Eleanor arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place flushed and very late. She tiptoed through the kitchen as softly as she could, wondering if she should risk Kreacher or Sirius' mother's portrait yelling at her, or if she should sleep in the parlor to avoid Remus and Sirius knowing exactly how late she was.
"Do you have any idea what time it is?" Eleanor almost felt relief at it being Sirius' voice and not Remus'. But she knew they shared everything, so she would be met with Remus' reflective questions in the morning. For now, the reprieve was appreciated.
"It's late, I know." Eleanor admitted. "We got distracted, then we fell asleep." She explained. It wasn't entirely true, she did fall asleep, but she woke up about 20 passed ten, and decided that since she was already late, her and Draco might as well spend another hour or three kissing, and talking, but mostly kissing.
"Eleanor, I know I don't have to tell you about safety around boys and what to do. Your parents taught you, I'm sure." Sirius said. "I know Remus and I aren't your parents, but you have to understand, that when you are dating a Death Eater's son in a time when Voldemort is trying to use him to get to you and by extension, Harry, it worries us when you aren't home when you say." He let out a breath. "We aren't your parents, but we worry just the same. And it also isn't fun for us to think about what you two might be doing in a best case scenario." Eleanor flushed red.
"I'm really sorry." Eleanor let out, looking at her feet in shame. She wasn't ashamed of her and Draco, though Sirius, Remus, and even (sometimes especially) Harry tried to make her feel this way. She hated that she made them worry.
"I've been thinking," Sirius began, taking a long sip from his tea that was on the table, "I think he should live here."
"Draco?" Eleanor sputtered in clarification. "Here?"
"If any funny business were to go on, it would be right under our noses." Sirius supplied. "And, not to mention the fact that he wouldn't fall into Voldemort's clutches."
"I have actually brought that idea up to him." Eleanor conceded sadly, taking a seat across from Sirius at the table. "He won't leave his mother, not for good. And you've all made it very clear that you won't have Narcissa, and even if you would, she wouldn't come here."
"So we are supposed to let him become a Death Eater, and then, on top of it, let you continue dating him?" Sirius questioned. Eleanor thought for a moment, Draco had made it seem like his becoming a Death Eater was inevitable. The way he had explained it, it was. If he fled, his mother would be threatened with death, so he would come back and take the Mark. Eleanor thought about this dreaded moment, but had never been brave enough to think about what came after. "I mean, I'm guessing you would continue with your..." Sirius trailed. "Harry mentioned that your loyalty to him is withstanding."
"It is." Eleanor replied shortly. "He's not like the others. Maybe he could spy on Voldemort for us."
"A 16 year old boy does not possess the ability to double cross Voldemort, he'd be dead in a minute." Sirius took a deep breath. "Eleanor, I think we need to have a serious discussion about what this war means for you and the Malfoy boy." Eleanor crossed her arms over her chest.
"I know it's...complicated." She huffed. "I'm not trying to be difficult, but he is good."
"Even if he decides to become a Death Eater?" Sirius pressed. "His father and aunt conspired to kill your parents."
"He isn't like his father." Eleanor growled. She knew that there was a point when Lucius was decent, perhaps never truly good, but never truly evil. Not until the last few months. "Or his aunt. If he becomes a Death Eater it's because he was put up to it to protect his mother."
"So who does he love more, his mother or you?" Sirius asked.
"What?" Eleanor sputtered.
"Well, that's essentially what it comes down to, isn't it?" Sirius continued. "Does he love his mother more, in which case he risks your life. Or, does he risk his mother's life because of his love for you. That's the game you're playing here, Eleanor." Sirius hung his head. "I'm sorry, love, but I wouldn't place my bets on you." Eleanor stared at the wooden table top and didn't say a word. Her jaw was set in anger and confusion. She knew he had a point, but as foolish as it might have been, she believed Draco would make the right choice. Something would be worked out.
"What exactly is the point of this conversation?" Eleanor bit out, her bliss from her time with Draco quickly shredded.
"What's going to happen when he becomes a Death Eater?" Sirius' voice was soft but stern.
"Is this you asking me, or are you getting ready to tell me what is going to happen?"
Sirius let out a sigh. "I can't sit idly by and let a Death Eater have easy access to Harry or to you. You're too important."
"I understand where you are coming from, and I respect you, but I can't sit idly by and let Draco go through this alone. He's too important." Eleanor returned, and stood up from the table, she was nearly out of the kitchen when Sirius' voice carried softly in the silence.
"Eleanor," She turned around slowly at the sound of her name. "Moony and I both know what it's like to be in love. You aren't in trouble for that. You aren't in trouble at all." Sirius pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to find the right words. "Sometimes love can be dangerous and we just want to keep you safe."
The next morning, Sirius and Harry both had a want to get out of the cooped up house. They had decided on a hike at a local trail that was unpopulated so that Sirius could be in his human form, but wouldn't be outrageous for Harry to be walking with a large dog if the need arose. This gave Remus and Eleanor time to themselves. Eleanor was worried that Remus was going to be upset with her for being late, but he didn't even mention it. Perhaps Sirius didn't tell him exactly how late she had returned, or perhaps he did and Remus thought that she had talked enough about it.
"Let's go for coffee?" Remus suggested lightly. "There is a place I want to show you across town." Eleanor placed her book on the couch with a nod and sprung up to get her shoes on. Remus Apparated the two of them to an abandoned alley behind a brick building and the duo slowly made their way to the front.
