Phoenix

Eleven-Year-Old Lies

     Elaine had wished that she'd brought a bigger rucksack.  In it, she'd managed to squeeze her wand in around the books, most of which were by one Gilderoy Lockhart.  She'd carried her Hogwarts robes tucked under her arm in their brown paper packaging, and she'd carried her glass phials, her telescope set and her brass scales in her standard size-two pewter cauldron.  It had been a tedious balancing game, but she had managed to lug it all back to the LaChance residence.  

     "Lainey, is that you?" Maria called from the kitchen.

     Soon after, her voice was followed by the woman herself, who appeared in the foyer with a smile as she wiped her hands on her apron.  As soon as she saw Elaine her smile faded, her jaw dropped, and her eyes stretched wide.

     "Magic is real."

     Elaine smiled ear to ear, hardly able to compose herself.  There was so much within her that urged to gush out.  But for now, Elaine contained herself with a giddy energy, unable to ease the shaking as Maria helped her hide her new things.

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     "... and the book started reading itself to me!" 

     Elaine and Maria sat cross-legged on their beds, laughing as Elaine told her all about her first adventure in the wizarding world; she recounted the funny witches and wizards, the goblins of Gringotts and her piles of gold, the different makes of wands, all the odd little shops full of little odds and ends.

     "Do they really wear the pointy hats?"

     "Yeah."

     "You seem happy."  Maria smiled.

     "I think I am.  And, I think this might be the beginning of actually finding out who I am."  Elaine sighed with a smile of her own, flopping down onto her bed.  A peaceful silence settled in the room.

     "What if..." Maria began quietly, "well... perhaps the LaChances know more than they're letting on."

     Elaine turned her head to her to see her staring into her lap, where she was wringing her hands.  Her mind went back to the mysterious demeanour she'd reverted to the previous night, as well - could it be that, after all this time, there was something she hadn't told her?

     "Do you... know something?"  Elaine propped herself up on her elbow.

     "No."

     Another long silence settled, and this one wasn't quite as peaceful.  Elaine gazed evenly at Maria, studying her, and Maria seemed to focus her energy into avoiding her gaze.  Finally, she looked up at her again.

     "You're really going to do this?" Maria asked from her bed.  "You're really going to this Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

     "I sent them my owl in Diagon Alley."

     She and Maria looked to each other, on opposite sides of the room, and a smile slowly spread across their faces.  Pulling her blanket snugly about her, Elaine knew she would hardly sleep a wink, tonight.  How could one sleep when there was magic in the air?

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     The second half of summer passed in a lazy August heat.  After she'd returned from Diagon Alley, Elaine had decided to put her mind from all things magical until September.  For the remaining weeks, she kept her head down and focused on her work; despite her efforts, Elaine couldn't help but long for the cool autumn breeze.