Elysian Potter: The Forgotten Queen.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor do I own the original idea for this story. All rights for the characters go to the magnificent J. K. Rowling and the original idea belongs to CharmedMilliE-Karry Master.
Note: For those reading on Fanfiction.net, the previous chapters have all been updated and changed so you may want to go back and reread the old chapters otherwise you'll be very confused.
Elysian's Theme Song: You Should See Me In A Crown, Billie Ellis – Castle, Hasley – The Devil Within, Digital Daggers
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Dementor
Tom woke Elysian the next morning with his usual toothless grin and a cup of tea. Elysian got dressed glanced towards the area where Ares' crate had been the night before with a sorrowful smile before she brightened at the thought of how his life was at Malfoy Manor.
Elysian walked down the stairs and waved towards Tom and his wife before heading out to where the Knight Bus was waiting for her. Stan helped her onto the bus and placed her stuff on the bed and Elysian held on tightly to the bedpost as they zoomed towards Kings Cross. She wasn't the only Hogwarts student on the bus – there were a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws scattered along the different floors and on different beds – and some of them were standing beside their parents or siblings.
"'Ello Elysian!" called Seamus, a Gryffindor third-year like herself.
He was one of Harry's 'friends' and was often seen hanging on his every word when he wasn't blowing up something in class. Elysian and Seamus had talked a few times, mostly when he was asking for a helping hand or an explanation on a certain topic, and they got along very well. Seamus was a half-blood who grew up in the muggle world so he was far more well versed on certain things and both Elysian and Seamus were often talking about the newest muggle invention.
"Hello Seamus," said Elysian, not daring to move from her position until the bus had stopped to pick up another person. "I thought your mother was dropping you off today?"
Seamus grimaced.
"Me ma' and I were fighting before I left," said Seamus softly, "she said me da was trying to take me away from 'er."
Elysian nodded, patting his arm as gently as she could with a soft smile: "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll mend fences again."
"I hope so," said Seamus.
Looking out of the window, Elysian rolled her eyes when she saw the Potter family cars waiting in the traffic. The twins' eyes connected and Elysian couldn't stop herself from giving Harry a little wave before they were zooming off again towards the station. Seamus was rather green at the end of the journey – not that Elysian could blame him – and he was quick to jump off the bus as Stan helped unload his stuff.
Elysian waved goodbye to Stan as she grabbed both her trunks and walked inside. It was surprisingly empty – only a few hundred people – but that didn't deter her as she walked through the barrier with Seamus and the other students following behind her. She grinned when she looked up to see the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine, puffing smoke over a platform packed with witches and wizards seeing their children onto the train.
It was rather discouraging to see a few aurors scattered throughout the station and she heard the whispers of different people as she passed. She knew they were looking for her uncle but she also knew that they would never find him: he was a Black, after all, and Blacks were always seven steps ahead, even if he was once a Gryffindor.
She left her trunks with the conductor, who was loading them as quickly as he could, and made her way towards the Slytherin sections of the compartments. Draco, Daphne, Blaise and Neville were waiting for her while trying to avoid any topic relating to Sirius Black.
"You can talk about it," said Elysian, snuggling in the middle of Blaise and Neville. "You don't need to avoid the topic in fear of offending me."
Everyone was instantly rather bashful.
"We just don't want to offend you," said Blaise, trying not to grin as Elysian rested her head on his shoulder. "We know how close you are to him."
The Hogwarts Express moved steadily north and the scenery outside the window became wider and darker while the clouds overhead thickened. People were chasing backwards and forwards past the door of their compartment.
At one o'clock the plump witch with the food trolley arrived at the compartment. Blaise was quick to grab a few Cauldron Cakes and Sugar Quills, passing them around to Elysian and Neville, while Draco disappeared along with Crabbe and Goyle.
"How much do you want to bet Draco's going to harass Potter?" asked Neville.
"I'm not betting on those odds," said Elysian with a grin.
The rain thickened as the train sped yet further north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering grey, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but no one seemed to care.
"We must be almost there," said Neville, leaning forward to look out the now completely black window.
The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down.
"What's happening? We can't have arrived already."
The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind an rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.
Daphne, who was nearest to the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking out of their compartments.
