Though in the darkening days of the coming war there was little to be cheerful about during the Order Meetings, there was a general excitement from quite a few members due to the upcoming return of the kids from Hogwarts. It was only a few weeks away and the joy was tangible. Everyone dispersed from the meeting at Grimmauld Place with a bit of a spring in their step.
"Tonks, could I talk to you a minute?" Remus asked once only Sirius and the Twins remained. Tonks gave him a curious look. The pair had previously been rather close, but since their last encounter at her flat, they had barely spoken. She gave him a slight nod and exited the dining room so that they were away from the prying ears of those who were left.
"Did you just want the chance to be a bit more condescending?" Tonks questioned with crossed arms.
"I'm sorry about that, Tonks, I really am." Remus' shoulders sagged while he looked at the ground.
"You know how I feel about you." She murmured in annoyance.
"I do, that's what I need to talk to you about." Remus pressed. He hated himself for the hopeful glimmer that lit up in Tonks' eyes. "I know I don't talk about this much, but you should know that Eleanor's mother…I loved her very much. Some things transpired, things I'm not proud of, and for her protection I took her memories for the duration of the war. I promised I'd return them when our world was safer to be a part of. I think you're a wonderful woman, Tonks, I really, truly do. But I have a duty to Nora, a promise to keep."
Tonks didn't look at him, she kept her eyes firmly on the floorboards between them and seemed to mull his words over in her head. "Why didn't you do it the first time? When You-Know-Who tried to kill Harry?"
Remus hesitated a moment, then took a breath. "I was grieving, all of my friends disappeared in the span of a day. I couldn't get a job. Death Eaters were still prowling the streets. At least originally, then it was mostly just to punish myself." Remus sighed. "But now, with Eleanor in my life, she's reminded me so much of her mother and these feelings I've been ignoring for so long…" Remus hated himself, "It wouldn't be fair to you to be in a relationship when my feelings for Nora are still so present, and my intentions of reuniting with her after the war are so strong. I hope you can understand."
Tonks again said nothing, and refused to look up. Remus nodded once, angry with himself but satisfied by putting the whole situation to bed. He turned to leave the room and rejoin Sirius so they could return to Cordarri Castle for the evening. With his back turned, Tonks was finally able to look at him.
"I have one question. You owe me that much." She spoke softly, yet firmly. Remus stopped in his tracks but didn't turn around. "Do you have any belief that you will live to see the end of this war? Or do you think you are just going to deny yourself love and wait out the clock until you die in battle?"
Neither of them even breathed. Those words hung in the air, poignant and stale.
Remus kept walking, and Tonks had her answer.
Eleanor paced at the bottom of the stairs that led to Dumbledore's office. She'd wanted to go with Draco, to hear what Dumbledore had to say, but Draco insisted it was something he needed to do on his own. Eleanor understood his sentiment and was even proud of him for it, but not knowing what was being said was driving her mad.
She bit down on her thumbnail and tried to think about anything besides Blaise Zabini, but as she got lost in this practice, the very man she was trying to avoid thinking about came walking around the corner.
"Eleanor," He greeted softly, eyeing the statue guarding Dumbledore's office and Eleanor carefully. Eleanor's mouth went dry when she saw him. She'd always felt safe around Blaise, she'd preferred him over Draco's other friends, even rejoiced when Draco spent time with him. She'd been so fond of him. And now he was a Death Eater, now he'd sworn loyalty to the wizard who plotted the death of her parents, he was on the same side as dark wizards who were actively trying to kill everyone she loved, he'd cursed Katie Bell. She felt so afraid to be in his presence, but she would be damned if she showed it. She removed her hand from her face and looked at him straight on. Like most people, he towered over her, but she set her jaw firmly and didn't cower in his shadow. "What are you doing out here?" He asked carefully.
"I have a meeting with Dumbledore." Eleanor responded quickly, too quickly to be believable. "I have some project ideas for Hogwarts that I need his approval for. I'm just really nervous about it." She chuckled casually.
"Draco mentioned you were doing stuff like that," Blaise nodded, looking more unamused by Eleanor every second. "Speaking of, have you seen him around? I'm having trouble finding him."
Eleanor shook her head slowly, "We're going to be studying after dinner, but he didn't tell me of any other plans before that."
Blaise nodded once, he had a sinister look in his eyes. He looked menacing.
