Backfire

"Now, as apparent as matters already are, you are all here as a consequence to your poor behaviour in your classes," His cold eyes rest on a student, then narrows them to another, "or perhaps in the corridors." Snape drawls raising his eyebrows, then eyeing every single student who had managed to score the afternoon with him. It was about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Holland's small fingers found their way to her necktie and began to adjust it to a looser fit before fiddling with it, a mannerism she had when she realized she needed to stop biting her nails and tapping her foot when she was getting impatient.

"Or if you're anything like Miss Avery and Mister Diggory here, you might have been caught foolishly waving wands and incantations that result to no actual positive significance to one's future." Holland inwardly groaned, wanting to be outside if it weren't for the detention she had landed herself in. At the end of the day, she'd remember that she had hexed Hufflepuf's golden boy Cedric Diggory once more, and managed to get him in trouble as well. Therefore, also remembering that this would be worth it.

Girls from all houses had him in burning at the bottoms of their chests with desire, and boys from all houses wanted to be at least a tad bit like him. But dare she say it, Holland Avery just did not find herself understanding what the girls would all fuss about. She may have long, brown locks of hair she takes care of, fingernails she tended to everyday, daily routines that she made sure would accomplish, and all that other complete sexist nonsense that made her eligible to be a so-called "average girl", but nevertheless, she wasn't as gullible as everyone else in Hogwarts.

On a less sugar-coated note, she wasn't an idiot. She immediately saw through his Prince Charming personality, his Prince Charming charm, Prince Charming looks, and she wasn't convinced he was truly the boy the entirety of Hogwarts paints him out to be. She wanted nothing but to wipe that permanent grin off his face, to drain his chiseled cheeks of the permanent boyish scarlet that everyone fawned over. Her first year in Hogwarts, she couldn't even stand the mere sight of him. She didn't put effort in keeping her extreme disdain to herself, either.

But Cedric being the annoyingly understanding boy he had always been, he simply let her be. Especially since she was two years younger and could have been just having a hard time adjusting in school. Even when he realized she just really wasn't fond of him, he never did anything about it, and Holland saw no problem in that at all. She was pleased, even.

Holland was at peace knowing she could hate him, not speak to him, and live the rest of her life in Hogwarts that way unbothered by him. Until that one afternoon in the Great Hall her second year, Cedric's practice for Transfiguration wherein he had to replace his cup of water with a cup of Goblin slime managed to turn into a messy Holland Avery, having just emerged from the doors of the dining hall, with her neat and pretty hair and robes tidied up as she was ready to bat her eyes at George Weasley. She turned her head as she began to look for the culprit of the vile crime, eyes landing on the frazzled Hufflepuff. Before the boy could apologize nor explain himself, she immediately hexed back her favorite bat-bogey spell, a signature of none other than Ginevra Weasley. It left Cedric a mess in the hall, and both of them in front of Professor Snape, Professor Sprout, and Professor Dumbledore that night.

Holland's 12-year-old self promised herself to never let Cedric Diggory forget what he did to her, nor forget to not try crossing her again. She knew she had to get back at him, and it had to be a revenge that would last a lifetime. Mortified at the memory of being seen as a slime-covered hag in front of George, she would and couldn't ever let the boy live it down. That being said, she saw to it that annually, she were to leave Cedric little surprise hexes to make sure he remembered her. And with Holland's tricky scheming nature, it was inevitable that she befriended the Weasley twins, as it was their expertise, after all. And in time, Holland's infatuation with George grew even more.

In Holland's third year, her strategically thought-out second gift to him was a dungbomb in his trunk as he was about to enter the Hogwarts express back to London. She knew she wouldn't see the beauty of her gift take place, but she was happy nonetheless having been positive that it was a success. Not that she had been doubtful, but she felt even more accomplished when her encounter with him on her first day back in Hogwarts in her fourth year, was to be greeted by him and his narrowed eyes. There was a new sense of achievement and elation as Holland had finally managed to meet the boy sporting such a look of disdain, anger, and even disgust.

They were in the Great Hall, listening to Dumbledore's welcoming speech to the first years. The bouncing, apprehensive first years lining up and waiting to be sorted, the Great Hall illuminated by countless, levitating candles with wondrous amounts of food laying in front of the students. Cedric had just shot her a look of contempt and disapproval before tearing his eyes away. To this, Holland begins to shake her head, smiling to herself. He definitely got her present, and he got it good. To that, she greets him back with her sweetest, most vicious smile, raising her cup at him. Cedric had to grit his teeth so he could hide the smirk that almost formed on his face.

