03. WE'RE GOING ON A TRIP...

Weeks had passed and soon it was September 1st. Elara was waiting at the door for the orphanage head – Mrs. Oldman. She was to drive her to Kings Cross. That took a lot of convincing, considering Mrs. Oldman hated her and everyone else in the orphanage.

She had dressed warm, as it was starting to get cold now. Elara was dressed in some ripped jeans, a white turtleneck, some boots and a black beanie atop her hair.

Mrs. Oldman walked down the stairs and towards Elara. "Come on Elara. Let's go. I haven't got all day for you." Elara turned to leave and then she heard one of the other kids taunt her.

"Have fun at your posh boarding school Elara. Maybe you'll cause so much trouble, you'll be sent to prison like your psycho daddy." Elara clenched her jaw. She knew it was a bad idea to fight her, so she just flicked her finger slightly and caused a little box that sat on a table to fly up and smack into the girls head.

The girl screamed and Elara smirked, continuing her way to the car, where an oblivious Mrs. Oldman waited. They drove to the station and Mrs. Oldman didn't even get out of the car, she just stopped at the entrance and waited for the young Black to get out. "See you in June, you little rascal. I'll have the cane waiting."

Elara grabbed her trunk and left, not bothering to say anything back. She headed right for platforms 9 and 10. Knowing exactly where her platform was. Mrs. Flamel had informed her that she needed to walk through the barrier that was between platforms 9 and 10.

Elara tightened her grip on her trunk, which she was pulling behind her. And then ran right for the barrier, passing through smoothly. She emerged on the other side to see a massive scarlet engine and a sign that said, 'Platform 9 ¾'. She smiled happily and headed for one of the doors, lugging her trunk behind her.

She threw it onto the train and hopped up after it, before grabbing hold of the handle and continuing on her way with the trunk trailing behind her. She walked past all the compartments, finding most of them full, until she stopped at one that was empty, so she slid the door open and walked in, sliding it shut after her.

Elara pulled her wand from her boot and pointed it at her trunk. "Wingardium Leviosa." The trunk floated up into the air and positioned itself on the net/shelf thing above the seats, then she lay down on one of the benches and took up the whole thing.

She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Suddenly images flashed through her mind.

//FLASHBACK//

Someone carrying her away from her father. He tried to go after her but someone retrained him. "NO PLEASE! DON'T TAKE HER AWAY! PLEASE!" He screamed, his dark hair falling into his eyes, tears dripping down his cheeks as he screamed and yelled and fought against his captors.

She remembered crying in someone's arms, crying for her father. Reaching her small arms out for him. "DADDY!"

"ELARA! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BABY! I LOVE YOU MY LITTLE MOON! STAY STRONG!" He managed to get out before someone stunned him and he fell to the ground.

Elara screamed for her father and got no response from his unconscious body. "DADDY! DADDY!" She kept screaming and calling for her father.

//FLASHBACK OVER//

Elara sat up with a gasp and began breathing heavily, tears clouding her vision as she tried to regulate her breathing and see clearly. She felt someone sit beside her and place a hand on her shoulder. Her hands flew up in a panic and she flapped them around, still not being able to breathe properly.

"Here, deep breath in, hold it, then let it out." He did it himself and Elara tried her best to mimic it. She took a huge breath and then raggedly let it out, repeating it several times to calm herself. Her breathing slowly regulated and she lifted her hands to wipe her tears, being able to see clearly now.

She turned to face the boy beside her. "Tha-thank you. Thank you."

He nodded, a small smile on his face. "It was no problem. Are you alright?" He asked, a concerned look on his face. He had dark black hair and green eyes.

"If I'm being honest, not really."

"Does this happen often?" He asked.

"No. This was the first time, actually. How- how did you know what to do?"

"I saw someone do it before, and I guess it popped in my head when I saw you struggling, and I knew to do it."

"Well, I'm eternally grateful." She laughed slightly. "My father went here, and I haven't seen him in very long. I guess it brought up memories."

"Well, here's to hoping we end up in the same house so I can help you if this ever happens again."

"Is that the only reason you hope we end up in the same house?"

"Maybe, maybe not." He grinned.

Suddenly the door to the compartment slid open and they both looked up to see someone stood there. "Oooh, looks like I interrupted something huh? Were you crying? Oh, what a little baby." The boy at the door screwed up his face and pretend to bawl like a baby.

