The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter thirteen.

The trip back to the school was uncomfortably quiet. Fred and George had hung back for a while so it was only Hannah, Kelly, and Victor. The girls asked her about what she'd bought and she answered them saying she'd show them when they got back to the common room. The conversations felt forced but Eliza tried to play everything off. No one had brought it up but there was a heaviness hanging around them that spoke of questions wanting to be asked yet unable to be voiced.

Eliza never thought she'd be so relieved to hear that there was a murderer in the school. The news quickly spread through the halls about the portrait guarding the Gryffindor common room being slashed up and the staff rounded up all the students. They barely had enough time to set their things down before being corralled into the great hall.

With all the students assembled Dumbledore made an announcement that they would be sleeping there for the night and when dinner was served the amount of talk flying around with theories, rumors, and stories of Sirius Black had Eliza's stomach in knots. She hated that she'd left Rikki in the dorm but in all the excitement and tension, she wanted him in a safe place. With the sleeping arrangements that may have been a smart idea but she missed him. Her need to cuddle and pet her ferret was immense.

She poked at the food on her plate while Hannah and Kelly talked with the other students at their table. She tuned everything out after getting tired of hearing the same things over and over. The day had already been exciting enough for her. One thing that did concern her was Harry. His name was sprinkled among the news. She chanced a glance to the Gryffindor table to check on him and he looked a touch pale. His friends looked worried which made her feel awful for being wrapped up in her own problems. She doubted there was anything she could do that his friends weren't doing already though.

Eliza couldn't stop replaying the scene from earlier in her head. She'd been so determined not to let the past affect her, but then she said something stupid. With the castle stirred up about Black she had time to think about what to do if her friends brought up what she'd said. She heavily considered lying outright but there was always the option of saying it had been a bad joke. Did lying to her new friends make her a bad person? She just didn't want them to treat her differently. She liked how things were. Was it so wrong to want it all to stay positive?

The sleeping bags were at least comfortable. She'd dragged one off to the side so she could have the wall against her back. It was an irrational comfort to be able to turn on her side and see what was around her without having to worry about anything behind her. Tasha and Cas had pulled their sleeping bags over to hers and she felt more comfortable with them around. They asked her how the trip was but they were very distracted and she could see the anxiety as Tasha fidgeted with one of her braids.

"I can't believe this is happening." Cas said, her blue eyes darting all around the room nearly bulging out of her round face. She'd basically overlapped Eliza's sleeping bag with her own. She and Eliza were sitting together, backs supported by the wall, and she was pressed against Eliza's shoulder. Eliza could feel the girl shaking every now and then. "It's going to be okay. There's no way anyone's getting past the teachers." Eliza finally put her arm around her and Cas tucked in so close that she was nearly in her lap. 'Poor thing.' Eliza allowed her to get comfortable.

"Then how did he get in at all?" Tasha asked, and she teased Cas for the way she was clinging to Eliza but after the lights were out she moved closer. When she laid down on her side she had her head in Eliza's lap and Eliza rubbed her back to soothe her. They were just young kids in a scary situation. Eliza was as well but they felt so much younger in that moment. "Everything will be alright." She said softly. She could feel Cas dozing, head heavy on her shoulder and eventually Tasha began snoring softly. Not wanting to wake them she just sat there staring up at the starry ceiling.

Since her parents liked to take her camping on holidays when they could she was used to sleeping on the ground. Nevertheless, she couldn't sleep sitting up. The staff would come by to check on them every half hour and she'd listen to their footsteps as they made a sweep of the room. The teacher would look their way and Eliza would close her eyes to fake sleep but when Dumbledore made a round speaking to Snape her ears were at attention.

They weren't being very quiet so it wasn't like she had to strain to hear them. Snape sounded convinced that someone had assisted Black in getting into the castle but the headmaster shut him down. She couldn't imagine any of the staff would have interest in helping an escaped murderer but the idea had her tightening her arm around Cas. The girl mumbled something in her sleep and Eliza laid her cheek atop her head. If she could make either of the younger students sleep a little easier by letting them sleep on her, she didn't mind it. Her back would have something to say about it in the morning though.

During lunch the following day there was still much talk of what had happened and it wouldn't die down for days to come. Eliza was hunched a bit at the table trying to stretch her back out. She'd taken a tonic with her breakfast which helped but she couldn't wait to sleep in her bed again. Rikki was worked up throughout the morning and she'd let him run around the north courtyard to relieve his pent-up energy after herbology.

Harry looked agitated as he sat barely eating. "You okay?" Eliza asked. Hermione and Ron shared a glance but didn't say anything. Harry looked around and shook his head. "No. I can't get a moments peace." He said. "Someone is always watching me. Ever since last night." She remembered the twins mentioning that their father was under the impression that Sirius Black was after Harry. After the attack they were probably scared to let him out of their sight. She frowned. "I'm sure they'll let up in a week or two."

