I have had wonderful reviews since last chapter and I cannot tell you how happy they make me. This chapter is for you!
I can't wait to read your thoughts on this newest chapter; it's a long one (seriously; it's as long as the last one and that was a monster already) and hopefully a good one.
Happy reading and don't forget to review!
CHAPTER 30
Felix, his friend Peter, Aurora and I were walking towards Hogsmeade. Mathilda had stayed behind to support Adrian; that afternoon would be the first Quidditch match of the season, pitting Slytherin and Gryffindor against each other. Honestly, when I had seen Adrian at breakfast he hadn't seemed to be in dire need of support, him and his teammates looking fairly cheerful despite the impending match. Nonetheless, Mathilda had told me she'd see my at lunch.
Aurora split away from our small group when she spotted Cho and Marietta through the windows at Honeydukes. She invited me along to get more sugar quills but I declined, still having enough left over from the last Hogsmeade trip. 'I'll see you in the Three Broomsticks later. In half an hour or so?' I offered up instead. She nodded before entering the shop and I followed after Felix and Peter. 'We're meeting the rest of our housemates there as well in a bit.' Felix informed me.
Peter needed to get some cat treats. He was hoping to teach some tricks to his pet and wanted to get some special treats to motivate the, apparently, fat tomcat. We agreed to go along to get them. Felix complained a bit and threatened not to come, saying that the shop always stunk so badly (which was true), but we knew he was only joking.
Felix and I followed Peter into Creatures on Credit who immediately went to the cat treats, not getting distracted by the screeching and growling of all the animals on display around him. Felix and I had no mission to stick to and freely looked around. 'Why don't you have an owl?' I asked Felix as I ticked the glass of a big terrarium. There was a big toad in it, easily the size of a Bludger, but it didn't even blink at me. I turned to Felix instead.
'I don't know, I've thought about it, I just never followed through.' Felix told me. 'Oh but you should!' I urged, taking the lead and walking to the birds section. 'Get an owl, I mean.' I cleared up. 'I can just use the family owl or run down the road to the owlery in Diagon Alley but you are completely cut off from the magical world when you're away from Hogwarts.' I argued and Felix nodded. 'Yeah, that was what I was thinking.' He murmured as his eyes glided over the many different owls that were cawing in their cages.
'It's not cheap.' He pointed out. 'It's worth it!' I said and he shot me a brief smile but then looked back at them. I saw his eyes were drawn to a small screech owl and I read out the placard underneath. 'Less than a year old, low maintenance, hunts for its own food.' I orated. 'And it's 15 Galleons 5 Sickles.' Felix added with a sigh. I shrugged, not denying it. 'I'll think about it.' He settled on after a couple of seconds. 'Suit yourself.' I allowed.
But, as he turned around and walked back to the till where Peter was talking to the store clerk, I decided that I'd buy it for him for Christmas. It'd be an expensive gift for sure, but I could tell how much he'd really like it. Felix valued magical life and I saw no other way for him to stay connected the way you could with your own owl. I felt determined.
Peter payed for his pet treats and we made our way to the Three Broomsticks after, waiting there for our scheduled meet ups. I found it hard to look at Felix, knowing how happy I was going to make him in a month and a half. I was afraid he'd be able to tell from my face. Luckily he seemed to be preoccupied with the Daily Prophet that was laying on the table. It seemed to be yesterday's edition but Felix didn't mind as he lazily pawed through it.
He was reading through an article when he got a frown on his face. He looked up at me and Peter questioningly. 'What's a Hogwarts Home?' He asked. 'Mmmh?' I murmured, sipping my hot foamy butterbeer. It was admittedly a bit early for butterbeer, but it was also cold outside and I had decided not to care about it.
'A Hogwarts Home.' Felix repeated. 'The article is about the pros and cons of a Hogwarts Home.' He clarified, motioning towards the article. 'But I don't know the phrase.' He added. 'A Hogwarts Home is a family that has all Hogwarts houses represented.' Peter answered from Felix's other side. 'I have a Hogwarts Home.' I pointed out to him. Peter seemed interested. 'It's quite uncommon, isn't it?' He asked. I shrugged. 'Perhaps a little. People often marry people from their own house and children are often sorted into their relatives' houses.' I affirmed.
'So, once more, what's a Hogwarts Home exactly?' Asked Felix. He only seemed to be confused by our exchange. 'So you see how I'm a Ravenclaw, my mother was a Slytherin, my dad a Hufflepuff and my brother was a Gryffindor. Because all four Hogwarts houses are present in our household, we're what they call a Hogwarts home.' I answered. 'It's just one of those things. Sociological mumbo-jumbo.' I finished while sipping my butterbeer.
Felix nodded thoughtfully before he continued reading the paper. He smiled fondly when he turned the page and laid his eyes on a new article. 'Isn't this your mum?' He asked, pointing out a name and I curiously leaned closer so I could read over his shoulder. It was an item about self-fixing cauldrons and the danger they imposed. At the top it finely read "By your trusted reporter: W. Wiggleswade". I smiled too. 'Yeah, that's her.' I said. 'Although, it doesn't really seem like the kind of piece she'd want to write.' I noted. I frowned a little; it was very unlike her actually. Usually, when she got assignments that she thought were bores, she'd whine and argue for different ones and she mostly got her way. I made a mental note to ask her about it when I went home for Christmas.
'What are you going to do for the Christmas holidays?' I asked Felix. 'I presume you won't be staying at Hogwarts?' I added. He chuckled. 'Definitely not. Christmas with my family and playing with the band every night I can. My mates have to set up the gigs as I'm stuck here till then but they say it's going well. Last summer we've been experimenting with songs we wrote ourselves. Jack's not really interested in writing but I know James and Joey are and I am too.' He said. I nodded thoughtfully at that. 'Are you going to perform the songs you wrote yourselves during the holidays then?' I asked and he shrugged. 'If I'm brave enough.' He answered with a chuckle. I smiled at that. 'Is it easy to get booked with your band?' I questioned. He made a face.
'Depends on where. We've been recently trying to hold out for better paid gigs and better locations but that means you sometimes have to work a bit harder as well. But when it gets you a great gig, it's mint! I got a confirmation from James for December 21st actually, just a couple of days ago.' Felix told me excitedly. 'It's this pub right in the heart of London, very cool place, very young, but still also a bit posh.' He described to me, laying down the newspaper and moving his hands animatedly. 'You can come, if you like?' He suggested. I smiled back at him. 'I would like that.' I said earnestly. I loved seeing Felix play his drums.
