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Chapter 7
"I don't think you should enter," I said to Cedric. We were sitting alone in the common room, everybody else had gone to bed.
"What?" Cedric asked looking at me. He has been talking about entering since the feast three days ago. "Why not?"
"You heard Dumbledore," I told him. "'It's not for the fainthearted'."
"Are you telling me that I'm lighthearted?" Cedric asked. His face transformed into his angry face.
"No!" I exclaimed. "I think you're really brave!"
"Then why don't you want me to enter the tournament?"
"People have died," I whispered. "Cedric, you're the big brother I never had. I—I don't want to lose you."
His face softened and he pulled me into his arms. "Charley, I'm not going to leave you. I promise you, I'm not leaving. Even if you want me to leave, I'm not."
"I never want you to leave," I said. He smiled and I leaned on him.
The next morning, I woke up leaning on Cedric in the common room. A few people were walking out the door, but only the early risers. I yawned and stretched, and then I shook Cedric awake. When he opened his eyes, he sat up and stretched. Then he stood up and hugged me.
"You two fall asleep out here again?" Sean asked walking down the steps.
"Yeah," Cedric replied looking over at him. "What time is it?"
"Seven," Sean replied.
Cedric nodded and we went into our dorms. Ali was in the bathroom, brushing her dirty blonde hair. She was already dressed in her robes. I walked into the bathroom and into a stall to change out of my pajamas and into my robes. When I came out, I went to the mirror and started to brush my dark hair.
"Morning," Ali said.
"Morning," I replied yawning.
"When did you and Cedric go to bed?"
"Dunno, probably after twelve."
Ali shook her head. "I don't understand how you can even function now."
"It's a talent," I said smirking at her. She laughed. We've had this conversation so many times now, that it's a joke. "What do we have first today?"
"Charms and then History of Magic," Ali replied.
"No potions today?"
"Yeah," Ali replied.
"This is probably my favorite day ever," I replied, laughing.
When we finished getting ready, we walked out of our dorm and into the common room. Sean and Cedric were sitting on couches waiting for us. When they saw us the two stood up and we walked out the door and towards the Great Hall. We were a few minutes late, but we usually are.
We sat down and started eating. I usually don't eat too much at breakfast, just enough to last until Lunch. Ali usually does the same as me. Sean and Cedric on the other head completely stuff their faces at Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner, and never gain weight. I don't understand it.
Halfway through breakfast, the flurry of owls came like they always do. My dad's owl, Romulus dropped two letters next to my plate. I picked them up and one was in Dad's familiar handwriting and the other was in messy unfamiliar handwriting. I looked at it confused, and decided to read it while I was alone. I put the unfamiliar letter in my bag with my books.
Cedric, Ali, and Sean were all to immersed in their letters to notice that I put one in my bag. I opened the one from dad.
Dear Charlotte,
I'm sorry that this letter is a few days late. I've been out interviewing for jobs in the muggle world. It's easier that way. I hope that you've had a good first few days at Hogwarts. When you write to me again, I want you to tell me all about it. I hope that you've been good and save like you promised. Have you seen Harry? Tell him and Cedric and your other friends that I say hi.
Your defense against the dark arts teacher is Mad-eye Moody I hear. Amos Diggory wrote to me the other day about it. He might seem strange to you, and scary, but know that he's a good guy. He just has seen things that most people can't dream about.
The other letter that Romulus is carrying is from Sirius. I haven't read it, so I don't know what it says. I got it the day that you left for Hogwarts. He's requesting that when you write letters to him, you call him 'Snuffles' so if it's intercepted, people won't realize who it is. Also continually change owls, just as a precaution.
I've been feeling good lately, even though the full moon is coming up. Snape sent the Wolfsbane to me yesterday, so I'm going to start taking it. Anyways, I'd better go, but I love you. Stay safe, and know that I love you.
Love Dad
"How's your dad?" Cedric asked when I finished.
"He's good," I replied. "He says hi."
The three nodded and I put the letter away in my bag. The bell chimed for classes to start. We got up and Cedric and Sean went towards the dungeons for Potions, while we went towards Charms.
"Who do we have this class with?"
"Ravenclaws," Ali responded.
Five minutes later, we walked into the Charms room. I smiled and waved to Luna, who I haven't seen since the first day back. I've seen Ginny twice since we've gotten back; we have Care of Magical creatures together and Herbology. Ali and I sat on the Hufflepuff side of the classroom together.
During Charms, we practiced spells from last year, to help us get ready for learning new ones this year. Professor Flitwick told me to tell my father that he says hello. Ali and I finished practicing early, so we sat down to talk.
"How's Sean?" I asked.
"Oh my gosh, Charlotte! I like him so much! So, so, so much!" she exclaimed.
"I think he likes you back," I offered. "He always smiles at you."
"He smiles at everybody, though!" She exclaimed. "I wish there was a way that I could find out, but not let him know that I want to know!"
"What?" I asked, looking at her confused. "Say that again but not the same way."
Ali sighed. "I want to know if he likes me. But I don't want him to know I'm trying to figure out whether or not he likes me."
"I can ask Cedric," I offered.
"No!" She exclaimed. "He'll tell Sean!"
"Cedric's not like that," I responded.
"I know, but just don't say anything to him."
"If you say so," I responded.
The bell rang, signaling the end of classes. The rest of the day went by quickly. After classes ended, we met Sean and Cedric and we walked back towards the common room. As we walked, Harry came up to us.
"Hi," he said to us. "Charlotte can I talk to you?"
I nodded. "Go ahead," I said to Cedric, Sean, and Ali. "I'll be back soon."
They nodded and I followed Harry. I asked him where we were going a few times, but he ignored me. He seemed determined to get to wherever he was dragging me off to.
"Harry where are we going?"
"Neville. He wants to talk to you."
"Oh, about what?"
"I don't know," he replied.
Five minutes later, we got to an abandoned classroom. I saw Neville staring out the window. Before I went into the classroom, Harry pulled me back.
"We saw the unforgivable curses in Defense Against the Dark Arts today," Harry whispered. "I think he wants to talk to you about it."
"Ok," I whispered back. Harry nodded and walked away.
I walked into the room, and Neville turned around to look at me. He looked sad with a faraway look on his face. I went over to him and hugged him. He hugged me back slightly.
"What happened?" I asked.
"We saw the unforgivable curses today," He said, his voice hoarse like he'd been crying.
"Moody showed you those?" I exclaimed outraged. "Why?"
"He—he said we needed to be prepared for what's out there," He whispered. "Death Eaters tortured my parents with the cruciatus curse when I was a baby."
"Oh, Neville," I said. I didn't know what to say to him, how to help him. Neville and I have grown close in the past three years, and he's never told me about this. "I—I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault," He whispered. "J—just seeing the spider in so much pain…" He trailed off and looked out the window. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" I asked.
"For telling you this," He replied.
"Neville you can't hide stuff like this from me! I want to know about this. You're hurting and you can't keep it locked inside you. It'll eat you apart. I'm your friend. I want to know things that are bothering you. That's what friends do."
"I know," He said. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before now."
"It's okay," I said hugging him. "It's okay."
AN: Ok, so I know its been a while, but my laptop broke so now I have to use my parents laptop or the main computer. I will try to update again next weekend or before. But I have two thesis's due soon, so I'm going to have to work on them a lot. But the good news is summers almost here :) That means I'll be able to update a lot more. Anyways, thanks for the reviews! Read and Review!
