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Chapters 9 and 10
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Chapter 9
"God's Gift"
##Hermione##
She didn't flinch much as a tawny owl fluttered in through the window, flying in past her on its way to Elianne's room. She'd already had quite a few letters, mostly from old family friends congratulating her on getting into Hogwarts. She may not have known them personally but Elianne loved to get letters from people by owl.
In fact molly had already sent over a package after hearing about it from Ginny.
No jumpers or cardigans had resided in it luckily, or perhaps Errol wouldn't have made it there alive. The old owl was still with them, not much changed since their days at Hogwarts when it had been equally unreliable. If not for the magic in it the poor owl would have died long ago.
A few minutes later followed a series of excited shrieks, with led Elianne out of her bedroom and in front of Hermione practically begging her.
"Please, please can I. Can I? Please…." She pleaded, waving the letter in Hermione's face.
Frowning in a we'll-see manner she snatched the moving letter out of the girls hand and inspected it.
She peered over the top of the piece of parchment at Elianne's puppy dogface. Who was anxiously waiting the answer.
"Yes, you may join the course…"
This elicited cries of joy and many hurried thank yous from her daughter
"…but it is extracurricular. Your grades are not to suffer you hear. I will pay for the books; we have to go to get a few more things anyway. BUT the minute I see your grades dropping from what they should be, then you'll stop it immediately.
Elianne grasped her into a wide choking hug at this.
Hermione gave in to it, patting her on the back and hugging back. She knew better than to resist
Adding one last comment "Just make sure it's worth it."
This only made Elianne tighten her hold.
"Oh it is. The new history of magic teacher's great. And I'd just die if I didn't get to do the mythology course. You know its one of my favourite things."
At that an eyebrow went up.
"Well, actually I thought you'd grow out of liking that a few years ago."
For that she earned a prod in the armpit, which caused her to topple over onto the sofa in ticklish laughter
Elianne stood over her arms on her hips
"I would have thought you'd know me better than that"
They both laughed collapsing into a fake tussle over who was right and who was wrong, happy for once.
+++++
##Elianne##
They made their way through the crowded alley past wizards, witches and the stalls hanging outsides the shops, to their final stop.
On the sign was Ollivanders wands written with a flourish in gold, which at one time must have looked impressive. Peeling as it was the sign pointed to rather more pressing fact that it was many millennia established.
Walking in they were greeted by a very old and grey haired man, who still looked rather on edge and curious.
"Ah, Miss Granger. Hogwarts?"
Hermione smiled and nodded to him
Then he addressed her
"Hello young Ms., you know your mother had a very special wand, it shall be interesting to see what you find"
Hermione blushed at this and stumbled with the words as she tried to tell him otherwise
"No, she's not my daughter. Well, yes, she is but no. Not my biological daughter"
Having found her words once more she introduced us
"El, this is Mr Ollivander, Mr Ollivander this is Elianne Potter."
His eyes lit up at the mention of her name, a phenomena that she hadn't yet gotten used to.
"Potter you say. The daughter of the marvellous Harry Potter? Yes. I remember your father as well. Had an equally interesting wand. Very…unique. As was he."
At that he shuffled to behind the counter and started on the job of wand searching.
He returned and handed a small grey carton much like a shoebox to her.
By now his whole face was alight with excitement. It stayed buried inside but she could feel the glow of him as he dared to wonder whatever thoughts he had
"Let see shall we what you make of this specimen"
He took out a small slim piece of wood, a dark red colour.
"Cherry, 9 and ½ inches, dragon heart string."
She held out her hand and had barely come into contact with the tip of it before he snatched it away.
"No good."
He hurried away and came back with several more boxes, putting the previous one to the side.
"Hazel, 7 inches, mermaid scale"
She took the silvery rainbowed stick and with a flick of the wrist had instantly caused chaos in the store; the pile of boxes in the corner went "ploof" and smoked somewhat.
So that wand went back in its box. And the next too
And the next.
