"Excuse me," Moving through the crowded platform Elleriea Rosencrite attempted to make her way to the large train that was the Hogwarts Express. "Excuse me, pardon me, can I just get by? Move!"
"I don't know why you bother." Looking to her side she saw Blaise Zabini walking nonchalantly next to her his trunk trailing behind him.
"Because unlike some people I know I try to have some semblance of civility." Smirking she faced forward and continued walking to the open locomotive doors.
"Civility? Something about that word and your name together gives me a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach." He dramatically touched his abdomen and made a face before smirking back at her.
"You do make a wonderful show don't you?" Pushing through the people gathered around the door the pair made their way inside the train.
"I do try. After all, my main mission in life is to entertain you."
"Yes yes." Opening the door to a compartment to see a few second year Ravenclaws she flicked her head backwards. "Beat it." Gathering their belonging the Ravenclaws filed out of the compartment. Putting her belongings away Elleriea settled down with a sigh looking over at Blaise. "But as I was saying. The Appleby Arrows don't stand a chance again the Kenmare Kestrels, I mean really, they invented the Hawkshead."
"Bollox. The Arrows put up a 16 day fight and won. What have the Kestrels done?" Just as she was about to put up a rebuttal the door slid open.
"Honestly, I could hear the two of you arguing from down the hall." Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway staring at his two friends in front of him. "It's how I found you." Walking in he, took the seat next to Elleriea, across from Blaise. "Hello Elley." Smiling he gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek. "Zabini." He nodded toward him.
"Finally, Draco will you please talk some sense into this woman?" Blaise said exasperated.
"I've never been able to before." Elleriea rolled her eyes at him, and he smiled.
"She thinks the Kestrels have a chance at beating the Arrows." He explained.
"Can't help you there. Of course the Arrows will lose to them." He shrugged.
"You're both daft." Blaise huffed.
"How was the rest of your break?" Draco asked turning his full attention to Elleriea.
"Well, after I left your house I went to the vacation house in France for about a month, then went back home to Ireland where I skulked around the hallways for the remainder of the time."
"Productive as always. As for me "
"I didn't ask." She interrupted.
"As for me, when you left mother and I went to Rome for a bit, father of course had to work; after that we came back home where I promptly began practicing for this year's quidditch season." Leaning back he put his arm on the top of the seat behind Elleriea's head resting on leg on his other knee. "Mm, got a new broom."
"And did you see lard as I mean Pansy at all this summer?" She asked suppressing a smile. He looked sharply at her shaking his head.
"Oh, well I suppose she is very upset by this." As if on cue, the compartment door slid open to revile a horrid sound.
"Drakie!" Pansy squealed.
Jumping in her seat Elleriea sat up straight. "Good Merlin I thought it was a boggart. " Putting her hand over her heart she looked over to see Pansy give her a little glare. Shrugging her off, Elleriea averted her eyes from the Draco worship that was about to ensue, to see who else came into the compartment with Pansy. Seeing just Crabb and Goyle, she looked away uninterested.
"Oh Drakie, I was sooo miserable without you this summer. Why did you never owl me back?" Clinging to Draco's arm Pansy looked up at him with big eyes.
"I was very busy this summer Pansy." He said with a sigh.
"Still, you could have invited me over for just a day." She whined.
"I was over for three weeks." Elleriea butted in with a large grin. Pansy looked at her with horror, then looked back to Draco for confirmation.
"Not helping Elleriea." Draco said through his teeth. Laughing Elley turned back to Blaise.
"What about you? Do anything interesting this summer?" Entering in conversation with Blaise, she left her best friend to fend for himself with Pansy. After a lengthy conversation Elleriea looked at her watch locket and saw an hour and a half had passed.
"Well, I do believe I am going to go get into my robes." Standing up she stretched her arms over her head.
"I think I will join you." Draco said standing up.
"Why Mr. Malfoy you sly dog, if you wanted a peek all you had to do was ask." Elleriea said grabbing his arm.
"I'm sure if I asked for a peek I would get a full show." He smirked down at her, they then made their way out of the compartment, leaving behind a fuming Pansy and a chuckling Blaise.
Walking down the aisles Elleriea looked out the window and smiled. "Looks like a thunderstorm." She smiled at Draco who was now also looking out the window. "It's my favorite weather, just something about it, it's exciting and calming at the same time."
