The Amazing Thing About: Friendship. Chapter twenty-three.
"If she keeps staring like that the book might catch fire."
"I don't think she's even reading it anymore."
"Ya think she's finally snapped?"
"Lights are on but no one's home."
For the last twenty minutes Eliza had been reading the same sentence over and over again but her mind was somewhere else and she had to keep starting over. Easter break was supposed to be just that, a break, but there was no way anyone could relax. Students were constantly studying or working. During meals, in the courtyards, halls, common rooms, and dorms. There weren't many spots in the castle one could go and not find at least one person scribbling away furiously looking like they were about to cry.
The study group was bigger than it ever had been. With the workload becoming unbearable more and more students joined. It seemed the rumors about her were finally being squashed. In a large group it was easier so they could all work together but Eliza wasn't able to keep up with the challenge of so many of them on her own. Hannah and Kelly had been too busy with their own work to pitch in. She'd asked the twins and Lee for help out of sheer desperation but she'd had to beg and plead with them to agree. They were far too concerned with causing mayhem most of the time but when they did help she regretted asking.
What was supposed to be a calm, easy group focused on getting through their schoolwork was anything but with the guys around. It wasn't very long before they would get tired of the tension and start goofing off. Today was a prime example of that. The other students had been doing so well before the twins came along. Lee was actually being helpful until Fred started tossing bits of paper that would pop when they connected with anything.
It started small with one or two but in no time they were chasing each other around tossing them at one another. The students were distracted and began to join in whenever Lee would arm them with the annoying poppers. It all came to a stop when the librarian snapped at them and Eliza told the students they would continue the following Wednesday. It would be a day she didn't invite the guys. She was regretting ever having done it in the first place. Eliza swore the more stress all of the students were under the more Fred and George thrived on it. They'd become true menaces.
"Dare you."
"Dare you."
She was trying so hard to ignore them. Unfortunately she wasn't succeeding. Eliza tried to read the sentence again but a prod to her shoulder made her release a long sigh and tear her eyes from the book. "Yes?" She slowly turned her attention to them and contained her frustration. Lee looked ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble but the twins were smiling obviously happy that they'd distracted her. "There she is." Fred said.
"Thought you'd fried yourself." George was checking his pockets. She glanced down at what he was doing but he caught her looking and flipped his robe over his leg. Meanwhile Fred muttered something to Lee and the other boy nodded. He was on his feet and on his way out of the library with a polite wave to Madam Pince.
"C'mon. Get your things." Fred said and tapped the side of her knee with his knuckles. "I'm working. I know you two might not be worried about exams but I am." She insisted. She turned back to her work but George was shuffling all of her pages together and putting her things in her bag. "Hey!" She exclaimed.
Fred scooped Rikki off the table and she reached for her bag but George had it slung over his shoulder. "Trust us. You wanna get out of here." He glanced around at the numerous other students and Eliza looked from him to them and back with a frown. "What are you doing?" She suddenly felt very paranoid. Fred was pushing at her back and began guiding her towards the exit.
It didn't click until they reached the door. Lee was outside, head turning back and forth as looked up and down the hall. 'Oh no.' Eliza thought and the two fished a few dung bombs from their pockets. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open just before they tossed them into the library. "What is wrong with you?" Eliza hissed but George was shoving her forward.
"Go!" He said. Fred and Lee were already jogging away but she was rooted to the spot. "Run, Izzy." George was breaking into a jog after the others and it wasn't until she heard shouting from within the library that her adrenaline kicked in. The guys were already turning down another hall when they broke into a full-on sprint. Not wanting to have the blame placed on her she bolted after them. Her hectic Monday schedule was coming in handy as she chased after them. Ahead of her, the guys took a turn down another corridor. Running as fast as her feet would carry her, she nearly passed the turn when someone grabbed ahold of the back of her robe and yanked her back.
A yelp escaped her as Fred laughed. Lee and George were high-fiving and she looked between them all, panting. "What did you do that for?!" Eliza said between breaths. It was bad enough they'd ruined the study group but then to set off dung bombs in the library full of students? Were they determined the make sure people failed their exams this year?
George rolled his eyes at her reaction. He was then smiling and greeting the other students passing them like nothing was amiss. "Figured you needed a break." Fred said as he and Lee started wandering down the hall casually. "Before your head exploded." George added as he followed them. Eliza stared after them, mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"So you make the library uninhabitable?" Eliza scrambled after them.
"Only for while." Fred laughed as she caught up to them. Lee hooked his arm with hers with a bright, victorious smile.
"If anyone asks I'm telling them it was you." Eliza shook her head.
"No, you won't." George said sounding mighty confident in his statement.
"And what makes you so sure?" Eliza didn't like the way he was being so cocky after what they'd just done.
Fred ruffled her hair. "Because you liked it."
At the look on her face, Lee was quick to interject. "Because we helped you. Not stressing about homework right now, are you?"
