As Barty finished reading, Alice Fortescue raised her hand to read the next chapter of the book, so he passed it around the Great Hall until it reached her hands.
"Chapter six summary, it's the end of Eliza's first year at Hogwarts and she doesn't succeed in staying out of Dumbledore's plans as well as she hoped." Alice reads, as Lily and James look concerned yet again, although they realized by now that Eliza was going to get into a lot of danger.
"Daphne Greengrass was a surprising but pleasant addition to Eliza's court. The icy blonde was quick witted, sharp and fit in perfectly with their personalities balancing Eliza and Theo's reclusive ways. She had jumped Malfoy's sinking ship after that night and joined her court the next morning. Eliza found that Daphne was far better at explaining pureblood customs than Blaise or Theo and as her family were aligned with the neutrals she offered interesting perspectives Eliza hadn't thought of before."
Theo and Blaise both let out dramatic gasps and looked at Eliza offended.
"And it was nice to have another girl around.
Over the past few weeks Daphne had slowly been teaching her various cosmetic charms and even charms that could tame Eliza's wild Potter hair."
All of the Potter's look at Daphne, like she just said that Sirius Black wasn't dramatic. She saw these looks so she just asked , in a confused voice, "What?"
The Potter's continued looking at her shocked before James said, "You- You tamed her hair?!"
Daphne just nodded, while the Potter's still looked shocked considering nothing could ever tame their crazy Potter hair.
"Like now, as she and her court were discussing what they should implement in Slytherin next, her thick black hair was braided back in a fish-tail plait keeping out of her eyes. She had been unsure at first, although not too concerned with appearances she knew the sight of the long silvery scar running down her face made some people nervous. But Daphne had eradicated her nerves with a well-placed intimidating glare and Eliza had quieted all her protests."
"Only Daphne could shut me up with that glare of hers." Eliza said, as a shudder went down her spine as she remembered what Daphne's glare was like.
""It's been two weeks since I took over, if they don't see me act now I'll be fighting off vultures my entire reign and I simply can't be bothered with that" Eliza said from her seat at the table. Her court had found a disused classroom in the dungeons a week ago and after some in depth cleaning charms and a few well-placed transfigurations the room had become a workable 'office' in a way.
"Your work ethic is admirable" Theo says drily from her left and Daphne shoots him a glare still unused to being so casual around Eliza."
"I'm used to it now after everything that's happened." Daphne deadpanned.
"Blaise rolled his eyes at the both of them, turning his dark eyes onto Eliza.
"Well what do you want to introduce? It would be best to start with something simple that can be achieved well and quickly if you want to prove yourself an effective leader" Blaise explained and Eliza scrunched her nose. She didn't want to start simple, she was better than that.
"Or Eliza could introduce something ambitious, still succeed and consolidate her position as ruler" Daphne countered tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder.
"That" Eliza said pointing in Daphne's direction "I like that"
Blaise groaned, banging his head on the table.
"I was afraid you'd say that" he said, the words muffled. Theo sighed softly at the other boys' dramatics and turned his gaze onto her.
"Okay Eliza what ideas have you got because I know you have some somewhere"
Eliza grinned and pulled out her notebook, what once used to contain her magic experiments now contained various ways to improve the Slytherin house.
"Well I was thinking" Eliza began outlining her plans. Her notebook got passed around the table as she spoke and her plans were either scrapped, revised or put aside for a later date.
"I'd set that one aside until we're a bit older Eliza, it would be hard to implement as first-years" Daphne spoke, gesturing to the page.
"There's nothing to say I'll still be leader then" Eliza pointed out smirking when all three shot her derisive looks and went straight back to planning."
"Now that I think about it, that was a rather stupid thing to say." Eliza mused.
"She really loved her court.
As February faded into April Eliza introduced more and more plans to her cohort of Slytherin's under the watchful eye of Rowle. Most of her ideas were met with acceptance and even glee in some cases. For Slytherin first years, although it would really begin with next year's firsties, Eliza had introduced a 'buddy system' After what had happened to Blaise earlier that year Eliza didn't want to take any chances and as such unless it really couldn't be avoided no Slytherin would walk around the castle alone in case of any attacks."