It was taking ages. Hermione had warned me it often did but this seemed excessively long. If not for the consequences of the wands each being interesting in their own right I would have been bored by now.
"Rowan, 10 inches, Nereid hair"
I picked the wand up in my hands nonchalantly, expecting some explosion or other to happen and for it to be snatched right back out of my hand.
Nothing did. And both of them were looking expectantly at me, waiting for the flick of the wrist and the answer to the never-ending search.
I all but closed my eyes, squinting so much I could just about see and waved it.
And it was magic.
Little golden spheres and sparks erupted gracefully from the end of the wand and arranged themselves, forming what looked like a sparkling golden model of the solar system. Each one of the planets moving ever so slightly in an orbit and it even had comets, asteroids and most amazingly a chariot. A chariot of the gods, racing over and around it. The whip slashing. Horses galloping onwards fevered. Controlled by a faceless female clad in gladiators armour.
"Rowan and nereid hair, very fluid, intuitive, good for summoning"
Ollivander didn't take the wand away. He smiled satisfied and asked us to come over to the desk. His job finished for our encounter.
My aunt sorted out the bill as I stood in the shop staring at the ever-fading magical model of the stars. It was so unbelievable to think I'd done that. I was in awe. I was only a beginner. What could she do? What about the teachers too? Anyone on the street could do even better than that. I was stunned. Never had I known something all encompassingly beautiful that I too could do. It wasn't like the rose or the tree that I could nurture but only from its design to its potential. I could make things. Out of nothing but energy and words. Simple ingredients that could make almost anything.
The only thing they could not do was raise the dead. My smile faded at that. Perhaps that alone would make up for any denial of the rest. I could give up the magic I'd seen, if maybe I could instead have the power to have my father again. There was probably a reason for that though, for not being able to do that. Some great and profound reason, that left me suffering.
I turned to my aunt as she walked to me and towards the door.
My thoughts went back to what the man had said.
"What was your wand like?"
She glanced at me.
"Nothing fascinating really."
"But he said…"
She was playing it down. Why shouldn't I know? She'd told me everything else.
"Caladrius and dogwood. Now can we go."?
"Fine" I glowered a little, wondering why those few words had been so hard to say for her.
/////////////Hermione's flashback//// Diagon alley, Ollivander's - before year one
A gentle voice called to her, she turned to see her mother
"Hermione, here it is. The shop, to the left"
They all looked at its visage
An old, incredibly old storefront met their gaze.
And inside it they met a quite old man, who acted odd but certainly seemed to know what he was doing.
Whilst Hermione was explained wands, her parents were off getting other shopping for her school year.
She'd suggested they go, as the man seemed to unnerve her mother. Besides that he was taking along time explaining all about the wand cores and the length and many other things that were apparently vital. She had of course asked Ollivander to do this. She was muggle-born and afraid that if she didn't ask then everyone else would know and not her.
Eventually they had gotten onto the wand. Her wand.
She tried out so many. Disillusioned as to why none of them so far had done anything. But he didn't care; he carried on with more and more boxes. Not concerned it appeared with the fact she had no magical talent. Maybe they'd got it wrong. She wasn't a witch at all. Just a peculiar muggle. Or a muggle born squib.
Still she tried all he presented her with, wondering when he'd give up.
On what looked to be almost the last one he had left in the shop front something happened. She felt a chill of energy when she held it. He too noticed it.
She was thrilled, and gave the wand a short happy flick.
The wand tingled with energy. And out of it light burst forth. Swirling to the sky, or at least the ceiling. And dropping eloquently like raindrops, that felt real to the touch.
She screamed with delight to herself, hands to her mouth and jumping up and down.
She was a witch! She was a witch" and she had never been happier.
He looked at her. Creepily.
"It is a wonderful gift you have."
She replied unsure of what to say
"Pardon? I don't know what you mean"
"The wand, it carried very powerful magic. Very beautiful magic. Divine talent. Exquisite. That would be why none other than that would work."
