Chapter 2
The Defiant
Swaying slightly, the huge vessel hovered at least twenty-five feet above Diagon Alley. Anchors five feet across of solid steel lay on the cobblestones on either side of the street. Large chains kept the fighting ship from drifting away into the sky. Supplies were being levitated from the street past the dark wood keel by several of the crew. It was two hundred and fifty feet long from bow to stern, truly immense for enchanted tall ships. The sides of the ship were painted a dark green, trimmed with a deep brown stain. The distance from the keel to the main deck was at least fifty feet, and it was tall enough to have several floors of cabins and holds. Along both sides of the top of the hold were fifteen large square holes, harmless looking enough but what the patrons of Diagon Alley didn't see were the fifteen cannons that lurked just beyond, and likewise on the other side. Above the large dark rudder were great stained glass windows that curved along towards the main deck rails. Along the front hull was a beautifully carved seawitch with her arms outstretched holding the bowsprit as if it were a giant wand. The bowsprit itself was so long it held four black triangle sails, called jibs, fluttering in the wind. The ship had three thick masts with six black and white striped square sails on each reaching into the sky.
From the main topmast waved a symbol clear to all. The Jolly Roger bearing the sign of Captain Smythe flashed brilliantly in the English sun. Centered in a sea of black was a laughing skull. A bright red pentagram covered the left eye. Below the quivering chin of the skull were a wizard's wand and a sword, crossed. This was home to two hundred seawizards. This was home to Eliza Smythe. This was The Defiant.
A crowd had gathered below, in the ship's shadow. It was mostly students visiting Diagon Alley with their family to buy supplies for the up-coming school year. All were pointing and talking excitedly as the crew loaded the goods. Captain Smythe's mere aura parted the crowd as he approached with his daughter and over-wrought lackey.
Eliza's face broke into a huge grin. She ran awkwardly, due to her under developed land legs and her new horrible shoes, towards the supply line. Before the seawizard knew what he was doing, he had levitated the girl up towards the main deck like a sack of fresh fruit, which he had previously been sending up to the ship. She spun in the air and laughed boisterously. A large brute with a bedazzled eye patch caught her in his arms.
"Izza! Ye scoundrel!! Look a'chu in yer new school clothes. Har, har, har!" He set her down gently on the planks of the deck. She leaned over the rail and waved to her father. At this, the pyrate let out a strong laugh and slapped the young seaman on the back, causing him to fumble desperately with the heavy load. The boy looked like he was close to tears as Captain Smythe shook him back and forth in merriment.
Scalawag flew up and circled the ship once before landing on Eliza's shoulder. He nibbled affectionately on her earring with his black hooked beak.
"AA-Ahoy! AA-Ahoy," the green bird said.
"Ahoy thar, Scalawag." She dug out a small leather pouch of treats for the little thing. At the sight of the treats, Scalawag danced back and forth on his little claws and whistled. "Here ye go, my pet." She ruffled his feathers and handed him a treat as she walked toward the forecastle deck.
The fore stay sail and jibs strained against the breeze, dying to drag the ship off into the clouds. The gentle sway of the ship in the air soothed her body and calmed her soul. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. It was hard to imagine that tomorrow she would be leaving The Defiant. That she wouldn't see it, or its crew, or her father for probably two whole years. Oh, she had spent long vacations at her grandfather's on the Ethereal Islands, but she had always returned to her home on the open air, always returned to her schooling and training on its creaking planks and skyward masts. School had been the gentle voice reading from ancient text. School had been the voice of her mother, may she rest in peace. She sighed at the reflection.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the yell of her father. He was calling down to the crowd below.
"Hagrid! Ye old devil! Harrr! C'mon aboard! I owe ye a drink!"
A large man, huge really, landed with a thud on the deck next to Captain Smythe.
"Nathaniel, yeh old seadog. Good to see yeh!"
The men shook hands with powerful grips. Hagrid dwarfed even her father, who was considered sizable to the average man. They walked into the captain's quarters. Booming laughter rang out through the door. Eliza had seen many odd characters walk through her father's door, many of which even walked out under their own power, but she had seen none the likes of Hagrid. His head was covered in unruly dark hair; she doubted he ever got cold. His body was cloaked in this huge furry coat, which perhaps could use a little wash. He was not the usual sort her father had business with. Then again, Captain Smythe knew odd folks in every port. She wandered briefly how they knew each other.
She climbed into her own cabin, which was beside her father's in the stern of the ship, under the quarterdeck. Scalawag flew off of her shoulder and onto his tall wooden perch. Her new school things had been set on her small bed. She dragged her chest out from the corner of the room. It was a large chest, quite ornate really. It had been a gift for her twelfth birthday from her parents. It had once held an extensive amount of treasure that belonged to the infamous Dark Derek, the Savage Sage. It opened with a long screech. Eliza thought that it had a good note. Inside, it was plush and lined in velvet. She began packing her things; setting books, clothes, jewelry and some treasure inside. She paused as she began to clean off the contents of her desk. A picture of her mother and father, on the deck of The Defiant, smiled and laughed. Her mother's hair blew in the wind, her long white, linen robes flapped against her body.
Her parents' marriage had been based on the whole captive and captor thing. Captain Smythe boarded the ship Ezmerelda Ethereal had booked passage on in a whim to see the world. To Nathaniel, it was love at first sight. He knew she was the only one for him, which is why he took her prisoner. She resisted, which was, of course, the thing to do. But as he bound her wrists behind her, she looked into his emerald eyes and found the world she was looking for.
They courted in the usual pyrate/prisoner manner. He would untie her for short periods of time, allowing her to take her meals with him in his cabin, where he could keep a close eye on her. He showed her his collection of weapons and various rare objects found or stolen. She would talk casually of life on Ethereal Island. Gradually the periods of time she spent out of the brig became longer and longer, until she was totally free to move about the ship. Ezmerelda soon moved into the cabin Eliza was now sitting in.
One sleepless night, Captain Smythe stood on the quarterdeck, lamenting on his feelings for the beautiful island captive, when she gracefully climbed the stairs to join him. She was also unable to sleep.
They exchanged greetings and nervously looked at one another, trying to find the words to express their thoughts. At that moment, a shooting star passed close overhead, flaring promisingly over the pair. Before either knew what happened they were locked in an embrace from which neither would be the same. They pulled into the nearest port the next day and were married. The Smythes' love had been deep and passionate, and only increased at the birth of Eliza, their only child.
Eliza's wall shook with the laughter of her father and the stranger; both sounded as if they were hitting a bit of Rouge Red Rum. She smiled and set the photo in her chest carefully and resumed packing her old trusty quills and ink from her desk. She was at last satisfied that she had everything she needed. She closed and locked the chest. She lay on her bed and her thoughts drifted again to leaving and imagining what school would be like. The whole idea was foreign to her. School, in a building, on land nonetheless! The faces of many of the students she saw during the day flashed through her mind. They all seemed happy enough, she wondered…
"ELIZA! C'MER! I WANT YE TO MEET SOMEONE!" Her father pounded on the wall, as often he did to get her attention. She jumped up and ran outside and through the door next to hers.
"This be Hagrid, luv." His cheeks smiled pink.
"'Ello, Eliza. Oh now, I think the last time I saw yeh, yeh were only three!"
Eliza shook his giant hand and smiled broadly.
"Ahoy Hagrid!"
"Hagrid be th' gamekeeper an' Care o' Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts," Captain Smythe said, albeit a little drunkenly.
"That's righ', I'll be one of yer teachers Eliza. And yer pa wants me to keep an eye on yeh." At this statement, Hagrid tapped below his right eye with one thick finger teasingly. "Tomorrow when yeh get off the train, just follow along with me'n th' firs' years."
"Sounds like a plan to me, Hagrid!"
"Well, I bes' be going now. Good ta see yeh Nathaniel, have a safe journey. See yeh tomorrow, Eliza."
"Bye Hagrid," Eliza shook his hand again and stalked off to the main deck.
Her father walked Hagrid to the edge of the rail and shook hands. He slapped the man on the arm a few times and said something in a hushed tone. Both smiled and they parted. Captain Smythe went back into his cabin singing to himself and Hagrid left the ship by jumping over the rail.
The young pyrate turned and found herself face to face with a younger member of the crew, Jacque the Blade. He was leaning against the base of the main mast, carving a small chunk of wood with a small sharp knife. He barely glanced up when Eliza approached him. She didn't speak, she only crossed her arms in front of her chest and waited for him to say something. He continued to focus on his carving.
"Leavin' tomorrow, T. Izza?"
"Aye, Jacque."
They were silent again except for the sound of blade against wood.
"Oo ye yi," he said quietly.
Eliza knew from spending years with the Cajun he was expressing his sadness at her departure.
"Now, don't pout beb," Eliza said with a small smile. He hated being teased by the girl.
"Me? Making a bahbin?" He threw his right hand up as if to brush her comment off. The knife flashed in the low sun.
"Are ye comin' to see me off?"
"Mias, alohrs pas! Got to be on watch. Skeleton crew and all."
"Aye." Eliza understood. This was their good-bye. Her friend and companion since she was about ten years old, the tall thin Louisiana born seawizard pushed off of the mast and started to walk away.
"Take care, T. Izza."
"Aye, beb." He was already out of earshot and Eliza suspected he would not seek her out to talk to her again before she left. She felt slighted but knew he just upset. She had expected their parting to be bitter.
Eliza climbed up on to the shrouds, which were huge rope nets that extended from the main deck rail to the main boom. It swept out over the open air. Eliza laid face down on the netting, her chin and forehead resting on thick pieces of rope. She silently watched the activity on the street below. Tonight she would mourn her leaving the only home she knew. Tomorrow, though, she would relish in the new adventure.
Chapter 3
Hogwarts
"Arrright my sweet, this be where I leave yeh. Ye have enough gold?" Captain Smythe looked down at his only daughter, dressed in her new uniform, a black robe folded over her hook.
