Restoration

Chapter Eighteen

***

Raised by two of the strongest people she knew, she was taught to never show weakness.

The summer before boarding the train at the platform 9¾, Elara was ordered to follow the lie her parents created for her non-magical friends. But having difficulties obeying to the full extent, she created her versions of the story she needed her other friends to believe.

"Your parents work for the secret service? No way!" gasped one of her oldest friends at her goodbye party.

"I knew your parents had to be in the army of some sort, they are always so strict and organized," added another friend, who made Elara think about her childhood.

Although kind and generous, her parents rarely showed affection towards each other. In fact, Elara couldn't remember them ever even kissing or hugging. But they were always loving to her, tucking her in bed and secretly buying her treats. Sometimes Elara felt as if they wanted her to be independent since the day she was born, as their main mantra was saying "nothing lasts forever". That was their response to her question the night before she left for Hogwarts, crying that she will miss them too much.

Elara sniffed and wiped away her tears the whole journey on the train as other students began making friends. Sat in an empty compartment, she didn't experience an easy start to her new magical world. She was also upset when the Sorting Hat chose Slytherin for her, as she noticed how the majority of students in her year frowned. It was only the older Slytherins that cheered and clapped, welcoming her into her new home as she sat by their table.

One of the key qualities her parents also installed, unknowingly perhaps, was the art of lying. As Elara got older, they called it "twisting the truth", making it sound like something everyone did to please their closest people or to protect themselves.

"You have to hide it somewhere safe where no one will find it, until I tell you to use it," Elara instructed Katie Bell.

She had used a compulsion charm, which made the victim vulnerable for a few moments. Once under the charm, they would do anything they were told, and wouldn't think about it or be able to speak about it unless the person who cast it ordered them to.

Elara had been observing her classmates for a while now, trying to learn who was the weakest when it came to fighting someone off mentally. She would love nothing more than to give the cursed necklace she stole off of Draco to Pansy, but as she knew she was possibly a very good opponent of her's, she chose someone innocent and too good for the world.

She thought for a moment if her parents would approve. Lying for a greater cause, as well as her safety, would be something they stood by. But putting another person at risk was not.

"I'm sorry," Elara whispered to her.

Making sure Katie followed her orders, she stalked her for an hour or so, only to see she went about her day as presumed. Making her way into the Great Hall, she bumped into Anthony, who suggested they practice shifting realities in one of their houses common rooms. Knowing Harry wasn't welcomed in Slytherin, nor she in Gryffindor, they agreed in meeting at Ravenclaw's common rooms.

After dinner, Anthony instructed Harry to follow them, already knowing his way to sneak around the castle without being seen. Opening the front doors, both Elara and Harry's eyes glistened at the enchantingly beautiful common room. A gigantic and circular room with gracefully shaped windows, which accented the bright white walls, which also carried one of the most enchanting paintings in all of Hogwarts.

"The view must be amazing during the day," Harry commented, gliding his fingertips past icy clear windows, which revealed the peaceful night sky.

"Thanks for the note," Elara whispered to Anthony, winking at him. She had no idea how Anthony managed to slip it underneath her door, and eventually set on thinking he must have asked one of his friends in Slytherin, if not even breaking into her house himself.