Many Slytherins made a note to make that a rule as well after finishing reading the books. The other three houses looked sad and ashamed that Slytherins had to resort to those methods just so they wouldn't be attacked.
"She had even gone as far as to suggest that next year if they happened to gain a muggle raised or muggle born student they should pair them up with a pureblood who could explain their customs and educate them."
Again, many purebloods agreed and nodded their head along as well, happy that their traditions were being preserved.
"Eliza had been slightly overwhelmed by the positive feedback that had garnered from the house but decided to take it as the good sign it was. She had also approached Fawley at the start of the week and managed to convince the Slytherin prefect to do her a favour. Every Sunday after dinner Gemma and whoever the other girl managed to rope in to help her would offer an hour of actual defence lessons for the first-third years so they wouldn't be wandering around the castle unprotected.
There was an obvious shift in how everyone regarded her court after that. Before they were viewed with distrust and disdain now, however, they were looked upon with admiration and by the end of February Eliza couldn't help but bask in how far she had come in such a short amount of time. Even Rosier had started coming around and even thanked Eliza over her defence class as he now wasn't failing DADA.
But of course her peaceful reign had to be disrupted."
"Nothing good ever lasted for a long time." Draco said dryly, thinking about how interesting his years at Hogwarts were.
"She and her court were sitting in the Slytherin common room. Daphne and Theo were playing an intense game of chess and she had been helping Blaise with his transfiguration essay although Eliza assumed she wasn't actually being that helpful considering the essay was on the laws of transfiguration and Eliza disagreed with laws of magic on a fundamental level. People only said things were impossible because no one had done it yet.
Their tranquil peace was disturbed by Malfoy's crowing. Nothing particularly new but no less irritating. He was surrounded by his usual band of sycophants and they were hanging on to his every word. Eliza stifled a groan when she heard Malfoy's voice again.
"-And then I find out that the oaf Hagrid has a baby dragon and that Weasley and Granger are planning on helping it to safety tonight so obviously-"
"DRAGON?!"
"Hagrid, we love you, we really do, but many animals you consider safe and friendly are definitely not safe at all." The Marauders said to the pink-faced half-giant.
Toddler Charlie piped up in interest when he heard the word 'dragon'.
""Obviously what Malfoy?" Eliza questioned looking towards the blonde "because as far as I know you've told no-one about this dragon till now and it's already past curfew. So what were you going to do?"
Malfoy falls uncomfortably silent and Eliza stands up walking towards him.
"Oh were you planning to catch them in the act, planning to put our house points in jeopardy on a fool's errand?" she says softly.
"Listen here" Malfoy exclaims, jumping to his feet.
"No. You listen to me Malfoy. On your ridiculous quest for glory you have once again let your self-importance get in the way of the importance of our house. You would have gotten caught because you're too foolish to realise your actions have consequences. What we do as individuals reflects on the house you should know this-"
"YES BITCH, TELL THE MINI-LUCY OFF!" Bellatrix exclaimed, making many people snort, while Lucius and Draco look at her as if she just killed all the albino peacocks in front of Malfoy Manor.
""And who are you to lecture me? You might be the leader but that doesn't mean I have to respect that false authority you wield" he spits angrily cheeks flushed red. Eliza stepped closer still until they were toe to toe.
"Who am I?" Eliza asks dangerously not moving her venomous green eyes away from Malfoy's steely grey.
"Allow me to introduce myself again Heir Malfoy" Eliza said and discreetly removed the charm that kept her heir ring invisible, both her heir rings invisible."
"IS SHE DOING WHAT I THINK SHE IS DOING?!" Sirius said, practically bouncing with excitement.
""I'm Eliza Potter, Heir to the Most Noble House of Potter and Heir to the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black" she finishes with a vicious smile and flashes the heavy ring that lies on her finger. Malfoy stumbles back, paling in surprise.
