Sunlight poured into the room when I awoke early the next morning. I sat up in the hospital bed and yawned. I looked to the place where I last saw Draco and found him asleep in a chair he had pulled up next to the bed. I smiled as he lay there in an obviously uncomfortable position while he slept. I crawled deeper under the covers and watched him sleep peacefully. Within a few moments, however, Draco stirred from his sleep.
"Morning," he said in the middle of a yawn.
"Morning," I answered as he stretched.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better, thank you," I replied.
Madame Pomfrey walked into the room at that moment and headed straight for my bed.
"Mr. Malfoy, I told you to leave time and time again last night and you still disobeyed me. Ten points from Slytherin," she said.
"Oh, please, Madame Pomfrey. Don't take points from Slytherin. He was just making sure nothing happened to me," I pleaded, trying to keep Slytherin from losing points at Dracos expense.
"Very well, Miss Silverlio, I won't take points from Slytherin, this time,but your friend here would do well to listen when hes asked to leave," she replied.
I nodded for Draco and climbed out from my bed, ready to change into my robes and get down to breakfast.
"Where do you think you are going?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"I'm hungry, so I'd like to go down to breakfast. Besides, its a lovely Saturday; I certainly don't want to spend it here," I answered.
"Well, like it or not, you took a nasty shock last night, and I think it best if you stayed here for the day so that I may keep an eye on you, just to be safe," she replied.
"Please, Madame Pomfrey. Let me go. Today's the first Quidditch match of the season, and I wanted to see the match of Slytherin against Gryffindor."
"No. I cannot allow you to go. I have a responsibility to the students of this school, and I do not want to jeopardize any one of them."
"Miss Silverlio has my permission to attend the match," I heard a voice say from the doorway.
All three of us turned to see Dumbledore walking towards us.
"But sir, I thought you would agree that she stay here for a while longer," Madame Pomfrey replied, giving Dumbledore a look that made me question her reasoning as to why I needed to stay.
"No, I believe she is well enough to witness the first Quidditch game of the season. I will personally stay by her side to be sure that you don't lose your state of mind over worry," Dumbledore said.
"Well, it seems as though I cannot win any arguments today," Madame Pomfrey replied as she left the room in a huff.
"Now, I suggest you both freshen up and eat breakfast. You both will need your strength today. Miss Silverlio, I will meet you in the Great Hall ten minutes before the game starts and we shall walk to the pitch together," Dumbledore replied.
"Yes, Headmaster," I answered with a nod.
Dumbledore stood and left the room without another word.
"I'll see you in the Great Hall in a few minutes. I'm going to the dormitory to change clothes," Draco said as he stood.
"See you then," I said with a smile.
Minutes later, I was dressed in my Slytherin robes and on my way to the Great Hall. I walked past several other students, who had no doubt heard of my experience late last night, and their cold stares were still chilling, even though I'd been getting them from the moment I'd arrived. Draco stood at the door leading to the Hall and smiled when I approached. The Hall was already crowded with people when we went inside and sat down at the Slytherin table. More stares from people around us kept the conversation minimal. I was glad when owls came pouring into the Hall with letters and small packages. Amadeo's red feathers stuck out among the rest and he flew down to me with an envelope in his beak. I took it from him and allowed him to eat the remnants of my breakfast from my plate and opened the envelope. I unfolded the piece of parchment and found a letter from Lucius:
Elizabeth,
Dumbledore sent word immediately after your episode last evening, and I am most concerned. I do hope that all is well with the school and that I do not have to involve the Minister of Magic in its affairs. I shall be at the Quidditch game scheduled for today so that I may watch Draco and so that we may have a talk. I shall be joining both you and the headmaster in the faculty box.
Lucius
I folded the letter and stuffed it back inside the envelope, and then I tucked it inside my robes. I didn't understand why so many people were making a mountain out of a molehill with what happened the night before. It didn't seem to be very important that I blacked out because of my anger. If anyone should be worried, it should be me, since I clearly remembered Pansy being there when she had insisted she hadn't been. I sighed and looked for Amadeo, whom I petted lovingly and watched as he flew to the owlry with the huge flock of owls, each one having its own master in the room.
