Ella ○ Harry Potter

Fifty Six: Half Past Dead

(some parts of this may be triggering? sorry, idk)

Ella looked around her. 

She was in an unfamilar room, and it was cold. She sat up, head pounding-- a t-shirt was clinging to her body, and she realized that she was sweaty, and she had a horrid taste in her mouth. 

"Morning, princess," a man's voice greeted her. Cold panic ran through her veins; where was she? Who was the man? Wasn't she sleeping on the floor in Sirius' room last night? But when she raised her eyes, she was sure she needed glasses.

"Sirius?" she wondered, confused. He was a twisted version of her best friend, and she blinked slowly. "Why--"

"No, you're thinking of my brother," he grinned. "He's not here, he's waiting elsewhere, princess." Ella blinked again, confused and tired. Why was she shivering? 

"What's going on?"

"You're slow, princess." Ella tilted her head, rubbing it. "Don't you remember?"

"No?" she admitted, not sure what she was supposed to remember. "Who are you?"

"Regulus Black, princess, the younger brother of your very best friend." Ella's eyebrows furrowed. 

"You're dead."

"Well, yes," he grinned wide. Ella shifted her legs, before standing up. "I don't you quite remember everything you should remember. Let's go back, shall we? What do you remember?"

::

"SIRIUS! WE'RE PLAYING WAR WITH THE TWINS!" Ella shrieked as she shot up. Sirius opened his eyes, and looked at Ella. His eyes widened after a moment, and he stood up very hurriedly.

"And Tonks, she'll murder us!"

"What time is it?" Ella questioned, and the two turned to look at the digital watch Ella smartly bought. "It's five a.m., we can pull it off."

"Yes, come on," Sirius whispered, grabbing her hand. They made their way quietly down the stairs (later, Sirius would comment how proud and surprised he was that they managed to make it quietly), and found the trio in the living room. Tonks was holding a pillow as a protection of a sort, but all three were obviously alseep. 

Sirius and Ella exchanged a look, and he smirked. Ella's smile was sinister as she pulled out her wand. "Rictusempra!" The Evil Duo called out, and the trio jumped in fits of laughter, making the duo laugh in triumph and do a little dance.

"We are the winners of the war," Sirius announced. "And you three, are our slaves now. Go clean up my room."

"We can't get into your room," Tonks stated. "We've tried, we wanted to win while you were distracted. But we couldn't."

"Hm," Sirius shrugged, yawning. "I say we go nap, Ella."

"Yes," Ella nodded. "We had a rough night, we kept trying to find the right time to sneak up on you."

The trio sighed, and accepted this piece of information. "Good night, you two."

"Have fun, slaves." Sirius wiggled his butt at their direction, while Ella nudged him to hurry up the stairs.

When the two finally entered the room again, Sirius looked down at Ella. "Do you feel bad?"

"I have no feelings."

"That's a mood, babe." Sirius said quietly. Ella smiled. 

"I think I'm dead. Is that a possibilty?"

"I dunno at this point," Sirius whispered. "I'm surprised I'm alive, most days."

"Do you ever wish you were never born?" Ella asked curiously, looking at him from the mattress she called her bed. Sirius peered down from his own bed, and smiled. 

"I used to, everyday." He mused. "Then I was happy, but these days... I don't feel like anything is real."

"Ever since Cedric died I always feel alone," Ella told him quietly. "I know you're here, with me. But nothing feels real, no one feels sincere. He was the only one I could speak to freely, and know he's completely here for me. I know you're here, but it doesn't feel real."

"I used to feel like this with James," Sirius whispered back, eyes closing. "He made everything feel vivid. You make me feel like things are real again, but the world is black-and-white."

"Black and Grey," Ella corrected, and he opened his eyes. He smiled, nodding. 

"Till death do us apart."

"Do you think we're too much of a duo?"

"Does it matter?" Sirius wondered, shutting his eyes again. "Nothing is real."

"Preach."

::

"Hey Ells," Ron greeted casually, sitting down in the free chair by Ella's side. He turned his head to the corner of the dining room. "Why are the twins polishing your shoes?" Ella looked at her feet, realizing once more she was barefoot.

"Uh, they lost the war," she explained. "They're our slaves now."

"And why are you surrounded by pink ties?" Ron asked, raising one of the Pink-White ties. He examined it with a critical eye, when Ella grabbed it and smiled wide. "What?"

"Sorry, it's a secret for now, Ronald." He sighed, leaning back in the chair. "How'd you sleep?"

"Great, I felt my soul healing itself in my sleep. You?"

"I sleep in the same room with Sirius, I can only sleep for so long before either farts or snores attack my mind. And anyway, we woke up at five a.m. to win the war," she shrugged, collecting the ties. "I'll be right back," she announced and walked up the stairs, just when Sirius came down.

"Morning Prongs."

"Morning Padfoot."

"Your ass has got some class."

"Your illness is chronic, but your tits are iconic," Ella winked back. Sirius laughed, smacking her back lightly, and then plopped down in the seat Ella just freed up.

"Morning Ronald," Sirius greeted. "Hey slaves!"

"Morning to our king," Fred grinned. "Would you like us to clean up your shoes too?"

"We could also simply massage your back."

"Or your throat."

"Until you're purple."

"That's kinky, I might be into it," Ella joked as she appeared with a Crack. Fred smirked at her, and Tonks screeched from upstairs suddenly, making the portrait of Sirius' mother scream in return.

"Our lives are becoming a mess," Sirius noted.

"They always were."