Cielie
This is the last straw, first Umbridge, now Malfoy. Unbelievable, how horrible my life has gotten lately. I, not only, have to deal with my brother and fathers deaths, but also with a creepy stalker and a lousy excuse for a teacher. When will the horrors of my fifth year end? "What are you thinking about?" Malfoy asks me from across the hospital wing. Why did our beds have to be right across from each other? "Hey, Cecilia. I'm waiting," Malfoy snaps.
"Well, you'll have to wait then," I snap back at him. I'm really not in the mood for putting up with people I despise. Malfoy grimaces.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," he says, he almost sounds earnest, almost. Wait, did Draco Malfoy almost sound sincere! That's certainly out of character. I mean he's the evil, muggle born hating, Slytherin, right. He's not supposed to sound remotely sorry, and yet here he is, apologizing.
"Did you just apologize?" I blurt out, realizing only too late what I just said.
Malfoy looks slightly uncomfortable as he says, "Yeah, I guess I did." Holy cow, Malfoy even admitted to it. This has to be a dream, there's no other way this could be possible.
"I dreaming," I tell myself as I pinch the skin on my arm, hoping that it will wake me up.
"Umm, Cecilia, are you okay? You look kind of green," Malfoy looks seriously concerned, a look I have only seen when he is worried about his Nimbus 2001, or some other prized possession.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just mind your own business, can't you," I reply, I really hate this. Why am I talking to a Malfoy?
XxX
The Hogwarts marching band is playing, the stars glow in the sky, and before me, a huge hedge maze sprawls across the quidditch pitch. I hold my breath; two champions have already returned. Fleur and Victor are sitting with their Headmasters. They are the only ones who don't have their eyes on the maze. Hogwarts will win the Triwizard Tournament, that much is clear. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor both hope they will be the lucky house. I will win either way, Cedric, being my brother, and Harry, being my house Champion.
Two boys appear in a flash on the lawn, just in front of the start of the maze. I see Harry leaning over someone, no not someone, Cedric. I spring from my seat. I am the only one who has realized that something isn't right. The other idiots just clap away, even my father. I reach Harry, he looks at me with sad eyes. "I'm sorry, I tried to stop Voldemort," Harry tells me in a quiet voice.
"Voldemort?" I ask confused.
"The cup was a portkey. I'm so sorry Cecilia," Harry is sobbing.
"He's dead. Cedric is dead, Harry. It's not your fault," I say, gently shoving him off my brothers' dead body. I sob, pressing Cedric's forehead to mine. Dumbledore and Fudge have realized and rush down towards me. Soon after my father rushes down the steps. My father's eyes are blank, no emotion in them. That's when I realize that I'm dreaming. I scream.
I wake up sweating, the scene so similar to the one a week ago, but this time Malfoy is there to watch. I shiver under the bed covers. Malfoy, to my great displeasure, is awake.
"Are you alright?" he asks, once again uncharacteristic concern creeping into his voice, although this time I think it is because of the dreamless sleep potion Madame Pomfrey made him drink. His eyes have a sort of glaze to them, but, regardless of any potion or not, I am in no mood to deal with Malfoy. And especially not after the dream I had.
"Obviously, I'm not alright," I hiss at him. He looks hurt, but a Malfoy's feelings are the least of my concerns. I roll my eyes at him and close my eyes, trying to fall asleep again, but every time I shut my eyes all I see is my father's empty eyes.
XxX
I am released from the hospital wing the next day, much to my relief. I can't wait to tell Luna and Ginny that I am free. Well, free, this is my first strike. I'll have to be more careful from now on. I race down to the Great Hall, thoughts of breakfast with Ginny and Luna fill my head. Freedom is such a glorious thing.
"Cielie!" they shout. I run towards them, embracing first Luna, then Ginny. We sit down and they start telling me about their work for Umbridge.
"We had to clean the girl's toilets, it was so gross," Ginny giggles.
"I haven't the faintest idea what toilet cleaning has to do with Defense against the Dark Arts," Luna adds. We burst out laughing and it takes about a minute before we have finally settled down enough to continue talking. I tell them all about the bits they missed from my terrifying stay in the hospital wing. They turn to glare at the Slytherin table, but Malfoy hasn't been released yet.
XxX
I have some difficulty catching up the month I missed, but with Ginny and Luna and mostly supportive teachers I manage. Professor McGonagall gives me a week to catch up, Professor Snape simply rolls his eyes when I walk in and hands me a foot-high stack of assignments I missed. Thankfully Charms is one of my strongest classes and I have no problem with silencing my toad or the raven Professor Flitwick gives me.
"Class, I would like you to all try to be as excellent as Cecilia here. She is an outstanding student," Flitwick embarrasses me in front of the whole class. I groan inwardly.
In Potions, Snape is dully impressed at my near perfect draught of the living dead. My mother loved to teach me about potions (she was a healer in the poisons ward at St. Mungo's). As a result, I have a knack for deadly spells and potions. Maybe this day won't be so horrible after all. That's before I see that I have Defense against the Dark Arts.
XxX
Hi, TigerMoon here.
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Thanks for reading.