The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter fourteen.

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The rain stung and the wind howled as the stands were packed with students already chanting as the teams took to the pitch. Eliza's face was raw before the match even started and she pulled her cap down further to shield her ears which were already cold. They were all soaked to the bone and the wind whipped her hair around her face making it nearly impossible to see.

As the game began Eliza wished they'd postponed. Usually, she would be cheering along but as the players were pushed around by the wind she worried for their safety. The match was rough and the players could barely keep their brooms straight. She watched as one of the twins raced to protect Katie from a bludger but was knocked off course causing it to slam against the back of her broom sending her into a tailspin. There was a collective gasp but she regained control.

When she saw Harry taking off after Cedric for what had to be the snitch she held her breath. It all happened so fast that the crowd was in chaos when Harry fell from the sky. The teams were confused and it was like a madhouse as Hufflepuff was announced the winner and Harry was taken off the field to be tended to.

Eliza wanted to see if Harry was okay but there were too many students outside the medical ward trying to get a peek at the boy for her to get through. So she waited, staying to the side until some of them had lost interest. Until Fred and George emerged she didn't move. While she stood she hoped against hope that Harry hadn't been seriously injured. Upon seeing them she rushed forward. "Is he alright?" She asked.

They nodded. "Upset about losing but he's awake."

"Think he's more upset about his broom." George shook his head and Eliza couldn't imagine how Harry must be feeling. It had been so terrifying to see him falling she couldn't put herself in his shoes to try to think of what it felt like to him. And to have encountered dementors must have been awful. She'd never seen one up close before, for which she thanked her lucky stars. It was a freak accident but it would no doubt cause lasting damage to Harry. She'd done a bit of research on the creatures after finding out the school was to be hosting them and they sounded nasty. They were described as some of the foulest creatures in the world and for good reason. For Harry to have come so close to them? It made Eliza shudder.

She visited him a few days after. He was stuck on bed rest and she was sure he wasn't lacking in visitors but she was worried for him. He looked a little banged up but for the most part he appeared fine. When she took a seat next to his bed, he smiled at her. "If you're here to make me study Hermione has already loaded me up with her notes." He was attempting to joke but there was something that she recognized in him. Something she was getting quite good at aside from the slip during the Hogsmeade trip. She couldn't pinpoint how she knew but there was just something in his eyes that appeared off to her.

"Darn. I was hoping to make your stay here a little more miserable." She said as she looked him over. She could see in his expression that he wasn't just upset at losing the match or even his broom. He was playing the part well but she wasn't fooled. He was hiding something. She didn't know exactly what was bothering him but there were so many options.

Harry asked for a glass of water and she poured one from the pitcher next to his bed. "Sorry you had to see that. First match I've ever lost." He said but she shook her head. "See? With that rain? Impossible." She waved off his words. His gaze fell to the glass in his hands and she felt the need to comfort him. She didn't know how to do it but she could try.

"I bet you're probably tired of people telling you it wasn't your fault." She said. She wasn't put off when he didn't meet her gaze. "That the dementors shouldn't have been anywhere near the pitch." She lowered her voice. "But they're missing something aren't they?" It was a shot in the dark but when he finally looked at her she felt the heaviness of his gaze.

"No one else faints over the dementors." He muttered sounding ashamed of himself. How did that make sense? She reached up and placed her hand on his arm. "How many can say they've come face to face with one?" She asked. So far no one had come forward with a story of encountering the dementors in close proximity to the extent Harry had. Who was to say they wouldn't have the same reaction? "I'd probably drop dead out of fear." She said. "From what I've read those things make you relive your worst memories. I can't see anyone facing that and not passing out." She couldn't even face a boggart. How would she handle a dementor? If she was lucky she would never find out.

Harry looked down at her hand. "I hear my mum screaming when they're around." Eliza tried not to react to the confession. She hadn't expected one. She thought that maybe she could let him know that he wasn't alone or tell him he didn't have to hide what he was suffering through. To hear him admit he was hearing his dead mother made her heart shatter. Harry had already been through so much already and he still tried to continue on as if he were fine. That was familiar. His eyes widened as he met her gaze. "Please don't tell anyone."

Eliza then took his hand. "I won't. I promise." She squeezed. He looked speculative so she tried to reassure him. "Do you want me to tell you a secret so you know I won't tell?" She offered as a bargain. Harry took a moment before shaking his head. "You don't have to. I just hope I can trust you." His words made her chest tighten and she quickly leaned over his bed and kissed him on the forehead. His face was flushed and he look embarrassed at her actions as she returned to her seat. "Americans are weird." He mumbled avoiding her gaze.

She visited him a few more times before he was released and they spent time playing games. They were often joined by Ron and Hermione or the team and they would horse around until Madam Pomfrey would dismiss them saying Harry needed his rest. There were moments when he would look her way and it was as if he was trying to thank her and it made her feel like they shared something. While she already appreciated him as a friend those moments gave her something else. A need to look after him. He'd revealed a weakness to her and it made Eliza want to protect him. It was very similar to the way she felt about Tasha and Cas. Halloween had sparked an urge to keep them safe and close.

