Exile

Eudoria Eleanor Bennett

August 25th 1992

Eudoria was waiting for Daphne at Madame Malkins to get new dress robes. She had already gotten her new robes for her birthday two days before and was currently reading one of the textbooks that they had purchased. Since Daphne hadn’t gone to Diagon Alley she thought it would be nice to have some company while she found all the school items needed. Watson, the house elf, had braided Eudoria’s hair to a heart at the back of her head, she quite liked it like that. 

Daphne’s parents had gone with her little sister Astoria to find her books for her first year. Felix and Bridget had run off with Watson to the Magical Menagerie to look at owls. 

“Do you want to buy your books when you’re done or do you want to go look at quidditch things for Blaise?” Daphne and Blaise had developed a friendship of sorts during the summer. 

The 27th of August was Blaise’s birthday and it was Daphne’s genius idea to have a birthday party together. Eudoria didn’t think much of it. A small gathering that lasted a few hours wasn’t that bad. Theo would probably be there. She smiled at the thought of Theo, even though she hadn’t seen him for a while her heart beat a little faster thinking about him. 

“What got you all smiley?” Daphne asked, smirking.

“Nothing” She responded tonelessly. 

Arm in arm the two blonde girls marched towards the bookshop where it was almost impossible to get through without the help of an umbrella that Eudoria used to poke at peoples feet to get them to move. Daphne muttered apologies as they went. A little bit  further in the shop they went and they saw the reason behind the large crowd. Gilderoy Lockhart was standing behind a table signing books. On the left side was Harry Potter looking as awkward as ever. Ron Weasley was standing a bit further away along with Hermione Granger and the little Weasley. She thought her name was, maybe Ginny? Yes it probably was Ginny. 

Then she noticed an abnormally blonde head, someone could be blinded by such hair. The head of Draco Malfoy wasn’t a particularly pleasant sight. His features were far too sharp to be safe. 

“And you miss, what book would you like signed?” Lockhart was famous for his adventures and his good looks, though Eudoria didn’t find him particularly handsome, she preferred brunettes. 

His handwriting was almost impossible to read as he signed Daphne’s book. She looked at him a bit dreamily. Daphne had a bad habit of immediately ‘falling in love’ with some bloke because he did something nice to her. 

She was quite delusional. But that was alright, usually all the boys she crushed on already imagined marrying her. 

Suddenly someone had started yelling behind them and Eudoria turned around to look. Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy were having a wrestling match on the floor. 

She sighed. 

Men. 

Eudoria pushed through the remaining crowd to go to the second floor, while Daphne had found some of her friends in Slytherin to talk to. There Eudoria found Neville Longbottom crouching under a drawer of some kind. She crouched down to the same eye level as Neville to see what he was looking for. When she didn't see anything, because it was dark she crept a little closer to him. 

“What are you looking for?” She said, perhaps a bit too loudly. 

Neville jumped and knocked his head in the bottom of the drawer. He made a funny sound. He retreated his head from underneath the drawer and looked at her. 

“Oh, hullo Eudoria.”

“Hello, Neville. Is your head okay?” She asked with an awkward smile. 

Neville turned bright red and nodded. She repeated her question about what he was looking for. 

“Um, I lost Trevor again. I think I saw him go under this drawer.” He said nervously, still blushing. 

“Why did you bring your toad to Diagon Alley?” She blinked at him and tilted her head slightly. 

“I thought he needed a change in scenery since he only gets to move around in his water tank back at home.” 

“Would you like some help finding him?” She asked instead of saying that she didn’t think toads really noticed the difference. 

“Yes, please.”

So she tried to push away the drawer and succeeded with help from Neville. They found the escape artist and Neville thanked her and looked like he was about to cry. Eudoria didn’t really know what to do. Daphne cried all the time but it was just to give her some chocolate and all tears were dried away and forgotten. 

She hadn’t learned how to stop Neville from crying. 

So she brought forth a chocolate frog and gave it to him. She always had some kind of snack on her, because she was always hungry. 

When she turned around to go down to the first floor to look for Daphne she was met with the wonderfully brown eyes of Theodore Nott. 

He blushed and quickly looked down at the book he was holding and turned a page. 

It was upside down. 

Boys were strange creatures. 