"You have talent," he repeated eerily.
She cautiously smiled, hoping, trying not to offend him
"Thank you"
He changed back to his normal self in an instant. Back to business, his voice curious as before and with only a small hint of that sharp foreseeing tone she'd encountered. Yet she didn't know why she had. What was the wand anyway?
As if reading her mind he stated its qualities
"Dogwood and caladrius feather. Good for healing charms and defence, durable, long lasting. It will serve you well."
She hobbled forward to the desk and paid for the wand quickly as possible. Scared he'd say anything else strange or worse take it back.
Out of the musty shop she relaxed, inhaling deeply. She felt a little better.
She moved her hand out of her pocket, peering a bit at the wand she still held securely. Its gold engravings flashed in the sun and she put it back.
Confident that it was the right one. That she was the right one.
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For when you are not
You seek to be
What was meant
No matter what that means
And maybe
You are something else
Something more
That becomes ever ignored
For all that matters to you
Is being who you think you are
All because you do not know
The truth
You see the picture, that you copy
Wishing, wanting
Not using your sight
Maybe then there would be
The real delight
You are special
Just as you may be
Something else
Carried
Unseen
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Chapter 10
"It's A Pleasure"
##Hermione##
There was a flurry of owls and people back and forth in the house that day. Hermione merely sat on the sofa more or less ignoring it.
Molly Weasley had come over to help with Hogwarts and be there for moral support when it was time to say goodbye, but had basically taken over Hermione attempts at organising Elianne.
Hermione had to hand it to her, and to Ginny for being one of those subjected to the same treatment previously, that she was a wiz at getting it all sorted.
Every now and then there would be Ginny or molly rushing around the house searching for something or the other. And there seemed to be few minutes when an owl didn't fly past with a letter going out or a package going in.
Eventually all three of them emerged into the living room, Ginny and Elianne looking rather puffed out carrying the large Hogwarts trunk. Molly then had signalled the urgentness of time and they'd all piled into the kitchen to floo themselves to the nearest wizard network chimney to the station, a pub called The Wise-old Hat.
Hermione could only remember being insanely excited when she had got to platform 9¾ for the first time. But as a parent she felt the slow and quiet dread of the fact Elianne was leaving. Gladfully she held onto Molly and Ginny as they entered the private platform with them. Elianne in front of all, and immediately in awe at the invisible barrier and then with the gigantic steam train that was chugging away a little in preparation for the journey.
The goodbyes were quick and sweet. She only held onto the girl for a few seconds, afraid that any more would both embarrass her and make the letting go even harder.
And from then on Elianne had begun the adventure that was Hogwart's. Without her.
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##Elianne##
She'd found it hard to believe that there was a platform between 9 and 10, between the air near the wall and the supposedly solid brick she presumed it was. Yet wizards had surprised her even more than before. First there was travelling by chimneys, then through walls though she knew the wall wasn't ever really there. Only invisible unless you knew where it was. It was another one of the mysteries solved by "Hogwart's: A Further History". A book that her aunt herself had written. Not that Elianne ever remembered her mentioning it, as she would have probably hidden it from her in those days.
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After saying and waving goodbye, Elianne had secured herself a neat little compartment with no one else in it so far. That so far hadn't lasted long before a short girl emerged from behind the door and smiled politely, inquiring if she could use this compartment too.
The girl was quite short for their age, as Elianne presumed she was, with dark blond hair and grey-blue eyes. Her pretty face smiled happily at her for a few nervous seconds before introducing herself.
"Hi. I'm Lucretia Malfoy. I'm so glad you didn't mind me sitting in here. A few people already refused. I suppose some of them don't want to socialise with first years."
Taking the proffered hand, she shook it and introduced herself to the girl too.
"I'm Elianne potter. It's really good that I've found another first year, I was afraid I wouldn't know anybody. I've only just found out I'm a witch a few months ago."
