Chapter Fourteen:

Unexpected Positions

The next week gave plenty of time for Elizabeth to keep her mind off Harry, and not end up alone with him. They were still cleaning the house in full force, and often were joined by the members of the Order. Tonks and Alain seemed to come around most often, and Alain spent quite a bit of time talking to Elizabeth whenever he was over. Apparently, Helene was starting to become more excited about Hogwarts as it was going closer. Mainly because of Elizabeth's promise that Helene would have a friend when she got there.

Elizabeth was still sleeping badly, and seemed to be coasting on only a few hours' sleep every night. It was beginning to catch up to her. She still had nightmares, though they were further in between now. Instead, Elizabeth found herself having just plain strange dreams—the one of the talking badger looking for a crown had repeated a few more times, and she was also having ones about Hogwarts, where she was hiding in dark shadows but not as if she were hiding from someone. It always felt to her she was more waiting. And strangest of all, a dream about a large, empty room that had an archway positioned in the middle of it. One that whispered whenever Elizabeth came closer—

There was a knock on the door and Elizabeth awoke with a start. She lay still in her bed for a moment, frowning at the ceiling. Couldn't she get one night of peace? The knocking came again and Elizabeth sighed, sitting up and pushing on her glasses as she went to the door. Hermione was on the other side.

"Mrs. Weasley has breakfast done," she said, "Harry's already left for his hearing."

Elizabeth nodded, frowning a little. She'd wished she'd have gotten up early enough to wish Harry luck at the hearing...At least she knew he'd be fine. There was no way they could expel him for defending himself.

She got dressed, heading down to the kitchen. Everyone else was already there, fixing themselves plates of food. Elizabeth sat down next to Hermione, helping herself to bacon and eggs.

"Do you think Harry's hearing will go well?" Hermione asked. They knew it wouldn't be until nine in the morning, a couple of hours away.

"I'm sure it will," Elizabeth said. They couldn't expel Harry for defending his own life. Besides, Elizabeth hadn't had any sickening feelings when she woke up, despite her strange dreams. That had to mean a good thing, right?

They spend the morning finishing up the last bit of the dining room they'd been working on, and by the time lunch came, Elizabeth was exhausted again. She was really hoping once she was away from the creepiness of Grimmauld Place and in the familiar comfort of Hogwarts, she'd have less nightmares and better night sleeps. She could barely function through cleaning like this. Having to go through her O.W.L. year in a constant state of lack of sleep?

Mrs. Weasley was just finishing making lunch when Elizabeth, Hermione, and Ron came in. Fred, George, and Ginny were already there, sitting at one side of the table and talking about Quidditch with Sirius. Elizabeth went over to help Mrs. Weasley get out plates when the kitchen door opened and she looked over her shoulder to see Harry had returned with Mr. Weasley. Immediately, Mrs. Weasley put down the spoon she'd been using on the mashed potatoes and hurried over.

"How did it go?" she asked.

"He was cleared," Mr. Weasley said, and there was an uproar of cheers. Elizabeth grinned brightly, still standing where she was with the plates. "They tried to sabotage the hearing. Moved it up an hour early at the last minute and had him tried in front of a full Wizengamot court."

"What?" Elizabeth asked, nearly dropping the plates, but she managed to keep hold on them, "What about Uncle Xavier? He didn't warn you?"

Fred, George, and Ginny hadn't seemed to hear. They were prancing around in a circle and chanting "He got off!"

"Settle down, you three," Mr. Weasley said, then turned to the others, "Xavier said they didn't even tell him. He knew there was a case, but he didn't realize it would be Harry's until Harry came in—he thought that Harry was just going to be questioned by Amelia Bones later on and this case was over something different. They tried to trick Dumbledore as well, but he managed to show up. They weren't going to sentence Harry with Dumbledore right there."

"I knew it!" Ron said excitedly, "You always get away with stuff!"

"They were bound to clear you," Hermione said in a weak, shaking voice, "There was no case against you, none at all..."

"Everyone seems quite released, though, considering they all knew I'd get off."

Elizabeth giggled a little, coming on over to the table and setting the plates down as she grinned at Harry.

"Bet it's a relief," she said, "To have all this over."

"He got off, he got off, he got off!"

"That's enough, settle down!" Mr. Weasley called to Fred, George, and Ginny before turning back towards Mrs. Weasley and Sirius, "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry—"

"What?" Sirius asked, sitting up straighter.

"He got off, he got off, he got off!"

"Be quiet, you three!" Mr. Weasley snapped, "Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on level nine, they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."

"Absolutely. We'll tell him, don't worry."

Elizabeth looked over to Harry, whom had come over to help her with the plates.

