-alienoctopus
"It is going to be a very busy year at Hogwarts," Cedric Diggory announced to all the other Prefects. It was his duty as Head Boy to guide the Prefects, starting first with a meeting in the Hogwarts Express on the way to the castle.
It's always going to be a bloody busy year, sixth year Gryffindor Holly Tully thought to herself; I highly doubt this one will be different.
Every year was the same to Holly. Go to Hogwarts, study, take exams, write essays, Harry Potter and his friends cause trouble, the Weasley twins cause trouble, Cedric Diggory is incredibly attractive, and that was it. Though Holly enjoyed academics and taking a glance at Cedric every now and then, there was little else for her at Hogwarts. She had no real friends. In fact, most of her dorm mates seemed to hate her. Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet had no problem reminding Holly of this. They called her boring, ugly, and annoying. Holly knew they weren't the only people to think such things of her, but Angelina and Alicia were the only ones to say it to Holly's face.
She looked around the train at all the people she had remembered from the year before. She had patrolled with most of them, but only knew them as fellow prefects. Some new fifth years she did not recognize paid attention to everything Cedric said, hoping to get a good start on their position. Holly hated being a Prefect. The only good thing about it was that she had something else besides homework to occupy her time. Her entire family had been Prefects. Her mum, her dad, and her older brother. They were all Head Boy and Girl, too, something Holly was right on track for. But she did not enjoy her duties, or having to chastise students for breaking the rules. That kind of work was better left to other people, people like Hermione Granger.
Hermione was the closest person Holly would call a friend. Really, that just happened to sit near each other in the library, but the younger witch liked to pick Holly's brain, and Holly felt the same.
In her distaste for being a Prefect, Holly did not listen to Cedric's speech about how Professor Dumbledore was to make a huge announcement that would somehow affect Prefect duties. Rather, she watched his perfect lips form the words and imagined what it would be like to feel them on her own lips.
When Cedric stopped and the Head Girl introduced herself, Holly zoned out completely.
Pro. Prefect, and hopefully Head Girl, would look great on her resume, in addition to her fantastic grades in nearly every subject.
Con. Holly hated being labeled as a Prefect.
Pro. Duties meant getting out of the dormitory.
Con. Actually having to do patrols.
Pro. Made her parents happy.
Con. Did not make her happy.
Pro. Patrolling the train meant she didn't have to find a compartment.
Con. Holly hated it.
"Holly? Are you all right?"
Pro. Cedric Diggory.
"Oh, I'm fine, Cedric. Congrats on Head Boy." Holly said, somewhat dazed.
"You looked a bit spacey, are you sure you're all right?" He asked again.
"Just fine. Are you patrolling the train, too?" She asked. Holly felt stupid at how hopeful she sounded.
"No, you volunteered for it. I'm off to find my girlfriend. Find me if you need help, yeah?"
Holly wanted to say she needed help right then.
"I'll see you at Hogwarts, then." Cedric said before he left. Holly pressed her palm to her forehead, feeling like such an idiot for even trying to talk to him.
Con. Cedric Diggory.
The train was mildly uneventful, though Holly now had a growing collection of Fanged Frisbees, and it felt longer than ever. It was if the Hogwarts Express didn't want her to start her sixth year. But, despite the length and great bore of the ride, Holly stuck to her duties, at least glad for the excuse not to actually talk to anyone.
The time to ride took was not the only strange thing, however. Holly knowingly stationed herself in the car that she knew the Weasley Twins would be on.
Though Holly had never been a...victim of the twins, she had witnessed them lazily cast tripping jinxes on first years, Transfigure Professor Snape's cauldron to turn into a rinse basin, brazenly walk around the castle after hours- she just knew they were going to cause trouble at some point. It seemed to be a good idea to hang around them in case they wanted to do something.
Instead, they sat in their compartment, alone, huddled over a piece of parchment with a quill in hand, quietly discussing something that only the two of them knew.
As for Holly, she simply couldn't care enough to find out.
-0-
Holly had heard of the Triwizard Tournament before. Perhaps in reading, or maybe even from her parents. Most likely from reading—Holly and her mum didn't talk about anything as casual as tournaments, and her father's blood status presumed that he would know very little about long-standing wizard traditions.
Which was just fine, as Holly could care less about the tournament. She was not seventeen yet and could not enter, and the only person she would pay attention to who could enter the tournament was Cedric.
