Chapter 4: Sorted Confusion
September 1st
Elara sat in the window seat of her bedroom, staring out into the storm pounding against her window. She squinted, struggling to see in the dark. A flash of lightening lit her room and she glimpsed the clock.
4:40 AM.
She had been a bundle of nerves all night, and when her eyes finally found themselves heavy enough to close, sleep eluded her. She laid in her bed, staring up at the royal purple canopy, playing over every scenario upon her debut at Hogwarts her mind could create. When the rain picked up and the storm began blowing against her windows, she decided to watch the sky instead of listening to her mind play tricks on her.
She prided herself on her ability to remain composed. Her mother had long instilled a sense of poise in public in her; making sure she understood the importance of having manners and being respectful of your surroundings and of the people in the room that were more important or at least the same level of importance as you. But she never taught her how to act around people who weren't. She suspected because until very recently, there was no one in the room more important than a Malfoy.
She was feeling very confused and scared. For the first time, she felt extremely unsure of the decision she had made. When she had agreed to help Draco, it felt so natural. It was an absolute yes, no question about it. She was happy to be of help for once, instead of being locked in the Manor, feeling useless. She was looking forward to studying in a real classroom, to seeing people her own age that she didn't already know. But as actually leaving the safety of her home crept closer, she found her nerves had her on edge.
She jumped as a loud crack of thunder clapped around her room, slightly rattling the window. She drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly, staring at the bright electricity in the sky. She usually loved storms. The mind-numbing pounding of rain, the low rumbles of thunder… It calmed her mind. Something about the swirling chaos being a necessary evil to deliver the peace that happened after... Because although there was a calm before the storm, there was always one after as well. Once the storm slowed and wind died down… The world always seemed so serene.
A light knock on her door caught her attention from the swirling clouds. She moved to get up and the low light from the hall revealed Draco, standing in his silk pajamas.
"You're awake." He said.
"So are you." She pointed out.
"I'm always awake." He sighed, sitting next to her on the window seat, his legs folded and back against the wall. "Did you have a nightmare?"
She shook her head. "No. Just nervous about starting school."
"You have nothing to be nervous about, Ellie. You're brilliant." He said, as if it were so obvious, she should feel stupid for even thinking to be nervous.
"I'm not worried about my academics." She said, pursing her lips. "I'm worried about all the other things. The fact that I'm not the most… sociable person. Or the possibility that I don't get sorted into Slytherin. Or our task…"
"My task." He corrected her. "You aren't going to have any namesake to this treachery. If I'm successful, you'll be named a help. If I'm not… You knew nothing about this. You have no idea what was going on and you're going to leave the country. As far as sorting goes, of course you'd be a Slytherin. What else would you be?"
She shrugged. "I just don't feel like I quite fit."
He sighed. "You're not a bloody Hufflepuff."
She rolled her eyes at him. "I don't know. I just, I'm nervous! I'm over thinking and I'm nervous!" She threw her hands in the air, huffing loudly.
Draco was taken aback by her outburst. He rarely saw his sister upset. Even when his father was arrested and taken to Azkaban, she seemed indifferent. But then again, he wasn't sure he had ever seen her sleep deprived at the wee hours of the morning. He looked outside, watching the storm tear through the garden. As a child, he was always jealous that Elara had the best view of the garden from her room. But she spent so much time at the Manor, and particularly loved the garden, that as he got older that jealousy fizzled into understanding. He realized now, that there was a good chance her nerves were fear. She didn't know how to be away from the Manor, how to be away from their mother, or how to be a Malfoy in public, when surrounded by people who had an expectation of what that entailed.
"I had a nightmare again." He said, making the confession in the hopes of pulling her out of her own terrified thoughts.
"Again?" She asked, slowly peeling her eyes away from the window. "How often do you have nightmares?"
"Just about every night. Unless I take a dreamless sleep." He admitted.
She frowned. "Do you want to stay in here the rest of the night? Like when we were kids?"
He gave a small smile and nodded. "I would like that very much."
Elara stood, walking over to her large plush bed and pulled back the covers. She climbed in and motioned for Draco to follow. He sank into the down blanket, pulling the dark covers up to his chin. She laid on her side, facing her brother and smiled. "I feel better already." She admitted.