Elara rolled her eyes and pointed her wand at the door, whispering a spell and causing it to shut and hit his face in the process. The boy beside her burst out laughing and so did she.

"That was bloody brilliant!"

"Thank you." She grinned. "And thank you again for helping me."

"Of course." He smiled back at her. "I'm Theodore Nott. But you can call me Theo." He was wary of saying his family name to her. The Notts were notorious for being supporters of the Dark Lord, and while he didn't want to go down that path, it didn't mean that people wouldn't judge him for being part of a family that did.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Theo." He had a shocked look on his face. "I have heard of your family, but each person decides their fate. And I can assure you, you won't be the only one struggling with assumptions." She sighed.

"I'm Elara Black." She introduced herself.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Can I call you Lara?" He smiled at what could be his first true friend.

"Of course."

"I've heard of your father. Is it true that he betrayed the Potters? You seem to have good memories, or thoughts of him."

"No." Elara replied. "Most people think it was Dad who betrayed the Potters." Elara didn't know why she was telling Theodore this. But, for some reason, she felt she could trust him. "Pettigrew, the guy everyone thought my father killed, he did it. I'll tell you the whole story another day, but Dumbledore let my father go to Azkaban without a trial."

"How could Dumbledore do that?" He asked, shocked. He believed her. It was something about the look in her eyes and the raw emotion in her voice. No one could make this up.

"I honestly don't know. Dumbledore is known for his second chances, yet he abandoned my father, left him without so much of a look back."

"That's horrible."

"Indeed it is. But, it's also a very dull thing to talk about, so let's change the conversation."

They spent the rest of the train ride talking. About their hobbies, their lives, and anything else that popped into their heads. When the announcement came that they were arriving soon, Elara grabbed her robes and headed to the bathroom to change.

When she came out of the stall, she looked in the mirror. Her hair was straight and sleek, falling perfectly down her back. She had tucked her beanie away. She was wearing her robes over a jumper and skirt, and had it paired with some combat boots.

As she ran her hand through her hair, someone walked out of the other stall. She had wavy brown hair and tanned skin. "Hi."

"Hey." Elara smiled at her.

"Are you a first year?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Same. I'm Bianca Zabini." Zabini. An Italian family. She must be the daughter of Cedrella Zabini. The woman who had 7 husbands, each of whom died mysteriously, leaving her immense mounds of money. Elara was very intrigued by the notorious Black Widow.

"Pleasure to meet you Bianca. I'm Elara. Elara Black." She held her hand out.

"It's wonderful to meet you Elara." Bianca shook her hand.

"Well, I do have to go now, but I'll see you later?"

"Of course." Bianca smiled and Elara left the bathroom, headed back to her compartment. She walked in with a smile on her face.

"Theo, I think I made another friend." Theodore turned around and faced her, patting the space beside him. She sat, cross-legged and tossed her hair back.

"Do tell." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"Her name is Bianca Zabini, and we just met in the bathroom. I'm a huge fan of her mother."

"Well, don't tell me that you plan on marrying 7 men and then they mysteriously die and leave you lots of money."

"Oh don't worry, Theo. I've got plenty of money. I don't think I'll be needing someone else's wealth. Besides, why have 7 men when I could have one whom I could love very much."

"Wise words." He nodded, a fake thoughtful look on his face.

The train stopped and the pair stood. Elara grabbed Theodore's hand. "To make sure we don't get separated." She said, before walking out and into the bustle of the corridors. She dragged him outside into the brisk autumn air and towards a man who was yelling.

He was calling all the first years to the boats, and so Elara pulled Theodore towards an empty one, and they sat down. Elara looked around for the paddles and frowned when she found none. "Theo, there's no paddles."

"My father told me that they're rowed magically." Theodore explained to his new friend. She nodded her head understandingly. They were soon joined by two ginger boys, twins.

"Hi!" Elara waved, a bright smile on her face. Theodore, although not as welcoming, sent them a small smile.

"Hey!" They chorused.

"I'm Fred."

"And I'm George."

"Weasley." They both said together.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Elara Black."

"Black?" Fred questioned.

"As in Sirius Black?"

Theodores eyes flicked back and forth between them and Elara, gauging her reaction. She nodded. "Yeah, he's my father."

