Your Grief is My Grief [DM] sequel to Beauty and the Beast

Chapter Eight

Lizzie's POV:

"Hey, Lizzie!" Pansy Parkinson called to me from the entrance of the Slytherin common room. I was sitting on the sofa in front of the fire, allowing my mind to go blank after so much activity lately, when the girl had entered the room and decided to talk to me. She came and sat by me. "Come sit with me at dinner tonight." I turned my head and raised an eyebrow at her, still put off by how kind she was being to me.

"I can't. I actually have to head to the library and finish Snape's essay before bed," I sighed, standing up with my bag and beginning to walk to the exit. I wasn't saying this just to get out of being around Pansy, though it was a wonderful plus side. I had been putting off Snape's essay about the Imperius Curse for three days and it was due tomorrow. If I didn't finish it now, I wouldn't ever finish it.

"You're not going to eat?" Pansy spoke, not standing up from her place on the sofa, only turning her body to see me. She had her head cocked to one side like a puppy and her eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm not hungry," I told her with a shrug, turning and walking away.

"You never eat anymore, Liz. You don't think people haven't noticed? You've been losing weight like a madman. You and Draco both. People are starting to talk." I froze where I was and blinked at the wall in front of me. Were people really noticing? "You need to eat."

"I do eat," I snapped.

"Look, I know we're not on the best terms, but I still do care about you."

"That's not what you would have said a few months ago," I grumbled, walking out the door with heavy feet.

I looked down at my body as I walked towards the library. I didn't look like I was losing weight, and besides I was eating fine. Pansy was just saying that to make it seem like she cared about me when she didn't really. Somehow she knew about the task and she wanted to be on my good side because it seemed like I was on Voldemort's good side. In reality, however, I was thrust into this situation by my dirty, rotten father.

Shaking my head, I stepped into the library. I walked down the center and looked for an open table where I could work in silence, undisturbed by anyone.

Draco would be here with me, but he hadn't slept well at all the previous night, so I refused to let him out of his dormitory until he had at least taken a nap. That's where he was at the moment, probably pretending to sleep just to appease me. I didn't care, at least he was resting.

I had reached the very end of the library before finding a table that wasn't taken. I was happy that it was in the very back corner, away from all the others. I pulled the chair out and placed my bag on the table with a soft thud. However, the table was occupied. Someone was sitting on the floor with their back in the corner, a book propped open in their lap and their head lolling, asleep.

Harry's glasses were sliding down his nose as he snored softly. I cringed and slid the chair in (which screeched loudly), wanting to escape before he realized I was here. Picking up my bag, I turned and tried to tiptoe away, only to land on my face. My foot had got caught on the leg of the chair that I had thought I had pushed in and caused me to trip.

I cursed as Harry started with a snore and leapt to his feet, drawing his wand. The book that was in his lap was thrown to the floor as he stood.

"Lizzie?" he asked, dropping his wand. "Merlin, you scared me!" I pulled myself up and rubbed my chin, which had been rammed into the floor. My face was undoubtedly red with embarrassment.

"Sorry, I didn't realize you were here. I'll just be leaving," I muttered, starting to walk away from him.

"No, stay! We haven't talked in forever," he said, pulling out the chair that I had just tripped over and offering it to me.