07. I'VE DONE MY WAITING!

A few years went by and it was now the summer before Elara started her fifth year. She was quite nervous to start, the main reason being that it was her O.W.L. year. She also hadn't forgotten about her list of things to do before she graduated. She just decided to postpone it to her last two years, and just breeze through them all, seeing as it was O.W.L. year this year.

One day, Elara woke up and got changed into a dark purple dress and left her hair down and slipping some black boots on, before walking downstairs for breakfast. When she got to the dining room, Cedrella looked at her and then slid her the Daily Prophet.

On the front cover was a picture of her father, screaming at the camera and clutching his Azkaban number plate thing. The caption being "Escape from Azkaban!" She dropped the newspaper, and sat down in a chair, her fingers tightening around the edge of the table, knuckles turning white. "He-he escaped? He escaped?"

"Yes dear. He did." Cedrella knew that Sirius was innocent, as after almost a year had passed of Elara living with them, she told the Zabini's the truth. She felt bad that she was keeping such important information when they were giving her so much, and when Cedrella personally knew Sirius.

Elara dropped her head into her hands and was crying tears of happiness, her shoulders shaking. She heard someone walk in. "El? You alright? Mum, what's happened?" Bianca. She felt her wrap her arms around her.

Elara looked up, a watery smile on her face. "He escaped, Bia. My father escaped." Bianca's mouth dropped open, and she wrapped her best friend into a hug.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you El!"

But Elara was now frowning. "Problem is, people don't know what you know, they think he's guilty. He's a fugitive, and I'm going to be monitored now, meaning they'll be watching you too. I'm so sorry for this inconvenience."

"Nonsense, darling. You're family now, and so is Sirius. But I do have some other good news. I got a letter from Remus today. He has a surprise for you." Cedrella smiled and handed her a letter. Elara raised a perfect eyebrow before slitting the letter open with a butter knife. She unfolded it and began reading aloud.

Dear Elara,

I have some great news for you. I only found out about this recently, but I will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year at Hogwarts. I'll see you on that train.

Love,

Uncle Moony

"HE'S TEACHING US!" Elara squealed loudly, dropping the letter and jumping around, waving her arms around. "WHOO! I CAN GET IN MORE TROUBLE NOW!"

"OH FOR FUCKS SAKE EL!" Blaise screamed from the other room. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

"HOW ABOUT YOU SHUT YOURS BLAISE!" She retaliated.

"HOW ABOUT YOU BOTH SHUT UP!" Bianca yelled.

Cedrella smiled, seeing her children interact with someone else. She loved them so much, and having Elara around brought Blaise out of his shy and quiet shell slightly, and Bianca wasn't so insecure anymore. Some girls teased her about who her mother was.

The months went by and soon it was September 1st. Elara woke up with a smile on her face (for once) at the thought of seeing Theodore and her beloved Uncle Moony whom she had not seen in a very long time.

She got dressed quickly in a grey hoodie, black jeans and her black leather jacket over top. She paired it with some black boots and grabbed her trunk. She walked downstairs and headed for the dining room with a grin on her face. Bianca noticed it and smirked.

"Excited?"

"Very."

"And why is that, Elara?" Cedrella said, putting her newspaper down and sipping her tea, an eyebrow raised in questioning.

"Well, I get to go to my first home. I get to see my god brother, my cousin, my friends, my uncle."

"And a certain Nott?" Bianca said suggestively.

"Bianca darling, I believe Theodore falls under the category of friends, unless I'm mistaken and he's a professor or something?"

"Oh shut up El, you know what I mean." Bianca rolled her eyes.

"Do I?" The black haired girl grabbed some toast and lathered peanut butter on top of it before biting into it happily. Then she washed it down with some tea.

"Can we go?" Elara was hyper, hopping from one foot to the other as she stood next to the door with her trunk in hand. Cedrella laughed.

"You're quite excited, aren't you?"

"I need to tell Theo about my dad, I don't think he knows, he would have owled me about it." She frowned for a moments before going back to her bouncing. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!."

"Oh my god El, would you calm down for a second?" Blaise grumbled. Elara stopped moving for a second, then went back to her bouncing, giving him a smirk, and taking him very literally. "That's not what I mean and you know it."

"Or do I?"

"Let's go kids. All of you grab onto me, somehow, no one touch the hair please, I've got somewhere to be after I'm done dropping you off, and I would like to be decent." Cedrella said, holding her arms out. Bianca and Blaise grabbed her arms, and she placed her hand on Elara's shoulder. Now that they were all connected, Cedrella Apparated.

They appeared on the platform with the giant, scarlet train in front of them. People were bustling around. And when Elara looked around, she could see people laughing, crying, saying goodbye to their families. Mothers and fathers hugging their children. She turned back to the Zabini's and Cedrella wrapped her in a motherly hug, then kissed her cheek. "Have a good year darling."