"Wicked." They both muttered, causing her to grin. The boats started moving, and they rowed themselves smoothly across the surface of the black lake, causing little ripples to appear.

A huge tentacle burst from the water, spraying the boats near it with water and it slammed back in and went under. The students could see the faint outline of a huge squid before it disappeared. Elara looked at it in awe, making it her mission to tickle its tentacles and swim with it before she graduated in 7 years. 7 years, that was a lot of time for her to make a bucket list of things to do in Hogwarts, and knowing her, she was going to complete it.

The boats soon went under a bunch of moss and when they emerged on the other side, the children had the perfect view of the castle. It stood high upon the edge of the hill, its towers rising high, to the point where they seemed to be touching the sky, and the stars. Warm lights came from the window, and it radiated huge amounts of magic.

"Theo. It's so pretty." Elara was in awe.

Theodore chuckled. "Yeah it is." But he wasn't looking at the castle. He was looking at Elara. He thought she was pretty. That was all.

They docked and the man lead them up the cobblestone steps to a huge door, where he knocked, shaking his head to get rid of the hair in his eyes. The door swung open almost automatically. A tall black-haired witch in scarlet robes stood there. Professor McGonagall. Elara turned to Theodore and nudged him.

"She came to get me from the orphanage!" Before looking back at the front. Theodore's eyes widened at the mention of an orphanage. He had assumed she lived with her mother, after all, he knew that she wasn't dead.

McGonagall had noticed her and her stern look softened slightly. She thanked the man and led the first years inside into a large hall. They followed her into an empty chamber just off to the side and she stood in front of them all as they gathered around her.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." She started. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She finished her brief explanation. "I will be back when we are ready for you."

Theodore turned to Elara who had let go of his hand and was sat on the ground, cross-legged. She was running her hand through her hair absent-mindedly. "Lara. What house do you want to get in?"

"That's a surprise. What about you?" She winked.

"Slytherin." Theodore replied without a moment's hesitation. He may not be like his father, but he was a Slytherin through and through. Sneaky, sly, cunning, quiet, plotting in the background. He was very ambitious, all qualities of a Slytherin.

Elara nodded her head, impressed with his determination. "Cool." She grinned, before turning to the twins stood behind them. "What house do you suppose you'll be in?"

"Gryffindor." They both grinned.

"Our whole family has been in Gryffindor." George began.

"Don't think we'll be breaking the streak now." Fred continued.

"I think Ron might though. He seems like a Hufflepuff."

"And what's wrong with that?" Elara crossed her arms over her chest, raising a perfect eyebrow at the mischievous pair.

"Nothing." They nervously replied.

"Mhm." She turned back to look at Theodore to see him grinning. "What?"

"Oh I just think it's awesome how you've only just got here and you're already threatening people."

"You best get used to it, Theo, it seems I'll be doing a lot of it here." She said, and just as she did, McGonagall walked in.

"Follow me." She said before leaving the hall, with the first years behind her, in one straight line.

They walked into a huge hall, which Elara supposed was the Great Hall. She had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets.

At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.

Elara looked everywhere, and ended up looking up and she saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. She had read about this ceiling in Hogwarts: A History. It was spelled to look just like the sky outside.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. It opened its mouth? And began singing.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

McGonagall stepped forward, holding a long piece of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." Then began calling name in alphabetical order. Elara knew as a Black, that her name was coming up, so she took the time she had before she had to go up, to look around the hall.

Her eye caught on the banner of a lion. Gryffindor, her father's house. The banner was coloured in gold and scarlet, bold colours. She looked around the table, seeing people laughing and on their uniforms the Gryffindor lion. She smiled.

"Black, Elara."

And there they were.

The whispers.

Elara looked over at Theodore, and the green-eyed boy smiled at her reassuringly. She raised her head proudly, and walked up the steps and towards the stood. She sat and crossed her leg over the other. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and it sank down, covering her eyes.

"Another Black?"

"Hello. You must be the hat. Wait, that was stupid. Of course you're the hat. Who else would be talking to me in my head." Elara rolled her eyes.

"You're like your father." The hat chuckled. "But also at the same time, you're quite like Regulus."

"My uncle?"

"Yes. He was younger that your father. And he was sorted into Slytherin. Unlike your father-"

"Who broke Black tradition. I know the story. Can you get on with sorting me? It's weird having someone in my fucking head."

"Feisty, well better be..."