I saw Aurora come in with Cho and Marietta and I quickly said goodbye to Felix and Peter before heading over to join them. As I sat down I saw the rest of the Hufflepuff sixth years come in as well. 'Where's Mathilda?' Asked Marietta. I explained that Mathilda stayed with Adrian as he prepared for his Quidditch game. 'Who do you guys think is going to win?' Marietta asked. Cho stayed silent but Aurora and I both made a case for opposite teams, despite the fact that neither of us were massive Quidditch fans (to put it mildly). Aurora argued for Slytherin. 'They have been playing in the same formation for longer so they know each other well as a team and they have better broomsticks.' She said.
'That may be-' I admitted '-but Gryffindor has some very experienced players on their team as well and not to mention Potter, youngest Seeker in a century! And he flies a Firebolt.' I pointed out. 'They won the last Championship.' I added. 'Oh shut it, you're just saying that because you're snogging their Beater.' Marietta said and I blushed a deep red. We weren't the only ones theorising about the results of the match.
'I'm rooting for Gryffindor to win the game; they have a lot of new players on their team and chances are that they haven't learned to work together yet quite as well. I really think Slytherin is probably the stronger team. We'll have better odds at winning against Gryffindor than Slytherin, I do think.' Roger Davies hypothesised to Cho as Cho wordlessly walked alongside him towards the Quidditch pitch after lunch, Marietta chatting along with Roger as she walked on Cho's other side.
We had gotten back from Hogsmeade for lunch earlier, Mathilda joining us at the Ravenclaw table. We had first planned on walking around Hogsmeade a bit longer but had accidentally spent too long in the Three Broomsticks and had to hurry up to Hogwarts to not miss lunch. I had a hearty winter pie to eat to arm myself against the chill that was setting in my bones.
Frost had set in over the last week, November bringing a cold icy wind although now the wind seemed to have stilled a bit. I pulled my blue and bronze scarf around my face a bit tighter, putting my gloved hands in my pockets. 'What about you, Cecil, are you rooting for Gryffindor?' Mathilda asked me, wriggling her eyebrows. I blushed slightly, although I had gotten used to the questions a bit; Mathilda had been unrelenting since Halloween when Fred and I had gone gallivanting to the library. I had told her all about it the next morning and she had been beyond excited by it.
'How is Adrian feeling about the match?' I asked to distract her. Although she elbowed me it did work because she said 'He's feeling pretty confident I think. Apparently the Slytherins came up with a strategy to get the Gryffindor keeper, Fred Weasley's kid brother by the way, to lose the game for them. I didn't ask though.' Mathilda told me. 'I'd love to go wish him luck one last time. Will you come with?' She asked and I shrugged.
We told Aurora to go ahead with the rest and reserve us a spot while we hurried to the changing rooms, knocking on the one the Slytherins were using. Mathilda banged the door hard and we could hear shouts and laughter behind the door before it was opened by Warrington, not yet wearing his robes but only his white Quidditch pants and green and grey jumper. He was barefooted. We needn't say anything because as soon as Warrington saw it was us he called into the room. 'Pucey, it's your girlfriend!'
I caught sight of some bare torsos and legs and quickly looked into the hallway, getting red in the face. 'Hey Tilly.' I heard Adrian say, a smooching sound right after and I glanced back to see that Adrian was already wearing his robes, although they weren't tied up yet and they were hanging open. 'How are you feeling?' Mathilda asked. 'Stop asking! I feel great!' Adrian snapped back with a smirk. 'I'm absolutely sure we'll win, because boys..!?' He sang in an unfamiliar melody, looking back into the changing room. 'Because Weasley is our king!' The Slytherin Quidditch team sang back to him. I had no idea what that meant.
'I'll see you after the match then?' Mathilda wondered but Adrian shook his head. 'We're going to want to celebrate in the common room.' He disagreed. Mathilda chuckled. 'You're awfully sure of that victory, aren't you?' She asked and Adrian raised his eyebrows at her. 'You better be as certain as I am, Mathilda!' He said to her.
After a last good luck kiss (during which I was standing off to the side awkwardly), Adrian was called back by his teammates with excited jeers and we waved him goodbye. The shaky wooden stairs up to the stands were near deserted by this point as most had already found a seat for themselves. Amongst the Ravenclaws we found Aurora who had put her two separate gloves on the bench beside her to save us the seats, although many eyes looked at the good seats enviously. On Aurora's other side sat Cho and Marietta, Cho having escaped Roger's Quidditch speculations.
Once upon a time Cho would have gladly engaged in the conversation but these days she just wasn't up for it. I wondered if Quidditch was difficult for her right now, considering that she and Cedric got together on the pitch. I looked at the rows below us and saw Roger sitting next to the Keeper, Grant Page. They were talking vehemently, pointing at the rings at either side of the field.
A couple of seats down from Roger and Grant, someone or something else seemed to have occupied a seat. A giant lion, made out of red and gold fabric, was sat atop someone's head. It must've been a hat but it looked incredibly life like. The person turned her head a bit to look down the end of the field, and I recognized her as Loony Lovegood, a fourth year that was generally known as eccentric. I knew that she got picked on by her year mates but the squabbles of fourth years was far beneath their upperclassmen. It was evident though that the students sitting around her looked unhappy to do so, looking at the lion hat nervously.
I heard singing drifting through the stadium. It soon became clear that it came from the Slytherins and it was in the same unfamiliar melody that Adrian and his team mates had been singing in earlier but I couldn't make out the words. I had an apprehensive feeling about the song, remembering that it had Weasley within the lyrics. The stands were packed though, everyone having made their way down to the pitch to see the first game, not just of the season, but also since two years ago; last year there had been no Quidditch due to the Triwizard Tournament. Furthermore were Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff interested to see what they'd be up against when they had to play. I wasn't much of a Quidditch fan but at moments like these I felt my heart beat faster at the anticipation in the air, the hundreds of people having come together for one reason only.
Then it was time! Lee Jordan was commentating and he went over the basic rules of Quidditch (for the benefit of the newly started muggleborns in the audience; it was the first match of the school year) as the teams zoomed into the air, making laps around the field while waving at friends and supporters. I caught sight of either Fred or George although I couldn't tell which at this distance. There was a third redhead on the field though and after squinting my eyes at the boy dressed in Keeper's gear, I realized that it was Fred's younger brother, fifth year Ronald Weasley.