Little did she know, that while she was too busy celebrating and gloating in the glory of her gift for him, he had wordlessly charmed a wicked miniature in her cup. She broke eye contact so she could talk to her friends, but Cedric returned and kept his gaze right on her. Her eyes drifted towards the cup as her lips met with the cup. Processing the sight before her, she lets out a shrill scream as she drops the cup hastily, gaining the attention of each and every single person in the dining area. The hall fell silent, and all anybody could hear were the last few echoes of Dumbledore's interrupted speech, and the ringing of the still-upright cup that Holland had just dropped.

"What is going on over there?" McGonagall roars. "Miss Avery, would you care to explain what commotion has taken place in that table for you to serenade them with that wailing of yours?" The professor demands, not even questioning the fact that a Slytherin is at the Gryffindor table.

"There's a snake in my cup!" She began to explain desperately, pointing at the cup. Her eyes were filled with tears. Cedric had foreseen that this would happen, so while the girl was expressing what she'd seen in her cup, he'd quickly aim his wand at it and dispose of the snake at once. It was the perfect time and angle for Cedric to cast the spell to rid of the snake. Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley were next to her and rubbing her back soothingly, while Ron and Harry took turns pointing a finger at who should take a peek in the cup. Fred and George, though Holland's bestest friends, were quite amused that there might be a snake at their table, and were already discussing possible names to call it.

"That is absolutely ridiculous, Miss Avery. Out of all the years I have been teaching in Hogwarts, there had been not one student to ever say those words in this hall." McGonagall retaliates calmly, lips pursing and almost forming a straight line to prove just how unnecessary she found the scene was.

"I swear, it's true! I know Hogwarts would never let snakes in the kitchen, but I saw it with my own eyes. I swear on it, professor." Holland tries to explain, voice wavering in shame. Holland glances at the professors' tables, flushing at the sight of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher taking in the scene with a look of confusion. Holland couldn't help but notice how wonderful he'd been o the train, being helpful to Harry when he'd been attacked by those dementors, and even conjuring a wordless, corporeal Patronus.

From then, she was sure she'd somehow be successful in being a favorite student of his having known a lot of defense spells and have read up on Patronuses, but because of this outburst, Holland couldn't even bring herself to think that she could even attend his class without having the urge to throw a paper bag over her head. Professor Snape, her house head, tilts his head to the side, wondering what on earth could be going on with his troubled student. He tusks to himself before taking matters to his own hands, pulling up his sleeves before striding over to Holland and her cup.

"Let me take a look, maybe it was planted there." Hermione says softly to her friend. Avery pushes the cup towards the bushy haired witch carefully, not even wanting to hold it before slumping down the bench in embarrassment.

"Let me, Miss Granger." Snape says coldly, grabbing the cup from Hermione's grasp. Harry and Ron trying their best to regulate their breaths, not wanting to broadcast to the entire hall that a bloody snake's got them so shaken up. The Slytherin table was quiet and watching carefully in curiosity. If this were any other student, the Slytherins would definitely get a laugh out of this, but Holland was not only one of their own, but one of their toughest housemates, not even Draco could bark an insult her way without quivering in fear once she'd retaliated. Not that that's saying much.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats in anticipation, curious about the snake in the cup. Students whispering to one another, first years shaking in their seats and wondering just how often snakes could appear in cups so randomly. "Well, what is there, Severus?" McGonagall asks the potions professor.

"It's empty, professor." Snape says, face somehow blank as his eyebrows lift in what seemed like surprise, then contorting to a look of his usual disdain. He turns to look at his student, not bothering to hide how ashamed he was to be her house head.

"That can't be. Hermione, you take a look! I saw it." Holland thrusts the cup to her bushy haired witch, who had scratched the back of her neck before taking a peak.

"I- er..." Hermione stammers. She believed every word to come out of her best friend's mouth, but what was in the cup before her, was definitely not the snake-inhabited goblet that Holland had claimed. "It's empty." She shook her head in a mixture of disbelief and confusion. "Holly, there's nothing in here." She grabs her friend's hand. The entire hall erupts in chatter, laughter, and expressions of disbelief. Who knew Holland Avery were the type to seek attention, and in such a manner, too?

