She was not quite sure who she was before who she now was. All she knew about her life from before was that it wasn't nearly as interesting or as long as she had hoped.
Most importantly though, her existence before did not have Magic.
Magic.
As soon as she was born, she had thoughts and impressions of before with no concrete memories to substantiate them.
But whenever she looked around the cozy chaotic home and how magic was used everywhere without a thought, she was speechless.
In her first few days of this new life, she had found a reverence for magic. She could not explain why, but something within her spoke to its endless potential and possibilities. Magic should not be possible, and yet, there it was, plain as day, used for mundane tasks like washing dishes or knitting clothes.
She was obsessed with magic as she took in her surroundings, her twin sister by her side, a simple adorable child.
Her sister's name was Ginny, she had learnt, and her own name was Ellie.
Being self-aware as soon as she was born was... odd. She knew things, and she knew that knowing those things was odd. Nonetheless, it did not distract her from the very real fact that she had an unbelievable advantage and something within her urged not to squander it.
As there was not much to do as a baby, and nothing she would do as a baby would really be suspicious, she took all her time attempting to get a feel for her magic.
Days passed, then weeks, then months. She continued to try with an unnatural patience to make something happen.
And, finally, she managed to pull her stuffed bear towards her. It was with great satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment that she did so. Only, immediately afterwards, she had fallen asleep.
And so everyday she practiced, and everyday she would be able to do that much more before she passed out. No one noticed. It was a large family and a baby sleeping more than it should was something of little note.
And so, a few years passed, and magic became more and more effortless. She could feel it thrumming beneath her skin. The more she practiced, the more powerful she became.
Levitation. Summoning. Pulling water from the air. Making fire. Creating light.
She became more proficient with these basic magics as time passed.
Ellie, 4 years old.
"Mother?" Ellie asked one day as her family all sat at the breakfast table.
"Yes sweetie?" Molly said as she buttered her toast.
"Do you still have your old school books? Can I read them?" She asked with an innocent and adorable head tilt.
The noise at the table quietened. Molly paused and looked at her with a twinkle in her eye and beamed.
"Of course, they're only gathering dust in the attic as they are."
"What bought this on Ellie?" Arthur asked as he ate his cereal.
Unlike Fred and George, who most of the family found difficult to distinguish between, Ellie and Ginny were rather easy to tell apart.
They certainly looked similar. Fiery red hair and faces that would attract a lot of male attention in their teens. But the difference was in the eyes.
Ginny's eyes were amber and Ellie's eyes were bright blue.
And it was the way they sat, talked, and ate. They were completely unlike each other in so many ways, but Ellie loved her sister all the same.
"Well, I've been interested in what they learn at Hogwarts, and... well, magic is incredible, isn't it?" Ellie asked passionately.
Arthur looked confused for a moment but nodded anyway.
Molly seemed happy for whatever reason.
Bill and Charlie were at Hogwarts, Percy sat silently, the boy twins were whispering to each other, Ron was absorbed in his breakfast, and Ginny sat there observing everyone quietly.
Ellie, 5 years old.
It... did not take long at all to read all of her mother's books. At first, Ellie thought about how she would memorize their contents, but after giving it some thought, she knew magic should be able to solve the problem.
She did not know how she knew, but she knew that there was a magic that would help her mind.
So, much like the floundering she did in the beginning with her magic, she meditated, and tried to build a library in her mind.
She stored her memories and emotions there, and all the contents of the books she would read.
It took her a long while to become familiar enough with her mind that she was able to start making protections.
Something told her it would be important.
And so, with an astounding efficiency, she was able to learn and read the full Hogwarts curriculum for Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration within the year.
She had little else to do, after all.
Looking at the charms texts gave her ideas on how to continue practicing her magic. She had attempted to recreate various charms with mixed results. She soon realized that once she completely understood the theory of a spell down to its minutiae, she was able to replicate the effect with her wandless magic.
They took a lot of practice and magic to perfect, and after a year, she had only managed to completely master a few.
As for Transfiguration, that was easily her favorite. The theory work was beautiful and complex, and accomplishing her first matchstick-to-needle transfiguration gave her a feeling she would not ever forget.
Ellie, 6 years old.
She could feel the unique magic that came from each of her family members.
She could feel the magic unique to the small animals she would find in the garden.
She could feel the warmth of her mother's magic, could feel the gentleness of her father's, and the rambunctious magic of the elder twins.
She could feel the magic of Percy's rat, and it was wrong.
It was human.
There was only one explanation. The rat was an Animagus in hiding, and that very fact chilled her bones.
