Into the Light

The feast passed in a blur of clinking goblets and lively chatter, but Elizabeth barely noticed. She was starving by the time the food appeared and spent most of the meal mechanically eating, ignoring the merriment around her. The start-of-term excitement, the jokes, the way James Potter kept loudly trying to get Lily’s attention—it all faded into the background. All she wanted was to get through dinner, get up to the dormitory, and crawl into bed, safe from the strange new attention she was receiving.

Because people had noticed.

She realized it gradually, the way eyes lingered just a little longer, the way she caught whispers trailing in her wake. She didn’t feel any different, but apparently, others thought she looked it.

It was unsettling.

She thought she was home free once she reached the Gryffindor common room. So close to escaping the day, climbing into bed, and finally letting it all go—

But then Sirius Black stepped in front of her, right in front of the girls staircase! She was almost home free! 

Elizabeth pulled up short, her stomach sinking as she glanced toward the boys’ staircase. Henry was already halfway up, pausing just long enough to smirk and shake his head at her in amusement before disappearing out of sight.

Perfect.

With a slow inhale, she schooled her face into something polite. “Need something, Black?”

Her voice was even, but there was a slight sharpness to it that she knew he wouldn’t miss.

His grey eyes lit up, as if he’d been waiting for exactly that.

“I was—well, really, it was Henry and James’ idea,” he started, rocking back slightly on his heels Hands in his pockets, “for you to join us in our training for tryouts. Bright and early. Getting something in before classes start.”

The way he said it was casual, effortless, like it was just some small suggestion, nothing to be taken too seriously. But she could tell he was laying it on thick, that practiced ease hiding something more deliberate.

Elizabeth’s gaze flicked down. He had a toothpick in his mouth, fiddling with it absentmindedly, probably leftover from dinner.

“I think I’ll pass,” she said coolly, already stepping to the side to dodge him.

But he moved with her, blocking her path with an exaggerated look of offense. “Lizzie!”

Her brows raised. “You know my first name?” She said in fake shock. 

He rolled his eyes. “Alright, I know we’ve never really—erm—spoken before,” he admitted, cringing slightly. “And I know that the only time we have spoken today was when you were throwing yourself at me—”

Elizabeth shot him a look of pure reproach.

“Okay, when I was shamelessly flirting with you then,” he corrected with a smirk.

She snorted. “Wow. You are really making yourself sound like a wanker right now.” 

“But really!” he interrupted before she could walk away again. “If we’re going to be on the team together, it’d be fun to have you at training. Get a feel for the dynamic, yeah?”

It was framed as a suggestion, but his whole posture—leaning slightly forward, tilting his head just enough to catch her gaze—made it clear he expected her to say yes.

He bent ever so slightly at the waist to meet her height, biting his bottom lip out of habit, probably not even aware he was doing it.

Elizabeth did notice, though.

She also noticed the way the toothpick shifted slightly as he fiddled with it, the way his lips—frustratingly, annoyingly—were a very particular shade of pink.

She suddenly became aware that she wasn’t breathing.

With a sharp inhale, she pulled herself together.

“Fine,” she relented, forcing her voice to stay steady. “I’ll come. But I want to be treated… normally.” Invisible was what she meant. 

His smirk was immediate.

“No problem, love.” His voice dipped playfully. “Normal to me is flirting the pants off a girl.”

And then, in one smooth motion, he plucked the toothpick from his mouth, turned, and flicked it over his shoulder—where it vanished into thin air with a small pop.

Elizabeth blinked.

Before she could process what had just happened, he was already sauntering toward the boys’ staircase, taking the steps two at a time, moving with the kind of effortless confidence that only he could manage. He didn’t so much as glance back, but even from the back of his head she could tell he was feeling very smug. 

She shook her head, clearing the buzzing in her thoughts.

She was not going to let Sirius Black get to her.

Pushing the encounter aside, she turned and climbed the stairs to the girls’ dormitory.

So far all the other girls were still downstairs, catching up about their respective summers including Lily. 

Elizabeth slipped into the bathroom, going through her usual nighttime routine, but her thoughts kept circling back.

Sirius’s words, her agreement to join them. It felt like a mistake.

She wasn’t the kind of girl who did things outside of her comfort zone. She preferred to keep her head down, to stay unnoticed, to avoid attention. And yet, here she was, agreeing to something that would put her right in the middle of the biggest trouble makers at the school, of all people.

