Congrats you made it to chapter 69 :)
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Sitting with the girls was perfectly normal, as though nothing had happened in the last month to affect them at all. Katie and Lauren joined the three of them shortly into lunch and although they asked a few questions about the situation (which Elle obliged to answering) they tended to stray away from the subject and talk about something that everyone was comfortable with.
After that Elle didn't see the need to go to bed at twelve and wake up at six which definitely helped when it came to getting a better nights sleep. She hadn't realised how tired she'd been until the girls retired at ten and she fell asleep immediately on her pillow which felt like a marshmallow.
The only continuing issue was the seats by the fire. Elle's group claimed that spot which was obvious as pretty much no one else sat there. A few second years had once and later dealt with the wrath of the Weasley twins pranks. Needless to say there were a lot of canary feathers in the common room that night.
Since their group claimed those seats, the girls refused to sit anywhere else however so did the boys. The first time Elle had segregated herself back into the group it had only been the girls and Lee which was completely fine. She'd never had an issue with Lee and he laughed and talked with her casually which she appreciated.
That night, the twins came in later into the common room having had to serve a detention with Snape for pranking Filch yet again. George faltered for a moment when he saw Elle back in her rightful seat but thankfully he didn't say anything. He took his seat opposite like usual and talked to Lee while Elle laughed with Angelina.
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This continued or another two weeks. They didn't say anything to one another they just stayed in the group. Elle didn't hate it, after all it was much better than what she'd previously been dealing with (not that she disliked hanging out with the Ravenclaw's at all she just hated tension). However she couldn't help but think back to a few months ago when she'd been at her happiest. She wish she'd appreciated it more.
It was like a burning saddened feeling inside her, she wanted something so badly but she couldn't reverse time. Thinking about it ruined her mood, she tried to stay positive by looking ahead but then she could barely see past her lost friendship with the twins which was tearing her up inside.
Everything was manageable and that's all Elle could hope for in this time. She constantly thought back to what Angelina had said about his she predicted George was feeling. She had been so convinced George was pissed at her but she had hope that it was all a front hiding the fact that he really felt as upset as her.
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The brunette decided to walk to charms with Cedric on wednesday morning. It was may now which meant warmer weather and brighter mornings ultimately leaving Elle in a better mood. Cedric was still nervous about the last trial no matter how many times Elle told him he would be fine.
They reached the classroom and Elle took her usual seat next to Emilia (the Hufflepuff) as the lesson started. Charms was her biggest Newt class as it was the subject the majority of people passed. Alicia and Angelina both took it as well as the twins. Cedric was also taking it and sat behind Elle and Emilia.
Since it was Elle's largest class she didn't immediately feel nervous when Flitwick announced he would be pairing up the students at random. After all there was a low probability that she'd end up with one of the twins...right?
"Alicia and Grace" Flitwick began reading out names as students flurries around to get with their pair.
"Cedric and Angelina"
"Anna and Emilia"
"Fred and Patrick"
Elle listened carefully noticing the dwindling amount of students that she could be paired with,
"Owen and Lawrence"
"Kaylee and Chase"
"Elle and George"
The words sunk in just as her stomach dropped. Anyone else. Even Fred would have been better than this. She looked over to George who was staring adamantly at the ground. Angelina and Alicia were giving her sympathetic glances at her lack of luck.
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Elle walked over and sat herself beside George as it didn't seem likely that he was going to move anytime soon.
Flitwick explained that they'd be trying to perform a powerful sleeping charm that lesson. There was a charm and a counter charm so partners could easily wake students up if the charm went wrong.
As Flitwick announced that it was time to practice most students jumped up enthusiastically while Elle just sat there examining a small speck of dust on the table in front of her.
"Right" she muttered and stood up "I'll go first"
Someone had to take charge of the situation and right now it seemed George was not going to do that. He stood up sceptically as Elle collected a bean bag from the side wall which were stationed so students wouldn't hit the ground when they fell.
George just stood awkwardly in front of the bean bag, positioning himself so he wouldn't smack his head off the hard floor.
"Somonium" Elle called out clearly as she pointed her wand at George. Whiteish blue light shot out of the end and hit him in the chest. He teetered for a moment before falling back and hitting the bean bag with a thud.
Elle smiled proudly as she looked around to see a bunch of her classmates falling randomly all over the place. Fred and Patrick has managed to forget a bean bag which left Patrick lying cursing under his breath at Fred who was looking rather guilty.
She turned back to George who was now sleeping quite peacefully. He was smiling to himself and Elle paused as she realised how sweet he looked. She'd forgotten how happy his smile made her.
"Enervate" Elle muttered and watched as a silvery gust of cloud moved over George. He sat up looking dazed and confused.
Elle suppressed a laugh as he looked around like a meerkat coming out of its hole. He caught sight of Elle and her smile quickly dropped as she remembered how tense things were between them. He looked at her perplexed for a brief moment before standing up.
"Your turn" he grunted and Elle stepped to where he had been as she mentally measured the distance between herself and the bean bag.
George pointed just want at her and the brunette felt slightly nervous.
"Somonium" he called. The spell hit it but she didn't have much time to register it as she felt her world becoming black.
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She may have only been passed out for a few seconds but it was enough time for her brain to whir into life. It had been a while since she'd had any weird dreams, the last one was in November predicting the Yule ball. In fact it had been so long that Elle had partially forgotten her gift but her mind wasn't going to let her get away that easily.
She heard loud music played by a brass band. It was cheerful and celebratory. Elle realised that she was at the last task. However she wasn't in the stands but standing by a large maze. She was a champion. No this could t be right. She turned to look for which champion she was but it was too late, the image had changed.
The next image didn't seem related to the tournament instead she stood in a graveyard completely alone. There was a large manor on a hill which seemed dark and uninviting. There was a grave marked with the name Tom Riddle which Elle didn't recognise.
Suddenly there were voices as she turned to see a dark figure carrying what seemed to be a baby towards a cauldron which was bubbling eerily.
She couldn't see the figures face but they stumbled as they walked and seemed scared and on edge.
"Kill the spare" the voice choked, she couldn't tell whether it was coming from the figure or the baby. What was she saying? A baby couldn't talk like that. Before she could utter another thought the figure pointed his wand at her and yelled.
"AVADA KEDAVRA" green light flashed over her and she felt her body grow cold.
Right before she died she saw a series of images. Fire and destruction. Hogwarts collapsing. Screaming voices of terror and a face at the centre, a face that struck terror into her mind. A pale monstrous face which red eyes, bared teeth and two slits where a nose should be.
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Elle woke up and sat up immediately gasping for breath. The images replayed in her mind and it took a moment to realise that she wasn't in her bed. She looked up to see George standing over her. He had concern written all over his face. Elle turned to see a few students had turned to look at her sensing her distress.
She didn't know what to do. Flitwick seemed to notice something was off but before he could ask if Elle was alright, she jumped up, grabbed her bag and left the classroom as quickly as she could.
Elle ran through the halls until she reached McGonagall's classroom, there she barged in and looked at the professor which was she guessed was a look of helplessness.
"I've had another one of those dreams" were the only words she could muster.
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