"Well, I better be off," Blaise hummed, then added after a bit of thought: "you know, it's a bit hard to believe that you are meeting with Dumbledore about all your plans without any notes at all. Extremely hard to believe." He shrugged once, gesturing to Eleanor's empty hands. "But, you're smart, if you're going to trust Dumbledore with your plans then you must be really sure about what you're doing." Eleanor could tell there was a threat in his voice, but she couldn't tell what his meaning was. "I'm very careful about the people I trust, if someone betrays me, they won't spend a day without regret." There it was, his clear threat. As he was walking away from her she couldn't let him think he had the upper hand.
"Did you hear about Katie Bell?" She called back in spite. Blaise slowed to a stop and turned slowly to face her. "It's really a shame. It's crazy how no one has any idea who did it."
"Quite the mystery." Blaise noted cautiously. "After what happened this summer with Lucius, I'm sure everyone is going to believe it was Draco. I hope he doesn't face any of the consequences." There was malice in his voice. Eleanor ground her teeth and glared hard down the hallway at him. Blaise smirked slightly and turned to continue walking.
Eleanor searched for something to say, something to make Blaise fearful. She had a self destructive need to make him as afraid as he was making her. She searched her brain, feeling more desperate the further down the hallway Blaise got. He was the source of so much anxiety. He was trying to get Death Eaters into the school, he was fogging Draco's brain, he was attacking people.
"You're right," Eleanor finally called out, "I do think it's all about trusting the right people, the people you surround yourself with." Blaise spun to glare at her but didn't say a word. "Just like how I trust that Draco didn't assault someone, I trust that Dumbledore knows not to look at the actions of Draco's family as a basis for judgement, I trust that Draco will protect me no matter what." Eleanor cocked her head to the side. "Who do you trust Blaise? Who is going to be on your side when accusations go flying?" Eleanor shrugged.
"Why would you ask this?" Blaise asked carefully.
"Just something I've been thinking about. These are scary times, you know? You need to put your trust in the right people. I'm happy with my choices, I think Draco is happy with his."
"You're speaking for him now?" Blaise chuckled darkly. "Like you really know him."
Eleanor's eyes popped out of her head as she let out an accidental laugh. "Oh, Merlin. I really hope you aren't insinuating that you know more about Draco than I do."
"You're just his girlfriend, you don't know what he talks to his friends about. What he talks to me about. His frustrations, his anger, his want to avenge his parents." Blaise began stalking down the hallways towards her now. Eleanor's heart was in her throat as she watched him walk slowly in her direction, looking bloodthirsty.
Eleanor was angry, angry that Draco was being used as a pawn by Blaise, angry that he was trying to exert power over him. It felt like Blaise was trying to pull him back into that dark place, and up until earlier that afternoon, they'd all been falling for it. She knew Blaise's statements weren't true, she knew Draco wasn't hungry for revenge, but Blaise was trying to create a divide, she knew it.
"For someone who is 'just his girlfriend', I sure know a lot of shit about his friends." Eleanor threatened dangerously, "People should learn not to betray me, either." Blaise's eyes went wide at the undertone of Eleanor's words and spun around, leaving the hallways permanently. Eleanor felt a gross amount of pride at watching him be fearful.
"He was so dismissive about it, like he wasn't even worried." Draco seethed, rubbing his face angrily as he sat in the Room of Requirement with Eleanor after telling her about his conversation with Dumbledore. "He didn't give a shit when I told him about Snape, he didn't care when Blaise literally tried to kill him. Does he want to die?"
"Maybe he just didn't react so he wouldn't worry you." Eleanor suggested. Draco rolled his eyes at her optimism.
"Yeah, maybe." Draco agreed reluctantly, his words didn't match what he believed.
"You did the right thing, telling him."
"I hope so."
Draco couldn't take his eyes off Eleanor the night of the Slug Club Christmas party. He usually struggled with his consistent distraction when Eleanor was in the room - and often when she wasn't - but his life had been so dark recently and seeing her looking so angelic reminded him of the bright light she brought into his life.
Hermione had helped Eleanor calm her curls, and she'd spent time making her face look airbrushed and bright. She felt almost dangerous in her long sleeve, black dress. It fell just above her knees and cut into a deep V down her front. The open back and satin material cooled her warm, excited skin. She felt like the most beautiful woman in the world when she exited the Gryffindor Common Room and saw Draco's face light up.
Harry had left earlier to meet Luna, and Hermione was waiting in the Common Room for Cormac. She wanted to be sure Ron saw her with him.
"Do we have to go to the party?" Draco asked softly, collecting Eleanor in his arms and playing softly with the material of the dress on her shoulder.
