Ummm…Hello? I'll save you the excuses and what not, instead lets get right on with the show. Enjoy people!
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Chapter Twenty:
Rosa241
Oliver POV:
"Please pay attention Mr Wood." McGonagall's words make my ears redden slightly and I manage a small nod. The truth is I had been paying attention to her lesson, for once, but the damn screeching from that blasted egg is still echoing around my head. Honestly I think that thing has actually damaged my hearing forever.
What on earth were they thinking? How is that supposed to be a clue?
That bloody screeching doesn't belong to any beast I've ever heard about and if it does in fact belong to some kind of animal then like Percy said I don't want to know about it! Anything that makes that kind of a noise is not going to be pleasant to face. What else do we need to know?
It's ridiculous to think that anyone could actually figure out what that thing was supposed to be. Judging from the way both Krum and Karkaroff were massaging their temples at breakfast this morning then I'd wager they hadn't had much luck either.
How are we supposed to figure out the clue when no one can stand to listen to it for more than a few seconds at a time!? Something inside me snaps up as the thought crosses my mind.
No more than a few seconds…
No more than a few seconds…
No more…
That's it! So far we've not listened to it for more than a few seconds, what if the clue is at the very end of the egg? What if we have to listen it all the way through before we can figure it out? My smile grows at the thought.
We need to preserve and listen to it all the way through.
Of course I'm certainly not looking forward to having to listen to that thing but I can't help the excitement.
"Mr Wood!" McGonagall's voice echoes in my head and I turn my eyes to her. Her face is contorted in anger but I can't help the smile still stretching across my face. "We can discus whatever it is you find so interesting in detention."
"Sorry Professor." Although in truth I'm anything but. I should be annoyed that I'm now stuck in detention but the fact is I'm far too excited to care right now. As she turns back to the board my eyes snap up and instantly meet my best friend. Ordinarily we sat together but after I'd been failing to pay attention McGonagall had moved me away from him. Apparently she didn't want me to be distracting others and had promptly sat me on a desk away from other people. I mouth the word 'later' in his direction and turn my head back to the board.
Might as well at least pretend to be interested. Percy can fill me in on the details later on.
Percy POV:
It had been barely ten minutes since Oliver had rushed off to his detention. He'd spluttered out some words about the egg and yelled 'I got it' before rushing off to the detention he'd forgotten he had. Honestly I don't know how he gets through the day sometimes.
"Awww, look at that all alone. No friends?" I don't need to turn around to know who the voice belongs to. His voice has blighted me for years and judging from the sniggering he wasn't alone.
"Can I help you with something Flint?" I forced my voice to remain calm but I couldn't help the fear that crept up inside me.
"We was just having a walk weren't we?" His goons echoed his words but said nothing else. Brainless idiots.
"Well then keep walking. I wouldn't want to keep you from your strolls." He smirked at me as I finally looked up at him. As I did I couldn't help the fear that struck through me. All of a sudden I felt like I was eleven years old again.
"Oh no worries there." He picked up the book I had been reading and flicked through several pages. This was a trick he had used before and for some reason it always scared me. It was like he was just waiting to see what I would do. I was about to turn my head away, ignore him the way that I used to before something floated through my brain.
I'm not that person anymore.
The words I'd said to Charlie during our talk after the first task came screaming back to me.
I'm not that person anymore.
Something inside me had always feared Flint, its understandable when I think back to everything he put me through.
I'm not that person anymore.
It was his words that scared me the most. He always knew just what to say to bring tears to my eyes, just how to make me go cold with fear.
No friends? Oh how wrong you are. I may not have a million friends but I've got Oliver and he's all I need. He's my best friend and the only one I need.
I'm not that person anymore.
Every time he opened his mouth before every single ounce of confidence I possessed would go rushing away until I had nothing left. It was only after meeting Oliver that that began to change. He could step up when my confidence left and grab hold of it, forcing it to return to me.
You keep this up and there's absolutely no reason you can't win.
