" Come on, it alright. It's just a bit of water! "
" No, you won't get it Jess. I almost died of embarrassment! " I answered angrily, still flustered by what had happened earlier.
" Oh come on Al. You'll come around. Plus, it's time for boring Divination. We'll have loads of fun! " said Jessica in an annoyed sign.
" Yeah. We should go anyways, or we'll be late. " I said, sitting up.
Ok, our trip to North tower admittedly took us 15 minutes due to student traffic, but we made it at the end.
" Oh hello girls, you were nearly late, " barely. " Why don't you take a seat? Mrs Trelawny asked in a raspy voice.
As I sat down next to Holly, she whispered, " Why were you late? " she asked quietly as Jess and I sat down either side of her.
" Student traffic, " I explained, taking my books out. " So, did we miss anything? " I asked.
" Nah, nothing really. Well, other than Trelawny predicting that " A great puff of smoke would kill us all! " that bit was hilarious. "she said, laughing to herself.
" Ok.. " I mumbled silently, looking at Jess. I'm pretty sure she's as puzzled as I am at this. Fortunately, we were cut off by a raspy voice.
" Alright girls, settle down. " instructed Professor Trelawny. " Today, we would be predicting the future of your love lifes. " my heart did a backflip. Holly. " Each of your would proceed under the guide of a crystal ball and your very own mind. Stare at it deeply and empty your thoughts. You shall see the future. " she whispered mysteriously. " Now, divide yourselfs into pairs and exchange what you see. Now, go on! "
" Hey Alice, wanna be partners again? " asked Holly. " I know that you aren't that good in Divination and I could help you. Plus, I'll be fun! Pleaseeeee Alice! " begged Holly, wow. She didn't actually have to beg for that. Does she? But in reality, I don't actually really want to be partners with her after what had happened in Potions. It'll be so embarrassing if it happens again!
" Oh shut up Alice! It won't happen again! " said Holly. Wait, is she reading my mind or something? How did she manage that?
" Wait, WHAT!? Ho- Holl- " I stammered, " How did you do that? " I asked, starting to not believe that this is real.
" I dunno Alice, " admitted Holly, " Somehow, I could just tell what you're thinking quite easily. And it's not about the seer blood in my family either. " she added quickly. We all know that Holly comes from a long line of Pure- blood ancestors with seer blood. Though it's not so,etching she likes to talk about very much as she doesn't really want to seem to be showing off about that.
" Alright then… " I said suspiciously, still wondering how she did it, but I guess that question is for another day. " So, how do we do this exactly? " I concluded.
" Well, I guess it's kinda like screwing up your concentration or something. More like deep into your soul. " she said mysteriously, I laughed again. " But yeah, it's kinda like that actually. " she answered, starting to get serious.
I concentrated again. Ok, I just gave to empty my mind, it's very easy. just empty your mind. Stare deep into your- suddenly, a fit of laughter snapped me out of concentration.
" Really? " I asked, " You can't actually be serious right now. It's not that funny. Wait, is it? " I wandered aloud.
" Yeah. " said Holly between fits of laughter. " Your face was all scrunched up with your nose going pink and all that. " replied Holly, still laughing like crazy. " You should've seen yourself! " she exclaimed.
" I'll take that as a compliment thank you. " I said sarcastically, looking at the crystal ball again. " Ugh! " I screamed, giving up " This is impossible. You try. " I offered.
" Alright then. " answered Holly casually. For a second, her shoulders tensed and her Hazel- brown eyes turned blankly white, like she's deep into imagination. Then her face back to normal. For a second, she seemed shocked, maybe even traumatized. And looked back at me.
" So, " I urged " What did you see? "
" I, I…." mumbled Holly, her face started to go pink and held on to the table for balance.
" Holly? " I'm more concerned now, and she tried to speak. But no voice came out.
"I-I'm fine Alice. " she said more firmly, forcing herself a smile. I glared at her suspiciously, there's definitely something wrong with her here. She's acting… strange.
" You sure? " I asked, no reply. Yeah, something is definitely wrong here. But I'll deal with it later. " Well? " I asked, " Is it my turn yet? "
" Um, yeah. Sure. Whyyyy not? Cool, cool, cool. " she replied quickly, her expression still looking troubled.