"Do you remember that song mum used to sing to us?" He whispered.
She nodded. "Yes."
"Could you sing it to me?" He asked, knowing he sounded ridiculous.
She drew a breath and sang quietly, almost inaudible. "If you've got time enough for me, sing me a song and send me to sleep. Slip into my headspace, while I dream. Spin me a yarn, wrap it up around me."
She watched as his eyes fluttered and closed. She set a finger against his temple and could feel his anguish, his inner turmoil, bubbling just beneath the surface. As she sang the verse, she removed the hurt in his head, burying it deep. Hoping it would allow him a few moments peace.
She had never found her abilities to be a burden. She always enjoyed having the ability to calm people with a touch or hide fear with a handshake. She liked being able to ease other's minds. But as she helped her troubled brother slip into a few hours' rest, she felt a twinge of jealousy. Who would take away her fears and anxieties? Who would sing to her when she was sad or scared? Who would ease her mind when the nightmares came?
Elara yanked at the end of her blazer and smoothed her skirt. "I look ridiculous." She groaned, feeling the eyes of the muggles at Kings Cross glossing over her.
"You look smart." Draco said. "We have a reputation to uphold and flouncing about in your joggers and baggy shirts aren't going to cut it."
She rolled her eyes. "I like being comfortable."
"Then you shouldn't have agreed to come." He said, straightening his own jacket.
"The tights are constricting." She said. "And why do I have to wear all black? That's your thing, not mine."
"Solidarity, sister." He said. "Mother, are you coming on the platform with us?"
Narcissa eyed her children, feeling a pit growing in her stomach. "I think it would be unwise." She said.
Draco nodded and leaned in, giving her a small peck on the cheek. "I'll make him proud mum."
Her eyes fought back tears; she could feel them glossing over as Elara stepped in front of her. She tugged at her skirt again. "You look beautiful, Elara." She said, pulling her in for a hug. "I will miss you being at the Manor with me."
"I'll miss you too mum." She said. "I'll write you though. I promise. Every week!"
She nodded. "Better get on."
Narcissa watched as Draco and Elara moved through the barrier to platform 9 ¾. She pondered Draco's words for a moment. "make him proud" and wondered if he was talking about his father or the Dark Lord. In either scenario, she could not see proud being the ending feeling from either man.
Elara held her breath as she passed through the barrier. Growing up with magic had taught her that a lot of things were very normal. For instance, having small elves that cook your meals, or having flowers that may snap at your ankles. But walking through walls was something she never got used to. It was as if she were crossing over some strange limbo between the reality and the imaginary, and she had a difficult time understanding that process.
"You pull at that skirt one more bloody time, Ellie, and I swear I'll jinx you." Draco grumbled.
She huffed, ready to come back at him with something snarky when her eyes met a familiar set of slanted dark eyes set against coffee skin. A smile pulled her lips as Blaise Zabini moved toward them.
"Ellie!" He said, the most outwardly excited she had ever heard him. "When Draco wrote and said you were coming, I thought he was just taking the piss. I really didn't believe you'd be here!"
His long limbs wrapped her in a tight hug, and she laughed. "He wrote?! He told me not to!"
"I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up, in case you changed your mind. But I thought you'd be cross with me if I didn't at least tell Zabini." Draco admitted.
"You know me too well, brother!" She said, her mood considerably better.
"Almost as if we shared a womb." He replied. "Look, Pansy's just over there." He pointed to a petite, round faced girl with dark hair.
"I've missed you!" Blaise said, slinging his arm over her shoulders as they walked toward the massive scarlet train. "What brings you to our stomping grounds this year?"
"Oh, a little of this, a little of that." She said.
"Cryptic, as always." Blaise said, giving her a smirk.
Elara felt, for the first time in weeks, elated. Blaise Zabini had been a part of her life since she was a young child. He was the first real friend she ever had that wasn't her brother. His mother had spent a lot of time at the Manor over the years, attending functions and visiting with Narcissa. Elara wasn't blind to the fact that her mother was not fond of Blaise's mum, but she invited her over occasionally as an excuse to keep Blaise in touch with them.
