Please move
Almost a week had gone by since Eleanor’s last encounter with Draco. As more days went by, the less she thought about him or his family. Reminding herself of their views helped. Not going to the lake too.
With just two days left until school starts, Eleanor had one last visit to London planned. With the Auror tagging along, of course. Her dad was supposed to go at first, but when he got an owl from the Ministry, the request for the Auror to come along did not surprise her - the fact that they let her go at all was. More people were disappearing.
The daily debriefing her parents had after dinner always had Eleanor sitting on the stairs and listening in. She didn’t nag them about what they do at work, so the overheard details would have to suffice. A family murdered. A witch gone without a trace. A werewolf attack… She didn’t recognize any of the names her parents mentioned and knowing her friends and mostly all her relatives were back Home, safe, made her thankful and less fearful.
“Be careful, Nell.” her dad waved as she got into the car, making her lose her train of thought. All goodbyes now turned into be careful’s.
“Sorry,” she waved back at her dad while driving off and looked at the Auror in the front. “Dad’s supposed to go with me, but–”
“I know.” the Auror tried to smile understandably, but his eyes showed how serious he was. Who trained their whole lives to just accompany someone shopping? She couldn’t understand how he had agreed.
But even if the British wizarding world seemed ever so dark, London was still full of life. Walking down the streets crowded with people was fun for Eleanor. Seeing people, no-maj’s, just enjoying life, doing their back-to-school shopping helped her forget. Eleanor liked the British accents too. Passing through someone, saying “I’m sorry” or “Excuse me”.
She had started to miss the feel of a big city a little too much. But as much as she liked London, she loved Boston more.
The Auror, Paul, walked behind her the whole time, he seemed constantly on the edge. Eleanor looked at him apologetically and mouthed “I’m sorry” as she left the store with various colored envelopes in her hands. She had run out writing back to her friends.
She tried to be quick, as Paul had something to do at the bank, her dad told her. But that wasn’t successful - Eleanor found herself looking through all the types of pens the no-maj art supply store had to offer.
“We can start moving toward Leaky Cauldron.” Paul said after Eleanor mentioned she was done.
The walk to the bar wasn’t a long one, they specifically planned their route not to sway too far away while Eleanor strolled through different stores.
“Did your father tell you to come to the bank?” the man frowned as he approached the bar and saw all the people inside. “Busier than usual.”
Leaky Cauldron looked warm and loud this evening. Nothing compared to how it looked a week ago or so.
“No– Can I stay there?” she nodded towards the bar. You could hear the chatter from outside.
“It is–” he opened the door for Eleanor. “Full.”
Nobody seemed to notice the two entering. Everyone had someone to talk to, someone to listen to. Almost all the booths were full, and some tables here and there were empty, but the old wizard was more than happy, pouring a sparkling drink for himself.
Out of the now three times she has been here, Leaky Cauldron was the fullest Eleanor had seen it. Someone was loudly telling a story by the bar, another group of friends was playing some sort of game, unknown to Eleanor, by the window booth and discussing something too close to one another.
You could almost forget how serious and paranoid everyone was getting. Tonight, Leaky Cauldron was full and warm.
“I’ll stay here the whole time,” she assured him and looked around. “It’s just students here.”
Paul seemed hesitant, slowly looking around, but Eleanor wasn’t lying. August 30th, a Friday evening. Many older students must have already left their parents' houses, planning to spend the last days staying at the inn, seeing their friends, even during these troubling times.
“Right, I won’t take long.”
Eleanor tried to hide her smile as she followed the Auror out with her eyes. She used to go to bars like this in Boston with her friends.
She walked over to the front and ordered a butterbeer. Her dad always said the butterbeers in England were better than back Home. Eleanor was ready to find out.
With the drink in one hand, she started looking for a place to sit. Most of the seats were already taken, groups of students were talking over one another. But when she noticed an almost empty booth with someone playing chess, she slowly walked around a table, trying not to spill the drink.
“Playing alone,” she noticed the black pieces moving on their own as she walked closer to the booth. “Want to play?”
Dark brown eyes lifted from the chessboard and stared at her for a good moment. “Sure.”