Charlie believes in me. Hell scratch that my entire family believes in me. Fred, George, Ron, Ginny…they're all behind me. I've got so many people who believe in me maybe it's about time I started to believe in myself.
I'm not that person anymore.
"I didn't know you could read Flint. Learn new things every day I guess." He reels back in shock for a moment before narrowing his eyes at me.
"Say that again." He growls as he slams the book down on the table before leaning in close. "I dare you."
"What's the matter? Having trouble hearing? I said that I didn't know you could read." As he leans in closer still I can't help but laugh. "Sorry but do you actually think you look intimidating? Sitting there thinking you're the toughest thing in the world?"
"You can brush it off all you want but I know you're scared of me." He says after taking a moment to regain his composure.
"At one point I was you're right but now…" Shaking my head I pluck the book out from under his hands. "I faced off against a dragon and came out on top. Do you honestly think you're more frightening than that?"
Before he can say anything he is interrupted by two familiar voices.
"Leave him alone!"
"Back off!"
Fred and George are standing slightly to one side both looking around confused deciding on what best to do. Before they can act I intervene, it's time I stood up for myself. This has gone on long enough.
"Don't worry about it. Flint was just leaving." Leaning back in the chair I meet his gaze without hesitation. It's this that truly throws him. For years I was never able to hold his gaze without looking away. With a snort and a grunt he pushes off from the table and marches away from me.
"You alright?" George mutters as he watches Flint leave.
"Fine. I'm just fine." Leaning back in the chair I couldn't help but smile to myself.
That felt good.
Fred POV:
My heart leapt into my throat as I spied the Slytherins stood around Percy now. Flint was leant at the table where Percy was sat whilst the others hung back slightly. Sharing a look with my twin we both made the decision but as we made to step forward I found my eyes widening in shock.
"I didn't know you could read Flint. Learn new things every day I guess." That was Percy. That was definitely Percy's voice. But then it couldn't be, could it? There's no way he'd stand up to Flint.
"Say that again." I couldn't help but jump as Flint's hand slammed down on the table. The noise didn't seem to bother Percy who simply leant forward and spoke once more.
"What's the matter? Having trouble hearing? I said I didn't know you could read." George snorted a laugh as our older brother spoke.
"Who knew Percy had it in him?" I whispered only to be shushed as George leant closer to where the group were standing.
"Sorry but do you actually think you look intimidating? Sitting there thinking you're the toughest person in the world?"
Way to go Perce. It's about time.
"You can brush it off all you want but I know you're scared of me."
Don't listen to him Perce. You can do this, come on!
"At one point I was you're right but now…I faced off against a dragon and came out on top. Do you honestly think you're more frightening than that?"
From where I was I couldn't see Flint but I could see the group of Slytherins take a step forward. As much as I would have loved to stand here and see Percy continue to rip Flint apart I didn't want to see him get beaten up.
"Leave him alone!" I called out as we pushed our way past the Slytherins. At the same time an angry George yelled out:
"Back off!"
"Don't worry about it. Flint was just leaving." For a second he looked like he would argue but thankfully he stormed away.
"You alright?" George questioned as Flint and his cronies walked off.
"Fine. I'm just fine." Sharing a look with my twin we couldn't help but grin. Judging from the smile on his face Percy was going to be just fine. "So what's up?"
At his question I suddenly remembered just what we'd come here for. Turning to George it was obvious that neither one of us wanted to ruin his good mood, but inevitably one of us had to. George shrugged his shoulders before stepping forward.
"We thought you should know about it before the rumours start up." At that Percy turned his head towards us before crossing his arms across his chest, his good mood ebbing away.
"Oliver and Cedric Diggory got into a fight. Apparently they were both in detention with McGonagall and somehow they ended up knocking seven bells out of each other." His eyes widen with shock before he sighs.
"Just when things seem to be going well…" He mutters to himself as he stands from his chair.
Yay! Percy finally found the courage to stand up to Flint but will there be repercussions for his actions? Hmm…I'll let you know, although by now I'm sure you know how my devious brain works. What were Cedric and Oliver fighting about? Well…you'll find out.
Until next time
Bye x