CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: 𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐘
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I woke up with a jolt, sitting up as I panted, looking around my surroundings. I felt the soft texture of my bed's comforter, I turned to my right and saw Hermione sleeping soundly.
I ruffled my hair as I yawned, I didn't know what time it is, but observing the darkness of the sky outside the window, it must be early in the morning.
I stretched, wearing my slippers which were given by Molly as I walked out of the dorm quietly.
I expected Harry to be awake because he always struggled to fall asleep, but there was no one in the common room.
The fireplace was the only source of light after I was engulfed by the darkness, I sat on the couch, seeking warmth from the fire, my cold feet was gone. I watched the small fire on the fireplace flicker around.
I started to rethink the feeling earlier, when I woke up. It felt like waking up from a nightmare, but I couldn't even remember if I dreamt or not.
Upon realizing a few things, this was the same thing I felt when I woke up on the hospital wing last year. When I dreamt about my mom, I immediately felt my heart drop to my stomach.
How was she? Where is she? Does she even exist here?
Until now, there was still no information about my presence in the wizarding world, I haven't got a single clue about my mother, I haven't got the time to search for anything.
I sniffled, my emotions taking over as I cried silently. I miss my mom so much, even though I liked being here, nothing compares to being with your only family.
I felt pathetic all of a sudden, I'm crying here, messed up about the things happening to me, when I'm not even sure if all of these are real at all.
If Hogwarts is real at all.
Well, it does feel real, but I can't be too sure. I miss California so badly, the warmth and the breeze of the beach, the birds flying unto the docks, my friends and I going to the arcade. I miss it all.
"Why the hell am I feeling damn emotional? I'm not usually like this." I muttered to myself as I rubbed my arms.
I blinked a few times, getting rid of my teary eyes, I didn't want to cry anymore, I feel weak when crying.
I sighed, standing up, but immediately sitting again when I felt a painful shot on my body, I groaned, hugging my stomach.
When I stood up again, my feet hit something hard, and a loud groan emerged from behind me. My drowsiness faded away once I heard the noise, I immediately stood up straight in fright.
I slowly walked closer to the source of the noise, cautiously and quietly while I held on to my wand inside my pocket.
Once I turned to the corner of the couch, my eyes didn't fail to notice the pale foot of a human sprawled next to it. My eyes immediately widened.
I screamed.
Somebody got murdered! There's a dead body!
I immediately stepped back, screaming with the whole of my lungs as I stumbled on the table in fright.
"What the fucking hell's happening?"
My screaming died down when I heard a raspy voice say, I looked around in alarm. I feel my hand began to shake as I pointed my wand around.
I heard another groan, before I saw a hand clutch the back of the couch I was sitting at earlier, I quickly stepped back.
When I saw another hand, I couldn't help but close my eyes in fear, my other hand still pointing the wand at said direction.
I have never performed an exorcism or any prayer to banish demons, what should I do? I thought, panicked.
"Nicolette?"
I sneakily opened an eye, my panic immediately disappeared from what I saw. There was no ghost, or a zombie in front of me.
George Weasley was standing in front of me with a confused look, rubbing his eyes drunkenly. His hair was sticking around in places, there was a lipstick mark on his cheek and his well-defined torso is displayed, illuminated by the fire.
I immediately looked away in embarassment, feeling the rush to my cheeks all of a sudden, getting rid of the image in front of me.
"What are you doing here? And put some clothes on! Seriously, you can't just go on and snog girls in the common room." I quickly turned away, waiting for him to be fully clothed before I could face him again.
"Ah, I don't think I can do that." George let out a raspy chuckle. "Shit, I almost forgot.. alright. I've been dared by Lee, okay?"
I turned to him again in confusion, this time I tried to focus on his face. George let a hand ran through his hair in frustration. For some reason, he looked attractive at that moment.
Or it's probably just my hormones acting up.
"What?" I asked again, frowning.
"We've been drinking, and we played truth or dare. Lee thought it was funny to dare me to sleep in the common room with my upper body naked and a fake lipstick mark on my cheek.. just to embarass me in front of everybody so they'll think I've been snogging another girl again. He won't let me live down from being the ladies' man for two years." George chuckled before letting out a low groan, clutching his head. "Sorry.. hangover."
"It's alright, why don't you take a seat? You've been sleeping on the floor for a while now.. I assume." I gestured to the couch in front of me. George nodded silently, before plopping on the couch in a manspread.
"I actually thought I'd have to wait until morning to do this, but since you're here, I guess I'm lucky. Lee told me the dare wouldn't stop until someone sees me, so thank you." George shot me a grin while he ran a hand through his hair.
