Lizzy enjoyed her trip to Hogsmeade immensely. She spent the morning with Jane and Bingley. When lunchtime came, Lizzy found Josephine, Phoebe, Zebulon, and Albert. Bingley escorted Jane back to the castle to switch places with Silas Diggory, who had stayed with the younger students for the morning. Having been relieved of his duties as Head Boy, Silas joined the group as they were finishing lunch.

"Splendid of you to join us, old boy!" said Albert in greeting. "We were just about to go to Zonko's."

"Were you really?" asked Silas unenthusiastically. "I don't think that's such a good idea. You're trouble enough without Zonko's products, Bentham."

"Someone's got to keep you on your toes, Diggory," Albert came back with.

They did go to Zonko's, though Albert refrained from getting anything, much to the relief of Silas.

The bulk of the afternoon was spent at Madam Puddifoot's. On the weekends when the younger students were allowed out, the shop opened its upper level to serve as an assembly hall, which was always well crowded. Though the ballroom remained shut on most weekends, Madam Puddifoot's still had enough space available to allow for a few couples to dance as they waited to be served.

"Should we request a waltz?" Zebulon asked with a suggestive twitch of his eyebrows after several dances with his friends.

"How very shocking of you to suggest such a thing!" Josephine exclaimed, feigning offense.

Lizzy laughed and suggested another reel instead, to which everyone agreed. The request was made of the enchanted instruments in the corner, and before long the dance started. Lizzy was paired with Albert, and the two danced perfectly, each determined to outshine the other. Whatever they did always turned into a competition, somehow.

The group was having such great fun they forgot to keep track of time. It was not until Silas yelped in the middle of a dance and grabbed Phoebe by the hand to begin running that everyone's minds snapped back to reality.

"What a sight," Sprout commented with raised brows as the last of her students stood panting before her. She looked pointedly at her pocket watch. "Cutting it mighty close, aren't we?"

"Lost track of time, Professor!" Silas gasped.

"Do be sure it won't become habit, Diggory," said Sprout. "I should hate to have to put our head boy in detention."

"Of course, Professor," said Silas contritely.

Lizzy entered the Great Hall, breathless from running and from laughter, side by side with Zebulon.


"You've sat in my spot again, Darcy."

Mr. Darcy wrenched his eyes from Elizabeth with difficulty. "My apologies, Miss Mary."

Mary looked toward her sister as Mr. Darcy did. "She and Zebulon are like brother and sister," Mary said quietly once she had turned back around. "You've no cause for concern."

"I – that is – " Mr. Darcy stuttered.

"Your secret is safe with me, Darcy," said Mary lightly.

Mr. Darcy rose from his seat, grabbed his plate, and moved far from Mary. He was so distraught over her observations that he did not notice he was being watched.

Mary turned in her seat again as she heard Lizzy began to mentally rant. She smiled at her sister, hoping to stop the tirade, but it did not work.

"How abominably rude of him!" Lizzy hissed, seating herself beside Mary.

"Go sit with the rest of Gryffindor, Lizzy," said Mary. "I'm not offended."

"Well you should be!" Lizzy huffed. "To move away in such a public fashion, and in the middle of a conversation!"

"Lizzy, let it be," said Mary, trying her best to hide her amusement. "It's better for him to be away from me, anyway."

Lizzy huffed again and threw a napkin onto her lap before slamming some potatoes onto her plate.

"Calliope is on her way here now, Lizzy," Mary tried again. "Go to your own table."

Lizzy shot a stubborn glare at Mary before clearing her face of any trace of anger and pointedly changing the subject. "What did you do with your day, Mary?"

Mary answered her sister well enough, but was incredibly distracted by the volatility of Lizzy's thoughts and the strength of conflict in Mr. Darcy's, who was watching the entire exchange from further down the table.


"Bennet!"

Lizzy tried to ignore the hissed calling. She was annoyed enough already. Not only was she in Potions, a class she did not particularly enjoy, but she had somehow gotten stuck at a table with Ursus Malfoy and Mr. Darcy.