Blaise was essentially her best friend. He was smart, handsome and witty. He always knew what to say, or when to keep his mouth shut. He was never afraid to tell the truth, to be brutally honest if needed. He kept Draco in check, which Merlin knows he needs, and while he was a bit intimidating in terms of stature and wealth, he was down to earth once his guard was down.
He was also the only person outside of the family that she told about her abilities. The only other person who she confided in, who knew about the time she spent getting tested at St. Mungo's. The one person aside from Draco who she fully trusted with everything.
"How's your mum holding up?" He asked.
"She seems… composed." Elara replied.
"Your family always seems composed." He said, in a knowing tone.
Before she could glare at him, she was being smacked in the chest by the petite body that was Pansy Parkinson, pulling her into a hug and excitedly shrieking in her ear. "ELLIE!"
Elara laughed and returned the embrace, happy to see her friend. "Pansy!"
"I can't believe you finally decided to come! I'm so happy! We'll be able to room together and talk and study and hang out! I can get you caught up on the gossip going around and we can…."
Elara looked over her shoulder at Blaise and Draco, a silent help in her eyes. Blaise shrugged and laughed; Draco smirked. She rolled her eyes and walked beside Pansy, who had yet to take a breath. She was jabbering on about some nonsense about Theo Nott, her arm linked with Elara's own. Elara tuned Pansy out, letting her blow her steam until she got her hearts content, knowing that it was easier to indulge Pansy than to quiet her.
She looked up and down the aisles of the train, peeking into the open cabins. She heard murmuring, whispers of "the chosen one" throughout the walk to the back car. She heard other confusion mingled in with talk of Harry Potter, felt the eyes on her face as people did a double take when they realized that it was a different set of grey eyes and white blonde hair walking down the corridor and not her brother in a dress.
As Pansy shoved into a group of younger students, rudely but successfully moving them out of the way, Elara saw the same piercing green eyes she met in the shop while getting her robes a few weeks prior. She stopped for a moment, realizing that the eyes were staring at her inquisitively. Looking for answers and scanning her up and down.
"Problem, Potter?" Pansy hissed, purposely bashing her shoulder into him as she passed.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the arm lock she had on Elara. "Apparently you have one." He said, his eyes meeting Elara's. She got the sense that he was talking directly to her, without addressing her.
Elara closed her eyes momentarily, trying to get a read of his energy, his mood. He seemed… tense. Which didn't really explain a lot, considering every set of eyes nearby were either staring at the "Chosen One" or trying to figure out why there was a female Malfoy on the train. It was too noisy. Too many thoughts and emotions swirling around them for her to focus one person out.
"Come on Ellie, love." Blaise took her elbow and pulled her away from the scene as she shook her head, as if coming out of a trance. She realized Draco and Harry had begun to spit fire back and forth at one another again and Pansy was doing her best to get into the middle of their argument.
She nodded, thankful for the release from the awkward situation. She felt drained already, so many emotions firing around her. She faltered, wondering how she was going to be surrounded by people all the time, unable to escape it.
"It won't be constant." Blaise said, as if reading her mind. "There's a lot of quiet time at Hogwarts. And if Pansy gets to be too much, you can always come find me. I know of a lot of hide aways."
"Thank you, Blaise." She said, giving a small smile. She appreciated his understanding, knowing that he, himself, valued privacy and quiet time.
She sat next to Blaise, leaning her head on his shoulder and sighing. She was happy to at least have him here with her, to keep her sane.
She remained in her comfortable silence with her friend until Draco and Pansy crashed through the cabin, Crabbe and Goyle lumbering in behind them.
Draco huffed and flopped down into the seat after Pansy, laying his head on her lap and breathing his frustrations out through his nose. "Stupid fucking Potter." He spat.
"Draco!" Elara said, wincing at his words.
"Ellie," He started, halfway sitting up. "You're going to have to let me be with my language." He met her eyes, his were fierce and definitive as if to say he was not going to budge.
"It makes you sound-
"Dim. Yes, I know. You never fail to remind me." He sat up, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But you don't need to remind me every single time."