Holly figured she had been thinking quite enough about Cedric Diggory as of late and should probably find a new thing to obsess over.
She settled herself in her four-poster bed, attempting to block out her dorm mates' discussion each other's summers and the boys they've kissed and the boys they're going to kiss—and what's that? Angelina is going to enter the tournament. Fantastic. Holly couldn't enter. Holly couldn't even kiss a boy.
She took out a quill and parchment and set to writing.
Dear James,
Hogwarts misses you, believe it or not. I think Hogwarts prefers you to me, anyway.
Cedric Diggory had taken your place as Head Boy. He's so good-looking; I couldn't even pay attention to anything he said during the first prefects' meeting. It doesn't matter, because we'll have to have another one seeing as the Triwizard Tournament is going to be at Hogwarts this year.
Did you know that? I'm sure you had some idea, seeing as you work for the Ministry.
I can't enter, but I suppose I should be excited to meet foreign students. That could be exciting, right? Maybe I will be a cute French boy from Beauxbatons and I could kiss him and tell my dorm mates about it.
That probably won't happen. But it would be nice, for once, to be able to brag about something.
I suppose I should be getting to bed. Classes begin tomorrow, and I couldn't be more excited to begin N.E.W.T. Transfiguration.
Love you, brother,
Holly
Holly immediately crumpled the letter and shoved it under her bed. That wasn't the kind of letter she'd ever send her brother. She had promised to send word as soon as she could when she go to Hogwarts. But that was more than word. Holly didn't reveal those sorts of details to her family.
James,
Just writing to let you, Mum, and Dad know that I've gotten to Hogwarts just fine.
Cedric Diggory, I'm sure you remember him, has taken Percy Weasley's place as Head Boy. I'm sure you saw that coming, though. You will be quite the legacy for him to follow, however, I am sure he will do a fine job.
Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year. I believe two other schools are competing—Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. It should be exciting.
I must be getting to bed.
Holly
There, Holly thought, not too personal but not too stuffy. The perfect letter to send home to her family. Holly folded the parchment into an envelope and placed it on her trunk. She decided to mail it out before breakfast the next morning, as her eyelids grew heavier by the moment. It wasn't long before her head touched her pillow and she drifted off to sleep.
-0-
Holly, as per usual, woke up earlier than anyone in Gryffindor. She cleaned herself and got dressed for the day, grabbing her book bag and letter on her way out of the dormitory.
While walking to the Owlry, she had to fight to hide her grin. Holly could not wait for classes to start. Though she worked very hard to do well in her classes, studying was a welcome distraction from what would otherwise be nothingness. Her brain went through every possible schedule she could have this year. Perhaps she should try a little of everything.
Holly was an ace for Potions and Transfiguration. She knew she would have to take those classes at a N.E.W.T. level.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was usually easy, and absolutely necessary, so that was on her list. Herbology, definitely—Holly found the subject relaxing, though she only received an Acceptable on her O.W.L.. But Professor Sprout, she knew, took any student with a passing grade into her N.E.W.T. levels.
Charms? Oh, Charms is probably useful for anyone, Holly thought, marking it down in her head. Five N.E.W.T. level classes. That had to be plenty, right?
Perhaps when I see McGonagall to help pass out schedules, I can ask her opinion, Holly thought, I haven't chosen a career path yet, but she's usually very intuitive about these sorts of things.
Holly entered the Owlry, expecting it to be empty. But there was Fred and George Weasley, standing with a letter in front of them. They were engrossed in it, perhaps making sure that every word was chosen carefully.
"Excuse me, what are you doing out of bed so early?" Holly asked suspiciously. The twins jumped in surprise.
"Sending a letter." One of them said.
"Is that against Hogwarts rules? Would hate to already get a detention, especially just from a prefect." Said the other.
"There's nothing wrong with sending a letter. It just isn't typical that students are awake this early on the first day of classes." Holly noted. She then went on to choose her owl for post.
"What's your name, then?"
Holly fought very hard to bite her tongue. She had been in classes with the twins since they started Hogwarts and they didn't know her name?! She balled up her fists. Through clenched teeth, she answered, "Holly Tully. I've been in every single one of your classes since first year." She turned from the owl she had given her letter to and faced the twins.
I've been at the top of almost every single one of those bloody classes, too, she thought to herself, you better know my damn name.
