Nuisance

"My father," Draco started, grabbing her attention immediately, "He knows you're at Hogwarts." He continued softly, which made her take a few steps back and look into his eyes. "He asked me if there is anyone with the name Molley." He finished, sitting down.


Eliza was not moving an inch from her place in front the door.


"And you said yes?" She asked aware that was what she wanted from the beginning.


"No. I told him I don't know." He admitted, looking down at his hands.


She narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed, "Why not? I told you, he has the answers you're looking for!"


"I doubt that. It's more entertaining when it's just you and me," He chuckled, pulling her down next to him. "What do you think of all this mess created by Potter, Molley? Are you scared?" He taunted, leaning in for intimidation purposes.


"No." She responded, no emotion whatsoever in her voice. "Are you? If I remember correctly, you will be forced to follow your father even if that means you will be killed at some point."


"And what? I can't wait to become a Death Eater." He snapped.


"You don't sound convincing. Maybe it's too much for you to bear."


Saying that, Eliza looked closer at him and noticed just how much he resembled his father. She leaned in and narrowed her eyes, startling him with her bold actions.


"Good luck then." She added quickly before sprinting out, leaving a confused Malfoy alone in the cabin.


Once at Hogwarts, she took the carriage with Lavender and the Patil twins. They spoke about this and that until they got there. Walking into the Great Hall, Eliza was curious what will happen next.


She took her usual spot between Neville and Hermione and looked at her empty plate.


"I already miss Mrs. Weasley." She mumbled, making Hermione roll her eyes.


The Sorting ceremony went well and once the feast begun, Hermione wasn't sure who was eating faster: Eliza or Ron?


Once that was done too, Dumbledore raised for his usual speech. Only, this time, surprising everyone around, a little fat woman in a pink cardigan took lead and expressed some of her opinions.


"Can you understand what she's saying? I can't concentrate with that high pitched voice." Eliza whispered to Harry, making him nod and chuckle.


No one in the Hall looked remotely interested in the speech. Everything Eliza remembered was that her name was Umbridge and she was the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher.


The way to the Gryffindor tower was spent in between Lavender and Parvati, whispering to each other as if Eliza wasn't there.


"Did you read what the Daily Prophet said?" Lavender asked Parvati. "And the article about Sirius Black."


Eliza tensed and glowered at Lavender. It was childish for so many people to believe everything a newspaper wrote.


"I'm amazed by your deduction skills. They seem to be completely underdeveloped." Eliza snapped, drawing attention.


Lavender rolled her eyes, "You're saying that only because Potter is your friend."


"No. I'm saying that because the Sorting hat just warned us that we're in danger. Like I said, underdeveloped deduction skills." Eliza responded coldly before walking faster.


Once in the common room, Eliza got into bed and rolled on her side, staring into space. She didn't even hear Hermione entering or the noise when Lavender continued her discussion with Parvati.


In the end, she fell asleep while a pair of bright green eyes were staring at her worriedly.


Next day, Eliza entered the Great Hall later than most students, looking for some breakfast and the timetable. She grabbed a slice of bread and read what she had to prepare for: History of Magic, double Potions, Divination and double Defense against the Dark Arts.


"Two hours to sleep in," She mumbled as she read her timetable again.


At some point, while she was gathering her stuff, she felt someone stare at her from two rows to the left.


Unlike what she was suspecting, the one glaring at her was a Slytherin that she didn't know. He was inspecting her as if she was a suspicious human being with horns on her head and a long tail wagging behind.


"Molley."


She froze when she heard Snape's voice from her other side. Her head snapped to the professor, curious what he wanted so early in the year


"This evening, come to my office."


"Why would I-"


"Don't- ask- questions." He interrupted.


With one last glance around, he left.


The first day had a lot of surprises in store, especially when Eliza walked in the classroom of History of Magic and felt her head become empty.


She couldn't concentrate so she did something that seemed to help her more. Eliza wrote every spell she learned with Sirius on a piece of parchment. Surprisingly, the list was pretty long and she was sure she forgot some of them.


When the class finished, Eliza leaned against Ron helplessly.


"I can see my soul flying away from my body already." She said dramatically.


