I Know The End {Fred Weasley, ACT I}

Chapter 3- Breakfast at Grimmauld's

Eleanor awoke the next day feeling refreshed. Whether that was due to a peaceful night's sleep or the Weasleys' imminent arrival, she was unsure. All she knew for certain was that she felt better than she had in months.

She took a great deal of time getting ready that morning. Eleanor had taken a liking to Muggle fashion. It was one way in which she could pay homage to her mother's memory. In every picture Eleanor had seen of her mom, Lily Potter had been wearing Muggle clothing. So now Eleanor wore Muggle dresses, jeans, and blouses with the same sense of pride Lily had, refusing to be ashamed of their roots. In her third year, Harry taught Eleanor how to dress appropriately in muggle clothing. In her fifth year, she started exchanging galleons for Muggle money at Gringotts in order to buy from muggle owned boutiques in London. She even caught herself stealing still-framed picture fashion magazines from Aunt Petunia during her recent journeys to see Harry. And of course this wardrobe only further infuriated blood purists like the Malfoys. Eleanor viewed it as a win-win situation.

After fifteen minutes of hard deliberation, she picked out a long-sleeved black dress, under which she placed a white-collared button down shirt. Harry liked to tell her that this outfit reminded him of some Muggle-television character Dudley watched secretly. She didn't remember the name, nor did she completely understand what a television show was, but apparently it revolved around an odd family of sorts. The Dursleys had outlawed the programming in their household as they found it "went against proper moral standards" although Dudley watched it regardless. Eleanor took it as a compliment to appear similarly to something the Dursleys resented. She wasn't completely sure if Harry meant it as a compliment though.

Finally, after taking even more time perfecting her hair and makeup, she bounded down the stairs to the basement to grab breakfast. Lupin sat in the same seat he had the night before, now reading the Daily Prophet. She could hear Sirius humming through the swinging door past the dining area.

"You look nice today, Eleanor," Lupin remarked kindly, peering over his newspaper at her.

Sirius walked into the dining area, levitating their breakfast in front of him as he went. He raised an eyebrow at her appearance, smirking. Eleanor felt her face flush in embarrassment. Sirius was privy to why his goddaughter took time on her appearance that morning.

"Thanks, Lupin."

She made sure to put a great deal of emphasis on Lupin's name before shooting Sirius a look of annoyance.

"And thank you Sirius for making me breakfast," Sirius said, mocking her in a high-pitched voice.

Eleanor rolled her eyes but nodded at him as she accepted her breakfast with a smile.

"Why didn't you just have Kreacher make breakfast?" Eleanor asked before taking a bite of toast.

"I'm fairly sure he burns the food on purpose. It never tastes quite right," Sirius said with a shrug. "I've managed without a house elf for fifteen years now, I can surely manage making breakfast. Anything worth reading in there, Moony?"

Lupin shook his head before putting the paper down and diving into his own breakfast.

"I was thinking that before the Weasleys turn up today we should-" Sirius began.

"Clean?" Eleanor interrupted.

"Shower?" Lupin added.

"Excuse me!" Sirius looked between the two of them incredulously but he was smiling all the same. "This house is a wreck, but I refuse to take the blame. Kreacher hasn't touched anything since the house was vacated. It needs a good dusting, sure..."

"It needs to be purged, if not burnt to a crisp entirely."

"Well, I won't argue with you there, Eleanor," Sirius laughed, "secondly, I showered yesterday, so I don't appreciate the insinuation."