To tell him that it was for his safety would be stupid as he'd probably heard it already a dozen times. He didn't look hopeful at her words and she wished there was something she could say to make him feel better. His mood only worsened during the rest of the week. Even the twins were frustrated during one of their meetups. They were too focused on the upcoming quidditch match to get much accomplished. They spent the majority of their time muttering about how Slytherin was just trying to get a leg up by not competing in foul weather. They had backed out of the quidditch match which meant they were to play Hufflepuff instead. They insisted that Malfoy was lying about his arm being injured. She offered them encouragement where she could but listening to them carry on was all she could really do.

The day before the match she was in the astronomy courtyard off to the side perched on one of the archways. The weather was gloomy, but she was tired of being cooped up inside. As students passed she would look up and wave when greeted but she kept her attention on her studies. She had two assignments due by the end of the week and she just wanted them out of the way. She was finished with one and starting on the other when she was interrupted.

"Excuse me." Eliza looked up from her work at a tall Hufflepuff boy who she'd seen around but didn't know. He was good-looking and was always surrounded by friends so he must have been popular. She set her quill down. "Can I help you?" She asked confused as to why he was talking to her. He shifted, adjusting the strap of his bag on his shoulder. "You're Eliza, right? My sister told me you've been helping her with her homework."

Eliza tried to identify who could be his sister. Once Tasha, Cas, and Thomas had spread the word that she was open to tutoring they'd invited some of their friends. By now they had a fairly large group consisting of up to ten of them at a time depending on who needed help. Fred and George had begun to tease her saying that she'd started her own underclassman study cult.

"I am. Who's your sister?" She asked.

"Cassady." He answered and she frowned for a moment. "Cas?" She asked. He nodded. She hadn't heard anyone call the girl by her full first name so it threw her off. She made a quick recovery and offered him her hand. "Nice to meet you." She said and he took it. "Cedric. Cedric Diggory." He introduced himself and he motioned as if to ask if he could join her. Eliza moved her bag so he could sit down.

"Cas is a great kid. I didn't know she had a brother." She said. He smiled and set his bag at his feet. "Doesn't surprise me." He responded. "She says I'm embarrassing."

Eliza tried to imagine Cas saying something like that. She was so sweet but maybe having a sibling so much older than her being in the same school was why she worked so hard. It was easy to see that she wanted to be independent and make her own way even when seeking help. She thought back on how the girl had come to her for comfort on Halloween and she felt a little sad that she hadn't sought out her sibling. "I'm sure she doesn't really believe that." Eliza attempted to dismiss his words.

Cedric chuckled. "She used to think I was so cool before she started here." He fiddled with his scarf. "Now I'm just her lame older brother."

Eliza closed her book. "That's just how girls are. She'll come around. Deep down all little sisters love their big brothers even when they call them lame." She said.

"Do you have any siblings?" He asked. Eliza shook her head. "No. But as a girl, I have a lot of experience with them."

His laugh was pleasant and as she looked at him she began to see the similarities between him and Cas. They had the same eyes and nose. "I'll trust the expert then." He said playfully. "I just wanted to introduce myself and thank you for being there for her." He said. "She has a hard time making friends so I was worried about how she was adjusting to school but whenever I talk to her she raves on about you."

Eliza was flattered. "I had no idea." She admitted but it gave her a warm feeling to know she was important to Cas.

The bell began to ring and Cedric stood. "She looks up to you. I'm glad she's in good hands." His smile was so genuine she felt her heart melt in her chest. He obviously really loved his little sister and was looking out for her. She gathered her things. "Just don't tell her I spoke to you." Cedric said. "I don't want to embarrass her."

Eliza nodded. "I promise I won't."

On her way to transfiguration Fred, George, and Lee caught up to her. She was worried that they'd bring up Hogsmeade but her worries were quickly dismissed when Lee said. "You're conspiring with the enemy!" Which threw her for a loop. What the hell was he talking about? Conspiring? "Run that by me again?" She turned to him with her brow furrowed.

"Saw you talking to Diggory." Fred said as they entered the classroom filing in with the other students. "So?" She broke off to the side to take a seat next to Kelly. The boys followed and settled in around them. "He's the captain and seeker of the Hufflepuff team." George explained but she still wasn't sure why that mattered. "Who we're playing tomorrow for the first match of the season." Lee explained.

Kelly was interested and she leaned in. "Are you talking about Cedric?" She asked. Fred tapped his finger on the desk. "He was having a chat with Izzy before class." He shot her an accusatory look.

"First Victor now Cedric? Are you slipping love potions to people?" Kelly asked. Eliza was so confused. "No. What? No." She shook her head. "It wasn't like that and he didn't say anything about quidditch." She said pointedly to the guys. "So what did he want then?" George asked. It wasn't any of their business but she wasn't inclined to let their assumptions run wild. "He was asking about Cas, you nimwits. She's his sister."

The news made them all lose interest. "Oh." Lee said and the twins sat back with a huff. "Guess we don't have to slip him any puking pastilles after all." Fred muttered. The fact that had even crossed their minds made her shake her head. "I can't believe you'd think I'd say anything that would lose you the match tomorrow." It actually hurt a bit.

"That's not what the pastilles would be for." George muttered.