A/N: Please review!
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Catherine left again the day after Christmas. It wasn't safe for her to be in one place too long, and it was extremely likely the Quicks (along with the Weasleys) were being watched. It didn't matter how strong Cliodhna's protections and wards were, it didn't matter how sad Ben, Jack, and Cliodhna were to say goodbye so soon to their mother, she had to leave and keep on the move.
"I'll be back soon," she whispered to Angus before kissing him goodbye. "It won't be as long as before, I promise."
Angus nodded and pressed his forehead to hers before she pulled back and Apparated away with a loud CRACK!
Christmas Day, when the Quicks had been all together, had been cozy and fun with an air of melancholy because Catherine was leaving and they could have no communication with Fitz. They had sent a letter to their grandfather in America by Muggle post, but knew they wouldn't get his response until they returned home that summer because it was too dangerous for Angus to send it via owl to Hogwarts.
They had stayed up late to spend as much time with Catherine as possible, and even when Jack let a rogue yawn escape, they begged their parents to stay up for one more hour as though they were 8 years old again.
Catherine said goodbye to each of them individually throughout Christmas Day and the triplets didn't tell each other what they talked about. It was private and at least for Cliodhna most of it was a secret that she couldn't share with her brothers. Not yet anyway.
"Well," Ben clapped his hands in an attempt to get everyone's attention after Catherine had left. "I think I'll make some pancakes. Anyone want -"
"You know how to make pancakes?" Jack gasped in shock as he followed his brother into the kitchen.
Cliodhna took one of her father's hands in hers and tugged it gently. "Come on," she tried to smile. "Before Ben burns down the kitchen."
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"Hiya," Charlie smiled at Angus as he walked inside the Quick's house. "How are you all holding up?"
Angus attempted a smile, "Ben made pancakes successfully. Not really sure how he did it, but you're welcome to have some."
"I learned from the twins this summer," Ben shouted from the kitchen. "Stop pretending they aren't delicious, father."
"Why didn't you make these at the Reserve?" Charlie asked as he followed Angus into the kitchen, relieved to see the triplets looking better than he had hoped.
"Charles!" Ben looked up from the stove with a wide smile. "What a pleasant surprise!"
Cliodhna pulled out the chair next to her, "Have a seat, have a pancake."
Charlie grinned at her and sat down as a plate floated down in front of him. "Pancake?" Ben asked.
"Lovely, thanks," Charlie winked at Ben and took the syrup from Jack. "You all right?" Charlie whispered to Cliodhna.
"I am," she whispered back, leaning her head towards him. "I'd love a day outside," he could barely hear her she was so quiet.
"I don't think we can wrangle that," Charlie whispered back before pouring his syrup. "Not safe and all that."
"I can keep us safe," her voice was slightly louder now. "You know I could -"
"You can't go to the wood," Angus sighed as he poured himself some tea. "It's not -"
"We know how to -"
Angus rubbed a tired hand over his face. "You won't give it up, will you?"
"No," Cliodhna shook her head. "I'd really like to be outside for only even an hour today."
Angus sighed, "If Charlie comes with you, and it's only an hour."
"I want to go to Diagon," Ben started. "Can I go to the twins' shop?"
"Yes," Angus gave in. "I can take you after they get back from the wood."
Ben flipped a pancake high in the air in victory.
"Do you want to go anywhere special, Jackie?" Angus asked.
Jack shrugged, "Nah, I'm all right to go where ever."
Angus looked relieved.
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"I didn't even ask if you wanted to come," Cliodhna grinned at Charlie as they walked through the field to the wood. Cliodhna had Disillusioned them both and put several protections around them as they walked as she had promised Angus she would. They had to be back within the hour and if anything happened or if they saw anything, she'd send a Patronus to let her father know.
"Of course I want to come," he slung his arm around her shoulder and instantly felt warmer. "Needed to get out of the house and away from mum for a bit. Ginny wasn't awake yet and has been hanging around with Ron and Harry more than usual."
"Has she?" Cliodhna sounded intrigued and Charlie didn't like the sound of that. Didn't Ginny already have a boyfriend? He didn't know the lad, but at least he knew Potter and he was a good sort…
"Well I do appreciate you coming," Cliodhna broke him out of his reverie. "Just want to be outside for a little while before we're locked up again."
"You could go to London too," Charlie offered.
"To the shop?" She shook her head. "That's for Ben to enjoy on his own."
"Muggle London?" Charlie asked.
She looked up at him and met his eyes. He could tell she had thought of it but knew it was too dangerous. She worried she'd be putting too many people in danger, especially Muggles, if Death Eaters decided to go after her. At least in the wood there were no people besides the two of them. "No," she said sadly and looked out in front of them again. "I can't."
They walked in silence for a moment until they reached the tree line and Charlie removed his arm around her shoulders. He wasn't expecting Cliodhna to reach her gloveless hand out and hold his. He squeezed it gently and looked up at the top of the trees. Their boots were silent on the fallen oak leaves and he knew that she had done that, made their footsteps quiet so no one could hear them. Charlie hadn't even thought of that precaution but he wasn't surprised she had.
The first bit of wood was made up of oak trees and hawthorns with the occasional crabapple and berry bushes. They had all lost their leaves but he had been to the wood so often in the summer that he knew what trees were there. It hadn't changed in the decades he'd been alive.
Soon they were walking among Scots pines and Charlie wondered how old these particular trees were. He remembered reading - in one of Cliodhna's Muggle plant books - that they could be over 700 years old, but he knew that at one point or another the English had cut down most of the native trees. He doubted any of these trees were 700 years old. But this area did have more witches and wizards than other places in England -
"You can't tell their age by how tall they are," Cliodhna's voice was quiet. "You need to count the rings." She stopped walking and looked up at the top of the pines. "The rings can tell you if there was a bad winter, or a fire," she smiled at him and started to walk again. It was obvious she had a destination in mind.
She was walking a few feet ahead of him, her long coat whipped up slightly behind her when a strong gust of wind blew past them, but she kept walking at the same pace, even as Charlie faltered slightly. He pulled his own coat tighter around him and was glad when Cliodhna stopped for a moment so they could walk side by side again and Charlie felt warmer.
"Here," she said quietly as they reached a very wide, very old looking yew tree.
Charlie wanted to ask her what she meant, but he felt, in the eerie quiet of the woods, that it wasn't the right time to speak. He noticed for the first time that he didn't even hear any birds. Had they been chirping earlier?
Cliodhna approached the tree, her hand outstretched, and lay her palm on it for a long moment. Charlie watched her take a deep breath, her hand still on the tree before stepping back. A cloth bag appeared beside her and Charlie watched as long pieces of bark seemingly removed themselves from the tree and floated into the bag.
After several pieces of the tree were in the bag, it shrunk and Cliodhna grabbed it out of the air and put it into her pocket. She turned around to look at Charlie, "All right?"
"Yea," Charlie said, clearly confused. Cliodhna took his hand and they started to walk away from the yew and back the way they came.
Cliodhna stopped walking after a moment and pointed up at the top of the trees. "A merlin," her voice was so quiet that Charlie leaned his head towards her instinctively. "My patronus is a merlin." She was smiling serenely when he looked at her, her face clear and bright. She looked so peaceful and happy that his breath caught in his throat. She looked ethereal like she had on the platform with her brothers.
She let out a delighted, soft laugh, and Charlie looked up to see the merlin flying away. "She looked at me, I think," her eyes followed the bird. "I feel like she knew me," she laughed again and looked at Charlie. "I mean, she didn't, but it felt like she did." She squeezed his hand again and Charlie nodded at her with a smile. "Don't," she tilted her head slightly. "Don't tell anyone we went to the yew tree, will you?"
He didn't know why he wasn't allowed to tell anyone but he knew he wouldn't since she asked. He seemed incapable of refusing her anything. "Sure," he agreed. "I won't say anything."
"It's not," she frowned, looking for the right word.
"You don't need to give me a reason."
Cliodhna looked relieved. "Thanks, Charlie."
