"Hey, Liz! You forgot this!" Fred Weasley-Eliza hoped she was right and that was Fred not George- ran after her holding tightly onto what looked like a black ball.
"Huh?"
Eliza stopped in her tracks and waited for the ginger to catch up to her. Once Fred was right in front of her, the black ball became familiar.
"F- it's a frisbee! Right..." She spoke, her voice rising an octave.Fred obviously saw through her lie. "Where did you find him?" Eliza asked in her normal voice.
"In the Entrance Hall. I think he was trying to find the kitchen."
Hearing the magic word, the black ball opened up, showing his true identity. His bright green eyes stared up at the ginger innocently, looking like he wasn't even real.
"Furvus. Come here," Eliza ordered her kitten but Furvus didn't move an inch. Instead, he purred and jumped on Fred, digging his little claws into his clothes.
"I think he likes me!" The ginger exclaimed happily.
The kitten glanced over his shoulder at his master and purred again. It looked, in Eliza's eyes, as if Furvus was asking her who Fred was.
"I have to go to class. You can hang around Fred for now but be nice. Be nice, Furvus." She repeated, her tone getting a bit colder.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WMTSrtrmd
Furvus purred again and turned back to Fred happily. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDy05aGvzp
"How the heck did he get here again?" She mumbled on her way to Divination.
Furvus proved to be a troublemaker so naturally, he liked following the Weasley twins around. They quite liked him too and were using him as a pawn in their games. The one who was taking all the blame though was Eliza because Furvus was her cat.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU53mUOxqvu
She got late to Transfiguration because Furvus found the entry into the kitchen and unlike anything she had seen, there was a house elf that found the black cat very entertaining. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPul05qLuXt
"Who the heck is that elf anyway? He's taking great care of that little troublemaker..." She mumbled, her attention far from the subject in class. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBZTYZK8TU
Only when professor McGonagall threw a very sharp look, Eliza finally shut up and looked at her teacher.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HZn9lwjMV
“Now, before you leave I have an announcement to make. The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception. On Christmas night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward. And I mean this literally, because the Yule Ball is, first and foremost a dance.”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MigXCVo8i
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXgBByXpkO
Eliza was somewhere in the back, hoping she won’t have to dance and show everyone that she was actually good at it. She could still remember Remus teaching her how to dance because you never know what may happen in the future and I won’t be there, nudging you towards a boy. Now, that she was in that position, she was definitely questioning Remus’ foreseeing abilities and everything he has done, Furvus and Willy included.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxm191VvfS
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1Y0oZd7lE
Now that it struck her, her eyes widened and quickly turned to McGonagall. Remus probably heard about the Yule Ball and was going to send her a dress. Oh no. He probably sneaked one inside her trunk when she wasn't looking or maybe that was why Furvus appeared at school...884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbLav0hu8i
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ni1bXCRLJ
“I’m not going.” Eliza firmly stated when they got back in their dormitory. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EqN43rpDt
Hermione raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her chest, seemingly ready to lecture her.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQhQ8Ig8Ft
“I-I’m serious! I am not going to that ball wearing a dress- Hermione!” She whined at the end, feeling like everyone was against her.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3iB0iBhUE
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKODefQG0N
“It’s going to be fantastic! We have to find a partner and I already have someone in mind,” Parvati trailed, her eyes looking into distance thinking about that certain someone.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hPA8v4ZW9
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WrR37Kmp1
“What about you Hermione? Someone in mind?” Eliza turned around, cornering the girl who nagged her about that subject a few minutes ago.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Rf2CSXHrf
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyvi1LriWr
"The-There's still a lot to do..."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyGBIMqES4
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwRyUrz9Eo
Parvati and Eliza glanced at each other knowingly.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYwVQzKypb
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqecZ2IIPF
“Like what? Homework?” Eliza asked, as curious as the Indian girl. "Come on! Loosen up and look carefully around yourself. It's time you find a partner."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXDPqsj4cI
“That is none of your concerns!” She snapped.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxLUj4ouwR
“It can be.” Eliza chuckled.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbVaT7rLZT
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2Hmiw14dw
The two girls laughed before Hermione hit Eliza in the side of the head with her pillow. That night, the girls had a small pillow fight, giving out the bad energy and the stress gathered over the weeks.
