Quick Note: Hey all! Here's the next installment after the little surprise ending of last week's chapter! Looking forward to hearing what you're all thinking of this!
Lucius Malfoy had a terrible secret that had been eating him alive for nearly seven months. Only one other soul in the world knew the awful betrayal he had orchestrated and helped to commit. He couldn't look at Eleanor or his son for fear of revealing all of his dark and twisted ways. He wished he had been different, he wished he had not been so easily manipulated, so afraid. He was a coward. He couldn't touch Narcissa, and his loving and merciful wife had taken notice. He resigned to shutting himself in his study where he drank to forget or sobbed because he still remembered. But at least he was alone, at least he wasn't hurting Narcissa or Draco or Eleanor any more than he already had, unbeknownst to them.
He had been doing okay for a while. His terrible and awful secret would die with him - whether that be sooner or later, he couldn't be sure. Selfishly, he hoped it was sooner, but for the sake of his family, he was fighting to redeem himself and keep them safe. Draco would do better than him, Draco would be better. He had to be, otherwise what was this all for?
But then in the parlor of his home stood the one and only person who knew what he did - who had helped him do it. He tried to hide his shock and his absolute fear from his wife and her sister but he couldn't.
"Bellatrix." He gasped out.
"Lucius, I'm sorry, she didn't have any place to go, I couldn't just let her go into the wild and try to survive." Narcissa's eyes were full of tears. "I thought you would know what to do."
"How...why?" Lucius ignored his wife and only stared at his accomplice who was looking more unhinged with each passing moment. His only thought was that he needed to get this lunatic out of his home before she blew his cover.
"The Dark Lord provides for his most faithful servants. You should know that very well." Bellatrix smirked, she loved to watch him squirm. Her brother-in-law had a weak point, and it was his affection for his family. She knew he hadn't told them, otherwise her sweet as honey sister wouldn't still be living with him. "I suppose I'm free to be out for good now."
"You've been out before?" Narcissa asked suddenly, looking at her sister incredulously. Narcissa was simultaneously overjoyed and petrified to see her sister. She hadn't felt a close female bond since Olga died, but Bellatrix was no Olga and Narcissa feared what her presence meant for her family and the rise of the Dark Lord, which she was trying desperately to ignore.
"Lucius knows." Bellatrix smiled maliciously. "Ask him about it later."
Narcissa looked at Lucius in shock. The two didn't have secrets, not since the first war, or at least that is what she thought. They had agreed to keep each other accountable, for Draco. And now they felt responsible for Eleanor too, though she wasn't legally theirs.
"What do you want us to do with you, Bella? You surely don't expect us to let you stay here." Lucius spit out. Narcissa wanted to protest but with the secret outings that her sister and husband seemed to share, she couldn't be sure that she wanted her sister around either.
"I just need some resources to take to Him. He can't quite do what he does best just yet considering the whole world still thinks he is dead, it's best to keep it that way." All three knew who she was speaking of.
"You're staying with him?" Narcissa asked, fear clutching her heart as she realized their proximity to the Dark Lord.
"I'm staying with Wormtail, actually, while Snape is at Hogwarts." She rolled her eyes in disgust. "Little bugger is really going to get on my nerves." Lucius eyed her suspiciously. "Don't worry dear Lucius, I'll still keep up appearances at the hospital like you asked."
"Hospital? Lucius what is going on?" Narcissa demanded, crossing her arms.
"I will explain it all later. Bellatrix needs to collect her things and go before Draco and Eleanor wake up."
"The orphan girl is here?" Bellatrix asked in surprise. "Well that changes things."
"You cannot stay." Lucius said firmly.
"You can't refuse an order from the Dark Lord. He and I will talk about this."
After gathering her resources - mostly potions and old texts and current newspapers and Narcissa's most expensive dresses - Bellatrix and Narcissa stood in the parlor. Narcissa was hoping to ask her sister questions before she disappeared again, but the fireplace roared green before she got the chance.
Out of immediate fear, Eleanor grabbed Draco's hand and stood behind him when she saw Bellatrix holding hands with Narcissa.
"Draco, you remember your aunt, don't you?"
"I don't remember her, sorry." Draco said stiffly. He was immediately furious with his parents for letting a criminal into their home despite the fact she was technically family. He wanted to shove Eleanor back through the Floo and have them disappear until she was gone and he felt he could safely question his parents.
