Dive Right In

CHAPTER 3

Elara thought she was going to faint. Witches, wizards, magic, spells, flying on brooms - it was all real. It was all real, and she was a part of it. She would have thought her Aunt and cousin completely insane, had she not stumbled across the photographs in Aubrey's room. That, of course, and the fact that an owl had flown in not too long ago, carrying a letter. She sat on the bed, willing herself awake under her breath. This has to be a dream. I'm going to wake up on the floor, and Aubrey's going to tell me I tripped and was out for a few minutes. Yeah, I could live with that. She glanced around, refusing to look her relatives in the eye. It's not working... why am I not waking up? She finally gave in to herself, squeezed her eyes shut tight as if it would jolt her back to reality, and stared wearily at her Aunt, who had begun to wring her hands nervously.

"Can I have some water or something?" she said loudly. She realized she sounded as alarmed as she felt. Katherine nodded and quickly made her way out of Aubrey's room, into the kitchen downstairs. Elara took notice of her aunt's urgency - she felt a bit guilty despite her panic. Obviously her relatives had set aside a time and place to explain everything. She understood that she had very much thrown them off.

Left alone with her cousin, Elara could do nothing but stare at the girl in front of her. She had so many questions, but at the same time she wanted to pretend none of it had ever happened.

Aubrey's eyes widened a bit in hesitation to speak. She had just remembered something important. Elara took notice, hoping it was anything but.

"El...your mom told us she gave you something to read when you arrived here."

The letter. Elara's throat tightened.

The sudden realization caused a twinge of fear. Her hand immediately reached for her pocket, and was still for a moment when her fingers touched the rough, folded paper. She didn't want to open it. She didn't want to know. But she had no choice. She closed her fingers around the letter, and unfolded it slowly as she brought it up to her now unnaturally pale face. She had no idea what to expect. Would this make everything worse? Or better?

She began to read.

My Elara,

It pains me more than you know, to have to write this. To have you see these words. Your father and I had hoped since the day I knew I was pregnant that this would never have to reveal what I am about to.

Elara, you were born into a magical bloodline. Your father is a wizard. Your grandparents were magical as well. I was not born with the magic gene. However, my sister, your Aunt, was. Your cousins are witches and wizards. We moved to America just before you were born due to your father's line of work. It's a kind of police force in the magical world, called Aurors. Your father frequently went back to London to work, and we felt horrible for having to tell you he was simply on business trips. What he did was very dangerous, but he was a proud, brave man. He saved many lives.

Your father loved you very much. He made me promise that if ever something were to happen to him, that I would send you to London to be with your relatives.

They know I am here, Elara. They know where we live, and where I work. I had to send you where they wouldn't expect. Especially not into the Wizarding world. You will be safe there. Hogwarts is a wonderful school, and I am sure the new Headmaster will be just as wonderful as Albus Dumbledore.

I can't tell you much more, but your relatives have been aware of the situation the entire time and will help you along the way.

Don't write to me. If you wish to contact me, use an owl. Your aunt will tell you where, to whom, and how to send it.

Be good, sweetheart. And be strong. I love you.

~Mom.

Elara felt numb. A warm tingling began to take over her body, starting with her trembling hand, which held the opened letter from her mother. She could have sworn her eyes blurred over a little, but at the present time, she didn't care. Was she supposed to feel angry? Scared? Excited? She could have dealt with one of those emotions right now, but she was feeling all of them and more. Katherine returned with a glass of water, and Elara politely took it and sat back down on Aubrey's bed. The cold liquid felt wonderful once it reached her lips. So wonderful, that once she had taken a few sips, she found herself feeling much more relaxed. Relaxed enough that she knew it wasn't normal for the present circumstances. She looked up to see Katherine, who seemed much more at ease than she had been before she went to the kitchen. She looked down at the glass, then back to Katherine.

"Did...did you drug me?" she stuttered, almost at a whisper.

"Oh heavens, no, dear...I just put a few drops of a family recipe into your water. It's a version of what's called a calming drought, only not nearly as strong. We don't use the same medicines or drugs as you do. Muggle practices are very different from our own." She smiled a very assuring smile. Elara took it with caution, but believed her Aunt. Her mother would never send her into danger.

"I'm sorry...muggle?" Another new thing.

Aubrey laughed. "It's the word for non-magic folk."

Elara raised an eyebrow. "So my mom is a muggle?"

