Chapter 3 – Turn up the fakes and lies, just answer me.

1964 / 1965

Elizabeth's third year was under way. Ron was in his fifth year and he wasn't giving a look out on Elizabeth anymore but knew that she was friends with Ross. Ross was now in his fourth year and excited by the new things a fourth year can have. Eileen and Ron helped Elizabeth with the courses she wanted to choose and Elizabeth ended up with: Divination, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures and Transfigurations. Everyone has happy with her choices, Eileen signed her papers for the Hogsmeade trips and she had gotten all of her stuff. Life was bliss.

The school year had started and Elizabeth and Ross were in their own carriages. Ross looked from the ground up and gave Elizabeth a smile.

"How were your holidays?" He asked her. She shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

"I was in Australia the whole time so it was winter and there was no one to hang out with. So I had a TV, monopoly, my siblings" Elizabeth said with her arms crossed against her chest looking at Ross, he chuckled and sighed running his hands through his dark brown hair. It was very thick and it was a bit long but not shoulders length long.

"Oh same, spending the holidays in Australia isn't that great I want summer, I mean we only get to spend like two weeks here before school starts." Ross said now looking at Elizabeth, his eyes focused on hers and she smiled, giving a small blush but hiding her face. She had to admit that she was attracted to Ross; most of the girls at Hogwarts were anyways. He knew how to break a few hearts during his time.

"I want to move to England someday. It'd be nice, because this country is beautiful" she said with a smile, Ross placed his hand upon hers and smiled at her.

"Well I hope it comes true one day" he said completing her smile. They sat like that just staring not noticing anything. It was time to get off and go to the castle. For the past two years Elizabeth has been spending with Ross she knew he wasn't 'evil' or 'cunning' like any of the other Slytherins. As the sorting hat said – Slytherins were ambitious and for the past year she knew Ross' dream was to become an aurora it would be a wonderful job, Elizabeth always thought. She questioned the job and has thought that maybe that would be a good job to chose, maybe hunting down the bad guys and not have a muggle life like she wanted. Live a life with magic and have her children grow up in a place like Hogsmeade or a wizarding town somewhere in England.

It was the first day of school and Elizabeth already had homework, sighing under the pressure that Professor Burk her DADA teacher has given her about Boggarts, the teacher brought in a live one that turned into her worst fear – dying. It was weird seeing herself just lying there. Professor Burk told her to use Ridikulus that was when her dead body turned into her mother break dancing, even tho no one would get that she certainly did. All her classes were finished for the day and she sat in the library looking over her studies for her DADA, Transfiguration and Divinations – her Astronomy class was that night at 10 pm.

"Why am I always bumping into you here?" Elizabeth looked up to see Ross, she gave him a smile. She hadn't been spending time with Tracy and Rita. The two were off doing homework somewhere else. Elizabeth rubbed her forehead and gestured to sit down in front of her.

"Isn't it obvious Mr. Tibbs, I am a Ravenclaw and the majority of people here are well Ravenclaws" she said it with stupidity; Ross puckered his lips and let out a chuckle. "Where's Rob?"

"Where Tracy and Rita?" Ross fired back quickly. "Plus, I think I can see Ravenclaws here and I seem to be the only Slytherin here. Well okay except those first years. Lame" Ross pulled his arms and crossed them across his chest, puffing out air he sighed and looked from the first year Slytherins to Elizabeth pulling a face.

"Oh they're here somewhere- I think anyways. I'm not bothered I like studying by myself" Elizabeth said shrugging her shoulders looking from Ross down at her paper about Boggarts.

Question 6: Where do Boggarts grow?

"dark places" Ross said looking at the questions Elizabeth had unanswered. "You looked stuck so I wanted to help you!"

"I wasn't stuck Ross. I was- being side tract by you" Elizabeth said rolling her eyes looking down at the parchment as she wrote down his answer. Ross lied back and placed his hands across the back of his head with a smug look on his face. "What are you so happy about?"

"You took my answer because you were stuck"

"I wasn't stuck, plus I didn't write down what you said. I said 'Boggarts like to grow in dark places such as cupboards, under beds, under sinks, some wardrobes but mostly in the dark.' See it's completely different to what you said nut"

"Oh well then, I'll just leave" Ross now irritating Elizabeth started to get up but when Elizabeth didn't even take a glance at him he quickly sat back down again. "I'm leaving aren't you going to ask me to stay?" Elizabeth didn't respond her nose too deep into her books to even notice the boy was leaving. "All right well, I'll see you later then"

The next months went by and it was the Quidditch match against Slytherin and Hufflepuff, while she wasn't in the library she was out supporting Ross, in secrecy of course. Tracy gave Elizabeth a hug and a smile.