It was next day when Eliza hurried to her classes struggling with a book and three parchments for Potions, her favorite subject with the least agreeable professor.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lfCVUldly
It was strange because Snape ordered her to write essays about defensive and aggressive spells that may or may not be dangerous for a student.That was how she got herself so busy with school work for the last two days that she actually ignored or ran away from most boys who invited her at the Yule Ball.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOhu7oMZon
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxzrafm91K
“Um,”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv7ZQszMHQ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcISwzeDc7
She barged in the classroom, most students already working at their potions in groups of three. Blaise was waiting at their table with Malfoy. She licked her lips and moved one string of hair behind her ear before walking to him.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe3KyTue9j
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITQX0gYsAx
“Right in time, Molley. I was wondering if you haven’t gotten any interruptions on the way,” 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnQ3pqGrT0
He smirked, his eyes glistening with a certain evil glint. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZRBu5owUf
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdqylNiFmN
It wasn’t her fault, it was Snape’s for pressuring her with so much work right before Christmas. She was excited to go to Hogsmeade to look for presents but he already informed her of what she was going to do at that time; that was the main reason she vented her anger on collateral victims884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDjnloMfS1
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rfrDSUmio
For the whole hour, Snape was glowering at her table, shifting his attention from time to time to snarl at Harry and Ron or Neville. Blaise was working without a word spoken but she could see it in the way he would glance every so often at her that he was uncomfortable with the whole set up. Malfoy was probably in the best mood. He has been waiting for that chance for a while.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc95YquGOlv
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7adgtF0m86
“I have done research on you, Molley.” He whispered when Blaise turned his back to look for ingredients.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNBtdb52DQ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83OrZcX4I3
“Did your father tell you that?” She asked, her eyes set on cutting the ingredients she had into tiny pieces before pushing them into the cauldron, “Your father has a certain presumption to lie,” The brunette continued, completely drawn to her potion making.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvofmcCshz
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvqxiEwkyI
“No. I have done the research on my own. Granted to my name and blood, I found out quite a lot about this Molley family of yours,” He continued smugly.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9a5zdN03s
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAQCUEAZUq
Eliza was getting curious and no matter how much she was trying to hide it, she couldn’t. She eventually gave in and gave Malfoy her full attention. The blond’s smirk vanished and his eyebrows furrowed together, concentrating on the information he had.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNqGdlThuJ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYwZGmpw2h
“There was one muggle family in Birmingham called Molley but they never had children. They adopted a certain Ophelia from the orphanage, a kid with a rebellious attitude,” He started, making her raise an eyebrow and lean against the table.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7DIARydg5
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMoU0RTzh0
She didn’t stop him mainly because that was something Remus never bothered to tell her before. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uMbrxd3GA
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz6G8Fasqh
“It doesn’t matter anyway. They died during the war. Your mother betrayed everyone by running away when her friends needed her the most.” He leaned in and whispered, taunting her with what stung the most.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfdqawu86a
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRHZO7eR6T
It did hurt a bit but Eliza didn't know absolutely anything about her mother and her past. She couldn't part truth from false. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti4nn1c6Wd
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSBMchSrES
“It doesn’t seem like you found anything relevant,” She responded after all. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1JjodM5P7
Malfoy might have been bluffing for all she knew.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU6LNwuHje
"My mother has nothing to do with me anyway. She’s long dead and all I have left from her is a nightmare.” She continued.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWJrHN6XR7
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXgEYXcIp3
Malfoy leaned back and crossed his arms in front of his chest, staring at her confused yet intrigued. He was curious what was her real family and why he found Ophelia Molley’s certificate labeled as classified at the Ministry of Magic. For some reason, he didn’t feel like it would be safe or beneficial for anyone if his father would find out about Eliza.