Eliza had a retort lined up but her mouth snapped shut. As much as she hated to admit it he had a point. She had been at her wit's end and they had provided a distraction for the moment. She wanted to remind them that it was only a temporary distraction but their moods were infectious. "Okay. I admit that was kind of fun." She said. At the 'I knew it' looks on their faces she held up a finger. "BUT! I'd appreciate a warning."
George shook his head. "Where's the fun in that?
"Besides we've got the big match tomorrow!" Lee was excited and that excitement had been rippling through the school. All of the students buzzed with it despite the stress of homework. "And when we win you are coming to the party whether you like it or not."
Eliza broke off from them as they exited the castle to join Ginny and Hermione who were hanging out under a pair of trees in the shade. While the boys were off to no doubt cause more mischief she'd had enough for one day. Eliza hoped the librarian didn't assume she'd been in on it and wouldn't start giving her the same suspicious looks as she did the twins when they were around.
"Ah, normalcy." Eliza said as she sat down and the girls greeted her with smiles. Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see the guys headed for the pitch. "Those three driving you mad yet?" She asked. Eliza took a deep breath and let loose a long sigh. "Just a little."
"Sometimes I wonder how you manage it." Hermione said.
"Speaking of managing..How are you able to juggle all of your classes?" Eliza asked. The girl had a book open in her lap. "I'm about to pull my hair out with all the homework. I can't imagine how much you've got." She was truly amazed by Hermione. The girl seemed to be able to handle so much and, since she'd made up with Ron and Harry, still looked less stressed that anyone else.
"Because she's brilliant." Ginny said earning a smile from the girl. "There's no arguing that." Eliza agreed.
"Speaking of homework. Weren't you in the library with the study group?" Hermione asked.
"I was until someone's brothers decided to change that." Eliza nudged Ginny who giggled and bumped her back.
"Those two are going to get you in trouble one of these days." Hermione said, her tone a mix of warning and amusement. Though she often disapproved of the way the guys pulled her attention from her studies it was difficult to be in anything but a good mood with the Quidditch match on the horizon. "Probably." Eliza lifted a shoulder in a shrug.
"I think it's good for them to have another girl friend." Ginny plucked up a piece of grass and twirled it in her fingers.
"You'd think it would help them act more civilized." Hermione joked.
"Or they'll rub off on her." Ginny snickered as Eliza removed her robe since it was hot out and from her pocket rolled a dung bomb. When the hell had they managed to slip that into her pocket? She picked it up and shook her head. "Be a dear and return this to them when you get a chance." Eliza handed the bomb to Ginny who tucked it away.
No one was able to talk about anything but the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor at dinner and the conversation continued into the Ravenclaw common room. It was packed with people comparing the teams, previous matches, and predicted outcomes. Gryffindor was the most popular choice for winning but there was a surprising amount in favor of Slytherin.
Eliza was curled in a chair with Rikki, feet tucked under her as Victor and Hannah spoke to a group of Slytherin supporters. They spoke animately with wild gestures as they explained why the Gryffindor team would come out on top. The word 'firebolt' was used so many times it lost all meaning to her. But the other students debated well with them expressing the team's talent. Too bad they were eating their words the next day.
During breakfast there was thunderous applause and cheering as the Gryffindor team entered the great hall. They all looked confident and sat together with Wood demanding they eat. Kelly tried to get him to eat himself but he looked keyed up and his fingers tapped the table anxiously. He was also the first to leave, running off to check the conditions outside but not before Kelly made him stop and kiss her on the cheek. The team whistled and jeered making their captain blush furiously.
When the team was leaving Fred passed her a bundle and she tilted her head in question. "You're gonna need it later." He said as way of explanation before heading off with the rest of them. "Good luck!" She called.
"What's that?" Hannah asked and Eliza unrolled the bundle of fabric beneath the table. It was a robe with the Gryffindor insignia on it.
The match was one of the dirtiest games she'd ever seen. It was like the Slytherin team had gotten together and decided that if they couldn't win on skill they were not afraid to use filthy tactics. There were so many times that the crowd erupted in rage at something they would do and Eliza was sure Lee was going to have a fit as he announced the game.
The emotion from the crowd was intense at the victory and Eliza hung back while they rushed the field. The team was hoisted up as they were congratulated and she waited until the students were headed back up to the school to don the robe Fred had given her. She pressed into the crowd to blend in with the rest of the Gryffindors. Even if she was caught she hoped it wouldn't be too bad since she was only trying to celebrate with her friends. Hannah and Kelly had encouraged her to go along with the silly plan when she'd considered backing out.
Eliza got a little nervous as they got closer to the Gryffindor common room but when she caught sight of Ginny she squeezed through until they were shoulder to shoulder. Ginny looked at the robe she wore and laughed before hooking their arms together. "It's huge on you." She commented having to raise her voice to speak over the other students. It was true. Eliza had it bunched up in her hands to keep from tripping over it. "They could have used one of mine." Ginny pulled her through the entrance and Eliza finally got a look at their common room.
