Backfire

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.

As she made her way up the Astronomy tower, she inwardly smiled. She knew she wasn't alone. The scent that had been right behind her was way too distinguishable, and Holland knew just who had been there with her.

"Come on out, now. Don't be shy." She says as she stared out into the trees once more, wishing she could be blissfully out in the open and walking, prancing, dancing in the wind without a care in the world.

"You knew?" The girl asked incredulously, slowly walking into Holland's view from a corner. Her bushy hair was kept in a neat plait, and she was grasping her wand for some reason.

"Are you here to hex me?" Holland jokes, approaching her friend.

"Just a means of precaution. None of us have heard from you in days, Holland. We were so worried." Hermione admitted.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry, I just thought I could use some time alone for a bit. A lot is going on and it just got to a point where I'm so down, defeated, and tired to even bring myself to talk about it. No matter how hard I want to let you all know, I can't speak." Holland sighs, letting her head drop down in defeat. Hermione eyed her friend in pity, wishing she knew what she could do to be of aid to her friend.

"You're probably tired of hearing this," Hermione began hesitantly, knowing the chances of having her friend snap if she continued. "But I really want to help. But I can't if I don't know what you're going through." She finished softly. Holland sighed, trying her best to stay patient, knowing the witch had a point.

"Alright," Holland began, inhaling before letting all her pain and sorrows out, Hermione listening intently. Hermione was patient, and nothing but comforting. She knew she had to will herself not to fling her arms around Holland, but she was desperate to show some kind of affection, deciding a hand over her friend's would be enough for the moment.

"I can't possibly imagine what that's like," Hermione began, her brown eyes visibly softening at her friend. "I wish I could help. Really,—" Holland cut her off, in a sort of polite way.

"But it's not exactly like you could do so," Holland smiled sadly. "It's alright, I swear on it. I'll be alright some time soon." She finishes hopefully. "Well, are you watching the final task? You are, aren't you?" Holland followed sadly, knowing Hermione wouldn't dare miss the final task of the tournament that their good friend Harry had been dreading the entire year. Hermione pulled a very deep-in-thought look, before blowing air out her nose and sighing.

"If you aren't, then I suppose accompanying you won't hurt." Hermione says, giggling at the immediate change of mood Holland had.

"Oh yes! What are we going to do? We could run around the castle together!" Holland began spitting out radical ideas on what the two could do while majority of the school and the entirety of their guests would be out of the castle.

The two stayed together until the sun completely left the sky, winds of the spring air gusting through their knee-sock clad legs. Holland really missed being in the company of Hermione, and she knew she was lucky that she'd even followed her for she knew that if she hadn't, she would never have been able to confide in her.

"It's getting late. Ron and Harry don't know where I am so I best be leaving," Hermione informs Holland as she began to stand from where they were sitting and dangling their legs, panicking Holland. If Hermione left, Holland would have to face reality once more, entering her common room to an upset Draco and a confused Pansy.

"No, please don't go! Tell them you've gone knitting again, I'll even help you!" Holland said desperately, scavenging her pockets for the badge and hastily putting it on to prove her point. Hermione had been dedicated to promoting the lives of house-elves, and when the twins had told her that there were house-elves in Hogwarts, she'd gone ballistic. House-elves are only set free when having been given clothes, so Hermione thought she could do them all a favor and start knitting small hats to leave around the castle. Holland couldn't tell Hermione how much that actually distressed the elves, as they don't exactly want to be jobless, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Hermione pursed her lips in sympathy, knowing she couldn't waste her time.
"I'm sorry, we're practicing defense spells with Harry. I have to be there,"

"Can I come?"

"I would love for you to, but don't you think it'd be unfair to—"

"Oh yes, he definitely deserves fair treatment right now."

"I mean it, Holly. It just doesn't look very nice having you watch Harry train when you've been training Cedric all year. I'm sorry, but this is for your own good." Hermione says in a final tone before hugging her friend. Holland didn't return the embrace, but smiled sadly when Hermione's eyes met hers for the last time before she left. Holland scooted backwards from the ledge and brought her knees up to hug close to her chest, feeling the sobs ready to leave her once more. As tears were already stinging in her eyes, she heard the floors creak. Immediately, Holland grasped the wand that was in her pocket, raising it in the dark towards the direction of where the noise came from.

