AN: There are no excuses - my humblest of apologies! To anyone still reading and checking in - we love you!
123
Alyssa
It's funny how you don't really notice how good and healthy your body was until you get words carved into your arm.
By this point, I hadn't really gotten used to the throbbing, or the fact that they hurt to even have fabric rub up against them, but I had learned that I shouldn't provoke anything if it didn't need to happen.
After the third time someone bumped into me and grazed up against my arm, I hissed through my teeth and bit back a swear that would've startled most of the students, including Taylor, though she might be MIA.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Draco. I'm just tired of people walking into me and feeling like my arm is on fire." I had bandaged them tightly with a fabric from the First Aid Kit in my suitcase, and closed it. It had secluded the wound, but only made it feel worse.
We were leaving the Great Hall, just before everyone so as to have time to go back to the Common Room and grab our stuff. We had a common interest; hating bringing our stuff to breakfast. It only took up valuable room.
As we walked, I noticed two certain red-heads disappearing down a side hall, their arms full of packages. I immediately worried.
The twins are planning something… That's not exactly a good thing…
I didn't mention anything to Draco; it would be less trouble for the two mischief-makers.
"Practice is cancelled tonight; something about Flint being busy. All the guys are going down to the Pitch to throw the Quaffle around. That means the Common Room and the Boys Dormitory will be empty."
"Nice try. I'm not interested in that." I gave him a pointed look and he blushed.
Blushed.
"I didn't mean that.I meant that we can take the guitar out and play a little. The Room of Requirement hasn't really lost anyone's interest yet; I heard that someone tried to get in and they got tackled in the process."
Ooh, that sucked.
"Alright. But hands to yourself, got it?" I smirked when he blushed again, his cheeks almost a bright pink.
Morning classes revealed Taylor, and I questioned her about her disappearing act the day before. However, she wouldn't give me anything, and only after speaking to Harry, did I find out anything at all.
"Well… Taylor was in the washroom. Washing her arm. And, uh… Well, she wasn't feeling the greatest. I was walking by and I heard her."
"Heard her? What do you mean?"
He hesitated slightly, seeming unsure whether or not he should say something.
"She was crying."
Before I could say anything, the twins came around the corner, laughing about something, and I put my guards up.
"What's up? I saw you two do a disappearing act this morning. What are you up to?"
"Well, you see, we're going to have a little bit of fun with old Umbridge." George grinned, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear what they had planned.
"Phase One should be starting soon," Fred mirrored his brother's face.
"Yeah, you'd better get into the Great Hall, so you don't attract any attention. Wouldn't want you involved."
And with that, they passed us and disappeared again.
"Um, I think we should leave. Just in case…" I said uneasily, and he nodded.
'Phase One' ended up happening right after lunch.
Herbology was held outside, so we got to see the whole thing from outside.
It had been rather noisy to start with, as people chattered went about gather the necessities for extracting Snuffalump seeds.
As I was approaching my Snuffalump, a huge BANGerupted at the castle.
"What on Earth-?" I turned, to look up through the roof and saw bright colors and what looked like purple and blue dragonsexploding in the castle. Taylor quirked an eyebrow, and with a look, Harry, Taylor, Ron and I snuck out and ran to the castle.
There were colors everywhere. Blue wheels flew through the halls, rockets whizzed, and dragons roared. As we ran through the halls, fireworks raced overhead of us, and I could see that Umbridge was trying to send spells at them, while Filch was beating at one nasty firework with a broom, setting it on fire.
I saw a banner move, and went over, moving it aside slightly to reveal Fred and George laughing.
"Nice of you to join the party," Fred grinned.
Harry smiled wide. "It's brilliant."
"A new product for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Problem is, we've used up our whole stock for this. We'll have to start off from scratch. But it's worth it." George laughed loud, but it was masked by an explosion.
"Oh, I hope she tries to make them disappear next. They'll divide by ten every time you try," Fred grinned again, wiping tears from his eyes.
"You guys are evil. But amazing." I moved the banner aside a little, to watch Umbridge get chased down by a blue dragon.
The look of terror on her face made my whole day.
After grudgingly going back to the Greenhouses, we watched the castle as fireworks flew out through windows, and had the teacher threaten us with detention if we didn't pay more attention to our Snuffalumps, as they were trying to sneak away.
We had Care of Magical Creatures afterwards, so it wasn't until second last period- Muggle Studies –that we actually got back to the castle. It was then that we got to see the real fun.
Because we had been outside, we hadn't really been subject to fireworks flying into the Greenhouse or near Hagrid's cabin. But in Muggle Studies, we found out that some teachers had been calling Umbridge from all over the castle to get rid of a stray firework that had managed to find its way in.
I suspected this was the teacher's way of getting back at her, because McGonagall had actually closed the door on her face, saying that she hadn't known whether or not she had the 'authority'.
Either way, I was enjoying every minute of it.
124
Taylor
Lunch wasn't as enjoyable the next day as I'd hoped. Hagrid had finally returned from his personal leave during the holidays, and when we'd gone to see him in his hut, Umbridge was already threatening him with unemployment. He was confused, to say the least, and explained to us that Dumbledore had sent him to try and persuade the giants to ally with us. Giants. Hagrid was beaten and a little bruised; nothing too serious. But he had mentioned that Death Eaters had already approached the giants in hopes that they'd join Voldemort. Luckily for us, they didn't.
