I am scaaaaared. I hope that you like this! It's the first time that Holly really... DIDN'T have Crim around, meaning I had more room to play with her life. I hope I wrote everything well, stayed in character, hope you all have fun reading it.
Thank you for sticking to the story!
A/N I don't own anything that Rowling came up with. Holly is my OC, Crim is TBB's.
Chapter 4
Everywhere you turned there was a Potter Stinks badge pinned on another students chest. The only good thing about the oddly sized pins would be the fact they supported Cedric. Crim didn't wear one even though all her fellow Slytherin did. As she stated, she was a prefect, not to discriminate against another student of Hogwarts. Potter was just another champion in the tournament. Who were we to hold that against him?
I on the other hand fancied my badge. It was to support Cedric after all. I had made a few adjustments to my badge though. It no longer flashed the anti-Potter words. Just a little something I fixed in Charms Class. I found myself not being able to show off my new badge though, seeing as I had to hide every time we passed Cedric in the halls. Crim just couldn't keep to herself, constantly stopping him and chatting like I wasn't hiding like no tomorrow.
"I can't believe you!" I hissed at her finally one day in Potions class. She took a second to register the fact I was scolding her. Crim was focused on her brewing, like it was the only thing in the class room. I looked at my cauldron, then to hers. She obviously knew something I didn't. Maybe my book was defective. My potion was NOT the same colour as Crims but more of a bright orange.
"What did I do this time?" Acting as if she didn't know. I was shocked at her. I glanced at her book, then at mine. They looked the same. I let my eyes wonder around the room. Most seemed to be working hard. Cedric looked like he knew what he was doing. I sighed, of course he knew what he was doing. On the other hand, there were those who had no mind to what was going on.
I turned back to Crim. "Talking to Cedric like that!" I tossed a sopophorous bean into my cauldron, not sure it was the right thing to do when the colour went from such a pretty orange to a sad looking blue. "It's completely absurd! He's Cedric Diggory. You can't just talk to him like he's a normal person." I tried adding some dried leaves to the brew but they only happened to turn to ash upon coming into the same atmosphere as my goo.
"You know, one of these days, I'm going to let him know how strongly you fancy him. Perhaps he'll return the feelings." Crim looked at my potion only sparingly. "I'm fairly certain your potion should not be pale blue."
"Yeah," Crim said a potion was wrong, something definitely was wrong. "I stopped paying attention after the second step..." I raised my hand, catching Professor Snapes attention. He didn't take well to the sight of my concoctions.
"Yes, Miss Ice?" He seemed a bit reluctant to approach the table. After looking at my potion he looked displeased. I frowned at him then at my potion. Gosh I get it, It's not a good potion. "Do you know how to read, Miss Ice?"
Ha, what a funny question. "I've tried, but I always have headaches afterwards." It was partially true. When it came to potions I did get headaches from the books quite frequently. "So I should write an essay on the proper way to brew the Draught of the Living Death, the common uses of the potion, and give examples? Will two full rolls of parchment be sufficient?" Most people might think my question as being smart. I am not smart, proven by my potion, but these question were valid seeing as the Professor had grown used to my failure... to some degree.
"On my desk by Monday." I felt a small lecture or something of the sort coming on but from across the room there was an explosion, attracting all attention to it. Lee Jordan, a friend of Fred and Georges, had his hair smoking while the twins were throwing fits of laughter.
"Weasley!" Professor Snape glared at each of them as he made his way to their table. "Why is Mr. Jordan's hair on fire?" He was calm, I had experienced such unpleasentries before. Not a good sign.
"I dunno, Professor." Fred chimed.
"Maybe he heated his cauldron too high?" Suggested George with a shrug. "Of course, we didn't help."
"Yeah, should have known better than to ask us the right temperature." Anyone should have known better than to ask them for the instructions. Not that I had the place to talk I guess.
Lee seemed amused at the fact the Weasleys had played the joke on him. I guess it was all just fun and games. Too bad for them Snape wasn't into fun or games. "Ten points each from Gryffindor, and ten points from Mr. Jordan as well for disrupting my class. If it happens again, I will have the three of you sample Miss Ice's potion, and who knows what that will do to you."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to drink it if I were you. I'm not really quite sure what all went into this potion, now that I think about it... were mistletoe berries an ingredient this time?" My poor potion, I don't think it was made for the lips of the living or dead. I glanced at Crim for confirmation only to find her shaking her head. Oops, no mistletoe berries called for. "Then again, you two did try to feed me that horrid toffee..." That bloody toffee. I still was upset they would try such a thing.
"Will I have to take point from Hufflepuff as well?" Professor Snape glanced at me before going back to the front of the room. "As usual, only one student managed to successfully brew a Draught of the Living Death. Twenty points to Slytherin for Miss Rehfate's accomplishment today. If you would all please fill a phial with your potions and bring it to my desk, you can go."
I watched Crim head to the front of the class, the Weasley behind her. I grabbed my phial, it was the 14th one I had been through since the very start of Potions class. Probably the 3rd one this year so far. My potion wasn't following my instructions too well as I tried to get it to go into the phial. I watched as it became thicker and thicker as it sat, I took that as a bloody no.