This coffee shop didn't look spectacular, Eleanor didn't quite understand why they were here, across town, when they could have walked to the ones in their neighborhood. Either way, she walked up to the front to order. The barista looked friendly, there was something inviting about her. She had warm brown eyes, and a round face, her curly, brown hair was cut short, reaching just below her chin. She had a button nose and plump lips. She was quite pretty, Eleanor thought. She noticed as she got closer to the counter that the barista had intense scaring along the side of her face, neck, and arm. The scars looked as though the wounds that caused them were deep and painful. Eleanor couldn't begin to fathom what might have caused them. She looked like she was in her thirties, but no older. She had a kind smile.
"Welcome in." She greeted. "Gorgeous day out there."
"It really is." Eleanor agreed.
"What can I get started for you?"
Eleanor gave her order, then looked behind her to Remus for him to give his. He looked more on edge than usual, which struck Eleanor as odd.
"Have I seen you in here before?" The barista asked Remus with an almost flirty twinkle in her eye.
"Oh, perhaps once or twice." Remus chuckled, shifting his weight.
"You have a memorable face." The barista beamed, writing his order on the cup.
"Because of the…" Remus trailed and gestured to his own light scarring, which looked very similar to the ones the barista held.
"No, no." She shook her head. "Believe me, I see past all that." She gestured to her own body. "It's your eyes, they're very … calming. And you have a nice smile." Eleanor's eyes went wide at the exchange. This woman was flirting with Remus, and he just looked guilty. He wasn't even smooth talking her. Sirius would have a meltdown if he saw this happening. "How has your day been?" She continued politely.
"Good, just grabbing coffee with my daughter." Remus put a gentle hand on Eleanor's shoulder.
"That's so wonderful." The barista beamed. "It always warms my heart seeing people spending quality time together. Best part of my job." She continued to go about ringing the two of them up. "Can I get some names for these?"
"Eleanor." Eleanor provided with a smile, the infectious joy of the barista leaking into the air.
"Really? That's my name!" The barista smiled. "I go by Nora, but my whole family is a long line of Eleanors." She laughed. "I can't stand family traditions, though." Her laughter sounded like bells and Eleanor felt so at peace in the presence of this woman. "What about you, are you Eleanor too?" Nora's eyes looked playfully at Remus, who seemed to immediately get flustered under her gaze.
"Unfortunately, no. Though it would have been an amusing coincidence. I'm Remus."
"Remus," Nora's voice sounded surprised. "You don't meet many of those anymore."
Remus seemed to freeze, Eleanor couldn't tell what was going through her father's head. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, his entire body was stiff. Eleanor could have been imagining it, but his eyes seemed to get rather teary before he cleared his throat.
"W-was there ever an overabundance of Remus'?" He questioned softly, causing Nora to laugh.
"No, I suppose not." She handed them their drinks and Remus handed her a large wad of Muggle money. Eleanor wasn't sure how the Muggle system went but she was fairly certain that Remus had given her entirely too much.
"I'll get your change." Nora smiled.
"No, please." Remus shook his head. "Keep it."
Remus and Eleanor found a table in the back corner.
"You know, Remus, giving women an outrageous amount of money only works in dating scenarios that I don't think you are looking for." Eleanor joked quitely. Remus chuckled back, eyeing Nora as she went about her work. "Why didn't you say something, she was obviously interested? You could have gotten to know her."
"We used to." Remus smiled sadly, taking a sip from his cup. "Her and I used to be quite fond of each other." From the dreamy look in his eyes when he looked at her, Eleanor knew what that meant.
"What happened?" Eleanor asked, leaning forward.
"I was dangerous for her, but I was selfish and kept seeing her anyways. One night, I lost control and I hurt her." Remus supplied, tears brimming in his eyes.
"You didn't do it on purpose." Eleanor grabbed his hand from across the table, understanding now where the scars came from.
"I kept seeing her on purpose. Something is bound to happen when you're…" Remus shook his head in anger with himself and took a deep breath to keep calm. "They had to take her memories, of course, which meant all of what she learned at university. I completely robbed her of her future, put her life in danger. All she has to show for it is her scars, and I get to have you. How is that fair?"
Eleanor was silent for a moment before realizing what Remus had just said. "Y-you mean...She's my…" Eleanor trailed, and spun around to take another look at the other Eleanor. They did look a lot alike, and they had the same name.
"Not the best way to tell you, I know." Remus admitted. "But I need you to understand, really understand, that someone can love you so much and be willing to give you the world, and they can still take everything from you and leave you with nothing. They may not mean to, not directly, but people who love you can still be dangerous for you."
BIG NEWS: Okay so we've met El's mom! This is all exciting and good, but I have something bigger up my sleeve! I've been contemplating how I was going to introduce this for awhile, but I have a short 'year in the life' written about the year Remus met Nora and they got pregnant with Eleanor called All the Lonely People. I was originally going to wait until later in Sun, Moon, and Stars to introduce this little side story, but I've decided to post the first chapter in conjunction with this chapter because of the parallels between Remus and Nora's first encounter and what you just read! I am just posting the first chapter until we reach the point later in the story where Remus tells Eleanor more about his year with her mom! All the Lonely People is in no way required for understanding this story, it's just a fun little extra if you want some more background on how Eleanor was made! Please enjoy and reach out if you have any questions!