"Yes, I didn't spend this long getting ready to not go." Eleanor swatted his hand away and gave him a teasing glare. "Although, I'm not opposed to leaving early." She added in a low voice, and Draco snaked one arm around her waist and pulled her in close to him.
"You're going to drive me mad." Draco shook his head as they walked through the halls. Eleanor only smirked, satisfied and excited by the way Draco was falling over her. She'd never been the kind of girl who attracted boys all of the time. Ginny and Hermione were usually the ones being fawned over. Before Draco, she'd gone on a few dates and kissed a few boys (usually while under the influence) but no one had ever been enamored with her. To Eleanor, hearing that Draco desired her, feeling his hands all over her body, it made her feel so wanted. She didn't need attention from a lot of people, just from him.
Upon their arrival to the party, Eleanor could tell they wouldn't be there long. The food didn't even smell inviting, and everyone was schmoozing each other. Harry and Luna looked uncomfortable, and she knew that once Hermione proved her point to Ron, she would be miserable in Cormac's company.
"We'll say hello to Slughorn, loiter a bit, then leave." Draco said firmly, causing Eleanor to laugh slightly at his anticipation to bail on the party he'd invited her to.
"And stop by the kitchens to get good food," Eleanor added while looking around in disgust, "What even is that?" sheasked, pointing at an odd looking hors d'oeuvres on a serving plate. Draco chuckled and reached into his robe, pulling out a silver flask. "Contraband?" Eleanor raised her brows, excited. The pair stepped behind a curtain and took respective sips of the stinging liquid.
"Okay, let's find Slughorn and make our appearance." Draco said, handing Eleanor a mint. They wove through the crowd and eventually made their way to greet the Potions professor. Eleanor had yet to meet Slughorn and was curious about the man.
"Professor Slughorn," Draco greeted in a friendly voice, he shook hands with the older gentleman then gestured to Eleanor, "this is my girlfriend, Eleanor Cordarri."
"Cordarri, you say?" Slughorn shook Eleanor's hand and eyed her suspiciously, seemingly not convinced that she was the child of Olga and Darius, which, biologically, she wasn't. "It is so wonderful to meet someone from such an influential name. You'll have to forgive me for not recognizing you right away, you must take after your grandparents, they were before my time. Oh I was so sad to hear about your lovely parents last year, how have you been holding up?"
"It's been difficult, but I've found good friends who have been very supportive." Eleanor smiled graciously, holding tight to Draco's arm. "It's very nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you from my friends and from Draco. This party is lovely."
"Oh, thank you, thank you. Yes, it is a fun thing I like to put on for those excelling students, you know." He was a rambler, Eleanor could tell. "Your young Mr. Malfoy is an exceptional student, very driven for the future."
"Yes, I'm very proud." Eleanor smiled widely at Draco. "I've always known he would do great things."
"She's been my most loyal fan throughout the years," Draco said. The two of them had watched both sets of their parents compliment each other, and talk each other up since they were toddlers. It was easy to forget that they had both been raised in high society, but when it came to networking and being charming with superiors, their natural charisma and lightness of conversation began to peek through. The two of them felt their parents coming out as they chatted with Slughorn and gave each other a knowing glance. "And I hers."
"What is it that you do to keep busy in your final years at Hogwarts, Miss Cordarri?" Slughorn questioned.
"I've been offered the opportunity by Professor Sprout and Professor Hagrid to be a teaching assistant in both of their classes. I've also drawn up a few plans for some environmental projects around Hogwarts that I'm planning on implementing in the Spring." Eleanor answered with a bright look.
"You are two very accomplished young wizards." Slughorn seemed impressed. "Are you two planning on being a dream team after Hogwarts?" Eleanor and Draco paused and exchanged glances, post-Hogwarts had been so far from their minds that conversations about life plans had been minimal at best, but mostly non-existent. "Oh, I've pushed it, haven't I?" Slughorn asked. "You're so young, you've lots of time to figure it out."
"Well, I do know that I plan on having her in my life for a very long time." Draco squeezed her hand affectionately. Eleanor thought of the year previously, where everything had to be a secret. When they hid far away from the general public before displaying love, and when anyone asked whether they had a future together they would sneer and say that the connection between the Malfoy and Cordarri families were long standing and avoid making it personal. Now, Draco was holding her hand, keeping her body close to him, boasting about her in front of a professor. She knew the transition hadn't been easy, they'd had hard conversations and spent time apart and fought relentlessly. Draco had to stretch and grow to accept her friends and she had to be pushed out of her comfort zone to respect traditions, beliefs, and understandings that Draco held firm to.
