Memories of Ced
Chapter 4
Reinforcements arrive, along with broken hearts
Draft 1
"Great. Out of all the places to be locked in, I get the girl's bathroom. What fun." I jiggled the lock, sighing. "Help!" I yelled, desperately. "Anybody? Help! I need somebody! Anybody...come on...hello?" I sighed, and slumped down on the toilet. Great. I pulled out my bag. Is there anything in here to help me? "Wrappers...crumpled up paper...Starbursts...Starbursts. All right!" I popped one in my mouth. The sweet smell and sensational strawberry taste made me salivate. I ate heartily. Digging into the rest of the roll, I happily ate. As I popped a lemon flavored one into my mouth, I heard a sniffling noise. "Pardon?"
"Oh, don't mind me. Don't mind moping Moaning Myrtle." She sniffed again.
"Myrtle!" I said ecstatically. I let out a chortle of laughter out of joy and happiness. She could unlock the door! "Yes!"
"Stop laughing!" Myrtle said, sniffling. "Stop laughing at me!" Ghostly tears flew out of her eyes.
"Oh damn..." I muttered, sighing again. "I wasn't laughing at you! I wasn't-" But with a swish and a wail, she flew down the U-Bend of the toilet next to me. I grimaced. How can I get out now?
"Hey...I have an idea!" I stood up on the toilet, biting my lip. I hopped on the back of the tank, and swung one foot over the top of the wall separating the stalls. I pushed myself up. Now, I was in an awkward position, left half of my body on one side of the wall, right half of my body on the other side. And it hurt. Like hell. I swung my right foot over to the other bathroom.
"What in the world!" I yelled. "There's not a toilet here! Why is it gone?" Sighing, I pushed myself over the wall and jumped back over to my toilet, landing on my right foot in the process. "Ouch..." I muttered, wincing. "I think it's sprained." Suddenly, I heard the door to the bathroom open. "Help!" I yelled. "I'm hurt!" The door to the my stall opened, and a friendly freckled face smiled at me.
"Heya Kaitlyn!"
"Kristen! What are you doing here! This is Hogwarts...you're not a wizard are you?" I was stunned. This was Kristen- the same Kristen who's in my Girl Scout troop, the same Kristen who was a Chastain cheerleader! She was at Hogwarts? In 1994!
"Here, I'll explain it all in the Infirmary. You hurt that ankle and you can't walk on it. So here," she helped me up, and I leant against her shoulder. "I had the same thing about a week ago. Stupid tumbling..." We walked together as sort of an 'United Double-K'.
"Thanks for helping me," I said, smiling. "That door couldn't unlock, and when I tried to climb over the wall between the stalls, I fell and hurt my foot. It's sprained, right?"
"Yeah." Kristen said, frowning. "What were you doing in the bathroom anyway?"
"Kind of a stupid question," I said, grinning.
"Oh. Duh!" She said laughing at herself. "Now c'mon. We need to get you fixed up."
Why is Kristen at Hogwarts? What will become of Kaitlyn's injured foot? I'm italicized now! Boo-ya! Boo-ya! Now...onto Jordan!
I yawned. The looming presence of the tapestry of Marvolo the Magnificentstared me in the face. "Viktor Krum is our chum," I recited, looking at the tapestry. It rolled up out of the way. "Heaven help me..." I muttered as I walked inside. About ten girls were sitting around a table.
"Who are you?" a black-headed Ravenclaw asked.
"Hope sent me. I'm the new member." I shivered. Obsessive fan-girls. Hoo-boy...
"Ah. You're Jordan, right?" She sneered. "M'name's Faith. Sit right there, and don't say a word." Faith stuck out her tongue at me, then slapped a 'New Member' sticker on my forehead. I was appalled. Who was this chick and what was she doing?
"Alright." A tall, brown-haired girl stood up. Two dark blue bows were on either side of her head. "Now, to start off the meeting we all should recite the promise." A chorus of voices rose up from the air.
"On my honor I will try, to serve the club (and Viktor) at all times, to talk to Viktor at all times, and to obey the fan club law." I slapped myself.
"My lord..." I muttered under my breath. Katie owed me big time for this.
