Furvus

The Quidditch game began an hour after she got her fair share of bullying in the afternoon. Everyone was watching while the weather conditions outside were worsening.


Eliza wasn't a huge fan of Quidditch even if she liked playing and liked flying around; no, she chose to stay in and wander the castle on her own. That was how she met Nearly Headless Nick again, right in front of the Great Hall.


"You knew my parents, didn't you?" She asked, taking a seat outside the Hall. He nodded and flew in front of her. "How was my mother?" She asked curiously.


"You want to know how she met your father, don't you?" He told smugly, reading her act. "Unlike Lilly and James Potter, your parents took very little to understand they are good for each other but they never acted on impulse; at least, not your mother. She was a bit of an introvert and kept everything to herself." He stopped, knowing that he shouldn't tell her more, as Dumbledore requested.


"Sirius Black, James Potter, Remus Lupin and Petter Pettigrew. These names, what do they mean now compared to what they meant back then?" She asked slowly, placing her thoughts in order.


"Now, they are forgotten names of wizards who either fell victims to the Dark Lord or became traitors. Back then," The ghost chuckled bemusedly, "They were definitely what you would call the golden crew; four young boys having fun and learning magic just like you and the rest of the students are doing now."


"What about the Slytherins who became Death Eaters?"


That question was already too close for him and he wasn't prepared to disappoint Dumbledore. He tilted his head to the side and walked through the wall. He ran away, avoiding questions regarding Slytherins.


Eliza was on her way to the Common Room when she heard her name being called from the hall. Her head spun around faster than her body, making her dizzy for a moment before she met Hermione's scared face.


"Harry got attacked by a dementor!" She started, so fast that Eliza barely understood. "He's in the hospital wing now but his broom broke," She filled her friend in while grabbing her hand and dragging her behind.


"That is unexpected," Eliza wasn't very touched by Harry's unfortunate meeting with the dementor and that was obvious in her tone. Hermione rolled her eyes and led Eliza to the hospital wing.


There, the brunette wasn't sure why she had to be brought with all the other friends from the team lurking around Harry's bed. Besides, he was looking well for someone who just met a dementor.


However, for him it seemed like her appearance meant something because he smiled gratefully.


It was next day when Harry got discharged that he looked after her. It was confusing when he met Remus instead, who led him outside for a chat. The professor looked tired and wanted nothing but to sleep.


Meanwhile, Eliza was writing her essay on the Second World War, which was a big thing for muggles. From what she found out, Russia and Germany represented a threat from the early stages and Hitler was the man with the mustache that killed more than half a population only because they were Jewish; the Holocaust was called.


"This man should have been hexed out of the picture," She mumbled while writing down a shorter version of what was written in the book.


"That would've been impossible." Someone responded, taking her by surprise.


Eliza's head rose quickly and looked around for the person who talked to her. It was a boy dressed in normal clothes, probably preparing for the upcoming break. Eliza still couldn't believe how fast time passed and how close was Christmas.


"Sorry to interrupt. I only came to return a book and heard you talking from around the corner," He walked closer to her, showing how tall and handsome he was. "I'm Cedric Diggory, by the way. I'm a fifth year," He smiled softly, showing the usual trait of his house: Hufflepuff's kindness an charms.


"Oh. I'm Eliza Molley, third year," She introduced herself, getting up quickly and pushing a few books off the table in the process. He had to help her gather them, making her blush faintly. "Thanks," She mumbled, getting a book from him.


"I know who you are. You have a few fans in Hufflepuff, my good friend being one of them." He chuckled, making her raise an eyebrow in confusion.


"Fans? But I just transferred here a few months ago and I'm definitely not a social butterfly," She responded, completely unaware of how funny Cedric was finding her.


"You have been noticed, believe me." Those words only made her blush more, her ears getting really red. "So, the Second World War. You're not doing well at muggle studies, are you?" He changed the subject.


"I'm not because there are so many names!" She moaned sitting and getting back to writing. The deadline was tomorrow and she wasn't even halfway. "So many things happened. I don't know how muggles can look so happy after all this destruction," She continued, making him nod and sit across her.


"I have a free period now. If you want I can help you." She couldn't say no and he knew it. It was too much for her and she gladly accepted any help.