"Oi, Bennet!"

Elizabeth focused her attention on the root she needed to cut very precisely for her potion. Suddenly, her cutting board was jarred and Elizabeth almost sliced her finger. Enraged, she finally looked up to meet Malfoy's eyes.

"Is it true your father's a Squib?" Malfoy asked, a malicious glint in his eye.

"I hardly see how my bloodline is relevant to brewing this potion, Malfoy," said Elizabeth tersely.

"It's relevant because I asked you," said Malfoy.

Elizabeth felt her temper flare dramatically. "I don't know what power you think you hold over me, Malfoy, but allow me to disillusion you at once," she hissed. "I am not under your command in any respect, and I will not heed your summons like some dog just because of your last name! I am your equal, no matter what you might choose to believe." She resolutely set back to work on her root, discarding the ruined part.

"That's a mighty bold speech from you, Mudblood!"

"That's quite enough, Ursus," said Mr. Darcy quietly, but firmly.

If it were possible to burn holes through a person with a look, Elizabeth was sure she could have done it to Mr. Darcy. She certainly did not need his help fending off Malfoy!

"Don't tell me you're going soft, Darcy!" Malfoy guffawed.

"A person cannot help what family they are born into," Mr. Darcy replied.

"Indeed," said Elizabeth hotly. "Some are born into families with manners, and others are born into a pit of pigs!"

Malfoy sobered immediately. "Are you having a go at my family, Bennet?"

"It seems only fair," Elizabeth snapped back.

"How goes things over here?" asked Slughorn, shuffling over to the table and completely oblivious of the tension present.

"Perfectly fine, Professor," said Malfoy smoothly.

"This looks remarkably well, Miss Elizabeth!" Slughorn remarked after looking into Elizabeth's cauldron. "I see you are refusing to be outdone by your sister today, hmm?"

"I have never been in competition with my sister before, Professor Slughorn, and I have no intention of starting today," Elizabeth said, toeing the line of civility.

Slughorn laughed heartily. "You are certainly never dull! Tell me, are you still determined to be stubborn about coming to my dinner parties?"

"I like what is served in the Great Hall well enough, Professor," Elizabeth answered.

"I'll wear you down sooner or later," said Slughorn with a wave of his hand. He peered into Mr. Darcy's cauldron. "Merlin's beard, this couldn't look better if I brewed it myself! Take five points for Ravenclaw, Mr. Darcy!"

"Thank you, sir," said Mr. Darcy.

Slughorn looked into Malfoy's cauldron and moved on without making a comment.

"You're going to pay for your insolence, Mudblood," Malfoy hissed once Slughorn was away.

Elizabeth chose chopping the legs off a frog over responding to Malfoy's threat.

"Miss Elizabeth, might I walk with you?" Mr. Darcy asked, catching up to Elizabeth after she practically bolted out of the dungeons when class ended.

"I think you'll find I can't stop you, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth answered smartly without looking.

"I feel I must urge you to take Ursus's threat seriously," said Mr. Darcy.

"I can handle the likes of Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Darcy, thank you," said Elizabeth tightly.

Mr. Darcy's lips thinned as he considered his response. "Ursus does not follow the standard rules of engagement when he sees fit to ignore them. Please be careful."

Elizabeth stopped in the middle of the hall and faced Mr. Darcy. "I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Mr. Darcy!"

"That may be so," Mr. Darcy answered hotly, "but it does not mean you are invincible!"

"No, I should need a pedigree to achieve invincibility!"

"Lizzy?"

Elizabeth tore her eyes from trying to set Mr. Darcy's face on fire to look at her sister.

"Is everything alright?" Jane asked, looking between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

"Everything is perfectly alright, Jane, thank you," said Elizabeth. She consciously took several deep breaths to regain her composure. "Mr. Darcy was just asking after a possible shortcut."

Jane was clearly unconvinced, but chose not to make things anymore awkward by disagreeing out loud.

