Weeks had passed since the Yule Ball, and the rivalry between Eleanor and Draco had come to an unexpected standstill, which was unprecedented in Hogwarts history. The once-bitter tension had mellowed into an unspoken truce, neither daring to acknowledge the shift.

Eleanor was sitting with the other Slytherins, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the final challenge of the Triwizard Tournament. Her eyes were glued to the field, where Harry and Cedric had just disappeared into the maze. The crowd was buzzing with excitement, but Eleanor couldn't shake a growing sense of dread.

When Harry and Cedric finally appeared, holding the Triwizard Cup aloft, the crowd erupted in cheers. Hogwarts had won the Triwizard Tournament. But something was wrong. Eleanor noticed that Harry was crying, and Cedric was eerily still.

A scream pierced the air, and silence fell over the crowd as everyone tried to comprehend the scene unfolding before them. Dumbledore rushed forward, trying to pry Harry away from Cedric's body, but Harry wouldn't move.

"He's back! He's back!" Harry yelled, his voice breaking with terror. "Voldemort's back!" Eleanor gasped, her hand gripping tightly onto the sleeve of Daphne's shirt.

"Cedric, he asked me to bring his body back. I couldn't leave him, not there," Harry continued, his voice choked with emotion.

"I feel sick," Daphne muttered, her face pale. Eleanor glanced over at her, slipping her hand into her best friend's for comfort.

"Surely Potter is lying," Daphne said, her voice trembling.

Eleanor shook her head, her own fear reflected in her eyes. "I don't think Harry Potter would lie about this. If Harry says You-Know-Who is back, then he's back."

Daphne gulped, her thoughts racing. Her father was a Death Eater who had claimed to have changed his ways, but if the Dark Lord had indeed returned, his fate—and their family's—was sealed.

Amos Diggory's anguished cries broke through the murmur of the crowd. "Let me through! That's my son! My boy!" His voice was raw with grief, and he collapsed beside Cedric's body, weeping uncontrollably.

———

Later that day, all students were summoned to the Great Hall for an emergency meeting. Eleanor spotted Harry walking a few steps ahead of her and hurried to catch up, leaving Daphne behind.

"El, where are you going?" Daphne called after her, but Eleanor ignored her, determined to offer her condolences to Harry despite their house differences.

"Harry, I—" Eleanor began, but Ron cut her off, his face contorted with anger.

"Don't talk to him, Eleanor," Ron hissed. "Don't you ever talk to him."

"Ron..." Hermione muttered, her eyes filled with sympathy as she glanced at Eleanor.

"You're a Slytherin," Ron spat. "We can't coexist. Stay away from me and stay away from Harry, got it?" His words were like a dagger to Eleanor's heart.

Eleanor's eyes filled with tears. This was her twin brother, her best friend, the person she had shared everything with. His rejection stung deeper than any insult from an enemy.

Ron stormed off, dragging Harry with him. Hermione lingered for a moment, her eyes sad and apologetic, before following them.

Eleanor felt tears slide down her cheeks. It wasn't her fault she was sorted into Slytherin. She wasn't a bad person, she never had been. She didn't side with Voldemort and she never would.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to see Draco. "Don't cry over those gits," he said softly, wiping her tears away with the pad of his thumb. "They don't deserve you, anyway."

Eleanor shoved his hand away and continued walking towards the Great Hall. Daphne hurried to her side, taking her hand firmly. Draco may have been trying to help, but he didn't understand. He didn't know how it felt to be rejected by everyone around you. Besides, Eleanor never knew if he had a secret agenda or not.

Draco didn't know what it felt like to be an outsider in your own house, to be exiled by your twin brother simply for being a Slytherin. He didn't know the pain of looking into your parents' eyes and wondering if they were disappointed in you for being different.

In the Great Hall, Dumbledore stood at the podium, waiting for everyone to settle. His usual twinkle was gone, replaced by a somber gravity. "Today we acknowledge a truly terrible loss," he began. "Cedric Diggory was, as you all know, exceptionally hard-working, intricately fair-minded, and most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend."

Eleanor's heart ached as she listened. Cedric's death was a tragedy, but it was also a harbinger of darker times ahead.

"I think, therefore, you have the right to know exactly how he died," Dumbledore continued. "You see, Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the hall. Daphne sucked in a breath, and Eleanor rested her head on her friend's shoulder, both girls sharing their mutual fear for the future.

"The Ministry of Magic does not wish me to tell you this. But not to do so, I think, would be an insult to his memory," Dumbledore said. "Now, the pain we all feel at this dreadful loss reminds us that while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."

Tears gushed down both Eleanor and Daphne's cheeks. Eleanor's tears were for her lost brother, who had rejected her over something she couldn't control. Daphne's silent sobs were for the uncertainty of what awaited her family now that Voldemort had returned.

