CHAPTER TWENTY

I'm SO SORRY! I didn't space out the chapter for this, but I went back and edited it for you! I'm very sorry, URGH*hits head*

We last left off on the execution letter Hermione gave Celia. I don't own. Enjoy and please review!

The letter was so smudged I could barely read it. Harry took it from me, and read aloud, slowly: "Dear Hermione, we lost. I'm…a…allowed to bring he…I mean, him…back to Hogwarts. Execution date to…be fixed. Beak…Beaky has in…enjoyed London. I won't forget all the help you…gave us. From, Hagrid." My heart sank. I had taken a liking to Buckbeak, which convinced me more than ever he wasn't dangerous.

Harry looked up, his face showing that he wasn't believing it. "They can't do this. They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"Ditto." I nodded. "Hermione-we'll help." I glared at Ron and Harry, who shrank away a little. "Won't we?"

3rd POV

Celia's eyes blazed with such fierceness that Harry was scared to THINK about what would happen if he said no. He hated to admit it, but Celia had more in her father than he had realized. Except she showed it in a good way. Sort of.

"Malfoy's dad frightened the Committee into it. I can't see any hope…nothing will have changed." Hermione wiped her eyes.

Celia arched her eyebrows. "Well then," she said, balling her fists. "I'll just have
a little…talk…with Draco." Ron briefly grinned.

"Yeah it will, Hermione. You won't have to do this alone, Hermione. I'll help." Ron said fiercely.

Hermione broke down, hugging Ron. Celia smirked. Ron looked absolutely terrified, and awkwardly patted Hermione's head like a dog. Hermione drew away and started apologizing between huge gulps of air about Scabbers.

HHHHHPPPPPOOOOO

"I'll talk to Malfoy." Celia promised, sending a glare at Malfoy, who was blabbering with his two cronies.

Harry's eyes kept straying to Celia, though he wasn't very sure why. And every time she caught him staring, he would be forced to look away. He blinked and turned back to Malfoy, who was saying, "-so pathetic? And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Anger blazed through Harry like an electric jolt. Hermione shrieked and strode over to Malfoy, and before anyone could do anything-SLAP!

Malfoy staggered, holding his cheek, looking shocked. Ron weakly tried to grab Hermione's arm as she drew it back again, but she shook him off with an angry, "Get off, Ron!"

To Malfoy, she drew her wand and yelled, "You-foul-pathetic-"

Celia was jumping up and down, cheering. "Go Hermione!" Harry smiled, watching her ponytail bob up and down.

Malfoy retreated with Crabbe and Goyle, muttering, "C'mon-ow-" and rubbing his cheek.

They made their way to Charms, but Hermione wasn't in class. Celia was worried for a moment, but then they did Cheering Charms and left the entire class beaming and laughing for lunch.

"Celia, I reckon that Cheering Charm isn't good for you; you're already hyper enough." Harry commented as he ate his pie. It was quite true; Celia was still grinning widely and spoke with a happy beam at the end of each sentence.

Celia grinned. "Shut up, Harry-"beam"-it's just aftereffects."

"Right…" Ron muttered as he stuffed another forkful in his mouth. Celia reached over and swatted him, showing all her teeth as she smiled.

It turned out that Hermione had fallen asleep in the Common Room. She insisted she wasn't cracking up, but Harry really doubted that.

Celia smirked and looked over Hermione's shoulder. "Uh…Hermione? You're using the wrong formula. Here-in this box, yeah you use that. Yep, you're cracking up."

"We have Divination, come on." Harry cut in. Celia stood up hastily and beckoned them out the room.

"My second choice was muggle studies, it's a shame I can't take both. Oh well, I've always wanted to be a fortune teller-" Celia lowered her voice and said in a shaky, raspy voice, "You shall eat the sushi of doom on Friday the 13th. Fish and avocado, mixed with the horrific dangers of seaweed will seal thee fate…" Harry and Hermione laughed, while Ron just looked confused.

Hermione gave her an odd look Harry couldn't quite decipher. "What if you could?"

"You mean like a Time Turner? That would be pretty cool; except I don't think anyone would trust me with it. I'd probably use it to go back in time and prank people." Celia grinned.

"Time Turner?" Hermione squeaked. "Oh-you wouldn't, er, be able to get one anyways-the Ministry and stuff-"

"I know." Celia patted her green robes. "No Time Turner here!"

HHHHHPPPPPPPOOOOO

Celia's POV

The door to divination class is a trapdoor and a ladder. Then you walk inside and draped on the windows is huge purple curtains and dim lights, with glowing crystal balls on the tables. Really? How much more of the I-shall-predict-fate aura can you get?

