Chapter Twelve
After this run in with Blaise, I made even more of an effort to stay out of his way. He had no right to say that Draco was using me when he was talking out his ass. It didn't change anything else though; my hair was turning auburn again as May was rolling in, and Draco and I continued our little kinda-together-kinda-not relationship happily as it did.
"Okay, I'm sorry, Flo, but I've gotta ask," Amelia began one evening in early May, "Are you and Malfoy banging? Because Blaise has been saying for ages that whenever you two aren't around you're off fucking somewhere and he just knows and I'm just not sure… So are you?"
"We're not having sex, I can tell you that for certain. But when we go off we do kiss every now and then," I blushed.
"I knew it!" Hazel added in, "I've wanted you two to get together for so long! This makes me so happy!" she jumped up and gave me a big hug.
"Whoa, slow down, girl! We're not together together officially, but I'm thinking of talking to him about it sometime tonight."
"Exciting! So will you two will be a couple soon?" Hazel squeaked.
"Looks like it," I smiled back.
"Are you sure that's what he wants?" Pansy weighed in bitterly, looking up from Witch Weekly for the first time since the conversation began.
"Well, we'll have to find out, won't we?" I replied, looking her straight in the eyes as if inviting her to fight if she wanted. She didn't take me up on the offer, and instead resumed her reading immediately, "Actually, I might go and find out now."
"Oh, this is so exciting! Good luck!" Hazel yelled.
"See you on the other side, honey," Amelia said, somewhat calmer than Hazel, as she hugged me and shut the door behind me. As I was heading down the stairs, I bashed straight into Draco who was speeding in the opposite direction to me. We collided rather violently and nearly fell down the stairs, but instead fell backwards in a pile onto a few steps. As we noticed what was happening, we both started laughing, both sharing a quick kiss, "Well, hello there," I giggled, still laying on top of Draco.
"Evening," I laughed in return, kissing me once more before getting up.
"Why were you running up here? What did you want?" I asked, taking a seat on the step below us.
"Well," he started, joining me, "Ermm… Well, I was going to ask you if… If… Well, if you wanted to be my girlfriend properly? I mean, I know I'm probably not the ideal choice, what with being a skinny, albino guy in comparison to a dark, muscly guy. I just thought that seeing as we're kinda following now, maybe make it official? Shoot me down in flames if you think it's a bad idea, I just thought-"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Yes! I was just coming to ask you the same thing! Let's do it!"
"Yay!" Draco kissed me one final time, slow and deep to make it count, "Let's tell the others over dinner."
"Ditto," I replied. We started heading down towards the common room to have a sit down when we saw Slughorn come running in faster than I thought he'd be able to move.
"All students are to assemble in the Great Hall immediately!" he began to yell, breathing heavily, "I'm trusting you all to ensure that anyone not in here at the moment is in there too within ten minutes! Full attendance is required and there are absolutely no exceptions! I'll be standing in the front left corner of the hall waiting for you all!"
"Gosh, I wonder what's happening!" I told Draco.
"So do I… I'll go and get the guys, you get the girls, meet back here in, like, one minute?"
"Sure. And remember, we wait until dinner to tell them all together."
"Definitely. See you in a moment!"
We parted ways and started running up our respective staircases to get everyone into the hall. There were no tables to sit at, not even chairs, we all just had to stand in the block of other students from our house, waiting in the dark to find out what was going on. No one, not even the teachers, knew what was going on. No one was being quiet, no one could stand still, we all just had to wait for goodness knows what. Then, all of a sudden, everybody became very quiet as Snape entered through the centre aisle.
"Many of you are surely wondering," he began in his usual tone," why I have summoned you here at this hour. It has come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."
