Chapter 22.
Magnolia was pressed against the wall, Montague leaning his body into hers, trapping her where she stood. His eyes widened for a moment before he glowered, and took his hand off her neck, stepping back a little when they heard Cedric Diggory's voice. Magnolia quickly shuffled along the wall until her and Cedric met. He was scowling at the two other boys.
"What's going on here?"
"Oh, nothing. We were just having a little chat."
"Is that why you've got Maggie's wand, Warrington?" Cedric retorted, "And why Montague was holding her against the wall by the neck?"
The two boys glanced at each other, then Warrington threw Magnolia's wand through the air to Cedric who caught it easily. The four students glared at each other as Montague and Warrington walked away. Magnolia let out a sigh of relief and felt Cedric's hand on her arm.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Magnolia sighed shaking her head, "They're part of my House, why would they do that?"
Cedric shrugged, "I don't think those two really care. They're both brutes."
Magnolia felt his fingertips softly brush against her neck. She looked up to him, only to see that he was already watching her, ready to search her eyes for an answer.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I think I'm just going to go back to my Common Room."
"Can I escort you?" He scratched the back of his neck, "I'd feel better knowing that you got there safely."
Magnolia nodded and the two started walking towards the Slytherin Dungeon. Cedric asked her what the boys had said to her and she told him about her resisting the Imperius Curse. He had, of course, already heard about that.
When they were stood outside her Common Room, Magnolia didn't walk straight in. Instead, the two of them stood outside and spoke about the upcoming Tournament and the students that would arrive soon. It was nice, Magnolia thought, to talk about something normal after her day.
The Common Room door opened, and Magnolia turned to see Pansy and Malfoy standing in the doorway, almost frozen. Magnolia watched them for a moment, until Pansy smiled wickedly.
"Sorry, we'll erm… we'll give you some more alone time."
"Actually, I should get back to my own Dorm; it's almost curfew." Cedric said, looking back at Magnolia, "Keep safe."
Magnolia walked into her Common Room; a quick sweep of the room showed that neither Montague nor Warrington were in there. She could feel Pansy right behind her, following her eagerly. She collapsed onto one of the sofa's where her friends were sat, suddenly exhausted after her day.
"What was that!?" Pansy practically squealed when Magnolia didn't say anything.
"Nothing."
"What's happened?" Daphne asked, looking between the girls.
Magnolia had noticed that Malfoy had been particularly quiet, she had felt a surge of anger every time she looked at him. If he hadn't have ditched her from their meeting, she never would have been put in the position she had been in. He had been pulled down next to Pansy on the same sofa, Daphne and Theo were sat in the chairs next to them and Tracey was laying on her stomach on the floor.
"Maggie was outside with Cedric Diggory."
Tracey swooned, "Oh, he's so handsome."
"So, what were you doing with him?" Daphne pressed.
Magnolia saw Theo sit forward from the corner of her eye; she had never thought of him as someone who would get involved in trivial gossip like that. He was looking at her intently, almost examining her as his eyes narrowed.
"I hate to interrupt, but can I ask a different- more pressing question?"
Pansy huffed but turned to Theo anyway who was still studying Magnolia.
"Why is Maggie's neck red?"
Magnolia threw her hands to her neck, delicately touching the places Montagues fingers had been squeezing and winced.
"Did Cedric do that!?" Pansy demanded, her attitude completely different then moments before.
"Of course not!" Magnolia exclaimed, "He actually helped me."
"Why did you need help? What happened Maggie?" Pansy put her hands on Magnolia's, "Was it George? Or your brother?"
"What? No!"
"You can tell us; we just want to make sure you're ok and safe."
"Pans, you're so soft." Magnolia smiled.
"Yes… well… don't let anyone else hear that."
Magnolia glanced around at her friends, they were all watching her intently, waiting for her to tell them what had happened. Theo was already looking suspiciously angry, but Malfoy was looking into the fire emotionless. In fact, he was the only one who hadn't glanced at her at all, and this was his fault.
