As the book opened and started reading the hall fell silent in anticipation.
"Chapter seven summary, Eliza officially begins her second year at Hogwarts after a long boring summer and things get a bit... violent."
James, Lily, Moony, Padfoot, Remus, and Sirius shot her concerned looks but rolled their eyes exasperated when they saw that she was almost asleep on Tom. James, Lily, Moony, and Padfoot seemed confused on why Sirius and Remus had both ignored Wormtail, but put it off as something happening in the future.
"Dear Eliza,"
Many raised their eyebrows in shock at the fact that the book had been read in Blaise's 12 year-old voice, while Blaise himself cringed at how his voice sounded like pre-puberty.
I know you said that you wouldn't be able to reply to us this summer but that won't stop me from sending letters to you instead.
I have to admit I have missed Italy although I'm sure it's going to take me a while to get used to the cold Scottish weather again when I return. I can't believe our first year at Hogwarts went so quickly. Mother was very pleased to learn that I am already a member of the underclassmen court although now she has started dating again i.e. looking for prospective victims so I don't see her much."
Anastasia looked confused at what he meant by "prospective victims" and looked towards her son for answers, but he refused to meet the eyes of the women who never treated him like a parent did and instead turned to the comfort of Remus.
"I never thought I would miss you all but the longer these summer holidays drag on the more I am willing to trade my favorite Italian pastries to spend an hour in your company. I know you are most likely rolling your eyes at me but as you can't reply I may be as dramatic as I like.
Counting down the days until we are reunited,
Blaise"
"I was definitely rolling my eyes at your letter." Eliza mumbled from her position on Tom's chest as he held her closer. Marvolo looked very confused over how protective his older counterpart was being but he blamed it as him being a possessive arsehole. 'There's no way I could possibly ever fall in love, right?' Marvolo thought to himself as he saw Eliza smile slightly at something Tom had said.
"Dear Eliza,
The summer holidays are dragging on for me and I simply have to assume they are for you too in the muggle world. Grandfather is out most days attending to business which I can't decide is a good or bad thing. I don't think I have ever been more aware of how lonely our family manor is until now when I have become used to the hustle and bustle of the common rooms. I am missing my chess partner."
"Where are your father and I?" Isabella Nott asked her son. Theo looked sadly at his mother and said, "Things happened that caused me to be raised by Grandfather. He tried his best but it was lonely sometimes."
"I hope that you are coming up with further ways to improve our house standing no matter what you're doing, I know you've probably already finished your homework. I can't wait for the content to get harder just to see you struggle, just a bit. It would be nice to see you fall to the same standards as us lowly mortals.
Wishing you the best,
Theo"
Eliza scoffed, "As if I would ever fall to the standards of 'you lowly mortals' as you so kindly put it Theo."
"Dear Eliza,
I do so wish you weren't shunted off into the muggle world over summer. Mother's holding the summer gala this year and it would be lovely if you could have attended. After all your company is certainly better than the twittering dullards I am forced to put up with instead. I never truly appreciated just how long six weeks are until now when I want them to be finished."
Many pureblood women grimaced thinking about their own parents showing them off as if they were the Queen's Crown Jewels.
"I love my family but I think I may love Hogwarts just that bit more. Astoria keeps begging me for stories and even though we bicker I can't wait for her to join us at Hogwarts, I know you would love her."
Astoria smiled at Eliza, and she smiled back thinking about the time at the Quidditch World Cup in her fourth year.
"I know you won't respond but I did hear something that might interest you. Rumor has it that Draco has landed himself in a rather large amount of trouble. Apparently his father is incredibly disappointed that he lost his standing in court to 'that wretched Potter girl' and that even his grades are below a filthy mudblood. Draco is slowly becoming the Malfoy disappointment."
Draco, Cissa, and Lucy all winced, knowing how bad their family relationship was with each other before Lucy had got it together and apologized. Narcissa ( younger Narcissa for a reminder ), Lucius ( younger Lucius ), and Abraxas all furrowed their brows in confusion.
Many muggle borns gasped at the slur used to describe them, but didn't say anything else knowing worse stuff will probably happen and be said in the book.
"They really should learn not to air their family's dirty laundry in public places but I certainly won't be the one to tell them."
