Blood is thicker than water
Coras pov (yes i know you missed her):
After that talk I had with the twins - I was determined to go make things right with Laurie but when I arrived at my dormitory she wasn't there. Luckily enough I was more determined to sleep than do anything else.
I woke up the next morning, after having the best sleep since the start of the school year, to Laurie getting ready for the next 6 hours of classes. All the girls that reside in the room already went to have breakfast in the great hall. Luck was on my side that day.
"Laurie—?" I rub my eyes trying to get a hold of my surroundings. "I don't know if you—" yawn "—realised, but we need to talk,"
"Talk? Talk about what?" Laurie replies rather hastily. She tries to distract herself with books by flicking through them in a rush.
"I think you already know," I smile to myself, humored by her fake lack of awareness. "I'm sorry. I don't know what was going through my head when I tried to ignore you. I mean it's not everyday your best friends accuse you of something so vile. But it still doesn't excuse my actions. Please Laurie forgive me...you don't even have to talk to me for the rest of your life but what you did? For me? You didn't have to do it yet you did and I am so thankfu—" I get cut off.
Lauries arms wrap around my shoulders and my arms instinctively wrap around her waist in a tight hug.
"I was talking a bit too much, wasn't I?" I mutter to her with my voice full of emotion. Pfffftttt please. I was not crying.
I wasn't. I think.
Laurie lets out a small laugh with a little sniffle after she finishes. "This is supposed to be emotional Cora."
"Yeah yeah,"
And we kinda stood there for a few minutes. Making up for all the other times. Oh how am I so blessed with a best friend like Laurie?
You'd think a week after saving someone from dying and maybe nearly dying yourself would be enough to get ready for your team's first quidditch match of the year. Sadly, it wasn't. If you haven't guessed yet, it was my team's first quidditch match of the year. Against Slytherin. Also, have I said it was my team's first quidditch match of the year?
We walked out of the changing room all clad in our gear and were welcomed with a roaring crowd. I mean I was pretty confident going against the Slytherins but, and a big one I may add, Draco was the seeker for the Slytherins and well, Cho was ours. A huge difference in skill. Cho was more tactical but Draco? The one thing I hate most about him is that he's a big cheater. With his skill combined with that? Cho had no chance.
"Everyone and I mean everyone is relying on the Ravenclaw chasers this round!" Ron shouted over the cheering crowds to Harry and Hermione. "George told me nearly all the bets went to Davies and Cora. I mean that's a lot to have on your shoulders don't ya think?"
"Why not Cho? I mean she's a great seeker, no?" Hermione shouts back to Ron.
"No she's good an' all but not with how dirty the Slytherins play." Harry replies for Ron.
I race through the Slytherins to score my 12th goal. I successfully score but I look in the corner of my eye to see Draco getting closer and closer to the snitch. Curse my brain from getting distracted easily because right after I look back I come face to face with a bludger. Perfect.
"Luckily enough we won by a mere graze." A voice I recognised to be davies.
"Yeah what was it? Cora scored 12 and both you and Leo 6?"
I blink open my eyes to see several people around me. Harry, Fred, George, Draco and Davies.
"We won?" I blurt out.
"Well our champion has awoken," Davies smiles.
"I don't feel like one. None of you have been decent enough to put me on a bed?" I gesture towards the grass I've been laying on.
"Calm down it's been what 5 minutes?" The team captain replies. I put the subject down and carry a new one.
"Draco got the snitch?" Judging by the nod coming from him, he did.
"But we still won." A cocky smile forms on my face as I get back up. " Okay now, where's the bastard that knocked me? I need to have a little talk with him. You coming with me or what?" I look at the twins.
"Right behind you sparrow," The handsome, red-headed twin concludes.
It was a little—no—extremely stressful to find the perfect present for a close friend. I mean if you weren't that close to them but they were still your friend? A box o' chocolate and a card will do them good. But Laurie? Fred, George? Merlin help me.
That on top of everything else. My Dad. The dementors. Harry. Voldemort. The whole school? I told ya it was gonna be a hell of a year. But poor Harry. He's in the center of it all. Scarhead can't seem to catch a break.
The Gryffindor common room welcomes me with the horrifying smell of dung bombs which can only mean it was a victim of Fred and George.
"Cora! My Fair maiden! What brings you here in my humble abode on this fine day?" George breaks out.
"Well, my knight in shining armor—this damsel did not feel the idea of strolling towards the dining area alone, pleasant," I answered elegantly.
"I see— hey charlie! I better hope that's not you trying to steal my bogey-picker!"
I laugh.
"Music to my ears, little sparrow," the familiar voice calls to me.
"I'm surprised you're not used to it," I turn to look at him. Smiling. Sweet smile. Sweet, beautiful smile plastered on his face. If only he'd use it for-
"Harry seems a bit on edge recently. Ron told me in his stupid little rants." The boy informs. Thankfully he cut me off before I said something a bit less family friendly.
"Oh." My eyes lose focus out of thought contemplating what it must be. "Ill—Ill be right back, I'm sorry." I conclude sheepishly.