I wasn't able to eat anything else after Lucius's letter, and I merely sat at the table quietly until Draco announced that he must leave for the Quidditch pitch so that he may dress for the game. I watched him leave the Hall and wasn't surprised to see Pansy attach herself to Draco's arm once he was a few yards away from me. I merely rolled my eyes and sighed, wishing I didn't have to wait to be watched over.When the time came to meet Dumbledore at the front of the Hall, I stood and made my way to the front doors. Many students were already making their way to the field, and I was one of the last few to leave the Hall.
"Are you sure this Parkinson girl is telling the truth?" I heard Lucius ask.
"Yes, Madame Pince, our librarian, insists that Miss Parkinson was there before the incident occurred and didn't leave until after Miss Silverlio had been found in the dormitory," Dumbledore answered.
"Then why is Elizabeth claiming to have seen her in the dormitory? It's not like her to lie about anything, and I do not believe she would stoop so low as to try to get Parkinson expelled for cursing her."
"That is why she needs to be carefully looked after. If she gets upset like she did last night, she might burn the entire school down. No one knows this, but the furniture in the dormitories is made to reproduce itself should anything happen to it, and I know for a fact that every piece of furniture in the room was burned to ashes before it reconstructed itself," said Dumbledore.
"Are you sure she is capable of something like that?"
"I know that she is, Lucius. I don't want her to be a danger to Hogwarts."
I couldn't take it anymore. I emerged from the Hall and strolled over to where Lucius and Dumbledore were talking. Their conversing stopped as soon as they caught sight of me. I was angry, but I tried desperately to keep my temper, especially after hearing what Dumbledore had said. Even still, I knew that the torches were burning a bit more intensely than they usually did.
The three of us walked together to the Quidditch pitch next to the lake, me in the center with Lucius on one side and Dumbledore on the other. Students around us eyed us peculiarly, watching as if I were some sort of celebrity with her protectors flanking her borders. We didn't talk, and we merely made our way to the box reserved for the faculty of the school and for other important persons who may come to watch a game. We took our seats and waited for the game to begin.
"How are you feeling today, Elizabeth?" Lucius asked me.
"I'm fine, really. I don't see why everyone is making such a big deal of this."
"We're just concerned. You've been through a lot these past few months, and we don't want any harm to come to you," Lucius replied, contradicting what I'd overheard inside the castle.
I wanted to say something. I wanted to tell Lucius that Id overheard him. However, I didn't say anything. Instead, I tried to find a comfortable position in the stands as the Quidditch players came flying onto the field in a flurry of red and gold and silver and green. Draco flew by the faculty box on his Firebolt and waved in Lucius's and my direction. Lucius merely remained stiff, and I waved to Draco as he zoomed past us for a second time.
Minutes later, the game began. Points were scored in massive succession by the Slytherin team, and it wasn't long before they were winning by a huge amount. The fourteen players, along with Madame Hooch became targets of interest, and my head darted back and forth, merely trying to keep up with the game.
"And another ten points for Slytherin!" I heard the announcer, Lee Jordan, yell again.
"Slytherin captain Montague has control of the Quaffle...he tosses to Warrington, and...oh, no! Gryffindor captain Angelina Johnson has stolen the Quaffle! She races to the goal. She throws...intercepted by Warrington! Slytherin now has the Quaffle...another ten points for Slytherin! Gryffindor Alicia Spinnet now has the Quaffle," Dean turned his head, "a Bludger is spiraling toward her thanks to Slytherin Goyle...she ducks, and the Bludger is deflected back to the Slytherins. Spinnet races to the goal posts. Crabbe sends another Bludger towards Spinnet...hit by Gyffindor beater Kirke! The Bludger is heading straight for the Slytherin keeper, Bletchley! Spinnet aims and throws...Bletchley dives...and..."