Cissa glared at Lucy, knowing damn well it was his fault going around telling people of Draco's "failure" despite Cissa being proud of him no matter what. Both Lucy and Lucius shrunk back at Cissa's glare even if it wasn't directed at Lucius, but rather his older counterpart.
"I miss you, even Blaise and Theo, and I can't wait till we see each other again
Yours,
Daphne"
Eliza, Daphne, Blaise, and Theo all smiled at each other thinking how lucky they were to have such a nice group of friends. None of them thought their lives would turn out this way when they first befriended Eliza Potter.
"Dear Eliza,
Happy birthday my creepy little Slytherin. I will keep this message short no matter how much it pains me. I hope the muggles don't get you down and that you enjoy the gift.
Yours,
Blaise"
Eliza pretended to gasp in outrage at what Blaise had called her, but everyone could see the fondness in her eyes.
"Dear Eliza,
First of all, happy birthday, I want you to know that I went through great pains to get this book for you because all of your extra-curricular reading is morally dubious at best and actually illegal at worst."
Everybody from the future snorted, knowing damn well Eliza read all kinds of books, illegal or not.
"Secondly I heard from my grandfather that you got a warning for underage magic? I know you can do wandless magic Eliza, it's not exactly a closely kept secret after what happened with Rosier, what happened?
Hoping you are well,
Theo"
"It wasn't me that used magic." Eliza said with a scowl on her face, still not particularly happy about that incident.
"Dear Eliza,
Happy birthday! How does it feel finally being the same age as the rest of us? I won't keep you from unwrapping your gifts for too long but I will say that me, Theo and Blaise are planning to meet up in Diagon on August nineteenth and it would be wonderful if you could meet us.
Yours,
Daphne"
"I can't believe I'm the youngest." Eliza grumbled into Tom's chest as he chuckled at her annoyance. Many of them from the future looked over at the both of them with small smiles, thinking how far they've come.
"Eliza smiled when she read through Daphne's note and set it aside with the others as she went back to packing her meagre belongings. Although definitely not her strangest birthday, her 12th was far away from normal. She hadn't even had a chance to unwrap her presents before she had been accosted by a mad house-elf calling itself Dobby."
Eliza burst out laughing at that, remembering her petty arguments and fights with Lucy as said Malfoy just grumbled in his seat, as both his pseudo-daughter and wife snickered at him.
"It had told her under no circumstances was she to go back to school and even pointing out that she stayed in the hovel that was the orphanage hadn't changed its mind. It had then gone on to decide that the only way to get Eliza to not go to Hogwarts would be to expel her. It had levitated the broth that had been on the stove and promptly dumped it all over the floor which meant Eliza was threatened both by the matron who was raving about how sinful children needed punishment and a letter from the ministry warning about the use of underage magic."
Tom hissed, very much angry at the reminder of Eliza's matron as well as his own matron from his time at Wool's orphanage. Marvolo couldn't help but think of all the similarities between the both of them.
"After that Eliza decided she had stuck around the orphanage long enough and had informed the matron that she would be leaving for boarding school a bit earlier this year and dashed upstairs to pack what little she had lying about her room.
She had enough funds to allow her a three week stay in Diagon. Plus she had to check in with the goblins and see how well her investments were fairing. She shoved her presents, still unopened, into her trunk and locked it, flinging her ratty leather jacket over her shoulders as she left.
Good riddance."
"I don't care what anyone says, leather jackets are MY thing." Sirius said, but on the inside he knew he was very happy his goddaughter had something in common with him even before they knew each other.
"Eliza spent her last weeks of the summer holiday in Diagon feeling happier than she had been since the end of June. Her investments were doing well and Eliza knew she at least had enough money to live comfortably until she turned 17 and so didn't feel guilty when she splurged on some new books and clothes to go alongside the gifts her court had given."
"Even longer than that, considering the Black Family Vaults." Tom whispered in Eliza's ears, as she shivered from his voice, making her stomach do all types of twists and turns.
"Blaise had given her a book on mind magic which he thought she would find interesting, his assessment turning out to be completely right."
"What's mind magic?" A muggle born student asked. Many students looked interested at that as well since they didn't know either.
"Mind magic is a way to protect your thoughts and emotions from Legilimens, also known as people who can read and interpret your thoughts and feelings. The art of protecting your mind is called occlumency, and people who can do this specific skill are called Occlumens." Severus said, in his 'Professor" voice.