The singing of the Slytherins grew louder although they were still shouted over by the other three houses. The game started, Jordan's rapid fire description of the going on of it booming through the stadium as streaks of red and green went from one side of the field to the other. The Slytherin's singing grew louder and louder though and I spotted Fred (or possibly George) hang still in the air as he listened for the lyrics. Even Lee Jordan had quieted down a moment to make out the words of the sports anthem.
Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin,
He always lets the Quaffle in,
Weasley will make sure we win,
Weasley is our King.
Weasley is our King,
Weasley is our King,
He always lets the Quaffle in,
Weasley is our King.
Lee Jordan tried to shout over the singing but now we had heard the words it became impossible to ignore. It obviously was about the youngest Weasley on the pitch, the Keeper floundering on his broom awkwardly. The Weasley twins seemed unsure on how to act. I saw them fly over to their younger brother, clapping him on the back a few times before going back to the game, brandishing their bats. They kept throwing glances his way though and Ronald Weasley kept fumbling for the Quaffle.
The singing became even louder when the first goal was scored, straight into the Gryffindors middle ring, through the flailing arms of Weasley.
Three more goals were scored by the Slytherins (Mathilda cheered for Adrian as he scored) before Angelina Johnson scored for her own team. Lovegood's lion hat let out a head-splittingly loud roar and the people in her direct vicinity jumped in surprise. 'Don't scare us, Loony!' Eddie Carmichael shouted from down the stands, accompanied by some snickers.
'I can't stand even looking at this.' Mathilda said as Gryffindor managed to keep Warrington from scoring by intercepting the Quaffle before it reached Ronald Weasley. 'I was planning on just congratulating Adrian on his victory but it seems that I'll have to scold him for not winning by a larger margin.'
It was then that Potter and Malfoy both dove for the Snitch. It was still early in the match, which would be in the benefit of Gryffindor if they managed to catch it. Potter had seen it first but Draco Malfoy was right beside him in seconds. For a moment it looked like it would be victory for Slytherin when the Golden Snitch changed direction in favour of Malfoy but Potter made up for it by being quicker in his turn and the two were neck and neck again. They both reached out, fingers stretching desperately until one of them managed to grasp at the small winged ball.
'POTTER CAUGHT THE SNITCH!' Jordan shrieked across the stadium and the Gryffindor stands exploded in cheers. Lovegood's lion hat broke out in roars again and the Slytherins had stopped singing for the first time since the start of the game. But right then Potter was knocked off his broom by a Bludger, apparently hit his way by one of the Slytherin Beaters.
Luckily Potter hadn't been too high up, having gone very low to catch the game-winner, so although he landed in the grass roughly, he got up almost immediately after when his Captain Angelina Johnson offered her hand to help him up. The audience was in uproar about it though, outrage on all the faces of the Gryffindor supporters as they jeered angrily at the Slytherin Beater. The Slytherin supporters shouted their approval though.
Madam Hooch was berating the Slytherin Beater, some fifth year I didn't know, and I turned to Mathilda who was gazing down at the pitch curiously, craning her neck to see better. 'Adrian is going to be in a foul mood.' She said, a smile ghosting around her lips, although her eyes stayed serious. 'I'm sure he's going to be moody for sure but..-' I started to say but Mathilda jumped to her feet and yelled out at the field and I forgot what I wanted to say as soon as I saw why.
She hadn't been the only one, many people had jumped up, some in outrage, some in shock, some in delight, but most because they just wanted to see better. I turned my own eyes to what was happening and saw that down on the field Harry Potter as well as one of the Weasley twins (I couldn't tell whether it was Fred or George) had jumped on Malfoy, driving their fists in his stomach and face. The other twin was being held back by his teammates but seemed very eager to join as well, struggling at the grip of the three girls. Madam Hooch raced down, springing off her broom and blowing her whistle, drawing her wand. She shot an Impediment Jinx at them and Potter and the twin were knocked backwards. Malfoy stayed curled up in the grass, not moving.
Hooch seemed to be shouting at them, pointing towards the castle, and the two Gryffindor players shuffled down the pitch, their shoulders hunched over angrily still. The other twin was dragged off towards the changing room. On the back of his robe I read F. WEASLEY and I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that Fred wasn't the one to attack Malfoy. George and Potter would be in a bloody huge load of trouble.
'Merlin, what violence!' Aurora commented, shock evident on her face. 'And so barbarically muggle.' Mathilda added, referring to the fact that it was a fist fight rather than a magic duel. 'I wonder why they did it..' I murmured. It did seem strange. By all accounts did the two Gryffindors jump the Slytherin Seeker simultaneously although some were saying that he had insulted them. 'My mother has tea with his mother sometimes and I know that that Malfoy kid can be a real brat sometimes.' Andreas Bradley said, a Ravenclaw one year up from mine who was a Chaser on our own team. The Ravenclaws all made their way down to ground level, after the initial surprise had worn down, going in the direction of the castle afterwards, the other houses merging with ours as the streams of students met outside the pitch on the Hogwarts grounds.
A gossipy murmur went through the crowds of students that poured into the Entrance Hall. It was hardly every day that we saw a muggle duel take place for front the entire school to see. 'They really went at him though.' Aurora said as she and Mathilda walked in front of me. I could still hear them clearly. 'It's like they wanted his ghost to leave his body and then beat up his ghost after.' Mathilda agreed.
I laughed despite myself, walking in the back of the group and I was startled when two hands circled around my waist. I turned and only caught a familiar flash of red hair and red Quidditch robes before his lips were on mine. I breathed in sharply in surprise but responded happily although I was embarrassed to be in public, far too aware of the laughter, people joking and whispering as they walked past us in the direction of their common rooms. I was surprised momentarily at how quickly he had come up to the castle rather than being with his team but didn't allow myself to complain.
'Hey George! George Weasley, leave her alone!' A voice yelled from a distance. 'Leave Cecilia Wiggleswade alone!' The voice shouted and I ripped myself away in shock, harsh dread gripping my stomach as I looked at the twin in front of me. My eyes darted down the hallway and saw the other twin, an amused smile on his otherwise grave face as he waved at me, holding up his Quidditch robes, which he had taken off, leaving him in his red and yellow jumper; they had the name G. WEASLEY embroidered on the back. I looked back at the brother in front of me in realization.
