No Good Deed

April 1998
Ellie

Ellie kept her head down as she walked through the halls, praying that this time she would get to the room of requirement without running into another gang of Slytherin enforcers. She really had painted a giant target on her back with the break-up, though sometimes they left her alone if she were in a group or at least not alone. Seamus walked her to class when he could, though more often than not, the ten Gryffindor fifth years moved from class to class in a pack, save for the few classes they all didn't have together.

As it was, she barely got away whenever they cornered her and she was just waiting for her luck to run out.

For whatever reason, Alecto Carrow also seemed to back off, though Ellie was certain this meant she was planning something. Each class, there was cold, calculating look in her eyes whenever she looked at Ellie, though she never called on her.

As for Dark Arts, Ellie had taken to skipping the class completely after hearing about Seamus getting it fairly bad from Amycus when he fought him over performing a curse on a younger year. He practically lived in the room of requirement, as it was. Ellie was halfway tempted to move in herself, if anything to escape the constant threat of the Slytherins in the hallways. It was the threat of them targeting the younger students that kept her from doing so. She and the others were still keeping an eye out for them as best they could, though she was under strict instructions to avoid altercations.

But this particular day, Ellie found herself alone. Which meant she was basically a sitting duck, hence the hurrying.

"Look who it is," she heard a familiar voice say. Ellie sighed and sped up, hoping she could outrun them this time. But an arm shot out and wrapped around her shoulder, slowing her down. "Why such the rush?"

"What do you want, Bulstrode?" she asked, glancing over at the Slytherin.

"Just wanted to chat. Been awhile," the older girl said. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding us." Ellie looked to her other side, seeing a sixth year Slytherin boy there.

"I don't have time," Ellie said, trying to get away, but Millicent yanked her back.

"Ah, big words from Sirius Black's bastard. You don't have any protection anymore, remember?" Millicent said. Ellie silently fumed, her hand wrapping around her wand in her pocket, itching to just take her out. But she barely got away last time without a professor coming across the fight. And she could hear both Ginny and Seamus in her head, telling her to run for it.

"I just want to get back to the common room," Ellie said through clenched teeth, reminding herself to stay calm and not fight back. It was what they wanted, and she wasn't about to give into it. Millicent laughed harshly.

"You are too much fun, Black," she said.

"If you're going to beat me up, just get it over with," Ellie said, managing to get out of her grasp and turning to face the two, still gripping her wand in her pocket.

"You're just begging for detention, aren't you?" Millicent asked, smirking at her. Ellie only stared her down in return. "Go on. Jinx me. I know you want to."

"Don't test me," Ellie retorted. Merlin, this was getting harder.

"Stupid little Gryffindor," Millicent said, taking a step forward. "You're going to get yourself killed just like your stupid father." Ellie took a deep breath, still fighting the urge to hex the older girl.

"Just walk away, Ellie," she told herself. "Just walk away." She went so far as to take a step back, starting to turn away.

"Or if you won't, perhaps I should make you," Millicent said, looking around. She then reached out and grabbed a Hufflepuff first year. "Should I beat this one up instead?" Ellie barely had the chance to stare at her in horror before pulling her wand out and pointing it at Millicent's face.

"Don't you dare!" Ellie said, keeping her voice even.

"What are you doing, Bulstrode?" Nott asked calmly, stepping in between Ellie and the two Slytherins.

"Just having some fun," she replied. "Like you used to once upon a time before you took up with this Gryffindor scum." Ellie glanced towards him but trained her eyes back on the two other Slytherins. Millicent still had the Hufflepuff in her grasp.

"That Hufflepuff didn't do anything to you," he said, the irritation clear in his voice. "Let her go and get to class or else McGonagall will give you detention and deduct points." Millicent snorted.

"As if that old bat could do anything to me," she sneered. "'Sides, it was Black we were having fun with." Her cold eyes met Ellie's as Theodore maintained his even stare at her, his face reflecting no emotion whatsoever.

"I've got her from here," he finally said. "Get to class." Millicent's eyes flicked over to him as confusion filled her face.