"Dad, can I come with you to work today? I'd like to see the ministry and how they work..." Ellie said with the appropriate curiosity of a six-year-old child.
Her parents looked at each other even as Molly smiled.
"Course you can, go up and get dressed then."
Ellie hurried up to her room, changed, and then silenced her footsteps as she passed Percy's bedroom.
The rat was asleep in its cage. To be certain, she cast a wandless locking charm on it. Animagi could not use magic in their animal forms, so it would be impossible for it to escape.
She took the cage and silently left the room.
When she came back down, her father raised his brow at her upon seeing the cage she was carrying.
To the unspoken inquiry, Ellie said "I think we should register him in case he gets lost."
Arthur nodded, "Smart girl, off we go then."
When they floo'd to the Ministry atrium, all black shiny marble and huge gold fountain, they made their way to the lifts.
Ellie quickly scanned the floors, and waited.
They made it to the misuse of muggle artifacts office without trouble.
"Dad, I'm just gonna look around, okay? I'll be back here soon, I know which level we're on."
Arthur paused, shrugged, then agreed.
"Sure, you're a smart girl, you know where I am" he said gesturing to his office.
Ellie nodded and went on her way, turning a few corridors, holding onto her cage tightly. The rat was still asleep.
She finally found the door with the plaque she was looking for.
'DMLE HEAD AMELIA BONES'
She took a deep breath before knocking firmly.
After a few moments, she heard the words from inside, "Come in."
Ellie took another deep breath and entered the office. Before Bones could say anything, she closed the door behind her and looked into the red haired woman's eyes with desperation.
"Please, please help me Madam Bones. There's something we need your help with. Please?" Ellie asked. She was tense and scared. She really could not control herself. Ever since she found out about Percy's rat, she could not sleep. She was terrified. She only managed to hold on this long because of her Mind-Library and compartmentalizing her emotions away. Now, they came to the forefront in full force.
Bones must have seen it too, for she gestured silently to the child to take a seat. Ellie did so cautiously, and looked around the room.
"Is this room fully warded? Nothing can get out?" She asked with a hint of pleading.
Bones furrowed her brows slightly before activating the wards to the room and nodded.
"Now what in Merlin's name could you be here for little girl? This better be important or else..." Truthfully, part of the reason Madam Bones agreed to this unscheduled meeting was because the girl reminded her of her niece.
With those words, Ellie relaxed slightly. As long as she was taken seriously, that was all that mattered.
"Could you stun this rat, take it out, and cast the Animagus reversal spell please?" She asked all in one breath.
Amelia's eyes widened as her eyebrows shot up. She had no idea what to think about this situation, but she composed herself and took out her wand.
Seconds later, she would deny that she ever gaped.
There, on the floor, lay a fat, but very much alive Peter Pettigrew. Ellie rolled up the man's sleeve, and Amelia would deny gasping at the sight of the Dark Mark on the man's forearm.
'SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT! PETER PETTIGREW ALIVE!'
The headlines were explosive, and they ran for a week with rampant speculations and conjectures surrounding the controversy. The court administered veritaserum legally to the death eater, as Bones managed to find a legal loophole considering Pettigrew was declared dead and thus had no legal rights.
Of course, all kinds of questions were asked and answered at the trial. One of which chilled Ellie to her core.
"What were you planning to do living with the Weasleys?"
It turns out, that the man was just planning to enjoy living as a rat in hiding.
Except for one thing.
The man mentioned that when Ginny and Ellie were thirteen or fourteen, he would try and get into their beds with memory charms.
Ellie was sick.
She no longer slept in her own bed, but with Ginny. She held her sister tightly every night.
Her family noticed the change. Ginny was too young to know what it all meant, but Ellie knew. Her family knew she knew, and they were worried.
Eventually, Ellie calmed down, but in her heart she resolved to become so strong that no one would ever be able to harm her or her sister or anyone she cared about.
She made more efforts with her magic like a thing possessed.
Ellie, 7 years old.
By now, her family was used to seeing her with a book in her lap, either reading, or staring into space apparently absentmindedly.
The boy twins had long given up trying to prank her. The first time they tried to do so, they remained stuck to each other for the day.
Ginny would sometimes curl up beside her reading her story books, and sometimes she would ask Ellie to read them to her.
She always obliged. Ellie loved her sister to death, the sweet adorable thing that she was. And her family knew it too. The boy twins had a rule, and that was 'Ginny was off limits'.
Her protectiveness became even more fierce ever since the Pettigrew incident. Her family never mentioned it and neither did she. They were all relieved that the death eater was caught before anything could happen, and they left it at that.