I hit him in the chest, concluding that it was just a stupid joke. George had just yelled at Fred with his own name to tease me. Fred certainly thought it was funny. 'You should've seen your face!' He wheezed, laughter muffling his words. I couldn't find a proper retort but I didn't need to because Fred's face turned stormy soon after. 'You saw the match?' He asked and I nodded. 'Didn't everyone?' I pointed out. He shrugged. 'I got out of the changing rooms as quick as I could, didn't even change-' he motioned to his Quidditch uniform '-but they were all on my back. I didn't even touch the little git!' Fred sermonised to me. 'It's probably best you didn't fight that Malfoy boy.' I told him timidly and he groaned. 'You sound like Angelina! I would've bore the grunt of detention to have a chance at his face too. He'd be mash.' He said to me. 'George is going to get so smug that he got a couple of punches in.' He went through his hair with his right hand, ruffling it, frustration clear on his face. 'I would've, if I had the chance.' Added Fred with a wistful groan.
'Anyway, I better see what kind of punishment is awaiting my beloved brother.' Fred told me after a second. He looked ahead. 'And it's something pretty bad judging by that face.' He added. I looked at George Weasley as well and could only agree. Despite the joke he played earlier, his expression was hollow and defeated now. It was strange to see such a look on a face that was so identical to Fred's. It could hardly be just detention for him to look as down as he did, because surely; he had to be used to detention by now. Fred winked at me, although apprehension was clear (I was sure that he wasn't used to that expression on his twin's face either), muttering a quick and familiar 'I'll see you around, Cecil.' before he made his way through the stream of people that were either going up the stairs, to the Great Hall or down to the dungeons. I looked after him and saw Fred reach his brother, a concerned look on his face. George looked utterly miserable. I realized that Potter had come up behind him as well, his face much the same as George's. Fred was speaking quietly but quickly but George just shook his head, nodding in the direction of the stairs. "I'll tell you later" I was able to read from his lips.
'Cecilia!' Mathilda called out. I felt like I came out of a trance almost, almost jumping at her voice and I looked towards the grand doors leading to the Great Hall. She looked giddy, eyeing me knowingly and I would've blushed if I hadn't been thinking about what had happened just now. I suddenly became aware of the discrete pointing, laughing and whispering that was happening around me. I felt a familiar surge of embarrassment work its way up my throat.
We had lost sight of Aurora and the other Ravenclaw sixth years, although we assumed they had gone up to the common room, but Mathilda wanted to wait around to see if Adrian would come by the Great Hall after he finished changing out of his Quidditch robes. We sat down at the Ravenclaw table and Mathilda leaned forward. 'That was proper in public, Cecil!' She pointed out in a hiss. I nodded, shrugging. Although unusual for Fred to do it quite so publicly (usually hidden away in empty classrooms, secret corridors and broom closets), I could tell it didn't hold any other reason behind it but the fact that I'd be embarrassed by the attention other students would give us. The only other times he had kissed me in public it had been like that as well. I told Mathilda as such and her face fell. 'You think so?' She asked, disappointment in her voice. I nodded, my eyes downcast. I put my head on the cool, wooden table sideways, looking down the length of it in the direction of the staff table.
'I don't know why you keep up with it. Either go for it all the way or make an end of it. He has no right to toy with you like this.' She murmured to me, putting her hand on my head to stroke my hair soothingly. I groaned. 'I don't think he knows the full extent of his teasing. The effect of it. On me.' I defended him weakly. Mathilda snorted. 'That's making excuses. The facts are that you like him and want him to either apply himself to you, as you have to him, or spare you the torture. Or am I wrong?' She asked. I didn't say anything but didn't try to defend him again.
Adrian joined us soon after and despite Slytherin's loss, he didn't seem too down about it. 'I bet that ginger infection landed himself in a heap of trouble.' Adrian mentioned joyously. Mathilda was determined to console her boyfriend though and I left them alone soon after, not wanting to have to be a witness to that.
The next morning at breakfast the Great Hall was buzzing. Apparently both Harry Potter and the Weasley twins had been banned from Quidditch. Not just from the Gryffindor team, but also from playing ever again. When I first heard it I thought it was just a stupid rumour, it seemed to be too ridiculous to be true. However, it turned out it was true. A new Educational Decree had been issued that allowed Umbridge to strip students of every and all privileges. 'A lifetime ban on Quidditch is hardly stripping away a student's privilege.' Mathilda pointed out. Adrian and Warrington were laughing giddily. Mathilda shot them an annoyed look. 'Fred didn't even do anything, why did he get punished?' Mathilda asked. 'Who cares?' Adrian shot back. 'It's bloody brilliant!' Warrington fell in with his friend.
I didn't see Fred at breakfast, although it was a Sunday and he might've just been sleeping in. My heart went out to him; I knew how much he liked Quidditch. The tyranny of Umbridge was regarded quite differently across the board. Some just thought that, although they thought her a bit much, she was trying to bring some much needed structure to the chaotic school, while others thought she had come in with an agenda that targeted certain people within the school, one of those people being Harry Potter. 'Although-' I heard Cormac McLaggen say in Charms class '-Potter should probably lay it off with the stupid stories. He's a massive attention seeker. My father went to dinner with the Minister and he said himself that Potter is a troublemaker and has no good name in the Ministry.'. The school seemed to be torn between hating Umbridge and casting off Harry Potter.
Although part of me wanted to wait around to see if Fred would show up, I knew I had a quest to fulfil. I asked Aurora and Mathilda if they wanted to come to Hogsmeade with me but they declined and I would've stayed in the castle as well if it weren't for the fact that I was intend to buy Felix an owl for Christmas. Not just any; the one that he had been eyeing in the shop the day before.
With a sigh I made my way down through the cold and when I got to Hogsmeade I saw that I was one of the few students to have gone down. It was freezing and I wouldn't be surprised if snow would be upon us within the next few weeks.
The owl I wanted was still there luckily and I counted out the Galleons on the countertop with a heavy heart. It sure was a lot of money for a present. But then I once again imagined Felix's face when he'd receive it and I took a deep breath and pushed the pile of gold and silver towards the woman who manned the shop. It'd be worth it.
I left the shop with not just a nearly empty money purse (I would have to survive with just a little over two Galleon for the rest of the school year), but also the owl, carrying its cage in my left hand. I was wearing gloves but still I felt the biting wind in my fingers and I had to switch hands regularly so I could shove them in my pockets to warm up a bit.
Once at Hogwarts I immediately went up to the dormitory, not wanting to run the risk of running into Felix with the newly acquired owl and once upstairs I put it on my nightstand, leaving some treats in its cage so it wouldn't go hungry till I came back that evening. It stared at me curiously with its large eyes as if it wondered what was going to happen next. 'It's okay.' I told it. 'I'll be taking care of you for a little while but after that you're going to stay with a very nice boy who's going to love you!'