While Ravenclaw's was luxurious and sleek, the Gryffindor common room was much more rustic and cozy. Upon entering it felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. "Wow." She said as she looked around.
The team was already inside. The twins had Harry on their shoulders, spinning him around until depositing him on a couch. It was impossible to get anywhere any of the team for a while as the students crowded in to praise them. Eliza perched herself on the arm of a nearby chair and watched the chaos while talking with Ginny who'd joined her after congratulating Harry and her brothers.
When the amount of students packed in the common room thinned she felt less claustrophobic. There was music playing and the team was scattered, reenacting the match from their perspectives to anyone who wanted to hear it. Eliza and Ginny snickered off to the side over how Harry, though he'd been the seeker for three years now, still looked embarrassed to be receiving so much praise at one time. It was wonderful to see him in his element and enjoying himself. He deserved to smile every day in her opinion. He had such a lovely smile.
"Looks good on you." George had broken away from a group and made his way over. "What?" Eliza asked and he pointed to the lion on her chest. She figured she didn't need to keep wearing it since she was already inside. It wasn't like she needed it once she left so she started to remove it but he slapped her hand. "Don't you dare. You're still wearing Ravenclaw colors under there."
Fred joined them and picked Ginny up in a hug before stealing her seat. "Ew." Eliza cringed as he reclined. They were still in full gear and there was no way they hadn't been drenched in sweat with the way the sun had been beating down. "At least the Ravenclaw chairs are clean." She teased. In retaliation, he pulled her off the arm of the chair and started rubbing his sweat-damp hair on her back.
"Get off me, you stink!" Eliza exclaimed but George had started shaking his hair over her adding to the sweat and grime. Lucky for her Harry joined them and she held her hands out towards him begging for help and he pulled her free. "My hero!" Eliza exclaimed and glared at the twins who were having a laugh at her expense.
As the twins moved off to another group she sat with Harry. "You were amazing today." She said as other students clapped him on the back on their way up to their dorms. He smiled and looked down at his hands. "It was rough." He said. She wondered how it must have felt on the field trying to stay on their toes to prevent the other team from hurting them much less winning.
"You came out on top because you're the better man." She said. Next to his best friend, Ron agreed. "By a mile! They didn't stand a chance!"
Eliza felt anxiety build up as time stretched on. If she stayed for too long the chances of her getting caught increased. Even though the curfew had been returned back to its usual time she didn't want to risk being late back to her own house. She stuck around for an hour or so just hanging out and joining Ginny and Katie Bell in a dance or two though that took some convincing. She said her goodbyes to Harry and his friends before removing the borrowed robe. There weren't many students left in the common room and she doubted they'd make a fuss of her being there.
"Here." She approached Fred who was sitting with Angelina on the couch. He looked up and shook his head. "Keep it. You never know when you might need it again." Eliza didn't see herself often sneaking into the common room but it might come in handy if the need ever arose again. Not that a majority of students didn't know who was in what house. It was more for blending in than anything. As long as she kept a low profile she doubted anyone would care.
She told them goodnight and tucked the robe under arm. On her way back to Ravenclaw tower there were still a few students wandering the halls talking about the match. Her spirits were high and she was glad she'd let the guys talk her into attending the celebration. Eliza was in her own little world as she walked thinking about how cute Fred and Angelina had looked. She'd seen the way Angelina sometimes looked at him and she wondered if he knew. If he did then did he feel the same? Hopefully he did. They would make a dynamite couple.
"Are you dating her, Victor?" As Eliza passed a dark hallway she overhead a piece of conversation that grabbed her attention.
"That's none of your business."
"I was just wondering."
"You've got a lot of nerve to ask me something like that. You. Of all people."
"I said I was sorry! And I made sure the club broke up."
"That doesn't change anything."
"Please. I know what I did was wrong. I was angry."
"That's not an excuse."
"I know. I wish you would forgive me."
"I might one day but you need to move on."
"I have."
"Then why are you asking me about Eliza?"
At the mention of her name Eliza's curiosity grew. She felt strange listening and pieced together that Victor was talking to his ex. Any other time she would have ignored it but they were talking about her.
"For your safety."
"Are you threatening me, Amelia?"
"No! I just...You don't understand. She has this psychotic boyfriend-"
"What is wrong with you? Digging into other people's business? You haven't changed at all!"
Eliza didn't stick around to hear the rest of it. Once Connor was brought up she high-tailed it out of there. She didn't know what that girl, Amelia, had heard about Connor but the need to escape was too great. It wasn't as if Victor didn't know she had a troubled ex anyways. There was a brief worry that Amelia would spread the news around but she couldn't imagine a reason for her to do so. There was nothing in it for her to gain. Eliza chalked it up to a desperate girl wanting her ex back and when she entered her room she put it from her mind.