Hogwarts Is Where The Heart Is

Chapter 41

Eleazar opened his eyes to find himself lying on a grassy floor. His first realization was that he was no longer in the cavern followed by the knowledge that all his wounds seem to have been cured. It no longer hurt to breath.

Sitting up he found he was dressed in white robes of a similar style to his regular attire unfortunately he didn't seem to have his wand on him. Standing up he took stock of his surroundings and realized that they greatly mimicked Stonehenge of all places. Yet how he could have ended up there when he'd very much been dying beneath Hogwarts minutes before was a mystery. Tihen a voice he'd never imagined he'd hear again except in his dreams rang out.

"Eleazar!" he turned around and striding towards him between two of the stones with her arms open was Miriam. He ran to her with the speed of a man who had not just fallen off a cliff and they embraced sharing a sweet kiss that lasted for all too short a time.

When they pulled apart he took a moment to properly take her in. She was dressed in a blouse of white with a high waisted white skirt with silver detail that hung to the floor. She looked the same as the day he'd last seen her with her silver hair looped up like a braided wreath in the back and her green eyes sparkling with joy the edges crinkling with laugh lines.

"Miriam," he whispered.

"Hello my love." She replied cupping his cheek.

"I've missed you so." He replied.

"I know," she answered with a small smile. "Why don't we take a seat?" She gestured to a rock which had a blanket laid over it. Eleazar complied refusing to let go of her hand. Even as they sat down.

"You were right Miriam. About everything."

"I admit it is nice that all my research came to something at last," Eleazar stared at her sadly.

"I only wish it hadn't been too late." Miriam squeezed his hands which she'd pulled into her lap.

"Too late for me perhaps...but not for others. I'm merely glad I could still be of use after my death. Which you shouldn't go blaming yourself for." This last part was said sternly.

"I'm getting better at not doing that as much," said Eleazar with a sigh. "What happened? I know it was Ranrok but..." he wasn't quite sure why but a part of him needed to know.

"Would it help?" asked Miriam when he tilted his head she sighed.

"I knew I was being followed which was why I couldn't risk coming back to you and why I sent the container off to George. And really not a moment too soon. The next day as I was about to leave camp I was ambushed by a combination of goblins and wizards. They'd cast an anti-apparition charm so I couldn't leave." A little smirk of pride came to her face. "Mind you I took down a damn good number of them with me. But unfortunately, Ranrok showed up and...as we know no ordinary wizard can stand up to him. He disarmed me and interrogated me, demanding the container. When I wouldn't give up the location, he lost his temper and killed me. Of course, they found it in the end...poor George."

"You didn't make it easy for them," said Eleazar. "We overheard Rookwood say it took quite a while and a lot of favors just to find it." Miriam gave him a small smile.

"Well, that's something. Anyway, as you can see, you being there would never have made any difference." Eleazar nodded he'd seen Ranrok's power and listening to the story painful as it was in some ways it did confirm that being there wouldn't have helped her.

In fact, it would have meant he wouldn't have had the chance to be there for Genevieve later on. Not to mention trust his wife to go out fighting. He supposed the knowledge as well as Miriam's own acceptance of the matter brought him some peace. He pulled her into his arms and she leaned her head on his shoulder.