Chapter Text
1.
Elide Maelstrom felt an uncomfortable sense of deja vu.
One year ago, she had stood on these very streets with Professor Fig, awaiting his friend Osric. She had met Professor Fig in London, and George Osric had joined them there for the flight to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
During her first year at the school, both of those men died, right before Elide’s eyes.
She still struggled with the nightmares.
So much death in her first and only year so far at Hogwarts, and if her luck was any much of the same, she doubted her record would be any better as she returned for her second year.
But she had to admit there was a comfort that she had missed upon arriving at Hogsmeade Station, the familiar silhouette of the castle just across the lake. Some familiar faces and ones Elide did not remember greeted her kindly, others were too busy greeting their friends again that she went as unnoticed as a majority of the students.
She had to admit that it was a bit of a relief, that perhaps most had forgotten about the too exciting but just as traumatic events from last school year.
She was glad the others could rest a bit easier, even if it meant that the memory of holding her mentor before her as he died kept her up most nights.
Professor Weasley, despite all of her guidance and respect, still could not help but joke that Elide found herself in more trouble than the young witch was ever prepared for. Hell, even at a point, she had tried her very best to stay far away from trouble – but even the friends she had made during her first year at Hogwarts had had their own methods of pulling her in. No problem was too small.
But Elide had made a silent deal with herself. She would not, under any circumstances, let her second year at Hogwarts be any different than any of her friends’ experience as sixth year students.
Magic is no different than any other power. What really matters is the one who wields it.
Elide mourned Professor Fig more often than she felt comfortable sharing with others. They had shared the experiences of confusion and fighting their way out of Gringotts. Fig had been her guide within those first few confusing days, when she hadn’t been allowed to tell anyone else anything about what they had experienced. He had saved her life and coached her through the discovery of recognizing ancient magic – and now he was gone.
She blinked away the tears as they threatened to tumble from her eyes. There would be none of that today. Professor Fig would not want her to mourn him like this. She knew that her mentor would want her to honor him by studying hard and studying well and being a good student.
So that is exactly what she was going to do.
For Professor Fig.
Her fellow Ravenclaws greeted her as she settled in the designated car of the Hogwarts Express train that held the students clad in the familiar blue and black. Her own school robe felt like a second skin at this point, a point of comfort that she hadn’t even realized how desperately she had missed after being back in the Muggle world, in London. Amit, Samantha, and Everett were amongst the first to greet her; but she still found a seat by herself toward the rear of the car.
She had not gotten to experience the train ride to Hogwarts before and she wasn’t about to miss out on the chance this time around – she would only have one more year, after all.
Goodness, that was a thought Elide was not ready to think about at all.
She envied all of her schoolmates that had been able to have all of their years at Hogwarts, to be sure. But she knew she was not the only “late bloomer”, as Professor Weasley had unfortunately gone to calling the handful of students in wizarding history to have received their craft late. But despite all of the secrecy of what she had managed to accomplish last school year, with Professor Fig’s help and the help of her friends, she did feel a sense of pride in who she was. Sure, she had joined Hogwarts late, and had still so much to learn – but she had caught herself up and passed her OWLs.
All of this mattered greatly to her.
She knew that her sixth year would not be easy, not by a long shot – but she was so eager to be a normal student. To be with her peers from the first moment the train arrived at the station until the end of the school year the following spring.
No Rookwood. No Ranrok.
Elide had not heard from the Keepers either; there was no need. The final fight with Ranrok and his goblins had destroyed the area below the Map Chamber beneath the dungeons. Professor Weasley had had the stairs down beneath the Map Chamber sealed, to Elide’s understanding – so that no one would accidentally happen upon the devastation left behind. But Elide saw it most nights when she closed her eyes anyways. She supposed it was a small enough price to pay, given the loss the rest of the community had suffered at the hands of Rookwood and Ranrok.
The familiar train bridge that curved into Hogwarts Valley broke into a familiar sight; one that Elide had seen when she had been running amok all over the countryside on her broom or Highwind the previous year. The memory of it all made her smile, if only a little.
