The Reading of the Past

Chapter 3: The Book Ceremony

"Elli! Wake up!" Pansy Parkinson, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass shrieked. Most of the students weren't surprised at Elliot's random blackout. It had happened about seven times that year alone. They often heard her muttering about "moral decisions" and other things, but paid no mind. It was usual for Seers.

She groaned. "I went into the Darkness, didn't I?"

Pansy slowly nodded.

"Darkness, Ms. McCauley?" Dumbledore looked extremely interested, but his eyes held worry instead of their usual twinkle.

"Darkness," started Elliot, "is a place to go when Seers go wrong. If you violate a rule. I violated Rule 1 and Rule 342." She looked down in shame. "That was my first time violating a rule."

"Tsk, tsk tsk. You should've felt the repulsive aura, dearie," spoke Professor Trelawny. "It must've been a clear sign not to speak."

"They had to know, Aunt Sybil! They couldn't be uninformed!" Said Elliot while rolling her eyes.

"If you say so, dearie."

Elliot looked up at the ceiling and said, "We have visitors."

Right that instant, Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, the Diggory family, Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody and a black mutt ran into the room.

"I received..." panted Remus, "an... owl... about some..... Mem... Mem... Memorial... Books... Came... fast as... I could..."

The other adults nodded. It was the same story for them all. The dog barked.

"Have a seat, everyone," Dumbledore said, gesturing to a couch he conjured near the back of the hall.

Meanwhile, Elliot was fiddling with something on her left hand. Draco and Blaise quickly noticed.

"Whatcha got there, Elli?" the boys asked.

"Nothing." She put her hand in her hoodie pocket quick as possible. They watched cautiously as if she might put her hand out again, but she was much smarter than this. Instead, she played with it inside of her pocket.

The adults and dog had taken a seat already. Umbridge picked up a book, had it passed down to Harry so that he could begin and gave one final dramatic cough.

"The Boy Who Lived..."

Draco and Blaise were whispering when their eyes widened.

"ELLIOT!" Draco and Blaise suddenly yelled out. "WHY THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT RING?"

The entire hall turned to look at her, silent at first but building up in noise quickly until every student was whispering.