I would like to hear all of your thoughts, so don't be shy. :)
There are also a few sentences in this chapter that indicate quite a lot about Cecilia's life. Let's see if you find them.
Have a good day!
A few days went by with nothing interesting happening. DADA was much quieter as it usually was. Professor Moody finally left her alone, seemingly still impressed with her. She was thankful that. Fighting the Imperius Curse still left her feeling somewhat empty inside and she would not be attempting any similar experiment anytime soon.
Timothy annoyed her to no end simply by just being near her but at least he did not try to speak to her about her powers again. He only seemed to watch her every step but Cecilia was good in ignoring such things.
At the evening of the election of the champions, Cecilia sat at the Slytherin table with Daphne Greengrass, who perhaps was her only real female friend. Real friends were rare in times like these were reputations meant more than perhaps ever. Interestingly, all of her friends were two years younger than her and there was not a single person in her year that she would consider a friend.
"Blaise is going to throw a party for the Durmstrang champion", Daphne told Cecilia and the latter once again rolled her eyes. It seemed that was all she did these days. Everyone had turned considerably more annoying over the summer holidays or maybe she just didn't have the nerve to tolerate such behaviour anymore.
"Not for the Hogwarts one?", she asked to keep the conversation going. She already knew the answer, which Daphne probably knew as well.
"It won't be a Slytherin champion. The other houses could not bear supporting us", Daphne said with a knowing look in her eyes. Cecilia also thought that the selection could be manipulated to at least some extend. Chaos would break out if the other houses had to support a Slytherin for once. The thought was actually quite amusing.
"I know it would be pretty amusing though. Just imagine them awkwardly clapping or clapping for the Durmstrang one, who they consider as evil."
"I only hope it's no one from Gryffindor. The best scenario would be someone from Ravenclaw, at least they are smart", Daphne said but was interrupted by Dumbledore who stood up and placed himself beside the cup. The moment of truth was coming.
"The Hogwarts Champion is ... Cedric Diggory!"
Daphne opened her mouth but no sound came out.
"A Hufflepuff?", she said almost tearfully and Cecilia had to be strong to not laugh at the sight of her friend who seemed beside herself.
"Could be worse. At least he is handsome, you could try asking him out to the Yule Ball", Cecilia joked.
"Ha-ha. Watch out, Draco is definitely going to ask you", Daphne teased her, winking at her and making obscene kissing noises.
"I want to kill you", Cecilia sneered.
"Careful. We don't want people to think that you're evil" Daphne joked, fully aware that Cecilia was not evil but rather confident in herself.
Cecilia rolled her eyes: "Draco is two years younger than me. It would be extremely inappropriate." Despite that he had been her best friend for a long time, nothing made her want to go with him to the ball. She probably would bully some other handsome guy to go with her. Or maybe she would find a secluded spot and sit there the whole evening drinking alcohol.
"I don't think he thinks like that", Daphne said doubtful and Cecilia just stayed silent, not wanting to give Daphne another reason to taunt her or to make her doubt Draco's affections.
"The Durmstrang champion is... Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore shouted and Cecilia grinned at the thought of Blaise's excitement. The boy was probably already planning how to get the Quidditch Star on his side by shoving his praise down Krum's throat and mentioning how rich and famous his mother was. The only thing she had going for her was that she was a serial dater, and that was nothing anyone should ever achieve. At least in Cecilia's mind.
"Well that is a champion I like to support" Daphne shouted excitedly and Cecilia turned around to see how the other Slytherins took in this new information. As expected they were all clapping enthusiastically. Blaise was scrapping down something on his parchment, probably already making plans for his party and Draco winked at Cecilia in a playful manner, which she only commented with a tired smile. It left him looking a bit disappointed, which made her think about Daphne's words. But she dismissed the thought almost immediately. There was no chance that Draco would ask her out, he'd probably choose Pansy. It didn't bother her but Pansy really was annoying.
"Everyone likes him", Cecilia said.
"I know that, but still. The party will be a full success."
Cecilia shushed Daphne so she could hear who the last champion was. The goblet made a dramatic pause before throwing out the last name.
"The Beauxbatons champion is... Fleur Delacour."
"She seems to have Veela blood" Daphne commented and Cecilia nodded.
"Yeah. Let's see if she can do more than being pretty", Cecilia responded condescendingly. Perhaps she was a bit disappointed that she could not compete and make fun of the fact that Hogwarts student would be uncomfortable supporting a Slytherin champion.
