As worried as I was about my twin, it couldn't overshadow the happiness that resulted from the new direction my relationship with Fred was taking. We didn't wait until the next Hogsmeade visit - which wouldn't be until late November - to start seeing more of each other. Anytime we could see each other - between classes, free class periods, during the weekend - we took the opportunity. During the Hogsmeade visit in November, Fred and I went to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer - which turned into two, three butterbeers - where he detailed his and George's plans for the joke shop they planned to start after they left Hogwarts.
Nothing prepared me for what was to come.
It was the day that Professor McGonagall had started taking names of those who would be staying at Hogwarts over the Christmas break. Elizabeth and I were sitting between Fred and George at the dinner table. The Weasley twins were going over the finer details of the plans for their shop, with me throwing in the occasional tip. Not that I knew much about business. It was entertaining to listen to them, anyway. Elizabeth was surprisingly silent. I turned my gaze on her. She had hardly touched her food. This truly worried me; she was no glutton, but neither was she one to turn down a good meal when she saw one, and Hogwarts always served a wonderful selection of delicacies. Upon closer examination, I noticed that there were dark bags under her eyes, as though she hadn't slept well in weeks. Considering my conversation with her about the prank on Granger, which was the last true conversation I'd been able to get her into, that was probably true.
Elizabeth noticed me looking at her. "Stop gawking at me, Ana, please," she snapped.
I recoiled in shock. She had never spoken to me like this before, not even when I was being truly irritating. "I . . . I'm sorry, Lizzie, I was just concerned for you," I stammered. "You look . . . well, you look awful. Has that Umbridge woman been doing you in? You shouldn't let her get to you, you know, she's horrible to everyone."
"I said I'm fine!" She slammed her fork on the table and stormed off. Ignoring protests from Fred and George, I got up to follow her.
I waited until we had left the Great Hall before calling her name. "Elizabeth!" I said loudly.
She ignored me and continued her fast-paced walk away from me. Wherever she was going, it wasn't the common room. "Elizabeth!" I cried again.
"Go away, Ana!" She snarled.
I didn't. I ran to catch up to her and blocked her way, grabbing her shoulders and forcing her to a stop. "Elizabeth, what is going on with you lately?"
"Let go, Ana," she growled.
"No, you listen! You hardly talk to me anymore, you're stressed about something. Any mention of Umbridge and you're done with whatever pathetic excuse of a conversation I try to have with you. You're barely keeping up with your homework and you look like you haven't even seen a bed in weeks. What's wrong, Lizzie? You know you can tell me anything. You have always been able to do that, and you always will."
Elizabeth glared at me. "Look, you - you wouldn't understand, okay? Just let me go, I don't want to talk about it." She tried to shove me away but I wouldn't let her.
"Then help me understand!" I pleaded.
Elizabeth stared at me for a few moments, as though considering whether to take me up on my word. Then she looked away, saying, "No. Please, Ana, just . . . leave me alone, okay?"
The words hurt me badly. Why was she being this way? "Lizzie, have I hurt you? If I have, let me know so we can fix it!"
Elizabeth's voice softened. "It's nothing you've done, my sister, and it's nothing you can fix." That said, she continued on her way.
Knowing now that I couldn't sway her, I waited until she rounded a corner before following her. It wasn't long before she seemed to find the place she was looking for - the girl's bathroom. It was the one Moaning Myrtle tended to stay in, the one that housed the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. Curious about what she was going to do, she leaned over the sink, breathing heavily. Her shoulders started shaking, and I realized that she was crying. Stunned, I continued watching. Then I saw her withdraw a knife - where had she gotten a knife? - and, before I could stop her, stabbed herself in the chest.
"Elizabeth!" I screamed, no longer caring that she knew I was there. I couldn't let her die. She was my twin! I ran over to her and cradled her head in my arms. "Elizabeth, what have you done? Help! Someone help, my sister's hurt! It's okay, Elizabeth, I'm going to get help."
Elizabeth grabbed my wrist with a vice-like grip. "No," she grunted, obviously in pain. "You won't … get back … in time." Her breath came in ragged gasps.
"No, Elizabeth. You're going to be okay." My voice began to break and tears formed underneath my eyelids, threatening to spill over. I didn't believe my own words, and Elizabeth knew it.
"Leliana, listen to me." She hadn't let me go. "I want you … to go on with your studies. You're so smart, Leliana … so smart and beautiful. I know … how you feel … about Fred. Let him know … how you feel." She closed her eyes.
"No!" I shouted. "Lizzie, don't talk like this, you're going to be alright." I was crying now. My tears dripped off my face and onto Lizzie's, mixing with hers. "I - I can go get Madame Pomfrey, she'll save you. She's -"
"No," she said again. "Please, Leliana, do this for me. Promise me that you'll keep coming to Hogwarts, that you'll finish your education and do what you love. Please." She locked her gaze on me, pleading with her eyes.
"Lizzie …" I groaned, unwilling to believe what was happening.
"Promise me," she repeated.
I paused for a moment, then whispered, "I promise."
She looked relieved when I said it. "Good," she whispered.
"Lizzie, don't leave me!" I pleaded, sobbing. "You're my sister. I love you!"
Lizzie opened her mouth to give a reply, but whatever that reply might have been was lost as she took her last breath and died in my arms.
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