The boys found it funny but not Hermione. The bushy haired girl rolled her eyes and scowled.


"I'd like to see you three during the exams if I don't give you my notes."


The three Gryffindors looked at each other before they turned to her.


"You wouldn't do that." Eliza started. "We're your friends, remember? You don't want us to do something rash and get expelled, do you?"


Harry and Ron looked appraisingly at Eliza, who sounded like that could happen any minute now. Hermione glanced at the boys before looking at Eliza.


"You know I don't want any of you expelled but it's time for you to work for yourselves."


That argument continued until Potions. When they got there, Eliza got taken away by Blaise. He looked suspiciously happy to see her.


"Nice to see you, partner. Did you have a good summer?" He started casually.


Eliza blinked and glanced around warily. Pansy Parkinson was talking to her friends while Malfoy was sneering at Seamus.


"They already got used to us being partners in Potions. You don't have to look like something will drop on you out of nowhere." Blaise reasoned bemusedly.


"I wouldn't be surprised." She answered coldly before everyone got inside.


Just like before, Eliza was at the same table with Blaise. Her Draught of Peace was going extremely well and Snape didn't bother with her anymore. However, she couldn't help Gryffindors at all while she pretty much did half of Blaise's potion too.


Eliza was ready to leave for lunch when Dean grabbed her aside.


"Look, I know that newspaper started it all bit you should talk to Seamus. He's been moaning about you and Harry for the whole morning. It doesn't feel right to have you two so mad about each other and it may even help with Harry's too." Dean mumbled, looking like he was going to burst.


Eliza stared at him blankly before she gave her answer, "He's the one acting like a child. He should know that friendship comes before newspapers and their biased opinions."


"But Liz, the Daily Prophet is the most important source of information for wizards. It's like the news reports for muggles. You believe them because they usually say the truth."


Eliza seized Dean with one quick look, "You really don't read the Daily Prophet. It's manipulated by the Ministry and whatever need they have. Right now, they need wizards to discredit Dumbledore. It's not just about Harry anymore." She explained looking into his eyes earnestly.


Dean nodded and dropped the subject. For the rest of the time, they ate and discussed about Dean's hobbies and Eliza's growing interest for muggle sports.


"So football and soccer aren't the same sport?" She asked on their way to Divination.


"No. Firstly, the ball is different. In soccer, the ball used is a sphere. This kind of ball is used in Gaelic football also. In other football games like rugby and American football, the ball has more rounded ends. The ball for Canadian and American Football has two pointed ends." He explained with a look of utter concentration.


"Alright. That makes sense." She trailed.


They were on the way to Divination and Eliza was trying to focus on something so she won't fall asleep.


"Turn, please, to the introduction and read what Imago has to say on the matter of dream interpretation. Then, divide into pairs. Use The Dream Miracle to interpret each other's most recent dreams. Carry on." Professor Trelawney urged them.


Harry and Ron were a pair while Dean and Neville got together. Eliza and Seamus looked at each other and scoffed but sat together nonetheless. Thankfully, the reading took most of the time and that left them only a few minutes to interpret their dreams.


"So what's your most recent dream about?" He asked in a bored voice. It genuinely sounded like he couldn't care less.


Eliza thought carefully and decided not to tell the truth, "A toad was jumping around in a pink cardigan. It looked really ugly and the toad turned to me, as if it could read my mind. Then, it spoke in the most insufferable voice I've ever heard-" Eliza coughed before she started in a copy of Umbridge's voice, "You shall become slaves of the Ministry~"


Ron heard her perfectly from where he was standing and he started to laugh loudly. Harry, Neville and Dean were trying their best to cover their laughter with their hands while the professor didn't look even half amused. Take it seriously, she said. However, looking at Seamus for his reaction, Eliza only saw him trying his best to contain a wide grin.


"What do you think it means?" Eliza asked, leaning towards him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.


Seamus shook his head in mock disapproval, "You're mental."


Even if it was fun to mock Umbridge, her class was next. Eliza took a seat in the back and Seamus sat next to her, making her chest feel lighter than yesterday when they fought.


"Does it mean mean we're fine now?" She whispered.


