The next morning, Eliza regretted the favor she had performed for her neighbor. Even one life wasn't worth jeopardizing her security and muggle routine. Besides, he was a Death Eater and there was nothing redeemable about them.

As much as she tried to feel guilty about her good deed, the joy of performing magic after such a long absence nagged at her and soon found herself using her wand for minor tasks, such household chores and lighting a room. Frustrated with her lack of will-power, Eliza buried her wand in the kitchen drawer where it belonged.

As days passed and Eliza tried desperately to regain her muggle habits, her neighbor made no move to address what she had done for him. He continued to follow his usual routine of sulking about his house, scowling at the neighbors when he was outside, and reading into the night when sleep evaded him. If it wasn't for the intensified snarls he cast towards her house, Eliza wouldn't have suspected that he was even aware that anyone had saved his life. But no matter, Eliza was pleased that he was giving her no acknowledgement, and she was once again comforted when she felt his eyes on her in the garden and as she watched him after her terrorizing dreams every night.

But one night, as Eliza peered into her neighbor's window, wondering what might be keeping him up as well, he saw her. In all the previous years, Eliza had been able to gaze upon him undetected long into the night. But this particular night, as he poured over a massive volume, he stiffened and quickly turned towards his window. His lip curled into a scowl when his eyes landed on Eliza and he jumped up from his seat. For the brief moment that their gaze caught, his flint-hard eyes sparked with indignation from being spied upon. Poor Eliza squeaked and dropped her tea cup. She quickly scooted out of the living room and back upstairs where she hid under her covers until morning, mortified that she had finally been caught.

This was the second awkward encounter that Eliza had with the wizard and she was not looking forward to a third. Afraid that her now quite angry neighbor might accost her in the garden, Eliza remained inside and away from windows. It was a little silly that she was afraid of the impending confrontation, but she had never been caught spying on dark, brooding wizards before. Well, except for that one time at Hogwarts….but that was a long time ago and the situation was completely different.

As much as she wanted to hide out forever, Eliza could feel the walls closing in on her and it was time to get out for a bit. To make sure that she would not be in view of the next house's upstairs window, she opted to work in the front, sweeping off the walk that led to her house. It was a pleasant day and Eliza soon forgot about the man next door as she worked and waved to people walking by.

"Mrs. Slope, Mrs. Slope, guess what!" shouted a little girl who came running up to her yard.

"What is it, Melanie?" Eliza asked, laughing lightly at the girl's excitement. Melanie Davenport lived three houses down and was one of Eliza's students. She had been showing some peculiarities throughout primary school and in Eliza's class there had been an unfortunate incident that involved another student's frog going up in smoke. Melanie was very upset at the time and Eliza finally had to explain what was going on, that Melanie was in fact a witch. The little girl took the news surprisingly well, and during the remainder of the school year she had become quite attached to Eliza.

"It's true! Everything you said! Professor Dumbledore came and I get to go to…" Melanie's excited speech stopped when she noticed a terrifying man in a black flapping cloak standing at the edge of Eliza's yard. The teacher glanced behind her and saw him standing there, watching with a scrutinizing scowl.

Eliza swallowed hard. She didn't know how much he had heard, but she didn't want to continue talking about her knowledge of the magic world in front of him.

"Let's go inside Melanie, and you can tell me all about your visit," She murmured, steering her student towards the house. Giving her mysterious neighbor one last glance, Eliza followed Melanie inside.

In Eliza's small living room, Melanie was back to rambling excitedly about visiting with Albus Dumbledore and getting her Hogwarts letter. Eliza listened, smiling as she remembered her own Hogwarts letter and first days of school. Of course she had known that she was a witch from the time she was born.

"Mrs. Slope, will you come with me to get my school supplies?" Melanie asked, batting her eyelashes ever so slightly. Eliza stared at her for a moment, completely dumbfounded by the request.

"Oh Melanie, I can't – I just can't go…" She stuttered, finding it harder and harder to resist the puppy dog eyes she was getting in return.

"Please Mrs. Slope, please?" Melanie begged.

"I don't know…"

"Professor Dumbledore said I should ask you to come with me. He said you would be very helpful," Melanie said, smiling slyly. Eliza sighed. She knew she was defeated when the girl mentioned Dumbledore.

"I guess I don't have much choice in the matter," Eliza said wearily. "Yes Melanie, I will go with you to get your school supplies."

"Oh thank you, thank you Mrs. Slope!" Melanie shouted, throwing her arms around the teacher. Over the girl's shoulder, Eliza could see her dark-eyed neighbor watching them through the window with his permanent scowl still plastered on his face. She frowned slightly in return.

After all these years and no matter how hard Eliza tried to avoid it, the wizarding world seemed to be sucking her back in. She knew that a certain Albus Dumbledore had something to do with these changes, and as much as it irritated her to think about it, she also knew that no matter how strange his ideas were, it was usually best to do what he said. Besides what harm is there in going to Diagon Alley?