Thank you to aestrea for following my story. So happy to be back writing.
As the feast began, it reminded Ella of the nights that Molly would host a big birthday event, the tables barely managing to hold up everything. She looked over at the Gryffindor table and all the Weasley boys smiled and waved at her.
Ella turned back to her table and reached straight for the lasagna, making sure to enjoy every bite.
After dinner was done, and everyone ate what dessert they could manage, the tables stood one by one and followed familiar paths. A call from the prefects of each house above the after dinner chatter, "First years this way, I will show you how to get to our common room."
All the Ravenclaw first years left the hall, they all walked towards a boy and girl, who had their hands in the air, and stood off to the side.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, and congratulations on being sorted into Ravenclaw. My name is Paul and I, along with Steph, will be your prefect this year." He stepped forward.
"Let me be your guide to our home."
He started walking towards the right, leading them up many staircases.
"Now our dormitory is located in one of the castle towers, so it may be a walk from the great hall, but I promise the views up there more than make up for it."
A Lot of the first years started grumbling and a small boy next to Ella with dark hair muttered, "I wish I didn't eat as much, I don't know how many more stairs I can take."
After turning down a corridor, and up a spiral staircase, they arrived at a grand door, with a bronze knocker that was shaped like an eagle.
"Now to enter our commons, we need not remember any passwords, but instead just answer a riddle." Paul announced.
He knocked on the door and a deep voice asked,
"I bare my face yet cannot see
And one may find a man in me
I'll vanish oft, though not for long
and only sing my brother's song
What am I?"
Paul turned to the first years.
"Who would care to try and answer?"
Ella stepped forward. "I know this one, my uncle and I play riddle games all the time. The answer is the moon."
"Well done, young child. Your admittance is granted."
And with that, the door swung open, leading them into their common room.
Ella looked around the room, bookcases lined the walls, and the roof arched upwards making the area feel bigger and freeing. The blues and bronze felt homely and she released that she would be happy here.
She walked over to one of the arched windows lining the walls and leant against it, just watching the stars flickering in the night sky, small orbs of light tingling against the depth of the sky. She couldn't help but to wonder what her father must be going through. One day she knew that they would watch the stars together, the same way her and Remus would enjoy the warm summer nights.
He looked up at the night sky, watching the constellations, feeling the calm of the night wash over him. He always loved being outside at night, he loved the moonlight, the gentle breeze and the flow of the world when everyone was sleeping. There was no calm during the day, everyone rushed around. Not that he saw many people.
Ever since Arabella was small, he would find himself drawn to his shack, seeking the comfort of his own thoughts, when the pain of all that he has experienced could wash over him.
Moony howled at the moon, missing more of his pack, since Ella had left for school. He was alone again and the darkness started to press in closer.
He knew he would feel helpless while his pack remained split, as Ella was the last of his pack now.
Once his pack had been 4 members strong. But that was long ago.. Almost 8 years ago, two of his pack died and one was imprisoned. He was alone. But he had helped raise Ella, and watch her grow, and with that Moony had accepted her into the pack.
Remus felt the joy from his wolf when he thought about the next time they would see their little witch. He lay back on the grass, they would stargaze that first night she was home. He would make sure of it.
He started struggling against the thoughts that came crashing back to him. Their bodies lying there, lifeless. His world falling apart. He screamed, but there was no one there who cared to hear. Nobody is coming to comfort him in this time of need. He would scream for days on end, etching each new sunrise into the wall with a stone, counting the time that had passed. He had to do something or else he might go mad. Madness echoed off the walls here, everyone screaming for help, but help was always far away.
He felt his guilt at being here creeping up as it always did, this time of night. Gone was the sun streaming in his window, replaced only by the inky black of the night sky. The ever steady constellations bring him light in the dark, reminding him that even when lost in the dark, a light is always to be found.
He marked another day passing on his wall, and fell down in tears. If he had counted right, then his Elly Belly was due to start at hogwarts. He had lost her whole childhood. He never saw her grow into the amazing witch he knew she would be. Never got to be there when she cried, seeing her smile light up a whole room, and her laugh bring joy to all those who heard it.
He hoped that Carol would honor his wishes to send her to Hogwarts, and that she still got to play with her Weasley's as she called them.
He wept, knowing that he would never see his princess again, never hold her tight. She would grow up thinking him a monster. He held onto his memories of her, toddling around with her unicorn, dressing up for halloween.
The dementors swooped in on him, sensing his joy, and taking it for their own. Leaving only darkness and despair.
She stepped away from the window, leaving her wishes whispered in the wind.
A wish that Ron and Ginny would behave for Molly and Arthur.
A wish that her mum could get better in her mind.
A wish for Remus to be okay without her.
A wish to free her father….
Ella followed the prefect as they directed their attention to the stairs,
"Boys are up this way" He said pointing to the right "And girls this way, as first years your dorms will be the first door you see. You will find all your belongings are already up there. Feel free to help yourself to any books from the shelves and make yourselves comfortable. Welcome home new Claws."
The girls walked up the stairs, and pushed open the door. Inside there were 5 beds, circled around a large vertical heater that reached from the floor, all the way up into the roof. Ella believed that this must run through all the rooms in the tower. All a deep walnut wood, to match the dressers that stood at the foot. Royal blue quilts were laid across the soft grey comforter. Trucks standing next to each bed, just waiting to be unpacked and settled in.
Once everything was put away all the girls sat on the ends of their bed.
The smallest of the girls was bouncing on her knees, her pillows falling off the bed.
"Hi! So as you guys know I'm Amber, I can't wait to learn everything we can here, I bet everyone is going to be great! Every night we can come relax and get to know each other. Ohh random fact! I love mermaids, okay who's next" She looked around, waiting for someone to answer.
The next to speak was 2 beds away from Amber. She put her bookdown, and brushed her dark pink waves from her face.
"Note to keep sugar away from this one, she's hyper enough as is," She smiled as she pointed at Amber who laughed. "My names Rose, matches my hair so you have no reason to forget"
She picked her book back up and went to read it.
"What about a fun fact?!" Amber said
"Oh, um, Sometimes when i am reading i fiddle with paper and end up crafting tiny characters" Rose shrugged "Someone else go"
Amber turned to the bed in between her and Rose.
"Hi, what's your name"
The girl was pulling at her sleeves, looking unsure about herself, her sky blue eyes darting around.
"U-uhhh my name is Patricia…" She spoke with a quiet musical voice. "My fact is I don't like my name.. So, um could you please just call me Tris?"
Ella laughed, from next to Rose. "I understand, My full name is Arabella, but everyone has always called me Ella. And I guess a fun fact about me is that I'm friends with the world's best pranksters" She smiled around the room.
All eyes turned to the bed in between Amber and Ella. They sat there for a few minutes before the dark eyes looked up at them. "What?"
"We are introducing ourselves!" Amber explained.
"Oh okay. I'm Melissa, I like art, and I don't do small talk" She looked back down at her sketchbook, disappearing into her own world.
The rest of the night was spent relaxing, as everyone found their own way to relax, slowly drawing their curtains on their beds as it was time to drift off.
Ella put down her book, pulled her own curtains and snuggled up into her new bed.
It was soft and warm, and made her feel safe. She knew that she would be able to fit it after all.
She yawned as she started to think about getting to catch up with the boys tomorrow and hear all about gryffindor.
She knew Percy would be jealous that she had a library right here, whenever she needed it.
Her eyes started to flicker.
Charlie would be happy that she felt at home.
They shut for the last time.
The twins would already have a list of pranks to share.