"Don't tell me you still care for that slimy blood traitor? She cheated on you," she retorted. "Still don't understand just why you were with her to begin with. You've got your choice of any pureblood in Slytherin."

"Been there, done that," Nott said flatly. "And Gryffindor or not, she's still pureblood and the Greenthistle and Selwyn heir. Not that I care anymore." He cast a cold glare over his shoulder at Ellie, then turned back to Millicent. "Regardless, Carrow sent me to fetch her. Has something to discuss and we both know that Professor Carrow doesn't like to be kept waiting."

For a moment, there was a small sliver of fear in Millicent's eyes. But then she quickly recovered as a cruel smile filled her face.

"Oh, well then," she said, shoving the Hufflepuff away. "By all means." She then turned and strode off with the other Slytherin, though the two glanced back at them a few times until they turned a corner.

"You aren't really taking me to her, are you?" Ellie asked, suddenly frightened. While she didn't think he'd do such a thing, she couldn't help as memories from her last session with Alecto flew through her mind. Nott sighed and turned around to face her, the scowl gone. He glanced around the hallway, then roughly grabbed her by the arm, yanking her along with him.

He didn't say anything, which only made Ellie worry more as he fixed a glare on his face. The other students moved out of their way and no one dared approach them. She wanted to ask where they were going, but Ellie found her tongue didn't want to cooperate. He turned a corner, leading her down an empty corridor before turning abruptly into an empty classroom and shoving her in. He closed the door before whirling around to look at her, a pained expression now replacing the glare.

"Merlin, Ellie, do you honestly think I would take you to her?" he asked. "Though… I don't think I can use that excuse anymore. We'll be lucky if Bulstrode doesn't eventually figure out it was a lie. You might need to fake some bruises or something."

Ellie breathed a sigh of relief, realizing at that moment that her heart had started pounding frantically for the few minutes that she thought he actually was going to take her to Alecto.

"What the hell were you doing? Have you learned nothing?"

Ellie scowled at him, her temper flaring up slightly now that the danger had passed.

"She was going to hurt that first year. You can't expect me to just stand there and let her beat up some poor, innocent kid?" she snapped. Nott sighed again, running his fingers through his hair, agitated. "And seriously - you shouldn't be stepping in anyway. They'll just come after you next." Nott stared at her a moment, perplexed. He then shook his head.

"I told you not to worry about me," he replied.

"Well, then… you need to stop worrying about me. I'm no longer your responsibility," Ellie retorted. "I'm not quite sure why you thought I was to begin with anyway." Nott groaned in frustration.

"You're supposed to be staying out of trouble. You mess with them and they will send you to her," he shot back.

"I'm trying!" Ellie shouted. "Really, I am! But it's so bloody hard! It's like… they know just what to say or do to get me to react. I don't care that they insult me. I can even keep it in when they insult my mum or my dad. But now… now they go for someone else, and I can't just stand there and let them hurt someone because of me!"

Ellie breathed heavily as they stared at each other, not even caring that there were tears now streaking down her cheeks as she thought about what Alecto had done to Seamus.

"I mean, that was the whole bloody point of coming back. To protect others," she said. "And now you're telling me I shouldn't even do that? Then what the hell am I supposed to do!?"

"Stay alive, that's what!" he shouted back, sounding equally as frustrated. Ellie's eyes widened as he paced a bit, running his hands through his hair. He then stopped and looked at her a moment before walking over and pulling her towards him. Still shocked into silence, Ellie didn't react at first. But eventually she wrapped her arms around him, finding that what she really needed in that moment was a good hug.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I shouldn't yell at you. Of course, I get it… why you want to do something. I'm just sorry that I can't do more… Fuck, I promised I'd look out for you and I can't even do that anymore…"

"It's… it's okay," Ellie replied. She was grateful for everything that Nott had done for her, though she still didn't really understand just why he was doing any of it. "Honestly… I'm more worried about you… If they find out you were helping me… they'll turn on you too."

"Told you… don't worry about me," he replied, smiling slightly. Ellie frowned as she looked up at him.

"But your parents… they'll make you join, won't they? Unless they've already made you do it," she said softly. "We can help you-"

"Don't, Ellie," he said. "I told you I can't get out of this. You need to worry about yourself, especially if they're all targeting you now." Ellie nodded as she stepped back out of his arms.