They'd worked so hard for this joy. Eleanor knew the hard work wasn't over. They'd fought a few weeks prior and some subjects were still fragile. She knew that despite all of the work, not all of their days would be joyful, and they wouldn't always agree. But she couldn't help but feel proud of them for the overcoming of so many obstacles.
"Young love, so pure." Slughorn smiled. "Harry, my boy!" He called above the conversation of the room as Harry began strolling by, "You and Mr. Malfoy have class together, do you know Miss Cordarri?" Slughorn introduced. Eleanor and Harry shared an amused look and cracked respective smiles.
"Yes, very well, sir. Her and I have mutual family friends and spend holidays together." Harry answered as he shook Slughorn's hand in greeting.
"Oh, how lucky. So many accomplished and promising witches and wizards in one place." Slughorn beamed. "It's one of my very favorite things about teaching at Hogwarts. How long have you two been acquainted?"
"First year," Eleanor answered, "we were fast friends. With Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger as well."
"Oh, the troublemakers." Slughorn chuckled. "Your lack of rule following is legendary in the teacher's lounge. Somehow, Mr. Malfoy's name is always left out."
Draco froze for a moment, and the three students glanced between each other, unsure of how to answer. "Eleanor has only roped me in as of recently." Draco answered smoothly, a good natured laugh on his lips.
"Well hopefully they've grown out of their antics by this age and you'll avoid the infamy entirely and only reap the rewards of having such an influential young witch by your side."
"One can only hope," Draco affirmed, "if you'll excuse us, I think the pumpkin juice is calling our name." He finally conceded charmingly, Eleanor feeling excited that they were finally taking their leave.
"It was so lovely to finally have a real conversation with you, Professor Slughorn. I'm very grateful that you extended the invitation and I had the opportunity to experience this." Eleanor gushed politely, her Slytherin upbringing of schmoozing and making easy connections coming to the surface quickly. Harry furrowed his brows at her flattery, never knowing Eleanor to change her personality so easily. She shot him a fake mean look and a wink as she turned away with Draco.
"You sound like a politician's wife." Draco whispered in her ear as they wove through the crowd of people.
"Oh, Merlin," Eleanor groaned, "please don't tell me that." Draco chuckled at her response.
"Just making an observation," Draco continued, "you'd be very good at it."
"I'd make a good politician all on my own." Eleanor sniffed in fake annoyance.
"You would," Draco agreed, "but you'd hate every minute of it."
Eleanor laughed at his response. "I'd hate being a politician's wife too." She quirked a brow at him, she was worried his face would fall in disappointment.
"I know you would." Draco nodded, expressionless. All joyful teasing gone from his voice. "I know that." Draco took a deep breath and grabbed her hand to lead her towards the door. Eleanor felt butterflies filling her stomach at the idea of leaving with Draco and getting the chance to be alone with him.
The two flitted about the corridors lightly and silently, pausing every now and again to capture each other's lips on their way to the Room of Requirement. Draco had slowly begun unlacing the strings on the back of her dress. Each stop in the hallways elicited giggles from Eleanor as Draco ravaged her skin with his mouth and pulled another loop free, causing her dress to gradually slip down her shoulders.
When they reached their destination, no door appeared for them.
"Are you sure we're at the right place?" Draco asked, touching the stone wall.
"Positive." Eleanor affirmed. "Someone else must be using it," she frowned, "I can't believe we have to share our sex spot."
Draco chuckled. "Should we pay homage to our beginnings and go up to the Astronomy Tower?"
"It's going to be freezing." Eleanor pointed out.
"You like the cold," Draco reasoned.
"You don't."
"Do you have a better suggestion?" Draco crossed his arms.
"Do I sense desperation in your voice, Mr. Malfoy?" Eleanor chuckled lightly.
"Yes," Draco answered immediately, not giving his answer a second thought. Eleanor wrapped his hand with hers as she laughed softly, the sound of her tinkling bell chuckle set Draco's heart beating quickly.
"Come on," She summoned, dragging him further through the hallways. They hid in crevices when they heard the shoes of professors or prefects patrolling the halls. Draco had to hold his hand to her mouth more than once due to her nervous giggling.
Finally, she gestured to her proposed spot.
"The greenhouse?" Draco raised a suspicious brow.
"I have a key, no one patrols here and the only other person with a key is Professor Sprout and she left for Christmas holiday already." Eleanor reasoned.