A few more turns, and the trees finally broke to reveal the familiar turrets of the castle. There were gasps of delight from startled first-years, and relieved sighs from returning students who were more than happy to be back home. Because for all young witches and wizards, that’s what Hogwarts was.
Home.
Elide had slid into her familiar Ravenclaw robe just as the train pulled to a stop. It was a warm, bright summer afternoon as the students all emptied from the train, but Elide felt the breeze coming from the lake, even from up at the Station. The smell entered her senses, guiding her feelings into a calmness that she had not felt in some time.
Despite everything, she had missed this place.
She joined the large number of students as they began the walk to the familiar path to the school. There was such a lightness in the air, of a new school year – beginning with hope and happiness. She wondered if this was how it was supposed to be.
No dragons. No murders. No goblins. No Keepers.
There was the familiar hum in the distance, though – of the Ancient Magic that she could feel. The very kind that she could wield. Only Professor Weasley now knew about the extent of Elide’s gifts, now that Professor Fig was gone. There was an emptiness, knowing that Magic Theory would be taught by someone else this school year. Elide doubted that it would not get any easier.
Maybe with time.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
Elide was relieved to see Poppy amongst her fellow Hufflepuffs. Admittedly, she had been worried for her friend for the time over the summer break, given the girl’s history with poachers and their shared struggles of last year.
There were so many faces that Elide had not realized until that moment that she had missed – very much. Despite all of its struggles and hardships, Hogwarts had proved to be the place that Elide needed to be.
Once all of the students were settled in the Great Hall, all of the wide-eyed first-years crowded together at the back of the room, Elide allowed herself a sense of peace. There was such a brightness, a sense of joy, in the air at the realization that they were all back in school. Of course, there were rules when it came to learning magic – but there was such a comfort in knowing that you were surrounded by a place that protected it.
Perhaps that was Elide’s favorite thing about Hogwarts.
All of the professors had taken up their seats at the table on the raised stage at the front of the Great Hall. The familiar owl lectern stood at its constant post, watching over all those eager to learn and protected by its guidance. But Professor Black was nowhere to be seen, not yet.
Against her better judgement, Elide let her eyes glide over to the empty seat that had once belonged to Eleazar Fig. Honestly, she could not help but feel such an immense amount of guilt from the loss of him. From the moment the dragon had attacked their carriage, killing George… Despite being none the wiser, Elide felt in her bones that if she had not been there that maybe things would have been different.
There was the rational voice within her, though, that tried its mightiest to remind her that the portkey had always been there. Miriam, Professor Fig’s wife, had ensured that. Even if Elide had not been there, there were things already in motion by the time she had been accepted to Hogwarts. Sure, the Keepers had needed her.
But was the world really a better place from all of its loss the year before?
The weight of it all hung around Elide like a cloak.
“How was your summer, Elide?” Amit nudged her lightly from her left, drawing her back to the real world, away from the darkness of her worries and thoughts.
She blinked and fell back into the picture of a student just excited but nervous for the next school year. She hoped that none of her friends saw the sadness in her bright blue eyes; she had no idea how to even begin explaining it all to them.
“Oh, it was lovely.” She said, giving her friend a small smile. “I just went back to London, spent some time with my parents.”
“They’re Muggles, right?” Everett asked from across the table, having nosed his way into the conversation. It seemed that he had not outgrown that habit.
Samantha Dale, though, seated beside him had the decency to elbow the hell out of his side. She gave an Elide an easy-going smile, though. Elide was thankful for her housemates, truly.
“They are.” She said carefully, unsure of how to respond. “To my knowledge, there have been no witches or wizards for generations in my family. So, um… they think I’m going to some private boarding school preparing one for university.”
The blank looks at her words spurred her to continue.
“Oh, um – there are universities in the Muggle world, you see. They’re just quite a bit different than ours here.” Elide felt a soft blush form across her cheeks. She was worried that her explanations were not accurate, or not enough – perhaps it was the Ravenclaw within her. “As far as they know, I am in preparatory school so I can prepare to become a teacher one day.”
