As they hall walked through the entrance, and into the great hall, Elle and
Wood received many questioning looks. Elle never seemed to notice that most
of the male population of Hogwarts followed her every move, but now they
were drawing stares for altogether different reasons. The story of Eleanor
collapsing in the entrance hall that morning had spread like wild flowers
over the course of the day, and her lengthy disappearance and failure to
visit Hogsmeade seemed to fire on the rumors even more. Of course no one
but Oliver knew the real reason behind Elle's collapse, but what most of
the school was thinking was made clear a few minutes after the two started
to eat. Angelina, Alicia, Felicity and Amy sat down around the pair with
anxious looks on their faces. Angelina glanced pleadingly at Amy, who shook
her head firmly, and gave her a look as if to say "Go on." Felicity looked
at Elle sadly, and Alicia just started at her hands, fidgeting like mad.
Wood looked around, amused. With a glance at Elle, he realized she hadn't
noticed her friends' weird behavior. So he nudged her gently in the arm,
and they both concentrated on Angelina as she started to speak.
"Ok, Elle, hear us out ok?" she began, "We've been talking about this all day, and we've decided the only thing we can do is ask you directly. First of all, we are all very glad that you are ok now, but we think we know why you fainted this morning, and we want you to know that we are here to support you no matter what. Ok?" She stopped, and looked at Eleanor expectantly. All the girls were now staring at her, their faces displaying varying degrees of sadness, and fright.
"Uhh. ok." answered Elle slowly. She honestly had no idea what the group was talking about.
"If you want to have it, we'll support you." Put in Amy.
"We'll be here to help out, and if you decide to leave school, we'll write to you every day!" Came Felicity's frightened squeak.
"But if you don't want to keep it, we'll be there for you then as well. I realize how hard it's going to be but."
At that moment Elle cut in. "Sorry, but keep what?" She looked around at her friends, clueless.
At her words, Angelina suddenly looked startled. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and suddenly she realized they had been wrong. Alicia, however, did not make the connection, and blurted out, "The BABY of course!"
Elle spat out the mouthful of pumpkin juice she had just drank. Wood jumped to his feet, completely shocked, and yelled "What!?"
But after a few seconds of complete utter confusion, Oliver noticed Elle was laughing. Moping the juice from her front with her napkin, she pulled him back down onto the bench, glancing around at the people who had turned to stare at Wood's outburst.
"I am NOT pregnant Alicia!" She was trying to be serious, but couldn't stop the smile from playing across her face. She thought all this very amusing.
"Your not?" asked Alicia innocently.
"NO!" (Wood sighed heavily, visibly relaxing)
"Are you sure?" Amy demanded.
"Of course I'm sure!" Elle would have been frustrated, but the whole situation was just too hilarious.
"Well, how could you be really sure?" Felicity asked, "I mean. it didn't happen that long ago. you wouldn't really be able to tell yet."
At her words, the other girls in the group turned to her, shocked. Elle looked at them, a bemused smile still firmly planted on her lips. She didn't really like talking about such a painful subject, but the looks on her friend's faces, and Wood's, were absolutely priceless.
"There is no possible way; you don't have to worry guys. When it happened, Madame Pomfrey gave me a special potion that prevents." she paused, "that. from happening."
"Oh!" exclaimed Amy.
"Ok then, that's sorted." Felicity was looking thoroughly embarrassed.
"Uh huh!" Alicia was not making eye contact with anyone. But Angelina was just watching everyone. Wondering to herself the true reason behind Elle's collapse. She didn't think she should blurt out her question at the table though, even through her laughter, Angelina had seen Elle's pain as she discussed her ordeal. But she made a mental note to ask her about it when they were alone. The group, still awkward, and Elle, still chuckling to herself, finished Dinner normally.
About 15 minutes later, they both stood anxiously before the door to Dumbledore's Office. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Elle was apprehensive. "All I want is to help you." Said Oliver, determined. "And if the headmaster can help, then we have to at least try." "But what if he sends me home?" she asked pleadingly, "I don't want to leave Hogwarts! It's the only place I feel safe!" "I don't think he would send you away, Elle. You are much safer here, with all the professors, and Dumbledore himself to protect you." "Certainly! I agree." Came a soft voice before them. The Headmaster had come to meet them. He was standing in the doorway to his office, beckoning them inside. The two glanced at each other quickly, before heading through the door.
