Ineffable Eleanor

Feeling that she could use a break after all the excitement, she elected to split away for a break. Finding herself in the kitchens, she sat on the counter with a cup in her hand and nibbled at the food she had found around her. Outside of the occasional chatter with someone coming in for a drink, she found the room mostly to herself. From her perch she couldn’t make out too much of the music, but she could feel it reverberating around her. 

Noticing one girl who seemed to be holding back more than the others, she smiled a greeting. She recognized Ellie - the two having shared enough classes over the years - but she couldn’t make any claim to actually knowing the Hufflepuff. “Escaping for a bit as well?”

Because of her nerves, she had decided to cool down in the kitchens. She figured no one would be there. And if they were there, they wouldn’t be there for long. It seemed the perfect hiding spot, at least until she found the courage to face the crowd again.

As she sat on the counter, she saw Lucy topple in. She looked so happy and carefree. It made Ellie smile to see someone not drunk out of their minds but actually seeming to have a good time. Maybe Lucy wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Maybe she was being herself and that was good enough for her. Maybe -- Ellie stopped herself. She was making too many predictions about the girl she barely knew outside of classes.

Then the girl spoke to her. Escaping? She was definitely right but probably for different reasons than Lucy. “Escaping?” she laughed as she looked down at her drink, “you could say something like that.” She smiled again.

She shifted a hair in place, hoping this was her chance to prove herself right. She could do this.

Kingsley went pink when Ellie called him wonderful. He hardly thought he’d done all that much for her, nothing above what any decent person wouldn’t do. The praise felt unearned. He ducked his head and scuffed at the floor. They were friends. He’d do this for any of his friends.

“It’s lovely to have you in our home, Eleanor. You’re welcome here any time.” His mother said kindly. “Not just when you compliment my son.”

“Ellie and I are going up to my room now Mum.” Kingsley said, still fainting pink around the ears.

“Door open.” Abigail said, her voice mild as she picked up the case file she’d been reading.

“Mum.” Kingsley complained.

“You know the rules. I make you leave the door open when Benjy’s over too.”

Kingsley rolled his eyes and groaned even as he nodded. Gesturing for Ellie to follow him, he made his way out into the house.

The Shacklebolt’s had a manor that felt more like a home. All the ancient austerity shared wall space with family photos. The manor felt lived in, felt loved. “Come on,” Kingsley said, “My room’s upstairs.”

“Th-thank you for welcoming me into your home,” Ellie glanced at Mrs. Shacklebolt. Ellie had few friends back in London, let alone friends whose parents welcomed her so freely. The thought of being able to come back (when she had hardly been there ten minutes) gave her tears behind her eyes. She almost went to hug Kingsley’s mother then decided not to overdo it -- even if it’s how she truly felt.

Ellie turned to face Kingsley as he invited her to his bedroom. She noticed him ...blushing? Everything was a fog. Se could hardly remember the things she’d said downstairs but obviously she said something to make her friend turn pink and red. She mustered what laugh she could and pointed at Kingsley. “You seem a little flustered, King.” She was positive it had nothing to do with her. Ellie wished she could make a girl turn those colors.

She felt desperate. She had to stop this. It would happen when it happens.

As they walked the stairs, Ellie noticed how large their home actually was. The pictures lining the wall showed happiness and precious moments. The photos moved and danced. She couldn’t help but smile.

She pointed to one photo in particular. It looked like a happy couple laughing at a joke only they knew. Ellie wished she could make a girl laugh like that.

She felt desperate. She had to stop this. It would happen when it happens.

Ellie couldn’t help but wonder ...”Hey King,” she pointed to the photo, “Do you think they really were happy? That they really loved each other? ...Do you think I could find love like that one day?”

“Yes I read you night time stories.”

@ineffableellie

Kingsley held her close as she clung him, working hard to make sure she knew he’d never let her down without having to say it out loud. He didn’t know her half as well as he wanted, and he could spend his life making up for that fact. He wanted to keep her as safe as he possibly could even as he could feel his therapist giving him a stern talking to about putting himself first. 

His mother watched them for a second with something soft and warm in her eyes. Kingsley wondered if Ellie knew she’d just been de-facto adopted in this moment. Mum’d never let her leave without two baskets of food and a direct Floo line to her office.

“Come on, we’ll get dogs to pile on you and it’ll feel a bit better, yeah?” He said as he gave her a squeeze. “Always helps for me.”

Ellie felt his arms around her. Her father is the only male she had ever allowed herself to be so emotional in front of. In fact, her emotional stance altogether was hurting and bothering her. It was becoming something on a bigger level, but she shoved it down.

When she pulled her face away from Kingsley, Ellie mumbled an apology for all the tears visibly on his shirt. She turned around, finally noticing his mother. She wiped her nose with her shirt and tried to pull herself together. “I’m -- I’m sorry you’re meeting me when I’m like...” she motioned to her entire self, “this,” as she let out a self-deprecating laugh, “I’m ...Eleanor,” saying her given name more out of respect for Kinglsey than anything else. “Things have been hard lately and your son has taken me under his wing. Thank you for raising such a wonderful boy.” Ellie looked back at Kingsley, wondering if it was okay for her to say  the things she did.

She walked back toward the boy she was getting to know so quickly. She whispered, “is there somewhere we can go to talk, just me and you? ...and the dogs.”

I leave little Flounder in tank. Hope you no mind surprise. Nice to meet other girl with you. Is her your girlfriend?

@ineffableellie

She’d been sitting at a table in the Common Room reading for next term’s Herbology classes. When it came to Herbology, there was a reason she was always head of the class. But right now, her head wasn’t entirely in her book. She looked over and saw Dirk sitting there with a tin of cookies. It made her smile. She walked toward him and sat down but didn’t know what to say and thanked Merlin when he spoke. When he offered her a gingerbread cookie.

“Your Mum made them?” she smiled down as she looked as the misshapen little man. It looked like a muggle had made them which warmed her heart. She took a bite of the gingerbread man’s leg. With a warm heart she looked at Dirk and asked, “Are these muggle cookies?”