"We should," Charlie looked around them. "Head back, you know, before anyone starts to worry."
"Course," she agreed and led him out of the wood.
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Jack and Cliodhna spent the day at the Burrow - it had been worth spending only an hour in the wood with Charlie when Ben got to spend nearly the entire day at the shop with the twins. Cliodhna had wanted that bit of yew to study and play around with. She lamented that Ollivander had disappeared and she couldn't reach out to him and pick his brain about wands, and in her case, the lack thereof. She had wondered what it meant that her mother's wand was made of yew - a very rare wood for wands - and she knew Voldemort's was yew as well. What did it mean that hers was made of acacia? What did it mean that Ben's and Jack's were made of apple and spruce? She needed a book on wand lore, but really she needed to speak to a Wandmaker. She should probably try to use other wands too, see if that made her magic harder to do without wands or easier.
But she couldn't think about wands while at the Burrow. Thankfully she was allowed outside in the yard with Charlie for some of the day which allowed her actual breathing room.
She read a Muggle novel in the living room while the others played Exploding Snap, she listened to more of Charlie's tales of his dragons, she told the others some of the new "myths" she read about Merlin and King Arthur, and she teased Ron about Lavender. The day was pleasant and relaxing and whenever she felt restless she'd go outside with Charlie.
"You are a very calming presence, you know that?" She grinned at him as they leaned against the Burrow as the sun began to set.
"I have that effect on dragons and I guess you now too," Charlie glanced down at her for a moment before smiling. "How are you doing? What with, you know," he shrugged and looked back out at the darkening sky.
"All of it?" She finished for him. "I'm all right, I guess. A little restless, obviously," she gestured at where they were standing. "I know mum'll be alright. Cedric seems to be okay with being my friend," she glanced at Charlie. "He doesn't hate me. I mean, we didn't fight." She hesitated and Charlie watched her as she took a deep breath. "I mean all in all everything seems to be okay."
"No one's fighting," Charlie said slowly. "That's always good."
The sun disappeared behind the tops of the trees far beyond the house and Cliodhna couldn't help her small frown. "We should go in," she said to Charlie. "Help with dinner. Who knows who'll be round tonight."
But besides the twins, Ben, Angus, Fleur, and the rest of the Weasleys (save Percy), only Remus stopped by for dinner. Cliodhna was rather surprised Sean and Tonks didn't pop in, nor Kingsley or Mad-Eye. None of the other adults seemed concerned, but Cliodhna felt her skin tingle as they finished up their meal of shepherd's pie. Something was wrong. Harry Potter was at the Burrow and there should have been more adults popping in and out all day, but especially at night.
Charlie noticed Cliodhna's eyes moving rather quickly but still discreetly around the room, focusing on windows. When they all stood up to clear the table, he noticed she discreetly waved her hand in a slow circular motion and wondered what sort of magic she was doing and why she didn't want anyone to notice. He was about to pull her aside and ask her what was wrong when she stood extremely still and waved her hand quickly over her head.
Sound was gone in an instant. Had she made them all deaf? Everyone looked at her, opening their mouths to ask her what was going on, but she shook her head and said in such a low whisper Charlie was unsure if she was actually speaking or communicating directly to their brains, "People outside."
Angus, Remus, Molly, Arthur, Bill, and Charlie waved everyone into the hall away from any windows and doors and they all raised their wands - Fred, George, and Fleur were of age but they seemed comfortable being with the others. Cliodhna stayed in the kitchen facing the kitchen door. Angus went to grab her arm to pull her away, but she shook her head, not turning around.
A strong, strange, unnatural wind whipped around the house, shaking it slightly, whistling through cracks under doors and around windows. Everyone in the hall shivered and stood closer together.
Cliodhna raised her hands slightly and the wind stopped immediately. A high-pitched laugh ricocheted around the outside of the Burrow.
"Bellatrix," Cliodhna whispered to her father beside her. "Others I don't know."
"Can they -" he started.
"Not yet," Cliodhna shook her head.
"I'll send a patronus," Arthur said from behind her.
But Cliodhna knew the patronus wouldn't get to anyone in time. She could tell there were at least five Death Eaters outside, one of them Lestrange. She felt the anger bubbling up inside her, the electricity eager to escape and destroy Bellatrix, but she clenched a fist and took a deep breath.
Charlie, seeing her clenched fist, moved to stand next to her, his arm touching hers. He didn't say anything.
"What are they -" someone behind Cliodhna asked, but she wasn't sure who, because there was a blinding light suddenly outside and a scream. Someone had tried to step through Cliodhna's protections. She couldn't help her rueful smile, willing someone else to try. She ignored the murmurs from those behind her and closed her eyes to focus on what was happening outside. She couldn't see anything but she knew that it wasn't Bellatrix who had approached her protections. If they kept trying to get through it, they could eventually get to the Burrow; she wasn't entirely sure how long her defenses would last against relentless attacks.
She opened her eyes. No one was trying. Maybe the man who screamed made the Death Eaters wary.
"We just want to talk," Bellatrix's taunting voice carried through the Burrow. "Just send out the mutant girl or the Potter boy for a quick chat and we'll be on our way."
Harry was suddenly behind Cliodhna but she didn't turn her head. "Don't be stupid, Potter," she breathed.
"Can they get through?" He asked her seriously.
"Only if they keep trying but that could take hours," Cliodhna replied honestly.
Bellatrix's singsong voice taunted them again, "I killed Sirius Black!" Cliodhna clenched a fist. "Remember? The look on his face -"
Cliodhna didn't hear what else Bellatrix was saying. She felt the anger she had tried to call forward the past few months rising within her. A part of her knew deep down that this is what Bellatrix and the Death Eaters wanted; for her to lose control and show them the full range of her powers. She wanted to hurt Bellatrix for killing Sirius. She wanted her to suffer. And she wanted to be the one who did it. She felt the electricity pooling in her hands, power coursing through her body, she was ready to blast Bellatrix and the other Death Eaters. She didn't care in that moment if the Burrow would collapse around them. Maybe she could channel it in one direction, through an open window or door directly at Bellatrix, maybe she could merely drop it on Bellatrix somehow, she didn't care how she could or couldn't do it, she just wanted to hurt the woman who killed Sirius and was now bragging about it.
The electricity crackled around her hands, a blue light emitting from them and some of her hair began to stand on end as the static electricity around her became too much. Her eyes were white. She felt the rage within her bubbling over as Bellatrix's voice reverberated around her head, "I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!" She was ready to throw the electricity and whatever power she had in her body at the woman, ready to blast her into a hole in the ground or clear into the sky. The electricity crackled again, louder this time, but she felt a large hand engulf hers.
She felt like she had been punched in the chest. The electricity died immediately and she looked up at Charlie who was standing in front of her, shaking, his large hands covering hers. He looked terrified; his face was extremely white and he looked like he was about to faint. But his bright blue eyes were fixed on hers.
"Oh no," she breathed as he stumbled slightly and some of his weight fell on to her hands. "Oh no, Charlie."
There was a high-pitched scream outside and another spasm of blinding light. "That wasn't me," Cliodhna shook her head. "Someone tried to get through." She looked wildly around the room, "Get him a chair!"
Charlie's hands dropped to his side and he collapsed into a chair, breathing hard, as some of the blood rushed back to his face and he began to look more normal. Cliodhna backed away from him and leaned against the door, closing her eyes. She had hurt Charlie. He had tried to contain her and she had hurt him in the process. In a moment of panic and horror she felt her shield and protections around the Burrow pulse with her leftover energy and heard several people this time scream and several CRACKs of Death Eaters Apparating away.
She opened the door to escape the kitchen and everyone there; she ignored people yelling at her to stop. She shut the door behind her and locked it, sucking in the cold air of the black night around her.
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Angus was finally able to open the door after several minutes, but Cliodhna ignored him. She wanted to be alone - she needed to be alone - and the cold air helped calm her. "You have to come inside," her father's voice was soft. She shook her head. "You can't stay out here all night."