"Yeah Da, I be fine."
Captain Smythe loaded her chest and Scalawag's cage into the trunk of the taxi that waited outside of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Now, ye know how t' get t' th' platform and all?" he went on.
"Aye Da! I BE fine! I have everythin'. Don't fret." She knew he was just upset at having to send her away.
"Well then. Oh, c'mer lass. Yer ol' pa is going to miss ye somthin' terrible. Haven't been out of my sight mor'n a few months time…Arrrh." He picked the girl up and held her, tears welling up in his eyes.
"I'll miss ye too Da. Ye best write me when ye can. Be careful, and good luck. I hope ye kill the rotten bastard!" She spat the last sentence, with pure anger.
"Oh, I will Eliza, rest assured. Just like yer mother, cursin' and well-wishin' at th' same time," he sniffled slightly, "May she rest in peace."
"May she rest in peace."
"Squawk!"
"I luv ye girl."
"I luv ye too Da."
Captain Smythe set her down and took a step back. Behind him were some grungy crewmembers, looking sheepish, holding their hats, looking at their boots, and in some cases, their bare feet.
"Bye, Izza."
"Good…luck, Izza."
"Aye, give'em hell Miss,"
The others mumbled goodbyes. Pyrates were never very exceptional at goodbyes, unless it was at the end of a cutlass.
"Bye ye scurvy lot!"
Eliza smiled and winked as she climbed into the vehicle. She sat centered in the back seat. It was a curious contraption. Her father said it was the usual mode of transportation for Muggles. It felt like a cushy rowboat with a thick, hard canopy. It was quite a bit smaller than any of the cabins on The Defiant. There was a bit of a wall between her and the driver; who currently looked quite scared and mumbled to himself that no one was ever going to believe him. Captain Smythe leaned over to the window.
"Take her t' Kings Cross station, and make sure she gets inside safe. If I find out that ye mistreated her in anyway I, and my men, will hunt ye down and keel haul yeh. Am I clear?"
The driver gulped and nodded. Captain Smythe fumbled with the Muggle money he had taken out of Gringotts and dropped at least a hundred pounds into the hands of the cabby.
"That should be enough, I reckon."
The driver gulped again and nodded slowly, still not comprehending the entire situation.
"Bye luv. Be a good girl. Study hard."
She waved her hook, biting her lip. He nodded and stepped back from the car. The ragged bunch of seawizards watched her peer back through the rear window as the car sped away.
Kings Cross was a bit of a nightmare. The cabby had gotten her a trolley and put all her luggage on it, groaning at the weight of her chest. Scalawag swore to himself angrily. He had never been in a cage in his whole life. He was quite displeased with the idea of it. Eliza pushed the trolley through the crowds of people. The place was incredibly busy. Men, women and children were scurrying about trying to get to trains before they started to leave. Bags were being dragged, tossed and carted everywhere. It was like a mad house, worse than any port. Eliza had never been anywhere like it. True, The Defiant was somewhat close quarters for the two hundred men and women who crewed on it, but she had never felt stifled with the open air and the lapping ocean below. Here was a different story. Eliza felt as though she were drowning.
She looked at her ticket. Platform nine and three quarters. Muggle travel was such a weird thing, first that automobile sputtering loudly and jerking uneasily. The small enclosure almost made her sick. She had to open both windows just to breathe properly.
Now, these strange train things. They were like long silver serpents sliding across these little trails set on long skinny docks that lay across the land, certainly not powered by wind. Eliza didn't approve.
Before she realized it, she was standing between platforms nine and ten and looking at the barrier. Her father had instructed her that she was to walk directly though, since it was only an illusion to keep out muggles.
"Well, I guess this be it," she said to Scalawag, who ignored her out of spite.
She held her breath and pushed her trolley through the solid metal wall. Before her eyes was the astounding sight of the Hogwarts express, shining bright scarlet and billowing steam. Students were climbing into the train and saying goodbye to various size and shape wizards and witches. It reminded Eliza vaguely of the port at Ethereal Island. People always sobbing and going on, while their relatives waved little scarves from the rails of huge ships.
She loaded her luggage into the bottom of a compartment. She ruffled Scalawag's feathers and gave him a treat. This seemed to distract him from the fact she was setting him in the luggage compartment. She slung her leather satchel over her shoulder and draped her robe over her hook-arm. She looked to the clock and saw it was ten until eleven. She had just a few minutes before the train would leave. Enough time for a smoke. She pulled a hand-rolled black cigarette from a small gold case and put it to her lips. She lit a match on the bottom of her shoe. The cigarette flared and sweet smelling clove and tobacco smoke filled her senses.
Eliza had gained many bad habits from her association with the crew of The Defiant. Although her father had, at first, tried to stop her, he quickly realized that she'd never develop a good throaty pirate voice without first tearing up her vocal cords a bit. So, he taught her to roll her own cigarettes and how to pick a good cigar. She even developed a taste for quality rum. The whistle started to blow signaling the train would be leaving. Eliza stamped out her smoke and jogged over to the door. She hopped aboard at the very end of the train, standing momentary on the steps as the train left Kings Cross.
The English countryside passed by with increasing speed. Eliza had never seen this part of England before. Her ventures had only led her to various ports and surrounding seas. The rolling green hills looked like emerald waves, frozen in a constant storm. She breathed in deeply, missing the taste of salt in her senses.
After a few minutes she turned and began looking for a seat. Most of the compartments were full of noisy kids excitedly catching up with one another. She found one empty close to the back of the train. She slipped in and set her bag down. Immediately she emptied its contents onto the seat next to her. It took her only a moment to rip the Mary Jane's and the plain gray socks from her legs. Eliza would have no more of this stark uniform; it was time she fixed it to her liking. From the pile on the seat next to her she grabbed a pair of purple and black stripped stockings and pulled them on. They reached to the upper part of her thighs, where she anchored them with the claps from her garter belt.
Next, she pulled on her most favorite boots. They were dark black leather and came up to her knees. She took a moment to wipe off the gold buckles and straighten the large cuffs. Having solved her footwear problem, Eliza felt much better. But there was still the matter of where to put her wand. She scoured through the pile and found her best belt. It was well-polished, black, leather, and four inches thick. The buckle matched those of her boots. It was stunning.
She stood and slid the belt around her slender waist, loose enough that it slid diagonally down to her hips. Perfect. She found her wand. Her wand, she thought, really it was her mother's. She did not have a wand of her own until her mother died, may she rest in peace, as it wasn't customary on Ethereal to receive one's wand until the age of sixteen. It was a slender piece of white driftwood, seven and three sixteenths inches long. At the end it made a perfect curl. Inside were an ounce of twenty-four karat gold and a small sapphire from the last treasure of the lost continent of Atlantis. It had been a gift from her grandfather to her mother of age. Eliza now held it lovingly, remembering her mother, may she rest in peace. She slid the wand easily into the belt along her left side, making it easy to draw.
Her hair was a mess, she knew. It always was. She had never been sure exactly how long it was since it had a tendency to curl wildly around her head. Her bandana was on top of her pile of miscellaneous junk. It was white and red striped. Eliza tied it over the top of her head so that the stripes were diagonal and the small, black skull and cross bones on its front showed centered above her eyes.
The last thing to do was to adjust her uniform slightly. Her father had fixed the sleeves, but Eliza still was unhappy with the fitting of the vest and the skirt. She drew out her wand and tapped the vest, murmuring a tightening charm. The vest sucked into her body, outlining her curves perfectly. It wasn't her corset, but it would do. She tapped the skirt and shortened it by a few inches. Approving of her outfit, she draped the black colored robe loosely onto her body. She was ready.
She put her things back into her satchel and packed away the Mary Jane's and the knee high socks. She slung the bag back over her shoulder and walked out into the hallway. Eliza didn't have very many friends her own age, one to be precise, and only a handful that were even considered young, as she lived a very isolated life on a floating, enchanted pyrate ship. She was however, quite charming, like her father, and she didn't doubt that she'd be able to gain a few new companions on the journey to school.
She chose a compartment at random and threw open the door.
"Ahoy, there! Eliza Smythe, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Smythe, the Soothsayin' Hooligan and pyrate on th' ship Defiant. I be lookin' for a few good mates. If ye decline my offer o' friendship, I'll cut yer throat!" Eliza smiled broadly as the sun glinted off of her shiny hook.
***
Eliza stood lethargic in the center of the Great Hall. Some scurvy looking hat was singing about lions, snakes, badgers and eagles, oh my. There had formed an empty circle around her since the train ride into Hogsmeade. It was not just her wild aura that parted crowds much the same way as her father's, but she seemed to have made some sort of wrong impression on the train. Eliza had forgotten how delicate most landlubbers were, wizard and Muggle alike. Honestly, if she had meant any of the death threats she would have handed out pieces of paper with black spots on them like business cards. Really, they cried far too easily.
Various first years were being dragged up front and made to wear the singing hat. It was yelling out house names and sending them off to one of the four long tables to either side. She noted the various cheering from the tables as children joined them. There were actually quite a few new students who were older. Many of the smaller schools abroad were sending them off to the larger schools on the main lands where they would be safer, something about dark wizards roving about starting wars and whatnot. She realized that her name was being called.
"Smythe? Please come forward," the witch who had greeted them at the entrance of the castle said curtly.
Eliza stalked up to the front with an air of confidence, all eyes on her. Many faces had curious expressions. Many were ready to burst into tears again. She sat on the stool and allowed the sorting hat, as they called it, to be placed on her tangled mane.
"My, you are an odd one aren't you? Slytherin would feel like home…there are many there that could be called…cutthroat. But you're not bad…no…but… not good either. Very brave, you don't seem to have much to fear…there is a thread of ruthlessness in you, I can see that very plain…"
"Get on with it, hat."
"A bit testy aren't we? But it's obvious that your strongest points are your wit and your curious mind, cunning as it may be…RAVENCLAW!"