On Monday, when he was up and about again, it was during lunch that she felt that protectiveness reach a brand-new peak. Hannah and Kelly had joined the Gryffindor table to welcome Harry back and they were all praising him for his recovery. They talked about how he would make a comeback in his next quidditch match and made a toast to him. Even Cedric stopped by to tell Harry that he was glad he was alright and that he wished they could have a rematch.

Eliza and Hermione were discussing a way to gather funds to get Harry a new broom when someone shouted. "Potter!" And they all looked towards the Slytherin table where the Malfoy boy was making a grand show reenacting how Harry had fallen during the quidditch match. He made a big show of it, panicking and screaming before dramatically pretending to faint. Laughter rang out from the Slytherins and Harry turned back towards his plate. It burned her.

"Ignore them, Harry." Hermione said putting a hand on his shoulder. She was right. He should ignore them. There was no reason to give them the reaction they wanted but something inside Eliza made her get up from her seat.

"Izzy?" She could hear one of the twins say her name but she ignored them and set Rikki on the bench. "Eliza?" Kelly reached for her hand. She strode towards the Slytherin table in a beeline. From behind her she could hear her friends scrambling to follow. It took a moment for the Slytherins to notice but they began mocking her as she approached putting their hands up and pretending to shake in fear. She didn't pay them any mind and she shoved her way between two of Malfoy's friends across from him. They laughed as she set her hands on the table and leveled her gaze on him. "What is your problem, kid?" She was genuinely curious. What was it about Harry that had this boy so obsessed with messing with him?

Malfoy's eyes darted to those around him and one of them stood to face her. "What's YOUR problem?" But she didn't take her eyes off of the blonde who finally made eye contact. "What's the matter? Potter can't fight his own battles? Needs a girl to do it for him? Mind you're own business." He said wrinkling his nose at her as if he smelled something distasteful. She felt a tingle in her chest but ignored it. Over the weeks she'd noticed he was constantly jabbing and picking on Harry. If it was one or two times she'd have assumed it was playful but the way he was constantly doing or saying something was irritating to watch. It was downright cruel and made no sense to her. From what she'd been told it had started in their first year.

"No." Eliza didn't look away from him and the two students on his side rose from their seats. It didn't seem like he was very used to that word. "You think you can just waltz over here and speak to me however you want?" Malfoy looked smug and Eliza felt laughter bubble up. It was easy to talk big with his friends around him. It was classic bully behavior. It was as if he thought he was untouchable.

"I think you're a fucking coward." She said and the table lit up with whispers and muttering. Eliza was a little surprised at herself. She wasn't really one to use that type of language. The boy sputtered. "Do you know who I am?" Malfoy sat upright in his chair. "My father-" Eliza cut him off by reaching forward and snatching him by the collar. His father? Was that how he liked to throw his weight around? Lee had mentioned he thought he was better than the rest of them because 'his daddy told him so'. Maybe he needed to know that having a powerful father wasn't something he was alone in. The worst part of it all was that he was bullying someone who didn't have parents at all. She yanked him forward causing his friends to draw their wands. "Your father? Send him an owl. Put him in a room with my parents and I promise you'll be thinking twice before using that as a threat to people you don't know." She said staring into his wide eyes. He gaped up at her, mouth opening and closing.

Hands were pulling her away, but she didn't want to let him go. She took a moment to register in the look on his face before she finally released him. She shoved him away but instead of him falling back into his seat he was sent flying against the wall with a loud 'thud'. It startled her and she stumbled back snapping to her senses. The anger disappeared and she looked to her right as Fred took her arm and pulled her away. Hermione and Ron were at her rear, pushing her along. Eliza cast one look back to see the Slytherins rushing to Malfoy's aid.

"You better watch your back!" Malfoy called and she struggled against Fred but George joined him along with Lee and Harry. "Izzy stop! He's not worth it!" Ginny was at her side with Rikki in her arms. The great hall was suddenly alive with talk as she was rushed from it. They led her down the halls as other students tried to follow. Hermione, Hannah, and Kelly stopped them with Victor and Lee's help.

Her temper was completely gone by the time she was led down an empty hall. In the distance she could hear teachers rushing towards the great hall. 'What have I done?' She thought to herself.

"Have you gone mad?!" Ginny asked as she was released. Eliza leaned back against the wall and took a few deep breaths. It had happened again but this time she'd hurt someone. Not terribly but even still that was enough to have her looking down at her hands. "I thought it was brilliant." Ron said but his brothers pushed him towards the end of the hall.

"You shouldn't have done that." Harry sounded disappointed and she remembered Malfoy's cutting words about her fighting his battles for him. She didn't want him to believe something like that but she couldn't change what she'd done. Eliza would have to take his disappointment and hope he didn't hold it against her for too long. Eliza didn't know what to feel but there was one thing she did know. "I won't apologize for standing up for you." She placed a shaky hand on his shoulder and offered him a smile that took him a long minute to return though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Fred and George kept looking down the hall. "The teachers are coming." George warned and she pushed herself away from the wall. "It's okay." Eliza knew she was about to be in trouble but she wasn't willing to drag her friends along with her. She thanked George for the heads up and headed for the end of the hall just as professor McGonagall and Dumbledore rounded the corner.

McGonagall fixed her stern gaze on her while Dumbledore stepped to the side. "Ms. Montgomery. If you would please come with me."

Eliza looked back at her friends before nodding. "Yes, sir."