I turned back at my crystal ball again, and tried to clear my mind. But there was still hundreds and millions of questions in my mind waiting to be answered. Even so, my mind resisted the curiosity as much as I can. I tried to concentrate. Then all of a sudden, my insides shook at my vision blurred, I could faintly hear the waves of the ocean and rain from the sky. It felt… strange. like I was dragged into a whole new world entirely. Just then, a splatter of images flew straight into my mind: I saw a boy and girl having a deep conversation while a snake symbol was floating in the air. And just with a puff, they all disappeared in thin air, my body felt dragged down as a soft voice rang in my head: Don't let anything get in your way for you are failing to see the truth. Be ready for what comes ahead of you.
" Is she alright? " my vision started to be clearer again, and I could feel myself again. For a second, I was laying on the ground of the classroom, then a dozen eyes seemed to glare at me. My body still felt drowsy, but Holly amongst all people brushed pass me.
" So, " she whispered quietly, " What did you see? "
Looking around to capture the scene, my heart pounded. Should I tell them? Though as much as I want to, I can't. Something in me said so. This is for myself to keep and I ought not to tell them.
" If it's too hard for you my dear, you could just keep it to yourself. " offered the Professor. " Im not forcing you here. " but she seemed to already know the answer to it and smiled gently. " Alright then, homework is just a small report based on the understanding of today's lesson and all you've learned. Dismiss! "
As I stood, voices around me started whispering, gossiping about me.
" Look! See that girl over there, she just fainted on the floor seconds after just starring it. There's definitely something wrong with her…" but I only brushed past the many people surrounding me, I need space now. I'll deal, with them later. I could hear the voice of Jessica calling out for me faintly, but I ignored her and stormed off to Ravenclaw tower.
Like usual, the ethereal voice guarding it welcomed me.
" Which comes first, phoenix or flame? " it chanted.
"A circle has no beginning. " I said hurrying, I could still hear people around me, though my instincts told me to avoid this for a while before I could sort this out.
The Ravenclaw common room was a wide open space with the glittering sky as walls and enchanted globes all around. And though the stillness of it usually calms me, I can't feel it today somehow. And it was almost empty except Stace and I. Guess everyone's gone to the match.
" Hey, you alright? " asked Stacy, putting her books down.
" I'm fine Stace. " I lied, but unfortunately, you could never lie to those piercing green eyes. " Ok, " I signed, finally defeated. " I've just recently embarrassed the heck out of myself due to a fainting incident that may or may not have happened in Divination. "
Stacy's shoulders eased a bit, but you could still see the tension in her eyes.
" Are you alright then? " classic Stacy, always skipping to the point. But now is just not the time. And I feel like she could sense it too before walking off smiling. " I'll just be at the Quidditch pitch with Jess if you need us or anything. "
" I'll do more… studying. Then I guess. " I mumbled silently, packing my stuff away. I need space to think right now, and good thing everyone's off to see Quidditch.
" Ugh! " I yelled as the pillows around me exploded into Cotten feathers. Yeah, I may have done too much damage, but I don't care at this point. " Why are you so stupid Alice Greenland! " my mind felt as though it was about to explode. Maybe all I need was a nice walk to calm me down. I thought.
Walking outside again, it seemed…strange. The corridors around Ravenclaw tower were quiet, a bit too quiet even. As I roamed through the greenhouses for Herbology and into the grounds of Hogwarts, I just knew I had to get some answers. This was all so confusing, and Holly is just overall giving me mixed signs. I mean, she is very nice to me and always willing to help. But then, there were just times where it seemed that she's just hating me so much while trying to mask everything bit of it. That look she gave me at Potions, that vision in Divination. And there's definitely something wrong with Charlie there, the tone of voice he uses while communicating with Holly is somehow in a way forcing. Like he was hiding something as well.
Running back into Ravenclaw tower, I grabbed my coat as I tasted the bitterness of it, and the faint sound of cheers could be heard from the pitch. My heart was beating fast as I climbed the stairs straight to the dungeon. It was deathly silent except for the drips of water coming down near the kitchens. The sounds of hurrying house elf's could be heard as I crept in the entrance were the Slytherins lived. The echoing sounds as I walked down the marble staircase was deafening, I might be caught any minute! But my curiosity got the best of me, and I have to get some answers.
