A girl worth of kissing is not easily kissed
Saturday, 13th of October, 1973
Main Hall, Hogwarts
When Ellie finally marched into the main hallway, the still annoyed expression caused by a certain Black on her face, she noticed David Hamblin waiting for her by the staircase. His kind eyes and friendly beaming, immediately bringing a smile upon her face. "Hey Ellie! Ready to go?" David questioned, not really sure if he could hug her or not.
Ellie didn't notice his hesitation, she just grinned, dancing on the balls of her feet. "Yep, made sure I had enough clothing on to keep me warm. Winter's coming and I heard it's quite cold outside."
For once she didn't want to think about the Marauders, she didn't want to think about Remus, she didn't want to think about James, Peter or Sirius. She didn't want to think about their little rendezvous' without her. They made it perfectly clear that she couldn't be a part of it. Remus made it perfectly clear he did not want her around, so she honestly didn't know what the point was fighting for someone who didn't even fought back.
She was angry first. Furious. But now, all there was left was a massive hole of disappointment and sadness. Frustration because people had placed all these ideas in her mind that Remus might have actually liked her. James said it all the time, he teased her about it throughout the entire second year. The girls were constantly looking at Remus and her when they were studying with held back smiles and lovesick eyes. Man, even Sirius said Remus was jealous of Hamblin.
During the summer, while they were writing those letters, she had hoped that maybe that was true. She believed that it was true because she wanted it to be true. Maybe, just maybe, inside the chore of her heart she felt more than just friendship for the werewolf. So yes, it hurt that he didn't want her. That she finally opened her eyes these last few months just for him to just turn out to lights entirely in a matter of seconds.
"Ellie- you alright?" David questioned, looking at his team mate in worry.
"What? No I'm fine, I'm fine. Let's go." She smiled encouragingly, gently strolling out of the main hallway next to him. "So tell me a little about Hogsmeade. I've only seen it when we arrive or leave with the Hogwarts Express."
The cold October air hit her as she stuffed her hands in the insides of her grey winter coat. Her black beanie resting upon her hair, covering her ears. "Well, I know how you like your sweets so there's Honeydukes. They have the best candy in the world." David grinned, strolling next to her, the fallen leaves spread out on the path in front of them.
"Oh! I like that." Ellie grinned, "Something else I might like?"
"There's Spintwitches Sporting Needs. We could take a look in there, they have quite a lot of Quidditch supplies." David spoke casually, trying not to let her hear his own excitement to visit the shop.
"Are you saying that for me or for you?" Ellie laughed, looking sideways at the fifth year who managed to blush a little.
"For both of us, of course." He beamed, "And we can have a drink at the Three Broomsticks or Madam Puddifoot's."
"Right, maybe we should go check out the Quidditch shop first since I'll probably buy tons of candy." Ellie replied, walking further alongside with him.
The walk wasn't that far, they managed to have a nice, comfortable conversation about the Quidditch team and the upcoming game against Hufflepuff. David told her about his family, that sports actually ran in his family. His cousin was a Keeper for Puddlemore United and he actually had ambition to become a professional Quidditch Player himself. Ellie didn't talk that much, she liked listening to him but when he asked if she wanted to become a professional player, she answered that her ambitions in the sport field weren't as high as his. "I actually want to become an auror."
"Really?" David answered, raising his eyebrows.
"My parents still think I want to become a healer, I haven't told them yet. I think they'd lose their minds." Ellie replied, watching how David opened the door for her. They entered Spintwitches Sporting Needs and the smell of broomsticks, cleaning supplies and leather immediately hit her nostrils.
"I think you'll be an amazing auror, Ellie." He kindly smiled at her, he turned his attention towards the shiny Nimbus standing in the middle of the shop. "Look! They have a Nimbus! Puddlemore United bought them for the team last year. My cousin told me he'd let me ride it at Christmas."
"They're really good, much better than the ones we have on the team." Ellie answered, looking at the same broom she had at home. "James nearly cried when I let him ri-"
"Wait, what?" David looked at her confused.
