Thick Smoke

Come to Me

Exams came and Hermione didn't say a word about Eliza to anyone, not even Harry or Ron. Eliza glanced at her in the Great Hall but Hermione was nagging Ron about something.

Eliza's headaches ceased after that last dream but the stress she accumulated kicked in. She was anxious and paranoid and would avoid Slytherins at all costs. Blaise tried to talk to her but she literally ran away and kept close to Seamus and Dean.

Another person Eliza didn't want to see was Snape. It was pretty obvious something happened because she wouldn't even glance at the staff table.

"Will you be alright?" Hermione asked right before their first O.W.L.

Eliza ignored her and waited for her turn in silence. Charms was not a problem anymore with the intense training she got in the last two summers. Since they were entering alphabetically for the practical examination, Molley was bound to enter with Malfoy. Next was Transfiguration, where Eliza didn't really fuss over because she knew what she had to do. Though it could have gone better, Eliza hoped she passed Herbology on Wednesday but she was sure she passed Defense against the Dark Arts with flying colors on Thursday.

While Hermione was temperamental about everything and would spontaneously threat Eliza that she would go and tell someone about her headaches and dreams, Eliza ignored her. Ron and Harry were doing the same while revising for Potions. Once or twice, Eliza had to quiz them but overall, they were prepared.

Potions on Monday was finished in record time and Eliza watched the rest of the class work happily. It was really different without Snape around glaring at every Gryffindor but Eliza found that she was happy during Potions anyway.

Care of Magical Creatures proved to be quite fun even if Eliza got scratched once or twice. The witch that was examining Eliza was taken aback when the student laughed while feeding and cleaning out a Fire Crab. Astronomy went bad but not worse than Divination. Both Ron and Harry were wearing the same expression as she was, aware they passed through Divination with lies and stories they made up in haste.

During the Astronomy practical examination something happened, something that didn't seem to touch Eliza as much as it should have.

"Hagrid got sacked and you're not exactly worried. I thought you enjoyed his lessons and everything." Seamus started when they got back in the common room.

Eliza glanced at Harry, Ron and Hermione before she turned back to Seamus, "He won't be gone for long. Once Dumbledore returns, everything will come back to normal." She said firmly, cutting off any way Seamus could continue that subject.

Once in the dormitory, Hermione turned to Eliza and started to talk about Hagrid and Umbridge until she fell asleep. Eliza didn't, she couldn't go to sleep until the last exam was over or else she'd have that dream again.

During History of Magic, Eliza concentrated hard on writing everything she could remember but she could barely make out the questions because she hadn't slept in a few days. Her eyes were tearing up when she heard Harry fall on the ground, squirming. The whole room was watching like it was a show before the professor took Harry and hurried to the Hospital Wing.

After the exam, Eliza got dragged away by Ron and Hermione and met Harry in the Entrance Hall. His eyes were wide and he looked scared. Eliza understood why a few minutes later when he told them what happened.

"What do you mean Sirius is in danger?" Eliza hissed, everything leaving her mind at the news. "Sirius doesn't leave the house, Harry. He's not stupid."

"I'm telling you what I saw. Voldemort's got Sirius."

"Where is he?" Hermione asked with a pale face.