The moment Eleanor stepped out of the Floo and into the Zabini Mansion she felt suffocated. There were so many people. Eleanor wondered how Blaise knew this many people. There was the entirety of the Slytherin House it seemed, and the majority of Ravenclaw, some Hufflepuff, though not many, and even a few Gryffindors, however all were long graduated.

"What are these people doing at a party thrown by a fifth year?" Eleanor asked Draco, confused as to why 20 year old Gryffindor's would be chatting and drinking with 15 and 16 year old Slytherins.

"You know how these things get, someone invites a friend, who invites an older brother, who invites their friends. If this is too much-"

"Too much?" Eleanor asked with a laugh. "You always seem to forget what house I'm in." Draco raised his brows at her, guiding them to the dining room where the 12 person table was completely covered in bottles of alcohol. Eleanor's eyes lit up, and Draco laughed when he saw her reaction. She reached quickly for a bottle of clear liquid and grabbed two shot glasses off the table. She handed one to Draco and poured them both a hefty amount.

"Cheers." She said, bumping her small glass against his and downing the burning liquid in one smooth gulp. She winced a little as the drink hit the back of her throat and shook her head making a noise of disgust. Draco was much more nonchalant, Eleanor barely even realized his glass was emptied until she saw that no more than a drop resided in it. Eleanor quickly took another before grabbing a cold bottle and walking through the large house.

"Eleanor and Draco!" A pair of arms wrapped around the shoulders of both mentioned parties. Eleanor smiled at the drunk host.

"Hello Blaise." She greeted, leaning into him slightly as a makeshift hug.

"So good to see my favorite little drunk again." Blaise laughed, the smell of alcohol that radiated off of him almost got Eleanor intoxicated. She chuckled with him good naturedly.

"Quite the turn out." Draco noted.

"Ah, yeah." Blaise observed the room proudly. "I got word from mum and dad yesterday, first time in nearly 2 weeks, they will be returning in a few days. Just enough time to ship me off to school."

"So you are going to trash the place and drink all the liquor?" Draco questioned as a vaguely familiar 6th year Ravenclaw boy spilled a mixed drink on a rug that he was sure was older and more precious than Salazar Slytherin himself.

"Naturally." Blaise responded, nodding in approval at the growing mess that was his home. "I'll catch up with you two later." Blaise said suddenly, catching sight of Marietta Edgecomb, and Eleanor was sure the pair were only minutes away from finding a private corner of the home.

"Ah, classic Slytherin angst." Eleanor mused jokingly. Draco was about to question her comment when she left his side to greet the Greengrass sisters. Draco was unsure how he felt about his two worlds colliding; his housemates and Eleanor. He wanted to entertain the idea of being this open to Eleanor's housemates but shook the mere thought of it from his head so quickly that he could barely even think their names.

Draco hovered behind Eleanor for a moment as she talked with Daphne and Astoria, feeling slightly uncomfortable, and taking a long drink from his cup.

"Hi Draco." Astoria said meekly. Draco noticed the younger girl slowly nursing a cup of wine. She looked more out of place than Eleanor did. He almost felt for the girl, she felt the need to babysit her questionable older sister, or perhaps she was here by choice. Draco had no clue why she was here.

"Hi Astoria." Draco greeted with a tight smile. He wanted to pull Eleanor close like he had gotten used to doing but knew that they had both agreed to not let anyone know about their relationship.

"It's a shame we never cross paths at school." Draco heard Daphne say to Eleanor, as she put a hand on Eleanor's shoulder. The Slytherin girl had given Eleanor another drink and had earlier been prompting her to drink faster in order to "catch up" with the rest of the party. Draco could have laughed out loud when he saw brief, but wild, annoyance flash in Eleanor's eyes.

"We have most classes together, Daphne." Eleanor pointed out. "I've known you since we were toddlers. If we wanted to talk at school, we would."

Daphne was taken aback for a moment, but was on the edge of being severely drunk and also adored party Eleanor so she recovered quickly. "I meant that it's a shame that we don't talk."

Draco could sense that Eleanor wanted to continue to argue, like she would have done with him, but she took a deep breath and seemed to realize that Daphne wasn't Draco, so she just smiled and nodded. "We should change that this year."

"Yes!" Daphne agreed enthusiastically. "Especially now that I know you are so much fun."

"Now that you know?" Eleanor inquired. "What did you think before?"

"Everyone just thought Draco was secretly indebted to you or something and that's why he would spend time with you. Like a sex slave or something." Daphne laughed, taking two shots out of the hands of passersby and handing one to Eleanor, who downed it and one of the drinks in her hands quickly. "Obviously now that we know you, we know that isn't true. You're cool, Draco is just super not a fan of your friends or your house."

"Daphne." Astoria scolded her sister, giving her a menacing look. "You aren't supposed to say that." Draco's heart was pounding in anger at Daphne and how she felt the need to butt into their business, and also reveal the extent of his hatred for who Eleanor surrounded herself with.