There was mixed reaction from the Ravenclaw table. Most cheered and clapped, but several exchanged worried glances. Well, she did have a hook.
Eliza sat down at the Ravenclaw table, winked and smiled at her new housemates. She turned to watch the rest of the sorting, feeling perhaps that she was being rude letting her attention wander before. The rest of the first years and transfer students were sorted and they took their places at the various tables. The tall old man with a pointy hat stood up and spoke. Eliza guessed that this was the Headmaster her father had told her about. He sounded quite nice; his tone was very serious and spoke with wisdom.
He raised his hands and said at last, "Let the feast begin!"
At this, the tables were instantly filled with the most glorious looking meal Eliza had seen. Dinners at her grandfather's had been very formal and large indeed, but none compared to this. Cheers rang out amongst the house tables. All of the students began heaping their plates with the delicious looking items. Eliza joined in; she realized that she was quite hungry.
After a few moments of hurried eating, conversations began. At first, many of the Ravenclaws were timid to talk to Eliza, probably because she was stabbing things with her hook. Then out of the blue, Lisa Turpin, another sixth year turned to Eliza and spoke.
"I didn't know pirates still existed. I thought it was all just, you know, legendary," Lisa said with intrigue.
"Well, muggle pirates aren't very common any more, but wizard pyrates," she said as though she could pronounce the spelling difference, "that's a different story. There be fleets of 'em. Ye ever hear of Peter Pan and Captain Hook?" Eliza ventured.
"Yeah, but that's just a kids' story isn't it?" a boy named Stephen Cornfoot blurted out.
"Th' hell it be! I've met Hook before, yeh know. Peter Pan be a wizard, he just figured it all out quite early. Born to some Muggles somewhere in England, he decided to take off, see what th' world was like. Met up with a faerie and found his way to Neverland. Time runs sort of funny there…not too far from the Ethereal Islands, only about a week's voyage."
"Get out! That's amazing!" Stephen's jaw hung open.
"Hook's a strange one though, can't figure out why he sticks around that place, chasing after the lost boys. He's a bit funny about clocks too. Nice hook though, beautifully handcrafted. Don't get hooks like that anymore…" She eyed hers indifferently. The rest of the group eyed it with new enthusiasm.
The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. Eliza was caught up in many conversations at once. She was answering questions about the Ethereal Islands, and life on The Defiant, and asking questions of the other students. Their lives have been so different from her own. Some were even brought up in Muggle homes. She discussed with them the lack of merits of the automobile.
At the end of the feast the plates magically disappeared and some older students began calling out orders. Some fellow claimed he was perfect and wanted all the Ravenclaws to follow him. Eliza thought that was a little smug, he was handsome and all, but to say your perfect? That's a bit much. The rest of the house didn't seem to mind and got up noisily and followed. The journey from the Great Hall to the Ravenclaw common room awestruck Eliza. All of the paintings were moving and talking, greeting the new students. She had never seen so many in one place. Staircases were shifting at random, stranding several first years at various places. The décor was so medieval it was fantastic. At last the perfect fellow stopped at a statue of a knight, who greeted him warmly.
"The password is Featherlite." The boy said loudly so that all could hear.
At this, the Knight stepped aside to reveal a comfortable, calm blue room. The fireplaces were as large as Eliza's cabin and blazed with roaring fires. The girls were sent up the staircase on the left, while the boys were all sent to the right. Eliza had never lived with so many other girls. There were witches on the ship, of course, and the cooks and all, a few pyrates, but not many. This would be quite an experience. She was ushered into a sixth year girl's dormitory where her things were already waiting.
Scalawag was flipping out, cursing at her and throwing insults. She undid his cage and he darted out like a lime comet. After circling around the ceiling of the room several times he finally landed on her shoulder.
"Are ye finished?"
"Aye!" he whistled.
"Want a treat?"
"Aye! Squawk!" He danced on his feet again, with excitement.
Eliza dug out the leather sack from her side satchel and gave the cooing bird a treat. The other girls were coming in now and they welcomed her. Most of them had been here for the past five years and knew each other. Mandy Brocklehurst, Lisa Turpin, Padma Patil and Sally-Anne Perks all shook hands with her and showed her around the dormitory. Eliza wanted to unpack, but she felt exhausted and knew there would be time tomorrow. She changed into her nightshirt and slid into the thick covers of the four-poster bed that was easily double the size of her own small bedding on the ship. She drew the curtains and laid her head down. Tomorrow would add to her new experiences, but for now drifting off to her dreams and memories would keep her content.
Chapter 4
A Pyrate's Life
Eliza woke abruptly, screaming, "I'll cut yer liver out!"
"Calm down Eliza! It's just me, Lisa." The short blonde said, slightly shocked. She had been shaking Eliza gently to wake her up for breakfast.
"Oh. Right. Sorry. Where's th' grub?"
Lisa laughed and took her clothes with her to the bathroom. Eliza followed, still trying to get her bearings. She had been dreaming of a sea voyage and was slightly alarmed when she woke to find herself at Hogwarts. The dorm room still was very unfamiliar. She showered quickly and dressed in the same manner as the day before. Her purple and black striped tights caused a bit of a commotion with the other girls.
"I don't think you can wear those, can you?" Mandy said as she slipped her vest on.
"Why not? No holes in 'em," Eliza said, not understanding the intention of Mandy's question, as she put her belt on.
Padma was in the dormitory arguing with Scalawag when Eliza came out of the bathroom.
"Well! You have a foul mouth don't you! Honestly, if you weren't a bird I'd slap you!"
"Arrh! Slap ye! Ahoy, Izza! Arrh! Squawk!"
"Ahoy, Scalawag. Sleep well?" The parrot whistled and flew to perch on her shoulder. "Sorry, Padma, Scalawag has no manners. Do ye, yeh louse?"
Scalawag whistled.
Padma gathered her bag and waited for Eliza to do the same so they could walk down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The large room was slowly filling with sleepy students. Eliza sat across from Padma and Stewart Ackerly, a quiet third year. She tore a chunk of bread and ate quietly, still mostly asleep. She tried to recall all of the things her mother had told her about her own schooling when she was young, her mother's memory gave her a vague notion of what to expect of this place.
The first day of classes passed without much trouble. She had gone to Herbology with the Slytherins, Defense Against the Dark Arts with Gryffindor and History of Magic with Hufflepuff. Madam Sprout reminded her of her grandmother and only reprimanded her slightly for telling Millicent Bulstrode that she was going to carve her eyes out with a spoon. Well, she was insulting her favorite bandana, after all. The Defense professor was some refined witch by the name of Emmeline Vance, quite keen on sigils. Eliza was surprised to find the professor of History of Magic was, in fact, a ghost. A boring old daft as well. Eliza spent the time polishing her hook. The Hufflepuffs looked uneasy.
She was just finishing her dinner and speaking to Orla Quirke on the finer points of swashbuckling when Cho Chang, a seventh year sat down next to her.
"Hello Eliza, I'm Cho. I'm Head Girl and I was so busy yesterday that I didn't get a chance to meet you." The girl held out her hand to shake.
Eliza liked her instantly. Her smile was trustworthy and her voice was songbirds. Eliza took her hand and shook it aggressively.
"Ahoy, Cho. No idea what the hell ye be talkin' about with that head girl business, o' course there was some fellow sayin' he was perfect last night. Nice to know our house be confident. Arrh!"
Cho tossed her head back and laughed. "Eliza, you're so silly! Head Girl and Boy are the student leaders for the year. Each house has six prefects, who are fifth, sixth and seventh year students. They help us run the student body and enforce the school rules. One of the Ravenclaw prefects is Anthony Goldstein. That's probably who you're talking about. I'm sure you met him in some of your classes today. Padma is one too." She smiled over to the Indian girl.
"Oh, right. That Goldstein fellow's a prefect. That makes more sense I suppose. Head Girl be the captain and the prefects are the mates?" Eliza smiled, the hierarchy of the student body clicked into place in her head. "Ye may call me Izza if yeh like, it be a nickname from the crew. That goes for the lot of yeh." Eliza pointed her hook around at the table with a furrowed brow. The other Ravenclaws smiled and shook their heads. Most of the things Eliza said in the last day had come off like a threat, but it was just her way.
"Well, if there is anything you need Izza, feel free to ask." Cho smiled, stood and left the Great Hall with a tall blue-haired fellow Eliza recognized to be Zack Hunter, a transfer student from Brazil. He was also in Ravenclaw, but seemed quite preoccupied by female population of Gryffindor to stay and chat. Eliza soon followed with Padma and Lisa back to the common room.
She decided that the rest of the evening should be spent unpacking and making her surroundings more familiar. She climbed the stairs to the dormitory alone, the other girls remained in the common room chatting. Eliza opened her chest and pulled out several of the clothing items, placing them in drawers and hanging them up. She had brought a few hats along, just in case, one never knew when you would need a good hat. One was a well plumed tri-corner hat that looked a lot like her father's, another was a French musketeer hat she had picked up on her travels. It was pinned up on the right side, not that Eliza did much in the way of archery, but it was still a nice style. She set both hats on the tops of the bedposts and continued pulling out items. She placed the picture of her parents on the dresser and her other personal items along side it. There was jewelry, school supplies, letters and a few decorative boxes here and there. Several rarities she had gathered on miscellaneous islands or ports. Her favorites were a few small ivory carvings of merfolk she had traded a pair of earrings for in the port of Yokohama.
Lastly, she took out a large Jolly Rodger with the symbol of The Defiant on it. It was a gift from the crew to send her on her way. The laughing skull looked around and winked at Eliza. She pinned the flag up on the wall behind her bed. It made a nice addition to the headboard. With the Jolly Rodger in place, and her things scattered about her area, she felt much better about calling Hogwarts her home away from home. Mandy came through the door of the dormitory and let out a stifled scream. The laughing skull stuck its tongue out at her.
"Izza! That thing scared me half to death." Mandy sat down on her bed and looked around at Eliza's things. "What is it?"
