Elektra Black III

Chapter 10 | Blossoming Love

Author's Notes:

After a long break, we're finally back, baby!

I'm so excited.

Classes were in full swing for the unfortunate teenagers after escaping from the Malfoy's house of terror. Fortunately, for the four teenagers who had run away, McGonagall was more than delighted to put them back on the list of students at Hogwarts. Making sure not to let any outsiders know, in case Voldemort envisioned a reunion trip to the school with his Death Eater cronies.

Elektra had spoken with Charlie Weasley about being welcomed back into class with the help of the retiring ghost Newt Scamander, who had persuaded him she was to be the next influential Magizoologist. If Charlie did not let her back into the class, Newt would release a bunch of mighty and oh-so-dangerous Chimeras' on him. They had made it up, walking down to the forest where the classes were held, and although it was out of line for Newt to speak in such a way, he was confident it would persuade him!

Harry, Ginny and Ron had been practising Quidditch most of the time, although it seemed like it was merely the two Weasley's who were playing, as Harry was far too busy hunting the school walls for any feeling or vibration he would sense from being near a Horcrux. He described it as a sixth sense that he could almost feel it lurking somewhere, but it was too far away for any whereabouts of its location to come to fruition.

Hermione was doing far better thanks to the help of Madam Pomfrey, and Sirius who had offered to help her through a shared traumatic experience they both went through at the very same age. But although things were looking up, the imminent destruction set upon them in the back of their minds. The war was around the corner. The question on everyone's minds was, when?

"Newt is nice, isn't he?" A light and angelic voice danced into El's ears as she hand-fed a small golden bearded dragon in the heart of the forest during class. She half-turned around, meeting Luna Lovegood's face.

"Luna! I didn't see you. How are you?" She put the dragon down onto the wood toadstool and spun around, smiling wide as Luna played with her long, shiny blonde hair. El was sure she was using potions to make it constantly so luscious. Perhaps that's how Snape got his just as shiny- that, or it was the oiliness.

"I'm well. I'm glad you and the rest of our friends aren't dead. Some of us were starting to worry." El cocked her head, "Why do you say it like that?" Luna giggled, slightly pointing to a fellow Ravenclaw student who sat perched on a tree branch outside the forest, smoking a hand-rolled cigarette.

"Of course." El sighed, "How do you know Newt?" She asked, bending back down towards the Dragon as Charlie started to watch from the sidelines. Luna smiled, leaning down to help. "I spoke to him when I used to feed the Thestrals. He would sometimes be there. A little awkward, wouldn't you say?" The two chuckled lightly at their shared experience with the ghost just as Charlie Weasley wandered over.

"My two sharpest students working together." He whispered, glancing around at the other teenagers who weren't managing to escape the fire from the dragons. El wondered how the seventh year students taking this class would react to an adult-sized Dragon!

El stood up, dusting off her hands, "Thanks for letting me back into your class, Charlie. I really want to pass." Charlie smiled, "And you will. Both of you will." Luna beamed up at him as well before skipping off to help a fellow student who seemed to have trouble feeding without their gloves catching fire.

"I wanted to let you know that I think I'm going to work towards becoming a Magizoologist after Hogwarts," El announced, fumbling with her hands. Charlie raised his eyebrows, "I believed Newt was merely saying that to get you back into class! In all honesty, I thought an Auror role would be for you, considering everything you and Potter get up to." El shrugged her shoulders, "I didn't pass Flying class or Potions. Besides, there's a shortage of Witches in this field. I want to be the next one." Charlie chuckled, smiling wide as he patted her shoulder. "Well then, I look forward to reading your Magical Creatures book when it's published!"