"Not a problem sparrow. Only if you join us for lunch. Otherwise it will be one."
"I best make it quick then." I joke while walking backwards towards the boys dormitory. Before me were Hermione and Ron muttering quietly to each other before they opened the door to the dormitory I suspected was Harry's. What? It was a huge castle and obviously I wouldn't know where his room was.
I stumble forward taking a peek through the door to see Harry pretending to sleep.
"Harry you—you look terrible,"
He didn't reply but only kept his eyes closed hoping they'd go away. Like he was waiting for someone else to check up on him.
His two friends turn away and walk back towards the door to exit as I back up to make way for them. Hermione looks up to give me a pleading look. I reply with an understanding nod and make my way into the room.
The first thing I noticed was a picture on Harry's bed side table. I get closer and I realise it was...his parents. A picture of all their friends. My parents.
"I'm guessing you know now," I mutter sitting on the edge of his bed. "You don't have to pretend—with me here. Never."
I smile at him watching the boy flutter his eyes open and looking straight at the picture of the newly wedded couple.
"He was their Best-Friend. How could he?" He replies with a sore voice full of anger. I go around to grab the frame and sit on the free spot next to Harry before he sits up.
"I—I don't know." I look down picking on my nails with the picture on my lap. Cora Black doesn't know? Please. I'm joking. But that's impossible....I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Thats your mum. Right?" He says pointing to a woman next to Lily. With the most beautiful smile known to mankind. Anyone could fall in love with her long silky black hair, blue eyes and a flower crown tilted on her head. It was hard to notice from the quality of the paper but there was a baby in her arms. Probably me. Who am I kidding? Ofcourse it was me. "But you look more like your dad," he chuckles.
"I can say the same to you," I bump shoulders with him. I look down at the picture and see my father looking the most handsome I've ever seen him. 13 years of prison can definitely ruin that. I put my arm around Harry, letting his head fall on my shoulders.
It was a small mutter but loud enough so I could hear. "Thank you, Cory,"
Tis was the night, the only sleep I got was full of nightmares full of...Ding! Ding! Ding! You got it! Sirius Black.
I wake up to an empty dormitory except with Laurie reading a book in the corner with her normal clothes. It was the first day of the Christmas Holiday.
"I'm hungry," I groan, rubbing my eyes.
"Ah finally, you're awake," in a bored voice. "Get ready, it's nearly lunch." I get up to clean my bed and I never clean my bed. Only when I have something on my mind and it seems that Laurie picked up on it these past few years.
"Cor...what happened?" She asks as she walks up to me.
"Nothing nothing. I don't want to burden you with anything." I smile nervously as I straighten my sheets. She grabs my shoulders and makes me face her.
"Oh Cora...your eyes. You haven't slept at all have you? Nightmares?" I nod sheepishly. She puts her arms around my shoulders and squeezes me in a hug. Sometimes it's all you need. Sometimes it's not enough.
"Let's eat lunch and afterwards we can go make a potion that can help with your sleep. Yeah?" She pulls away for my answer.
"Yeah."
"Cora!" Screaming. Voldemort. Mother. Betrayal. Betrayal. Will I be betrayed? Or do I betray? Will I live? I will live. I will live. I will. I will. Mother. Do I love her? Or do I love the idea of her. A mother that will care and cherish me. Despite everything. Despite being me.
Betrayal is calling me. Do I answer or do I pass it on? What if it's Love. Love is calling me. Do I answer or do I pass it on. I answer but it hangs up before I do. "Cora!"
"Cora? Coraaaaaa," Fred prods.
"I'm going after him," I stop in the middle of the hallway.
"After who? You do know Vinny was joking-" George exclaims.
"No not him," I reply with my head still in thought as I continue to walk. "Don't worry about it. Anyways, what did Ron say again?"
"If you say so. You know how that hippogriff nearly ripped off Malfoy's arm? Well apparently the Ministry's gonna get it killed because he snitched."
"What? Oh Draco that absolute idiot," I rub my hand down my face in annoyance.
"They were pretty devastated y'know. But you know them—they're gonna find a solution for it. One way or another." Fred reassures.
Ah the beautiful morning of Christmas. A day full of hope and wonder but by no means had I forgotten my father. Revenge was on my mind despite what day it was.
"Laurie! Laurie! Get up. Presents!" I shake the poor girl away.
"Ok ok I'm up," she groans from her pillow.
"Quick. Fred and George are gonna open the presents without us like last year." The prodding made Laurie up and ready 10 minutes quicker than she normally takes. I drag the green jumper with my first initial on it. A wonderful present from the Weasley's. I grab the presents from my bedside. Two of them were for me. One was anonymous, one was clearly from Kyle and the rest were my gifts for my friends.
We both run to the Gryffindor common room. Literally. We ran like Olympic star athletes. I mean we did but both me and Laurie got a stitch halfway through.
"Not to fear—Cora—and—Laurie—have arrived." I blurted out breathlessly as I savored my last bits of oxygen.
"If you were two minutes late we would've done it without you sparrow." Fred chuckles leaning on the couch.
