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"Ok. You know the spell, Xen." Encourages Elaine, a bottle with the three potions inside in her hand, "Let's finish what Pandora started once and for all."

Xenophilius Lovegood nods skeptically, his hand squeezes the wand tightly, his gaze absent, "As soon as I drink the potion and I am unconscious, you will cast the spell, right?" The woman asks, but from the blond no answer comes out.

Elaine looks at him and sees him stressed, "Xen?" She calls, the man's eyes snap on her, a severed sigh is heard by the blond man, "Oh yes, yes. Got it," he hastily replies, the grip on the wand becomes stronger.

"Is everything alright?" Worriedly questions Elaine, the blond shakes his head resigned, "I think this is a bad and stupid idea. Even for me." He admits, the woman raises an eyebrow, ready to replicate.

The blond grabs her hands and looks her in the eyes intensely, "Can't we, like, throw it in the sea and cast the Memory charm on ourselves to forget its existence?" Xenophilius proposes, Elaine raises an amused eyebrow, "You want to throw a dark artifact created by Voldemort into the sea and forget its existence?" She questions with a wide smile.

"Do not pronounce that name. Besides, it seems like a great solution, where you won't have to drink that. Your paranoia about the Dark Lord is getting more and more obsessive every year." He says, pointing at the flask and shaking his head, Elaine tilts her head to the side, "You won't tell me you still believe Voldemort died that night," the brunette whispers forcefully.

Xenophilius keeps his gaze, "Everyone thinks so. And the Ministry has ascertained it." He replies, Elaine narrows her eyes and bites the inside of her cheek, "Just because Lily and James died defying him there that night and Harry is alive, doesn't mean he's been defeated permanently. The Ministry goes to great lengths not to spread the word about what happened in Godric's Hollow, because they're not sure what happened." Scolds the woman.

"Neither do you, Elaine. You weren't there." Xenophilius reminds her stubbornly. Elaine clenches her jaw, "But I know how the Ministry works, and I've seen the documents about it, you have no idea how much they hide from the whole community." The widower instantly shuts up, noticing the dangerous reflection in his friend's irises, "Shall we proceed?" Questions the blond, albeit unwillingly.

Elaine nods happily.

꧁꧂

Elaine Black opens her eyelids and blinks for a few seconds, trying to notice something in the thick of darkness. A cold shiver pierces her body and, with a forced push, she gets up and looks around.

A thick dark grey mist begins to form at her feet, looking around her she notices the environment around her. A thick forest with trees so high that you cannot see the top, no sound reaches her ears, not even that of the light breeze that makes her fingers tremble.

"Is there anyone?" She questions, her voice comes out as a faint whisper, barely audible. Based on her recent studies of the spell, she should be in one of her memories, not an unreal forest.

Xenophilius observes the limp body of his friend, who breathes slightly and her chest rises and falls irregularly. 

Finally the brunette hears something, a sound of steps behind her, but when she turns there is no one. Elaine goes to get her wand but can't find it. She hears another noise behind her and as soon as she turns, she is face to face with a person.

A strong gasp escapes her lips. Brown hair scattered here and there, square glasses on the middle of the nose, a thin layer of beard covers the area of the cheeks and chin, only one thing is out of place in the body of James Potter in the opinion of the woman: his eyes do not contain the light of happiness that he always had.

Even when they had that heated argument so many years ago, that light had never gone away, because it was part of him.

"James..." whispers Elaine, a heavy lump is created in her throat, big tears run from her eyes.

The man looks at her with a cold expression, "It's your fault," He whispers so softly that Elaine can't hear, "What?" Asks with a faint voice the brunette.

James looks at her with resentment, the air in her lungs decreases considerably, until there is no more. The boy's eyes become even clearer, almost white, "It's your fault, Elaine!" He exclaims, "If I'm dead and if Harry always suffers. This is all your fault!"

Elaine's body starts to convulse, she gasps desperately, Xenophilius grabs his wand and prepares to wake her up immediately, but the word she keeps saying stops him. " James..."