"YESSS!"
"Daddy can't help you now can he?" Eliza softly taunts. She's itching to cause some damage but knows that words are the best way to handle this situation."
"I thought I was Heir Black, so it shocked me a lot." Draco said, with a sheepish expression on his pale face.
""I'd go and tell your mother just who you have made an enemy of Draco. She might give you a lesson on how to respect your betters"
She had been waiting all year to play that card. The admiring looks she earned as she returned back to her seat made it well worth the wait. She might have even silenced Malfoy once and for all."
"You definitely did. At least for a while."
"Her first year at Hogwarts had passed by far too quickly for her liking. She had just finished her last exam and was walking back to the commons. She had left her court by the lake and decided to pack her belongings instead. It was strange to think she would be returning to the orphanage over summer although she had decided she would spend the last two weeks in Diagon, she didn't think she could cope without magic for that long. At least making it to 17 didn't seem like such an arduous task anymore. She would make it out of the orphanage and claim her lordships and take her place in the wizarding world with her court by her side.
She would be sad to leave Hogwarts, even just the prospect of leaving over the summer holidays saddened her in a way she had never felt before. Hogwarts was her home, the first one she had ever had."
Tom nodded in agreement, feeling just as she did, when he had left Hogwarts for the first time.
"Her musings were interrupted when she wandered in through the main doors and heard Dumbledore. She quickly ducked behind a tapestry to listen in on the conversation.
Dumbledore stood to the side of the corridor with Hagrid beside him conferring quietly after casting discrete looks to check if they were alone. To the untrained eye it looked natural but Eliza could see how clearly it had been staged."
The Great Hall went quiet again, as many people glared at Dumbledore.
""Now Hagrid I will be gone on urgent ministry business tonight and there will be no better time for Voldemort to steal the stone, I must ask you to be on your guard" Dumbledore said severely and his eyes kept drifting over to the tapestry Eliza had ducked behind."
The only sign of James' anger was that his left eye was severely twitching.
""O' course Headmaster, I'll keep an eye out" Hagrid said loudly voice booming down the corridor "though I doubt anyone will figure out you just need to play music to get past Fluffy"
"Good Hagrid, it is imperative that Voldemort doesn't get the philosopher's stone" Dumbledore repeated. The two exchanged goodbyes and went their separate ways leaving Eliza alone in the corridor."
"EXCUSE ME? VOLDEMORT?" James finally screamed, looking at Dumbledore hatefully. Eliza grimaced thinking 'if this is his reaction to Voldemort, I wonder what it would be once he finds out i'm Voldemort's lover'.
Tom perked up at the name of his alter-ego, looking suspicious about what he had to do with the stone.
"The dark lord? The supposedly vanquished dark lord was here at Hogwarts and was going to steal the philosopher's stone which had foolishly been entrusted to Dumbledore? The entire situation was ludicrous. Although she did know beforehand that the stone was in Hogwarts. And Professor Quirrell was a mighty strange character. Eliza didn't think she'd even be surprised if he turned out to be possessed. The stuttering was clearly fake anyway, there is no way someone with a stutter that severe could speak to her clearly whenever they interacted."
Arcturus and Orion Black, nodded in appreciation, thinking that Eliza was very observant.
"She could just stay out of it. It wasn't her problem if there was a dark lord running amok in the school. But Dumbledore obviously expected her to interfere in all her golden girl glory. He had set it up from the start hadn't he? The gringotts break in, the invisibility cloak and just then with the conversation with Hagrid.
Eliza could do nothing and have him be incredibly suspicious, limiting any further actions she wanted to take.
Or she could go through with the little adventure guaranteeing her more lax observation so she could study dark magic in peace.
Huffing a sigh she returned to the commons making her way upstairs to grab the invisibility cloak.
Some sacrifices had to be made. If she had to act like a pawn now just to check Dumbledore's king later in the game then so be it."