"Master Wood, Miss Ross?" He began, once they were sitting in two rather comfy chairs in front of his desk. "How can I be of service?" "Well, um. Professor" Oliver started, but he seemed to loose him momentum, and just sat, twisting his hands in his lap. "You were wondering about the conversation I had with Mr. and Mrs. Flint?" Dumbledore finished for him. "Uh.. Yeah." The Headmaster sat silently for a while, as if thinking of what to say, or how much to divulge to the two students sitting, waiting for him. At last, he spoke, in little more than a whisper, but neither Elle, nor Wood missed a single word. "As I have already told you, I do not believe the events of late are as clearly portrayed as they seem. I do not have any proof of such, other than my gut feeling, which has never lead me astray all these long years, but there does seem to be a few inconsistencies." He paused for a moment, and then addressed Elle directly. "I'm sorry if what I have to say causes you distress, Eleanor, but if you want to know what I believe, I will tell you. Of course you are welcome to stop me at anytime." Elle nodded quickly. Her face was set with determination. "Firstly, the manner in which Flint was found. Both of his wrists were slit, which obviously was the cause of death, but other marks were found on him also. It looked as though he was at some point bound with ropes, tightly, as they left dark bruises. Also, I have talked at length with a number of Marcus's close friend, all of which would swear that he showed no signs of being depressed, or in any way capable of committing such a heinous crime, and then taking his own life. You are probably thinking that that does not prove anything." he was looking at the disbelieving face of Oliver as he said that, "And again, I have no evidence of foul play, so all I can do is continue to investigate. And I promise, if I find anything suspicious, or remotely connected to the incident, you two will be the first to know. But I must advise you Miss Ross, do not go around dark corridors by yourself, and have someone you trust with you at all times. I do not believe you are in immediate danger, but we can never be too careful."
The remainder of the meeting passed quickly. Dumbledore seemed to be needed elsewhere, as he hastily shuffled around, gradually herding the pair out of his office. With a last promise not to worry, but to be careful just the same, Elle said goodbye. "Thank you for meeting with us, Professor." "Always happy to be of assistance, Miss Ross. And I will contact you both as soon as anything else comes to my attention." "Ok, Thanks Professor." Wood was glad the meeting had gone well. He wondered about Flint as the two made their way back to Gryffindor Tower, whether or not he had been the one to rape Elle. What The Headmaster had said did make sense, but he couldn't shake the feelings he had towards Flint. The encounter outside of Potions a week before the attack popped into mind. He decided to wait and see if the Professor could come up with anything else. After a quick good night kiss, he left Eleanor at her dorm, confident that after the Headmasters assurances, she might be able to get a full nights sleep for once. And he headed up to his own bed, his thoughts full of the girl he loved.
Over the next few days, everything seemed to return to normal. Elle was still having nightmares, but was getting better at not showing everyone around her what she was thinking. None of the other girls seemed to realize that they still didn't know what had caused Eleanor to faint - the pregnancy scare effectively pushing the real issue to the back of her friends' minds. Angelina was still curious, but as Elle's happier moods returned, her determination failed, and it seemed a pain to drag the whole issue into the open again. Wood, however, never believed a second of the act she put on when the two were together in company. He could see the fakeness in her smiles, the hollowness in her eyes. He could see it was just a show. But she had convinced everyone else she was back to normal. And all Wood could do was stand behind her, supporting her through everything. If she didn't want everyone else to worry, then that was her business. But as far as he was concerned, she had to be honest. Even if it was only with the one person. it was still a help to her, he reasoned. And it was true. She trusted him with her whole heart, and he helped her more than he could ever know. There had been many night when Elle had awoken violently from the same nightmares, to find him sleeping in a large armchair beside her bed. She knew that if she wanted, she could have woken him up, and he would have been his usual kind, supporting self. But, on more occasion than not, she left him sleeping soundly, comforted just by the sight of him.
"Ok, Elle, hear us out ok?" she began, "We've been talking about this all day, and we've decided the only thing we can do is ask you directly. First of all, we are all very glad that you are ok now, but we think we know why you fainted this morning, and we want you to know that we are here to support you no matter what. Ok?" She stopped, and looked at Eleanor expectantly. All the girls were now staring at her, their faces displaying varying degrees of sadness, and fright.
"Uhh. ok." answered Elle slowly. She honestly had no idea what the group was talking about.
"If you want to have it, we'll support you." Put in Amy.
"We'll be here to help out, and if you decide to leave school, we'll write to you every day!" Came Felicity's frightened squeak.
"But if you don't want to keep it, we'll be there for you then as well. I realize how hard it's going to be but."
At that moment Elle cut in. "Sorry, but keep what?" She looked around at her friends, clueless.
At her words, Angelina suddenly looked startled. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and suddenly she realized they had been wrong. Alicia, however, did not make the connection, and blurted out, "The BABY of course!"
Elle spat out the mouthful of pumpkin juice she had just drank. Wood jumped to his feet, completely shocked, and yelled "What!?"
But after a few seconds of complete utter confusion, Oliver noticed Elle was laughing. Moping the juice from her front with her napkin, she pulled him back down onto the bench, glancing around at the people who had turned to stare at Wood's outburst.
"I am NOT pregnant Alicia!" She was trying to be serious, but couldn't stop the smile from playing across her face. She thought all this very amusing.
"Your not?" asked Alicia innocently.
"NO!" (Wood sighed heavily, visibly relaxing)
"Are you sure?" Amy demanded.
"Of course I'm sure!" Elle would have been frustrated, but the whole situation was just too hilarious.
"Well, how could you be really sure?" Felicity asked, "I mean. it didn't happen that long ago. you wouldn't really be able to tell yet."
At her words, the other girls in the group turned to her, shocked. Elle looked at them, a bemused smile still firmly planted on her lips. She didn't really like talking about such a painful subject, but the looks on her friend's faces, and Wood's, were absolutely priceless.
