writer-elias:
Hogwarts | 1975 (5th year)
Why did Hogwarts have to suck so much? Well, maybe it wasn’t Hogwarts. Perhaps it was simply his age and the fact that he didn’t “fit in” that made it feel like it sucked.
Potions was by far the worst class. It wasn’t that he hated it, it was that it made him feel inept and stupid. He couldn’t grasp the concepts and despite help from both Slughorn and other students, he simply couldn’t do it. This made him the butt of jokes and made the bullying that much worse.
What kind of Ravenclaw didn’t excel at his classes? What kind of Prefect couldn’t master something as simple as Potions?! After getting another barely passing grade, he made his way slowly out of the Potions classroom.
On his way down the corridor, another student knocked his potion book and his exam paper out of his hands. He stood there for a few moments, taking a deep breath. Don’t give in, Eli. He told himself over and over again. Don’t give in to them getting a rise out of you. Just bend down, pick up your books and keep walking.
Lily had been making her way to office hours with Slughorn when she spotted Eli. She didn’t know him well, outside of a few patrols they’d been on, but she liked him well enough. He’s always been kind to her, and the way the other students pick on him has always bothered her. She watches as someone knocks his books out of his hand, feeling heated at the sight of it.
“Hey! Knock it off.” She calls out firmly, glaring at the bullies. “Get lost before I dock points for your behavior.” She knew people said she had a way of ruining other’s fun, but if fun came at the expense of someone else it was hardly fun at all.
She walks over to Eli and picks up his books as their fellow students scram. “Are you alright?” She hands him his materials with a kind smile.

