"That is not true." The woman sobs, "I tried to help you, I swear it to you, James," Her face begins to become paler with the lack of air.

"Elaine. You have to go on. Don't let anything affect you, all you see is in your head trying to confuse you." Xenophilius commands, grabbing her hand and clutching it. The woman continues to shake her head and panickedly whisper the name of her brother.

The brunette closes her eyes and tries in every way to accumulate as much air as possible in her lungs. Then everything stops.

Opening her eyes, the woman is still in the forest, before her is no longer the angry face of her brother, in his place there's Lily.

"All you do is lie!" Exclaims the angry woman, Elaine is thrown a few meters back, the muddy terrain is soft enough not to scratch her skin.

Lily slowly approaches, "You were supposed to be in our place." She whispers menacingly, Elaine remains motionless looking at her, her red hair becomes pitch black and curlier, her soft facial features harden and sharpen, her beautiful and eye-catching green eyes become a pool of intense gray.

That gray brings back a love lost for years. The brunette gasps in surprise, tears gush more fastly, staining her rosy cheeks, "Reg-" She whispers incredulously.

Regulus Black looks at her with a solemn expression, tears of anger form on his irises, that light of love with which the man once looked at her is no longer in the intense gray, hatred and anger in its place.

"I thought I loved you," he begins in a calm, low tone, "I've done everything for you, Elaine." He goes on, every sentence corresponds to a step forward, "You're just a traitor." He spits out, the brunette shakes her head gently, "Please, Regulus, I..." 

"Elaine, you must hurry!" Yells Xenophilius desperately, shaking his friend's shoulders, "Elaine!"

"Regulus I love you. Really," Whispers the thirty-year-old, the voice dies in her throat, "Elaine!" She hears from every part of the forest. " Xen?" She calls back, finally standing up, Regulus continues to observe her passively.

"Elaine, you need to wake up as soon as you can." Communicates the blond's voice, the woman closes her eyes, inhaling deeply and finding the courage to open them again.

When her hazel irises look around, the woman still finds herself in the forest. The hope of leaving decreases drastically, but then her eyes point to the figure of James Potter in front of her.

This time, however, his eyes contain that hopeful light to which the brunette has always leaned on, James smiles melancholy and extends a hand. Elaine stretches hers in return, the two almost reach to touch their fingers, never actually touching though.

"The day will come," he warmly communicates, "Elle." He adds, Elaine smiles painfully, the tears never stopped falling.

Unable to utter a word, the brunette nods in tears, "Close your eyes, it will hurt less," Advises her older brother, Elaine obeys instantly.

And when she reopens them, James Potter and the forest are gone, in his place are Xenophilius Lovegood with a wide smile and his and Luna's house. The golden locket no longer between her fingers.

The widower immediately catches her in a triumphant embrace.

꧁꧂

Xenophilius leans her friend's trunk in front of the front door, then stands in front of her and grabs her shoulders, looking into her eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?" asks the blond, checking every micro-expression in Elaine's face, who smiles reassuringly, "I'm fine, Xen. You don't have to worry about anything. It's time for me to go back to Hogwarts for the last few days at least,"

Xenophilius raises an eyebrow, "So you haven't changed your mind?" He inquisitively asks, Elaine continues to smile, "No. After our chat last week, I decided that I'd better get back to the Wizengamot before Lucius starts freaking out in my absence."

The blond nods resignedly, "Will you keep an eye on my princess for me?" He questions, Elaine's smile softens, "Always." Xenophilius embraces her in gratitude, "You're the best," He whispers, the brunette closes her eyes, "Dad used to say that too." She jokes and the two give each other their farewells before the woman Apparates at King's Cross station.

꧁꧂

Hogwarts' hallways are nearly deserted, except for Elaine who is on her way to Dumbledore's office to warn him of her late return to school.

Lucius Malfoy appears from the corner of the corridor, a grimace on his face, a hurried step and slightly ruffled hair. Seeing the brunette, the scowl of the man becomes more prominent.

