All That You Are
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Recently widowed, Eleanor Potter relocates to Washington DC. There, she crosses paths with the man she'd never expected to find; her soulmate, Aaron Hotchner. Soulmates AU. OOC. Hotch/Eleanor (fem!Harry).
Rating: M for violence, character death, mild adult themes, and language.
Author: tlyxor1.
All That You Are
Part One: The Reaper
"Bad things happen to everyone. It isn't your experiences that define your life. It's your responses that make or break you." - Unknown.
Chapter One: The Burrow
After 10 years spent in the Italian alps, it was almost a shock to the system to return to Britain. It was a brief layover before her family's indefinite relocation to the US, but as Eleanor Zabini settled at the Burrow's familiar, weathered dining table, as she sipped at Molly Weasley's homemade lemonade, she could almost relax.
Almost.
"You're tense," Mrs Weasley - Molly, these days - observed, and Eleanor's smile was wry. The woman had always been able to read her like a book. "You won't take your eyes off the boys. What's wrong?"
"Carmella has gotten in way over her head," Eleanor explained, "She married someone very powerful, and very dangerous, and she made a mistake. Blaise…"
Blaise had not died in an accident, but Eleanor wouldn't admit that out loud. Most would attribute it to the mindless babbling of a grief-stricken, traumatised widow, but others would not, and Eleanor wouldn't risk her family's safety with an utterance of the truth.
She shook her head instead, wiped at red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes, and forced a sad, feeble laugh. "I'm sorry. I'm such a mess."
"Which is entirely understandable, Ellie," Molly acknowledged. She'd picked up on Eleanor's unspoken message, of course - how could she not? - but she didn't pursue the matter. "Would you like to talk about it?"
Eleanor shook her head, no, and swallowed back a sob. She was tired of crying, tired of the emotional imbalance that wasn't completely due to her pregnancy. She just wanted to get back to the daily grind of her life, get into a routine she could lose herself in.
She wasn't sure what her life without Blaise would be like, but Eleanor knew she couldn't continue like this.
her boys needed her, needed an emotionally stable mother in the tumult their lives had suddenly become, and at the moment, Eleanor was far from any semblance of that.
"Alright," Molly acknowledged, "Then tell me about your new house."
Before she could, Sebastian bounded into the kitchen in tears, threw himself across Eleanor's lap, and proceeded to inform her, in garbled Italian, that Anthony had pushed him.
Anthony, in the doorway, protested vehemently. Behind him, Teddy rolled his eyes, long-suffering.
It was sometimes difficult to believe he was only 11. Much like Remus Lupin in demeanour and appearance, he was quiet, kind-hearted, and generous, though no less mischievous for it. She wasn't sure of whom he'd inherited that particular trait from, though it often made for entertaining anecdotes.
In the three months since Blaise's funeral, Teddy, without request or direction, had taken up the task of wrangling Anthony and Sebastian with a quiet dignity that often brought Eleanor to tears. She was immensely proud of him, told him as much, and only ever received pink cheeks and a sheepish grin for the effort.
She only wished Remus, Tonks, and Blaise could see him now.
"They were fighting over the quaffle, Mama. Antonio forgot himself."
At six years old, Anthony was two years older than Sebastian, and notably bigger, too. They'd both be tall when they grew older, tall and slim and broad shouldered like their father, but in the meantime, Anthony had to watch himself, and Sebastian had to stop antagonising his brother.
Good luck explaining that to a four year old, however.
"What did I tell you both about fighting?"
They mumbled their identical answers, and Eleanor sent them each to a corner, noses to the wall. They'd remain there in silence for four and six minutes, respectively, and while they cried their protest, Eleanor occupied herself with assisting Molly with the dinner preparation.
It was in this scene that Ron and Hermione arrived, arms wound around each other's shoulders. They were close, as soulmates tended to be, and the ache of loss was heavy in her chest. Blaise hadn't been her soulmate, but she had loved him regardless, and she missed him every day.
"Ellie," Hermione greeted her with a hug. Behind her, Ron pulled Teddy into a headlock, and they both laughed. "How are you?"
"I'm getting by," she answered, and it was probably the most honest answer she could give. "I'm glad you could make it. I wasn't sure if I'd catch you this visit."
"As if we'd miss an opportunity to see you, Elle," Ron answered for them both. He slung an arm over her shoulders, pressed an affectionate kiss to her brow, and approached his mother.
"We've been worried about you," Hermione continued, "How are the boys?"
"They miss their papa," Eleanor answered, her expression bleak, "Every time they ask me when he's coming home, I swear another part of me dies inside."
Hermione squeezed her hands, silently supportive, and changed the subject to other things. She spoke of her work with the Wizengamot in her stead as the Potter proxy, and they were joined shortly thereafter by Percy Weasley.
His longtime girlfriend, Audrey Hawthorne, was notably absent, but as Hermione and Percy began a debate regarding the equality of magical beings, Eleanor knew not to pry. She also knew that their discussion was one she wanted no part of.