“I think that would be a brilliant job for you, Muggle or no.” Mahendra Pehlwaan spoke from his spot beside Everett – and promptly blushed. He was a quiet, now sixth-year and Elide had had a handful of classes with him. But the fact that he had been so kind to say so was so sweet, and she was thankful for that.
She gave him a kind smile in reply, fiddling with the hem of her cloak in her lap. “Are we supposed to start thinking ahead to careers?” It was not necessarily a change of subject, but rather something that Elide was truly curious about. She knew that some of her friends came from a long line of wizards or witches, and she was genuinely curious about what going into her adult years would look like compared to the Muggle world.
“You can say that. Not all of us are ready to think about it, though.” Everett said, letting out a sigh. “I’m guilty of that myself. I’ve no idea what I want to do with myself.”
“I trust you are not alone in that regard.” Duncan Hobhouse said, leaning around Samantha from across the table. “I think most of us aren’t ready to think of leaving Hogwarts.” He turned his attention to Elide, giving her a rueful smile. “It is too bad, though, that you haven’t been able to have your first four years.”
There was an awkward pause after that before Samantha nudged him, perhaps too roughly to actually be discreet. While Elide appreciated the gesture, she didn’t want her friends to mince words around her. It was no secret that her first year at Hogwarts had been much more climatic than most, but it was not something that she liked thinking about too often if she could help it.
“I think what Duncan is trying to say is that we only wish that you had had as much time as the rest of us to experience Hogwarts.” Samantha said, lacing her fingers together on the table before her. Of course, she was the Ravenclaws who was never to be outspoken and Elide admired her for that.
“I appreciate it, truly.” Elide said, her smile rueful. “I have to say the same. I have definitely felt welcome here, to be sure, but sometimes I do wish I could have experienced everything that you all have…” She trailed off, worried that she had been speaking too plainly about things that she really had had no desire to get into. The first day was sure to be overwhelming as it was, and this was no exception to a topic that would only bring more of those thoughts she wished to be rid of.
There was no more room to discuss these things, though. Professor Black swept in from the Reception Hall vestibule, and it was as if his mere presence sucked the excitement from the room. The Headmaster was not disliked, necessarily, but he certainly carried an air about him that was not… well. Formidable, to say the least.
Elide had once been him, in a short-lived experience with Pollyjuice Potion to enter his office to complete one of the trials from the Keepers. It seemed that her performance had not raised too many eyebrows, but she had to admit that she knew that she was not the most convincing version of Black. She could hardly look him in the eye ever since.
Even the incoming first-years seemed to know that this man was someone of great importance. They all but shrank back from Black, as all eyes in the room followed him to the lectern where he turned to face the room of aspiring young witches and wizards. And still, Elide’s gaze flickered to the open seat at the faculty table.
Avenging Professor Fig was not necessarily an end goal for her. Ranrok had been killed in that final battle beneath the Map Chamber. The Keepers had all but gone silent – at peace, Elide supposed.
That makes one of us. She couldn’t help but think, a bit bitterly. Despite all she had learned during those trials, she had still been a child sent to essentially save Hogwarts and all its inhabitants. Most of whom who had been none the wiser nearly the entire time. It was not that the faculty had abandoned her after the fact; most of them knew the struggles that she faced. But none of them knew the depths of it all.
The nightmares that haunted her nearly every night.
The vivid memory of Professor Fig passing away before her eyes.
Killing Rookwood.
Killing Ranrok.
The world was better without either of them, she knew – but she had been a child. Who mourned that part of her? It seemed that she was the only person who thought of it – or even worried its loss.
“Attention, all! Everyone!” An unknown magic was being used to project Professor Black’s voice to the whole of the Great Hall. It was a bit comical, Elide supposed; the entire room was silent to begin with. But she supposed the Headmaster wanted to remind everyone and even himself who was in charge at times. “Thank you. Now, I would first like to welcome you all to a new school year here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!” As expected, a roar went up from the group of excited students, all eager to become the best version of themselves that they could. And of course, to learn more magic.