Ginny and Ellie didn't seem to have the same connection or understanding that Fred and George had with each other, but that hardly mattered to either of them.
Ginny loved her sister Ellie. She was so smart! And she always always made time for her and cuddled and played with her. One time she could have sworn she saw a book floating to her sister that she grabbed absentmindedly, as if it was a normal thing.
At the moment, Ellie was staring off into space in the living room before she focused.
"Mother?" She called in that way she would before she said something that would make mom happy.
"Yes Ellie?" Her mother paused her knitting. Even though she could use magic for it, she preferred to do it by hand.
"Potions was your best subject at school, right?" Ellie asked.
Molly put down her knitting and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes it was dear. Why do you ask?"
"Could you teach me?" Ellie paused, then looked at Ginny questioningly.
Ginny thought for a moment, then nodded. It would be fun doing something with her sister.
"Teach me and Ginny?" Ellie amended with her signature innocent head tilt.
Molly beamed.
Ellie, 8 years old.
Molly had decided that Ellie and Ginny should make a friend.
And that's why Ellie and Ginny were standing outside an odd looking house.
Ellie knocked on the door and waited.
"Yes?" A blonde woman opened the door and looked at them. Her eyes focused on Ellie for a few seconds, before she smiled.
"Umm... mother said she arranged a playdate?" Ellie asked, somewhat unsure.
"Oh! Of course, of course, come in, let me call her down," the woman ushered them in and bade them to sit on the couch. The interior of the house was also interesting, but Ellie immediately locked her eyes on the bookshelf with great interest.
"Luna! Come down, some friends want to play with you," the woman called.
"Coming mom, but the Nargles hid my socks!" Came a soft voice from somewhere upstairs.
"It's okay sweetheart, today's a blue day. You don't need socks!"
There was silence for a second, then the pitter patter of soft footsteps.
A little girl that seemed to look similar to her mother came down. Blond hair, beautiful blue eyes, even brighter than Ellie's. She seemed an ethereal thing.
Luna blushed slightly in embarrassment. She was so excited to meet friends that she forgot it was a blue day and she didn't need to wear socks.
She looked up to see twin girls with red hair. The one with blue eyes came towards her in something that seemed to be fascination.
"Hi, I'm Ellie Weasley, and this is my sister Ginny."
"Hi Ellie Weasley and her sister Ginny, my name is Luna Lovegood."
Ellie smiled. Luna was adorable.
It turned out that not only was Luna adorable, she was also incredibly smart. Her mother was a Runes Mistress and Spellcrafter and she couldn't speak about her father except that he printed a newspaper.
She said those words with an airy mystique and a wry smile and Ellie knew what she meant.
Ellie was incredibly excited to meet and talk with all of the Lovegoods and she asked Luna if she could read some of her books. She didn't forget to include Ginny in their discussions, but she seemed more keen on playing with dolls or braiding her and Luna's hair, much to both of their amusement.
Ellie, 9 years old.
She met and played with Luna almost everyday. It helped that they lived in the same area, only a five minute walk apart, and she had come to know and love her family.
Her sister joined them from time to time, but Ginny more often than not played with their brother Ron.
It was strange, but she and Luna simply... clicked. Luna taught her things she would never have known. Pandora, Luna's mother, was suitably impressed with her knowledge of Runes and Arithmancy, and taught her from time to time while also lending some advanced books.
Luna's father was a man with a mysterious smile that hinted at hidden knowledge.
She could also say that Xenophilius was officially the coolest person she had met.
FLASHBACK
Ellie sat with the Lovegoods for dinner before she paused and thought about something. She chewed slowly and swallowed before glancing towards Xeno.
"Do you mind if I read some of your books? I know you can't speak of what you do..." Ellie let her sentence trail off.
Xeno rubbed his chin and smiled.
"I don't think you should follow me to my super secret library then," he said while gesturing her to follow.
Ellie giggled and obliged even as Mrs. Lovegood and Luna sent each other wry smiles.
The man pulled a book, 'The Tales Of Beedle The Bard', out of the bookcase in the lounge, and muttered an incantation with his wand before placing it back on the shelf.
The shelf slid open to reveal a large and magnificent Library that had Ellie drooling. There were no doubt expansion charms, or else it was a pocket dimension. It seemed to store an impossible number of texts. She doubted the Hogwarts Library could match it, but only time would tell on that front.
"You shouldn't be reading these books. A lot of them are banned by most of the Ministry, after all..." Xeno said with a chuckle.
