The chapter marks the start of the last arch! I can't say how many chapters this story has left, but it will be fun.

I want to thank everyone who has reviewed this story so far. If there is anything in the story you want to see more of, feel free to comment! The next chapter will have flashbacks of Eliza's childhood, featuring Regulus, and then also the aftermath. So far, I'd say that a lot of SxE bonding stems from their worry of Harry and a lot less of harmony between the two.

Because our buddy Regulus is lowkey haunting the narrative.

I have updated the rating of this story to account for the upcoming chapters I have planned. The small TMI is that I am currently going through it ™ (Deaths in the family, illness), and my emotional numbness currently might have seeped into Eliza a bit, and just how hard it is to feel or even think about anything romantic. Parts of Sirius and Eliza's teenage parts were inspired by my silly crush on a close friend, and it's weird that I still have it, but I currently I am emotionally incapable of thinking about that.

So writing it down kinda helps, lol.

Song of the Day: Promise by Laufey


Sirus' glass slipped through his fingers, and Eliza jumped back from the shattering glass. A thunder of footsteps came down the stairs. It would be dinner soon, Eliza realised. But that would have to wait.

Kingsley's Patronus had yet to disappear, bowing its head down at Eliza.

"Come to the Ministry. Sirius, stay home."

Something flickered across Sirus' face, a mix of emotions upon hearing that information. Remus muttered repairo.

"I… got to go," Eliza choked out. Her legs were tingling with numbness as she stumbled out into the corridor. Walburga's portrait was screaming, and Sirius went back to close it before rushing up the stairs behind Eliza.

"What can I do?" he begged. "Let me come with you, as Padfoot –"

"Sirius, you can't turn into an animagus as the Ministry. They have wards against that," Eliza stumbled into Regulus's room and quickly searched for something she could wear within a few seconds. So much for lounging in pajamas.

"I have to do something," he begged. "How did Dementors even get to Harry? He's been on watch all day!"

"I don't know! Mundungus was supposed to be there, isn't he? He is unreliable! Arabella said that much," a lump formed in her throat as she looked around frantically. Sirius handed her a dress and a sweater that she could wear. She thanked him and quickly changed. She didn't care how the rest of her looked, and most certainly that she wasn't dressed to wizard standards.

Where was her wand?

Sirius tapped her lightly on the shoulder, handing it to her. He folded her hands around the hilt, covering her hand with his. They were cold in comparison to hers, but they were a comfort to her. For a second, she could take a deep breath.

"You need to stay here, please," she said. She looked into his eyes, and she saw the look that scared her—the one that made him unpredictable. "One disaster at a time."

"A disaster?" Sirius let the word dance across his tongue. "Is that what I am?"

"I… no. Sirius," Eliza scrambled to find the words, and there wasn't a part of her that was currently working clearly. In the face of danger, she could only do one thing and in her agitated state, explaining what she meant to Sirius was not there.

"I'm sorry," Eliza felt the tears pooling at the corner of her eyes. "I'm sorry, this should have been a better day. It shouldn't have ended up like this."

Sirius' mouth was pulled into a tight line. He let go of her hand.

"Bring him home," Sirius said.

She nodded, though she wanted to elaborate more. But there was no time. She ran – tiptoed as well – down the stairs into the corridor, only to hear the disruption from the kitchen. Remus was updating Molly and the kids, and later the rest of the Order would arrive for an emergency meeting. She looked back at Remus, his face tinged with concern and a frown as Sirius gingerly walked down the stairs, staring at the open door that Eliza could simply cross while he couldn't.

As her foot stepped outside, she became aware of the hell that was the Ministry.

Kingsley waited for her in front of her office space.

"Dumbledore is arguing with Hopkirk," Kingsley said. "Harry performed underaged magic to protect himself, but of course no one wants to believe that the dementors left Azkaban."

"He's been expelled?"

"Hopkirk sent a message prematurely," Kingsley nodded. His dark skin glimmered in the lowlights. "So now, as headmaster, Dumbledore wants to contest it by giving him a trial – normally they would have given Harry one regardless, but someone has it out for him."

"Of course," Eliza was defeated. "And the dementors?"

"They're gone, but a muggle was hurt as well. Dudley Dursley, they said."

Eliza felt like she was going to throw up. "Kingsley, that's his cousin."

"I know, but try telling them that, they think he is an innocent bystander."

"Dudley is very much innocent as well," Eliza pointed out. "Kingsley, why am I here?"

"Because you will be the one performing a memory charm on Dudley. You know, since you work for the misuse of Muggles artefacts department and all."

"Isn't… isn't that normally your job to do in this case?"

Kingsley pressed his lips together. "I wanted you to do it, because you're closer to the boys."
"It doesn't make it easier."

Eliza plumbed down on her table, seeing the unopened letters from Cade on her table. She didn't care for them now—not at all.

Nothing mattered. Again.

"Shafiq, I need you to pull yourself together for this," Kingsley told her. "You will go as soon as Dumbledore is here."
She nodded, but she barely registered him. Her eyes were on the clock, waiting for the time to pass. The tall wizard moved one of the chairs next to Eliza. He waited for her to say something. Eliza finally found her voice.