"You going to want Ross to win don't you?" A light blush came to Elizabeth's face – trying to deny it was like trying to feed a Thestral impossible unless you saw it. "Of course you are, I shouldn't of asked you!"

"What? Just because I like the bloke" Elizabeth asked confused, she had admitted it. "As a friend" nope, wasn't going to work not at all. Tracy gave a big grin.

"GOAL FROM SLYTHERIN'S CHASER ROSS TIBBS!" Broderick Bode's voice was heard over the speaker announcing that Ross had just gained a goal for Slytherin leading it 50 – 60. Elizabeth didn't mean to scream in a clap, she was getting too over herself she needed to calm down and just relax. She took three deep breaths.

"Oh come on Liz, that can't my god!" Tracy said rolling her eyes, she now faced the Quidditch pitch and rolled her shoulders. "Can you just get over him? Slytherin, Ravenclaw does not equal love" Tracy said with attitude in his voice. Elizabeth looked at Tracy.

"I do realise that we are both from different houses. But unlike some people I actually believe it is not based on the house it's the character that makes them the person that they are!" Elizabeth said to Tracy, she scoffed and walked off not worrying about her friend. Her feet dragged her to the Slytherin Quidditch rooms and once Ross came out she gave him a hug.

"Oh wow caught me off guard!" Ross said with a smile, Elizabeth laughed and flashed him a smile. There was a whistle behind the pair.

"Go Ross!" It was Rob; Ross sighed and turned around giving Rob a glare.

"Oh bugger off you toss pot!" Ross waved his hand and turned around smiling at Elizabeth, the pair started walking towards the castle, and Ross ran a hand through his hair and looked at Elizabeth who was looking down at at the pavement bellow them. "You know I saw you a couple times cheering me on!"

"Oh you did?" Elizabeth said taken off guard by what he said, Ross nodded with a smile. "Oh well uhm... you were pretty good I reckon"

"Pretty good? I was awesome. Scoring most of the goals for us to win! Hufflepuffs have got nothing on me!" Ross said with a smirk, they were now in The Quad walking towards the entrance hall for some afternoon tea before heading off and doing whatever was needed to be done that Saturday evening. "Thinking of joining the Ravenclaws?" Ross asked Elizabeth, she shook her head.

"No, no. I can't because I'm not a Quidditch player" Elizabeth admitted looking at the ground, but from the ground she looked up at Ross and smiled pushing her long blond hair behind her ear with her hand dropping by her side she looked towards her.

"Well, better get something to eat. What are you doing later? Maybe tomorrow we could go to Hogsmeade?" Elizabeth pondered about this for a couple of seconds. "As friends of course"

"Oh...kay. Sure!" She didn't know whether this was a good thing or not, but waving Ross a goodbye she sat down next to Ron in attempt to get food.

The next day was like a breeze, it felt nice just being with Ross. The two went to the Three Broomsticks Inn and had a drink of Butterbeer; they also went to Zonko's and Honeydukes. Elizabeth and Ross left Hogsmeade for the day and the two would converse about the day that happened.

Months passed, Elizabeth would be in the library studying and Ross would find her there and talk to her watch her do her homework, notice the small things she does, she doesn't dot her eyes, her hand curves when she writes (she is left handed), she also can write and she doesn't even have to look at the paper. This amazed Ross like always, seeing her just do her work made him question what she was actually doing. He liked watching her work, sometimes they'd work together he'd help with her work and sometimes she'd help him. The pair would be seen always in the library sometimes together in the hall but that was rare. Everyone questioned what they were doing. You can be friends with boys and end up not going out with them. Right?

September passed along with October, November came as quick as death and December hit them like a stack of bricks. Ogg was forcing Hagrid to take a tree for Christmas. The snow was hitting down, and it was well a white Christmas. Elizabeth was leaving Hogwarts for the two weeks; she could finally spend a summer somewhere. Tracy and Elizabeth still weren't talking and Rita would go to either side and cause havoc between the two speaking, saying things the other one didn't even mention. Elizabeth held onto her carryon bag and sat inside the cabin with Ross in front of her. Elizabeth sighed looking outside the window.

"What's wrong?" Ross asked bending his head down and looking up trying to catch a glimpse of her face. The curtains on the door were drawn back and all they could hear was the wind, the noise of the train and loud giggles. Elizabeth sighed in annoyance and looked away from the window to her friend.

"It's Tracy, she's being a right down" she paused, not knowing if she should say it. But she should say it anyways. "Bitch. I mean she's saying all this stuff about you and I. I just ugh she's pissing me off!" Elizabeth got angry, even Ross could see how stressed and angry she was. He moved over and sat next to Elizabeth holding her. Caressing her head.