"In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we've made this year will be more important than ever," Dumbledore continued. Draco glanced down at Eleanor, watching as tears fell from her eyes. "Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. Remember that, and we will celebrate a boy who was kind and honest and brave and true, right to the very end."

Fourth year drew to a close, and as Eleanor rode the train back to London, a storm of worry brewed inside her. Ron had exiled her, and she feared what awaited her at home. Would her parents talk sense into him? Or would they let him be angry? Worse, would they side with him and kick her out onto the street? A million thoughts ran through Eleanor's mind, making her stomach churn with anxiety.

The journey on the Hogwarts Express was a silent one for Eleanor and Daphne. Both girls were lost in their thoughts, their hearts heavy and eyes teary as they contemplated their uncertain futures. The train's rhythmic clatter did little to soothe their worries.

When the Hogwarts Express finally rolled onto the platform at King's Cross, Eleanor's dread intensified. She and Daphne stepped off the train, the bustling platform a stark contrast to their somber moods. They shared a long, much-needed hug, whispering promises of support. Whatever the future held, they knew they'd always have each other's backs.

Eleanor scanned the crowd and soon spotted her mother, Molly Weasley, standing with the rest of her siblings. Fred, George, and Ginny were already hugging her warmly. As Eleanor approached, she saw Ron's face contort with anger before he turned away, his rejection palpable. Fred, George, and Ginny seemed indifferent, not sharing Ron's fervent disdain for her.

Molly's face lit up with a warm smile as she saw Eleanor. "Sweetheart," she said, opening her arms wide. Eleanor fell into her mother's embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks. She clung to Molly, her sobs muffled in her mother's shoulder. Molly held her tightly, whispering soothing words into her hair.

"It's okay, Eleanor. Everything's going to be okay. You're safe now."

Eleanor's heart ached with relief and sorrow. The comfort of her mother's arms was a balm to her wounded soul, but the uncertainty of her family's unity lingered.

As they made their way to the car, Ron kept his distance, his anger simmering beneath the surface. Fred and George tried to lighten the mood with jokes, but the tension was palpable. Ginny offered Eleanor a reassuring smile, but the atmosphere remained strained.

The ride home was silent, the car filled with an unspoken tension. Eleanor stared out the window, her mind racing with thoughts of what awaited her at the Burrow. Would her father be as understanding as her mother? Would Ron's anger drive a wedge through their family?

When they arrived at the Burrow, Arthur Weasley was waiting for them. He gave Eleanor a tight hug, his eyes filled with concern and love. "Welcome home, Eleanor. We missed you," he said, his voice gentle.

Eleanor clung to her father, finding solace in his embrace. "I missed you too, Dad."

As they settled into the familiar surroundings of the Burrow, Molly busied herself with preparing dinner, her way of coping with the tension. Fred and George tried to engage Eleanor in conversation, their playful banter a welcome distraction.

Ron, however, remained aloof, his silence a constant reminder of the rift between them. Eleanor's heart ached at the loss of their once-close bond. She longed to mend the broken pieces of their relationship but didn't know where to begin.

After dinner, as the family gathered in the living room, Arthur cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We need to talk about what's been happening," he said, his gaze shifting between Eleanor and Ron.

Eleanor's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at her father. "Dad, I didn't choose to be in Slytherin. It doesn't mean I'm evil," she said, her voice trembling.

Arthur nodded, his expression serious. "I know, Eleanor. And your mother and I love you no matter what. We're a family, and we need to support each other."

Ron scoffed, his arms crossed over his chest. "Support each other? She's a Slytherin, Dad. How can we trust her?"

Eleanor's eyes filled with tears. "Ron, I'm still the same person. I'm your sister. I've never done anything to hurt you or anyone else."

Molly stepped forward, her voice firm yet gentle. "Ronald, enough. Eleanor is our family, and she deserves our love and support. This house will not be divided by prejudice."

Ron's face reddened with anger, but he didn't argue further. He stormed out of the room, leaving an uneasy silence in his wake.

Arthur sighed, his shoulders heavy with the weight of their family's troubles. "This is a difficult time for all of us. But we must remember what's truly important—our love for each other."

Eleanor wiped her tears, her heart heavy but grateful for her parents' unwavering support. She knew it would take time to heal the rift with Ron, but she was determined to try.

Over the next few weeks, life at the Burrow settled into a new rhythm. Eleanor spent her days helping around the house, her evenings lost in books and letters from Daphne. Her friendship with Daphne was a lifeline, a reminder that she wasn't alone.

Fred and George included her in their pranks and inventions, their laughter a welcome relief from the tension. Ginny, too, made an effort to spend time with Eleanor, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.

Ron remained distant, his anger simmering beneath the surface. But Eleanor didn't give up. She reached out to him, trying to bridge the gap between them. Although she was losing hope as the days went by.