Elizabeth could feel the mild curiosity of her professors as she preceded them out to the grounds with Mr. Darcy. She was usually so pleasant with anyone she came across that her harsh manner of greeting him could not have escaped her mentors' attention. Thankfully, McGonagall and Flitwick possessed infinite amounts of tact, which they could readily employ whenever they so chose. Elizabeth was grateful for their skill. She did not care to think of the responses her own parents would have had, had she been at home and acting in such a way.
Mr. Darcy did not say a single word all the way down to the grounds, which suited Elizabeth just fine. As soon as the group made it a good distance from the main doors, Elizabeth split off with McGonagall while Mr. Darcy went with Flitwick.
"Does Mr. Darcy come with anyone else?" Elizabeth asked her professor coolly, eager to distract herself as she saw Mr. Darcy beginning to speak earnestly with Flitwick.
"A friend and his sister," McGonagall answered.
Elizabeth wondered whether that friend could be Mr. Bingley, but was distracted from asking as Flitwick burst into laughter.
"You've no need to fear injuring Miss Bennet, if that is your concern, Mr. Darcy!" Flitwick said, wiping a tear from his eye. He waved off whatever reply Mr. Darcy was beginning to make and started for the center point between the two students.
Elizabeth felt her blood begin to grow hot as McGonagall walked away from her and she glared at Mr. Darcy, who was wearing a scowl. So he was afraid of hurting her, was he? Well, Elizabeth certainly planned to show the high-and-mighty Mr. Darcy that she was no delicate flower, unlike whatever young women he might have been exposed to at Beauxbatons! If Elizabeth were to be compared to any kind of plant at the moment, she thought the Venomous Tentacula might be appropriate.
"On my mark, you may begin to engage," Flitwick announced. "Standard competition rules apply. I shall intervene if I find it necessary."
Elizabeth drew her wand from her pocket and waited with bated breath until Flitwick finally called "Go!" She attacked without a single second of hesitation. Elizabeth was, of course, eager to make Flitwick proud, but she also felt a great desire to put Mr. Darcy in his proper place – to show him that all his wealth meant nothing within the boundaries of Hogwarts.
Far too soon, Elizabeth held Mr. Darcy's wand in her hand. Absolutely furious, she strode toward him until she was within an inch of his face. "You did not give that your best effort, sir!" she accused hotly.
"I am not in the habit of dueling women!" Mr. Darcy snarled back.
Elizabeth was certain her face was an unflattering shade of red, such was the rage she felt. "Again!" she demanded, shoving Mr. Darcy's wand into his chest. "And don't hold back this time, or I'll be sure to throw you flat on your back!"
Mr. Darcy took his wand and continued to stare at Elizabeth as she turned her back and stomped away from him to the required starting distance.
Elizabeth knew her professors were exchanging loaded looks, but she pointedly avoided glancing at them. Instead, she chose to focus her attention on Mr. Darcy, sizing him up and calculating where his weaknesses might be.
When Flitwick signaled the beginning of the duel again, Elizabeth attacked with more fervor than before. Her fury grew even further as Mr. Darcy continually deflected her attacks, refusing to go on the offensive.
"Is that all?" Elizabeth shouted. It was the first verbalization since the duel had started. Her attack spells and Mr. Darcy's defense spells had all been done silently. "You can't expect to win on the defensive!"
Mr. Darcy said nothing. In fact, he did not move, save a very slight twitching of his lips.
Elizabeth barely managed to cast a Shield Charm before Mr. Darcy's Stunner would have caught her full in the chest.
"As before, Miss Bennet," said Mr. Darcy with a smug calmness, "you willfully misunderstand others."
Elizabeth barely refrained from snarling viciously as she launched another attack. She was gratified, however, by the fact that she was now having to counter Mr. Darcy's offensive spells. As he was no longer holding back, Elizabeth felt able to truly focus on the purpose of the duel. In fact, she lost track of what time passed before a barrier appeared between her and Mr. Darcy.
