Over the next five years, Elizabeth faced a lot of adversity. Not many of the wizards she met in street corners, small shops and crowded cafes thought Barty Crouch not very wise in not charging her with the crime of being a Death Eater's wife. As far as they were concerned, she was a guilty as her husband, who was rotting away in Azkaban, and they often made their opinions known.
"What your husband did was evil!" one witch had yelled at Elizabeth when she had taken Esme for a walk. "Betraying his best friend and orphaning a little boy! You and that brat of yours should be in that hell-hole with that criminal!"
Elizabeth had long since given up protesting Sirius' innocence; it only seemed to anger them more, and after nearly being attacked for arguing back, she had decided to keep her opinions to herself.
In fact, Elizabeth hardly ever went outdoors anymore. Since moving out of her marital home after a mob of angry witches and wizards had managed to break through her weak protective spells, Elizabeth had taken Esme and hidden in an abandoned farm-house in the outskirts of Holyhead, in Wales. It was small, with bleak walls and a decaying roof that had once been threatened to fall in. It was certainly inhabitable, but also secluded and hardly likely to be stumbled upon. Just to make sure, Elizabeth cast several protective charms every day to ensure her daughter's safety. It didn't take long to repair the destroyed farmhouse with magic, and Elizabeth quickly became glad that she didn't take after her father.
The only people who knew where Elizabeth and Esme were living were Dumbledore and Remus, who visited once a week with supplies. They tried to give both mother and daughter everything they needed, but it didn't take long for things to get difficult for Elizabeth. Without a job, and no financial stability, she could no longer practice potion-making, something that she found both enjoyable and helpful, because she could no longer afford ingredients. She couldn't afford food, so Dumbledore gave her one of Hogwarts' house-elves, Puzzle, who brought food from the school, even in the three months when no students occupied the castle. Puzzle was more than happy serving Elizabeth and would spend hours completing extra chores that hadn't been set, just to please her new mistress.
However, there was a new difficulty that quickly presented itself in the single mother's life. Harry Potter's story was famous, as was that of his parents' betrayer, so Elizabeth could no longer go anywhere public. Even if she could have afforded the ingredients to make Polyjuice Potion, she would have to take Esme with her and she didn't want to drug her own daughter.
Despite the isolation, Esme grew to be a happy child, showing early signs of magic and a high intelligence. She was always aware when her mother was sad because her own mood would instantly droop and she would try to project funny memories into Elizabeth's mind to cheer her up. She would always beg her mother to show her different types of magic and the two would enjoy Puzzle's floor shows. Whenever Remus and Dumbledore would visit, Esme was always a little shy and would sometimes retreat to her small bedroom. Other times, she would watch the visitor from the corner of the room, her bright blue eyes big as she observed.
Remus would spend hours in the house and Elizabeth was glad of the adult conversation. They would discuss what their other friends from the Order had been up to; Elizabeth discovered that Alice and Frank Longbottom, both of whom were Aurors, had been tortured into insanity by Sirius' cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, who was currently on the run from the Ministry. Both the Longbottoms had been admitted to St. Mungo's and it was unlikely they would ever be cured.
"Don't they have a child Esme's age?" Elizabeth had asked when she had found out the terrible news.
"Yeah, a son called Neville," Remus had said gravelly. "His grandmother has promised to raise him."
Remus had also come with the news that Elphias Doge had started serving the Ministry of Magic as a Special Advisor to the Wizengamot and would sometimes pronounce his judgement on the cases they would investigate. Elizabeth angrily thought that Elphias might have tried to clear Sirius' name if he had been allowed a trial. However, these days, whenever Remus visited, Elizabeth kept her opinions about Sirius to herself, as it would usually cause tension between the two friends. Despite not wanting to upset Elizabeth, Remus undoubtedly couldn't keep quiet when she would accidently say something pertaining to her husband's innocence. However, Remus didn't know that Esme, at six years old, had begun asking questions about her father, as she often saw him in her mother's memories. Not wanting her daughter growing up thinking her father was a murderer, she would tell Esme that Sirius had been wrongly convicted. The little girl would sit still, listening to her mother's tales with wide eyes, watching Elizabeth's memories of Sirius with wonder.