"Ah, yes. Holly Tully. McGonagall's pet." One of the twins grinned rather maliciously.
"I am not her pet!" Holly raised her voice.
"Ri-ight." The same twin said.
"You better change before more people wake up," Holly said, hurriedly.
"That's a good idea, George. Would hate for another pretty bird to see us in our nightclothes." Unless they were tricking Holly, this was Fred. He was still grinning from before when he noticed Holly turn bright red.
"E-exactly." She sputtered out. She went towards the exit, hoping neither of them said anything on her way out of the tower.
"Tully," one them, Holly figured George, called out again, "don't tell anyone you saw us here."
"Why? What did you do? I'm a prefect, you know—"
"—Calm down. We didn't do anything. We only want to keep up the allure of mystery that follows us around."
"More like the allure of arsehole-ry." Holly said under her breath. She cursed internally once she realized the twins had heard her.
"A prefect with a mouth. You might come in useful one day, what do you think, George?"
"It's always good to have a prefect on your side."
Holly left before saying anything else. She wanted to get to McGonagall's office and then breakfast rather than waste her time with the Weasley twins.
Who were acting strangely. Or, perhaps rather normally for the twins. Holly couldn't shake their meeting out of her head.
"Morning, Professor." She greeted with a smile once she came upon Professor McGonagall's office.
"Miss Tully, I can always count on you to be early. I trust your summer went well?" The older woman asked.
"As well as any other. Professor, I have some questions about my schedule."
"You haven't even seen your schedule yet."
"I know, I've only been wondering what classes I should take? I don't want to be overwhelmed by N.E.W.T. levels."
"I expect to see you in Transfiguration no matter what. But have you given any though as to a career after Hogwarts?" She asked, gathering papers from a drawer.
"I'm not really sure. I have been working on writing textbooks, though. For Muggle-born students, so they can have an easier time understanding magic."
"Oh?"
"I got the idea when I was talking to Hermione Granger last year. There are some many things that students who grow up in magical families have a stronger grasp on than Muggle-borns simply because they've been exposed to it. I'm trying to find a way to explain the magical to those who have no experience with it." Holly explained. She wrung her fingers.
"A noble task. I'm actually rather surprised such a thing doesn't exist yet." She commented. "I believe, then, if this is your ambition, you should take the core classes—Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Herbology. N.E.W.T. level Divination and Astronomy are one class dedicated to both arts, so I suggest taking that. What do you think about Care of Magical Creatures?" McGonagall asked.
"I'm not sure. I mean, I never had a knack for the class and only received an Acceptable, even though I loved Scamand—"
"—Don't take it, then. So far you have five classes. What did you score in History of Magic?"
Holly blushed.
Her entire family of Ravenclaws had scored almost all Os in their Ordinary Wizarding Levels. Her Dad received an A in Divination, her Mum got an E in Muggle Studies, and her brother James received an A in Arithmancy. Those were the only scores that kept all three from Outstandings across the board.
Holly received an O in Transfiguration, Charms, and Potions. She had gotten an E in Astronomy and Defense Against the Dark Arts. She had even gotten an A in Divination, Herbology, Care of Magical Creature, and Muggle Studies. She didn't take Arithmancy or Ancient Runes. Overall, Holly did very well in her O.W.L.s, even though her Mum chastised her all summer for only received three O's. But she got it even worse for History of Magic.
"I scored a P." Holly admitted.
Professor McGonagall looked shocked. "One less class for you to take, then. I believe you should continue Muggle Studies, and Defense Against the Dark Arts is always an important subject. That makes… Seven classes. Will you be able to handle that along with your Prefect duties?"
"I was in more classes last year with O.W.L.s." Holly said.
"Very good, then. I expect you to work hard, Miss Tully."
"I always do." She promised. But her head was wrought with worry.
Shit, she cursed, seven N.E.W.T. levels?! Perhaps it didn't seem like much to her genius family, to whom everything came easily, but it was a lot for Holly. She figured this was why she was sorted into Gryffindor rather than Ravenclaw. Holly had to stay up night after night to make sure she understood her work. She studied for ages to maintain her high marks. This felt like a daunting amount of work.
But Holly could always drop what she couldn't handle. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Professor McGonagall handed her a stack of schedules and instructed her to hand them out at breakfast. She was dismissed.