That evening I saw Fred but didn't speak to him. He was sitting next to his brother and they both silently ate their dinner. My heart went a little cold to see them two be so timid in anything they did.
I had already made my way to the Ravenclaw table when Felix waved me over from Hufflepuff. I looked at my own table and saw that Cho was sulking over her potatoes again as Marietta and Aurora carefully avoided looking at her too much and that Mathilda was sitting with Adrian at the Slytherin table. I decided not to get involved and quickly headed over to where Felix was sitting with our Hufflepuff yearmates.
I sat across from him tiredly, in between a third year and Heidi Macavoy, the Hufflepuff chaser. The cold of the outside, although the entire trip was not even an hour, had taken a toll on my energy levels and I was hungry. 'How was your day? Did you do anything interesting?' Felix asked as he had his pea soup. I shook my head, not brave enough to look at him. 'I just stayed in all day.' I lied. I hoped he couldn't detect the excitement in my voice about his Christmas present.
'How did you like the Quidditch match yesterday?' Peter Hollywood spoke up from his side, distracting Felix's attention. 'Unbelievable!' I said. 'But a lifetime Quidditch ban for that?' I pointed out and the people around us quickly agreed. I felt extremely awkward already, feeling the eyes on me. I was close to Felix and I had gotten fairly comfortable with his best friend in Hogwarts Peter, but the rest of them I didn't know at all yet. I knew them by name and I had classes with them but apart from some words in passing, I had never really spoken to many of them.
'Attacking someone, especially with more than one person, is unacceptable of course-' Betty Cleaves, a Hufflepuff girl in our year I didn't know too well said '-but being punished for something as relatively minimal as this when you were still so young for the rest of your life, seems way too indulgent.' She finished. A murmur went over the group.
'It's a shallow victory for Gryffindor; must've been a blow for the team.' Peter said and Felix laughed. 'Stop trying to bring Katie Bell up.' He said and Peter pushed him in the shoulder, although I could see a small blush rise high in his cheek. 'You two had a summer fling, she broke it off once you got back to the castle and now you have to move on.' Raashid Hussain, another boy in our year, said from Peter's left. 'I've moved on already, for your information!' Peter defended and almost all Hufflepuff sixth years who heard him burst out laughing. Although I didn't really know what had happened apart from Raashid's summary, I couldn't help but chuckle as well.
'I'm just saying that it's not going to be easy for the Gryffindor team to recover from this.' He said defensively. I just kept quiet, not enjoying being the centre of attention in any way. I appreciated them wanting to pull me into the conversation but I just felt self-conscious.
'How are you feeling about the competition?' I asked Heidi to my right as she was picking at her string beans with her fork. She granted me a strained smile. 'I'm actually not on the Hufflepuff team anymore.' I was too late if I wanted to hide my surprise because I immediately raised my eyebrows. She chuckled at my expression. She shrugged helplessly.
'It just became too difficult.' She said vaguely but I saw her eyes shoot to her ex-boyfriend Anthony Rickett, who was a Beater on the team. 'They didn't make you quit, did they?' I asked concerned, although I regretted asking right after; I didn't feel like it was my business at all. I didn't know Heidi well by anyone's standard.
She shook her head vehemently. 'No, no, they wouldn't. I just didn't enjoy keeping up appearances and our tension was just dragging the whole team down.' She trusted upon me. I nodded thoughtfully, although it occurred to me that it was awfully typical of the girl in a relationship to want to sacrifice their happiness in order to please the other party. Anthony Rickett could have offered to quit as well instead of letting Heidi give up what she loved to do. Maybe I was thinking too much into it but it annoyed me a bit to see Rickett down the table laughing with the Hufflepuff Quidditch team captain, Zacharias Smith. Boys knew how to look after each other well, it seemed.
When I told Mathilda and Aurora that evening they agreed with my irritation at the situation. We were sitting by the fire in the common room, homework on our laps, although we had barely written a word down in the last half hour. 'But the Hufflepuff team isn't the only team that is in trouble.' Mathilda said conspiringly. 'Cho is a wreck, obviously, so Roger says that he can't keep her as Seeker unless she manages to focus. Jeremy became prefect last year so won't play Quidditch anymore to focus on his academics and Roger is replacing Marcus with Andreas Bradley because he thinks Marcus isn't taking Quidditch seriously enough.' Mathilda told us. Aurora's eyes were wide at the secrets. 'How did this not reach my ears yet?' She questioned Mathilda and Mathilda eyed her slyly. 'I'm just privy to classified information.' She said, making both Aurora and I roll our eyes. Her face grew serious after.
'Seriously though, besides the whole Marcus and Andreas thing, the rest isn't really publicly known yet so don't go telling people. Roger only told because I promised not to tell anyone.' She said with a tiny smirk. 'I really hope he won't kick off Cho though.' Aurora said in a whisper. 'It'd be the end of her.' She added. Mathilda shrugged uncomfortably. She had never gotten along with the pretty Quidditch player but I had noticed that she had mellowed significantly in her attitude towards her since the Third Task. It had gotten difficult to be petty with her, rather than feel sorry for her. 'I don't think he will.' Mathilda said uncertainly. 'I'm pretty sure he fancies her.' She added.
'I feel bad for Marcus though.' I said a couple of seconds later, thinking of goofy Marcus Belby. Ravenclaw captain Roger Davies might be right about Marcus as he and his best friend Eddie Carmichael were always kidding around by themselves, but it still seemed a bit harsh. 'I knew he wasn't on the team this year but I just figured he hadn't tried out again because he didn't feel like it.' I said to my friends. They nodded as well. 'He doesn't look heartbroken about it.' Aurora pointed out but Mathilda didn't think that was a good argument. 'Neither Marcus or Eddie have ever looked heartbroken over anything before. Doesn't mean they didn't feel it.' She said and Aurora had no choice but to agree to that much.
Sunday came to an end though and Monday started much like any other day except for the fact that professor Hagrid had returned to the staff table. He had not been present for the first months of the school year. Of course I didn't take Care of Magical Creatures but I noticed like everyone else did when his enormous stature was suddenly seen at breakfast again. There were murmurs on what had happened to him as his face looked like it had been repeatedly with a giant, Hagrid-sized, shovel; bruised in various degrees. None of my friends took Care of Magical Creatures either but at the end of the day the stories were as they always were; he had started teaching classes about rare but dangerous creatures as he always did.