"No, it's alright." Eleanor waved off, unusually cool and collected. "I know Draco hates my friends and all Gryffindors. It was pretty mutual until I got to know you all. Funny how that happens." Her voice was friendly and joking, leaving Daphne extremely confused on what to think about what she said. "I'm going to go find Jenny." Eleanor leaned forward to hug Daphne and Astoria before wading through a sea of people.

Draco struggled to keep up with her. He eventually followed her into the quiet kitchen. There were a few House Elves who scurried away at the sight of them. The music was muffled in there and Eleanor pushed herself against the counter.

"I'm-" Draco started, not sure what he was supposed to say about that interchange.

"Don't apologize Draco." Eleanor held up her hand quickly. "I know you hate my friends. They hate you too." Eleanor let out before quickly adding, "No offense."

"None taken." Draco brushed off, looking closely at Eleanor and trying to decipher her emotions. He wanted to think he was getting better, but she still left him just as clueless as always. "I'm sorry your friends and I don't get along."

"Draco, that doesn't bother me anymore. Not even the fact that we don't really see each other at school. I was offended and scared earlier this summer but, I don't know, I'm just not anymore. I get it. I mean, not really, I don't understand why you hate each other so much, but I get that you do and that can't just be undone for my sake."

"Then I just don't understand why you are upset." Draco sighed, leaning forward to put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not." Eleanor shook her head quickly. Draco gave her an unconvinced look in response. "Truly, I'm not."

"Okay, I believe you." Draco nodded, though he didn't. "What's all this about?" Draco asked, gesturing to the kitchen around her, and the fact that she had to escape to here minutes after entering the party.

"I don't know, I just…" Eleanor trailed. "Why are we friends with such annoying people?" Draco laughed and wrapped an arm around Eleanor's shoulders. "Maybe the alcohol hasn't hit me yet, that's when I can tolerate it."

"Is that really what's the matter?" Draco pressed.

"I'm just thinking about how I'm going to miss hanging out with you like this at school." Eleanor shrugged, finally being truthful. "It doesn't bother me that you don't get along with my friends. I only really like your friends when it is Blaise or when I am drunk. I just know I'm going to miss this." Eleanor put her head on his shoulder.

"It doesn't have to be a huge secret." Draco let out quietly, shocking himself as the words left his mouth.

"Everyone already thinks you're my sex slave." Eleanor laughed against him.

"I'm serious." Draco said, surprising himself even further. He didn't want to open Eleanor or himself to ridicule, but his friends liked Eleanor. They obviously adored her the same way he did. They wouldn't be cruel to her, or to him for the way he felt about her. They wouldn't have to sneak around. Eleanor snorted at the thought. "What?"

"I just thought for months that those words are the only things I ever wanted to hear you say. And now that you've said them, I've realized how ridiculous it is."

"Ridiculous?" Draco asked.

"It's my friends, they are so angry with you all of the time." Eleanor sighed, not planning on mentioning the Order and their, or more accurately, Sirius' want to use Eleanor as some Malfoy mole.

"Angry with me?"

"Can you blame them?" Eleanor wondered. "You were a huge dick all of last year during the Triwizard Tournament, and only a little less so every year before that. Even when Hermione found out, she was extremely disappointed in me. Having Hermione being disappointed and annoyed with whoever you are currently with is literal hell because she is so intelligent that any argument against them makes sense." Eleanor began to ramble.

"You told Granger?" Draco asked for clarification, he was pretty positive they had agreed to keep it quiet.

"She found out." Eleanor sighed.

"How?" Draco wanted to know.

"You aren't exactly subtle with leaving evidence all over my neck." Eleanor rolled her eyes and kissed him swiftly on the lips.

"Are you complaining?" Draco chuckled.

"Not necessarily, maybe just for future reference, make it less visible."

"Okay, we can practice later." Draco whispered huskily in Eleanor's ear, causing her to giggle and wrap her arms around him.

"Please be patient with my friends, and with me." Eleanor asked quietly. "I appreciate that you're willing to be open about it, but they are complicated."

Draco understood, though he was a little annoyed that when he was ready, she suddenly wasn't. He knew that she was worth being patient for, but it wasn't one of his strong suits.

The two left the kitchen a few moments later and were able to fully enjoy the party. Intoxicated, and if only for a night, carefree.


About a week later, Eleanor locked up her home, packed up her room and even took a few photos off the walls to bring with her to school. She Floo'd to Malfoy Manor with a tear in her eye as she said goodbye to her beloved home for the next few months.

She rode with the Malfoy's to King's Cross, asked Lucius about what he had found out at the Ministry and held Draco's hand silently across the backseat of the cab when it was revealed that he had nothing to share. Narcissa saw the contact between the two teenagers and tried not to smirk, but she felt a tear grow in her eyes thinking of her dear best friend, and how they had had a running poll to see whether the two would fall in love. As always, Olga was right.

Lucius and Narcissa walked the pair into the train station. Narcissa hugged both parties privately, Draco would have never been hugged in front of his friends, she learned this very early on in his Hogwarts career. Lucius was emotionless, as he always was, as he shook his son's hand and gave Eleanor a slight nod.