"I definitely hated acting like Dumbledore's Golden Girl, but it was worth it in the end to see his face."
"That night she made her way to the third floor corridor. She hadn't asked her court to accompany her, they would just get in her way. They were only 11 after all but unlike them Eliza had never had the luxury of being a child.
By the time she made it to the door it was already slightly ajar. How sloppy of them. Whoever had come down here either expected to be gone before anyone noticed or were really just an idiot.
As Eliza stepped through the door rumbling growls met her ears and then she finally caught sight of the Cerberus. Its three massive heads were growling dangerously, spittle hanging for sharp white teeth. There was a harp in the corner but it had been knocked over, long since stopped playing. Eliza didn't have an instrument but she did have her voice. Slowly edging towards the door she hummed a soft tune she had heard the old tottering matron hum whenever she was forced to do chores with her. Eliza thought it was an old song from the war but she had never actually bothered to listen.
It wasn't much music but it seemed to do the job as slowly the Cerberus' eyes slowly drifted shut, it tottered and then it slumped to the ground fast asleep. Eliza kept humming as she moved towards the trapdoor lifting it up and wincing when it let out a loud creak."
The Great Hall was silent in anticipation.
"Fluffy didn't stir and Eliza took a moment to peer down through the door but all she could see was a black yawning darkness. There was nothing else for it. Eliza would have to jump. Eliza took her wand and jammed it through the bun her hair was in on top of her head. She didn't want to drop it when she jumped. Taking a deep breath she moved closer to the edge of the trap door. Fluffy twitched when the music stopped and Eliza didn't let herself ponder her decision any longer and simply jumped through the door.
The air rushed past Eliza as she fell down and down and down until finally she hit something with a 'THUMP.' It wasn't a hard landing, in fact Eliza had landed on something curiously soft. As her eyes adjusted to the dark room she studied what she had landed on.
Or rather in.
The plant that had cushioned her fall was now wrapping snake like tendrils around her legs. The Devil's Snare, for it could only be that, had already bound her legs as she gathered her wits and was now trying to bind her arms. It was a good thing she hadn't placed her wand in her sleeve as she favoured. Grabbing it from her bun she began running through her options."
Lily had a white-knuckled grip on James' hand, even if he was wincing once in a while.
"Devil's Snare. Herbology wasn't her favourite subject but she was sure Devil's Snare was a first year subject meaning she must have covered it in class. Eliza smiled when the answer hit her and cast a glaringly bright lumos maxima.
The plant let her go and dropped her onto the stone floor beneath it. She must be miles under the school she thought as she began walking down the stone passageway. It wasn't long until she heard the sound of soft rustling and clinking. Curiously she walked into the brightly lit chamber. On the other side of the room was a large wooden door, knowing better than to think she'd be able to open it she instead studied the chamber.
The room itself was uninteresting; however near the highly-arched ceiling hundreds of charmed keys fluttered around idly glinting in the brightly lit room. By her side propped against the wall stood three broomsticks. The solution was simple, she would have to catch the key.
She never had actually gotten her flying lesson."
James looked ready to faint at that, but he knew there were more important things than flying right now.
"Well, Eliza thought, grabbing a broomstick and scanning the room for the key she would need, there was no time like the present. She slung her leg over the broomstick and was immediately lifted into the air. Tentatively spinning in slow circles Eliza quickly became used to the feeling of the broom and felt a grin creep on her face when she started moving about faster.
This was actually quite fun.
Laughing out joyfully Eliza flew around the room ducking and twirling around the keys as she swooped across the ceiling. Caught up in her glee it actually took Eliza a few moments to realise she ought to be looking for the key. She did another sweep of the room before her eyes finally caught sight of a large silver key with one of its wings broken as if someone had grabbed it.
Whooping Eliza set off on a chase for the key and reluctantly landed her broom when she caught it.
Who knew she would actually enjoy flying?