Chest heaving from exertion, Elizabeth looked around her to observe the damage. Several spots of grass had burned away, and there were shards of glass in a ring around her professors; they had clearly erected a shield to protect themselves from the projectiles. Elizabeth next looked at her own person. She sported marks from a strong Stinging Hex on her wand wrist, and her robes had an impressive tear in the skirt.
Once Elizabeth had pocketed her wand, the barrier between herself and Mr. Darcy disappeared.
"Very well done!" said Flitwick. "Well done and well matched!"
With the barrier gone, Elizabeth was able to observe how Mr. Darcy fared. He had a cut on his cheek and one of his sleeves was singed. She felt smug satisfaction at seeing the blood dripping down his face. Mr. Darcy, despite what he might think, bled like any other mortal.
"Miss Bennet, we shall have to schedule another lesson or two soon," said Flitwick as he began waving his wand to repair the damage to the grounds. "You're beginning to expose your left side too much again."
Elizabeth put a hand to her left ribs and nearly gasped. Flitwick spoke correctly. She had left the area undefended at some point and was now almost certainly sporting a rapidly darkening bruise.
"Come along, Mr. Darcy," Flitwick coached, pocketing his wand. "I think I've got a good idea of what to do with you now."
As Flitwick led Mr. Darcy back toward the castle, Lizzy stepped to McGonagall. "Shall we resume our conversation, Professor?"
"I think not, Miss Bennet," said McGonagall, looking her student over and raising her eyebrow. "I shall find a way for us to meet for an hour after lunch tomorrow, to make up some time. For now, clean yourself up and rest. You've certainly earned it."
Lizzy was unsurprised to find Jane waiting for her in the entrance hall. "You saw," she stated.
"I saw," Jane confirmed, frowning. "I don't think I shall ever understand why you enjoy dueling so much, Lizzy! Come along, let's get you healed up."
Lizzy allowed Jane to take her by the hand and lead her into an unused classroom. She sat on a desk and obeyed Jane's directives without complaint. Lizzy excelled at gaining injuries while Jane excelled at healing them; one of the many ways the sisters complimented each other.
"I suspect you knew Mr. Darcy was here before I did?" Lizzy asked finally.
"Had you made it to dinner, you would have known," said Jane, coming as close to sounding disapproving as she was capable of.
Lizzy hissed as Jane's wand pressed into her hexed wrist. "McGonagall said he came with a friend and his sister."
Jane smiled and made quick work of Lizzy's wrist before turning in a circle excitedly. "Oh, Lizzy! Mr. Bingley is one of the transfers! Imagine my surprise when he arrived!"
Lizzy laughed lightly. "I'm sure it was a sight. Even Mary might have smiled at your thoughts!" As Jane gushed a few moments longer, Lizzy found herself feeling immense relief with the knowledge that Mr. Bingley was, in fact, a wizard. So long as the affection on both sides was true, Lizzy now had no reservations whatsoever for Jane's burgeoning relationship.
"And to think," Lizzy said, a mischievous grin lighting up her features when Jane paused in her speech, "you shall get to know each other without Mama attempting to help things along."
"Lizzy!" Jane chastised, though she undercut her authority by laughing.
Once healed to the best of Jane's considerable abilities, Lizzy bade her sister good night and returned to her dormitory.
"How was day one of settling in the transfers?" Lizzy asked, pulling up a chair next to the chessboard at which sat Josephine and Zebulon.
"It went well, I think," said Zebulon without taking his eyes off the board. "We didn't do anything too strenuous."
"We hardly did anything at all," Josephine added. "The professors are still figuring all of them out. We had most of the day to ourselves, really."
"You should have come to see me in the library," Lizzy said with an exaggerated pout.
Zebulon laughed heartily. "I'll let you have Pince all to yourself, thanks!"
Lizzy smirked at her classmate, then whispered to Josephine.
A wicked smile spread across Josephine's face. She waited until Zebulon's discomfort became clear, then directed her piece. "Checkmate."
Zebulon threw his weight back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Not fair, Lizzy!"