"I still don't get why you're helping me…" she said, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Truthfully… I've always thought it was unfair how everyone treated you when we were younger. Just because of your mum and being in Gryffindor and everything during the first war," he said. "I've always tried to step in where I could." Ellie's eyebrows rose. Since they were younger? This whole time he had been looking out for her?

Her heart started beating a bit faster as she wondered if he was about to confess to her. She really hoped that he wasn't. The last thing she wanted was to tell him that she didn't feel the same for him.

"But… why would you do that? You never even spoke to me before last year," she said. "And that was just because of all the contract business…"

"This is… it's going to sound odd, but… well… you know our fathers have always been rather close. I heard how he spoke about you and your mum. But then, for some reason, it always seemed like it never bothered you. I've always wished I could be more like that," he said. "And well… in a way, I've always kind of seen you as a younger sister… even though you never really talked to me or anything…"

"A… a younger sister?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"Yea, it sounds weird saying it out loud," he replied, looking down at his shoes. "And when I heard our fathers - well, my father and Selwyn - discussing the contract… I thought it was ridiculous since we were so young, but I know how things are in that world. And figured if it was going to happen whether or not we wanted it to, at least I could save you from a worse match… was even thinking about finding a way out of it once we were older." Ellie just blinked, too stunned to say anything. He was already thinking that? "Thank Merlin it didn't come to that… though… still not sure which way things'll go from here…"

Ellie stared at him, more than anything shocked by it all. She then launched forward and hugged him fiercely.

"Thank you," she said softly. "But… please let me try to find a way to help you too." She let go of him and looked up. "Please."

"It's not worth it, Ellie," he said, though he could tell it was falling on deaf ears. She already had that look in her eyes that clearly said she had made up her mind and there was no talking her out of it.

"You can always join DA," she offered. Nott snorted slightly and stepped away from her, shaking his head.

"You honestly think that lot would let me?" he asked. "I'm the enemy."

"They know you were trying to help me," she pushed. He didn't say anything as he looked over at her. "At least… let me try talking to them." He shrugged.

"Try if you want. Doubt it'll do anything."

Ellie just grinned and walked over, kissing his cheek.

"This'll work. I know it will," she said.

"Just… get out of here, Black," Nott said, though he was smiling slightly. "The entire Gryffindor house is probably out searching for you about now." Ellie nodded and walked to the door. She paused as she pulled it open, smiling back at him.

"Trust me. It'll work," she said softly before slipping out. Nott took a deep breath and waited a bit before stepping out behind her.

He watched until she turned a corner and then immediately spun around, heading straight for the Slytherin dorm. He knew there wasn't much he could do at this point. But there was one more thing he could try.

As the provocations got stronger, Theo knew it was getting too dangerous for Ellie to stay at Hogwarts, even if Evan Selwyn never came to steal her away. She needed to get out. And he had a good idea of who to contact.

Ellie hurried into the room of requirement, going straight over to Ginny and Seamus, sliding her arm around his waist and kissing his cheek. He tensed slightly at the contact, which she thought strange. But she figured it had to do with the strain they were all under. He rarely left the room of requirement as it was.

"I need to talk to you about something," she said hurriedly.

"About the fight you nearly got into before Nott dragged you off?" Ginny asked, an eyebrow raised. Ellie's eyes widened slightly but then she sighed.

"Figured you'd of heard about that," she replied. "But that's what I want to talk to you about-"

"Yea… tell us Ellie. Just what was so important that you were locked up in a room with him for a good 20 minutes?" Seamus asked bitterly. Ellie frowned as she looked up at him. How did he know about that?

"Not like we can chat in public," she replied. "But seriously. We need to help him."

"Why?" Seamus pushed. "Thought he was untouchable with his Death Eater father."

"What's gotten into you?" she asked, starting to get a bit irritated with his attitude.

"Dunno. Why don't you go ask Nott?" Seamus spat. Ellie's mouth dropped open.

"Look, I don't know what you think is going on, but we were just talking! In fact, he reamed me out for nearly getting into another fight with Bulstrode," she said, her cheeks turning red in anger. "Nothing happened!"