Skipping towards the door she jammed the futilely fluttering key into the lock and swung it open when she heard the click. Eliza stepped into the next chamber and jumped in surprise when it lit up instantly revealing a huge gigantic chess set.
She would have to play her way across. It was a good job Eliza had spent the past year losing spectacularly to Theo Nott. There was no better way of learning the game than losing against him."
Theo and Eliza burst out laughing at that, even if they were the only one's to do so. After they finished laughing Eliza's court silenced down, and looked anxious again. Even though they had heard the gist of what happens at the end of every year, they didn't know what actually happened.
"Eliza took the spot of the Black Queen and watched as the white chess pieces on the other side of the chamber made their first move. It was perhaps the quickest, most ruthless game of chess she had ever played, especially when she remembered that one wrong move would mean she would be viciously broken just as her pieces were.
It was also perhaps the most exciting.
"Check mate" she said smirking when the white king tossed its crown at her feet.
Eliza pushed the next chamber door open and a disgusting smell instantly assaulted her nostrils. Moving into the room Eliza saw flat out on the floor in front of her a giant troll out cold with a bloody lump on its head.
She didn't waste any time dashing onto the next room.
The troll was probably the hardest obstacle Eliza would have had to face. The others so far could have been completed by another first year, and not even a particularly intelligent one. And this is what Dumbledore decided to use to protect one of the most powerful artefacts in wizarding history? It only further proved this was all a setup for his precious little hero."
James let out a growl at that, sounding very much like Sirius in his animagus form.
"Pushing the door open to yet another chamber Eliza jumped in surprise when fire sprang up behind her in the doorway while black flames shot up in the doorway leading beyond trapping her in the room. Moving towards the table in the middle of the room Eliza reached for the roll of parchment lying next to a row of bottles. Snape's spidery writing was what she was met with and Eliza scanned through the riddle.
Studying the bottles she muttered to herself checking against the riddle whenever she found herself stuck. Eventually she decided on the smallest bottle. Taking a deep breath she uncorked the bottle and downed it in one gulp and instantly she was flooded with an icy feeling in her veins as she strode through the black flames. For a moment she could see nothing but roaring dark flames – then she was on the other side of the chamber.
Except she wasn't alone."
Many people leaned forward in anticipation.
"Eliza fingered her wand when 'Quirrell' instantly spotted her, a slow predatory smile spreading across his face.
"I wondered whether I'd be meeting you here Miss Potter, it seems you lack that Slytherin self-preservation after all" he said mockingly voice cold and sharp "I have to admit seeing you take over the court like that, it surprised me but nevertheless you are here now, and tonight you will die" Quirrell's eyes flashed red and he snapped his fingers."
Tom looked confused, but Eliza just told him to keep listening because it'll explain how he's involved.
"Eliza didn't even get a chance to react before ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves around her. She hadn't been prepared for the sudden attack. He hadn't even used his wand. This was the power of the Dark Lord, even in his diminished form. Complete perfect control. Eliza would admire it if she weren't the one currently suffering from it."
"I always did admire his power." Eliza said nonchalantly, ignoring the looks she received.
"Quirrell turned his back on Eliza and returned to studying his reflection in the mirror which Eliza belatedly realised was the Mirror of Erised.
"The mirror is the key to finding the stone. Trust Dumbledore to come up with something like this…but he's in London…I'll be far away by the time he gets back-
Eliza couldn't help but scoff quietly. The Dark Lord was supposed to be highly intelligent but if he fell for such an obvious ploy Eliza had to doubt the stories she had heard whispered around the common room when they all thought she wasn't listening."
Tom looked put out by the fact that he went so insane, he couldn't even think properly. Considering the fact that he always prided himself on his knowledge, it showed how far he had fallen.
""I see the stone, I'm presenting the stone to my master but where is it?" Quirrell muttered to himself as Eliza struggled with the ropes.
"So you are working for the Dark Lord then?" Eliza called out and internally smiled when the ropes slackened in Quirrell's moment of distraction. Calling Voldemort the Dark Lord had obviously thrown him.