"Yeah, yeah" I make my way round to the fireplace sitting in a circle. "Now who wants to open their presents first?"
"I'm getting this over and done with. The suspense is killing me." Laurie calls out grabbing the gift with her name on it.
The paper unravels revealing a new set of winter clothes and a box of her favourite chocolate. "Cora, you angel sent from heaven!" She attacks me in a hug.
"It's—the least I could do," I smile.
"Open ours now." Laurie opens the next present filled with pranks. "Girls like that stuff don't they?" George asks.
"Well I mean you were blabbering about Cedric and how much you hate him so...here's our gift from us to you—to him." Fred explains.
"Oh you neeks. Thank you." She smiles at their thoughtfulness.
"Nowww Fred, George. Open your wonderful gift from me." I throw their gifts at them. Like literally. I threw them. Luckily George caught them otherwise one of the two would've had a major concussion.
They open their presents like wild dogs. Due to excitement, and my bum hurting from sitting on the floor for too long, I sat up on the couch.
"A broom cleaning kit and gloves. Those stuff are expensive...you've really outdone yourself Cora." George beams like a little puppy.
"Im speechless. How do I thank you?" Fred says, staring at the gift in awe and a smile. Looking at your face is more than enough. Cough cough. PFFFT. Chill out DONT make it weird please.
"Give me a kiss and you won't need to." I said sarcastically . And stupidly. In the corner of my eye a huge smirk is plastered on Laurie's face. Life is not fair when you blurt out stupid things like me.
But sometimes I love life.
Fred comes up to my side and gives me a soft kiss on the right side of my face.
Heheeheheheheheheheheheheheehehehehehehehehehehheheheheheheehehheheeheheheheheh.
Teenage girls, am I right or am I right.
My brain resets. Everything I knew now just vanished from one kiss. This sparkling sensation of his lips just lingered there hoping for another one. I was waiting for him to confess his love for me so we could get married, go on a honeymoon, have babi- sorry. But he just sat down and continued to open his broom cleaning kit.
It was my turn next. I opened the presents from my friends around the school before I opened the trios'.Laurie gifted me my favourite sweets and surprisingly, Fred so sweetly learnt how to knit a scarf for me.
"But when..did you learn how to knit..?" I study the blue and black scarf filled with little holes but overall it was beautiful in my eyes knowing Fred made it himself.
"I see my mum knitting all the time and it was pretty easy to get the gist of it y'know? Is it that bad?" Fred rubs his palm on the back of his neck nervously.
"No no. It's beautiful Fred. Really." I smile softly at him and he replies with the same.
"I'm gonna throw up just kiss already," Laurie groans. I was about to argue but George interrupts.
"There's one more left," I notice where his eyes are pointing at and I grab the eery, black box with the card stuck onto it. A strong aura was radiating off it. It felt safe like it was almost pulling me towards it and not just because I wanted to know what it was.
I rip off the beige card and open it.
Blood is thicker than water.
Blood is thicker than water?
Blood is thicker than water.
"Cora what is it?" Laurie prods softly.
Blood is thicker than water. Who could it be?
"Nothing. It's nothing. Let's open the present shall we,"
The expensive case opens richly revealing a jeweled necklace. It was simple in a complex way. But I wouldn't deny it was beautiful. I got lost in those very diamonds. It took me long to realise but this necklace was the one I saw at the start of the year through the shop window.
But who bought this for me? Certainly not Harry because of the weird letter. I'd be surprised he even had the money for this.
"That's... wow. Who is it from? How-how did they get that? Laurie was as confused as me.
"I don't know but I definitely hit the jackpot." The necklace looked priceless to the point where it felt wrong to touch it.
I close the box and grab my belongings. As I do that I see Harry walk into the common room with a large broom and his two friends beside him. I lock eyes with Hermione's worried ones.
"Over here you three!" I call out. The trio trail towards me with Harry's new broom taking over the whole Gryffindor common room. "What's that you got there?"
"Erm—" but before Harry could reply Ron forced his eyes away from the broom to blabber.
"Harry's got the new firebolt! Look at it! Isn't it just so beautiful..."
"Firebolt? Aren't those like- a gajillion gallons?"
"Yeah, but someone was rich enough to gift this to Harry."
"Someone? Wait. You mean you don't know who got this for you Harry?"
"I—" and once again Ron took over.
"No, but who cares!? It's a bloody Firebolt Cora," I understood Hermione's worry more and more now. I turn to Harry and notice his weary look.
"Maybe I should check for any curses on the broom—it could be dangerous, Harry." I consider waiting for Harry's response.
"Gosh you're sounding more like Hermione. She wants to give it to professor Mcgonagall for Merlin knows what.."
Ron once again interrupts.
"But she's right. Ron. She actually cares for Harry's safety," I regard in a surprisingly harsh manner. "And I do too." I say softly to Harry.
"Are you sure you don't know who sent it to you? Not even a letter?"
"No one I know could afford this kind of broom," Harry replies quietly.
Sadly, I have an idea on who could. Though you might not like it. Might.