Ellie beamed at him, she didn't think her smile could get any wider.
"You know, most say the Blacks have the widest range of texts in their library, but that isn't true. The Lovegoods have been around since the Fae and High Elves were still frolicking these lands, far older than the other magical families in Britain. We simply don't draw attention to ourselves, and we rejected any part of the Wizengamot when it was formed."
Ellies eyes were practically shining, "you are officially the coolest person I've ever met..." she paused.
"Wait, if your family Library is here, then I don't think I should be allowed... I'm not a Lovegood," she said with a touch of disappointment. She had read enough to know that Family Libraries were exclusive and definitely never to be shared with outsiders.
Xeno stroked his chin with a smile, "Not one yet. I can give you a few years here in advance, no trouble at all."
'Not one yet?' Ellie thought to herself. Was she going to be adopted? But the Weasleys were her family. The only way she could be a part of the Lovegood family was -
Her eyes widened as she blushed a little.
"You - do you mean -?" Ellie stuttered and was unable to meet Xeno's eyes.
The man chuckled, "Well, you'd have to get Pandora's permission first."
"B-but what a-a-about Luna? There's no way she - and we're only nine - and we're both girls - and Luna wouldn't be interested in me anyway, and -"
"I am interested in you Ellie Weasley," Luna said innocently as she stepped into the library, from seemingly nowhere, and if it were possible, Ellie blushed in embarrassment.
"Y-you shouldn't say things that people will misunderstand, Luna..." she squeaked and darted into the Library.
She would think about the price of entry later. Years later if she could help it. She knew she had a life before, even though she knew nothing about it other than vague impressions and thoughts. She also didn't think she lived past eleven in her old life, even though she had no way to prove that claim. It was simply something she somehow knew.
END FLASHBACK
Ellie loved all of the Lovegoods. They were the best thing that happened to her in her new life. Sure, she loved her family and Ginny, but it was different. She and the Lovegoods simply operated on the same wavelength. They understood her somehow, and she, them. It was a wonderful feeling.
"Are my Wrackspurts gone, Luna?" Ellie asked her best friend curiously.
Luna's head tilted slightly and smiled, "Oh yes, they've been gone for a while you know. When you first came here, there were far too many."
Ellie sighed in relief then beamed at her, "I think... it's thanks to you. You've been my Wrackspurt-get-ridderer."
Luna gave her a shy smile and Ellie couldn't help but give her cuddles and tickles.
Her laughter was melodic.
Ellie exited the Lovegood Library blushing and her heart pounding. She had found an old scroll translated from some text written by Morgana Le Fay. The title was simply "A Witch's Witch", and in it described some rituals and Olde Fae traditions.
She realized that maybe Xeno was serious when he let her into the Library the first time.
Before she could cool down and sort her thoughts out, Luna came around the corner with a book held to her chest.
Ellie looked her in the eyes before looking away.
"Luna, were you about to put that book back in the Library?"
Luna hummed and blinked her eyes, "You know Ellie, this is the first time I've seen a Blibbering Humdinger on you. They usually cling to my mommy and daddy."
Ellie blushed, the implication not lost on her, "Well, I've been having some thoughts, that's all."
Luna hummed, then nodded and skipped away with a tune.
Ellie sighed in relief and smiled with fondness as she saw Luna enter the Library. She was not ready to have that conversation. Something told her they were both too young.
She would be lying if she said she didn't have a small crush on Luna though. The same way a preschool boy would have a crush on a girl.
"Auntie! You forgot to activate the safety runes!" Ellie called from across the yard.
Ellie and Luna were playing with a small Bowtruckle they found. Luna wanted to know if they were ticklish, and was positively gleeful to find out that they were. Ellie sat beside her with a book on her lap, leaning against Luna's shoulder.
Pandora's voice traveled towards them "Thank you sweetie!" She then tested out her new spell.
BANG!
Luna and Ellie jolted up and ran towards her. She seemed to be injured going by the blood and Ellie wasted no time running inside the house for the floo even as Luna froze still, watching her mother dying.
"St. Mungo's!"
"Help! My friend's mother collapsed!"
Reminding Pandora to activate the safety runes along with the prompt help from the hospital managed to save her life. Unfortunately, the woman had lost her left eye in the process.
If it weren't for Ellie, Pandora would have died.
Luna realized this too as she clung to Ellie's shirt and cried.
"Shh... everything is okay. Everything's okay." Ellie hugged her and stroked the girl's hair even as her heart clenched for the blond girl. She had been so close to losing her mother and Ellie wasn't sure she would be able to be of any help if that happened.
