Thick Smoke

Friends

Defense Against the Dark Arts became quickly one of the best if not the best lesson of the year. Lupin had a soft spot for Gryffindors and he made every lesson fun and helpful. His homework was also more about practice than theory and he knew how to make himself liked. The only ones who disliked him were some Slytherins.

Strangely enough, at lunch after class, Hermione had notes for both Ancient Ruins and History of Magic, which were at the same time. It wasn't even the first time that happened.

"You're quite a library rat, aren't you?" Eliza whispered, making Hermione look up at her confused. "It must be hard taking notes by yourself in the library when no one notices. I don't know how you do it but they sound as if you were actually in the class."

Hermione frowned while Ron and Harry, who clearly heard Eliza, laughed. They stopped once Hermione glared at them before she glared at her bully.

"You sounded just like a Slytherin." Hermione snapped, making Eliza shift a bit in her seat.

It hit deep considering Eliza had only begun to act more comfortably around her house mates. Her intention was not to anger Hermione, only to tease her.

"But that's true, you know. I'm sure I've seen this in Dean's notes-" Ron started, taking a look at her notes. Hermione glared at him again and even kicked him under the table, making Ron take back his words.

*****

Divination was still a class Eliza couldn't fully comprehend. At the end of what felt like a long old movie, she sneaked through the crowd just so she could get into the hall before Lavender would catch her again and tell her again of the things she had seen in the signs around her, very bad too.

Having no idea where she was going, Eliza made an unfortunate turn that slammed straight into Malfoy.

"So, we meet at last, huh? The new Gryffindor," He said with a scowl.

But Eliza couldn't even hear him. She was hit by an overwhelming sense of familiarity that made her heart break.

She blinked twice before she responded, "Well, goodbye!" She said quickly before she rushed past him.

For some reason, Malfoy seemed like a bad omen at the moment and she wanted to have a silent first year at Hogwarts.

It went on like that for the next two months, getting friendlier with most Gryffindors and even a few Ravenclaws anf Hufflepuffs.

Eliza kept her distance from Slytherins but couldn't help meet Malfoy from time to time in the halls. He would either snarl or act all mighty in front of her but he never quite did more.

Her relationship with Harry was pretty much...none. She was avoiding him like the plague and wouldn't even stay around if the others weren't there. That proved to be quite difficult in October when she decided she didn't want to go into Hogsmeade and ended up in Hogwarts with none other than Harry.

"Why didn't you go with the others?" He asked, jumping on the couch next to her in the Common Room.

She froze for a moment before she loosened up.

"It's just my first year here. I prefer to get to know the castle more than go into the village," She answered, making the glasses boy chuckle. "What about you?" She asked out of politeness more than anything.

He scowled before giving his answer. "I didn't get the chance to have the pass signed. I don't think my uncle would have signed it anyway," He mumbled grumpily.

She nodded and turned back to reading about teenagers and their interests.

"Do you want help?" He asked grabbing her full attention.

"Help?" She asked in confusion. He nodded and pointed at her book, her eyes glancing between the object in her hands and the boy next to her. "Oh. Well, it doesn't seem very complicated." She responded, making Harry laugh lightly.

"You have no idea what you're reading, do you?"

Eliza glanced at her book before she shrugged and gave up.

"It's a magazine for teenage girls. It's about how to use make-up and talk to boys," He added, much bemused from what she could see.

Once she realized what she was holding, she quickly pushed it to him. That only caused more laughter from Harry and suddenly, watching him like that, he seemed normal.

"People fuss a lot over you," At her bold words, awkwardness filled the room again. "The Boy Who Lived," she added, her tone not rude but Harry could feel a certain animosity oozing off her.

"It's not like I chose that title. I don't even like it," He replied quickly, getting really uncomfortable. "Sometimes I wish I could be just Harry,"

"Sometimes. But not all times." She said, making him feel even more insecure. It was so intense, the way she was looking at him as if she could read his mind.

"Do you hate me?" Harry asked under her heavy gaze.

"I don't. I just feel incredibly reluctant to be around you. I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like you might disappear one day when I need you the most and it scares me."

Harry's eyes widened, her answer completely unexpected.

"Why would I do that?"

She shrugged, her eyes moving down to her fidgeting hands. It was odd but she explained it to him in the easiest way she could.

"I won't do that. I don't leave my friends behind, Eliza. We are friends, right?" He assured her, not sure if he should pat her shoulder or just not move at all.

"You can call me Liz. Eliza is too formal between friends," She mumbled, her eyes still on her hands.

Harry smiled softly and realized not going to Hogsmeade wasn't going to be as bad as he imagined.