Crim was back to collect her books by the time I gave up. "Professor? My potion is too thick to ladle into the phial." I was defeated! You won this time potion but I will have my revenge!
Professor waved his wand and my failed potion vanished. "Very well, Miss Ice. You shall receive partial credit for succeeding in not blowing up my classroom. I advise you leave before I change my mind."
I gulped and followed Crim out the room. "That was close!" I felt for sure this time I wouldn't get away so easily. Next time my potion might blow up. I sure hoped not, and if It did, I hoped the Weasley's somehow managed to do something worse for my grades sake.
I followed Crim out to the school grounds. We had to part soon but we were headed in the same general direction.
"You really should try harder in Potions." Crim seemed to take notice of the weather. I knew it wouldn't affect my class, Herbology, but seeing as her class was outside she might get a break.
"I do try, Crim. Honestly, I do. I just can't seem to get the hand of potion-making. I either heat the potion too much or add too many ingredients or stir the wrong way too many times.."
"Or don't read the instructions properly?" Cedric came out of no where adding another fact onto my list. I about had a heart attack. "Nice job today, Crim. I think I missed a step on my potion. Maybe you should give us a lesson on pleasing Professor Snape?"
He really shouldn't do that. My heart was going wild. I couldn't speak, I kinda wanted to stop moving altogether. I was about to drop dead from shock. Cedrics appearance was just too much for my little heart to take. Too much I say.
"Oi, Ced! Have you prepared for the first task yet?"
"Not quite," Cedric shook his head. "It's a little hard to prepare for a task when you don't know what's coming. Thanks for supporting me, by the way." He directed a smile to me. I wanted to look around to see who was standing behind me but I knew it would yield to no avail. Oh no, he knew I was here! I had to try to hide harder! "Good job bewitching your badge to stop changing. That's some skillful magic." He nodded at my badge.
I panicked a bit. "I, I, well... Charms is my favorite class... and I don't believe in false campaigning. Those vile Slytherins made the badges change like that. No offense, Crim," I hastily added. I hope she didn't think I included her in their lot. "You're not vile, obviously."
"Thanks." She knew I meant well. Right? I'd have to make her a crumpet later. I wonder if she liked crumpets, my father sure did.
I did a back track when laughter burst through the courtyard. Cedric waved us over and we fallowed after him to the other students. Professor Moody stood there in front of everyone. At first I thought they were all laughing at him for some reason but no, the laughter had been directed to a white ferret bouncing up and down in the air. Professor Moody was playing with the thing like it were a yoyo, his wand controlling it's movements.
"That's Malfoy!" Crim filled Cedric and I in.
"Malfoy? Draco Malfoy?" I burst out into laughter. It shouldn't have shocked me that the ferret was Malfoy. He was some type of weasel. I turned to the nearest person and spread the word of the little Malfoy boy being a ferret.
"That's enough!" Professor McGonagall made her way past the group and fixed Malfoy. I was rather disappointed that we couldn't have a little more fun but the Professor was already scolding Moody for something or another. Malfoy probably deserved the ferret bit. Yet, I didn't want to get scolded as well so I had no complaints when Crim looped her arm with mine and tugged me away. We made our way out to the grounds.
A thought occurred to me. "Now that I think about it, Malfoy does look rather like a ferret." I let out another laugh. Maybe he was a ferret in a boys body. That would make sense. Someone should call the rodent man, we had an infestation in Hogwarts.
"You have a point." Cedric agreed. Holy mother of- How long had Cedric been there? Gosh, he was going to give me a heart attack. "Come on, Holly. We'll be late for Herbology. See you later, Crim!"
I watched him make his way into the greenhouse with many of our other Hufflepuff group. "Can you believe it, Crim? He knows my name! He really does!" The thought made me giddy. I gave a quick wave and followed Cedric into the greenhouse.
Everyone was lined up along table that ran even with the greenhouse walls. Hebology hadn't changed much from third year in set up. We usually were fairly close in the space, although the greenhouses got bigger as the years went on. And the plants got harder to work with leading to the class always working in pairs. Had to watch our partners back or someone might lose a limb.
I made my way to one of the table corners by Cedric. He seemed to have saved me a spot or maybe that spot was for his friend. I debated on whether or not to take it. Finally Cedric waved his hand and I gladly took the spot. Though everyone might be excited about the Tournament and bother Cedric in the common room, class was just like any other day. Puffs conversed until Professor Sprout entered and quieted us down.
I set my books down in front of me, my very first Herbology book 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi' sitting on top.
"Ok," Professor Sprout chimed rather happily. "Today, we're going to be working with a fantastic plant. I hope you all read the required material." Her wand bobbed up and down in her hand as she talked, as if dancing to her words. "I shall give you the chance to pick which plant we work with today. Both are magnificent specimen. We can either obtain the pods from the Snargaluff," She pointed to a rather harmless looking lump of wood. Her next sentence was drowned out by the patter of heavy rain beating against the greenhouse ceiling. She repeated herself a little louder, "Or we can study the Self-Fertilising Shrub!" The Professor continued to point to the plant.
