Whoa, look at this! A new chapter, over half a year later! Who would've thought!
Anyway, I reread this and got some new inspiration
How long that'll last is anyone's guess at this point

After at least five hours of listening to her roommates sleep, Liz couldn't take it anymore. She got up and went to the common room.

The huge private Ravenclaw library was a great distraction from her thoughts, and Liz spent almost half an hour trying to pick a book. Eventually, she decided to go for a book called Jurassic Park, newly brought to school by a sixth-year.

The book was a little hard to read, but very entertaining, nonetheless. Liz forgot about the time until a couple of chirpy little second-years came down from the dormitories and chatted loudly while walking out of the common room. Was it time to get ready for the day ahead already?

Liz put away the book, with only twenty more pages to go, and walked up to her dormitory. Camilla was, as usual, already up and ready to go, make-up looking perfect. Stella and Vera were just waking up.

'Hey, where've you been?' Camilla asked, looking through her schoolbooks.

The schoolbooks reminded Liz that she still hadn't done the assigned homework, even though she'd been up all night. 'Oh, I woke up a little early and went for a stroll around the school.'

'We thought Quidditch practice might've started already,' Vera laughed.

'Wednesday.' It seemed strange to Liz that everything was going on the way it always had. Because things weren't like they'd always had been, things were completely different.

The four Ravenclaw fifth-year girls got ready and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Even though Vera kept them up quite a bit, they were still one of the first ones to arrive. They chatted about nothing in particular.

When Stella asked Liz something about the Arithmancy homework, Liz replied simply that she hadn't done it.

The others stared at her. This wasn't the first time Liz hadn't done her homework, of course not. But it was the first time she hadn't done her Arithmancy homework. Liz loved the subject.

'What? Why not?' Vera stammered.

'Just haven't.' Liz kept eating her toast as if it was nothing. To her, it was.

'What are you going to tell Professor Vector?'

'I don't know, that I was busy, I'll make something up. What's it matter, anyway.'

The others dropped it.

When Liz and Stella, who also took Arithmancy, stood up to walk to class, Fred and George walked up to them.

'Lizzy, we didn't get a chance to catch up yesterday,' Fred smiled brightly at her.

'Yeah, I know, but we gotta get to Arithmancy. During lunch?' Liz tried hard to not show any sad emotions in her face, but, no matter, the twins could always tell.

George narrowed his eyes at her. 'Of course, lunch.'

Liz smiled at them, all three knowing something was wrong, and walked away. She had precisely three classes to get up the nerve to tell them.

'Why haven't you done your homework, miss Rivers?' Professor Vector asked Liz.

Liz hadn't found a good excuse yet. 'I'm sorry, professor, I just forgot.'

Professor Vector stared intensely at Liz; it made her uncomfortable. 'Come see me after class.' Then, Professor Vector walked back to the front of the class and started her lesson.

Strange, Liz had never had to come see a professor after class. Oh well, you experienced something new every day.

'Why don't you just tell her what has happened. I'm sure she'll understand,' Stella whispered from next to Liz.

'I don't wanna be treated differently. I'd rather get detention then have the whole school know about my grandma.'

'But the whole school wouldn't know, just the professors.'

Liz laughed in a whispered tone. 'Have you been here? Someone overhears something and a rumour is started. The rumour spreads like wildfire and the next day the entire school knows. That's just the way it is.'

After the double period had ended, Liz stayed back for her dreaded talk with Professor Vector. Liz had no idea what to expect.

Professor Vector rumbled around with some papers for a bit, and then trained her eyes on Liz. 'Tell me, why haven't you done your homework?'

'I told you, professor, I forgot.' Liz looked at her shoes.

'See, I don't believe that. You've always been a very promising student, miss Rivers. I simply can't believe the homework slipped your mind, especially in the O.W.L. year. I've always thought you could take Advanced Arithmancy next year, but if you keep up this "forgetting" attitude, I might change my mind.'

Tears prickled in Liz' eyes. She wasn't ready to tell Professor Vector about her grandmother, but maybe she could get away without specifics. 'I had some family issues over the Christmas break, professor.'

This seemed to take Professor Vector by surprise. The harsh note in her voice that had been there just a second ago, was gone when she spoke next. 'I'm very sorry to hear that, if there's anything I can do, or if you ever need someone to talk to... I know what it's like, family issues.' The words seemed to carry a lot of weight. 'And, just this once, I'll forget about the homework. Just don't let it happen again, understood?'

Liz looked up at her professor, more than grateful. 'Yes, thank you, professor.'

'Alright, now scram.' Professor Vector smiled a sincere smile, and Liz returned it.

The next period, Charms, went by without a hitch. Professor Flitwick had forgotten about the homework himself, so he didn't mind anyone who hadn't done it.

Liz ate a quick lunch and then walked outside with the Weasley twins. They sat in the empty courtyard.

'Alright, Lizzy, no hiding from us, what's up.'

Liz had spent the last three periods thinking of a good way to say this. She realised there isn't one. 'You know about grandma's cancer?'

'Yeah…' George agreed carefully.

Liz scratched her nose. 'Well, it got worse. So worse, in fact, that she couldn't take it anymore.'

'D'you mean she's…?' Fred didn't have to finish his sentence; they all knew what he meant.

Liz nodded slowly. The tears she'd been keeping inside all day finally finding a way to break through her barriers.

'Oh, Liz, I-I don't know what to say.'

'Then don't say anything.' Liz hid her face in her hands, not wanting to cry in front of people anymore.

Fred and George both simultaneously moved closer to hug Liz.

They sat in a comfortable embrace for a bit. Liz sniffled and moved away to dry her tears.

'Let me guess, you want to be cheered up, not talk about it,' Fred asked.

Liz laughed softly and nodded again.

'Alright then, it's settled!' George stood up with grandiose gestures.

Liz laughed again at George's idiocy. 'What is?'

'Next Hogsmeade, we're taking you with us.' The smile on George's face was brighter than the sun.

'We'll show you all the best places.' Fred joined in.

Liz couldn't stop the smile spreading on her face. The twins' were infective. 'I've been to Hogsmeade before, you know.'

'Yes, but never through our eyes,' Fred grinned.

'Just you wait, you're in for a treat, ma'am.'

'Now, sadly, it's time to go back to that depressing place they dare call a school,' Fred said the word "school" like it was a horror movie.

'May I offer you my hand, malady?' George helped Liz up and in between her two ridiculous best friends, she walked back into the school smiling.

As was expected, it's after midnight when I even started writing this chapter, and I gotta go visit family tomorrow
smh
Who makes my life choices? I just wanna talk
Anyway,,, see you in another 6 months :)