"No," Aubrey explained. "She's a squib. Meaning she was born from magical parents, but she doesn't have the magical gene. Bit of a bad deal, if you ask me. But your dad was a full blown wizard. A very powerful one, at that. One of the best Aurors in London." Her voice lowered. "It's a bloody awful shame what happened."

"How did he die?" Elara asked, looking between her aunt and cousin. "It wasn't a bank robbery, was it? Tell me how he really died."

Katherine held her hand up to her daughter. Aubrey looked to the ground, silent.

"Your father was killed by a group of wizards, called Death Eaters. They are supporters of a dark wizard, called Voldemort. He has committed horrendous things and killed many people. His followers do most of his dirty work now, but everyone knows Voldemort is behind everything. The Aurors protect us all, and seek out to imprison the Death Eaters until they are all captured. Elara, your father died protecting you and your mother...and this world."

Elara could say nothing. A single tear rolled down her face, landing onto her shirt. Her father wasn't a businessman - he was a hero. Despite the strong feelings of missing her father, she managed to smile. She had never been so proud of her father as she was right now.

*****

The rest of the evening was just as surreal as the rest of the day, but Elara found it much more pleasant, if not terribly exciting. She sat with Aubrey and Katherine in the living room, surrounded by photographs, books, potion bottles, and magical objects. Aubrey was like an excited child as she explained things to her cousin, performing small spells with her wand, showing her the history of wizardkind, and how magical objects made life as pleasant as it was. Elara felt as if she could float away - the amount of amazement and curiosity was almost overwhelming. To end the evening, Katherine announced that the two girls would head to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy their school things. Diagon Alley, Aubrey explained, was "the only place you'll ever need to go for absolutely anything." Easy enough, Elara thought to herself.

The girls were in their bedroom shortly after. Elara gladly accepted a sleeping draught from her Aunt - tomorrow would be insanely busy, and she needed her rest, especially after the day's events.

"El...I'm really glad you're here," Aubrey's voice came softly over the dark silence.

Elara smiled. "Me too."

I hope.

*****

"I think I'll call her...Athena. It suits her." Elara grinned as she ran her hand lightly along the back of her new pet owl. Athena was a common snowy owl with black spots on her neck and wings, and since she was a female, she was smaller than the others in the store, that seemed to be the object of several other students' desires. This hardly fazed the excited girl, as she practically floated over to the cashier. She needed Aubrey to handle the transaction, as she was still very unfamiliar with the money system. The store owner looked at her strangely as she whispered "...so galleons are the gold ones, right?" to her cousin, who nodded and paid for Athena, who seemed rather pleased to be leaving the shop with such a warm-hearted, curious girl. They stepped outside onto the busy cobblestone street, which was bustling with both students and their families, all preparing for the new school year.
"Okay...you have an owl - you're welcome, by the way, I spotted a third year with her eye on it when you weren't paying attention - your books, and you're using my spare cauldron for now, so....oh, we have to get you fitted for robes!" Aubrey squealed with excitement, and grabbed her cousin's hand to drag her across the street and down a few buildings. Elara looked up at the sign overhead. "Madame Malkine's Robes For All Occasions." She said aloud. "Can't say I've ever imagined I'd be getting fitted for robes for school, but hey, why not?" She shrugged and followed closely behind her cousin into the store.

The robe shop was surprisingly empty. The walls were lined with glass cases, containing every kind of robe imaginable - standard school robes, traveling cloaks, business robes, dress and formal robes - all new and used.

A few older students stood admiring a new collection of dress robes that had just arrived in the store. Audrey caught her cousin staring, and instantly appeared behind her shoulder.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" She grinned and clapped her hands together. "Everyone's going to be wanting them for the ball this year. I have a feeling this is going to be the best one yet, what with you here now and all."

Elara's eyes widened.

"Ball? Your school has a ball?" Her mind instantly flooded with childhood memories or stories told to her by her mother. Fairy tales of extravagant balls, castles, magic, true love - it always seemed so wonderful. Elara's face lit up - she felt as if she wanted to skip around the store.

Aubrey immediately took note of her cousin's excitement and proceeded to explain to her the details of the annual festivities that took place at Hogwarts just before the holiday season.

"Each year, the fourth years and above - that means us, Ellie - get to attend the Hogwarts Yule Ball." As she accentuated the words 'yule ball', Aubrey did a rather dramatic, but graceful spin around. Elara picked up right away that this was to be an exceptionally exciting event. Judging by her surroundings, she was correct. She took note of the gazes and remarks over the robes, and smiled to herself - perhaps she'd come back and buy some. Perhaps.