Almost out of instinct and affection, Ellie kissed the top of Luna's head and pulled her close.
Ellie, 10 years old.
Xeno and Luna were out for the day on the hunt for a Snorkack, and now Ellie and Pandora were alone. Ellie had thought a lot about things ever since Pandora's accident and realized that though magic was a wonderous thing, it was also highly dangerous.
In the world of Witches and Wizards, she could lose her life any time. She had already lost her life once somehow. She already had a taste of what could happen when she had discovered Pettigrew, but it hit somehow even closer now. That's why...
"Auntie?" Ellie called a little timidly.
"Hmm?" Pandora looked up from her scrawled calculations. She now wore a black eyepatch and Ellie inwardly thought it was cool as all hell.
"W-would you be upset if, in the future... umm..." Ellie was slowly losing her composure and nerve when the older woman patiently waited for her to finish speaking.
"Umm... if me and Luna... weretostartdating?" Ellie asked quickly.
Silence.
"I-I mean I really really like her and I know I'm too young to think about all that stuff and we're both girls but I read in the library about Morgana and I know Luna doesn't like me like that but if there's a chance, I wanna know before I get her in trouble and then my mother also might be upset so I would rather know now and..." Ellie's rambling was cut off by a mirthful laughter.
"Auntie?" Ellie asked.
"Oh dear, you're just the most adorable thing, aren't you? No need to worry dear, I've already seen your wedding," Pandora smiled at her warmly.
"Seen? You're a seer?" Ellie asked incredulously.
"Yes dear, I saw it the first time you came to visit. You didn't think Xeno would let you into our Library on a whim, did you?" She said teasingly.
Ellie blushed but composed herself, "But if you've seen our wedding, does that mean I didn't have a choice? I mean Xeno let me into the Library before my supposed wedding, so if I chose not to marry Luna in the future, what does that mean for his choice to let me into the library?"
Pandora smiled appreciatively towards her, "You would be right, but the fact is, it can only happen if it were your choice. The wedding already happened in the future and it was the choices that future you made that made it happen, such as your choice to talk to me now. There's no guiding force. It was all you."
Ellie sighed in relief at that before she paused and paled slightly, "D-does Luna know?"
Pandora smiled, "She knew since the first day you came. I told her."
"B-but then... She was playing with me! She knew I had a crush on her -" Ellie closed her mouth with both hands at that confession and looked up at Pandora who's eyes were twinkling.
"She didn't know you liked her, actually. She only knew that she liked you and you were going to be her wife one day," she said serenely.
Ellie deflated, "Oh..." Then she perked up, "She likes me?"
"Of course she does you silly girl," the woman seemed exasperated, "you know she's had a hard time making friends before you came along. There were the Diggorys and some other children we tried to get her to befriend at parties and such, but they found her too odd -"
"Luna's not odd! She's super smart and sees and knows things and she's pretty and..." Ellie defended even as she realized what she was doing as Pandora gave her a fond smile.
Sniff.
Ellie heard a sound behind her and froze.
She turned to see Luna with red-rimmed teary eyes and Xeno with an embarrassed smile.
Ellie shot up and made her way to Luna, bringing her to her arms.
"Shh... what's wrong? Are you okay? What happened?" She asked softly as she stroked the girl's hair.
"D-did you mean it?" Luna asked softly.
Ellie took a moment before she understood what she was being asked.
"Of course. I wouldn't say all that if I didn't mean it," Ellie said softly.
"And...?" Luna whispered.
"Hmm?"
"You were going to continue. And she's pretty and..." Luna asked with a tinge of nervousness.
Ellie paused for a second before she continued with equal nervousness, "She's pretty and I like her very much and I wanted to ask if she would be my witch?"
Luna took a step back and looked into Ellie's eyes, sapphires shining upon the azure sea.
"If I ask her, she would say her witch should have hair like fire, and presence like Morgana," Luna's eyes did not stray from Ellie's, as she stepped towards her again, their faces only inches away, "A natural prodigy with her magic that the Fae of old would be jealous of," she whispered as her lips inched closer to Ellie's whose breath hitched.
A chaste kiss followed by a bright smile.
"Yes, she would be her witch."
They continued to be lost in each other's eyes before the silence was broken.
"Awww! You two are so adorable!" Pandora almost squealed with Xeno nodding furiously in agreement.
Both girls were taken out of their moment and blushed as they realized they had an audience.
"Let's celebrate! I'll tell Molly I'm taking you out so she can expect you later."
