of the order followed, apart from three. Everyone dispersed, either to the kitchen or upstairs. Molly and Arthur, followed their children and their partners into the kitchen, the kettle heard through the living room. This left Remus alone with Harry, Tonks having gone home with a smile on her face, happy that her hubby would rest.

"So, you're back!" He grinned.

"Yes, I am."

"For good?"

"Yes." Harry smiled.

"Good. Don't go around doing that again, don't think I can handle that much stress in my old age, no matter how much I love mischief. You alright?"

"I am, now that I'm back. I spent all that time worrying and thinking, its nice to just be back."

"Dumbledore?" Ah, here came the questions. But this was Remus, the only family he had left. He owed this man everything, even explanations, or what his feelings were.

"I will always feel bad. He infuriated me and made me happy. I see that as like having a father now, and I suppose he really was one to me. He was going to die, whether it was by someone elses hands or not. It makes me all the more gracious that he did so saving Draco. I will always be grateful for what he did for me, and for others. I admired him greatly, but there is no point forever being sad. He would want me to live on, same as Snape or Sirius. Before you ask, the same goes for them. I did hate Snape, for most of the time I knew him, but he was a victim of war, and he kept me safe. There's a lot I regret about our relationship when I look back on it, but not something I can ever change.

With Sirius…there's no way to forget the way I felt. Having know someone can become your actual family, someone could take you away from all the madness, and then have it all ripped away. I only knew him for a short while, and even though we talked in letters, you want the really person in front of you, don't you? It will always be a sore spot, but its getting better, knowing he fought for what was right, knowing he tried to protect me. There's no way to ever forget that.

How are you and Tonks?" Remus laughed at the sudden change of topic. He didn't mind. Harry had said what was on his mind. There was no need to further dredge up the past.

"Fine, just fine. Still as feisty as ever, but gentle when she wants to be. I think she gets that from the Black side of the family."

"You and Draco better now? That good?" Harry only just realised how big the grin on his face was.

"We're back together again."

"No hard feelings?"

"I don't think so. He doesn't act like it, and when I start asking, he always shouts for me to stop and that I'm an idiot for asking so many times."

"Definitely the Black side of the family."

"I think you're right."

"Well, I will leave you to it." He almost stayed at the look on Harrys face. "It's late Harry, and our blacks don't like sleeping alone or they get grumpy." Harry couldn't help but laugh.

"I'll say you this week then?"

"You can call any time Harry. I'll be there for you." With a rustle to brunette hair, Remus left Harry for the fireplace, flooing home to Tonks.

"Ssshh! Why do you have to walk so loudly!" she growled at him.

"You're the one constantly talking!"

"It's after visiting hours! I suggest we both stop talking till we get there!" With a grumble, Blaise tried to tip toe instead, much to the pleasure and amusement of his wife.

"Here!"

Room 405. She opened the door slowly, wincing at the slight squeak.

"Who's there?" the soft voice inside was terrified, trembling.

"It's ok, hush, calm down. We're not here to hurt you." Cho quickly switched the light on and made a bolt for it to close the girls mouth before she screamed.

"Please don't scream! We really aren't here to hurt you." Blaise closed the door and locked it as his wife continued to speak.

"I am so sorry! Are you ok? It's still fixable, right?" Grey eyes widened in shock before she sniffed slightly.

"I'm fine, see, they managed to put both of them back together. Thank you, for not destroying them."

"I am so sorry I had to do that!" Miya wasn't sure what to do. Her enemies had sneaked in to apologise. What were they thinking?

"Is that what you came here to say?" she asked meekly.

"We have a proposition for you." Blaise stated sternly, looking at the vague window ti make sure no one would see the on lights.

"We're going to make another school, much like the one your leader destroyed. We want yo to join it." She blinked owlishly.

"What?"

"It's not a normal school. You'll be with others who are different." Cho explained. "Please say you will."

"Wh…why are you doing this?"

"Do you understand what you did?" Miya nodded timidly.

"Are you sure? You're young, and you followed your sibling. Its hard to know what to do in those situations, and its even harder not to follow. What you did can land you in Azkaban, no matter how young you are. You killed people. That can't be undone, but we can give you a second chance." Cho pleaded.

"Take it." Blaise stated firmly.

"But you.."

"I didn't kill you because I believe you wanted to do what was right by your sister, not in general. And if you don't know that difference then we can teach you. At least think about it, please?" Miya gulped heavily before nodding.

"We'll be back in two days before the aurors get here. You tell us your answer then." Blaise straight forwardly stated as he unlocked the door. With another peak, he opened the door, waited for his wife to be by his side, before switching off the light and closing the door.

Miya was left in here dark room, her lips trembling. Where was Carsly? She had forgotten to ask with all that confusion. She was pretty sure she knew the answer though. They had killed Carsly, hadn't they? Had erased her existence much like they had done to Tom. Where any of them still alive? Alakai? Saito? Yasmin? She had grown to love them all.

Why did things have to be this hard? Couldn't they have asked the same thing of Carsly? Couldn't they have helped her? She didn't mean it, she was part animal. Alright, maybe she did mean it. She wanted, needed to dig her claws into soft meat. But that's what she was made to be. What life had gifted her with. Why do that if it was wrong? Why make them different if they were only to be killed? Not supposed to be?

Did she really not know the difference? Had Carsly not known the difference? What was she supposed to do? Tears fell down her face as she cried. She wanted Carsly back! She wanted Tom! If they were all dead, who else could she go to? Who else could take care of her? Who….

The tears slowed as she hiccuped. There was one person that would know what to do. He would be sad too, if any of them had died. After all, wasn't he part of their family? He was, wasn't he? He had calmed her down so many times after spats with Carsly. Had kept her company when the others had left her out. He had sneaked in to make sure she was alright, even though she was sure he wasn't allowed.

She slowly removed herself from the bed. Wires snapping out as she quickly pulled them from er body, arms still tense, stiff. She didn't care. She needed to get out of here. She needed to find him, needed him to hug her, to tell her Carsly was alive.

It had taken her a long time to open the window, it had been clasped tightly, but with a flick of wind, had come undone. Looking back now, it had probably been spelled shut so she couldn't escape. There was little magic that could stop elemental powers. She was quite far up, and she bit her lip, concentrating. It hurt, not being able to use her arms properly, not being able to make a sound, but the wind lifted her out of the window and onto the soft blades of the grass below.

She needed to find Draco.