Anne Marie's POV
The next morning, I awoke early and turned to see that Cedric was gone. But a blanket had been placed over me and there was a note on the table where the address had once been. I sat up and reached for it, then lay back on the cushion to read it.
Anne Marie,
I went to the owlery and down to Hogsmeade. Won't be back till lunch.
Love,
Cedric
I laid the note back on the table and stretched. Then, pulling the blanket back up around me, I turned back over and slept the remainder of the morning away.
I did not wake up again until around 10:30AM, and I went upstairs to take a quick shower. By the time I'd gotten dressed and looking decent, it was close to 12:00, and when I got to the Great Hall, Cedric was already waiting.
"Hey." I said, taking the seat beside him. "Did you send for your spell?"
"Yes."
"What did you ask for?"
"A spell to keep my biggest fear from coming true."
"What's your biggest fear?"
"You'll find out tonight. You're going to help me activate the spell."
"How do we do that?"
"She'll send instructions."
"All right…where are we doing this?"
"It has to be in private, where no one can interrupt us."
"…how about the chamber you went into after Champion selection? The one in here?"
"That's perfect. Meet me there at 1:00." He kissed me on the cheek and then sprung off the bench.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"I didn't get a chance to go to Hogsmeade earlier. Just relax today, Anne Marie. I'm not the only person in your life. Go spend some time with Ally. I'll see you tonight."
"Ok."
I watched him run off, finished my lunch, then decided to follow his advice and find Ally.
I found Ally at the Gryffindor table, having just finished lunch.
"Sissie?" I asked.
"Yeah?"
"Come on. I want to spend the day together."
"Oh. All right. Katie was going to go find her date from last night, anyway"
She got up and we walked out of the Great Hall together.
"So, what exactly did you have planned?"
"I know what I'm doing. Go to your room and get a towel, your bathrobe, and some bath shoes, all right? Meet me in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom in twenty minutes. Oh yes, bring books to read as well."
"Ummm…"
"Just do it."
I turned and began jogging up the stairs toward the Tapestry.
When I got to the trunk at the end of my bed, I took out a large sewing kit, my own bathrobe and towel, and slipped on my bath shoes. Then, I ran back down to the second floor, and Myrtle's bathroom to wait for Ally.
Once she got there, I got her to help me do a scouring charm on the floor around us and a spell to perfume the air in the bathroom for a couple of hours.
"I still don't understand what we're doing exactly…"
"We're having a spa day."
"But, we don't have any spa things."
"You didn't think all of last year's birthday money just disappeared, did you?
With that, I opened the sewing kit to reveal several potion supplies developed especially for mixing spa products.
"I've been saving this for a rainy day."
"It's not raining."
"Oh hush."
Ally laughed and leaned back on the wall in her robe, watching me mix up face masks, foot-messaging lotion (self-powered), back warming oil and fingernail polish that would change colors to match outfits and that would stay on for a month. Also, a special face wash which had a lavender scent and lulled you right to sleep.
We spent the day reading quietly and enjoying the lotions' messaging feelings. By the time the sensation was worn off the fingernail polish applied, and the face wash (4 hours brewing time) bottled up, it was almost 12:00, time to head back to the dorms.
Ally helped me clean up and thanked me for the sister day as we reluctantly parted at the staircase. I had almost reached the Tapestry when she called me back.
"You never told e what Cedric got you for Christmas!"
"He hasn't given me anything yet…but he's supposed to when we meet later."
She winked at me and turned to go upstairs. "Night, sis."
"Night."
"Hope you get what you want."
I smiled and turned toward the common room, where I would wait until 1:00, thinking quietly and happily that I already had everything wanted.