Chasing The Stars | Marauders | Sirius Black

25 ~ You'll Never Be a Potter

Oooooh it's another double update you lucky buggers!

Eloise's P.O.V

I look into cold grey eyes of the Malfoys. They aren't the same kind of grey I love, like Sirius'. His are warm and kind, the different shades swirling into one like a Summer's storm. The Malfoys' are grey like stone, one shade and one colour, lacking in sincerity and devoid of emotion. A chill runs down my spine, my blood almost running as cold as the stares directed at me. The people who had deceived me for the entirety of my life are yet to utter a word, the tension almost suffocating me. I feel awfully out of place, longing for the comfort of my warm four-poster bed back in Hogwarts and the protection of my brother. The two pairs of eyes are yet to shift from my frame, I feel like their stares are burning into my soul, like their tearing apart my morals...bit by bit, just by being in their presence.

Looking around, I realise where I am. We're in Malfoy Manor, obviously, but specifically, we're in the room of the Malfoy Family Tree. Desperate to alleviate the eye-contact, I scan the wall, my eyes automatically drifting to the Potters. Looking at the familiar names of my parents and brother, I follow the name to where I know I'll read my name: Isabelle Potter. But as I look over the tapestry, there is only one line leading from Euphemia and Fleamont, one line leading to James...there is no Isabelle. I gasp slightly and my eyes widen, I turn my head and find the names I'm looking for, Abraxas and Medusa. Just as I had dreaded, from their names are two lines, one to Lucius and another to Eloise Malfoy.

"No" my voice comes out as a whisper and I cover my mouth. I pick up a strand of hair and instead of my usual warm brown, it's blonde...deathly light, cold blonde. I search for a mirror and walk to the mantlepiece. Reflected back at me is a pale-skinned, blonde-haired, grey-eyed Malfoy. A Malfoy with a sneer on her face, the same expression I had seen on her 'brother' and 'father' when they referred to mudbloods. I try to rearrange my face, into a smile, into a frown, anything - but to no avail. I try to change my hair colour, I close my eyes and focus on the brown hair of James Potter but when I open my eyes, there remains to be a platinum head of hair on the unfamiliar reflection. The cold, nasally voice of Abraxas Malfoy interrupts my frantic thoughts,

"What's wrong child? Why aren't you celebrating? You successfully ridded the world of that filthy mudblood Evans" I feel a lump form in my throat,

"What are you talking about?" I spit with unintentional bluntness,

"The scum was prying in our..." Abraxas pauses, "business, and you put a stop to her curiosity and her, ah, breathing" he says with a snide smirk. I can feel bile rising in my throat and I try to keep it down,

"I k-killed her?"

"Yes, and I must say, I don't think I've ever seen the Cruciatus Curse performed so ferociously before. I must applaud you sister" Lucius nods in what looks to be...admiration? "We'll be sure to inform The Dark Lord of your accomplishment"

The Dark Lord? Oh no...no no no! I take a deep breath and lowly lift my left sleeve, I almost scream as I see a skull inked on to my forearm, a garish snake protruding from the mouth. I gasp and run my fingers over the raw skin.

"I expect you'll be mightily praised, especially after your success in the killing of James Potter and Sirius Black last week" my head snaps up at Abraxas' words. The killing of James? And Sirius? My mouth is open in shock and I can't move,

"B-but I'm not a death eater" I try to convince myself more than anyone, "I'm not a death eater and I'm not a Malfoy, I'm a Potter"

"A Potter?" I look into the narrowed eyes of Abraxas,

"You're not a Potter child...You'll never be a Potter"

Eloise woke with a start. Shivering violently and the beads of sweat on her face merging with the flow of tears, her breathing rapid and shallow. Memories of the nightmare still flashing in her mind, the cold grey eyes of Abraxas Malfoy appearing in front of her every time she blinked. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, looking in the mirror she saw brown hair and hazel eyes, she turned her hair blue and then back to brown. Sighing in relief, she checked her left forearm, her skin was untarnished, no skulls or snakes in sight. Eloise walked back into the dorm but didn't get back into bed, she walked out of the door and down the stairs. Eloise didn't know why she'd had the nightmare, all she knew was that she needed to see James.

Eloise walked into the Marauder's Dormitory. She walked directly to the bed at the end of the room, opposite the door. She shook the snoring lump that was her brother but he refused to wake. Eloise groaned, tears still sliding down her face, and ran a hand through her hair,

"Puff?" a gruff voice came from the other side of the room, she turned to see Remus getting out of bed and rubbing his eyes. She stepped over to him, shivering, and hugged herself to keep warm. As soon as Remus saw the tear tracks on her cheeks, his eyes widened. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest, "What's wrong?" he asked and Eloise couldn't hold it together any longer, she sobbed into Remus' chest. He led her over to his bed and they sat together, Eloise describing the awful nightmare,

"And then he said I killed them. That I killed James and Sirius" she tried to even out her breathing as Remus rubbed her arm,

"I think you should try and get some sleep Elle" he said softly and Eloise nodded,

"But...I don't think I can be alone" she said, hating how pathetic she sounded,

"It's ok, stay with me".

Remus opened the covers and Eloise crawled in next to him, wrapping her tiny arms around his waist and burying her cheek into his chest,

"Night Elle" he said, stroking her silky hair,

"Night Rem"