Lizzy grinned unapologetically. "Would either of you be interested in going to the Quidditch pitch tomorrow?"
"I could do with some flying," said Zebulon, his anger quickly abandoned. "Albert would want to join, I'm sure."
Lizzy shrugged. "Invite whoever you want. I just miss my broom."
"I might come down to the pitch to heckle you for a bit," said Josephine, "but I think I'll keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, thank you very much."
Lizzy rolled her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever understand you, Jo."
"You, the great studier of characters, giving up on me?" Josephine asked dramatically. "This shall be the gossip of the week!"
"Do not speak to me of gossip," Lizzy said with a small huff. "I've had my fill from my mother and youngest sisters."
"Oh, come now," Josephine chided, "they can't be that bad."
"Just you wait a few more weeks until Kitty and Lydia get here," Lizzy replied. "You'll see I do not exaggerate."
"At least not in this instance," said Zebulon with a smirk.
Lizzy's response was to reset the chessboard with a flick of her wand and proceed to thoroughly trounce Zebulon.
Lizzy spent the next morning in the library again, though was informed she should report to Professor Burbage in the afternoon. Lizzy was quick to locate the Muggle Studies professor and request a delay to starting her responsibilities to spend some time on her broom. Burbage readily granted permission, and so Lizzy arranged with her friends to head to the Quidditch pitch as soon as lunch was over.
"Is this a strategy to size me up before the term starts, Bennet?" asked Albert Bentham, broom swung over his shoulder as he met Lizzy near the main doors. Albert was the team captain for Hufflepuff.
"I don't need to size you up, Bentham," said Lizzy archly. "I am already well aware of your weaknesses I can prey upon to secure my victory."
"There are certainly many to choose from," said Albert's younger brother, Aaron, as he joined.
"Why Sprout made you a prefect, Aaron, I shall never understand!" said Albert, clearly annoyed.
Aaron grinned cheekily. "And you thought you could escape me for a few weeks."
Lizzy laughed at the brothers' exchange. "Let's head out, shall we? I know Zebulon is coming, but he tends to run on his own schedule."
"He'll be along," said Albert, stepping into the sun with his brother and Lizzy. "He'll be bringing a few of the transfers."
Before Lizzy could ask which transfers, she was distracted by Leah, a Ravenclaw prefect, asking them to let her catch up.
"Ah, the wind blowing through your hair, the ground far below you – there's just nothing like it, is there, Bennet?" Albert asked after taking to the air.
"It's an experience that can only be bested by beating you in a game, Bentham," Lizzy teased.
"No longer exchanging niceties, are we?" Albert asked with a raised brow. "Very well. So be it." He dove back toward the ground, released a set of Bludgers, and grabbed his Beater's bat and the Quaffle before returning to Lizzy. "Let's get right down to business then, shall we?"
"Fine, but Aaron is on my team," said Lizzy.
"You can have him," said Albert eagerly. "Oi! Leah! You're playing with me."
Leah nodded and set herself appropriately.
"Grab a bat, Aaron!" Lizzy called to her teammate. Aaron hastily obeyed and, after a quick discussion of rules, the four began their game.
Lizzy felt completely relaxed and herself for the first time in months as she wove, ducked, dove, and threw. Her walks kept her from losing her sanity when she was home, but on her broom was where she longed to be. As with many other things in the magical world, Lizzy took great pride and joy in doing things that Muggle women would not be allowed to do without serious repercussions, such as competitive sports.
Lizzy's attention was diverted from the scrimmage by a familiar voice shouting out from the ground.
"Foul on Albert for being a git!" called Zebulon, his hands cupped over his face. He easily dodged the Bludger Albert sent his way.
Lizzy headed toward the ground with Leah and the Benthams. She was in such a good mood, even the sight of Mr. Darcy among the group Zebulon had brought with him did not dampen her spirits.
"Miss Bennet, I was not aware you were such a flier!" said Mr. Bingley pleasantly.