Dumbledore also visited, but usually only stayed for a few minutes, either to give Elizabeth news, to check that she was safe, or to pass something onto her. He would also act as a messenger to Elizabeth, feeding her letters from her mother, who refused to visit thanks to Tobias' interference. When he had found out that his daughter was married to a convicted murderer, he broke all ties with her, rejecting all knowledge of his baby granddaughter. However, Eileen still wrote to Elizabeth, expressing concern for her and Esme, who she still hadn't set eyes on.
And, then, one not so special afternoon, when Elizabeth was waiting for Puzzle to make lunch, Dumbledore's voice rang through the sealed front door.
"My dear, there is a bee out here."
Elizabeth relaxed at the sound of the code message that she and Dumbledore had decided upon the last time he had visited. She quickly unsealed the door and pulled it back, beaming at her visitor. However, the sight that greeted her nearly made her slam it shut again. Dumbledore had brought a guest.
Severus.
Elizabeth swore very loudly, thankful that Esme was asleep, and quickly withdrew her wand.
"Elizabeth, Severus is here under my invitation," Dumbledore said quickly as Severus raised his eyebrows at the sight of his sister's wand.
"Why the hell have you brought him here?" Elizabeth demanded. "I've put up just about as many protection charms around this place as I can think of, and you've just allowed him access through them all! He's a Death Eater, Albus!"
"Severus is no longer a Death Eater," Dumbledore said calmly and Elizabeth gave a little snort of derision.
"Why, because he said that he isn't?" she asked sarcastically. "Because You-Know-Who has fallen, and he doesn't want to go to Azkaban, so he's said sorry? I thought you were smarter than that, Albus! You never used to be so easily fooled!"
"Severus hasn't fooled me, Elizabeth," Dumbledore said sternly, but Elizabeth was too angry to listen. "He came over to our side before Voldemort's downfall and has been helping me ever since."
Elizabeth snorted again, refusing both wizards entry to her house. If Severus had managed to trick to likes of Dumbledore, there was no hope left.
"It's true, Lexi," Severus said quietly and Elizabeth flinched slightly at the nickname.
"And, your daughter can help us prove it," Dumbledore said softly. Elizabeth froze, trying to keep the horror that was slowly drowning her from appearing on her face.
"W-what do you mean?" she asked, attempting to appear confused. Dumbledore didn't look fooled.
"Perhaps we could come in, Elizabeth," he said quietly but Elizabeth didn't move. They needed Esme for something and if she was right, they knew about her gift.
"He isn't going anywhere near Esme," Elizabeth croaked, tightening her grip on her wand. Despite her determination, she felt helpless. Both Severus and Dumbledore were gifted wizards and if they wanted to get into the house, it would be all too easy.
"Elizabeth," Dumbledore said slowly, and as his light blue eyes bore into hers, Elizabeth had the tiniest inkling that he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Please let us in."
Incredibly reluctantly, Elizabeth lowered her wand and allowed Severus and Dumbledore to pass, sealing the door behind them. Puzzle was stood by the dinner table, placing hot plates of food onto it, her big brown eyes growing wide at the sight of Severus.
"Shall Puzzle take Mistress Esme somewhere safe, Mistress?" she asked uncertainly but Elizabeth shook her head.
"No, Puzzle, can you please ask Esme to come downstairs?" she asked quietly, and after bowing to Elizabeth, the house-elf disappeared. Elizabeth twizzled her wand nervously as she kept her eyes firmly on the stairs, refusing to look at Severus. Dumbledore didn't honestly expect her to instantly forgive the supposed ex-Death Eater, did he? The last time Elizabeth had seen her brother, he had tried to kill her.
"Have you spoken to your mother recently?" she heard Dumbledore ask, but knew she wasn't talking to her; Dumbledore delivered all her letters to Eileen.
"She and my father have been very busy," Severus replied, a note of annoyance in his voice. Elizabeth didn't say anything, refusing to join the conversation unless she had to. She continued watching the stairs, waiting for Esme. Instead, Puzzle appeared on the landing.