"As long as you don't speak about you know what." Seamus responded sincerely.


Well, that seem legit. She agreed and they turned towards the front of the class. Professor Umbridge was standing there in her pink cardigan and with such a wide smile on her face that it was making Eliza nauseous.


Per say, her speech about her class and their 'course aims' was not making any sense. Besides, Eliza opened the book and saw the bold under title: A Return to Basic Principles. The brunette frowned and flipped through the first few pages. She had done learned that with Remus a long time ago. It was really a beginner guide to theoretical defense against enemies.


Hermione raised her hand and asked all the right questions and one after another, the rest of the class started to ask what they found questionable. At some point, Eliza heard the dreadful Lord Voldemort and it seemed like Umbridge was ready to implode. She gave him something and ordered him to get it to professor McGonagall.


"He's got himself a lot of trouble." Seamus whispered next to her, going back to copying stuff from the book.


Eliza glanced at Ron and Hermione before looking down at her own book. Defense against the Dark Arts was one of the few classes she enjoyed and was good at but that was definitely going to change.


"I wonder what the ministry will say when students start dying one by one." Eliza mumbled, not even bothering to copy all that bullocks on her parchment.


Dinner was complicated. Eliza sat in between Hermione and Neville and ate quickly before leaving.


"Where are you going?" Ron asked in between bites.


Eliza shrugged, "I have something to do. See you later!" She said and ran out.


Once in front of Snape's office door, she pushed it softly only to see her owl watching her walk inside with big knowing eyes. Eliza glowered at Willy when she passed him but the bird seemed very content with their relationship.


"What is it, professor?"


Her eyes were still on the bird until something heavy has been placed on her hands. Her eyes widened at the content.


"Books?"


"These are for you and you alone. I have been informed of your training and I can assure you, these books will prepare you for what is to come." He spoke, his eyes blank and voice emotionless.


"Why me and not Harry? He is in danger," She was very confused. "I am-"


"You are Molley's daughter, therefore you are in danger. I will do my best at covering your identity from Death Eaters, but only because Dumbledore asked." He slurred, his eyes hardening yet voice not rising at all.


"Lucius Malfoy knows that I am alive. He knows I'm at Hogwarts." She informed him, just in case.


Snape only took a seat before placing his hands on the desk, looking very calm, "He knew from the beginning."


"Did you?" She asked, taking a step forward. "Did you know I was alive before I came to Hogwarts?"


He looked carefully into her eyes before he gave a one word answer.


"Yes. Now leave and I expect you here tomorrow evening at five sharp."


That night, Eliza grabbed Furvus and caressed his tummy until the cat fell asleep on her bed.


The tank of books were on her nightstand and they were all from the restriction part of the library. No one asked her about it but it didn't look inoffensive either. Eliza was sure she heard Lavender whisper something about it to Parvati when they entered the dormitory.


Thankfully, Hermione was there and made Eliza feel a bit better.


The next morning, Hermione woke Eliza up just in time for breakfast. They had Charms and Transfiguration in the morning and Eliza was sure to moan about it for the whole breakfast.


"I thought Snuffles already got that covered? Didn't he help you last summer with charms?" Hermione asked as they were walking to Charms.


Eliza sighed, "Yes, he did. But I'm not sure dad's pressure and Flitwick's pressure are anything alike."


"What do you mean pressure? He didn't attack you did he?" Ron asked curiously.


Eliza chuckled, "Of course he did. He even said he's going easy on me. Ha!"


Harry looked quite jealous afterwards so Eliza decided not to give any more insight of her bonding time with her father.


During Charms, the professor spoke for the first fifteen minutes about the importance of the O.W.Ls. Once they begun their lesson, Eliza found herself steady for once.


"I see you've been working on your control, Molley." Professor Flitwick said, smiling when he saw her summon a pillow.


Next was Transfiguration where professor McGonagall spoke about the O.W.Ls as well for less than fifteen minutes. The rest of the lesson was harder than Eliza expected. Vanishing Spells were not going the way Eliza wanted. She couldn't vanish a snail but when she tried it funnily on Neville, half of his body vanished. McGonagall glowered for the whole lesson at Eliza but the brunette was quite achieved with what she's done.