"And I was unaware you possessed any magical capabilities whatsoever, Mr. Bingley!" Lizzy came back with.
"None of this 'Mr.' and 'Miss' nonsense," Zebulon declared firmly. "You're not with the Muggles anymore. Bingley, call her Lizzy or Bennet. Don't waste your breath with extra syllables."
"You already know each other?" Leah asked, looking between Lizzy and Bingley.
"Oh, yes," said Lizzy. "Bingley leased a house neighboring my father's estate. We were quite on our way to becoming friends before we left. How were we to know we would be meeting again days later? It's quite the amusing tale."
"I was so utterly delighted to see your sister last night at dinner," said Bingley genuinely. "What a merry party we shall all be!"
"Alright, enough chit chat," said Albert, stepping between the pair. "Who do you want, Bennet?"
"Who's gone and made you king of the pitch?" Leah asked testily.
"Bennet and I are captains," Albert defended. "Seems only right."
"Term hasn't started yet, Bentham, so forgive me for not falling at your feet," said Zebulon, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"We'll draw straws," Leah declared. With a wave of her wand, she conjured a stick for each person present, singed the bottoms of half of them, then concealed the burns in her palm and held her fist out to her fellow students.
Lizzy grabbed an unburned straw. Before much longer, the large group split into two smaller ones. Lizzy had with her Leah, Bingley, Albert, a new prefect from Slytherin, a transfer that introduced herself as Cynthia, and Mr. Darcy.
"This is perfect," said Albert, rubbing his palms together. "We've got a full team right here! I'm a Beater, Bennet's a Chaser. What about the rest of you?"
Leah volunteered as Keeper, Bingley and Cynthia as Chasers, and the Slytherin prefect gladly took up the other Beater's bat.
"Alright with being Seeker, Darcy?" Albert asked.
"Quite fine, I assure you," said Mr. Darcy stiffly.
Lizzy exhaled heavily through her nose at Mr. Darcy's continued poor manners, but satisfied herself with the knowledge that he would be well out of her way throughout the scrimmage. She would hardly need concern herself with him at all.
Just as both teams were getting ready to take to the sky to begin their match, Jane entered the pitch with Caroline Bingley.
"Jane, perfect!" Leah cried. "You can keep score for us!"
"We came only to observe," Caroline stated, her nose slightly upturned.
Lizzy refrained from rolling her eyes with great difficulty. A mere half week of separation from Caroline Bingley was not nearly enough.
"I would be happy to track the score for you," Jane replied with her classic serene smile.
"Good," said Zebulon with a nod, "now Albert can't cheat."
"I don't need to cheat to beat the likes of you, Zebulon," Albert snorted.
"Come now, let's let the playing do the talking!" Bingley suggested before kicking off into the air.
Lizzy found herself quite pleased with how well she was able to work together with Bingley and Cynthia. Well over forty minutes had gone by, and her team was up by several points, when everyone was halted by McGonagall's sharp tones.
"Elizabeth Bennet!"
Lizzy cringed on her broom and shut her eyes tightly. After a moment, she opened one eye to see Zebulon smirking powerfully at her. She slowly turned her broom. "Professor McGonagall?" she called back.
McGonagall only extended a finger, beckoning her student to the ground.
Lizzy quickly obeyed, landing and dismounting before her professor. "I checked with Madame Pince and Professor Burbage before coming here, Professor, honestly!"
"I'm aware, Miss Bennet," said McGonagall. "Hagrid's got an injured hippogriff. Since you are here and available, I informed him you would assist."
Lizzy refrained from sighing. She liked Hagrid and would normally jump at the opportunity to work with a hippogriff, but she had so been enjoying her game!
"Does this mean Lizzy's team forfeits?" asked Zebulon. He and the other players had landed as well, realizing once they paused how very welcome a break would be.
"I'm sure the elder Mr. Bentham can devise a way to keep the game going, Mr. Thomas," said McGonagall drily.