Eudoria did not understand how their brains worked. Some were incredibly stupid, like Malfoy. But some were sweet, like Neville and Dean Thomas. Some were just mind blowingly incompetent, like Seamus Finnigan. Then there were boys who made Eudoria’s heart beat at an abnormally fast pace. 

Like the one who stood in front of her. 

“I need to go look for my gran. See you in school. Bye, Eudoria.” Neville moved clumsily between bookshelves and piles of books. 

“See you!” She called after him. 

Theo glanced at her from his book. 

“How can you read upside down?” She asked, tilting her head to the side. 

He turned even redder and started to stammer and mutter incoherent things and Eudoria couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. 

“Please, talk slower. I couldn’t hear a single word out of that mess.” She leaned forward so that she could hear.

“Um, hi.” He swallowed and looked embarrassed. 

“Hi.” 

Eudoria didn’t know what to say. 

Theo was a pretty boy. He read and cared about his schoolwork. Didn’t do stupid things and say stupid jokes. He didn’t make fun of anyone so he was literally the most perfect boy in the entire universe. 

But he was slightly dumb.

–

August 27th 1992

Eudoria hated the dress she was wearing. It was itchy and was too puffy for her taste. It was piss yellow. She was watching the party with a sour taste in her mouth. The only pleasant thing to do was to watch Theodore who was wearing dress robes and to admire the fact that he had grown almost two inches since the last time she saw him. He stood beside a large plant that almost covered him completely from the perspective of the ballroom. 

He, too, was observing the guests with a glass of perhaps strawberry squash or some red and pink drink. He took a few sips and then turned around, looking directly at her. She didn’t turn away her gaze. He turned a little pink and smiled a small smile. Then she felt someone tugging at her sleeve. 

“Oi, Judy! Can you take one of those glasses with the bubbly drink inside? I want to try one.” Felix asked, with a grin. 

She looked at him for a long moment and then she grabbed both his shoulders.

“I know you know what kind of beverage that is. You know that babies like you should not be drinking that. Oh and stop calling me Judy!”

“I am not a baby! I’m 8. And I’m growing really fast, Watson says I’ll soon catch up with Bridget. I’ll be a man soon.” He looked rather proud of himself.

“That tie is closer to being a man than you are. Height doesn’t matter. It’s all in your head, which most men seem to be lacking.” She retorted. Grabbing a glass of squash from a floating tray, holding it out for him to take. Felix’s nose was scrunched up and he stuck out his tongue while snatching the glass and running away to bother someone else. 

She returned to her original spot to stand and watch the guests. Eudoria soon grew bored and started to search for Theo, who had moved from his spot behind the plant. She walked around the room and saw him with a scary looking man who was whispering in Theo’s ear. The man looked like an older version of Theo, she presumed he was his father. 

Eudoria looked at the Slytherin boy. He didn’t look particularly frightened, just bothered. 

She waited for a moment to see what was about to happen. Theo was released from the grasp of his father’s hands. He walked towards the patio. She followed him, but turned to walk to the gardens. 

The stars shone brightly and the winds were warm. She sat on a bench that looked like it had been there since the beginning of time. She closed her eyes and wished that the last three days would go quickly so she could go back to Hogwarts and sit in the library and read. To sit in the Great Hall and eat. 

“Hi” 

She opened her eyes and looked around. There stood Theodore Nott.

“Hello”

“Mind if I join you?” He asked, slightly nervous.

“Not at all.” She scooted over to give him space on the bench. He sat down and looked up.

“The sky is beautiful tonight” She nodded in response. 

They were both quiet for several minutes before he turned towards her. 

“You look very nice.” Liar.

“So do you. What do you think Blaise thinks about this party then?” She asked calmly.

“I think he likes the attention and the presents of course.” He said with a smile. 

She looked at him. Studied his face and moved a little closer to him. Theo had a crooked smile and a birthmark on his left cheek. He had brown eyes. He was a handsome boy. But then he reached forward with his right hand to cup her cheek. He leaned closer and closer. 

“Can I kiss you?” He asked, but she had frozen. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Then she realised that this was going to be her first kiss. 

A kiss. 

Mouth to mouth. 

She hoped he wasn’t going to poke his tongue into her mouth because she wasn’t ready to share bodily fluids. 

