Recollection

Fifteen

Eliza's POV

CW: Manipulation, drinking, mentions of violence, bullying.

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Eliza was not in control of her eyes as they scanned through the faces of those entering the Great Hall for breakfast. There were many students who looked overwhelmed from the first week of classes, lugging books with them to get a jumpstart on homework, tired expressions from older students who overindulged on their first Friday night back in Hogsmeade, and a few first years who looked rather homesick from their families. Her concern only grew when her eyes didn't land on the certain brunette she was looking for. She quickly snapped her gaze down when she became conscious of who she was looking for. Eliza felt her cheeks grow hot as she focused hard on the bowl of oatmeal that sat in front of her, spooning over its velvety texture and watching the grains that clung to the spoon slowly peel off and fall back into the bowl. She had hoped she didn't draw the attention of any of her friends, Ambrose specifically. She didn't know what her answer would be if someone asked who she was looking for.

Eliza wasn't even sure why she was looking for Sebastian. It's not like she cared for him. He was a troubled wizard and she needed to stay clear of him, as Ambrose had made her promise. Yet she couldn't help but feel a pit grow in her stomach last night when Ben, Amon, and Spencer barreled through the doors of the Three Broomsticks and began to recount the beating they gave him after quidditch tryouts. Her emotions must have been showing on her face when Amara asked her why she looked so uncomfortable. She blew off her growing concern for Sebastian under the facade of being worried that their friends would get in trouble for their act of violence. Ambrose had assured her they would face no repercussions and continued edging his friends on, insisting that Sebastian had deserved it. It was merely payback from the other night when Oliver lunged at Ambrose, who took every opportunity to remind Eliza that the bruises and cuts on his face were caused by her brother. He was very convincing as he condemned Sebastian for being the one behind the attack and despite being inclined to agree, Eliza still found herself desperate to see that Sebastian was okay.

He deserved it. He deserved it. He deserved it.

If she kept repeating it maybe she would believe it. She was troubled by the fact that she even cared and how it seemed she was the only one bothered by it.

"Sweetheart, is everything alright?" Ambrose pulled away from his conversation and placed his hand on her back when he noticed her picking at her breakfast.

"I'm fine." Eliza answered a little too quickly. "I drank a bit too much wine last night and don't have much of an appetite."

It wasn't a lie, Ambrose had made sure her wine glass was never empty. When Eliza was sure she had consumed enough, Ambrose insisted she should have another to help calm her stress from the week prior. Her worries faded the more she drank. Another one turned into another three glasses and his hand grew more friendly with her waist with each sip she took. Typically she would have been uncomfortable with his caressing but the lightness she felt in her head from the wine didn't allow her to feel anything other than happy.

"It might help if you eat your food instead of playing with it." Ambrose suggested.

"I'm not sure I can stomach it." Stomach the oatmeal or stomach the image she had in her head of Sebastian lying battered on the locker room floor? She wasn't sure. She pushed her bowl away from her. "I'm going to lay down for a few hours."

"Alright, but we're going down to the lake soon."

"I'll see how I'm feeling when I wake up and maybe meet you there later."