Fred
As we were nearing the end of the holiday, Cynthia and Annalise started spending more and more time together. Interesting. So I decided to investigate.
It was New Year’s Eve, and many students had asked (read as: begged) Professor McGonagall to let them have another party in the Great Hall, since the first one ended rather abruptly. She agreed, solely because they kept bugging her about it.
Annalise had insisted that she stayed at school, despite her parents’ requests. Cynthia had told her about the party, and they both came. Victoir had gone home for the holidays, so Teddy went with James and Alice. The poor girl had to third-wheel the whole night. Honestly, nothing can stop that bromance.
Petra Bea went home, too, so I had nothing better to do than spy on my friend. Can you really blame me?
I found them at a table in the far corner of the Great Hall. They were just…talking. Like normal people. I sat down at a nearby table and tried my best to listen in.
“…it’s not like he doesn’t like me,” Annalise was saying, “He just doesn’t know how to have social interactions.”
“Okay, but has he ever had a meaningful conversation with you?” Cynthia asked.
“No, but…that doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Cynthia hesitated, “It kind of does. I just don’t think he’s really a good friend if he—” she stopped herself, “I’m sorry that’s not any of my business.”
Annalise sighed, “No, you’re right. He’s kind of a dick.” she took a sip of her drink.
Cynthia glanced up at the giant ball-drop tower that someone had projected onto the ceiling, “Five minutes till midnight.” she noted, “Wanna ditch this and go hang out in the library or something?”
Annalise let out a relieved sigh, “Yes, please.”
They got up to leave, so, naturally, I followed. When I got there, Annalise said, “Tell me three things about you that I don’t already know.”
“Well…” Cynthia thought for a moment, “One: I have gay dads. Two: I am adopted, and they were expecting me to be a muggle, but I just happened to be a witch. And three… oh, I have a deaf little brother so I know a lot of BSL.”
“That’s actually really cool.” Annalise said, sounding generally interested, “What’s his name?”
“Nolan. He’s thirteen. And he’s a muggle. He’s also adopted.” Cynthia said, “What about you? Tell me three things about yourself.”
“I take fencing lessons over the summer. I am allergic to parsley. And I still have a blanket that I got when I was like two.”
Cynthia’s watch beeped, interrupting their conversation. She glanced down at it and then back up at Annalise, “Happy new year.” she said. They stared into each other’s eyes for a few seconds before Annalise pulled Cynthia in for a kiss.
I’ll admit, I had an internal fan-girl moment. I wanted to jump out and shout, “Happy new year,” and bother them a ton, but someone grabbed me and pulled me into a dark corner of the library, ruining my flawless plan.
“It’s not very nice to spy.” they whispered in my ear. They covered my mouth with their hand as Cynthia and Annalise ran past, holding hands and smiling like a cute little couple should.
I moved their hand away, “I wasn’t spying, I was discovering my new favourite couple.” I explained.
The person, probably a boy by the sound of his voice, chuckled darkly, “It’s all the same. You ruined a great plan. So to make sure you don’t ruin any more…” he covered my mouth with one hand again, moving his free one to my eye.
“Don’t move.” he whispered menacingly before he wrapped his fingers around the side of my eyeball and pulled. It was beyond incredibly painful. It was like stinging and burning, an inflammatory headache of searing pain. He kept pulling and pulling until the optic nerve just snapped. My eye popped out and he turned it over in his hand, as if admiring it.
My eye socket was bleeding a ton, and I moved my hand up to try to slow the bleeding. The person stood up and walked out of the library, leaving me with no eye, and no depth perception.
After a moment of just sitting there in shock and pain, wondering what the hell just happened, I stood up and staggered out of the library. I quickly found Cynthia and Annalise again talking amongst the crowd and, ignoring the blood dripping down my face, I hugged them both and said, “You two are my favourite couple now.”
Cynthia sighed, “How much of that conversation did you—” she stopped when she got a good look at my face, “Merlin’s beard, what the hell happened to you?”
I shrugged, “Someone ripped out my eye. But anyway, are you two officially dating yet?”
“No, we’re not, and you can’t just tell us that someone ripped out your eye and give no context. I hardly even know you, but still.” Annalise said.
I sighed, “Petra Bea isn’t here, so I was bored, so I was listening in on your conversation. And then you kissed and I almost jumped out right then, but someone grabbed me and ripped my eye out. He said I ruined his plan, but he ruined mine, too.”
“You’re bleeding a lot, do you wanna sit down?” Cynthia offered.
“No, I’m fine.” I assured her.
“Sit down.” she said more firmly and practically dragged me to Teddy, James, and Alice’s table.
“What the hell, are you okay?” Teddy asked when I sat down across from him. At least, I think I was across from him. It was kinda hard to tell with the room spinning.
“Yes, I’m fine. Why is everyone so worried?”
“Because your fucking eye is missing.” James reminded me.
“It doesn’t even hurt that bad.” I told them, “I just have a splitting headache, and I can’t really see straight, and I feel lightheaded…okay, so maybe I’m not great, but—”
“But what?” Alice interrupted, “How did you even lose your eye? How does that happen?”
“He didn’t lose it, someone ripped it out.” Annalise told them. She and Cynthia had sat down at the table as well.
“That is ten times worse.” Teddy said.
“Damn, you’re bleeding all over the place.” James noted, handing me a napkin. Even with my eyelid closed, the napkin turned red fairly quickly.
“We need to bring you to the Hospital Wing, mate.” Teddy suggested.
“Yes. Brilliant idea.” Cynthia agreed.
“I don’t think it’s that serious.” I told them.
“Too bad.” Alice said. James grabbed my arm and yanked me out of my seat.
The whole group started walking me to the Hospital Wing, which I thought was pretty sweet, yet unnecessary. When we were about halfway there, I started stumbling a bit more. I tried to ignore the fact that the corridor was spinning, “Can we take a short little break?” I asked.
The others all looked at me. Their faces were blurry, but I could tell they looked worried. I can’t say for sure, but I think their worry probably grew when I passed out two seconds later.