"We have a new member here today," Blue-bows said smiling. As the innumerable pairs of eyes stared at me, I quickly counted six heads. My lord this was awful. Only six people! I'm pretty sure the George Weasley fanclub has more than that! I waved at the girls, not sure what to do.
"I'm Hope Harcourt, Seventh-Year Ravenclaw and president of the club," Blue-Bows said.
"Faith Evens, Sixth-Year Slytherin, vice-president." She still had that hateful sneer on her face.
A timid looking girl stood up. "I'm...Patience Whipple...sixth-year Ravenclaw...secretary." She immediately blushed, making her face match her red hair.
"Wisdom Roth, fifth-year Gryffindor. I'm the treasurer." Her body was very muscled and built up. She had to play some sort of sports. Softball maybe?
The fifth girl stood up. She bit her lip and waved at me. "I'm Prudence Jones...fourth-year Gryffindor." Her blonde hair was tied up in two pigtails. "I'm the alternate officer."
The sixth girl waved at me. She grinned, revealing bright pink braces, which matched her hair. "Let me guess," I said, pointing at her, "your name is Chastity or Charity or another virtue of the like?"
"Nope! Name's Jane. I'm Member #6" she said, smiling. I hit myself. I had to get out of there...
"Now...any club news?" Hope asked, looking at the group. "We have a new club member, whom we shall introduce in about half an hour, but onto Viktor."
Wisdom raised her hand. "Viktor wears red boxers when he sleeps. And when he swims, he wears black trunks...but sometimes, he wears a Speedo!" All the girls giggled. I was about to barf.
"Alright, Wisdom your club assignment until next meeting is to get pictures of Viktor in swim gear...preferably the Speedo." More giggles. I was appalled. Nothing could make me stay here any longer! Screw this, I was about to lose my mind! As the girls were obsessing and drooling over semi-naked pictures of Viktor (I don't know where the hell they got them! Don't ask me!), I snuck out of the room.
"Thank the lord," I muttered, rubbing my head. As I left the club, I shut my eyes to block out the sun. Unfortunately, I bumped into someone. Someone very important.
"Ouch..." George Weasley muttered. I was appalled. I bumped into the cutest guy in the school!
"Ohmigod, ohmigod I'm so sorry! Let me help you up!" As I pulled him up, he looked at me, then looked at my head closer. I was still wearing the New Member sticker!
"You're one of those obsessive ninnies?" he said. There was something about his voice...I couldn't put his finger on it but he sounded...crestfallen.
"No! I-I just sat in on one of their meetings for-for a friend...she wanted me to interview them about Cedric and...oh crap." I swore silently in my head.
"You didn't interview them?" George said, grinning at me. "Well that's good. You bring up another boy in there, you'll be lucky to get out alive!" he said, very cheerfully. "Well I've gotta run. See you later Jordan!"
"Bye," I said, waiving at him. My smile started to fade away. Why didn't I tell him I liked him? But before I could say anything, he turned back to face me.
"Jordan. D'you want to come down to the kitchens with me to nick some food?"
"Of course!"
Will Jordan ever tell George her feelings? Will they get the food? Will- hey, what in the world? Who underlined me? Oh come on now...
"Alchemic waking?"
"Nope."
"Alchemic watermelon?"
"Nope."
"Look, it is alchemic something-that-begins-with-a-w, right?"
"You already asked that question, and yes."
"Alchemic...alchemic...oh heck, I give up." I sat outside the Hufflepuff common room with my head in my hands. I did have the password...I just lost it. There was no way for me to interview the Hufflepi now...I sighed.
"The sun'll come out tomorrow," I sang, wearily. "Betcha bottom dollar that tomorrow they'll be sun. Just thinking about tomorrow clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow til there's none. When I'm stuck with a day that's grey and lonely I just stick out my chin and grin and say: Oh the sun'll come out tomorrow so ya better hang on til tomorrow come what may! TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YA-"
"Alchemic wasteland,"
"No the next word is tomorrow!" Looking at myself, I realized that I had stood up, and had my hands crossed over my heart in a very Broadway-esque gesture. "Not alchemic wastela-oh my god, that's the password! Alchemic wasteland, alchemic wasteland!"
"Took you long enough," The portrait of some dead wizard opened, and I entered the common room. At first, I thought I entered a funeral home. Everything was black. There was black fabric draped over all the furniture, and some wizarding genius had made it so that the wallpaper had turned black. "They sure know how to mourn..." I muttered.
