Flying Blind

Chapter8 The Guide Elf

After Ellenore was fully dressed, as her father had requested, she pulled her hair back into a pony tail and skipped happily into the sitting room. There were loads of presents from her friends and father; but the best gift of all was a surprise guest who brought something very important, later that day. She received a new set of potions books and supplies from her father, a Slytherin green velvet set of robes and a black, fur-lined cloak which were enchanted to adjust to the size of the wearer from her godparents and a lovely golden locket with the Slytherin insignia encrusted with emeralds from Draco.

From all of her other friends she received special two way parchments that would speak out loud the names of the message senders, as well as the messages that they were sending. She also received lots of her favourites like bertie botts every flavoured beans and pumpkin pasties. Ellenore and her friends had great fun sending messages back and forth and even playing games using the parchment. After about an hour of this, the others decided to go and open their own gifts, leaving Severus and Ellenore alone in the sitting room.

Severus poured himself a handful of every flavoured beans and popped them into his mouth happily.

“Mmmmmm! I forgot how much I love these.” he said as he chewed them. Ellenore laughed as she gathered up her things and carried them to her room.

“Daddy, I didn’t know you liked them that much.” Severus smiled and leant up against the door frame as Ellenore put her things away.

“Sure I do, Elly. I was a kid once too, you know.”

“Really, Dad? And here I thought you were just born a stern, strong, fearless dad. Some people say that you have no sense of humour but I know that that’s not the case.” Severus whipped out his wand and cast a tickling charm on his unsuspecting daughter. Ellenore laughed and started rolling around on the carpet. “Daddy, that’s not fair I didn’t see it coming.” Severus chuckled softly before turning to leave her room.

“It’s a special occasion today, Poppet. Why don’t you change into that lovely set of robes that your godmother sent you and put on your new cloak from your godfather?”

Ellenore closed the bedroom door and quickly changed into the new outfit and ran her hands lovingly over the sleek soft fur that lined the inside of the new cloak. It was very nice of my godparents to give me such nice things for Christmas this year. I will have to write them a letter and thank them later this evening. As she exited her room, she noticed the smell of a familiar perfume in the air.

“Ms. Rosier, is that you?” she asked as she crossed the room and headed towards the sofa. Esmeralda smiled and rose from her seat to greet the former pupil.

“Your father has told me some wonderful things in regards to you, young lady. I thought I’d come in person and deliver a few gifts to you. These gifts are, in essence, from both your father and me.” She reached into her bag and handed Ellenore a velvet jewellery box. “These used to belong to your mother, I believe. Your father sent them to me and asked if it were possible to make them act like your other earrings that I gave you, back when we first met. So I have made the needed magical adjustments, and now you can have a bit more of a choice when it comes to your ear decorations. Every girl needs a choice and, as I remember, you were quite attached to these.” Ellenore removed the silver studs and put on her mother’s old emerald earrings in their place.

“Thank you both for this. It really means a lot to be able to wear my mother’s old earrings.” said Ellenore as she hugged them both in turn. Esmeralda handed Ellenore two envelopes and smiled warmly.

“Don’t thank me until you read the contents of those envelopes.” Ellenore opened one of the envelopes and read a piece of parchment that only had a few words written on it.