I kept walking and walking until I faced a blank piece of obsidian wall. The password.
" Vision. " I said blankly. But surprisingly, the door immediately slid open. Oh well, guess I got lucky.
The Slytherin common room is a narrow underground space with ice- cold black walls along with enchanted green lamps and flaming fire.
Though there was just something wrong about this place, the hallways were… eerie - like. What did you expect? But you know what, I have nothing to lose. I started searching for something, anything would be useful at this point.
As I looked through the stacks of parchment spreaded on top of the tables, I desperately searcher for the name Charlie Lingington. Stuff with his name on could be helpful. Something has to be here. And just then, I noticed a small black book labeled C.L. Charlie Lingington I thought excitingly. But just as I reached at to grab it, a sharp voice cut across me.
" Stop. " slowly, I turned around. It was Charlie. " What do you think you're doing here? " sneered Charlie, I could feel my breath shaking as those fierce blue eyes landed on me. " You should be back at your little study room, perhaps worming in one of your stupid books. " laughed the bully contentedly.
" I- I'm not scared of you. " I stammered, yeah right. Not so courageous.
He chuckled, " You really think that I'm scared of you bookworm? " he taunted, edging closer, I grabbed the book tighter, heart beating faster each fraction of a second. " Alright, what are you holding? I'm pretty sure it doesn't belong to you. "
" What do you mean? I'm not holding anything. " survival tip 101: never tell the truth.
" Well then, don't tell me you've seen a small black book lying around anywhere, have you? " he asked mysteriously,as if almost expecting me to answer. My stomach immediately did a somersault.
" Hand it to me, NOW. " said Charlie, his voice more forcing. But it was also trembling with a feeling I'm all too familiar with now: fear
I slowly walked backwards, touching the nearby walls to make sure I'm not going to trip over. What is the book about? And most importantly: why was Charlie so protective of it?
He paced faster, and I stumbled backwards. Seizing the opportunity, Charlie reached for it. Fortunately, my quick instincts stopped him just in time. Almost immediately, he tackled me to the ground just as a jab of pain soared through my body instantly. And I " welcomed " him back with a punch in the nose. Ha! I forgot the joy of it did it? Yup, definitely going crazy here. He kept going on either side, rolling back and forth for the book. But I was fast, and he missed every move I gave him.
" Not so much of a bookworm now, aren't you? " he said, but yeah. I should go before anyone comes along to get me in anymore trouble.
I stumbled as I tried to get up. Ignoring the grunting Charlie. Thankfully, my very smart brain judo - flipped him back in place as I stomped him to the ground just as I ran straight up the marble staircase of Slytherin and back at the dungeons.
Boy, was that nerve- racking! All I need now is some peace and-
" Alice! " it was Stacy and Jessica, though they seemed to be in a rush. They were all sweaty and stuff and looking as though they've just ran all over the castle just to find me. Which they probably did by the looks of it.
" What's the matter? " I asked.
" New. Big news. " answered Stacy, panting. " You explain Jess. "
" So basically, Holly isn't actually dating Charlie, she's just pretending to date Charlie because- "
" Because what? " I said hurrying them.
" Because she likes you Al. "
Wait, WHAT?!
" Ex- Explain. " I stammered, this can't possibly be true.
" So, I was just in Divination yeah. And I thought Holly was hiding something. So I followed her all the way back to the dungeons- back to the Hufflepuff common room. " explained Jessica. " Turns out she liked you all along, she was telling it to Amily. Holly was just faking to date Charlie just to make you feel jealous. "
" But then, why was he so protective to his diary? " I wandered aloud.
" Wait, what Diary? " asked Stacy, leaning in curiously.
"Um… that's a story for later. But carry on. " I urged.
" She's just known this morning that you like her too by looking at the crystal ball. She's known it all along. " continued Jessica.
Alright, I know I've had my suspicions long ago, but this is completely out of nowhere. Then everything became a blur in all that happiness. The spirit inside me soared, I could still hear Stacy and Jessica explain more and I could no longer hear them. And after that, I could not concentrate for the rest of the day.
Holly Skywood likes me.
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