"I am sure I shall never figure out all these secret passageways!" Mr. Bingley exclaimed. "I am infinitely grateful that the Hufflepuff common room is below the ground. I don't think I would ever make it to breakfast if I had to confront those blasted moving stairs every morning!"

Elizabeth allowed herself to smile at Mr. Bingley and assure him he would figure things out soon enough, then excused herself to go to her next class.


"As though I should need his help," said Lizzy scathingly as she shoved her hands into her gloves. She and Phoebe had headed to the Quidditch pitch early for practice.

"I'm sure he wasn't doubting your ability, Lizzy," said Phoebe soothingly. "He knows Malfoy better than you do. If he says Malfoy won't play fair, I suggest being on your guard."

"What does it matter that my father's a Squib, anyway?" Lizzy huffed.

"It doesn't," Phoebe answered. "If Malfoy had any sense, he'd see it. So your father's a Squib and your mother's a Muggle. You're still top of the class, and captain to boot! Just look at Jo. Her bloodline's pure as any, but her oldest brother barely scraped out of Hogwarts."

Lizzy sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, Phoebe. You don't deserve my ire. You've nothing to do with the whole situation."

"But I could," Phoebe offered. "Maybe a curse of mine will go off target in Defense tomorrow…"

"Don't go getting yourself wrapped up in this nonsense just for my sake," Lizzy advised.

"Oh, no, not just for you," said Phoebe. "It'd be for me. My family, too, I suppose. We're not exactly on friendly terms with the Malfoys, you might say."

"I doubt anyone worth knowing is," said Lizzy. She popped out of her seat. "Enough of this! Come! Let's start tossing the Quaffle while we wait for everyone else to get here."

The first practice of the term went exceedingly well. Lizzy was incredibly pleased with her teammates. Everyone got along and read each other on the field with ease. They warmed up, tried a new drill, and then wrapped practice up by running through a few plays that had been used years previously.

"Goodnight, Bennet!" called Julian Weasley, waving to Lizzy as he and his fellow Beater, Levi White, made to leave the pitch.

Lizzy waved back before returning her attention to the crate of Quidditch balls.

"Well, I hate to say it," Phoebe sighed, "but Julian is turning out to be quite the Beater."

Lizzy laughed. Phoebe had been unable to decide whether she was pleased or annoyed when her younger brother made the team, but Lizzy knew she would work with him well. "I don't think he would allow himself to be so outdone by his older sister," Lizzy answered.

"He's still got a ways to go before he can outdo me at anything," Phoebe quickly replied. She grabbed one end of the crate and helped Lizzy stow it away. "Have you managed that charm Flitwick told us to get started on?"

Lizzy and Phoebe discussed their Charms assignment, and even tried it a time or two, as they made their way back to the castle.

Suddenly, Lizzy stopped and looked around.

"What's gotten into you?" Phoebe asked.

Lizzy shook her head. "Nothing," she said distractedly. "I thought I saw something, but I'm so very tired. I probably just imagined it."

Phoebe did not seem entirely convinced, but returned her attention to wandwork.

Lizzy only partially paid attention to Phoebe the rest of the way back. She could not shake the feeling she was being watched.


The following week was busier than Lizzy expected, and she had no expectations for her life slowing down. She had something to do every day after class. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays were Quidditch practice. Wednesdays were lessons with Flitwick. Thursdays with McGonagall. If Lizzy was not in class, extra lessons, practice, or eating, she was sat at a table, surrounded by books and scrolls, feverishly tending to her coursework.

When it came time on Saturday for Jane to leave Hogsmeade to switch places with Silas, Lizzy went also so she could try to get caught up on work, though she was loathed to do so. Little did she know her absence was the cause of relief and frustration to a particular Ravenclaw that had been unable to get to Hogsmeade before lunch that day.