"My father holds a share of the business. I have one at home." The dark haired girl answered, continuing to walk through the shop and stopping to look at some shiny snitches.
"Ho-what? Wait." David eagerly spoke, gently stopping her from strolling through the store by placing his hand upon her upper arm. "You're kidding right?"
Eleonore looked confused at David's shocked face, "I'm not. I have one at home."
"You mean to tell me you have a Nimbus at home. THE Nimbus."
"We've had one for like, two years now. I actually think they're already making the next series." Ellie nodded her head. "It's not that big of a deal."
"Why didn't you bring it to school? We could use it in the team! We'd have a lot of advantage." David eagerly spoke.
"Well, I didn't know I was going to make it to the team, but I'll ask him on Christmas break if I can take it to school. I don't think it should be a problem." Ellie waved her hand at him, holding back a smile when she saw his amazed expression. His eyes were glittering in all sorts of colours and he nearly jumped out of his skin.
"We're going to win the house cup this year. I know we will. We have a Nimbus, we have a weapon!" He spoke rapidly, holding back a grin. "Oh god, we're going to win. I could kiss you right now. You are a gift sent from heaven, Eleonore Darensbourg."
Ellie laughed, throwing her head back, "I'll have to ask my father first though." She had written a letter to her parents about joining the Quidditch Team and they responded with enthusiasm. She honestly hadn't thought about bringing the Nimbus along, she wasn't sure if she wanted to. It would draw attention she didn't like. She wanted to win because she was a good player not because of a more speedy broom.
"Great! Excellent! Come on, let me buy you a drink at Madam Puddifoot's!" David eagerly grabbed her hand in his as she couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle at his enthusiasm. When he opened the door to step outside the Quidditch shop, she noticed that he didn't let go.
She wasn't sure why, maybe it was because this was the very first time a boy actually held her hand. Maybe it was of the way all the other students seemed to stare at the Quidditch Captain and Ellie when they strolled down the street in a comfortable silence. Maybe it was the way David couldn't stop smiling.
She enjoyed it, it was comfortable. He was a nice guy and he wasn't bad to look at.
Did she feel the connection she had with Remus? No. No, not in the slightest way.
But Remus had made his point clear, he did not want her. He told her he didn't want her there. Remus didn't want to hold her hand the way David did. So why should she feel guilty about walking around with David so openly?
There were other fish in the pond. Fish that wanted her around.
Ellie watched how David opened the door for her once again, stepping inside the small tea shop. Eleonore immediately noticed the tacky interior and groaned internally. There were teenagers spread around the small shop, holding hands and kissing. The round tables were decorated with lacy napkins and fragile looking china. She noticed one empty table in the corner of the shop and felt David take her hand once again to sit down.
"I know girls like this place." David grinned, not being uncomfortable whatsoever.
"I-I" For a moment Ellie didn't know what to say, Cecile Dierincks and Amos Diggory were giggling to one another the table next to her. She tried to avert her eyes the best of possible when their hands were lovingly rubbing over one another. She hoped David wouldn't get any ideas like that in his head.
"You don't like it?" David looked concerned at his team mate.
"It's… Charming…" Ellie answered a little hesitantly.
"I should've known you were not like most girls, I'm sorry. I'm an idiot, do you want to get out of here?" He spoke uncertainly.
"No! No, let's have a drink, alright?" Ellie tried to comfort him, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Right, I'm just going to head to the bathroom real quick and I'll get you something. What would you like? Tea?" David smiled, still looking a little uncertain.
"A butterbeer would be nice." Ellie smiled, looking into his blue eyes. "Thank you."
"On it!" He grinned, turning around and walking towards what Ellie could only assume, was the restroom.
She sighed, her eyes scanning the room once again. She noticed a few familiar faces, mostly lovesick couples. Madam Puddifoot had trouble walking around the room to serve drinks because the tables were so cramped up together. Her mind couldn't help but wonder off towards a certain werewolf. She wondered how he was feeling, she hadn't seen him since their fight. He was ignoring her. Why would he do that? Was he actually angry that she went on this date? David was a nice guy, she did-
"Well, well, well." She heard a familiar voice speak, her head turned towards the source immediately.
