No surprise, Gryffindor had won the House Cup again this year. As always Dumbledore's favoritism never ceased to surprise Slytherin House.
It had been a couple of days since Sirius Black escaped the clutches of the Dementors. She wouldn't have hesitated in telling on Harry to get Black into her claws again, but then again, she was involved. She'd get into as much trouble if she even croaked about what had happened. Malfoy hadn't gone to chew off his father's ear too, so she assumed his thought process was about the same.
Professor Lupin had also been missing since that full moon night. Nel was currently on way to visit him in his office since he had been back for a couple of days. She had to discuss whatever - She flashed back to the sinister birds that emitted from the tip of her wand that same night. The horrible feeling that they brought; how cold they made the air feel – her Corrupted Patronus or those things were…
The door to Lupin's office was open. She peered in wondering if he was inside and saw him standing over a battered suitcase packing what looked like to be the last of his books. His entire office had been swept clean out of any and all of his belongings.
"Ah, Elowen," He said without turning around with his back to her. She jumped a little started at his acknowledgement of her presence. He finally turned and smiled at her through haggard eyes. His face and exposed skin all branded by new cuts and scars. She was unable to disguise her shock at the professor's injured appearance.
"I've looked worse, believe me," he half smiled at her shock.
The desk drawers were all open, the bookshelves bare. Was he leaving?
"You're leaving?" She wondered out loud. Her heart beginning to drop.
"I've resigned actually," he said flicking his wand and shutting his suitcase close.
"But- you can't leave!" She protested. "Resigned? Why? You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor we've ever had!" She fully stepped into the office. Lupin couldn't leave. He was one of the few professors she actually enjoyed spending time with. He was kind, he actually cared, or at least he seemed to…
Lupin took in a deep breath and sighed sounding drained. He pondered for a moment if he should reveal what he really was to the student or not. She'd find out in a couple of days regardless.
"I suffer from a very particular condition. A condition which I'm afraid will make parents not want – someone like me – teaching their children." His gaze lowered to the floor in what Nel interpreted to be shame.
"What do you mean someone like you? So far, we've had an idiot and Voldemort as our professors. What on Earth could be worse?" He blinked twice surprise at her mentioning of the Dark Lord's name so boldly. She hadn't even noticed that the name had slipped.
"I suffer from lycanthropy and it seems someone has let slip the nature of my condition."
She was struck by his admission and couldn't help but feel a burdening sense of guilt. All of this time she had misjudged him, she had labeled him as someone who knew nothing about a painful existence when he was actually werewolf. She still remembered the words he had once said to her: "Because like you, I know what it's like to want to be something else." Everything made sense now. His frequent absences that at the time seemed random but weren't. The scars. How was it that a man living with a condition which would often make victims beg to be dead could be so kind? How could he smile with such ease?
"Who?" She demanded to know. Nostrils flaring eyes becoming glassy. It wasn't fair. He didn't have to leave.
"Whomever, it was bound to get out. This time tomorrow owls will be arriving. It's best if I'm gone before then."
"I'm so sorry Professor Lupin," she lowered her head. Lupin wasn't certain if it was out of reverence or pity or why the student would apologize to him. She didn't seem like the type to be apologetic.
"Can I ask… How…" She paused trying to properly phrase her question. "How do you do it? How do you choose kindness?"
Out of all the things she could've asked, he had not been expecting it. Then again, it was specially surprising coming from Nel Saintday, if his assumptions of what or who the girl was were correct-
The professor approached her with his hands in his pockets. Standing before her he placed a hand on her shoulder like perhaps a parent or guardian would.
"Choose kindness. Choose love. Choose happiness. Always." He gave a slight squeeze and patted her arm before stepping back to his belongings. He laughed slightly as if he had remembered something funny, almost like an inside joke. "An old friend once told me we both possess light and darkness inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act upon."
She looked at him sadly before stepping out.
Right… Just like a Patronus. A guardian that emits light, hers, it drains it from the world. It's only darkness. She decided it best to keep this detail to herself instead.
"Oh, and Nel?" He stopped her making her turn. "Write to me soon," again he smiled at her. She couldn't help but grin back before stepping out. She'd miss him, that's for sure.
Walking down the stairs of the East Tower she bumped into someone she was not looking forward to seeing.
Harry.
She gave him a cold look before attempting to walk past the messy haired Gryffindor.
"Nel! Hey, wait up," Harry stepped down and around her halting her step. She scowled at him still upset at what had happened the night that Black 'escaped' Hogwarts. She still couldn't believe that a) Hermione Granger had stunned her b) Harry who was her 'friend' had allowed it c) That he was actually able to cast the Patronus Charm while she had casted – whatever that horrifying thing had been…
She was angry at Harry because of what had happened that night, but also because he had let go the only person who had any idea what her origins were.
