The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter one.

Author's note:

Hello and welcome. If you have chosen to read this story I appreciate it.

I do play a lot with canon in this story so there's a warning for that. Also some of the themes may be TRIGGERING to some. Within this story are mentions of attempted murder, abuse, stalking, and unhealthy coping mechanisms so if those things bother you then please don't read this. It's a recurring theme. It is a mostly light-hearted fic but it kind of goes back and forth.

I plan on making this a series about growth, friendship, and love. It is OC and twin-centric.

Later installments will get very dark and will be for mature audiences so please keep that in mind.

This is the first part of the series and it takes place during Prisoner Of Azkaban and in the OCs fifth year.

...

Life could be so confusing. Confusing and frightening. Maybe if she'd spoken up sooner things would be different. If she'd never said 'yes' to a certain boy would her life have taken a different path? Exactly which choice was it that she'd made that had set everything into motion? Was it joining Connor for lunch for the first time? Or before that when she'd returned his smile in the hall? If she'd never laid eyes on him would he still have found a way to make himself a part of her life? What about when things started getting bad? When his amusement gave way to anger and the mask began to chip away. She'd excused it as stress. He was just worried about his grades. He wasn't angry with her. How could he be when he'd give her such soft smiles?

If she'd ended things earlier would he have still spiraled into obsession? Or was it when she ended things that it started? The lines had been blurring for so long that it was difficult to tell when a simple crush had devolved into madness. Why hadn't she listened to her friends? Why had she hidden the bruises? Defended him? When had she stopped seeing good sense and started covering up for him again and again?

From beginning to end trying to pinpoint any specific moment in time where things had gone wrong was increasingly difficult with each day that passed. Sometimes it was as if her mind was striving to shut it all out. If she tried too hard to conjure up painful memories, she'd lose her place and become distracted with something more pleasant. The counselor her parents had hired insisted it was because the memories were too fresh and her mind needed time to heal before being able to process everything. The counselor also said it was normal that for the first month she even missed Connor. She'd lay awake crying for him. That made her shudder.

Those sessions didn't last long. Against her parent's wishes, she'd decided to stop attending. She just wanted to put it all behind her and continue her life refusing to acknowledge what had happened at all. She was determined to get back to normal and she wanted to return to school.

So she did.

Anxiety and excitement. That's what Eliza felt the most as she sat in the compartment across from two girls who were chatting about what houses they were hoping to get sorted into. One of them was adamant about being in Gryffindor while the other was carrying on about her brother being a Hufflepuff. To Eliza, it felt like an alien concept to be so concerned about where they were to be sorted. Was that really so significant at Hogwarts? She'd done a bit of research on the school upon learning of her acceptance, but she wished she'd done more.

After four years at Ilvermorny in America, Eliza Montgomery felt woefully unprepared for her new school life. While she figured it was all going to be old hat with much the same, the conversation she listened in on was making her nervous. At her old school, the houses were determined by the students themselves. They were often chosen by two of the school's mascots or more where they would fit best but ultimately their decision was their own. They carved their own way. But houses didn't play much of a part at Ilvermorny. Grades were more important and people made friends with all houses and it wasn't uncommon for students from one house to hang out in the dorms of other houses. There was friendly competition but it was a mixing pot.

As a Horned Serpent Eliza had made her choice due to her love of reading and learning. She wasn't very skilled with spells in general, not for a while now. However, her grades were high and she was a stellar test taker. Where she failed was in applying the knowledge. She preferred potions and herbology overall as her memory for direction, recipes, and formulas were where she felt most confident.

She pretended not to listen as one of the girls rambled on about how she would absolutely die of embarrassment if she was sorted into Slytherin. That made her stomach cramp. Horned Serpent and Slytherin kind of sounded the same but if she was correct in the houses it was Ravenclaw that was more like her previous house. But everything was different. She didn't have a choice anymore did she? In her acceptance of transfer, she was informed she'd have to be sorted all over again. By a hat. She didn't know what she was in for. Maybe she'd get lucky and it would be a quick process and she was psyching herself up for nothing.

Eliza told herself that no matter where she ended up she would be okay with it. She was more focused on finishing up her last few years of schooling. If she made friends that would be great but if she didn't then that was alright too. She already missed Alicia and Luke back home and she imagined they were probably excited to start their fifth year. While they were back at home she was off and already felt behind. By the end of the year she would be expected to take the O.W.L.S. This would determine what classes she'd be able to take the following year and play a big part in her future career. Would she be able to adjust to her new surroundings and get her head in the game in time?

