𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒

「 the match from hell 」

"If you don't mind." He replied and a small smile appeared on her lips. The fire causing a flush to coat her cheeks in the dancing golden glow.

"Meet me upstairs then." She said, knowing that he couldn't get up the stairs. With a nod, she departed to her dorm. Throwing off her blazer, she replaced it with the original hoodie that he gave her as she gave the other one back before she left the Potter's house. As she headed into the bathroom to collect supplies, she heard the hatch go, informing her that he had arrived. Luckily, Alice had her nightly patrols so they weren't bothering anyone. A cloth, a bowl of warm water, and some bandages were all she needed, thanks to Lily being prepared for every situation they had all the supplies. Exiting the room, she caught him looking at the pictures on her wall. One of the two of them, in particular. It was from just over a year ago at Schivon manor, just before fifth year. Both of them were laughing in the picture as the prank on one of the purists had worked.

"I didn't know you picked this up." He said, turning back to her as she placed the bowl of warm water on her nightstand. The girl stood by him and looked at the multitude of memories.

"The photographer gave it to me before I left." Eleanor explained, pulling out a chair for herself. "Sit." She instructed as she sat down, dipping the cloth in the water before ringing it out so it was damp. "Hand." El said, holding up her left hand to hold it still. "This might sting." She told him because she had added a bit of rubbing alcohol to the mixture. Holding his hand, she gently dabbed at the dried-up blood as they sat in the quiet of the night. He didn't flinch nor did he complain once. Their eyes met as she took his other hand. "What happened then?" Eleanor questioned in a soft tone as she looked away first. She noticed how he froze and his fist clenched.

"They started on Lily but that was only an argument and then-" He stopped talking and El looked up at him. The boy had averted his eyes as he tried to think of what to say.

"Go on." Eleanor said, dipping the cloth back in the water to cleanse some of the blood off.

"Well, Caprice brought you up and Marlene lost it. Battered her face in." He began to explain, a smile growing on his face from the memory. "You've got good friends." Sirius said but Eleanor's stomach dropped a little, knowing that there was more than friendship on the line. It made her recoil from the boy, a sense of guilt flooding over her.

"And how did you end up like this?" She pushed but the boy said nothing. One could only assume what would happen and she had a strong sense that it was to do with her. In tale, over the next few weeks, multiple rumours were about to spurt out about the girl. This wouldn't be the first time nor the last. She picked up the bandages and with a flick of her wand, they were wrapped up tightly. "All done." The girl announced but she never moved as they were consumed by the silence once more. Her blonde hair had fallen in front of her eyes as they were still leaned in close...

Suddenly, he raised his hand to her face as he pushed the blonde strands away. His thumb grazed across the dried-up cut on her cheekbone. Her heart began to race as her thoughts became conflicted. It felt so right and she felt so safe but a part of her knew how wrong this was, just over a week ago she had kissed someone else. In this situation, being selfish felt so intoxicating like it was what was supposed to be. But her mind kept flashing back to Marlene; she couldn't deny the feelings that she had for her but this was different. Whatever this was, it was nothing like she felt with anybody else. How could she? The only options were going to end with a broken heart and every time it would be hers...

She could have kissed him. The space between them was barely there. Their stares going from eye to lips, from lips to eyes, from eyes to lips. His breath was smelling of mint and cigarettes, a weird mixture that he made work. Everything about him pulled her in. But she couldn't.