Roycroft rises and steps out from behind the edge of the desk, saying again, "Ellie, please, Ты shouldn't be here!" She frowns mightily and asks him why, and he tells her because she's not with the Petitioner. "Oh yes, she is," Malfoy says, and the Brother is clearly uncomfortable under everyone's steady gazes. "They've all gone through this...why haven't I had to?" He scrambles to find a suitable explanation. "Well...they're from beyond the Divide, Ellie, they--" she steps away from Malfoy and looks at Roycroft directly. "I was born in America, Roycroft, that's about as far outside the Divide...

Snape Apparates somewhere near Hogsmeade. It is a quiet night, there's evidently no one about, which is a point in his favor. He stands stock still for a moment, just long enough to focus himself. Once that is achieved, he breathes deeply, filling his lungs, then breaks into a dead run. His travelling плащ and халат, одеяние whips behind him, and as he exhales his mind flexes, and he feels the rippling change course through his body. And then, he's airborne.

He is a raven, as black as the night he flies through.

He laughs to himself as he soars over Hogsmeade, over the pathway and then the castle; everyone...

He Apparates near the little house and waits a few moments before approaching. He tests the air, senses the surroundings to make certain there are no trespassers, then once he is satisfied it is safe, he quickly heads to the door. He passes through his sphere of protection and thinks the spell to open the door. Once inside, the door closes and he re-applies the house's internal protection. Elsbet stirs in his arms and he kisses her forehead; she knows she's home. Without delay he carries her into her room and lays her down on her bed. He draws up his Избранное bedroom chair and sits down beside...

Breakfast with "Brother Sa'Bat" is over quickly. She's usually not glad to part with him, but today is not a usual day. She is so distressed, her mind is so unsettled that she doesn't think she'll be able to keep her breakfast down much longer. She doesn't feel like finishing her errands, but she can't just go Главная yet. She has to get this done, but she can not meet her Sensei like this...so she goes to the only person she knows she can talk to about this.

Therion.

Severus doesn't know why she talks to him and wishes she wouldn't, but he won't forbid it. Mainly because the daft bastard knows...

She looks at the paper in front of her as if she's afraid to touch it. There was something in the tone of his voice that makes her uneasy. "Is this going to make me angry?" She asks and he chuckles. "Oh I shouldn't think so, your lover's name's not on it." She takes a drink of her latte, barely noticing how hot it is. "Before I open it, what is it?" Roycroft half smiles and lowers his head, and his voice, just slightly. "Well, Ты know what a NOC Список is..." he gives a little shrug and she opens the paper slowly. KNIGHTS OF WALPURGIS it says at the вверх of the page, then below that, KOS AS INDICATED*...

Something about the way the little mare moves makes Elsbet feel very calm. Something in the feel of her body against Hasufel's makes her feel connected. Something in the sounds Hasufel makes brings a sense of peace to Elsbet's heart. And as Hasufel takes Elsbet once, twice, three times widdershins around the fountain, something in the little mare's smell makes Elsbet...

...remember.

As Hasufel strolls to the edge of the park трава and begins to walk the Great Circle, in her mind's eye, Elsbet is three again. There's a small black pony, and her parents are laughing joyously as she plays on the...

As she nears the coffeehouse she decides she's not really up for breakfast, but instead she heads over to the Магазин of one of her most Избранное people. The witch Irena Potsblack has been the city's best dress and cloak-maker for the last fifty years, and Elsbet has always found comfort in her shop. Irena is very fond of Elsbet, and always happy to see her when she makes it in. Today though, Elsbet's appearance makes her very concerned. "My dear, what's happened? Ты look so sad!" Before Elsbet can say anything, Irena has hugged her, brought her into the sitting room and brought her some hot...

He makes his way slowly into the кухня and peeks in the freezer. There's the spicy chicken and гриб dish she fixed for him, and while he loves it, he knows it would be too much for him right now; his stomach is in knots and he needs to calm himself down. Ah, there's her ice cream, but he won't take it; he doesn't know how she can mix mint Шоколад chip with pistachio almond, but somehow, it's her favorite. He finds twice-baked potatoes, which he likes very much, and...oh, there's the брокколи and cheddar stuffed chicken breasts! He remembers that meal with particular fondness, and not...

The afternoon breeze rustles through Malfoy's hair, whipping it into his face as he stands on his balcony, looking out over his vast estate. How much does this mean to him? Two days ago, he would have сказал(-а) 'everything', but now, he's wondering just how much it's all worth. He thinks of the tiny house and the tiny pond, and how happy Snape was, how happy Elsbet was...could he be happy with less? He walks to the other end of the balcony, smiling when he sees his white peacocks. Gods, he loves those things. How would they look with the little pond? Sighing deeply he turns to walk back into the...