I had come across both of these plants in the book I picked up by the fireplace. Neither one fancied my liking. Both dangerous plants.
"So which will it be?" Professor Sprout put a hand over the Snargaluff. "The Snargaluff?"
Most nobody said anything. I couldn't blame them, the name itself sounded nasty. I wasn't sure which one I would rather mess with myself. The Snargaluff lived up to it's name but only if you didn't know how to treat it. The other plant lived past it's name though. It was a flesh eating plant. If half the students had read this they would know it was probably the more dangerous of the two.
"I'd like to work with the Snargaluff, Professor Sprout." Cedric raised his hand slightly and everyone turned to look at him.
Professor Sprout seemed delighted at Cedrics choice. Though being fair she couldn't go off of Cedrics vote alone, no matter how desperately it looked as she wanted to. To her much satisfaction everyone seemed to agree with Cedric. It was like he started a wave. If Cedric thought it was the better choice, it must be.
Sprout clapped her hands together. "Wonderful. The Snargaluff is such a lovely plant. Now what we're going to do is..."
I didn't pay attention as the Professor went into detail on how we were to extract the pod from inside the Snargaluff. I tugged lightly on Cedrics robes. "That was a good choice you made there. I didn't particularly want to work with the flesh eater myself."
Cedric smiled which made my heart skip. "Glad that someone was reading up on Herbology. It's not a class to take lightly."
"Well, I, I just happened to pick up a book. That's all." I could feel my face get hot and I looked down to my shoes.
Cedric nudged me slightly with his elbow. "Yeah, you shouldn't stay up so late reading. Those chairs are bad for the back." I looked up at him, slightly embarrassed. Did he know I was waiting up for him that night? I shook my head, he couldn't have known.
"Now pair up, Pair up! I'll distribute the Snargaluffs."
"Cedric! Partner up with me? This class is bloody difficult sometimes." Another Hufflepuff strode up to us. I had seen him hanging around with Cedric on several occasions. I glanced between the two.
Cedric looked at me, "Well, I was going to ask-."
I shook my hands in front of my face, dismissing the idea of Cedric working with me. "That's a bad job. I'm horrid in this class." I backed off and found a different Puff that looked a little lost.
I watched the ceiling with little to no interest as the class started screaming about the Snargaluff getting tangled in their hair. The rain was starting to let up slightly. Crims class would have been canceled long ago. I wondered where I could find her hiding out after class. Maybe the Great Hall, or the potions room if another class wasn't in progress.
When class was over I was happy to announce I had retrieved the pod! It was way smaller than a Quaffle and much easier to grasp in my hand. My partner had obtained most of the damage trying to force the hole containing the pod open, her black hair stood up in a disheveled mess. I was quick to plunge my hand in and get it out as fast as possible. The professor went around collecting our pods, grading us accordingly.
"We shall resume our work with the pods next class. I think you all deserve a round of applause and a break."
The class immediately went into talk about different topics. Some about the Tournament, some about the horrors of the Snargaluff. My partner left my side and joined another group of girls as they left the greenhouse. I glanced around for Cedric but he must have already gone too. I felt a little deflated but I guess it was to be expected.
I made my way out across the ground after gathering my books. Then I went off on a search for Crim.
After no luck in the Great Hall or Potions Class I made my way to the HufflePuff common room to drop off my books. "Holly! I know what it is." Cedric came out of no where. He really needed to stop doing that.
"Know what it is?" I wasn't sure what it was, but Cedric did.
Cedric nodded, not catching the fact I wasn't quite sure what he was talking about. "I wanted to tell Crim. I need your help." I dropped my books onto a table and left the Hufflepuff room with Cedric. He needed to talk to Crim, I didn't know where Crim was. We had a problem.
"Aren't you always with her?" Cedric looked around, as if hoping to find Crim waiting for me.
I pouted, "I happen to have lost her. I've been looking for her since class ended. I haven't had anyone to tell about how you-" EEP! I cut myself off and started walking away.
"Tell about what?" Cedric followed me, taking on a curious tone.
"I know where Crim is!" I hit myself on the forehead. "I'm such an oaf sometimes. Come on." I started jogging off towards the library. Where else could such a study conscious person be?
Cedric informed me of what he was talking about on our way to the library. When he told me I almost ran into a group of Slytherin messing with a small Ravenclaw boy. They threw curses at me when I didn't stop and beg at their feet for forgiveness. I was at a lose for words, nothing at all would form out of my mouth. He was right, we needed Crim. Sure enough when we entered the library Crim was placed at one of the tabled. She looked a mess but that wasn't a concern at the moment. Cedric needed to talk to her, needed our help.
He was the first to reach her, "Crim... I need your help. I know what the first task is now. It's dragons."
Holy Mother of- I had no idea what to do this chapter! I hope that it came out good! If there was ever a time to leave a review, now would be it. This is a breaking moment for me.