Malfoy continued his verbal assaults whenever he saw the opportunity, and Lizzy realized he had only been so quiet in the weeks leading up to class because he was watching everyone to learn their weaknesses. She thought it highly likely that Caroline Bingley had provided the fodder on the Bennet family in an effort to get herself in good graces with Malfoy. The ploy had worked. Caroline always sat near Malfoy and with several others of "purest" blood in the Great Hall for meals. Lizzy wondered what kind of meltdown Caroline, a Muggle-born, would have when she realized she was only being used, and was therefore expendable to the pureblood maniacs.

As days became weeks, Lizzy decided to accept the fact that she would spend the entirety of her school year in a state of at least mild exhaustion.

"Are you listening, Lizzy?" asked Phoebe irritably at lunch one day.

Lizzy shook her head and blinked several times. "I'm sorry! I think I might have been sleeping with my eyes open."

"That's a neat trick," said Zebulon. "Wish I had learned it when I was still taking History of Magic."

After the third week of class, Lizzy took on yet more tasks by agreeing to tutor several students.

"Lizzy, I really think you ought to consider giving something up," said Jane concernedly as she and her sister walked back from their most recent Hogsmeade trip. Bingley, who was almost constantly at Jane's side by this point, had stayed behind with his roommates. "I worry you'll overexert yourself."

"I'll be fine, Jane," Lizzy said unconcernedly. "Save your concern for someone who needs it."

Lizzy came to regret not listening to Jane very soon. The close of the fourth week of class came with a marvelous cold for Lizzy, whose body had finally refused to function on too little sleep and food any longer. It prevented her from going to Hogsmeade for the first trip third, fourth, and fifth years would be allowed on this term. She even skipped breakfast that day, choosing instead to sit in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room with a blanket wrapped tightly around her.

"Lizzy."

Lizzy pulled her eyes from her book to look at Lydia. "Good morning, Lydia," she said through her stuffed nose. "How did you enjoy this past week of classes?"

"Save your breath, Lizzy," said Lydia acidly. "I know you don't care."

Lizzy was taken aback. Her mind jarred so badly she could not even think of an immediate response.

"Jane told me to tell you that you are to go see Madam Pomfrey immediately after lunch," said Lydia flatly.

Lizzy groaned. She did not think her cold was worth bothering Madam Pomfrey over, but she knew Jane would send person after person after her until she finally went.

"Thank you, Lydia, I will do as Jane said," Lizzy finally said. Before Lydia could turn away, she started again, "And I do care. Perhaps I could sit by you at lunch, and you could tell me all about your first month?"

Lydia narrowed her eyes as she examined her sister, then shrugged and left the common room.

Lizzy leaned back into her comfortable chair and stared into the fire as she considered Lydia's behavior. Before she could get very far, however, her eyes drifted shut.

The next thing Lizzy knew, a small group of particularly adventurous second year boys were stifling their laughter poorly. Lizzy cracked her eyes open to realize she had an impressive assortment of items stacked on her lap.

"I told you adding that inkwell wouldn't go over well!" one boy said snidely to his fellows.

"What truly won't go over well," Lizzy said as dangerously as she could in her congested state, "is you continuing to be within the range of my wand!"

The boys knew better than to try Lizzy, and quickly scattered.

Lizzy allowed herself a satisfied smirk as she examined the tower the boys had made in her lap while she slept. She thought they might have been able to manage a much taller creation if they had only strategized their item stacking better. Sighing, she freed herself, then looked at the clock and nearly yelped. She had slept through lunch.

Lizzy hurried to her room, threw on a pair of shoes, and made her way quickly to the hospital wing. When she arrived, she had a coughing fit that announced her presence, and Madam Pomfrey emerged from her office with a disapproving scowl.

"Good afternoon, Madam Pomfrey," Lizzy said after her fit had ceased, wiping her leaky eyes as she did so.

"You've done a marvelous job of overloading yourself, Bennet," Pomfrey said flatly.

"I'm sure I'll be fine in no time," Lizzy said cheerfully.

