"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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLqEdN4kj9
Furvus purred again and turned back to Fred happily. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ddGwAVozZ
"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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5pYjxrC9k
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. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz457y89sjT
"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. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lEy4nlht5
Only when professor McGonagall threw a very sharp look, Eliza finally shut up and looked at her teacher.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mwI6hKopJ
“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.”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKlnlOkOch
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzwx1kVBhA
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqAruDDuek
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuU9KsTDJLG
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...968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvadKTWvb0
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMFkAYgyCL
“I’m not going.” Eliza firmly stated when they got back in their dormitory. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88XjhQ5xrg
Hermione raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms in front of her chest, seemingly ready to lecture her.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYWdwDj5LP
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDi6dCz2tC
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e9ai2teO0
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuAI6YSCod
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBRwGZN68i
“What about you Hermione? Someone in mind?” Eliza turned around, cornering the girl who nagged her about that subject a few minutes ago.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MJnAsgYhN
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Umd0Rx6h
"The-There's still a lot to do..."968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLJW5kbebO
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF6odTO4Uh
Parvati and Eliza glanced at each other knowingly.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwm1bZlSsL
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUInOSsCmy
“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."968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzTWCXy26J
“That is none of your concerns!” She snapped.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtuJ51OmIU
“It can be.” Eliza chuckled.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbuPuKv9LG
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0fTOip7Ct
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1E3pdB20R
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemAFaUP3Ky
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3ZEMEZo5X
“Um,”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCXNcs8Y21
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgrJhq8L47
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGvgMUllNW
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzYTRXFAUa
“Right in time, Molley. I was wondering if you haven’t gotten any interruptions on the way,” 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkXiWDanZZ
He smirked, his eyes glistening with a certain evil glint. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C8LJB6jNh
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUrmcFoZac
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 victims968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMv88gzB06m
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxC9frgh3q
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1ICYaKrmQ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXcLZ1ELLB
“I have done research on you, Molley.” He whispered when Blaise turned his back to look for ingredients.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHyUwy42AH
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaWLK3n4eU
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE6c5ELyEo
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1YuSFuEAV
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEZe7tYZLl
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpsUvpQ24f
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVD1WJPMW5
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQYIQruQMc
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYumQ2SCNp
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzn2V4d5IH
She didn’t stop him mainly because that was something Remus never bothered to tell her before. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLgZalPxns
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQCGcQJWtK
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeKl4C4tft
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiunJWbvUS
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. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY62Jkunfo
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXFytrurW9
“It doesn’t seem like you found anything relevant,” She responded after all. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwt0WUpgln
Malfoy might have been bluffing for all she knew.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGspJ1didvy
"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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUBNxY5KWQ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XXHe3U6rV
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO1bxcvoTJ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFhXeDwwhZ
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOWC6SIRLd
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3545uH4aQ
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4ICheABCo
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmh76GXn5jN
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOErsmlmfj
She smiled kindly at the child and grabbed her hand. “Honey, let’s go inside.”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXWd3A7EYX
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIN50m8T1KS
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZypiMImmcy
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L94OZMtd3
Once the kid got inside the room, the woman closed the door and locked it. There was only one problem: she didn’t enter.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw409Hc0Bz
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROdSlWu1BF
“Liz trust mommy, alright?”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkQJ6yMYGW
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYbt0u2irF
“Trust mommy.”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtkrs9YYwn
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“Do you trust me, Eliza?”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9kA6yxRY3
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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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lPVkQ33sk
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1uWxdQmAo
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU82vd1JctV
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGdT5Pn996
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk920uUyxRV
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?968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYPFXZtEYQ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIiqkjGc9H
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrD8kTAqRI
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbxawDIAr5
“Um- hello,” She started awkwardly, grasping the books in her hands nervously.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS0dKpKW4b
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Cedric raised an eyebrow and stared at her, "So, you heard about the Yule Ball?"968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXSCDue9Nb
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PeeLhFl33
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqslbFyaLol
"I-I-" 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQU5hqhvcX
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhBMKohpO2
"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. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelbrDXFZXb
Her green eyes widened and she surely hoped no one, but NO ONE, was around to witness that. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe5puDRQl9
"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?"968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJr0PEfK8p7
"Yes." His response only made her feel sick in the stomach. "Cho Chang from Ravenclaw. She agreed to come with me."968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFFs2otCIn
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5V3XPNINP
"Thank God," She muttered, feeling like a lot of pressure just vanished off her chest.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbxTHvueKX
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." 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSILGBTeuj
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. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDbtkJwMeB
"Yes, Harry, no, no. I'm not going with Harry, God no." 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sro7rhY0K
For a moment he genuinely looked like reconsidering his decision so Eliza quickly changed the subject.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqV5zokom8
"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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRuTTdGK33
She ran around the corner and collided into a boy that she had never met before, a Ravenclaw. Oh, the irony! she thought. 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0QI6KfQyq
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6wO6I8cLW
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5HPdeEGQg
“You’re a Gryffindor, aren’t you? Friends with Neville,” He started in a very low voice for a boy his age.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09BZPkRgfn
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwuEeD0Yqi
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrjiiMqoQG
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxAM6pQ9oa
“Right,” She said, already thinking how to vanish into thin air and appear in class.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jyn6oQ9MD
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAEboJxl1R
“I was wondering if you’d like to-“He got interrupted but not by who Eliza was waiting for.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlExMG9hv65
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbAqqTj2Yc
“Molley, let’s go talk about our arrangement!” 968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkgMTH37T8
She heard the familiar voice of another blond, more insufferable and witty than the one she was facing.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1uiv3fUrq
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0MFp5ejRe
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvzQ5LJiua
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANjAEHf3Ah
“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?”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUOGfSHXHQ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9izCVCQYTx
She blinked twice before she pushed him back, her eyes scanning him warily, “Well what?”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nvOTk3tlb
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP4Do6EHTb
“You should thank me for saving you right now. Besides, we have an arrangement to discuss,” He responded in a matter of fact tone.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz3comNeW0
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwrrxl04jG
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqGuUgLlSn
“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.”968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzslQp1gW0
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNEcGoBlCC
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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OzmBeWU3k
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeigcylY6Fs
“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.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzQwJ6xmoJ
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ApPprbzY
“Dress nicely, Molley! Don’t embarrass me!” He screamed over his shoulder, making her cheeks flush in anger.968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMYWF7vTLd
968Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHNMsXXuaC
“Stupid brat.“ She mumbled before turning on her heels and going to what was left of the Divination class.