"Aw, Cissy, you didn't tell me they were in love." Bellatrix cooed in a mocking voice. Eleanor felt a sharp shiver go down her spine at the shrillness but tried to remain brave.
"I really think you should go." Narcissa said firmly. "And don't come back." All affection for her sister was waning at the sight of the absolute fear in the eyes of the children.
"That's not really up to you, is it?" Bellatrix snipped, but spared another glance at Eleanor before Disapparating and leaving a palpable tension in the room in her wake. For a long, torturous moment, no one spoke. Narcissa felt cold at the entire encounter; her husband's dishonesty and her sister's reminder that there was now an ever present commander looming over their heads, to the fear Draco and Eleanor displayed.
"What was she doing here?" Draco asked lowly, still holding Eleanor's hand, who was frozen at the sight of an actual Death Eater whose presence had tarnished a once safe haven.
"She just showed up." Narcissa mumbled out. "I haven't seen her in almost 15 years."
"You didn't invite her?" Draco demanded.
"Of course not." Narcissa snapped. "I don't want her here. I didn't realize she was popping to and from wherever she wanted. I figured she was in hiding."
"I don't think I should stay here." Eleanor piped up quietly. "I don't feel safe with Death Eaters popping in." Her heart hurt to say it, she knew Narcissa wanted her there more than anything but Eleanor's heart was beating rapidly. She didn't even want to be in her home. For the first time, she ached for the feeling of protection that the Order of the Phoenix provided; she ached for Remus.
Narcissa ignored her dropping heart when she thought of Lucius and his dancing skull and snake that neither Draco nor Eleanor knew existed. She wished things were different. She wished she didn't understand where Eleanor was coming from. She wanted to get out of the house too. She had no idea what the future had in store and she couldn't expose Eleanor to that reality. She only hoped that she would take Draco with her.
Narcissa nodded her head solemnly. "I just don't want you to be alone." She breathed out.
Eleanor felt obligated to the Malfoys, and more than that, she genuinely loved them. Even Draco, especially Draco. No more than five minutes ago she would have invited them all to stay with her if it meant keeping them safe, however after seeing Bellatrix Lestrange in the parlor of what felt like her second home, she was now unsure of whether or not she could trust them. Would she leave Draco behind with them and whatever Death Eater popped into the Manor while she shacked up with the Order, or would she and Draco live in her parent's castle after they had just decided to be involved less?
To Draco, the idea of staying with just Eleanor was perfect. It's how he would win her back! He could use this month to remind her of how at peace the two had been over the summer, but his heart dropped when he realized how greatly she was puzzling over what to do with him.
"I think I'm going to stay with some friends for a few days. I'll come by on Christmas." Eleanor let out quietly, causing both Narcissa and Draco to hurt - only in different ways. Draco wanted to convince her to stay, but in his heart, he didn't want to argue with her anymore. He knew she was right to leave. Narcissa looked as though she might cry as Eleanor shakily walked back into the fireplace.
Draco felt loss, Narcissa felt as though she had failed, and in some dank corner of the Malfoy Manor, Lucius sat alone, feeling both.
Eleanor took a few moments to herself before joining the Order to regain her thoughts and control her wildly beating heart. Her immediate reaction was the need to tell the Order about Bellatrix's appearance in the Malfoy home, however once she thought that through she realized that meant raids on the Manor and the Malfoys realizing they couldn't trust her. Selfishly and perhaps destructively, Eleanor wanted to be able to go back to Draco, if he did decide to change his ways. She didn't want to close that door forever by selling out his parents for harboring escaped criminals.
Seeing Bellatrix Lestrange in real life had turned Eleanor's blood cold. More than confirm the proximity of the war, it sent her spiraling in anxiety for the stability of the Malfoys. They were good, Eleanor knew this to be true. She felt like she was betraying them by thinking - even for a moment - that they might slip back into their old ways. But still, she worried. She fretted over them and while she knew she was making the best decision by removing herself from the Manor, she wouldn't rest easy until she was able to see them again and confirm their lack of connection to He Who Must Not Be Named.
