The Witches Ball.
The match that weekend saw Hufflepuff give Ravenclaw a drubbing. 250 to 20. Diggory getting the Snitch was a sort of mercy killing. Elizabeth was not kicking and screaming but still was interesting in the game as much as watching paint dry. Rose was let out of the medical wing. and at her parents insistence accepted Elizabeth offer of the use of space in her rooms. She made the same offer at the Greengrasses. and the family accepted the offer at the near manic pushing of Lady Greengrass.
Blaise her unofficial boyfriend was acting kindly towards Elizabeth. A step she found uncomfortable. She had over time come to terms of people who did not like her not changing their ways Blaise's conversion was like a light switch. Theo explained it that Blaise had to posture it was just his way. "And this conversion matched Draco's comments to me that Blaise was waiting for a chance to stop being an ass. And that is what this is." he explained to Elizabeth as they were working on the cutting ingredients for potions. The others were working as Susan bones was NOT helping Seamus with the liquid measuring as last time the bits of test tube took a day for Seamus to heal up from. So all was sort of right with the world. "And I should what accept this without comment? As if the last two years were a unpleasant dream?" she asked stripping the needed needles from a plant. Theo looked and paused as he considered his answer. "No. First you would not. Second Should not have to. If this sudden kindness is to be believed he should speak with you alone... I am sorry with you and myself nearby as your 'boyfriend' to ensure his honorable behavior." Theo explained pouring his finished batch into one of the jars. "Dean your chopped needles are ready." Theo said at the one boy as he set the small jar out of the work area.
Potions brought a surprise during that weeks practical. Lily walked around as usual and stopped at Hermione's cauldron leaned over and then passed out. Quickly the 13 yr old medical experts were scrambling about Harry was over at his mother's side. Ron race beside his friend and Elizabeth raced over and removed Potter's cauldron off the burner so that there would be no explosion. Lily woke up very quickly due to all the expert care. Neville explained when he came back with Professor Snape he had left after removing their own cauldron off the fire. The student s lept to get back to their stations at the first command. And because she hit her head on the floor Snape had Malfoy exscort her to the medical wing. Theo who had kept working as they were two steps ahead and could not afford to stop. gave Malfoy a high sign that all was well. Snape did a walk around before having his lecture class go to the Library and work on a foot about other uses for the potion they were working on.
It was a off readjustment but Snape was distracted so the scowling was less intense than she recalled. Thankfully the potion had not lost heat due to Neville's statis charm working as intended. So they were quickly back on track. Yes Malfoy again got the highest marks as the potion was exactly what was intended. As soon as it was possible to leave Harry was up and gone. Ron got help from Hermione Neville and Elizabeth on a clean up. Snape was sort of hot on Harry's heels leaving as soon as possible Once cleaning up was done The group rushed to the medical wing. A few moments later they were in a group of other student who had heard something was up. Bringing the items Harry had not the time to take with him Elizabeth was able to push through the mod. Inside Lily was sitting on a bed leaning against the wall. Harry was at the foot of the bed and James was on the chair holding her hand. An inconvenient event and people are smiling.... Snape came back in from a side room and brought with him a stout coffee urn. "Yes the test is positive. About 62 days along. he said as Madame Pomfrey started to shoot the mod away from the door. " Lily looked at both children at the foot of the bed. "Harry your going to have a sibling in what if all is normal..... 218 days." Lily said.
Elziabeth had a kid reaction to the news. " Ew!!! Gods which room was yours? In the suitcase. I have sheets to wash a half dozen times and then burn." she then looked at the couple. "Seriously. I happy to hear your good news." she says smiling. She then heads out. "Well some good news for once this year." she thinks heading off to go eat.
That weekend saw the Malfoys came to see Slytherin playing Ravenclaw and the Blue and Gold got hit hard. Draco showed his talents as a seeker. But the eyes of the crowd fell on the Malfoys. Lucius was not in the stiff and formal robes of the last couple of years. In palce of that. He was wearing a Green and Silver Sweater and slacks. He seemed relaxed and was seen to smile. Anyone who knew the man this seemed drasticly out of character. He sat with Narcissa seemed radiant. They talked with Sirius and the Potters. Having the Malfoys as her patrons had Elizabeth bringing the crowd into her chambers. They came in through the Slytherin Common room. Once the door was closed.