He was irritated, and she could tell. They had been on the train seven minutes and he had already gotten into a spat with his nemesis and had to deal with Pansy barking at them both. She could understand is aggravation. However, being at the receiving end of it wasn't something she was used to. At least, not when he was being completely serious. Of course, they bickered, they had spats, as all siblings do. But he was never rude to her, or sarcastic and demeaning to her.
"You're right." She said, her voice tight and her lips pursed. "I don't need to. I enjoy doing it."
A tense moment of silence hung in the air. Their friends stared at the twins, both glowering at each other, holding the other's gaze and not breaking the intense stare, trying to see who would back down first. Blaise suddenly let out a loud bark of laughter, startling Elara and causing her to turn her attention away from her brother.
"What is so funny?" She asked, puzzled.
"You two." He said, holding his stomach as he laughed. "You both are so ridiculous."
Draco sat up straight, arching an eyebrow. "Ridiculous?"
"Yes." Blaise calmed his breathing, a smile still lingering. "Ridiculous. Squabbling like toddlers, like always. It's been awhile since we've all been together, I've nearly forgotten how mental you Malfoys are."
"Watch it, Zabini." Draco said, his eyes narrowing.
Blaise smirked and wrapped an arm around Elara's shoulder, giving her a side squeeze. "I'm glad you're here, Ellie. Even if your brother is going to continue to be a pompous git."
Ellie woke, startled. She must have dozed off on Blaise's shoulder and she was rustled when he tried to disengage her.
"Sorry." She said. "I didn't sleep much last night."
"It's alright." He said. "I've just got a lunch invitation from a new professor I need to attend to."
She nodded, yawning sleepily. She sat up, straightening her blazer and crossing her legs over one another. Draco was talking to Pansy in a hushed whisper while Crabbe snored and Goyle read a comic.
"I'm going to take a stretch." Elara said, standing up.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Draco asked. "Or Pansy could…"
"That's not necessary." She said. "I'll be fine. Be back in a jiff."
Elara raised her arms in the air, stretching out her back before she straightened her outfit out once again, smoothing her too short skirt, and opening the cabin door. She wandered down the aisles, trying to stretch the tightness out of her shoulders from napping in such an odd position. She took a deep breath, reveling in the feel of being on the Hogwarts Express for once, instead of just hearing about it from Draco or reading about it in a book. She was feeling more excited now, with every passing minute, as they neared the school.
Her absentmindedness of the moment caught her, and she walked straight into a small blonde, who seemed to be just as absentminded as Elara felt.
"Oh!" The girl said. "Sorry!"
Elara looked at her, staring at her odd radish shaped earrings and strange glasses perched on the top of her head. She had a very cartoonish looking magazine in her arms, that was upside down.
"My fault. I wasn't paying attention." Elara said.
"Wrackspurts!" The girl said.
"Excuse me?" Elara asked, looking at the girl confused.
"Wrackspurts." She repeated. "They make your brain go fuzzy. They're everywhere in here this year."
"Oh." Elara said. "Erm… sure."
The girl oozed serenity and an obscure sort of confidence that made Elara feel more relaxed. She then seemed to finally look at Elara, scanning her over. "You're the Malfoy everyone is talking about." She stated.
"I suppose I am."
"Hmph." She said, a distant smile on her lips as her eyes seemed to glaze over in thought. "You don't seem scary at all. What's your name?"
"Elara." She answered.
"Elara." She repeated. "Like the moon of Jupiter!"
Elara nodded. "Yes."
"It's a pretty name." She said, walking away from her and pulling the strange glasses over her eyes.
Elara walked back to the compartment the Slytherin group had claimed and felt very confused yet comforted by the strange encounter with the girl. She decided against saying anything to her brother about it, lest he try to convince her the girl was unsavory.
She sat and watched the scenery fly past the window at a dizzying speed. Nothing but green patches of nothingness swirling past for what seemed like an eternity. She wondered how much further they had to go, unsure if she could handle the anticipation building in her gut. She focused on her breath, that was creating a light fog on the window.
"well, that was interesting." Blaise said, walking through the doorway.
"What was that about?" Draco asked.
"Professor Slughorn. He apparently has some sort of club." Blaise flopped down beside Elara. As the door slid shut behind him, she could have sworn she caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye.
