Sirius

PART TWO

PART TWO: SECOND YEAR
Mid-October

"Hey Eli," Sirius greeted, hands shoved deep in his pockets as he walked the last few yards, stopping only just steps away.

Eleanor narrowed her eyes at the boy in front of her, "stop calling me Eli."

A lopsided grin broke out on his lips, "oh, so your brother can call you Eli, but I have to call you Eleanor?"

"I'm his kid sister," she rolled her eyes, a small smile also coming across her lips, "he doesn't really listen when I tell him to stop calling me that."

"Well I find that both unfair and quite rude. We're friends, I should be able to joke with you and call you a nickname."

"Just call me Ellie or better yet, maybe Eleanor. It is my name, you know."

He gave a nonchalant shrug, "I think I'll stick with Eli."

She heaved a sigh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "where's James? Go bother him, will you."

"That's exactly why I've come to find you. James is at quidditch tryouts. I needed someone to bother."

"Remus? Peter?" Eleanor raised an eyebrow curiously, "where are they? You four are hardly out of each other's sights."

"Both off studying in the library." Sirius smirked, "looks like you're stuck with me for at least a few hours, Eli."

"And where do you think I was planning on going?"

Sirius frowned, "oh come on! You spend enough time in the library, let's go do something."

Eleanor looked at him curiously, "like what?"

"Been to the kitchens?"

And that was how Sirius Black and Eleanor Reynolds ended up surrounded by what must have been at least a hundred house elves. Eleanor gapped at the little creatures, the tallest of which only stood to just above her knee.

The elves called out to the pair, happy to have visitors. They bombarded the two humans, surrounding them the second their presence was noticed and offering them different types of foods and drinks. Eleanor found herself being pushed towards a counter with stools, a few elves ganging up on her in order to push against her legs, leading her to where they wanted her.

Eleanor smiled at the elves, graciously taking anything and everything they offered her. She couldn't find it in her heart to turn them down. So with Sirius beside her and a pile of food stacked on the countertop, they began to dig in.

It must have been hours before they were finally allowed to leave, though it was more of Eleanor's fault than anything. She insisted that Sirius and herself eat everything before them, not wanting to waste anything and especially not wanting to be the cause of the elves' sadness when it came to uneaten food.

After many goodbyes and promises of a soon return, Sirius and Eleanor escaped the kitchen at last. Sirius didn't miss the smile that was stuck on her face and it in turn caused one of his own to appear.

"That was a lot of fun, thank you."

Sirius glanced at her sideways as they made their way down the corridor, a silent agreement to head to their common rooms leading them in the same direction. "No problem, Eli. We should do it again."

She nodded, a soft murmur of agreement escaping her mouth. She was silent for a moment, just thinking when finally she looked over to the boy beside her. "Thanks. Really."

"What for?"

She gave a small shrug, "for taking me somewhere instead of letting me go to the library." Sirius didn't bother to hide his smile. "I think I really needed that, it was fun."

"I think I needed it too, you know?"

But Eleanor didn't know, she just looked at him, her eyes wide and owlish.

"You're like a breath of fresh air, you know that Eli? It's nice to spend a little time with someone other than the boys." Sirius gave her one of those lopsided grins and Eleanor couldn't help but smile back. "I'm glad we became friends."

"Yeah, I guess I am too."