30. WE FIGHT AND WE MAKE UP

When Elara woke up, she noticed she was in a hospital bed, and Theodore was pacing next to her bed. "Good morning."

Theodore looked over at her, and his worried look morphed into a relieved one. He walked to her bed and sat down beside her, hugging her tightly. "I'm going to seriously hurt that man one day."

"I'll help." She mumbled into his shoulder. "Hey, I've been meaning to tell you, Harry's coming to Romania with me this summer."

"What?" He let go of her and looked at her, the look in his eyes incomprehensible. "He's coming with you?"

"Yeah."

"And I can't?"

"Theo-"

"Elara, you're leaving for the summer, I understand that, I'm not happy about it, but it doesn't mean I don't understand. But, you're taking someone else with you that isn't me. What that tells me, is that you could have asked me to go, but you don't want me to come with you. Is that it? Have you finally grown bored of me? I knew it was too good to be true, because why would you want to be with me?"

"No, I-"

"Save it." He snapped, before standing and leaving, slamming the door of the hospital wing behind him. Elara was left sat there, the aching pain in her head now accompanied by an aching pain in her heart.

She could feel her eyes welling up, and a tear slipped down her cheek. The door opened and she hastily wiped it away, sniffing. Sirius walked in, a confused look on his face. "Why did I just see Theodore storm out looking very angry?"

He looked over and his confused changed into concern. He rushed over and hugged Elara. "Little moon, hey, hey, what's wrong. Did Theodore hurt you?"

Elara let out a shaky laugh. "No, no, he didn't do anything wrong. It's my fault. He's just angry that I'm taking Harry with him to Romania and not him. And he thinks I don't love him, and-" Elara couldn't continue, and she starting crying, pressing her hands to her face.

Sirius' grip around her tightened, and he shushed her. "It's alright, El, I'm sure it's going to be alright."

"That's what Theodore said to me. But it isn't fine, is it? He hates me, Dad."

"Oh, El."

The following days, Elara didn't return to the dorms. She didn't sleep, she spent her time at the top of the Astronomy tower, staring at the stars, not even bothering to recite their names, because she knew she would not sleep unless she had Theodore with her, and she didn't.

Bianca knew everything, and she was worried about her friend, who seemed tired all day, getting energy potions from Madam Pomfrey. Elara tried to sleep once, in Bianca's bed, but she woke up screaming and decided to not try again.

The day before they were to head back home, and Elara and Harry to the dragon sanctuary, Dumbledore wanted to speak with everyone. When Elara entered the Hall, she saw at once that the usual decorations were missing. The Great Hall was normally decorated with the winning House's colours for the Leaving Feast. Tonight, however, there were black drapes on the wall behind the teachers' table. Elara knew instantly that they were there as a mark of respect to Cedric.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table now, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him. Madame Maxime was still there. She was sitting next to Hagrid. They were talking quietly together. Further along the table, sitting next to Professor McGonagall, was Snape.

"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year."

He paused, and his eyes fell upon the Hufflepuff table. Theirs had been the most subdued table before he had gotten to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest faces in the Hall.

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."

They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Cedric Diggory."

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," Dumbledore continued. "He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about. Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfectly calm as he watched them mutter themselves into silence.

"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so — either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."

"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Cedric's death," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Harry Potter."

A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Harry's direction before flicking back to face Dumbledore. "Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "He risked his own life to return Cedric's body to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honour him. The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened — of Lord Voldemort's return — such ties are more important than ever before."

Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table.

"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again — in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief — and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken — that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst. Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

After the speech, Elara left the table and walked back to the Slytherin common rooms to get her trunk. She had been wearing Bianca's clothes, being too scared to enter her and Theodore's dorm, and too scared to face him. But she supposed she had to now.