BAM! The Bludger pummeled Bletchley directly in the stomach and sent him flying into the side of one of the metal hoops. He fell from his broom and made his quick descent to the bottom of the pitch; Madame Hooch was just barely able to cushion his fall to the ground. A hush fell over the crowd; several of the professors rushed from the faculty box. Dumbledore was the first to exit, and a mere look from Lucius kept the other teachers at bay until he had left the box, with me tagging along behind him.
Soon after, I found myself on the pitch; the players had removed themselves from the air and now stood in a small circle around Bletchley, with the Slytherin team glaring harshly at the Gryffindors. They parted to allow for Dumbledore, and Madame Pomfrey came rushing in behind him.
"Everyone, please step aside," Dumbledore said calmly, "this game cannot continue. The players will please return to their locker rooms, and please have it announced that everyone should resume their usual weekend activities. The game will be rescheduled once Mr. Bletchley's condition is known."
With that, the Gyffindor and Slytherin players made their way to the nearest exit, dragging their brooms behind them. Madame Hooch flew back into the air and, with some difficulty, retrieved the Bludgers still zooming about the field and, several minutes later, caught the Snitch, though the one-hundred fifty points no longer mattered.
As Lee Jordan's voice once again came over the loudspeaker to announce the end of the match, Bletchley's body was removed from the ground, and Dumbledore placed a hover charm upon it, moving him gently to the hospital wing. A small crowd followed behind him: Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, Lucius, and me, all of us walking quickly to the hospital wing of the school. Bletchley was placed onto a bed, and curtains were drawn around him. Madame Pomfrey bustled about the room for various supplies, and within minutes, several of his Slytherin teammates arrived to see as to his condition.
Draco came with the large group and stood beside me, though none of them seemed to be too greatly worried about Bletchley. Snape also made an appearance, adding to the crowd that already contained many Slytherins, apart from Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey. She hovered over Bletchley's body, carefully poking and prodding, trying to figure out exactly what was wrong with him. After several minutes, Bletchley was finally able to open his eyes.
"Wha...? What happened?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head with left hand.
"Those Gryffindors sent a Bludger your way, and it knocked you clear off your broom and into the goal post! Everybody'll be talking about this!" Warrington said rather excitedly, before being elbowed by Montague.
"How do you feel, dear?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"I'm...alright, I guess," Bletchley replied.
"Are you sure? That was quite a nasty fall you took."
"Yeah, I'll be alright," he said as he attempted to sit up in bed before groaning with pain.
"Oh, dear. Where does it hurt?" asked Madame Pomfrey.
"It's just my arm, that's all. I'll be fine."
"No, no. You'll be staying right here for the time being. Now if everyone would please leave, I'll be able to help Mr. Bletchley without difficulty."
"Madame Pomfrey is right, students," Dumbledore began, "please vacate the hospital wing and return to your usual activities. Professor Snape shall inform you in your common room as soon as he has any information about Mr. Bletchley's condition."
All of the students were disappointed about having to leave, though as to why, the reasons were varied. Everyone turned to slowly leave the room, and chatter began as soon as we entered the hallway. Talk continued as to whether Bletchley would be able to play for the rest of the season, and if not, who would be the best Slytherin for the position. Names of various Slytherin boys were rattled off, and each one had some quality that kept the rest from agreeing.
"I think Elizabeth here would be an excellent replacement. I saw her practicing with Draco at home, and she's quite good, I'll have you know," Lucius said, interrupting the noisy prattle.
The entire group stopped and looked from Lucius to me and back to Lucius. They knew that Lucius was one of their greatest benefactors--he'd paid for each of them to get a Nimbus 2001 several years ago, and there was talk about him buying brand-new Firebolts for the team as well. However, there had never been a girl on the Quidditch team, and none of them wanted to change that fact.
