Elektra Black II

Chapter 3 | The Mysterious Note

(Psst... we'll be back at Hogwarts soon.)

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Sirius led the way through the quiet streets of Rome, El on his arm to help her walk better in heels. The time was eight o'clock at night; the twinkling dots of light in the darkened sky had replaced the heat from earlier, as they tried to find their way to the Romani's house. Sirius had asked an Elf at the hotel about the family, trying to find out more information. Were they a well respected family or one to be feared? Was it considered an honour to have been invited to one of their gatherings? But their questions were cut short when the Elf at the front desk wouldn't say a word. It appeared that he was threatened by the name... But what Elf don't humans threaten nowadays?

"Remember what we talked about at dinner?" Sirius gently asked, patting her hand that was linked around his arm as they walked up a small hill just on the outskirts of Rome. El recalled the conversation in her head. "If something bad happens, find each other immediately. We're safer together than separate. If we must, we'll leave the country early." El nodded her head, her heels clinking down onto the pavement. This was a big risk, but Voldemort and whoever else posed a threat weren't going to stop them from living their lives.

When they had arrived, the site in front of her dumbfounded El. Sirius however, was acting more than normal since he had grown up with this sort of lavish lifestyle, even if he ran away from it. Their villa sat on top of a secluded hill with a glimmer over the top of it to keep out Muggles. The house was a cream colour with green vines all around it. The gardens were at the front of the house, fountains on each side of the walkway up to it. There were statues among statues and gigantic cream beams that appeared to hold the house in its design. The house alone answered most of El's questions; they were lavishly rich! This sort of thing was hard to find in England, the only places she knew of were owned by Royalty or the Malfoy's...

One house Elf apparated at the front steps and as they grew closer, the sound of a classical orchestra swirled into their ears; the party had already begun without them! "Nomi?" The Italian house Elf croaked, his small and fragile body hunched over in a position that looked far too uncomfortable. Sirius took a moment, trying to take a guess at what was said as El admired her surroundings. Oh, to be this rich!

"Black." He confidently spoke, his left hand in his pocket as the right held on tight to his daughter. El looked up to Sirius with a confused look on her face. How did he know what to say? The house Elf grumbled something in Italian and clicked his fingers, whilst staring at a piece of parchment that was floating in mid air. The door opened wide revealing a beautiful grand room with two golden staircases leading up to the second floor. Sirius guided her inside, and then proceeded to adjust his silk mask making sure part of his face was well covered. El did the same, trying not to mess up her makeup that Jada had gifted to her on her birthday the week before. "If only Harry could see you now..." Sirius smirked his usual charming smirk, watching El become increasingly embarrassed. Since being back, embarrassing his daughter was one of his favourite pastimes as a father. To see her squirm and her cheeks flush red was very amusing. "Shut up, we're not even together." She mumbled, looking away at the décor that was around them to hide her face. She very much felt out of her depth here and couldn't wait to get back to her gaggle of friends and Harry in particular. She wondered what they would have been up to, hoping she wouldn't have been left out that much. "That's besides the point, darling. Harry likes you a hell of a lot. I was a boy once, the way he looks at you is how I would have acted with any girl... or boy... that I just so happened to like." Sirius avoided El's eye contact as they watched two grand double doors magically swing open underneath the stairs, revealing a humungous ballroom! Wizards and Witches populated the dance floor, spinning each other around in elegant dresses. El felt like she had stepped back in time, but the only thing that seemed modern were the clothes! "Well, it's no use. We've been a budding romance for the past year now, nothing's come of it." El snapped, her nerves getting to the best of her. Sirius chuckled, "You fail to understand that the boy's being hunted down by you-know-who so his priorities have been elsewhere. What I don't understand is why you can't ask him out yourself?" El felt her heart sink into her chest. He was completely right. Maybe she was being old fashioned, but he definitely had a point. Harry was sarcastic, confident and witty of course but when it came to El recently, he had become a little distant than usual. The poor boy... she thought hopelessly to herself. He probably just needed a hug!