A/N: Hey! My updates are becoming less frequent, I know, but that's because high school sucks and is taking up way too much of my time. I'm also in the play, so that doesn't help. I've gotten pretty far in writing this though… all the way up to the third task already (yipee!) Well, enjoy and review!
"Hey there, kiddo!" a man with graying brown hair grinned. His eyes were a soft gray. They used to be permanently smiling and full of life. Not now. Holly squinted.
"Dad?"
"How's school?"
"Er, good I guess." Holly tilted her head to examine him.
"Dad… Why are you wearing your dress robes? Are we going somewhere special?" The man smiled with his lips, but his eyes were sad.
"No, not really. So, I hear you've found out who your real parents are. Quite interesting, eh? James and Lily Potter… You have famous parents, Holly. You have a famous brother."
"Yeah, but playing big sister means I have to look out for him without letting him know I'm his sister. It's kind of annoying."
"I bet…" the man laughed. "Does your mother know?"
"I don't think so…" Holly shook her head. She frowned. "I'm confused."
"Why?"
"I don't know. But I feel as if this isn't happening, and yet it feels so natural and so real. I feel like I have a question to ask you… But I don't know what it is." As she studied the man, the conclusion hit her and her eyes widened, and then her spirits dropped. "Oh…" she said, gloomily. "Now I remember." The man nodded, sighed, and looked at the floor, then back up at Holly again.
"Well?" he said.
"Dad… How did you die?"
Everything was black.
"Oh you foolish, foolish girl…" came a voice from the abyss.
"Huh?" Holly mumbled.
"Is she out of the delirium?" came a different voice, a male voice.
"It's hard to tell. What's she muttering about now?" came the female voice.
"Um… Kangaroos on broomsticks," the male replied, then added, "Playing Quidditch against the koalas on enchanted… vacuum cleaners?"
"Vacuum cleaners?" Holly murmured, then blinked. "Why on earth was I talking about a Quidditch match between zoo animals on enchanted cleaning items?"
"What's a vacuum cleaner?" said the male. Holly blinked again. Her vision was blurry.
"AH!" she cried, sitting up so fast her head began to spin. "Oh… But AH! I can't see anything!"
"Relax, Miss. Phillips, it's just a temporary side effect of the healing potion I gave you!" cried the female. She felt someone push her back down in her bed.
"Who's there?" she demanded.
"Calm down, Miss. Phillips!" The woman stuffed a piece of chocolate in Holly's mouth. "You're in the hospital wing. It's me, Madam Pomfrey."
"And?"
"And me, Holly, Cedric."
"Oh… Cedric… What happened?"
"That crazy and reckless teacher hit you with a fever in a spell." Madam Pomfrey seemed frustrated and annoyed with the situation.
"Come again?" Holly was extremely confused. Cedric laughed.
"What she means is, in your Defense class, Professor Moody hit you with a positive Celsius curse."
"A what now?"
"It increases your body temperature. A negative Celsius curse decreases your body temperature. The fool didn't realize how powerful he'd made it. You had a fever so high, you started having fits on the floor! He should be fired for that reckless act!" Madam Pomfrey was really angry with him.
"Calm down, Madam Pomfrey, he already apologized immensely. He was only trying to teach her how to avoid spells… Anyway, Holly, if it's any consolation, he's boosting up your grade for showing valor and awarded your house ten points to try and make up for it."
"Well then I guess that replaces the ten Snape took away yesterday…" Holly murmured. Cedric laughed.
"Even when you're sick, you have a great sense of humor." Holly turned and spoke to the thing that looked most like Cedric through her hazed and blurry vision.
"You always know exactly the right thing to say, don't you?"
"Holly?" said Cedric.
"Yeah?"
"I'm over here. That's Professor Snape." He tapped her on the shoulder.
"Oops… Sorry Professor."
"Quite alright, Miss. Phillips," came the voice of steely Professor Severus Snape. "I came to inform you that you missed your detention today."
"Thank you for letting me know, Professor." Holly tried to sound sarcastic, but her voice sounded funny to her ears.
"Yes, well, either make it up tomorrow evening, or fifty points will be taken from your house. Good day." As he was walking away, he paused. "Oh, and ten points for skipping your detention."
"Well there goes those ten points Moody gave us…" Holly muttered.
"Um, Professor, wait!" she heard Cedric cry. Her heart nearly stopped.
"Oh no…" she groaned, knowing the Potions Master would eat the Hufflepuff alive. She heard him chase after him. After a few minutes, she heard footsteps running back to her bedside.
"Oh no, don't tell me, he took ten points from your house for telling him what to do and now you have detention with me tomorrow?" said Holly.
"No," Cedric said and Holly could hear the grin in his voice. "I told him about what Moody did to you and asked if he'd let you off. Not only did he let you off, he's only taking away five points instead of ten."
"What?!" Holly cried, incredulously. "How on earth did you make him do that?"
"He owed me a favor, what can I say? And he's not too fond of Moody anyway…" Holly felt Cedric pat her on the shoulder. "You'll be just fine, Holly. Everything will turn out great!"
"OK, so if we go this way, it'll be quicker." Holly pointed down a dark and dank corridor. Cedric was hesitant.
