Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Ironhidensh, your comment was especially appreciated. I've experienced some backlash concerning this story and the choices I have made concerning its content, so to see a comment like yours, where you politely voice your opinion and agree to go along with the story was very refreshing and made me feel good about the story. It would have been fun to write Luna as Harry's hostage, but they only attended the ball as friends, and that was only because Elizabeth set them up. She is a friend to him, but they aren't anything more. as I was thinking through that chapter and how it would go, it just made the most sense to go with the canon hostages.
"Mum! Mum!" Elizabeth yelled as she ran into the McGonagall quarters. She sprinted through the rooms and found Minerva in her office.
"Have you read the paper today?" She asked.
"Yes, I have. Hours ago when you were still asleep." Minerva replied as she was grading sixth-year Transfiguration essays.
"It's awful! Horrible! How could Rita Skeeter write this?" Elizabeth lamented to her adoptive mother.
"She is a woman of no moral code, I'm afraid. She's written many articles like this in the past, though never to such a vicious extent." Minerva explained.
"I knew that she wasn't a good person, we both know the articles she's written on me, but this is just terrible! I hope Hagrid's alright…" Elizabeth said, looking out the window onto the Hogwarts grounds. In the distance, she saw Hagrid's hut, and could just faintly tell that the windows and the door were shut.
"Professor Dumbledore and I went down to see him after we found out. He hasn't been taking it well at all. He was afraid that we were there to sack him." Minerva reported.
"Oh, poor Hagrid. He's a wonderful teacher, he doesn't deserve this scrutiny." Elizabeth said sadly. She understood the damage and doubt a mean article could cause well, considering Rita Skeeter's penchant for gossip and her inexplicable ability to cause it, and get her name in the paper, despite her dislike of it.
"I'm glad you feel that way. I've baked some biscuits for him, and they're nearly done. My presence wasn't as soothing as I hoped it'd be, so you delivering them might be a better solution." Minerva stated as she placed a newly graded piece of parchment on top of a steadily growing pile.
"Now? Do you think he'll be up for it?" Elizabeth asked. She didn't want to make anything worse for him.
"You need only knock. If he doesn't want company, he'll let you know. But I think it might be better if he wasn't shutting everyone out." Minerva advised.
"I understand. I'll be happy to help him in any way I can." Elizabeth said.
Ten minutes later found Elizabeth walking across the grounds to Hagrid's hut, a small basket of warm chocolate chip biscuits lightly swinging on her arm in the cold February air. Novo was trotting after her. She had brought him along for emotional support for Hagrid. He did have an affinity for animals, after all. And Novo could be so comforting, petting him for a little while could be downright therapeutic.
She approached the hut and found the windows boarded up with wood. Not a good sign at all. She went to knock on the door, and could faintly hear sobbing.
"Hagrid? It's Elizabeth. May I come in?" she shouted loud enough for him to hear.
"I'd prefer teh be alone!" Hagrid called back.
Elizabeth sighed. She didn't want to push, but she couldn't stand to hear Hagrid sob over the article. Suddenly, sobs weren't the only thing she could hear. She heard cruel laughter and taunts.
"I always knew there was something off about that oaf. At least he has the decency to lock himself away from us normal people!" Draco Malfoy said very loudly from a few feet away, Crabbe and Goyle flanking his sides.
Elizabeth could feel her anger at Malfoy rise, and she turned on her heel and stormed over to him.
"You leave him alone, you churl! This is Hagrid's property, or did you forget? Furthermore, to besmirch him on his own land is a deed of a horrid caliber!" she scolded, using words only really used from the time she was born. It was a habit of hers, she used words like that only when she was extremely angry at someone. It happened quite rarely, since most of the times she was angry was when she was being teased for her differences, and saying things like that only made the situation worse.
Draco and his cronies scoffed. "Oh, look. Gryffinfreak is rising to the half-breed's defense! You know, you might be making things worse for him. At least he has a little bit of normal blood to water down the rest of him. You're all freak."
Elizabeth smirked. "I might be a freak, but at least I'm not a tosser."
Draco rolled his eyes. "What does that even mean?"
Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "Let me put it in terms even you can understand: You're an arse."
Draco sputtered, and his face became red with anger.
"Truth hurts, doesn't it, Malfoy?" she asked with a grin. Draco stormed away, Crabbe and Goyle following close behind.
Elizabeth turned back around and glanced back at Hagrid's house. To her surprise, she saw a pair of eyes peeking out at her between a newly dislodged wooden board. She took that as a sign to try talking to him again and walked back over to the hut. She knocked once, twice, until Hagrid let her inside.
He looked like a mess. His hair was in even more disarray than usual, and his face was red. There were crumpled-up handkerchiefs everywhere.
"Hello, Hagrid. I've brought you some biscuits." Elizabeth told him, holding up the basket, with a small grin, hoping it would lighten his mood.
"Thank yeh kindly. I'm sorry I didn't answer the door, it's been a tough day…" he said, looking away from her.
"I can imagine." Elizabeth said.
"And, uh, thank yeh, for what yeh did, I don't really know what all yeh said, but I liked that yeh said it." Hagrid continued.
"Of course. Malfoy completely deserved it. It's unfathomable how terrible he is." Elizabeth agreed. Hagrid looked a little confused.
