Exile

Eudoria Eleanor Bennett

1st September 1993

Bridget was clutching on to Eudoria’s arm for dear life. Her hands were shaking and she looked like she was about to cry. They were standing in the middle of the busy platform of 9¾ waiting for Daphne and Pansy. Eudoria thought Pansy was a quite tolerable person when she wasn’t babbling about some annoying girl from Gryffindor. 

She had a passion for gossip. 

Bridget was just about to start first year at Hogwarts and she was terrified. Even more terrified than she would have normally been since there was a serial killer on the loose. Eudoria had heard from her father that Dementors had been assigned to capture him. 

She thought it was incredibly stupid to have soulsucking creatures wandering around a school full of children. 

“I see Daphne!” Bridget shrieked.

Eudoria looked in the direction Bridget was pointing and there she was. Daphne, as elegant as ever in her signature pink skirt. Her long platinum hair flowing perfectly like in one of those muggle films. Daphne was standing with Pansy Parkinson who had her Slytherin uniform already on. Pansy held extreme pride in her house and its colours. Daphne was looking around, searching for the other blonde not knowing that the other blonde had already found her. 

Eudoria violently waved her free arm around to get Daphne’s or Pansy’s attention. When the blonde Slytherin noticed she grabbed hold of her housemate and dragged her to the sisters. Daphne broke out in a massive smile and engulfed Eudoria in a tight hug. 

“Oh, I’ve missed you so, so, so, so much!” Daphne said loudly. 

“I’ve missed you too.” Eudoria had a broad smile on her face and she could not wipe it away. She hadn’t seen Daphne since the end of June because she, Bridget and Felix had visited family in Italy while their father had been busy with work. 

The four of them decided that they would start looking for a compartment. She wasn’t particularly nervous or anything like it about this year. She was a little bit excited about the new subjects that she and her fellow third years would be learning. Eudoria had chosen Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy and Study of Ancient Runes. 

She thought that Divination wasn’t a very useful subject because there weren't many people that could have the gift of seeing their or others' future, and she was quite sure that she didn't have that gift. Muggle Studies was hard to not choose because muggles had accomplished so much without magic and Eudoria wanted to know how but it was either that or Ancient Runes and she felt most drawn to the latter.

She heard Daphne call out somewhere in front of her and she looked up. Daphne stood beside Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Both had grown taller. But Blaise was still around the same height as Eudoria. Theo, however with his excellent posture was one of the tallest in their year. 

Theo couldn't help but smile when he saw Eudoria. He walked towards her and picked her up in a hug. 

“Oi, let’s not get too close there. You know there are children present.” Blaise said cheerily. He winked at her and moved past Pansy to get into the compartment. 

Theo had gone pink and looked a little nervous when he put her down from their hug. He smiled a crooked smile. Eudoria smiled brightly at him before she walked past him and grabbed his hand on her way to their friends. Bridget moved slowly behind Theo. Eudoria thought she was a little unsure whether she wanted to sit with her older sister’s friends or go find some place for herself but chose to follow them inside the compartment. 

When they had all been sitting for a while there was a knock on the compartment door and it slid open to reveal a Lorenzo Berkshire in his Slytherin uniform. He hesitated but then asked if he could join them. 

“Of course. There is a spot beside Pansy.” Daphne said in her usual cheery tone. 

Lorenzo took a step over Blaise’s legs, who was sleeping, and took the seat beside Pansy. Bridget was also sleeping by the window, half laying and sitting, leaning on Eudoria. To her right sat Theo sharing candy with Eudoria. Daphne and Pansy were talking about a couple of 5th years who, apparently had slept with the same bloke and had started screaming at each other on the platform earlier. 

Eudoria and her boyfriend were talking about whatever came to mind. Right at this moment they were talking about a muggle book that her aunt had sent her for her birthday. She was passionately telling Theo about the book and about the characters. Theodore sat listening to her with a smile on his lips. Eudoris was making a point about a character that made her absolutely furious when the train halted to a stop. Everyone looked around at each other with wide eyes. 

Then the lights went out. And it became very cold in the compartment. There was frost on the window. The train went quiet other than a few people whispering to their friends. Blaise woke up from the halt and was holding onto Enzo. 

“W-what’s happening?” Bridget said in a very small voice, looking around in confusion since she woke up from the stop. She looked at her big sister with wide, scared eyes. Eudoria didn’t know what to do. She took Theo’s hand subconsciously and held it tightly in her own. 

“Theo, could you open the door and look if there’s someone there?” He moved quickly and reached for the door but it slid open on its own.