"Thank you, Drella." Elara nodded before walking around everyone and getting on the train. She found a compartment and levitated her trunk onto the net thing above the seats. Then sat down on one of the seats, and leaned her head against the window, loving the feeling of the cool glass against her cheek.

She sighed and then turned to face the open door. Someone walked by. Someone with familiar dark hair and dark clothes. Someone wearing their Slytherin robes already. She grinned and walked out. "Theodore Nott!" She called, causing people to look out from their compartments. She looked at them all. "None of your fucking business, go away."

The person turned around, and it was indeed Theodore Nott. He had let his hair grow out slightly this summer, and it was slightly curly. He smiled and one of his dimples showed. Elara grinned and ran into his open arms. "Hi Lara."

"Hey Theo." She mumbled into his shoulder. "I missed you."

"I missed you more."

"Impossible." She grabbed his arm and lead him back to the compartment she left her stuff in. He put his trunk beside hers, and then sat down opposite her, and beside the window. The train began moving and Elara leaned forward, causing Theodore to do the same thing.

"I have something to tell you. Well, two somethings actually."

"Go on." He had a curious look in his eyes, urging her to go on.

"Alright, so first of all, I don't know if you've heard, but there was a breakout from Azkaban?"

"Oh yeah, my father said someone very dangerous escaped, he wouldn't tell me who though. Do you know?" Theodore asked, eyebrows furrowed.

Elara laughed. "Know him? It's my father Theo! He escaped!" Theodore's mouth dropped open and he stood, sat beside her, and then hugged her. "He's free Theo! Well, as free as a fugitive is. I wish I could contact him, but they're probably monitoring me, and Cedrella as well now. Since I live at theirs."

"That's great Lara! The fact that he escaped Azkaban of all places. That's incredible. I want to ask him how."

"Well, maybe once we've freed him, you can ask him all the questions your heart desires. But moving on to other very exciting news. Uncle Moony is teaching this year!" She beamed happily.

"What? That's amazing! What subject is he teaching?" Theodore remembered the kind man who and not hesitated in responding to his letter regarding Elara, and immediately helping her. He knew that Remus Lupin cared deeply about her.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"Is he on the train?"

"I believe so. He said he'd see me, maybe we can go look for him later on." Elara knew he would be exhausted, considering last night was a full moon. He would probably be sleeping, so she wanted to postpone seeing him until later, when they got closer to Hogwarts.

"Yeah, of course. Now, tell me about your summer."

"Only if you tell me about yours."

"It was shitty, but sure."

MINI TIME SKIP

"Can we go look for everyone now?" Elara asked, slightly impatient, she wanted to see her cousin, the twins, her god brother, maybe Uncle Moony.

"Yeah, let's go." Theodore stood up and held his hand out for Elara to grab. She took it and he pulled her upward, not letting go of her hand after. They walked down the narrow corridor until they got closer to a compartment that was filled with laugher.

"That must be the twins then." Elara grinned, sliding the door open to reveal three boys. Two of them identical, with ginger hair and freckles. The other having darker skin and dreadlocks. "Hello boys."

"Elara!" They yelled, standing up and rushing at her. She let go of Theodores hand to hug them all.

"How have your summers been?" She sat down. Theodore sent her a look and she nodded, signaling that it was ok if he wanted to leave. While he knew the twins, he wasn't very close to them, so he decided to leave and maybe find Adrian, or their Quidditch captain, Montague.

"Ours was pretty great." Fred grinned.

"Yeah, we went to Egypt." George continued.

"Tried to lock Percy in a pyramid."

"Mum caught us."

"Brilliant. And you Lee?" Elara grinned at the thought of their uptight brother being locked in a pyramid and screaming his head off at them.

"Oh it was alright I suppose, not as brilliant as their summer. We went to France to visit one of my aunts. She got married, so there was food, and plenty of it."

Suddenly the lights turned off and it got cold. "Guys, what's happening?"

"Power outage?"

"This is the fucking Hogwarts express, George, there aren't any power outages!" Lee exclaimed.

A figure in a cloak floated by their door, it stopped and then opened the door, walking in. it was a dementor. Elara assumed they were looking for her father. It came closer to her, and she started remembering things.

//FLASHBACK//

"Hey Ellie? Want to go see Uncle James, Aunt Lily and baby Harry? We can give them some sweeties?" Her father asked her. She was sat on the floor, playing with her dollies. As soon as she heard that, she stood and laughed.

"YES DADDY! PLEASE!" He laughed and picked her up, along with the bag of sweets before apparating to the Potters house in Godrics Hollow.

