Defend

Chapter Thirty-Nine Holey

 I throw my fork down and glare at my parents. "What in the name of the great sorcerer Merlin do you mean I'm not going back to Hogwarts?!" I never yell or curse at my parents, but this is different.

"Honey, calm down," my mum says, her eyes worried.

My dad stands up. "That's right, listen to your mother, but we just don't think it's a good idea."

"You can not be serious."

"Eliza, I don't think it's smart or safe for you to go back, especially since after what happened to your brother—" my mum says tenderly.

"Safe?! Did you just say it's not safe?! I am sixteen years old, one year away from being of age, I can take care of myself."

"Yes, but that's not the point—" my dad begins.

"Then what is the point? I was fourteen when my brother died. I lost my boyfriend at fifteen. I thought my best friend died when I was twelve. I watched my headmaster be murdered by a professor just last month. I fought an entire group of Death Eaters at fifteen. I've been hit by Crucio, and been knocked out for over twenty-hour hours. If I can survive all that, then as for going to school, I'll be FINE."

"We understand you've been through a lot, and we just don't want you to go through more."

I turn in my chair to look past Cedric's empty seat and at my mum. "Mum, at this point it doesn't matter. I'm screwed up, and I'm not skipping my sixth year at Hogwarts."

Both my parents sigh and begin clearing the table. "You're not going, and that's final," my dad says.

My mum turns around, nearly cutting off the connection with her spell lifting the plates. "Amos—"

I understand their concern, especially after Cedric, but I can't skip my sixth year. "Dad, I'm going. I don't care if I have to sneak out at an ungodly hour to the Burrow. I am going to Hogwarts."

He sighs. "Fine. But if we pull you out, no complaining."

I roll my eyes. "Deal."

~~~~

"Do you have everything? Your bridesmaid dress? Your robes?"

"Mum, don't worry. You're coming to the wedding anyways aren't you?"

"Yes, but you'll be without us for two weeks before the wedding. And the Dark Lord is controlling the Ministry, which is trying to control Hogwarts."

"Voldemort, mum."

She winces at the sound of his name and continues folding my clothes and placing them in the trunk.

I put my wand down and hug her. "I'll be alright, I promise."

She pets my hair. "I know, but, I don't need you having the same fate as your brother."

That stings, because I know she's right. Any of my friends, especially Harry, could have the same fate just as well as I. "I know how to defend myself, don't worry."

She smiles dolefully, and I know she's going to worry anyways.

~~~~

I collapse into Ginny's arms. "Ginny!"

"Hi Eliza. I missed you."

"I missed you too."

We walk to her room, arms around each other's shoulders.

"What did Harry tell you at the funeral?"

"Oh. He had to break up with me."

I jerk my head in surprise. "I'm sorry, what? I thought you said he broke up with you? Does he want me to hit him?"