"She's not insane." Ginny speaks loudly with that intimidating, but still squeaky voice of hers, already being gutsy at the age of twelve . "Quit laughing. Someone clearly casted a spell." She says, but to no avail. As Ginny spoke, Holland wipes the tears away in her eyes and immediately glares at Cedric, realizing it was him. And replaying their first encounter that night, Cedric raises his cup at her with his usual smile, as that was his sweetest smile.

"10 points from Slytherin." McGonagall sighs, disappointed with the girl who was now shrinking down in embarrassment.

"Right," Dumbledore speaks, to get the attention away from the disoriented Slytherin. "As I was saying,"

Holland rolls her eyes at the memory of her choosing to actually show herself so vulnerable and manic in front of that many people. She adjusts to the high chair she was propped up on, proceeding to pretend to be listening to the greasy haired professor in front of her. The classroom resembled the Slytherin common room well, making it easy for Holland to feel like she was only here to kill some time. She silently wished that there would be windows showing the occasional flowing, curling, and dancing tentacles of the giant squid, as watching it could actually help her kill time. It was a cold, almost wet-like dungeon of a room, shelves of various ingredients, dead and alive, some shelves containing books, and some shelves containing containers.

The windows were tinted, the room barely having any light that weren't from the dim torches, walls purely of dark stone, and a tinge of green lights up the room, almost like an evil lair they'd depict in those muggle books Holland loved to immerse herself in during the holidays. Holland felt at home, finding comfort and peace in the potions classroom. It honestly just felt like another good time at potions with the grumpy professor.

"You will not speak, move, or even dare to imagine about whipping out your wands. May it be for toying, let alone a real spell." He hisses, eyeing a random student. Holland was sitting peacefully, glad nobody was seated to her right. On her left, was the boy she'd just gotten in trouble, giving him his first ever dose of detention. Holland feels herself shift in her high seat, not comfortable in the silence despite the number of people in the room. Metal screeches against the stone ground as her chair had been removed of its rubber stoppers due to years of use, making an embarrassingly loud creak before all heads to snap her direction. Holland smiles sheepishly before immediately dropping the kind gesture as her eyes meet Cedric's.

After about 15 minutes, Holland began to feel her throat constricting in thirst. It had been a struggle troubling her the entire day. She did not have a chance to drink anything since she'd woken up. Holland began to wince as she could actually feel the texture of her tonsils with how dry her throat was. Courageously, she raised her hand. The gesture causing the long haired professor to raise his eyebrows. He was already seated behind his desk, his attention deeply invested in the book he was holding. Holland knew better than to disrupt the man's reading time, but the discomfort had been nagging at her almost the same way how Collin Creevey nags Harry Potter for a photograph.

"I do hope this is urgent." He says, eyes not even leaving his book.

"It is, sir." Holland confirms, shifting her weight between her feet in discomfort, not being able to wait any longer.

"Are you injured?" The girl shakes her head. "Is someone's life at risk?" She shook her head once more. "Then I don't believe that the predicament you're in is considered urgent. Back to your seat, if you could do so kindly, Miss Avery. Before I prolong your days of detention." The greasy haired professor easily snarls as he turned the page of his book.

"My throat's dried up, professor. I need a drink." Holland said, not bothering to ask nicely anymore, resulting in an eyebrow raise from the man. She gestures to her flask with its lid peaking from inside her bag that was placed on a brown wooden shelf where all detainees were instructed to put their belongings in. Snape only responds with a wave of a hand, unimpressed but approving. The brunette quickly grabs her flask.

After grabbing the flask, she digs in her bag's front pockets and brings out two pieces of cinnamon chew. She lets out an exhale of delight at the sight and closed her bag immediately. The two pieces of sweets in her bag was a handmade special chew her and the twins had spent quite some time making, knowing it'd come in handy for Holland's little hex war with Cedric.

Walking back to her seat, she opened the flask quickly and raised it to meet her lips. Before the lid could even meet her lips completely, she felt a hand on hers, causing her to lower her flask and prevent the collision of the refreshing water and her slightly chapped lips. Her scrunched up face meets a smirking one. She was met with the one boy she swore to herself she wouldn't even give a glance the moment she set foot in the room. Cedric Diggory.

