"Curiosity often leads to trouble."

"Come now, Eleanor! That was pathetic!" Her father shouted.

Eleanor stood up from the padded foam flooring and wiped the sweat from she forehead. She took a deep breath in, trying to catch her breath.

"Why must we learn this muggle fighting?" She complained looking at her father before raising her fists once more.

"You may be an excellent dueler but there may come a chance where you lose your wand and you're required to rely entirely on your senses, and your fists."

Eleanor took a breath and swung, her punch being blocked by her father. She stomped her foot in frustration.

"You show your emotions too much. Hide them in a fight. Keep your true feelings masked behind fake ones and no one will be able to see your next move." Her father was a cheerful man, but when they trained he was emotionless. He told Eleanor over and over again to do the same, mask her emotions.

She wanted to make him proud.

"Now hit me again."

Eleanor swung her fist forward, her father ducking down and throwing a punch. Eleanor blocked the attack and kneed him in the diaphragm causing him to lose his breathe. Eleanor threw another punch and then kicked him in the chest.

He fell over but he grinned, "Better. That's enough for today." Eleanor reached down and helped him up. "Good job," he nodded at his daughter who returned the smile.

Eleanor smiled at her parents. "Thank you, I love it," she whispered.

She held the necklace in her hands and gazed down at it. The necklace had a silver chain with a silver snowflake at the end. Encrusted in the middle of the snowflake were blue gemstones.

"Happy Birthday, Ellie," Annie King gleamed at her daughter. January 7th was the day Eleanor turned 16.

Harry King let out a fond laugh, "I can't believe my little girl is growing up. 16! Can you believe that Annie? 16!" He gushed.

Annie took the necklace from Eleanor's hands and placed it around her neck. Eleanor grinned, she loved the small necklace.

Now she had one that represented each season, a sunflower for summer, a rose for spring, a leaf for autumn, and a snowflake for winter.

"Louise will be over soon for your birthday brunch! We have a surprise for you!" Annie exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement.

"And as a treat, you don't have to practice dueling today," her father added.

Eleanor has been training since she was 11. For what, she didn't know. She became an excellent dueler and had been learning muggle fighting for the past 3 months.

Eleanor walked to her wardrobe so she could find a pretty outfit for her birthday. She hoped her parents would allow her outside, past the property's gates. She had been waiting for this moment for years.

She lived in a small neighbourhood, with few people. She had never met her neighbours though. The only people who ever visited the house were her Tutor and her Nurse. Her nurse lived with them, but her tutor came and went because she had a family of her own.

Putting on a maroon skirt and a cream sweater, Eleanor made her way downstairs.

The staircase was grand in many ways. It was large, and like most of the house, white and gold. White marble steps lined with a white railing with gold accents.

She wandered downstairs, careful not to trip or fall. As she grew older, her nurse, Rose Bennet, followed her around less. She was able to wander through the house alone and without the constant care of Rose or her parents.

It had been ingrained in her mind at this point. She remained graceful, never tripping or stumbling, ever so cautious where her next step would be.

Her caution in each step became rather useful in her training. She needed to be precise. Every single move she made had to be thought out and planned.

Her father told her she needed caution in not only her steps but every move and decision she had to make.

Her favourite place to go was the library. It was filled with a large collection of books. However, through the years she had read nearly all of them. The ones she didn't read, didn't interest her and her family had not filled the library with newer books in quite some time.

Even then, she reread books or sat in the library till nightfall, admiring the architecture of the building or the paintings that covered the walls.

Downstairs, she stepped into the living room where her parents sat with Rose.

"Morning, Rose," Eleanor said with a soft smile.

The three turned towards her and grinned. "Eleanor! Oh happy birthday, dear," Rose said as she got up and gave her a warm hug.

She picked up a wrapped box and handed it to Eleanor. "Your gift," she smiled.

"Oh, thank you, Rose," Eleanor grinned and unwrapped the box with precision.

Inside was a small vial with a gold substance inside. Eleanor knew this to be Felix Felicis, or better known as Liquid Luck.

Her eyes widened as she picked up the vial. Her gaze moved to Rose, "Where did you get this?" She asked, amazed.