So, she stood outside the door, knowing he was inside, as she could hear him moving around inside. She knocked, and the movement stopped. "Hey, Theo." She started talking, her voice soft. "It's Elara. I know you probably don't want to see me right now, or ever. But, I'm leaving tomorrow, and I can't- I-"

She sighed. "I- you don't know how this has affected me, maybe you've an inkling of it, but, me being without you, me not seeing you, or seeing you and knowing that you probably hate me, it does bad things to my head, and my heart. God, Theodore, my fucking heart, it hurts. It hurts so fucking bad." Her voice cracked and she let some tears slip from her eyes. Elara sniffled and wiped them away, laughing shakily.

"Sorry, I sound so emotional. It's the lack of sleep. I did try and sleep the first night but guess what happened. Nightmares. I woke up the whole dorm with my screaming. It was you again, dead, ripped apart. Blood everywhere." Her voice was emotionless. "I haven't slept in almost a week. I've been sitting at the top of the Astronomy tower every night, just staring at the stars."

Another sigh. "I really am sorry. I didn't ask you to come with me because I wanted you to spend some time with someone other than me. I see how happy you are when you spend time with the twins. They're nice, you like them. They're good friends, but because you're always with me, you don't make friends other than our Slytherin mates. And that isn't healthy. I love you, I do, so much that it hurts me to be away from you. but Harry hasn't had the best summers, ever, and now that this whole shit has happened, he needs this summer more than ever.

"I did plan this before, because I knew he would need a break after the Tournament. I just never expected someone to die, and this to affect him so much. Just please, please, I need you to know that I love you, so, so much. You have my heart, you always have, and I'm begging you, please don't break it. it's fragile, especially lately. I'm sorry."

Theodore was listening to all of this, his hair dishevelled, bags under his eyes and his hands shaking. There were dried tear tracks on his face, and a little stubble. He opened the door and saw the love of his life stood there.

She was wearing one of Bianca's black dressed and had her leather jacket on over it. Her hair was loose, and uncombed, eyes red, glittering tears on her cheeks, both wet and dry. He looked down to her hands and she unclenched them, letting him see the bloody marks in her palms.

"Hi." She showed a watery smile, another tear slipping down, and her sniffing and brushing it away hastily.

"Hey." His voice was hoarse from lack of use. He hadn't talked much this past week. "Your hand, wh-"

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She tried to hide her hand behind her back, but he grabbed it before she could and held it up. There were old and new cuts in her palm, all of them from her nails digging in when she clenched her fists. "It's fine, I'm fine." She tried to pull her hand away.

"Elara, you're not. Look at your fucking hand. Did- what have you done to yourself?" He brushed his thumb over the little cuts.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"I'm the one who should be saying sorry."

"You didn't do anything wrong." She dragged her palms under her eyes quickly. "This is my fault."

"No it isn't. I was an arsehole, and a dickwad and a bastard and I suck and I'm the worst boyfriend ever. I'm so sorry. I- I didn't mean anything I said."

"You didn't?" She whispered.

"No, and I never will." Theodore said, a look of sureness on his face.

"So, you don't hate me."

Theodore leaned forward and kissed his girlfriend deeply. When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against hers. "I never could."

She took his hand and placed it above where her heart was. He could feel it beating furiously. "Don't break my heart. See what it does when you're around me."

He took her hand and kissed it, before placing it above his own heart, which beat just as fast as hers. "You have mine just as I have yours."

"Are we ok?"

"More than ok. We're perfect Lara." Theodore hugged her, nuzzling his nose into her neck and taking a deep breath, happy to have her back in his arms once more.

"I'm glad. Not being with you is exhausting." Elara placed a hand on either side of his face. "Have you not slept?"

"More than you, but not much."

"Can we sleep? Please? I'm so tired." Elara yawned just then and dropped her head on his chest.

"C'mere." He picked her up and carried her to the bed, before placing her down and laying down himself. "Not gonna get changed?"

"I'm too tired."

Theodore lay down and closed his eyes. He lifted his arm, letting her lay down before wrapping his arm around her. Elara closed her eyes, and she let herself drift off into a black abyss.