She nodded and closed her eyes. And then she felt his lips on hers. It only lasted for a moment before she pulled away. Eudoria didn’t know what she felt. It wasn’t much of a difference from before the kiss. 

They walked back to the party together and found Blaise, who was mingling with some older witches. 

–

1st September 1992

Eudoria and Daphne sat in comfortable silence while the train drove past empty fields and green forests. It didn’t take long until the train whistle howled and came to a stop. In uniform and Cersei in her arms Eudoria followed the throng of students towards the carriages. But she noticed something strange. There were skeletal-like horses with leather wings that would pull the carriages. 

“Look, Daph. What is that?” She pointed at the horses.

“What are you pointing at?” Daphne had a look of confusion on her face and was trying to see where Eudoria was pointing by squinting her eyes.

“You can’t see them?”

“Eudoria, there aren’t any horses.” Daphne turned to look at her with concern clear on her face.

“Nevermind, let’s find a carriage before there aren’t any left.” She hurried to grab her hand and drag her along. 

After dinner she went to go find Hermione to go to the library. 

–

September 1992

Mandrakes were horrible things.

Eudoria’s ears felt horrible. Even more horrible than the time Felix had his play broom taken away. He screamed so much he couldn’t talk for the next 2 days. 

Which was wonderful. 

She had been paired with Blaise Zabini during that lesson. He was a good partner but he talked quite a lot, but not nearly as much as Felix. 

Theodore had approached her after class. 

He was slightly pink in his cheeks. He had very nice eyes. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi.” 

They both said it at the same time. He laughed a breathy laugh and looked down at her shoes. And then on her hands which were intertwined, and then on her face. 

He cleared his throat.

“Um, I’ve been thinking.” He said shakily. 

“A dangerous thing.” She blurted out. 

He smiled.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” He asked. Without looking at her. 

“Alright” Why not? She had never been anyone’s girlfriend. 

“Really?” His face looked like it might rip with a massive smile. 

“Sure.”

–

Late September 1992 

Eudoria was, for the first time ever, close to a quidditch pitch. She was sitting in the bleachers along with Hermione, Ron Weasley and a first year Gryffindor called Colin Creevey. They were all there to watch the Gryffindor team practice, except Eudoria who only had tagged along because she had never been to a quidditch practice. She quickly found it boring and opened the book she had brought. When she heard Hermione standing up she looked up and saw the Slytherin team approaching. 

She thought about staying but she wanted to know why Draco Malfoy was amongst the other players. Apparently the only thing he had any talent in was to throw insults. He kept bullshitting about the Weasley twins’s brooms. 

“At least they are talented enough not to have to buy themselves onto the team.” Hermione said. 

“Shut your mouth, you filthy little mudblood.” Malfoy spit back.

Eudoria had never been as angry as she was at that moment. 

The little fucker, she thought. The Weasley twins were held back, Weasley was pulling out his wand and Eudoria threw herself forward and tackled the git to the ground. 

She could hear shouting but she focused solely on Malfoy. 

Someone grabbed her neck and arm and pulled her away. She was breathing heavily. Oliver Wood was holding her arm in a firm grip. She saw that her fingers were bloody and that Draco Malfoy was sitting on the ground, covering his nose with his hands. 

He deserved it.

–

October 1992

Eudoria had gotten 3 weeks of detention. 3 WEEKS of cleaning cauldrons without wands or any kind of magic. And Malfoy didn’t get any shit since the greasy haired bat had been the first to be alerted and the first to arrive at the scene. 

Apparently her father had been informed and he was not happy. He hadn’t sent a howler which she was grateful for, since there had already been the incident with the flying car that Weasley and Potter had flown to school. Mrs Weasley had really strong lungs. 

Dear daughter, 

I have received a letter from one of your teachers. It said that you had gotten into a fight with the young Malfoy boy. Firstly I would like to say that I am highly disappointed in you. I thought your mother and I had raised you better. Secondly it is very unladylike to fight. Not only that, but in the honour of a mudblood. 

You should be ashamed. You are a Bennett, act like one. 

Your Father

She sighed.

Lovely.

Theodore decided that it was proper to walk her to each of her classes. Even though it meant being late for his own class. He carried her bag everywhere. She noticed he struggled with her bag which was filled with books for every situation. She offered to take it back each time but he refused. 

Boys are a bit stupid. 