"If I may, Professor," said Mr. Darcy, causing Elizabeth's shoulders to tense in unhappy anticipation, "I would like to volunteer to assist Mr. Hagrid as well. I find hippogriffs to be fascinating, and have been hoping for an opportunity to study them further."
"I think Hagrid would be pleased with the sentiment, Mr. Darcy," said McGonagall. "Miss Elizabeth, show him to Hagrid's, please. Carry on!" she added, turning and striding away from the pitch.
"What a disadvantage you have now, Albert, down a Chaser and your Seeker!" said Aaron with false sympathy.
Albert shoved his brother away from himself. "Alright, we'll nix the Seekers, and someone's got to jump over to this team."
"Come along, Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth tightly, walking away from the brewing fight. She had been about to swing her broom over her shoulder and stomp the entire way to Hagrid's, but thought better of it. If she were to fly, instead, she would spend that much less time in Mr. Darcy's company. "I trust you are not opposed to a bit more time on your broom?" she asked, already mounting hers. She had kicked into the air before he even had a chance to reply.
Mr. Darcy lost no time in getting onto his broom and joining Elizabeth in the air.
Elizabeth flattened herself on her broom, eager to make it to Hagrid's and be done with the whole business as soon as may be. She found herself more irritated than she would care to admit when she looked to her side to see Darcy easily keeping pace with her. His broom, she supposed, was of the highest quality and latest model. If she were not determined to keep from further inflaming his pride, she might have asked after it.
"Tha' was fast, Beth," said Hagrid when Elizabeth landed by his door where he was knitting away.
Elizabeth momentarily forgot her less-than-enjoyable companion in light of seeing Hagrid for the first time in months. "Good afternoon, Hagrid!"
"All smiles and pleasantries now, Beth? Been here days," said Hagrid. His attempt at sounding wounded was undercut by the twinkle in his eyes.
Lizzy smiled at the man before her. She appreciated his honesty and his passion for caring for any and all creatures that came across his path. He alone called her Beth, and she allowed it as she knew it to be a sign of his genuine affection for her.
"Come now, Hagrid," Lizzy teased. "How could you expect me to come to the very edges of this harsh wilderness when the splendor of the castle was before me?"
Hagrid guffawed. "I reckon yeh only had a day or two more in yeh before yeh ran screamin' fer the trees."
Lizzy grinned. "Once the term actually starts, I just might," she admitted. "I can hardly resist the adventures within."
"Is there not an ailing hippogriff to attend?"
Elizabeth whipped her head around to glare at Mr. Darcy. Upset though she was, she was determined to be civil. "Hagrid, this is Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy, this is Hagrid, our groundskeeper and professor for Care of Magical Creatures."
"Darcy, eh?" said Hagrid, looking the young man over keenly. "Heard a lot abou' yer family."
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. "The hippogriff?" he prompted.
Hagrid finally rose from his seat on his front steps. As he did, his massive boarhound suddenly appeared, barreling around the side of the house and distracting Elizabeth from pondering Mr. Darcy's reluctance.
"Fang!" Elizabeth cried, patting her knees. "Here, boy!"
Fang abruptly changed paths, abandoning his intent of his master for Elizabeth. He received her welcome, then looked past her. The boarhound cautiously approached Darcy and sniffed him only a moment before turning away and resuming his spot at Elizabeth's side.
Elizabeth found herself gratified that Fang seemed to agree with her assessment of Mr. Darcy.
"Cleverclaw's gone and gotten himself into a figh' with a unicorn, by the look o' things," said Hagrid, leading Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy toward the forest.
"Whatever would possess him to do such a thing?" Elizabeth asked.
"Perhaps the unicorn had a foal nearby," Mr. Darcy suggested. "It might not have been the hippogriff that instigated the fight."
"Tha's possible," said Hagrid. "Cleverclaw's been a bit unobservant lately. Think he migh' have his eye on a new female."
Elizabeth smiled. "Do you think he might have been trying to woo his lady love by bringing her an offering of the choicest unicorn meat?" she asked. "Or was he simply lost in thought over her fine feathers?"