Lucretia brightened up considerably at the mention of this.
"Me too. I'm adopted. I knew I was a witch though but I never grew up knowing what it meant. My parents decided not to tell me anything till just before. That is my adoptive parents I mean. My real ones, I see them sometimes but I'd rather not and they'd rather not."
This didn't seem to upset Lucretia much. It seemed a shame she had tow sets of parents and only cared for one. But then not all parents were as nice as they should be.
Elianne couldn't help but think bad parents were something above not knowing any. It was curious that Lucretia wasn't very keen on her real parents.
"How come you don't like them?"
"They had a bad break-up, they can't stand each other. Wasn't exactly a good match in the first place. And I remind them of each other. Hence they don't like to see me. That's why I don't live with either of them. And besides my mother's a horror. And my father, not so bad but bitter. He has a dark past, my family does. I think that's why no one will let me sit with them."
Elianne sat, not saying anything. At least some one else had a life just as complicated as hers.
"Sorry if I rambled" said Lucretia, blushing slightly " I do that when I'm nervous, and right now, I'm so nervous."
"Me too."
Both of them noticeably happier that they weren't the only one's
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When the train reached the station, hundreds of students in plain black robes filed out. Spilling onto Hogsmeade platform, where the first years were separated from the rest and led to the boats to cross the lake to the school.
They waited outside the great hall. Lucretia and Elianne standing together. A crowd was congregated around a tall brown haired girl who was showing off her ornately engraved wand, complete with family crest.
Lucretia rolled her eyes at this, and slyly commented, "I'm surprised she has any wand left to do magic with. If she even could"
Elianne's eyes danced back and forth between Lucretia and the girl, she sensed something more going on
Lucretia obliged
"She's my step sister. Patricia Parkinson. My mother remarried and her step daughter happened to be a muggle-born witch. She's just as horrible as my mother too. And insists on taking the Parkinson name despite the fact she has none of the blood in her. Personally I'd be embarrassed to have that name, not proud."
Lucretia turned away from the scene disgusted. And not likely to talk to anyone it seemed.
Elianne's attention changed towards another girl standing near by. She was freckled with fair hair and looked so completely out of place. Her eyes peered up feebly at the ceiling of the entrance hall, almost scared of it. she thought of saying hello but feared the girl might be frightened if she said anything suddenly.
It wasn't long though til they were all escorted into the great hall, filled with all the other students who sat each at one of the four house tables. Elianne hadn't taken much time to think about what house she wanted to be in. it didn't seem to matter too much though, especially nowadays. Even Slytherin wasn't considered too bad now there were no deatheaters. People still seemed to fear it for the possibility of dark wizards. But no one could be worse than Voldemort. And he was gone.
One of the teachers stepped forward and placed the sorting hat on the small stool that stood affront the room.
Its wide rim formed a great big smiling mouth and it proceeded to sing its song.
See the musty crusty me,
I'm the famous hat of Hogwarts
Old as old can be
And every student that there is
Has to pass on by my way
For each and all
Short and tall
I, the sorting hat get to say
Where you belong
And have to stay
If you're clever
And controlled
Ravenclaws a must
But if you're loyal
And likeable
It's got to be hufflepuff
And for those who're sly
Who wish to reach the sky
I should shout
Slytherins the house to be
And if you're all but none of those
If you're strong and brave
Proud I'd be to call
You're a gryffindor!
And which ever I shall place thee in
For every reward and sin
Your house is the family here
So, drink up merrily the butterbeer
And remember, remember, don't forget
There's much fun to come yet
Most of the first years watched in wonder at it, though a few like the rest of the students were expecting this and weren't as impressed.
After that each of the first years got called up to the hat and it would bellow out there house.
ARRAN, Charlette - Ravenclaw
BOREAS, Nathan - hufflepuff
BROWN, Jason - Hufflepuff
CADMUS, Athena - gryffindor
COREULA, Perseus - gryffindor
DAURO, Helen - slytherin
ELLINS, Anthony - slytherin
ELVEN, Cassandra
Then came the fair-haired girl, who stepped up quite slowly.