"Mistress Esme is coming, Mistress," she squeaked and Elizabeth nodded in understanding, as her confused and slightly tired daughter came into view, reaching out for Puzzle's hand.
"Hello, darling," Elizabeth said softly, a sudden spark of concern lighting up inside her. Esme didn't like visitors, especially those she had never met before, and as she climbed down the stairs, her blue eyes grew scared at the sight of Severus.
"Hello, Esme," Dumbledore said pleasantly, but Esme hid behind Elizabeth's legs, her pale face tucked in at her mother's knees.
"What do you need her for?" Elizabeth asked sharply, allowing her daughter to hide. "Why do you think she can help prove Severus' innocence?"
Both Severus and Dumbledore shared a quick glance, as though asking the other for permission about something. And then;
"We know about Esme's ability," Severus said quickly and Elizabeth tensed up.
"What ability?" she asked, equally as quick. "What are you talking about?"
"Sirius told me, before he was arrested, that Esme is a natural at Occlumency, and, in this case, more importantly, Legilimency," Dumbledore said. "She can delve into other people's minds without the use of a wand."
Elizabeth silently cursed her husband for not keeping his promise.
"So, what if she can?" she asked fiercely. "I am not making her do anything she doesn't want to."
"I'm not asking you to, Elizabeth," Dumbledore said softly. "All I am asking is you allow your daughter to have the chance to decide."
Elizabeth furrowed her brow. Dumbledore was so certain of Severus' innocence and he wasn't easily fooled. He wouldn't have brought a Death Eater to her home if he really thought he was still You-Know-Who's follower, would he? He had helped protect both Elizabeth and Esme over the years, so he wouldn't willingly put them in danger…
"What do you need her to do?" Elizabeth asked warily, still suspicious of the situation she was facing.
"Esme can delve into Severus' mind and prove he is telling the truth," Dumbledore said.
"No," Elizabeth spat, furious at the suggestion. However, she felt Esme's tight grip loosen slightly and looked down to see that the six-year-old was staring hard at Severus, her blue eyes wide with concentration.
"It seems as though Esme has made her own mind up," Dumbledore beamed as Elizabeth crouched down. Esme's eyes snapped back to her mother, shining with knowledge.
"Sweetheart, what did you see?" Elizabeth asked, glancing up at her brother. He seemed reluctantly impressed at his niece's abilities.
"You were at school," Esme said warily, as though she suspected she might be in trouble. Wanting to reassure her, Elizabeth smiled encouragingly and nodded.
"Do you know who this man is?" she asked gently and after a few seconds hesitation, Esme nodded.
"He's your brother, Mummy," she whispered and Elizabeth sighed quietly. It seemed that Esme had inherited Sirius' curiosity.
"Esme, will you do Mummy a favour?" Elizabeth asked and Esme nodded, eagerly. "Will you please look into Uncle Severus' memories whilst I ask him a few questions?"
Esme nodded again. With only her mother for company, the young girl didn't get many opportunities to test the powerfulness of her ability. She stared hard at Severus as Elizabeth got to her feet, tightly clutching Esme's hand.
"You hurt her in any way, Severus," Elizabeth threatened quietly, "and I will kill you."
Severus didn't reply but Elizabeth knew he had understood her completely.
"Esme, are you ready?" she asked and Esme nodded, her eyes still focusing on Severus. Elizabeth also turned her attention to her brother and took a deep breath. "When did you stop –" She stopped. She didn't want her innocent daughter knowing what Death Eaters were. She tried again. "How long have you worked alongside Albus Dumbledore?"
"I started working for him five years ago," Severus said, his voice steady as he spoke. "I changed my allegiance and have worked completely for Albus since then, as well as at Hogwarts School."
"When did – wait, what?" Elizabeth faltered as she processed what her brother had said. "Since when were you working at Hogwarts?"
"I employed him five years ago," Dumbledore answered and Elizabeth scowled. "He is the Potions Master."