"You're welcome..?" I crossed an arm, walking a bit closer to the fireplace to keep myself warm.
"It probably sounds stupid, huh? A bunch of guys playing truth or dare." George raised an eyebrow, laughing.
"Not really, you should've seen Harry and Ron's dorm, they're eating those candies that produces a sound. Truth or dare's definitely better than that." I chuckled, looking at the fire. When I turned back, George was looking at me with an unreadable expression.
"What?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Have you been crying?" George squinted his eyes.
"No.. my eyes look normally like this. I'm a very expressive person." I shook my head in a convincing way, but George only gave me a smirk.
"You're a shit liar, you've been crying." George shook his head, before he patted the seat next to him. He glanced at me for a few seconds, then I didn't wait for him to do it again.
I sat beside him on the couch, making sure there was a distance between us.
I'm sure I could apply social distancing here too.
Before I could say anything, George quickly wrapped an arm around my waist, before he easily made me scoot closer to him like I was a bag of cotton.
Being a Quidditch player definitely pays off. If only I could take a little glance at his musc- Nicolette, behave.
"No need to get all shy, Coley. It's just you and me." George's lip curled, before he turned to me with a serious look. "Why were you crying?"
I looked at him for a second before I sighed, defeated.
"Just the case of the homesickness.. and existential crisis. Nothing much." I shook my head, darting my eyes on the fire with a sad smile.
"You wanna talk about it?" George said with a low yawn.
"Oh, it's fine.. I'm kinda okay now. I was just leaving." I scratched the itchy part from my cheek before I turned to George. "You should go to sleep, George. A hangover won't be nice tomorrow."
"Yeah, I probably should.." George drawled before standing up, stretching his muscles. I made sure to look away in respect.
I stood up slowly again, tucking my wand back in my pockets as I proceeded to walk into the dorms. My feet halt to a stop when I saw George standing on the stairs before the boys' dorms.
"Are you okay?" I raised an eyebrow when he stopped walking.
George quickly turned to me, then he wrapped his arms around me. My eyes widened a bit at his gesture but I leaned into his arms nonetheless.
"Figured you'd need it.. goodnight, Coley." George gave me a sneaky wink, before he headed towards the dorms.
I stood there for a second, before letting a smile drape over my face. I was glad there was someone for me unexpectedly, I didn't even know I needed the comfort.
Instead of walking up to the dorms with depression like I had planned earlier, I went to the dorms with a light heart and a calm mind, before resuming on my way in drifting off to dreamland.
"Wake up, Nicolette."
My eyes opened, and saw Hermione towering over me. I squinted for a few minutes before sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
"Good morning to you too, Hermione." I yawned.
"You better get dressed, you've skipped breakfast." Hermione sighed.
"What?" I frowned at her as I stared at the dim sky.
"It's the afternoon already, I tried waking you up earlier, you wouldn't even shift a bit!" Hermione crossed her arms as she adjusted her robes.
"Okay, okay.. fine." I stood up from my bed as I walked inside the dorm's bathroom, the cold tiled floor under my feet.
I passed by a full-body mirror, until I stopped to look again at myself. I widened my eyes, seeing a big red spot on my pajamas.
"Fuck!" I cussed as I inspected my blood-stained pajama shorts. I've completely forgot about my period!
I didn't expect to have my period continuously in the wizarding world at all, so this must've been why my body feels sore last night!
Which kinda explains the sad mood last night and my hormones acting weird around George.
Damn it. I've had embarrassing flashbacks at The Burrow when I stained my bed sheets.
I stripped out of my pajamas as I washed my stained shorts and underwear, then I took a bath after.
"Hermione," I called before walking out of the bathroom in a fluffy bathrobe.
"Yes?" Hermione turned to me, an opened book on her hands.
"Mother Nature decided to torture me today, do you have a napkin?" I sighed as I clenched on my bathrobe.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I only have a tampon." Hermione pursed her lips as she gave me an apologetic smile.
Hell no.
"Are you sure? Not even a napkin?" I felt my heart drop to my stomach again. I hate tampons.
I peeked out of the dorms to see if there were any Gryffindor ladies in sight, but there were none.
"I'm genuinely sorry, Nicolette." Hermione handed me a tampon as I sighed, I had no other choice.
I walked back inside the bathroom, mumbling. "Can't witches stop their periods and do some bippity boppity or something? I hate this."
I removed my bathrobe as I sat on the small bench, I closed my eyes, holding the tampon as I held it closer to my chamber of secrets.
I inhaled deeply, before exhaling as I entered the tampon inside, I bit my lip in discomfort.