"Who are you?" a tall Hufflepuff boy asked, pointing at me. "I haven't seen you around here any."
I whipped out my tape recorder. "Guess what? Yer gonna be interviewed!"
Katie: Mmkay. Transcript of interview. Project R.I.P.C. Interviewer: Katie the Magnificent.
Random Hufflepuff: Wait, I never agreed to this! You can't have me do this!
Katie: Interviewee: some Hufflepuff.
Random Hufflepuff: I'm not some random Hufflepuff! My name's Justin!
Katie: So random Hufflepuff, how did Cedric's death affect you?
Random Hufflepuff: Well I was really sad and-wait! My name is Justin! You can't have me do this! I never signed any papers of the sort! I know what I'm doing, I went to muggle video camp!
Random Hufflepuff Girl: You did? My lord Justin, you're such a nerd.
Random Hufflepuff: I am not a nerd! I just have an interest in muggle electronics!
Katie: Random Hufflepuff, do you feel cheated that Harry won the Triwizard Cup?
Random Hufflepuff: Well not really. I mean, me and Harry are in the same Herbology class and-hey, you tricked me again! I refuse to put up with this! I refuse to answer any questions! You have no right!
Katie: First Amendment baby!
Random Hufflepuff: WE'RE IN GREAT BRITAIN!
Random Hufflepuff Girl: You don't feel cheated? Justin, you traitor!
Katie: Now you know. Justin, the traitorous nerd who won't comply with a few simple questions.
Random Hufflepuff: My name's not Justin, it's random Hufflepuff...oh crap.
Katie: Ha ha!
Random Hufflepuff: Why you...
Katie: Hey, put me down! Why I oughta...clicks off
And thus I was kicked out of the Hufflepuff common room. "Boy was random Hufflepuff mean..." I muttered to myself, sighing. I licked my lips, then proceeded to the Great Hall. The sweet seductive smells of supper swiftly swam into my snout. "Oh yes..." I drooled.
"Katie!" I spun around. There was Neville standing there with...Cat. Cat was waving happily.
"What!" I yelled. "Cat, what are you doing here? You're not a wizard!"
"Neither are you," Cat replied, smiling at me.
"True. And...why're you here Neville?"
"Catherine told me to tell you that she, Kaitlyn, Kristen, and Jordan were meeting in the Hospital Wing at supper. I was going to tell you, but then we ran into you in the hall." Poor Neville looked throughly confused by all this. "And what do you mean you aren't wizards?"
I swore loudly. Catherine shot me an embarrassed look, while Neville glared at me. "Sorry about that. Nobody was supposed to know that. Well, seeing as I cannot modify a memory or anything of the like-"
"Ditto!" Cat said, biting her lip. She was looking at me with a 'get-us-outta-this-crap' look in her eyes.
"I guess I'll just have to tell you. On the way to the Hospital Wing, of course. Come on you two." We started off towards the Hospital Wing, both Neville and Cat listening intently to my story. "Well, the whole goal of coming here was to interview people about Cedric's death. I summoned the Knight Bus by tying a flashlight to a chopstick. We went to Hogsmede, where we met up with Future Ginny."
"Didja get a picture?" Cat asked eagerly.
"Crap." Neville laughed, Cat looked at me dumbstruck. "Anyway, Ginny gave us Hermione's Time-Turner, which me, Jordan and Kaitlyn used to travel back here. We've been interviewing people about Cedric's death for about...a day now. We're sleeping in the Room of Requirement."
"Where's that?" Neville asked.
"You'll know next year," Cat replied. "In the year 2000-ish, a woman named J. K. Rowling will write stories about Harry's exploits at Hogwarts. Of course, Harry will ghostwrite the stories, but she fancies them up and the like." Cat suddenly gasped. "If we're here...then does that mean we'll be included in the stories?" The prospect of this newfound fame made her heavily blush. She was as red as a raw hamburger.
"I'm not sure..." I said.
"Well if the books are about Harry, then I think if you interact with Harry, you will be in the books." Cat gasped again. "Yes?" Neville replied.
"Third floor," I noted, looking at the nifty sign placed at the floor's entrance. "One more to go. And why'd you gasp Cat?"