"Oh, it be the flag from my father's ship. The crew all signed it for me on the back. Buncha softies at heart." Eliza smiled and shook her head. Thinking of the last time she saw her father, she was astonished that it was only yesterday morning, it felt like ages.
"Well. It's quite interesting… Is that a picture of your parents? May I see?" Mandy inquired.
"Aye. Here ye go." Eliza took the frame and passed it to Mandy.
"She's very beautiful. You look a lot like both of them. Are they standing on your ship?"
"Aye, that they be."
"Izza, why are you here? I mean, you came to school so late, why didn't you just finish school where you were?" Mandy asked, handing the photo back to Eliza.
Lisa, Padma and Sally-Anne were walking into the room as Eliza started to speak. They sat down on their beds, listening quietly with genuine interest. Eliza sat on the top of her chest, holding the picture of her laughing mother and wistful father.
"I were born on th' Defiant, my father's ship. I never intended to leave it. Some things change though. My mother taught me, day in and day out from th' time I were five years old. I learned th' art of magic under her careful watch," she paused and stroked the photo with her fingers. "My father has made many enemies over his lifetime. Thar be seawizards who would see him dead in an instant, not without cause mind you, my father be a pyrate, and that name doesn't come without warranted connotations. However, thar are those pyrates who are cruel beyond… beyond." She waved her hand, trying to emphasize a point for which she didn't have a word. "He knew that Mephisto Munroe, the villain-" she hissed his name with thick venom, "-were after him. We all knew. But time passed, and thar were no attack. We thought…everyone thought that he had given up th' chase. We had taken port on a small island in th' Caribbean. We stayed almost a month, gatherin' supplies and givin' th' crew leave. Th' night before we were to shove off…my mother, may she rest in peace, went for a walk along th' shore, she always loved th' feel of sand beneath her feet." There was a pause; Eliza mustered the mental strength to finish. "She…she never returned. We waited days, my father and his crew tore up th' village…searching… on the third night a small row boat glided towards the side of th' Defiant." Eliza stopped speaking now, and only remembered.
The rowboat gently rubbed against the side of the ship, wood scrapping wood. Eliza heard the crew screaming and crying out. She walked slowly forward, unable to stop her feet from carrying her closer to the sight she new would rip her up. Her hand crawled along the rail, holding her upright.
"Eliza! No! Don't look!" One of the crew tried to restrain her, sickening distress filling his expression.
She tore through his arms and leaned over the rail. She could hear screaming, ear piercing and full of pain, it was ceaseless. Her mother's body lay lifeless and bloodied. Not even set in the boat with respect, just tossed inside and sent to be found. Her dark hair was matted with her own blood. The white robes were marred, stained dark. Her body was broken. Eliza realized the screaming was her own, uncontrolled and unyielding. Her father was at her side now, trying to shield her away from the lifeless form of the women he loved so deeply.
"My mother were inside." Her voice came quietly. "She were murdered… tortured." There were no tears now, only venom.
"She were my Mother! MY MOTHER!" she pounded her fist uncontrollably onto the table.
"AND I AM YER FATHER!" His face, red with anger, red with fear.
"I want to see him die, I want to see him in as much pain-"
"No."
"No? No!? How can ye say that? How can ye send me away? I deserve to fight along side ye. I NEED TO!"
"No," he was firm, but not angry. "I be th' reason yer mother is dead. It be me he were after. I will not have yer blood stainin' my decks as well. Thar be no discussion about this, Eliza. Yer too young, and too much of a target. I won't have ye near."
She sobbed bitterly and sunk into the chair.
"Where will I go? To grandfather's?"
"No, Munroe knows where the Count and Countess are and that it be likely to send ye there. He'll be watching all of the Ethereal Islands. I'm sending ye to England. To school. Yer other grandfather retired in London many years before ye were born. He has since died, but I still have many friends thar. Yer mother would have wanted ye to finish yer learnin'. Become a full-fledged witch just like her. School in th' Americas is out of the question. He'd look for ye thar as well, and thar not as well protected. I've made arrangements with th' Headmaster at Hogwarts. th' Defiant is already heading toward the English coast."
"And I don't have a say in it?"
"The decision has been made. I need to know that ye are safe before I go after Munroe. I don't know how long it will be. Ye won't leave England until I come for yeh. I will give ye contacts of those whom I trust in London so that ye can spend the summer holidays with them, if thar be a need. I suspect thar will be."
Eliza sat defeated.
"My father is huntin' down Munroe. He didn't want me to be a target for Munroe to use against him. So he sent me here." She sighed. "Perhaps for good. I don't know when I will see him again. I don't know if he'll ever write, being afraid to disclose my location or his own…I hope he tears that vile creature limb from limb. I want to see him hung, strugglin' against unforgivin' rope for breath! Thar ain't a night that I don't envision him screamin' for mercy." Eliza's voice was so filled with hate it chilled the room.
Lisa walked over to Eliza and put her arms around her. She spoke softly, "Oh, Izza. I'm so sorry."
The other girls slid forward and did the same. She found their affection eased the pain and cooled her anger. The group embrace was so very foreign to her, knowing little feminine touch besides her mother and grandmother.
"It be alright. Thank ye." The girls loosened their hold on their new roommate, their new friend.
"Ahoy, Izza! Scalawag will rip his throat out! Squawk!" The parrot whistled, bobbing his head. Eliza and the others burst into laughter.
"Aye, Scalawag, ye'll get your chance some day, and be a huge hero!" More laughter.
"Izza? Can I…Can I try on your hat?" Mandy asked, furthering the lightened mood.
"Arrr…go a head," Eliza grinned as Mandy stood and plucked the musketeer hat from the bed.
The rest of the evening was spent in good humor as the girls got to know Eliza Smythe and shared with her their own histories.
***
In the morning, Eliza rolled out of bed and hit the floor with a loud thud. Her head felt as though she had poured a bottle of rum down her throat the night before. She cursed violently before pushing herself to her feet. Lisa just looked at her, shaking her head.
"You, my dear, are not a morning person."
"Be it that easy to tell?" Eliza proceeded to get ready, grumbling to herself another myriad of obscenities.
Today, she had Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Transfiguration. She was actually looking forward to it. She knew Hagrid would be teaching Care of Magical Creatures, a subject that she loved. Well, sea creatures anyway. Potions was one of her favorite subjects as well. Her grandmother was the island guru of special brews. On the occasions they would visit, Eliza would sit for hours watching the Countess in her kitchen, preparing bottles of potions to send along with the ship. Transfiguration sparked her interest, regardless of the stern faced professor she new would be teaching it.
"Ugg. Potions. At least we're still with Hufflepuff," Sally-Anne said with distain.
Eliza barely swallowed her toast before she spoke, "What be so bad about potions?"
"Well, it's not the subject. Just that it's with Professor Snape. He's dreadful and spiteful. He hates everyone except for the Slytherins and is always unfair."
Eliza waved off the comment; she had dealt with all sorts of personalities on The Defiant. Butting heads with an arrogant git wouldn't be anything new. They finished their meals and headed outside to meet Hagrid at his cottage. The students talked excitedly, wondering what crazy animal Hagrid would bring out today. Most of the Ravenclaws seemed to treat this subject with a bit of jest and Eliza was unsure as to why. The Hufflepuffs, however, were cheerful and optimistic.
The giant man walked up from over the hill, calling to the class to follow him back down to the lake. The students were surprised, expecting him to emerge from his cabin. Once they reached the lakeshore they were greeted with a snort from an odd looking creature, playfully lying in the water. It had the head of a horse and beautiful sea foam color mane dripping with water. Its forelegs were strong and shaped like the front legs of a horse, but ended in webbed paws. Its body curled into that of fish, a blend of scales and horsehair. It snorted again, kicking water up toward where Hagrid was standing.
"This is a Hippocampus. It is half horse and half fish. It is said that mighty Neptune uses one of these as his steed. Th' merfolk often domesticate them and use them as workhorses, so ta speak. Now, the important thing to remember with the Hippocampus is that it has the ability to alter yer mood if yeh get close enough. Yeh don't want to alarm it or cause it to mistrust yeh, much like it's cousin the Hippogryph. But unlike its cousin, the Hippocampus won't attack, but it will set off your panic button and we'll have to be pulling yeh out of a tree. Ha! Ha! Alrigh' don't be shy, pull up your robes and take off yer shoes. Th' water is a bit cold."
Many of the class took off their shoes reluctantly, looking into each other's faces to decide how they felt about this lesson. Eliza however had tossed her robe aside and was hopping on one foot trying to get both boots off simultaneously. She ran into the water, her socks still on.
"Alright Eliza? Good to see yer fittin' in with your classes."
"Ahoy Hagrid! Wonderful lesson! I just luv hippocampus."
She kneeled, soaking the bottom of her skirt, to pet the beast. It responded warmly to her and nuzzled against her hand. Eliza immediately felt elated. The hippocampus, having decided she wasn't a threat, filled her with jovial emotion. The other students now wandered into the water, grimacing at its icy feel. The rest of the class was spent learning how to feed the hippocampus. Hagrid told them that they would be focusing on the lake creatures this year. Eliza was very happy with this, she knew how to handle water animals.
The class wandered back to the castle. Hagrid had let them go a few minutes early so they didn't worry about rushing to the Potions classroom. They stopped off at the dormitory to pick up their cauldrons and ingredients. The girls lead the way down to the dungeons. The dank air made Eliza think back to exploring the bottom of the ship's holds when she was younger. The classroom looked like a classic horror flick, it perfectly reflected the professor who sat at in a desk at the front. Most of the students suddenly became interested in their shoes or the contents of their notebooks. No conversations were carried out. Eliza sat next to a girl named Hannah Abbott, she was a Hufflepuff. Hannah looked mortified.