"Are you alright?" He asked in concern. "I'm sorry about, well, what happened. It's complicated, but Sirius - I mean Black – it's not what you think it is. He's not bad." Harry attempted to explain to the best of his ability without divulging too much information that could potentially endanger his Godfather.
"Sirius, he said he saved you when you were a baby."
Nel didn't want to talk about this. Not with Harry, not with anyone, really. Least of all the person that had cost her getting to the root of this mystery.
"Appears to be so," She retorted nonchalantly hoping that Harry would get the hint that she didn't want to converse and move out of the way, but he didn't. What had Professor Lupin just advised her? To choose kindness… Maybe this could be a start, after all Harry had usually been most unusually kind to her. Feeling a sudden guilt wash over her she decided it best to shove her pride aside and at least attempt to make things right.
"I'm sorry Harry," She apologized sincerely. "I shouldn't be resentful of the fact that you can summon a Patronus Charm while I –" She swallowed her words not even wanting to give a name to that horrible creature that she had summoned.
"You'll get better at it Nel, I know you will." He comforted her a little; surprised at the apology he was not expecting. "Are you sure you're alright? We weren't expecting Malfoy to come in sweeping in like that. Did he hurt you?" He asked concerned.
"Malfoy?" She repeated in shock. Wait- he had actually stayed behind? She hadn't really questioned why it was that the blonde was in the Astronomy Tower with her when she came to her senses after the stunning spell.
Adding things up it, it made sense now. She then remembered the mortifying fact he had really seen her at her most vulnerable. Salazar's Beard it was such a degrading thought.
She had been avoiding him since, walking out of the room before he could enter it, taking note of where he was standing and steering clear out of his way and vision purposely. She dreaded the thought of him bringing up that night and taunting her with her most intimate insecurities.
"N-No. He didn't do anything," She compressed her lips into a thin line her thoughts lingering on the memory of the dawn of that day.
"About Black," Harry swerved back to the original topic. "Maybe you could write to him?" He suggested raising an eyebrow at her.
Leave it to Harry to come up with such a ridiculous idea.
"How would he get it? He's an ex-convict living in hiding. I don't think just any owl will be able to find him." Certainly not Barberry he wasn't the brightest owl out there.
Harry figured that if Nel knew what he and Hermione had done and was keeping quiet about it and most importantly probably keeping Malfoy from opening his big mouth she could be trustworthy. If any of them croaked the lot would be tossed into Azkaban no questions asked.
"I'll get it to him for you."
Her eyes went wide with disbelief. How? Judging by the sly smile on the boy's face she figured it was better not to push him for questions today.
"Really?!" She uncharacteristically beamed and didn't even realize she threw her arms around the Gryffindor in a surprise hug. Harry stood stiff not being used to being hugged overall, less by girls and least of all by Slytherins. He'd probably never understand how much this meant to her.
"Saintday," She heard a familiar voice echo the corridor. Nel froze at the cross tone that the familiar voice carried. Looking over her friend's shoulder she saw Malfoy swashing towards the two of them. She instantly let go of Harry and stepped away from the boy. The girl considered running away and hiding inside of a classroom or broom closet.
Malfoy was now standing before the two of them a displeased look on his pointy features. Harry's expression was similar as he glared daggers at the blonde Slytherin his body language in offensive mode ready for whatever Malfoy might throw at them. Saintday couldn't help but remember the weight of his black jacket on her shoulders and how it smelt, how he had actually been more than a gentle man and had consoled her at her worst. Mortified. She felt the blood rush to her face and neck in unflattering red patches.
Harry looked between the two Slytherins oddly. The girl who looked like a deer caught in head lights wore a flustered expression. Malfoy looked at her face intensely but said nothing. Neither did she. Both of their eyes locked on each other's.
The Gryffindor boy felt an unfamiliar tension fill the space between them. He was debating if he should leave or not when Malfoy's grey eyes swiftly turned to Potter.
"I was wondering what that terrible smell was," He wrinkled his nose impolitely as if in disgust. "Should've guessed it was just you two orphans," he spat rudely.
Harry immediately scowled at him, he turned to face his friend who instead seemed relieved?By their tormentors' crass words. She smirked slightly at him before letting out a haunting "Ha!"
Nel felt as if a weight had been taken off her shoulders. This was a relief. Being like this, acting rude and constantly jabbing at each other just made life, easier overall.