"Bloody hell," Draco stopped and unlinked his arm from hers, "I forgot my sweater. Want to go back with me?"
"No, we're almost there, I will just go ahead." She took a few steps forward and turned towards him.
"Alright, I will be there in a moment."
"Ok." Looking at his retreating form, Elleriea turned and made her way to the changing rooms. Upon reaching it she noticed no other students were there. "Guess I'm early." She muttered. Entering she began to change into her green and gray uniform. As she was tucking her blouse into her skirt she felt a jerk in the train and stumbled. "What the ?" The train began to slow until it came to a sudden stop and the lights flickered a few times before going out leaving Elleriea in the dark. "Well, this is interesting." Opening the dressing room door she poked her head out and saw no one else about in the area. The air around her began to chill as she felt the floor beneath her vibrate. Wrapping her arms around her torso for warmth, she stepped back into the compartment to retrieve her sweater. Pulling it over her head she barley felt its effect.
Turning to leave she saw a shadow move outside the room. Rounding the corner quickly, "Draco, thank mer " she stopped in her tracks. Floating in front of her was a very tall cloaked figure, a hood covering its face. She took a slow step backwards. "Dementor." She whispered with fear. Most Slytherins knew of Dementors, at least enough to fear them. Her breaths came shallow and quickly as she continued to back up. Once a good ten feet away from it Elleriea decided to take her chances and run. Turning the opposite direction she took off down the aisle all the while hearing the shriek of the Dementor behind her, only getting a few yards before another Dementor rounded the corner in front of her.
"D damn, damn!" She paced backwards until she was evenly between both the
Dementors. She backed into the wall so as to have view of them both. Her breath came in pants now, her clod brow becoming moist. As they neared she closed her eyes tightly. She could smell them now they were so close. It was putrid, the smell of their home lingered on them. She began to feel light headed, a sharp noise entered her head threatening to split it. Feeling weaker by the second she began to slide down the wall behind her. Then nothing. The sounds in her head stopped and the steady weakening ebbed. She then felt warm hands on her face making her jump and let out a short yell.
"It's ok, they're gone now." Opening her eyes she saw the blurry from of a man in front of her. Blinking a few times her sight began to clear. Crouched in front of her was an older man with mousy brown hair and a thin moustache. He was dressed in a suit with a beige trench coat over it. "Are you alright?" He asked.
Sitting up a bit, "yes, I think so," she looked around. No Dementors in sight. Standing up the man reached hand down in offer. Elleriea took hold of it and he hoisted her up. With a groan she grabbed her head with her left hand and doubled over, she would have fallen if not for the tight grip the man had on her hand.
"That's to be expected. You need to rest." Reaching his arm down he used it to push in the back of her knees and used the other to catch her. Now cradling her against his chest he began to walk. "Which way is your compartment?" He asked. She pointed him in the direction and he headed towards it. The walk was quiet, most of the way neither of them said anything. When the door to her friends was insight he looked down at her. "You are very lucky you know, that it didn't do more to you."
Nodding her head she looked up to meet his gaze. She wanted to thank him but felt the effort of speaking would exhaust her.
"Here we are," opening the door Elleriea saw the room filled with tension, Blaise was sitting hunched over arms on his legs looking grave, Pansy sat still eyes watching Draco, who was up and pacing around the room muttering to himself. When hearing the door all the head whipped around to face them. "Seems your friend here, got herself in a bit of trouble. Don't worry though, with a bit of rest, she should be fine." Walking into the compartment he walked to the now empty bench, Blaise had stood up the moment they entered, he laid Elleriea's limp body down.
"What happened?" Draco began the questions that buzzed in his mind. "Who are you?"
"I think I will let your friend here explain when she is ready." Without answering the second question he left the room shutting the door behind him.
Wasting no time Draco rushed to Elleriea's side, knelling beside her. "Are you alright?" She nodded her head weakly. "What happened?" She didn't answer.
"Give her some time to rest, she looks exhausted." Blaise said from behind Draco. "She'll give us answers then, right?" Looking at her he saw her smile in gratitude. Turning her head to the side Elleriea closed her eyes and sleep quickly took her.
She awoke sometime later feeling extremely groggy. Looking around she found herself still on the bench she fell asleep on but her head was now resting on Draco's lap, the others were nowhere in sight. He was in his uniform and had his head resting in his right hand as he looked out the window. His hair fell into his face and he had a look Elleriea had never seen before, etched onto his pace. The sun had come out, sometime while she was sleeping she supposed, and was highlighting his pale skin and hair; making him look almost ethereal, he looked at peace.
