Ellemir Lestrange is sitting on the edge of the bed in the room where she was taken almost bodily from the big man who had found her in the garden. She does not know exactly how she got there, nor she remembers all the things that his companion told her along the way.

She seems to have realized that this chamber is the one which a few years ago was used as classroom for Divination's lessons, but that now the new teacher, Luna Lovecross or something like that, preferred to move to a classroom facing north-east so now even Hogwarts has a "Guest Room"

Ellemir rubs her forehead, trying to catch up on some of lucidity. And she's grateful for this solitude.

She closes her eyes and concentrates on breathing, which gradually returns to normal.

It has been a difficult night and the attack that she suffered shortly before has brought down the last remnant of strength she had after the escape and the entrance to the castle .

It is not the first time that she faces danger, or she is attacked. Indeed. Her whole life was marked by struggles and ongoing challenges. She is prepared to face them.

What happened in that room had never happened.

Ellemir did not understand who is the young teacher called from the Headmistress McGonagall until he tried to kill her .

The girl knows for years that a formidable magician is hunting her, ever since the Death Eater Radif, in the time of his capture, had let slip the secret of her existence .

But she never knew the name.

Even before he dashes against her, Ellemir realizes that he is the magician, simply noting the instantaneous change of his face's expression as soon as he hears his name. From great admiration to hatred, deep and relentless .

And then the confirmation, looking into his eyes for a moment before he shoots the finishing blow .

She sighs, thinking back to those moments .

Ellemir does not know what happened to her: never before she has stopped fighting in moments when her life was in danger.

In that moment, with the tip of magic wand that almost pierces her throat and recognizing in his green eyes a savage fury and anger endless, she feels a sudden and profound feeling of bitter regret for something, or someone, that she would not have had ever... A feeling of sadness and emptiness unknown that overwhelms her and that she is not able to counter.

For that she closed her eyes and surrendered, waiting for the end, which instead has not arrived.

Now, sitting on the bed and finally quiet, she understands that to survive the days ahead and complete the task she has set herself, she should not dwell on what has been unleashed efore in her soul . There is no room for anything but for the mission that she has to make.

A little voice inside her screams to be heard, but she gets strength and refuses to lend listening.

Ellemir closes her eyes again and breathes deeply to clear her head. There is one thing she has to do now: the protection that she had created around herself has to be reinforced as soon as possible.

She sees blinking images of a cave. A circle of hooded people, with magic wands pointing to a common point, who are evoking Imperius Curse. A purple lightning exploding in the darkness, illuminating the faces concentrated of the magicians. She sees that at the head of the Circle is her own uncle, the only one able to reach and subdue her with the help of other magicians: his voice crying "IMPERIO!" pierces her brain.

Ellemir collapses to the ground, holding her head. With each flash of light her resistance drops. She feels that is about to become a puppet in the hands of the Death Eaters.

With the last bit of energy left, she is able to rest her hand on the circular symbol on her right arm. She collects the thoughts and tries to focus. A white light appears for an instant and the pain ceases.

Ellemir closes her mind. For now she is safe. But for how long?

Exhausted and drained in the body and in the spirit, she rises from the ground and drags painfully on the bed. The last image that is formed in her mind before sinking into a black hole without dreams are two green eyes staring at her with infinite hatred.

.

* * *

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On the other side of the world , in the depths of a cave , the Circle of Death Eaters breaks . Magic wands stop emitting flashes and are lowered . The contact is lost just when they were about to get full control of the mind of the girl fled .

The cry of anger Drusus Lestrange is heard almost out of the mountain.

He now knows that the plan is all to review.