"Sorry, I tend to use big words like that when I'm angry. It means that it doesn't make any sense." She apologized. Hagrid nodded, and let out a tiny smile.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid. For everything written about you. It was awful of her to do such a thing. And even more awful of Maxime to sell you out." Elizabeth said, rubbing his back in sympathy.
This caused Hagrid to start blubbering.
"She, she only wanted teh protect 'ersefl! She wouldn't 'ave did it if she weren't like me!" he cried. Then he took on a look of guilt.
"I shouldn't 'ave told yeh that." he said between tears. As soon as he said that, the gears in Elizabeth's mind started turning. If he was right about Maxime protecting herself, what was she protecting herself from?
Wait… she was about the same size as Hagrid…. And if he was what the paper said he was…. She was the same! Maybe even fully! And she'd thrown Hagrid in the spotlight just to save herself! And to top it all off, Elizabeth knew that Hagrid was interested in her, and then she went and did this!
As Hagrid was crying, Elizabeth moved to stand in front of him.
"Hagrid, look at me. I don't care for one second whether or not you're half-giant. You could be a giant, goblin, centaur, you could even be part unicorn and I'd still care about you. You're my friend, Rubeus Hagrid. And I would never stop being friends with someone just because of their heritage." she stated. Hagrid had stopped his blubbering to listen to her and looked a little doubtful.
"Do yeh really mean it?" he asked, dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief.
Elizabeth nodded. "Take a look at me. I don't quite fit in here, either, but I still have people who care about me. And so do you. And don't forget your talents, either. You're an amazing Care of Magical Creatures professor, by far one of the friendliest people I've ever met, and not to mention how good you are with animals! Being half-giant shouldn't matter in the slightest. What matters is who you are. And you are a brilliant person."
She was just able to finish her sentence before Hagrid swept her up in a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank yeh, Elizabeth. That makes me feel a little better. Thank yeh." Hagrid cried.
"You're welcome, Hagrid. But I sort of need to breathe…" Elizabeth said. Hagrid hurriedly set her down.
"Sorry about that." he apologized.
Elizabeth smiled. "It's fine. So, does this mean you'll come out of your hut?" she asked.
Hagrid shook his head. "Oh, no! I'm not ready yet! I need some more time. Thank eh so much for the food and encouragement, but I need teh be alone now." Hagrid said, shooing her out.
"Oh, okay." Elizabeth said, feeling a little disappointed.
"Sorry, but I'm just not ready yet." Hagrid said apologetically
"I understand." Elizabeth said as he shut the door, just as a group of students passed by.
She walked back up to Minerva's quarters feeling dejected. It didn't help when she walked in and saw Dumbledore sitting on the sofa, drinking a cup of tea.
"Ah, Elizabeth, you've returned. How is Hagrid faring?" Dumbledore asked when he saw her enter.
"Hello, Professor Dumbledore. Under the circumstances, I think he's doing a bit better. But he doesn't feel comfortable coming outside his home yet." Elizabeth reported, silently wondering where Minerva was.
As if he had read her mind, Dumbledore next said, "Minerva had to step out for a moment. An alarm went off, and she said something about Weasley Wizard Wheezes. I believe she will be back soon."
Elizabeth grinned, Minerva had enchanted a clock to go off if there was major Weasley Wizard Wheezes activity. It only ever sounded if there was an emergency or accident, though. She said it was there as a wise precaution.
Elizabeth sat on the chair near the sofa. "Do you need anything, Professor? A refill of sugar for your tea?" she offered, knowing Minerva would not be pleased if she didn't offer a guest proper assistance.
"I am perfectly fine, my dear. Though there is something I wish to speak with you about." Dumbledore said.
"Oh?" Elizabeth asked curious about whatever he was going to ask.
"This morning, I was taking a walk through the Charms corridor, and I happened to see you with someone I believe you have had quite a history with. I only ask to make sure you are alright after the encounter." Dumbledore said.
"Oh, I'm perfectly fine, Professor. Julia and I were talking in order to figure out how we can get along better. We had much to talk about, you see. Since we have a history and all. But, I think we've come to good terms now. In fact, we're even friends." Elizabeth explained, smiling. The events of the morning still had her feeling joyful.
"How wonderful. I've been in feuds with acquaintances before, and I can truthfully say they only result in negativity. I am pleased that you have ended your own." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling as they usually did when he was happy.
"I am, too, Professor. I think Julia is going to change for the better. Me as well." Elizabeth told him. And she truly meant it. She didn't want to be so blind to people who were hurting, she still felt immeasurable guilt for the pain she caused Julia.
It was at that point Minerva entered the room and greeted Elizabeth and Dumbledore.
"Apologies for stepping out. Fred and George Weasley have somehow managed to put gillyweed in tarts and have been giving them out to Slytherins all afternoon. I'm not sure who gave them the idea, I've been telling Professor Sprout to not inform them of the more risky magical plants…"
Elizabeth had to work quite hard to bite back her laughter.
Congratulations to Sadie509 for predicting what the article would be on. If I could give you a cookie, I would.
I hope Elizabeth's habit of using old-world words when she is very angry doesn't seem too off with her character. I have been wanting to put it in for quite some time, but I hadn't found a place to put it in. It will be used a lot more as the story continues, especially during The Order of the Phoenix. I created it to both enhance her character and connect her more to her past, and as a way for you all to easily know her emotions in a scene. Please comment below if you have any questions about the story or have comments. I promise to read them and take them into consideration for the rest of this tale.