Thick Smoke

Differences

On the way back, she couldn't help but think about Sirius' last comment. A Slytherin at the core, what was that supposed to mean?

She was already in the hall and the sunrise was still far so she had enough time to sneak in and sleep for a few hours. Unfortunately, she got entangled into her own world and forgot to check out the way therefore, she got perplexed by a sudden ball of light stuck in her face.

"Just like I thought," Snape found her. He grabbed her by the elbow and dragged her with him.

"What are you doing? Let me go," She squirmed, easily breaking away yet the man was bigger than her and caught her again.

"I told him you will only bring terror to Hogwarts; just like your father did and his friends," He spat in a low murmur.

He dragged Eliza to the headmaster, whom wasn't very surprised to see them barge in.

"What is wrong, Severus?" The elder asked yet his eyes were set on the young girl.

Eliza frowned when he noticed the little, almost unnoticeable grin the headmaster had. It looked like he had foreseen her breakout.

"I found Miss Black roaming the halls after midnight while a serial killer is out there, his eyes set on revenge." Severus spoke with much hatred. She hasn't done anything of such hatred and wasn't even sure who the man was.

"Is that so," Dumbledore trailed bemusedly, "I'm sure she will repent on her misbehavior and won't cause trouble again, correct?" He addressed her, Eliza's head nodding automatically. "Now, Severus, please let me have a word with Miss Black; alone."

Severus scowled before leaving the room. It was amazing how relieved she felt after that person left.

"Professor Severus Snape," Dumbledore started, getting up from his seat and moving slowly around the table, towards her. "He will take care of today's Defense against Dark Arts class. I'm sure you only wanted to make sure your godfather is safe and didn't harm anyone, especially himself. But Eliza, no one can find out you have any connection to Remus or Sirius Black. We don't want to create even more rumors now, do we?"

"No, sir." She mumbled, linking her arms in front of her. "I just-"She wasn't sure what to say in her defense.

"Have you met him?" Dumbledore asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.

Eliza nodded, a smile uncontrollably creating on her lips. She was truly happy that she met her father.

"Is he alright?" Dumbledore continued and she nodded again. "Sirius has always been a character, even when he was a student. He would always create trouble with his best friends but would always protect them, with the cost of a few detentions," He started bemusedly. Eliza chuckled and walked closer to the headmaster.

"Why was professor Snape so angry with me? I haven't done anything bad, only broke a rule or two," She trailed, realizing that she indeed acted on impulse.

"Lily and Ophelia were two young women that never judged Slytherins. Severus, Lucius and Regulus were the three Slytherins your mother had a soft spot for because of common circumstances," He finally unveiled the mystery.

"Lucius Malfoy was there when my mother was murdered. They were friends before," Eliza mumbled to herself but Dumbledore heard and nodded. "He seemed very offended, for some reason,"

"The Black family is of pureblood lineage and they have always been followers of You-Know-Who. Fortunately, your father deceived the lineage and became the first Gryffindor in the history of the family." He finished, watching her closely.

After what she heard her father say, Dumbledore's explanation made sense. For the next few minutes, Eliza shifted her weight from foot to foot, thinking how Sirius cheated on the family tradition yet still ended up locked in prison. It wasn't fair at all, not for him, her mother or her.