It was midnight. 
The platinum blonde, almost white-haired girl lay under a blanket with a candle and a book, careful not to burn half her room—though it wouldn't have been the first time. 
She heard a knock on the front door. 
Dumbledore again? Dumbledore visiting the House of Flamel at night for tea and "secret" conversations was nothing new. 
The sound-suppressing spell was always in the air, limiting the radius of their voices, as if Dumbledore knew that Nora liked to stay up late and had no problem eavesdropping. 
She was excited to return to Hogwarts and begin her fourth year. 
Of course, she also loved racing through the garden on her broom or spending time with her family. It was fulfilling. 
But having to be cautious around her Muggle neighbors, who lived nearby, bothered her. The village was mostly pureblood wizards, but a Muggle family had taken a liking to it. The Averys had tried several times to get rid of them, but it would have jeopardized the secrecy agreement. 

At Hogwarts, she could feel magic more intensely than anywhere else. Her beloved friends were there, and especially the library. She longed to return to Hogwarts but always enjoyed the summer holidays with her family. 

There's no place better than home, right?

"Y-You? But I thought you would...I mean...isn't it too early? She hasn't even finished her education yet," came her grandfather's frightened voice as a stranger walked through the door. 

Suddenly, she was certain this wasn't Dumbledore. 

Quickly, she extinguished the candle and put the book aside. Sitting in the dark, she focused on what was being said.

"While we're on the subject of education, Nicolas. I thought I made it clear that she should attend Durmstrang? Instead, you sent her to Hogwarts? Under the supervision of our dear Albus? And don't think I didn't notice you've been chatting—"

"I-I'm sorry... it slipped out... my son, he... we didn't mean to disobey your instructions. D-Dumbledore became suspicious when Kathalea suddenly gave birth without warning—"

"Silence. I no longer care for your excuses. I'm here to take what's mine. Perhaps it's better I train her from a young age."

"Nicolas? Who's at the door?" 

"No, Perenelle, go!" the old man coughed frantically. 
But Perenelle, also elderly, came to the door.

"Grindelwald," she breathed fearfully. 
Then, two screams pierced the night as Perenelle and Nicolas collapsed, lifeless. 
Eleanora instantly knew it was her grandparents' screams that had just fallen silent. 

And the name Grindelwald made everything worse. Everyone knew about the Dark Lord, and everyone feared him.

She crept toward the stairs, but she wasn't the only one who had woken from the screams. Her mother and father rushed out of their rooms. Horrified, Nora watched from the stairs, a gnawing feeling that she hadn't remained entirely hidden.

"Grindelwald," her father muttered in horror. 

"Kathalea, get the children and hide!" he shouted. 
She was already running up the stairs, narrowly avoiding the green beam that struck her husband. 
Nora's eyes filled with tears, staring at her father's lifeless body. Did he just die right in front of me? 
Everything was happening too fast for her to think straight. Her little brother, Ethan, ran down the stairs, looking around in shock.

Grindelwald's eyes locked onto Nora, as if he could read her every move and thought. 
"I'll give you three minutes," he said softly, his voice gentle yet chilling. It sent shivers down her spine.

"Mom..." she sobbed, desperately trying to hold back her tears. 
"W-will he do the same thing to you as he did to Dad?" 

Ethan, her little brother, stood there, frozen, not understanding what was happening.

Their mother, fighting her own tears, knelt before them, holding Nora's hand in one and Ethan's in the other. 
"I'm so sorry. I can't do anything anymore. But promise me—you'll take care of each other, okay?" she said, forcing a smile despite her tears. 
"No matter what happens, we love you. You're our daughter. Stay true to yourself, no matter what. Don't let your heart turn cold, okay? And Ethan... we're sorry we won't be there to see you start Hogwarts. No matter which house you're sorted into, we're proud of you. I love you both so much. We love you both so much. Carry on, okay? Your father would have w—"

A green flash struck her, and she collapsed to the floor. But a gentle smile lingered on her tear-streaked face. 
She'd been able to say goodbye—that was all that mattered.

Now Ethan started to cry too.

"Time's up," Grindelwald grinned, as if this was just another game. 
Suddenly, anger surged through Nora, and the feared Dark Lord was thrown against the nearest wall. 

He looked momentarily confused, then burst into laughter—a joyful sound, as if that was exactly what he had been waiting for.

But just as quickly as it came, the laughter disappeared. He glanced around frantically, and the last thing Nora remembered before her world went black was Grindelwald's abrupt disappearance.

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(A/N:I'm going to rewrite this chapter as I am not satisfied with it)