The room erupted in a murmured noise, but was soon controlled again when Snape decided to resume, "I mention this in the hopes that truth will not be supplanted by rumour. For myself and a few select members of the staff, this comes as little surprise. We have, for some time, considered Mr Potter's return to Hogwarts to be not only possible, but inevitable. Consequently, in the past several months and under my specific direction, exhaustive defensive strategies have been employed to defeat any attempted Mr Potter might make to breach these walls. But know this; should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mr Potter, that person will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, anyone found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty," Snape paused, I'm guessing to enjoy the scared silence as his threats sunk in, "Now then, if anyone here has any knowledge of Potter's movements, I invite them to step forward. Now."
The hall remained in its eerie silence for an unbearable long period of time. I started thinking to myself, there must be plenty of people right now who know his whereabouts; Neville, Ginny, Luna, Dean, Cho, Seamus, at least one of them must have at least an inkling! And for that I admire them. They'd just been given a very ambiguous but very serious threat, but they're not afraid; they'd rather keep Harry safe. It's no wonder I wasn't a Gryffindor, I'm such a coward! I'd crumble under the circumstances, but they don't. I had some serious manning up to do in a very short space off time…
Suddenly everyone started turning round and gasping. I grasped Draco's hand out of fright and we both strained to see what was going on. Then we heard it, "It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you've still got a bit of a security problem, Headmaster, and I'm afraid it's quite extensive."
It was Harry Freaking Potter! It was him! I heard groans from my friends around me that all hated him. They were cursing and plotting before he'd even finished his sentence, but I was just in a startled state. It was Harry, the ballsy, audacious Boy Who Lived. He looked matured, aged from his year out. He was unkempt, obviously tired, and yet he'd just made one of the biggest risks of his life. I'd have at least tried to get a good night's sleep beforehand, but, once again, that is another thing that proves I'm not Gryffindor material.
It wasn't just Harry, either, a whole host of people were entering now. I didn't recognise probably over half of them, but I saw Hermione there, and the Weasley twins, and Ron, that French girl from the Twi-Wizard Tournament, Professor Lupin, Dean, Neville, so many security breaches that Snape was probably having a heart attack as they came in!
"How dare you stand where he stood," Harry continued, I'm guessing talking about Professor Dumbledore, "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him! Tell them."
If you didn't think it could get any more dramatic at this point, you are sorely mistaken. Snape whipped out his wand (no euphemism) and pointed it at Harry. Then, McGonagall went and stepped out in front of him, poised for duelling and we all rushed to the sides, not wanting to get mixed up in it all. McGonagall started casting at Snape, wanting to fight, but all he did was deflect them as he was pushed further and further to the front of the hall. I guess he'd had enough, because he just disapparated in a puff of black smoke out the window. I'm guessing Alecto and Amycus went with him, because when I went to find them again, they'd vanished.
Everybody started cheering. Well, everyone except my friends; I didn't want to anger them, so I just grinned to myself for a moment, trying to restrain myself from clapping. McGonagall lit the torches in the hall, and I finally let go of Draco's hand. I went in for a big hug, but he didn't reciprocate as much as I'd hoped, "I was so scared," I whispered in his ear.
"I don't blame you."
But it wasn't over yet, not by a long shot. The room started growing darker again, and it became very cold very quickly. Girls started screaming, one by one, and I hadn't a clue why. I was getting scared again quickly, so tried to hold Draco's hand again, but he didn't really hold it back. Then it got even worse.
"I know that many of you will want to fight," this whispered voice began, "Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is a folly. Give me Harry Potter. Do this and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."
The flames grew thick and bright again, and heat started filling the air. That was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, I'm guessing. Who am I kidding? I know it was him. Who else would go through such lengths just to capture some boy? Everyone started looking at Harry, who looked thoroughly flustered, and with good reason.
"Well, what're you waiting for?" Pansy piped up, "Someone grab him!" Oh, Pansy. You are, without a doubt, the biggest twat I have ever encountered.
Ginny stepped forward and stood in front of him, creating a barrier so no one could do so. Slowly, Harry had a large group of people doing the same thing. I loved this so much; not only did it show Pansy up, but it was beautiful. They were willing to die for him.