“Great.” she slid down quickly and smiled while carefully placing the glass down, trying not to spill. She loved chess. Even if she still couldn’t beat her dad. “I’m Eleanor.” she glanced up as she put the pieces into their rightful places.
“Blaise,” his eyes were narrow, studying Eleanor. “Zabini.”
“Nice to meet you, Blaise.” she turned her head slightly as he did not stop staring. “You start.”
“What year?” he asked without looking at the piece he just moved. He had a similar face to that of the trio at Malkin’s - like never seeing someone before was that much of a rarity.
“Sixth.” she sighed. She would have gone for the same place if she was white
“Never seen you around.” he analyzed her carefully as she made her move.
“Not from here.” she smirked.
“Where from?”
“The States.”
He paused before moving another piece. “Ilvermorny?”
“Yes.”
Blaise made a face, like silent approval “My mother wanted me to do the exchange during my third year.” he rubbed over his eyebrow and carefully studied the board.
“And you didn’t?” she moved.
He was silent for a moment again before moving a piece. Eleanor was not expecting that. “No– Well, didn’t really want to.”
Eleanor chuckled and without notice, started braiding a small strand of her hair. She was thinking.
“Shit,” after a few more moves Eleanor sighed when she noticed how trapped her pieces truly were. “I see I’m playing with a pro.”
Blaise smirked when he moved his piece almost instinctively after Eleanor made her move. He was planning. “It’s just practise.”
A few more moves and Eleanor was forced to surrender. Defeated.
“Embarrassing!” she laughed. “I’m not telling my dad about this.”
Blaise laughed silently and shrugged.
“Rematch? I have… about,” Eleanor looked around for a clock. “I don’t think I have much time. If you can beat me.”
“My friends are late either way. I’ll be black this time.”
Eleanor usually only played as whites, maybe that’s why she lost so quickly, she thought.
“Do you know your house already? Is it connected to Ilvermorny houses?” after many moves in silence he asked.
“You know about our houses?” the question managed to lift Eleanor’s eyes up.
“I did my research when I was still considering.” he crossed his arms on the table, leaning in.
“I’ll be sorted before the first years,” she moved a piece. “At least that’s what they told me.”
“So no connection?” he moved his too quickly.
“I’m screwed, aren’t I?” Eleanor ran her hand through her dark hair, sighing.
“You’re not.” he cut her off.
“Technically no.” she kept her eyes on the board, going over every piece of his carefully. “What’s your house?”
“Slytherin.” Eleanor didn’t notice his slightly raised eyebrows when she did not react to the house he was sorted into. “Yours?”
Eleanor chuckled at the question. “Thunderbird.”
“Thunderbird…” Blaise said to himself quietly as he watched her move a piece. This time he did not move his immediately. She hoped he wasn’t expecting that.
“You missed that one, mate.” Eleanor almost jumped when a voice behind her spoke.
“I see that now, Nott.” Blaise coughed and did not lift his eyes up.
Without saying anything else the other boy got up from his booth and walked up to the bar.
It took Blaise another minute or so to make his move. Eleanor wasn’t sure where she was going when she placed that boggling piece, but now she just had to improvise. The Nott boy probably saw more than she did so she started searching.
When everything finally fell into place, it was hard for her not to start smiling, giving herself away. Blaise was watching her hands carefully, eyes moving quickly from one piece to the other. When Eleanor finally made her move, the boy covered both of his ears with his hands, keeping himself up by the elbows.
Eleanor did not dare to speak. She was going over the board herself.
“Hm.” was the most Blaise said for a few minutes before finally moving.
“Blaise!” a girl with short black hair moved around a few tables to reach their booth, distracting Eleanor away from the board for a moment.
“A bit late.” Blaise did not look at her, scratching his chin as Eleanor debated, but moved slightly toward the wall to make room for the girl.
She was more invested now than the first time they played. Seeing a chance to win was all she needed.
“Blame Draco, not me.” she giggled and sat down staring at Eleanor, who had just made her move.
Draco? Eleanor frowned for a second and looked at the girl. Did his mom let him go alone?
The name distracted her from the board. Even if she wasn’t sure about the number of students Hogwarts accepted each year, she felt silly, of course, she thought, sixth-year same-house students were bound to know each other well.