"I think that if Bletchley is indeed going to be out for the rest of the season, we shall have to hold tryouts for Keeper, rather than forfeit the Quidditch Cup," Montague replied, hoping to satisfy everyone present.
"Very well. Draco, Elizabeth, I must be going. Look for my letters; I shall most likely attend your next Quidditch match," Lucius said, before turning on his heel and disappearing down the corridor.
The rest of us continued down the staircases and deep into the dungeons. The boys departed to their dormitories to change out of their Quidditch uniforms, while I waited for Draco in the common room. As the boys began to filter out into the common room, their talk changed back to the subject of Bletchley and the possible tryouts. Hidden by the high back of the leather chair I was sitting in, I listened to their conversation without being noticed.
"Come on, guys. Why can't you let Elizabeth try out? She's a great Keeper. I've seen her. I practiced with her," Draco insisted.
"Sorry, Draco, but we can't make exceptions just because she's your girlfriend," Warrington said.
"I thought you wanted to win the Quidditch Cup this year. I guarantee you that there's no other Slytherin better. She was captain of her team at her old school!" Draco persisted.
His last comment stirred the other players, and the captain, Montague, took a moment to consider everything. He sighed before speaking.
"All right, Draco. I can't promise you anything, but since your father's made so many contributions to the team, I'll let Elizabeth try out. If she's as good as you say she is and she's better than all the others, then she's on the team."
Montague turned and left the common room with the rest of the team following behind; only Draco remained. I stood from the chair and faced him; he jumped slightly.
"Elizabeth, I didn't know you were there," he said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Draco, I appreciate you trying to get me on the team, but you and I both know that I wasn't the captain at my old school. We didn't even play Quidditch! Besides, you never even asked me if I was even interested in being the Slytherin Keeper!" I exclaimed.
"Well, you are interested, arent you?"
"Well...yes, but that's not the point."
Draco merely looked at me.
"If I'm going to be on the team, I want to earn my position. I don't want you or Lucius to use your powers of sway to convince them to get me on the team. Thanks for getting me the audition, but let me do the rest...please."
Draco smiled, "Of course."
A moment later, Snape entered the common room, complete with his billowing black cape and the rest of the Quidditch team following behind him. Draco and I joined the rest of the small crowd forming around Snape, all of us eager to hear about Bletchley.
"Unfortunately, Mr. Bletchley's condition is not favorable. His arm is broken and is so terribly damaged that he will not be able to play Quidditch for the rest of the season. Thanks to Gryffindor, Slytherin may have to forfeit the Quidditch Cup," Snape said maliciously.
"Maybe not, Professor," Montague replied, "the rest of the team and I have decided to hold tryouts for the position. We don't plan on losing the Quidditch Cup this year, Professor."
"Very good. See to it that the tryouts are soon. I don't want Slytherin to fall behind in the Quidditch standings."
"Yes, Professor," said Montague as Snape left the room, his cloak flowing behind him.
As soon as Snape left the room, the Quidditch team began their talking again. After a few seconds of speech, Draco motioned for me to join the group.
"All right, Elizabeth. Since Bletchley's out for the rest of season and Draco says youre so good, I'm going to let you try out, but you're the only girl I'm allowing, so dont' tell anyone that youre trying out. Since we play a rematch against Gryffindor next Saturday and I want to make sure that the new Keeper gets to practice with us, the tryouts are going to be the day after tomorrow after dinner. Wait until everyone else has auditioned, then you can try, but don't think that just because I'm giving you this opportunity I'm going to give you the spot, because its going to the best player," Montague said in a hushed tone before quickly leaving the common room.
The rest of the team all flashed me a look of reluctance before following Montague out of the room. I heaved a heavy sigh of relief once the team left. Draco smiled.
"What?" I asked.
He looked down at the ring on his finger.
"Its just that the colors on the ring have never changed so fast. It went from black to blue almost immediately after Montague left."
"Oh," I blushed slightly.
"Anyway, you might want to get some practice in, just to make sure you give the try out your best," Draco said.