It took Eleanor awhile to muster up the courage to finally arrive at Grimmauld Place. It was a place she felt slightly unwelcome, given her connections and the lack of invite to join Dumbledore's Army. But Remus, ever steadfast and kind, welcomed Eleanor with a wide smile and loving embrace.
"We weren't expecting you this early." Remus stated in a quiet voice as Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs for Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Is everything alright?"
Eleanor didn't know how to respond to that, she stared into her father's eyes. In him, she found a friend, protection, love. She felt safe. "Things just weren't what I was expecting at the Manor." Eleanor said simply.
"Are you safe?" Remus asked with concern at her vagueness.
Eleanor nodded once and leaned into his hug once more. She needed to believe she was safe with the Malfoys; that her leaving was just a precaution. Who were the Malfoys if not her greatest protection and allies? Eleanor didn't know that she could live in a world where the Malfoys didn't protect her like she was their own. She pushed that thought far from her head and greeted Hermione and Harry and Ron with a smile.
"I'll leave you four be." Remus bowed out gracefully.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked, putting a gentle hand on Eleanor's shoulders.
"I uh," Eleanor looked at her shoes and shifted uncomfortably. "I just couldn't really be around Draco right now." Eleanor let out, which was partly true.
"Oh," Hermione let out. She sounded relieved until she picked up on Eleanor's discomfort and obvious sadness at the fact. "I'm sorry." She supplied lamely as they began walking towards the girls' rooms.
"No, you're not." Eleanor snapped quickly, tired of insincerity and falsehoods from her friends. "But thanks."
"I," Hermione started, unsure of how to respond to Eleanor's uncharacteristic shortness.
"Just be honest with me. Please. You don't have to invite me to every meeting or include me in every conversation. Just don't hide things from me. That sucks."
"We thought you'd tell Malfoy." Ron piped up.
"I know that's what you thought, and you have to know that I won't. Your business isn't his business."
"Then I suppose Malfoy's business isn't our business either?" Harry asked.
"Not that he has much business that would interest you anyway, but I'm not a gossip, so no." Eleanor sucked in a deep breath and looked at her friends. "I think I need to explain myself a bit more to all of you as well. Do you think we could talk a little later, all of us, in private?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione nodded, all feeling relief at the disconnect they had been feeling coming to a close.
Once the adults retired, Ginny, Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Eleanor all piled into Fred and George's room, which they put a silencing charm on and revealed several alcohol bottles.
"The only way we know how to cheer Eleanor up." Fred smiled mischievously, handing her a bottle of her favorite drink, which she took with a look of gratitude.
"I haven't been completely open with you all recently," Eleanor started, looking at the bottle in her hands, "which has been really stupid of me."
"No!" Hermione interrupted quickly. "We haven't been receptive or supportive either." Eleanor didn't deny this fact, but still smiled gratefully for Hermione's assistance.
"So, basically for this entire school year up until a few weeks ago Draco and I had been...not dating exactly, but-"
"Snogging each other in the dark hallways every night?" George provided.
"We know." Fred concluded.
"Y-you knew?" Eleanor asked for clarification.
"You are not that stealthy, Eleanor." Fred laughed, and Eleanor was shocked to find everyone nodding in agreement.
"We just didn't want to embarrass you. Or make you feel bad." Ginny explained.
"Well I did sometimes, but Hermione told me to let you sort things out." Ron added in.
"Okay, well maybe this one will surprise you," Eleanor sucked in a breath, half amused at her poorly kept secret, and half annoyed that no one talked to her about it. "Remus is my biological father."
"I knew that one already, was it a secret?" Harry asked.
"You didn't think she was keeping it quiet, but yet you didn't tell me?" Hermione questioned loudly. "How come you didn't think it was a secret and yet you said nothing?"
"I thought everyone sort of knew, I didn't really need to talk about it." Harry shrugged. "Really, no one else thought it was suspicious that Eleanor was getting letters from Remus consistently?"
"I didn't know she was getting letters from Remus..." Ginny huffed, not liking not being in the know.
"How come Harry and Hermione knew before me?" Ron spoke up.
"Apparently Harry just thought everyone knew." Hermione threw her hands up in frustration. "Honestly, I sleep two feet away from her and just found this out a few weeks ago."
"Well you all were able to keep Dumbledore's Army from me for months!" Eleanor put in.
"That was a secret too?" Harry asked.