In the doorway stood a hooded figure. A dementor. 

Theo fell back into his seat with wide eyes. Bridget hid behind Eudoria and cried against her back. 

Blaise started screaming so loud and didn’t stop. Even after a silver creature had chased the dementor away, Blaise was holding onto Lorenzo who looked like he was about to pass out. 

Eudoria didn’t let go of Theo’s hand. She sat in disbelief and shock, they all did. Bridget didn't stop crying. Eudoria hugged Bridget tightly and let her cry against her shoulder as she whispered comforting words to her. 

It sure wasn't the best way to start off the year. When they finally arrived at Hogwarts, Eudoria showed Bridget where to go and then the sisters separated. Bridget ran off to where Hagrid stood waving. The older sister went off with her friends to the carriages. 

_

Eudoria could very clearly see from where she was sitting where the first years would be standing after the rest of the students were filling up the spaces on the benches. She was sitting between Michael Corner and a blonde second year with dried radishes as earrings and corks on her necklace. 

Eudoria thought her name to be Lucy. Or something beginning with an L. She had never talked to the girl, however she knew that the girl was a little strange. At least that was what  she had heard from her classmates and from other students . 

And then the doors opened and the first years followed the strict Professor McGonagall. They all were so small. Some looked awestruck up to the ceiling and others looked like they were about to piss themselves when they stared around the Great Hall. 

Eudoria tried to find her dear little sister whom she knew would be incredibly nervous. 

After her eyes roamed over the many first years her eyes found the one she was looking for. Standing in the middle was a very blond, terrified, ten year old. Bridget looked around anxiously searching for her sister. After their eyes met Eudoria gave the Bennett a soft and encouraging smile. Bridget calmed down a little and managed to smile back. 

Professor McGonagall called out the names of the new first years before she quickly came to the youngest Bennet girl. 

“Bridget Bennet” McGonagall called out and the girl walked up to the stool with weak knees. She sat down on the wooden stool and McGonagall raised the hat over her head. When she put the old hat over the ten year olds small head the hat fell down so it covered her eyes. The only thing seen on the girls head now was her nose and mouth. 

After a few seconds of silence the hat called out.

“Ravenclaw!” It called out and McGonagall lifted the hat off her head. Eudoria stood up and cheered for her sister and the Ravenclaw table followed. A smile broke out on Bridget's face and she practically ran up to her sister and jumped into a hug. Eudoria laughed and hugged her sister back before pulling away from the hug and dragging her down to sit next to her. A few other Ravenclaws patted Bridget on the back and congratulated her. Bridget looked around still smiling with happiness as McGonagall moved on to the rest of the first years. 

_

Early September 1993

Eudoria had never seen a hippogriff in real life. She had read in a book she had found in the library of her family’s estate. It said that they were quite proud creatures and had to be respected to be able to respect (or at least tolerate) another person. She thought them to be wonderful creatures since one of them had lightly scratched Draco Malfoy and had left him crying and screaming. 

Her class with the Hufflepuff’s had been after the Gryffindors and Slytherins but since the incident, her class had been cancelled and she had spent the time in the library reading. 

Eudoria had also been sent a book by her aunt called Lord of the rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. She really enjoyed it. She had made it almost halfway through when a boy approached her. 

“Hi.” 

She looked up and looked at the boy, whom she did not recognise. She could swear that she had never seen him before. 

“Hello?” She answered, slightly confused. She looked around and saw that no one else was in the library. 

“Can I sit here with you?” He looked hopeful. 

“Uh, alright.” She responded warily.

Instead of seating himself in one of the free seats he moved all of Eudorias belongings from the chair beside her to another and sat down. Right next to her. 

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye and scooted a bit further away from him. 

“If you don’t mind me asking what your name is?” She wanted to know who she was talking to and who was sitting beside her, extremely close. 

“Oh I’m Michael Kavanagh. Pleasure.” He stuck his hand out, a big smile spread across his face. 

“I’m Eu-”

“You’re Eudoria Bennett, I already know who you are.” He smiled almost creepily. She didn’t take his hand. Eudoria stopped for a minute and felt extremely uncomfortable. 

“I have a class soon so I need to go.” Eudoria stood up and took her things and walked away quickly without looking back at the odd boy. That was a full on lie, she didn’t have class. She just wanted to get away from him. He gave her the creeps. 

