Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell is JK Rowling's

Chapter 27: To play chess in a game of checkers.

I sat down next to Mi at breakfast and pulled her hand away from her mouth, "Would you like some tomato sauce with those nails?"

She glared at me but let her hand fall to the side, "Don't make jokes Ky! What if she-"

"Didn't I say I got this covered? Now would you relax?"

"Five years too late on that cause Ky. I've been trying to get this one to relax ever since first year."

She turned to Ron with a steely glint, "Sure I can relax, with three headed dogs and flying cars and escaped mass murders-"

"Innocent…escaped mass murderer." mumbled Harry over his toast.

"Yes, yes I know. And now this?"

I rolled my eyes, "This is definitely not worse than any of those things mentioned."

"Oh sure…"She trailed of, looking skyward.

Well, you couldn't see the sky at the moment, what with the amount of parchment blocking it from view.

Ron, being the tallest, grabbed the first one, skimmed the headline, reached the bi-line, and looked at me,

"You didn't-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as a very femininehem heminterrupted him. He gulped down his porridge as he stared at her over my shoulder. I, however, didn't turn around; I crossed my legs very Nessie-like and opened to the first page of the Daily Prophet, oblivious to the squeals and shrills around me.

"Hem hem"

I turned to the next page, laughing at that Mad Muggle comic that Ron always liked, "Look at this one Ron, it's about unicycles-"

"Miss Thornton."

I turned around, a look of well-practiced innocence on my face. "Professor Umbridge. Well, what brings you to our little nook of the world so early on this fine- "

"My office, now."

I looked up at her innocently, a lot more people were paying attention to our conversation, "I unfortunately cannot comply. Seeing as it is…" I looked at my watchless hand…oh crap,

"Seven thirty."

I looked at the familiar voice of the redhead and gave her a small smile,

"Exactly. And I do believe, and of course I am being absolutely repugnant even bringing this up, as if you don't know, but a teacher can only request the presence of a student out of school hours if there is a very good reason for doing so."

She continued giving me her usual smile, "Well then you would kindly stand up and follow me, Miss Thornton."

"I'm so sorry, but as I stated before-"

"The parchment littering and polluting the minds of these students is good reason enough Miss Thornton."

I struggled to stop myself from laughing at her losing her cool, she regained it with speed and so did I, schooling my face into shocked innocence,

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Do you have proof that I am the hand that…littered the minds of these students?"

I gestured flamboyantly at the students around us; she smiled wider at me, eyes shining in crazy.

"Your name is on the parchment."

I laughed, "I know that. But I'm no more responsible for the great hall being showered with my words than the writers of the daily prophet are of theirs; I believe it's the owls. Of course, you may by all means call the school owls into your office and question if they had seen the culprit responsible for this…pollution. I however was seated right here during the…distribution… process.."

I turned around, catching an amused green eye, squashing the sudden flare in my tummy.

I then felt warm air at my ear as the dragon breathed down my neck,

"I advise you to follow me to my office right this-"

"Is there a problem Dolores?"

I turned in my seat and flashed Nonno a huge smile which he returned with his eyes.

Dolores straightened up to her unimpressive squat height, smiling at Nonno, "Unfortunately there is Albus. It seems that, hem hem, there has been some unauthorised propaganda polluting the minds of our students. Courtesy of Miss Thornton, I would like to allot her punishments and begin to rectify the mistakes."

Nonno smiled at Umbridge in a way that was totally sincere yet patronising at the same time - Godric I needed to learn how to do that. "I am sorry Dolores; it would seem that you have been misinformed. This parchment is not propaganda, but an article. Written by the Editor and Chief of the Hogwarts X-press, authorised by myself and the supervising teacher, Professor Snape. I do admit the method of distribution is quite unorthodox, Miss Thornton, have you had a hand in this matter?"

I looked flustered for a second, "No…no Headmaster. If anything, I would have thought Professor Umbridge would have been excited that I had finished the article a whole day earlier than her previous deadline of this afternoon. I know I took some liberties with editing, but you will find that the Hogwarts Xpress Editor in Chief has the final say in such matters."

She smiled down menacingly at me, "I was not notified that there were elections being held for an Editor in Chief of a school paper that didn't exist a day ago. I, hem hem, am sure you have to run the forming of a new school group or club, or organisation, in a scheduled staff meeting."

I smiled placatingly at her, "Oh that is perfectly correct. But you see Professor, this isn't a new group or club or organisation, this is just the reinstatement of the Hogwarts Xpress, you would find was established in the fifties. For all reinstatements you just need sign off from the four heads of house and the Headmaster."

Nonno smiled down at me, "I see we could not have elected a more thorough Editor in Chief."

Umbridge finally let her fake smile fall, "And when were these elections held? At midnight?"