The next morning was a rush of Elara hurrying to get her things packed into her trunk as Theodore watched, an amused smile on his face. He simply lay on the bed, a book gripped in his hands, occasionally looking over at his frantic girlfriend.

She finally finished merely an hour before they needed to head down to the carriages, where they would be taken to the train. She flopped down on the bed, her head landing near Theodore's lap and he laughed lightly, running a hand through her hair.

"Tired?"

"Not really no, very well rested actually." She replied, eyes closed. "Just going to miss you this summer."

"I'll miss you too."

She opened her eyes and sat up, turning around to face him. "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine, Lara. Promise I'll owl you if anything goes wrong." He reassured her, a smile on his face. Elara nodded then, she pushed herself back and leaned against him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her. They stayed like that for a while before it was time for them to head to the carriages.

And so, trunks packed and ready, they shrunk their trunks and stuffed them in their pockets or carrier bags. Elara threw on her leather jacket and laced her fingers with Theodore's before they left the room and walked to the carriages.

As soon as she saw Harry, she walked over, Theodore in tow. "Harry." She greeted.

"Hey, El." He looked up at her.

"All packed and ready?" He nodded. "Alright, well, when we get off the train, find the Weasley's or my father and wait there with them. I'll come find you and we'll head off, alright?"

"Yeah." He then smiled at her lightly. "Thanks again, El, for letting me come with you."

"Of course little brother." She gave him a fond look before kissing his head, waving and heading off to a carriage with her boyfriend. They found one quickly and climbed in, sitting beside each other, fingers laced together as the carriages headed to the train station, from which they boarded the train, setting off to Kings Cross.

Elara spent her train ride with Theodore, Bianca, Blaise, Daphne and Astoria. "I'm sorry I can't be there this summer Daphne, Astoria." She had a guilty look on her face.

"It's alright, El. We'll be fine, your dad seems like a nice person." Daphne replied.

"He is, and if there's anything you need, or anyone you want to talk to, just owl me, yeah?" They nodded. "Same goes for you, Draco, Merlin knows your father will want to ruin your life every chance he gets."

"Ain't that the truth." Draco reached out for a high-five, receiving one from a laughing Elara. Their compartment was filled with the scent of candy, and the sounds of laughter throughout the whole ride.

But, that ended when they got to the station. She said goodbye to Draco first, knowing he would get in trouble if caught hugging her by his father. She brought him closer and leaned her head on top of his. "Have a good summer, Draco. And owl me." She kissed his head and he smiled sadly before grabbing his trunk and walking out.

Then, with her hand in Theodore's, she walked out, heading for where her father was stood beside Cedrella Zabini. She hugged Blaise, then Bianca embraced her tightly. "I'll miss you lots, El."

"I'll miss you lots too, Bia. Promise not to break too many hearts this summer?"

"You got it." Bianca laughed tearily before her and her brother headed off with their mother, who waved goodbye to Elara before the trio Disapparated. Then, Elara hugged her father, her head being buried in his chest.

"I'll miss you, dad."

"I'll miss you too, Little Moon. Don't tame too many dragons."

"I can't make any promises." She replied, as he kissed his forehead before standing to the side and allowing her to say goodbye to Theodore.

The dark haired boy didn't say a word, he simply wrapped his arms around her waist, and she wrapped hers around his neck. He nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck and she laid her head on his shoulder. They just stayed like that, breathing heavily. "I'll be back before you know it." She smiled sadly as she pulled away, leaving her arms around his neck loosely.

"I know, but it doesn't make this any better." He mumbled. "You need to go, don't you?"

"Yeah. I'll owl you, and you have to owl me too." She kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her once more before letting her go. He watched her head to the Weasleys and hug Charlie, before the older boy took her hand and Harry's hand. And the last thing he saw, was her bright smile directed his way as she raised her free hand in farewell. And then, she was gone, and what was left was an empty space where she stood.

Sirius placed his hand on Theodore's shoulder. "Come on, Theodore. Let's go home."

END OF BOOK 1