Eunoia | Sirius Black

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"Appoline?"

Appoline smiles widely when she realises that I recognise her and I feel oddly emotional. Must be a huge change since she last saw me.

As she walks towards me, her uniform bellows behind, giving her an ethereal look. Not that she didn't already look majestic enough. She's a veela, and above that one of the most beautiful of the beings I have seen.

Her eyes glow greenish-blue and her shiny silvery blonde hair is tucked neatly in a low ponytail. My breath jerks when I notice a few scars on her moon-white skin.

"You look beautiful, mon chéri." She speaks in a low rasp. "It's been so long since I last saw you but that blood halo of yours, those fiery red hair are very hard to miss."

There is a crease between my brows and without thinking twice, I bring her into a tight hug. I think she is just as surprised as I am because I have, not once been in this close proximity to anyone in this school.

When I pull away, she huffs out a laugh. "I don't think anyone would believe me if I tell them I just got hugged by Elena goddamn Hawke."

I laugh, too and that surprises her even more. "It's a boy, isn't it? Is that why you're looking this happy? Why you're basically glowing with life?"

I roll my eyes but I'm still smiling, "It's not just that boy. It's my friends, too."

"Ouch."

"No offence, Pollie. But you met me when I was very, very traumatised. And I don't think the entire Madame Maxime being the headmistress and Monseir Pierre being a pain in the arse and - and the Belle-Femme sessions were helping. Don't even get me started on Madame Martha!"

"Fastoche," she grins, "I know, Elena. I've known you were the sharpest tool in the shed since the beginning, only in need of a little honing."

I was at a loss for words. Appoline has been the only one to completely accept me since the moment I got to Beauxbatons. Even her sister hated me, speaking of —

"How's Louisa doing?"

She rolls her eyes fondly, "Still a bit irritating, stays crabby all the time. But she's at home with petite Fleur à la mason."

"Little Flower?" I cock my head.

"Fleur Delacour," She smiles affectionately, "My little girl."

"Oh my," I can't stop the gasp from slipping out. "POLLIE!"

"I KNOW!" She laughs melodiously. "She's the sweetest thing ever, Ellie. You need to see her before you leave. Come see me at your next break, I beg of you. You won't regret it. She holds fingers like a grudge and you'd have to bribe her with the most scandalous thing for her to let go. Cunning, that one is."

I am about to answer her with a definite yes when a siren rings outside the school. My heart stops, it's the emergency alert.

Appoline's eyes widen and she turns to me, "Wait here, you're a strategist."

"I can duel," I tell her and it's true. I'm not the best at duelling but I'm pretty damn good.

"Stay — LOUISA?"

I turn around and find Louisa Delacour gaping at me, "Bloody Hawke?"

That makes me laugh and Louisa just blinks. "Where'd you find her, Apolline?"

"My luck has always been amazing," Louisa says but it's urgent, "Lou, what are you doing here? You were supposed to stay with Fleur!"

Her accent gets heavier as she worries. Louisa shakes her head, "Fleur is safe with her father. I wouldn't leave my sister to fend for herself, now would I?"

"Lou —"

"Just go, I'll take the left."

"But —"

"LEAVE," Louisa yells and Apolline shoots me one tight smile before running outside where the siren came from.

"Do you reckon I should go fight?" I ask, knowing I'd go either way.

"Come with me," Louisa says, shocking me as she starts sprinting at the opposite end of the hallway we were in.

There are death eaters everywhere is what I realise the moment I step out. I frantically look around for James but only find Alice fighting with Frank, back to back. 

Worriedly, when I stumble forward trying desperately to look for James, Louisa grips my wrist and spins me around. 

"Do not get yourself killed, Elena." She grunts and I nod.

I have to go back safely to my Sirius. He must be waiting for me. Did he even eat? I frown. Did he go to work and complete all his paperwork? Or did he take an off to sleep in my bed all day?

"LOOK OUT!" Louisa yells. 

I turn around just in time to dodge an Unforgivable. Cursing myself, I steady my wand and clear my head. Going back home in one piece would only be achieved once I eliminate the threats here. 

There are several Death-Eaters that I recognise. Along with Evan Rosier, Demarcus Mulciber, and Avery - whom I was most surprised to see for he studied alongside me in Hogwarts and I'd talked to him several times, too. There was Lucius Malfoy, again. There was Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange but a lot of them I didn't know the identity of. A growl from outside the castle alerted my flight or fight instinct. Fenrir Greyback.

I fought like I'd been taught to, and used spells that I'd read in the restricted section of the library along with Sirius Black. Protected myself with shields so strong, I surprised myself. 

During rare clearings, I ran to the Aurors that needed help and healed them the best I could without making myself an open target. 

It is nearly half an hour of fighting relentlessly when there is a loud boom noise and I see cracks in the castle ceilings. 

"LOUISA!" I shout, "LOUISA GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

Louisa Delacour is too busy fighting off Rodolphus Lestrange when she hears me at last. The distraction costs her dearly and she is hit with a dark spell. Purple light bounces off her skin, making red blood seep out. 

I cry out her name but she doesn't hear me. The walls shake, and there is an onslaught of fire as I rush towards my friend's sister. 

Louisa's head is wounded from how she fell down on the concrete and I try to pull her up, tugging-tugging-tugging at her hand, yelling at her to get away. 

She snatches her hand back and tries to get up but it's too late. 

The ceiling collapses on us all. There is an explosion and fire consumes the part of the castle. 

A large chunk of the ceiling falls on me and I barely manage to get away in time. Louisa's feet get caught and she screams in agony. There is nothing but chaos around me. I think Alice is screaming, too. I think Frank is hurt. I think someone is calling my name. I don't know where James is. I don't know where James is —

"HELP!" I holler. "PLEASE! SOMEONE!"

No one is around, either the Aurors are all dead by now or they are too injured themselves to help another soul. 

I try to push away the debris but it's too heavy. Too caught up in helping Louisa, I don't notice the rubble above me. 

Something hits me in the head so hard I nearly black out. There is blood oozing out of the back of my head, dropping on my white shirt, staining it scarlet. 

There is grime all over my body from the fire, there is smoke in my lungs and i can't breathe, i cannot fucking breathe —

"ELENA!"

I don't hear him until he's close enough for me to feel his breath. "Elena, oh Merlin, ELENA!"

My lips tremble as i whisper her name, "Louisa. Help her."

Dots and vivd colours blind my vision and everything goes dark.