"Don't be so petty, Cecilia. You are really pretty and still a powerful witch" Daphne said sighing.
Cecilia did not respond but looked down on the table and thought about what she could today so she would not die of boredom. Sure Blaise would throw his big party later this evening but she was not really a fan of those. Maybe she would just steal a bit of firewhiskey and then hide somewhere in the castle.
Suddenly a gasp went through the hall so she looked up just in time to see that the goblet had thrown out another name.
"What the bloody hell", she muttered and she frowned in confusion.
"Harry Potter" Dumbledore said and she could not hide a frustrated sigh. Did absolutely everything always have to revolve around this kid? How on earth would she ever capture the school's attention with Potter in the way? Draco seemed to think the same way as he angrily stared at Dumbledore. Cecilia wondered if he was going to stand up and get his father to clear this mess up.
To Potter's defence he didn't look particularly excited either and he walked carefully to the front, while passing by the Hufflepuff table where everyone seemed collectively angry at him for stealing their moment of fame and glory.
Dumbledore and Potter left the hall and every single person in the room looked dumbfounded.
"Well that is an interesting development", Daphne said.
"Interesting? It's bloody appalling."
"Maybe we will have the pleasure of seeing him die in one of the task and we will finally be free of his annoying presence" Daphne figured. Cecilia did not say anything. If the rumours were true, Potter was the only one who could defeat the Dark Lord. Cecilia would have to root for Potter's survival then. She definitely did not want him to win the tournament though.
"Who is evil now, Greengrass?" Cecilia asked, winking at her friend. Daphne just shook her hand and grinned.
A few hours later everyone in the Slytherin Common Room, except Cecilia, was completely drunk. Like always Cecilia shyed away from the alcohol, knowing fully well that she became awfully chatty with alcohol in her blood, which would result in telling everyone her secret of finding blood supremacy absolutely stupid.
"Do you want something to drink?" a Durmstrang student with black hair and deep brown eyes suddenly asked her while she was busy leaning against the wall and watching everyone be ridiculous.
"No, thank you" she said in restraint politeness and turned her back on him.
"You look, what do you say... uhm lonely" he commented, not knowing better.
"I am not lonely" she growled in her best indimitating tone and walked away towards the table besides the door and grabbed one of the bottles of Firewhiskey. Then she made a quick exit through the door and found herself in the dark corridor.
"Lumos" she muttered and her wand lit up in order for her to see where she was going. Fortunately there was still an hour left until the curfew and so she made her way to the stairs. After she had walked a good ten minute distance, she arrived at the floor leading up to the Entrance Hall, from where she could go outside.
There was no one to be seen, so she took her time and eventually walked towards the Quidditch Field and sat down on the stands. Even though it was late summer she still shivered a bit, since the wind was blowing in her face and her hair was going crazy. She sighed and drank quite a bit of the Firewhiskey in just one sip. She smiled at the familiar burn in her throat. The only difference being that it wasn't coming from screaming her throat raw.
She enjoyed only hearing the sound of the blowing wind and it made her feel quite peaceful. Finally she had found a moment where she could be just herself, where she didn't have to put on a mask of indifference and arrogance, in order to stay loved and alive. The first motivation being utterly selfish.
"Seems like a weird place for a Slytherin, right?" a voice suddenly appeared behind her. Cecilia could not hide her shock.
"Are you harassing me now?" she asked and then turned around to stare into Fred Weasley's face.
He shrugged his shoulders and only smiled innocently:"I only wanted to ask if you were fine."
"Why wouldn't I be?" Honestly, couldn't this boy just leave and let her be alone with her thoughts for just a minute? Maybe I shouldn't have asked him a question then, she thought but kept looking ahead.
"You seem exhausted since it happened" he answered and Cecilia almost gave in. It surprised her that someone like Weasley had figured out how she felt. She thought that she had played her role perfectly. Not even Draco had noticed something off and he knew her the best out of anyone.
Cecilia didn't answer and just took another sip out of the bottle. If Weasley planned to interrogate her, she would only survive it if she wasn't sober. Since she didn't drink that often she felt the effect of the alcohol almost immediately.
"I'm used to it" she admitted with closed eyes, not thinking or caring about what she was saying. The Firewhiskey had done its job successfully.
"Used to what?" Fred asked confused.
Slowly it sank in what she had just admitted and she opened her eyes in panic. Why did she let her guard down and almost told him what was regularly going on in her home life.
"Nothing... it's none of your business" she whispered, took the bottle and fled from the scene.