Eliza got nudged towards the other levels of the house by the twins. They were very keen on trying out their new merchandise in the Black household.
“Your brothers are strange human beings,” Eliza mumbled walking towards the younger ginger.
Ron was looking for stuff in his luggage.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6wxkwVTow
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0erlpY7vF
They were going to sleep in the same room while Eliza was going to move in another one. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESKAenKJIv
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ1FxaoN2r
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” He whispered aware that his brothers were somewhere close and could hear him.
Ron didn’t need any funny jokes played on him while being in an unknown territory.
"So, this is where you live?" He continued, looking quite surprised of how suspicious and dark was the house on the inside.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM9HW6LE0i
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JGrMZNpXV
"No. I live with Remus. I only come here when it's safe. This summer's been very safe. Kreacher would never tell anyone about us. He's still loyal to the Black family." She explained, sitting on the bed next to Ron's trunk.
As minutes passed, silence fell between the two Gryffindors. Eliza could see Ron struggling to start another subject.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPDaPQb5mp
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGIlW99Fpk
"Do you believe we're in danger?" He finally asked, turning to her before sitting on his bed slowly.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONTLcgMoyM
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4eW0l9dJa
"Do you?"783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGvBcbKmmZ
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP7QGa1Bh8
"I don't know. I hope not but the Order is getting together again." Ron answered sourly.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDAa7ruMJA
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nLGb4NhNg
"What is this Order?" 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2tlN23YoD
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAOIHMXgJV
"The Order of the Phoenix is a secret gathering, a coalition created by Dumbledore during the war."
That response didn't come from Ron even if he had his mouth open.
Hermione smiled when the rest figured she was there, "Nice to see you two."783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCClFz3jTs
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxD5poYvUW
She hugged Eliza before being conflicted between hugging Ron or not. The green eyed witch watched bemused how awkward was their reunion, even after four years of being best friends.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5kqv9ow9n
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkq5SX65hb
"So, everyone downstairs was in the order before," Eliza concluded, her mind instantly going to her mother.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxXjL7MczZ
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnCtXFpjiZ
"Yes."
A few hours later, Mrs. Weasley called them all for dinner. It was a feast and Eliza couldn't remember the last time she ate so much and still wanted more. She wasn’t the type to complain about one's cooking skills but Mrs. Weasley was infinitely better than Remus.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV7EFWaO5f
"You're Liz, right? I'm Tonks," The woman introduced herself. "It's nice to finally meet you. You are everything Remus talks about, except our problem of course." She continued.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r7k3H6kdz
"I'm curious when did this happen..." 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQxsCYSfMU
The way Eliza said it made both Tonks and Remus shift uncomfortably in their seats. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaOfRTYVET
Hermione rolled her eyes, already knowing what to expect from her friend.
"We are both working for the Order and just met this summer." Tonks responded without any restraints.
The Gryffindor was being watched by everyone. They knew Eliza could get rather mean when she was talking to new people. She was known for her blunt personality but Tonks seemed to brush it off easily.
Mr Weasley coughed before changing the subject quickly.
"He's back." Sirius frowned yet he said that with his own mouth. "Voldemort's probably searching for his old loyal dogs." He continued when the eyes moved on him.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShuoNEGX8U
"Indeed. I already talked to Dumbledore and we came to the conclusion that any caution the ministry will take -if they will take one, that is- will not be powerful enough. Therefore, we should all take our former positions in the Order and examine the problem thoroughly before coming to a conclusion. I’m telling you all, we should prepare for the worst but hope for the best.” He finished, smiling softly as encouragement, especially to his children and wife.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5WBTMjmhz
Eliza watched and listened to his speech with attention but her mind couldn’t agree with what Mr Weasley said. Voldemort was being careful, meticulous even, and they had little to no help from most of the wizarding comunity. It was only them, a few people ready to risk their lives. Eliza was wondering if it was worth it.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbEYWjsqgn
After dinner, Hermione told her friends what she has done that month with her parents. She also gave Eliza a book about dreams and a dream catcher, which only confused both the brunette and the ginger.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthZICmvVDp
“Wh-What is this for?” Eliza asked, holding the dream catcher like it was infested.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkl61Q8TXz
“It’s supposed to catch your dreams and help you sleep peacefully. I know you had trouble sleeping last year.” She responded in that you-should-know-that-already manner.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVcag2k8pj
“Does it gather your dreams in such a small thing?” Ron asked, tilting his head while scanning curiously the object.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdmfDhjwNh
Hermione scoffed, “Of course not! It doesn’t literally take your dreams; it’s not magic.” She stated in a voice that hinted just how silly Ron sounded, causing him to slightly glare at her.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFkTz0lM2z
“Well, anyway, thank you.” Eliza admitted, genuinely grateful.
Hermione’s mood changed drastically after she saw the smile on Eliza’s face.
The next few days were spent talking about what went wrong during the first time Voldemort was in power.
