Restoration

Chapter Fifteen

***

Brought into the emergency ward, Professor McGonagall called for two strong Healers, who worked for the ministry. Devastated and shocked by the state of the three students, she ordered Healers to look for any internal damage as she feared they had gotten into a fight, using charms they weren't educated nor strong enough to cast.

She was trying to figure out the connection between the three of them - and how could they have possibly fought, as she knew Elara and Anthony had become good friends in the last few weeks, as he helped her to shift realities to get rid of the nasty little spell preventing her from talking about her past. She also knew that the Malfoy boy always found his way into trouble, whether be it with the Potter boy or Elara, as of recent. She couldn't quite understand the basis of their hatred against each other, aside from trying to beat each other in classes. It did cross her mind, however, if Elara was actually innocent in this fight, and only a victim of the boys' peacocking and trying to impress the same girl. Having seen lovers' quarrels all before, she decided to let it go for now and let the students heal and wake up.

One of the healers immediately sensed the use of dark magic, although he couldn't trace it back to any of them.

"I don't think any of them would be capable of practicing it," lied Professor McGonagall, knowing well Elara was the only one capable of doing it. It was forbidden to practice dark magic, especially on student grounds.

The two healers pushed the three beds with the students on them together, sat at their feet while swinging their wands in slow and gentle movements. They explained it would most likely take hours for them to fully rebuild any damage. With Elara lying in between the two boys, most of the bright magic from the healer's wands traveled towards her head.

"The girl has some extensive injuries," murmured one of them.

"It looks like as if she...as if she used herself to shield the two of them," added the other, confirming Professor McGonagall's thoughts. Even though no one knew what had happened in the forest, Professor was now certain Elara meant no harm to either of them, as she potentially sacrificed her well-being for theirs.

Even though they appeared to be asleep, they were put into an induced coma, and all of their subconscious minds began to drift into dreams. And as Elara and Anthony were more experienced when it came to shifting realities and dreams, their paths eventually crossed. Most likely because Anthony purposefully sought Elara.

Sat on a bench in a park, Elara neared him, observing his stiff body posture as he stared into the distance.

"I guess you're not as strong as you thought," he quietly stated, "I thought we were friends."

Elara didn't dare to meet his eyes, as she was too ashamed. She didn't expect for this to happen, let alone to get him or Draco into danger. When she cast the Forgetfulness Charm, as she had many times before, she didn't think the charm could fail her. But as she was exhausted from the fall and casting the concealing charm on Draco, her body wasn't strong enough to perform a second, very powerful spell, thus resulting in Anthony remembering it all.

"I know it's way overdue, but...could I show you?" Elara softly replied, her nails pressing deep into her palm.

"You're not strong enough," Anthony dismissed her.

"We're dreaming, Goldstein, it's not real," she corrected him, trying to touch his hand. And as her hand reached for his, instead of touching him, it went right through him. Elara gasped and observed her translucent hand, which sparkled underneath the sunlight.

"You're not here nor there," Anthony blurted out, reaching for her hand in vain.

"Am I...dying?" Elara gulped down the knot in her throat. And as Anthony's face grew sadder and he remained silent, she nodded and smiled to herself.