"I can," she said, still not looking at him.
Someone else opened the door and a deep, soft voice said, "Come inside, Cliodhna." She spun around and saw Charlie. "I'm alright," he raised a hand to touch her arm but she stepped away, afraid that she could shock him again.
"No, you shouldn't -"
"It was just a shock," he shook his head and gave her a small smile. "I'm really fine," he held out his hand to prove that he wasn't afraid to touch her.
Angus looked at his daughter and said sincerely, "Everyone wants you to come in and thank you."
Cliodhna looked disgusted. "Thank me?" She sputtered. "I nearly killed Charlie -"
"No you didn't," Charlie laughed. "Don't exaggerate."
Cliodhna looked between the two of them, completely flabbergasted. "I could have blown up -"
"You didn't," Angus corrected her. "Your magic protected all of us, and it was easy for Charlie to stop you. I'm sure you wouldn't have hurt us."
"You," Cliodhna shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut as she leaned her head back against the house. They were fools if they thought everything was fine. Didn't they understand? How many times had she tried to warn them? She didn't know what she was fully capable of - the day before she hadn't even contemplated what she wanted to do tonight, and yet she had merely thought it and it felt possible. She took a deep breath and nearly jumped when Charlie put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't touch me," she said in a tight voice. "Not yet."
Charlie nodded and removed his hand, still unfazed.
"Come inside, Cliodhna," Angus said. "We all need a cup of tea."
She followed them inside, still clearly frustrated, but put on serene face so as not to startle anyone. Mrs. Weasley hugged her tightly before Cliodhna was even fully through the door. She was still nervous she'd be hurting someone by touching them, not entirely certain that she was dried out of her electricity, but Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to be harmed in any way as she released her. "You're alright," she whispered to Cliodhna and patted her arm. "You're alright. Have a cup of tea, come on."
Cliodhna followed her, aware of everyone watching her but trying not to be obvious. "Thanks for stopping me," Harry said to her. "I wanted to -"
"I did too," Cliodhna said truthfully. "I think you saw that."
"You got them to leave," Remus said gently. "Your wards and protections wouldn't let them near -"
"Tonks and Kingsley are here," she turned towards the door and took the cup of tea Mrs. Weasley offered her.
Charlie sat down next to her and put his hand on top of her hand as she slowly sipped her tea. Ben and Jack stood behind her in a show of support as Angus and Remus explained to Kingsley and Tonks what had happened. Cliodhna barely listened to Tonks and Kingsley as they explained the Death Eaters were causing a ruckus everywhere and that several more people had "gone missing".
"You are all to stay here tonight," Kingsley nodded at them. "Dumbledore's orders." His eyes landed on Cliodhna for a long moment but he didn't say anything. "But everyone is safe here to stay the night. Angus, we'll need you for," his voice trailed off and Cliodhna saw her father shake his head ever so slightly. She wondered what secret mission he was a part of.
Kingsley left and Cliodhna watched Tonks and Remus walk to the living room to talk alone. Ben whispered in her ear, "You okay?"
"You gave us a scare," Jack whispered in her other ear. "Mainly that you were running away."
"We knew you wouldn't hurt anyone here," Ben agreed.
"I'm okay," Cliodhna barely moved her mouth. Charlie squeezed her hand. "I just really wanted to hurt her."
"We all did," Ben said before Harry interrupted them asking to speak to Cliodhna alone.
She followed him to the front hall away from everyone else. "We're all fine, we're not scared, all that," Harry said quickly. "Don't be angry with yourself, we don't think you're a menace." He pushed his glasses up his nose, his bright green eyes watching her closely. "I know that's what you're thinking." Cliodhna smiled ruefully at him. He continued, "What I need to know is if your wards could do that all the time, I mean, is it targeted to Death Eaters? Or people you don't know? Or -"
"Death Eaters," she nodded. "At least I think so. Maybe specifically people who want to be Death Eaters, who believe in Voldemort's insane ideas." She sighed, "I'm not fully sure, to be honest with you."
Harry thought for a moment. "Do you think you could put them up around Hogwarts?"
Cliodhna frowned at him, confused. "But Dumbledore's there."
Harry ignored this and tried again, "Do you think you could use your powers, whatever they are, to find certain items? Things that are, um, filled with evil?"
Cliodhna continued to frown at him, uncertain of what he was asking. "I'm not sure. That sounds very tricky. I'd have to practice, I think."
Harry nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Practice." He left her in the hall alone and walked back to everyone else in the kitchen.
Cliodhna stayed in the hall for a long moment, glad to be alone again so she could let her body settle. She still felt on edge, her heart was still beating rather quickly, her hands were shaky, her mind wouldn't rest. She was certain she wouldn't get any sleep tonight. Not with the fear of hurting someone on her mind.
She could have killed Charlie. Her oldest friend, someone who had been her best friend for years, who she trusted and loved nearly as much as her own family. He was family. And she could have killed him in an instant. She rubbed a tired hand over her face, knowing she had to go back into the kitchen before someone came to find her. How did Charlie stop her? How did he not die? No one had tried to stop her like that before. When she and Cedric had been practicing in Iceland he didn't simply reach out and touch her.
She felt Charlie approach before she heard him. "I'm coming back," her voice was soft and she immediately regretted the edge that was there.
"I thought you'd want another minute or two," Charlie shrugged. "I told them you were going to Transfigure a bed in Ginny's room."
She smiled at him, "Thanks, Charlie."
"I," Charlie hesitated and ran a hand through his red hair. "I don't want you," he shook his head, clearly unsure how to get whatever he was thinking out. "Don't be mad at me for stopping you," he finally blurted out and Cliodhna was shocked.
"I'm not," she took a step closer to him. "I'm glad," she shook her head. "Not glad. I could have hurt you, but I didn't want to kill Bellatrix, I mean." She frowned and met his bright blue eyes. "I did want to kill her, in that moment. But I know I couldn't. I don't want to. I want her to suffer for killing Sirius, but I couldn't."
Charlie wrapped his arms around her and Cliodhna felt her body instantly relax. She couldn't verbalize the anger she had felt at Bellatrix, the shame she felt at nearly letting her power get the best of her, the pain at possibly hurting Charlie, and the conflicting gratitude that he stopped her. He kissed the top of her head and she hugged him tighter. She felt safe here, in his arms, fully aware that she was keeping him safe too.
"Thank you," she whispered into his chest.
"Thank you for protecting us all," he whispered back.
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Cliodhna lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, long after Fleur and Ginny had begun to breathe deeply. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep that night. She was too on edge, too wound up, and too worried about what had nearly happened earlier. With a resigned but quiet sigh she got out of bed and made her footsteps silent as she walked down the hall and downstairs to the living room. She waved a hand and the fire quickly came to life. She sat down in one of the slightly worn chairs and curled her legs up under her, staring into the fire, hoping the flickering flames would lull her to sleep.
"Couldn't sleep?" She said to the empty room before Jack and Ben walked in. Jack flashed a bottle of Scottish whiskey at her and she nodded.
"Ron snores," Ben groaned and accepted a glass of whiskey from Jack. "Thought you wouldn't be able to sleep after the excitement of the evening."
"Putting it mildly," Jack said and handed Cliodhna a glass. "Bit surprising of Charlie to, you know."
"Not really," Ben shook his head and sat on the arm of the chair Cliodhna was sitting in. "He's quick on his feet, isn't he? Deals with dragons who erupt out of nowhere, and he could tell something was happening with you."
"Was it," she frowned and hesitated. "I thought I could sort of drop it on her without affecting anyone else or the Burrow."
Ben and Jack were silent for a long moment.
"You reckon that would have worked?" Jack's voice was low.
Cliodhna shrugged, "I really thought it could, in the moment. Felt possible."
"And now?" Ben asked.
"I don't see why not." They were silent again. "I mean, there doesn't seem to be any rules, does there?"
"No," Jack agreed. "For some reason," he swirled his glass. "I wasn't worried. I knew you'd take care of us and the house."