The train came to a stop with a jolt and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
Blaise kept a tight hold on Elysian's waist when he felt her try and stand. It was Daphne, though, who had the best idea as she pulled out her wand and cast a quick: "Lumos!" illuminating the entire room.
"What's happening?" asked Neville.
He was trying to clear the window and gasped at what he saw when he looked outside.
"Neville?"
"There's something coming aboard!"
"Don't you mean someone?" asked Daphne, her lip quivering slightly.
"People don't float."
Elysian immediately pulled Daphne further into the compartment and motioned for Neville to sit down as well. Neville, however, didn't do as she suggested and instead made his way towards the door with his own wand lit up so he could see.
But the door slid slowly open before Neville could reach it.
Standing in the doorway, illuminated by Neville's shaking wand, was a cloaked figure that towered to the ceiling. Its face was completely hidden beneath its hood. Elysian's eyes darted downwards, and what she saw made her stomach contract. There was a hand protruding from the cloak and it was glistening, greyish, slimy-looking and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water...
It was visible only for a split second. As though the creature beneath the hood sensed Elysian's gaze, the hand was suddenly withdrawn into the folds of the black material.
And then the thing beneath the hood, whatever it was, drew a long, slow, rattled breath, as though it was trying to suck something more than air from its surroundings.
Elysian knew that this was a Dementor and she always knew what it was doing as she felt a cold chill descend over her. It was as if all the happiness and warmth Elysian had ever known had been sucked away, leaving only her depressing life behind. The Dementor was slowly edging further into the compartment as everyone was either whimpering or crying.
Blaise' arm went slack around her waist, allowing Elysian to stand up and, with strength she had developed over years of misery, she stood directly in front of the Dementor. Elysian didn't flinch when the Dementor raised a hand to grab her and that seemed to startle it. It was startled so much that it seemed to recoil from her, as if it had been burned, before a massive white light came pounding down the corridors forcing the Dementors away.
It was only then, once Elysian knew her friends were safe, that she fainted into Blaise's arms.
Elysian awoke in the arms of Blaise with a very familiar face looming over her holding a bar of chocolate for her to take. Remus was staring at her with barely concealed concern as Blaise gently helped her sit up so she could accept the tiny bar.
"Hi, uncle Remus," said Elysian, her voice rather croaky and harsh.
"Hello Elysian," said Remus, gently petting her hair with a soft smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Depressed, but I guess that's normal for a confrontation with a Dementor."
"Especially when you stand right in front of one!" cried Daphne, who was being held tightly in Neville's arms as he tried to get her to eat some of the chocolate.
Remus' eyes widened in shock and he turned his accusing stare on Elysian, silently begging her to say Daphne was exaggerating.
"Well... it wasn't right in front of one," said Elysian, scratching the back of her neck.
"Why would you do such a thing?" asked Remus.
"Because that way it wouldn't have been able to get to everyone else," said Elysian. "Besides, I knew it wouldn't do anything."
"It could have given you the KISS!"
"...I didn't think of that..."
They didn't talk much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get out; owls hooted, cats meowed, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.
Elysian was immediately ushered into the nearest carriage, Blaise was practically carrying her the whole way, which smelt of mould and hay. Blaise and Daphne were sitting on either side of her while Draco, who had re-joined them after taunting Harry again, Crabbe and Goyle sat on the other side.
She was practically rushed into the Great Hall – Professor McGonagall was too busy focusing on Harry and Hermione – and was sat in between Blaise and Draco. She was too busy leaning against Blaise to pay attention to the Sorting until Dumbledore began to speak.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to ay to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast...
"As many of you are aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry Business."
Elysian hissed.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and everyone of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors."
Once again Elysian lost interest in what Dumbledore way saying and returned to leaning on Blaise's shoulder. When the food appeared, Blaise was practically forcing food down her throat in an effort to make her feel better. He was helped by Draco and the entire Slytherin House who had heard about what Elysian had done and, while they had laughed at how Harry had fainted, everyone was worried about Elysian.
When they were finally released from the Great Hall, Blaise and Draco grabbed her arms and led her towards the dorms. The Prefects said the password and Daphne quickly took over Elysian's care and ushered her into her dorm and into her bed.
"We'll get Professor Snape in the morning, okay?" said Daphne.
"I'm fine," said Elysian.
The irony of that statement kicked in fully when a wave of dizziness overtook her and she fell unconscious back on her bed.