She listened to Blaise talk about the strange meeting with the new professor, but remained silent, trying to feel her surroundings. She could swear she felt a strange emotion coming from the group… The rage of the emotion was dizzying to her, almost making her feel nauseous. It was only when Greg threw a bag up on the rack did, she hear a soft grunt, so muffled she was sure no one else heard it.
"Besides…" Draco drawled. "There are more important things than impressing professors."
"More important things?" Blaise raised an eyebrow. "What do you have to do that's more important?"
"Let's just say, I don't think I'll need to worry about my N.E.W.T. scores."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "Right."
Pansy fawned over Draco and the secretive possibilities he was talking around. As the feeling of curiosity mixed with rage nearly suffocated Elara, she gripped Draco's wrist, willing him to shut up. Trying to force his attention to her. His eyes finally flitted in her direction and she nonchalantly looked up, hoping that he understood that she was trying to warn him that there was someone in the cabin that shouldn't be. His jaw tightened and he gave her a quick nod, returning to his conversation, giving ambiguous answers to Pansy's questions.
As the train slowed and they all changed into their robes, Elara's stomach tightened with nerves once again. Her attention shifted from the unwanted observer on the luggage rack, to the bustling of everyone around her. She lingered behind, waiting for Draco.
"Go on." He said. "I'll just be a minute."
She chewed her bottom lip, not liking the tone in his voice or the look of determined vengeance in his eyes. "I'd rather go with you." She said.
"I'll meet you out in a moment. Go on."
She sighed, knowing she would lose this battle. She gathered her things, but left her wand sitting in the seat. A reason to return. She left the cabin, purposefully leaving the door open. It snapped shut behind her and she heard it lock. She turned quickly on her heel and pounded on the glass. "Draco!" She said, watching the scene unfold.
She heard the thud, and then watched at Draco pulled a shimmering cloak off Potter. His body contorted in the same cramped position he was in on the rack. "Draco!" She yelled, pounding on the glass. "Draco don't be stupid! Let me in!"
He glared at the window, meeting her pleading eyes. He flicked his wand and the blinds shut, cutting off her view. She steadied her breathing and strained her hearing, listening through the door. Now angry with herself for leaving her wand behind. If she had it, she could have opened the blasted door! She wouldn't need a reason to return!
"And this is for my father." She heard Draco say, an intense undertone of anger and desperation in his voice. "Have fun on your ride back to London."
She moved to the side as he walked out of the cabin, looking pleased with himself.
"I left my wand on the seat." She said. "I'm going to fetch it."
Draco shrugged. "Leave him in there, or I swear I will send you back with him." His voice was fierce, menacing. A tone he had never taken with her before.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't talk to me like that. I'm not one of your underlings." She spat, knocking into his shoulder as she shoved into the cabin. She looked over her shoulder to see he turned his back on her and started down the length of the train.
She grabbed her wand and then felt around on the ground for the fabric. She got a handful and pulled it down, revealing a very bloodied face. "Oh god, what did he do?" She whispered, more to herself.
The shining green eyes were looking up at her, angry and confused. He grunted but could not get more words out.
"You understand, I can't undo this." She said. "From what I know about you, you're smart enough to realize that. But… I can help. I'll send someone to find you. And…" She contemplated her actions for a split second. But her guilt of the situation and the need to help overshadowed any adverse thoughts she had. She placed her hands at his temples and felt his pain, searing hot and throbbing in his face. She took his pain and buried it in his head. She felt him relax, felt his demeanor change slightly toward her. From angry and confused to suspicious, confused, and grateful.
"I'll keep my word. But I have to go. I'll send help." She whispered, covering him back up. She quickly walked away from the compartment, hoping to bump into anyone that may be able to help the frozen and bloodied Chosen One. Just as she was a few steps behind Draco, she saw the blonde girl she had the strange encounter with earlier.
She was wearing the bizarre glasses and muttering sing-song incantations. Elara wasn't even sure she had heard them before, or if they were even real spells. She thought this would be her only chance to say something though, to get someone in the back of the cabins.
"Wr-wrackspurts." Elara whispered to the girl. "Right? That's what you're looking for?"