"Me too," Ben agreed. "I knew it'd be alright." He shrugged. "I wouldn't have minded if you killed Bellatrix, to be honest. Or hurt her badly. I don't think any of us would have really minded."
Cliodhna frowned, "I can't go around hurting people."
"She's barely a person any more," Jack's voice was filled with so much hatred that Cliodhna was taken aback. "She's just an evil human without remorse or sympathy."
"We're glad you didn't," Ben insisted. "But we wouldn't have been mad if you did."
Cliodhna took a long sip of her whiskey, "And you felt safe? You don't think -"
"Very safe," Ben said firmly. "Glad you were here."
"Really glad," Jack nodded.
They both put a hand on Cliodhna's shoulder and stared into the fire.
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"She's not one of your dragons," Bill whispered, his voice floating along in the dark room. Charlie thought about ignoring him and pretending he was asleep, but his older brother knew he was awake.
"No," Charlie agreed. "She's a witch."
"Was rather risky of you," Bill's voice didn't change.
"It was instinctive," Charlie closed his eyes. "I didn't want her to kill Bellatrix, and I wasn't sure what she could do."
Bill was silent for a long moment and Charlie hoped he was done talking so he could sleep. He was exhausted.
"You love her," Bill's voice was slightly louder.
Charlie sighed, "Don't we all? She's -"
"No," Bill said firmly. "We don't all love her the way you do."
"Bill," Charlie started, his voice sounding strained. "Please."
"You can't let your feelings cloud your judgement, Charlie. She could have really hurt you," Bill sounded sad and scared and Charlie sat up.
"I knew she wouldn't -"
"You can't know -"
"I did," Charlie interrupted. "I knew because I love her and because I work with volatile, dangerous dragons." Charlie's own voice was soft but firm, "I knew what I was doing. I would do it again."
Bill sighed but didn't argue. "Just," he hesitated. "Just be careful, will you?"
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Cliodhna walked downstairs to the kitchen before the sun rose that morning, yawning, and was nearly bowled over by Cedric who hugged her fiercely before she hit the final step. "Are you okay?" He whispered into her hair.
"I'm fine," she said, her eyes wide. They hadn't hugged like this in ages. "I promise I'm fine."
Cedric loosened his arms to meet her eyes, "I heard about what happened when I got home. I would have been here last night but I had a night shift."
Cliodhna wasn't sure what to say. "Night shifts don't sound very -"
He let go of her and led her into the kitchen. "Was it," he started. "Was it as bad as -"
"No," she shook her head and two mugs floated out of the cupboard as the kettle began to whistle. "I was more in control of it. I was just," she stopped.
"Bellatrix," he nodded, his eyes glued to her. "Charlie stopped you?" There was no hint of jealousy or anger in his voice or on his face. Cliodhna didn't know why she was looking for that, but she was glad.
"Foolishly, yes," she sat at the table. "He couldn't have known what would have -"
Cedric's lips twitched. "He knew you wouldn't hurt him."
"He couldn't have -" she said heatedly.
"Just like I knew you wouldn't hurt me," Cedric ignored her outburst.
Cliodhna snapped her mouth shut and watched as Cedric poured the boiling water into the mugs.
"I had a dream last night," he chuckled. "Well, yesterday during the day when I slept, actually. About the birch grove," his clear grey eyes met hers and she felt her heart and chest tighten. "And the stone ruins we saw," his voice trailed off. Cliodhna couldn't help her shiver. "It was only flashes," he shook his head. "But I woke up in a sweat. Those ruins," he frowned, watching her.
She reached out and put her hand on his and sipped her tea, not saying anything. Her mind was oddly quiet even after he reminded her of those terrifying ruins they had seen in Norway what felt like a decade ago.
Charlie stopped at the doorway and watched the pair for a moment quietly. They weren't speaking, just silently sipping their tea, Cliodhna's hand on top of Cedric's.
"Mornin'," he walked in and went to grab his own mug.
"Morning, Charlie," Cedric pulled his hand away from Cliodhna. "Heard about last night."
"Yes," Charlie turned and leaned against the counter. "Klee's protections and wards really saved us from a big group of Death Eaters. Really thankful for that."
Cedric smiled at Cliodhna. "Not bad," he agreed before standing up. "Well I'm off to bed," he smiled at Charlie and shrugged. "Night shift and all that." He put a hand on Cliodhna's shoulder and squeezed it before walking out of the Burrow before Cliodhna could stop him or say goodbye.
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Cliodhna spent the morning rifling through the several books Syd, Karl, and her Uncle Fitz had given her the summer they had visited Scandinavia. Charlie didn't ask how she had them and felt as though he didn't want to know if she had secretly gone back to her house, had them all along, or did some sort of magic he didn't understand.
Something that Cedric had said to her that morning clearly bothered her as she flipped quickly through what looked like dozens of books. As he drank his tea on the couch behind where she was spread out on the living room floor, he wondered for a moment how she could even possibly read anything on the pages.
Before lunch she set all the books aside and stood up. "I'd like to go outside," she announced to the room. Her brothers eyed her warily but didn't say anything.
"Mum won't let you," Ron mumbled as he contemplated the Wizarding Chess match he was playing with Harry.
"I'll stay within the wards," Cliodhna said sensibly. "We should all go outside after lunch," she said to Ginny. "We could use the fresh air."
Ginny shrugged morosely from behind an old issue of Quidditch Weekly and ignored Cliodhna as she left the living room quietly. Charlie waited a moment before following her out.
"Hey," he said softly and reached out to lightly put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
"I need to think," she shook her head slightly. "I feel like my brain's going a mile a minute." She met his eyes and Charlie was surprised to see she looked genuinely concerned.
"Outside," he nodded. "We'll stay in the yard." He grabbed two coats, hats, and gloves out of the closet, not really paying attention to who they belonged to and handed them to her.
Cliodhna chuckled as she looked at Mr. Weasley's jacket that was fashionable for a Muggle in the country. Charlie bit back a laugh and handed her his own coat he usually wore on the Reserve in winter. "Too big for you, but it'll keep you warm," he grinned at her. "I'll take dad's farmer jacket, thanks."
She tugged on a bright red knit hat that Charlie had handed her and tucked the gloves into the large pockets on the side of the jacket. It was a very heavy tan jacket that Cliodhna assumed was dragon fireproof and thick enough to prevent dragon claws to dig too far in. She watched Charlie pull on the dark green jacket over his flannel and she had to admit he looked very handsome in a Muggle jacket meant for walking around in the muddy countryside.
He saw she was watching him and his heart tightened as he grinned at her and put on a woolen cap. "Ready?" How did she look so good in his huge work coat?
They walked outside to the chicken coop in silence side-by-side. If Mrs. Weasley saw them through the kitchen window, it looked as if they were only checking on the chickens and collecting any eggs. Charlie wanted to know what was so clearly bothering her but waited to see if she would tell him on her own. She seemed like she needed a confidant and he hoped it would be him.
"Cedric had a dream yesterday," Cliodhna's voice was low and Charlie knew it was for show: she would have of course put a ward around them so no one could overhear. "Before the Death Eaters came and," she tilted her head slightly and looked at him. "Well, you know." Charlie waited for her to continue, trying not to let his face betray his feelings. "The dream wasn't about what happened," she continued. "It was a dream about this grove of birches we had seen when were in Norway a few summers ago. There were ancient runes there, stone foundations," her voice had changed and Charlie watched her, transfixed by her nervousness. Was she scared? "Cedric and I didn't like it, we felt," her face contorted slightly. "Like we weren't supposed to be there. Like something very bad had happened there."
She took a deep breath and Charlie put a hand on her arm to steady her. She looked up at him and he smiled at her reassuringly. She continued, "Karl felt that way too. But Ben and Jack didn't notice, they wanted to decipher the runes. After a few weeks we all forgot about it." She looked out over the fields around the Burrow. "I hadn't thought about it since."
"And then Cedric had a dream about it," Charlie said when she took a long pause. She met his eyes and nodded. "And you don't believe in dreams and prophecies but -"
"I can also do some wild things that I wouldn't have thought possible a year ago," Cliodhna frowned.