"Yes, because your sister has more sense than you," Pomfrey retaliated. She uncorked a flask and shoved it into Lizzy's hand.

Lizzy took the potion without complaint and followed the matron's orders throughout the entirety of her physical examination without fighting.

"Well, I can bring you back to health now," said Pomfrey, "but it's not going to last if you don't make some changes to your schedule."

"I'm sure I can manage – "

"You're too clever to lie to yourself in such a fashion, Bennet," said Pomfrey dismissively. "I expect you back after dinner. Begone with you."

Lizzy bit her tongue to keep from making an unwise comment and departed the hospital wing. She did feel quite a bit better after her nap and Pomfrey's potion, well enough to actually focus on some of her work.

Nearly two hours passed before Lizzy raised her eyes at the opening of the common room door to see Lydia enter. Upon catching sight of the girl, Lizzy gasped and vaulted out of her chair.

"Lydia, I'm so sorry – "

"Don't worry yourself, Lizzy," said Lydia airily without looking at her sister, "I knew you weren't serious."

Lizzy felt frustrated by herself and by her sister. "I've not been feeling well, and I slept through lunch. Perhaps we could sit for a while now? I remember you saying you brought a bonnet to work on. Why do you not grab it, and you can work as we talk?"

Lydia scrutinized Lizzy closely for several moments before shrugging and heading up the girls' staircase.

Lizzy stared after Lydia for a short while before claiming another chair beside hers for the girl and clearing space for her sister's project. After thinking on it a moment longer, Lizzy cleared the entirety of the table, brought her books up to her room, and grabbed a set of robes she had been meaning to mend.

It took Lydia longer than Lizzy thought was necessary to gather her project and return to the common room. Lizzy was nearly halfway through fixing her robes. Had she chosen to use her wand, she would have been entirely finished.

"I should have checked in with you sooner," Lizzy said while Lydia settled. "Please tell me all about your first few weeks!"

"I hate it here," Lydia spat, beginning to rip an old ribbon out of her bonnet.

Lizzy poked herself with her needle in surprise. "Why?"

"All anyone cares about is reading and practicing and a whole host of things I don't understand or care about," Lydia readily answered. "I much prefer the occupations and conversations of home."

Suspicions began forming in Lizzy's mind. "Is there nothing pleasant to recount?"

"No."

"What about transfiguring the twig to a needle in Professor McGonagall's class?" Lizzy asked. "That must have been satisfying."

"Who would be pleased about managing something so stupid?" Lydia asked harshly.

Lizzy did Lydia the courtesy of focusing on her stitching rather than examining her sister's face too closely. "And you did not enjoy levitating objects in Charms?"

"What do I care about making feathers float about? They do that without any magical help."

Lizzy looked around her from under her eyelashes. There was no shortage of first and second years in the common room, yet none of them had so much as smiled at Lydia. "What about your roommates?"

"Lord, they are all so dull!" Lydia whined.

Lizzy suddenly felt sickened by herself. For a month complete, Lydia had been in an entirely new environment, confronted by rules and boundaries that had never been forced upon her. The girl was overwhelmed and isolated. Lizzy knew it was Lydia's own actions that led to such a result, but also knew she could have been helping to ease the girl's transition from day one, if she had only thought to.

"You know, I never much cared for levitating feathers, either," Lizzy said in an offhanded manner. "I have, however, enjoyed being able to levitate gowns I am altering. I'm able to keep hems more even, and balance patterns better. It's proven very useful."

Lydia's interest seemed to be garnered against the girl's wishes.

"Turning a twig into a needle seems rather silly, I know, but before long you'll learn how to change the colors of different things," Lizzy continued. "There have been many items I've brought home that you thought were new, but I simply altered the coloration."

Lizzy did not feel guilty about stretching the truth in the slightest. She had only changed the coloring of a few items of her Muggle clothing, but her strategy to engage Lydia's interest was working. Lizzy was fine preying on Lydia's empty pursuits in the meantime if it meant the girl might be open to more practical things in the future.