Hagrid guffawed. "Coul' have been either, idiot tha' he is."
Elizabeth's amusement at the creature's expense was exhausted upon laying eyes on him. Cleverclaw lay in a clearing, his hind leg obviously grievously injured, though he shifted a wing as the group entered as though attempting to hide it.
Elizabeth fearlessly approached the wounded animal without blinking. She bowed respectfully, and it was not long before Cleverclaw returned the gesture as best as he was able.
"What is it you need me to do, Hagrid?" Elizabeth asked, running her hand along Cleverclaw's side as she made her way toward his leg, even as Hagrid and he exchanged bows.
"Need you ter keep him calm," said Hagrid, joining Elizabeth at Cleverclaw's back end.
Elizabeth was surprised at how quickly Mr. Darcy joined them. His exchange with Cleverclaw must have been very fast, indeed.
"I've seen these kinds of wounds before," said Mr. Darcy, inspecting the damage. "Perhaps you would allow me to attend to it."
"Mighty kind of yeh, Darcy," said Hagrid, slapping the young man's back. Mr. Darcy very nearly stumbled forward from the unintended force of the gesture. "Have many unicorns at Pemberly, do yeh?"
"We have a few that live on the grounds," said Mr. Darcy, now looking at Hagrid somewhat warily.
"Well yeh can certainly help," said Hagrid, "but when it comes ter hippogriffs, it's best I take lead on these things." He turned to Elizabeth before Mr. Darcy might reply, and so he missed the flash of surprise that crossed Mr. Darcy's face. "Start now, Beth."
Elizabeth abandoned her pleasure at Mr. Darcy being denied by Hagrid, instead focusing on Cleverclaw before her. "You silly, lovestruck fool," she said to the creature, beginning to stroke his head. "It might do you well to simply approach your lady, instead of fluttering about trying to impress her. I would hope this whole ordeal has taught you a lesson."
Cleverclaw turned his head so one of his eyes was directly before Elizabeth's face.
"You mean to intimidate me, sir," she said laughingly. "My courage always rises with every attempt at such! You may glare all you wish. It will not keep me from my firm resolution to think your actions utterly ridiculous."
Cleverclaw seemed to sigh, if it were possible for hippogriffs to do such, and then returned his head to a position that made it easier for Elizabeth to continue stroking him.
Several minutes passed in which Cleverclaw seemed satisfied with all the goings-on around him before his head snapped up and he released a screech.
Elizabeth could only assume Hagrid and Mr. Darcy had begun their work in earnest, and so she quickly reached up and grabbed hold of Cleverclaw's beak before he could act upon instinct and remove a limb or two.
Elizabeth quickly began muttering soothing words to Cleverclaw as he made to escape her grasp several times. Each time, she gently redirected his head to keep him from turning round. She heard Hagrid swear and nearly lost her hold on Cleverclaw, so badly did he twitch. Desperate to bring him back to equilibrium, she began singing a familiar lullaby to great success.
"Tha'll do," said Hagrid, slightly out of breath. He stepped back, Mr. Darcy with him. "Grateful as always, Beth. Yeh can get back ter yer business."
Elizabeth gave Cleverclaw a few more strokes on his head before bidding Hagrid goodbye. She began heading back toward the castle. As Mr. Darcy fell in step beside her, the anger from which she had been distracted by her task returned. Any pleasure in a job well done dissipated.
At the edge of the forest, Fang greeted Elizabeth with a gleeful bark around a large stick in his mouth.
"Does he mean to play fetch?" Mr. Darcy asked.
Elizabeth glanced sideways at Mr. Darcy, noting the scowl on his face. It was not a new sight, but that did not make it any more welcome. Certain the indulging Fang would further affect Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth grabbed the slobbery stick and threw it with all her might.
Fang, utterly delighted, bounded after his target with many an excited bark.
"Is that answer enough, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth asked archly. "I am certain it was Fang's intent to chase after that stick, though I cannot say whether or not fetch was his original plan. He's rather a fickle creature and is just as likely to lay down and chew his target to splinters as he is to bring it back to me for another round."
