Hello my lovely readers! Please take a second to give this a read concerning news on my new fan-fiction story and my older one. I apologize for not updating anything for such a long period of time. I have just graduated college and have been getting things set up for my next post-graduate adventure, it has been completely crazy. I have not abandoned my Cassidy Williams/Batman series, and will be updating it in the next week or two. If you are a follower of that series, I have not forgotten you at all. She will be back, promise!
After having a HP Marathon, I have had this story stuck in my head. I wanted to venture in the Hogwarts world for a bit. This is the first chapter of what will be a seven part series on Eleanor Diggory. I want to keep this series as true to the books as possible with movie scenes added if I feel necessary. Having not read the series in so long, I will be reading chapters and then writing along with that as I go. It may take time as far as updating goes, fair warning! I want to do the series as much justice as possible!
With that being said, I wanted to post this first chapter to introduce my original character and let everyone get a bit of direction on where this series is heading. I wanted to get feedback and gauge if this is something my readers and new readers would be interested in before I continue.
Please let me know what you think, your thoughts and feedback will be what will determine if this series will be continued! Thank you and promise you'll have a new Cassidy Williams chapter soon!
Chapter I: Of Ceddy Bears and Packing Trunks
She surveyed her closet to ensure that all her robes were safely packed in her trunk for the third time this morning. A new stack of books were neatly tucked away at the bottom of her trunk, along with parchment, quills, cauldron and a new set of Qudditch gloves anxious to be broken in during the new school year. Her black, dress shoes were nicely polished and made her favorite, worn pair of tennis shoes look especially ratty in comparison. She opened the drawers of her large dresser to make sure everyday clothes, socks, underwear and the like were not forgotten and ready to journey to Platform 9 and 3/4.
"I think I may be forgetting something," she muttered to herself, scanning the room for the thousandth time.
It was a small room, but the bright blue walls were warm and welcoming. It made the room seem larger than it was. The nice but gently worn vanity, dresser and nightstand was dark mahogany and were scattered with pictures, letters, jewelry and other memories from her previous school years. A bookshelf on the wall was home to various spell and potion books. The walls were adorn with a Puddlemere United poster, her favorite Qudditch team, as well as various banners and pennants from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Walls were also scattered of family pictures, mainly of her and her older brother running around as toddlers.
It would be several months before she slept in the comfort of her room and snuggled in her feather bed covered in turquoise and lime sheets. It would be several months before she can look out the bedside window to see the tiny dot in the horizon that was the welcoming sight of the Burrow, a place that became her home away from home over the years.
"Talking to yourself is a sign of insanity, Ellie. Keep it up and they'll have you committed to Azkaban in no time."
Eleanor Grace Diggory looked over her should to see her older and only brother Cedric leaning against the doorframe. His trunk was packed and by his feet. Of course, he was ready to venture to King's Cross Station before her. She rolled her eyes dramatically and returned to her mental checklist. Packing for Hogwarts was always the most stressful time for Eleanor.
Cedric was a year her elder, starting his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Eleanor felt immense pressure, especially from her father Amos, to live up to his pristine reputation. Cedric was one of the most outstanding students his age. He never stepped a toe out of line, setting a high bar for Eleanor to tackle. He excelled as a student, always making high marks, and a talent on the Qudditch pitch as a seeker for Hufflepuff. He was shoe-in for captain next school year. One could not overlook that his résumé made him a top candidate as a Prefect before his time at Hogwarts was over.
Eleanor studied hard to be on of the top students of her class. She was bright, but often had to work harder to make the marks that came much easily to Cedric. She followed her brother's footsteps and earned a spot of Gryffindor House's team as a Chaser. She spent her summers constantly practicing with her brother on their makeshift pitch in the backyard. She has quickly become one of the best Chasers at Hogwarts. She was eyeing the Gryffindor Head Girl spot that she knew would be opened soon, and knew Prefect would be hers if she kept to her studies and activities like her brother.
"I don't want to forget anything this year. You know how father threw a fit when I forgot my Potions book last year. We can't have that again, Ceddy Bear," she smirked, knowing full well the physical pain it caused him to hear that name.
As a toddler, Eleanor never could quite grasp how to pronounce Cedric. Try as she might Ceddy was as close as she could muster. Shortly after, Ceddy Bear was born. She was a loving and devoted sister. Cedric was her hero. She would follow him around and copy his every move, much to his dismay. Another reason Eleanor was so determined to be as successful a student as Cedric, she wanted to be like him and make him a proud older brother.
