Whoo, I was able to uphold my weekly update plan! I wasn't sure I would be updating this week, because school has been difficult, and chapters for this fic always take a while to write. But, I doing it, so it's worth it. Also, I have recently downloaded a good grammar checking app on my computer, so I spent a good part of yesterday going through every chapter, fixing every grammar mistake I could find, and editing a couple of things throughout the chapters. So if you are rereading a chapter and notice something different, you'll know why.
This chapter involves a time jump, and overall was a way to bridge the events of Elizabeth's first week of school, the Triwizard Tournament, and a new story arc I'm introducing. So it's a bit shorter than usual. Enjoy!
After her encounter with Neville, Elizabeth had a lot to think about. She hadn't known all the terrible things Neville had to go through and felt awful for him. He told her he went to visit them every school break, and how hard it was to see them, particularly his dad, who had endured more curses than his mother, and suffered more because of it. He told her that he had a whole drawer full of gum wrappers at home because whenever he saw his mum, she would always give him fistfuls of gum wrappers. He had counted them many times, and would hold them in his hand whenever he felt especially sad about his parents, but was careful not to let them rip. They were all he had of his mum.
The whole time, he had tears running down his face. He looked so unhappy, so miserable at the thought of what his parent's lives were like. Elizabeth comforted him the best she could, but truly, she couldn't change his situation, just like he couldn't change hers. The best they could do was offer soothing words to each other, and an ear to listen.
Neville became one of Elizabeth's friends after that. They'd sit across each other during meals, and talk for a bit. Ginny didn't seem to mind Neville, and as it turned out, Neville liked quidditch as well, even though he was a fan of the Appleby Arrows. The three of them would talk about quidditch and lessons, and generally enjoyed each other's company.
School was going alright. Elizabeth had her weekly transfiguration tutoring sessions with Minerva and was slowly improving. She had gotten an E on her end-of-year exam for her second year and was slowly working her way up to having an E in transfiguration once more. She knew it would never be her strong suit, since it heavily required wandwork and wasn't as simple as Charms, but did agree with her mum that there was no reason not to try to be better.
She had been able to keep her perfect O in potions, and in astronomy. Astronomy was her easiest class by far since she had memorized the stars, planets, and moons ages ago since they were used for navigation when she was born. Potions was nearly as easy, except for Snape's attitude. He was as cold as ever, but at least didn't pick on her as much since she had proven herself capable of brewing more difficult potions. Sure, he made his comments, but Elizabeth was able to hold her tongue. (Most of the time, anyway.)
But not everything was fine. Something had been clawing away at her mind for the past few weeks. Elizabeth finally decided to ask her mum about it.
Elizabeth walked into her mum's quarters, hoping she was there. "Morning, Earl." She greeted the small tortoise as she passed his terrarium. Minerva had allowed her to keep him when she finally made him all tortoise and no teacup. She claimed he would serve as a reminder to work hard, but Elizabeth had suspicions she liked him just as much as Elizabeth did.
"Mum?" She called, poking her head in the empty kitchen in search of Minerva.
"In my office! Don't yell!" Minerva replied, also yelling.
Elizabeth entered her adoptive mother's office, and found her by one of the many bookshelves in the room, pulling out a bright purple book.
"Sorry for yelling." Elizabeth said, as a way to announce her presence and to apologize.
"Apology accepted. Now, what are you doing here in the middle of a break from lessons? If I recall correctly, we just spent a whole class together. I thought you'd want a break from your professor." Minerva said.
"Well, I just had a question. Of course, if I'm no longer welcome here, I'll just take Earl and go." Elizabeth proposed jokingly.
"No, that's not necessary. You know you're always welcome here. I'm just surprised is all." Minerva amended.
"Alright." Elizabeth said.
"What was your question?" Minerva asked.
Now was the difficult part of the conversation. Elizabeth wasn't looking forward to it.
"Oh. I was just wondering…. How about we get another tortoise for Earl? He looked a little lonely when I came in." Elizabeth made up, having lost her nerve.
Minerva looked skeptical. Would she believe it?
"I think Earl is fine on his own. Is that the question you really wanted to ask?"
Elizabeth nodded. Seeing that it was nearly time for her next lesson, she grabbed her bookbag and left.
Ever since her talk with Neville that first week of term, Elizabeth couldn't stop thinking about her family. She had never found out what happened to them after the duel, or how her family had died. The grief had been so fresh last summer, and she used her schoolwork as a way to cope. Then when the school year had started, she didn't have the heart to do any research, not when she was trying to adjust to a new normal. Then she had helped Hagrid with his case with Buckbeak and had tried reaching out to Sirius. She had thought of her family, of course, but didn't entertain the thoughts very long. It would become too sad and painful.
But now, having re-lived that moment, there was a nagging voice in the back of her head, telling her to find out what had happened in the aftermath of the duel. Helena hadn't told her much, Elizabeth figured it was hard for her to talk about.
After she failed at asking Minerva about her family, hoping she would know something, Elizabeth didn't have the courage to try again. What if Minerva thought Elizabeth wasn't happy with her or wished Minerva hadn't adopted her? Elizabeth already kept her last name instead of changing it to McGonagall. But that was only to remember her parents and little brother by. But still, she didn't want Minerva to worry.
Elizabeth made several attempts to go to the library over the next few weeks in order to research the past she had left behind but always ended up reading a book on potions or doing homework. It just felt too big a task to undergo.
Time slipped by, and it was now late October. In fact, it was the day that students from the two other schools competing would be arriving at Hogwarts! Elizabeth was excited for the Triwizard Tournament to begin and hoped it would be worth missing quidditch for a year.
The students from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons certainly made an impression. While Ron was swooning for Krum, Ginny, Hermione, and Elizabeth were admiring the handsome French and Bulgarian boys.
Much to Elizabeth's surprise, Dumbledore announced that all the students of Hogwarts would be singing the school song as a welcome.
"I didn't know we had a school song. I won't know any of the words." Elizabeth whispered to Ginny as they all stood.
"You'll see what it's like, don't worry." Ginny whispered back.
She was right. Dumbledore waved his wand, and a long string of silver appeared in the air, and golden words filled it in. Elizabeth was shocked as everyone else started to sing.
She knew the lyrics. She and Helena had made them up when she was really little one afternoon when they were bored and had finished their private lessons. They had added lines and words over the years, up until Elizabeth was around nine. Their parents had always thought it was funny and adorable. Perhaps one of the founders or her parents had made it the official school song?
As they sat, Elizabeth realized what the song meant. It was a thing from her past that she could have learned about, but hadn't, because of her growing aversion to her past. The universe was sending her a sign.
She had to find out more about the past she had missed.
Guys, this chapter took a while to write, even though it's shorter than most have been recently. So please, take a little time to review below, it really keeps me motivated. And, if I'm motivated, chapters will come out faster!
Also, I am writing another story right now that is based on the reader's suggestions and requests. It's called Students Through Professor's Eyes. Every chapter is different and has a different tone, so I think it could be worthwhile. Scarlet out.