It wasn't her first time at Diagon Alley, but to Ellie and Luna, it was the most special.
They held hands as they trailed behind Luna's parents, blushing whenever they made eye contact with each other. They played and explored and laughed.
The day was perfect.
Ellie fiddled with the ring on her finger. It was sapphire like Luna's eyes and Ellie gave an unconscious smile.
Promise rings.
They were to be worn by a courting couple that followed the Olde Ways to let others know they were unavailable. They also had linked charms so one could transmit their emotions to the other by channeling some magic.
Luna's parents had bought them, Luna's ring was a deep azure like the ocean and Ellie's eyes, and she never forgot the blinding, happy smile the girl wore. One that was no doubt reflected on Ellie's own face.
She sent a pulse. Happiness. Love. Good Night.
A second later, she received a pulse. Warmth. Peace. Care.
"Mother?" Ellie asked casually as she was reading a book from the Lovegood Library. She had been allowed to borrow them now, and she couldn't be more grateful. The tome she was reading was on the mind arts. She had long since refined her Occlumency shields based on the texts in the Lovegood Library, and it was confirmed by Xeno that she was now a master Occlumens.
Now, she decided it was time to learn Legilimency, and Luna decided she would learn it too so they could practice on each other. Ellie didn't mind in the least, so she was brushing up her knowledge on the art. Xeno wasn't kidding about his library. Most of the stuff in there was illegal to own. Dark magic, blood magic, rituals, soul magic... there were many esoteric branches and even now, after three years of perusing that treasure trove, she felt she had barely scratched the surface of the Family Magics.
Yes, Family Magics. Seeing as how Ellie and Luna were engaged in the eyes of magic, she would start to have access to the Lovegood Magics, only fully acquiring them after marriage. She still couldn't see Nargles or Wrackspurts, but her sensitivity to magic had increased by a large margin.
"Hmm?" Molly asked as she flipped through the Daily Prophet.
Ellie nervously fiddled with her ring under her sleeve, "when we went to Diagon Alley the other day, I saw two witches kissing... is that normal?"
Molly looked at her sharply and narrowed her eyes, "no dear, that's not normal. Nothing for you to worry about anyway. When you grow older, you'll find a nice boy to settle down with and have a nice family, okay? You're too young to be thinking about these things anyway."
Ellie paused and dutifully nodded, "yes, mother."
Ellie decided to keep her relationship with Luna a secret from her family.
"Come along now, platform Nine and Three Quarters this way!" Molly said, and Ellie was wondering if her words could be construed as a breach of the statute of secrecy.
They made their was towards the barrier and saw a handsome man with long black hair guiding a little boy towards the platform.
Molly gasped, "Sirius!" The man turned and gave them a smile when he spotted. The man and boy both walked towards them.
"Well well, if it isn't the Weasleys. I've been meaning to thank you lot for getting rid of the rat..."
"Oh pish, it was little Ellie here who found the rat suspicious. Brought him to the DMLE and everything. Smart girl," Molly bragged the same way she did whenever that story came up amongst her friends. Ellie inwardly rolled her eyes and bowed slightly, "nice to meet you sir, I'm glad you were found innocent."
"Oh do away with the sirs, it's thanks to you I could take care of little Harry here and play a role in his life. Terrible business what Dumbledore did..." Sirius ended his little speech with a somewhat haunted look, "never mind that though, it's his first year and I best be off with him."
Ellie observed the boy and shrugged. He seemed healthy enough, although his eyes did dart around slightly nervously.
Her other family members however, had an excited look in their eyes as they watched the boy.
Ginny had a star-struck look in her eyes, and Ron became excited.
Ellie ignored them and made her way through the platform. She wasn't attending Hogwarts this year, but her mother did insist that all the kids come with her every year. Next year, she decided she would go with the Lovegoods. She had a year to let that idea ferment in her mother's mind.
She found a bench to sit down on, and stared off into space. Internally, she was simply refining her Occlumency and taking a look at some of her texts inside her Mind-Library. She already had them all internalized, but sometimes it felt nice to go over them behind her Occlumency shields to pass the time.
She and Luna did that often, and to outsiders it seemed an odd thing, staring into space, but she didn't mind.
After a while, Molly sent the kids off as the train began to move and the platform became emptier. Ellie sighed and stood up to make her way to her mother who was still talking to Sirius. Ginny had a look of longing as she stared after where the train had been.
Ellie looked down at her ring and sent a pulse. Missing You.
She waited before a pulse was sent back. Happiness. Embarrassment.
