Since morning, threats and mockery had been pouring in on Harry from all sides. In the corridors, people kept trying to trip him up. It seemed like everyone at Hogwarts had made up their minds: he was a cheat and a liar.
When he arrived at Potions, the entire room suddenly went silent. All eyes fixed on him, and then... someone whispered loudly, "I heard he persuaded one of the teachers to throw his name in." Someone else nearby scoffed, "Huh, typical Potter. Can't go five minutes without attention."
The boy with the round glasses lowered his head and moved as inconspicuously as possible toward his usual seat. But he didn't count on his best friend, who demonstratively placed his bag on the empty chair to block him. Harry looked crushed. His green eyes mirrored pure hurt and sadness.
From the other end of the room, I caught Hermione's gaze; she just shook her head in disbelief. She'd told me at breakfast that she'd had to listen to Ron ranting about Harry all morning.
Suddenly, Lydia tapped Harry on the shoulder, Ron's sister and, as they often said, the kinder twin. She smiled apologetically at Harry, tucking a strand of ginger hair behind her ear that had escaped her braid. "Sorry, Harry, Ron's just a bit shaken up from yesterday. Would you mind swapping places with me for today? Elyse agreed to it."
Since when? I thought.
Before he could say a word, she dropped her textbooks next to her brother. The dark-haired boy apologised and sat down next to me.
"You know, you don't have to look so miserable. Personally, I think I'm the funniest person in this room," I nudged his shoulder with a smile. "Hmm, why so confident?" "Well, it's not like I have any other choice." A smirk played on my lips. For a moment, silence settled between us. "Harry?" I asked cautiously. "Hmm?" he grunted. "Ron is stubborn, but he loves you. It might take a while, but Lydia will talk sense into him."
Harry looked at me thoughtfully. Crap. Did I say something wrong? My thoughts were racing, and with every second of silence, I spiraled deeper into uncertainty. I wasn't exactly great with emotions, and I didn't want to offend one of my only friends.
"And it probably doesn't help that Ron's started hanging out with Seamus, who believes you're a conspirator for some secret society," I added. "What?" Harry burst out laughing. "If I were in something like that, I'd have to be in Slytherin!" "And Lord Dum...I mean, Voldy would have to be alive," I quipped sarcastically.
Suddenly, the classroom door slammed shut. Professor Snape appeared, his stern features framing his face. "Silence. Today, I want you to turn to page 186. I will come to inspect you at the end of the hour."
Everyone turned to their cauldrons, finally leaving Harry alone. I was so deep into my potion that I didn't realize at first that Harry was whispering my name. "Elyse," he whispered. I was busy stirring. "Yeah?" I looked at him. "Do you think I put it in? Or that I asked someone to?" His hands were shaking. He didn't look at me; his eyes were fixed on his boiling potion. "I saw your face when Dumbledore read your name," I replied simply. "You can't fake a reaction like that."
The day was drawing to a close. Ron still wasn't speaking to Harry, and our group of five had essentially fallen apart. Lydia was with Ron, Hermione declared she wanted no part of the drama, so it was just the two of us.
We spent the time before dinner outside, with a clear view of the Black Lake. Our textbooks, assignments, and essays were scattered on the grass between us. We'd long given up on actually getting anything done; it was better to deal with the problem of falling behind later.
"Hey, do you think anyone actually goes swimming in the lake?" Harry asked thoughtfully. "Yeah, I was in there at least five times last year with Lydia." "Huh?" "We had a bet, and then it kind of became a routine. Something to take our minds off... things."
Harry suddenly started laughing. I couldn't hide the surprise in my eyes. Like, dude, I know I'm funny, but that wasn't even a joke. When he finally caught his breath, he looked at me apologetically. "Sorry, Ely. I just realized that last year was the least insane for us. For once, our lives weren't at stake."
But my father's was, I thought. Unlike the others, last year had been the worst for me. Finding out that everything people told you about your parents was a lie isn't easy. Especially when your own father mistakes you for your dead mother.
"Well, you're forgetting Ron," I tried to lighten the mood. "He'll never recover from the fact that his pet was a grown man the whole time. And then the spiders in the Willow..." We both started doubling over with laughter.
As I wiped away tears of laughter, Harry turned serious. "Elyse?" He looked at me tentatively, then shifted his gaze back to the lake. I hummed to let him know I was listening.
"How are you?" he asked suddenly, nervously wringing his hands. "I mean... How are you really. I never really asked. After what we found out about Sirius."
I pressed my lips together. "I'll be fine," I whispered as tears began to sting my eyes. Merlin, why do I have to be so sensitive? I looked at the boy next to me. The Chosen One, and yet someone who would give anything for a normal, quiet life.
"Anyway," I started, blinking back the tears, "how long do you think it would take me to convince you to jump in?" I pointed at the lake. Diversion, my specialty.
Harry scoffed. "Ha, keep dreaming. No one's getting me in there."
"Hmm... I give you five days," I smirked.
"Forget it, Black."
"You're right. I'd only need an hour."
"Elyse..." he warned with a laugh.
"I bet the water is lovely. Maybe we'd see our reflections like a mirror. Come on, let's go look."
"Nope. You don't win even if you push me in on purpose." "How so?"
"What?"
"I make my own rules, Potter. And I say pushing you in counts as a win."
"Not a chance!"
"Well, maybe I'll agree once you're actually in the lake." "Keep dreaming."
"It's only a dream if it doesn't happen. But I know it will."
Harry rolled his eyes, but a rare, genuine smile settled on his face. For a brief moment there by the Black Lake, the Triwizard Tournament didn't exist, Ron wasn't angry, and neither did that idiot Riddle with Snape's textbook, even the shadow of Sirius Black had faded. It was just us, the grass beneath us, and a promise that I'd get him into that water sooner or later.
Author's note: Hi guys! I know this chapter is quite short this time, but school has started kicking my butt, so yeah... I still hope you like it!
Ps: What do you think about Elyse and Harry's friendship? Let me know in the comments! <3