"I must serve my master in any way I can," Quirrell seemed to say to himself. "Master how does the mirror work, help me" he pleaded desperately and to Eliza's horror a voice answered the man.
"Use the girl" a high cold voice spoke that put Eliza on edge. Quirrell nodded and pulled Eliza towards him by the ropes that bound her. Eliza reluctantly stood in front of the mirror. Her older self stood in front of her, eyes sparkling mischievously as held up a ruby red stone and tucked it into her pocket.
Eliza could give the stone to the dark lord, could tell Dumbledore that the man had simply been too powerful to fight off but-
But Eliza didn't know how that would affect her plans. The Dark Lord said himself he would kill her before tonight's end, he was an unknown variable and Eliza simply didn't know enough to trust he wouldn't ruin everything she has worked for. Everything she would achieve."
"I didn't know you were my soulmate did I?" Tom asked Eliza, and she answered in turn, "Neither of us knew, until Death had visited me for the first time."
"She couldn't let him have the stone.
With that thought in mind and the heavy weight of the stone in her pocket she went back to studying the mirror lie poised on her tongue.
"Well what do you see?" Quirrell said impatiently
"I see myself with my court, we are powerful" Eliza said "we are free"
The answer seemed to take him aback for a minute, surprise displayed clearly on his face until the clarity that had once been there passed as a cloud of insanity took over his bright red eyes.
"She lies, she lies" the voice snarled and Eliza took an unconscious step back.
"Let me speak to her, face to face"
Quirrell looked like he wanted to argue but instead solemnly turned around unwrapping his turban. Eliza shuffled backwards as the turban fell to the floor but the sight she was met with rooted her to the spot.
When Eliza was eight she had gone exploring the rougher side of London in hopes of finding something of interest. Instead she had walked in on a mugging gone wrong. She had walked into the alley just in time to see a black cladded figure stab the victim in his stomach. Eliza didn't have a phone, there was nobody around to even call for help. So she had sat by the dying man's side, held his hand and watched the blood pour out of him as he took his last breaths. She had taken his phone and called the police but by the time that they had arrived he had already died.
Eliza thought that was the most horrifying sight she would ever see.
This was worse.
What should have been the back of Quirrell's head was instead another face. It was chalk white, waxy and crumbled in a way that wasn't human. It had slits for nostrils and two brilliant ruby red eyes. Nothing about it reminded her of humanity."
Many people grimaced in distaste, none more than Tom himself.
""Eliza Potter" it whispered. Eliza wanted to scream.
"See what I have become" the face said "mere shadow and vapour…" he carried on but Eliza dismissed his words for the rambling of a mad man. She did not know what happened to the charming and intelligent Dark Lord she had heard about but this certainly wasn't him.
"Once I have the elixir of life I will be able to create a body of my own. Now why don't you give me that stone in your pocket?"
So he knew.
Eliza didn't waste a second in scrambling backwards but Voldemort's voice stopped her in her place.
"Don't be a fool, save your own life and give me the stone or you will meet the same end as your parents. They died protecting you" he said obviously trying to hurt her with his words but Eliza had long since stopped caring for the fairy-tale figures of her parents "Now give me the stone unless you want them to have died in vain."
A beat of silence passed and then Eliza shot the strongest stupefy she could muster and began running for the door.
"Seize her!" Voldemort screeched and Eliza wasn't quick enough to avoid Quirrell's hand closing on her wrist. Instantly a searing pain spread down her scar and she felt like her head was going to split in two as she struggled. To her surprise Quirrell let her go- she turned and looked wildly spotting him hunched over in pain staring at his hand which was curiously blistering before their eyes."
"What?" Many people muttered.
""Master I cannot hold her" Quirrell wailed and Eliza tried to slowly back away.
"Then kill her fool and be done with it!" Voldemort spat. Quirrell raised his hand to perform the curse but Eliza quickly brought the stone out of her pocket thinking quickly.