What was she thinking?

Her other dorm mates still weren’t back yet, she relished in the warmth of the furnace in the center of the room as she changed into her night clothes. Sighing, she climbed into bed in a way that could only be described as cat like.

She pulled open her bedside drawer, retrieving a small vial of Dreamless Sleep potion.It wasn’t every night that she needed it—but tonight, she did.Tipping the vial back, she let the calm wash over her and finally, finally, let herself go.

The next morning, Elizabeth was up before the sun.Sitting up stiffly, she stretched, letting out a quiet yawn before swinging her legs over the side of the bed. She was surprisingly eager to start the day—to slip out for a run before training with the boys.

She pulled on her favorite Muggle running shorts and an oversized David Bowie T-shirt, tying her hair into a tight ponytail. Lacing up her worn Adidas trainers, she grabbed her broomstick and crept silently down the stairs, careful not to wake any of the other girls.

The castle was still cloaked in shadow when she stepped outside, the first light of dawn beginning to bleed into the sky. The air was crisp, the grass damp with morning dew, and for a brief moment, she closed her eyes, breathing it in.

The moon was still visible, a tiny crescent hanging in the sky like a sliver of silver.

She stretched once more, then took off at a steady jog, her feet pounding softly against the dewy grass as she made her way toward the Quidditch pitch.

The ground felt firmer beneath her than the cracked pavement back home, where she ran simply to get away. Out here, with the castle behind her and the open sky above, it felt different. Better.

By the time she reached her third lap, she spotted movement near the castle. Three figures—James, Sirius, and Henry—were making their way down toward the pitch.

Elizabeth exhaled sharply and picked up her pace. She wanted to be in the changing rooms by the time they got there.

Finishing her last lap, she darted inside, swapping her clothes for one of the school’s practice uniforms. It was meant for a second-year boy, judging by the size, but it would do.

Jogging back onto the pitch, she spotted the boys unlocking the equipment shed.

Only Sirius looked up when he heard her approaching. He smirked.

“Well, look who actually showed up,” he drawled.

Elizabeth shot him a look, which he returned with equal amusement.

“I wasn’t worried about me making it,” she said smoothly. “I was worried about you two.” She pointed between Sirius and James, who both clutched their chests in mock offense.

“Because,” she continued, smirking, “I know you always set up some elaborate prank the night before the first day of classes. So I’d wager you got—what? Two hours of sleep?”

Sirius and James exchanged an unmistakable glance.

“We got four hours, mind you,” James corrected.

“Give us some credit, Lizzie,” Sirius added, grinning. “We’re experts at this sort of thing.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Right. Well, I suppose we’ll all find out in a few hours what kind of disaster you cooked up last night.”

Henry chuckled, walking up beside her. He handed over her broomstick, his eyes twinkling.

“Ready?”

Elizabeth took the broom, grinning. “Yes, Mr. Team Captain, sir.” She saluted him jokingly.

Henry laughed. “That’s what I like to hear!”

With that, he turned on his heel and started calling out drills.

Elizabeth, James, and Sirius all kicked off the ground, soaring into the sky as Henry released the Quaffle, then the Bludgers, and finally, the Snitch.

The moment she locked onto the Snitch, nothing else existed.

Catching, releasing. Catching, releasing. Over and over, she dove and twisted, her body moving instinctively.

She barely registered the boys whooping and hollering—whether it was at her or something else, she didn’t care. For the first time since arriving at Hogwarts, she felt completely like herself. Free. Weightless. Like she belonged.

The sun had fully risen by the time they landed, the first morning classes approaching. The group circled around Henry, panting slightly from exertion.

James grinned. “Well, well, well. I must say, Hastings Junior, you’ve got quite a talent.”

A warm flush crept up her face.

“It’s not just her good looks or brains you’ve got to worry about now,” Sirius teased.

Elizabeth’s flush darkened into something hotter, something she really didn’t want to examine too closely.

“Luckily,” she shot back smoothly, “neither my looks nor my brains have anything to do with you.”

Sirius’s eyes gleamed like she’d just issued a challenge.

Henry, either oblivious or choosing to ignore it, clapped his hands together. “Alright, that was solid work. We’ll meet back up for a few more training sessions before tryouts on Saturday. And I trust all of you to be on time.”