Dinner felt like the time where everyone could take a breath before doing homework for the whole night. Eliza was half asleep when she remembered she had to go begin her training with Snape, whatever that was.


"Hey, where are you going?" Eliza asked Harry when he got up from the table and followed her outside the Great Hall.


"Detention with Umbridge. What about you?"


She froze, "Um- I'm going to practice Charms. I don't want to fail." She trailed, hoping Harry believed her.


"By the way, you are a good flier. Why don't you try for the Quidditch team? They're having tryouts this Friday to find a Keeper." He changed the subject completely to Eliza's relief.


"I told you before that I have a problem with authority. I respect the Quidditch team and everything but having someone order me around is not exactly what I like."


Harry rolled his eyes, "It's not ordering around. It's about playing as a team and smart."


"Exactly. I have no team spirit." She said before taking a turn towards the dungeon.


If Harry noticed, he didn't say anything.


Snape was busy and Eliza ended up spending their first day of training copying down offensive spells.


"Tomorrow, five sharp." Snape said calmly while reading some document.


Eliza rolled her eyes and yawned. On the way back to the common room, she wondered if that training meant she could be spared of the Potions homework.


However, even if that was possible, there was so much homework for every single subject that she found herself focusing on nothing but that. Her mother's diary was only good for Potions but it didn't have essays included so she had to do that herself. Entries for her Divination's dream diary were done during breakfast with Ron and Harry. Transfiguration and Charms were classes that were actually going somewhere and Eliza succeeded vanishing the snail and tried her luck again with Neville.


"Molley! This isn't a game!" Professor McGonagall screamed at her.


But Eliza was high-fiving Ron and Harry, laughing. Neville was left without his right hand and left leg. It was the second time he needed McGonagall to get his body parts back ad Eliza was intrigued what was that spell.


Herbology, Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures were going very well. Unlike her girls classmates, Eliza preferred Hagrid's more dangerous creatures because it would keep everyone tense. For example, Malfoy was taking glances at her whenever she was in sight and Zabini was picking on the signs.


At five sharp, Eliza would sneak out and go to what was another boring training session with Snape.


"Are we going to use magic anytime soon?" She asked after writing down half of another book.


"I'm not your father, Black. I'm not running around attacking everything my eyes set on. Be silent and copy the rest." Snape said calmly.


Eliza scrunched her nose and looked down at her parchment. If only she could finish it and forget about the rest.


As if Snape could read her mind, he continued, "Do not think that our training session will exempt you from doing your Potions homework."


She narrowed her eyes at him and decided not to say anything anymore. She had an essay about moonstones she had to do later.


Friday came and passed just as fast as the rest of the week. Eliza didn't try for the available spot in the Gryffindor Quidditch team; she had enough on her plate. However, she did find it easier to finish her homework with less to no people in the dormitory.


She was checking her Astronomy homework when she saw Furvus look at her very, very closely.


"What's wrong?" The green eyed witch asked curiously.


Furvus gave a firm meow before pointing at the window.


"What does that mean?"


Meow, meow, meow. That was even more confusing, especially after the cat narrowed his eyes at his owner. He pointed his paw at the wndow before he pointed his head at the door.


"Ah~ you have to leave?" She asked and the cat nodded. "Does it have anything to do with the Order?" She continued, her eyes narrowing at the mere idea.


However, Furvus wasn't waiting for her agreement, he was just informing her. With one last glance at her, he ran out the door.


Sunday passed just like Saturday but Eliza was feeling better when she realized she finished most of the work. She could finally spend time with her friends and was really happy to talk again to Seamus as if nothing happened.


When Monday came around, she noticed Hermione during breakfast, reading from the Daily Prophet. Eliza could only pick the last part but that was enough.


Having already revolutionized the teaching of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dolores Umbridge will, as high inquisitor, have powers to address the seriously falling standards at Hogwarts School.


"What the-?" Eliza asked confused, "She's going to be even more active than she is?"


Hermione nodded slowly, "She will go around, having the right to discredit the professors if she feels like it."


"I can't wait to see McGonagall's opinion on that during Transfiguration." Ron started bemusedly but no one looked amused.

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