I didn't take notice of what was going on for a short while, now. I heard talking in the background, but didn't concentrate on it at all. This was it. This was the time to make the decision. Dad wanted me to know who I was by now and I think I finally do, at least partially, anyway. Follow your heart. Well heart, this is your time to take the lead. I stayed in my bubble until McGonagall burst it, "I would like you, please, to lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall."
"Exactly where is it I'll be leading them to, Ma'am?" Filch asked in return.
"The dungeons would do," McGonagall replied.
Oh Pansy, you grade O twat, you've fucking done it now haven't you. Everyone in the other houses started cheering and I felt terrible. Not just for me, but for everyone else in the house who were now going to suffer and all because Pansy is a twat. I'm sorry, but there is no other word worthy to describe her at the moment; she was a twat.
We all filed out of the hall and I didn't speak until we were down in the dungeons, where the rest of the school apparently think we belong. I found a corner to sit down in and saw the others follow me over there, but remain standing. Once again, I heard them talking and shouting at each other but kept myself in my bubble, trying to stay out of the politics of what was going on. And again, the bubble was burst by someone, but this time it was Draco, "What do you say, Flo? You in?"
"Hmm what?" I replied.
"Did you not hear the plan?"
"Well, I think I got it. But just in case... tell me the whole thing again, I wasn't listening."
"Fuck's sake, Flo. Well, the Carrows are bound to be down here sometime soon, and when they are, we'll ask them to take us back up with them so we can fight-"
"Well, not all of us!" Amelia piped up, "I'm all for the cause, I'm just nowhere near ready enough to start risking my life for it yet."
"So, what about you? You're great at duelling; you're in, yeah?" Draco asked, thinking he already knew the answer.
If I was ever going to man up, it'd be now, "No."
"What did you say?" he asked me calmly; it wasn't a calm I was used to, though, not a calm that made him seem in control of the situation as it usually did. It was one in which he just stared blankly at me, no expression on his face to be seen. How was I meant to respond to this? How are meant to respond to a boy, who's been a good friend of yours for seven years now, who's obviously seeking approval and support in what will probably be the most stressful time of his life, with the answer he's not looking for, when he looks at you like this?
He looked at me in this stumped way for what seemed like a couple of years, although in real time it was probably no more than five seconds; as he did so, it not only felt like he was sucking out my soul, like the dementor he pretended to be all those years ago at the Quidditch match, it felt like he was looking into it, too. I can tell you this, there is nothing worse than having probably your dearest friend look into your eyes, judging whether or not your relationship is a lie.
This time, Draco shouted, "What did you say?!"
I stood up and looked him in the eye, banging the final nail firmly into the coffin of all my friendships for my Hogwarts career. This time, I shouted too, "I said no."
"And why," he started, still shouting, but now gripping the back off my neck painfully and backing me into the corner, "Do you say no all of a sudden?"
I shoved his hand away, pulling my hair painfully, as I started getting pissed off at his sudden change in mood towards me, "Actually, Malfoy, I'm not saying no all of a sudden. You've never asked if I share these views with you, you've all just assumed that I do and not thought to check. I don't hate Harry. I don't hate Dumbledore. I don't hate Gryffindors or Muggle-borns or Muggles. I've never been given any reason to, and I'm not going to mindlessly comply just because it's what all my friends and family think. I am not a sheep."
Pansy stepped forward and put her hand on shoulder, firmer than she would've if she's meant it to be caring, and smiled at me, "We know, Flo; you're not a sheep," the smile suddenly turned sour and she was now looking daggers at me, "But you are a traitor!" she shouted at me, proceeding to slap. The dungeon went silent, except for my former friends who oohed and grimaced around me. I did nothing but hold my right cheek and glare at her.
