Exams came and Hermione didn't say a word about Eliza to anyone, not even Harry or Ron. Eliza glanced at her in the Great Hall but Hermione was nagging Ron about something.
Eliza's headaches ceased after that last dream but the stress she accumulated kicked in. She was anxious and paranoid and would avoid Slytherins at all costs. Blaise tried to talk to her but she literally ran away and kept close to Seamus and Dean.
Another person Eliza didn't want to see was Snape. It was pretty obvious something happened because she wouldn't even glance at the staff table.
"Will you be alright?" Hermione asked right before their first O.W.L.
Eliza ignored her and waited her her turn in silence. Charms was not a problem anymore with the intense training she got in the last two summers. Since they were entering alphabetically for the practical examination, Molley was bound to enter with Malfoy. Next was Transfiguration, where Eliza didn't really fuss over because she knew what she had to do. Though if could have gone better, Eliza hoped she passed Herbology on Wednesday but she was sure she passed Defense against the Dark Arts with flying colors on Thursday. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FLk6inX8t
While Hermione was temperamental about everything and would spontaneously threat Eliza that she would go and tell someone about her headaches and dreams, Eliza was ignoring her. Ron and Harry were doing the same while revising for Potions. Once or twice, Eliza had to quiz them but overall, they were prepared.
Potions on Monday was finished in record time and Eliza watched the rest of the class work happily. It was really different without Snape around, glaring at every Gryffindor but Eliza found that she was happy during potions anyway.
Care of Magical Creatures proved to be quite fun even if Eliza got scratched once or twice. The witch that was examining Eliza was taken aback when the student laughed while she was feeding and cleaning out a Fire Crab. Astronomy went bad but not worst than divination. Both Ron and Harry were wearing the same expression as she was, aware they passed through Divination with lies and stories they made up in haste. During the Astronomy practical examination something happened, something that didn't seem to touch Eliza as much as it should have.
"Hagrid got sacked and you're not exactly worried. I thought you enjoyed his lessons and everything." Seamus started when they got back in the common room. He was right next to her and she didn't even bother to take a look.
Eliza glanced at Harry, Ron and Hermione before she turned back to Seamus, "He's not going to be gone for long. Once Dumbledore returns, everything will come back to normal." She said firmly, cutting off any way Seamus could continue that subject.
However, once in the dormitory, Hermione turned to Eliza and started to talk about Hagrid and Umbridge until she fell asleep. Eliza didn't, she couldn't go to sleep until the last exam was over or else she'd have that dream again.
During History of Magic, Eliza concentrated hard on writing everything. She could barely make out the questions because she hadn't slept in a few days. Her eyes were tearing up when she heard Harry fall on the ground, squirming. The whole room was watching like it was a show before the professor took Harry and hurried to the Hospital Wing.
However, after the exam was over, Eliza got dragged away by Ron and Hermione and met Harry in the Entrance Hall. His eyes were wide and he looked scared. Eliza understood why a few minutes later when he told them what happened.
"What do you mean Sirius is in danger?" Eliza hissed, everything leaving her mind at the news. "Sirius doesn't leave the house, Harry. He's not stupid."
"I'm telling you what I saw. Voldemort's got Sirius."
"Where is he?" Hermione asked with a pale face.
"I dunno how but I know exactly where. There's a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in these little glass balls and they're at the end of row ninety-seven. He's trying to use Sirius to get whatever it is he wants from there...he's torturing him, says he'll end by killing him!" Harry continued, his hands trembling. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHbXeVFcDS
Eliza's eyes widened and for the first time in a while, she showed exactly what she was feeling. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe2ZkZT5i1
"We have to get there so we can rescue Sirius." Harry added, looking at Eliza for support. She nodded, straightening right away.
Somehow, they made a plan and although Hermione was still not assured that Sirius was indeed in trouble, Ginny and Luna appeared at the right moment, in time to follow with the plan. Then, while they were waiting for Harry to get the Invisibility Cloak, Hermione turned to Eliza.
"You shouldn't come. You should help Ron with the-"
By now Eliza couldn't care less that Ginny and Luna were listening and openly said, "Sirius is my father. Do you really expect me to go have fun while he might be facing Voldemort?"
Hermione didn't look affected, "No. I think-I think you should go to Snape for-"
That was enough and Hermione saw that because she stopped. Eliza's eyes narrowed at her and she looked furious. Even Ginny and Luna were surprised by the way the atmosphere around Eliza stiffened.
However, that might have been a good advice because as Harry was coming their way, she noticed someone watching her very closely. He ran when their eyes met and Eliza remembered Draco's warning.
