So I'm shaking right now because we're #2 in Marauders which is completely insane, thank you so much! Also we hit 1.5k read so thanks omg! I appreciate every single one of you...yes even you ;)
The sky was a blood red, streaks of pink and orange running through like rivers of fire. The sunset was truly magnificent that night. Eloise would have seen it, had she and Sirius not been stuck in detention with Minerva McGonagall.
"You two seem to quite enjoy writing notes in my lesson, so I'm sure you will not mind writing lines for me tonight." The corners of her lips twitched at Sirius' expression of outrage.
"You see Minnie, I would mind, very much so, as I have homework to do and friends to see tonight." McGonagall opened her mouth, however, Eloise beat her to it.
"Homework?" she scoffed, "don't make me laugh Sirius, I don't think you've done a single piece of homework since our arrival in first year!". Sirius clutched a hand to his chest.
"I have never been so offended in my whole sixteen years on the planet!" He exclaimed. Eloise's mouth flickered into a grin before remembering that she was supposed to be angry at the boy. She turned to McGonagall.
"What would you like us to write Professor?" Her voice respectful once more, no trace of the voice she had used to address Sirius, moments before.
"I think, one hundred lines of; whether or not I write notes in my free time is up to me, however, in Professor McGonagall's class we only write down valuable knowledge, which we do not throw across the classroom should suffice." Sirius gasped in horror and began to splutter;
"Professor! That will take us hours!"
"Best follow Miss Potter's example and get started then." The pair looked at the small girl, who's hair was styled in pastel blue beach waves, which fell across her face. She had already scribbled down ten lines, and was starting her eleventh.
"Keener" Sirius muttered annoyed as he picked up his quill and began to write, a sulky expression on his face.
Eloise, who was on her 65th line, glanced up to see Sirius sulking like a child. His lips were in a pout and his nose scrunched up in annoyance. She snorted quietly but loud enough so he looked up,
"What?" he mouthed and Eloise had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle. Sirius looked worriedly at McGonagall's desk but she hadn't noticed a thing and had continued to mark her papers,
"Is poor baby Siri upset because there were consequences to his actions?" Eloise whispered mockingly and Sirius opened his mouth in protest,
"My actions? Last time I checked Puff, it takes two to tango...or to throw notes in this case" he countered,
"Yes, hence why I'm here, with you, instead of cozy in Gryffindor Common Room" she whispered, pointing her quill at him before she carried on writing.
Eloise was just finishing her 83rd sentence when she heard the noise of a chair being pushed back, she glanced up to see Sirius walking to McGonagall's desk, two pieces of parchment in his hand. He placed them on her desk and sat on a table whilst she counted them,
"Very well Black, you may go" she sounded surprised but let him leave nevertheless. As he passed Eloise's desk, he winked at her cheekily, causing the girl to come to the conclusion that he was most definitely up to something. Eloise finished her lines 15 minutes later and left the classroom, only to see Sirius waiting outside, leaning against the wall, his black hair flopping slightly over his face. He grinned at her as she walked out of the door,
"Why hello there Lou, what took-"
"What did you do?" she interrupted and a smirk found its way across his features,
"Why, whatever do you mean?" he asked innocently and Eloise crossed her arms,
"You were miles behind me with your lines Padfoot, but you finished before me, which means you must've done something...so spill it" she narrowed her eyes but his expression remained smug,
"Why should I tell you?" he asked, taking a step towards her,
"Because otherwise I'll cut your hair off" she said, her tone bored as she examined her nails. She looked up to see Sirius looking horrified, a hand raised to his hair,
"You wouldn't" he said and Eloise raised her eyebrow,
"Try me" she said, stepping towards him,
"Okay okay! I'll tell you" he said worriedly and Eloise grinned triumphantly, "I used the doubling charm" he said and Eloise pulled a face,
"The doubling charm?" she asked and he nodded, "But..but that's clever!"
"Wow" Sirius put a hand to his chest, "You wound me! I am clever Lou!" he protested and Eloise nodded slightly,
"Academically? I admit, yes. Common sense wise? Well..."
~~~
"Oh darling sister!" The very unmelodic shout of James Potter woke up the majority of the Gryffindor Tower, including Eloise. She groaned and rubbed her eyes, checking the time, she saw that it was 6:30am. James had always been an early riser, it must not have been genetic as Eloise was decidedly not. She heard the shower running and guessed that someone must be awake already, sure enough, she looked to her side and saw Lily's bed was empty.
"Oh Ellie Bellie!" James shouted once more and a strangled noise came from the dorm,
"Elle, if your brother doesn't shut up, I'm going to chop off his balls and use them as quaffles" Eloise giggled at Marlene and opened her eyes. James, who had just walked in the dorm, looked horrified as he stared at Marlene's bed,
"Don't worry Beastie, she was joking...I think" James ran a hand through his hair and sat on the end of Eloise's bed,
"How reassuring" he joked but soon grinned at his sister, "So...are you excited for today?" he asked and Eloise raised her eyebrows. But then she realised what day it was, it was March 27th 1976, or better known as: Eloise and James' 16th birthday. Eloise beamed at her brother and clapped her hands together,
"I'm so excited! Now wait here" she jumped out of bed and ran to her cupboard, getting out a very large, wrapped box. Struggling slightly to carry it, she sat back down and crossed her legs. She handed James the box, it had pink wrapping paper with butterflies on, it was a tradition to try and find the most embarrassing wrapping paper for one another every year on their birthday. He chuckled and took the box before getting one of his own, seemingly from out of nowhere. He gave her the present, the wrapping paper was yellow with green trolls on it.
"On three" James said and she nodded, "one...two...three!"
The siblings excitedly ripped the paper and Eloise gasped, in her hand lay a bound leather book with the words "Potter Family Album" written in gold cursive writing. Underneath the writing were two photographs of babies. One girl, Eloise knew to be herself, and the boy was James. With their matching grins and hazel eyes, it was no question that they were siblings. Eloise opened the book and her eyes brimmed with tears, somehow James had managed to locate a picture of their parents, on her dad's lap sat a baby Eloise, she looked no older than a week old, and on her mum's lap, was James. Eloise smiled at the picture fondly, the younger version of her parents smiled back at her at the babies babbled happily. It must have been taken before Abraxas Malfoy came into the picture. She turned the page and saw a picture from when they were eleven, James' arm was slung around Eloise's shoulder and his other around Sirius. On the next page was them a year later, Lily, Remus and Peter cropping up every so often. The pictures went on, as the years did until Eloise reached the last page, there was a photograph taken that very Christmas. Eloise's hair had turned brown at this point and her face was elated, she was on Sirius' back as they chased James, who was wearing Eloise's orange bobble hat, through the snow outside the Potter's Mansion, their faces flushed from the cold and laughter. Eloise wiped her eyes and looked up at her brother,
"No way! Thank you Belle, this must've cost you a fortune!" he was staring open-mouthed at her present which happened to be the latest racing broomstick, the Silver Arrow.
"It was nothing Beastie, besides, how did you find this photo?"
"Do you like it?" he asked shyly, running a hand through his hair,
"Are you kidding? I love it! Thank you!" James beamed at his sister before pulling her into a hug,
"Happy Birthday Belle"
"Happy Birthday Jamie"
"I love you"
"Love you too"