"Oh, yes." She said, her voice dreamy and distant.
"I think there's a load of them in the farthest cabin. I could… Erm.. I could feel them around me."
"Oh yes. I could tell you are more sensitive to them." She nodded. "I'll go look now."
Elara nodded and then caught up to Draco.
She was moments away from giving him an earful. Wanting nothing more than to scold him for treating her like an incompetent half-wit and smashing in Harry's face. As she stepped down off the train, she opened her mouth and looked up and the only words that could manage to flow past her lips were "Oh, wow!"
She stopped in her stride. Staring up at the gorgeous castle she had spent years thinking about. The books she had read, her parents and Draco's recollections… Hearing about it from Blaise and Pansy… None of that compared to the breathtaking view that laid before her eyes.
"It's beautiful." She breathed.
Draco looked at her, and then back to the castle. "I suppose it is."
She followed Draco to the carriages until a large half giant looking man, she knew to be Rebeus Hagrid, the former groundskeeper turned Care of Magical Creatures professor, stopped her.
"Malfoy." He grumbled. "You'll 'ave to come with me. Yer part o'the sortin' ceremony tonigh'. So yeh 'ave to ride up with the firs' years."
She nodded, noting Draco's deep scowl. "Okay." She said. "That's okay. I'll see you in a bit." She said, turning toward Draco.
He nodded. "As long as you don't get sorted into Hufflepuff." He winked.
She rolled her eyes and followed Hagrid. "Sir?" She asked, placing a light hand on his elbow to get his attention. He jumped at her touch, as if he had been burned. His eyes turned to her, looking as if he'd rather be walking with anyone else in the world.
"Yeah?" He replied.
"I erm… I don't know how to swim." She admitted, as they neared the lake. "The boats aren't going to capsize, will they?"
He chuckled, his previous guard seeming more relaxed now. "No, O'course not!"
She nodded. "Okay."
The enormous man seemed more at ease now, slowing his strides to walk alongside her. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Yeh don' really seem like a Malfoy." He said.
She looked at him, pulling her eyebrows together in uncertainty. "Sorry?"
"I don' mean that to be rude." He explained. "It's jus… Yer.. Erm- brother.. Well, he seems like a Malfoy- like yer dad. But you… Yer calmer."
She smiled, giving a small chuckle of amusement. "I guess I am." She agreed. "Draco can be a bit… Intense."
"Not the word I would use." Hagrid admitted.
She again, gave a small laugh. The silence that befell them as they reached the small rowboats on the lake was comfortable. She could sense the man, as enormous as he was, was quite the gentle giant. She felt no threat from him.
"You'll be ridin' with me." He said. "Last boat up."
He climbed into the rickety row boat, which seemed to sag greatly under his weight. She wondered how it would carry them across the lake without overturning. The moment she settled in, the boat began to move itself, gliding effortlessly across the lake.
From where she was, she could see why they brought first years in from the lake instead of having them ride in the carriages with the older students. The view of the castle was stunning. All the windows seemed to glisten with the soft dancing candlelight behind them. She took a moment to fully appreciate the view before her nerves consumed her again.
The ride was quicker than she had anticipated, and when the boat docked and she clambered out, she was still trying to steady her shaking, anxious hands. The knot in the pit of her stomach growing ever larger, but she couldn't decipher if it was purely anxiety or if hunger was playing a role since, she had forgone eating the modest lunch offered on the train.
She lined up with the first years, listening to the instructions that McGonagall gave. The woman eyed her, as if trying to figure her out by studying her every nervous movement.
Finally, the doors opened, and the smell of food hit her nostrils. She followed behind the first years, listening as their names were called one by one. Finally, when the last name had been called, she stood alone, a hall full of people inquiring about who was in front of them.
"this year…" Dumbledore started, standing from his seat at the head of the staff table. "We have been graced with the presence of a new student, an older student. Some of you may know her twin brother, Draco Malfoy." The Slytherin table cheered and hollered as Draco looked around, smug and content.
"But few of you will have had the opportunity to meet Elara Malfoy until now. Elara, please step up to the hat, and be sorted."
