"Fine," Harry said in a clipped tone. Holly doesn't say anything. She only continued to read her book.
Suddenly, Hermione noticed Harry's hand, "What's wrong with your hand?"
"Nothing."
"The other one," Hermione grabbed his hand and looked at the bloody cut on his hand. She held Holly's hand and noticed the same thing.
"You've got to tell Dumbledore."
"No," Holly said, "Dumbledore has got enough on his mind already."
"You guys, she torturing you," Ginny said.
"We can handle it," Harry told Ginny.
"Besides, we're not going to give Umbridge the satisfaction."
"You have to tell your parents. If they knew."
"No, that's the last thing we want is for Sirius and Remus to find out. It's our problem, and we'll handle it." Holly said.
"We don't want to worry them," Harry added.
"Holly, Harry, it's perfectly simple."
"No, it isn't Hermione. It's anything but simple," Harry told her with a sigh, "You don't understand."
"Then help us understand."
"Forget it," Harry mumbled, and he and Holly got up and left.
The others sat there and stared at each other confused.
After that incident with Umbridge, the rest of the week went by pretty standard. Harry and Luna spent time together. It turned out that Luna was the only person that could help Harry control his temper, so she decided to spend as much time with him as possible. While this was going on, Holly wrote Viktor a letter telling him how her first week of school was going. She, of course, left out the incident with Umbridge and told him everything was fine.
That Saturday, Angelina Johnson held tryouts for the Quidditch team. Since several people had graduated the year before, including Wood, they needed a new Keeper and a new Chaser. Tryouts were held that Saturday morning, with several people showing up. Holly, Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny watched Holly try out for the Chaser position. Angela had those that were trying out for Chaser go up against the other chasers and try to make goals against those that were trying out for Keeper. The tryout went on for an hour while Angelina evaluated each person.
"Alright, I've made my choice. The new Keeper will be Ron Weasley."
Everyone cheered for Ron and congratulated him. Lavender kissed her boyfriend and hugged him tightly.
"And our new Chaser is Holly Potter."
Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny went wild along with everyone else, but above everyone's voice, Holly heard a deep voice she didn't think she would listen to until Christmas. Holly turned around, and she saw Viktor walking towards her. Holly's eyes widened, and Holly squealed and ran towards her boyfriend. She jumped into Viktor's arms, and he easily caught her. Holly wrapped her legs around him and peppered his face with kisses, causing Viktor to laugh.
"What are you doing here?"
"Did you honestly think I vould miss your tryouts, Luff? I vouldn't haff missed them for anything in the vorld."
"Oh, Viktor, I'm so happy to see you. Thank you for being here."
"As am I, My Luff. And congratulations."
"Thank you, Love. I couldn't have done it without you."
"Yes, you could haff. You are very talented."
Harry and the others stood around and watched the happy couple and smiled. They decided to leave them alone so that they could spend some time together. Harry and Luna went with Hermione, but Viktor saw her and called her over, "Oh, Hermy-own-ninny, I haff a letter for you from Alek. Alek said that he vish he could haff come, but he is busy at the Ministry."
Hermione's face lit up, and she eagerly took the letter from Viktor and thanked him. She ran back to the castle so that she could read her letter in peace. After Hermione left, Viktor led Holly down to the lake so that they could have some privacy. Viktor wrapped his arm around Holly's shoulders, and they began to walk around the lake
"How vos your first veek of classes?"
"Dreadful without you here," Holly commented, then looked up at Viktor.
Viktor chuckled and leaned down to kiss Holly's head, "I must admit it vos hard for me to go home and find you not there."
"Oh, my poor baby," Holly pouted.
Viktor hugged his girlfriend then they continued their walk. They suddenly heard yipping coming from the castle and saw Archimedes running down the slope towards them; he ran straight towards Viktor and jumped into his arms. Holly and Viktor started to laugh, "I guess I wasn't the only one that missed you."
Viktor laughed as the little fox licked his face, "I suppose not."
Archimedes settled down around Viktor's shoulders, and the couple sat down by the lake. Holly sat down between Viktor's legs and leaned back against him. He took her hands in his and kissed them, but as he kissed her left hand, Viktor paused and pulled up Holly's sleeve. "Holly, vot is this?"
Holly tried to pull her hand out of Viktor's, but he wouldn't let go, "It's nothing."
"It does not look like nothing."
Viktor took a closer look at Holly's wound, "'I must not tell lies,' Holly, who tortured you?"
"Um, no one."
"Do not lie to me! I know a blood quill vhen I see one. They vere used often in Durmstrang. Who did this to you?!"
Viktor's eyes widened, "It vos the new Defense teach vosn't it? It had to have been. They are the only new teacher. Vhy, Holly? Vhy would they do something so cruel to you. And I am guessing to Harry as well."