"What else do you do with what you've learned?" Lydia asked, barely above a whisper.

Lizzy had to admit she was strangely impressed by Lydia's stubbornness. Despite being surrounded by young witches and wizards experimenting with magic for the past month, the girl proved shockingly ignorant of what magic could do in practice, outside the classroom. Nonetheless, Lizzy found herself enjoying her conversation with Lydia.

Before long, conversation evolved into demonstrations which proved Lizzy's suspicions correct. Lydia had not truly perfected any spells yet, and what she had managed was not very impressive. A combination of Lizzy's encouragement and suggestions with Lydia's newfound care led to new success, however. Lizzy was delighted to see Lydia with a genuine smile on her face and laughter in her throat, especially since the cause was worth celebrating, rather than being some misstep of a neighbor or stupid decision on the girl's part.

Only half an hour before dinner, Lizzy began coaching Lydia through a charm she knew was upcoming, which drew the attention of a few other first years. Lizzy allowed herself to fade into the background as Lydia began engaging with her fellows. As they observed and commented on each other's efforts, some of Lydia's words were still harsh, but both Lizzy and the other first years could see that her intentions were good. When it came time to leave for the Great Hall, Lydia smiled at Lizzy before leaving with her new friends.

Lizzy was thrilled for her sister and could not wait to tell Jane of the whole thing. She nearly ran down to the Great Hall, aided by her happiness and her remembrance that she had not eaten all day.

"Lizzy!" Jane smilingly exclaimed when her sister approached her at the Hufflepuff table. "You look a fair sight better than I anticipated. Did you get much rest?"

"Yes, I slept and saw Pomfrey and feel much improved, but that is not important," said Lizzy with the wave of her hand. "Come, let us sit with Mary today."

Jane agreed to the scheme, excused herself from her friends, and moved with Lizzy to the Ravenclaw table.

"Did you go to Hogsmeade today, Mary, or did you stay and study?" Lizzy asked as she settled herself.

"I went for an hour or two," Mary answered. "I shall tell you of my day later, Lizzy, for I know you are bursting to share your own experiences."

Lizzy grinned and began recounting her day for her sisters. When she finished, but before Jane and Mary could give their own pleased commentary on Lydia's progress, Kitty joined them and the conversation turned.

"Jane, will you look over my Potions assignment tonight?" Kitty asked. "I finished it with Hattie this afternoon, but she and I weren't quite certain about several details."

"Of course, Kitty," Jane answered. "What else did you do today?"

Before Kitty could answer, Lydia plopped herself down beside Mary. "Lord, I'm so hungry!"

"What are you doing?" Kitty asked, rather more harshly than expected.

"I am dining with my sisters," Lydia answered factually. "Adella said I should sit with her, but I saw the lot of you together and decided I would not miss out on the fun."

Lizzy felt her face might tear in two from the strength of her smile. If Lydia was becoming friends with Adella Longbottom, she would turn out very well, indeed.

"Kitty was just about to tell us what she did with her day," Jane said pleasantly, and looked at Kitty pointedly.

Kitty cleared the suspicious look from her face and provided details of her actions for her sisters.

Further down the Ravenclaw table, Darcy sat with Silas Diggory and a few other older students, but he was hardly paying attention to the conversation. He was immensely distracted by a pair of lively eyes, a pretty smile, and melodious laughter.

To say he was at war with himself seemed completely fair to Darcy. On one hand, he was utterly fascinated by Elizabeth Bennet and wanted nothing more than to get to know her very, very well. In fact, he believed he would not mind having her company to himself for the rest of his days. He would certainly never be bored. On the other hand, he was very aware of their differences and the expectations his family had of him. Elizabeth was as good as a Muggle-born. He had confirmed her father was a Squib, and even found out that she had and uncle that was a wizard, but that did not change her status in the eyes of the wizarding community. Darcy was the last male of his name. It would not do for him to ruin the purity of his line, no matter how tempting a certain lady might be.