His gaze settled pointedly on James and Sirius.

“We’ll be there!” James promised, all innocence.

The two boys exchanged their goodbyes, Sirius shooting her one last look before following James up the hill toward the castle.

Elizabeth watched them go, exhaling as she turned back—only to find Henry staring at her, arms crossed.

“Walk and talk with me,” he said, nudging her shoulder.

They started toward the castle in comfortable silence, but Elizabeth could tell Henry was thinking something.

Finally, he spoke.

“I don’t want you getting the wrong idea about Black.”

Elizabeth nearly groaned.

“Flirting with you on the train, in the carriage, at practice—” Henry sighed. “Sirius just likes attention. And he loves when girls give it to him. I know you weren’t trying to come off this way, but the impression you’re giving is that you enjoy it… By teasing and playing hard to get” he gave her a measured look, trying to sus out her true feelings as his words washed over her. 

Elizabeth scoffed. “Just because I’m a fifteen-year-old girl doesn’t mean I’m some wilting flower who can’t deal with it herself. I know what Sirius is like. He likes the distraction. He likes fun. I don’t want any of that.”

Henry gave her a skeptical look.

“I just want you to be realistic about him,” he said. “I don’t want you getting hurt.” He exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. “I’ve known Sirius a long time. This is just… how he is. He likes to flirt with girls, have his fun, and move on. It’s not really his fault, I think it’s just how he deals with the things in his life that aren’t… easy”

Elizabeth frowned but stayed quiet.

Henry hesitated, then added, “Besides, he was talking about Marlene McKinnon’s—” He stopped himself, grimaced, and then sighed. “Let’s just say he was talking about Marlene McKinnon on the train. In detail. So I doubt you’d want a guy who flirts with you one minute and moves on to your roommate the next.”

Elizabeth’s stomach twisted unpleasantly.

If Henry was trying to convince her not to like Sirius Black, he was doing a fantastic job.

“You’re right,” she said, forcing a light tone. “Don’t worry—I wasn’t taking anything he said… seriously.”

Henry groaned at the pun but clapped a hand around her shoulder, pulling her in for a quick squeeze.

She let herself relax into the embrace.

She didn’t need a distraction anyway.

And that’s all Sirius Black was.

A distraction.

So the new plan was to avoid Sirius Black at all costs. 

Yes, Elizabeth had a soft spot for him, but that didn’t mean it was rooted in any actual logic or real attraction. She was excellent at shutting down feelings and redirecting her energy elsewhere. It was practically a form of magic on its own.

By the time the other girls were stirring, she was already showered and dressed, her uniform crisp, her hair still damp from washing out the sweat from training.

“Morning, Lils,” she greeted as she exited the bathroom, dropping onto the edge of her bed with a sigh.

Lily yawned, shuffling past her with half-open eyes. “Morning, Lizzie.”

Elizabeth reached for her hairbrush, frowning at the way her curls were drying- frizzy, untamed, an absolute lion’s mane. With a resigned sigh, she settled in at the vanity, grabbing her Sleekeazy’s to tame the mess.

Next to her, Marlene McKinnon was carefully pulling curlers from her chestnut hair, her expression still foggy with sleep.

“Morning, Hastings,” she mumbled, stretching her arms over her head.

“Morning, McKinnon.”

Marlene blinked blearily at herself in the mirror before smirking. “Have a good summer, then?”

Elizabeth smiled politely. “Yeah, it was good.” It was so easy for her to lie and cover the truth, of how horrible it had truly been.

Marlene yawned, running her fingers through her perfectly curled hair. “You were up early this morning! You training for tryouts?”

“Yeah. Seeker.” Elizabeth glanced up at her reflection, catching the way Marlene’s nose scrunched slightly.

“I wanted to,” Marlene sighed dramatically, “but my mum made me swear to wait until sixth year—if I get all P’s or above on my O.W.L.s”

P stood for poor. Lizzie blushed as she felt a feeling of awkwardness overwhelm her. She didn’t know what to say. 

“Well, I hope you get to try out next year,” she said genuinely. “You play Chaser, right?”

Marlene’s face lit up. “Yes! I’m not small enough to be a Seeker, and not strong enough to be a Beater, so I always got put in as a Chaser growing up. But it’s stuck.”

She grinned at her reflection, fluffing her curls.

