Chapter Fourteen Getting Worse
As June finally arrived, examination revision became top priority for both the staff and students. Elizabeth found, much to her relief, that her studying was made much easier by the fact that she had helped Seamus catch up in his classes with Hermione and therefore found herself entering the days leading up to the exam period with more confidence than she ever had.
With only a single weekend separating them from the start of exams, a period in which Neville, Dean, Elizabeth and Seamus had decided to do minimum revision; Neville and Dean began to feel restless in the common room so they enticed Elizabeth and Seamus to accompany them out to the grounds as it appeared several other students were doing similar.
Elizabeth sat against a familiar Oak tree that overlooked the lake, Seamus stretched out on the grass at her feet, using the shade from the new spring leaves to block the sun from his face. Dean and Neville were sitting between Seamus and the lake, discussing the specifics of the final Quidditch match while Elizabeth listened with a small smirk; though both had been at the match, they still argued through a play-by-play discussion of all the goals. Elizabeth had played in the game, scoring fourteen and assisting with five of the thirty goals that had won them the Quidditch Cup. Seamus had been at the game, he sat in the stands with Neville and Hermione.
Elizabeth had closed her eyes to the banter, her head against the tree when suddenly the boys fell silent and she opened her eyes. Across the lake from where they sat, Harry and his new girlfriend Ginny Weasley were walking along the waterside. Elizabeth's eyes trailed sadly down to the pair's hands, which were linked as they walked easily in each other's company.
"Things are getting worse, aren't they?" Dean's voice broke her reverie and Elizabeth looked down to where he was looking across the lake. There was no longer anger in his eyes. That emotion, which he had expressed when the pair had first gotten together after the Quidditch match, was completely gone.
"People have started disappearing," Neville agreed with a nod. "Gran said that's how it started last time."
"Mam sent me an owl," Seamus said quietly. Dean and Neville looked back but Seamus looked up at Elizabeth. "She doesn't want me to stay here."
Elizabeth frowned. She knew that Lavena was very protective of her son and that she was eagerly anticipating the summer to have him safe at home, but Elizabeth had no idea that Lavena had anything against the school. Elizabeth always thought it was the safest place for them.
Elizabeth was lost in her thoughts of the pending summer with her muggle parents and didn't even notice the other three talking until her name was called.
"Sorry, what…?"
"What do you think?" Dean asked.
"I think," Elizabeth started, having no clue what they were discussing now and her face reddened, she felt embarrassed. Fortunately Seamus's stomach rumbled to save her. "I think that its time for supper."
Dean seemed to deem that an acceptable response as the group rose, brushed themselves off and started walking to the castle.
"So what do you think?" Seamus asked, slowing to walk back with Elizabeth and dropping his voice so the others didn't hear.
"What was the question?" Elizabeth asked, falling into step with Seamus.
"What did you think about mam's letter?"
"Oh," Elizabeth realized that she hadn't really missed much of the conversation. "I guess she's justified in wanting you close, but there's nothing to really worry about here."
"Speaking of being close…" Seamus whispered, trailing off as he moved closer to Elizabeth, linking her pinkie finger with his own. "You're coming over this summer right?"
Neville glanced back at the pair as the group walked into the Entrance Hall. He guided them to an empty space at the Gryffindor table while maintaining his conversation with Dean.
"As long as nothing changes, your dad's going to pick me up on the Monday after break starts."
"You'll only be at home for a weekend?" Seamus asked, pausing to thank Dean for the plate of pasta he'd been handed. "When will you be going back?"
"Well…" Elizabeth paused, taking a sip of water. "Your mum's due at the end of June, so I'm going to be around to help out for the first month, then I'll have all August at home."
Seamus nodded; speared a noodle with his fork, he popped it into his mouth and chewed slowly with a thoughtful expression.
"You're still helping me tonight with non-verbal Charms, right 'Liz?" Neville asked, capturing Elizabeth's attention as she and Neville started discussing the pros and cons of practicing for a practical exam two days before the examination. Dean and Seamus bent their heads together in a hushed conversation.
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"I'm not saying that Pentax is the best, I'm just saying that it's what I use," Elizabeth explained to Dean, talking slowly as if she were speaking to a child.
"Nikon," Dean said enthusiastically. "I use a FM2, the picture quality is –"
"I've seen your photos Dean," Neville cut Dean's rant short. "Elizabeth's actually look like something; half the time yours are out of focus or under exposed."
"Thank-you Neville," Elizabeth said appreciatively, smiling at Neville as he sat on the rug in front of the fireplace, practicing his basic banishing charm non-verbally.
Elizabeth sat on the floor, leaning against the side of the armchair Seamus was sitting in. Dean was sprawled out on the couch directly in front of the hearth. Though the weather outside was warming up, it was still nice to have a fire in the cold castle.
"You haven't answered my original question though, 'Liz." Dean turned back to her after sneering at Neville. "Digital or 35mil?"
"I like the idea that you can look at the pictures and decide which to have printed after, saves a lot of film," Elizabeth answered thoughtfully. "But I don't really like how with digital; the images are on the computer, you could easily touch up any flaws. Then –"
"Then it would actually look like Dean has skill?" Neville put in without looking up from a row of paperclips he was making slide across the carpet in three orderly lines, appearing like a military unit of sorts.
Dean was about to open his mouth to retaliate when lower year, Jimmy Peakes stumbled through the portrait hole and into the common room with a roll of parchment clutched in his fist. He rushed over to a back window where Harry was having a disagreement with Hermione. Ron was present but not commenting enough to be part of the discrepancy.
Elizabeth stood up, sat on the arm of Seamus's chair and watched as the boy ran over and handed Harry the parchment before rushing back out the way he'd entered.
"What d'you reckon it is?" Dean asked, he had sat up and was looking inconspicuously over the back of the couch to where Harry was scanning the letter.
"Must be from Dumbledore," Neville said, still sitting on the floor. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Harry left the common through the portrait hole as well.
Elizabeth watched as Ron and Hermione exchanged a couple of words before they moved to a table and sat beside each other, their heads bowed in private conversation. Elizabeth turned back to the others but stayed on the chair's arm.
"I wonder what that was all about," She said, looking down at Seamus who was still watching Ron and Hermione. She stole another quick glance at the pair just in time to see Ron reach his hand out and cup the back of Hermione's neck. He'd pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. Elizabeth looked back to her group with a small frown.
"Whatever it was, its probably top secret, just like everything else he's been doing this year," Neville answered simply, Elizabeth noted a slight edge to his tone and knew that he was a bit upset that Dumbledore's Army had been out of the loop through the year.
They fell silent, Elizabeth sliding back to the floor and resuming her gaze into the fire, she heard Dean and Seamus arguing about something but didn't bother to pay-attention.
Not fifteen minutes had passed since Harry left when he returned at a sprint. He raced up the stairs to the boy's dormitories and Elizabeth looked at Neville with wide eyes.
"Something's not right," Neville said finally looking up from his charms practice.
Harry returned from his dorm, paused in front of Hermione and Ron for only a moment before running out the portrait hole again. Elizabeth rose and was followed immediately by Neville. The two went over to Ron and Hermione who sat in stunned silence, staring at a pair of rolled up socks and a tattered piece of paper that Elizabeth recognized as the Marauder's Map.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth demanded, standing between the pair and looking expectantly at them.
Ron blinked and looked at Hermione questioningly.
Hermione sighed and looked up at Elizabeth with a calculating expression in her eyes.
Elizabeth looked back at Seamus who was still sitting by the fire, his expression anxious. She turned her eyes back on Hermione.
"What do we have to do?" Neville asked.