Restoration

Chapter Sixteen

***

Sleepily blinking into the enchanted ceiling above her, Elara squeezed her fists, nearly bumping into Draco as she stretched. Observing his asleep state, she nudged Anthony with her feet, who was sleeping as well. Laid down next to each other, the Healers used the oldest healing trick in the world- the human touch. The warmth and energy that oozed out their bodies helped with the rejuvenation, stimulating their damaged bodies to mend themselves.

Little over three in the morning, she tiptoed out the emergency ward. Looking back at the gigantic room, filled with empty beds, she chuckled to herself. She imagined the boys' reaction when they'd wake up lying next to each, possibly spooning.

It was that high-pitched voice that woke her up, guiding her back to the Slytherin chambers.

"If he fails, you shall not."

She slipped into Draco's shared chambers, entering unnoticed. With all the boys passed out after a long day of Hagrid's lessons and their classmates supposedly falling to their deaths, they snored in unison. It didn't take her long to find the cursed opal necklace, which Draco hid in a hole in his mattress. Disappearing as fast and quiet as she entered, no one, not even Filch patrolling the castle, noticed the late-night trespasser.

***

When Elara finally laid in her bed, she didn't wake up till nearly two days later - and Tracey told her that Anthony and Draco woke up after a day, asking about her. But by the orders of Professor McGonagall, no one was allowed to wake her up, and Pansy had to switch rooms till then, just in case she was up to something. But Tracey made sure anyone who stepped on their hallway was shooed away within moments, as she patrolled the doors to their chambers.

Elara felt slightly fragile as she put on her uniform, as she lost track of time. She didn't dream nor shifted realities in the past two days, but was instead knocked out completely.

"You can take a day off," Tracey kindly handed her robe, as Elara brushed her hair, which had more auburn highlights in them since the last time she'd seen it.

"No need, I feel fine," she shrugged it off.

They both missed breakfast time at the Great Hall, intentionally, because they were scared of prying eyes and sharp tongues. Elara especially wanted to avoid both of the boys, tired of explaining herself more and more. She was insecure about how Anthony had taken seeing her memories, but since no one had taken her to be interrogated about her association with Bellatrix Lestrange or the Death Eaters, she assumed he kept his word and truly trusted her.

Tracey briefed Elara on everything she'd missed since Friday's unfortunate class, handing her an apology note from Hagrid who had felt guilty and responsible for her injuries.

"I hope you will feel better soon. Please stop by whenever you feel comfortable, - H"

Chuckling to herself, she decided to visit him the same day to reassure him it was not his fault. Once she explained to Tracey what had happened, taking out the part where Anthony saw Draco's tattoo and figured out she was associated with the Death Eaters too, she realized Pansy made up a version on how everything went down. Or how everyone literally went down, crashing in the woods.

Entering their Transfiguration class, everyone stared Elara up and down, examining the bruises that covered her body from head to toe. Even professor McGonagall gawked at her, expecting her to be in better shape by now.

"Miss Dotson and Miss Davis, please have a seat," she greeted them, scanning the classroom for available spots.

"Over here," Hannah Abbott waved at them. Sat in the back row, the girls could barely see who had called for them. Elara noticed that Anthony was sat in the front row next to Luna, and they both nodded with their heads at her. He opened his mouth slightly, as if he was trying to say something, but decided to keep quiet.