"What would the runes have to do with what you can do?" Charlie asked.
"I was looking for answers in my books," she said slowly.
"You were flipping through very quickly," Charlie smiles slightly.
"I was looking for specific words," she nodded.
"And?" Charlie prodded her.
She looked up at him, clearly nervous. "I shouldn't tell you everything. It's not safe."
"I live on the Reserve," Charlie said softly. "No one from the other side remembers me once I leave."
Cliodhna watched as Charlie's face hardened as he said this before it softened again. It must have been hard for him to be far away from everyone and to feel so helpless. She still looked hesitant but said, "You have to promise not to say a word."
"Never," he agreed just as softly.
"I was looking for any mention of Celts or Druids in Scandinavia or any that would have gone back with the Vikings," she looked out across the fields again. "I thought maybe the runes were related to the Celtic Druids, because, well." She hesitated and frowned. "We are descended from powerful Druids."
She waited for Charlie to say something. He watched her silently, waiting for her to continue.
"We aren't sure, of course," she continued. "But mum and I did some traveling to do some research. I had been drawn to some prophecies in the hall. Before I knew that I was, you know, but they're all destroyed now."
Charlie took her hand in his and she swallowed. "We aren't sure what I can do or why," she continued, her mouth was dry. "But it's related to the Druids, I just know it. And Cliodna herself." She met his eyes finally, "And for Cedric to have a dream about those runes, when neither of us have mentioned or thought about them in years." She shook her head. "Hours before Death Eaters come and I explode? Only slightly more controlled than before?"
"You don't believe in dreams, but you can't deny -"
"Can't I though?" She smiled ruefully, "it's all circumstantial, it doesn't mean -"
"Cedric loves you," Charlie's voice was harder than he meant it to be. "And you love him. There's a connection there."
Cliodhna laughed. Charlie watched her as she continued to laugh genuinely for a moment and squeeze his hand, "Not that way." She shook her head and smiled at him, "Not anymore." Charlie's face was still. "He never could stop me like you could," she smiled at him. "You were stupid to try," her lips twitched as she smiled more widely. "But brave."
Charlie felt his stomach and heart tighten at the way she was smiling at him. He wanted to pull her to him and kiss her, but he couldn't and wouldn't. He cleared his throat, "It's all I could think to do in the moment." He shrugged slightly and looked out across the field. "And did you find what you were looking for, in your books?"
"No," she lied easily. "There was nothing."
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Charlie was by Cliodhna's side the next two days before everyone was due to go back to Hogwarts. Neither mentioned that they were inseparable, but they both noticed. It felt right; Cliodhna was glad that Charlie wasn't injured or mad at her, and Charlie loved Cliodhna and wanted to be near her.
He could admit it to himself now; he still couldn't admit it aloud.
"Stay safe at school," Charlie said softly to her the night before the train. Everyone was sitting in the living room slowly drinking whiskey, no one particularly eager to go back to Hogwarts. Ben and George had disappeared somewhere without any adults noticing, and Bill was pouring Jack several glasses of Muggle whiskey. "Potter seems to -"
"Yes," she grinned. "Doesn't he?"
Charlie's blue eyes flickered to the floor where Harry, Ginny, and Ron were playing Exploding Snap. Charlie knew, like everyone, that Hogwarts was the safest place for them with Dumbledore there, but he wondered if it was actually Cliodhna Voldemort should fear.
"He's a secretive lad," Cliodhna whispered. "But he'll let me help when can."
"Smart lad then too," Charlie smirked at her and Cliodhna nudged him lightly. They were sitting very closely together on one chair - Charlie in the seat and Cliodhna on the arm, but she was nearly on top of him. She was warm and he liked that as they sat far away from the fire. He was firm and she liked that as she leaned slightly against him.
She put her arm around his shoulders with a small smile. "Finally slightly taller than you," she teased. Part of her didn't want to go back to Hogwarts and wanted to stay with Charlie, maybe go to the Reserve where she'd have space to practice her magic and be closer to Druid areas. But part of her wanted to be near Harry to protect him. And part of her wanted to snog Leo Franklin again.
She sipped her whiskey as her mind wandered to Leo for a short moment before Charlie moved his arm slightly and put it around her back. Her stomach tightened. Her mind had been wandering to Charlie the last few nights before she fell asleep and now she felt her mind focus on his body around her, on his face as she eyed him out of the corner of her eye, and -
"I'm going to miss you," he whispered close to her ear.
She couldn't help her smile and knew she must have looked like an absolute idiot if anyone had bothered to glance over at her. "I'll miss you too," she whispered just as softly. "Truly." She felt Charlie's arm flex slightly behind her, his hand low on her back and she thought for a moment about every muscle in his arms and hands. "When do you go back?" She asked to clear her head of his body.
"Tomorrow," he said. "Later on though. Make sure the twins are okay in Diagon and mum's settled here."
"Good of you," she said truthfully.
"Makes me feel useful," he admitted and Cliodhna turned her face to look at him more clearly. He had made a few off-handed comments the past few days and it worried her.
"Don't," she started but faltered. If it were she wouldn't want someone to disagree with her. She changed tactic, "You stay safe too."
"It's only -"
"Charles Weasley if you say it's only dragons, so help me," she muttered crossly and was surprised when Charlie let out a deep laugh and pulled her closer to him.
"You're right," he said after he laughed. "You're absolutely right."
She leaned back into him and took another sip of her whiskey. She wished the night would never end and she could stay there, comfortable, next to Charlie, with (most of) her family, drinking whiskey, her mind relatively empty. But then Charlie would move slightly and her mind would focus on his body again.
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"Thanks again," she said softly at the bottom of the stairs as everyone else was running around getting last minute things for Hogwarts or grabbing a piece of toast.
"For what?" Charlie's smile was crooked and Cliodhna felt her cheeks warm.
"Stopping me from hurting anyone," she swallowed. "Helping me control it."
He tucked some of her hair behind her ear; his clear blue eyes met her dark hazel ones. "Anything for you," he whispered. Time seemed to slow down as he leaned his head towards hers and kissed her cheek close to her lips.
Cliodhna didn't breath as Charlie pulled his head back hesitantly, obviously wanting to kiss her. Someone dropped a mug in the kitchen and Charlie slowly stood up straight, still very close to her. "Write me if you need anything," he said and cupped the cheek he had just kissed with his large, freckled hand. "Be safe."
Cliodhna covered his hand with both of hers, her eyes locked on his. She wasn't sure what was happening, but it felt right. She wasn't ashamed and she didn't jump back when someone loudly stomped down the stairs and instead slowly dropped her hands and moved out of the way of Harry and Ron and their bags. "Any food left?" Ron asked, oblivious to what was happening.
"Toast," Charlie responded, not looking at his brother. "Maybe some bacon."
"Bollocks," Ron muttered.
Harry, however, noticed that something had transpired between Cliodhna and Charlie and merely tilted his head slightly at Cliodhna. She smiled at them both and said, "I should make sure Ginny's ready." She squeezed Charlie's hand and hurried up the stairs.
Charlie turned to Harry, "Make sure she takes care of herself, Potter." His voice was firm, his eyes fierce. "I know you've got your own things, but -"
"Course, Charlie," Harry nodded as he pushed up his glasses, wondering what exactly he had stumbled upon.
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Leo Franklin saw her when she walked on to the platform, just like everyone else: it was hard to miss the huge group of people (mainly redheads) that walked through the wall right after each other. Cliodhna, her brothers, and Harry stood out against what felt like a sea of redheads. Leo hugged his mum and sister and tried not to openly stare as Cliodhna hugged her dad, but when he saw her hug Charlie Weasley tightly, he felt his stomach sink. Charlie kissed the top of her head for what felt like centuries, they stared into one another's eyes for a long moment, and as the train whistle blew, Leo watched Charlie reach out and cup her cheek.
Leo forced a smile on his face and patted the top of his sister's head and said to his mum, "Next time I see you, I'll be a graduate!"