It was really peaceful for the next hour or so and Cedric genuinely helped her shorten the material by a lot. The essay was over and so was the one about werewolves that was due a few hours ago. For Charms, the only thing Eliza was doing wrong was control; she was putting too much force into her charms and could only start it but not handle it to the end.


"Would you like me to help you with charms, as well?" Cedric asked but she shook her head.


"No, it's alright. Thanks for helping me with Muggle Studies. You should go spend quality time with your friends before you leave." She said as she gathered her essays.


"Are you sure?" He asked gently but Eliza only nodded her head. "Are you staying here for Christmas?" He continued when she moved to place the books back in the library.


"No. I have a lot to catch up on, especially Divination," She mumbled, her tone dripping with anything but excitement.


Cedric found it amusing and laughed it off, "I believe that is not one you are good at? Seeing the future, I mean."


Eliza chuckled and rolled her eyes as she put the last book on the shelf, "I'm that kind of person who doesn't have the curiosity what will happen beforehand. Especially in Potions," She whispered the last part but Cedric heard it alright.


"You're not the only one who hates Slytherins, especially Professor Snape." He commented, though he tried his best to keep his voice down.


Eliza glanced at him with a grin, "That's the only future I'd like to catch a glimpse of: his downfall,"


After her little studying time with Cedric, Eliza was merrier. she knew she had to go and give Snape her werewolf essay a long time ago but she didn't seem to be in any hurry.


Actually, now that she was walking towards the dungeons, she was curious where Willy sent the letter because it definitely didn't reach her father. When asked if he knew where to go, he nodded so he went somewhere and handed the letter to someone, but whom?


The Slytherin house was pretty much the whole dungeon and the few portraits on the walls were glaring at her. When she finally got in front of Snape's office she shuddered, feeling a chill down her spine.


"Are you going to enter or not? I don't have all day," His voice beamed from inside.


When Eliza pushed the door open and entered, Snape could swear he saw Ophelia coming to him for help with Potions. Her dark curls would move on her shoulders while walking in like she was a noble. But Eliza had something Snape had only seen at Sirius Black and he hated it; he hated how many memories a kid could trigger in his mind and he hated how his precious Lily and the warm yet sarcastic Ophelia got taken away by those Marauders.


"Black," He spit with venom, having the stupid face of the young Sirius in his mind. "What are you doing here?"


"I have the werewolves' essay that I couldn't give on time because I had other problems," She mumbled while walking closer to his desk.


His glare was murderous, "That does not concern me. You have not given me the homework in time; you get extra work on the break," He started, not even glancing at her essay.


Eliza's eyes widened and tried her best not to vex his face. Snape could see her grasping the edge of his desk with one hand while the other was grasping the paper tightly.


"I want ten pages about defensive spells," He started. She was ready to comment but he suddenly rose and grabbed something from his desk. "And no matter how much it would pleasure me to have your father caught and sent back to Azkaban where he belongs, don't send letters that could reveal your identity."


Her eyes widened when he pushed the letter into her hand with a scowl.


"You have been a friend of my mother, haven't you?" She started, startling him. "Why are you so rude to me? I haven't done anything to you and neither did my mother!" She yelled, finally losing her patience.


"That does not concern you. Now leave!" He was taller than her and so much more imposing but she inherited her father's stubborn personality and didn't budge from her spot.


"No. I want to know what my mother's relationship was with you, Malfoy and Regulus. All of you have ended up as Death Eaters, haven't you?" She continued, her eyes narrowing on her professor.


Snape actually seemed to ponder her question for a few minutes before he decided that if she wasn't going to leave nicely, he will. He couldn't tell her anything and not because he promised Dumbledore but because he promised Ophelia.


For the whole Christmas break, Eliza spent most of her time practicing charms with Remus and playing with her black kitten who was the newest member of the family.


"You should give him a name,"


"What about Mooney?" She started bemusedly, "Or what about Furvus? It means Black in Latin. It's a dead language yet most spells are in Latin, aren't they? Besides, it means obscure, dark just like my family background." Her explanation was done so well that it sent a chill down Lupin's spine.


"You're prying too deep, Eliza." Remus threatened, though he was really worried how far she could go with that.


She chuckled from her seat at the table and grabbed another book she got from Hermione; it was a muggle fantasy book called The Hobbit and no matter how confusing it was, it was very entertaining.


"Not deep enough." She mumbled, hiding her face behind the book.

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