Between moving in and settling in the new house her mom and dad had picked out Eliza had spent so much time studying to try to get ahead. It drove her. It pushed everything else away. As long as she was focused on her studies she could ignore anything else. After being removed from Ilvermorny she had locked herself in her room to try to prove that she was a dedicated hard-working student instead of some victim who couldn't deal. The courses were all basically the same but she felt stressed out and studying was all she cared to do. She didn't want to fall on her face and make a fool of herself in a new school. She was driven to make a good impression and not be a burden to her teachers.

Eliza felt movement against her side and her ferret, Rikki, poked his head out of one of the deep pockets of her robe and set his head on her thigh. "Hey, bubba." She said and patted the top of his head. He yawned and crawled from his spot to stand in her lap and shake himself awake.

"Oh, how cute!" One of the girls across from her exclaimed and Eliza smiled. Rikki was pretty cute. He had a sleek brown coat with white paws. He'd been with her since her first year and they were never apart for long. He was a well-behaved little fuzzball and often she'd take him wherever she went. It didn't feel right to keep her companion locked up in a cage.

It had been a cause of deep concern for her when she'd looked over the information in her acceptance letter. She had been so relieved that ferrets were allowed at Hogwarts. Without him, she didn't know what she'd do. He was her partner in crime. Her comfort. The only friend she would have with her. Letters from Alicia and Luke were great but it wasn't the same as being able to hang out with them. They'd taken to writing her less often since she'd moved. She knew it was because they didn't know what to say. That was something she wanted to fix. She'd make sure to write to them as soon as possible and try to get their friendship back on track. It wasn't that they resented her for ignoring their concerns. It was guilt and she wished more than anything they didn't feel that way.

"Can I pet it?" The girl asked. Rikki was excessively friendly and an attention hog. Eliza nodded and the girl switched to her side and petted him along his back."His name is Rikki." She told her. In response, he immediately jumped into her lap and pressed his head against her hand. She giggled and started in with baby talk telling him how handsome he was.

"I'm Tasha. Nice to meet you." The girl said extending her hand to Eliza. Rikki explored the area between them as Eliza introduced herself. "What year are you in?" Tasha asked. Eliza felt almost weird when she confessed she was going to be a fifth-year but the girl looked excited. "Really? Cas and I have been freaking out." She motioned to the other girl who looked shyly down at her feet. "What can we expect?" She asked.

Eliza shifted in her seat. "Actually I'm not sure. I'm a transfer student." She admitted. Tasha's face fell for a moment before she gave an awkward smile. "So you're in the same boat as us, huh?"

She nodded. "Kinda. Yeah." It felt like she was losing major cool points but she didn't know what to say. "But if you need any help with classes or homework I'll probably be in the library in my free time." She knew that sounded lame but it was a genuine offer. She'd taken up tutoring other students last year after the headmaster had talked her into it. He'd seen her heading down a 'troubled path' as he called it. In reality, Connor was making her life a living hell with a gentle breeze. But the tutoring had made Connor worse. It fueled his jealousy that she was spending less time with him. It wasn't until he'd cornered her after charms class some weeks before the end of the year that everything came to a head and he was exposed for what he truly was.

Her parents had been furious. They weren't satisfied with having Connor expelled from school. They wanted justice and when he and his family disappeared overnight they didn't get it. They blamed the school for letting everything go on under their noses but Eliza knew it wasn't their fault. It was hers. It was his. It was theirs to share. It was when she received a letter from Connor that they truly snapped. It was a simple note with the words ' I will never leave you alone, Little darling.' Her father took it as a threat though Eliza recognized that he was repeating the same words he'd said the night they shared their first kiss. So they'd packed up and moved her away from everything she knew.

Tasha jumped on the offer for help. "I already know I'm going to need all the help I can get."

The door to the compartment opened and it startled them all as a young man entered and asked if he could join them. Tasha was telling him he could when Rikki freaked out, jumped off the seat, and bolted through the open door. Tasha gasped and the young man apologized bending down to try to catch him but Eliza was already dashing out of the compartment after him.

