Eleanor Lestrange
written by Dora Scamander
Two girls. Two friends. With two big secrets. This book starts with Eleanor Lestrange. She has always lived at home because her family thinks it a disgrace that she even exists. A squib in the line of purebloods? Finally Eleanor's elder brother, Alban, takes pity on her... Then, at chapter ten, there will be a second book, where we go into Lottie Greygrove's mind, Lottie, who has just started Hogwarts, despairing of how she will ever fit in... how can she, with the terrible secret she keeps inside? This is the book I started in February when I first joined Hogwarts is Here, and I thought I'd publish it. I am currently working on another book but there will probably be updates for this. Thanks for reading!
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
7
Reads
534
A Journey Beginning
Chapter 4
Eleanor had never been so excited in her life. Before this everything had seemed dark and gloomy, apart from her books, but never had she imagined that she would be in a fairy tale such as this - she was going to Hogwarts!
The whole 'operation', as Alban called it, was to be done in complete secrecy. Their parents didn't, of course, know, and Asher was also untold, as he was of the same mind as their parents - muggleborns, squibs and blood traitors were all below wizards and witches, and therefore not to be treated as equals. Asher was also obsessed with the dark arts. Rabastan and Avela were very proud of this, but Eleanor and Alban thought this less of a joy. Alban, much of the time, was of the same opinion as Eleanor, but it was easier for him to state his opinion: he was a wizard, and therefore accepted by his parents and older brother, and he also had the escape of Hogwarts during term time.
Usually Eleanor was alone in the house during school time: her father went who knows where, and her mother worked in the ministry.
Eleanor had never met Brynn, but she was very grateful to her. Alban said proudly that, due to her intelligence, she had got the hang of the memory charm very quickly - it was only her third year!
"I would never have been able to learn it that quickly." He said, shrugging, "so I had to trust someone to do it for me if I wanted my plan to succeed."
"You DO trust her, then?" Eleanor asked.
"'Course! I'd think you'd be grateful to her, helping you and all."
"I am, of course I am, I just don't want anything - anything to -"
"Go wrong?" Alban finished for her, subdued.
Eleanor nodded. "Now that I realise I'm leaving, I don't want any excuse to come back."
The next day and a half seemed to go unbearably slowly. Eleanor lay on her bed for hours at a time, first imagining herself at Hogwarts (which her brother had updated her about her whole life), skipping down corridors, in the sun by the lake, playing quidditch, before she remembered that she was supposed to be staying undercover while at the school, but she still had the consolation that Hogwarts was better than here, and then she'd start thinking over the plan, hoping it would work, hoping everything would go all right...
But finally the time came. The first part of the plan was in operation. Eleanor packed her possessions together ina very small bag, stuffed it under her shirt, and told her mother that she wanted to see Alban and Asher off at the station. There was a bit of an argument at this but finally Eleanor's mother consented. They were to get there by a portkey (which was an old hand mirror). Rabastan as Eleanor had expected, was not coming to see them off.
At five to eleven, Eleanor stood in the dining room around the mirror (which was lying on the table) with her mother, Asher and Alban, trembling with excitement. She had never used a portkey before.
Suddenly the mirrow glowed blue.
"Put your finger on it now." Eleanor's mother instructed.
With a quivering hand Eleanor did as she was told at the same time as the rest: immediately she felt a tug somewhere around her navel and they were spinning, spinning...
Eleanor landed uncomfortably on hard concrete, grazing her knee. Getting gingerly to her feet, she looked around.
They appeared to be in a parking lot. Alban was also getting to his feet, but Asher (who was smirking down at the two of them) and Eleanor's mother were still standing. Muggles were around, but Eleanor didn't think anybody had seen them appear there. She felt her heart begin to thump loudly. She must be miles away from home...
"Hogwarts Express, here we come." She heard Alban say from next to her. "Come on, Elle."
They made their way across the car park towards the famous King's Cross Station. Eleanor could not stop staring, appalled at everything around her. So big! So busy! Her eyes were even wider than usual, and she saw Alban grinning across at her. "Wait till you get onto Platform 9 and 3/4." He whispered.
"This way." Snapped Eleanor's mother. "And hurry up, would you? I've got to take -" She gestured at Eleanor "-home yet, and then get to the ministry."
Eleanor smiled to herself.
They had now arrived between platforms nine and ten, and Eleanor saw the wall which was the portal to the platform. She had a sudden thought, and turned anxiously to Alban. "Alban, what if I can't get through the portal? I don't have magic, and -"
"Lower your voice." Alban warned. "And don't worry, I've read about that. Squi - people like you can go through, it's only muggles that are prevented."
Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know what to do." Eleanor's mother said to the boys. "As for you," Turning to Eleanor, "Copy them."
Asher went obediently forward with his trolley, checked no one was looking, and walked forwards through the brick wall. Alban did the same, and then Eleanor's mother shoved Eleanor forward. "Go."
Very hesitantly, Eleanor walked forwards.
"Hurry up!" Her mother hissed. "The muggles will see if you're slow!"
Taking a deep breath, Eleanor walked through the portal.
One second, and she was through. Eleanor looked around her, and a gasp escaped her lips. Platform 9 and 3/4 was bustling with wizards and witches in many coloured robes. Owls fluttered overhead or stood disapproving in their cages, cats curled around their legs, and Eleanor even saw a few toads jumping about. The train stood shining and scarlet, almost ready for departure.
Eleanor's mother appeared through the portal. "You wait here." She snapped at Eleanor. "I've got to tell Asher something." And she vanished into the crowd.