_

Later that week 

Eudoria was quite excited about her class with the new Professor in the D.A.D.A. Hermione had told her about her, Weasley’s and Potter’s incident on the train with the Dementor. Eudoria was hopeful that Remus Lupin would actually be a capable teacher unlike the previous Professor. When she had seen him at dinner on the day they all returned it wasn’t very telling what kind of person he was. She hadn’t been able to see his face particularly clearly since she and the fellow third years sat further back than last year. 

She and Daphne were standing outside the classroom waiting. They had gone a bit too early since Eudoria wanted to make a good impression on their brand new teacher. 

As more of their classmates started arriving to wait outside the classroom the 

Daphne was holding the Daily Prophet which had arrived at breakfast. 

She made a slightly disgusted face and angled the paper towards Eudoria. It was a horrible picture of the murderer that was on the loose. Eudoria quickly scanned the page on any particularly interesting headlines and then looked back up on Daphne. 

“He looks rather ghastly don’t you think?” 

“I suppose. Well, he has spent more than 10 years in Azkaban so it’s not that surprising.” She muttered and looked at the new watch she had received at her birthday from her grandparents. 

Three minutes left. 

And then the door opened and revealed an empty classroom. The chairs and tables had been pushed to the sides of the room. 

Eudoria, Daphne and their classmates walked slowly into the room. They all just stood around in the room. Some were talking about some quidditch match they had wanted to go to that weekend and some were looking around the room and pointing out the differences from the previous years. 

Then professor Lupin walked down the stairs from his office and greeted them all with a bright smile. The smile stretched out the long scar he had across his cheek. 

Eudoria wondered where he had gotten it. 

She kept on analysing the new teacher. The lapped together robes and dirty blond hair. He was tall. 

He had lovely eyes. 

She thought he was handsome. Really handsome.

_

The lesson had gone a bit worse than expected. 

Eudoria had started crying when she had seen her boggart. 

It had taken the shape of her mother in a bed. Eudoria had seen that scene replayed so many times in her head. Her mother lying dead in bloody bed sheets and night robe, after birthing Felix. 

But there had been something wrong. Felix had lied there beside their mother looking the same as he had when Eudoria had left him at home after leaving for school in early September. But now his eyes had been blank and unmoving. 

Professor Lupin and Padma had pulled her away and when Padma had gotten in front of the boggart it had turned into a massive dog. The dog had started to approach and growl but Padma had been quick and had said the spell loud and clear to transform the dog to a bunch of rabbits with rainbow hats and bowties. Daphne had sat down next to Eudoria holding her and then convinced her to skip their next class together. 

_

October 1993

Eudoria was clutching onto the piece of paper her father had signed earlier in the summer. She, Daphne and Pansy were standing in line to go (for the first time) to Hogsmeade. 

Eudoria was quite excited. 

After letting Filch take a look at their papers, grunted and gave them a dirty look, he let them pass. 

As they were on their way down the hill towards Hogsmeade a shrill voice called their names. Eudoria turned around as Blaise was running down the stairs to catch up with the three girls. Right behind him came Theo. He had a massive smile on his face and cheeks a bit red from the cold. He had a scarf in Slytherin colours around his neck and a dark blue jacket. His dark hair was an untamed mop on his head, slightly covering his eyes. She had noticed it had gotten a bit long since the summer. When they reached the girls, Blaise offered his arms to Daphne and Pansy to take and Theo had walked over to Eudoria. 

“Can I cut your hair later? You won’t be able to see soon if you let it keep on growing, you know.” She had reached up and lightly pushed the hair out of his eyes. 

He had blushed all the way from his neck to his hairline and ears. 

“Eh-”

“Oi, lovebirds! Come on and hurry otherwise there won’t be any seats left at the Three Broomsticks.” Blaise yelled over his shoulder. 

Eudoria and Theo accidentally made eye contact, blushed, smiled and turned away from each other. Once they had gained composure again they started walking down together, side by side. 

Eudoria glanced at him several times. 

He looked like he was about to have some serious allergy attack. 

Red faced, heavy breathing and looking like he was about to throw up. 

She stopped walking. 

“Is something wrong?” She asked, concerned. 

“No, why?” He swallowed. 

She tilted her head forward. 

“You look like you’re choking or having some kind of attack.” 

“Oh um, I’m just wondering if….well if you would like me or you to be..wait no. I was wondering if we could be Valentines on Valentine's Day.”

“But it’s October.” She looked at him with a pointed look. 

“Yes it is.”

“Valentine's Day is in February, Theo. That’s 4 months from now.” 

“Yeah, I know. I just…. Wanted to be sure that you would want to go with me.” 

