elanor// s.b.

I

~Eleanor Kensington~

Elanor Kensington was the third of the Kensington children to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She was the first of the long line of Kinsingtons to be sorted into the house of Slytherin, but to say her family was surprised would be far from the truth. From the time Elanor was seven years old, she was running a small monopoly at the muggle school her family made all their children attend until they began at the renowned wizarding school. She bought and sold trinkets from the other children, keeping a portion of the profits for herself, buying sweets from the small shop near the school.

The same school which Elanor had been expelled from three years later when she was ten after a boy's hair had mysteriously caught fire moments after he had shoved Elanor's younger brother into the dirt of the small playground. The only person near the scene of the crime was Elanor, although the instructors still had no idea to this day how the small girl was able to create such damage with so many eyes overlooking the children.

Her mother had picked her up that day and apologized profusely to the boy's parents, telling Elanor that this kind of behavior was inexcusable. Her mother did not do a good job hiding the small smile on her lips as she signed the papers thrust in front of her by the sneering headmistress. Mrs. Kensington led Elanor by the hand around the corner and the pair apperated, the buzzing bees the only sound left on the now deserted playground. Elanor was now to be homeschooled for the remainder of the year until she began her magical training. Secretly, she was thrilled. She got to run around the grounds of her family's large estate and spend her days watching the magic unfurl.

She spent her days reading her history books in the garden, doing math in the drawing room, and learning science by her father's side in the study. Mr. Kensington worked in the civil administrative department of the Ministry of Magic. His furrowed brow stayed focused on the piles of paperwork, but occasionally he would allow himself to be distracted by the little girl he loved so much, sending multicolored sparks in her direction from his wand or allowing her to crawl onto his lap.

Elanor Kensington's childhood was as good as anyone could wish for. She was born into a family in need of nothing. Pureblood families came with money, and as she grew older, she realized the implications of her bloodstatus. She also realized the lack of prejudice in her parents, and how it didn't reflect the viewpoint of those she shared a lineage with, and her love for them grew even more. Elanor was born slightly more than a year after the twins, Victoria and Edward. Then came Judiah. Elanor's heart held an incredible soft spot for him. She had watched out for him since she could remember.

The year was now 1975, and Elanor was still protecting the same little boy, however he was now twelve, and she sixteen. She had hoped that he would be sorted into her house upon his arrival at Hogwarts, but secretly knew that there was no chance under the sun that he would be anything but a Hufflepuff, for he had the kindest heart of anyone she had known in her short life. The twins were both sorted into Ravenclaw, their parent's previous house. While they were all so different, they got along as well as any siblings could be expected to, and they enjoyed each other's company immensely. As they sat one night on one of the balconies, it dawned upon the four Kensington children that this was their last year all together at school, and nostalgic silence joined the sound of crickets in the air.

"There's nothing to be sad about, it's not like we're never going to see each other again", Elanor finally let out, looking out over the gardens. A garden gnome was digging around the tulips in search of an unknown treasure. "Things will be so different when we've completed our education!", Victoria said with a sigh, "It's natural to feel a little bit... down". Edward let out a laugh, propping up his legs on the table in front of them, causing the tea set to shake. Elanor rolled her eyes and grabbed her cup, so the contents wouldn't spill, setting it back down when he had finished adjusting.

"I think I've outgrown old Hoggyworts", Edward said, his long arms stretched out behind his head. It was everyone else's turn to roll their eyes. The moonlight shone over the group, illuminating their faces. Elanor reached into her pocket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting the tip of her wand and inhaling as she lit it. She closed her eyes as she blew the smoke out slowly. "I really wish you would quit", Victoria's disapproving voice was taught with judgement.

"Don't get your stockings in a twist, Vic", Elanor laughed, knocking the ash of the end of the cigarette into the crystal ashtray in front of her. "If Mum and Dad found out they would be livid", she retorted, folding her arms over her chest. "That's why they're not going to", Elanor smiled sweetly, narrowing her eyes at her sister.

"Are you two finished?", Edward snorted, "This almost makes me miss the lamenting about the completion of our education", his voice raised an octave at the end, causing Victoria to reach over and backhand him with her perfectly manicured nails. He reached to pinch her back but she dodged him, raising her hand in an obscene gesture. Elanor laughed at the pair and took another drag.

"It's easy for all of you guys to talk", came the voice of the youngest, who had stayed silently in thought to this moment, "I'm not going to have anyone once you all leave". The twins stopped their small war and Elanor put out her cigarette, a pang in her chest. "Jude come on", she smiled at him, "That's not true". He raised his light eyebrows at her and she melted. "I didn't have real friends until the end of my third year", Elanor let out, "Right guys?".

Edward nodded, "She was a total loser". Elanor shot him a look but continued, "Things are gonna get better. Plus we still have another year, so much can change in that time". Jude nodded and wrinkled his nose, allowing a smile to form. The four fell back into chatter, the lighting bugs floating in the air around them creating an air of peace. Elanor was unable to fully comprehend the truth of the words that she had just uttered, and knew not of the amount of change waiting for her of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.