A few students whom appeared to be first years beamed proudly at their new robes. Elara shared their enthusiasm - although her robes were plain black, since she had yet to be sorted, she couldn't wait to get up onto the fitting stool and have Madame Malkine fit her for the correct size.

Once the student ahead of her was finished, she stepped up onto the stool in front of a large mirror, which covered the entire wall from floor to ceiling. As soon as she was standing still on the stool, several lengths of measuring tape zoomed up from every which direction, stretching taut to measure the various lengths for her robe. Once they were finished, the tapes whisked over to the counter, and disappeared once they touched it. In their places, were several numbers on a sheet of paper, being the measurements that were just taken. A small, thin woman then appeared from behind a stack of boxes, and hurried over to where Elara was standing. With a wave of her wand, the paper rose from the desk, and placed itself into her outstretched hand. She looked it over, and glanced at Elara over the top of her horn-rimmed glasses.

"Standard school robes, dear?" The woman asked brightly. Despite her tone, Elara noticed the seamstress was very tired. No doubt, she had been doing this very task for weeks, fitting student for their new school attire. Her pleasant attitude was endearing - Elara decided to leave her a few extra coins for her trouble.

The robe was starting to take shape as the seamstress pinned the pieces of fabric that hung loosely around Elara's thin frame.

The low level murmur of the blended conversations inside the robe shop was unexpectedly pierced by a high pitched shriek.

"Luna!!"

Startled, the seamstress slipped and slightly pierced Elara's side with the pin she was holding. Reaching her hand to her side, Elara turned and glared angrily towards the direction of the sound. She saw Aubrey had run to the door, embracing a young blonde girl who had just come in.

"Oh heavens dear, I'm sorry, are you alright?" The woman asked Elara, with a frustrated but apologetic look on her face. Elara smiled and nodded, and then returned her gaze to the front of the store.

The blonde girl and Aubrey were close to each other, whispering and ever so often glancing up and Elara. A hushed, "That's her?" Could be heard from Luna's mouth. Elara stiffened for a moment, but then realized that Aubrey had more than likely confided in her friend about her American cousin coming to stay.

"Elara, pleasure to meet you! I'm Luna Lovegood." The smiling girl made a beeline toward the stool Elara was standing on, and shook her hand. Elara returned the grasp.

"Elara Scriver, same to you." She subtly looked Luna over, trying to get a reasonably accurate first impression. Her hair was a rich blond, and hung down to her waist. She was fair skinned, but it suited her. Her eyes were rather large, and Elara noted a faintly dreamy expression that has never once left since they had met. Hanging from her ears were large earrings that appeared to be large strawberries. Perhaps it was the trend here? Whatever, I'll get used to it.

"All done, dear!" Elara snapped out of her state to the sound of the seamstress' voice. Sure enough, she looked down and her robe was finished. It was soft, and fit perfectly. She hopped down from the stool and did a small spin in front of the mirror. "How do I look?"

"Like a million galleons!" Luna exclaimed, clapping her hands. She was quite an animated girl. Elara could grow quite fond of her eccentricity, as she related to it on a not-so-distant level.

After paying for the robes, the three girls left the shop. Elara checked her list, marking off one more item she had purchased. Only one remained, and her eyes widened.

"I get to buy a wand..." Inside, it was as if something had ignited fireworks. A wand. The universal tool of magic. Used by wizards and witches around the word. And now, Elara, who had been raised her whole life to believe they were nothing but illusions and fairy tales, was about to purchase one for herself. A real one.

"I get to buy a wand." Elara repeated. She looked over at her cousin, and then back at Luna, suddenly feeling slightly embarrassed. "Sorry...this is just a bit overwhelming for me."

Aubrey laughed. "It's alright. Now let's get you to Olivander's so we can - ugh... Luna, ferret at 1 o'clock." Her tone suddenly quieted, and Elara's eyes darted in the direction that the girls were staring with such disdain. Ferret?

Almost immediately, her eyes locked with another's, who was looking right at her. Not blue, not grey...somewhere in between. White blonde hair fell slightly across his forehead just below his nose. He was as pale as she was.

Do I know him...?

She wanted to look away.

She couldn't look away.

At least not until she felt a sharp tug on her arm as she was dragged into the closest doorway.

A/N...now we're getting to the good stuff! R & R, thx. :=)