“It is important that you all keep in mind the importance of what is expected of you as students here. It is your responsibility to take care of yourselves and one another. And it is imperative to remember that you are students, first and foremost. There are rules that you must adhere to in order to remain in good standing as students. You are only to use magic in the regulated areas, under moments that are considered moments of learning.”
That was the nice way of saying: in class only. Of course, there were pieces of homework that would require being done but Elide had a feeling Professor Black had been very intentional in his way of speaking. Perhaps even after last year they had prepared to crack down on things more so than usual.
Surely “moments of learning” could pass for homework in the hallways or common rooms, yes?
“Now, of course, it is the time of the utmost importance.” Professor Black stepped away from the lectern, turning to Professor Weasley, who held in her hands something Elide had not seen in quite a long time. “For our first-years to be sorted in their Houses!”
A cheer of excitement went up and Elide felt herself begin to feel an excitement that she had missed out on last year. Of course, she had been sorted just like any other student – but she had not experienced it with the group of first-years who were now beginning their second year at Hogwarts. She supposed that she was thankful to be with her own age; she had kept up with her assignments and passed her OWLs. She knew that Professor Weasley and the other faculty were proud of Elide’s determination. It also might have helped that they knew she had been at that battle with Ranrok, and whether or not they had been caught up by Professor Weasley or no, they knew that Elide had been at the helm of the resolution.
She wasn’t sure if she was thankful for that consideration or not.
After all, what had been the cost?
There was a flurry of activity as the Sorting Hat selected one of the four Houses for each new first-year. Of course, any time a new Ravenclaw was chosen, a round of applause rose from Elide and the other members of her House. Out of the 35 or so first-years, all wide-eyed and curious, eight of them were sorted to join Ravenclaw. Then, the feast began, and for the first time in months, Elide allowed herself the chance to relax.
When she arrived at her Common Room later that evening, she had not realized just how exhausted she had been. The feeling was especially prominent given that she felt as if was weighed down from the amount of amazing food she had consumed during the first feast of the year. Of course, the entire day had been a flurry of excitement from beginning to end. The more acceptable kind of excitement, compared to years’ past, she supposed. She joined the other girls in the Ravenclaw Sixth-Year room, finding her trunk beside her bed and her other robes hung in the cabinet beside it. Her broom leaned against the cabinet, tucked safely in its locked compartment. Again, there was another moment for her to relax, to register that she was better off here than back at home in London.
Hogwarts was home, after all.
The next morning would be the first morning of classes and Elide would be joining some of the other sixth-years of other Houses in Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing. Despite its early hour, Elide was more than pleased that she would have Professor Hecate once more. As the professor was a former Unspeakable with the Ministry of Magic, she was also a member of Ravenclaw House. It was no surprise that she had easily and quickly became one of Elide’s most favorite members of the Hogwarts faculty.
She would have Charms again with Professor Ronen later that afternoon, another class that she would be looking forward to. Honestly, she was certain that the only course that would be likely to bore her to tears would be History of Magic. While it was a fascinating subject, Professor Binns was a literal spectre who truly spoke like he was deceased. It left little to be desired for students trying to get ahead on their studies.
As Elide moved toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, she relished in the number of familiar faces she had seen. Carrying her books with one hand, she managed to nod and give a few waves at some of them. She passed Natsai Onai, who was on her way to Potions. Natty, a Gryffindor, had been an invaluable ally and friend to Elide her first year at Hogwarts. At one point, Natty had undoubtedly saved Elide’s life.
The reasons Elide had to be thankful were endless at the school, it seemed.
When she made her way up the last set of stairs and through the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Elide had to admit that she felt a familiar sense of relief when she spied some of her favorite classmates from other Houses. Poppy Sweeting, of course, waved at her from a far table closer to the windows. Garreth Weasley and Leander Prewett seemed to be prattling on at each other about something with some other Gryffindors. Of course, toward the front, there were two familiar male students clad in Slytherin robes that caught Elide’s attention. One of them noticed her the moment before she noticed him, it seemed.
