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Ellison turned off the faucet and stepped out of the shower. She wrung her hair with a towel before wrapping it around her torso, and stepped out into the small room she had been forced to call home. After nearly three days, she had finally decided to take a shower ... Mainly because she was beginning to smell, but also in the hopes that it would make her feel a bit better.

Tom's words from the night before replayed in her mind. Maybe he was right ... Maybe she should try to make the best out of this miserable situation. Maybe it was the best chance she had at getting out of this place and back to her family.

A part of her wanted to, though a larger piece of her wanted to maintain the cold demeanor she had held the past three days, if for no other reason, but to spite Tom. She stepped in front of the mirror, examining the short, wet curls that fell in stringy heaps around her face. What she wouldn't give for a hairbrush.

A loud crack sounded from behind her, and she jumped, pulling her towel up to her neck. Turning on her heel, she looked down to find Beasley, who was holding a large pile of folded clothes.

"Beasley's sorry Miss. Beasley didn't mean to scare Miss. Beasley was only bringing Miss some fresh clothes," the house elf stammered, holding out the clothing for Ellison to see. Ellison smiled sadly at the little elf. He looked absolutely petrified.

"Thank you Beasley. You can lay them on the bed if you'd like," Ellison replied. Beasley looked up at her, his expression a mixture of relief and surprise. Laying the pile neatly on the foot of the bed, he snapped his fingers, disappearing with another crack.

Ellison turned to examine the clothes, surprised to find they all belonged to her. How had Tom managed to get his hands on it all? Had he went to her house? Went through her things? The thought sent a wave of annoyance through her, though she had to admit, she was grateful for something clean to put on. Sorting through the pile, she picked out a dark green, cotton dress and put it on. Grabbing her favorite wool cardigan from the pile as well, she slipped it on and walked towards the door.

She turned the knob slowly, willing the door not to creek as she opened it. Poking her head into the hall, she looked side to side, and took a step forward, almost tripping over something. She looked down, examining the silver tray that sat at her feet. It held a plate topped with toast, sausages, and eggs, a long with a cup of tea. She bent down and picked it up, walking back into the room with it. Sitting it down on the bedside table she noticed a small scrap of parchment lying beside the cup. Picking it up, she read it.

'Brought this up for you ... now eat something.
                                                   -Tom'

Her lips turned up in a reluctant smile as she read over the note again. Eyeing the tray, she picked up the toast and took a bite. Merlin she was starving. Sitting down on the bed and placing the tray on her lap, she promptly cleared it, only a few sips of tea remaining when she had finished. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she stood up and headed for the door again.

She walked down the long hallway, listening for any sound other than the patter of her bare feet on the hardwood. Journeying down the stairs, she turned right, into a sitting room. The same sitting room Lestrange had escorted her through three days prior.

The walls of the room were adorned with wallpaper, dark green vines running vertically from floor to ceiling. Three squat armchairs and a sofa sat a top a large, threadbare rug in the middle of the room, all of them circled around an oak mantle that housed a sooty fireplace.

She walked through the room, eyeing a pair of French doors stationed on the far wall. Walking towards them, she reached out and turned the handle. Slowly, she opened the doors, revealing a much larger room, rows of bookshelves lining its walls. Her eyes widened as she took in the site. There had to be over a thousand books on the shelves. 

Glancing over her shoulder, she stepped inside.  Walking beside the shelves, she ran her fingers over the faded spines of the books, reading each one's title as she did. Most pertained to the Dark Arts in some way or another, but she managed to spot a few on legilimency and one or two on potion making.

As she continued her pursuit, one book in particular caught her eye. Pulling it off the shelf, she read the cover. 'Magical Mediterranean Healing Plants and Their Properties.' Opening the book, she thumbed through the pages, reading bits of paragraphs here and there.

"I figured I'd find you here," a voice called from behind her. She turned her head in its direction, though she knew perfectly well who the voice belonged to. Tom was leaned against the doorway, hands in his pockets.

"You have quite the collection," she replied casually, dropping her eyes back down to the book in her hands, though she was no longer reading it. Tom stepped inside the room, watching her as she flipped a page absently.

"I see Beasley gave you your clothes," Tom commented, his eyes scanning her up and down.

"How'd you manage to get them?" She asked, closing the book she was holding. "I thought by now, there'd be Aurors swarming my flat."

"I sent Beasley," Tom replied simply. "He can be quite sneaky when he wants to be," he added with a smirk.

"I've noticed," she said, placing the book back on the shelf. "He almost gave me a heart attack this morning when I was getting out of the shower."

"Sorry about that," Tom smirked. Ellison walked towards the window, forgetting for a moment the circumstances that had brought her here.

"Thank you for the breakfast," she turned to face him, giving him a faint smile. He was watching her, his eyes traveling down the length of her body. She hugged her arms around her chest, suddenly uncomfortably aware of his gaze.

"You're welcome," Tom replied, drawing his eyes up to meet hers. She looked away, turning her attention to the cars passing by on the street.

"Ellison..." Tom began, taking a step towards her. Suddenly a loud crash sounded from the foyer as someone barreled through the front door...

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Thought I'd leave a little cliffhanger for you guys ... you're welcome ;) Leave a comment and let me know what y'all think!