"Is there any place to...like…"
"Your lack of creativity is astounding," Eleanor joked, pulling off her shoe and revealing the key to have been under the heel.
"You've been planning to come here." Draco realized.
"It's good to have a back up plan." Eleanor shrugged as she opened the door and pulled him inside. The lock clicked behind them as the humidity and the smell of sweet flowers hit Draco pleasantly. He closed his eyes and relished in the warmth and fragrance surrounding him. When he opened his eyes again, Eleanor was disappearing behind overgrown plants, pulling her sleeves down her shoulders and giving him eyes that made him want to drop to his knees.
"Ellie," He called, careful to not speak too loudly so no passerbys could hear.
"You'll have to find me." She giggled, her voice echoing strangely on the walls.
"I don't like this game." Draco grumbled, trying to listen for her footsteps.
"Have you been paying attention in Herbology?" Her voice was softly, but he could still hear it reverberating around him. "Do you know how the greenhouse is organized? I'm by the Singing Spanish Lilies, they are the cousins of the Growling Vines. Do you know the main difference?"
"One growls and one sings?" Draco guessed, walking up and down aisles of flowers, keeping an eye out for any sign of her. Eleanor laughed at his response.
"Astute observation. It's no wonder you're near the top of your class." Eleanor teased, Draco was frustrated by how far away her voice sounded. "There is one major difference between them that causes them to be planted in different regions of the greenhouse. There is an old rhyme about Singing Spanish Lilies: Most beautiful from dusk to dawn, the lilies pop out when you start to yawn."
"They need moonlight." Draco answered.
"One point to Slytherin." Eleanor called out. "Do you know where we keep the nocturnal plants?"
"Somewhere far away, probably."
Eleanor tsked somewhere in the greenhouse that Draco hadn't realized was quite this expansive. "Usually nocturnal plants burn in the sun, Devil's Snare is another. There is a contraption called a Moon Door that conceals them by day but opens at night without needing anyone's manipulation, the witch Florence Nixon invented it, she was very ahead of her time-" Eleanor was no longer being sultry and was now simply sharing facts she found interesting, which made Draco chuckle as he continued to move about the greenhouse, trying to remember where the Moon Door was.
"You're such a nerd," Draco laughed.
"Take that back, Draco Malfoy," Eleanor shouted, forgetting that they were supposed to be quiet, "you are the most intelligence oriented person I've ever met, and yes that includes Hermione, so you making fun of me for having a passion for Herbology is the most hypocritical thing I've ever heard."
"What a touchy subject for you," Draco continued to chuckle, her loud voice giving him a more accurate direction to head in. Leaves and branches brushed against his arms, and he couldn't help but understand the love Eleanor had for the plants in this room, thousands of little lives that she'd helped to create and foster into growth.
Then, above the greenery that surrounded him, he saw a bright, white flower opening towards the full moon that showed through a door in the ceiling. A smirk spread across Draco's face and he continued to move around through the branches as quietly as possible, hoping to surprise her.
"I didn't make fun of you once last year when you wrote and rewrote essay after essay to make sure it was perfect, or all of the notes you left on my essays, or when you pulled me away from a celebration that the whole school was present for to go study. I simply won't stand the disrespect." Eleanor grumbled, not knowing that Draco had snuck up behind her and was admiring her now exposed back and unpinned hair while she leaned against a bench that held pots of lilies.
"Found you," Draco murmured huskily, causing her body to jump in surprise. Her eyes were opened wide and her mouth fell open in a gasp.
"You scared me," Eleanor accused angrily, but Draco just continued to laugh as he crossed the barriers and gathered her in his arms while she playfully struggled against him. "No, no, get away from me." She laughed out, pulling at his arms and kicking about. He was so much stronger than her but he let her feel powerful by releasing his arms ever so slightly before tightening around her again. He began tickling her sides, eliciting an elated shriek of laughter. "Draco, stop it." She managed out through gasps of laughter. He loved hearing her giggles and feeling her body shake against his while they continued to be young and playful and let their cares and worries fall to the wayside.
He eventually stopped tickling, and she stopped struggling and they melted together in a kiss and stayed in each other's embrace under the moon and amongst the lilies.
Hey everyone! I know updates have taken slightly longer than usual, I'm feeling a little uninspired at the moment, so staying a few chapters ahead is getting harder and harder. I would love to hear what you all are thinking and feeling. Maybe it will perk me up a bit! ;)