"There is no possible way; you don't have to worry guys. When it happened, Madame Pomfrey gave me a special potion that prevents." she paused, "that. from happening."
"Oh!" exclaimed Amy.
"Ok then, that's sorted." Felicity was looking thoroughly embarrassed.
"Uh huh!" Alicia was not making eye contact with anyone. But Angelina was just watching everyone. Wondering to herself the true reason behind Elle's collapse. She didn't think she should blurt out her question at the table though, even through her laughter, Angelina had seen Elle's pain as she discussed her ordeal. But she made a mental note to ask her about it when they were alone. The group, still awkward, and Elle, still chuckling to herself, finished Dinner normally.
About 15 minutes later, they both stood anxiously before the door to Dumbledore's Office. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Elle was apprehensive. "All I want is to help you." Said Oliver, determined. "And if the headmaster can help, then we have to at least try." "But what if he sends me home?" she asked pleadingly, "I don't want to leave Hogwarts! It's the only place I feel safe!" "I don't think he would send you away, Elle. You are much safer here, with all the professors, and Dumbledore himself to protect you." "Certainly! I agree." Came a soft voice before them. The Headmaster had come to meet them. He was standing in the doorway to his office, beckoning them inside. The two glanced at each other quickly, before heading through the door.
"Master Wood, Miss Ross?" He began, once they were sitting in two rather comfy chairs in front of his desk. "How can I be of service?" "Well, um. Professor" Oliver started, but he seemed to loose him momentum, and just sat, twisting his hands in his lap. "You were wondering about the conversation I had with Mr. and Mrs. Flint?" Dumbledore finished for him. "Uh.. Yeah." The Headmaster sat silently for a while, as if thinking of what to say, or how much to divulge to the two students sitting, waiting for him. At last, he spoke, in little more than a whisper, but neither Elle, nor Wood missed a single word. "As I have already told you, I do not believe the events of late are as clearly portrayed as they seem. I do not have any proof of such, other than my gut feeling, which has never lead me astray all these long years, but there does seem to be a few inconsistencies." He paused for a moment, and then addressed Elle directly. "I'm sorry if what I have to say causes you distress, Eleanor, but if you want to know what I believe, I will tell you. Of course you are welcome to stop me at anytime." Elle nodded quickly. Her face was set with determination. "Firstly, the manner in which Flint was found. Both of his wrists were slit, which obviously was the cause of death, but other marks were found on him also. It looked as though he was at some point bound with ropes, tightly, as they left dark bruises. Also, I have talked at length with a number of Marcus's close friend, all of which would swear that he showed no signs of being depressed, or in any way capable of committing such a heinous crime, and then taking his own life. You are probably thinking that that does not prove anything." he was looking at the disbelieving face of Oliver as he said that, "And again, I have no evidence of foul play, so all I can do is continue to investigate. And I promise, if I find anything suspicious, or remotely connected to the incident, you two will be the first to know. But I must advise you Miss Ross, do not go around dark corridors by yourself, and have someone you trust with you at all times. I do not believe you are in immediate danger, but we can never be too careful."
The remainder of the meeting passed quickly. Dumbledore seemed to be needed elsewhere, as he hastily shuffled around, gradually herding the pair out of his office. With a last promise not to worry, but to be careful just the same, Elle said goodbye. "Thank you for meeting with us, Professor." "Always happy to be of assistance, Miss Ross. And I will contact you both as soon as anything else comes to my attention." "Ok, Thanks Professor." Wood was glad the meeting had gone well. He wondered about Flint as the two made their way back to Gryffindor Tower, whether or not he had been the one to rape Elle. What The Headmaster had said did make sense, but he couldn't shake the feelings he had towards Flint. The encounter outside of Potions a week before the attack popped into mind. He decided to wait and see if the Professor could come up with anything else. After a quick good night kiss, he left Eleanor at her dorm, confident that after the Headmasters assurances, she might be able to get a full nights sleep for once. And he headed up to his own bed, his thoughts full of the girl he loved.
Over the next few days, everything seemed to return to normal. Elle was still having nightmares, but was getting better at not showing everyone around her what she was thinking. None of the other girls seemed to realize that they still didn't know what had caused Eleanor to faint - the pregnancy scare effectively pushing the real issue to the back of her friends' minds. Angelina was still curious, but as Elle's happier moods returned, her determination failed, and it seemed a pain to drag the whole issue into the open again. Wood, however, never believed a second of the act she put on when the two were together in company. He could see the fakeness in her smiles, the hollowness in her eyes. He could see it was just a show. But she had convinced everyone else she was back to normal. And all Wood could do was stand behind her, supporting her through everything. If she didn't want everyone else to worry, then that was her business. But as far as he was concerned, she had to be honest. Even if it was only with the one person. it was still a help to her, he reasoned. And it was true. She trusted him with her whole heart, and he helped her more than he could ever know. There had been many night when Elle had awoken violently from the same nightmares, to find him sleeping in a large armchair beside her bed. She knew that if she wanted, she could have woken him up, and he would have been his usual kind, supporting self. But, on more occasion than not, she left him sleeping soundly, comforted just by the sight of him.