"You kill me and I break the stone" she said confidently raising it high "let me go" she commanded, feeling her sweaty hand grip onto the stone tightly."
Many people looked at her in shock, not knowing anyone who would ever have the audacity to stand up to the Dark Lord's face.
""You foolish girl- you break it and you're dead anyway" Voldemort rasped cackling madly when Quirrell moved forward again. Moving quickly Eliza launched the stone, Quirrell turned in the direction it had smashed and Eliza wasted no time using his distraction to launch herself at her with her hands outstretched.
The only way she would be making it out of here alive was if Voldemort was dead.
Her hands clutched his face and the acrid scent of burning flesh assaulted her nose. Eliza wanted to retch either from the smell or the pain that shot through her face. Her ears were ringing from someone's screams, she could no longer discern whose but she didn't move her hands away from Quirrell's face. Her world had narrowed to the desperate violent need to keep on living and soon all voices faded away, she thought she could see someone running towards her but then- sweet peaceful darkness."
James and Lily automatically stood up and went to hug Eliza, as if reassuring themselves that she was safe.
"Eliza woke up blearily to the face of Albus Dumbledore which was arguably one of the worst sights to wake up to ever."
"Waking up to Padfoot is a close second." Blaise said, sending a smirk to the Black, while said boy gasped in outrage.
""Good afternoon Eliza" said Dumbledore.
Eliza blinked slowly.
"Afternoon Headmaster"
Dumbledore chuckled at her confusion and Eliza felt her eye twitch in annoyance, what was going on? Why was she-
Oh.
It all came flooding back to her and she shot up with a gasp clenching her hands beside her as the events of that night bombarded her.
"Yes" Dumbledore said "you gave us all quite a fright Miss Potter, I was afraid I hadn't gotten back in time"
Eliza nodded her head in acknowledgment looking around the hospital wing to avoid Dumbledore's intimidating gaze. The odd uncomfortable probing feeling she felt disappearing when she no longer looked at his eyes. She must have physically balked at the amount of sweets and cards that lay on her bed table because Dumbledore laughed softly."
"YOU PREFORMED UNAUTHORIZED LEGILIMENCY ON AN ELEVEN YEAR OLD?" Many people yelled out in shock and rage.
""Tokens from your friends and admirers" Dumbledore said beaming "what happened down in the dungeons between you and professor Quirrell is a complete secret so, naturally, the whole school knows."
"How long have I been here?" Eliza asks instead of responding to Dumbledore's cavalier attitude towards her near-death experience.
"Quite a while I'm afraid my dear girl, it's the leaving feast tonight so I'm sure we can get Madam Pomfrey to let you go soon" he says and Eliza allows the silence to hang for a few moments before she speaks again twiddling her hands in a show of nervousness.
"I'm sorry about the stone professor I tried!" she said vehemently and widened her eyes "but Voldemort-
"Voldemort is gone dear girl, you were incredibly brave" Dumbledore said solemnly but Eliza could see the satisfaction in his stupid twinkling blue eyes."
"I really hate his twinkling blue eyes."
""But what about the Flammel's?" Eliza protested, a mask of guileless worry on her face "what will they do without the stone?"
"You know about Nicholas? my, you did do this thing properly didn't you?" Dumbledore said sounding quite delighted "Well Nicholas and I had already had a chat, he has enough elixir to get his affairs in order and then yes, they will die. But don't fret Eliza, to the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure"
Eliza tried her best to look satisfied with Dumbledore's useless nuggets of wisdom but Dumbledore simply continued smiling and Eliza belatedly realized he was probably waiting for her to ask about Voldemort. Internally heaving a sigh of despair and wishing the old coot would leave already Eliza leaned forward worriedly.
"Sir… Voldemort's not really gone is he? He's going to try other ways of coming back isn't he?" Eliza asked, concerned.
"Yes Eliza, I believe he is still out there somewhere, waiting, but nether the less Eliza you have delayed his return and that is no small feat" he said sagely and Eliza burrowed the overwhelming temptation to knock his stupid golden glasses off of his face in favour of gathering more information.