"Hermione, you're only going to see if dad is home, right?" She asked, her eyes searching for the boy. "It won't take long, correct?" She asked again.
Hermione frowned, confused how Eliza changed so drastically. "Well, yes. 5 minutes is all we get."784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOlliniJW9
"I'll be back in 5 minutes then." She said before she ran off the same way Harry just came from.
Eliza ran without a clear aim and she found herself walking into a dead end. She was on her way back when she heard a snicker and stopped. Out of thin air, someone appeared behind and pushed her into an empty classroom that seemed to have gotten really dusty over the years.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs5Punjz1X
Even the doorknob was dusty and no matter how hard she was trying, it wouldn’t budge; actually, while she tried to use the Alohomora spell, it backfired and she got thrown into the opposite wall, hitting the back of her head.
Eliza groaned when she woke up and felt her head pounding. She was still inside the old classroom and the door was still closed. Since she didn’t have any other and more civilized way to get out, she used what she could get. It was quite clear that magic wasn’t working when she tried to explode the door and instead, she’s been thrown again; she had to use muggle ways and thankfully, she has already done research just in case Kreacher would lock her outside the Black mansion.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WRjRcWt6l
“Let’s see,”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiufGL2azEY
She looked around but couldn’t find much to use. Luckily, she noticed what looked like an old cover of a book, made by the same material as one of a card. She had to wipe the dust off firstly –and there was a lot- before she wedged the cover into the gap between the door and the frame and bent it away from the knob. It opened widely, also leaving Eliza with a new sense of achievement.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VIjB0TRsL
When the brunette got into the Entrance Hall, someone grabbed her aside. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofPlIezvJQ
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“Zabini, what are you doing?” She hissed, already having too many problems to solve.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dgBiQ3x2g
“Umbridge caught your group of friends trying to sneak out through the chimney,” He whispered, glancing around warily, “Professor Snape told me to advise you to not get involved at all.” He continued.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiIYo981fG
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She asked but he didn’t seem to know either.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBGDMOhP0R
Giving a long and heavy sigh, she figured it was probably Snape who threw her into a locked classroom only to keep her away from whatever was happening.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfVWgCpAWi
“Well, thank you Blaise.” She smiled and patted him on the head like he was a dog before running towards Umbridge’s office.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡce6O21LO9S
She was right around the corner when she heard Umbridge's high pitched annoying voice roaring at Snape for Veritaserum. Her green eyes glared at nothing in particular yet she had the urge to petrify that pink buffoon. Unfortunately, when Snape turned around, ready to leave, he saw her and dragged her along by the collar of her shirt until he got into the corridor.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYqv9t6Cfq
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“You are not allowed to follow Potter.” He started, confusing her as to what his reasons were. However, he continued, “His mind is weak and can easily be penetrated by Voldemort.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kV9nR9CSR
“He already knows I’m alive.” The green eyed witch retorted coldly.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0xvgXFhYT
“But he doesn't know where you are. He is using Potter to lure you in as much as finding the prophecy.” He probably shouldn’t have said the latter but he couldn’t care less in that moment. Eliza was a secrecy that shall remain intact in Ophelia’s memory and for the sake of everyone involved with her.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4iKr04vHY
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“Is that why you just decided to lock me away?” She hissed but Snape seemed surprised by that. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkWg5XPfmP
Her eyes softened and her voice lowered when she figured Snape had no idea what she was talking about. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8GNvbI1Be
“Someone locked me away. Someone's been watching me this whole year.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKuIQ0yo9I
The former Death Eater stared at her blankly and looking into his eyes, Eliza couldn't help but remember how humane he looked when he was talking to her mother. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcBU6kqfcW
"If you follow Potter every time, you'll end up just like your mother." He said, not an ounce of disgust on his face. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GwkSkYtzq
Eliza knew what he meant so she didn't take it as bad as she did before.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyFeRFbYva
"That's my choice."