As the two grew older, their close relationship stayed the same. Eleanor still loved her brother dearly, but have long since spared him the embarrassment of his little sister trailing him. Ceddy Bear was only used in the privacy between the two siblings; least the older would thoroughly throttle the younger Diggory.
"I absolutely hate that name," the oldest Diggory said, scrunching up his handsome features and throwing a hand over his heart, mocking injury.
If you looked at the two Diggory siblings, you would have never guess the two as related. She didn't possess the always perfectly in place golden, brown locks of her family. Her pencil-straight, chocolate locks fell midway down her back. Her hair was so dark that often some would mistake it as being raven black. She did not have the warm and welcoming hazel eyes of her brother, bur rather a brilliant green that none failed to notice. Cedric always said her eyes would sparkle when she laughed or smile.
Cedric matured early and was widely considered one of the most handsome boys at Hogwarts. At thirteen, Eleanor still had no curve or womanly shape to her. Her cheeks were still full as they had been as a baby. Her nose, she felt was always a bit too large for her face, and her chin a bit round. Her pale skin had a few blemishes and pimples as expecting for a pubescent teen. She felt she was rather plain compared to her brother's stunning looks. Though her mother insisted she would grow into her looks. Her time would come and Eleanor would stop all the boys' hearts in the hallways. With her classmates already wearing touches of makeup and looking like young ladies, it was hard for Eleanor to believe.
"You are a horrible liar, love," Eleanor replied to her brother with a wink. "You know you secretly love that name. You know Dad hates when I forget things."
"Mum can owl you anything you forget. No reason to stress, Ellie."
"Easy for you to say, poster child."
Eleanor loved her family dearly, but she never felt she truly belonged. She never exactly fit the idea of what a Diggory was, whether it was her looks or personality. Cedric was by far the favorite of the two children and was allowed much more freedom and flexibility while at home. Their father Amos, who worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic, was much more quickly to divulge all of Cedric's successes at Hogwarts to his friends and Ministry's coworkers. Eleanor was barely ever mentioned, which was one reason she pushed herself so hard to be like her brother …to make her father proud and have him brag on her like he does Cedric.
Not that Eleanor was ever mistreated. She was well provided for and loved by her parents, but something was a bit off. She was often received with looks of pity and sometimes she thought fear, as if one day she would snap and wreck havoc. She was kept very sheltered from the outside wizarding world while at home. When the family did make trips to Diagon Alley or the like, she was often avoided and would hear whispers… dark whispers directed her way.
One evening she asked her father about the dark words she was grab glimpses off but did not understand. He would brush it aside as nonsense and would always said he'd explain one day when she was older. No was not the time to fear dark things, but to be a child. She should be worrying about classes and friends, not the fears of adults. He would always be sure to reminder her that she was a Diggory, through and through, and should be proud to be one. Though often that sentiment was not enough to ease her growing doubts.
She once thought the fears of her parentage would be doubted during her first year at Hogwarts. She knew without a doubt she would be sorted into Hufflepuff House. When she would be nervous about being separated from her brother, Cedric would always remind her that every Diggory for the last century was sorted into Hufflepuff, but Eleanor Diggory was to break the mold once more.
"Eleanor Grace Diggory," Professor McGonagall voiced announced over the large group of nervous first-year Hogwarts students.
Eleanor took a deep breath and look over to Hufflepuff table to meet the gaze of her older brother. He gave her an encouraging a sign and a thumbs up, trying to clam whatever last minute jitters she had.
She navigated her way through the crowd of first years, climb the stairs of the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall gave her a small smile as the young girl climbed on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on top her chocolate locks.
The Sorting Hat almost covered her eyes. She gave a slight jump as the voice from the hat startled her.
"A powerful witch you will become that is no doubt, but where to put. Bright you are. Ravenclaw would be a nice fit, but the world of books and knowledge are not your only calling," the Sorting Hat began.
"Hufflepuff," she whispered, wanting desperately to be by her brother's side.
"Hufflepuff, you say. You are fiercely loyal indeed," the Sorting Hat replied. "Willing to give anything to protect your family and friends. A great quality for a Hufflepuff, but that is not where you will shine."
"Sir, please. Every Diggory has been a Hufflepufff. My brother said so," Eleanor countered, brushing the Sorting Hat above her eyes.