Snape started the lesson at precisely the correct time. He strutted about the room, listing off ingredients and their importance. Several of the students looked flustered with the speed at which he directed. At long last he sat with distain and bid them to work on their potion. Eliza began preparing her ingredients. They were making a simple lightening potion. A few sips and the drinker would become almost as light as a feather. Hannah looked perplexed. Eliza continued working meticulously. The work calmed her and she thought of her grandmother again.
"Miss Smythe, I don't believe I told you to mutilate those moth wings," Snape hissed from his desk, eyeing Eliza's work.
"Sir, by mashing them thoroughly the effect of the potion will be extended by at least five minutes," Eliza said simply and continued her work without even looking up.
Snape clenched his teeth. "Do as you're told, Miss Smythe. Cutting them will suffice for our use." He was angry, but the emotion was lost on Eliza, who dropped what was left of the wings into her cauldron. In her head she was humming a low deep song her grandmother used to sing while she worked. It was enough to even block out the fact Snape was striping the Ravenclaws of five points for her attitude.
The afternoon drifted into view, and Eliza found herself sitting in the transfiguration classroom. She sat in the back of the room, Lisa Turpin took the chair on her right. The rest of the Ravenclaws and the Slytherins entered and took their seats. On her left was a pair of sneering boys. She recognized the pointy blonde one from her shopping day at Diagon Ally. He glanced in her direction. She met his cold, gray glare with a cryptic smile. They still had several minutes before the class would start. Lisa was discussing an Arthimancy assignment with Padma who sat in front of her. Millicent Bulstrode walked in and shot daggers at Eliza. Eliza hoped she dreamed of spoons.
She took out her transfiguration book and began reading through it. She wasn't sure how much she had learned compared to the other students. She knew Professor McGonagall would not let her off easy for not having been in school before. She focused on the words, some of which were quite familiar. To her left a growing voice became apparent.
"…Honestly, that Muggle-lover will let anyone in this school. She looks like a vagabond. Like common trash. How disgracing! Gods, look at her legs, what tart wears striped tights-"
His words were cut short by an unmistakable feel of a cold steel point tugging on his Adam's apple. Draco chanced a look down, his fears realized. Eliza's left arm was extended, her hook crossed his neck. He shifted his eyes along her arm. She hadn't even moved, her face was still looking in the transfiguration text, her other hand casually leafing through pages, her eyes scanning the words.
"Ever heard of the phrase…Cut…throat?" She said, checking Draco's expression in the corner of her eye, as the words registered. "Vagabond's have no home. I have, its called Th' Defiant. I believe I have made my…point." She accented the last word with a slight tug. Draco held back a gulp.
"Miss Smythe! Release Mr. Malfoy! I will not tolerate this behavior in my classroom! Detention and five points from Ravenclaw. You are going to have to learn there are rules here, I suggest you learn them." Professor McGonagall's voice came sharply.
Eliza withdrew her arm and continued reading.
"Malfoy, I wouldn't cross Izza. I heard she once killed seven men in a single afternoon…and Professor McGonagall may not be there next time to save you," Padma whispered to the sulking pale thing. She winked at Eliza. And this was how her relationship was established with Draco Malfoy.
Chapter 5
Of Ships and Scars
"ELIZA SMYTHE!"
The commotion in the Ravenclaw common room ceased. Several of the younger students tried to look uninvolved. John Huddas, a first year, suddenly became interested in the upholstery of an armchair. Eliza, on the other hand, was hanging from the chandelier by her hook with a dagger in her teeth and her wand in her free hand, her only hand, rather. The only sound in the room was the swaying tension of the chandelier chain, rocking back and forth. Everything else was still. From the waist down it was reminiscent of the gallows. This, by the look on Professor Flitwick's face, was quite accurate.
She slowly brought her hand up and took the dagger from her mouth, wiping the spit off onto her robes.
"What?"
Professor Flitwick was furious. "What are you doing?!"
Eliza considered her answer for a moment. From this vantage point Professor Flitwick looked as though he were a miniature, although she could tell that his anger was not. His hair looked even whiter next to his red skin.
"Arrh…I be showin' some of the first years how to properly board a ship-"
"GET DOWN IMMEDIATELY!" He was quite beside himself with uncharacteristic behavior.
Eliza reached up to detach her hook from the bronze light fixture and dropped to the floor.
"Give me that dagger!"
Reluctantly she handed it over.
"Do you have any more weapons?"
"No," she lied, knowing full well she had her mother's cutlass as well as her own stowed away upstairs.
"Detention! We do not board ships here Miss Smythe, and we do not swing from chandeliers and we most certainly do not run around with daggers. Now I've forgotten why I came in here." Professor Flitwick looked around the common room and shook his head before he turned on his heals and scampered off through the door.
Eliza seemed to be unshaken, and pulled out another dagger from her other boot.
"Well, that's two this week. As I were sayin'…"
***
"Ship? What ship?"
Lisa and Padma looked over to Eliza who had joined the conversation late. They giggled uncontrollably.
"We were talking about who we thought Harry would end up with." Padma pointed over to the Gryffindor table where a dark, messy haired boy was eating lunch. On his side was a bushy haired brunette who was reading a thick book. Next to her was a noisy red head who was shouting to the table about some broomstick game. "Lisa thinks he's in love with Hermione, the girl next to him. I say she'll end up with Ron, after all, they've been playing cat and mouse for years."
"Padma says she thinks that Harry's not who he seems, and is really heartbroken over Malfoy," Lisa teased.
"Who? That pale scurvy thing?" Eliza asked, feeding her parrot a bit of her lunch.
"Scurvy! Squawk!"
"Most of the seventh year Ravenclaws think that he'll go after Cho again since things were left very unresolved between the two. I don't think it will ever happen though," Sally-Anne added, practically whispering.
"I still say Ginny Weasley is going to pounce on him one of these days, and he'll be too shocked to say no," Mandy piped in.
"Ginny? Oh, come on, can't you just see him writhing under Draco's glare? How tragic it is, to love your enemy," Padma finished, overdramatically, and then laughed with the rest of the girls. "Come on Izza, aren't you the slightest bit interested in a bit of gossip? In stolen moments? In torrid trysts? In epic love affairs?"
"Yeah what about you, Izza? Fancy anyone?"
"Yeah, Izza, who've you, got your hook on?" Lisa couldn't help herself, they all giggled.
Eliza stood, throwing back her chair, true to pyrate fashion. She drove her fist into the air and said, to no one in particular, "Harrh! A pyrate's only love be the unforgiving sea!"
She took her seat and continued eating her lunch, not noticing the silence she had caused. She still didn't have any idea what all this had to do with ships. Well, perhaps she did see how love could be associated with sea-fairing crafts.
Between mouthfuls she continued, "'Sides, I 'spect one day my ship'll be boarded by a dark and cruel scoundrel. He'll take me prisoner and maroon my crew, leaving them for dead. We'll fall madly in love and get married." She took another bite. Yet again there was silence. She looked over to the other girls who gave her puzzled stares. "What? How'd yer parents meet?"
All five of them burst into laughter again.
At the end of lunch Padma grabbed Eliza's arm and pulled her over towards the Gryffindor's table.
"I wanted you to meet my sister. I know we've had classes with her, but I don't think you've ever been introduced. Parvati! Over here!" The girls approached a group of sixth year Gryffindors, including the ones they were all gossiping about previously. Eliza's gaze met that of a girl who looked exactly like Padma. They smiled the same smile to each other and spoke with the same voice. Twins were weird.
"Hi Padma. So this is the famous Eliza Smythe, a real cutthroat I hear. At least to certain Slytherins," Parvati said, laughing a bit and holding out her hand for Eliza to shake.
"Ahoy, Parvati. Good to meet ye."
"This is Lavendar Brown, Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter. I think we all have Charms together next."
Eliza shook all of their hands, rendering pyratey greetings to all of them.
"Not bad, that." Eliza tapped Harry's lighting bolt scar with the curl of steel. "How'd ye manage it?"
Harry was a little dumbfounded, but the look of genuine curiosity registered on Eliza's face, and he realized it wasn't a joke.
"Well, um…When I was a baby, my parents were killed by Lord Voldemort when he tried to kill me, but it backfired and sort of ended up destroying him and leaving me this scar. Unfortunately, he's back now, and wreaking havoc on the wizarding world." He seemed a bit annoyed at having to repeat the story.
"Oh. Well. Bad sort this Voldemort fellow then? I imagine it was some sort of revenge thing. That happens." A quick shadow flashed on her features before she lit up. "I'll show ye a good scar! HA!" She stepped her right leg up onto the bench at the Gryffindor table. She pulled down one of her striped thigh-highs to reveal one darkly tanned upper leg. Across its entire length was a jagged thick scar. Several of the crowd gulped, some at the sight of the scar, some at the sight of the upper thigh so willingly showed.
"Now, that…be a good scar! There I was, a tot of only five years…not a care in the world. I was just running along after my grandfather, the Count Ethereal, down the city market. My mother and I were stayin' for a week while my father was off on some…business. Ah, but they had it all planned out, those scoundrels…Dark Derek, the Savage Sage, who had previously thwarted my father, hired men to kidnap me and my mother and hold us as ransom. I, in my innocence, knew nothin' of these things and played outside of the shop door, waitin' for my grandfather to reemerge. When suddenly, my world were utter blackness! Someone, or some ones," she said with a suspicious growl, "had thrown a thick canvas bag o'er my body and thrown me o'er their shoulders. I were taken briskly away. Th' next thing I knew I were tied to a mast with my mother. She were tellin' me that it would be all right and that my father would be here soon to fetch us. Dark Derek was laughin', he thought victory were already his. HA!"
At this, Eliza stepped both feet onto the bench and stood, her hands flying about to visualize the story. "But then days went by and thar were no word from my father, no pleadin' letters to allow his kin to live. Derek became angry and frustrated. He took his desperation out on my mother. Beatin' her savagely. 'Ye must be a useless whore if he ain't come for ye by now!' He screamed at her." She mimicked a deep throaty pyrate voice and than her own mother's, "She smiled and said, 'the fact that he has not given into a man like you, only makes me love him more.' And then she spat in his face! HA! Gods love my mother! May she rest in peace." She paused for a moment, the green blur on her shoulder, desperately trying to hang on during her avid storytelling whistled.