"I don't know, Holly… How do you know all this?"
"The twins had a map once that told them all this. Come on, you want to get to the Great Hall before dinner's over, don't you?"
"Are you sure your coordination skills are intact, Holly?" Cedric asked.
"Don't be a git, Ced." Holly started marching off down the hall. "I know exactly where I'm— AAH!" Holly shrieked as she tripped over a large fuzzy object and narrowly avoided tumbling down the stairs. She fell hard on her right arm. She heard an unnatural hissing sound from the animal behind her and turned to scowl at it. Cedric came running to her side.
"That was a nasty fall, are you OK?"
"Is she OK?! Is she OK?! Of course she is! She needs to watch where she's going! My poor, poor Mrs. Norris has been traumatized!" Filch had arrived, right on time. Cedric and Holly both scowled at him.
"You're cat's fine, sir, I'm sure of it," said Holly through gritted teeth. But Mrs. Norris gave a moaning meow sound to prove otherwise.
"Mrs. Norris is not fine! Why, you could have scarred her for life, you horrible, wretched little urchins!"
"Mr. Filch, sir, relax. There's nothing to be angry about, please. We just need to get Holly to the hospital wing— Again— so Madam Pomfrey can mend her—"
"We need to get that girl down to my office is what you mean!" Filch threatened. "And hang her from the ceiling from that arm of hers!" Cedric gave a nervous laugh.
"We'll, er, be right with you sir! As a matter of fact, I left some chains in the hospital wing. Just let me go get them and we'll be right with you! Come on, you, um, urchin!" he yanked Holly by her right arm and Holly shrieked but gritted her teeth and forced a smile.
"Yes… Cedric… I'm… Coming…" she said, trying to swallow the pain.
"Wait!" Filch called after them, but Cedric and Holly were already running down the hall.
"Twice in one day, hm? You sure are accident prone, Miss. Phillips." Madame Pomfrey said, shaking her head.
"I know, I know, but can you mend it?" Holly asked. Madame Pomfrey looked horrified.
"Of course I can mend it! What kind of a silly question is that!"
"Great," said Cedric. "Then we can eat."
"Hold still," Madam Pomfrey said as she readied her wand.
Half an hour later, Holly and Cedric were walking down the hall.
"I loved your convincing display," said Holly, sarcastically.
"What convincing dis— Oh." Cedric smiled, sheepishly.
"I especially liked the part when you ripped my already broken arm out of its socket. It was a nice touch."
"Well what was I supposed to do, let him take you?" Cedric shrugged. Holly rolled her eyes and smiled.
"It's common knowledge that Filch is just full of empty threats."
"Common knowledge?" Cedric smiled. He was doubtful, but curious.
"Well, I mean, among the people I know."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be!" Holly laughed. "George did the same thing when we…" her smile faded and her laughter turned nervous. "He and Fred have been caught by Filch before you know. He didn't do anything to them." Her voice had become quiet.
"Talk to them," Cedric urged.
"What?"
"Fred and George. You should apologize." Holly sighed.
"They don't want my apology," she said. Cedric shook his head exasperatedly.
"Yes they do! And you want to apologize! I just don't see why you're delaying. You know you were wrong, you admitted that to me!"
"How do you know they want me to apologize?" Holly eyed him suspiciously. Cedric gave a weary sigh.
"Look at you!" he cried. "You're a wreck! You're depressed every time their name comes up, every time you remember them, every time you see them in the hall. Hell, you're even depressed when you see any redheaded sixth year boy! Admit it, it's tearing you apart."
"I'm a wreck without them," Holly nodded, sadly. "They were my other half. Or in this case, my other thirds, I suppose… And Lee… Lee's a better friend to them then I am. He stood up for them. I turned against them. Poor Lee. His Aunt's severely sick…" Cedric nodded as she spoke.
"They all need you, the three of them. I've seen them, Holly. All of their pranks are halfhearted and they've halted on their keen insults and comebacks. Well, mostly anyway. It's driving them crazy too. They want you back, but their afraid that you meant what you said. Apologize!" Holly shook her head.
"No, I can't, not yet. You don't understand, they wouldn't let me hear the end of it. They'll rub it in my face for as long as I'm at this school. They won't let me get a moment's peace… They just need some time, that's all." Cedric shrugged sadly, giving up.
"Whatever you say, Holly."
They approached the Great Hall and the doors were closed. Holly peeked inside.
"Great!" she cried. "We missed it!"
"It's alright, I'll live."
"We can get something from the kitchens, it's no trouble," Holly said.
"No, I'm going back to my common room, if that's OK with you. Good night, Holly." Holly smiled after him.
"Goodnight, Cedric.
Holly awoke the next morning unsure of herself. As she sat up, her head began to spin.
"Whoa…"
"It's the after effects," Jenna mumbled without looking up from her book.
"What are you talking about?" The blond looked up from her book and pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose.
"Of your Fever Curse. The Posetive Celsius. It's like… A hang over. You know, the morning after?"
"Damn Moody!" Holly cursed. "DAMN THEM ALL!" Holly smiled to let Jenna know she wasn't serious. Jenna laughed and continued reading her book. Holly tilted her head at her roommate.
