Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• TWENTY •

Holland's eyes snap open, realizing Cedric couldn't see her like this. Not after what he did. He didn't deserve to see her so broken over him, he didn't deserve the satisfaction he craved to have. Holland slowly stands, head throbbing from all the sobs and weeps, arms and legs bruised from how hard she'd thrashed against the stone walls and floors of the castle. Holland winces in pain as she walked, every movement causing one bruise to rub against another, the registration of pain also hurting her throbbing head. She begins chugging the glass of water the elf had left for her before waving a wand all over herself and the floor, ridding of any evidence that she'd seen the bottle and broken it. She angrily shoved it back in the boy's bag, letting out a deep breath as she readied herself for the boy's return. And as if on cue, Cedric had returned right then and there. She heard his shoes echo around the empty corridor, rolling her eyes at the remembrance of his intentions.

    "Holly?" She hears, immediately wiping her eyes. She shook her shoulders a bit, rolling her head as she put on the sweetest smile she could muster. Be cool, the girl sternly tells herself, shrugging as she fixed her robes, knowing it must have been wrinkled having laid on it for a good half hour.

    "Cedric, hi!" She pretends to be ecstatic seeing the boy who turned out to be not in love with her at all. "What are you doing here?" So much for keeping cool. Cedric gives a look of incredulity, chuckling at the silly girl who was trying her hardest not to tackle him.

    "We were supposed to meet, remember? Have you completely lost your mind?" He jokes, sending a smile that filled Holland's senses with nausea. She closes her eyes, vision spinning once more. "I was thinking about the final task. My dad's coming to watch. And when I come back with the cup, I'll let the whole school know who'd been my inspiration and motivation throughout the entire tournament. I'll dedicate the cup to you and my dad! Isn't that wonderful?" He says in excitement, not noticing that Holland was practically writhing in pain in front of him.

Holland wished for the ground to just devour her, no longer wanting to be where she was. Her heart broke with every word he said, the idea of being treated like an absolute princess, but to end up in flames as it had all been just a lie. She inwardly winces as she imagined that he'd probably show her off in front of the entire school, letting them know she thought he was in love with her even though he wasn't. Holland let out a breath through her nose. Her fourth year had been nothing but a tear-fest, and she has had enough.

    "What's wrong, Holly?" Cedric began to worry and held her hand immediately, the gesture making Holland feel not sad, but angry. She pulled away from his grasp, so quick the sound of her skin leaving his resembled a match being struck against its box. Cedric's cheerful expression quickly turns perplexed, wondering what had happened to the Slytherin.

    "How could you do this to me?" Holland spat out. "I get it, we pranked each other. But this is too much. Never would I have thought that you'd bring my feelings into this. Were all the slimes and detention too much?"

    "I don't think I'm following." Cedric was beyond confused, though heart was racing at Holland's venomous tone. He tried to look her in the eyes, not caring that he'd probably turn to stone if he did.

"I saw it, Cedric. You don't have to keep pretending. The fact that you even went through all this trouble to make me look like an idiot. Really thought you'd be the last to even think of something so vile. Congratulations, Cedric. You've done it. You've made me look like a complete fool!" She exclaims, earning looks and gasps from the portraits. "Congratulations. You've broken my heart." Holland says quietly. And to think the girl was so close to confessing her feelings to him, finally accepting that she had a bit of an infatuation with him.

"I promise you, Holly. You need to let me explain because I can!" He tried to tell her calmly, despite being anything but calm, himself. Holland felt herself fuming at the word he'd said. Promise. The last time he'd said that to her, was when he was oh-so-promisingly telling her how he'd treat her if she were to fall for him like he'd plan, before leaving her for nothing. She remembered herself being in the same situation with George, considering for a bit if she should hear him out. But she found herself stuck, mind set, ready to walk, and ready to leave this arsehole.