"You're probably right. Maybe after dinner I'll sneak down to the pitch and practice a little."
"Mind if I go with you?"
"Of course. I need someone to throw the Quaffle."
We waited until the sun set after dinner that night before heading down to the pitch. Huddled together under my fathers invisibility cloak, Draco and I made our way to the Quidditch pitch, both of us carrying our brooms. Once on the field, Draco found a practice Quaffle in a storage closet and brought it out.
"Okay, Elizabeth. I'm going to fly around the hoops and throw the Quaffle. Just try to block it, okay?"
"Come on, Draco. Quit stalling. Let's get flying."
We mounted our brooms and kicked off from the ground. We flew around the field for a few minutes before heading to the nearest goal. I positioned myself in front of the hoops, while Draco flew about the hoops with the Quaffle for a few minutes. He darted around on his Firebolt and finally flew near the hoops and threw the ball. I flew forward, caught the ball easily, and threw it back to Draco.
"Come on, Draco! Give me a challenge!"
After almost an hour of practicing, Draco flew closer to the hoops.
"It's getting late. We should probably get back inside before someone sees you practicing."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
We dropped down to the bottom of the pitch, and I waited for Draco while he returned the Quaffle. Once he returned, we hid once more under the invisibility cloak and made our way back to the Slytherin common room.
"Not bad for tonight. I say we go back to the pitch tomorrow night and practice some more," Draco said once we were back inside the common room.
"Okay, goodnight."
We parted for the night and made our way to our bedrooms. I didn't sleep well that night; dreams kept me from sleeping soundly. I kept seeing Bletchley's fall, and I kept hearing what Montague had said to me. When I finally fell asleep, it didn't seem to take long for the sun to rise. I woke up to find the rest of the beds empty and sunlight streaming into the room through the open curtains. I rose from my bed and got dressed quickly. Still yawning when I entered the common room, I found Draco sitting with Crabbe and Goyle in the high-backed chairs surrounding the cold fireplace.
"Morning," I said.
"Morning," the three said, almost in unison, though they spoke as though something wasn't right.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"There was another burning last night!" Crabbe blurted out before Draco punched him in the arm.
"Really?" I said, "where?"
"On the Quidditch pitch. Someone burned a message into the field. It says, 'The Elements cannot be escaped. All that once was will burn in flame,'" Draco explained.
"Oh."
"It wasn't there yesterday...or last night. So how do you think it got there?" Draco asked questioningly.
"I don't know...you don't think I did it, do you?"
Draco didn't say anything.
"Fine," I said angrily before turning on my heel and leaving the common room.
I heard Draco's footsteps following behind me, but I didn't slow down. It became apparent that everyone else in the school had heard about the burnt message on the pitch, judging by the many stares I got from various students. After several steps, Draco finally caught up with me.
"Are you alright?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Of course not, Draco. Everyone thinks I'm the one behind all these burnings, and I swear that I'm not doing them! It's hard enough trying to fit in since I'm the new girl in school, but it makes things even harder since they all think I'm trying to burn down the place!"
"Calm down, Elizabeth," Draco replied, stopping me in the hall and holding me close.
"Sorry, I don't mean to take it out on you," I said, trying to stifle my tears.
"What's wrong with her? You'd think she'd be on the top of the world with all the things she's been doing lately," I heard a voice from behind Draco and me.
We both turned to see Ron standing with Harry and Hermione. Draco rolled his eyes at first, while Harry elbowed Ron in the stomach, at the same time giving him a look telling him to shut his jaws.
"Hey, Potter, can't you control your friends mouth?" Draco said defensively.
"Calm down, Malfoy. He didn't mean it. Did you, Ron?"
"Sorry, Harry, but I did mean it. I mean, who else is capable of burning things with her hands? You've got to admit that there's a lot of evidence against her. It's weird enough having a new student coming here as a sixth year, but its even weirder that she can control fire. If you ask me, I think she's working for You-Know-Who, trying to help him come back to power, trying to kill Harry."