"I bet Mother is pleased," Elizabeth said bitterly as jealously stabbed her heart like an icicle. Over the last five years, when she was forced to hide in isolation, and she had thought Severus had done the same, or had been killed, he had actually been living safely at Hogwarts, being protected by Dumbledore, doing a job she had always wanted –
"Hang on!" she said loudly, alarming Esme. "Five years ago? You've been working at Hogwarts for five years?"
Severus nodded and despite keeping his cool, cold demeanour, his eyes had a worrying hint flashing in them. He knew exactly what his sister was thinking.
"You have been on our side for five years and this is the first time you've made contact with me?" Elizabeth demanded. "You haven't visited me, written to me, asking about me or Esme! You didn't offer me help when my husband was sent to Azkaban! Five years you have been teaching at Hogwarts and you didn't tell me!"
Elizabeth's temper was at boiling point and if it wasn't for Esme cowering in the room, she would have cursed Severus into oblivion.
"I was told not to contact you," Severus said, his voice low. "Albus thought that you wouldn't take the news well after your husband's arrest."
"That was five years ago," Elizabeth hissed. "You have had plenty of time since then. You have never made an effort, not once."
"Albus and I were going to tell you when your daughter was two," Severus continued, as though his sister hadn't spoken, "but then you were forced to abandon your home. I didn't know where you were for months and when you finally made contact with Albus, he was under the impression that you weren't welcome to visitors, except himself and Lupin, so again, I delayed my visit.
"The next summer, I prepared myself to tell you about my change of allegiance, but Albus told me that your daughter had caught spattergroit and was bedridden for a few months. I imagine that that would have been a lot of pressure for you, and not wanting to put any more on you, I decided it wasn't to time to approach you.
"However, whilst I was waiting for your daughter to recover from her illness, I decided that maybe you wouldn't want to know. Albus mentioned that you didn't believe Sirius Black had betrayed the Potters, so seeing me, someone you knew to be a Death Eater, walking free might not please you."
Elizabeth stood still, listening intently to her brother's well-rehearsed excuse, occasionally glancing at Esme to see if her daughter was detecting any signs of deception. However, Esme was listening as absorbedly as her mother.
"So, why now?" Elizabeth asked quietly. "Because you're right; you should be in Azkaban, not Sirius."
Severus didn't reply. He didn't look at all shocked or hurt by Elizabeth's words, his cold stare boring into her tired eyes. In fact, he looked as if he felt he had said enough. Instead, it was Dumbledore who spoke.
"Do you believe Severus, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth stared at the old man, staying silent. She didn't believe her brother but she had no evidence of his guilt, and he was trusted by Dumbledore. However, she certainly wasn't going to make Esme delve further in Severus' mind and risk her seeing her uncle's Death Eater duties.
"Puzzle!" she called and the house-elf appeared suddenly from the kitchen. "Will you please take Esme upstairs?"
Puzzle nodded, glancing between Severus and Dumbledore. She took Esme's hand and with a loud crack, the two disappeared from sight. Elizabeth quietly sighed as her daughter left, and she finally looked her brother in the eye, suppressing the growl that was fighting to erupt.
"Why did you stop being a Death Eater?" she asked harshly. Another look was shared between the two wizards and her temper flared up again. "Look, I am expected to trust you after years of no news and your previous occupation as a Death Eater, so I would appreciate some honesty, Severus!"
There was silence between the three adults as Elizabeth quickly calmed herself down. Esme's Legilimency was extremely skilled and no doubt, she would be able to feel her mother's anger. Dumbledore watched her as she breathed heavily, his blue eyes heavy with guilt. He looked as though he wanted to help her somehow, but something was holding him back. However, Severus wasn't looking at Elizabeth. Instead, his eyes were on the floor, as if he was suddenly worried that Elizabeth was as skilled at Legilimency as her daughter.
"Lily," he said finally, and his voice was so quiet that Elizabeth thought she had misheard him.
"Lily?" she repeated and Severus nodded, his cold stare returning to his sister as if daring her to laugh. "You stopped being a Death Eater… because of Lily's murder?"
Again, Severus nodded and Elizabeth reluctantly softened. She had known that her brother had developed feelings for the fiery red-head when they were children, but from the destroyed expression Severus was fighting back, it looked as though he had loved her.