"Why do you read?"
"It stimulates the mind."
"Yes, but why?" Jenna looked up with a smile and shook her head.
"Holly my poor, naïve, Holly. Your ignorance and malcontent with everything astounds me. Surely you must have some sort of interesting intellectual stimulation that exercises the door to your creativity!" Holly blinked. After a few minutes, she said:
"Did you just call me Shirly?" Jenna laughed.
"It's a façade, isn't it? You aren't really ignorant. You're just putting on a disguise as if you were at a masquerade ball. Are you searching for your Romeo?"
"Huh?"
"Or have you already found him?" Jenna gave a mysterious smile. Holly frowned, utterly confused.
"What the hell did you just say?" Jenna merely returned to her novel. Holly's brow furrowed and she looked around the room. Every bed was made except for Jenna's (seeing as she was in it). Even Maria's bed was made. Something was wrong with this picture.
"Where's Maria? Why isn't she sleeping in?"
"She did," Jenna responded without looking up. "She laid in peaceful slumber until the sun was at it's brightest. Nearly two hours ago."
"WHAT?" Holly cried, jumping out of bed. "I'M MISSING A SATURDAY?!" Jenna laughed.
"Relax, Holly, I am just being facetious."
"I don't care what you're doing, I have to get dressed and get downstairs!" Holly pulled on her jeans on her left leg so hard she fell over backwards. Jenna laughed even harder.
"HOLLY!" She shrieked. "Relax, I was just kidding!"
"Now you're speaking my language!" Holly grinned. "So what time is it really?"
"Maria rose with the sun. It had something to do with a late Potions essay. It's 09-hundred hours."
"Hm, I thought Maria didn't wake up early for anyone. What time did you say it was?" Jenna rolled her eyes.
"Your ignorant façade is becoming vexatious. It's nine, child."
"Thanks!" Holly smiled. "I have no idea what you just said, but I have to get to breakfast. Oh, and by the way, you have a way too big vocabulary."
When Holly approached the Gryffindor table, she didn't know where to sit. Harry and his friends were no where in sight. The twins and Lee seemed to ignore her. She glanced up and down the table for Kristen or Megan, her other two roommates, but found that they were chatting away with their crushes and probably didn't want to be interrupted. She was just about to sit down and eat alone when she heard a voice call her name.
"Holly!" Cedric cried. "Over here!" Holly looked around, shrugged, and walked over to the Hufflepuff table. Cedric made room. Holly looked at the people he was sitting with. She had seen their faces, but hadn't really come in contact with them often. The only girl had lovely wavy cinnamon brown hair slightly past her shoulders. Her eyes were a soft brown. She wore dark eye make up, making her skin appear pale. She sat next to a young man with black hair and warm gray eyes. Sitting across from them was Cedric and a boy with dark blond hair and blue eyes.
"Holly, these are my friends, Erin, Ryan and beside me here is Drew. Guys, this is Holly, the Gryffindor that wrote to me over the holidays."
"He's told us a lot about you. You should feel special, he doesn't talk about anyone the way he talks about you." Erin held out her hand with a warm welcoming smile. Holly took it.
"Thank you," she said to the girl.
"I'd introduce you to Cho, but she doesn't seem to be here right now," Cedric said, glancing over at the Ravenclaw table.
"So what was that thing that happened in your defense class yesterday?" Ryan asked. Holly blushed slightly.
"Nothing, Professor Moody just got a little carried away, that's all."
"Lets change the subject," Cedric said. "Erin's thinking of entering the Tournament." Erin smiled and nodded.
"Yeah," she said. "But only because Cedric's too scared to put his name in alone."
"Shut up, Erin," Cedric hissed through his teeth.
"He doesn't like me calling him things in front of his crushes."
"Ex-crush," Cedric corrected hastily. Drew came to his rescue.
"Don't mind her, she likes to mess. She'll say anything to embarrass Cedric. It's because she herself once dated him. She's very defensive."
"I am not!" Erin snapped. Drew grinned.
"My point exactly." Erin rolled her eyes.
"She's not really this bitchy normally. Only when Cedric's concerned," Ryan assured. Erin hit him.
"I do have a boyfriend you know!"
"That's supposed to mean you're over Cedric?" Drew asked.
"Ha. Ha." Erin forced a smile then turned to Holly. "They always tease me. But they're right, I'm in a bad mood. Snape seemed particularly frustrated yesterday and picked on me in class." Holly nodded, understanding.
"He took away 30 points from my house last year in two hours."
"Erin's a great person." As he said this, Cedric eyed Erin long and hard to let her know he meant what he'd said. He then turned to Holly and added in a whisper, "But don't get on her bad side."
"Valuable ally," Ryan agreed. "But a worse enemy."
"The twins," Holly nodded again with a sad sigh.
"Don't we have to help Professor Sprout?" asked Drew. Cedric nodded.
"Yeah," he said. He then turned to Holly to explain. "Professor Sprout needs help with managing some of her young Whomping Willows. You coming?" Holly nodded, flattered that he'd invited her, and joined them. She'd always have a friend with Cedric.