"Mr. Malfoy was visiting Mr. Fudge?" she asked softly, knowing the others wouldn't hear her with Fred, George, and Ginny's chanting and Mr. Weasley giving his goodbyes.

"I asked Mr. Weasley if he could be Imperiused, but they don't think he is," Harry replied.

"Harry dear, leave those alone and sit down," Mrs. Weasley said, "Have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast..."

Elizabeth sat down next to Harry, as Hermione and Ron sat across from them. Ron was still grinning brightly as he started loading everyone's plates with food.

"'Course, once Dumbledore turned up on your side, there was no way they were going to convict you," Ron said simply.

"Yeah, he swung it for me," Harry said, though there was an odd tone in his voice. Elizabeth watched him closely, but before she could ask, Harry suddenly slapped his hand to the scar on his forehead, rubbing it.

"You okay?" Elizabeth asked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, it's nothing," Harry muttered, "Just my scar. It happens all the time now..."

Elizabeth studied her friend, hand still on his shoulder. Ron, however, seemed to think it was better to change the subject before they were overheard.

"I bet Dumbledore turns up this evening," he said, "To celebrate with us, you know."

"I don't think he'll be able to, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said as she divided out chicken between them, "He's really busy at the moment."

Harry looked upset at that, and Elizabeth wondered what was up with Harry. She didn't ask, however, knowing he wasn't going to talk if he really didn't want to, and she didn't want to pressure him when he'd just gotten done with the hearing. Instead, she turned to her own lunch, just enjoying the relief of knowing Harry was free.

The rest of the summer passed in a busy routine of cleaning, and odd dreams. The archway from the empty room seemed to sneak its way into Elizabeth's dreams, no matter what they had been about. Once, she had dreamed she was having a picnic with her friends—one of the rare, perfectly normal dreams she had—only to see the archway sitting in the distance, the whispers seeming to call to her across the field.

One thing about the constant activity, however, is it allowed her to slowly start dealing with her awkwardness and feelings towards Harry. Being around him all day, every day, helped her grow used to it. She didn't blush nearly as much at his smile—though it did still send her stomach into flips—and she was getting to where she was able to keep from staring at him far too much during meals or when they were cleaning. One thing she did do, however, was try to be sure she was never actually alone with Harry. That was when things tended to get awkward, like one afternoon when the two were cleaning together in a formal sitting room, and they were off in a corner to themselves. Elizabeth knew she spent the whole time avoiding Harry's gaze, and knew her face was warm the entire time. She had no idea what Harry had to be thinking of her after that.

When the last day of term came, so did their letters with the new school lists. Elizabeth had started to worry over it, so it had been a relief when Mr. Weasley came up and gave Elizabeth her letter while she was packing up her trunk for the train the following day.

Elizabeth took her letter, instantly realizing there was a bit of a lump in it. Confused, she realized that instead of the usual two letters, there were three, as well as a small badge. Black and yellow, with the image of a badger on it and the letter 'P' engraved over it.

Prefect? Something had to be wrong. Elizabeth would never be made prefect. Quickly, she dug through her letters. One was a reminder of the time that the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross, the second was a list of her school books, and then there was the third, written in her Head-of-House—Professor Sprout's hand:

Miss Elizabeth Martin,

I am pleased to inform you that you have been awarded the position of prefect for your fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As I am sure you are aware, this is a job that requires patience, responsibility, and fairness. I trust that you will make our House proud and uphold the responsibilities with grace and not take advantage of the position.

On the Hogwarts Express, you will be required to report to the Prefect Carriage where the Head Boy and Girl will be informing you of your duties. I look forward to seeing you flourish in this new role.

Pomona Sprout

Head of Hufflepuff

Elizabeth read over the letter three times, sure she had to be reading it wrong. Each time, however, the words were the same. She was a prefect. Somehow, despite the trouble she'd gotten into with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Professor Sprout trusted her with being a prefect...Elizabeth grinned a little, feeling a sense of pride at that. This really was great. She was prefect.

She knew Hermione would have made prefect, too, but she wondered if Harry or Ron did. The trouble they got into, she doubted they would, but she had also doubted she would have gotten the badge. Maybe one of them had a surprise waiting, too.

Elizabeth gripped the badge tight in her hand, heading on down the stairs. She passed Hermione—with Hedwig on her shoulder—and was excitedly told that she was prefect—and so was Ron.

That one was surprising. She had thought, if either of them had gotten the badge, it would be Harry. Elizabeth frowned, watching Hermione disappear into her room before she headed on to where Harry and Ron had been staying. Harry was in the room by himself, leaning over his trunk with his eyes closed. Elizabeth frowned, staying in the doorway. She suddenly realized this meant that all his friends were prefects, yet he wasn't...Elizabeth frowned, looking down at the badge in her own hand.

"You too?"