"When she had read the preliminary chapters it had instantly reminded her of Sherlock Holmes' mind palace from the detective books she used to read. She had always been interested in the concept and she found working on her occlumency quite fun. Theo had also gifted her a book and Eliza was actually considering hugging the boy in thanks as he had gifted her a tomb from his old family library on blood magic."
Many purebloods raised their eyebrows at that knowing you don't just give your family tomes to just anyone.
"Daphne had broken the mould and instead of giving Eliza books had instead gifted her with several gorgeous hair pins that Eliza took great pleasure in wearing. She still wasn't used to enjoying the luxuries the wizarding world provided but that didn't mean she didn't like to indulge in them.
August 19th arrived faster than she thought it would and soon she was waiting downstairs in the Leaky Cauldron for her court to arrive.
Blaise arrived first elegantly stepping out of the fireplace in a way Eliza wasn't sure she'd manage."
Eliza scowled, quite adorably, in Tom's opinion, as her court laughed at her inability to use the Floo.
""Ciao Eliza!" Blaise said, greeting her warmly, his skin even darker after months in the Italian sun. "Is it possible for you to have gotten even more beautiful since we parted?" he said, wiggling his eyebrows. Eliza scoffed in response, rolling her eyes fondly. Blaise always turned into an incorrigible flirt whenever he spent time with his mother, it had happened after Yule and Easter break as well. Eliza was saved from responding when the Floo flared again as Daphne stepped out fixing her blonde hair."
"SAVED?! I AM A BLESSING TO YOU!" Blaise gasped at Eliza.
""Eliza it's so good to see you" she exclaimed happily, making an aborted move to hug her.
"It's good to see you too, Daphne" said Eliza warmly instead. Her court knew about her aversion to touch quite well. It wasn't that Eliza didn't trust the others but after living so many years completely alone, Eliza found casual intimacy hard to deal with."
Everyone in the Great Hall, collectively turned their heads to where Tom and Eliza were quite literally cuddling on a couch. The irony.
"The others didn't seem to mind and never questioned it which Eliza was thankful for.
Daphne and Blaise fell into easy conversation beside her and Eliza kept one eye on them and the other on the fireplace. They weren't waiting long before Theo arrived.
"Ah Eliza. Well met" he said happily stepping out of the Floo brushing his robes "It's been too long" he said before bringing her hand up to meet his lips with a smile. Eliza chuckled at his traditional ways and greeted him just as warmly.
"And what about me Theo, have you not missed me?" Blaise pouted as Daphne giggled at their antics.
"They do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder Blaise but that saying can't be applied to you" Theo retorted easily with a smirk on his face.
Eliza laughed and began ushering them all out into the alley to complete their school shopping. Absence makes the heart grow fonder indeed."
James and Lily smiled knowing their daughter had such good friends, and they were determined to make sure she still has good friends, this time around.
"It was with great reluctance they all walked into Flourish and Blotts after completing all their other errands. The crowd outside the bookstore hadn't lessened like they had hoped but rather seemed to have swelled. Apparently the man who had written half of their booklist this year was doing a signing. Eliza didn't even want to spend money on the books themselves, never mind the twit of an author. Who names an actual textbook 'holiday with hags?'
Eliza stared at the giant crowd of people in the bookstore with an increasing amount of dread.
"What if just one of us goes in and buys all our books for us?" Daphne suggested, staring at Blaise.
"You would sacrifice me Daph? And here I thought I was your favorite."
"Poor misguided soul, it might be best to put him out of his misery Eliza" Theo commented from beside her, his shoulder brushing against hers. Eliza laughed softly, shaking her head.
"We go in together, it would be far too many books for one person to carry" said Eliza stepping into the overcrowded bookstore and instantly regretting not taking Daphne up on her suggestion. Being in Diagon for the past few weeks had gotten her somewhat used to crowds but she still detested being surrounded by masses of people. They battled their way through the crowd picking up the books on their list wading through everyone to reach the counter. Usually Eliza would scan the shelves for more interesting books than the standard book of spells but at this point she simply wanted to leave.
Unfortunately the universe didn't care about her needs and acted only to make her miserable through a myriad of small inconveniences.