“I knew I could feel trouble walk into the room.” Sebastian Sallow said, his voice carrying over the excited chatter of all of the other students as they caught up with friends.
His words caused the boy beside him to turn and Elide saw the familiar white gaze of Ominis Gaunt. She gave both of them a smile, making her way to sit at their table. The three of them had gone through much together the year before, and while she could not read Ominis as well as she would have liked, Elide was certain that he at least enjoyed her presence. Hopefully.
“I thought we had agreed to not talk about yourself in such a manner, Sebastian.” Ominis said dryly as Elide took the seat on the other side of him, the boy adjusting his belongs easily without even glancing her way. “Hello, Maelstrom. Fought any gods this summer, have you?”
If anyone else had said such a thing, she would have felt a bit wounded. Perhaps even slighted. But Ominis had even asked for Elide’s help once upon a time so she could not discount his dry humor for anything less than what it was: an olive branch. There had been more than a few disagreements between the three of them and Elide often felt a guilt for always siding blindly with Sebastian the year before, especially when he had been down a path that if he had made certain choices, there would have been no coming back from for him. Sebastian even seemed to hold his breath, to take a moment to think if Ominis’ words had been a slight at Elide or no.
“Not to my recollection.” She said, keeping a light easy tone in her voice.
Sebastian took that as an invitation to begin his ever-present playfulness. “I fear she would have called us if that were the case, my friend. Our Ravenclaw friend is not much for the hero title solo.”
“I hope this is not an invitation to create a team that ensues chaos because I quite frankly do not have the energy for that this year.” Ominis’ voice was raspy, and his tone was light, but Elide did not doubt him at all. She had every sense to believe that he had dealt with enough trouble between Sebastian and Elide the year before. “Nor do I have the patience.”
Sebastian clapped a hand onto Ominis’ shoulder, far more firmly than necessary before he leaned around the blond to meet Elide’s eyes. “It is good to see you. I was worried you would have gotten snatched up in the Muggle world without any backup.”
“He’s not joking.” Ominis added, most likely sensing the look of confusion on Elide’s face. “I’m afraid we’re quite attached to you and your trouble.”
That was as close to admission of enjoying her presence that Elide would ever expect to get from Ominis, but she was thankful, nonetheless. Ominis did not trust easily, and she was thankful that he seemed to count her, albeit more like tolerated, her in those numbers.
“No worries here.” She said simply, giving the two a soft smile. “The Muggle world is rather dull compared to everyday life here at school. I did miss it.”
“I have a feeling that we can get into plenty of trouble this year, my friends.” Sebastian settled into his seat with a somewhat whimsical smile. Ominis all but groaned and Elide had to stifle a chuckle.
“There’s a saying, Sebastian, amongst Muggles. I fear that it fits you rather well.” Elide said, glancing up as the door to Professor Hecat’s office opened, and the instructor stepped out.
“Oh? And what’s this wisdom, Ravenclaw?” Sebastian only lowered his voice a little, still leaning around a front-facing Ominis.
“There is no rest for the wicked. I’m afraid you might take it a little too seriously. I fear for your housemates and their sleep.” Elide said, with a smile as Professor Hecat gathered the attention of all of the students in class.
She felt an immeasurable feeling of pride and relief that Ominis fought a laugh at that. Even Sebastian seemed impressed. His bright eyes twinkled as he gazed around his best friend at her and Elide had to remind herself to look away from him.
The last thing she needed was to be appear distracted, by Sebastian Sallow of all people.
“Welcome, Sixth-Years, to Defense Against the Dark Arts.” Professor Hecat greeted the buzzing group of students with a soft smile on her wrinkled face, making her way carefully down the stairs to the front of the classroom carefully. “I hope that you have slept well your first night at Hogwarts, because we are going to be expected to begin class at 9am sharp each class period.”