He didn't hear what his mum said as she hugged him again, trying to force what he had seen out of his mind. He worried about Cliodhna's lasting feelings for Cedric who he was certain she had seen over the holidays; he didn't know he should also have been worrying about Charlie Weasley. He'd ask Cliodhna point-blank. He was an adult, she was an adult, he could ask her what was going on with her and Charlie. He didn't need to be her boyfriend, but he wanted to be with her.
He turned as he got on to the train and waved at his mum and sister again with a big smile on his face and ducked his head. He took a deep breath and went to find his friends.
Cliodhna didn't speak a word to Charlie as they parted on the train platform. She wasn't sure what had passed between them, wasn't sure where they stood, wasn't sure what was going to happen: but she did know that he was there for her whenever she needed him, even when she didn't want to need anyone. Something gnawed at the back of her mind, however, and she hoped that he wasn't waiting for her - he lived on the Reserve and was going to remain there for an indefinite amount of time.
She stopped thinking about Charlie as soon as she saw a tall, dark-haired man hop on to the train and her heart beat faster when Leo turned to wave goodbye to his family. As much as she cared for Charlie, she couldn't deny how her body felt being around Leo and how much she enjoyed his attention. She followed her brothers on to the train but went to look for Leo before he found his friends, hoping to discreetly say hello, maybe steal a quick snog before the train left the station. "I'll come round in a mo," she said to Ben and pushed her way past some first years towards where she had seen Leo board the train.
"Oi," Ben called out after her but she ignored him. He shook his head at Jack and they went to look for their mates.
"Leo," Cliodhna tried not to shout too eagerly when she saw his head above some of the other younger students' in front of her. He heard his name and turned.
He hadn't expected Cliodhna to call to him on the train, and he hadn't expected the genuine smile on her face when he turned around. It was contagious and he found himself smiling at her despite his disappointment when he saw her and Charlie Weasley a few minutes earlier.
"Hiya," she said rather breathlessly when she finally reached him. "How were your hols?"
"They were all right," he ran a hand through his dark hair, his dark eyes locked on her clear hazel ones. "Yours?" He tried to sound casual.
Cliodhna raised an eyebrow and leaned towards him to say softly, "A lot less snogging than I would have liked." She had a devilish smile when she leaned back to stand up straight and Leo's smile matched her own.
"Oh?" He asked casually. "Is that so?"
"Something you could help me with?" She looked around the coach and asked so nonchalantly Leo couldn't help but continue to smile.
He leaned close to her, "Diggory?"
"Friends," she met his eyes. "Friends and nothing more." He didn't need to ask again or to have her swear it because he believed her.
"Good," he nodded. There was nothing in her eyes or on her face that made him doubt her or made him want to ask about Charlie. His dark eyes darted around the coach as the train started to move and the last few students disappeared into cars. "Fancy a walk to the end of the train?"
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"Gone a while," Ben raised his eyebrows at Cliodhna when she eventually found her way to her friends' compartment. "Do anything interesting?"
"Catching up," she shrugged and sat down next to Briony. "How was -"
"Catching up with a certain Gryffindor?" Ida interrupted with a grin.
"Now that's not -"
"You're snogging a bloody gorgeous lad," Ida rolled her eyes. "That's everyone's business." Ramona nodded in agreement.
"Can't say I'm keen to know," Hunter groaned. "Can't this wait for later?"
"I agree with Hunter," Cliodhna nodded. "Now, how was everyone's hols, anything interesting happen?" She sat back and met Briony's eyes for a quick moment. Briony knew there was clearly something to catch up on later that wasn't Leo Franklin.
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It was hard to find proper alone time with Leo and Cliodhna mourned the ease with which she and Cedric could escape to the Heads Room. There was an excitement in stealing away in empty classrooms and broom cupboards for a quick snog, but after two weeks of snogging in musty rooms and against cold, stone walls, Cliodhna ached for something longer, where they didn't have to be wary of people stumbling upon them.
As Leo was helping her smooth down her hair so they could walk back into the corridor for dinner, she grabbed his Gryffindor tie and pulled him back down so she could kiss him one last time. "Have you ever been to the Prefect's Bath?" She asked huskily and Leo felt his body stirring.
He bent his head to kiss her again with a soft groan, "I'm famously not a Prefect."
She giggled and her heavy-lidded eyes met his, "Fancy a trip there with me?"
His hand moved slowly from her lower back to her bum and pulled her close to his body. "Would really fancy it," his voice was deep and low and Cliodhna shivered. Her lips met his for one final, long kiss, before they both stood up straight.
"I'll meet you outside Gryffindor Common Room at 10," she looked up and down the corridor and was about to walk away when Leo pulled her hand to kiss her one last time. She laughed and walked down the corridor when he finally let her go, turning to wave at him playfully before turning the corner.
She waved her hand around her head to make sure she didn't look thoroughly snogged before she entered the Great Hall. Nothing could be done about the flush on her face or how fast her heart was beating, or how excited she was to be alone with Leo in the Prefects Bath, to see him in only his knickers, maybe even -
She joined a group of students filing into the Great Hall and tried to shake the image from her head. She was due to meet with Hermione and Briony before meeting Leo and she thought it a good idea to change before meeting him. She tried to run through a mental list of what bras and knickers she had and what ones she'd want to wear. She hadn't been this nervous when she and Cedric went to the Prefects Bath before, but he had already seen her in a swimsuit.
"How's Leo?" Briony asked nonchalantly when Cliodhna sat down next to her.
"Don't know what you mean," Cliodhna bit into a chip off Briony's plate before dishing herself some sausages and gravy.
"You're a terrible liar sometimes," Briony rolled her eyes.
Cliodhna grinned at her friend but didn't respond because Ben had sat down across from them. "Plans for tonight? I was thinking of sneaking in to Hogsmeade and getting -"
"Don't want to know," Cliodhna and Briony said together.
"And I've got plans tonight anyway," Cliodhna continued.
"After your little," Ben waved his hand, "with Briony and Granger. After that."
"More plans," Cliodhna shrugged and took a sip of water.
Ben and Briony shared a look before turning back to Cliodhna. "And what sort of plans are those?"
"A date maybe?"
"An evening of snogging?"
"With a certain someone?"
"Tall, dark, and handsome?"
Cliodhna continued to eat her food. "Are you quite finished?"
"Happy to keep going," Briony shrugged. "Rather fun."
"Enjoying myself," Ben agreed.
"I have plans, they are none of your business, stop asking," Cliodhna said firmly. "I think you, Hermione, and I will have to end a bit early -"
"So you can change into something a little more," Briony raised her eyebrows with a smirk. "I'm more than happy to help you pick something -"
Cliodhna pinched Briony's arm with a laugh, "Tryna sneak a peek?"
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Cliodhna was anxious to meet Leo in the Prefect's Bath and barely paid any attention to what Hermione was saying about what she had read in a book she found in the Restricted Section about dreams. She and Briony had been wary of the dream Cedric had and agreed with Cliodhna that somehow the Druids being in Scandinavia, possibly at those runes, was somehow linked.
"The dream though," Hermione was frowning. "Now that I don't really buy, I think that's just a coincidence."
"Hmm," Briony nodded and nudged Cliodhna gently who had clearly drifted off.
"Cedric knew he was likely to see you, wasn't he? He probably just had a dream about you because he hadn't seen you in a while," Hermione continued. "And the runes just factored into it."
"Charlie thought because Cedric loves me," Cliodhna shrugged. "But not like that. Not anymore." Hermione and Briony exchanged a glance but Cliodhna smiled, "We are fine." Her cheeks grew warm, "And anyway I'm meeting Leo soon." She glanced at her watch, "Do you mind if we meet up again Sunday?"
"Sure," Hermione stood up. "So you and Leo?"
"Just a bit of fun," she shrugged and picked up her bag. "He knows I'm powerful, he's seen a bit of that, but we don't talk about that or anything important."
"Not much talking in general with you two," Briony said drily.
