Downfall | Lestrange

Chapter Twenty

"I'm sorry," she managed to squeak out, " I didn't mean to disturb you if you were resting."

Mr Ollivander's face drooped in sympathy before he motioned her with his hand, waving her over as he opened up the door to his shop. "Come here, it's alright. There's no sense in wandering around out here while you're upset. You can come inside and sit down. I've just made myself some tea, and it definitely looks like you could use some."

Elizabeth was somewhat hesitant, however, she only shared good memories with Mr Ollivander, from the time he had assisted her when it had been time for her to get her first wand when she was only eleven years old. Picking herself up from the curb, she was offered a small smile as she approached him and made her way inside the wand shop for warmth and tea.

Mr Ollivander guided her to take a seat in the back room after he closed the door over and locked it. There was a small fireplace where a few armchairs were placed, leaving her to select one as she sat down and looked around. She could remember as she stood there in the company of her parents before their passing, trying out all sorts of wands before the perfect one for her finally made its selection. Her eyes trailed over the hundreds of boxes until Mr Ollivander returned to the room, offering her a box of tissues which made her stifle a small laugh before accepting them.

"Thank you," she said, " I'm sure I look a mess right now."

"No, not at all, my dear," Mr Ollivander replied kindly. "You do look very upset however. I would advise you to practise more caution when it comes to wandering around Diagon Alley during the night. It's safer during the day when everyone is walking about, but during the times we are living in, it's not safe for someone like yourself to be out alone."

At the mention of safety, Elizabeth attempted to choke back a sob, but failed miserable before burying her face into her hands. It brought Mr Ollivander to grimace as he was unsure of what he had said to set off the woman's crying again. But he quickly made his way to bring her over the tea he had made for her and set it down on the table near before settling down in front of her.

"My dear, are you in some sort of trouble?"

Elizabeth really didn't want to include him in on the matter, however, she was desperate for some outside help. Every time she tried to solve things on her own, she felt like she was making things worse. She didn't come right out and say it verbally, but she did manage to nod her head as an answer.

"Alright," he said, seeing that they were getting somewhere, "what can I do to help you then?"

What a question that Elizabeth had wished someone had asked her sooner when things weren't so damn complicated. As she lowered her hands to her lap, she met Mr Ollivander's gaze, an encouraging look on his face as he was telling her to make her request no matter what it was.

"I don't know," she answered honestly, " I don't even know where to start."

"Well, I've always found that the beginning is a very good place to start."

While Elizabeth was confiding her troubles in Mr Ollivander, Roderick was back at the manor, unsure of what do since he had no idea where Elizbeth had disappeared to and he had no idea how long she would be gone. His worst fear was that she had finally decided that she had enough and decided to leave him for good. No longer did she want to put up with the life that Roderick had placed her in by him being the Crow and while he couldn't bring himself to blame her, he didn't want to face the idea of her being gone.

As he paced the floors of the living room, he couldn't decide whether he should go out and look for her or remain in place, just in case she decided to come back. However, he couldn't bring himself to remain still as he walked all over the home multiple times waiting for her to return. The entire time, he scolded himself, shaming himself for bringing up the subject in the first, especially so late at night. He could have left it all until morning, he could have left it alone in general.