"You have to be kidding me." She immediately snapped, looking at the two smug faces in front of her. "What the hell are you two doing at Madam Puddifoot's?!" She harshly whispered.
"What do you mean, Prongsie takes me here every week." Sirius smiled, scrapping the little chair next to Eleonore back, eagerly placing himself next to her. He placed his head upon his hand and looked at Ellie with fluttering eyelashes.
Ellie rolled her eyes, ignoring the way James Potter also slit next to her. "So… You're having a good time with David?"
"That's none of your business." She snapped, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Did he kiss you already? Did you like it?" Sirius teased, scanning her annoyed face with his grey eyes.
She squinted her eyes at him, "I think you two need to go."
"Why? This is a free country, Hogsmeade is for everybody." James shrugged, "I think I might get the rosehip tea, you Paddy?"
"I think the same, I do have a sweet tooth indeed." Sirius tutted his mouth, looking at the small chart with drinks on it. "So, do you like the rose paddles? Are you a romantic soul? I can make you a really good poem, if you want." He shrugged his voice, stretching his arm in front of her and raising his chest, "Oh thy lady, I am waiting for thee hea-"
"I can plant my fist in your mouth if you don't shut up and leave." Ellie grumbled through her teeth. "You guys are just here to make the mock out of me."
James widened his mouth in shock, "I cannot believe you would think so lowly of us. Padfoot and I genuinely like each other."
"And it hurts, Darensbourg, it hurts so much that you think we don't really mean it." Sirius shook his head in fake disappointment.
"Sirius, James?" Great, just what she needed. "What are you two doing here?" David spoke in confusion, looking at his two teammates sitting next to his date. He was holding two butterbeers.
"They were just about to leave." Ellie spoke, eyeing the two Marauders.
"Nice that you ask us that, David." Sirius smiled, ignoring Ellie entirely. "We're on a date."
"Oh, a double date?" David Hamblin smiled, being too ignorant to notice the real reasons James and Sirius were there. "Girls are in the bathroom then?"
"A double date?" James looked confused, "My padfoot takes me here every week."
"Ignore them David, they're here to annoy us. They don't have a date." Ellie quickly answered, taking the warm butterbeer and wrapping her fingers around it.
David looked a little uncomfortable. James and Sirius had occupied the two seats next to Ellie and he had no choice but to sit a bit further away. "So…" James grinned, his eyes averting from his Quidditch Captain to his friend. "Have you been in the Quidditch Shop, Hamblin?"
Ellie's date's eyes immediately lit up, turning his attention towards James Potter. "We actually went there before we stopped here. I was telling Ellie about my cousin, you know the one who plays for Puddlemore United."
Eleonore gnarled her teeth together, looking at her date and James Potter casually talking about Quidditch, like they didn't have practice nearly three times a week. Like they didn't share a god damn common room. "Can I have a sip of your butterbeer, I'm thirsty." She heard Sirius speak in her ear next to her.
"No, get your own butterbeer, I don't want your dirty germs." Ellie shot back, turning her irritated glance towards her classmate.
"I can't drink from your butterbeer but Hamblin can kiss you? Rude." Sirius rolled his eyes, grabbing the butterbeer before Ellie could reach it and placing his lips around the edge. "Mmm." He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the liquor in his mouth.
"I'm going to kill you one day, Black." Ellie gnarled her teeth. "And we did not kiss. I need you guys to leave."
"Why? I think your date's having a lot of fun with mine." Sirius answered, holding back a smile to look at the conversation his quidditch captain and James Potter were having. "I'm almost getting jealous, he gets a long quite well with Prongs. Thank Merlin we have each other, right?" He grinned.
"I know what you guys are doing and it's not going to work." She snapped the butterbeer out of his fingers, making sure he didn't drink all of it.