"You'd better take it back, Weasley," Draco said crossly.
"What are you going to do, Malfoy?" Ron taunted.
Within seconds, Draco had pulled his wand from underneath his robes and pointed it at Ron.
"I said, take it back."
"Whats going on here?"
All of us turned to find Professor McGonagall standing nearby.
"Now Mr. Malfoy, I'm sure you weren't going to use magic in the halls against a fellow student. Be that as it may, ten points will be taken from Slytherin, and I'm giving you detention for tonight. Come by my office after dinner. Maybe with that, you'll learn to control your anger."
"Yes, Professor," Draco replied through gritted teeth as McGonagall left the scene.
"See what you did, Weasley?" I said angrily.
"What I did? You're the one out to kill us all!"
"I...am...not!" I yelled.
I could feel the heat rising in my body, and it took a great amount of will power just to keep myself from setting Ron's robes on fire. I wasn't expecting what happened to me next. It had happened before, but only when I was too upset to control the flames. I could feel the fire coursing through my veins, searching for an outlet outside my body. Flames erupted from my fingertips and from the strands of my hair; I felt my skin begin to burn red and my eyes were flooded with scarlet light. I rose a foot from the ground, and my clothes burned with flames.
Each face around me stopped and stared, and each jaw nearly dropped. I hated that I was letting myself create such a scene, but I couldn't stop it once it started. My vision filled with bright red, and all I could see were flames around the faces of those around me. All of a sudden, I felt my body overload with heat, and blackness invaded my eyes. I knew no more.
When I awoke, I found myself in Dumbledore's office. It was exactly the same as it had been the first night I'd been in the castle, and yet I couldn't remember why I was there this time. My head began to throb as my memory started to revert to normal, revealing pieces of what I last recalled. I looked up from the small bed where I had been laying, and I found Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey leaning over me.
"Are you alright, dear?" Madame Pomfrey asked.
"I'm sure she's fine, Madame Pomfrey," began Dumbledore, "but I would like to have a word with her alone, if you don't mind."
"Of course, Headmaster. I'll be in the hospital wing if you need me."
"Good night, Madame Pomfrey," Dumbledore replied as she made her way to the door.
"Good evening, Headmaster," she said, before opening the door and leaving the room.
As soon as the door was closed, Dumbledore made his way to the door, opened it, looked out, closed the door again, and locked it. He then turned back to me.
"Miss Silverlio, when you first came to Hogwarts, I asked you to control your abilities with the utmost concern..."
"I'm sorry, Professor. I honestly couldn't stop it. I tried to fight it, I did, but once it starts, it's impossible to stop!" I insisted.
"I understand that, Elizabeth. I am beginning to think that I made a terrible mistake by revealing your powers to the entire school. Maybe it would have been better for you if I hadn't, but I was hoping that you might inspire a kind of openness and, perhaps, a sense of security. Instead, revealing your abilities has caused you great distress, and for that I am sorry."
"I admit, Professor, that I had hoped to keep my powers a secret, but I knew that it was impossible. It took a long time for the students at my old school to accept me, but after a while, they got used to my friend and me. Maybe if she were here, things wouldn't be so bad. She can control water, and together we can keep each other in check, but I'm just by myself here."
"Which is why you must learn to control your powers. Whether you meant to or not, displays like the one you just showed have caused the students to fear you, and I do not wish for any student to fear another. Therefore, I want you to come here every Friday evening, and I shall teach you whatever I can that may help you," Dumbledore finished.
"Yes, Professor."
"I do have one question, though."
"Yes, Professor?"
"What was different this time? The last time you had such an episode, you burned everything in the room, yet this time, nothing was harmed."
"I don't understand, Professor. I thought this was the first time I freaked out like that."
"Do you remember that night when you insisted that Miss Parkinson tried to curse you? Before you blacked out, you had the same reaction you had not too long ago. What was the difference between the two?" he asked.
