Elinor smiled and slipped her hand into the pocket of her dress.
"Do you have a wand?" she asked, and I noticed that we had switched to 'you' in the informal way.
It happened so naturally that I wasn't even surprised.
"No," I shook my head. "My relatives believed that Squibs had no need for a wand."
Elinor frowned.
"What is your family name?" she asked. "Maybe I've heard of it?"
I froze for a moment before answering.
"…Gaunt."
After my answer, the girl seemed somewhat surprised.
"Gaunt?" Elinor froze with her hand still in her pocket. "Your surname really is Gaunt?"
I went cold. Maybe I should have told her something else? I had given her my real surname and hadn't even thought about the consequences… But in any case, it was already too late to take my words back.
"Yes," I answered quietly. "My name is Merope Gaunt."
"Gaunt," Elinor repeated thoughtfully. "That's one of the most ancient families, isn't it? Descendants of Slytherin. I read about it in history books."
"I'm not proud of it," I said quickly. "My relatives were monsters. My brother and father, they…"
"Marvolo and Morfin Gaunt?" Elinor clarify.
I flinched.
"How do you know?"
"I read about it," she shrugged. "The Gaunt case was rather high-profile. Even I heard about it when I arrived in England. The attack on Muggles, resistance to the Ministry, the arrest… Grandmother said that in the magical world that was all anyone was gossiping about."
After that I was silent for a while, looking at the water.
"…I'm sorry," Elinor suddenly said. "I didn't mean to pry. If you don't want to talk — don't."
"No," I shook my head. "There's actually nothing like that about it. I can tell you."
And, taking a deep breath, I did tell my new acquaintance everything.
Almost everything.
About my life in the hut, about the beatings from my relatives, about the hunger and other 'delights' of my former life. About Ogden, who once came and saved me. About the arrest of my father and brother. About my escape. About Mrs. Cole, who took me in. About my work at the stable. I even told her about the Bagshot brothers and about that incident in the forest, when I unconsciously managed to protect myself with magic.
"…Light?" Elinor repeated. "You're saying that at that moment light flared up around you?"
"Yes," I nodded. "When that boy grabbed me… I got scared, and suddenly everything around me shone. He ended up flying back into a tree and fell."
"Elemental magic," Elinor suddenly murmured. "That's a rare ability, you know? It may not manifest in ordinary life, but it awakens when a person is in danger. That means there is definitely a gift in you!"
I was taken aback.
"But I'm a Squib… that's what they called me…"
"They could call you anything," Elinor waved it off. "Your father was a brute. Why should he know whether you have magic or not? He simply didn't want to teach you, that's all."
I looked at her and felt tears rising in my throat.
"…Do you really think so?"
"I'm sure," she said firmly. "Besides, I felt your aura when we met in the shop. Not like that of strong wizards, but it is still there. That means the gift is in you, it's just asleep."
The girl pulled her wand out of her pocket — slender, light wood, with delicate carvings.
"Do you want to try right now?"
"What?" I was frightened. "But I don't have my own wand…"
"You don't need your own," Elinor smiled. "For the simplest spell you can try with someone else's. It's nothing scary. Give me your hand."
After hesitating, I finally held out my trembling palm. Elinor placed the wand into it. The wood in my hand was warm and smooth, as if alive.
"Close your eyes," she said. "Imagine that there is light inside you. Just feel it."
I closed my eyes, but felt nothing. Only darkness and the beating of my own heart.
"Don't think," Elinor whispered. "Just feel it. You felt it in the forest when you were defending yourself, didn't you?"
I did remember that moment. First fear, anger — then an unexpected flash.
"Back then… I felt anger," I murmured.
"Anger is power too," Elinor said. "But it's better to use more positive emotions. For example joy, or love. Remember something good. Something that makes you warm inside."
I went through my memories. Good… what good had I had?
Mrs. Cole, who had been incredibly kind to me and treated me almost like a daughter. Maggie, who was my good friend. Thomas, who though he seemed unfriendly, in fact always supported me. Daisy, just a horse, but who also held a place in my heart.
Warmth unconsciously spread through my chest.
And then Elinor whispered beside my ear:
"And now say the spell."
I swallowed.
After hesitating, I finally said:
"…Lumos."
A few moments passed while I was still holding my eyes closed. And then Elinor spoke again.
"Open your eyes," Elinor said quietly.
I opened them.
At the tip of the wand a small golden light was burning. Faint, trembling, like a firefly, but real.
"It worked!" I breathed out almost unbelievingly.
"Of course it worked," Elinor smiled. "I knew you would manage."
It truly was the simplest spell. Even many wizarding children could perform it easily. And yet… It was the first time I had used a spell consciously, and I had succeeded. Because of that, I could not help feeling excitement right now. And it didn't matter how simple it was.
After a few seconds the light at the end of the wand went out, and I lowered my hand helplessly.
"Tired?" Elinor asked me.
"A little…" I had to admit. "As if I'd run a kilometer."
"That's normal for the first time. You used magic you're not used to. Your body got tired."
I looked at the wand in my hand, as if still not believing my own eyes.
"…I really am a witch," I whispered.
"A witch," Elinor confirmed. "Maybe your abilities aren't the strongest yet, but everything is still ahead. If you want, I can teach you more."
"Why?" I asked. "Why do you need this? You barely know me."
Elinor was silent for a short while, looking away, and gazed at the water.
"You know, I didn't have friends in childhood either," she said quietly. "My family is also… rather complicated. Pure-bloods, but with 'progressive' views. For some we are traitors, for others — outsiders. So I was always on my own. That's why, when you see someone who is also lonely… you just want to extend a helping hand."
At that moment the girl suddenly turned to me and looked straight at me.
"May I teach you? But not as a teacher, rather as… a friend."
For a moment I froze.
My eyes even stung from how touched I was by this and at the same time how deeply grateful I felt to Elinor.
"…Yes," I said. "Please!"
In the end we sat by the lake until the sun began to set. Elinor told me about Beauxbatons, about spells, about the herbs she was buying for her grandmother (it turned out, for potions for insomnia). I listened and felt something warm and bright growing inside me.
These truly were very pleasant emotions that I experienced from talking with her.
"…I should go," Elinor finally said, getting up. "Otherwise Grandmother will worry."
"Yes, of course," I stood up too, brushing off my dress.
"Shall we meet tomorrow?" she asked. "At the same time and in the same place?"
"Yes," I nodded, with difficulty hiding the embarrassment on my face.
The girl smiled at me and walked along the path, toward her house. I watched her until she disappeared around the bend.
And perhaps only at that moment did I truly realize something.
"Seems like I'm in trouble… seriously in trouble," I murmured, still looking after Elinor, who had long since left.
Then, after hesitating, I also went home with a smile I could not hold back.