The children were not as affected by their conversations as were Remus and Sirius. They lost a lot during the war and one of their friends betrayed them, said Mrs. Weasley one night. She could understand their pain well.
Eliza was going back to her room when she heard the portrait of Mrs. Black from further the hall. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ8yS6rzgw
'Mudblood in my house! I cannot believe him! He brought all those tainted people in here! I should have been harder on him, that deception of a son!'
Eliza rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs when she heard Mrs. Black's last complaint. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzSiKH2mLL
'He brought that child here. I can't believe him! His brother died because of that cursed woman.'
Now that was something new. Mrs. Black obviously hated Sirius but to have her hate someone she didn't know was even worse.
Eliza walked upstairs with a lot to think about. She leaned against the wall and remembered her mother's cries in front of Voldemort. I hate you! You don't know how it feels like! I will not tell you anything! Then, was it about her or about the Order?
"Daydreaming again?"
Eliza's head raised instantly to meet the chocolate brown eyes of her godfather.
"I heard Mrs. Black saying something about mom. She called her 'the cursed woman'." Eliza said softly.
Remus frowned. He looked extremely uncomfortable which only made Eliza more curious.
Eliza scoffed, “Hogwarts is the safest place to be right now.” She combated.
“Not for you.” He stated, hitting her lightly on the forehead, making her feel more confused.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyHI91176K
Seeing her grow up from such a young age, Remus had the opportunity to take notice –even if he wanted to or not- of the way she built a certain wall between herself and the world. However, that wall had moments when it was up and moments it was completely pushed down, depending on the events and her connection to them. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPxPX9PQSo
From the moment she told him about her first dream with Ophelia, he knew he should never let that wall fall at all.
Those green eyes were staring intensely into Remus’, not blinking once. It was a bit weird, he admitted, but he knew her mind was probably making up scenarios in order to find answers.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53cfaf21X8
“It’s alright, Remus. I’ll talk take it from here.” Sirius suddenly walked up the stairs, his eyes staring at his daughter.
The werewolf man sighed heavily and let her father interfere, walking towards the stairs with his own problems to solve.
Sirius walked towards his daughter and pulled her around, so they could face each other properly. Eliza blinked twice before she realized the men changed and the one standing in front of her had darker hair and a very unique style of clothing.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAfohuMXPJ
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tH0kR4AMt
“I want to go to Hogwarts,” She started rapidly, not even letting Sirius say a word before establishing that, “That place has given me more life and comfort than anything. I’m not going to turn my back when it gets hard.” She added, staring at her father earnestly.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsZv6Hek2i
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p6e3Pu9lR
“I know. I would do the same. But Liz, these are dangerous times, unpredictable times. I want you to lay low and keep your ears perked because the strangest things happen in the shadows. No matter what you hear, don’t tell anyone, not even Dumbledore.” He lowered his voice towards the end of the sentence, like he was afraid the walls could hear him.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS0X30SRZ8
“Why not?”783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVdOyxLurK
“Normal teenagers like your friends are not allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts. The causes are diverse of course...” He added, jumping from serious to his usual self.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt04P6vLUO0
“Wait, but I use magic every day!” She almost screamed for everyone to hear, getting a stern look from her father before she continued, “You train me with magic.” She hissed.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDTSWhIXik
“That’s because the ministry doesn’t know you exist.” He finally explained. “You were born in utter secrecy, far away from here.” He continued, seemingly more comfortable now that he told her that little bit of information.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYR9qYqlBv
“But I go to Hogwarts and I saw Barty Crouch and the Minister. The teachers-“783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1YSTZvoHa
“They've always known of your existence and they promised not to divulge your secret. Of course, you ran along and grabbed the eye of young Malfoy,” He trailed, leaning in and looking straight into her eyes.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvabFb5jcNT
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdEQBSTrWo
She froze and started to fidget nervously, “That was a mistake,” She responded like it wasn’t much yet she avoided looking at him. “He will lose interest if he hasn’t already.” Eliza tried to fake innocence but Sirius wasn’t blind.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VyxMT5vrf
“You’re taunting Slytherins, aren’t you?” 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs3LZQYbRJ
It was supposed to be a joke but her head snapped towards him so fast that he couldn’t help but laugh.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLKlZggCdD
“I guess it’s in the blood,” He commented rubbing the back of his neck. “Anyway, don’t forget what I said, Liz. Don’t tell anyone what you hear; not even Dumbledore or Harry.” He finished, ruffling her hair before groggily walking downstairs.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ejy69erJG
Eliza sighed once her father got out of sight and leaned her head against the wall with a frown.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cXBrRg4Lr
“Don’t trust anyone, right mom?”783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFFtEJVnF2
The rest of the days passed very quickly and Eliza decided to enjoy the time with her friends and keep her issues for later.
