Thick Smoke

A Moment to Remember

Nothing really happened afterwards. Much like Voldemort said, Eliza was granted everything except leaving and if there was something she needed or wanted, a Death Eater -usually Lucius or Yaxley- would fetch it for her.

Going into the library became a habit and she started to read instead of wallowing in her misery. Standing there, hidden from all the ruckus happening outside the mansion was making her feel both guilty and melancholic. School's already begun and she was curious what the others were doing.

Eliza was one of the few students who wouldn't go to Hogsmeade often. Most times she was dragged by Snape into his office or she had to do homework. During a Hogsmeade break, Eliza got the chance to talk to Harry in the common room.

Remembering the glasses boy, she started to feel bad for him. Eliza had to recognize she didn't like him much at first and now she knew why. It was Voldemort's influence over her mind.

"Mistress wants tea?" A house elf trailed over, already placing the cup of tea and plate of biscuits on the table in front of Eliza.

The green eyed witch looked at the elf with kind eyes, unlike the rest of the inhabitants.

"Have you been working here for a long time-"

"Mildred. Mildred has been working for master Malfoy for her whole life." The house elf responded, her brown eyes staring innocently at Eliza's green ones.

Eliza leaned on her knees, "Do I look familiar?"

Mildred hesitated and glanced at the door, "Mildred should not be talking about that. Master Malfoy gets mad." She breathed out, scared that something might happen to her again.

Eliza raised an eyebrow before she grabbed Mildred's thin hands softly, "It's alright. As long as I am here, nothing will happen to you." The witch assured the house elf.

Mildred smiled and held onto Eliza's hands, "Mildred met the green eyed witch before and heard master Malfoy talk to Regulus Black about her. They vowed not to tell anyone of her child but the Dark Lord found out." Mildred lowered her voice to a whisper before continuing, "The Dark Lord was angry and questioned the green eyed witch. Ah, Mildred could see it through the hollow in the door, he was s-so angry and he was s-screaming." Mildred's voice trembled at the memory.

"Why was he mad? What did she tell him?" The witch urged the elf to continue.

Mildred swallowed nervously and glanced at the door before turning to Eliza, "The green eyed witch asked to marry Sirius Black because she was pregnant with his child. The Dark Lord refused and told master Malfoy to keep her locked into the attic. Mildred heard from Dobby that she escaped with the help of Regulus Black and Severus Snape."

Eliza squeezed Mildred's hands unconsciously.

"What happened afterwards?"

Mildred sighed and looked at Eliza with pity in her big eyes, "Mildred only knows that she escaped, nothing more. But master Malfoy was punished and Regulus Black disappeared a few days later."

Eliza sighed and nodded with a smile, leaving Mildred return to her work.

If she were to place the pieces together, the three Slytherins made a vow to Ophelia. All three respected it until the end. Lucius probably kept the secret while Regulus and Snape helped her escape. Eliza remembered her dream. Snape said Regulus was punished but it seemed like he was already planning to defy Voldemort anyway. He died right after Sirius told him where was Ophelia.

But Voldemort found out and he imprisoned her in the attic, asking her to give him the child for sure. She refused and with the help of her friends, she escaped and hid with Snape, knowing he was the last person she would go since they didn't seem close. However, in that letter from Snape, it looked like Sirius knew Ophelia's plan to hide which meant-