She walked towards the adults, "Can you believe it? She read all the schoolbooks when she was five, and she still reads all day if she isn't with the Lovegood girl. We have a Ravenclaw in the family, Sirius, a Ravenclaw!" Molly said with fond exasperation.
"Ah well, Harry, honestly I'm not sure about him. I think he could go anywhere. In the beginning, it was like he was holding back for some reason, but I eventually told him he should try his best at anything no matter what it was. Honestly, I've a mind to murder those -" Sirius paused in his tirade before scratching his head with embarrassment. "Sorry about that Molly, but those Dursleys really deserve it - I still can't believe Dumbledore -" Sirius sighed.
"It's okay, I can't imagine what it was like for the poor boy, but it seems you're doing your best. How would you like to come over for dinner tonight?"
"Huh? Oh sure, I'd love to! I'll get to know your little twins too I hope?" He asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Ellie smiled at the man before Molly ushered them out, "see you at seven then!"
"And then I basically told her to stun him and cast the Animagus reversal spell. I had already read about the Death Eaters in old stacks of the Prophet and pulled up his sleeve because I was suspicious and Madam Bones was furious when she saw the Dark Mark," Ellie explained.
"Woah... that's incredible... something like what a Slytherin would do," Sirius said in awe and respect.
"Yes, well -" Ellie was about to continue before she felt a pulse. Missing You.
Ellie felt warm in her chest before she coughed to hide her embarrassment.
"Mother, can I go and call Luna to come over too?" She asked hopefully.
Sirius raised his eyebrow before he caught a glimpse at her finger and his eyes widened. He was about to open his mouth to ask something.
Ellie noticed his reaction and gave him a pleading look while shaking her head.
Sirius observed her for a moment before closing his mouth and nodded. Being a Black, he was familiar with the Olde Ways, and knew what the ring on little Ellie meant. He was rather surprised about that, but he wouldn't betray the little girl's confidence. It was the least he could do for his benefactor.
"Sure sweetie, go on then. Dinner will be ready in ten!"
Ellie bolted even as she heard Sirius talk with her sister.
"So what do you like to do Ginny?"
Arthur had just arrived home when Ellie brought Luna into the house. The blond girl hummed as she looked around and smiled at Ellie. It was in fact, the first time she had brought Luna over, citing the noise and chaos in the house for reasons not to come over. Secretly, it was because she much preferred the atmosphere at the Lovegoods.
Arthur, Molly, Sirius, Ellie, Ginny, and Luna sat around the table, with Ellie of course sitting next to her witch.
Sirius noticed their matching rings but decided not to comment. Her parents were oblivious as always. Ellie liked her parents and they were nice enough, but they were incredibly ignorant about the world around them. It was one of the only few flaws they had, though.
The Lovegoods were perfect though. In Ellie's heart, they had no flaws. Especially not the wonderful witch sitting next to her.
"So, Ellie, your mother tells me you've read the Hogwarts syllabus for most of the subjects? And you've learnt and practiced all the potions material from her too?"
Ellie nodded, embarrassed, "It was the only interesting thing to do in the house. There is flying of course, but mother said girls weren't allowed to fly..." she glanced secretly at Ginny who shared a knowing smile with her.
Sirius choked, "Girls not allowed to fly? Preposterous! The only house that didn't have girls on the Quidditch team were Slytherins you know..."
Molly looked horrified at the thought that she was sharing values with the dark families, "Well... I just don't want them to get hurt you know..."
"Then start them off on training brooms. That's what I did with Harry and he had no problems with it."
"Harry likes to fly?" Ginny asked in wonder.
"Sure does! Kid's a natural with a broom. Dare I say, he would have given James a run for his money!" Sirius smiled with nostalgia.
"Mum...? Can me and Ellie use Bill and Charlie's training brooms?" Ginny asked with innocent-looking puppy dog eyes.
Molly hesitated and looked around the table. Even Arthur was interested in the discussion. He inwardly thought it would be a good thing for them to learn to fly, but the ball was in his wife's court so he decided to remain silent.
"Oh... Alright then. But if there's ever a single incident, there'll be no flying! Understood?"
"Yes mother," Ginny and Ellie dutifully responded and smiled at each other with victory in their eyes.
Luna seemed content to simply let the talk unfold. Her mannerisms and body language were always like water, free flowing and unconstrained. It was one of the things Ellie found incredibly attractive about her.
For Luna, Ellie was fire, crackling with power and purpose and drive. She was always doing something, always striving for better, every action filled with power and purpose. It was one of the things Luna found incredibly attractive about Ellie.