"Right… and I suppose nothing ever happened between you while you were supposedly fake dating as well," Seamus snapped back. Ellie's mouth dropped open as she just stared at him, his words stinging. Nothing had happened with her and Nott. She didn't even think of him that way. And now she had confirmation that he didn't think of her that way either. Was Seamus really getting this worked up over the fact she had had one conversation with him behind closed doors?

"You know I only went along with it because I thought it would help. The whole DA practically told me to. And I was against it, if you remember correctly," she said.

"Sure," Seamus said with a harsh laugh as he walked away from her.

"Get back here, Seamus Finnegan! We're not done discussing this!" Ellie shouted after him.

"I'm done with it," he said, without turning to look at her. He glanced over at Neville. "Going to get some things from the dorm." He then stepped out of the room.

Ellie shouted in frustration as she stomped her foot.

"Let's go… chat over here," Ginny said, leading her away from the others as they started whispering and glancing at Ellie. "In his defense, we were really worried about you. Got word about the fight and set out to find you. I guess he saw you go into the room with Nott…" Ellie just sighed and shook her head. "What really happened in there?"

"Oh, good grief, not you too, Ginny!" Ellie nearly shouted. Ginny gave her a look and Ellie huffed. "He stepped in with the Slytherins and after they left, he started in on me about getting into trouble. I… had a moment - really it is getting to be too much - and he comforted me. Gave me a hug. But that's it!" Ginny sighed and shook her head. "Bloody hell, it's not like we were snogging or anything. And he doesn't even like me like that… said he always saw me as a little sister. And I'm definitely not interested in him that way, though I'm starting to second guess my feelings for Seamus."

"And that's really it?" Ginny asked. Ellie glared at her. "Fine, I believe you."

"Though, well, there is a bit more. But not like that. I'm starting to get worried that the Slytherins might turn on him. They still could find out that he helped me - that he's still trying to help me," Ellie said quickly. "That's actually what I wanted to talk to you about… He's really put himself on the line for me, and I think it's time we returned the favor. I think DA should bring him in."

Ginny stared at her a moment and then looked around the room.

"I'm not sure how the others'll take it," she said honestly. "I mean, you're not wrong. But loads of folks have a hard time trusting a Slytherin right now…"

"And if we leave him on his own, his parents are going to force him to join them," Ellie hissed. "He doesn't want that, but he also thinks there's no hope for him. We're the only ones who can help him. And don't you dare tell me that he doesn't deserve our help after everything." Ginny didn't respond, seeming to be thinking it over. "Please, Gin… you have to help me convince the others." She finally sighed and shook her head.

"Fine. I'll back you up," she said. Ellie smiled and hugged her. "But what are you going to do about Finnegan?" Ellie snorted.

"As far as I'm concerned, he can go off and sulk and once he's realized how big an arse he's being, he can come apologize to me," she said, crossing her arms in front of her. "And maybe I'll consider forgiving him…"

Ginny almost rolled her eyes but didn't. She knew how stubborn Ellie could get, though this time, she didn't blame her. Seamus had misread the situation and jumped to the wrong conclusion. Ellie tried to explain and he wouldn't listen. He was in the wrong and Ellie had every right to be angry. Now that she had heard the full story, she couldn't help but be a bit angry with him as well.

But she also knew that a lot of Seamus' frustration came from the fact that he was worried about Ellie. And that he still felt powerless to help her, especially when compared to how much Nott had done. But she wasn't about to bring it up now. It was best to let those two work it out.

"Well… come on. Suppose we should go talk to Neville," Ginny said. She looked over, noticing that he had left the room. "Probably gone back to the Tower."

"Fine," Ellie said and the two walked out of the room, chatting about what homework Ellie needed help with, not really paying attention and only pausing when they reached the portrait and said the password. As it swung closed behind them, someone stepped out from the shadows of a pillar and looked around, then turned and strode purposely away, quickly heading to Alecto Carrow's office.

Oh Seamus… but I mean, I think anyone in his position might be worried… Doesn't excuse it, though.

Thanks for reading and following!