"Squawk! Peace!"
"Finally the hour came when Dark Derek's ultimatum were up." This was bringing her to the climax of the whole event; she climbed onto the table top, drawing a larger crowd. "No sign of my father and The Defiant. Derek cut me loose and dragged me over to the rail of the main deck by wand point. My mother screamed to take her first instead, but Derek had tuned her out. He threw me onto the plank. I clung to it, fifty feet in the air, above the choppy water." Her eyes and hand sank down and pointed at the floor, the crowd's eyes followed as if they could see the water licking the feet of the table.
Her face suddenly rose, "Derek turned on one of his own, slashing their throat." The gesture was self-explanatory. "He really was savage. He threw the body into the water just past me. I could still see the look of incomprehension on the face of the seawizard. Dark Derek wanted to draw the sharks, and he had no qualms using his own men's blood to do so. He cast Imperius, forcing me to stand and walk to the edge of the plank. He was laughing; I'll never forget that sound. I could still hear my mother screaming, cursing him, and trying to make him angry to turn on her. He did, briefly, only to knock her unconscious. And then he turned back to me, eyes raging, mouth foaming. He bid me take one final step. And that was it. I was falling through the air with incredible speed. The water filling my vision ever quicker. I hit the surface like it were brick." Eliza slapped her hook into her right hand, a demonstration of her flailing young body slapping against the water waves. There was a gasp among the crowd, a few shudders and murmured worry.
"The force knocked the wind from my chest. Then I began to sink. My arms were still bound behind me, there was nothing I could do but sink into the watery depth. I opened my eyes, I still can feel the stinging of the salt. And there before me was and glinting rows of sharp teeth. The blood of the dead seawizard had done its job well. I screamed into the water, the cold fluid choked me. The shark dived at me, gripping my kicking legs. I watched helplessly as my blood stained the ocean. He backed away for another charge. All my fear and all my rage culminated, and there, under the velvet ocean is when I discovered that I were gifted with magic, like my parents. Without any explanation, the ropes around my hand and hook had disappeared. I held them out before me, with no other defense to hold off the ensuing attack. The great fish darted towards me with deadly speed…then!" The entire audience was so drawn into the tale, eyes bugging out. The dramatic pause was not wasted on Eliza, she knew how to hold suspense.
"THEN! He just stopped, frozen in the water. I held him in place, my sheer will enough to bind him. He sank, having stopped swimming, his body lost its buoyancy." She dropped to her knees on the table, acting a drowning shark. She paused with her eyes closed and then violently jumped up. "I kicked my way to surface, my right leg barely attached. The light drawing me up. Breath filling my lungs as though I had never known what it was like to breathe before. As quickly as I emerged from the depths was I raised into the air by an unseeing force. I recognized the ship before me, it was The Defiant. My father were attacking Dark Derek. There were a fierce battle raging. I tried to stay conscience, I tried to look for the face of my father, but the loss of blood and the lack of oxygen caused me to black out." Again, she sank to her knees, hand over her eyes. She whipped it away quickly. "When I woke, I found I was in my bed, the wound had been hastily mended by the ship's cook, a mildly talented witch. The fight had been won. Dark Derek's piercing laugh had been silenced forever. My mother was safe, recovering in her own cabin."
With that, Eliza clutched at something in her belt and pulled out a long necklace of shark's teeth. Standing, she said, "This, THIS, is all that is left of the dastardly beast that gave me this scar." She raised the edge of her skirt again to show off the flawed flesh. In a quick movement she had replaced the necklace and jumped back on to the bench, turned to the table, stabbed an apple with her hook and turned again on the crowd. They were so shocked by the whole event they were paralyzed. Even when she swung her hook out in front of her they were too afraid to duck, regardless of the overwhelming urge to do so.
"AVAST YE, BRUTE!"
A seventh year Slytherin who had a resemblance to that of an ox, stopped instinctively, subconsciously knowing the meaning of her call. She tossed her satchel of books at him, which he caught and hung on to.
"Charms classroom now!" Without even pulling up her stocking, she leapt onto his back as though he were a horse and wrapped her arm around his great neck. She took a loud bite from her apple and looked back at the gasping audience.
"Yer story tellin' could use a little work there, Harry." She laughed and winked and began singing, "Ooooh… I am the cook and the Captain bold and mate of the Nancy Brrrrig! Har aarh!" The Slytherin walked out of the great hall as though he didn't even notice the intrusion on his back.
"My, she is quite…bold, isn't she?" Hermione said, clutching her texts to her chest.
"That's not the word I would have used," Ron responded.
Padma and Parvati shared a knowing glance, unseen by anyone.
Chapter 6
Athens
"Honestly, it's not like ship boarding ain't a good thing to know. I were just trying to be helpful," Eliza mumbled under her breath as she scrubbed the stone tiles.
Earlier in the day as she prepared to leave the Charms classroom, Professor Flitwick stopped her. He brushed his tuft of platinum hair back, looked up and in a sympathetic tone told her to report to Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to serve out her detentions from the previous week.
"Miss Smythe, I do hope that in the future you won't continue this behavior. Threatening young Malfoy is one thing, but I can't have my entire house swinging from the rafters. Do try and understand." He had told her.
"Understand…understand! Ha! That scurvy kid deserved a bit of fright…callin' me a vagabond…"
Peeves, the resident ghoulish prankster, had thought it would be funny to take a ton of food from the kitchens and do some artwork on the floor of one of the halls on the second floor. Eliza had been ordered to serve out both of her detentions with an evenings worth of deck swabbing. Well, stone swabbing really. The mess was thick and sticky. Peeves had done a pretty good job of being destructive. Filch had told her that she couldn't use magic so she was on her hands and knees with a bristly hand brush and a bucket of soapy water, scraping gunk out of the grout with her hook. It was nine o'clock and the castle had quieted down, most of the students retreated to the dormitories to finish their work and get ready for bed. Eliza stood and surveyed the area.
The floor was immaculate. It had better be, Eliza had been at this for three hours. She sighed and tossed the brush into the bucket. She had memorized the crevasses of the cold stone floor, but hadn't even noticed the hall she was in. She looked around briefly, taking a moment to get feeling back into her legs. It seemed like it was some sort of historic wing. Several plaques and paintings were on the wall displaying the founders of Hogwarts. Eliza had learned quite a bit about Rowena Ravenclaw from her housemates, but really didn't know a lot about the others. As she read one of the plaques below a painting of Helga Hufflepuff, she noticed a chilling breeze next to her.
"Interesting witch, that one was."
Eliza turned to find she was looking at, and through, The Gray Lady, the Ravenclaw ghost. She was tall and very, very thin. She looked even pale for a ghost.
"Good evenin', Ma'am."
"G'evening, Eliza Smythe," The Gray Lady returned her greeting in a thick Scottish accent.
They wandered about the hall together, an odd match. Eliza had changed into some scrubby work clothes. She had on some gray pants, cut short at the calves, which were host to several holes. Her top was a large, tan tunic shirt, which Eliza left untied so it fell around her left shoulder, exposing her skin. The fabric pooled around the base of her hook, almost hiding it. Her hair was a tangled mess, tied back and covered with her bandana. She was barefoot. The Gray Lady hovered inches above the ground, her long, beautiful dress covering her feet. She looked so slight, if it weren't for her height and piercing eyes, you would almost not notice her. Her features were gaunt and she held herself with a regal air.
"Ma'am… how did ye… how did ye die?"
The Gray Lady stiffened slightly and glided over to the next picture frame.
"It was the plague. I was left in the dungeon to rot. I don't like to talk about it, it was…unpleasant."
"I see. I'm sorry to be bringin' it up."
"Have you ever read this?" The Gray Lady referred to a parchment inside the picture frame. It was a set of two verses written in neat script.
"No, I've never been in this area of the castle before."
"I have read it many times. Its meaning is still lost to me. It was found in Slytherin's office after he left. No one knows if it is his, or if it was given to him. I at first thought it described the location of the Chamber of Secrets… but I believe that is wrong, in light of the actual location of the Chamber. Who knows what it leads to? I would certainly like to know."
Eliza briefly glanced at the words, but it was too dark to read them. She continued on with The Gray Lady, looking at famous wizards and witches, who in turn looked at them. The paintings weren't particularly happy with being gapped at, at this hour; many were trying to sleep and voiced their angry opinions. Eliza felt perhaps it was time to return the cleaning supplies to Filch and go back to the dorms. She bid The Gray Lady good-bye and picked up the bucket with her hook.
***
She was wandering aimlessly now, granted Eliza knew that she wasn't familiar with the castle, she still thought that she would at least be able to find her way back to the Ravenclaw Common room, if not to Filch's office. She was perhaps mistaken. It now neared half past ten, the last time she recognized anything was about twenty minutes ago. She rounded a corner and stopped abruptly.
Standing in the center of the corridor, almost completely shadowed, was the figure of a woman. She was tall and slender. Eliza could make out no discerning characteristics, nor could she decide if the figure were alive or a ghost. Eliza started to speak but was cut off before the sound left her throat.
"Eliza Smythe. You have been chosen for initiation. You have until the hour of midnight to prepare. You will be summoned. Bring with one item sacred to you. Tell no one."
Without another word the figure stepped back into the shadows and was gone. Eliza ran forward, but there was nothing. The corridor was empty, save one puzzled pyrate.
It took another fifteen minutes, and several prodding of various unhappy paintings to get Eliza back to her dorm.
"Astute Flier."
The knight sidestepped and allowed the girl into the Ravenclaw Common room. All was quiet; the rest of the house had gone to sleep. Ravenclaws always understood that a good night's sleep was the best thing for a hard working mind. Eliza cursed at the darkness, and held her wand out, "Lumos."
