Elizabeth Orangeveil - Chapter 7, Year 1

Instructions

A few days later, the Great Hall was decorated for Halloween with floating live bats and glowing pumpkins, but I could barely focus on the feast. Ever since the 'stair incident', Oliver had been acting ridiculously distant. Every time I walked near him, he’d suddenly pretend to be engrossed in a textbook or slip away into a side corridor. "I think you've broken him!" Crystal whispered, nudging me from across our table. "He's practically leaping behind tapestries to avoid you." Across the hall, Oliver was with Matthew Tennebris—a calm Gryffindor first-year surrounded by a stack of library books—and Zara Wellington, a Hufflepuff who was giving me a sharp glare. Fiercely loyal and protective, Zara clearly didn't trust me yet. Determined to clear the air, I walked over to the Gryffindor table. As soon as Oliver saw me, he stood up so fast his bench scraped the stone floor. "Oh! Hey, Elizabeth! I actually just remembered I left my... Herbology... gloves...in the... common... room- " "Oliver, wait," I said, catching him before he could run off. "Can I talk to you? Just for a second." Matthew gave Oliver a slight nod, while Zara folded her arms disapprovingly. Oliver flushed bright crimson. "Uh—yeah. Sure." I led him to an archway outside the Great Hall. I upfront went for it and asked "Are you avoiding me?" "What? No! Why would I avoid you? I love... uh... not avoiding people?" Oliver stammered, messing with his hair. "Because you haven't said two words to me since the staircase," I said. "We're friends, Oliver. It doesn't have to be weird." He looked at his shoes, rubbing his neck. "I just... thought I embarrassed you." "You didn't," I reassured him with a warm smile. "It was just an accident on a moving stair. We're completely fine." Oliver let out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing. "Okay. Good." "Good. See you in Charms tomorrow?" I asked. "Definitely!" he nodded, cheerful again, though still blushing. Before we could head back inside, Professor Quirrell came running by and banged the Great Hall's heavy doors open. he sprinted into the hall, with a look of horror on his face. "TROLL! IN THE DUNGEONS! Thought you ought to know..." He fainted flat on his face, and instant chaos erupted as Oliver and I met eyes, shocked, and bolted to find our house prefects. In the screaming crowd, Matthew stayed completely calm. "Keep close," he instructed Zara smoothly. "Panicking won't solve anything." Spotting me in the mob, Zara grabbed my sleeve to make sure I didn't get lost, though she kept her suspicious glare firmly in place. Zara just huffed, leading the way. With Matthew keeping a cool head, Zara on high alert, and Crystal and Oliver sticking close by my side, we safely navigated the panicked crowd toward the dormitories as the teachers rushed down to deal with the troll.