Elizabeth jerked her head up, then shoved her badge into her pocket and gave Harry a weak grin.

"Please don't tell them," she said, "I just...I'll tell them tomorrow, when we're on the train..."

Harry nodded, a sour look on his face as he looked back down to his trunk. Elizabeth moved closer, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay to be jealous," she said softly. Harry looked at her, a bit startled. Elizabeth grinned softly at him.

"It's okay," she said again, "You've got a lot you're going through, would you really want all this on you, too?"

Harry fell quiet, studying Elizabeth. Slowly, he started to grin a little as he seemed to think over what she said.

"Yeah, you're right," he said, "Thanks, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth grinned back at him. They stood there in silence, so close together. Elizabeth suddenly realized that this was the first time they were this close, and fully alone, since the Patronus practice when he'd arrived the month before...

"What about you?" Harry asked, "You've gone through a lot, too."

Elizabeth sighed, letting her hand fall a bit, though after a moment she realized her hand had landed on his. She blushed a little, but couldn't bring herself to move it away.

"I'm hoping I can handle it," she said, glancing back up at Harry to find him staring at her. She felt her cheeks grow warmer. "I really didn't want this, honestly..."

"I think you'll be brilliant."

Elizabeth's blush deepened as she grinned at Harry.

"Thanks," she said softly.

Harry grinned back. Again, Elizabeth was aware of how close they were, of Harry's hand under hers...She just watched Harry, her heart racing more now. For a split second, she could have sworn Harry was leaning towards her—

And the door banged open behind them. Elizabeth squeaked and jumped away from Harry, spinning around to see Ron coming in with a bright grin, apparently oblivious to what he'd just interrupted.

"Just caught her!" he said, "She says she'll get the Cleansweep if she can."

"You're getting a new broom?" Elizabeth managed, her voice a bit higher than it should be. Her face was still very warm. She was aware of Harry behind her, but she didn't dare look at him. This was exactly why she was trying to stay away from being alone with Harry. Things started going in directions that they shouldn't. Harry was her friend, she needed to keep that in check.

"Yeah, Mum said she'd try to get me something for becoming prefect," Ron said, glancing between Harry and Elizabeth, an odd look forming over his face. Elizabeth tensed a little.

"I need to go finish packing," she said quickly, "I'll see you at dinner."

Without waiting for a response, Elizabeth hurried on out of the room. She couldn't help but remember what Hermione had told her. Even Ron was starting to notice...She really needed to get ahold of herself.

When Elizabeth went down to dinner that night, she noticed there was a banner hanging over the table: CONGRATULATIONS RON AND HERMIONE—NEW PREFECTS. Elizabeth felt a bit of relief that her name wasn't on it. It seemed Harry was keeping quiet about her making prefect. Elizabeth hated attention being on her.

Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the room, looking more excited and cheerful than Elizabeth had seen her since arriving at Grimmauld Place. Elizabeth noticed that the others had already came in and were eyeing the decorations.

"I thought we'd have a little party, not a sit-down dinner," Mrs. Weasley said happily. "Your father and Bill are on their way, Ron, I've sent them both owls and they're thrilled."

Soon enough, they were all sitting at the table, and they had guests that night. Tonks and Kingsley were staying for dinner. Elizabeth noted Alain wasn't staying tonight, but the fact that his sister was starting Hogwarts tomorrow, Elizabeth wasn't surprised.

Determined not to let any awkwardness get in the way tonight, Elizabeth made a point not to avoid Harry like last time. She went and grabbed a couple of butterbeers, bringing one over to him with a grin. She could feel herself blushing a little, but she couldn't ignore Harry. That would just make things worse.

"Oh, Alastor, I am glad you're here," Mrs. Weasley said and Elizabeth looked over to see Mad-Eye Moody had come in. Elizabeth realized—as Mrs. Weasley was asking about the locked desk upstairs and Moody replied that it definitely was a boggart—that this was the first time she'd actually really been around the real Mad-Eye Moody. All the last school year, she'd been taught by an imposter. She watched Moody turn his attention to Ron, talking about how people in authority usually were subject to curses. Ron paled, and Elizabeth fidgeted a little herself.

"Well, I think a toast is in order," Mr. Weasley said, off to change the subject, "To Ron and Hermione, the new Gryffindor prefects!"

Everyone joined in the toast, and Elizabeth could see Harry glance at her from the corner of her eye. She just gave him a small grin.

"I was never a prefect myself," Tonks said—Elizabeth saw her hair was red today, "My Head of House said I lacked certain necessary qualities."

"Like what?" Ginny asked.

"Like the ability to behave myself."

Elizabeth snorted into her butterbeer as Ginny laughed and Hermione looked offended.