Eudoria was a bit dumbfounded at the way that her boyfriend was thinking. She was his girlfriend, why would she want to be someone else’s Valentine. And why was he nervous about asking her 4 months early. 

She looked up at him, hiding a smile. 

“Okay then” She said and Theo breathed out in relief. He broke out a smile and gave her a peck on the cheek before taking her hand and following their friends. Eudoria blushed and couldn't help smiling. Later that night her cheeks hurt from smiling so much. 

_

February 14th 1994

Today was a Hogsmeade weekend. Today Eudoria was meeting up with her boyfriend to spend Valentine’s together. But Eudoria was not feeling well. 

She had gotten her period the night before. 

She wanted to cry and cry and cry until she couldn’t produce anymore tears. She was in terrible, terrible pain. 

It was not nice. 

The only thing that had kept her sane was Cersei cuddling up against her. Eudoria was sure she had the best cat in the world. She had never met such a smart and emotionally intelligent animal in her life. But even Cersei couldn't help Eudoria as she laid down sobbing in pain. 

She had written to her aunt asking for advice and instead of getting condolences for beginning to become an adult she had received congratulations for entering a “new chapter” of her life.  

She didn’t want to grow up just yet. She was just thirteen. 

She layed in bed until someone knocked on the dormitory door. She sighed, stretched her legs and stood up. A bit dizzy, she went and opened the door. But there was no one there. Eudoria was annoyed. She turned around and felt a breeze. 

The window was open. She grunted and went to close it. Then turned around to face her bed. 

There was a massacre of flowers on the bed along with two chocolate boxes with a pink card between them. 

“Get better soon. Maybe we can try this again when you feel better?

Love, Theo” 

Eudoria smiled down at the pink note. Okay maybe this made her feel a little better. She had gotten flowers and chocolate from Theo, her Theo. 

_

Early June 1994

Eudoria enjoyed staying late in the library to read and later walking in the nearly empty corridors. It was quite dark and quiet. She had stayed a bit too long and was at risk of meeting a prefect but she wasn’t too worried because it was the end of term. 

Then she heard hushed voices and quickened her pace. She hadn’t thought about where the voices came from and suddenly she stood face to face with Sirius Black. 

The murderer. 

Eudoria didn’t know what to do. So she froze.

“Oh, Eudoria!” someone exclaimed from behind her. 

That someone grabbed her arm and pulled slightly so that she had to take a step back. Hermione was standing there with a worried look upon her freckled face. 

“Hermione, that's Sirius Black.” Eudoria pointed at the man. She never let her eyes leave the rugged looking man with long hair and tattoos on his chest. 

“Um yeah, we know.” A third voice appeared and it was Potter. 

“But it’s Sirius Black.” she said in a lower voice. Eudoria didn’t put her arm down and kept on pointing at him. 

“He has murdered people. People. Multiple, Hermione.” She was a bit concerned that her friend didn’t realise the danger they were in. 

“Oi, we know that I’m Sirius Black and I’m not a bloody murderer. So let’s stop throwing around accusations.” He had quite the attitude this Sirius Black.

“I’m not throwing around accusations. He was in Azkaban. Merlin's tits, he’s been in Azkaban. He is on the run. And right now he is standing in front of us.” She was a bit stressed that they didn’t understand the situation. 

Hermione took a deep breath and began explaining that it hadn’t been Sirius who had killed all those people but some other man, Peter Pettigrew. Eudoria calmed down a bit but still felt suspicious of him. 

“Yeah, I’m innocent.” Sirius looked directly at Eudoria and leaned slightly down and furrowed his eyebrows. Eudoria took a step back. 

“Eh what are you doing?” She questioned. 

“There is something familiar with you. I don’t know what but..” He paused for a moment and his eyes widened a little bit. 

“Are you related to Macy Nightingale?”

“Yeah, she’s my mum.” She answered wearily. She felt strange talking about her mother. 

“Macy is your mum? Oh my. Your mum changed quite a bit after she met that nightmare, Charles.”

“Okay.” She responded. Eudoria wasn't sure what she was supposed to say. It was weird hearing about her mother since she died. If anyone at home dared to talk about their mother then their father would become rageful and punish the Bennett children. 

“I suppose she’s still the same after all these years?”

“No, she’s dead.” Eudoria says looking down at the stone floor. 

“Oh.” Sirius said softly. Eudoria almost couldn't hear him. He looked lost. 

“I have to go” She said quickly and before Hermione could stop her she was already gone. Eudoria may have very mixed feelings towards her mother and who she used to be but she was still her mother. Eudoria hated her mother for leaving her, for leaving her younger siblings with their father.