"Rikki!" She shouted as he rushed down the hall. This wasn't like him at all. Maybe it was all the new changes that caused him to spook so easily. It may have been a good idea to keep him in his travel case but he'd been so calm until that point.

With the train ride well on its way, most of the students were hanging out in compartments. However, the ones in the hall jumped out of the way as she chased the ferret. "Rikki stop!" Eliza knocked into a couple holding hands. "Sorry!" She exclaimed but couldn't take her eyes off the little bundle of fur.

"Hey!" Another person shouted as she ran.

"Sorry. Oops! Excuse me!" Every person she passed she tried to be polite but she was more concerned about someone accidentally hurting her ferret. She could hear doors sliding open and muttering as she went causing her anxiety to spike. She definitely wasn't making the most positive first impression. Rikki wasn't letting up though. He was on his own exciting adventure at a most inconvenient time.

She was so close to being able to grab him until a door opened and Rikki went for it and zoomed into the space just as someone stepped out. Eliza collided with the person and they both hit the ground in tangled legs.

"So sorry!" She said automatically as the person got to their feet and extended a hand to her. It was a boy. He was tall and lanky with a lopsided grin. "Was wondering what all the fuss was about." He said as she took his hand. He helped her up and she was getting ready to explain she was chasing her ferret when another boy, identical to the first, exited the compartment holding Rikki.

A sigh of relief escaped her. "This yours?" He asked. Eliza nodded and Rikki nipped at the boy's hand. He loosened his grip and the ferret shot up his arm and onto his shoulder. He looked alarmed at first and then chuckled as Rikki stayed put using him as a perch while sniffing at him. "I think I made a friend." He said and scratched the top of his head. "Fewer teeth on the greeting, buddy."

"I am so sorry." She felt like a broken record at this point but the first boy shook his head. "It's alright. Nothing broken." He said and looked between her and the ferret on his twin's shoulder. "George, would you like to give the ferret back to the lady?" He asked.

The boy scooped Rikki up off his shoulder and handed him to her. Eliza took him quickly but Rikki squirmed out of her grasp and dove into the depths of the pocket of her robes again where she kept all of his treats. Poor Rikki was probably confused as all hell. She checked on him to see him curled into a tight ball with one of his chewy sticks.

"Thanks." Eliza, embarrassed, made sure Rikki wasn't planning another adventure and turned to head back the way she came but the two caught up to her.

"Haven't seen your face yet. First-year?" One asked. She stopped and moved out of the way of the trolly.

"No. Fifth. Just new." She said. One of the twins stopped the lady and bought a few snacks from her.

"So you're a transfer? Where ya from?" The other asked. When putting a face with a name, it was hard to tell the difference. "America." Eliza answered awkwardly. It was weird to already be meeting people but who was she to avoid possible friendships? It wouldn't hurt to get to know a few people before getting to the school.

"Should have figured from the accent." The one without his arms full of snacks extended his hand. "I'm Fred. This is George." He motioned to his brother who'd begun stuffing the goodies into his pockets.

"Eliza." She took his hand and smiled at the other. They seemed like really friendly guys, which was pleasant. She'd been worried about what kind of people she'd encounter. Maybe she just had trust issues but being in an entirely new place was unnerving.

With the trolly moving down the line Eliza felt uncomfortable just standing in the hall and she had no clue how to continue the conversation without sounding like a bumbling idiot. "I'm gonna go back to my compartment. It was nice meeting you both and thanks again." She said. Fred looked like he wanted to say something but his brother had him by the shoulder and was talking about meeting up with someone named Lee. He gave a small wave and a 'See ya around.' Eliza briefly watched them go as they jogged past her. 'Nice guys.' She thought to herself.

When she made it back Tasha and Cas both stood to ask her if she found Rikki. After they all settled in again Eliza turned to the young man who'd joined them and they went back and forth apologizing to one another before the tension eased. With Rikki choosing to stay put for now she was able to relax a little. Hopefully, he wouldn't be overly eager to explore the school until she was more familiar with it. He did have a tendency to adventure on his own but he'd always come back. She just hoped he wouldn't cause any trouble. That was the last thing she needed.

It was only a matter of hours before they arrived, but when the train stopped Eliza considered just hiding under the seat and quitting school altogether. She felt homesick and the anxiety of being so close to her new school was overwhelming. The others in the compartment all exited enthusiastically, but she hesitated at the door.

"Please let this turn out well." She prayed.