Nonno looked at Umbridge as if she were mad, "Of course not…though that does sound like quite a fun idea. Like a pyjama party…we could make a bonfire-"

"It was held at six, and I was elected by a member out of my own house, and I received votes of confidence from four members from every house. As is stipulated by the rules necessary in deeming a student a head of a club, group or organisation."

She smiled down at me, "Very well, of course I would like to see the-"

"Paperwork is in your office on your table. Not that it is any of your business…I was being courteous."

"How very considerate of you Miss Thornton. But that still leaves how the parchment came to float down from the ceiling a mystery."

I grinned at her, "Oh Professor Umbridge, I do believe you have given me an idea for a cover story for our next edition…illegal parchment distribution syndicate."

I gestured with my hands showing bold letters, she turned and walked away, probably to plot her revenge.

Nonno turned to me, "Kyrianna…Parchment Peddlers or Paper Pushers is much catchier. Do have a good day."

He turned and waltzed off, not greeting Mi and the others…strange. But I couldn't care right now, I smiled down at the paper.

Cedric Diggory, the Soul behind the Spirit

By Ky Thornton

Months have passed, yet hearing the name of her high school sweetheart still brings tears to the eyes of Cho Chang, the girlfriend of the late Cedric Diggory. This is no wonder as Chang describes him as, "The perfect gentleman, he pulled out chairs, fit the bill even though I wanted to go Dutch, he…he bought me a rose. He gave me his sweater when it got cold…he was amazing."

It would seem that Diggory's Charm didn't lie just in the classroom (he had been top of his class in all his subjects) and his head of house, the enigmatic Professor Sprout said that Diggory, "was definitely the brighter of the sunflowers that she has helped grow."

When asked what three words she would use to describe the Triwizard Champion (1994), childhood friend Allison Fleeceheart said, "Eyes, laughter, bowler hat." When asked to explain she said that he had soulful eyes and contagious laughter, but the latter would have to remain a secret.

An avid quidditch player, he captained and played seeker for his house, Hufflepuff, alongside beater best friend, Jack Corner. Corner said this of Diggory, "I know that he entered that tournament for more than just hero worship, he wasn't chasing fame, he just wanted to do his family and house proud. And he did that. I am prouder than ever to call myself a Hufflepuff, and that's because Cedric was brave beyond words till the very end, facing an obstacle that many never, and I hope ever, face."

This obstacle is of course his last moments, where he was faced with the wand doing the bidding of the Dark Lord Voldemort, who stole more than just Cedric Diggory's life that day. He stole Chang's boyfriend, Corner's best friend and Sprout's ace student, but most of all he stole the child of Mr and Mrs Diggory...

Guard your heart and your mind of this thief, but most importantly guard the memory of Cedric Diggory, the boy who died too young by the hands of a man that has lived too long.

The Toad was barely two feet away before the floodgates opened; Ron's forehead was blending in with his hairline as he triumphantly laughed so loud that Hermione shoved a bun in his mouth so that Umbitch didn't hear.

My eyes found green for a moment, and everything went silent. How could something so intense exist in the cacophony of carefree laughter that surrounded us, yet we continued swimming in this stare. Like someone pulling out a stopper and draining the water from our pool, I felt an arm around my shoulder. And just like that Harry glanced away…I followed the fingers up and found humorous brown eyes. I stood and gave him a quick hug, I barely let go when I was swept up again.

"That was bloody amazing!"

George placed me back on my feet and I returned his smile with no effort.

"Wouldn't be possible without you two! How did you get it to fall from the ceiling like that?"

Fred smiled smugly at me, "A magician never reveals his secrets!"

I laughed at the very muggle quote. It seems all that time the twins spend running off to that muggle village near their house in the Summer was paying off.

"So, you two joined this Newspaper as well?" Ron looked surprised at the twins. "Never thought of you two as the type to be part of an organised group. Then again," He turned to me, "That's not really your deal either."

I sat back down and gave Ron a toothy grin, "Didn't you know of my passion for writing Ronald? The only thing that overcomes it is my passion for organised groups!"

He laughed at my sarcasm, knowing that I didn't publicly answer meant that I would explain later. "But of course. Then again, thanks for not forcing us to join the club," He shot Hermione a glare, "See Hermione, friends don't make friends join annoying clubs."

"Friends don't let friends make annoying clubs either." I heard Harry mutter into his toast, but nobody else had caught it.

Hermione glared at Ron, "Actually we were looking for you two everywhere, where were you last night? I know Harry had detention. We really needed you to sign this, it was very time sensitive."

Ron's ears went pink, it was obvious he didn't want to say where he was last night. Harry cut in, "How did you get Slytherins to sign off on this?"

He directed the question at Mi, but we all knew who he was asking. Well, if he wanted to act like an immature prat then by all means…fine it wasn't like he was acting without reason…

Mi looked at me and Harry let out a sigh, not following her movement. Another movement caught my eye, and I stood,

"I'll see you guys in the Binn."