"Shh, shh. It'll be okay Beth." That was his nickname for her, his special nickname for Elizabeth. Beth while others called her Liz, Lizzy and Elizabeth. His was Beth and it made her heart jump. She curled up and lied on him for the rest of the train ride home. Awakening. She quickly jolted up, waking Ross awake he smiled and stretched. Elizabeth laughed.

"Come on it's time to go!" Elizabeth said she stopped just outside the door looking at Ross; she walked back and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you" she whispered in his ear before leaving. This made Ross smile; he held that smile for quite some time. Walking out of the cabin not having anyone notice that was in the room with him, following the stream of people he walked out to find his mother. The Christmas holidays were going to be exciting.

Arriving back at Hogwarts felt different for Elizabeth, she had a good friend who she was ultimately starting to have a crush on, then she has a friend who really isn't her friend and she's got the odd friends in the other houses. Molly waved at Elizabeth; Elizabeth did the same and gave a smile to her friend. There was five more months until school ended.

"Look I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry I was such a bitch to you. I found out that Rita was spreading lies. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry!" Tracy pleaded with Elizabeth who was eating breakfast looking over her book. She looked at Tracy and sighed placing a smirk on her face.

"Fine" Elizabeth finally said still looking at the book and taking another bite of her toast.

"I'm so- wait what? Are-are we friends?" She asked, Elizabeth nodded and Tracy smiled giving Elizabeth a hug. They started to converse about their Christmas. Elizabeth's father Collin spent the Christmas with Elizabeth's family. Ross and Rob walked up and gave the two girls a wave.

"Hello ladies" Rob said with a smirk, Elizabeth and Tracy started to laugh.

"Rob you idiot, that won't working if you're trying to ask me out" Tracy said giving Rob a look, Elizabeth gave a smug smile to Rob and looked at Ross and gave him a smile.

"How were your holidays?" Ross asked Elizabeth, Elizabeth shrugged with nod.

"Yeah it was alright. Had to spend it with my family but that's okay I suppose. How about yours?" Elizabeth asked Ross. Tracy and Rob were talking about something. Ross shuffled his hands into his pockets and shrugged.

"Great I spose. I had to spend it with my family as well. But it was great to have some sun for two weeks." Ross said with a smile, Elizabeth nodded in agreement. Her two weeks felt great she had sun finally after spending three months in Australia during England's summer and for the past two years she spent her Christmas where it was winter. Elizabeth scratched her neck and looked at Ross. They waved goodbye and left to go to their tables, as the girls giggled they continued with their talking and catching up.

January, February, March, April, May came. It was Ross' birthday, next day was the 24th then the day after that was Elizabeth's birthday. Elizabeth and Ross walked up to each other and exchanged gifts. This was their thing now to come into the Great Hall and exchange presents on the 24th. Elizabeth did wish him a happy birthday on his birthday she still gave him his present a day after and he'd give it a day before.

"Oh this is awesome. Sugar Quills, chocolate wands, chocolate frogs and some parchment and a quill!" Ross said surprised, Elizabeth gave a nervous laugh.

"Well, for when you want to write to me under the alias 'Rudolph Long'." Elizabeth said shrugging, Ross handed her a large package. She looked at it oddly and he gestured to open it. She moved over to the closest Ravenclaw table. Ross put down his things and watched her open it. It was a "Comet 180, are you serious Ross! I can't take this!"

"Take it, I'll teach you how to fly. I'm sure during the holidays we can meet half way. You could sneak out of your house and take a train" Ross said shrugging it off. His parents weren't strict but they let him travel to the city on a weekend when he could. Elizabeth sighed and rubbed her temples.

"You want me to be a Quidditch player don't you?" Elizabeth asked him, he nodded excitedly. "What would mum say once she finds this!" Elizabeth said shocked, she didn't like brooms. Didn't trust them. But this is a gift from her friend she couldn't deny it. She could at least try again.

"Just say Tracy got it for you or something" it didn't bother Ross as much, he was happy to get it for Elizabeth, she did have a smile on her face, it was replaced by worried but there was a slight happy feel to it that he couldn't smudge off. Elizabeth sighed and just looked at Ross.

"Okay fine, fine. I'll keep it I'll ride around. I'm sure Ron or Lyn could teach me or something" she said more to herself than to Ross.

As the weeks progressed, Elizabeth passed all her subjects with flying colours, and leaving Hogwarts for another three months until her fourth year was a pain. But feeling the slight relief this year has given her maybe her fourth year will feel much better. But knowing she's got Ross by her side, she'll be alright. Send him letters and sneaking out to go see him in some ovals protected by wizarding magic and from muggles entering. The holidays were looking good.