"Kaitlyn's been flirting with Harry! That probably means...we will be in the books!" She looked terrified.
"Holy. Crap." I said, mortified.
"I'm not sure if this will help, but we're here," Neville said, gesturing to the door of the Hospital Wing. "Guess I'll go then..."
"Yer coming with us," I said, grabbing him by the shirt collar. "Come on in." Neville made gagging noises.
"Be careful. Other people might be here. We don't want them to know we're muggles." Cat said, as we all went in. Kaitlyn was sitting on a hospital bed, eating a piece of pizza. Harry was sitting on a stool next to her. Jordan and George, who were sitting right next to each other, were fighting over a piece of pizza. Kristen was drinking a glass of lemonade. As we all walked in, everybody looked at us.
"You heard what Cat said, right?" I said warily. Five nods. "Oh crap..."
"Nice going Cat," Kaitlyn said, wincing as Harry brushed against her ankle.
"Sorry," he said through a mouthful of pizza.
"Klutz," Kaitlyn said, giggling at Harry. He looked affronted.
"Alright," Jordan said, in hopes to calm down the room. "The way I see it, we, all eight total, owe three total stories."
"Four," Cat said, frowning. "How'd you get the pizza?"
"It's amazing what they have down there in the kitchens," George said, grinning. Jordan nodded, and promptly stole his pizza. "Anyway, we need to know how those two," he gestured to Cat and Kristen, "got here, how Miss Attitude over there," he pointed at Kaitlyn, who pursed her lips, "sprained her ankle, and why you five aren't wizards." Harry nodded.
"Katie already told me why the girls aren't wizards," Neville said, grabbing some pizza. He sat down on the bed to the left of Kaitlyn and started to eat.
"I'll explain the first one," Kristen piped up. "Okay, you know my crazy neighbor?"
"The one who ties pinecones back to the tree?" Jordan asked.
"Yeah her. Well, it turns out she's a wizard. Now, when we called up Katie's house, Miss Liz told us that she, Kaitlyn, and Jordan were off in 1994, interviewing Hogwarts students. Oddly, she seemed really calm about it. I know my mom would freak out," Cat nodded, "but anyway. We discovered my neighbor levitating the pinecones, and in exchange for keeping her secret she gave us her Time-Turner."
"Great!" Kaitlyn exclaimed. "Now we have a way to get back home to our present time!"
"I know, it's awesome!" Kristen gushed. "Anyway, one of the cars my dad was working on could fly. Turns out it was a magical car! Me and Cat sort of...erm...borrowed it to come here to visit you. When we were on the Hogwarts grounds, we then used the Time-Turner to get to this time."
"You will not believe how little maps of England there are in Mississippi," Cat said, rubbing her head. "I pulled off a couple from the internet and used my dad's globe in order to navigate."
"Mississippi?" Harry asked questioningly.
"Where we're from." Kaitlyn quipped. "Anyway, I guess it's my turn now. Locked in the loo, tried to climb over the stall, couldn't climb over the stall, fell on my ankle. Kristen rescued me." She looked at all of us. "Happy?"
"My turn," I said, chugging some soda. "I summoned the Knight Bus with my flashlight/wand. We traveled to Hogsmede, where we met up with Future Ginny, who lent us Hermione's Time-Turner. We Time-Turned, and now we're here." I said, smiling. "Oh yeah, how are the interviews coming?"
"Interviews?" Kristen and George said at once. Harry just shrugged and continued to eat.
"We're interviewing people about Cedric's death," Jordan said, grinning. "Katie was all 'oh, do people really appreciate my love blah, blah, blah. So me and Kaitlyn tagged along for the ride."
"I-I have to go," Neville muttered, standing up. He power-walked out of the Hospital Wing, leaving all of us in dismay.
"He was crying," Harry muttered. "I saw it as he left." Jordan gasped.
"I'm sorry...", she murmured. George reached a hand around her shoulders to comfort her.
"Oh no," I muttered, putting a hand to my mouth. "Dammit Jordan! Neville! Wait! It's not what you think!" I quickly ran out after him, me crying now. That one fatal word could possibly end it...it might destroy mine and Neville's relationship...forever.
What will happen to Katie and Neville? Tune in next time to find out!