"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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur7rLQxgN7
Furvus purred again and turned back to Fred happily. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjFySOFKZM
"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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqXKljx9E3
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. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3w1XhbYucO
"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. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyfAY2ZcRc
Only when professor McGonagall threw a very sharp look, Eliza finally shut up and looked at her teacher.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgzV1YG3Ds
“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.”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cLajGGsVU
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQisVxlBC0S
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeMcfZ2HPp
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4G5xQh3ma
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...899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsloVPGNFJ8
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJBkQAjdQU
“I’m not going.” Eliza firmly stated when they got back in their dormitory. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwcVHyY4Yu
Hermione raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her chest, seemingly ready to lecture her.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrC6FJeGUj
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAWsQgt0ky
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NFoxCXSIp
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOpzCZ6Sau
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6TqyKru4R
“What about you Hermione? Someone in mind?” Eliza turned around, cornering the girl who nagged her about that subject a few minutes ago.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYV0cp6ynd
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy5f9K0h8e
"The-There's still a lot to do..."899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqWnbuu4W5
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaGa2Rf3r8
Parvati and Eliza glanced at each other knowingly.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt5ubbJidU
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSA1ypEgDy
“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."899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WBgbgvJTq
“That is none of your concerns!” She snapped.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC24sQkQH1S
“It can be.” Eliza chuckled.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBj4Ww0m9E
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2m6CyNUQj
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjzESCsP77
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXN7egYD7D
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8b7NACcP5
“Um,”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeOHvR3AR1
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rBXurnGyr
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3a324Z2xm
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBhIW81uWY
“Right in time, Molley. I was wondering if you haven’t gotten any interruptions on the way,” 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PrWdrMzQm
He smirked, his eyes glistening with a certain evil glint. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjE41Aaa1i
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8nANRc3iT
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 victims899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuDlcco1hD
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocQMJk64SX
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCeQPkH0WK
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmRWEtibcg
“I have done research on you, Molley.” He whispered when Blaise turned his back to look for ingredients.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFW8EIyRNr
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDDHAoYopa
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmClB8cIfT
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC15Twcmv3L
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJYoq6z2b5
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsnGyB2r9c
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc6IT03JUW
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbaLuv0Jiv
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUzQzhGtyc
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21FtaA5mEb
She didn’t stop him mainly because that was something Remus never bothered to tell her before. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckyAAydzDx
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfYe1QB2pa
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn4kxIIGT5
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rgPhRJ4HQ
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. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2SUeodgAo
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO3K80T9OQ
“It doesn’t seem like you found anything relevant,” She responded after all. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RAP5wvG21
Malfoy might have been bluffing for all she knew.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky76ak084j
"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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXwYJQfbVK
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXPwZdzsFp
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWSWMe7kfg
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrelAFV0CHZ
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiM9s2MIrI
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCqK0Hsh79
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPHBsYT1JQ
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kqs8RKVMI
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEy6vLt7lJc
She smiled kindly at the child and grabbed her hand. “Honey, let’s go inside.”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlKuHMT1j1
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsS51eeVRd
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2zgqB53C9
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLg1GXaLhc
Once the kid got inside the room, the woman closed the door and locked it. There was only one problem: she didn’t enter.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuryZxPfdK
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jDRnzYOkK
“Liz trust mommy, alright?”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1hw0wJwrY
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDnM2OGiGO
“Trust mommy.”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ5meaAe8d
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3l8Ayj4q3
“Do you trust me, Eliza?”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYB4jLJ4s1
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZsXGo3sMu
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7kyWGKQj3
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZSV8nFYbY
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0pHULXVjc
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9Tgwk2yKv
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3u2mUF630
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?899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uvVxQtV0e
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnAfqkQA0E
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAi7fVP6f0
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7kVYllHBF
“Um- hello,” She started awkwardly, grasping the books in her hands nervously.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wkUu43mTc
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOO6d32YeEc
Cedric raised an eyebrow and stared at her, "So, you heard about the Yule Ball?"899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJ3Ywj43TD
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYd00w2ZQI
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbHh6T1Moq
"I-I-" 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC9Oa5rIk5
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR6Abzt9k0
"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. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcE6XL9oZH
Her green eyes widened and she surely hoped no one, but NO ONE, was around to witness that. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAYfzteP2V
"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?"899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpuhse1HBe
"Yes." His response only made her feel sick in the stomach. "Cho Chang from Ravenclaw. She agreed to come with me."899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoXZPsiqgM
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4zz3c5b2N
"Thank God," She muttered, feeling like a lot of pressure just vanished off her chest.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt17xLC7B6
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." 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvs2Ti8fzj
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. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDiimSRV27
"Yes, Harry, no, no. I'm not going with Harry, God no." 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AYQaZpPNE
For a moment he genuinely looked like reconsidering his decision so Eliza quickly changed the subject.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSsbSJuXj7
"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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5DYIbhith
She ran around the corner and collided into a boy that she had never met before, a Ravenclaw. Oh, the irony! she thought. 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8GlNlyRNB
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvahsjVdXGa
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTcwA1AW4p
“You’re a Gryffindor, aren’t you? Friends with Neville,” He started in a very low voice for a boy his age.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwseSRkDXj
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEGNIMkRWi
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT8lDM7fqU
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqlqBgxvQc
“Right,” She said, already thinking how to vanish into thin air and appear in class.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbFMNgqDP5
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pbMKOMNhX
“I was wondering if you’d like to-“He got interrupted but not by who Eliza was waiting for.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm5jjIAeIh
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsTE7Y6NY7
“Molley, let’s go talk about our arrangement!” 899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNQNLvJRXJ
She heard the familiar voice of another blond, more insufferable and witty than the one she was facing.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JIWmCiugk
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMhDkLNWG2
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldUg74QksL
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrn8ldeSnx
“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?”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8zJzuK1nW
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW2cEplDEx
She blinked twice before she pushed him back, her eyes scanning him warily, “Well what?”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQdWEJDHtO
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz81POOStt
“You should thank me for saving you right now. Besides, we have an arrangement to discuss,” He responded in a matter of fact tone.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck1ZMtGwq9
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDASSZ0s4j
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7ywkxKqt4
“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.”899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8BVzllQqs
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNim5Kcsw1
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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbzWcqVZdM
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEESH8QrgMP
“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.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B1FqAoejZ
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMnmri5ejQ
“Dress nicely, Molley! Don’t embarrass me!” He screamed over his shoulder, making her cheeks flush in anger.899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfg9D0HQ4M
899Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0l7KyvBS9
“Stupid brat.“ She mumbled before turning on her heels and going to what was left of the Divination class.