"Ever think about how nothing has changed in the past twelve years?" she looked at Kingsley.

"Mhmm," he agreed. "Same people in the same places, and a little slap on the wrist."

"You'd think we'd learn something from Grindelwald and then from Voldemort," Eliza ran her hand through her hair. Kingsley cringed slightly at the sound of the Dark Lord's name, but she didn't care.

"Especially Grindelwald," his voice was reassuring. Like amber whiskey down a windpipe.

"You know what the MACUSA said when Dumbledore had me try to convince them to help us back then?" he shook his head.

Eliza remembered it too well.

"They said Death Eaters were our problem, because it doesn't affect them. It was even worse when you realize that some of them sympathized with the Death Eaters – not with Voledemort, oh no. They saw him as a menace. An example of our problems… no, some truly showed that they do not value muggle lives."

Eliza looked down at her wand. "And I don't know if I can … take or change someone's memory because they saw something they shouldn't have. I didn't do it last time, I won't do it again."

"And if they asked?"

Eliza shook her head. "I… I don't know."
"If you ask me, Eliza, this institution is old. Musty. It needs a complete overhaul," Kingsley gruffed. "And an entire societal overhaul. That will take a lot."

"It shouldn't take another war."
"We are safe for now."

"No, we are not."

She took a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry for you too," the auror started. "I… I had a feeling you were putting all your eggs into Sirius being freed."

Eliza laughed, but it was more of a sad sob. "What makes you say that?"
He shrugged, "Intuition."

"You'd be right," Eliza agreed. The clock chimed, and the door creaked open. In walked the headmaster, his eyes full of sorrow.

"Harry is getting a trial," Dumbledore said. "Kingsley, you are to gather the Aurors. Potter will leave Little Whinging tonight."

"Roger that, sir," Kingsley nodded and got up. "Good luck, Shafiq."

He left her alone with the headmaster.

"I wish your meddling would work for everything," Eliza said. "We'd be in a different place now."

"Wizards are very touchy; they like their laws…especially when they can change them," Dumbledore rubbed his temple.

"What are we going to do?" Eliza asked. Dumbledore frowned.

"As I told Kingsley –"

"No, what are we going to do about this?" she waved around. "What are we protecting?"

"We are gathering intel about him."

"And how shall we stop him?"

"I…am working on that," Dumbledore said slowly. "It's precarious, Eliza. Only a select few should know about it."
"Okay," she crossed her arm. "Now that Harry is at Grimmauld, what else? What are we putting our resources towards?"

Dumbledore did not answer her.

"I remind you, Eliza, that you have a task that needs to be finished."
She clutched her wand, her knuckles nearly turning white.

"I will fight for Harry, and I will fight against the Death Eaters, but I want to know what world I am fighting for when all of this is over," Eliza said coldly. "Because if I have to listen that another loved one of mine will be punished without trial, I assure you you can find me in a cell in Azkaban for arson."

No one at the hospital noticed her as she walked through the crowd. Dudley would stay overnight at the hospital. She'd overheard the nurses talking about him having shock symptoms, and they'd run tests to make sure nothing was broken. She could see Vernon arguing with exaggerated hand movements. Petunia was by the coffee machine, looking at the coffee coming out of the cup with pure disdain. At the sight of Eliza, she nearly screamed.

"You! You and your lot –"

Eliza held up a finger. "I know."

"Attacking my boy! You should leave! Get away from Privet Drive! Stay away from me! If Dumbeldore hadn't threatened me, that boy would be on the street right now!" Petunia hissed.

"It's not fair."

"I – what?" Petunia blinked. "What is not fair?"

Eliza felt her heart go heavy. "Would you hate him less if he looked more like Lily?"

Petunia looked at her, searching Eliza's eyes for any ill contempt, but there was nothing. Eliza felt soulless.

"There's not much of my sister in him but his eyes," Petunia croaked. "But why does that matter?"

"It matters," Eliza reached into the bag she had taken from her office, which held a bunch of vials. "Because the Ministry sent me to remove the memory of the attack."

Petunia pursed her lips.

"And I know," Eliza continued. "That you one day decided that magic will never, ever, fix your problems."

"Will it hurt him?" Petunia asked.

Eliza shook her head, "It will be like a bad dream. But I want Dudley to decide."

"Then why ask me?"

"Because you deserve to know."

Petunia nodded and led Eliza to Dudley. The boy was cowering, holding his arms around his torso, and she came in.

"Duddykins," Petunia said sweetly as she knelt down by the bedside. "There's someone here to see you… a doctor. She will help you."

Dudley looked at Eliza, who was not dressed as a doctor at all.

"Is she… a witch doctor?"

"What makes you say that?"

"Mum, she is holding a wand in her hand."

Petunia turned around. "Put that thing away! He's gone through enough!"

Eliza frowned. Petunia explained all the times that magic had been used on Dudley – when Hagrid first came, when the Weasley twins made his tongue grow so long because he was on a diet, and now this.