I also send out an owl to Aidan. I had promised his girlfriend Nina that I'd help her out in trying to get him off any responsibility in the last week of January so she could take him on a birthday trip to Cornwall. I had made up a barely passable lie that my holidays would run late this year and that I'd still be in London by that time. 'We should hang out together all week!' I had written; if he didn't get suspicious from that, I'd have to disown him as my brother. It was the best I could come up with though.
The weeks flew by, it seemed like. I wanted to tell Fred that I was there for him after the whole Quidditch-ban, even though I wasn't sure how to tell him, but he had only groaned when I brought up the ban a week after it had happened, and had pushed me up to the wall after, making his intentions quite known on what he wanted to do in our lunch hour instead of talking about the incident at the game. I tried to talk about it again to him a week later but the outcome was no different this time around, him groaning in exasperation once again and his lips not coming off me until the ghost of the Fat Friar floated through the blackboard of the empty classroom.
I took care of Felix's owl the best I could. I let it fly out at night although it didn't seem too keen to in the cold. I wanted to be kind to it but didn't want to risk it getting attached to me either. It had to be Felix's owl, not mine. However, I didn't have too much time to bond with the owl anyway.
Despite the fact that I had dropped a couple of classes, N.E.W.T. classes were still taking a great toll, the subject matter being incredibly advanced compared to anything we had been taught before. In Transfiguration we had started on human transfigurations by trying to change the colour of each other's eyebrows and in Potions we had been introduced to the prospect of making our own poison antidotes. And most intimidating of all; none of our professors accepted anything other than non-verbal magic anymore. It made classrooms very quiet, all students focussing with frowns on their faces and lips pressed tightly together, trying to make magic happen. It made me long for the simple days of O.W.L. examinations.
November turned into December and the new month brought snow. People were excited at first but after a while it was clear that the sheer volume of it just prevented us from going outside and that left hundreds of restless students heaped up in a stuffy old castle. But hope was on the horizon; it was the fifteenth of December and it was the last day of classes before the holidays. The next day the majority of the student body would trudge through the snow towards Hogsmeade to take the train back to London. We could see our families again, celebrate Christmas and relax before we had to return to constant studying in January.
Mathilda was talking to me about something, I know she was, but I wasn't listening. We were having lunch but I was really just looking at Fred as he was talking something over with his brother, their heads together as they colluded about whatever prank they were going to pull now. They didn't even stop when Lee Jordan came to sit with them. He shared everything with his brother and it made me feel a little dejected. I wondered if Fred didn't want to talk about his Quidditch ban in general, or if he just had no interest in talking to me about it. I sighed.
'Cecilia!' Mathilda said indignantly. I looked at her guiltily. 'Sorry, I didn't catch that last bit.' I said, trying to downplay it; I hadn't heard anything pretty much. Mathilda was visibly annoyed. 'That's because you were staring at Fred bloody Weasley.' She said and I became red in the face. Adrian looked up from his conversation with Warrington. He was sitting with us at the Ravenclaw table but had hardly interacted with us apart from Adrian's kiss hello for Mathilda.
'Weasley? She still fancies that twat?' Adrian asked incredulously. I turned an even deeper shade of red. Before I could answer, although I didn't know how I would, Mathilda had shushed him. 'Don't embarrass her!' She scolded him, although it was her who brought it up to begin with. I just looked at my food as I silently ate on, ignoring the couple's strangely loving argument. I had almost finished when someone said my name.
'Wiggleswade..?' I heard Warrington ask and as I looked up, I saw that he had stood up from his place further down the table and had come to sit next to me. I immediately felt self-conscious. 'You want to get with that Weasel brat?' He asked and I let out a quick nervous laugh at his wording, although I felt myself flush as well. 'I suppose I do.' I murmured shyly, unwilling to admit it to him. He rolled his eyes. 'I suppose I'll help my best friend's girlfriend's best friend out then.' He told me and I raised my eyebrows. 'How?' I asked. He huffed. 'You don't believe me?' He replied.
I took a moment to study him. He seemed honest enough but I didn't know whether he was a good liar or not and the fact that he was on bad terms with the Weasley twins, made me believe he could hardly be up to any good. 'I don't know.' I said to him, but he looked frustrated. 'It's a piece of cake, I promise.' He said reassuringly. I didn't feel very reassured. 'Meet me out in the Entrance Hall before dinner tonight, alright? I have a plan, kind of.' He said. I nodded, not knowing how to refuse the Slytherin upperclassman.
When Mathilda and I walked up to the library to start on our homework and meet up with Aurora who had already started, Mathilda asked me what Warrington had wanted from me. I shrugged, quite unwilling to share before I knew myself what would happen. 'You were squabbling with Adrian; he just came over to talk. Best friends of the couple and all that.' I said to her dismissively.
That evening we were let off Defence Against the Dark Arts and everyone left the class in cheers; it was the last class before the holidays, the last class of 1995, and all the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff sixth years made their way to dinner in a light hearted mood. I had nearly forgotten about Warrington's proposal until I saw him leaning against the wall beside the doors that led into the Great Hall. I stopped dead in my tracks and both Mathilda and Felix stopped walking as well, looking back at me questioningly. 'I suddenly remember I left my.. Quill. I will just run back to pick it up.' I said. Felix let go off Thora's hand who patiently waited on him. 'I'll come with.' He said pleasantly. 'Your quill!?' Mathilda said incredulously however.
'Leave the cursed thing! I'll buy you a new one; we're on holiday Cecil, you're not going back for a stupid quill.' She said resolutely, already turning towards the Great Hall but I insisted. 'Shove off Mathilda, I can and I will.' I said. 'You go ahead to dinner.' Felix said to Thora and Thora was about to answer but Mathilda grabbed his arm. 'Don't indulge Cecilia by going with her. If she must have that quill, she must go alone.' She said. Sometimes I wondered where she got her dramatics from. Her father was not very dramatic at all.
Felix looked at me with raised eyebrows and I smiled at him. 'Go ahead. I won't be long.' I told him. He shrugged his shoulder, shot me a smile and took Thora's hand again who reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek. I felt a pang in my heart to see them share intimacy so carelessly. Not confined to broom closets and alcoves, having each other to rely on rather than only some casual snogs when they had time. I could barely imagine it anymore at this point.