"You think we smell?" She huffed crossing her arms over her chest. "I'd be surprised if you still had any sense of smell," she waved a hand over her nose dramatically. "I can smell you from a mile away with that tacky lotion you wear! Gives me a headache. What's the scent supposed to be anyway? Funeral home or cleaning supplies? "
He shot her a glare and walked away bumping her shoulder so hard it almost made her step backward. Both Harry and Nel missed the slightest of smiles that made way to his face. Harry glared at the back of Malfoy's head as he walked away.
Just like that things were back to normal.
Harry's eyes bounced between the two Slytherin's more confused than even. He was even more perplexed by the most peculiar smile Nel Saintday wore.
Xxxxx
The year ended and Nel practically dragged her feet back to Wool's Orphanage.
Standing outside she looked at the old bricked building with dread. She didn't know she wouldn't see the building in years to come as she sucked in a deep breath. Coming back to Wool's had never been the same since Lucy left. Nel had looked endlessly inside of Wool's files but had found no record on where Lucy had gone off to or of her adopted family. It was almost as if she had never existed. Part of her suspected the girl had probably taken off and taken to the streets. Wool had erased all records of her to make it seem as if Lucy Bonilla never existed. They would've been about the same age now. Elowen would never admit it out loud but she was resentful of the girl, not for leaving Wool's, but for not taking her along.
Walking in some young kids cheered welcoming her back and jumped on her arms making them lift them up. The owl in the cage cried nervously at the sudden attention. She stopped to great them and was about to make way to the laundry room when Aisha stood in her way.
Like always she was wearing a sickly pink color and her hair in a long braid, dark eyes fixed on her trunk and other school belongings.
"I wouldn't get too comfortable if I were you," She scowled at her before turning away.
The brunette simply arched an eyebrow in confusion. She didn't even have time to question what that statement went when Matron Cordelia Wool stepped out of her office.
"Ah, there you are," She said a hand on her large hip. "'Bout time you got here." She opened the door to her pastel pink office that smelt like a bottle of Lysol and nodded her head towards the inside. "Inside. Now."
Nel stepped in with an irritated expression. She was expecting Wool to pin some terrible disaster like a pipe bursting on her. Or to try and intimidate her by locking her in the Chokey like she used to when she was younger. However, she was surprised when she saw there was another person in the office. Her dark blue fashion strongly contrasting the pale pink backgrounds of the office. The witch standing in the room eyed Nel's appearance from head to toe. Her baggy washed jeans and oversized grey sweatshirt. She seemed to be mildly horrified at the status of her sneakers.
"Elowen," Wool began to introduce. "This is Ms. –" She paused, her nose wrinkling in disgust as she signaled towards the dark-haired woman with sharp angled face features.
"Ms. Cloelia Lestrange," The woman with unblinking blue eyes stretched out a hand.
Hesitantly looking at her with suspicious eyes she shook the woman's frail looking hand.
"She's- your kind," Wool wrinkled her nose before rounding around her desk and plopping down on her cushioned desk chair. She looked at some papers on the table and assembled them into a thick package which she stacked neatly before putting into a folder.
"The adoption papers are ready, if you would just sign here Ms. Lestrange," Wool said in an apathetic dead tone.
Shaken by the words Elowen shook her head in disbelief. Fourteen-year-old orphan witches didn't get adopted just out of the blue by strangers.
"Wait- what?" she gaped in disbelief. "I never consented to this adoption!" She gawked incredulously her eyes rapidly darting between Wool and Ms. Lestrange.
Wool's tired eyes looked past Nel. The dark circles under them giving her a dreadful appearance. Lestrange appeared composed as if she hadn't heard her opposition.
"Court ruled in Lestrange's favor claiming it was in your best interest." Wool explained while pointing at Lestrange to sign one last page.
Elowen wasn't sure what to feel. On one hand she was happy to be leaving this rancid place. However, she felt some guilt. What would happen to all of the other children that stayed behind? Who would watch over them? Also, who was this witch and what did she want with her? How did she even know about her?
"You mentioned you have a son?" Wool commented absent mindedly.
"Ah, yes, my dear boy. He's away on an apprenticeship in Paris," She turned to Nel and smiled at her sweetly. "But I've always wanted a daughter," She said giving one of her cheeks a hard pinch.
Nel slapped her hand away and glared at her new guardian. She wasn't five she didn't need this stranger talking down to her guardian or not.