–

Late October 1992

After her last detention she was studying in her dorm, since it was Friday she could stay up and finish her homework for the next week. But was interrupted by a frantic Padma that explained that Filch’s cat had been petrified and about the writing on the wall. 

Strange. 

Padma also said that Draco Malfoy had made some stupid comment about muggleborns. Then came up with a theory that Malfoy was the Heir. Eudoria looked very doubtful since Draco Malfoy could barely transfigure a bird into a cup and if he would be against Hermione....

Well, he didn’t stand a chance. 

That night she decided she would tell Padma about her kiss with Theodore. Padma took it well and said that she would rather die than tell anyone about it. She was not ready to tell Daphne because if she told Daphne, Daphne would tell Pansy and Pansy would tell the rest of her friends which included Theo and Blaise and then Blaise would tell the rest of the year and the entire school would know. 

Rumours and whispers travelled fast at Hogwarts. 

–

Early November 1992

“Why do you look like you’re about to puke?” Padma looked awfully concerned when she sat down on the opposite side of Eudoria. Well she felt like she was about to puke. 

And cry.

And scream. 

She had forgotten to complete her Astronomy essay. 

She never forgot anything. 

So she hadn’t gotten a good enough grade. 

Was this what dying felt like?

Merlin, she didn’t want to die. 

Eudoria was reminded of Padma’s presence when her twin sister Parvati joined them to tell Padma about her horoscope. They were born on May 23rd, therefore they were gemini’s. 

“What sign are you, Eudoria?” Parvati asked.

“Virgo.” She didn’t really like Parvati. 

She didn’t know why, she just didn’t. 

–

23rd November 1992

Today was Felix’s birthday. Eudoria had gotten him a book about dragons that she had gotten in August. He had an obsession with dragons. 

She understood him. Dragons were incredible creatures. She had written him a letter saying happy birthday. 

–

28th December 1992

Eudoria had told Bridget about Theo, who immediately had told Felix. And Felix, who couldn’t keep his mouth shut, told absolutely everyone. He even sent letters to Aunt Cassie, Uncle Richard, all 5 cousins, great aunt Madelena who lived in Italy and their grandparents.

There was to be a New Year’s Ball which the Malfoy’s would host. And the Bennett family had been invited. Eudoria had requested to wear something dark blue or forest green. 

She had grown to like the colour green. She thought it was calming to look at. 

–

31st December 1992

Watson had laid a lovely dark green dress on her bed. 

1992 had gone incredibly fast. She thought about everything that happened during the year. But was interrupted by a giggling Astoria Greengrass and a girl Eudoria didn’t recognise. They were looking at her. She found them annoying so she moved to find Daphne. 

“Wait, Eudoria.” Astoria was short with short brown hair that almost looked black in certain lights. Eudoria turned around to look at her. The other girl was clinging onto Astoria like her life depended on it. Eudoria didn’t say anything, just waited for the girls to say something. 

“Um, why do you always study with Granger?” Astoria asked.

“Because she’s my friend and the most brilliant witch in the whole school.” Eudoria felt suspicious. These girls were not here for just smalltalk.

“You do know she’s a mudblood right?” The girl who Eudoria did not know the name of, blurted out. 

Eudoria had to take a deep breath to not pounce on the girl.

“Hermione Granger is a muggleborn and more powerful, more clever and just better than you in every way you little cunty bitch.” She whispered harshly. 

They looked taken aback and then Astoria stormed off in the direction of her parents, the girl hot on her heels. 

Eudoria walked towards the staircase that led to the balcony so that she could look out over the dancing crowd. She wouldn’t lie, the ballroom was an excellent view. Mrs Malfoy really knew how to arrange an important event.

She heard someone walking up towards where she was standing. She turned to look who it was and saw her boyfriend. Theo hadn’t grown much since the summer. He was wearing the usual black dress robes but had untied the tie. His hair had been slicked back by the family’s house elf to make him look more handsome. 

He looked bald. It wasn’t very flattering. Eudoria preferred his usual shoulder length of curly hair. But his eyes still held the same soft spark. 

She liked his eyes and they made him look like a puppy. 

Theodore and Eudoria stayed on the balcony, talking for the next two hours before Eudoria was dragged away by Bridget and Felix, who tried to be as intimidating as possible to the two heads taller Theo. 