"We're not trying to do anything here." He played innocently, watching how Ellie turned the butterbeer around, taking a sip from the only spot his lips hadn't been on.
"Please, I know you guys would never go here. You must have seen us enter."
"So what if we wanted to say hello? No harm in being friendly." Sirius shrugged. "Anyways, Remus is feeling a little better."
"That's good for him." Ellie quickly answered, sipping another time, praying that James Potter and David Hamblin would end their conversation soon. If they didn't, she would just get up and leave. Or cram the lacy napkin down Black's throat. One or the other.
"He's sorry. Talk to him again."
"I don't see why I should, he made his point perfectly clear." Ellie mumbled, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"Come on Darensbourg, you guys like each other, stop using the Quidditch Captain as a distraction, it's not fair." Sirius mumbled, edging his head closer to hers. "Talk to him."
"I- I- I don't know-"
"His transformation was really bad." Sirius spoke, looking into her green eyes with sincerity.
"Well you should know, since you were there." Ellie muttered, feeling that familiar pang of hurt in her chest.
"He's embarrassed. That's the only reason he doesn't want you there. Come on, you should know him by now." Sirius whispered genuinely. "Talk to him." He requested once again.
"Look, Black, as much as you think your meddling will help me, it won't. I'm not going to talk to him. He needs to talk to me and explain all the things you just said. He basically told me he didn't want me around so be it. He got what he wanted, he does not have me around anymore. And if he wants that to change, he better come up with some great, excellent excuse for his particular choice of words. Stop making me feel like the bad guy in this situation because I am not. Now leave, before I make you." She stared at Sirius intensely, her eyes not baring one single ounce of laughter.
He blinked his eyes at her slowly, noticing her hard glance and the way her pulse beat heavily against her throat. Sirius knew her by now that she was getting really angry at him and it was time for James and him to take a step back.
"Prongs, maybe it's best if we leave these two alone." He sharply turned towards James, who stopped his conversation immediately to look at his two classmates.
"Alright then." James instantly got the message by the way Ellie's eyes were blazing. "See you two around alright? Have a nice time! Bye!" He quickly responded, straightening his legs alongside Sirius.
"Behave yourselves!" Sirius shot one more time before quickly running out of the shop when he noticed Ellie wrapping her fingers around her wand.
"Sorry about that." David sheepishly spoke, placing himself on the seat Sirius had occupied a few minutes earlier. "Hey-are you alright?" He noticed Ellie's distress. "I know those two can be a handful."
"It's not that, I'm just-" Ellie sighed, staring at her butterbeer in front of her.
"Sirius?" David questioned, almost afraid to know the answer.
"What?" Ellie looked confused at the Quidditch Captain.
"You two like each other… I should have known by the way you two fight so heated all the time, it's hot and it's cold and you two, well you would make a nice cou-"
"Wait- what? No! No! There's nothing going on between Sirius and I." Ellie couldn't believe his words.
"Are you sure?"
Okay now he was just pissing her off. "I'm sure." She spoke certainly holding his eyes locked onto hers. "I actually genuinely do not like him, the fights we have are not heated discussions, they're just… Fights. We've never gotten along. This isn't even about Sirius."
"Oh." David looked a little troubled. "But you do… Like someone else…?"
"I'm sorry David." Ellie sighed, "I'm honestly really confused. I just wanted us to have a good time and you said no strings attached."
"No, no, Ellie." He covered his hand with hers. "It's true, I said that. I want us to have a good time too. I don't want to push myself on you and I don't want you to ever think I would do so. You know you can talk to me about anything." He smiled, feeling relieved when the corner of her mouth seemed to lift at his words. "So who's the lucky guy?"
"I- I don't even know if there's a lucky guy, honestly." Eleonore smiled sadly, shaking her head. "He told me he didn't want me around so I guess I should try to forgot about him anyways."
"He told you he didn't want you around?" David looked at her with disbelieve.
"Yeah, exact same words." She responded gloomily.
"He's not worth it then. He's an idiot for saying so." The Quidditch Captain replied, trying to make his team mate feel better.