That night, the brunette dreamed something brighter than usually yet still with a big impact over her mental state.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjITUxiLkqY
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6vQNAY9GQ
It was a sunny day, that one, which was the first after a long series of gloomy days. A girl about 4 years old with short brown hair and bright green eyes was running in the garden. She was playing with her mother. Ophelia Molley was a woman whose pale green eyes attracted attention right away especially since they were complimented by her long black hair.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyW3QA9lyg8
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOViMfO9P3
They were both smiling happily, playing a game of chase. Everything was perfect. Well, as perfect as it could be. The woman caught her daughter and tickled her, making the little girl laugh loudly.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFZbCh2uW4
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qQPiNzz0n
As the mother was playfully glaring at her daughter, a tree fell down right in front of her house. She stopped playing and took in the change of environment. Dark clouds were slowly moving over the ground, the wind pushing them particularly towards the house.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS25olAneY
She smiled kindly at the child and grabbed her hand. “Honey, let’s go inside.”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOqg2EVC7i
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPdolC1FxY
They entered the house in a hurry and Ophelia led her daughter upstairs, inside her room. Even for a 4 years old child, she knew something bad was going on. Her mother’s green eyes darkened and fear spread through her entire being. The house seemed to have gotten colder and the bed where the little girl would crawl to sleep with her mother seemed to have lost all comfort.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBvpYHrgcG
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4szY256oR
Once the kid got inside the room, the woman closed the door and locked it. There was only one problem: she didn’t enter.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLdvZ6UCFk
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUpr4TxL2v
“Liz trust mommy, alright?”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy04QlLipB
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMGt4Zz51e
“Trust mommy.”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyL91jT6Mz
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLtxaiHOiw
“Do you trust me, Eliza?”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRTlLSfsTL
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyDA5sZLmD
Her green eyes opened suddenly only to find herself in the dormitory. The library rat glanced at her friend worriedly while making her bed, her curiosity getting the best of her.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8XUlLOXT2
“Are you alright? You were mumbling in your sleep,” Hermione stated, “You were talking about trust.” Hermione added when she noticed Eliza’s confused expression.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNIQPJThIf
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDM8521EBTQ
“It was my mom. She told me to trust her that night,” Eliza recognized in the end, seeing no harm in telling Hermione about Ophelia. “She knew what was about to happen but she didn’t run. She faced him all alone for my and Sirius’ safety. All alone,” The brunette continued sounding like she was entering a daze.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNYxYXhSnz
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQswEn3hov
Hermione smiled and hugged her friend. Eliza was sincerely touched by her gesture but at the same time, she couldn’t shrug off the feeling that she had been lied to. She could feel disappointment tugging on her heart and it was coming from those four words: Do you trust me?884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvYGbDWQSQ
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxg9sIvLRw
As the day passed by, Eliza found herself in an uncomfortable and peculiar moment: she met Cedric in the halls towards Divination and he was in surprisingly good spirits.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9vnrmt3Im
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX2bRo5yje
“Um- hello,” She started awkwardly, grasping the books in her hands nervously.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNfKbzvo8i
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvrfLsfrDM
Cedric raised an eyebrow and stared at her, "So, you heard about the Yule Ball?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvceAQxydu
Eliza panicked. She could feel her hands beginning to sweat a lot and her heart was pounding in her chest. The brunette didn't even consider Cedric as a partner to the ball because he was her friend and now that he started that subject, she scared.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06G6NmapOK
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNFkVyL5og
"I-I-" 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUmXgFdali
Her nervous behavior could be taken two different ways and from Cedric's expression, he wasn't thinking about the one she would have liked.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfcvhbqqDM
"Professor Sprout told us that we've got to bring partners. She was being very firm about it, especially to me. It seems champions have to begin the dance..." He continued, getting a bit closer. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngWtyVofGD
Her green eyes widened and she surely hoped no one, but NO ONE, was around to witness that. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzVXdXMbY0
"Good for you. I hope you find yourself a good dancer then. Hehe." Eliza's answer didn't seem to faze Cedric. "So, have you found someone yet?"884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH2pu1yxBy
"Yes." His response only made her feel sick in the stomach. "Cho Chang from Ravenclaw. She agreed to come with me."884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns2Iyg42B9
