Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• TWENTY •

"Enough. I don't want to hear it. The only thing I want you to promise to me is that you'll stay way from me for as long as you and I are both alive. Understand?" Holland spits, grabbing her things and storming off.

Cedric didn't dare chase after her, knowing the girl's temper would just set off once more. Cedric already had enough going through his mind. The final task being in just a few days stressed him out enough, losing Holland's trust made it even worse or him.

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As Holland walked back to her common room, she caught a glimpse of the courtyard, glowering at the happy lower years running around in the grass. Holland could give anything to have a reminder of what it felt to be younger and unperplexed. Holland arrives at her dormitory angry and alone. The latter part, she'd been relieved about as she began to kick the side of her bed. After apologizing to Teagan, she fumed and decided to go head on to search for people to talk to.

She walked down the common room, sitting on the black leather sofa as she let the silence ring in her ears. She willed herself not to cry, she'd cried enough. She started picking at her nails, wondering if she should find a way to get back at Cedric, deciding against it as she found herself not wanting to hurt the boy despite the gashing sensation in her chest that had been caused by him. She rests her face on her hands, elbows on her thighs as she watched the fireplace. She retraced all of her steps, starting from the beginning of the year. Things were so different back then, normal, uncomplicated. How could one boy have destroyed her life so easily? She hears the portrait hole open, students begin to flood the room and Holland began to sit up straighter and lean on the sofa, not wanting anybody asking her if she was alright.

    "You alright, Holland?" A lower year asks. Godric fucking damn it. Holland bites her tongue as she forced out the sweetest smile she could form.

    "Spectacular." Her voice cracks as she tried to squeak out in a happy tone, sighing in relief when the lower year smiles in response.

    The room was now filled with students, all lower years. Holland didn't fancy the wretched harmony of squeaky, pre-pubescent voices, she scrambled up to her feet to leave the common room quietly. She groans inwardly, not knowing where else she could go. Deciding on a quiet walk, she thought she could go to the Astronomy tower for a long, undisturbed time to herself. She begins her lone venture, ignoring the calls and greetings of the voices that belonged to people Holland knew she had no plans of talking to. As she was about to climb up the Astronomy tower, a shadow from above it stops her. Someone had been there before her, as Holland leaned forward to get a better look, the figure had long, pale blonde hair and appeared alone, in thought, and sallow as well. Holland quickly turned to leave, the sound of her shoes against the metal spiraling stairs making a squeak. Holland winces, knowing it had been loud enough to echo through the entire tower, loud enough to alert the person who was there. The girl now stands, Holland catching a glimpse of the shiny locks that belonged to no other than Aurora Harrington.

    "Who's there?" She tries to accuse, her timid tone overpowering the powerful tone she intended to let out.

    "Rory, it's me." Holland surprised both of them with her raspy voice, she beings to clear her throat as she made her way up the tower. Must have been all the crying that's gotten her throat so dry. Aurora eyed her childhood friend, wondering why she'd been so eager to come to her when they hadn't spoken in years.

    "Well?" Aurora asked after Holland had started at her for a long time, mind still set on how the girl would be perfect for Draco. Not that she'd say that out loud, that would be a bit weird. "What are you doing here?" She demands lamely, sniffling as she graciously brought a white handkerchief to wipe her pristine face. Holland chose not to reply, hugging the girl instead. Aurora freezes in place, taking a second to hug back, relishing the comforting warmth of another person.

The two never spoke. Holland never asked what made Aurora sad, Aurora never asked what made Holland sad. The two merely sat next to each other with their feet dangling more than 20 feet in the air as they gazed at the trees before them, relishing the company of one another. It was a pure and wholesome scene, the two being comforted by nothing but the company of the other.

    "I hope you're alright." Aurora clears the air, probably having grown uncomfortable by the long moment of silence.

    "I will be," Holland smiles half-heartedly, facing the girl and lightly shoving Annaliese's knee sock clad-foot with hers. "I hope you are, too."

    "I will be," Aurora returns, smiling more than Holland was. Holland wanted to ask, but refusing as Aurora would without a doubt ask as well, and Holland was in no shape to relive her entire fourth year to the point of her lowest blow when it had happened just hours before. "I missed you, you know." Aurora confesses quietly, gathering her hair and letting it fall on her right shoulder, the golden locks flowing until her ribs. Holland found herself staring at how beautiful her friend was, probably even giving the veelas a run for their money. Aurora had always been one of the prettiest people Holland had laid her eyes on, despite her external appearance, people decided against befriending Aurora, for she had been too shy to ever relate to her classmates nor prolong any conversations thrown at her. Holland could have easily stayed with Aurora, but the two were a year apart, and as aforementioned, they hadn't spoken in years. Holland just never found the courage to speak to her old friend again, always resorting to timid waves and smiles whenever they passed each other, but that was it.

    "I missed you more. And Rory, I'm really sorry. I know how things are for you, I wish I could be with you all the time, and I wish I could hex off all the people who dare try to say anything about you." Words flew out of Holland's mouth as if it was out of her control, Holland knew she had been almost like a sister to Aurora, and she wished it would've stayed that way had she not let her shyness get to her.

    "It's alright. I've grown quite accustomed to being alone, I prefer it now, actually. I've made a friend, she belongs to another house, though." Aurora says, her small voice making her even more adorable.

    "There's nothing wrong with having friends from other houses, Rory." Holland says. "Look at me! Most of the time, I don't even sit in our table." She chuckles.

    "Oh yes, I know." Aurora giggles girlishly. "Her name is Luna. Luna Lovegood, and I've grown fond of her quite a bit. Can't imagine going through one day without her, she's fascinating." Holland bit back a snort, knowing Luna had a bit of a reputation for being weird. But the more Holland thought about it, the more she realized how perfect Luna was for Aurora. Luna was always in her own world, not giving a damn how others felt about her. Aurora could learn from her, especially since she'd always struggled with her self-esteem.

    "That's wonderful! I'm glad." Holland says genuinely, putting her hand on the girl's comfortingly.

    "I don't suppose you want to talk about what's gotten you so upset today?" Aurora asks immediately with a sallow face.   

    "It's nothing against you, it's just too soon for me. But if you feel like you're ready to talk about yours, I'm all ears, darling." Holland frowns.

    "Is it alright?" Aurora beams, eager to have someone to confide to. She scoots closer to Holland, the older witch giggling at how easy it was to regain her friend's trust. "You see, I like someone." She begins shyly, looking away.

    "I think I have an idea on who it is," Holland smirks knowingly, wiggling her eyebrows. Aurora looks up at her in terror, knowing it must have been obvious as he was Holland's good friend.       

    "Is it that obvious?" Aurora buries her head in her hands. "Blimey, Holly. It's terrifying. I don't like liking boys. It's such an inconvenient feeling. I'd much rather just stay alone, keep to myself, and snuggle Toulouse." The girl admits, talking about her Persian cat.

    "So it is Draco?" Holland asks to confirm, giggling at how adorable the girl next to her was, bringing up a hand to stroke the girl's smooth hair.    

    "Please hush!" Aurora whines loudly, even when she spoke in volumes louder than she usually does, she could never bring her voice to be loud enough to echo through the Astronomy tower, whilst Holland could easily do so.

    "Nobody will hear!" Holland rolls her eyes. "Now tell Sissy Holly how badly you want to snog Draco Malfoy." Holland teases, ducking to avoid Aurora's hand.

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