–

January 1993

During break Eudoria had thought a lot about the petrifications. She had found something that might have been the answer and she was going to share her theory with Hermione.  Justin Finch-Fletchley had been attacked on December 18. She was worried about Hermione. 

When she was on her way to dinner she was snatched into a broom closet. 

“Lumos.” 

She was blinded by the light and had to blink a few times to be able to see. But she couldn’t see her snatcher since the shit was pointing their wand right into her face. She raised her hand and waved the wand away. She looked around and was met with the green eyes of Harry Potter. She turned to open the closet door but Potter was quick to stand in the way. 

“Sorry.” He said sheepishly. 

“I’m hungry.” She said, 

“It will be quick, I swear.” He answered.

“Go on, if it’s so important.” She said impatiently.

He cleared his throat.

“Well, um, Eudoria. You’re clever.” He stated.

“Thank you.”

“Um, you know Hermione.” He was unnecessarily nervous.

“Yes I know Hermione.” Eudoria didn’t see the point of this conversation. 

“Eh she’s also clever and we are friends.” Her eyes were so wide because she couldn’t understand what was so difficult to say. 

“Well I was wondering if you know the reason behind the attacks?” He asked it too quickly for Eudoria to process what he said. 

“Could you repeat that?”

“Do you know what is attacking muggleborns?” He said annoyingly slowly. 

“I have my theories.” She answered equally slowly. 

“Could you share them?” 

“I want to confide in Hermione about them before I tell anyone else.” She didn’t want to spread panic before her theory was shared with someone of higher brain capacity. 

He nodded and looked lost in thought for a moment and then snapped back. He was a little bit shorter than her so she had to tilt her head to look him in his eyes. He moved away from the door and let her open it and walk out to the busy hall. 

Damn Potter. She wanted to be early to dinner to find a good spot for her and Padma. She was on her way to find an empty place but she was interrupted by Theo. 

“What were you doing in a broom closet with Potter?” He asked. 

“He said that I was clever and asked if I wanted to build a ship with him to fly to Mars.” She said indifferently sitting down. 

He followed. 

“Really? Why would he want to go to Mars?” He looked confused.

She shot him a pointed look. 

They were interrupted by a third voice speaking.

“Eudoria, dear, you do know that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?” Blaise Zabini appeared and squeezed in between her and Theo. 

She stuck out her tongue to him. 

“Very mature.” He was wearing a dark purple jumper and black slacks. 

She complimented him on the jumper and said that he looked handsome in purple. He thanked her. They had developed a relationship similar to her and Bridget’s. 

It was a bit strange. She hadn’t spent much time with him. The previous year she and Theo would sometimes meet up and do homework or read. A bit similar to what she did with Hermione, just Theo was different. 

She looked to the Slytherin table. There sat Malfoy, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne and a boy Eudoria had seen before in the library. He was sitting beside Daphne, looking at his plate. He was pretty, but not as pretty as Theo. 

“Who’s that sitting with Daphne?” Blaise looked up and squinted. 

“Oh, that’s Lorenzo Berkshire. He prefers Enzo.” 

–

February 3rd 1993 

She ran as fast as she could to the Hospital Wing. Professor Flitwick had found her in the common room and told her about Hermione. 

Eudoria had never realised how many stars there were at Hogwarts. Well, she knew that it was a massive school but the amount of stairs was atrocious. 

She was breathing loudly when she stood outside the doors. 

She paused to catch her breath then opened the door. She was hit by a calming smell. Then continued towards the bed where Madame Pomfrey was.

Eudoria cleared her throat and the matron looked up at her. 

“Good evening. Are you here for Miss Granger?” She asked kindly.

“Eh, yes.” 

She was led to Hermione’s bed and stopped.

Hermione laid completely still, frozen in her step, hands clutched with a terrified look on her face. Eudoria sat by the bed what felt like hours before Madame Pomfrey told her to go back to her common room. 

–

Early June 1993

All of the petrified students, Mrs Norris and Nearly Headless Nick were cured. Apparently there had been a basilisk roaming around the school. Eudoria was very worried about Hermione. Everyday she was visiting her in the hospital wing to check on her and replacing flowers. 

The exams had been cancelled. 

Eudoria was not ready to go home. She already longed for the next year.