"Lucius," Eleanor grabbed his hand before he walked away, taking the older man by surprise, "you'll write, won't you? If you find anything out?" Lucius pulled his arm out of her grip and looked at her in silence for a moment, his dark eyes hard. Eleanor wondered for a moment how him and Draco could be of the same blood. How could Draco be, deep down, a truly good and warm person while Lucius was so unfeeling?

"If anything were to show itself, you would be the first to know." He confirmed, though his voice was distant and cold. Eleanor nodded once and turned away from him, not feeling a sense of security in his promise.

The pair faced the train that symbolized the culmination of all their fears and anxieties regarding the coming school year, their friends and their budding relationship. Eleanor looked at the cars all lined up and wondered what was to happen now. She wanted to reach out and hold Draco's hand but she didn't. Her fingers seemed to ache with the denial of contact between them.

"Well, here we are." Eleanor let out. She saw Draco nod from the corner of her eye.

"I have to go to the Prefect carriage for a meeting." Draco stated.

"Ron and Hermione will be there." Eleanor put in, though she didn't know why. Draco wanted to make a smart remark about his dislike for the pair, but visibly bit the inside of his cheek. Eleanor's heart fell a bit at the dawning of this new reality for them. A mutual dislike for the other's life, the disconnect. "I'll walk with you there." Eleanor suggested. Draco nodded once, picking up his bag and entering the train with Eleanor right behind him. She was unable to walk next to him in the crowded walkways, but it was still a pleasant sentiment. It was rather quiet outside of the Prefect's carriage. Draco made a move to open the door but Eleanor stopped him briefly. "Can we meet up tonight? Before curfew?"

Draco's eyes softened for a moment, he knew that she was probably more afraid than he was of what was going to happen this year. She had already lost so much and there were so many factors going against them. But he couldn't bring himself to feel hope for their future, no matter how much she consumed his mind. "I might have Prefect duties." He reasoned.

"You won't give me detention, will you?" Eleanor joked softly, a smirk playing on her lips that made Draco consider finding an empty compartment and spending the entire train ride interlocked with her. It was all he really wanted to do.

"Pansy'll be there." He whispered. Eleanor's smirk fell as she shifted on her feet and dropped her gaze. He missed her eyes and felt horrible already, he had a feeling this would be a rather consistent occurrence throughout the year. "I'll see if I can ditch her. Meet outside the library?"

Eleanor lit up with a smile and nodded rapidly at this. "I'll see you then." Her heart filled at the thought of being able to spend time with him, hoping this effort would last. "Have a good meeting."

Eleanor searched the compartments for a while before coming to Harry. "Hello there." She smiled pleasantly as she entered. Harry helped her lift her trunk onto the rack before the pair sat across from each other. It hadn't been long since Eleanor had visited, so there wasn't too much to catch up on.

"I have to admit, I'm a little surprised at how easily they let you in on the Order." Harry said with a bit of a bitter undertone. "I didn't even know about it until I was expelled from Hogwarts."

"Probably strategic." Eleanor shrugged, sending a comforting smile to her friend. "I'm closely connected to the Malfoys, they are under suspicion currently."

"They aren't trying to use you." Harry defended softly. "They must have just trusted you easier than me." He sighed a little. Eleanor only knew through Hermione the turmoil that Harry was facing. He was being handled like a ticking time bomb back at the Order, he was fragile.

"I don't think it had to do with that." Eleanor shook her head. "I kind of forced Hermione to show it to me." She chuckled a little, hoping to prompt Harry to laugh with her.

"Why?"

Eleanor took a deep breath, contemplating if she should let Harry know what no one else knew. She felt like she was betraying Draco by telling Harry first, but she knew that Harry would be more accepting and understanding of the information, and she knew that Harry needed to trust as well as be trusted in hopes of feeling valued by her and with her. "Well, I haven't told anyone about this yet. Not even Hermione, or Draco." Eleanor paused briefly. "I found out earlier this summer that Remus is my biological father." Saying those words out loud felt almost revolutionary for Eleanor. She hadn't really said them before. It felt odd, telling someone who her father was when she had been accepting condolences all summer for him. It felt nice though, it felt like she was affirming to herself that she wasn't as alone as she thought. "When Hermione told me she had seen him recently, I don't know, I had to go see him."

Harry puzzled for a moment, analyzing Eleanor, her face, her mannerisms. He met her parents briefly a few times on Platform 9 ¾ and she always seemed to be just like them. But seeing her now, with this information, he could see Lupin in her. He could see a similarity in looks and demeanor. He noticed their obvious mutual admiration for each other.

"They didn't accept me into the Order, Harry. They accepted me as a daughter of their friend."


Quick Note: Alrighty so we are officially en route to Hogwarts! How do you all think this year is going to go for Eleanor? I've got some pretty big plans up my sleeve that I'm working on for the future of this story, and I'm so excited to keep sharing!