As if the magical barriers were not enough, there Muggle ones, as well. The Darcy family was pureblooded magic, certainly, but they were still well known in the Muggle world, as were many other pureblood families. Pemberley saw to the care of a great many Muggles who were not aware of the hidden talents of their landlord, and Mr. Darcy was a known figure in London society. Even the Muggles would look down on his attachment to Elizabeth. She was of an estate of no standing that was entailed away and had a great many familial ties in trade. Not only that, but the manners of the bulk of her family were absolutely ridiculous.

Darcy found himself wondering, as he often did in recent days, how very different things might have been if Elizabeth's father had been born a wizard, instead of a Squib. The family would certainly be more respected in the magical community, and Darcy was sure that nearly any other woman in the word, especially a witch, would have more sense than Mrs. Bennet. He also wondered how his life would be different if Elizabeth were a Muggle, as he originally thought. He had already been dangerously attracted to her at Netherfield. Would he have truly been any safer?

"Darcy!"

Darcy tore his eyes from Elizabeth. "Pardon?"

"I asked if you enjoyed the trip to Hogsmeade," said Silas with somewhat of an irritated air.

"I like Hogsmeade well enough," Darcy answered. "The quill shop had some fine selections today."

"Come now, Darcy," objected Leah Harvey. Darcy had first interacted with her at the Quidditch scrimmage before school started, but as a fellow Ravenclaw and sixth year, she had since been often in his company. "Quills? I like a fine writing utensil more than the average person, I'm sure, but how could you speak of quills when there was so much else going on?"

Darcy barely avoided glancing down at the Bennets again. He had spent a fair amount of time at the assembly hall above Madam Puddifoot's hoping to catch sight of Elizabeth dancing, but had been denied the pleasure. He knew she had not been well lately but thought she would have fought through in order to dance.

"My mind was much occupied by tasks I need to tend to," said Darcy finally. "Quills are useful for my business, so I was happy to gain the tool."

Leah rolled her eyes. "You ought to relax, Darcy. Have some fun every now and then!"

"Agreed," said Silas. "Surely you can let go of your various responsibilities for a few hours, Darcy! I know Bingley tried to get you to dance. What harm would it do to indulge him? It'd probably do you a lot of good."

Darcy felt his lips tighten. Had a certain Gryffindor showed up, he might very well have danced a set or two. As it was, he spent most of his time at the assembly hall avoiding Caroline. Despite her being surrounded by wealthy purebloods on the daily, she still seemed determined to catch his attention. "I found I was not inclined to dance today."

"Well, be aware that, next time, I just might grab you and make you dance," Leah threatened.

"I should hope you would not," said Darcy sternly.

"You cannot scare me, Darcy," said Leah.

"Such was not my intent."

"You might want to inform your face of that, then," Leah responded. "Silas, pass the chicken, please."

Darcy sighed. He enjoyed that Leah and Silas were not afraid to challenge him, but he often wished they would keep their challenges to academic concerns. His personal life he preferred to deal with alone. They certainly would not be encouraging him to abandon his responsibilities for a time if they had any idea of their magnitude. Not a day passed that he did not get a letter from either his stewards or his Aunt Matlock about some tenant dispute or issue with Georgiana.

As the image of his sister came to mind, Darcy again glanced at the Bennets. Would Elizabeth accept Georgiana? Would she bring Georgiana out of her shell, rebuild confidence and help the girl find joy again? Darcy had certainly struggled with doing as such, and, by her own account, his aunt was not having much more success than him. Watching Elizabeth interact with her own younger sisters, however, made Darcy wish he could give her a chance with his.

As dinner came to a close, the Bennet sisters parted, but Darcy's eyes stayed trained on Elizabeth. How he wished he could come to a decision and be at peace with it!


Author's Note

Let me tell you, lovelies, that writing scenes between legilimens Mary and Darcy is really, REALLY fun. :)

Please let me know what went through your mind as you read in a review!