Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Previously: "I suggest you be careful about that statement." Elizabeth said sternly, "You may piss off the weasel, though I guess it would be worth a try."
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Harry smiled as the words rolled off of Elizabeth's tongue; he was hoping she would say that. It would be nice to have someone other than Ron and Hermione to talk to, especially when they got into their little arguments that could and would go on for days.
"I see that made you happy." Elizabeth replied as she brushed a strand of hair out of her face. The cool tone was gone and her face held a little emotion, not much, but just enough. Harry blushed, his face heating up as embarrassment overtook him once again.
"I haven't seen that part of you in a while." By now the girl's voice was soft, as if she was talking to one of her house buddies; she was willing to give their friendship a try.
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"So how long have you been here?" Harry asked as he and Elizabeth sat in the library. The house was quiet for once. Mrs. Weasley had gone shopping for their school supplies, allowing everyone to take a break from their relentless cleaning of the ancient house. It seemed like a miracle, to Harry at least, that Elizabeth wanted to get to know him, the real him. They were getting along well, considering the fact that they had only begun their secret friendship a few days prior.
"Too long," Elizabeth replied honestly, "almost a month actually. I arrived a week before you did."
"What did your parents say?" Harry asked intrigued by the fact she was sent here also.
"My father fought Dumbledore's orders, but in the end he lost." Elizabeth sighed. "It was either this or I spend my summer somewhere else. And I doubt my father would agree on that."
"What about your mother?" Harry asked, this seemed to be much more about Elizabeth than him, but that was fine.
"She died," Elizabeth stated as she examined her hands. "She died when I was really little." The girl had no real desire to tell Harry how her mother died, in fact she had no desire to tell him she almost died as well, but the truth would emerge with time, like everything else.
Harry smiled sadly, he knew the feeling that Elizabeth had all too well, but she was still the lucky one, she had a parent, she had love, and all he had was relatives that hated and abused him. But maybe he could finally find the courage to tell someone, even if it was Elizabeth.
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Severus felt his body shake uncontrollably as he lay upon the cold stone floor of his private quarters. Deep inside he waited to hear the soft voice of his child, but he knew it would never come, the past few weeks had been hard to bear as the house no longer seemed to be alive with the happiness Elizabeth seemed to constantly contain.
The worse was always after the meetings with the Dark Lord, just like tonight, when his body was trying to cope with the after effects of the Cruciatus curse among other un-pleasantries. Slowly the potions master pushed himself up, swearing as pain coursed through his badly battered body.
He should have been used to the agony by now, but then again the last time he felt this immensity of pain he had still been young, in fact he had just begun working at Hogwarts. That was fourteen years ago, Elizabeth had been just a baby and he had made the decision to become a spy in order to protect her. But now things had changed, he was no longer as young as he used to be, his daughter was almost fifteen and she would no longer be safe. This new term was going to be interesting.
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"She's not that bad." Harry stated, as he glared at Ron from his bed. "She's not like the rest of them."
"How do you know that?" Ron asked angrily as he propped himself up on his elbows. "As far as we know she is going to see you off to You-Know-Who!"
"She has no ties to Voldemort." Harry stated as Hermione walked in, she had been avoiding the subject about Harry and Elizabeth's friendship since he had brought it up the day after he apologized.
"But she's a Slytherin Harry, they are all actors." Hermione said, apparently she was against Elizabeth as well.
"Have either of you attempted to get to know her?" Harry questioned as he watched Hermione stand by Ron's bed. By the look on their faces they had just left her be, like they had with him. Did they not care anymore? Was Elizabeth right? Did they only like him because he was famous? In the end would Elizabeth the Slytherin be the only person by his side? Or would his best friends finally except Elizabeth as one of them? But these questions that were running through his mind wouldn't be answered immediately, it would only occur overtime. "Would it hurt to try and get to know her?"
Harry's question was met by silence; apparently having inter-house relations was going to be out of the question for the others. Harry just glared at the pair for a moment, before springing up from his bed and storming out of the room. He had this strange heart breaking feeling in his chest, it almost felt as if someone had punched him, he was slowly losing them.
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Elizabeth was surprised when someone banged on the door, quickly she folded up the letter her father had sent her a few days ago and placed it under her pillow, she would have to wait to reply or just hold off for a few more days when school started again. But either way she was going to respond.
"Coming" Elizabeth called as the person knocked again. Sliding off of the bed she made her way to the door and opened it to find Harry. He looked upset and miserable as she stepped out of the way and allowed him to enter.
"You alright?" Elizabeth asked as she closed the door, concern evident in her voice. She may have only begun to get to know the 'Golden Boy', but seeing him this way made her feel somewhat protective, especially if her theory was true.
"No." Harry said as he sat on her bed, his hands between his knees, his head bent as if the floor was intriguing.
"Want to talk about it?" Elizabeth asked as she sat next to him, but she didn't get a response. Instead he leaned against her, placing his head on her shoulder. All he wanted was some comfort for whatever pain he had.
It was unknown how long they sat like that in the silence, but it allowed Elizabeth to think about her new friend. They had a particularly strong bond that she didn't have with any of her other friends, it felt as if they had known each other their entire lives. And it seemed that Harry felt it too, if he didn't Elizabeth seriously doubted that he would be sitting beside her seeking comfort.
Slowly Harry sat back up, but didn't look at Elizabeth; instead focusing his attention on the ground.
"Do you think the start of term will change anything between us?" Harry's voice was hoarse from the lack of use.
"I don't think so." Elizabeth replied as she placed a cool hand on Harry's warm one. "I'll be there when you need me."
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Author's notes: Yes another chapter finished, I am so excited that so many of you enjoy this story.
Sev's Little Girl.