Instead, she sought out her children. Teddy had them building block towers in the living room, and Eleanor settled herself on the couch, content simply to watch.
They seemed so carefree. Teddy, not so much as Anthony and Sebastian, though enough to make him smile.
Children, she'd found, had a remarkable ability to adapt, regardless of the changes around them.
Arthur Weasley settled on the arm of the chair Eleanor had settled herself in. He carded a hand through her hair, watched her children, and smiled, nostalgic.
"I remember a scene very much like this one," he reminisced fondly. "Those were some wonderful times."
Eleanor chuckled lowly. It was tinged with a fatigue she couldn't hide. "This peace won't last, Arthur."
"I don't doubt it," he laughed merrily. "But then, you have to have the bad moments to be able to cherish the best of them, don't you? It's all worth it in the end."
"I'll remember that," Eleanor acknowledged. The smile she offered him was small, albeit genuine. "Thanks, Arthur."
"Anytime, love," he answered, tugged the ends of her hair lightly, and meandered into the kitchen. There, he greeted Molly with a hug from behind, and an affectionate nuzzle to the side of her neck.
They, too, were soulmates.
The concept was a curious phenomenon, though no one could remember it's origins. It went, simply, that the first words an individual's soulmate would say appeared somewhere on one's skin at the age of 11. It was in the person's handwriting, and in the colour of their eyes, and that was that.
Some people went their whole lives waiting for them. Others found their soulmates young, as Arthur and Molly had, and Ron and Hermione, too. Others didn't have soulmate words at all.
Eleanor herself hadn't waited. She was convinced that fate had kicked her in the teeth too often to cut her a break so easily.'. Instead, she'd fallen in love with Blaise, had married him, had carried and birthed his children. She had planned a lifetime with him, one they would never get to share.
Instead, they'd had ten wonderful, glorious years, and it wasn't nearly long enough.
She'd wanted forever.
Brought from her thoughts by Molly's exclamation that dinner was ready, Eleanor trailed behind her boys into the backyard. There, Bill and Percy had set up the outdoor tables. The spread was extensive, and as usual, Molly had outdone herself.
Thus, food was eaten, conversations were had, and before long, it was time for Eleanor to leave. Dusk had fallen, and her transport had arrived.
"Stay in touch, won't you?" Molly requested. "And take care of yourself. And let me know when you're due, as well. I'll come by to help around the house."
"You noticed, did you?" Eleanor queried, a wry smile on her face. She should have known better than to expect anything less. The woman had raised Fred and George, after all.
"Of course," she answered, as though it should have been obvious, "Now go. Time is wasting."
They hugged again, as did she with Ron and Hermione, and then she slid into the back of the Mercedes Benz, closed the door behind her, and settled back in the leather seat. In the rearview mirror, Draco Malfoy watched her from the driver's seat, concerned.
"You look exhausted, Eleanor."
"I am," she answered blandly, "Thanks for noticing. Will you drive, please?"
The blonde acquiesced with a nod, and the magically-enhanced trip to Gatwick was spent in a companionable silence.
They'd come a long way from the adversaries of years passed. It could mainly be credited to Blaise, who hadn't been able to stand for his best friend and wife being at each other's throats at any hour of the day. Time and distance had helped, too.
In the wake of Blaise's passing, Draco had been more of a friend than Eleanor had ever expected of him. He'd helped pack up she and Blaise's house in Turin, had helped organise her new home in Virginia, had made sure she ate and slept regularly.
Eleanor owed him a debt, and she had no idea how she would ever pay him back.
"We're here," Draco declared.
Eleanor nodded her acknowledgement, pulled herself out of the car, and helped Sebastian and Anthony out, as well. They were on the airstrip, the private plane Draco had organised in front of them. It was a luxury she'd grown marginally accustomed to while married to Blaise, but sometimes, the wealth she had at her disposal was mind-boggling.
"There will be a car waiting for you on the other side," Draco informed her, "All of your immigrations paperwork has been organised, as well. Your driver will have everything you need to get settled. Are you ready?"
"Not in the slightest," she answered honestly, "But this… we need this. I do, anyway."
"I know," Draco acknowledged. "It's why I didn't bother arguing with you over the matter."
Draco bade farewell to Teddy, his cousin's son, and to Sebastian and Anthony, as well. To them, he'd been 'Zio Draco' for as long as they could remember, and thus they each hugged him happily. They would see him again, of course.
"Do I get a hug from you, Potter?" He jested.
Eleanor rolled her eyes playfully, hugged him fiercely, and whispered her gratitude in his ear.
"Thank you, for everything."
"Don't mention it," he insisted. "I couldn't have lived with myself, otherwise. Now go; the pilots are waiting."
Eleanor helped Sebastian and Anthony up the stairs, Teddy behind them. Inside the plane, she settled them in seats as the door was closed, buckled them in, and dropped into the leather seat across from the two. Teddy sat next to her, Eleanor closed her eyes, and the next thing she knew, her small family had left Britain far behind.
Author's Note: Thoughts? Please, no spoilers for Season 11. I've not started watching it yet. Hope you enjoyed. -t.
