A/N: We've finally reached the end of Part 1! I will be posting a sort of transition chapter soon. It might end up being two chapters depending on how many words I can condense ten years into. I will also be taking a red pen to all existing chapter, so it may take a while for me to start Part 2. In the meantime, please review/comment! Tell me your favorite chapter/character/line, who/what you want to see more of, scenes you'd like to see in Part 2.

Thank you to everyone who has followed along so far. I hope you're enjoying the story because its not even halfway over!

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Harry Potter world.

November 1, 1981

Ellie and Snape barely made it outside, Harry in tow, when the frame of the house collapsed. They stood outside on the sidewalk in the cold, staring at the house that looked, until minutes ago, like a family could be sleeping safely inside it.

Snape was just setting down Harry's diaper bag when a voice spoke, "Severus. Estella."

Ellie startled and instantly stepped behind Snape with Harry held tightly against her. Snape faced the source of the voice, wand raised. He lowered it almost instantly, causing Ellie to peek around from her place behind him.

"Headmaster." Snape said. "What are you doing here?"

Dumbledore looked at them mournfully, "I was alerted when the house was breached. I'm so sorry for your loss."

Snape's fist clenched his wand as he looked away. Ellie noted the way his throat swallowed repeatedly, as if fighting to keep his emotions contained.

"There isn't much time." Dumbledore continued, "Hagrid is on his way to take Harry to his aunt and uncle's."

Ellie scoffed. "No. Absolutely not. I'm his Godmother! He belongs with me and Sirius." Her breath caught, "Oh Merlin. Sirius."

"I will discuss everything-including Sirius-with you later this evening. For now, it is imperative that I take Harry and the two of you leave. There must be no evidence that you were here. Hagrid will find him safely in his cot and take him to Privet Drive. In the meantime, the both of you will go promptly to my office and wait for me there."

Snape left immediately, leaving Ellie alone to balk at Dumbledore. The Headmaster's eyes narrowed slightly, "Now, Estella."

Ellie very reluctantly gave Harry to him, "We will discuss this later," she insisted.

"Of course."

Ellie took a moment to gently kiss Harry's cheek, and after one final lingering glance at the home of her two best friends, she tucked the bag with their possessions into her robes and disapparated.

It was early in the morning of November 1st when Dumbledore finally arrived back at his Hogwarts office. Snape and Ellie were already inside, occupying the same chairs they had sat in just a few months ago when they'd first learned of Voldemort's plans for Harry. They had been sitting there for hours, each quietly mourning the loss of Lily, and in Ellie's case, James as well. Despite their openness with one another at the Potter's house, neither was willing to discuss what had happened now, and so they remained silent.

When Dumbledore arrived, the loud crack of his apparation startled them both. Once they realized it was the Headmaster who had entered, Ellie jumped to her feet while Snape remained seated.

Now that she'd had time to stew over their earlier conversation, Ellie was even more furious about the fact that Dumbledore was sending Harry to Petunia and Vernon.

"You had no right to take him from me like that!" She shouted as she stormed towards him. "He's my godchild. Mine and Sirius's. He belongs with us!"

Dumbledore held up a hand. "There are reasons why I have made this decision, Estella. You must trust me." His calm demeanor only served to anger her further.

"Trust you? Trust you? You said you would keep them safe!" Ellie could taste the tears as they fell from her eyes and passed her lips.

"She and James put their faith in the wrong person," Dumbledore said. "Rather like Severus."

Ellie stared at Dumbledore accusingly, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Severus was hoping that Lord Voldemort would spare Lily. Had begged him to do so on several occasions."

"I meant what did you mean when you said they put their faith in the wrong person?"

"Ah." Dumbledore sighed and made his way over to his desk. Sitting in his armchair, Ellie could see the strain of tonight's events on his face. "You need to sit down for this, my dear."

Cautiously, she made her way to to her chair.

"Sirius was the Potter's secret keeper." He said levelly.

"...And?"

"Oh, isn't it obvious Stroud?" Snape spat, hatefully, "It was Black!"