"I… I…" Magnolia sighed, frustrated, "I was supposed to meet someone. I waited for over an hour and they didn't show. So, I gave up and was coming back here when… when Warrington and Montague stopped me. They'd heard about what happened in Defence… They took my wand and had me against the wall when Cedric turned up."
Magnolia had felt a sharp jolt of satisfaction when she had noticed Malfoy tense. Luckily, her friends had passed over that bit of what she said and were currently all shouting about Warrington and Montague. Magnolia eventually gave them a detailed explanation of what had happened; Pansy and Daphne had questioned her over everything.
Theo was furiously pacing in front of them, he had only been stopped from finding the boys by the girl's outcry. Daphne had tried to get Magnolia to go to the Hospital Wing to have her neck checked, but Magnolia had refused; she didn't want to tell teachers what had happened. Tracey and Pansy were discussing what hexes they could send Montague and Warrington's way the next time they saw them.
Magnolia glanced at Malfoy, the only one of the group who hadn't leapt to his feet at some point. Instead, he was sat perfectly rigid glaring into the fire, his hands the only thing that had moved at all; he had been clenching and unclenching his fists since Magnolia had spoken.
Magnolia brushed her fingers against her neck again, she knew it wouldn't bruise after she had told Pansy a spell to heal the oncoming bruises. She couldn't get the feeling out of her mind though. She had felt almost helpless. No wand to protect herself or harm the boys before they could harm her. Too weak to fight them the Muggle way.
The memory of Tom Riddle being that close to her flashed through her mind again and she flushed. The difference had been immense. She had felt disgusted and scared earlier today, but when she was in the same situation with Tom Riddle, she had only felt those emotions due to her own calmness and sense of belonging.
"Drakey! Where are you going?"
Magnolia snapped out of her thoughts, looking to Malfoy who was now stood up with Pansy next to him. He didn't reply, instead stalking off into his own Dormitory silently. Pansy looked between the group and the stairs that Malfoy had disappeared into before apologetically looking at Magnolia and chasing Malfoy.
"No guesses what's going to happen there." Theo chuckled.
"They were heading out for some 'alone time' before you got back Maggie." Daphne explained at Magnolia's confused face.
"It's about time those two started snogging," Tracey continued, "Pansy has fancied Malfoy for years."
That was true, Pansy had liked Malfoy since First Year. She was part of the reason Magnolia had tried to get along with the boy, to make her best friends' life easier. When Magnolia and Malfoy used to argue, Pansy had been stuck between them or having to choose between them.
The following days seemed like a whirlwind for Magnolia. Harry had apologised, although Magnolia thought that Hermione and George had had quite a bit of influence in that after Magnolia was seen talking to Cedric Diggory at breakfast the morning after he had found her in the hallway. Harry had questioned Magnolia about Cedric, but nowhere near as much as Hermione and Ginny had.
The teachers had become more tense as the days went, constantly telling students to smarten up and not to embarrass them when the other schools arrived. The Castle itself had been given an extra thorough clean, Magnolia had purposefully traipsed mud through the corridor after seeing Filch berating a couple of First Year Slytherins so much they had almost cried for smudging a window. Her and Pansy had sat on a windowsill laughing as Filch scrubbed the floor clean for the second time on his hands and knees.
Harry had also received a reply from Sirius, telling him he was back in the country and not to worry about him, but to look after himself and Magnolia. She had to admit, she was glad that Sirius was closer. She still worried that he could be caught, but it was reassuring to know that her Godfather would be able to help quicker if she needed him.
The evening that the other schools were due to arrive, the entire school had been shepherded outside the Castle in their Houses. Magnolia was stood next to Malfoy shivering, hoping that Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would arrive before she got frostbite.
Neither of them had spoken to each other since Malfoy hadn't turned up for their meditation session, and Magnolia hadn't bothered going back to the Room of Requirement, instead opting to meditate in her Dorm every night. The other girls had thought she was mental, but they had one by one tried it and now they all did it before they went to bed. Magnolia hadn't told them why she was practicing meditation, but it was nice to not have to do it alone.