Luna was water, Ellie was fire, and together they made a a comfortable and cleansing hot spring.
"We're planning to visit Charlie for Christmas," Molly announced.
Ellie paused for a moment, and spoke carefully, "Mother, would you mind if I stayed over at the Lovegoods during Christmas? You wouldn't need to spend more money for the travel that way..."
Molly looked at her for a few moments before replying, "I'd have to talk to Pandora if they're okay with it first. Are you sure that's what you want? Money's not a problem you know..." Molly said, somewhat unsurely.
"Yes mother, I'm sure."
Like every Christmas, or Yule as Ellie had taken to calling it after she had become familiar with the Olde Ways, she gathered in the garden with the Lovegoods to perform the ritual. She had been participating in these rituals ever since she met and became familiar with the family. Every Samhain, Beltane, Imbolc, Yule, and so on, she would join the family. Every year, as her magic grew more powerful, the rituals became more intense, the feeling of the magic settling within her after every ritual, more satisfying.
This would be her first Yule since she became Luna's Witch, and her parents, being awesome as they were, allowed the both of them to share a room. It was joy and peace and contentment every night she cuddled with Luna. She could even feel their magic mixing together the more time they spent with each other.
Alas, the holidays ended and her parents and Ginny returned from Romania. It was a sad state of affairs, but she was still happy to spend time with her family again, especially with Ginny. They were allowed to use the training brooms, but instead they simply used the Comets in the shed instead. It wasn't like Molly knew how to differentiate between them.
Ginny was a very good flyer, and Ellie wasn't too bad herself, but she preferred to go slower on her broom and feel the breeze on her face and the scenery beyond the fields.
"Auntie?" Ellie asked one day as she played chess with Xeno. She hadn't played the game before she met the Lovegoods, but she did quickly get better at it, much to Xeno's astonishment and pride. The man treated Ellie like his own daughter, much as she treated him as her father.
"It's not auntie anymore Ellie, how many times do I have to say it?" Pandora said with fondness.
Ellie blushed even as she thought about her next move, "O-okay, Mommy?" She called with no little embarrassment.
Pandora smiled, "Yes sweetie?"
"My mother wouldn't approve of me and Luna, and I'm wondering what I should do about it. I once asked her what she thought about girls together and..." Ellie trailed off as tears welled up in her eyes. She had been holding it in ever since she had that little discussion with her mother, but she could never deny that she was incredibly hurt by it all.
Shuffle.
Pandora stood up and sat next to the girl and pulled her into her arms. She let Ellie sob her heart out even as Luna came in to the room and saw her witch in tears. she quickly went and sat on her other side and wrapped her arms around her fire, soothing its edges with her gentle touch.
Xeno watched with a hint of sadness in his eyes. Honestly, modern magical folk really had no idea about magic at all. He could understand if it was about Wizards with Wizards, as such a thing could never produce a life, as decreed by Mother Magic, but Witches with Witches were a natural thing. The High Elves and Dragons and Fae all had the practice. It was one of the laws of Soul and Blood and Magic. Witches could create life with each other, though Wizards could never do the same. Or if they did, they would be in violation of Magic, much like other forbidden Soul Magics. Relationships between Wizards were still seen sometimes though, but never could they have children with each other; it was why such relationships were frowned upon in magical society. Then again, Xeno thought, the knowledge about a lot of Witches had been lost for millennia, so it was no wonder Witch relationships were seen the same way.
Wizards and Witches were practically different species in that sense.
Time passed, and soon Ellie went to sleep in between the arms of her favorite people.
Luna raised her head to look at her mother with a question in her eyes.
Pandora sighed, unsure about what to do, but spoke her mind, "Her mother doesn't approve of Witches with Witches."
Luna's eyes widened even as she tightened her grip slightly around Ellie, "Why?"
"Ignorance, I suppose? Or maybe tradition? The Weasleys haven't practiced the Olde Ways in centuries. It's why the Dark Faction call them blood-traitors. That's not a nice term, mind, but the Weasley's are quite heavily light-sided - not that such a thing exists, of course."
"S-she won't leave me, will she?" Luna asked in panic as she brought her body closer to Ellie's.
Pandora sighed with exasperation, "Of course she won't. The girl loves you Luna. She wouldn't give you up for the world."
Luna relaxed slightly and smiled. Her mother was never wrong, and she was the most sensitive of the Lovegoods when it came to magic. So if her mother's magic told her so, then it must be true.
Luna became incredibly happy at the thought.
Ellie loves me.
She glanced down at the girl's peaceful sleeping face and sighed contentedly.
I love her too.