Gilderoy Lockhart began speaking, scanning the crowd. And then his gaze landed on her. He stared then leapt to his feet positively shouting
"It can't be Eliza Potter?""
"LOCKHART?!" Many students yelled out in shock, while the younger Lockhart pompously puffed out his chest, to make himself look better, although many just sneered at the stupid idiot who somehow found his way into Ravenclaw of all houses.
"Eliza didn't even get a chance to escape before he grabbed her arm and drew her to the front as the crowd burst into applause."
James glowered at Lockhart, with a promise in his eyes if Lockhart dared to hurt his little prongslette.
""Nice big smile Eliza" Lockhart said through his own gleaming bright teeth "together you and I are worth the front page"
Eliza was torn between punching him in the face or smiling prettily for the cameras. Deciding the fall out with the press would not be worth punching Lockhart in his stupidly straight shiny teeth Eliza smiled pleasantly at the camera. Multiple flashes blinded her and Lockhart took that opportunity to drape his arm across her shoulders. Eliza physically recoiled at the contact but Lockhart simply kept on talking."
"I really wish I did punch him, he was a useless, cowardly waste of space."
""-Eliza had no idea she would shortly be getting much more than just my book Magical Me but in fact she and her school fellows will be getting the real magical me. Yes ladies and gentlemen you are looking at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor of Hogwarts!""
"WHAT?! HIM? DADA PROFESSOR?" Even the current teachers looked shocked and quite honestly concerned for Dumbledore's sanity if he had hired Lockhart of all people to be a Professor.
"The crowd cheered and Eliza finally slipped away heading straight for her court who were standing there, tension filling them expressions ranging from worried to murderous.
"I bet you loved that, didn't you Potter?" Malfoy's voice rang out across and Eliza scowled, turning around to face him."
"Oh Bloody Hell." Draco muttered. Lucy grimaced knowing exactly what happened afterwards with a slight pink tint to his usually pale skin.
""Famous Eliza Potter can't even go into a book-store without making it to the front page"
"Leave it alone Eliza, it's his ego talking- he just hasn't accepted he's no longer the most important person in the room" Daphne snarked standing beside her.
Their growing argument was interrupted however by Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley actually physically brawling in the middle of Flourish and Blotts. All five of them stopped arguing to stare in vague horror and more than a bit of amusement as the two adults swung punches at each other."
Abraxas looked at the older version of his son in shock, Lucius looking at his older self in dismay, Narcissa at the older version of her husband in amusement, and Cissa just smiled at her husband's embarrassed face.
""How very…muggle" Theo commented simply and Eliza suppressed a grin when Malfoy turned bright red.
"Good luck keeping this out of the society columns Malfoy" said Blaise over his shoulder as they walked away from the steadily emptying bookstore.
At least Eliza didn't have to waste her money on the books."
"I didn't think Eliza would ever utter that sentence, but everything I thought would also never happen somehow managed to happen in our lives so far, so I'm used to it by now." Blaise said, thinking about his hectic life and what it would've been like had Eliza Potter barged her way into it.
"The 1st of September arrived quickly after that and Eliza was excited to finally be going back to Hogwarts. She had shrugged into her uniform that morning and dragged her trunk downstairs. If she was at the orphanage she would have had to walk to the station. But at the Leaky Cauldron she could simply use the Floo connection so she had been able to take her time getting ready.
Finally flooing to Kings Cross she smiled at the sight of the Hogwarts express and weaved through the crowd to climb aboard. She walked down the aisle of the train nodding at the other Slytherins she passed by and striking up conversation with others in her year. A well placed 'oh it's nice to see you again' or 'did you have a nice summer' worked wonders and it was always nice to have people on her side. It also helped that Susan Bones was related to Amelia Bones, Head of Magical Law Enforcement."
Amelia Bones looked shocked at that, but her family looked proud of her. She blushed and smiled and turned away as people looked at her in awe, not thinking a young witch would ever be Head of the DMLE.
"Eliza wasn't particularly planning to commit anything illegal but her book collection was already bordering on being morally dubious. It was best to be prepared.