"Do you believe Severus?" Dumbledore asked and Elizabeth nodded. She couldn't help it. She didn't doubt her brother's ability to deceive Dumbledore, but she also couldn't ignore Severus' obvious feelings for Lily. "Fantastic, we will get to why we have visited today. No doubt, Elizabeth, you will remember the pendant you received on your seventeenth birthday from your mother? I believe it is a family heirloom."
Elizabeth nodded again, remembering the secrecy surrounding the only birthday present she had received from her parents after she moved out of their house. Her birthday was in January, and she was going to spent it at Hogwarts with Sirius. However, a few days after Christmas, her mother had turned up at James' house, flustered and in an obvious hurry. She had thrust the pendant into Elizabeth's hand and made her promise not to tell anyone about it (Elizabeth hadn't kept this promise and instantly told Sirius, who was surprised at Eileen's generosity). A few days later, Elizabeth had gone round to her mother's house with several questions, but Tobias hadn't allowed her to even get passed the front door. A couple of hours later, a letter arrived at the Potters' house from Eileen with only a small message; 'This was given to me by my mother. Pass it on to your daughter when the time comes.' There was no explanation for the secrecy around the pendant, or why she was supposed to pass it on to Esme when she reached seventeen.
"Didn't you ever wonder why your mother hadn't wanted you to tell anyone about it?" Dumbledore asked.
"I always thought it was because my father hated magic," Elizabeth mumbled, feeling incredibly foolish for not asking more questions. To be honest, Elizabeth had only just been curious enough to give the pendant the once over. It was golden and engraved on one side was a small 'E', no doubt to ensure that the seventeen-year-old girl who inherited it was given a name beginning with that letter.
"Well, that pendant has been passed down from generation to generation, always from mother to daughter, until it ended up with you. If we trace the pendant back along your family tree, we can see that the first time it was ever sighted was when your ancestor, Estella Selwyn, gave it to her eldest daughter, Emelia. It appears that Estella had the pendant made for her daughter when she turned seventeen."
Elizabeth listened carefully, trying to figure out what as so special about an old pendant that had been passed down through her family.
And, then Dumbledore asked something very odd indeed.
"Have you ever heard of the Deathly Hallows?"
Elizabeth furrowed her brow, completely confused at the change of conversation. And, yet, that term was familiar.
"I think Sirius mentioned them once," she muttered, trying to remember the conversation she had had with her husband. "He mentioned a wand and a stone, but I can't remember the other one."
"There are three Hallows," Dumbledore said gravelly, as though he didn't want this conversation to progress. "An Elder Wand, a Resurrection Stone and a Cloak of Invisibility. The Elder Wand is supposed to be the most powerful wand of all time and has a bloody past. The Resurrection Stone does just that – resurrects lost loved ones, or at least, their spirits. The Cloak of Invisibility renders the wearer invisible, which will not fade with age and provides everlasting protection. My point for bringing up the Hallows, Elizabeth, is that part of the Resurrection Stone is hidden inside your pendant."
Stunned, Elizabeth stared at Dumbledore. The old wizard had finally cracked. What on Earth was he talking about? Deathly Hallows? Stones giving the dead the chance to come back? This had to be a joke!
"But, there is no evidence that the Hallows exist," Elizabeth whispered.
"Alas, but there is," Dumbledore said softly. "As I mentioned, the Elder Wand leaves a rather murderous trial and the Cloak of Invisibility actually belonged to a friend of mine before his untimely death."
"But, how do you know I have the stone – or part of the stone?" Elizabeth asked, still shocked.
"When Cadmus Peverell first came in possession of the Stone, he tried to resurrect a young girl he had wanted to marry before she died. However, when he realised she was suffering, due to not belonging in the mortal world anymore, he killed himself so that they would truly be together.
"After Cadmus' death, his cousin, Jedrek Peverell, found the stone and had heard of its power. Jedrek had two children; Lorcan and Esther, both of whom wanted the Stone. Wanting to be fair, Jedrek performed a spell which split the Stone into two unequal parts and fashioned the larger part into a ring, leaving it to his son when he died. The smaller part was kept in a small box which Esther inherited. It soon goes missing from history, but a few years later, her great-granddaughter made a pendant which was passed down, and each witch who possessed it was rumoured to have seen a lost loved one."