They appeared in front of a house. But it didn't look like the Potters house. It was in ruins, a wall blasted off, windows shattered, door off its hinges. Sirius dropped the candy and ran inside with Elara still in his arms.

He stopped in the living room, seeing a body. He placed Elara on the ground where she wandered over to it. it was her Uncle James, but he was sleeping? She giggled. "Uncle Prongsie? Wake up silly! It's not time for bed! It's time for sweeties!"

"Uncle Prongsie? Uncle Prongsie! Daddy, why isn't he waking up?!" Elara was getting hysterical now. "DADDY WHATS WRONG WITH HIM?"

"Oh sweetheart." Sirius hugged her. "Uncle Prongsie is gone baby. He went to a better place."

"Why did he leave me? Daddy why did he leave us? Did he get bored of me?"

"No of course not baby! But a bad man came and took him away." Sirius was crying, his brother, his closest friend was gone now. That lighthearted boy with the messy black hair and soft hazel eyes was dead. The boy who offered his home to Sirius when he didn't have one. The one who stuck by him through it all. He was gone. No more was that goofy guys, no more were the pranks, no more was seeing Elara on the bag of his stag form, prancing around the living room. Now, he was lifeless.

//FLASHBACK OVER//

//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//

"NO!" Elara screamed, shooting upwards. She realised it was all not real and was crying now. She missed her dad. She missed her uncle James. She missed her aunt Lily. She missed the good old days when everything was okay.

"Lara?" Theodores voice penetrated her thoughts. She looked up and opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. He wrapped her in a hug. Memories of the first time they met popped into her head and she almost smiled at the familiarity of the scene. She had bad memories and he comforted her.

"El?" She heard a tired voice say. Elara looked up to see her Uncle Moony.

"Uncle Moony." She cried. She let go of Theodore and her uncle hugged her tightly. "I miss them so much. I miss them Uncle Moony. I miss them. I want them back. Why did Uncle James have to die. Why did he have to leave? Uncle Moony why?" She was getting hysterical and her uncle didn't know what to do, never having seen her like this before.

Theodore stepped closer. "Let me." He took her from his arms and wrapped her in his own. "Elara. Listen to me. They might be gone, but guess what. We're still here. I'm here, and Bianca, Harry, Draco, Blaise, your uncle. We're all here. Even the twins. Your father is still here. And if you think we're gonna leave you, you are sorely mistaken."

She calmed down and had her head against his chest, tear tracks glittering on her face, and it was then that she became aware of where she was. She was on the floor of their compartment. The twins and Lee sat close by, concerned looks on their faces. Draco and Blaise stood at the door. Bianca was sat near her, Harry, Ron and Hermione on the benches and her uncle crouching down in front of her.

"Hey guys." She looked at Harry and saw his red eyes. "C'mere Harry."

Harry walked towards her and she wrapped him in a hug. "I heard my mum die." He sniffled.

"And I saw your father's body, and my father being taken away from me." She replied. "Guess we're both fucked up. There wasn't time to do a Patronus. I can't even do a corporeal one."

"We can talk about that later, we're about to arrive." Lupin said before getting up and ushering the kids out of the compartment, and they all left except for the twins, Lee, Draco, the Zabini's and Theodore.

Blaise walked up to her and hugged her, shocking her. "You scared the crap out of us El. Fucking learn how to protect yourself, merlin's beard."

Elara scowled and pushed him away, "Alright, shut up. As if you would do any better." He shook his head and then walked to stand outside of the compartment. Draco came forward, a worried look on his face.

"I hate you so much."

"No, you don't." She grinned, holding her arms out. Draco rolled his eyes before coming forward for a hug, and then backing away and standing beside Blaise.

"El, we're headed off to find the trio."

"Mhm, sure, have fun with Hermione." She replied absent-mindedly, causing Draco's cheeks to turn a bright pink.

"Shut up." He called over his shoulder as him and Blaise walked away. Then Bianca shuffled closer to her, her eyes bright with tears.

"Hey Bia." Elara greeted her softly.

"Hi." Bianca hugged her tightly, sniffling. "You scared me so bad Elara."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

"It's alright. Just please, try and learn the charm?" Bianca pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Save us all the worry." Then she whispered into her ear. "You scared the shit out of Theodore. I thought he was going to literally break down." Before pulling away and waving goodbye, then walking out.

Elara stood up, and waved to the twins and Lee, before walking out, followed by Theodore. She stood in the middle of the corridor, no idea where to go, having lost all sense of direction temporarily. Theodore walked in front of her and lead her to their compartment, the one they had their trunks in.

He sat down and she sat beside him, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I'm gonna learn the charm with you."

"Why?"

"So that I can protect you when you can't protect yourself."