Eliza finally found the compartment she had used last year. It was all the way at the back of the train and guaranteed at least some privacy for her and her court when they found her. Eliza pulled out a book from her messenger bag on the different runic alphabets when her fingers brushed past the pen knife she had stored in her messenger bag. There had been a lot more muggings around Eliza's area of London this summer, more than before – that's what happens when unemployment reaches those heights.
Eliza fished the small blade from her bag and in a burst of possessive immaturity dropped to the floor intending to carve her initials beneath the seat."
"I'm convinced all you Slytherins are possessive." Sirius said, thinking of all the times Eliza and Blaise had been possessive over their belongings. Not to mention how possessive a certain Dark Lord was.
"She crawled under fingering the blade only to find that someone else had had the same idea. Next to the other pair of initials Eliza carved her own in satisfaction before crawling back out.
T.M.R and E.L.P"
Tom and Eliza smiled at each other and Eliza had a flashback to one of the things Tom had ever said to her. 'Do you believe in fate, Little Star?' She definitely did now.
"Maybe they had been a Slytherin too, everyone in her house was a bit of a possessive prat."
All the Slytherins; past, present, and future, all begrudgingly nodded at that.
"Half way through the train ride her court finally arrived interrupting her reading with bright grins and loud laughter but Eliza didn't mind. The ride to Hogwarts passed by a lot quicker this time round."
"The feast this year was honestly quite uneventful in comparison to last years, no snide remarks or insults, no horrified whispering, not even any warnings about possible horrific death from Dumbledore. It was refreshing."
"It didn't last very long. At least not for others." Eliza muttered the last sentence darkly.
"Eliza even got to watch as the new firsties were introduced to the snake pit as this year's prefects ran over the obligatory rules. Fawley had been their guide last year before handing them off to Rosier and Eliza was still fond of the older girl. She was even sad to see Rowle leave last year, the new Slytherin King was a complete buffoon in her opinion."
"He was more than a buffoon, he was a complete idiot." Theo said, scowling at the reminder of what happened at the beginning of their second year.
"Blishwick had only two brain cells to rub together and he would be incredibly lucky to get a spark at all. He had two settings which were spouting pureblood supremacy and talking quidditch, sometimes he even managed to do both at the same time which was quite impressive for him. He was as thick as a flobberworm but due to him being a part of the sacred twenty eight no one was willing to challenge him. Incompetency of a leader and the laziness of society could always be found but Eliza was sad to find it even here in Slytherin.
Eliza sighed despondently and turned back to Theo who was setting up the chess board. If she was lucky she might even win this time. The firsties were ushered upstairs and Eliza flicked her wand down to her hand."
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" Mad-Eye Moody yelled, making many people jump and scream in fright.
"She hadn't known on her first night but the first years were ushered to their dorms early so the rest of Slytherin could sort out their internal house politics without endangering them."
The Slytherin's nodded at that. They didn't particularly like involving the first years in house politics considering they were still too young.
"Eliza didn't remember any house politics in her first week either as she learned the mechanics so it obviously worked. Eliza didn't really expect to be challenged for her place. She was still ruling the underclassmen court and this year's third years were far more obsessed with quidditch than house politics. But sometimes it didn't hurt to be paranoid."
The Black's nodded at that. They were quite literally the most paranoid family in all of Wizarding Britain, if not the entire Wizarding World.
"Theo moved his rook forward with a smirk and Eliza scanned the board for any possible traps whilst also keeping an eye on the common room. As she predicted, the third years didn't seem to mind that Eliza was in charge and were happily chatting by the fire. It seemed as though her rule would be unchallenged.
"She goes against everything Slytherin stands for – if you have a runt in the litter you put it down" Blishwick's voice reached Eliza's ears and Eliza felt a cold familiar rage fill her."
James, Lily, Sirius, and Remus all narrowed their eyes. James and Lily because they were angry at the audacity of Blishwick, and Sirius and Remus because although they know more of Eliza's bloodthirsty side, they never really witnessed it for themselves.
"Eliza had never been quick to anger. Yes she had a temper, yes it was easy to irritate her but it took a lot to make her truly angry. And unlike the famous Gryffindor temper it never ran hot. Eliza's anger was always cold, icy. The kind that numbed your veins and shuttered your eyes. The kind of anger that made you sharpen your teeth because you always feel the vicious vindictive urge to bite back."
Many of James and Lily's friends all grimaced knowing that if her temper was anything like her parents', it wasn't going to be very pretty.