Elizabeth was speechless. A stone that could resurrect lost loved ones? She had possessed that kind of power for ten years and had never used it. She would be able to talk to James and Lily! They could clear Sirius' name! Esme could get her father back!
"There is some bad news, though," Severus interrupted her thoughts, obviously noticing his sister's secret jubilation. "The Stone wasn't supposed to be cut, and when it was, most of its power went into the larger part. The smaller part slowly lost its power through the years and from what our mother said, the owner can only use it once in their life, and the people they call back can only stay a few minutes."
Elizabeth's smile faltered. She had been expecting to be able to talk to Lily and James once a week, just using the Stone again and again. But, a few minutes once in her life? She wouldn't be able to tell them everything she wanted to. She wouldn't be able to ask them enough questions.
"Did you both come here to tell me this?" she asked, trying to hide her disappointment. "That I possess a magical pendant?"
"No, we came to tell you that the pendant might just be about to get you and your daughter killed," Severus replied coolly.
Elizabeth blinked.
"When I'm visiting someone I haven't seen for a good few years, I don't tend to tell them they're going to die," she said sarcastically. "Why it is going to get us killed?"
"Because Bellatrix Lestrange and her husband have discovered its existence," Severus replied slowly. "When they tortured Alice and Frank Longbottom five years ago, they were trying to get information on the Dark Lord, but the Longbottoms wouldn't give them any. However, Mrs Longbottom accidently let slip that she had seen one of her friends with a golden pendant. Luckily, she didn't mention who that friend was, but Bellatrix had heard of the pendant and what it was rumoured to contain."
"Who does Bellatrix want to resurrect?" Elizabeth scoffed. "She can't possibly love anyone – she doesn't even love her own husband."
Neither Severus nor Dumbledore replied but allowed Elizabeth to quickly work out the answer herself. When she finally worked out the truth, she involuntarily gasped, horrified.
"She wants the stone to resurrect You-Know-Who?" she whispered and Dumbledore nodded in confirmation.
"So, you see why we had to come tonight," he said gravelly. "It took Bellatrix five years to discover who the pendant was passed down to, and we couldn't allow you to end up the same way as poor Alice and Frank."
Elizabeth agreed with the old wizard; Bellatrix was vicious and worse, had no sense of morality, which made her twice a dangerous. If she had marked Elizabeth as her next target, then she and Esme were as good as dead.
"Does she know where we are?" Elizabeth whispered and, to her relief, Severus shook his head.
"But, it won't take her long to find you," he quickly added and Elizabeth anxiously ran a hand through her hair.
"Albus, what should I do?" she asked urgently, and the old wizard's eyes twinkled.
"Severus will return tomorrow," he said, suddenly business-like. "You and Esme need to pack your things and go with him. He will take you somewhere safe."
Elizabeth accidently raised her eyebrows at Dumbledore's request.
"Elizabeth, if you want your daughter to be safe, you need to trust Severus," Dumbledore said quietly, and Elizabeth grew quite sheepish. It was hard not to when Dumbledore had that disappointed tone so loud in his voice. She quietly apologised and allowed the old wizard to continue.
"You can tell no-one where you are going – no, not even Remus."
Elizabeth had just been about to speak but clearly Dumbledore had known what she was going to say.
"If Bellatrix figures out you have moved, she will go after your loved ones. You could put Remus in danger if he tries to visit you."
The seriousness of the situation suddenly hit Elizabeth and she struggled to remain calm. Not only was she hated by most of the wizarding world and couldn't go anywhere without receiving insults, her life, and the life of her precious daughter, was being threatened by the most demented Death Eater she had ever had the misfortune of meeting.
"Remus is coming around tomorrow," she said, suddenly remembering her plans. "What do I tell him? I can't lie to him; I'm one of the only few people he trusts."
"You can tell him you're leaving," Severus said firmly, "but you can't tell him where you're going."
Elizabeth nodded again but kept quiet. Her life was about to turn upside down again.