She nodded and nervously moved forward. She was unlike her brother and father in the idea of needing to be center of attention. They both enjoyed having people around them, looking at them, following them… She took after her mother. Stay on the sidelines and only bring attention to yourself when absolutely necessary. She felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment as every set of eyes landed on her.
She sat at the wobbly old stool, that hundreds of young witches and wizards before her had sat. She took a deep breath as the dusty hat was placed on top her head. She closed her eyes and waited, jumping slightly when she heard a voice ringing in her ears.
"Ahh… the elusive Malfoy twin. I had wondered if you would be presented at some point…"
"You wondered?" She said, feeling instantly silly talking to an old hat.
"You're entire family is Slytherin." He noted. "Ambitious… Shrewd… Definitely determined to prove your worth… You prefer to stay in the background, but I think you could be a great leader… But where to put you…"
"If my entire family is Slytherin, wouldn't it make sense that I also be Slytherin?" She asked
"It tends to run through generations… However, I don't see that traditionalist view in your head. Ravenclaw, may be better for you… You are wise beyond your years… Intelligent… Malformed in originality however…"
"hey!" She said. "that's quite rude."
"It's honest." The hat replied. "I see into your head, I see what you truly are. What you value. But I also see what may become of you, if placed in the wrong house… Let's see… Unforgiving as the Malfoy line is… Gryffindor could be an option… Bold, yes. You are daring… You certainly believe in right and wrong…"
"Couldn't you just place me in Slytherin? Please? To make my life a little bit easier?" She pleaded, fearing what would happen should she be placed in Gryffindor.
"If you truly believe it will make your life easier to live a lie, I cannot stop you, child." The hat replied. "SLYTHERIN!"
The hat was removed from her head and she stood, crossing over to the table that was erupting with cheers, as the other three tables groaned and whispered. She smoothed down her hair and took a seat between Draco and Blaise.
"That was the longest sorting I've ever seen for one person." Blaise said. "What took it so long?"
She shrugged. "Ruddy old thing." She said. "It's probably time to retire that old hat."
Draco looked at her, inquisitively. But his look faltered as the food appeared before them and she could hear his stomach growling next to her. As they ate, she smiled, feeling her nerves ease into the back of her mind for the first time in days. The room was alive with the emotions of everyone around her, and if she wasn't so trained to block them out, it would be crippling. But she was trained. She had been waiting for this moment for so long. It wasn't until the room quieted as Dumbledore began to speak of the darker times that lie ahead was, she able to pick out one stronger emotion, rising above all the rest of them.
The pull at the back of her navel, making her stomach turn into knots. The forced emotion, pushing itself into her being. She looked around, feverishly trying to figure out who was the cause, who was feeling so strong, such a mix of sensations. Confusion, anger, intrigue, regret, sadness, fury, relief, gratitude… All mixed in a swirling storm of—there. She nearly choked on her cranberry juice as her eyes met the glistening pools of emerald again. Full of emotions and nearly suffocating her with the weight of them. He was staring at her, from across the tables, wiping his blood on his sleeve. They locked eyes and she again felt the strangest pull in her chest, the same grip that held her in place weeks ago in Diagon Alley. Understanding.
She blinked a few times, shaking her head as if she were a dog shaking water from her ears. Being an empath had proven to make her life difficult ever since she was a child. However now was when she felt truly tested. She wondered if this boy's strong feelings were going to continue to stop her in her tracks and smother her upon sight. She took a slow, deep breath. This could be… problematic.
a/n: Well, obviously I'm useless and certainly did not get this posted as quickly as I would have liked. Real world calls. Blergh. The song referenced above is "Head Space" by Lewis Capaldi. It's a really lovely song, a little dark actually, but that little verse makes a nice lullaby.
I know a lot of this seemed like filler, I apologize for that. I'm trying to set into place the already made connections and dynamics that Elara has before she starts to connect with other people. I also felt it necessary to show the shift in her private vs. public relationship with Draco.
Anyway, it's just after midnight and I've collectively got about 9 hours of sleep over three days and I have to be at work at 7:30, so I must leave you here. I'm working chapter 5 now, so that should be posted within the week!
Please review. Let me know what you think! To the few people who have favorited/followed, THANK YOU!
-mimi