I waved them off as they stalked into the Great Hall for dinner, Felix looking over his shoulder to me as he was dragged off by his girlfriend and Mathilda, following after our classmates. I dropped my smile as they were out of sight and looked over at where Warrington was still standing, his arms crossed and a smirk plastered on his face. I quickly made my way over. 'Smooth.' He said sarcastically in reference to my excuse in front of my friends. I didn't say anything.
He stood up straight, brushing down his robes and I saw the glimmer of a ring on his little finger, the Warrington emblem gleaming in the light. 'I happen to know that those Weasleys and his idiot friends are serving detention in the library right now. We are going to join them.' He announced. 'Join them?' I asked, a slight panic overtaking me as he walked off, towards the stairs, and I followed after him. 'Well, not join them, but we are going to the library.' He attempted to clarify. I had no idea what was waiting for me.
When we got to the library it didn't seem too busy. Classes had ended for everyone and the only ones left were those either returning books before the start of the holiday or taking them out to use during the holidays for the homework that needed to be handed in after the holidays.
Warrington looked through the windows in the double doors of the library. 'He's already there. He's sitting with that annoying brother of his and their friend Jordan.' He said, leaning back and looking at me, his tall Quidditch stature towering over me. I wasn't all that used to feeling this short.
'We're going to walk in there and I want you to go along with whatever I'm doing, alright?' He asked and I hesitantly nodded. 'Good, come on then.' He said and together we walked into library. I was all too aware of Fred sitting at one of the library tables. He was together with his brother and Lee Jordan as Warrington had said, ironing out the pages of books without magic. Especially from this distance I couldn't tell which one was Fred and which one was George but I knew when I saw one of them look up and frown when he saw me, his eyes flicking up to Warrington.
I looked sideways to Warrington and saw him smirk in Fred's direction but then he looked at me and quickly whispered 'Just go with it, remember?' but before I could nod he had leaned forward and kissed me. First my eyes widened in surprise and I was about to pull back but his words echoed through my mind. Just go with it.
My eyelids fluttered closed and I snaked my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. It was an unfamiliar feeling to kiss Cassius Warrington. I had only ever kissed one boy and he had always been passionate, forceful and rash, but Warrington was not anything like that. His lips were soft, careful, methodical almost and I felt nearly guilty that I enjoyed it.
'Hey, you two! Break it up!' I heard the strict librarian call out and Warrington pulled away from me, leaving me flustered and out of breath, blinking my eyes stupidly. 'Sorry ma'am.' Warrington said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along towards the exit. 'Quick.' He murmured to me. 'Don't look back at Weasley.' He said and it took me all my effort not to.
We were a floor down before Warrington spoke again. 'That was definitely effective.' He said proudly. I shook my head and frowned at him. 'What in Merlin's name happened back there?' I asked him and he laughed, way more jolly than I had seen him before. 'I did you a massive favour, that's what happened.' He said and I sputtered. 'You, you..! You kissed me!' I said accusingly and he rolled his eyes. 'It was only a little one. And it was for a good cause.' He said in his own defence.
I looked at him incredulously and he let out a sigh. 'Look at it this way; Weasley thinks he can fall back on you whenever. You're there every time he feels like a snog. This showed him that you can move on as well. And not just with anybody but with one of his Quidditch rivals too. This is good Cecilia. This will force his hand, he can't ignore this. And knowing that Gryffindor twat, he most certainly won't try to either.' Warrington said and I must say I was secretly a little impressed with his reasoning, not having expected quite such a detailed answer. 'But..' I muttered. 'What if forcing his hand won't get the result we were looking for.' I asked him. 'What if he'll just say that he doesn't like me?' I added.
Warrington seemed sympathetic. 'Then you're just speeding up the inevitable.' He said. 'You can't make somebody like you, I'm afraid.' He told me and I looked down, pouting a little. 'I hope you know what you're doing.' I just said and he laughed. 'This'll work.' He stated once again. 'By the time this plays out, you'll know where you stand.'
I stayed silent, feeling a bit heavy-hearted. 'So, I don't know how to say this, but I hope you don't feel like.. Well, you know..' I said and Warrington frowned. 'Like what?' He asked. I blushed. 'Well, like I feel about Fred.' I clarified and Warrington made a face. 'Ugh, by Circe, no.' He said and I glared at him. 'No need to feel that disgusted.' I said and he laughed. 'If there's any other boys whose hands need some forcing, I'm game, but I really do not fancy you.' He said and although I frowned at his wording, I felt a little lighter after that, relieved that I didn't need to worry about him too.
'I was just trying to help you and to screw over Weasley a bit. Primarily screw over Weasley.' He said, grinning. I laughed as well. 'Well, alright then, let's just go down for dinner before Mathilda wonders what I've been up to.' I said. 'I can't wait to tell Adrian about the look on the Weasel's face.' Warrington said and I sighed. 'Taking a school rivalry this serious is a bit juvenile, don't you think?' I said and he pushed me into a suit of armour with a chuckle. 'Mind your business, Wiggleswade.' He said and I couldn't help but laugh as I rubbed my shoulder, where it bumped into the metal man.
'Cassius, shouldn't we have waited till after Christmas? I won't see him for three weeks now.' I said after a couple of minutes of silently walking alongside of each other. He shook his head vehemently however. 'Definitely not! Now he has three weeks to boil in that stew.' He said. 'Even more so, I urge you not to talk to him. If he tries to talk to you on the train tomorrow, say that you don't know what he's talking about and get out of there.' He said and I nodded thoughtfully. I was never much of a schemer. 'How about you?' I asked the tall boy next to me as we crossed the corridor on the first floor, dodging a lazily thrown piece of chalk that Peeves was flinging in all directions. A second year Gryffindor was hit in the eye by one behind us.
'I'm going to milk it! I'll make sure to run into him on the train tomorrow and I'm going to allude to some very naughty times we spent in a broom closet after we left the library.' He said and I reddened at the thought of it. 'But that's not true!' I called out. He raised an eyebrow at me. 'I'm doing it all for you, Cecilia, what gives if I happen to enjoy it too.' He said and I didn't know what to say to that so I just kept my mouth shut as we walked into the Great Hall.
Saturday morning Aurora, Mathilda and I made sure to get to the Hogwarts Express early to ensure a compartment. Felix had asked at breakfast if he could join us and we had agreed. I had felt a grin form on my face as Mathilda had readily told him to bring his friends from Hufflepuff. It was nice to know that my set of friends got along with Felix. Especially Mathilda who has been my best friend since we were just kids but these days Felix and I had grown so close; them being friendly made my heart warm in delight.