"Yes, she was going to tell Draco." Ron answered quickly. "But how is Remus your dad?"
"I'm still very confused on how you all knew about Draco and I had no idea you knew?" Eleanor put in, all of the chatter rising loudly in the room as they all tried talking over each other.
"The hickeys were truly ridiculous, Eleanor." Hermione mentioned off hand.
"Legendary." George added quietly.
"Why was I the last to know?" Ron continued to whine. "That's really cool shit, Eleanor, and you just told Harry and Hermione."
"You were the hardest on Draco, so it makes sense." Ginny answered her brother.
"I meant the Lupin thing," Ron rolled his eyes at Ginny, "and Eleanor was the hardest on Draco, she broke his damn heart."
"I broke his heart?" Eleanor clarified incredulously, but still cracked a slight smile despite the subject matter.
"My heart is broken that Harry didn't share a damn thing with me!" Hermione called over the group. "I can understand Eleanor not telling me, but Harry not telling me? Honestly?"
"Hermione, drop it, he's dimwitted, we all know this. He probably just forgot." Ron joked, nudging Harry and laughing.
"I'm going to be honest, I kind of did." Harry chuckled, causing the group to go into an uproar of laughter.
Eleanor continued to drink and share in some long overdue joy with her friends.
By the time Eleanor realized she had drank far too much, it was too late. She was very focused on not mentioning Bellatrix Lestrange's appearance at the Manor that her protection of some of her other secrets started to let slip.
"Harry Potter, you made out with Cho Chang?" Eleanor nearly screeched out when Ron hinted at it through a thinly veiled joke.
"Oh, the things you miss when you sneak off to the Astronomy Tower every other night." Harry laughed in return. Eleanor opened her mouth to protest, as she wasn't seeing Draco at the time the kiss occurred, however she was too embarrassed to admit to her friends that she was sneaking out in vain to see someone who was sleeping with another girl.
"That's not an excuse not to tell me." Eleanor huffed.
"I'm not a gossip." Harry repeated Eleanor's words from earlier which caused her to grind her teeth in annoyance.
"What even happened with Draco? Like the full details." Hermione asked, even when intoxicated she sounded unnecessarily judgemental. However, Eleanor was drunk enough not to care and sad enough to want to confide in someone about the past few months of pain.
Through her intoxication she knew she shouldn't - couldn't - indulge everything, but her frustration with Draco and her confusion about her own feelings made it easier for her to crack.
"Uh, well," Eleanor started, taking another long chug of her drink, nearly emptying her bottle. "I guess we started to be uhh, romantically involved in the summer. I was worried about the school year and he was convinced it would be fine because I was an expert at balancing things. We got to school, all my fears were right and he ended up acting like an even bigger prick than before and now I'm sad but I was right." Eleanor shrugged. "You can all say 'I told you so'." Everyone went eerily quiet.
"Why did you leave the Manor early?" Hermione asked slowly.
Eleanor took a breath and focused solely on not mentioning Bellatrix. "Um, we got in an argument."
"I feel like you argue a lot." Ron pointed out. "What made this one so bad?"
"Ron." Hermione hissed.
"No, no." Eleanor waved off. "He's right. We did argue a lot. This one was just," Eleanor sighed. "He's sleeping with someone else so…" Eleanor trailed off.
"Well he is a prick who sleeps with other people and won't talk to you in the day time, so what is the attraction?" Ron pressed.
"I wish you all could see what he was like over the summer. Or in private."
"We don't need to see that," Ron waved the thoughts of Draco intimate with one of his closest friends away from his head.
"I wish he acted that way all the time. That's what we would argue about. He puts on a show for everyone else to seem tough."
"Or maybe he puts on a show for you." Harry suggested with venom in his tone.
"No, no." Eleanor shook her head rapidly, making herself dizzy for a moment before regaining herself. "I don't believe that's true. He still has to figure himself out. He needs to choose who he is gonna be. I'm just waiting for him to make the right choice."
"What if he doesn't?" Hermione asked.
Eleanor didn't want to think of that. She didn't want to think of Lucius and Narcissa turning back into Death Eaters. She didn't want to think about the people that loved her the greatest after the death of her parents being the opposite of what she always believed. "I can't control people." Eleanor let out. "He'll do whatever he wants. I don't make much of a difference to him."