"Who's there?" She willed her voice to stay stern and steady despite herself. The tower remained silent, only the sound of leaves rustling and the whistling wind.

"Show yourself before I make you," Holland said, audibly angry now. It was still silent. "I'm going to count to three, and if you still don't—"

"Alright, alright! You lunatic!" A shrill voice caved in, running out from where Hermione hid earlier that day. Her arms were up to show that she was innocent, and her raven hair was in an untidy ponytail.

"What are you doing here?" Holland said as she let out a breath of relief, lowering her wand and staring at her friend.

"We were worried! You stormed off and nobody's heard from you ever since! I don't think I've ever seen Draco that upset before." Pansy admitted as she let her arms down. Holland didn't seem to want to respond to what she'd said, so she reluctantly walked over to sit next to her.

"You're really upset, and I know I should have asked like friends usually do when someone's sad." Pansy began, but Holland wanted to say that she was grateful that Pansy wasn't cornering her every chance she got, she really savored her moments alone when she was sad. "I just.. I was afraid because I don't really know how to make anyone feel better." Pansy admitted through gritted teeth, clearly very uncomfortable that she was saying such things. "You're a really good friend, though. And I realize that even if you'd rather spend time with Potty and his group, I don't ever want to see you so down again." Holland was so surprised, so moved by what she'd just been told. Pansy and Draco were two of her most emotionally closed friends, only knowing the emotion of pleasure when they'd terrorized randoms and when they'd made fun of Harry. But there they were, in the same day trying their hardest to be cheering up Holland. It made Holland ooze with guilt, coming to terms with the fact that Draco was only trying to look out for her before she'd yelled at him.

"Pansy, I could never ever choose between between you and Harry. But I will say this, you and Draco have been nothing but wonderful to me for the past few days, even though I've kept both of you in the dark. Makes me feel like rubbish going off on him like that, if I'm being honest. But I just want to say thank you, I couldn't and would not ever trade you two for the biggest sacks of galleon the wizarding world could ever offer." Pansy genuinely smiled at this, engulfing her friend in a hug. Now despite not looking like it at all, Slytherins seemed to hug better than any other house could. Perhaps it was the expectations of cold limbs and a stiff grasp that catches you off guard when you're actually met with comforting warmth. All Holland knew was, hugging Pansy and Draco was now one of her favorite feelings in the world.

"What are friends for?" Pansy said before frowning. "Did you say you felt guilty about what happened with Draco this morning?" She asked as if she hadn't heard her friend right.

"Oh, yes. Of course I do." Holland nodded. Pansy's grin widened after hearing this before calling out into the darkness.

"Come on, then. Let's get this over with," She said before another figure walked out from where Pansy and Hermione had hidden. His white blond hair was disheveled, and his eyes were bloodshot. Holland winced at the thought of the Slytherin prince crying because of her, too alarmed to even question how quickly he'd become a sap this year.

"Draco?" Holland hesitantly called as she clambers up to her feet and stands where she is, trying to get the boy to look at her before she could walk over to him. His eyes remained glued on the ground, so Holland took matters in her own hands. She slowly trudged over to him, grabbing his cold face with both hands to make him look at her. Seeing him up-close was even more heartbreaking, and Holland couldn't help but wonder if this is how they felt seeing her so broken over Cedric and George. "I'm sorry, alright? I love you, you know that," She said softly, Draco's face hardening as he tried to keep his eyes anywhere but on hers. He seemed to have been done with crying, but he was far from ready to be so open and happy with Holland again. Pansy was watching the two from afar, not knowing how to help with the situation.

"Come on, Draco. She said she was sorry." This didn't seem to be effective, Draco was still frozen in place, not wanting to move a muscle nor make a sound. Holland let go of his face and hugged him as tight as she could, burying her head in the area where his shoulder and chest met. The gesture washed over Draco as if he'd finally entered a safe cabin after being out in the snow for so long, he felt heat and comfort flooding his body so much that he didn't even think before returning the embrace. Pansy began to rise to her feet as well and began to jump up and down as she clapped at the sight of her friends. She ran over to them and threw her arms on the both of them.