Eliza was running through the castle, looking for a hint as to where her friends have gone and what was the plan. She was just turning the corner towards the Wooden Bridge when she got hit in the back of her head hard. To her attacker’s disappointment she fell but didn’t faint784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt44YGaWu5
“I know you,” She mumbled, feeling her head vibrate when she spoke, “You transferred when I did from Durmstrang. Did your headmaster send you to keep an eye on me?”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKtjJI7Sqr
The boy shook his head and bent in front of her, glaring at her for some reason, “I only had to inform him every so often of your little relationship with Potter.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJJT8uzRI2
“I wasn’t expecting Karkaroff to be so interested in friendship.” She spat with hatred and irony, getting herself hit in the face by the Slytherin.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqChbSQsmUv
“Not him. The Dark Lord.” He slurred before he pointed his wand at her, “Crucio!”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfR3Mgjta13
Granted to her extreme training with Snape, she bit her lip in pain but could still grab him by his robe. Her pupils dilated from the pain and she could barely speak through gritted teeth. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2dpGerH7j
“Stupefy!” She hissed.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOXkVGhGGl
The boy started to laugh, thinking that she was silly to use a spell without a wand but once she focused on the subject, he got thrown against the ceiling, falling unconscious right away.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWaaNNg54U
But the pain was still there and the deadly curses weren’t torturous for nothing. Her body was aching and blood was dripping from how hard she bit her lip. She closed her eyes for a few minutes, slowly breathing in and out and using her stubbornness to force her body to fight the pain. It worked in some way because she got enough strength to get up and limp towards the only person who could help her.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE74BOWBVgW
When Malfoy walked out of the Hospital Wing, he didn't expect to see the big green eyes of a black cat waiting for him patiently. They stared at each other blankly until Furvus meowed again and again, getting louder and drawing attention. He tried to pass him by and even sneered at the cat but something about those eyes seemed very familiar.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1VUy8IMpQ
“Stupid cat, what do you want?” He snapped, glaring at the little black cat.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD1EUxtjSd
Furvus meowed and crawled up his leg, startling him with the boldness. The blond shook his leg but the cat didn’t budge; it actually felt like he plunged his claws in his skin.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaKdA9IPv7
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“Bugger off.” Malfoy mumbled but the cat was earnestly looking at him with those big eyes.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ3I6QDI1h
In the end, Draco gave up and followed the perky cat wherever it wanted, watching him wag his tail happily while walking with his head up like he was a noble. It was rather cute in some way.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHilqkOsoPr
Eliza was leaning against the wall, taking another break when she saw Furvus walking down the corridor towards her. The first thought was how her cat sneaked out of the common room but then she remembered that the same cat is a messenger for the Order.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NhCQ0RqxU
Behind Furvus was someone else, someone that instantly made her sigh.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthhUSnFbQF
“Why are we meeting like this...” She whispered, wincing when his eyes fell on her face.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpg5mMyWKF
Draco’s eyes widened and grabbed her chin, inspecting what looked like a really bad bruise on her cheek.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaV7bfFray
“Who hit you?” He asked dead serious. His eyes hardened and he looked mature, like she could depend on him.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWXKaq33nb
“I need to get in the Ministry.” Her response had nothing to do with his question.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsa0d5VrIs
Malfoy stared at her for a few minutes before he sighed and folded his arms in front of his chest.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrvVNuyEU8
“Why would I help you?”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuUisb2JgV
Eliza frowned, “Because your mother asked you to.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8y8bR00g6
That seemed to do the job as he remembered he was supposed to keep an eye out for her. With no smartass response, he wrapped one hand around her waist and helped her walk to Umbridge’s office. She was conflicted between thanking him and not but she decided to keep that for later.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ7ZSB8hy6
When Eliza got into the Ministry, she wasn’t sure what exactly she was searching for since she wasn’t there when they talked about it. Besides, she was limping in a place she had never been in before. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG30B6gknBi
She wandered the corridors of the Ministry for a while until she heard noise above. The noise was spreading through the whole building and Eliza was confused how other people couldn't hear it. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD63LQ2sQl
She was in the Atrium as she found out walking to the fountain in the middle of it. she took a break before going for the lift. She remembered Harry talking about the Department of Mysteries and went straight to that level.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJg6SMhvG0
However, when she got into the hall, she found herself standing confused and strength leaving her body slowly. Her head was getting dizzy and she had to keep her balance by standing with one leg forward and one in the back, swaying from time to time.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSryyOk6av
“This year is the worst.” She mumbled, rubbing her forehead.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0uMIpVK0N
Truthfully, she preferred standing with Sirius and Remus over everything that has happened at Hogwarts. It gave her both emotional and physical pain and she was growing angrier and sadder with every day.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv4x95ZsrJ
A sudden voice started to murmur something, comforting her in a way even if it was incoherent. Eliza looked ahead and concentrated on that voice alone, following it unconsciously to a door hidden between two walls. She entered only to find the source was an archway in the distance. The voice was luring her in and Eliza couldn’t fight against it; the brunette couldn’t take her eyes off the archway and the soul reaching out to her.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS6PisPlVt