Cloelia seemed amused by this and tutted at her before holding her hands before her lap. The girl eyed the woman carefully. This would be her new guardian, her new mother. Part of it made her heart flutter with excitement. She would finally be part of a family. She would finally be claimed under a proper name. She'd have a loving home to return to, her own room, her own brand-new clothes. She didn't know what a family was like, but she had actually pictured it like on the tellie. The white-picked fence life, a mother, a father, a boy and a girl all coming together to talk about their day over a delicious dinner. Maybe… Just maybe that dream would no longer be a fantasy.
She leaned over Wool's desk attempting to catch a glimpse of the information on the documents.
"So," she probed slowly. "I'm going to be a Lestrange?" She asked tasting how the last name felt in her mouth. It was, well, strange.
Elowen Lestrange. She felt like it fit. Looking at Cloelia her heart skipped a beat at the thought of the lady being her mother, her family. Her hair was black, not dark brown like Nel's but still it was dark?
Maybe… Just maybe they were related.
The thought of belonging to a family made the edges of her mouth turn up into a hopeful smile.
"No," Wool answered fully. "According to the British Government you are still Elowen Saintday."
Of course. She hadn't been claimed. The girl fought the urge to lower her head in shame. She simply stood still in response of the lack of acceptance into her family.
"No returns or exchanges accepted," Wool tried at a poor attempt at a bad joke as she looked at the orphan smugly.
"I won't miss you," Nel glowered hatefully. She shot them both a death glare before walking out of the room.
Wool let out a sigh of relief when the girl stepped out of the room. Ms. Lestrange arched an eyebrow in intrigue when Cordelia Wool began shedding tears. Her face was flushed and turned into an ugly mug. As rivers of fat tears made way down her ugly face.
"Bless you, really, thank you so, so, much," she was actually crying tears of joy! "I mean it, no returns!"
Wool would probably throw a party.
Xxxx
Nel bid goodbye to some of the other children in the house. Some were crying, some had no idea who she was, others, two in particular, were glad to see her go. Afterall she had either grown up with most of them or watched them grow. Alf and Aisha, her tormentors ,simply glared with vile smiles from a distance as the two witches left the orphanage.
She didn't look back at Wool's orphanage once as she left. Afterall there was nothing to look back to. The younger kids would eventually have to step up and learn to fend for themselves, but then again that was life.
The witch didn't say much as they walked a couple of blocks before dipping into an alleyway. Nel still pulling at her stuff behind her. Her owl's marble like eyes seemed to look between the two women confused.
Cloelia then stopped and turned to face Elowen who looked at her with mistrust. She smiled the edges of her lips pinching as she did. She couldn't put her finger on what it was but there was something fishy about this lady. Or maybe it was just the girls' mistrustful nature.
After having a mass murderer, an idiot and a werewolf as a professor nothing was surprising anymore, not really.
"Are you my mother?" She asked directly. Both wondering if this witch was a distant relative or if she would embrace her as a daughter.
Cloelia was currently applying a shade of red lipstick to her lips and eyeing her appearance on a small pocket mirror before putting it back into her purse. "No," She responded simply before turning to Nel and once again smiling at her. An action which unnerved the girl to no end.
Then why bother adopting her?
"Although I always did want a daughter," She stretched a hand forward gently and took the girl's face in her hand with the other she brushed back the bangs that usually hid her face and starred at her dark eyes, beauty marks and other features.
"Lay off lady," Elowen glared in her hostile nature and stepped back away from the strange woman's touch.
"You're quite rude for a lady your age. Aren't you?" She said looking down at the girl with contempt.
"What lady?" Nel basically growled out in rude sarcasm.
"My, we've got a lot of work to do," Ms. Lestrange sighed and shook her head slightly. She didn't give the girl a warning before grabbing onto her shoulder and the two apparated.
The next thing Nel knew was that everything went black; she was pressed very hard from all direction; Barberry screeching as this happened; she couldn't breathe, it almost felt as if she was being constricted, eyeballs being pushed to the back of her head and ear-drums deeper into her skull before they apparated before a large building that was placed on top of a cliff neighboring a black ocean.
A strong wind blew past them.
Six, fat, large yew trees were planted before the building Nel now realized was a manor. Two in the center in between the door tilted forward creating an arch of branches leading to the entrance of the two-story house.
Cloelia pulled out an elegantly carved black wand and flicked it at Nel's belonging. Her poor screeching owl and other belongings suddenly vanished.
"Bienvenue à la Maison de Lestrange."
xxxxx
La Maison de Lestrange was grand. It was speckless with dark browns and dark black wood possessing elegant furniture that looked ancient and absolutely regal. Nel could see a house elf scurrying around the house cleaning and polishing the floors. Cloelia lead her upstairs to a room which the girl took notice could be locked from the outside.
"This will be your room Elowen," she opened the door to reveal what seemed to her to be a massive room. At least compared to the laundry room that had been her home for her whole life. There was a large twin bed at its center with a beautiful canopy post similar to the one at Hogwarts. She had an actual dresser, a wardrobe, a vanity, and two night stands next to the bed.
All of this… was hers?
"I expect your face to be washed, your old clothes to be disposed off and for you to be properly dressed for dinner and punctual for dinner tonight."
Nel was in shock. This was the girl whose most priceless belonging was a burnt sweater that didn't even fit her anymore. She opened the door to her wardrobe and noted it was fully stocked with brand new clothes. This made her head spin. They all looked to be brand new in fashion, they were her size, they weren't used, they weren't worn, they didn't have any wear or tears on them. It was bittersweet, she looked at the fine fabrics and fashionable skirts and blouses, they weren't her. She hadn't picked them. This was somebody else imposing themselves on her person.
Regardless, she had to be grateful. It had to have costed a fortune. Then again, judging from the scope of the property it seemed like it hadn't been a problem for Ms. Lestrange.
"Why?" Nel gaped.
Fourteen-year-old witch orphans did not get adopted just like that. Specially uncharming ones with terrible tempers like Nel Saintday.
"Why me?" She repeated when she saw that her adoptive guardian simply stood by the door holding both of her hands before her lap, back standing straight. Who was this lady anyway? What did she even do for a living?
"I've always wanted a daughter," She responded sweetly. Again, with a very tight smile. There was something off about her, something that made Nel suspicious that this woman knew more than she was letting on.
Some moments later Ms. Lestrange returned to Elowen's room. She didn't knock before opening the door intruding in to find the girl feeding a treat to her owl. The room was now disorganized with clothes thrown everywhere on the floor and bed. The girl was late for dinner and she was still wearing her clothes from the orphanage.
"None of those clothes fit me," Nel tossed casually over her shoulder. She also didn't particularly like them but being used to a lifetime of wearing the scraps of others this wasn't a viable excuse.
A disapproving look made Ms. Lestrange's brow wrinkle at the sight of the room. "Nonsense," she stepped into the room and flickered her want at everything folding clothes neatly into stacks. She stopped before the girl and pointed her long wand towards her changing her jeans and short top into a knee length long sleeved dark blue dress. There wasn't anything special about it, it was the type of outfit you'd wear to a religious service. Even her shoes had changed from her usual sneakers to black flats with a strap.
"I don't like these clothes either," she finally admitted looking at her adoptive guardian with a wary look and at the dull clothes she was wearing. "I'll be eighteen in four years. You won't be able to tell me what to do for much longer."
Seriously, why bother adopting a fourteen-year-old basket case?
The woman smirked at the threating tone and moved her wand again. Nel was struck when her body began to move on its own. Her brain was sending signals to her legs to step towards the vanity. She fought this feeling but failed and her body moved on its own making her take a seat before the vanity's mirror. She looked at her horrified reflection in the mirror.
"That's illegal!" Nel shouted.
The woman was using the Imperio curse on her; one of the Unforgivable and most terrible curses. Cleo silenced her remaining unbothered to the way the girl's mouth and eyes were frantically moving yet no sound was coming out. Her hands were glued to the vanity's surface.
"You're a lady Elowen, it's time you begin acting like one. Time to grow up!" She clapped her hands together.
Very calmly, even eerily and disturbingly humming a tune the woman approached her and picking up a hairbrush began calmly brushing her dark brown hair, even brushing it out of her face and tugging it behind her ears into a neater more polished look.
"Such a pretty face to hide behind that rideau of hair," She spoke in her thick French accent even dropping a word that Nel had no idea what it meant. "Behave, do as I say and I don't think we'll have a problem," the woman once again smiled at her a sickly-sweet smile before calmly walking out the door. "I'll be waiting for you at the dinner table."
The moment Cloelia left the room, Nel collapsed on the vanity gripping the edges breathing hard at the horrible sensation of having your body controlled in such an invasive manner.
Wool couldn't control her like that. She could starve her, lock her up, damage her mind and body, insult and belittle her but she couldn't use Dark Magic on her.
The thought of not being in possession of her person made her fearfully tremble in her seat. She looked at her reflection in the mirror once again. The person starring back wasn't her.
It was then that Nel had a terrible realization.
The room she was in, it wasn't what it looked like. Then again, nothing ever was.
She had graduated from one prison into a larger one.
xxxxx
STARRING
EVA GREEN as CLOELIA LESTRANGE
and
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET as CLAUDIUS ELLAR LESTRANGE
Xxxxx