He must have sensed her stare because he turned his head to look down at her. His eyes seemed so bright to her. She couldn't help but think when all is said and done; this is how she would always remember Draco Malfoy. "You're awake." He smiled but she could still see the worry in his eyes.
Sitting up, she brought her legs off the bench to sit properly. "How long have I been out?" she touched her head which throbbed dully.
"Not long, about an hour and a half." He turned fully towards her now. "What happened?" he stared at her sternly, he wanted answers.
Groaning at the memory, she cupped her face in her hands in an attempt to wake herself further. "Dementors."
"What?" He was shocked, he had expected many things, she fainted, got in a fight, hit her head, something; but Dementors where the farthest thing from his mind. "Dementors where on the train?"
She nodded. "I just got through changing when the train stopped, then the lights went out and it got very cold all of a sudden; then I saw a shadow and thought it was you so I came out of the compartment. I've never seen anything as freighting as them before Draco, I just froze. I remember all the things your parents told us about them, but they are so much worse in person." Pausing, she took a breath. "I tried to run then another one came around the corner in front of me. They were in front of me and there was a wall behind me, so I closed my eyes. That's when it happened," she touched her lips "I remembered my father Draco, I could hear his, his screams " She trailed off.
Draco looked at her expression, he couldn't read it, he could never read her when she talked about her family. Reaching over he pulled her, by the shoulder farthest from him, into his chest. When she rested her head on his collarbone he could feel her shaking. He never knew what to say to her when she got like this, all he could do was comfort her, and he never felt it was enough though. "What happened after that?" He asked.
Hearing the deep vibrations of his voice in her ear brought her back to the present. "I don't know exactly, after that everything just stopped and I felt warm hands on my face. That man from before, he must have saved me." Coming to that conclusion she lifted her head lightly, "I never got to say thank you."
"Well, I'm sure we will see him again. He is apparently heading to Hogwarts as well." Realizing the truth in his words she rested her head back on his chest.
"Where are Blaise and the others?" She questioned.
"He left to change into his uniform, I kick the others out, they were being far too loud." He answered.
"Mhm," she mumbled.
"Are you hungry?" He asked.
She shook her head. "Just thirsty." Nodding he leaned her back to rest on the cushions behind her and stood.
"Want anything in particular?" He looked at her softly.
"It doesn't matter." Shaking his head he left the compartment to find the refreshment trolley.
She did everything she could to keep from thinking about the incident before, but found without her fried to distract her it was becoming increasingly difficult. With a huff, Elleriea stood on shaky legs and left her compartment. Walking down the aisle she heard students talking about the incident before and what could have happened. Walking a bit further she came to the restrooms, several female students stood around the area talking, when she approached, they all stopped and looked at her. Looking at them oddly she made her way into the restroom; immediately she could hear them start to whisper. Looking in the mirror she could see why. Her long red hair was stuck to her face and neck from sweat, her skin looked pale and sickly, and green eyes were lackluster. No wonder they had stared at her.
Turning the faucet on cold she stuck her cupped hands under the water watching it pool then splashed her face a few times. Feeling at least a little refreshed, she dried her face and fixed her hair. "Much better." Giving herself one last look over, she walked out the door.
Once back at the compartment she found both Draco and Blaise sitting on opposite benches talking. Upon seeing her Blaise stood and hurried over engulfing her frame in his arms. "Draco told me what happened, are you alright?" Pushing her to arms length he took a good look at her. "You look paler than usual."
"I'm fine, really." Smiling at her friend she pulled from his hands and took a seat next to Draco. Blaise frowned but retook his former seat.
"Where were you? I came back and you were gone." Draco asked handing her a glass bottle.
"Sorry, I went to the restroom." She smiled apologetically, the frowned and hit him softly in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me I looked so bad?"
"You looked fine to me." he said looking her over. "Better than I would expect someone o look after receiving the Dementor's Kiss." Shrugging he sat back in his seat.
"Oh gee thanks for making me feel so good about myself. Your care for my feelings is exactly why I call you my best mate." The sarcasm dripped from her words.
"I try." Was all he replied. Huffing Elleriea opened her drink and took a sip before settling in for the rest of the ride.