His friends looked alright.
She casually looked around and saw a blond head by the bar, talking to the boy who had sat behind them, watching the game unfold.
“I like your hair.” Eleanor finally said looking back at the girl. A summer ago she debated on chopping off her hair like that. Went for slightly longer in the end.
The girl gave her a thin smile and turned to Blaise “Who’s your friend Blaise?”
“Eleanor,” she answered herself as she watched Blaise make a move. She didn’t want to miss his move by being distracted. She almost smiled when he moved where she wanted him to. He hadn’t noticed her plan yet. “You?”
“Pansy.”
“Pretty flowers.” Eleanor said more to herself than anyone while she looked over her pieces once again, afraid her confidence hindered her to notice another plan of Blaise’s. When she couldn’t find anything too alarming, she captured another piece.
Her dad grew pansies in the gardens both back Home and here in England. Pansy didn’t seem to hear the comment as she was looking around the bar.
“Where’s Draco?” he finally turned to the girl for a moment before fixing his eyes on the board again.
“Getting drinks,” she smirked and turned around to look at the two boys talking by the bar. “Oh, he’s coming over. Of course– Theo never joins.” Pansy sighed and looked over to the empty space next to Eleanor.
Eleanor tried not to look at the approaching figure, keeping a straight face she looked at Blaise for a second. He was deep in his thoughts, clamping over his mouth with his palm, eyes narrow and quickly moving from one piece to another.
Draco placed two glasses on the table and slumped next to Eleanor. He moved slightly to the right as Eleanor did not make extra space for him.
“Thank you, Draco.” Pansy smiled at him and took a sip. Her voice was higher than a few minutes ago. “This is Eleanor.” she smiled at her, but watched Draco carefully, anticipating a reaction.
“Malfoy,” he turned to Eleanor, who was studying the board. “Draco.”
“Somerset,” she managed to look up and smile faintly. “Eleanor.” she’ll play along, either way, Paul must be on his way.
Pansy must have noticed Eleanor not giving Draco any attention because she quickly got louder, giggling at almost anything Draco, who was already halfway down his drink, said.
“Wait,” Pansy frowned again. “How come I’ve never seen you around?”
Blaise rolled his eyes and covered his ears again.
“What?” Eleanor lifted her eyes off Blaise. “Oh–” this was getting old but two more eyes stared at her. “I’m here for a year. From Ilvermorny originally.”
Pansy was quiet for a moment, processing. “So what house are you in?”
“Thunderbird.”
“Thunderbird?”
Draco let out a sound, almost like a chuckle, but too short and quiet, and took another sip of his drink. Pansy frowned at him for a second before looking back at Eleanor.
“You mean at Hogwarts?” Eleanor was confused and completely distracted from the game she was playing.
Pansy nodded.
“I don’t know yet– I’ll know before the ceremony.” she looked down at the board when she noticed Blaise listening in on the conversation.
He did not move where she had planned, leaving her to stare at the board.
“I waited for almost,” Blaise paused. “Almost an hour.”
Eleanor moved fairly quickly, almost without thinking. She had a feeling the Auror would be here soon.
“You found how to spend your time well.” Draco scoffed and moved his hand over the board. That made Pansy giggle.
Eleanor lifted her eyes to meet Blaise’s. He slowly breathed out but didn’t say anything.
“Time’s up, Zabini.” Eleanor crossed her arms and finally leaned back when she noticed the Auror walk in. It must have started raining because he was dripping.
The boy moved his sleeve to reveal a watch. “Time it is.” he sighed.
“Who won?” Pansy looked at the board for the first time.
“No one,” Draco said and leaned back as well, placing one hand behind his neck. His glass was empty.
“See ya’ll around school.” Eleanor stood up slightly. “Maybe we can continue there.” she looked at Blaise, who was resting his head on his hand. “Study this.”
Blaise chuckled to himself.
“Sorry.” she gave Draco a thin smile as he slid out of the booth, letting Eleanor pass.
Pansy gave her a short wave and took Draco’s spot, as he moved to Eleanor’s.
“Paul!” she tried to get the Auror’s attention as he carefully looked around the bar, searching.