It didn't stop the unrelenting worries though.
"This is ridiculous!" Ron grumbled loudly, glaring down at his plate as though it was the sole reason for his anger. "She's taken over the entire bloody school! She's shooting rules out of her ass and now that Dumbledore's gone, there's no one to stop her!"
"Did you hear?" Seamus asked from beside me, sounding almost as angry as Ron. "Boys and girls can't be within 8 inches of each other now; I'm breaking a bloody rule by sitting down!"
"You're right," I mused, looking between us. "That looks to be about 7 inches. How dare you?" He rolled his eyes and I pushed him lightly. "I heard Filch took down all the portraits too; Umbridge must be paranoid, thinking they're spying on her for Dumbledore."
"She's delusional if she thinks anybody's going to take her seriously." Hermione sighed, sitting on the other side of me, looking more anxious than upset. "Has anyone seen Harry?"
"Not since yesterday, after the fireworks show." I said, shrugging before slipping a hand under my sleeve to itch at my arm. I couldn't help but remember being in the bathroom, crying like a baby having a fit. It was a moment of utter weakness, and of course he had to show up. He'd apologized, for everything, and helped me get myself together. And yet, the entire time he was with me, he seemed unsure. Like he was on the verge of making a decision and seeing me like that had only pushed him further towards an answer.
I began to think that confessing my fears had been the wrong thing to do. I'd tried so hard to pretend they didn't exist; to hide the fact that the thought of a full-scale war terrified me to no end. To cover up the tortured doubts that kept pushing further and further into the forefront of my mind.
My breakdown in the bathroom was unacceptable; it was as if there were only two sides to my personality, and they were polar opposites. There was more to me than that, but I guess that's what I got for being a Gemini. Perhaps it was time to stop hiding behind false strengths and overconfidence.
"I'll help you look for him," Ron stood grudgingly, sneering at his food before scratching at his own arm. "I'm not hungry anyway."
I watched them get up and leave, knowing I should go with them. I sighed, mostly to myself, and got up; offering Seamus what was left on my plate. He smiled up at me, though it may have been a little forced. No one was ever in a happy mood anymore. I was about to leave the Hall when Ginny walked in, looking absolutely miserable. Feeling my gut wrench, I grumbled a few curses and approached her.
"Hey," I started, catching her attention. "What's up?"
"Oh!" She blinked, pulling her hand from her sleeve – which I was now hypersensitive to – and looking at me sheepishly.
I offered a small smile. "Touching them doesn't help; I know. I don't even realize when I scratch at them now. They get red and inflamed."
"Madame Pomfrey's got some ointment that works wonders," She nodded, looking as though she had no idea how to talk to me. Not that I could blame her.
"Really? Maybe I'll go see her…" I took a deep breath and stopped her before she could walk away. "Ginny – look – I…I'm sorry, about…you know, Harry, and everything."
"About Harry?" She asked, confused and more than a little amused. "Taylor, I'm not daft. After the way you reacted, I could tell you liked him too. And it was even more obvious that he liked you back; you two were the only ones who couldn't see it." She chuckled a little, and I gaped.
"What?" I struggled to get the words out. "You mean…you're not angry? Upset? You don't feel betrayed?"
"Boys are the least of my problems, now." She laughed, running a hand through her red hair.
"Dear god, I'm stupid." I breathed, "I thought you hated me!"
"I was bitter for a little while," She admitted with a grin, "But I got over it."
"Merlin, even my little cousin is more mature than me." I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose and shaking my head.
"Your self-awareness does you credit." She smirked, patting my head.
"Alright, you enjoy your lunch." I grinned, "I have to go grow up." As I jogged out the doors, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Now, if I could only gain the same sort of closure with myself.
"Harry, if it's anyone's fault, it's ours." Hermione urged as she and Ron followed Harry across the bridge. They'd finally found him; but he looked a little worse for ware.
"Yeah," Ron added, "We talked you into it."
"Yeah, but I agreed." Harry sighed, looking out at the mountains. "I tried so hard to help, and all it's done is make things worse." His voice sounded strained, like he'd given up already. "I know it doesn't matter anymore. I don't want to play anymore; all it does is make you care too much, and…" He shook his head once, biting his lip as he frowned. "…the more you care, the more you have to lose. Maybe it's just better to…"
"To what?" Hermione asked quietly, looking at him with a sadness that seemed to echo what they were all feeling.
Harry stopped for a moment, and Ron shuffled his feet as the darker boy thought.
"To do it alone," He finally said, turning around with a sense of finality. Hermione and Ron watched him, unsure of what to say or how to say it. Before either of them could come up with the right words, a loud 'psst' from across the bridge caught their attention.
"Hagrid?" Harry asked, watching as the half-giant shuffled his feet to slide further behind one of the pillars, looking sheepish and desperate.
"Come with me," He said, "The four of ya,"
Thefourof-?
Harry turned around, a hint of dismay in his eyes when they met the dim remorse in her green ones. It seemed they had a way of catching each other off guard, for he hadn't heard her approach, or stop just a few feet away from Ron and Hermione. Close enough to hear what he'd said; he knew.
She seemed accepting, but he knew otherwise. If she'd known what to say, she'd have said it without a second thought. She would have put him in his place and reminded him that he couldn't do this alone; that they were all there with him. But she was at a loss, and what Hagrid had to show them…it wouldn't help to clarify her thought process any faster.