Elide had to fight a smile as she remembered the year prior, when Leander and Sebastian had been too busy bickering with magic that they had almost destroyed the massive skeleton hanging from the ceiling over the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The Hebridean Black was not something that Elide felt Professor Hecat would be easily able to replace. Her Slytherin friend truly did find himself in bouts of trouble more frequently than most.
“This year is a bit different than years past in this class. As most of you are but one year out from finishing your time here at Hogwarts, we must continue to prepare you for the world out there.” Professor Hecat continued as she settled between the first two long tables, easily capturing the entire class’s attention by the way she carried herself, by the woman she was. “It is an unfortunate thing that there will always be Dark Arts out there in the real world. While you, thankfully, are spared from such a thing here at the school, it will not always be that way.”
Elide knew that sitting in the very front of the classroom would make it easy for any and all eyes to find her, but it seemed even more deliberate then. From her very first day at Hogwarts the year before, it had seemed that she had all but been a magnet for trouble. Moreso than minor pranks or reckless uses of magic.
No, Elide had had hits put out on her by dark wizards and goblins alike before she had even made it to the school. It was not something she liked to remember fondly, and even less so now that the man who had really kept her alive was gone.
No. Don’t do this. Not now.
She would honor Professor Fig’s memory, pain be damned. It was what he would have wanted for her anyways. She was certain of that.
Professor Hecat focused the lesson on the importance of defensive spellcasting. Whether or not Crossed Wands was still happening, Elide could not be too sure. But if Professor Black’s speech at the Sorting Ceremony had been any indication, there would be no nonsense with magic within the castle – especially something like unsanctioned dueling in the clock tower.
But, as to be expected, Professor Hecat was a realist – and she had also been there at the battle under the Map Chamber. She had seen Elide fighting for her life against Ranrok and his goblins. Elide couldn’t help but feel unnerved at the idea of her fellow students being in battles like that. She should not have even been in battles like that. The Keepers did not seem to care all that much for Elide’s age; what if a first-year had been the one to sense the ancient magic?
Would they have really expected a twelve-year-old student to save them all?
Elide did not want to know the answer.
“Everyone, I expect you to take what I teach you seriously.” Professor Hecat’s lesson spurred Elide’s attention once again. “We, unfortunately, live in a world where not everything is sacred. Despite all of the magic and the importance of preserving that, there are those that which to use their powers for less than savory reasons. During my time with the Ministry of Magic, I saw things that I would never wish upon another living creature, magical or otherwise.”
She allowed a brief pause, looking out over the silent sixth-years. While some of the professors at Hogwarts might have taken their jobs too seriously, Professor Hecat was easily one of the school’s most well respected and most admired. Elide could not help but wish for one day where she would be able to pick the former Unmentionable’s mind, to see what the world was like through her eyes, through her stories.
If she even wished to share them.
“As we have seen, especially in recent years, even the school is not a safe place from this kind of activity.” Professor Hecat continued, crossing her hands in front of her as she, thankfully, did not look for Elide. The last thing the young Ravenclaw wanted or needed was to have the constant reminder – but it was another thing entirely for the entire school’s attention to be brought to it. “It is my hope to never witness such darkness within these sacred halls, where the learning of our young witches and wizards is of the utmost importance. But I am afraid, in our changing times, that that might not always be the case.”
Elide noticed how Ominis flexed his fingers a bit nervously beside her. She was certain that the Slytherin was just as bothered by the topic of conversation. She tried often not to think about his family and what Sebastian had told her of what Ominis’ childhood was like. He was adamant about doing what is right, doing what is best for the world around them; she knew that these sort of conversations must have sat on his shoulders, though. She could not blame him one bit.
“Please keep in mind, my young students, the importance of the lives around you.”
And on that light note, class was dismissed.