I have to put it all inside, so I did it.
"Ow, this hurts like a bitch!" I yelled once it's fully inside, I felt teary-eyed at the small pain. I stood up as I walked like a penguin, only to slip on the wet floor.
I shrieked when my forehead hit the arm of the bench I was sitting on. I felt it pound as I gently grazed my fingers over it.
There was no bump, but there was indeed a scar.
"Are you okay, Nicolette?!" I heard from outside.
"No, I'm dying!" I yelled back as I stood up slowly this time, wrapping my body in the bathrobe then limping out of the bathroom.
Hermione was standing, looking at me with a concerned face, her book was now on the bed.
"Is this your first time wearing a tampon?" Hermione grimaced as she looked at me.
"No shit, Sherlock." I grumbled.
"If I had a napkin, I could've gave you one." Hermione shrugged.
"Honestly, this day feels like the 13th! Goodness." I scoffed as I put on my underwear then my robes. I combed my damp hair, hearing Hermione gasp.
"Oh Merlin!" Hermione pointed at me as I raised an eyebrow in question. "You've got a scar!"
"I know, I slipped on the floor and hit my head." I rolled my eyes while I wore my shoes, huffing.
"I'll consider you unlucky today, so be careful." Hermione jested.
"That's funny, really funny." I sassed.
"Now come on, Harry became even more famous, earned more supporters, earned more haters." Hermione sighed. "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
"It's definitely a bad thing." I said as we walked out of the dorms, out of the common room.
"What happened this morning, by the way?" I asked once we entered the Great Hall, Hermione said she'll accompany me for a while.
"Ron and Harry didn't want to speak to each other, they're being stubborn, than girls." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Have you tried convincing Ron to believe that Harry didn't put his name in?" I turned to her, shoving a spoonful of mashed potatoes in my mouth.
"No, but I did try convincing Harry to go talk to Ron, we talked in the Owlery earlier, he doesn't want to do the first move either." Hermione shrugged, eyes locked in her book.
"Both of them are being idiots for a reason, but Ron's excuse was just plain stupid, and pathetic. Harry expected Ron to believe him, but Ron did the opposite." I spoke, Hermione agreeing with every word I said.
"They're either stubborn, or they're just extremely prideful." Hermione shrugged as she slammed her book on the table, massaging her temples.
"Do we have to attend classes today? Can't we just not go to class? It's literally the Triwizard Tournament, I don't see why we have to resume our classes." I shifted on my seat, only to regret it when I felt the uncomfortable pinch in my private area.
"Of course we have, we won't be able to focus on our O.W.L.s next year when the tournament starts!" Hermione poked my forehead, immediately apologizing when she accidentally touched my scar.
"Care of Magical Creatures it is, then." I sighed as I stood up as Hermione smiled.
We walked out of the school, deciding to take a stroll since Care of Magical Creatures is still an hour away. I was about to say something when I heard an all too familiar voice.
"Why so tense, Potter?"
Oh, hell no.
I quickly turned around and saw Draco looking at Harry with a smug look while sitting on a tree.
"My father and I have a bet you see, I don't think you're going to last ten minutes in this tournament." Draco snickered.
"Hobbs." I mumbled as I stood straight up.
"He disagrees," Draco jumps down the tree as he walked closer to Harry. "He thinks you won't last five!"
"I don't give a damn about your father, Malfoy! He's vile, and cruel!" Harry retorted as I stood between them and pushed them away from each other.
"Shut up, both of you!" I roared as I glared at both. They seemed to be shocked at my sudden appearance, considering that I was absent earlier.
"Talk about vile, Potter? How'd you get in that tournament anyway? Cheating? Using dark magic?" Draco ignored my words as he scoffed.
"You don't even know anything about me, so shut up!" Harry spat.
"Both of you won't shut the fuck up, won't you?" I asked.
Of course, like two teenage girls, they continued to fight.
"Oh, I know you. I know you, very much. You're the boy who lived! The famous Harry Potter, who's suddenly entitled a hero because he was able to survive from the Dark Lord's killing curse. I wonder if your mudblood mother was disappointed with what you grew up to be." Draco smirked as Crabbe and Goyle laughed behind him, I realized the others weren't there.
"Hobbs, I told you to shut the hell up. Stop it." I said to Draco, who still didn't listen.
And now, I look so stupid like a statue standing between them.
"You know your mother, Malfoy? That expression she's got, like she's got dung under her nose, has she always looked like that, or was it because she's with you?" Harry raised an eyebrow with a small scoff.
"Don't you dare insult my mother, Potter." Draco growled.
"You insulted mine first, so we're equal." Harry nodded.