"Eliza was tired of these people, these sheep questioning her. Her pride was not a quiet thing and it rattled her bones when she was belittled, thought of less than what she was. What she would achieve."
"Definitely not a quiet thing. Eliza's pride is her biggest trait, and probably her ego as well." Daphne said, teasingly at her sister in everything but blood.
"Last year's king might have been content to leave his little pet mudblood alone but I'm not" Blishwick snarled, smiling widely as his court cheered him on around him. Soon a duelling ring was formed around them cheering Blishwick on, spitting at her. Although she was pleasantly surprised to see a few subdued at the back, Rosier and his crowd, staring at her with a clear look of fear in their eyes."
"At least Rosier was smart enough not to piss me off again. That wouldn't have ended well for him." Eliza said, trying to lighten the tension in the Great Hall.
"Blishwick didn't even give Eliza time to study him, to reach for her wand, before shooting a hex at her."
Many duelists frowned at that, all of them thinking the same thing. 'Coward'
"Lightly dancing out of the way Eliza didn't level her wand at him and simply dodged as his spells got darker and darker and unspooled her magic. The raw power flooded through her veins and drifted around the room and Eliza wished she could take a moment to revel in the heady power of it.
"You're nothing Potter, it's time you were reminded of that.""
"MY DAUGHTER IS EVERYTHING YOU WISH YOU WERE, BITCH!" Lily screamed, making many look at her in shock for her language and outburst. She blushed slightly and composed herself again as many people looked away when she glared at them, with her infamous Lily Evans glare. Moony and Padfoot didn't think it was possible for James to fall even more in love but based on the lovesick grin on his face, it definitely wasn't. Sirius and Remus just smiled, reminiscing about the times in Godric's Hollow and teasing James for being the first to settle down.
""No" Eliza said simply, twirling her wand languidly as she observed Blishwick, feeling that anger flood her veins.
"You hear that! The mudblood thinks she can talk back to me" He laughed and the elder Slytherins also burst into raucous laughter.
"I think I can do whatever I want to you Blishwick, because you are the one who is nothing" Eliza remarked as she focused her magic on Blishwick observing impassively as it wrapped itself around him, drowning the threads of his own magic.
"Oh yeah?" he said cockily and fired a bombarda which Eliza elegantly shifted to the side to dodge "and you think I'm going to listen to you"
Eliza smiled then, slow and vicious and she began to speak in false sympathy.
"You will listen Blishwick otherwise I'm going to have to do this-
Eliza twitched her fingers and listened impassively when Blishwick let out a tortured scream as Eliza snapped his arm, the crack being drowned out by his wails."
Many of the kids with lighter stomachs flinched at the sound of Blishwick's wail, but many others like Tom, the Lestrange's, etc. looked very happy at the screams of Blishwick falling at the hands of a 12 year-old.
""Or this-
She dislocated his shoulder and he dropped to the ground screaming."
Staff, students, and adults alike all looked at Eliza in wariness, knowing if she was that powerful before maturity, she was most likely the most powerful in the room right now.
""The human body has 206 bones, Blishwick and I really don't mind breaking each and every one of them until you do listen" Eliza said calmly and punctuated her statement by snapping his ankle.
Through heavy pants and his snivelling tears he still managed to speak.
"You don't scare me mudblood, you're still beneath me" he heaved.
Rage consumed her.
"Oh am I?" she hissed venomously and ignored the way he paled at her tone."
Many couldn't help the shiver that went down their spines as Eliza spoke in Parseltongue.
"You're a Parselmouth?" James and Lily asked their daughter, looking at her in shock and awe. Eliza nodded, feeling slightly self-conscious that her parents were going to hate her for having such a "dark" ability. Tom, feeling this, just hugged her smaller form closer to him as many darker families looked at her in awe. Marvolo looked very happy that his future soulmate was a parselmouth, even if she wasn't born in this timeline yet.
Fleamont and Charlus Potter both looked confused, knowing they didn't have any relations to Salazar Slytherin. At least they think they didn't.
"Leveling her wand at the cowering form of Blishwick she cast her first spell of the night.
"Duro" she incanted softly and watched in detached amusement as stone slowly, so slowly, began encasing Blishwick's body starting from the feet up.