“Bloody hell, I knew Hecat was serious about her work but *hell’s bells*.” Sebastian walked between Ominis and Elide from the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower. Ominis’ cloudy gaze was focused ahead but Elide could see the tense set to his shoulders. They all but lifted toward his ears, Sebastian still rambling all the while. “It’s the first day of classes. Do you think she’s going to take the first-years to see Dementors at Azkaban?”
Ominis halted on the stairs and Elide could see by Sebastian’s face that he knew he had spoken out of turn. It was unfortunate that Elide had a first-hand account of just how strained Sebastian’s and Ominis’ friendship had become over the last year. The last thing she wanted to see was that it would already be so tense on the first day of the new school year.
“Given present company, Sebastian, I would hope that you would realize the importance of such defensive training.” Ominis said, his head tilting to the side, his misted eyes finding just where Elide was standing a few stairs below him. She would have been unnerved if it had been anyone else, but she knew that Ominis read most rooms better than anyone else she knew.
“I am more than aware of what she is capable of.” Sebastian said, and there was a hardness in his usually playful voice that had Elide tensing.
“She is right here.” She cut in before the two of them could have full-blown, knock-down drag out right there on the stairs. The idea of it made her head hurt. “Honestly, while I appreciate the lightheartedness, Ominis is right. Professor Hecat is thinking of our best interest.”
Sebastian’s eyes flared in the familiar way she had seen more than a handful of times since they had met – when they had disagreed over his actions with Anne, with his uncle. Over her friendship with Logdok. Yet another loss she had shouldered over the last year. Another loss that had been covered up.
“Can we – not?” Elide’s voice was soft, exasperated. Ominis’ eyes flickered in a way that she hadn’t expected, Sebastian’s following only a moment later. “I have dealt with too much, and I can’t – do this. Not already. Please”
The halls had thinned out as the other students made their ways to their other classes, or to other parts of the castle so Elide did not feel too worried when the weight of her worries drooped her shoulders a good bit. She was so used to being strong, to using her strength as a Ravenclaw, as a budding sixth-year who was finding herself to try and guide her way forward.
If it was only the first day of school, and if heated words between friends brought such a reaction from her, what was it to say for the rest of the school year? The rest of her?
The two Slytherin boys remained silent for a moment before they both nodded. In truth, she had not expected either of them to truly understand, or to give her the grace she had not realized she so desperately needed.
“For what it’s worth, Maelstrom, you deserved better.” Ominis said firmly before he moved on down the stairs, leaving Sebastian and Elide alone.
She had to blink several times, swallowing thickly to cover up the emotion that his words brought to her. It was the first time anyone, a peer or a mentor or anyone had told her that. And she supposed there was even more to it when it came from Ominis.
“I didn’t mean… I’m sorry if I—” Sebastian opened and closed his mouth a few times before gently touching Elide’s arm, drawing her attention from an unfocused spot on a faraway wall. “You know me well enough by now that I’ve no real hope when it comes to controlling the absolute nonsense that spews from my mouth. It should be studied, I think.”
His attempt, albeit a bit weak for him, to make her smile worked just a little. Elide gave him a single nod, taking a deep breath before she closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. She was in Hogwarts, in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, and her friend was with her.
She was not afraid.
“No need to reiterate something we all know well.” She said, her own playful barb weak in comparison. She took a deep breath, glancing around to see if they were alone before her eyes found the concerned brown orbs of her friend. “I feel as if it was all a nightmare. Something that only I witnessed, felt. And sometimes I can almost believe it. But then I remember Professor Fig, Logdok… I remember what I did—”
“What you did, Elide, was save everyone. Everyone that you could. There has to be some meaning in that for something, yeah?” Sebastian had lowered his voice, keeping his tone gentle.
It was the first time since being back from the battle below the Map Chamber that Elide felt that someone actually realized just how much damaged was done to her. Sure, she had walked away with minor physical injuries – but the internal, psychiatric pain she was in…
“I do not know what it was like for you.” Sebastian went on, his hand gently squeezing her elbow once again. “I can only imagine what losing Fig in that fight was like, watching what Ranrok did to Logdok… But you are always going to be stronger than the worst thing that has ever happened to you, Elide.” His lips formed a soft smile, his touch gentle on her arm. “A lovely Ravenclaw friend of mine told me that once.”