Yeah, and there's fog in the balls, which we're supposed to find shapes in.

Sounds a little stupid to me. Just "a little". I'm pretty sure Dad thinks that too, except he's just respecting the subject or something. Well, as much as he can respect something he doesn't like.

So we were sitting in class, and I was trying to form a shape by shaking the ball. Magic 8 ball, tell me how long I will have to be tortured by this boredom? Reply: Fog.

"Miss Celia," Trelawney sounded annoyed. "The Inner Eye does not appreciate being shaken like an object."

What if it is an object? I set the ball down and hissed at Harry, "Do you think this looks like a hot dog or a hamburger to you?" just as Tom replied, Then you throw it at Trelawney and watch what happens.

Harry laughed quietly. "I think you're just hungry."

"No kidding." I stared at the ball, and smiled evilly.

With a horrified gasp, I said to Trelawney, "Professor! I-I think I see something!"

She swooped over, glasses hanging over her nose. "What is it, my dear? Oh, I knew you had talent!" She beamed and bent down. Tom raised his eyebrows.

"I see…I see…Professor, it's another crystal ball." I drew in a fake gasp. "Do you see it? I'm standing there-Professor, I just fainted!"

"Of course-I see it, my dear! There is dark magic in your crystal ball! You may take a pass today; my dear, it's alright now, don't panic-" She helped me pack with shaking hands, stammering that she saw it.

I wasn't panicking.

I grinned at Ron and Harry's envious faces behind Trelawney's back. Ron furiously stared into his own ball, concentrating so hard I could see beads of sweat rolling down his neck.

I climbed down the trapdoor and went into Dad's office. He was grading papers, as usual.

"Why aren't you in class?" He frowned at me. I shrugged. "Well, my wonderfully talented Seer skills allowed me to see that I had to leave at once."

I swear he looked amused for the briefest second. That was a small victory, until he handed me a potions worksheet to work on.

I made a face and took the worksheet. "How do you have so much spare work?" Nevertheless, I stretched out on the sofa and began writing down ingredients. "Never mind-this is easy."

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Easy?"

"I meant hard! Yeah!" I said quickly. I was definitely willing to lie for easy work.

HHHHPPPPOOOOO

I left after I successfully nagged my dad into letting me go roam the hallways, and I dashed into the common room…Hermione?

"Ditched Divination?" I frowned and took a seat next to Hermione.

She nodded, hair plastered on her face messily. "I'm done with that stupid crystal-gazing! Trelawney told me I had no talent!"

"And you care because…?" I draped an arm over her and looked over her shoulder. Hippogriff thing again. I flipped the page.

She placed a finger on the page and tugged at her bag. "You're right; I don't need Divination anyways. It's a stupid subject!" She declared, and placed the book into her bulging bag.

I grinned. "Did the famous Hermione Granger just say a subject was stupid? Who are you and what have you done with Hermione?"

She rolled her eyes and nudged me with her elbow, shaking her head. "Honestly, Celia, sometimes I think you act more like a boy that a girl."

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me? I take that as a personal insult! Where are you-get back here and tell me you were joking! Hermione!" I ran after her, scowling.

HHHHPPPPOOOO

Easter was stressful, because I had so much homework that I could barely keep up. Hermione was the worst; she had more homework than anyone. I spent more time with Ron, helping him with Hagrid's case, and during Magical Creatures class we gave Hagrid heaps of information.

I went to Harry's quidditch practice whenever I could, and with exams coming up, I was getting more extra homework from my dad, who of course didn't take complaints, excuses, or lateness. It's great to have a dad as a teacher, isn't it?

Oliver Wood was on a rant again, throwing tips at Harry every time, doing whatever it took to help the team. He was really desperate for the Cup, I assumed.

Once, he nervously approached me and asked me to go outside the Great Hall with him. Confused, I followed him out.

"Listen, Snape, could I ask you a favor?" He rubbed his head.

I groaned. "Please call me Celia."

"Celia-whatever, could you do me a favor?" he corrected himself hastily.

"Shoot."

His brow furrowed and he cocked his head, looking at me. "Er-could you come to, or try to, come to Harry's quidditch practices? I've noticed he works harder when you're there."

I could literally feel my cheeks reddening with embarrassment. "Um…no problem. Sure."

"Great-thanks, Snape," he breathed a sigh of relief and turned back into the Great Hall. I sighed. "It's Celia!" I called to his back.

My feet carried me back to the Gryffindor table, and I sat down, returning to my pie, before I heard Oliver's voice again. "Harry-you can only catch the Snitch if-"

Harry looked seconds away to smashing the cream pie in his plate onto his face. "I KNOW, OLIVER!"