"I missed us, you know." She mumbled through the hug. After a while, Draco immediately backed away from the hug, dusting himself off and fixing his hair.

"Now that we've sorted things out, I suggest we head off to the common room now. There are insects flying all over here." He said in disgust as he pulled away a beetle that had landed on Holland's shoulder. The girls chuckle at how quickly their friend had recovered before they all made their way to the dungeons.

"Alright, hold your horses. Stay still," Holland said as she moved her legs against the black leather sofa situated in the middle of their common room, Pansy and Draco were sitting in front of her and chuckling at the scene before them. Holland was now sitting on her legs as she readied the flavored beans in her palm. "Whose turn is it?" Pansy and Draco stare at each other before Draco sighs.

"I'll do it," He rolled his eyes in defeat, taking the hit for Pansy. He moved to sit on his legs like Holland was, throwing his head a bit back and waiting for Holland's move. Holland strategically threw the bean towards him, it was flailing a bit to his left, Draco chased the bean with his mouth and they all roared in triumph when he'd caught it. The victory was cut off short when Draco immediately spat out the bean, throwing it towards the fireplace. "I'd murder whoever thought of making an earwax flavor," He muttered. This was the most fun Holland's had in quite a while, and it was an even longer while since she'd spent this much time with her housemates. Holland's insides burned with gratitude and love for the people in front of her, not knowing how she could even live another day without them. The common room was empty, and the three decided to skip dinner and smuggle food from the kitchens instead, Pansy was nice enough to contribute what was left of her Honeydukes stash from their last Hogsmeade visit. Just when the three began to chuckle some more, a single student had entered the room. It was Aurora Harrington, alone but beaming in her solitude. She immediately blushed once she'd realized they were looking at her, squeaking out a greeting before dashing up to her dormitory. But just as she was about to reach the first step of the stairs, Holland had an idea.

"Rory, wait!" Aurora winced at the masculine nickname when the boy she fancied was right there. She wanted to be a girl, a dainty girl who Draco could call his princess. She slowly faced the three with her head bowed down in shame. "Come on over here, I want to introduce you to my friends." Holland coaxed softly, smiling at Aurora. Aurora chose not to reply and simply walked on over to them, stopping when she was about a foot away from the sofa Holland was on. "Oh, come on. Sit next to me." Aurora begrudgingly sat next to Holland, her long, blonde hair swaying as she plopped on the sofa.

"Draco, Pansy, this is my childhood friend. Funny how we've spent years together as children but not a single day talking once we've made it here," Holland explained. "This is Aurora Harrington, she's a year below us. Aurora, this is Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson." Holland finishes as she took in her friends' expressions. Draco was quiet, his face unreadable, Pansy seemed to be alright. Better than what Holland had dreaded, anyway. Holland was slightly afraid that Pansy could sense that Aurora had taken an interest in Draco, but Pansy seemed to have a reserved expression that was more than enough to let Holland know that she intended to be civil. That was until she snuck a quick glance at Draco, glaring as she did.

"Pleasure," Pansy says quietly, making Aurora's stomach lurch.

"What she said." Draco shrugged, not looking at Aurora. Holland willed herself to not act on the confusion and frustration she was feeling. She immediately regretted bringing Aurora here, the girl probably felt terrible knowing her crush wouldn't even look at her.

"Glad you're here to join us." Holland says, trying to ease the tension that was thickening by the minute. How could she have been so naive, the three were elated in their own company, but Holland somehow thought that inviting another person couldn't possibly change that.

"So, is she a catcher or a thrower?" Draco asked out of the blue, catching everyone by surprise. He was asking if Aurora knew how to play the game they'd been playing. Pansy took some time before smirking as Aurora copied how they all sat, positioning her head as if she were ready to catch candy. The evening ended with the four Slytherins laughing at one another, glaring at anybody else who dared to watch and said their goodnights as the clock struck midnight.

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