There had been much playful banter between Elide and Sebastian since they had met. They had gotten themselves into plenty of trouble together, but all for what they had believed was for the greater good. All Sebastian had ever wanted was to save his sister, and even if that want had led him down a darker path for a bit the year before, he had managed to pull himself out of it. He was better than the worst thing that had happened to him.
Exactly what she had told him in the catacombs the year before.
She was a bit stunned, in truth, that he remembered it. Let alone well enough to use it back at her so much time later. Fighting the warmth it brought to her cheeks, Elide gave him a small smile. “You’re the only person that I have felt that I can talk to about this sort of stuff, Sebastian. The only person who sees me, not what I did.”
“I see what such heaviness is doing to someone I care about.” He said, adding to her statement in his own way. “I see that you feel that you are working through this all alone, and I hope that despite my shite way of it showing it sometimes, you see that I am here for you. Any time, any place.” He lifted a hand toward her face and Elide was so stunned by the action alone that when he gently touched his index finger to the hollow under her eye, she flinched. “I have nightmares too, you know. Why do you think I spend so much time in the Undercroft in the dead of night?”
“Or in the Restricted Section of the library?” Elide’s lips tilted up in a small smile, feeling the familiar comfort it brought her to have good banter with Sebastian again. They had gotten into much trouble together the year before, but she was positive there was not another person she would rather have gone through it with.
“Precisely.” He chuckled, moving his hands away from her person, and taking a step back. Each of them seemed to realize then, in that very moment, just how close they had been standing. It had been since the spring since the two of them had actually been alone. And for some reason, there was a weight to it now, something that Elide was not sure she could put her finger on. it wasn’t bad, necessarily – but it was certainly something unfamiliar. “Come on, then. I suppose it’s time to stay out of trouble until Charms.”
“That sounds possible for at least one of us.” Elide said, her mood lifting just a bit. It felt good to pick fun at Sebastian. Despite all of the darkness they had gone through the year before, it felt nice to at least have her friend at the end of it all.
“Your lack of faith in me should be studied, Ravenclaw.” Sebastian heaved a dramatic sigh before following Elide down the stairs to the bridge that connected the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower to the Quad. The two of them parted ways and Elide made her way back toward Ravenclaw Tower. She supposed there would be no harm in returning her books for Professor Hecat’s class back in her room rather than lugging them around all day.
The Sixth-Year Room was empty when Elide stepped inside, but something was wrong. She had grown quite accustomed to being more aware of her surroundings in the last year, and this was no exception. Silently, she slid her wand from its hiding place within her sleeve, her eyes darting around the darkened dormitory despite the early afternoon hour. For a castle that was filled with various ghosts and poltergeists, Elide had never felt as spooked as she did in that moment.
“Lumos.” She breathed out, and allowed her wand to illuminate the room that would be her home for the remainder of the school year. There was the soft chirping of Samantha’s owl on her perch along the far wall. Astoria’s cat lifted its head from its perch on her bed, its eyes illuminated eerily in the glow from Elide’s wand. The Ravenclaw pets were to stay in the dormitory unless supervised, so she felt a bit embarrassed at the prospect of being spooked by her schoolmate’s companions.
She turned toward the wall beside the door, trying to find the switch that would ignite the oil lamps within the room all at once. Her fingers blinded brushed the bricks – until a dampness coated her fingers, drawing her attention. Guiding her wand to light the wall just inside the room, Elide let out a gasp at the red, crude words painted upon the wall.
THE NIGHT IS DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN
Elide swallowed the unease that threatened to choke her and stepped closer to the crawling words. Adjusting her wand to look at where the ink coated her fingertips, Elide realized with a crawling tingling up her spine that this was not paint or ink at all. She had seen enough of it within the last year to know exactly what this was.
Someone had scrawled the warning where she slept at night with her classmates in blood.