Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• EIGHT •

"Holly!" Cedric calls as he calmly walks over to them, holding onto her hand. She faced him impatiently before his lips landed on hers again. Holland quickly pulls away, very much fortunately having her eyes meet a specific twin's who'd been watching them, having just exited the bridge. It took her 5 seconds to let out a relieved breath to see that it was Fred before realizing the twin not being George didn't make things better.

"Look how wrong you were." Holland says in the mock-tone of Dane's, letting out chuckles despite herself. She faces Cedric and begins to scold him, igoring Dan and Hermione's protests. "I want you to stay away from me, alright? Snape and Sprout said we needed time together every single day, and when we do, we have to be at least ten feet apart. We are going to talk in open areas, the Great Hall with 4 people between us, I don't care. We are not going to be all cuddle-cuddle, lovey-dovey, got that?" Holland sneers at Cedric, who could only stare at her brown eyes when she said this. Slowly coming to terms with what the girl had said, the boy began to frown before giving her a defeated nod, looking down as he did it. No longer wanting to stay in front of the boy, Holland began to run after Fred.

"Holly, wait!" Hermione says as she began to chase after the hysterical girl. Holland couldn't help herself. It wasn't that she was going mad over the fact that her rival suddenly sparked an artificial interest in her, it just felt that nothing had gone right ever since she began her fourth year and the thought left a nasty, sinking feeling in her.

-

    Holland was a wreck, she had no idea what to do. Her pranks had never turned out the way she planned, the boy she'd been hexing is currently in love with her, and one of her best friend's thinks she's gone ballistic for kissing the aforementioned boy. To top it all off, her best friend, the love of her live, is ignoring her. Holland couldn't bring herself to eat. She had spent about half an hour seated next to Draco before letting him and Pansy know that she'd rather go to bed early.

"Are you alright?" Pansy asks, worried that her friend's appetite had depleted for the past few days.

"Yes, I'm good. Don't worry, I'm just really tired." Holland says sadly. She no longer bothered to fix herself up when she left the common room, she was looking pale and sickly, her hair an even bigger mess. Holland looked like she was two seconds away from passing out.

    "Well get at least a little bit of bread in you," Draco insisted grumpily, pushing a plate towards the weak girl but Holland kindly smiled and pushed the plate away before standing up. Pansy and Draco looked at her worriedly, knowing something was indeed bothering her and that they wanted nothing more than to cheer her up. Holland began to walk out of the Great Hall, not caring about the watchful eyes that lingered on her as she made her way to the doors.

"Holly," She hears a familiar voice call, knowing just whose it was. She couldn't talk to him. She couldn't even face the boy after imagining how he'd responded to his twin's news that she had been kissing Cedric.

"Hi, George." She faces him briefly, giving him a small smile despite her sallow eyes. She then continued making her way out of the room. George decided against following her, not wanting to make things worse and could only watch as the girl left the hall. There it was, George had finally spoken to her. Holland had only hoped for it to happen, no longer being able to handle having to ignore the twins. But why was it when he'd finally done so, she wanted nothing but to walk away from him?

    Holland remained on her bed, blankly staring at her dorm room's dark and emerald-tinted ceiling. Her stomach growling, but her limbs in no condition to move. She didn't want to see anyone, nor talk to anyone. She decided to move to the Astronomy tower, a place that was quiet and empty. She got tired of peering out her window, giving up on keeping an eye out for the Giant Squid. She needed a place just for herself, knowing she wouldn't be able to hear herself think the minute Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode enter their dorm. She put on her slippers and left the room. As she left the portrait hole, she realized that the Astronomy Tower was too far, deciding on a stroll around deserted areas of the castle instead. She then made it to the sixth floor, sitting on a bench in front of a big glass window, and staring at the full moon. Holland found peace in the music of the night, crickets chirping, and the echoing of splashing water the giant squid was making at the Blake Lake. Once again, she rested her eyes on the glowing moon, appreciating just how luminous it was and how beautiful it shone in the sky. The sight reminded Holland of her previous year at Hogwarts, the memories making Holland smile to herself. She was hoping that wherever Remus Lupin was that moment, that he was safe and will feel better once his transformation had ended. As she began to relive the memories of her third year, her eyes began to droop as she was slowly being pulled into the world of slumber.