"Harry, just walk away." I told Harry before turning to Draco.
"Hobbs, just go. Just ignore him, and nothing bad will happen." I spoke.
"No, he shouldn't be let go of that fast when he's insulting my mother." Draco sneered at Harry as he put his hand inside his robes to find his wand.
I immediately grabbed his arm to stop him as I gave him a stern look.
"This wouldn't have happened if you didn't say anything in the first place." I spoke sternly.
"So you're defending Potter now, huh? Wouldn't be surprised, everyone's being there for him when he was revealed as the fourth champion. Go on, then. Go to your lovely Harry Potter, and leave me alone." Draco nodded as he scoffed with a small smirk.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I was trying to stop the both of you from fighting, and now you're mad just because I tried to defend my other friend from you who made the first move? Real mature, Draco." I huffed as I crossed my arms.
"I trusted you, I gave you the chance. I can't believe you're giving all of these up for a petty argument." Draco frowned.
"You're the one who's petty, why are you acting as if I betrayed you? Don't make this such a big deal, can't you just be mature for once? For the sake of peace?" I frowned at him as my eyebrows furrowed.
"Why would I listen to you? I can't believe I've been fooled in being friends with you, I feel so stupid. Just.. stay the hell away from me." Draco turned his back from me, I was about to grab him but I tripped on the dirty ground, almost falling if it wasn't for Harry and Hermione holding my arms.
I tried to stay strong, I hate being on my period, I get too emotional and it makes me weak. But Draco telling me to stay away hurt a little, I know, "mudblood" doesn't hurt at all but the other thing really does.
"Let's just go." I mumbled as I pulled the both of them. We flinched when a bright white light passed us not too far.
"Oh no you don't, laddie!"
We immediately turned back around when we saw Moody walk towards Draco, before turning him into a white ferret.
Everyone in the garden laughed in amusement as they watched Moody throw ferret Draco around like a puppet.
I heard Harry laugh amusingly while I couldn't find the strength to laugh, I felt so emotionally and physically drained.
"Come on, guys." I pulled the both of them as we walked out of the scene.
"I'm sorry for earlier, Nicolette." Harry spoke as the three of us walked side by side.
"It's fine, this was all a mistake." I replied, feeling the rush of the air went past me.
"I think we should meet Hagrid already." Hermione spoke.
"I..I think I'll skip class for today. My abdomen hurts from my period, need to rest. I've skipped the other classes earlier, anyway." I gave them a tired smile as I gave Hermione a look, in which she understood what it meant.
"Of course, get well, Nicolette." Hermione nodded at me before giving me a small wave.
"Have a good rest." Harry patted my shoulder as I walked away and headed back to the castle.
I walked up the stairs to the common room, I overheard some Gryffindors talking about Harry.
I can't believe I already ended my friendship with Draco in just a week. We became so close so fast, but it ended the same pace.
I don't know why I felt so disappointed and sad, it's probably just my period messing my emotions up again.
And it's because of a boy, I can't believe that I lost a friend. Am I doing this because I wanted to help him? Or was it because of my little mindset? My inner feminist is now yelling at me.
This is confusing as hell.
I was walking through the hallway until I felt a sharp pain in my head, it felt like a migraine.. but worse. I frowned, clutching my head as I leaned on the rock walls.
I felt my feet grow cold and my body felt hot, like I was dehydrated. I tried to walk again but my vision began to sway. The people in front of me were blurry and bright. I blinked, trying to clear up my vision, but nothing happened.
I walked farther, trying to reach the common room as fast as I could but I only felt like my body was swaying out of balance. Vision's blurry, my hearing felt like it was blocked with multiple cotton balls.
My hands felt cold and clammy, my face felt very numb. My breath was getting quicker every second.
A pit formed in my stomach, making me walk quicker this time. I just wanted to go back to the dorms to rest.
This time, I had no choice but to stop because the pain became unbearable. I've had several panic attacks and I was able to control them myself, but this.. I don't know what this is.
My hands pressed harder on the concrete walls of Hogwarts, I silently whimpered while I closed my eyes tightly, hoping when I opened my eyes, everything would be fine.
But when I opened it, I think it only got worse.
My blurry vision managed to make out a person with long hair and was covered in black and yellow, I couldn't make out their expression but their hands were out cautiously as if trying to help me.
"She needs help! Please!" A sound came out of her mouth, but I couldn't understand it due to the pain in my whole body, my vision getting even brighter as time passed.
I started to slowly feel my mind separating from my body.
The last thing I could remember were long arms catching me before my body fully hit the pavement, and the smell of cocoa.