Eliza scrunched her eyes trying to see what was going on around and stopped. Death Eaters were there and they had Harry and Neville. Bellatrix Lestrange looked ready to kill the latter until a few more people walked through another door and interfered. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMovIOa6TO
Eliza’s eyes widened in both shock and fear. She couldn't move and couldn't take her eyes off the sight. Her heart was beating really fast and she was panicking on the inside even if she looked completely calm on the outside. She was there, hiding while her friends’ lives were in danger.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0Mv2Bes8s
The members of the Order were fighting the Death Eaters but it didn't seem like they could win. Eliza noticed one of them going for Remus from behind and her blood was boiling. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0ue2lgxUp
"Give me the prophecy, give me the prophecy, Potter!"784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWgMS0lVwE
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Eliza knew that voice, even dreamed it a few times. Out of reflex, she took a step back and hid behind the wall. Lucius Malfoy looked exactly like the last time she saw him, back when he watched Ophelia die. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtRJyp0nNj
“I'll make this simple for you, Potter. Give me the prophecy now or watch your friends die!” He threatened, Eliza’s eyes widening at his venomous tone.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E3JCTGA4f
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“He will get you killed sooner or later.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDeRzC3b8A
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Those words were echoing in her mind, repeating again and again overwhelming her being. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfKcrU4cSc
"Come to me." She heard it again, clearly than ever before. She could only squirm and cry and it was pitiful.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHroTYzpIH
“It’s time to embrace my fear.” She mumbled.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt9UtobkRA
Eliza watched the other fight and noticed Harry barely holding Neville while trying to leave. Before thinking it through, she jumped down and ran towards her godfather, 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6dQF9EcxW
“Crucio!” She screamed, pointing her wand at the Death Eater attacking Remus.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GxYCm4Kh8
Lupin’s eyes widened at her sight and pulled her closer to him, “Liz, you have to leave.”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2yvA1Jpk5
“No.” She coldly answered, her head turning towards the man she has been waiting to meet for ten years.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb7XPHciYs
“Listen to me, you have to leave. If they find you-“784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJMeNMX7LV
"He knows already. He's been messing with my mind for the last month." Eliza announced, her eyes falling over her father and a face she hated with every fiber.
She squirmed out of Lupin's grasp and glared at him before quickly turning around and disarming another Death Eater. While doing so, someone else got the chance to see her...784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzocYjFpZn
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“Little bastard child,” Belatrix Lestrange looked straight into Eliza’s eyes, ignoring Sirius completely. “Look who came from the dead! Ophelia’s remnant!” Her laughter was even worse now that Eliza could hear it for real.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqj2CXRGDq
Sirius turned immediately towards the new attraction but so did Malfoy. Sirius looked furious and scared at the same time but Lucius Malfoy froze. Eliza stared at Malfoy for a few seconds before she ducked. Bellatrix Lestrange missed her by a few centimeters.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc4yHxpmIU
"Liz! Eliza, leave. You have to leave right now. Go after Harry, GO!" Sirius screamed but Bellatrix was chuckling to herself.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknnTDn35xF
"How nice. Little Lizzy will witness another parent dying~"784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmelGsLGAj
Eliza's eyes hardened and she naively attacked Bellatrix. It didn't touch her at all so the woman started to laugh loudly.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCBIIG0ODf
"Crucio!" Bellatrix screamed at Eliza but Sirius pushed her aside harshly and blocked it.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyJvCml0qM
"Come on, you can do better than that!" He yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG3ehD93Z6
Belatrix winked at Eliza with a sadistic smirk before she hit him again, straight in the chest. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoJaVKC3rb
Sirius' eyes widened in shock and he could barely look at his daughter for one last time. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHgPjKrRx3
Time stopped in that moment. Eliza's eyes widened as she heard it louder than ever in her mind...Voldemort... Come to me, Eliza. Everyone else is bound to die sooner or later. I am the only one who can mend your pain. Come to me.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ndzK8HKnw
She could see it once again, her parent dying right in front of her eyes while she could only watch from the side, powerless. Eliza fell on her knees and felt water drip down her cheeks; she was crying, the image of her mother flashing before her eyes.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuZBIYIQw4
“No,” She mumbled, her father’s soul already gone. “No! No! NO!” She screamed, throwing her wand away. "DAD! NO!"784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9igGOevKN
Her eyes hardened and all the anger she felt came back to her; the loneliness was too much and she wasn’t sure she could resist without her father.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXFqeSemok
Eliza Black was alone and not even Remus Lupin could make that sorrow fade away; no one could. It was too much for her heart so she ran towards the veil inside the archway, ready to give herself into the temptation of death.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGOJwubXOk
“Stupefy!”784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8bgbHlbvu
The spell hit her full force and threw her aside. 784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsv7EDlILV
Eliza was going through the worst moment of her life. The pain was so overwhelming that she lied there, on her back, crying. She moved her head slightly to the side and saw two people staring at her with remotely alike sorrowful expressions before she fainted.784Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpgnmbUFbt
