Thick Smoke

Potions

When the carriage stopped, Eliza took her time and waited until Malfoy was up the stairs before she got out. Hermione and Ron were already by the front doors and Eliza decided she didn't want to see them or speak to them before preparing mentally.

It was far easier entering with Blaise because even after he heard her taunting Draco, he didn't ask about it.

"You look very stiff." He said once they entered the Entrance Hall.

"I have a lot going on." She mumbled bluntly, not caring anymore how her words could be interpreted.

Eliza got into the Great Hall after everyone else entered already. Blaise chuckled and waited with her which was very strange.

"You're a bit peculiar this year, aren't you?" She whispered to him, her eyes scanning everyone who passed them.

"I thought I already made myself clear, though."

Eliza furrowed her eyebrows together, thinking intensely what Blaise told her last year or the years before. Then, she remembered...

"We're not friends, Zabini." She mumbled before she entered the Great Hall.

Walking closer to the Gryffindor table and her friends was awkward. Eliza thought about it over and over; it wasn't their fault that Bellatrix killed Sirius so she should at least be nice.

When she got there, she sat between Dean and Seamus and didn't say a word to anyone. She didn't really need to with how much Seamus was talking.

Harry wasn't there and the Sorting Ceremony began. Eliza couldn't help but feel relieved until Hermione turned to her with a frown.

"Eliza, how was your summer? You didn't respond to any of my letters." Hermione started, watching closely as Eliza tensed.

"Nothing major happened. The Order has been very active but so have been the Death Eaters." She responded without the slightest crack in her voice.

Hermione sighed and glanced at Ginny. Eliza looked and seemed to act a lot like Tonks. They were both family to Sirius and even if Eliza took the hit harder than anyone else (even Harry), it wasn't their fault.

"Have you moved back with Remus?" Hermione asked softly.

"No. I spent the whole time with my dear grandmother and Kreacher."

There was a slight tinge of annoyance when she mentioned those two hateful creatures but nothing else. She looked like she wasn't really bothered that she's been mostly alone.

Hermione and Ron exchanged worried looks before they dropped the subject. It felt like it was still too early to say anything about Sirius or the will.

"Do you think she knows?" Ron leaned towards Hermione and whispered. "Her father left everything he had to Harry. Wouldn't that make her mad or something?"

Hermione glanced at Eliza but nothing about her looked like she'd care about stuff like that. Besides, she knew Eliza treasured her family more than her inheritance and she spent most of her childhood with Remus.

"I don't think she cares." The bushy haired girl responded in the end. "She's always been more interested in her mother."

By the time Harry arrived, Ron was stuffed while Hermione was watching him disgusted. Eliza's eyes fell over the glasses boy for a moment before she turned to Parvati and listened to whatever she was saying.

Eavesdropping to what the trio was discussing, she heard that Tonks was stationed in Hogsmeade and Malfoy broke Harry's nose while he was spying on him. Hearing that bit about his mission made her glance at the Slytherin table over her shoulder. The blond was acting normal but something was off about him.