I thought for several minutes, and I finally came up with something.
"Draco."
Dumbledore continued to look at me.
"He was there that time, but not the first. I remember trying really hard to control the fire; I didn't want to hurt him," I said, staring off into space and thinking back.
"Then I must say that Mr. Malfoy is a very lucky young lad to have someone like you on his side. Now," he said, glancing at a nearby clock, "I believe dinner is being served in the Great Hall, and, I don't know about you, but I am starving."
I smiled gently before following him from his office and down the spiral stairs. At the bottom, the stairs began revolving until they disappeared, leaving no trace that they even existed. Dumbledore and I walked swiftly through the corridors and eventually found ourselves near the Great Hall. I could hear the mindless chatter of those inside, feasting away at whatever came to the table.
"Now, not a word of what we spoke about," Dumbledore said, gesturing with his finger to his lips.
I merely nodded.
He turned and entered the Hall, with me right behind him. Immediately the chatter quieted and the students set down their utensils slowly. Dumbledore made his way to the teachers table, while I held up my head with as much dignity as I could muster and walked swiftly to the Slytherin table. Not even whispers followed me this time. I sat down next to Draco, forcing a smile. He returned it weakly before getting up from the table.
"Sorry, but I have a detention to get to. I'll see you later, Elizabeth," he said, walking off.
I didn't say anything. There wasn't anything I could say. He'd gotten that detention because of me, and now he, like everyone else, was afraid of me. I used to think I could control my powers pretty well, but it seemed now that I was running on a burning rampage, even though I knew I wasn't, though it didn't seem to count for much. As each minute passed, and each face that passed by looked at me with hatred, I grew more and more determined to learn to control my powers.
I sat silently in my chair, not eating, not speaking. I didn't look up at those that passed by, nor did anyone say anything to me. Before long, the entire Hall was empty, save for me. With tears welling in my eyes, I got up from the table and headed towards the common room.
Part of the way down the corridor, I stopped and moved to the window, where rain could be seen beginning to fall to the ground. I saw my reflection in the window pane, and wiped my tears with the sleeve of my robe before putting on a brave face and turning from the window. As I turned my head forward, I could hear a faint hissing noise, yet when Ilooked around to see what was following me, I saw nothing. I kept up my pace, only stopping to listen for the hissing once more, but I never saw anything that might explain it. I attempted to shrug it off.
With the Great Hall far behind me and the common room some way ahead of me, I heard another sound, yet this one I recognized.
"Come on, Ron, we still have homework to finish," I heard a male voice say.
"You mean you still have homework. I've finished mine already," said a female voice.
I turned the corner to find Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushing down the corridor to the stairs, most likely heading towards the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Hermione were far ahead, and Ron was running behind them chasing a small bird.
"Come on, Ron. Hurry up," Harry said.
"I'm trying, Harry, but you know Pig. He's bloody hopeless," he replied, continuing his attempts at catching the small bird.
Ron ran faster after the bird and turned a sharp corner, slipping on the smooth stones of the floor and upsetting a nearby sconce. Flames poured onto his robes, setting them aflame. Harry and Hermione rushed forward but were unable to do anything about the flames. Ron shrieked with fear as the fire surged around him; he flailed his arms, trying to put out the flames without hurting himself. Before they could burn his skin, I stepped into the corridor and held out my hand. The flames rose from Rons robes and into my hand, and they evaporated into my flame-proof skin. I grimaced slightly from the sensation, then watched at the astonishment that crept upon their faces. Harry and Hermione helped Ron to his feet; he looked at me awestruck, and was then elbowed in the ribs by Harry.
"Thanks," Ron said, looking at me contritely.
"Sure," I said pathetically before turning around and heading towards the Slytherin common room.
"Hey, Elizabeth," Harry said, forcing me to stop and face him, "thanks for helping out my friend."
"Yeah, whatever," I replied, then turned back around, leaving the three of them behind.