"Stop calling it that!" I walked away from Mi's chastising look and caught up with the blonde.

"Fleeceheart!"

She turned around frozen mid step on her way to the grand staircase, her light green eyes dilating in surprise. She told her friends to go on, "Need me to sign something else?"

I shook my head and dug my hand into my bag, pulling out the sweater. I looked down at the large number seven, feeling the soft material for the last time. I held it out to her. She looked down at it as if I was holding out a grenade.

Her eyes were a wall of liquid, but she held her glare, "What do you think you're doing?"

"I think you know."

She stopped glaring at the letters and started glaring at me instead, "That's yours." She turned around and headed for the grand staircase.

"No, it's not." I followed her and grabbed her hand before she reached the stairs.

She turned around, wrenching her wrist from me, "Don't touch me!"

I didn't flinch at the scream nor did I back away from the venomous glare and held the sweater out to her again,

"What are you doing Thornton? What game are you playing now?"

"This isn't a game Fleeceheart. This is what it is."

"And what is this?"

I sighed, trying to bite my tongue in patience. "Me giving you his sweater. Take it."

She looked at the article of clothing again, and glared back at me, "I can't."

She turned and walked up a few steps,

"Why not?"

She turned and tossed me a green-eyed glare, I was getting too many of those these days, "I don't have to explain anything to you."

There it was. That glint. That glint of absolute dislike. She hid it well when I interviewed her, and even when I sought her out to sign on with the Hogwarts Xpress yesterday, yet she couldn't rein it in now.

"I don't like Cho Chang."

She stopped on the third step and turned around, "Is that why you're doing this? You don't want her to have it so you're passing it off to me!" She took a step down, "I can't fucking believe this! Do you have any idea what it means to be the person who…he gave that to you! To you!"

"No, he didn't."

She tossed me an exasperated look, "Yes he did. Don't insult my intelligence."

"Jack Corner gave me this shirt."

"Because HE wanted you to have it."

"Yes. Several months ago, Cedric wanted me to have this shirt. But not today."

Her anger faded to confusion, "How can you know-"

"I just do. Look…just take it."

She didn't budge, damn, this was going to be harder than I thought.

"What do you mean? How can you know-"

"Because he never told me about you and because I don't like Cho Chang!"

Why wasn't she getting this, it was so obvious. She just looked angrier; I guess I forget not everyone is Mi, "I don't like Cho Chang in the same way you don't like me."

The whole school was abuzz with it. Yes, some of the scenarios were definitely false, I'm sure Harry didn't shag Cho in the first-floor broom cupboard, and I know they weren't dating since last year. But that is the Hogwarts rumour mill, weaving stories more intricate than fine silk. She surely has heard about him and Cho walking down to dinner yesterday.

The glare softened enough for it to be not lethally poisonous, "How did you know?"

"You signed off on this. You took the risk; you cared if his name was pulled through the mud. And…that look. When you spoke of him…"

I don't know how I hadn't seen it before, it was so evident in her eyes, in her everything. I wonder if he saw it and chose to ignore it?

She took the next step down, looking dazed, "He didn't want me to have that shirt."

I knew what she was really saying. What she was really saying was, 'he didn't want me.'

I took a step up, looking her in the eye, "He didn't. But he would have eventually…Fleeceheart, you knew him from the cradle…and not once did he mention you to me…"

She looked back down at the shirt, "He…you and him…"

"Would never have lasted, as I told you… I don't like Cho Chang."

A look of understanding graced her features, "Why me?"

I shook my head at her, "That's not the question. That's not a question. Believe me, it's you. It was always you."

"You said it yourself! He never even spoke about me to you! Not even mentioned my name!"

"Exactly!" I took a step forward. "Exactly. Not once. He knew…he knew how he felt about you and that's why he ran. To Chang, to me. But it was always you that was going to be at the finishing line."

"How do you know?"

She looked at me, her eyes shining with tears, "Because you can't even say his name. It's been months and you still can't say his name…and you dislike me, yet you signed off on this yesterday without even batting an eyelash…you don't get to that level of loyalty without some sort of return. He may not have given this to you then, but I'm sure he would have eventually…please…take it."

She stared at me with a blank expression. She held out her hands and I pressed the sweater into it. She smelled it, holding it to her face as she sobbed into the fabric as the scent summoned the memories. I turned and walked away, leaving her to her moment lost in grey eyes and bowler hats.

"Thornton."

I turned around and looked up at her, "Thank you."

I nodded, knowing that I had done the right thing when I saw that look in her eye. That look that said the only way anyone was going to get their hands on that shirt would be if they pried it from her cold dead hands. That there was loyalty, that there was love, that there was the girl that Cedric would have married one day, and I didn't need foresight to know that…I just did.

A/N: I hope you're enjoying the story so far! Let me know what you think in the reviews!

Kalina