Blood Status

Chapter Fourteen:

Author's note: As the action and scenes now in the fanfic are more intense now, I've bumped this up to R.

*~~~~~~~~~~~*

Chapter fourteen:

 

“You needed to see me?” Hermione Granger spoke sourly as Elizabeth stood at the door to her own house. The letter that Elizabeth had urgently scribbled down on the paper was in the girl’s hand. She could see the dark letters that she used on her own stock paper, the way the ink bled through. Elizabeth hadn’t meant to be so hastey, but she needed a salvation plan, an exit strategy should the worst happen. And it would happen, because if she knew anything, it was that Voldemort would drag the whole world down should he have the leverage.

 

“I’m a secret keeper, and today, so are you.” Elizabeth stated firmly as she took ahold of Hermione’s hand.

 

“WHAT! NO!” But there was nothing she could do, because just as Elizabeth took her palm in hers completely, there was a flash of gold and their hands were strung together by a shimmering gold tie.

 

“Come inside, my neighbors are muggle and they ignore a lot, but not what is about to happen.” Elizabeth urged. Hand still sealed with Hermione’s, she pulled the girl into the home and shut the door. “Maybel! Could I have a set of tea for two, please?” Hermione stood dumb struck as she stared at Elizabeth, the glow of gold around their hands never left. The home was large and open, there were floral arrangements that were all lillies and poppies of some color and variation. Hermione was actually blown away how… muggle the house felt. There were clocks on the wall that were run by batteries, there were muggle literature that were tucked in the side table, there was not a wand or magic item in sight. Everything seemed so hyperreal to Granger.

 

“Yes Ma’am, any preference?” The purple beaded house elf popped into existance in front of Hermione who jumped. “Good afternoon Ms. Granger, my lady had told me you were coming. We hoped.” The elf was sweet, kind and it rubbed Granger the wrong way. Could the elf that lived and worked under someone such as Elizabeth truly be like this? She actually expected another elf like Kretcher, which disgusted and humbled her. Elizabeth studied Hermione as her eyes looked over the purple beaded elf.

 

“Well, any preference?” Elizabeth asked to the curly mane of hair beside her with a soft look on her face.

 

“No… none actually, I’m not picky.” Hermione mumbled as Elizabeth nodded to the house elf. The creature grinned and popped back out of the area, just as the glow on their hands finally fell and Hermione was able to yank her hand back. Elizabeth brushed her skirt down as she padded bare foot through the house towards a sitting room, and Hermione was dragged along out of pure frustration for what had just happened.

 

“Sit, please.” Elizabeth motioned for her to seat on the love seat as she herself slipped down onto a plush chair. Hermione’s back was rigid, but she slipped onto the love seat, her eyes narrowed.

 

“What is all this about… what secret am I keeping now?” Hermione grumbled as she turned her nose down at the house elf in the room. “I didn’t think you’d enslave others as well.” She looked more haughty to Elizabeth than she did to the elf. Maybel smiled softly and patted Hermione’s leg.