"You know muggles have this story about an old God, Prometheus who was punished for not knowing his place" Eliza began as the stone travelled up Blishwick's desperately writhing form "he was chained to a mountain and everyday an eagle pecked out his liver only for him to be healed and have the whole process repeat again" she said as the stone finally crept up to his torso.
"Now that's too macabre for my taste but I could keep you encased in this stone until you had to attend lessons. And then every time you came back to commons we'd petrify you again" Eliza taunted as the stone wrapped around his throat.
"And you'd spend the year like that, completely trapped in your own body at the whims of my steadily waning mercy.""
Numerous witches and wizards turned slightly pale at how descriptive Eliza was being at how she would torture him, James and Lily included but Bellatrix and Marvolo looked like Dumbledore had just choked on his lemon drops and died. Despite James and Lily being slightly terrified of their daughter, they knew they wouldn't change it for anything.
"He tried to scream but the stone had encased his mouth.
"You make a horrible person Blishwick but I think you'd make a very pretty statue" Eliza drawled smiling sweetly as tears trailed down his face. Eliza halted the progress of the spell and stared down into his watery eyes
"Unless of course you can accept your new place beneath me" Eliza offered and laughed when he tried to speak. She flicked her wand and watched as the stone crumbled away. He didn't try to move at first but then dragged himself up so he was kneeling at her feet.
"Yes" he says and almost involuntarily a small "my lady" slipped from him. Eliza smiled softly and ruffled his hair gently before turning to observe the other deathly silent Slytherin's."
"Are you a Dark Lady?" James couldn't help but ask. "I know Lily and I both said, we'd stay by you even if you were a Dark Lady but I just need to be prepared if my future daughter turns out to be a Dark Lady." Eliza smirked at her younger father and said, "Yes, I am a Dark Lady." James nodded, along with Lily thinking of all the ways to be prepared for their daughter inevitably turning into a Dark Lady.
""Is anyone here good with healing charms?" she asked and Fawley stepped forward cautiously to tend to Blishwick. Eliza nodded at her and then turned to face the rest of Slytherin.
Monster, their eyes said. Awe, they unwillingly whispered.
"I am now the Queen of Slytherin" Eliza said and had never before been more aware of her age."
Every Slytherin looked at her in awe and shock, knowing that nobody had ever become King or Queen at the age of 12.
"She sometimes thought she was just a monster trapped in her twelve year old body. Often she was proven right."
"You're not a monster, Eliza. At least not to us." Tom, Sirius, Remus, Daphne, Draco, Theo, Blaise, Astoria, Susan, Severus, Cissa, and Lucy all said to her at once. She blushed at the comment and buried her face deeper in Tom's neck.
""Blishwick said I go against everything Slytherin stands for, maybe I do go against your ideals but I am now your ruler and you will treat me as such. I do not care for blood status, purity is not power. Power is doing what you must to get what you need and doing it well." She paused here and felt her lips quirk as she said her next words "magic is might after all" sharp intakes of breath could be heard after that but she continued."
A great deal of the blood-purists in the Great Hall looked thoughtful at that, and Eliza just couldn't wait until it came out that the Dark Lord Voldemort was a half-blood. She had talked to Tom about it, and he was okay with his blood-status coming out, even though he never actively tried to hide it very much. Many of his current followers knew, but the general public didn't.
""Slytherins are resourceful, we are cunning and we are ambitious but most of all" Eliza said, staring out at the crow amassed before her "we are a family. And family always comes first, you will always come first" she said and watched as they all shuffled under her intensity. Apart from her court, her court who stood steadfast and proud amidst the crowd regarding her warmly despite the blood on her hands.
"I swear that under my rule we will get Slytherin back to its former glory. I refuse to settle for less" she finished with a smirk and nodded her head dismissing the crowd.
Her court immediately amassed around her. Blaise slung his arm across her shoulders and Theo hesitantly took her hand into his, giving it a proud squeeze as Daphne grinned from in front of her. The rage had retreated now and Eliza can't help but slump into the light warm touch of her friends.
She may be a monster but her court would always see her as their hero.""
"You'll always be our hero, Eliza." Her court said, as Eliza stood up and they all tackled her into a group hug. Even the stone-hearted adults felt their cold, black hearts warm a little at the scene in front of them.