"You often engage in such antics?" Mr. Darcy asked.
"And if I do?" Elizabeth challenged.
Mr. Darcy made no verbal reply, but his stony expression said plenty to Elizabeth.
"All right, Bennet?" called a voice across the grounds. "Gryffindor would mourn the loss of a limb or two of yours, I'm sure, but I don't think I could have cause to regret it!"
Elizabeth turned and grinned wickedly at Albert Bentham leading the group of Quidditch players back to the castle. "You have no such luck, Albert! In fact, I rather think Cleverclaw might lend me his wings in our next Quidditch match!"
"Wouldn't that be a fine sight?" said Zebulon as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy moved quickly to join the group. "All of Gryffindor team, riding into battle on such steeds! Of course, Hufflepuff would be allowed their own mounts. Perhaps we can find some sort of mutated badger that might serve. Not nearly so majestic, I'll admit, but it seems fitting."
"I'll have you know that badgers are perfectly terrifying when provoked," said Albert haughtily.
"Zebulon, Albert, might we go into dinner?" asked Jane, politely but with a certain firmness.
"If you insist, oh great Head Girl," said Albert with a mixture of respect and teasing. He offered her his arm as he might have in the Muggle world, causing Jane to roll her eyes good naturedly, even as she accepted.
Miss Bingley was quick to find an excuse to latch onto Mr. Darcy's arm. Elizabeth was only too glad to be rid of him. "How did things turn out?" she asked Zebulon. The pair were joined by Mr. Bingley, and neither objected.
"With you gone, Albert led his team to a splendid failure," said Zebulon.
"It wasn't so very splendid," said Mr. Bingley. "There was a mere forty point difference when we decided to call quits."
"Any failure of Albert's is a splendid one, for it is always so delightful for me to see him lose," Zebulon replied.
"Zebulon will have you believe he despises Albert," said Lizzy to Mr. Bingley. "I would not believe a single word of it, if I were you. No matter what he might say, Zebulon is excessively fond of Albert and would tear anyone who slights him to shreds."
"I'll thank you not to bandy my own feelings about, woman," Zebulon growled.
Lizzy threw her head back and laughed. She was quickly joined by Zebulon and then Mr. Bingley, once he realized all was done in good fun.
At dinner, Lizzy noticed a boy with pale blonde hair for the first time. Obviously, he was a transfer. He did not say much, but she felt he was observing all around him very keenly and calculatingly. When Mr. Darcy and he exchanged basic pleasantries, her opinion of him was decided.
"Ursus Malfoy," said Zebulon lowly as he and Lizzy sat down next to Josephine. "He seems a quiet sort."
"His family's very well connected," Josephine offered. "I don't think he's pleased to be here."
"Small wonder, then, that Mr. Darcy seems friendly with him," said Lizzy lightly as she settled her napkin in her lap.
Josephine and Zebulon exchanged a look, unseen by Lizzy, before they abandoned the topic very purposefully. It had not taken them long at all to discover Lizzy's disdain for Mr. Darcy, and they were well aware of their friend's temper. Charged as they were with seeing to the comfort of their new fellows, the pair were determined to try to smooth things over, or at least avoid any outright animosity.
After dinner, Lizzy went to McGonagall's office. A great deal was covered and Lizzy was thrilled to begin to delve into the specifics of becoming an animagus, rather than speaking in general terms. Her mind was reeling when she returned to her dormitory. Indeed, her thoughts were so occupied with her studies that she forgot to reflect on how upset she was for Mr. Darcy intruding on her time with Hagrid.
Across the castle, in an old classroom that had been converted into a temporary dormitory, Mr. Darcy's mind was also greatly occupied. Unlike Elizabeth, however, his thoughts were focused exclusively on the time he had spent in the forest. Without conscious thought, he began quietly humming a lullaby he would never hear quite the same way again.
Author's Note
Thanks to those that have reviewed so far! I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story. Let me know what you think!