“And plus—if Sirius and I ever actually make it official between us, it would be so fun to be on the team together.”

Elizabeth’s hand froze mid-brushstroke.

Her heart did something unpleasant.

But she forced her face to remain neutral, even offering a smile as she finished up her hair.

“Yeah,” she said, voice light. “That would be fun” she felt herself feeling bad for Marlene. “You know, I wouldn’t mind helping to tutor you some as we get closer to exams. Lily and I both could help! That way you can try out next year” Lizzie stood up, as she finished her hair, Marlene turning to her with her eyes wide and mouth open. 

“Really?! You would do that for me?” Lizzie smiled and shook her head 

“Of Course! Just come study with us more often. I know we’re bookish but we don’t bite” Lizzie felt conflicted as Marlene agreed, the thoughts of what Sirius might have said about her swirling around in her head. 

The moment Lily emerged from the bathroom, Elizabeth had just finished packing up her things.

“Wait five seconds for me!” Lily begged.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes but relented, plopping onto the bed.

By the time they made it to the hallway, Mary and Alice had joined them, greeting Elizabeth for the first time that school year with casual familiarity. They weren’t close, but they’d shared a dorm for years, and that counted for something.

Still, as they descended toward the Great Hall, her mind was whirring.

Sirius and Marlene.

Good, she told herself. Great, even. It solved everything. It meant the flirting was just him being him. That she wasn’t anything special.

That she could keep her distance without it meaning anything at all.

By the time they reached the Gryffindor table, she felt lighter, more in control—until Lily shot her a look and tugged her arm. She nodded her head ever so delicately towards the empty seat next to Henry. 

Oh no.

Elizabeth groaned. “Lils, no.”

“What?” Lily laughed nervously

Elizabeth gave her a flat look. “You fancy Henry.”

Lily’s face instantly matched her hair. “Can you blame me?” she whispered furiously. “He’s right fit! And the only boy I saw all summer was Sev and well… you know it’s not the same.”

That was true enough, Lizzie thought .But Lily had always preferred Severus to anyone else.

But now, something about the way she said it felt… different.

Elizabeth frowned.

Lily seemed to pick up on it because she pushed forward. “Not only is he handsome—” she said dramatically, “but I see how much he loves and takes care of you. It’s sweet.”

Elizabeth glanced toward Henry at the end of the table. He was laughing at something Remis had shouted down the table at him, carefree as ever.

Lily sighed. “And he’s funny, and easy to talk to, and fun!! but not too much fun.”

Elizabeth followed her gaze just in time to see James Potter stuffing multiple Yorkshire pudding into his mouth.

Sirius, laughing so hard, pumpkin juice squirted out of his nose.

The girls exchanged a look.

Elizabeth grimaced. “Okay. Fine. I get it. Your options are limited.”

Lily swatted at her arm.

Elizabeth smirked. “And, I can vouch that my brother is amazing. But—” She met Lily’s eyes and saw so much hope there that it softened her teasing.

“I know,” Lily admitted. “He’s leaving at the end of the year. But that’s no reason not to try and see. He could be the great love of my life—or just my best friend’s big brother. But we’ll never know if we don’t try.”she pouted, laying it on thick. 

Elizabeth sighed dramatically. “We?” she echoed. “There is no we. This is you and him. I will go and sit but I want it very clear that I do not want to be in the middle of this.”

Lily squealed and grabbed her arm, dragging her toward Henry, who had already spotted them and was waving them over.

James and Sirius watched them pass, their expressions a mixture of mock devastation and exaggerated offense.

Elizabeth couldn’t help herself.

Feeling bolder than she had any right to, she caught Sirius Black’s gaze and smirked.

“Don’t look so sad,” she said smoothly. “Your girlfriend will be down shortly.”

Sirius blinked, his smirk faltering—only for a flicker of realization to cross his face as he connected the dots.

Marlene.

His lips curled upward, slow and lazy, that infuriatingly confident smirk settling back into place.

“Oh?” he said, tilting his head. “Jealous, then, are we?”

Elizabeth snorted, completely unbothered. “Trust me, I’m not.”

She reached out and patted his head condescendingly before continuing toward Henry, not giving him a second glance.

But as she sat down, she could feel his eyes lingering on her.

It didn’t matter.

Marlene was crazy about him.

And he was crazy about her… right?

Sirius just liked to tease. It was what he did best.

And that solved that.