Disclaimer: Not mine
I watched Harry throughout our detention, knowing how angry and upset he was not to be at tryouts. I had heard how angry Angelina was with him and he had told me Ron was trying out. I felt bad that he couldn't be there for his friend but I tried reassuring that this would be our final detention, thank Merlin.
Harry shifted slightly, for the second time that night to look out the window. I tapped my foot against his, gently, a warning. I didn't want him to get caught by Umbridge.
Blood trickled down my arm, staining the edge of my sleeves even though I had rolled them up to avoid just that. I bit my lip and continued to scratch out my sentences.
I must be respectful.
I must be respectful.
Harry tapped my foot. I kept a careful watch for him as he glanced up at the window again. I tapped him quickly when Umbridge moved in our direction.
I looked down at my paper, my head spinning at the sight of the blood on my paper. With my right hand, I smeared it slightly with horrific fascination. Blood had never been a favorite of mine, I always got dizzy when I saw it but I could never look away.
I never thought I'd be happier to hear Umbridge's voice when she took my hand in hers. She smiled. "I hope you've learned something here, Miss Josephs. I'm sure the rest of our time here together will be rather enjoyable."
I let my hand slide from her grasp, grabbing my bag in my right hand and standing from my seat as she turned to Harry. I felt as if I were in a daze and I barely realized I was still standing in the hallway until Harry came out.
"Evie?" he whispered. He pulled me gently around the corner, away from Umbridge's office. "You okay? You don't look well."
I looked at him, smiling slightly. "Neither do you. Did something happen after I walked out?"
Harry did look incredibly pale but he shook his head. "Nothing. Do you – do you want me to walk you back to your dorm?"
"No, no. I'm fine. You go on and find out about the team. I'll catch up to you later."
We went our separate ways. I waited until I couldn't hear Harry anymore before I slumped back against a wall, sliding to the floor. The blood from my hand was still dripping and I listened to it.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
"Evie?"
I was too in a daze to even think who might be talking to. I was still watching the blood, the small puddle I was leaving behind. How much blood could you lose before you lost consciousness? Before you died? It was a morbid thought but this is usually what the sight of blood did to me.
Cedric kneeled down in front of me, eyes wide and panicked. His hand lay against my cheek. "What's wrong? Come on, Evie say something."
I placed my good hand against his on my face. How could he not see it? The crimson color was weird I thought. Almost like Gryffindor red. Ha-ha, Gryffindor, Lions, Tigers, Bears, oh my, ha-ha. "Cedric, I'm sorry," I said.
I don't know why I said. It wasn't what I had been thinking (obviously) but it snapped me out of the trance I was in. I suddenly realized how much pain I was actually in and then I started crying.
That's when he saw my hand, my arm, and the blood. I heard him gasp, pull out his wand and began to clean up the mess.
His hands took my left in his. He looked up at me, angrily. "Who did this to you?"
I sniffed. "I did, technically."
"What do you mean, you did?"
"It's – this is what I have had to do in detention. She has a quill that – that takes whatever you're writing and . . . and it does this."
Cedric was stormily quiet, if you could do that. "You've been having with detention with this woman for the past week and she's been making you cut yourself. . . . Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well – I didn't . . . I didn't want you to worry."
"That's no excuse, Evelyn!" he was yelling, mad. He only ever used my whole name when he was upset with me. "Evelyn, you're my girlfriend! If something's happening, if someone's hurting you, you're supposed to be able to come to me! That's why I'm here."
"I just – you were always so tired when I saw you. I don't want to be one of those girlfriends who was always clinging. I didn't want you to get annoyed with me."
Cedric sighed. "Evie, I love you. I know you worry about it and it scares you but I do. And I've told you time and time again that you could come to me whenever you needed to, so why not come to me with this?"
"I don't know. . . . I'm sorry. I really am."
Cedric nodded, pulling me into his arms. I clung to him, still crying. "I'm here for you," he whispered, into my ear. "I'm not going anywhere."
And still I cried. Why couldn't I just believe it?
MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM
DOLORES UMBRIDGE APPOINTED FIRST EVER "HIGH INQUISITOR"
"Evie, if you keep banging your head on the table like that, you're going to call for brain surgery," Michelle said.
"Or at least a CAT scan," Daniel supplied.
I lifted my head up. "This is it. The world has officially turned its back on me. This year is destined to be the worst year in all of my life."
"That's not true," said the ever-optimistic Myra. "I'm sure there will be years far worse than that?"
"Thanks, My," I told her. "That makes me feel much better."
I picked up the news paper once more, skimming through it, mumbling to myself. "Immediate success indeed . . . inspecting teachers . . . applying new education decrees. I swear, there giving Hogwarts to her."
"Or at least trying," Daniel said. "Tying it up in a bow and everything."
We gathered our things, heading for our first class. "You think she'll be 'inspecting' Flitwick?" Michelle asked.
"You're going to have to Charm me to my seat if she's there," I said as we left the Great Hall.
"Why's that?" Myra asked.
"Because if I hear her clear her throat once, in that annoying little way she does, I'm going to get up and clear her throat for her."
My friends laughed. Michelle threw her arm around my shoulder. "My lessons have finally paid off."
"Told you you were a bad influence," Myra muttered.
A/N: So a bit of comic relief after that serious moment with Cedric and Evie. Hope you enjoyed and I will see you next time.