"I have a friend who happens to be a Potioneer. Said he wouldn't mind brewing some for you," she grinned. She knew how much the girl loved Potions.

"Thank you so much!" Eleanor squealed as she pulled Rose into another hug.

The doorbell rang, alerting the four in the room.
Harry King stood up and said, "I'll get it."

The three watched him leave before Rose sat back down on the couch she was seated before Eleanor came in.

Eleanor followed suit and sat crossed-legged on her favourite armchair. She was the only person who ever sat there, well her and her cat, Invictus.

Invictus is Latin for unconquerable or undefeated.

She loved the old Latin language and thought the name fit quite well with her fierce little black cat. The male cat was clever and quick and often helped her explore the house to see if she could find more secret tunnels and rooms.

There were a few scattered across the large house. She hadn't found a new one since last year though, so she had lost hope that she would ever find another one.

Though, the Liquid Luck would come in handy if she took a sip. Maybe she'd find another secret hideout or a tunnel?

Louise, Eleanor's tutor, entered the room with a large grin. "Eleanor! Happy Birthday, Sweety," She said as she gave her a pat on the shoulder and handed her a present.

It was thin and wrapped well. Inside held a book. It was a hardcover blue book titled, "Astronomer's Guide To The Stars."

"Thank you so much, Louise!" Eleanor grinned at her. Eleanor had a passionate love for both Potions and Astronomy.

"It's still Mrs Weaver to you, missy," she reprimanded but she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

These four people watched Eleanor grow since she was a baby. They all loved her like she was their own.

"We've got a big surprise for you, Ellie," Annie said with a wide smile.

Eleanor sat up straight. She crossed her fingers behind her back and hoped to hear the words she had wanted her whole life to come out of her mother's lips.

"We got you some new books! There's plenty, filled up an entire bookshelf in the library!" Annie announced.

"Oh," Eleanor said, trying to keep the disappointment off of her face, "That's lovely! I can't wait to read them," she said with fake enthusiasm.

She was grateful for the books, she really was, but it wasn't what she wanted.

After eating and more talking, Eleanor was dismissed. She decided to check out the new books in the Library. It would give her something to pass the time with.

Being stuck in the same house for 16 years did become quite boring for Eleanor.

As she entered, Invictus ran up to her and rubbed up against her legs.

Eleanor smiled, "Hello Boy," She whispered. He purred and trotted off towards the back of the library.

Eleanor followed him towards the back and found a bookcase stocked with brand new books.

"Look here, V, some new books to read," she whispered to the cat. Invictus loved to sit on her lap when she read. She would read out loud for him, and he seemed to love it too because if she stayed silent he would paw her stomach until she started reading aloud again.

Invictus turned and ran towards a bookshelf further into the Library. Eleanor furrowed her eyebrows and followed the cat to the bookshelf.

It had a few books on the shelves, it was rather empty. Eleanor never noticed this bookshelf before. She stuck to the middle of the Library, where a large armchair and a table sat.

She ran her hand across the books, knocking one over in the process. Dust blew everywhere, causing her to sneeze.

She moved her hand to pick up the book she bumped over but stopped halfway. A brick in the stone wall behind the book was different than the rest. It was shinier.

She ran her fingers over the smooth stone, it was poking out more than the rest. She pressed it and soon she heard the sound of a click.

The bookshelf moved a few inches forward, like a door inching open.

Eleanor grinned, another secret. She opened up the door that acted as a bookshelf. Invictus dashed into the room, being the ever so brave and curious cat he was.

Eleanor followed. She took out her wand, and whispered, "Lumos," and the tip of her wand lit up in a white glow.

Eleanor was allowed to use magic at home because she was homeschooled. She's meant to be doing her sixth year of magical education, allowing her to know a multitude of spells.

The room lit up with a dull glow, as Eleanor entered. A small room stood on the other side of the door, each wall was covered with larger bookshelves except for the wall in front of Eleanor which had a fireplace and two paintings on each side of it. She didn't recognize the people in the portraits.

She saw a few chairs and a table in the middle of the room. "Wow," She whispered with a large grin.

She walked up to a bookshelf and grabs a random book.

"Ars Sanguinem Magicae," She whispered as she read the title.

The Art of Blood Magic.