"That's the problem. I can't help but think that he's worth it. I know he's an idiot but he's definitely a worthy idiot, if that makes sense…" Ellie looked up, a little embarrassed.
"Can I ask who he is?" David questioned a little hesitatingly.
Ellie sighed, rubbing her forehead in distress. "Remus."
"Remus…" David nodded his head slowly, "Of course, he's one of your best friends, right? You guys study together?"
"Well, he was one of my best friends." Eleonore mumbled, looking at her fingers. "We haven't spoken since Wednesday."
"Maybe… Maybe he's just insecure, Ellie… You know, he seems like a genuine, good guy from what I've seen and heard. Have you told him that you liked him, is that why he doesn't want you around?"
"No… No… I haven't told him how I feel about him. He would practically run as fast as his legs would carry him, I think." Ellie chuckled unhappily.
"I think you should let him know and if he does run, Ellie, he's not worth it. You're intelligent, funny, beautiful and you deserve someone who sees stars in your eyes." David stated, "Come on, let's drown ourselves in candy and get out of this ridiculously pink room."
"I thought you were never going to say it. My eyes are literally hurting from a colour overdose." Ellie smiled, "And for what it's worth David, I think you'll find someone one day who'll see galaxies in your eyes."
"It's just not going to be you?" He questioned a little disappointedly when he opened the door for her.
"Maybe one day." Ellie smiled, "Just not today… But I've heard Nikki McLaren has a very big crush on you. "
"Nikki McLaren? The fourth year Hufflepuff? Really?" He raised his eyebrows at Ellie.
"Yep. Not the brightest of the bunch but you know, she has other assets." Ellie replied teasingly, laughing when he gently pushed her shoulder in a jokingly matter.
David and Ellie had managed to stroll through the town comfortably, she honestly was a little worried about telling her how she felt about Remus towards him but she knew in the back of her mind, David was really nice and he would never meddle. She was glad that she had made her point clear. And for one way or another, Sirius Black seemed to make more sense.
She couldn't drag David Hamblin into this mess. She had to clear her mind first and all she needed was time for that.
Saturday, 13th of October, 1973
Gryffindor Common Room, Gryffindor Tower, Hogwarts
Ellie and David entered the common room laughing about a stupid Quidditch joke. The afternoon went by quite well and she had to admit, she had a wonderful time alongside her Quidditch Captain. When the portrait opened, everybody seemed to notice the laughing couple enter the room. Ellie held back the urge to roll her eyes when she noticed all her girlfriends looking at them with lovesick glances.
She ignored the four Maurauders sitting in front of the fireplace, just casually hanging out. A pang of hurt shot through her when she noticed Remus tried his best to not make eye contact with her. From her quick glance, she noticed that he looked pale and the bags underneath his eyes were evident. He looked tired and drained.
If he would have just let her help him, things wouldn't have gotten this far.
She took a deep breath, "I'm going to place my coat in my dorm real quick okay?" She quickly spoke, watching how everybody turned their conversations back to one another.
"Yes, okay." David nodded, holding back a smile. "Hey, thanks for this afternoon. I did have a really good time."
Ellie grinned back, "Me too. It was nice."
"Can I get a hug? You know, as friends?" He whispered in her ear.
She bit her lip, nodding her head. "Okay." She immediately felt him wrap his around her torso. Eleonore was tall for her age but the Quidditch Captain was still nearly a head bigger than her. He was lean and had quite the arm muscles. "He's looking." She heard him whisper in her ear.
She sadly chuckled, finally releasing him. "Stop."
"Just saying." David mouthed, raising his hands in the air with a crooked eyebrow.
"Right." She sighed, "I'm gonna go up now." She pointed at the staircase, holding back a grin when David winked at her one final time to turn around and meet with his friends. She was nearly at the top of the staircase when she heard someone rush behind her, she already knew by the way the foots hit the stairs that a certain red head wanted to know every single detail about this date.
"So, so, so?! I saw that earlier, you know!" Lily squealed, immediately closing the door behind them when they entered the bedrooms.