As it has been whispered in between the members of the Order, Harry was not to know about their gathering or about the existence of the Order. Hermione and the Weasley siblings agreed without asking but Eliza had doubts. Harry was the one who met Voldemort and felt his wrath so why was he being kept away? He was the one who needed this Order more than anybody in the house. He've got to know what to expect.
She didn’t utter a word, of course, but she started spending more and more time in the room on the first floor- the one with the lineage.
Eliza didn’t have to be a genius to know who she was talking about; besides, doing magic outside school was illegal. It seemed that everyone made a big deal out of it, especially Mr. Weasley who was working at the Ministry and had already been contacted by the Minister.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qEPa98vXZ
“They won’t close an eye on this and you know it, Sirius.” Mr. Weasley started, invoking everyone in the kitchen for an urgent meeting.
“That’s alright! He only protected himself, of course he needed magic!” He screamed just to make his point clearer.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsR6WbmohR
Remus sighed and rubbed his forehead, feeling like he grew a few years older in such a short time. He noticed Eliza’s figure standing on the first few stairs, listening to their discussion, and closed the door.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLwttRc4pW
The green eyed girl sighed and went into her room. The house elf was just coming out of the same room when he saw her coming from downstairs with a pitiful expression. Instead of leaving silently, scared of what may happen if he opens his mouth, Kreacher glared at her.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hHyncs77b
“Bringing strangers, moreover mudbloods, into the Black Mansion, master would have been so mad.” 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvRPKFWeOo
He continued to ramble about that before he made himself unseen by descending the stairs.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrhQt15nWq
Eliza rolled her eyes at the strange elf and turned towards her room only to find the door closed. That was the moment she realized whose room it was.
Do Not Enter Without the Express Permission of Regulus Arcturus Black.
Eliza chuckled and caressed the inscription softly before opening the door and taking a long look at the place. The walls, windows and bed were draped with Slytherin's trademark colors: emerald and silver. The Black family crest was painted over the bed along with the family motto: Toujours Pur.
It was a room of melancholy and it held memories of a man whose destiny was regrettable.
Above the desk on the left was a picture of the Slytherin Quidditch team from back then, with Regulus standing in the middle.
783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAq6PHhoBV
Her eyes moved lower, on the desk where there was some kind of collage glued together. She got up and walked over, grabbing one of the pictures that fell off. It must have been from the war because Voldemort was being very proactive and the aurors were having a hard time keeping up with the Death Eaters. Alastor Moody’s name appeared in one of the articles as an uncontrollable, mad auror who was under questionable usage of the deadly curses. Eliza chuckled and placed it down, looking over what was left of the collage.
In a way, it was beautiful to see just what kind of boy was Regulus as he grew up and what kind of interests he had. On the other side, he was infatuated with Voldemort and that was enough for a characterization.
She jumped at the sudden voice. Thankfully, it was Sirius.
“Harry will be brought here shortly.” He announced before realizing she was going through Regulus’ old stuff. “My younger brother was much more than what this room shows you.” Sirius added as he walked inside, stopping right behind her and looking at the picture above the desk. “So much more,” He trailed in a melancholic trance.
“Ophelia took good care of Regulus during our school years. She was more like a sister than I was a brother to him.” He started, placing his hands on her shoulders in a fatherly way, “She had a certain talent for understanding Slytherins and would often take their side against us. I couldn’t understand why she was so protective of Regulus until he became a Death Eater.”783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEG7iHqsIWr
“Was she trying to change his mind?” Eliza asked, glancing up at her father over her shoulder.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYww4QmM4S
Sirius chuckled, “Maybe it was the other way around. It doesn’t matter now. Your mother had never been a Death Eater nor had interest to become one. She wanted us to be a family, even when the family turned against me. Regulus was a loyal kid and somehow, he remained loyal to the Black name and to his sisterly figure while I destroyed everything.”783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWLefYvrOp
“Regulus knew where mom hid?”783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3K27eCaBG
“Yes. Maybe I didn’t kill James and Lily but I definitely killed Ophelia.” He mumbled, taking his daughter by surprise with that sudden testimony.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbTy4WIKlu
“You were in Azkaban when mom died.” She clarified, more for her own good than his, “You were in Azkaban.”
Sirius sighed and watched her green eyes softening and hardening with the swirl of thoughts and emotions she was going through. 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtxFen02nE
“Regulus died very young, Liz. Before he died, he asked me where your mother hid and I told him. I knew he would never betray her but I was wrong. He told Malfoy and a few years later, Ophelia died." He explained, feeling even worse than before.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq92EjHywn
“That’s irrelevant. Regulus never hurt mom and neither have you. The ones responsible are cold hearted filthy wizards. I remember their faces clearly,” Her green eyes darkened at the memory as she continued, “I will make sure they get their doze of pain." 783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFckWJdPR1
Sirius stared at her blankly, registering her threat before he chuckled and hugged her tightly.783Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDaFycnVrZ
“You never cease to surprise your father.” He mumbled, feeling closer to her after getting that guilt off his chest.