"When I helped him with silence defense spells we did," Cliodhna huffed. "And we do talk. Just not about you know," she shrugged. "It's a nice reprieve sometimes."
Hermione glared at Briony, "Well I think it's lovely and you deserve it. And, yes, let's plan on Sunday." Hermione led them out of the classroom and waved goodbye as she headed to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"So," Briony said airily. "You and Cedric are chums again, you're snogging Leo Franklin, and something happened between you and Charlie." She let out a whistle, "Sounds exhausting."
Cliodhna shoved her friend, "You're exhausting." She laughed and shrugged, "Cedric and I will always be friends. I miss him sometimes, but well, I'd like to figure out my life first. And it's hard when someone isn't in the castle with you." She frowned, "You know."
Briony nodded, "And you can do that with Leo? I mean, you're not going to suddenly worry about hurting him with your powers?"
Cliodhna met Briony's concerned eyes and said gravely, "I'm worried about hurting everyone. All the time."
"We're -"
"No," Cliodhna shook her head. "You asked me, and I'm being honest. I'm scared and I don't think I'll ever stop being scared of hurting the people I love. But Leo is a distraction from all of this," she shook her head. "Not like that. He's an oasis, you know? I don't worry and I'm not scared when I'm with him, when we're snogging, when I'm daydreaming about snogging him," she sighed. "It's a bit of fun, yea?"
Briony smirked slightly, "And Charlie?"
Cliodhna let out a deep sigh, "Now that I don't know. But I'm not about to think about Charlie when I'm meeting Leo at the Prefect's Bath."
"You bloody minx!" Briony laughed and shoved Cliodhna playfully. "Come on! We gotta make sure you've got good enough undergarments for this -"
"Oi, don't say undergarments," Cliodhna groaned but let Briony drag her back to their Common Room.
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"Someone was eager," Cliodhna teased when she saw Leo waiting in the corridor down from Gryffindor Common Room. "Or you were embarrassed to be seen with me?"
Leo smirked and pulled her towards him and put his arm around her shoulders, "Definitely embarrassed." They walked in silence for a moment until Leo admitted, "I've only heard tale of the Prefect Bath's."
"From who?"
"Prefects, mainly," Leo grinned. "Watson went on about it last year after he took a poor lass there on a date."
"Oh?"
"Didn't know she couldn't swim," Leo sighed and Cliodhna burst out laughing.
Cliodhna opened the door to the Prefect's Bath and was pleased to see Moaning Myrtle wasn't there as she was known to sometimes stop by. "Wow," Leo whispered when he saw the stained glass mermaid, the faucets, and the bath itself.
"Not bad, right?" Cliodhna smirked at him and moved two fingers slightly to turn some of the faucets on, making sure they weren't overwhelmed with bubbles and scents.
Leo didn't bother to mention that she barely lifted a finger to turn the faucets on: he was still in awe at how powerful she was, but rather thought she didn't want to talk about it. He got nervous for a moment and wondered if he should take off his shirt, or if -
"We can't exactly get in with our clothes on, can we?" Cliodhna raised an eyebrow at him and Leo bit back a laugh. "I put a sign up so no one will come in," she said before he could ask. She slipped off her shoes and was about to pull off her jumper when Leo took her hand in his to stop her and kiss her slowly.
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It was nearly 1am when Cliodhna and Leo snuck out of the Prefect's Bath and back to Gryffindor Tower. She had refused to let him walk her back to her Common Room because she was a Prefect, but Leo knew it was also because she knew she could take care of herself. They held hands as they walked quietly, occasionally stopping behind a statute to snog.
Outside of the Common Room Leo whispered, "You sure you don't want to come up?"
"Leo," she giggled quietly. She was bloody head over heels for the boy.
"No one would know," he kissed her again quickly. "It'd be alright."
"Another time," she promised with a smile.
"Hold you to it," he grinned and kissed her cheek. "I had fun tonight."
"I did too," she stood on her toes to kiss him quickly. "Now, goodnight. I'll see you later."
"Goodnight, Quick."
"Goodnight, Frankie."
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"You were back late," Briony eyed Cliodhna over breakfast. "Get enough sleep?"
"Not nearly," Cliodhna sighed and bit into her toast with an evil glint in her eye. "But it was worth it -"
"Oi, I don't need to know details," Briony mimicked being sick over her bowl of porridge.
"I do," Ben said giddily as he sat down. "I want every sordid detail, leave nothing out."
"No," Cliodhna laughed loudly. "You are not getting every detail! You never did before -"
"But I barely know the lad, and I want to know," Ben shook his head. "Did you -"
Cliodhna raised an eyebrow and said coyly, "Yes."
Briony raised both her eyebrows in surprise as Ben clapped his hands, "Oh!"
"And that's all your getting," Cliodhna said firmly.
"So, he's your -"
"No," Cliodhna shook her head. "Bit of fun."
"Bit of a release," Ben nudged Briony with a smirk and Briony groaned.
Cliodhna rolled her eyes, "And this is exactly why I'm not bloody telling you anything else."
"When are you seeing him next?" Ben continued.
"In class I expect," Cliodhna shrugged. "Now, please leave me alone about it."
Briony sighed, "You know he never will."
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Cliodhna leaned against the Prefect's Bath next to Leo, "Are you announcing the match next week?"
"I am," he nodded. "But I won't be announcing for Gryffindor. That blonde Ravenclaw from the DA - Luna? She'll be announcing."
"Oh," Cliodhna was surprised that he knew Luna's name and that she'd be announcing. "Didn't know she knew much about Quidditch."
"I didn't either," Leo grinned. "Just knew you were rather good at it." Cliodhna giggled and closed her eyes as he kissed her cheek gently and moved slowly to her neck. She sighed and traced his arm as he continued and all thought of Quidditch left her head.
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Cliodhna and Leo had become pros at sneaking around and she rather thought no one knew they were snogging daily except her mates and maybe his mates. They never really spoke in class or in the Great Hall, only snuck behind statues and in empty classrooms when the corridors were nearly empty.
"Everyone knows," Ida rolled her eyes. "Are you mental?"
"How could they," Cliodhna was shocked. "We're -"
"You're Cliodhna bloody Quick and he's a very handsome, very tall, 7th year," Ramona laughed. "Doesn't matter how careful you are, people are interested in your guys' private lives!"
"Well that's not -"
"No," Briony agreed. "It's not."
"He's not my -"
"Boyfriend," Ida finished. "We know."
"It's just a bit of fun," Ramona answered. "And you deserve it."
Cliodhna grumbled a thanks and laid back onto her bed, "I don't appreciate random students being so invested in my dating life."
"It's a bit of fun for everyone else, isn't it?" Summer asked. "I mean, a distraction from the news?"
"Can't blame the young kids for wanting a distraction," Briony agreed.
Cliodhna had to agree with that and sighed, "Just wish it wasn't at my expense."
"Sneaking around though," Ida sighed. "Exciting isn't it?"
"Very," Cliodhna sat back up smiled devilishly.
"He announcing the match tomorrow against Slytherin?" Ramona asked.
"He is," Cliodhna nodded. "Luna is announcing the match after though."
Ida looked excited, "I'm excited to hear that."
Cliodhna was unsure if Ida meant Leo's announcing or Luna's announcing but didn't ask.
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Malfoy wasn't on the pitch again that morning and Jack shrugged at his siblings. "How Long should I wait to catch it, Captain?"
Ben looked at Cliodhna, "Want to play Chaser and rack up some points? Beater won't be very fun against the Slytherins now."
"I had rather looked forward to pummeling Malfoy again," Cliodhna sighed. "Yea, all right."
"Wait until we get 100 points or so," Ben nodded to Jack and called out to Kendra and Hunter to grab their bats. "Let's score a lot of points, shall we?" He grinned at his team before kicking off on his broom to shake the Slytherin Captain's hand.
"Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are neck-and-neck in the standings now, and as this is the Quick triplets last year, Captain Ben probably wants to win that Cup again," Leo's voice boomed across the stadium as they all kicked off into the air. "Cliodhna Quick doesn't seem to have her bat, so it looks like she'll be playing Chaser today. Let's see how many points she can score this morning."
The whistle blew and Cliodhna soared to the Quaffle and without much finesse, since no one could catch her, scored within seconds. She heard the roar of the crowds and Leo saying, "I'd like to see the stats because I'm certain Quick has scored first within the first 30 seconds every time she's played Chaser."
Cliodhna bit back a grin and flew off to try to intercept the Quaffle, ignoring the rest of Leo's commentary as she scored 80 more points and four assists before she could no longer ignore the roar of the crowd as Jack got achingly close to the Snitch. Before he could grasp his fingers around it, Cliodhna soared to the hoops one last time and from as far out as she'd ever been, she chucked the Quaffle towards the center hoop, grinning as it curved and went through the left hoop just as Jack caught the Snitch.
"Not only has Jack caught the Snitch, but Quick scored one last goal from practically the midway of the Pitch," Leo was shouting excitedly into the microphone as the Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Gryffindor stands erupted into cheers. "That was incredible, Ravenclaw wins 280 to nil and increases their lead against Gryffindor!"
Cliodhna laughed as Jack threw his fist in the air and flew around the stadium. Ben flew to her and they both laughed as Jack had never before showboated after a match. Cliodhna rather thought because it was his second to last match at Hogwarts and maybe ever. The Ravenclaws continued to cheer and scream as Jack finally flew towards the rest of the team, Leo's commentary lost among the cheering. Cliodhna looked over at Leo from far away on the pitch and winked.
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Cliodhna waited for Leo for only a few minutes in their usual abandoned classroom after she had left the Great Hall with her mates when Leo three open the door. "That was brilliant," his smile was huge. "One last goal right before he caught it," he continued and Cliodhna felt her face warm and her smile nearly match his in size. He was in front of her in two long steps and took her face in his hands to tilt it up. "Absolutely brilliant," he whispered before kissing her again.
"It was," she started but Leo stopped her with a kiss, knowing what she was going to say.
"Aren't you missing a celebration or something in Ravenclaw Tower?" Leo asked her lazily. "Or won't they start until their star player is there?"
Cliodhna rolled her eyes playfully, "They won't start with only one third of the Quicks." Leo laughed and clucked her under the chin. "Want to meet me after?"
Leo was surprised but tried to compose his face, "After?"
"Yea, once the younger students go to sleep, it's easier to sneak out or sneak people in," she shrugged. "I can steal some of Jack's whiskey."
"Oh, so we're getting drunk tonight?"
Cliodhna huffed, "It was my last match against Slytherin -"
Leo pulled her closer to him for a hug even as she playfully struggled to get away. "I'd love to see Ravenclaw Tower," he admitted. "But I don't want your Housemates to get the wrong idea," he frowned and Cliodhna met his dark eyes.
"No, course," she shook her head and tried not to frown. "Maybe tomorrow night is better -"
"You should celebrate with your Housemates," he interrupted. "I mean, I don't want to intrude," he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm mucking this up, aren't I?"
"No," Cliodhna's smile was obviously fake.
Leo took a deep breath and took both her hands in his, "I really bloody like you, Cliodhna."
"Leo, it's -"
"A lot," he met her eyes and she closed her mouth. "More than I care to admit," he tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "But I'm Muggleborn, I'm not sure what's happening outside the castle," he continued and closed his eyes. "I'm planning on living as a Muggle to protect my sister and family after I graduate -"
"No," Cliodhna's eyes blazed and she felt her stomach drop. "You can't let them win. You're an amazing -"
"My sister is so young," Leo's voice broke. "I'm trying to send them away to Europe until things settle down. But if they won't move," he shook his head. "I've run out of options. I'm the eldest, my mum has no one," he blinked and touched her face gently. "I couldn't be with you after school even though I desperately want to," he smiled sadly.
"Leo," Cliodhna didn't know what to say. "I could help -"
"No," he said firmly. "You have to help Harry." Cliodhna stared at him openly, unsure what to say. "It's obvious He wants Harry and you are powerful enough to help him," he said when she made no move to speak. "I'm rather observant," he smiled ruefully. "And not stupid." She opened her mouth to protest but Leo laughed lightly, "You have more important people to protect and help."
"But," she started.
Leo shook his head again, his dark hair falling dangerously close to his eyes. "I didn't mean to get into this now," he sighed. "I want you to celebrate your win, you were amazing. And I don't want to stop what we're doing -"
"Neither do I," she stopped him.
"But I also can't be your boyfriend as much as I'd bloody love to be," he kissed her forehead.
"I'm," Cliodhna started but didn't know how to finish. She wasn't sorry. She didn't want Leo to be her boyfriend either, she liked sneaking around, but she also didn't want him to leave the Wizarding World after graduation. She looked at him, "Could we still meet tomorrow night?"
"Yes," he smiled, relieved. "I'd like that."
She returned the smile and stood on her toes to kiss him deeply.
Leo left the classroom first and with a deep breath, Cliodhna left a moment later and walked to Dumbledore's office.
"Ah, Ms. Quick," Dumbledore's voice was rather shaky, she thought, but she didn't say anything. "What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe -"
"Sir," Cliodhna didn't let him finish. "When do you think it's appropriate for me to recruit my classmates."
"Ms. Quick," he shook his head slightly.
"Please, Professor," Cliodhna sat down across the desk from him and leaned her arm against it, lowering her voice. "They deserve a right to know what's going on, they want to help, we need to protect them too."
"You're thinking of Ms. Blackburn?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows, "And?"
"All of my friends," she blinked. "They were all in the DA, they -"
"That wasn't -"
"Wasn't it though?" Cliodhna's voice was steel. "It wasn't child's play, sir. It was serious. We learned a lot and practiced and," she sat back in her chair. "I want to protect my friends."
"And you don't think you can protect all of them," he finished for her.
"I can't be everywhere at once, sir," she admitted. "At least that's not yet something I think I can do."
His lips twitched and he watched her closely. "I think after graduation is an appropriate time, Ms. Quick. That's when Mr. Diggory began -"
"Oh," she sounded relieved though her eyes widened at Cedric's name. "That's good,"her voice faltered slightly. "That he recruited some of his mates and that I can in a few months, I mean, sir." She looked up at him and thought she saw something cross his face, but couldn't decipher what it was.
"Is there something else, Ms. Quick?" He asked her gently, "Shouldn't you be celebrating your win with your House?"
"No, well," she looked around the large room, up at the portraits, her eyes landing on the black ring on his old, finger before he put both his hands back on his lap. "Is there anything I can do to help you and Harry, sir? For his private lessons?"
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"Off celebrating with Franklin?" Briony raised an eyebrow and handed Cliodhna a glass of butterbeer when Cliodhna finally entered the Ravenclaw Common Room.
"Yes," she lied easily and smiled. "Rather lost track of time -"
"Of course you did," Briony chuckled and pointed to where Ben was talking animatedly with some 6th years. "He said to let him know when you got back so he could make his speech."
Cliodhna rolled her eyes and she and Briony both laughed as she got Ben's attention and waved at him. With a wide grin, Ben stood on a chair as Ray used to do, and with a small clear of his throat, said a few words about the team and their season so far. "We've got some steep competition from Potter and the Gryffindors, but I speak for my siblings and I when I say we'd settle for second place this year now that we've destroyed the Slytherins." Jack and Cliodhna shared a look as the Common Room cheered around them. "I think we can allow Potter to win another Cup," he continued with a shrug. "As long as we put up a good fight."
"No way he actually believes that," Jack whispered to Cliodhna before he took a small sip of his whiskey. "Absolute bollocks."
"Agreed," Cliodhna tipped her glass to him before shaking her head at Ben who was raising his glass to his team and grinning as the Common Room cheered around him.
"The boy likes a crowd," Briony sighed. "You can't fault him that."
"No," Cliodhna agreed and took a long sip of her butterbeer.
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A/N: Please review!