"What you saw was a friendly hug." Ellie pointed out, placing her coat upon the coat rack next to her bed.
"But… Wait, you didn't kiss? I heard Potter speak that you guys were at Madam Puddifoot's! That's the most romantic place in the entire village of Hogsmeade." Lily rambled, searching for more information.
"David is nice, Lily but I don't feel that way about him. And I hate that place by the way. It's tacky."
"Okay, Eleonore, come here." Lily requested, wrapping her hand around Ellie's wrist and pushing her friend closer to her. "How many fingers am I holding up?" She pushed four fingers in front of Ellie's face.
Eleonore raised her eyebrows at her friend, "… Four? Why?"
"Just making sure if you're not blind. HAVE YOU ACTUALLY SEEN DAVID HAMBLIN? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY GIRLS WANT TO SNOG HIM?" Lily eagerly spoke. "You do not say no to David Hamblin, it's a rule."
"Then hell with the rules." Ellie shrugged, "I'm not snogging him for the sake of it. Plus… I haven't actually properly kissed someone… I don't want to kiss someone just for the sake of it… You know, I want it to be special…" Eleonore mumbled.
"It would be special! It would be gorgeous and wonderful…" Lily tried to explain, finally letting out a deep breath when she noticed her friend's glare. "Fine, fine, I get where you are coming from. Did you have a nice time at least?"
"Yeah, we had a lot of fun actually." Ellie smiled, "He's really nice."
"Did you see Remus his face?" Lily eagerly questioned, suddenly throwing the elephant in the room.
"I did not." Ellie stated, she wanted to ask Lily how it looked. She wanted the satisfaction of knowing that he would be disappointed that she went on a date. She wanted something to at least make her feel better.
"You should have. He looked… Hurt? Jealous? Something in between?" Lily spoke.
Right, Eleonore was wrong, hurting Remus did not make her feel better whatsoever. "Right."
"You should do something about this whole situation-"
"No, Lily. What else can I do? I don't know what to do anymore. It's not my place to fight anymore." Ellie shook her head, "I'm just- I'm going to wait right now and focus on myself and on my classes. He'll come to me when he's ready."
"But, what if he's never ready?"
"Then he stays away." Eleonore shrugged, ignoring the hollow feeling in her chest.
"Ellie…" Lily mumbled, she knew of Remus his insecurities. She knew what Remus said to Ellie but she also knew he didn't mean it. She could tell by the way he didn't spoke one word the entire afternoon. Lily noticed that Remus had tried to focus on the Defense Against The Dark Arts essay, trying to occupy his mind.
It didn't have much use, he kept on wondering what Ellie was doing, how David probably had his hands wrapped around her shoulders. The thought of him kissing Ellie made him sick. The wolf inside him was furious. Remus was constantly battling in between his own insecurities and the way the wolf wanted to dominate. He did not like sharing.
Right now, his insecurities were winning.
He just didn't know how long he could hold on to his insecurities anymore. How long would it take for the wolf to finally take over. To snap and spit his heart out. To finally place his beating heart into her trembling hands and tell Eleonore it belonged to her. Only for now, his heart was clogged with so many words that he wanted to get out- but couldn't.
One day.
Author's note: I hope you liked the way this date went. Although, James Potter was Eleonore first cute, toddler kiss (believe me, the subject will come up in the story alongside much fire whiskey one day.), I did not want David Hamblin to be her first, real kiss. I hope you can understand that. The wolf will snap, don't worry and it won't take long anymore. God, I can't wait for Remus to just bluntly shout everything at her that he's been wanting to say for so long. Also, how genius was Sirius in this chapter? I love him, really. Can't wait to write about Ellie and him as a couple, for now they're just friends, if you can even call it that. But if you hadn't noticed, he's very playful with her so you know... She needs someone to tell her the truth and he's perfect for that. Thank you for my reviewers, Paulaa90, mbob4980, Vanessa, Antyto-sama, JohnnyStormsgirl. Xo Eva