Elizabeth found the next few days passed in a blur. She had managed to show her cousin up in Potions and not annoy Professor Snape like the rest of Gryffindor did. Yet he like every other Professor would look at her the same way they did when she had came over the summer.
The other students had been giving rave reviews of Professor Moody's DADA class. This caused the Gryffindor fourth years to look forward to their Thursday class with enthusiasm. Ron's hand wrapped around Elizabeth's wrist as he dragged her towards DADA earlier then needed. Harry was pushing her and Ron on as the three of them where also swept up in the crowd heading there.
When the doors opened the two boys and Hermione who had found her way from the library found a seat in the front row. Whilst Elizabeth decided to sit back a little next too Neville. Professor Moody walked in and told them all to put their books away. An order that he barked at the students almost challenging them to question him. He grabbed the class roster and began to call out names, his normal eye moving steadily down the list while his magical eye swivelled around, fixing upon each student as he or she answered.
Upon reaching her name a look passed over his face as it had with all the other teachers. There was something else though that she would have missed if she hadn't been looking hatred and lust.
Moody felt his predecessor had left the class well equip to deal with dark animals but unprepared for curses. He then surprised the class with his next question,"So . . . do any of you know which curses are most heavily punished by wizarding law?"
Ron was the first to answer, providing the class with the Imperius Curse. Though to be honest the three spiders on the professors desk were a far bigger surprise. He picked one up and muttered softly, "Imperio!" Everyone began to laugh as the spider danced and performed. Elizabeth felt a slight smirk form as she could see the trouble that this could cause for many people.
Moody went into details of this curse, offering insight into how it had been used back in the day by many to get out of punishment for their crimes. He gave them small satisfaction in saying it could be fought. Yet it was scary to think that he may try and see if someone had the strength of character to hold it off.
Neville put his hand up and gave the next curse in a small voice "… The Cruciatus Curse". The words where hardly out of his mouth before Elizabeth felt him stiffen and a horror look cross his face. The urge to hug Neville and take away the pain filled Elizabeth. Before she could so much as put a comforting hand on his shoulder Hermione screamed for it to stop. She like several other Gryffindor's had seen the look plastered on Neville's face. With everyone's attention now on Neville, Elizabeth chanced a look at moody, and on his face a look so different from Neville's was plastered. His had a twisted look of power and satisfaction that scared her a little.
Elizabeth looked away from her teacher and back to the boy sitting next to her. His face had regained some colour but his body was still stiff and his hands still clutched the table.
She know there was a story behind the boys reaction but wasn't going to pry into his private life. Especially since it looked like nobody knew this particular story. A green light blinded her, this particular curse she didn't need to be told, and she like everyone else knew its story. She could feel all eyes in the room move to Harry. Yet hers stayed trained on the boy next to her who was still a little pale.
For the remained of the class the students copied notes down about the three curses. Elizabeth's eyes roamed between Neville, the board and Moody. There was something there that unsettled her he had taken far to much pleasure in torturing his class.
When class ended Elizabeth wanted to stay close to Neville because he seemed to need a friend. It didn't take long for the others to catch up and try to comfort him as well. Professor Moody took Neville away for a chat and Elizabeth's thoughts begun to wonder. Neville's words before leaving made her think that Harry's history with those curses was public; his was more of a private battle. She filed it away knowing that one day she would need this information to help her housemate. Her thoughts kept coming back to their last class and how the Professor reacted to various parts of the class.
Finally she decided to do something to help the twins and Lee Jordan with their plans to age themselves. She knew they were never going to get past the age restrictions but she couldn't help but see a challenge. They had been discussing potions last time she heard and she knew that their skills lay more with Charms. There was an aging potion she knew of that was easier to brew and rather affective, right up the twin's alley she thought.
Hermione was sitting in a corner of the library pouring over a pile of books, Elizabeth steered clear of her and went looking for what she needed. After borrowing the book, she headed back to the tower. Only to find the Twins hidden away in a corner glued to a piece of parchment. "So boys, I have something for you but first tell me what's going on the frown on your faces is too much to bare." Judging by the way they jumped she guessed it was one of the few times that someone had managed to sneak up on them.
"Ok boys, what's on the parchment?" she said after seeing them try to hide a note from her. The boys looked at each other and a silent conversation passed between them before they handed it to her willingly. She looked over the top of the parchment and the twins had cress fallen faces.
"We know its bad but he did try to rip us off and we are only tying to get what's ours." George commented before he realised that if looks could kill he would be a pile of ashes right about now.
Yet Fred had no self-preservation "Look he ripped us off and he deserves everything we may or may not do to him."
Elizabeth just shook her head before she started to speak "I told you to be careful but that wont help you now. Since you have clearly decided to be stupid finish the letter and I'll see if I can edit it for you. Then it will be harder to prove blackmail or anything else that could land you in hot water." Before they even had a chance Elizabeth looked them in the eye and held up her hand, "Do it this way or McGonagall will find out about it and the Aging Potion you're about to brew for entry into the Tri Wizard Tournament."
"But we aren't about to brew a potion," Fred said in confusion. It was then that Georges eyes found the book still in Elizabeth's hand. "Freddie my boy we are. Looks like Lizzybet has found us a way."
"It won't work if you ask me but it will be worth a laugh watching you two try it. No one is to know I helped you in anyway with either of these little problems. I will see you tomorrow."
With that she placed the book on the table and walked up to her room to work on her own problematic homework. Hermione came up a short time later with a box wanting her to buy a badge to support S.P.E.W her fight for House Elves. Elizabeth made herself clear that she would never support this cause of action.
Plus if Hermione wanted to make a real difference she would learn more about her new culture and stop forcing her beliefs on others. She went to bed ready to suffocate her cousin in her sleep.