Using the faint light from her wand, Eliza climbed the stairs to her room as quietly as she could, her bare feet slinking across the stone. She set the bucket down next to her trunk, she would return it tomorrow. She sat on her bed holding the wand in front of her. Eliza had never been chosen for something. She had never even been summoned before. This school life was a curious thing. Were secret societies running rampant beneath the floors of Hogwarts? Was every student stopped dead in his or her tracks in the middle of the night by unknown persons and propositioned to join up? Would she? Well. There was only one option for Eliza Smythe. Of course!
She silently took off her work clothes and went into the bathroom. She showered quickly and walked back into the room, letting the air dry her skin. She absent-mindedly tied her bandana onto her wet hair, she felt less naked with it on. She went to her closet and pulled out some clothes she had yet to wear through the corridors of Hogwarts.
It was her favorite shirt, a stark white peasant top that exposed her shoulders entirely. It had long and poofy sleeves that came together in beautifully laced cuffs. She pulled on a skirt, if you could call it that. It had once been floor length and quite proper, but now it had been worn into a most comfortable set of blue rags. It was cut and ripped and at its longest fell barely to her knees. Fabric was tucked or pinned here and there, giving it a very gypsy feel. Eliza searched through her drawers until she found the ornately embroidered, black corset. She laced it on, adjusting her shirt accordingly. She then covered her muscular legs with green and black striped stockings and her tall, black boots. Eliza looked for her belt, she had tossed it onto the bed when she changed previously for her detentions. Once it was on, she stuffed her wand into its right side and looked for one last object. Inside her trunk lay her most sacred possession, her mother's cutlass. She stared down at it balanced in her hand and across her hook. It was a truly beautiful piece of weaponry. It slid so perfectly onto her left side. Eliza stood, in true pyrate form, and looked ready to board any ship.
Her body became rigid. She had the distinct feeling that she was being watched. Slowly she turned and found herself face to face to face with two figures. Both were dressed identically. Their dresses were sleeveless, silver, Grecian togas, bound at the waist and hips with black ribbon. The material was metallic and caught the light of the moon, streaming through the window. It matched the scarves that wrapped over their heads and hair and draped down over their shoulders. The scarves almost completely obscured their faces, showing only the bottom of their chins and the top of their necks. Both were holding a thick, white, lit candle with both hands.
They said nothing, and Eliza returned the favor.
The figure on the right turned around and began to walk back down the stairs into the darkness. Eliza understood she was to follow. She walked past the other cloaked figure, which remained frozen. Eliza blindly followed the dark silhouette of the first woman, her edges only lit by the candles she was holding. She now felt the presence of the other woman following behind her. This was how they proceeded through the Ravenclaw common room, and through the rest of the castle. They met no other students or professors or even Filch and his cat. The halls were silent accept for the steps of three women in some sort of bizarre procession to the depths of the school.
At last they came to a large set of double doors. Eliza knew they were somewhere in the dungeons, but had never seen this wing. Of course, there were many areas that Eliza had never seen, as was evident of her wanderings earlier in the evening. The figure behind her walked forward and opened one of the doors as her partner opened the other.
The sight of the room sent waves of chills down Eliza's skin. Not that she was afraid, rather that it was so unexpected. Along the side walls of the room were at least twenty figures, all wearing the same Grecian type garments, all faces covered, all holding white candles. So still were they, that Eliza might have mistaken them for statues under any other circumstance. Her eyes trailed up the lines of evenly spaced identity-less women to the center of the gathering. On a small wooden table was centered a silver cauldron. Vapors poured over the sides and onto the surface of the table covering a book, a dagger and a long white wand. What really drew Eliza's attention was the woman behind the table. She remained just as motionless as the others, but instead of a scarf covering her face, she had a steel helmet. It was smooth and completely covered her head and neck, a thin plate jetted from the top to cover her nose. Her eyes were lost in shadow. On the top was a thick row of short stubbed white feathers. She looked truly legionnaire. Around her arm was a piece of coiled silver jewelry, it resembled a snake. At her side was a large steel circular shield, imprinted with a Gorgon head. The flicker of candles danced on its surface, giving it a living appearance.
Eliza understood that this was the nature of secret societies; it was a lot of silence and anonymity. Eliza rather liked a good masquerade, she just felt a little jilted that she was the only one without a mask. Well, without an obvious mask. She walked forward without caution. The figures that brought her here followed behind her, evenly with one another. They stopped short, before Eliza halted, centered five feet before the table. The woman in the helmet began to speak.
Her voice came purposely deep and serious, "Eliza Smythe, student of Witchcraft. You have here by been summoned for the purpose of initiation into the Coven of Athene, Goddess of Wisdom, Goddess of Art, Goddess of War, Goddess of Women. Do you accept this summon?"
"I do."
"The Coven of Athene has existed sense the dawn of Athens, its first witches paying homage to their mother-goddess. It has the strength of thousands of witches, worldwide. Eliza Smythe, tonight you bring our numbers to the high seas. You have been chosen for your intellect, for your fearlessness, and for your strength, qualities favored and governed by Athene. To enter into this Coven binds you forever, heart and soul, to its sisters. We ask for your loyalty, your commitment, and your discretion. In return, you are offered knowledge, wisdom and a sisterhood of sworn witches, who will always be prepared to give aid, asylum, and alliance. There will be times when you will be required to do the work of the Coven, regardless of personal feelings. Are you prepared to accept these responsibilities?"
"Aye."
"You have brought an item sacred to you?"
"Aye. My mother's cutlass," She pulled the sword from her belt in one smooth motion.
"Kneel Eliza."
She did so.
"Hold out the sword."
She did so. The woman took the cutlass and walked back behind the table. Eliza watched her sharply. She placed the tip of its blade into the caldron, saying words too softly for anyone to hear. She returned the blade to Eliza's hands, taking the dagger from the table.
"On this cutlass, do you Eliza Smythe, Daughter of Ezmerelda, swear your loyalty to the Coven of Athene, and enter of your own free will?"
"I do."
"Your hand, Eliza,"
She placed her hand palm up into the woman's. Eliza knew what was coming, the cut would probably be deep, it was hardly ever that only a drop was required for a binding potion. The corners of her mouth flinched, yet her eyes remained unwavering. The dagger dragged across her hand, splitting the skin with one long clean incision.
The woman held a small silver bowl under Eliza's hand as she gently squeezed. The blood dripped unhindered for several minutes before it began to clot. The woman released her hand and walked to the cauldron. She slowly added the contents of the bowl, speaking again in a quiet tone. She reached for the white wand on the table. The woman cast a simple conjuring spell to produce a clear goblet. She dipped it into the potion and let it fill. She turned to Eliza, holding the glass and wand. With a swift motion and another spell, all of the figures were holding similar glasses, they appeared to be filled. She held the glass forward for Eliza to take.
Her hand throbbed, but felt strangely soothed against the cold glass. The woman held up an identical cup in a toast. The wall figures did the same, Eliza followed in suit.
"Sic eratin fatis, ergo bibamus. It is fated, therefore, let us drink!"
Simultaneously twenty-one glasses rose to twenty-one eager lips.
The liquid ran cold down Eliza's throat, it felt like it was going to freeze her breath. It did. It was full of oxygen-less minute before the potion consumed her.
Glass shattered. She threw her head back with a violent snap, but the pain went unregistered. Her mouth gaped in a silent scream, her eyes open but unseeing. Her mind was an inner struggle of invading images. She saw faces and forms of witches she didn't know. Thousands of names, thousands of faces, thousands of women through thousands of years flashed through her consciousness, burning their essence into her. They flickered with increasing speed, faster and faster, becoming so rapid it was beyond comprehension. Eliza felt bombarded. Finally, it reached a climax and blurred into one last image.
The figure stood alone on the top of a hill. The setting sun cast an orange glow over her skin and body. She was tall, beautiful, truly beyond words, she was a goddess. She wore full armor over her long white dress. The Gorgon head resting on her breast plate. A serpent crossed her sandaled feet, an owl rested on her strong shoulder. Her face accented by the curve of a great helmet. Her hand clutching the lightning bolt of her father. Her eyes spoke to Eliza without words. Her thoughts calmed and tears streamed from her eyes. She choked on air, finally being able to breath, and reeled back into the moment. At some point she realized where she was and what had happened. She let her head drop to see the girl, who now paled in comparison to the goddess she represented.
"Est Athene in nobis. Athene is inside us."
Eliza realized that she was covered in blood. She had been gripping the blade of her mother's cutlass. She slowly removed her hand, wincing slightly as the steel left her skin, showing new marks of incision.
"Will her sponsors come forward?"
The girls who had led her to this room stepped forward to either side. They placed a hand on each of her shoulders.
"All that remains, Eliza, is to receive the Protection of Athene."
She lowered herself to one knee and pulled aside Eliza's shirt, exposing the top of her left breast. It had been mostly exposed anyhow, due to the style of Eliza's wardrobe. She placed the tip of the white wand against her skin.
"Adstringo Soror."
It was not painful, but it was the most intense feeling Eliza had ever felt. The hands on her shoulders gripped tighter in an effort to keep her grounded. When she opened her eyes, on her chest was a golden circle, its edges lined with smaller curls, at its center was a small elaborate 'A'. It shimmered, as if it were jewelry instead of a tattoo of the Athenian shield.
"Factum est. It is done."
The figures removed their hands and stood aside.
"Stand Eliza."
She did so.
"Turn and face your sisters."
She did so.
"Sisters of Athene, audaces fortuna iuvat! Fortune favors the bold! I give you your newest, Izza the Bold."
The room thundered with applause.
The lights raised and Eliza beamed.
"Izza!"
She turned to her sponsors who had stepped back. Their scarves now pulled away.
Indistinguishable from one another, save for their house colored bindis on their foreheads was Padma and Parvati. Parvati's was made of scarlet jewels set in gold. Padma's, true to her Ravenclaw house, was a small collection of sapphires bound between curls of bronze.