Ellie laughed and turned to Dumbledore, ready for him to tell Snape he was wrong. When all she got was a look of pity, Ellie felt as if she'd been punched in the gut. "No...he wouldn't. Sirius would never hurt James. Or Lily. He Loved them."

"Only he could have led Voldemort to their location. It could have been no one else."

"You're wrong!" Ellie shouted as she jumped from her chair.

Dumbledore took a breath. Releasing it, he said, "I have been unable to contact Sirius since tonight's events transpired."

"He-he's probably at home," Ellie suggested hopefully.

"We have checked there."

"Remus?"

"Has not seen him."

Ellie exhaled sharply. "It wasn't him, Headmaster...please...it wasn't Sirius."

Dumbledore looked at her sympathetically, "I am sure that once he is found there will be a proper trial. The truth will come out then."

Based on Ellie's time working under Barty Crouch, Senior, she knew this was very unlikely. She slumped down into her chair, a sense of hopelessness settling over her.

"What do we do now?" Snape muttered from next to her.

Dumbledore redirected his attention to the Slytherin man, "If you loved Lily Evans, if you truly loved her, then your way forward is clear."

"What-what do you mean?" Snape stammered. Ellie raised her head to look at Dumbledore, also confused as to what he was talking about.

"You must help me protect Lily's son."

"He does not need protection! The Dark Lord has gone-"

The Headmaster fixed a hardened gaze on them both, "The Dark Lord will return, and Harry Potter will be in terrible danger when he does."

"All the more reason to let me have him!" Ellie interjected. "Let me keep him safe. Besides, I'm legally responsible for him. Take it up with the Ministry if you want Headmaster, but-"

"Ah, but you are not Estella Stroud. Not anymore. You've been Ariella for a while now."

Ellie was flabbergasted. How dare he! "Then I'll confess! I'll go to the Ministry and explain everything!"

"And what about when Lord Voldemort returns? When he targets you for being an imposter and Harry becomes a casualty? What then?"

"I-I'll…,"She sighed. Ellie knew full well she wasn't strong enough to protect Harry from Voldemort. Her wards were usually weak and her offensive spells mediocre.

"Bedsides," Dumbledore continued, "There is another reason why Harry will be better off with his aunt."

Dumbledore then went on the explain what exactly had happened at the Potter's. He suspected that James was disposed of immediately, and that Lily had been given the option to live as a courtesy to Snape. Since she choose to die for her child, Harry was protected when the Killing Curse hit him, and Voldemort was temporarily vanquished. He then went on to explain that he had placed a bond of blood charm on Harry, and that by living with Petunia Dursley he would be granted extra protection until he came of age.

By the end of his explanation, Ellie had no fight left. Harry wouldn't be safe with her. Demurely she asked, "Is Petunia aware of this?"

"I'm going to prepare a letter for her to deliver this evening along with Harry," Dumbledore said.

"...Can I see him?" She knew the answer before she'd even fully asked the question.

"I'd prefer you did not. You and Severus must remain in your roles, Estella. When Lord Voldemort returns, it is essential that the both of you are in a position to gain his confidence. For that reason, you must stay away from Harry. Where you ever to be followed...well, it could bring harm to both you and the child."

Ellie leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees and bury her face in her hands.

"You are protecting him by leaving him be." Dumbledore said gently. "I know this is difficult, but in the long-run it is our very best chance of keeping him safe."

"Will he ever get to know me?" Ellie was once again on the verge of tears, her voice laced with thinly veiled anguish.

"When the Dark Lord is truly defeated, both of you will be recognized for all you have sacrificed."

This was, of course, the wrong this to say to Snape.

With measured breath, he jumped into the conversation, "Never-never tell, Dumbledore! This must be between us! Swear it! I cannot bear...especially Potter's son...I want your word!" By the end of his speech, Snape looked desperate and crazed. Ellie feared he was finally having his breakdown.

"My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you? If you insist...and you, Estella? Do you feel this way?

"When this is all over, I want Harry to know me only as his Godmother."

Dumbledore sighed, "Very well." He looked between the two of them. "I want you both to remain in contact. Keep your eyes and ears open. Stay alert. Be ready."