Barely on her head it called "gryffindor" and she sweetly smiled genuinely.
FINCH, Daphne -hufflepuff
GREGORY, Horatio - ravenclaw
GRESHEM, Michael - hufflepuff
GROSCHL, Anastis - ravenclaw
GROSCHL, Ayran - gryffindor
HINKLEY, Flora - gryffindor
IMAV, Joshua - slytherin
JONES, Hector - ravenclaw
KRISTENSON, Damien - gryffindor
KRISTENSON, Leander - slytherin
MALFOY, Lucretia
Who seemed relieved when it announced "ravenclaw"
PARKINSON, Patricia
The snobbish step-sister went in "slytherin" and looked very, very proud of it. Lucretia who was by now sitting at the Ravenclaw table smiled happily too, at not having the unfortunate problem of her relation in the same house, as if that would be possible with her.
POTTER, Elianne
Now the fact that it shouted "gryffindor" wasn't too bad, nor the smiles of a few teachers and her new housemates. She however hadn't expected the commotion at her name. There was whispering all over the hall from the minute her name was mentioned and even still when the hat had shouted out her house. She stared uncertainly out into the hall. Not happy at the attention.
Walking towards the table, all the Gryffindors appeared to be trying there best not to shout out hurrah or start screaming about getting the famous Elianne Potter.
She was only his daughter, what had it been like for him. No one had ever tried to kill her. Yet when her father lived on after the unforgivable curse he'd been subjected to, he must have had twice the welcome. Twice the hassle, twice the curse of being expected and adored by those who didn't know you.
She wasn't being praised or loved on who she was.
So she wasn't smiling at them when she sat down. Instead her face was a stern acceptance that she was here, this didn't put them off. They carried on talking quietly about her even next to her whilst the ceremony went on.
PRICE, Georgia - slytherin
PRINCE, Electra - gryffindor
QUILLET, Paris - hufflepuff
WILLIS, Philip - ravenclaw
XALIS, Dido - gryffindor
Now all of them were sorted. There were a few standard announcements as her housemates described, about the third floor and the forbidden forrest . The feast commenced.
The bowls and plates were piled high in an instant. And the ravished students grabbed onto the sumptuous food eagerly.
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She'd learned plenty at dinner already and from the Historys of Hogwarts books, so the tour on the way to their dormitories was not too exciting for her. She wasn't the only one. The girl she now knew to be called Cassandra was looking bored too. She smiled at her. Cassandra wandered over and whispered to her.
"I know"
They glanced up at the guide, a seventh year prefect, who was practically quoting word for word with the Hogwarts a history's version. Which was fine for most of the group who'd never read it, but both of them had and he wasn't even quoting it in an interesting manner. Just word for word monotone, which if you already knew about the interesting bits, was very extremely irritating.
They sank into giggles as he moved on to the next thrilling paragraph.
They'd struck a friendship of sorts at dinner. Cassandra wasn't nearly as shy as she'd first thought her. Though Elianne had been nearly the only one she'd talked to on the table during the feast.
They gradually moved on up the stairs to the gryffindor common room. After of course meeting the famous fat pink lady, though she did not liked to be called that so neither of them dared say it anywhere near her. The password this week was "jugglejiffer"
Immediately they were to go to there respective dormitories. Elianne was to her joy in the same dormitory as Cassandra and two other girls, Dido and Flora.
They all stayed awake for a little while, talking amongst themselves about the next day and what they'd eaten at the feast, who they hoped would be in their classes. Flora seemed very smitten with Damien Kristenson, though Elianne didn't know how flora could tell which one of the identical twins he was.
At that they decided that tomorrow required rest and beauty sleep, especially for those who wanted to impress certain boys.
Elianne fell very satisfied into a dreamless sleep. Hoping lessons would be as fun as she wished they would.
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