"Aha! Unless I am very mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"
Dumbledore's announcement sent a hush over the School, all the students were looking for the school. It was a Ravenclaw Sixth Year that first saw them, pointing to the sky over the Forbidden Forest. Magnolia watched as something grew larger in the sky, until she could make out the large horse drawn carriage that was hurtling towards the Castle.
It began lowering until the horses thundered onto the grass in front of the students. The carriage was powder blue, and the door had a large coat of arms on it. It soon opened, and a boy in the same pale blue uniform jumped down to fiddle with something by the bottom of the carriage door. Magnolia craned to see what he was doing, and then saw the steps unfolding from the door to the floor.
Quickly, a woman gracefully stepped down them until she was stood on the grass, Dumbledore approaching her. Magnolia gawked; the woman was taller the Hagrid! Dumbledore began clapping, quickly followed by the other teachers and students.
"My dear Madame Maxime. Welcome to Hogwarts."
"Dumbly-dorr, I 'ope I find you well."
The Beauxbatons students had begun to emerge from the carriage as Madame Maxime and Dumbledore spoke, each looking as cold as Magnolia felt. The cloaks they were wearing looked very thin, made from silk, and didn't do anything to protect them from the biting wind. They didn't have to stand outside for long, Madame Maxime soon ushered her students into the Great Hall to warm up.
Magnolia inspected the girls as they walked past into the Castle; some were whispering to each other in French, others were gazing up at the Castle in awe, most of them were beautiful. Pansy had once told Magnolia that the French looked after themselves well and wore the absolute best clothes.
"The Lake! Look at the Lake!"
Magnolia followed the rest of the school's gaze, and saw bubbles forming on the top of the Lake followed by small waves washing ashore. She watched as a huge mast emerged from the water, the ship slowly rising out of the water until it glided to the Lake's banks.
Magnolia could see people striding off the ship and making their way to the Castle. As the got closer, Magnolia could see that the students were all wearing massive fur coats. They must be used to the cold; they were certainly well prepared for it.
"Dumbledore! How are you, my dear fellow?"
"Blooming, thank you Professor Karkaroff."
Karkaroff was as tall and slim as Dumbledore was, and shook his hand as he approached. Magnolia heard a gasp shiver through the crowd around her, and then saw what they had all seen. Viktor Krum was stood next to the Durmstrang Headmaster. Magnolia hadn't realised he was young enough to still be in school.
Karkaroff beckoned his students towards the Great Hall, as Madame Maxime had. Magnolia tried to repress another shiver as the students filed past them. She rubbed her arms with her hands in a failed attempt to warm herself up. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of Magnolia, causing her to look up at the tall boy stood in front of her.
He was holding his fluffy cloak in front of him and grinned at Magnolia before throwing it around her shoulders. She warmed up almost instantly as she was enveloped within the cloak. It was far too big for her, but she couldn't deny that the heat within it was soothing.
"You seemed cold; I am used to this weather." The Durmstrang student explained, before briskly stepping away and followed the rest of the Durmstrang's into the Castle.
Magnolia heard Malfoy scoff as she looked down to the floor, hiding her smile and blush at the boy's deep voice and thick accent. Around her, the Hogwarts students were still whispering about Krum. She followed her House into the Great Hall, until they were all sat at the Slytherin table.
Magnolia could see the Beauxbatons students were sat with the Ravenclaws, the Durmstrang's stood unsure by the Great Hall doorway. Pansy squeezed in between Malfoy and Magnolia, Daphne and Tracey were sat opposite. Magnolia smirked but didn't look at Pansy who she could feel staring at her.
"How do you do it?" Pansy cried tugging on the fur cloak Magnolia still had around her shoulders, "Really, how do you do it!?"
Daphne and Tracey laughed with Magnolia as Pansy threw her hands in the air when Magnolia shrugged. The four of them were still laughing when voices interrupted them.
"May we sit 'ere?"
The same boy who had given Magnolia the cloak was stood in the front of the Durmstrang group, watching Magnolia who nodded. The Durmstrang students settled into the Slytherin table and spoke to them whilst all the students were eating. Magnolia couldn't help but giggle when she thought of her brother and Ron's faces when they saw Viktor Krum sat near her and talking to her friends.