Backfire • Cedric Diggory [✓]

• TWENTY-ONE •

    After spending the entire afternoon with Aurora, Holland felt a bit relieved. She'd lost a friend who was potentially a lover, but regained a friend. It was true when they said that when one door closes, another one opens. What was Holland supposed to do with a boyfriend anyway? Friends will always last you a lifetime, that's for sure. And they don't go around drinking love potions to make you look like a complete idiot either. But of course, a slight relief did not take Holland's attention away from how she was really feeling. Holland was now in the Great Hall, too stubborn to sit next to the twins, and was now with Draco. She had yet to tell the platinum blond about the recent incident, but all Holland could do was put her head on his shoulder and stare off into nothingness in despair. Holland hadn't gone to meet with Cedric, no longer caring if the ghouls would notify Sprout and Snape, Cedric could most likely figure out the last task on his own. Holland had no plans on ever setting foot within 10 feet near the boy. Not now, not ever.

    "You're going to have to at least have a bit of water in you." Draco says before taking a bite of his toast. "If you don't, everyone else will think I'm the one who's got you like this. They're looking, you know."

    "Who's they?" Holland asks in a bored tone, only half-listening.        

    "Who else?" He says, rolling his eyes.

    "Well, whatever, then." Holland retorts, not even bothering to check on the two boys who were allegedly looking at her. If she looked at one, she would have met the golden brown eyes of the golden boy who'd been staring at her in despair, wanting nothing but to run over to her and talk to her, not necessarily about the incident, but about anything. He would do anything to speak to her, it didn't matter about what. If she looked at the other, she would have seen the deep brown eyes that stared at her longingly, hoping she was alright while he ignored the calls of his twin brother desperately trying to gain his attention.

    "This can't be good. I couldn't give less of a fuck about either, but something's not right with you." Draco concludes, eyeing the friend whose head was on his right shoulder.

    "Thank you for that wonderful insight, Draco. I had no idea." Holland retorts, not in the mood to get into her situation. Draco blew air out of his nose in frustration, moving slightly to the left so Holland could lift her head up as he looked right at her.

    "Well I'm bloody well aware you're fully knowledgable of your current state. I meant me. Me, Holland. One of your best friends and you're keeping me in the dark. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to watch you mope around whilst I have no idea how I could even help you? How useless that makes me look?" The boy practically spat, Holland jumping back as the outburst startled her.

"Don't think keeping you out of it is as easy as you think, Draco. Don't you dare." Holland fights back lamely, not having the energy to be in a fighting spirit. Draco's eyes soften slightly at the girl, before hardening his face once more.

"Don't you think it's easier to talk about it? Ever thought of that?" Draco sneered, Holland rolling her eyes. Draco had officially gotten on her last nerve.

"I have talked to you about it, but I'm so bloody fucking sorry then!" Holland yells out, gaining the attention of a few other students from the other houses. "Not like I have so much on my mind. My apologies for not putting you on the top of the list of priorities I have!" Holland snaps, rising from the bench and leaving, not caring about the look of warning the greasy-haired Slytherin head was giving her. Holland was fuming, walking hastily in the middle isle of the hall, not caring about the looks that had stayed on her as she did. She hated that this was the reason she had gained attention, but she knew it was best not to say anything about it. Holland was just done, completely over all the bullshit the world had been giving her. Holland had a slight hunch that one of two 6th years would follow after her to ask if she was okay, but as the giant doors of the hall closed behind her, Holland frowned at the realization that neither had actually done so. She knew the walk would be murder, as the Astronomy tower was so far away, but she knew there was simply no other place to hide out in.