Oliver blinked, and nodded. "Okay-just remember-stay with the crowd, we can't have any Slytherins accidentally tripping you up. Any Slytherin." At that, he cast me a suspicious glance, which I returned with a full-on glare. He stepped back and left.

"He's just trying to help; once the whole match is over, everything will be back to normal." Hermione assured us, placing a neatly cut forkful of tart in her mouth as Ron splayed food bits all over us. I yelped and held up my arm, fending off the pieces of white and brown.

"You'eve got 'o 'in, 'arry! Va Gryphphinphors mustch win tha' Cup!" Ron bellowed, and gulped down his food with a large chunk of cream. I stared irritably at him, then pulled my ponytail down to pick out pieces of food that had wormed their way into my hair.

"You know, I just washed my hair." I raised an eyebrow at Ron and flecked a piece of food at him.

HHHHHPPPPPOOOOOO DAY OF THE MATCH

"Would you mind explaining to me why you have red paint on your left cheek?" Dad raised an eyebrow at me. I rubbed my cheek and rolled up a large poster. Dad was wearing green, obviously for the Slytherin team. I had worn my red-and-gold headband again, and scarlet robes Hermione had charmed for me. And of course, a half-hearted emerald flower for the sake of Draco, my dad, and the rest of the snobby Slytherins.

"Made a poster," I explained, and we both headed off towards the bleachers outside.

Dad sat on the other side, with the Slytherins, while I joined Hermione on the scarlet-robed side of the stadium. Lee Jordan was being the commentator, and I unrolled the poster with the help of Hermione and Ron.

3rd POV

Harry flew off, searching the field already. He did a quick scan of the stadium and did a double take. Celia, Hermione, and Ron were holding up a huge poster that seemed to be slowly traveling around the Gryffindor-supporting sides of the stadium. He froze.

A moving painted lion was roaring silently as it raised a paw and bared its teeth. Next to it was an enlarged Snitch with crimson red letters that flashed glittery gold: LIONS FOR THE CUP! GO GRYFFINDOR!

His eyes met Celia's for a brief second, and at that moment a feeling of determination flowed through him, pumping up his energy like a bolt of thunder. He was going to win.

He was going to win for the Gryffindors, for himself, and for the team. He was going to win for her and Ron and Hermione. He would.

Suddenly-there! The Snitch glittered a few feet above him. He streaked up when suddenly his broom slowed.

Harry gasped and twisted back-Malfoy had pulled his broom back-the Snitch was gone!

Lee Jordan howled profanities into the megaphone, screaming curse words.

Celia's POV

"YOU CHEATING SCUM, YOU B-" Lee Jordan was right below me, and my eardrums popped as he shouted another profanity. I reached out and shoved the megaphone down, my ears ringing.

Nevertheless, anger surged through me, and I booed with ¾ of the crowd. That was low. Low for Draco, even.

The poster had made its way back to me, and with a nudge from Hermione, we charmed the painted lion. It let out a deafening and encouraging roar, swiping at the Snitch which bowled out of reach. Harry twisted in his broom to stare, as did everyone else. I waved at Harry, shaking my fist and screaming, "GO GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry swooped out of sight, then circled the field as Gryffindor gained a point from penalty. I cheered as he jolted from the ground, causing two beaters to bash to the floor.

Harry stood on his broom, which made me gasp in awe. Then, quickly, his hands reached out and knocked Draco's angry arm away-he caught the Snitch.

The crowd exploded.

Waves of supporters crashed onto him as he landed, and the Gryffindor Team screamed themselves hoarse. I charmed the poster to stick to the back of the stadium, and Hermione let it roar loudly a few times with a flick and turn of her wand. We hugged, and even Ron's diplomatic brother was screaming and jumping on the bleachers. Mcgonagall was crying in joy, something I found really funny.

We fought our way towards Harry, and I hugged him, hard. He gasped for air and I released him, but both of us were laughing. My hands found his and I yanked him up the stadium, where Dumbledore handed him the Cup.

Scarlet-robed students cheered and we were engulfed by another hug…Harry lifted the Cup in the air and I screamed until my throat burned with thirst.

I met his green bright eyes again, flecked with happiness. Breathing heavily, he leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "Thank you."

"What for?" I yelled back, laughing as he shook himself silly with the Cup.

He grinned and gave me a one-armed hug. "I couldn't have done it; I couldn't have done all this without you supporting me!" My chest exploded with excitement and joy.

You stupid Dementors, I thought fiercely. Come in waves of hundreds and we'd still be cheering!