Eleanor suddenly noticed that Alban was standing next to her. "It's time to go." He whispered. "While mother's gone."
For a fraction of a second Eleanor felt fear. Maybe this was a terrible idea. Then the feeling went and she nodded, and followed Alban amidst the crowd to the train.
Alban jumped on and stretched out his hand to help Eleanor. She hesitated, her hand outstretched, and then, with a firm nod she took Alban's hand and jumped onto the train.
The whole 'operation', as Alban called it, was to be done in complete secrecy. Their parents didn't, of course, know, and Asher was also untold, as he was of the same mind as their parents - muggleborns, squibs and blood traitors were all below wizards and witches, and therefore not to be treated as equals. Asher was also obsessed with the dark arts. Rabastan and Avela were very proud of this, but Eleanor and Alban thought this less of a joy. Alban, much of the time, was of the same opinion as Eleanor, but it was easier for him to state his opinion: he was a wizard, and therefore accepted by his parents and older brother, and he also had the escape of Hogwarts during term time.
Usually Eleanor was alone in the house during school time: her father went who knows where, and her mother worked in the ministry.
Eleanor had never met Brynn, but she was very grateful to her. Alban said proudly that, due to her intelligence, she had got the hang of the memory charm very quickly - it was only her third year!
"I would never have been able to learn it that quickly." He said, shrugging, "so I had to trust someone to do it for me if I wanted my plan to succeed."
"You DO trust her, then?" Eleanor asked.
"'Course! I'd think you'd be grateful to her, helping you and all."
"I am, of course I am, I just don't want anything - anything to -"
"Go wrong?" Alban finished for her, subdued.
Eleanor nodded. "Now that I realise I'm leaving, I don't want any excuse to come back."
The next day and a half seemed to go unbearably slowly. Eleanor lay on her bed for hours at a time, first imagining herself at Hogwarts (which her brother had updated her about her whole life), skipping down corridors, in the sun by the lake, playing quidditch, before she remembered that she was supposed to be staying undercover while at the school, but she still had the consolation that Hogwarts was better than here, and then she'd start thinking over the plan, hoping it would work, hoping everything would go all right...
But finally the time came. The first part of the plan was in operation. Eleanor packed her possessions together ina very small bag, stuffed it under her shirt, and told her mother that she wanted to see Alban and Asher off at the station. There was a bit of an argument at this but finally Eleanor's mother consented. They were to get there by a portkey (which was an old hand mirror). Rabastan as Eleanor had expected, was not coming to see them off.
At five to eleven, Eleanor stood in the dining room around the mirror (which was lying on the table) with her mother, Asher and Alban, trembling with excitement. She had never used a portkey before.
Suddenly the mirrow glowed blue.
"Put your finger on it now." Eleanor's mother instructed.
With a quivering hand Eleanor did as she was told at the same time as the rest: immediately she felt a tug somewhere around her navel and they were spinning, spinning...
Eleanor landed uncomfortably on hard concrete, grazing her knee. Getting gingerly to her feet, she looked around.
They appeared to be in a parking lot. Alban was also getting to his feet, but Asher (who was smirking down at the two of them) and Eleanor's mother were still standing. Muggles were around, but Eleanor didn't think anybody had seen them appear there. She felt her heart begin to thump loudly. She must be miles away from home...
"Hogwarts Express, here we come." She heard Alban say from next to her. "Come on, Elle."
They made their way across the car park towards the famous King's Cross Station. Eleanor could not stop staring, appalled at everything around her. So big! So busy! Her eyes were even wider than usual, and she saw Alban grinning across at her. "Wait till you get onto Platform 9 and 3/4." He whispered.
"This way." Snapped Eleanor's mother. "And hurry up, would you? I've got to take -" She gestured at Eleanor "-home yet, and then get to the ministry."
Eleanor smiled to herself.
They had now arrived between platforms nine and ten, and Eleanor saw the wall which was the portal to the platform. She had a sudden thought, and turned anxiously to Alban. "Alban, what if I can't get through the portal? I don't have magic, and -"
"Lower your voice." Alban warned. "And don't worry, I've read about that. Squi - people like you can go through, it's only muggles that are prevented."
Eleanor breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know what to do." Eleanor's mother said to the boys. "As for you," Turning to Eleanor, "Copy them."
Asher went obediently forward with his trolley, checked no one was looking, and walked forwards through the brick wall. Alban did the same, and then Eleanor's mother shoved Eleanor forward. "Go."
Very hesitantly, Eleanor walked forwards.
"Hurry up!" Her mother hissed. "The muggles will see if you're slow!"
Taking a deep breath, Eleanor walked through the portal.
One second, and she was through. Eleanor looked around her, and a gasp escaped her lips. Platform 9 and 3/4 was bustling with wizards and witches in many coloured robes. Owls fluttered overhead or stood disapproving in their cages, cats curled around their legs, and Eleanor even saw a few toads jumping about. The train stood shining and scarlet, almost ready for departure.
Eleanor's mother appeared through the portal. "You wait here." She snapped at Eleanor. "I've got to tell Asher something." And she vanished into the crowd.
Eleanor suddenly noticed that Alban was standing next to her. "It's time to go." He whispered. "While mother's gone."
For a fraction of a second Eleanor felt fear. Maybe this was a terrible idea. Then the feeling went and she nodded, and followed Alban amidst the crowd to the train.
Alban jumped on and stretched out his hand to help Eleanor. She hesitated, her hand outstretched, and then, with a firm nod she took Alban's hand and jumped onto the train.