"What about you, Sirius?" Ginny asked as she started to pile food on her plate. Elizabeth moved over to fix herself a plate as well.

"No one would have made me a prefect," Sirius said with a laugh, "I spent too much time in detention with James. Lupin was the good buy, he got the badge."

"I think Dumbledore might have hoped that I would be able to exercise some control over my best friends," Lupin said, smirking a little, "I need scarcely say that I failed dismally."

Elizabeth giggled again, moving away from the table with Harry to talk with him as they ate. Ron was nearby, raving about his new broom. Elizabeth saw Fred and George were talking with Mundungus—'When did he get here?' she asked herself—in a corner. Hermione was chatting with Lupin about house elves, and Mrs. Weasley was fretting over Bill's hair.

"Good way to spend our last night of holiday," Elizabeth said, looking around the room, "I'm looking forward to getting back to Hogwarts, though."

"Yeah, I am too," Harry said, though he was looking to Sirius, "I feel a little bad about leaving him alone..."

"Lupin's here," Elizabeth reminded Harry, "And the Order members will be here all the time. He won't be here by himself."

"I guess you're right..."

Elizabeth grinned softly at Harry. This was one of the things she liked most about him. He was so caring about others.

"It'll be fine," she said again, "And it's not like we can't write him, as long as we're careful how we word things. Though I'm not sure 'Snuffles' is a good name...It's a bit obvious we're writing to someone we don't want identified, isn't it?"

"That's a good point," Harry said with a sigh, "We're going to have to come up with something, aren't we?"

"Or just not use names. Hedwig will know who you're sending it to."

Harry nodded again, frowning still. Elizabeth didn't get a chance to say anything else, though, because Mad-Eye Moody had come over to them as Mrs. Weasley left to go deal with the boggart.

"You're Martin, right?" Moody asked, his normal eye on her while his magical one was fixed on Mundungus nearby, "I knew your father. He was a hell of an Auror."

Elizabeth stared at Moody. She knew her father had been an Auror, and had been a member of the original Order of the Phoenix. Yet somehow, she didn't think to make the connection that he and Moody had worked together once.

"Here, I got something that might interest the both of you," Moody said, pulling an old picture from his robe. "Original Order of the Phoenix. Found it last night when I was looking for my spare Invisibility Cloak, seeing as Podmore hasn't had the manners to return my best one...Thought people might like to see it."

Elizabeth, curious, leaned closer to Harry as he took the picture. She stared down at the picture, and here were many people she didn't recognize, but some she did. Hagrid was unmistakable, towering over everyone else. Moody and Dumbledore were standing next to each other, both of them looking no different than they did now—except, maybe, Moody's nose was whole here—there were Neville's parents and Elizabeth's heart leapt to her throat. They looked so much more healthy and normal than the shell of people she saw at St. Mungo's occasionally. She knew they'd been Aurors, that they'd been tortured into insanity, but she didn't realize they had been members of the Order of the Phoenix like her father had been...

Elizabeth moved her gaze past them, finding herself seeking out a familiar face. Her father was in this image somewhere...She looked past the images of a much younger Lupin and Sirius—both looking healthier than they did now—and Harry's parents were there as well—she couldn't help but marvel at how much Harry looked like is father, even to the same way they grinned...

And then there he was. A man Elizabeth knew even though she'd never met him. Tall, with dark hair and the same stormy gray eyes Elizabeth herself had. Outside of that, however, he looked far look like Elizabeth's brother than herself. It was her father, Alexander Martin...Elizabeth couldn't help but wonder how long this picture was taken before her father had been killed...

Harry was shifting uncomfortably next to Elizabeth and she glanced at him to see him staring at the picture himself, most likely locked on his own parents. He was frowning, as if seeing his parents staring back at him wasn't something he wanted right now. Elizabeth didn't understand. She thought it was interesting—although sad, in a way—to see her father when he was alive, part of a group that fought against Voldemort...

"Listen," Harry said suddenly, "I've just remembered, I haven't packed my..."

Harry trailed off, glancing to Elizabeth. He wanted to get away, she could see it in his face. He was saved from an excuse, however, as Sirius noticed the picture and called to Moody. Moody turned away, taking the picture back from Harry as he started off across the room. Harry started to move off, but Elizabeth caught his wrist.

"I just want to head on to bed," Harry said, "I'm tired."

Elizabeth nodded a little. She knew it was more likely Harry just wanted time to himself, so she nodded a bit. Braving herself, she leaned up and kissed Harry lightly on the cheek.

"G'night," she said, feeling herself blush. One that deepened at the say Harry stared at her. Elizabeth grinned a little and turned, hurrying off towards Ginny and Tonks—ignoring the look Hermione was giving her—and told herself that it was just a friendly thing. Harry wouldn't read too much into it, right?