Lucius tries to walk past her, but Elaine calls him back, a little amused smile on her face, "Why in such a hurry, Lucius?" She questions, the man does not even look at her and goes to leave but Elaine decides to insist, just to make his day worse.

"Oh Lucius, while you're at it. I decided to return to my seat in the Wizengamot for a while, you are relieved of your duties, thank you very much for your very efficient service. If I need anything else I will send you a letter," Communicates the brunette, the man's face becomes a shade of dark red, Elaine almost thinks that his head will burst with anger, Lucius approaches at a hasty pace, "Your family is the ruin of my life!" He exclaims angrily, turning and leaving.

Elaine bursts into a complacent chuckle, then continues to the headmaster's office, meeting the young Harry Potter, "If it's not Harry Potter himself," she announces with a grin.

Harry meets her gaze and approaches smiling, "Professor Black!" He exclaims happily, "Have you been away all year?" He curiously questions, Elaine smiles in turn, admiring those emerald eyes, "I had a matter to attend to, but I heard you were busy too,"

The 12-year-old smiles embarrassed, "In the weeks I was away, you opened the Chamber of Secrets, fought a younger version of Voldemort, saved Ginny Weasley from death, fought a Basilisk, and used the legendary Sword of Gryffindor, truly impressive." Lists the woman, a forced smile on her face, Harry chuckles, hearing the challenges he has accomplished with his friends listed so dryly, it seemed all more banal than it was.

"Someone had to do it," he jokes, Elaine looks at him neutrally for a few seconds, Harry is ready to apologize for the joke when the woman in front of him bursts into an amused chuckle, "You are one of a kind, Harry, really." Compliments the teacher, putting a hand on the boy's left shoulder, "Know that I am very proud and disappointed at the same time, will you and your friends ever have a normal year?" She questions exasperatly.

The boy smiles, "I doubt it, Professor Black." He replies, the woman gives another strained smile, "I'd better not hold you back any longer, we'll see you at the end of the year feast, Harry." Says the woman, not waiting for an answer and walking towards Dumbledore's office.

꧁꧂

Griffyndor won the House Cup again. For the second year in a row, Elaine can't help but feel proud.

The year at Hogwarts ended, even though she was gone for most of the semester, finally the brunette could focus on her position at the Ministry of Magic and her teaching at Hogwarts, no distractions in sight.

As soon as her foot crosses the threshold of the great atrium, several eyes lay on her in an inquisitive way. With her head held high, Elaine strides towards the lift, where the doors close and the contraption begins to rise.

"Level Nine." Announces the sweet voice of the elevator, Elaine comes out of the cubicle and heads towards the stairs that are to the right of the door of the Department of Mysteries, at the top of the stairs the woman finds herself in a long dark and gloomy corridor, in the end there is the Courtroom Ten, establishment of the renowned Council of Wizards.

Just inside the room, the woman is faced with a moderate number of wizards and witches with long plum-colored robes. A silence falls in the place, all scrutinize the thirty-year-old carefully, slight surprised murmurs echoes.

Elaine looks at them one by one with a slight hint of annoyance. It is well known that there has always been bad blood in the water between the woman and the Ministry for more than ten years.

Cornelius Fudge is the first to approach, extending his hand and giving the woman one of those politician smiles, more fake than Gilderoy Lockhart in the opinion of the brunette. "Lady Black, it's a pleasant surprise to find you here today." Greets the man, Elaine just shakes his hand, "Minister."

"What happened to Lucius? He decided to finally take a break?" Questions Fudge, the smile still printed on his lips, Elaine brings her arms back to her hips, "I decided to retake the Black family's seat. Malfoy was discharged." She announces in a cold tone.

Cornelius clears his throat, "Well. Shall we begin?" He asks, addressing the people in the room and pointing with his hand to the tribunes. 

Elaine nods slightly, advancing confidently towards her place. Amelia Bones is at her side in order of chairs.

The woman cannot help but feel the dangerous aura that comes from the thirty-year-old. As soon as Elaine’s brown eyes point to her own, Amelia smiles slightly and nods at her before concentrating on the work she has to do.

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