We found a compartment near the end of the train, putting our trunks in the luggage carriers over our heads. I had emptied out my trunk, only taking home what I needed, my homework assignments and textbooks and a pair of my favourite robes (I had enough clothes at home), to make room for the owl I bought Felix. There had been an Undetectable Extension Charm on my trunk already but it was still slightly too small to fit the large cage. I tried to charm it bigger. The charm was difficult but I had managed to succeed just enough to stretch the Extension Charm that was already in place and I could just close it after placing the cage inside. I put my trunk up in the compartment very carefully, not wishing to shake it about; I already felt bad about hiding it inside a piece of luggage. I hoped it liked the treats I had left for it.
The Hufflepuffs hadn't arrived in our compartment yet when the train started up. In fact, when the comportment door slid open it were Slytherins, not Hufflepuffs. 'They're not on the bloody train.' Warrington exclaimed as he roughly opened the compartment door. Mathilda looked up from the magazine she was skimming, a smile lighting her face when her boyfriend came in after his friend. 'Who are not?' Asked Aurora as Warrington sat next to her, kicking his feet up on the seat next to mine. 'You can't sit here.' Mathilda said to Adrian as he made to take the seat next to hers. 'And by Merlin, why can't I?' He asked her. 'Because the Hufflepuff sixth form students were going to join us in a bit.' Mathilda answered him. 'There won't be any room for them if you sit here.'
'Well, we're seventh form students so we've got some rights, don't we Cassius?' Adrian said, looking at his annoyed looking friend. 'Who cares where we sit, let the Puffs have the compartment.' He huffed. Adrian rolled his eyes. 'Who are not on the train?' Aurora repeated her question from earlier. Warrington turned his attention to her. 'Those Twatty Twins. The Weasel brats. The Double Dorks.' He answered. I felt a blush rush to my cheeks.
'What were you searching for them for?' Asked Aurora with a frown on her face. 'I had the honourable duty of rubbing his face in the fact that I had snogged Cecilia right in front of him.' Warrington said. I shrunk inwards. 'You did what!?' Shrieked Mathilda and Aurora at the same time. Warrington seemed mildly surprised. 'Adrian hadn't told you?' He directed at Mathilda. 'It seems he has a bit more nerve than I credited him for.' He concluded and Mathilda's eyes narrowed at Adrian who sheepishly shrugged. 'I'll deal with you later.' She bit at him.
She stood up, grabbing me by the arm and dragging me out of the compartment. We were followed by Aurora. Before the door closed I heard Warrington say; 'Turns out we can sit in this compartment after all, right mate?'
Mathilda dragged me a bit further up the train until we got to the bathroom. We had only just left Hogsmeade so the bathroom was still empty. Mathilda pushed me inside and Aurora closed the door behind us. I caught my reflection in the mirror and saw my spotty red face. 'What-' Mathilda began, taking a deep breath '-was that!?' She finished. I shrugged pathetically.
'You and Cassius kissed?' Aurora questioned and I nodded reluctantly. 'But it's not what you guys think!' I said in my own defence. 'And what are we thinking?' Mathilda asked. 'That you two have been hiding a relationship from us and you just pretended to still fancy Fred Weasley?' She added. I snorted. 'Well, it's not that.' I corrected. 'Do tell, what then?' Mathilda said. Aurora's eyes shot between me and my best friend.
'It was just yesterday.' I tried to explain. 'Remember that Cassius went to sit next to me at lunch and said something to me? Well he told me he wanted to help me out with Fred.' I said hurriedly, trying to get the story out as quick as possible. 'Before dinner I lied about having to get my quill-' I said and Mathilda made a "ha!" kind of sound '-and Cassius actually took me to Fred so he could kiss me in front of him. He says that it will make Fred move forward with me. Or something. That's what Cassius said.' I explained lamely.
'Well, did you kiss him back?' Asked Aurora. I sputtered. 'Good question, Rory!' Mathilda exclaimed. 'I mean, I did, but that was the point.' I said indignantly. 'Was he any good?' Mathilda asked. I didn't know what to say. 'It was.. Nice.' I said awkwardly. My friends squealed. 'Maybe he fancies you!' Aurora said excitedly and I groaned. 'He does not, I made sure to ask and he got humiliatingly grossed out by the mere thought of it.' I said quickly, before they got any ideas in their heads. They both pouted in disappointment.
'I can't believe Adrian managed to not say anything to me about this.' Mathilda muttered after a few seconds. 'I know that you sometimes need a bit of time to process things for yourself..' She directed at me knowingly and I felt a bit guilty at how understanding she was. 'But Adrian is a massive blabbermouth. I'm almost impressed that he didn't say anything.' She added. 'Cassius must've told him that I didn't want anyone to know.' I said. Despite the fact that Mathilda had found out literally the day after it happened, I felt a surge of gratitude towards Adrian for keeping it to himself.
'So, is that it for my interrogation?' I asked and they both smiled at me. 'Yeah, you're off the hook.' Mathilda said. 'I hope you enjoyed kissing him though. Cassius is not bad looking.' Aurora pointed out and I laughed uncomfortably. 'I suppose.' I allowed. I knew though that I had no eyes for anyone but Fred. Mathilda looked at me with a subdued smile and I saw that she knew as well.
When we got back to the compartment the boys had gone and were replaced with Felix, his girlfriend Thora, his friend Peter and Thora's friend Betty Cleaves. 'There's still some room left!' Peter exclaimed. There was some shoving around as they tried to make space for three extra people in the compartment. I ended up between Mathilda and Betty, across from Felix and Thora. Everyone was talking and laughing and I felt glad to be where I was despite my discomfort with people I didn't know well, but Mathilda leaned closer to me, a slightly concerned look on her face. 'I just worry for you; you'll see him again after the holidays so what's happening then?' She whispered at me. 'I worry too.' I just answered. That seemed to settle her and she leaned back in her seat.
It was time to set my worries aside though; it was nearly Christmas and I was going home.
Ugh, trying to somewhat elegantly cram almost two months worth of content in a single chapter was no easy feat. I'm not completely happy with it but I much rather have it like this than struggle over it any longer. Christmas won't be long anymore.
Who remembers that Mr Weasley was attacked by Nagini? That's why the Weasleys aren't on the train; they've flooed to Grimmauld's Place. So despite Cecilia's good efforts of catching his attention, Fred's going to have a lot of other things on his mind as well, I suspect.
Let me know what you guys think and I'll see you next chapter!