Thick Smoke

Feelings

Unfortunately, Ronald was still in a very peculiar relationship with Lavender thus forcing Hermione to retreat whenever they were going all mushy.

"Do you think we should interfere?" Harry asked her the next afternoon, watching from afar.

Eliza raised an eyebrow and tried to find the right word for the sight but it was difficult to express that mess in words.

"I think it's complicated enough as it is. If we interfere it might end up with them not recognizing their feelings to each other." She reasoned before turning to him, "What about you and Ginny?"

Harry nodded before he registered what she asked, moment when his eyes widened and his head turned towards his friend, "It became so obvious? Did I say something that-"

Both wizards glanced at Ginny who was standing with Hermione, her eyes averting when she noticed them looking at her.

"You know, Dean told me yesterday that they had a fight. I'm not sure why but it seems like the stars are on your side." Eliza said in a mocking voice of Trelawney.

Harry chuckled and nodded, "I believe that as long as you don't say I will drown afterwards."

"Oh but I'm not sure. That would take all the fun from it." She joked, making Harry snort while containing his laughter.

"The problem with Hermione is that she wouldn't admit her feelings and Ron is just...Ron." Eliza explained, like she was a grown up that has already been through so many love affairs.

The truth was that love was still a fairly new emotion, especially the passionate one. She wasn't sure she wanted to try it after all the heartbreaks and misunderstandings she had seen.

"Anyway,have you told everyone what we heard that night?"Eliza changed the subject.

Harry sighed and grabbed a hand through his messy dark hair, "Yes, I did. And I will tell Dumbledore tonight at our private lesson. You can't deny what you heard, Liz. We both know Malfoy's been acting strange ever since the year begun."

"Yes, I know. I've been following him around."

For a moment, Harry looked stunned.

"Why didn't you say something?" He hissed, narrowing his eyes and at the same time trying not to draw attention to their discussion.

"Because I'm not sure what he's doing. I didn't really see him do anything, as a matter of fact. And Snape-"

"Do not repeat what everyone already told me. You know better than anyone just how sly he is." Harry interrupted, "I can't trust Snape."

Eliza bit her lip, thinking how to express herself, "That's the thing, Harry. I trust Snape."

Eliza was sure that if Harry could, he'd make her explode before exploding himself with how red his face became.

"It's not because he taught me Defense against the Dark Arts. I don't think Snape would still be around if Dumbledore wasn't sure that he's not a Death Eater." Somehow she ended up saying pretty much the same thing everyone else did.

That was the end of the conversation and Harry looked more disappointed than angry.

As soon as she entered the common room, she noticed a few girls whispering to each other in front of the window while Dean and Seamus were playing some kind of miniature Quidditch game.

"Hey, Liz! Did you sign up for the Apparition lessons?" Seamus asked, his eyes focused on the game.

Eliza stared at him in confusion before shaking her head.