Holly started to tear up, "Because we told her that Voldemort is back and she doesn't believe us. Oh, Viktor, it's been horrible. No one believes us! They all think we're lying! The Prophet has been slandering us. The ministry has been saying we're lying. And people in the school are turning against us. But we're used to that."
"Luff, you have to tell your parents about the blood quills. You cannot let her torture you like that."
"No, Harry and I won't give Umbridge the satisfaction of running to our parents about this."
Viktor sighed, but he knew how to get Holly to cooperate, "Do you vont her to use those quills on a younger student?"
Holly gasped, "Umbridge wouldn't dare, would she?"
"Vhy not? If she can do it to you and Harry, then vhat is stopping her from doing it to first-year students?"
Holly bit her lip; she couldn't allow some firstie to be tortured like that; they were only babies. She and Harry could take it; they had worse living with the Dursleys. But Holly couldn't allow someone else to feel that kind of pain.
Holly's eyes started to water just thinking about it, "You're right, love, I can't let her do that. I'll talk to Harry and tell him we have to tell Remus and Sirius."
Viktor sighed in relief and hugged Holly tightly, "Do you promise?"
"Yes, love, I promise."
"Good," Viktor said, then leaned down and kissed Holly.
They spent the rest of the afternoon cuddling and kissing with Archimedes playing nearby. As the sun began to set, Viktor and Holly stood up, and she walked Viktor down to the gates where he could apparate back to Bulgaria. They hugged, and Viktor fiercely kissed his love one last time, "I luff you so much, Holly."
"And I love you, Viktor."
"I promise I vill try to come to visit as often as I can."
"As long as you don't get in trouble with your coach."
Viktor laughed, "No, I von't. Goodbye, my luff."
"Goodbye, love."
And with that, Viktor disapparated.
Holly sniffled then walked back towards the castle. She had to talk to Harry.
While all this was going on, Harry had been spending time with Luna in the forest feeding the Thestrals, and she, too, had noticed the cuts on Harry's hand. She had used the same logic on Harry that Viktor had used on Holly, and he also had decided that he need to talk to his sister. So, when the twins met up outside of Gryffindor tower, they said at the same time, "I need to talk to you."
"Alright, let's find an empty classroom," Holly suggested.
They walked down the hall until they found an empty classroom and went inside. Holly walked towards the window and looked outside. Harry closed the door and warded the door shut; he turned and looked at his sister while she looked at him, "We have to tell someone about what Umbridge did," They said at the same time.
The twins looked at each other surprised, "You think so too," They said again.
"What changed your mind?" Holly asked.
"Luna. She said that if we don't say something, Umbridge could do the same to the younger students."
"Viktor told me the same thing. Harry, we can't let that happen. We have to tell Moony and Padfoot."
"They're going to be so angry."
"Yes, but not at us, Harry. Don't worry. I'll write them a letter right now. I'll explain everything," Holly assured Harry.
Harry nodded. Holly hugged her twin, "Don't worry, Hare- Bear, everything will be alright."
"I hope so, Hol."
With that, Harry canceled the wards, and the twins went back to Gryffindor Tower.
The minute they entered, they were ambushed again by Hermione, "You have to tell someone about what happened last night." She whispered.
"We know, Hermione. I'm going to write Moony and Padfoot right now," Holly told her best friend.
Hermione looked at the twins, startled, "What changed your mind?"
"Talking to Viktor and Luna."
Hermione sighed, "Good. I'm glad someone was able to make you two see that you can't hide this."
"Yeah. Excuse me; I have a letter to write."
Holly went upstairs and immediately got to work on her letter to her parents. She knew this would enrage Sirius, but luckily Moony would be there to keep Padfoot calm. At least Holly hoped so. As soon as she finished the letter, Holly and Harry went to the Owlery and called Hedwig. She came to Harry, and Holly attached the note to her leg, "Take this to Remus and Sirius, Girl." Hedwig hooted and took off into the sky. Once she left, Holly and Harry headed down to the Great Hall to have dinner.
Back at the Potter Mansion, Remus and Sirius were sitting down to have a late dinner when Hedwig flew in through the window. Sirius smiled at seeing the familiar owl, "Looks like the kids missed us already, Moony."
Remus was a little doubtful; it was a little late for Hedwig to be delivering mail. If she was there so late, that letter had to be necessary. Hedwig flew to Remus and held out her foot; Remus took the note and gave Hedwig a bit of roast and water. Then he opened the letter. He began to read the letter, and slowly his face began to morph into one of utter rage.
Sirius watched his husband, "Moony, what's wrong?"
Remus silently handed the note to Sirius. Sirius read the letter, and his face started turning red; he crumpled the message and turned to Remus, "I'll kill her."
"You and me both."
Sirius marched towards the fireplace and threw a handful of floo powder. "ALBUS DUMBLEDORE, HOGWARTS!" Sirius yelled.
Green flames erupted, and he and Remus stepped through. No one tortured his kids and got away with it.