"Indeed Hufflepuff is home to Diggorys, but you Miss Diggory are more than you know. Willing to stand up for those that cannot do it themselves. Brave and courageous with a hint of mischief, so much like your father you are. I know exactly where to put you… GRYFFINDOR!"
It was just one more thing that didn't make sense to Eleanor; one more thing that brought doubt in her mind that she didn't truly belong.
"You won't forget anything, Ellie. Promise. If you don't hurry, you will miss the train. Hogwarts will not survive the wrath of Weasley mischief if you aren't there to tame them," Cedric joked with a laugh.
With a wave of his wand he left, his trunks following behind and down the stairs to wait by the door.
Eleanor couldn't help but smile at the mention of Fred and George Weasley. She sat on the edge of the bed and grabbed a framed photo from her nightstand of the trio. The Weasley family lived close to the Diggory home, and for as long as Eleanor could remember she spent most of her summers at the Burrow with her adoptive family.
While at Hogwarts, you would be hard pressed to find the Weasley twins without Eleanor tagging behind, attempting to keep the boys out of trouble and shouting words of warning through bouts of giggles.
Eleanor remembered fondly the first time she met the twins. The three was around six years old at the time. Mrs. Weasley was keeping an eye on the Diggory children while their parents were off on Ministry business. Cedric was inside with the older Weasley boys, Charlie and Bill, discussing the current Qudditch standings. The twins were outside on their mock pitch practicing on their charmed brooms that only flew a foot or two off the ground when a soft voice called out.
"You're beaters, aren't you? One day, I'm going to be the best chaser that Hogwarts has ever seen. My brother said so!"
The redheads whipped their heads around to the source of the voice. Tiny Eleanor was standing outside the pitch, with her hands on her hips, looking as confident as ever.
The identical boys seriously studied the girls and then looked at each other before busting out with laughter.
"You?" the first boy questioned.
"A chaser?" the second questioned.
"But, you're so small!" they finished in unison.
"Then let's play," Eleanor countered, picking up a quaffle, "unless you're scared…"
The Burrow's yard was soon filled with laughter and shouts from the three and soon picked up an audience from the older boys. The Weasley twins were relentless on their attack against the lone chaser, who was weaving in and out of bludger attacks as expertly as a six year old could. The mini-match continued until a loud and resounding SMACK silenced the game.
Eleanor had been knocked off her broom. A very precisely aim bludger collided with the girl's face. Cedric was halfway across the pitch to check out his baby sister when a strong arm pulled him back.
"Wait a second," said Charlie Weasley.
Eleanor had stood up brushed the dirt off her clothes and remounted her broom with quaffle in hand. Cedric could tell his sister was in pain and see the tears in her eyes, but she was refusing to let them fall. She wasn't going to look weak in front of her newfound friends. Both twins were ready to blame the other for he now dirtied and bloodied face complete with broken nose, but quickly followed the girl's lead and continued the game until Eleanor scored.
She flew over to the boy that had hit her, or at least judging by his flushed, embarrassed face was the guilty culprit. Her eyes sparkled with a hit of trouble and she gave him what was soon known as Eleanor's signature smirk, and as he grew older, George Weasley would realize that smirk was the cutest thing he had ever seen.
"You hit like a girl," she laughed. "I'm Ellie."
"I'm Fred, and this is my brother George," George said. "Think this one is a keeper Freddie. I like her," Fred said, playing along with George's prank.
A week later, Eleanor finally discovered that George was pretending to be Fred and vice versa. From that day on, she could always tell the Weasley twins apart.
When her father came to pick up his children from the Burrow, he was greeted by his daughter's face and clothes covered in blood and dirt. Her nose had been put perfectly back in place thanks to Mrs. Weasley, but not before her and the boys got a stern talking. The sight of her did not amuse her father, and she received another lecture when she came home.
Her father did not approve of her close friendship with the Weasley twins. If she had a galleon for every time she heard her father say she needed to stay away from those twins, she would be one very wealthy witch.
"Don't get me wrong, the Weasley are a good wizarding family," he would say. "But those boys are a bad influence, always causing trouble and in detention more than they are in class. You are the last person that need to be falling into trouble, Eleanor."
Eleanor gently held the photo that shown the three children running and laughing on the grounds of Hogwarts. She carefully packed it in her trunk and flicked her want to send the luggage downstairs to wait alongside her brother's.
"Let's go home," she whispered with a smile tracing her lips, ready to face the new adventure this year would bring.