"Oh, I'm the traitor, am I?" I asked quietly, but then growing to shouting at Pansy, "I'm the traitor, am I?! Oh, this is rich coming from you, Pansy! Am I not mistaken, or are you the same girl you fucked her former best friend's boyfriend?! Or am I confusing you with someone else?"
"Oh don't go bringing the up now, Carrow, it has nothing to do with anything."
"It has everything to do with everything! You're calling me a traitor, but you can hardly talk because you are too! Oh I've wanted to do this for ages. I kept all this below the surface for our friends' sake, but seeing as I blatantly don't have any anymore, it might as well come out!"
"Good! Because you won't be getting any sympathy from anybody this time! I bet it's been glorious for you these last few months! 'Don't talk to me, Blaise cheated on me with my best friend', 'I'm fine, I've just broken up with Blaise because he cheated on me, that's all', 'I'm just going to get with Draco now, because Blaise cheated on me with Pansy', angst, angst, angst, I need sympathy!"
"YOU KNOW NOTHING!" and this time, I slapped Pansy, "Of course it hasn't been glorious for me, you twat! You make it sound like I've been lulling around for months on end, mourning my loss of you two bastards from my life, but you've seen me every day and you know I haven't! I've tried to get on with my life, to work my ass off trying to prepare for these exams that won't even happen now. And you know what? I've succeeded! I am fine now and it didn't take too long to become so, if you haven't noticed! Yes, people gave me sympathy, but I've never asked for any!"
"Oh, please! You didn't have to! Everybody viewed it as if it were the scandal of the century, and seeing as you were the little victim they all swarmed to tell us how we were terrible and how you didn't deserve to be treated that way. Well, you know what, Carrow? I don't regret it one bit, and neither does Blaise! He told me all about your 'cute, little relationship', and how he wanted so much more from it, and I know what he meant. He wanted fire from you, he wanted passion and steam and hotness and you gave him none of that! He didn't want some frigid bitch wanting to cuddle all the time."
"And he didn't get one! If that's what he told you, then he's the one who's trying to get sympathy. We had a great time in those first few weeks, fooling around and all, and then he started become frigid because of you! He probably told you he wanted more but meant that he was too ashamed to get it because he cheated! Not because I wouldn't give it to him!"
"Either way, he didn't get it from you so I gave it to him instead."
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Pansy, we'd been going out for well under a month! We weren't at a stage in our relationship where we were ready to have sex so we were both happy waiting for a bit! And I'd rather be that kind of person rather than the kind that is so loose and desperate for physical affection that she'll fuck anything with a pulse! Even if they don't actually like her or are going out with her best friend!"
Pansy charged at me, claws out and ready for battle. We started fighting, like proper fighting, in the middle of the room; slapping, punching, kicking, scratching, biting, hair-pulling, anything we could think of. Anything, that is, until a booming voice sounded from just inside the doorway, "Who dares engage in physical violence in the middle of the dungeons while being punished for foolishly speaking out? Oh! Miss Parkinson! What a surprise," my aunt boomed, "And, who else is that?" her voice lowered once she saw it was me, "Florence? What do you think you are doing?" We both remained silent, and I started feeling my way towards the source of blood that was trickling down my cheek, "As you were!"
Alecto approached us where we stood and my former friends joined us, too, "Why on earth were you two fighting?!" she asked severely.
"Florence has decided, Professor," Draco began, "That she won't be fighting for the same cause as us any longer."
"What?!" she boomed once more, then bringing her voice back down again, "Florence, is this true? I hope for your sake that it's not!"
I looked her straight in the eye and tried to come across a lot more confident than I actually was, "I've never intended to fight alongside Death Eaters, I have no reason to."
"Oh yes you do! It is in your blood! What about all those stories we've told you since you were little, they're all true!"
"I've never listened to them. I don't care if it's what you and mum want, I've made up my own mind, chosen my own views, and I can safely say that I don't share them with you."
"We'll just have to see what your uncle makes of this then, won't we?!" Alecto grabbed my ear and dragged me out of the dungeons.
