Chapter Text
Ára was exhausted, first she had to deal with the Ministry trying to force her into a farce of a trial, Umbridge, Dumbledore trying to convince everyone that Voldemort is back, and now the Defense Alliance. She had just wanted to help the younger years get a good DADA grade, not teach multiple years, she hadn’t even wanted to lead the club. Umbridge was the most concerning thing this year; apparently Dumbledore had been telling everyone that Voldemort was back and that Ára was behind the whole thing, not to mention the Blood Quills. Dumbledore’s Order wasn’t helping either, they had been trying to reach her and now, with her telling Dumbledore about her vision of Mr. Weasley, they were trying to get her to go somewhere that wasn’t home for Christmas. She just wanted to sleep.
Ára sighed as she gazed out the compartment window at the students that were still boarding the train, before jolting up as the door opened. When she saw that it was just Luna, she relaxed. Ever since her second year, she, Luna, and Ginny had been fast friends and each other’s confidants. Usually, Ginny would join them, but since her father was still recovering the girls were on their own. Ára returned to gazing out the window as the land raced by, not really thinking, or noticing anything until Luna spoke up.
“What’s wrong, Dawn?”
Ára smiled at the use of her name, when she had told her friends that she was adopted and asked them to call her Dawn when they were alone, they had taken it in stride. Her friends were the most loyal people she knew besides her own father, and she wouldn’t change it for the world.
“Nothing, isilme, I’m just tired.” (Moonlight)
Luna frowned, putting down her copy of the Quibbler, and pushing up her glasses, “Don’t lie, Dawn. Something is bothering you, something big.”
“I..,” Ára shifted, looking down at her lap, "I’m so tired, Luna. I’m tired of having to be Harri Poter, of being the Girl-Who-Lived, of trying to be who everyone wants me to be. I just want to go home.”
Luna leaned across the compartment, wrapping her arms around Ára, “Don’t worry, Dawn. Everything will be fine. Besides, there’s a surprise for you at home.”
The rest of the ride was spent in companionable silence, Luna turning back to the Quibbler, and Ára returning to the window.
When the train arrived at the station the two girls wrapped each other in a hug, taking comfort in each other’s presence.
“Stay safe, isilme.” (Moonlight)
“I will, Dawn. Enjoy the surprise.”
While everyone else was busy reuniting with family members, Ára was quick to slip into the crowd and back into Muggle King’s Cross and pull out her necklace. Holding onto the harp charm tightly Ára pointed her wand at it, whispering, “Portus,” and disappearing.
Ára nearly fell over when she landed, feeling overly nauseous and disoriented from the portkey and everything she had been through. After everything stopped spinning, Ára stood up shakily and grabbed her trunk before stepping out of the alleyway between the stores and heading to the beach. As she walked through town towards the beach, she couldn’t help but feel like she was on her last leg; it felt like everything was crashing down on top of her now that she was safe. The closer she got to the shore, the more she began to tune out; eventually she noticed that she had arrived in front of her house. Something was off, though, usually her Atto would come out to greet her or walk down the beach to meet her, but no one was out.
Ára tensed, going on guard, and discreetly reached for her wand and one of her knives. When she reached the door she put her trunk down, casting a quick notice-me-not spell as she did. Walking through the door was jarring, there was laughter and lots of voices coming from the sitting room, but, thankfully, none sounded enraged or carried a harmful intent. Shifting forward to peer around the door frame she paused at the unexpected sight, eyes widening in shock. Sitting with around her father and talking around each other were eight other elves, eight familiar elves. She could make out a tall and noble elf with dark hair, an unnaturally tall redhead, a fair elf in elvish hunting garb, an elf in dark clothes, one elf like the eldest, a pair of redheaded twins, and the last elf was the only one with blue eyes, though he matched the similar pair in looks. Even though Ára had never met them, and she never thought she would have the chance, she could name them all; Fëanor, Maedhros, Celegorm, Caranthir, Curufin, the Ambarussa, and Celebrimbor. Her grandfather, uncles, and cousin.
Spotting her father sitting in obvious content, Ára called out, “Atto?”
The conversations came to a stop, all eyes turning to her as she stepped into the doorway. Maglor rose to his feet, quickly walking towards Ára and pulling her into a hug as everyone else watched in confusion even as a look of understanding dawned in Maedhros’ eyes.
Maglor pulled away, still holding onto Ára, “What is the matter, melin er?” (Dear one)
Ára leant against him, speaking quietly and unconsciously mimicking his now noticeable lisp. “I’m tired, Atto. Everyone wants the Girl-Who-Lived and I just want to be me.” She inhaled sharply, “Voldemort is back, Dumbledore wants war, he wants me to lead the war. Everyone is either against him or with him, and Harri Potter is with him.”
Ára felt her father frown, pulling her closer and holding her tighter. She was so tired, and she was safe now, she was home. She could feel herself slipping into sleep, she couldn’t bring herself to be concerned about her now reembodied relatives, and she knew that her glamour had fallen from someone’s sharp inhale.
Maglor pressed a kiss to her forehead, “Lóre, mime kal, tye are varna.” (Sleep, my light, you are safe)
And that was all Ára needed, she fell asleep, home and safe.