"Sir" Eliza hesitantly begins "why- why couldn't Quirrell touch me?"
"Your mother died to save you. If there is one thing Voldemort cannot understand, it is love.""
Eliza scoffed, knowing quite well that her Tom was capable of love. Even if the Tom right now looked at her in shock.
"Eliza tuned out the rest of Dumbledore's speech immediately. The power of love? Did he really think Eliza was going to believe that? It was utterly absurd. She would have to do some reading into sacrificial magic, it was the only explanation surely. But there was one interesting thing both Dumbledore and Voldemort had revealed. Her parents had died saving her, which meant she was Voldemort's original target in the first place.
She just had to figure out why."
Many people wanted to know why as well.
"Dumbledore finished his disgusting drivel just as Madam Pomfrey comes bustling around the corner and begins fussing over Eliza. Dumbledore beams one last grandfatherly smile and walks away leaving Eliza to her consuming never ending thoughts.
Of course her peace only lasted an hour before her friends were charging through the hospital door.
"You do realise that you'd be seeing me at the leaving feast in less than four hours" she said towards all of them from where she is buried beneath Daphne's hair as the other girl hugged her to death.
"But then we'd have to share you" Blaise whined, opening another chocolate frog passing a few packets of sweets to Theo who nodded in agreement.
"I'm beginning to think you only came down here to plunder my sweets" Eliza said drily sitting up as Daphne finally released her.
"Well I'm beginning to think you don't trust us with the amount of sneaking around you do" Theo responded idly but everyone could hear the bitter undertone. Eliza sighed and grabbed a chocolate frog for herself before answering.
"I couldn't put any of you in that position. What if your parents found out you allied directly against the Dark Lord? I wouldn't want anything to happen to you" Eliza said seriously and before she knew it Blaise and Theo had initiated a group hug and all three of them had draped themselves on her, burying her beneath them."
"Even then, we knew we would be loyal to you. Not the Dark Lord and certainly not Dumbledore." Theo, Blaise, and Daphne all said to her.
"Eliza laughed happily and continued to laugh even when Madam Pomfrey chased them out of the hospital wing. Although not exactly the ending to her first year she had pictured she was still glad to have her court in her life.
When Eliza made her way to the end-of-year feast that night it was to the sight of the Great Hall decked in Slytherin colours celebrating their win of the house cup. Eliza slipped into her seat at the table Theo and Blaise by her side and held her head up high under the scrutiny of the school.
The babble died away when Dumbledore arrived minutes later standing up to deliver his closing speech.
"Another year gone!" Dumbledore began and Eliza found herself patiently sitting through his waffling as her court eagerly awaited for the awarding of the house cup.
"but first recent events must be taken into account and I find myself wanting to award some last minute points to Eliza Potter"
Eliza wanted to shift uncomfortably in the face of the whole school's scrutiny but she did not allow her level stare to waver.
"for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, for the use of cool logic in the face of fire and most importantly for pure nerve and outstanding courage I award Slytherin house 60 points" Dumbledore declared and Slytherin instantly erupted into loud thunderous applause. Dumbledore may have just been trying to reinforce her apparent hero-like qualities but looking around at the beaming faces of her court, their first year winning the house cup, and the seventh years which would be their last Eliza couldn't help but feel happy. Happier than she had in years.
And so it was with a solemn heart that she boarded the Hogwarts Express the next day. Spending the whole summer away from magic sounded unbearable but even when Hogwarts slipped out of view Eliza felt herself smile.
She was sure she would be back home before she even knew it."
"I really was, but second year is definitely a year I will remember forever." Eliza said, with a wistful smile on her face as her court all snorted, knowing exactly why she would remember that year."
As Alice finished reading the chapter, Dumbledore stood up and gave his grandfatherly smile, although it wasn't fooling anyone this time around. The house tables all turned back, as dinner started and they would finish reading for the day and start reading Eliza's second year tomorrow.