"Padma! Parvati! I can't believe it were you two."
They each hugged her warmly.
"Welcome to the Coven of Athene!"
Other girls began taking off their scarves and coming to introduce themselves to Eliza. Some she had already met, several were younger and she had never seen. There seven seventh year girls, including the girl with the helmet, one of which was from Ravenclaw. The other sixth years were Lisa Turpin, Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin, and Miko Nott from Hufflepuff. There were five fifth years and only three fourth years. Lisa ran to her and almost knocked her down with an embrace.
"I was so happy when Padma told me she was going to bring your wand to the Appello meeting and-"
"Hang on, ye took my wand…where?" Eliza turned on Padma.
"To the Appello meeting. It's the first meeting of the year, where each member has the option to bring an object that belongs to a girl they would like to see initiated. The Hogsmater, that's Vicky Frobisher from Gryffindor, casts an Appello charm over the objects and determines who will receive a summons. I took your wand while you were sleeping. Oh, don't look so mad, you didn't even notice."
This was true. So, Eliza forgave and started asking questions about the society as a whole.
"Hogsmater, that's a funny name ain't it?"
"The Hogsmater is just a reference to the school, short for Mater of Hogwarts. It's an elected position. We'll choose next year's before we leave this year. Vicky will graduate and pass on the helmet and shield. Well, it's sort of like team captain you know? She calls and runs the meetings, as well as maintains contact with the English Coven, who we are sort of a sub sect of," Lisa said.
"And this tattoo bit, anything special? I never saw it on either of you." Eliza tapped her own gold circle with her hook.
They smiled, "that's because you couldn't see it until you had one of your own. Part of its charm. Anyhow, it connects you to all of the other sisters of Athene. Here in school its not as important, but when we're on the outside you can use it to call for help. See, you just put your hand over it and say, Adiutorious Soror." Parvati said, briefly holding her hand over where her own tattoo is, but removing it as she said the spell. "The spell will alert every other sister to your whereabouts. When we're older, then we can just apperate there to help. Course, there's not much we can do now, since we can't apperate, but at least we know we can call for help. Also, you'll know if someone else went to aid them. Sort of like, 'don't worry about it, I've got it covered.' I felt it once over summer break."
"Yeah, so did I." A few of the other girls said.
"We all did. That's the point of it." Pansy said from behind Eliza. It never occurred to Eliza to like Pansy. The only other time she had seen the Slytherin she had been verbally accosting a group of second year Gryffindors and giving them all a week's worth of detention.
The other girls laughed and opened a place for Pansy to join them.
"I can tell by the look on your face Eliza that you don't know what to think about me. There are no houses here, Eliza. We can leave off our rivalry for one evening. Although, don't expect smiles and little chats during the day."
Eliza decided that she liked Pansy; she had a lot of spite and malice.
The girls talked for quite awhile. Each of them told Eliza about their own initiation and who brought them. They speculated on other witches worldwide who were members. Slowly the room started to filter out, the younger ones leaving first. Parvarti, Pansy and Miko said good night to the Ravenclaws and walked their separate ways back to the other house common rooms. Eliza walked side by side with Padma and Lisa. They headed for the third floor and their knight in shining armor.
"Isn't anyone worried about drawing a teacher's attention? This late at night?" Eliza asked, since they just seemed to be strolling along the corridors, without any care.
"Naw, McGonagall's on watch tonight," Lisa said.
"Oh…OH!" Eliza replied, realizing the implication and tapped her new tattoo with her hook.
The knight did a cartwheel and allowed them into their common room. Eliza felt it had been a splendid evening.
Chapter 7
The Morning After
Somewhere birds were chirping.
Somewhere the morning sun danced off of a windowpane.
Somewhere an alarm was going off.
Somewhere a girl was thrashing lividly at fabric, unleashing a stream of vulgarities that even offended the feelings of the four-poster bed that was under attack.
That somewhere was the sixth year Ravenclaw girl's dormitory.
"IZZA! SHUT YOUR YAP, WOULD YA? SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO ENJOY THE MORNING!" Lisa whipped a pillow at the mess that was Eliza Smythe.
Eliza sat still for a moment, feathers from a bleeding pillow settling on her knotted hair. A sheet twisted in an attempt to strangle her, trying to stop the ghastly murder of the other bed linen.
Eliza laughed.
"Sod off Lisa! I not be a morning person, we've established this arrready." She threw the pillow back at the blonde mop struggling to get up.
Lisa shook her head.
"C'mon. We better get ready or we'll miss breakfast. Mandy and Sally-Anne already went down. Padma's in the shower."
***
Eliza's eyes drooped and her mind was trying to convince her into laying her head down into her bowl of cold cereal. Padma, Lisa and Eliza had stayed-up late celebrating in the Ravenclaw Common room with the younger girls of the Coven of Athene. If it weren't for that incessant alarm, Eliza would have slept all morning. She was bored and tired and not interested in eating her cereal.
Eliza absentmindedly rubbed her temple with the tip of her hook. She had long since learned how to handle the curl of metal without causing harm to herself or others. Still, the carelessness with which she wielded the replacement hand made several students uncomfortable.
Her eyes drifted to the Slytherin table in front of her, several smiled at her, as she had indeed made friends with a few, however, her bored gaze settled on an angry steel glare. Eliza's sleepy scowl grew into a crooked grin. She slammed her hook into an unassuming orange, that had done nothing to deserve it accept be the wrong fruit, at the wrong time, in the wrong place.
Draco Malfoy's eyes widened and he did his best to hide his surprise behind an arrogant mask. But Eliza caught it and laughed. She peeled the orange. The citrus scent wakened her drossy senses. Her eyes floated more between faces and the backs of heads until she found Pansy. Who acknowledged her with a cold stare, and lifted one cut palm to push back her perfect hair. That one was a piece of work. Eliza laughed again, full on from the belly and slapped little Stewart Ackerly on the back. He coughed and everyone looked at Eliza.
"Sorry, what were we talkin' about?"
The conversation continued, apparently it was a very heated topic. The entire table was involved.
"…tryouts next weekend. We need a chaser and a new keeper. I just can't believe that all of the seeker's are team Captain's this year. It's so unusual…"
"What is?"
Cho turned to Eliza, slightly vexed. "The teams' captains…"
"What team?"
"Izza! Haven't you been listening? We're talking about the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. The tryouts for chaser and keeper are next weekend. Think you will go?" Jared Moon, another sixth year asked.
"What that thing with the broomsticks? Are ye mad? How would I hang on and play at the same time? I have a bloody hook, haven't any of yeh noticed? Yo-ho! Hookie! Hook!" She waved her hook around, bits of orange flew about.
There was an uncomfortable pause and then table roared with laughter.
"I guess that might make it a bit difficult." Jared conceded with a chuckle.
"The practices will start right after the tryouts. We got so close last year and I want to win this time. I've been working on my skills all summer and I got a new broom for my birthday. So, one Mr. Harry Potter better watch out." Cho said glancing briefly over to the Gryffindor table.
"Oh, Cho, just smile at him, that would be enough to distract him long enough to get the snitch! Ha!" Another seventh year said, poking Cho in the side.
"Oh hush! Honestly. Well, I've got to run back to the dorm to get my books. I will see you all later. Everyone be thinking about the tryouts!" Cho got up, slightly blushed, and walked off out of the Great Hall.
"Even if he did get up the gall to ask her out again, she wouldn't say yes. Poor thing. It's been over a year and she still hasn't taken off that yellow arm band." Terry Boot said.
"Well, neither have any of the Hufflepuffs…" Padma said quietly.
"She was quite fond of Cedric wasn't she? It just takes time that's all." Lisa sighed. "Well, we better get to Herbology, Madam Sprout won't be happy if we're late."
"Excellent! Some quality time with the Slytherins then!" Eliza chirped. No one else seemed to share her enthusiasm.
They made their way to the greenhouse in one large gaggle. Of course the Slytherins refused to walk with the Ravenclaws on principle. No one expected them to. Madam Sprout started to lecture on the pruning of big hairy vine, a subject that no one really cared too much about. Eliza gazed around the glass room, choosing to study her classmates rather than the botany.
Padma was trying to look like she was paying attention, but it was apparent in her eyes that she was off on flights of fantasy. Her long black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, it showed off her delicate jaw quite nicely. She had replaced the ornate bindi with the small red circle she usually sported. Eliza laughed to herself to think about how Padma had said her sister like to think it was a third inner eye, which meant she was distained to be a seer. Most of the Ravenclaws didn't put a lot of faith into divination, Padma was no different. She dressed up the boring school robes with just a touch of her Indian heritage, a small sash of bright color tied to her waist and large gold earrings weighing down her lobes. Her eyes were so dark, you could hardly tell the pupil from the iris, but the look of inner calculating registered on them perfectly.
Lisa was biting her lip, as often she did. Eliza like her easygoing attitude. She was funny, she was sweet, she was short. Very short. But it suited her well enough. She had blonde, tight, curly locks, which she wrestled with continually in the morning. She usually gave up and left them to their own devices. This was also Eliza's method, only she never bothered with them in the first place. Her skin was pale and gave her an air of frailty, but Eliza knew the girl could be quite vicious. Especially when it involved waking Eliza up. She had an interesting sense of style as well, quite dark really. Lisa had been born to muggles in southern England, and had quite by accident discovered she was a witch. Of course the Hogwarts letter confirmed it. So, the obvious thing was to start dressing like one. Her blue eyes were heavily lined in black, and her lips were stained a dark shade of purple, which incidentally wasn't rubbing off on her teeth. It looked like Lisa really was paying attention to the lesson, perhaps she liked Herbology, Eliza couldn't remember her saying one way or another.
Eliza's eyes drifted over to the segregated group of Slytherins. Out of any of the other houses, Ravenclaw was the only one that the serpent-loving group seemed to bother talking to, but still, there were those who wouldn't even do that. Draco Malfoy was pulling apart a leaf of something, maliciously destroying it w