"James. I wanted to give our best wishes concerning your future child. " Narcissa said. She took a seat near the fireplace. Crisp brought finger food around. Lucius looked about. " Elizabeth. Thank you, for taking in the Greengrass daughters. That cannot have been easy. Over the holiday I will feel out the Greengrass's' and see if they have changed their views. You yourself and Miss Granger and other muggleborn need to see the merits of the magical world. Otherwise what you could bring to our world will leave with you. " she said before sipping the tea. "I admit I have been looking at this world and wondering what is wrong here. It is enough to just want to have everything I value packed up and a week of clothing set out so I can if I need to run I can do so and not need to look back." Elizabeth says. " I would need a couple of hours. A few items outside the suitcase or I would be ready to go now." She walked over by the fireplace and stabbed at the log. "I wish at times I had family to look at but I would have to follow orders. Maybe follow orders without any input. Who to marry. Who I can be friends with. It is enough that I am at times happy to be an orphan." she finished stabbing the log.
"Well. the messes of this world are not going to be as much an issue" Lucius said. "Theo is likely to be grabbing your hand and dragging you into that world. He talked for hours about the world you shared with him. He says he sees a real future out there. I owe it to him that he have that if that is wwhat he wants." The white hair man said. "So with the fighting being done here at the school, I hope it is forever, I wonder would you consider taking up your family's task. And talk with the children about ending some of these feuds. And let them talk to their families. and see if there is common ground to stop the fighting." Lucius suggested taking a draw off his tea.
" I can see how that could be a good start. But adults do not listen to children very often." she says Crisp stops by and refills her cup last. She turned to the couples. "But even if it does not work. it might turn some mind towards looking for a similar solution. And in the end that is what we want." she says. "Never appeal to a man's better nature he might not have one. But instead appeal to his self interest and he will consider what is best for him." she says. Lucius laughs. as to does Lily. " Make that up on your own?" James asks. "No a writer by the name of Heinlein ahd that come from one of his characters. and it stuck with me." she answered. Narcissa sits up." You need some art. The walls here are barren. But that is for Yule. Come let us get dinner and see to our friends. Shall we." The Malfoy Matron suggests.
September turned to October. And the weather got wetter and at the start of the month it had not gotten cold. Ravenclaw finally found it's footing and gave the Slytherin a fight the second match But somehow could not get a handle on the Hufflepuff. Only the Gryffindors have a better run on the other three teams. A group of the students helped the setting up of racks for the fireworks. And the view was well worth it. The wagons bringing stuff in had students unloading as Rose wanted certain things set just so. It was clear after the second week that she was micromanaging the situation. It was her first event. Percy was the only person who could get her calmed down. He got her to calm down one time by drawing her in to a dance. It was impulsive but as the twins said.
Finally the stage was set. Fireworks in position. Lighting both direct and indirect was in place. Chaperons being Remus Lupin and Marlene McKinnon. There had been talk about Sirius offering to help and it being soundly shouted down. Band ready in good health and well pampered. Rose being forced to sit with Percy who rightly kept her well aware that all was going right. Penny Clearwater having the duty to turn and keep giving Rose the Thumbs up. She was to do that even if the school was on fire and all the Plagues of Egypt were breaking out all at once. Elizabeth showed up to gather in Theo his dress robes a very fine green with gold trim and her dress silver with green highlights and a well set Ruby necklace and stylized Slytherin broach. They followed Pansy up to gather up Harry. The reason for the stick pin was clear Harry carried the symbol of Comedy and she had the one for Tragedy. Draco and Ginny were very much the house colors with a a broach with the other's colors. As Ginny was wearing a silver broach in the form of Adder with Red stones for eyes.
The children danced and partied. All was going well. When Theo and the boys ducked off to 'freshen up' Daphne who had been parked there by BLaise as he needed to freshen up as well looked over. "Ladies those are very lovely gowns. I hope it goes well?" Greengrass asked. Elizabeth felt the nudge from Pansy. "Daphne. Your gown is also very lovely. I like the coloring. The orange helps bring out the highlights in your hair. And the Opal-Onyx necklace is lovely as well. Blaise trotted out. He would have openly ran if the distance had been long enough. "HELP" he shouted. And then grabbed at his own throat. Pansy moved first. She grabbed a Bezor out of her clutch and pushed it into his mouth. Elizabeth rushed into the boys restroom. The other three boys were slumped to the ground. She opened her own clutch and pulled her own ezor out. Lupin rushed in and quickly pulled two more stones and used that to start to help the boys. Elizabeth spotted a flask half under a door for a nearby stall and brought it up to sniff. "Firewhisky. Not sure if anything else is there" she said closing the flask. She handed it off to Lupin and looked about for anything else. She looked up at the ceiling and saw something. a creature to be sure and it flexed and twitched and would have struck Lupin if his own Protego had not be quickly cast. Snape rushed in he had been asked to join the Potter's party. He used a spell to ensnare the thing and pull it from the ceiling and keep it from hitting anyone with more of those darts. although the beast tried.