The silence that followed the vanishing of the gardenia was heavy, thick with unspoken questions and a dawning sense of the profound magic that resided within Elara – a magic clearly far beyond the scope of their advanced spellcraft curriculum. The vibrant flowers that had sprung forth at her command remained, a surreal tapestry against the familiar green of the field, their intoxicating fragrance a constant reminder of the impossible beauty they had just witnessed.
Professor Voz Eldrin, ever the seasoned wizard, was the first to break the spellbound stillness. He lowered his wand, though his gaze remained fixed on Elara, his bright eyes now filled with a thoughtful intensity. He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his posture cautious yet devoid of aggression.
"Miss A'Royale," he began, his voice calm and measured, cutting through the hushed atmosphere. "Are you… quite yourself?"
Elara turned towards him, her green eyes sparkling with an unfamiliar playfulness. "Am I? I wonder if I am or not." A mischievous smile danced on her lips as she leaned against a newly bloomed sunflower, resting her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on the Professor with playful curiosity. "What do you think, little sprout?"
A shiver ran down Zalu's spine. This wasn't Elara. Not the Elara she had cautiously befriended. This was something… else. Something whimsical and undeniably connected to the vibrant energy of the field.
"But… your hair," Zalu stammered, taking another hesitant step closer. "It's… green. And the… the flowers on your skin…"
Elara tilted her head, her green hair swaying like willow branches in the breeze. She raised a hand, her green tattoos shimmering in the sunlight, the delicate floral patterns seeming to dance across her skin. "These are just little gifts for my new friend. Don't you think they're pretty?"
Professor Voz Eldrin absorbed her words, his brow furrowed with concern. "And what is that purpose?"
Elara's playful demeanor shifted slightly, a hint of something ancient flickering in her eyes. "To understand the fundamental principle you sought to impart. The gentle coaxing… it's about listening, isn't it? Feeling the rhythm."
She then walked slowly towards one of the newly bloomed roses, its petals a vibrant crimson. As she approached, other flowers seemed to turn towards her, as if drawn by an invisible thread. She reached out a hand, her tattooed fingers gently tracing the delicate curve of a petal.
"You see," she continued, her voice soft yet carrying, "the earth knows how to grow. It doesn't need to be forced. We just need to… join the dance."
She then focused her gaze on the unyielding brown seed still clutched in her other hand. A faint green light emanated from her tattooed skin, bathing the seed in its glow. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, a tiny crack appeared in the seed's surface. A minuscule green shoot, fragile yet determined, began to emerge.
A collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the students. Even Hermione, usually so composed, stared in wide-eyed wonder. Barnaby, who had been whispering to his seed for over an hour, could only gape in disbelief.
Professor Voz Eldrin watched the sprouting seed with a mixture of awe and apprehension. This display was far beyond anything he had anticipated.
Zalu, her fear giving way to a tentative wonder, took another step closer to Elara. "It's… it's growing," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "You actually made it grow."
Elara turned to Zalu, her playful smile returning. "The earth is full of surprises, little sprout. You just have to know how to ask nicely."
She then closed her eyes again, her green hair swaying gently in the breeze. The green light emanating from her tattoos intensified, and a low hum filled the air, the sound resonating deep within the chests of the onlookers. The vibrant flowers around them seemed to pulse with the same energy.
Suddenly, a thin trickle of blood began to flow from Elara's left nostril. Her eyes snapped open, the playful light replaced by a flicker of surprise and pain.
A voice, not quite Elara's but resonating from within her, echoed through the field. "Oh, I guess my time is up. Goodbye, young sprouts."
As the words faded, the vibrant green of Elara's hair began to recede, the dark green streaks disappearing, followed by the gradual return of the stark white intertwined with violet. The intricate floral tattoos on her skin shimmered and then, one by one, faded away, leaving her skin unmarked once more.
Elara swayed, her hand flying to her nose, her eyes wide with confusion. She looked around at the field, her brow furrowed. The extraordinary flowers that had bloomed moments before began to fade, their vibrant colors dimming, their forms becoming translucent before dissolving into nothingness, as if they had never been. The only evidence of their existence was the lingering, sweet scent in the air.
She looked down at the small seedling in her hand, its fragile green shoot still reaching towards the sun. "What… what happened?" Her voice was her own again, the playful lilt and deeper resonance gone.
Zalu rushed forward, her hand reaching out tentatively. "Elara? Are you alright? You… you were different. Your hair was green, and there were flowers…" She gestured to the now empty field.
Elara stared at Zalu, her confusion evident. "My hair was green? Flowers? I… I don't remember any of that." She touched her hair, her fingers finding the familiar white strands.
Professor Voz Eldrin approached, his expression a careful blend of concern and fascination. "Miss A'Royale, there was… a significant display of magick. You seemed to… channel a powerful force."
Elara looked at him, her usual guarded expression returning. "I did? I only remember chanting a spell."
A wave of dizziness washed over Elara, and she swayed slightly. Zalu steadied her. "You have a nosebleed, Elara."
Elara touched her nose, her fingers coming away with a smear of blood. "I… I feel strange. Weak."
Professor Voz Eldrin's gaze was thoughtful. "It would seem that whatever occurred took a considerable toll on you. We should conclude the session immediately. Miss A'Royale, a visit to Madam Pomfrey is definitely in order."
As the other students began to gather their belongings, their hushed whispers filling the once silent field, Zalu remained by Elara's side, her eyes filled with a mixture of concern and lingering wonder. The extraordinary bloom of magic, and its sudden disappearance, left them all with a sense that they had witnessed something truly profound and unsettling. The gentle coaxing of life had taken a detour into the realm of ancient powers, leaving Elara with a blank space in her memory and the field strangely empty once more.