Once Eliza registered every word he said, she gave a big sigh. She didn't even notice that she stopped breathing when he mention the ball. His serious face broke into a grin.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSC7a81TTR
"Thank God," She muttered, feeling like a lot of pressure just vanished off her chest.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y1O7aIsPg
Cedric chuckled, "You don't have to look so relieved, Eliza. I was intending on asking you at first but then I thought you'd most probably go with Harry." 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3RM1DyHI5
He had the expression of one who just messed around with his mate, which wasn't necessarily bad if he wouldn't had beamed with amusement and satisfaction. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo89Hswzab
"Yes, Harry, no, no. I'm not going with Harry, God no." 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m3HO8JfoP
For a moment he genuinely looked like reconsidering his decision so Eliza quickly changed the subject.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopbHHynA4i
"It will be magical. Cho is a great Quidditch player from what I heard and she is pretty and smart and everything! Good catch, if you ask me." Eliza added before looking at her invisible watch, "Oh look how late it is! I'll be late for seeing the future! Good bye!" she said quickly before sprinting out of there.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPESP33W1X
She ran around the corner and collided into a boy that she had never met before, a Ravenclaw. Oh, the irony! she thought. 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZq3UmqFWf
He rubbed his chest before checking out if she was alright; only, she took a few steps back and gathered her books, her eyes never looking at him.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASEJZwZR3B
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyX2xsZCiX
“You’re a Gryffindor, aren’t you? Friends with Neville,” He started in a very low voice for a boy his age.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rJUbO6X4V
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zhXDcBaDR
Her green eyes rose to him and she suddenly felt like running away again. He was a friend of Neville that she had heard about before, Anthony Goldstein, a blond with brains and courage.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveuahQoAn1
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfZBeUVk77
“Right,” She said, already thinking how to vanish into thin air and appear in class.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF7aHBp2Be
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeqbv4Tgvs
“I was wondering if you’d like to-“He got interrupted but not by who Eliza was waiting for.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG40pCgY8T0
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8A1EdiiJt
“Molley, let’s go talk about our arrangement!” 884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nIk5XKhhG
She heard the familiar voice of another blond, more insufferable and witty than the one she was facing.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQJ8WgzeD7
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURuvVrV9k1
Anthony raised an eyebrow, curious why was Malfoy talking to a Gryffindor, whom he very openly declared some kind of war against. Malfoy walked closer and wrapped a hand around her, sneering at the Ravenclaw.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6E53rSJN4
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNeH2yPYm0
“You’re still here, Goldstein?” The Slytherin snarled, making the blond walk away, still a bit confused of what he just saw. Afterwards, Malfoy turned expectantly to his victim. “Well?”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCht61hlzjM
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTPfmi25KR
She blinked twice before she pushed him back, her eyes scanning him warily, “Well what?”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqXVuBqbni
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpBDnRQf5D
“You should thank me for saving you right now. Besides, we have an arrangement to discuss,” He responded in a matter of fact tone.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv7SNTIpSR
“What arrangement? Have you researched my family background again and have something irrelevant to tell me?” She answered him in a smart ass know-it-all tone.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNE9pxjjwrF
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUuU4A7zLD
“No. Your family doesn’t seem to have anything interesting so I’m going to research what I have at hand: you.” He stated, emphasizing the last word with a certain tone that he knew would tick her off. “That is why I will save you the embarrassment of not going to the ball with just anyone.”884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8izJCVhRXy
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhDaEHlcgX
He looked so proud and assured of what he was doing that it startled her and she was genuinely curious what was going on through his head. He was either following a well planned scheme or he was simply going with whatever was coming out his mouth.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZkPAxgva4
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrnosPCkBk
“Are you seriously inviting me to the Yule Ball?” She questioned his motives, seriously, “What if I don’t want to go at all? I have far more significant things to do than go to some stiff ceremony where I have to dance.” She began babbling but Malfoy was already walking towards his class.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiJjpexYJ7
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl64v6VorW
“Dress nicely, Molley! Don’t embarrass me!” He screamed over his shoulder, making her cheeks flush in anger.884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwB2RIybVc
884Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1tYC7lQT5
“Stupid brat.“ She mumbled before turning on her heels and going to what was left of the Divination class.