"I do hope this is urgent." She whispers in the same tone as Snape. She made sure he was still reading his book before she spoke to avoid any trouble. She tried her best not to smile. Before Snape could peek up and examine the room, she immediately sat next to him. This was it. She knew he had something in store for her, and it could get in the way of her best prank on him yet. The two had been pranking each other back and forth for almost three days. The longest of all their prank wars so far, they had previously only been at least once at the end of each year, but the retaliation was too tempting to not act out on this year. Holland made sure to find out if he were into spicy food. It was a no to that, much to her delight.

The two had just gotten caught, no longer allowed to prank each other. So they both knew better than to be vocal about their last ever hexes and pranks. Unfortunately for Cedric, his last prank wouldn't be the cinnamon chew. The sweet at first, and deadly spicy after the third chew. It was a new signature Weasley product, Cedric being the first ever victim of it. But Holland had much more in store, and he was about to find out more about that.

Normally, Slytherins were known to not dare associate themselves with blood-traitors. In a community of purely pureblooded wizards and witches they found those who mingled among the unworthy, just as unworthy, possibly even worse and even more disgusting. Holland simply didn't care. And normally, Weasleys, especially the twins, wouldn't even think to do any sort of commissions for or even befriend people who were in such a house, but Holland was a prankster just as much as the two, easily gaining their trust and respect, and maybe even their unrequited platonic love.

The three had been inseparable ever since they'd complimented her for not even hesitating before cursing Diggory with a bat-bogey hex in an instant, already knowing it was a spell taught by their baby sister. But even then, they carried on advising her, saying she could definitely do a lot better by being sneakier about it, then timidly offering her their products and insights on future pranks.

"Just wanted to say hello." He tells Holland who had an expression very comparable to Professor Snape's. "Hello." He smiles sweetly, eyeing one of two chews she had in her hand, Holland bit the inside of her cheek to prevent herself from throwing her first in the air in triumph. He fell for it. But after that snake spell, Holland found it difficult to think tricking him would be this easy, there had to be some kind of catch. Before she could set her bottle down, she quickly took a big gulp, knowing she couldn't drink her water after speaking to the Hufflepuff. The boy was two years older, yet she was one step ahead of him. She had eyes and ears everywhere, and she heard that Cedric planned on ending their dispute with a potion he'd be putting in her flask today.

She had pretended to be looking for something in her pocket, giving him the time to put whatever he has for the girl in the water, and got his special chew. The brunette made sure to have two made (hers not being spicy at all) to make sure it doesn't raise any suspicion. She knew Cedric couldn't be that thick to fall for something this easy, but the best way to hide is in plain sight, as they say. She pretended to be clueless that he wanted a chew, and pretended to be shocked to see him eyeing the sweets in her hand.

"What makes you think I'd give you one? These are my favorite." She asked icily.

"You've got two! You and I could both be happy." He reasons out.

"Quite surprising you think I'd give a damn about your happiness." Holland immediately fires back. He began to stare at her, fully aware she didn't like looking at him up-close. She blows out air from her nose in faux-defeat, no longer wanting to look at him.

"Fine." She says quickly and tossing him the chew, she made sure to show him she had one in her mouth as well. Without hesitating, he shoved the candy in his mouth. In a matter of seconds he found himself extremely hot, fanning over his open mouth as quietly as he could. Holland feigns innocence, jerking the flask in his direction as an offer to end his agony. At the moment, the only thought in Cedric's mind was that he needed water in his system as soon as he could. So it was no longer a priority to take note that he had drunken his own potion. He had effortlessly downed her entire flask, Holland willing herself not to look shocked.

Holland was now also wide-eyed, clueless as to what the potion would do to the boy, but nonetheless excited. She was smirking right at him. But out of all the reactions she was expecting to get from him, she did not expect a smile back, let alone a kiss.

-

Alright, despite it being common knowledge, as the author of this book, it is my duty to let out all disclaimers necessary.

I own absolutely no character from the Harry Potter series, the majority of the items and events in this are brought by the author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling. The only people here I have full ownership of are as follows:

Holland Avery
Rufus Avery
Imelda Avery
Aurora Harrington
Dane Oliver

Pictures used in the cover and in shared media are all from Tumblr and Pinterest, I give credit to all I've gotten pictures from. If any of you want to be credited, please let me know! Alright, that's all! Hope this book is enjoyable to everyone who reads it. All love, Gita x