"Oh, Petunia," Eliza breathed. "I'm …" She could not express her condolences; she just felt angry.

Eliza approached Dudley, both of her hands in the air.

"I'm Eliza," she introduced herself.

"I rememeber you," Dudley said suddenly. "You were in my Kindergarden!"

"Yes," Eliza nodded.

"And you're a witch?"

"Yes."

"Huh," Dudley frowned.

"She can help you forget all of this, Duddykins. What happened tonight," Petunia coaxed. "She can save you."

"But… I don't want to forget it," Dudley said.

That took the two adults aback.

"I don't like feeling cold, and I want to not feel… like this," Dudley shivered. "But I don't want to forget what Harry did for me. What… I don't know. I'm not good to him. He's not good to him, but because I never showed him kindness. None of us did, I mean we stuck him in the broomcloset – "

"You WHAT!" Eliza shouted. She looked at Petunia, who cringed.

"Vernon thought it would beat out the magic –"

"HE IS A CHILD," she screeched. "HOW COULD YOU?"
She thought of Harry. Malnourished, clinging to anything that he held of his parents.

"Did you even…" she took a sharp breath. Petunia would not have told Harry about his parents. She wouldn't even be surprised if Harry hadn't known his name until age five, but she supposed that was why Arabella was good to have. She kept an eye on Harry when he was younger.

"I have no excuse."

Eliza summoned a vial and held it up into the light.

"This is something that I bought once. I bought it before… when I was supposed to go to Azkaban to visit Sirius but didn't. I didn't want the Dementors feeding of me, they make you feel dread regardless. This is infused with chocolate. It's supposed to make you forget the attack itself."

"And then I will be better?" Dudley asked. "Will Harry be okay?"
Eliza cleared her throat. "Harry will be picked up from Privet Drive tonight. You will not see him until the summer and on God–" a surprised expression on Petunia's face materialised. "– I will see that you treat him correctly because I know exactly the sacrifice your sister made so that he will be safe in this stupid, godawful, trying times –"

"Mum, I thinks she's gone mental."

"Let her," Petunia muttered. "I deserve it just as much."

She opened the potion.

"Drink."

Dudley took the potion and sniffed.

"I won't grow a tail?"

"No."

"And will I really be happier?"

"It will be like a bad dream," Eliza assured.

"Don't you have orders to … charm him?" Petunia looked uncomfortable.

"Yes, and tell you what," Eliza grumbled. "I am already on probation. They won't be happy that I didn't perform a charm, but I could quit."

"Quit your job?" Petunia said curiously. "What will you do?"

"Anything but this stupid Ministry," Eliza crossed her arms.

Dudley chugged the vial and handed it back to her. His eyes went drowsy immediately, but a soft smile appeared across his face as he fell back onto the bed and fell asleep.

Petunia checked his forehead and seemed satisfied. She looked back to her, apologetic.

"I can't repay you."

"You never could," Eliza crossed her arms. "Do me one favor. Harry will be stuck with you for at least two more summers. I will make sure that we pick him up after two weeks—nothing more—so we are not stepping on your toes. During that time, you better treat him right. Got it?"

Petunia did not answer. She stared at her son.

Eliza repeated herself.

"Do you understand?"

"Loud and clear," Petunia stated.

When she returned to Grimmauld, Dumbledore waited for her. Despite the oncoming party, the dining room table was empty.

"We wait," Dumbledore said. "How did it go?"

"It will be like a dream for him," Eliza was ready to sit down and stare into the distance, but Dumbledore stopped her.

"Do you remember the memory you showed me of Regulus Black? On his last day before he died?"

"How could I forget," she muttered. "Why?"

"I told you, I am working on how we can defeat Voldemort," Dumbledore's voice was hoarse. "And your Regulus knew a secret. And he died for it."

"Yes, but I don't know it."

"But I know who does," Dumbledore said. She looked at the kitchen door. Behind it, she could hear banging pots and pans and Kreacher moping.

"He won't say a thing if Regulus told him not to," Eliza shook her head.

"But he is kinder to you than he is to Sirius," Dumbledore noted. "Perhaps… well, he is bound to the house of Black. Maybe –"

"No."

"No?" Dumbledore seemed perplexed.

Eliza looked at the ring on her finger. She wore it not because it was pretty but because it reminded her of the past, one that was thrust in her way.

She would not forget that day her mother picked her up from her father's place.

"Marriage has always been a transaction, Albus. Not many people marry out of love. My obligations to the house of Black came from a place of keeping the wealth in the family, the connections, and just pure… pure hatred for anything that wasn't pureblood. This? I will not do it for the sake of us finding out what the weapon of Voldemort is… from a house elf who can speak for himself."

Albus nodded, "I understand. There are other ways… it was just a thought."

"Then let it pass because I am tired. I won't marry Sirius."

The front door creaked, and they could hear members of the Order - those not picking up Harry – trickle into the house.

Eliza summoned a cup of tea in front of her.

She did not look at Sirius, who had come into the room not so soon after her last sentence. If he thought anything of her statement, he said nothing of it. It simply wasn't the right time.