Thick Smoke

Wrapping Up

Next day, Eliza met Harry in the common room. She only showered and changed into her robes before walking out, avoiding the aftermath. Unfortunately, it didn't work as she wanted and she met Harry when she last expected.

"I-"

They both started, making Harry laugh but not Eliza. In the end, she nodded towards him to continue.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, already knowing the answer but he couldn't think of anything at the moment.

Eliza wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what he wanted to ask her and she was ready to give him every answer he wanted.

"Fine. I'm just fine. I'm not going-"

"You don't have to apologize for not telling me who you are. We both know I wouldn't have reacted well. But we know the truth now," He started, very serious and hopeful for some reason.

The brunette sighed and sat on the couch, feeling fidgety. Harry sat on her other side, his eyes boring into her face. He really wanted her to say something to him, something rude even just so he could assure himself that they were still friends.

Sirius was her father and his godfather; that couldn't bring more happiness to him really. He had a family that he didn't know about, one that was ready to welcome him with open arms.

"Where is my father?" She asked in such a soft voice that Harry almost didn't catch it.

"He's alright. We used Hermione's time turner to help Sirius escape with Buckbeak," He whispered fully aware that it wasn't exactly the place for such conversations.

Hearing that her father was safe ceased her worries. If Sirius was fine then Remus should be fine, as well. It was just a matter of time for her godfather to recuperate.

"You know, Remus told me a lot about their adventures in Hogwarts and how troublesome our fathers used to be," She started, making Harry chuckle softly. "He told me we resemble them so much... But are we friends?"

"I want to believe we are. We don't have to be as close as our fathers but we can be friends. We are friends, aren't we?" He asked.

"I guess we are," She admitted finally. "Thank you for saving my father, Harry." Now that was a real shock for both of them.

"You said it before, haven't you? You never turn your back on your family. You and Sirius, you two are my family now."

"These are big words for someone who just met his godfather," She joked.

The atmosphere became lighter now that they admitted they won't break their friendship after what happened. If anything, Harry looked quite happy with it.

"What about the rest?" She asked, remembering Hermione and Ron. They were the only ones who knew the truth about her family except Harry.

"They already got over it, believe me. If not, they will come to their senses in a few days and everything will be like before," He was so sure of it, like they have been through that before. "Professor Lupin- he resigned. Snape told everyone that he's a werewolf and..."

Eliza bit her lip and leaned back, "It's probably for the best."

"What about you? You came with him, didn't you? What will you do next year?"

That was a question she asked herself already and the answer came from Dumbledore himself. She was a witch just like any other and the time she spent in Hogwarts was irreplaceable.

"There's still a lot I don't know. I need education, don't I?"

Harry smiled and nodded. That was a good enough answer for him.

The rest of the days passed quickly and Eliza found herself in front of Hogwarts Express between Dean and Seamus. She already talked to Remus and couldn't help but accept the fact that he won't return as a professor the next year. However, he assured her that Dumbledore won't let anyone find out the truth about her family. She could return to Hogwarts for the rest of the years without a problem and he will be there for her, waiting at the other end of Hogwarts Express.

"This year has been eventful," Dean started before going into a full story about Quidditch.

Seamus seemed to have already lost interest and Neville was only partially listening to Dean.

She sneaked out without a problem an hour later and walked in search for Harry. She wanted to ask him if he wanted to visit Sirius with her later in July but she met someone she completely forgot about.

"Malfoy,"

"Molley,"

Thankfully, he didn't say anything else and passed without touching her. But she couldn't help wonder if Draco let his father know who he met in Hogwarts this year.

Actually, no; she really wanted Lucius Malfoy to know she was there. She wanted to meet him and ask him why Ophelia Molley was murdered and what kind of friendship they had before.

Truthfully, Eliza couldn't wait for her second year at Hogwarts.