Backfire

"What are we doing here?" Holland groaned as Hermione proceeded to drag her to Trelawney's classroom. It was a little after 12 in the afternoon, the pair of bright witches roaming around the school freely as other students stayed in the Forbidden forest as they couldn't wait to see what the final task holds. Draco, Pansy, and even Aurora pleaded for her to watch with them, but Holland knew she really couldn't do it. They eventually gave up, promising the girl another round of Catch and Throw once they'd all returned to their common room. Holland, though still seething at the thought of Cedric, was still worried. She didn't know what the task held, all the drama with Cedric not even giving the two a chance to practice any charms. She could only hope that he'd done his time well practicing on his own. Holland knew Harry, Ron, and Hermione were definitely making good use of their free time as they'd always spent it training. So it was actually the first time Holland had seen Hermione in days. It had only been an hour since Holland had been given word on where the final task was. She was dreading it to say the least, but she forced herself to keep it together, snapping out of the pathetic concern and putting on a brave face. Diggory can handle himself, and he'll leave that maze with that annoying grin on his face.

"It's clear that you have no plans on watching the final task. Let's just make good use of our free time," Hermione says, knowing Trelawney was staying in her classroom for some reason. Hermione wanted to watch the last task for Harry, but Holland begged her for a day just for the two of them. Hermione was hesitant, of course. She wanted to see Harry run out of the maze triumphant and tell her how much their training had paid off, but she figured she could rush off to the maze at the last minute. The pair of curly headed witches were now in front of a crystal ball, their loony professor behind it. They'd already spent their morning knitting hats for a dozen more house-elves, but after getting a cramp in the neck, Holland asked if they could do something else. The two were trying to prove to one another about their take on their last year's professor's ability to tell the future. Hermione never seemed to believe a word Trelawney said, Holland on the other hand, saw her as a genius.

"Hello there, my pretties." Trelawney greets in the warm, raspy, drawling voice she had. The two awkwardly say their hellos. "It is the day of the final task, is it not? What brings you two here?" She asks in a smile.

"We want you to read Holland's tea, if that's alright." Hermione says curtly, as if she hadn't stormed off after swatting the hand of the professor's in her class just last year.

"Of course," She says, grabbing Holland's hand, leading the pair to where she kept her cups hanging. But as her hand came in contact with Holland's, she immediately closed her eyes and fell into a silent focus as she felt and stroked around the veins of Holland's hands. Holland smiles excitedly, Hermione giving her a pointed look. She saw through the make-believe psychic nonsense, even McGonagall thought it was utter codswallop. The room then fell into a deafening silence, the professor's eyes still closed. Holland shifted between her feet awkwardly as standing still while the professor held onto her hand was getting uncomfortable, beginning to regret their visit as the moment of silence grew longer. Just then, the professor sucked in a breath, as if the entire time she'd closed her eyes, she'd had the entire life sucked out of her. The two jump in panic, Trelawney's eyes appeared glazed over with a grey sheen as she opened them as she began to rasp out, "An auror's daughter's true love is out there, luminescence of blue will lead to green tonight ... about to vanquish as he meets his demise.. innocent blood shall once again be spilt, and he who was been defeated will rise stronger than before..." Holland's pulse quickens, not understanding. Was George about to die? Who's been defeated? And how is he coming back? "An auror's daughter's true love is out there, luminescence of blue will lead to green tonight .. about to vanquish as he meets his demise.. innocent blood shall once again be spilt, and he who was been defeated will rise stronger than before... An auror's daughter's one true love is out there.." She began saying over and over like a gospel, Hermione's face scrunching up in distaste, clearly still not convinced by the woman before them.

"Professor Trelawney," Holland feverishly shook the professor who had blinked repeatedly before recollecting herself.

"Oh, dear!" Trelawney jumps back at the sight of the two, as if she hadn't sat down and drunken a cup of tea with them. "What was it you said to me, dear?" She asks and Holland did everything she could to not rip her hair out. Hermione scoffs, looking disdainfully at the professor, knowing she was probably just making up another treacherous prediction to scare off her students. Holland quickly excused herself before dragging Hermione by the wrist to where the professor's poufs where.

"Do you still have your time turner?" Holland asks Hermione, ignoring the look on her friend's face.

"You must be joking. How do we even know if what she's saying is real?" Hermione whispers, practically offended Holland could even consider the professor's so-called prediction.

"We don't know, that's why we check using the time-turner." Holland whispers back. "What if it's George?" Holland asks desperately. "Someone's out there, 'stronger than before'. This is serious, if it's fake, then shame on me. If it's real," Holland trails off, not even wanting to know what could happen.

"It's too dangerous," Hermione begins as Holland rolls her eyes.

"What was I expecting?" Holland mutters to herself, trying to think of any other possible way to find out by herself. Her eyes began to explore the dim classroom, subconsciously admiring the small orbs before Hermione spoke up.

"I'm going. Just me, alright? It's too dangerous to bring you. You might go ballistic if something does go wrong, it's impossible to have you stay put." Hermione frowns.

"What was I expecting? Nothing but the best from Hermione Jean Granger! Wow, I love you." Holland says as she grabs Hermione's face and begins to kiss her cheek over and over in gratitude, Hermione groaning is disgust and discomfort. The two mutter a quick expression of gratitude to the previously distressed professor and proceeded to run to the Gryffindor common room.

-

"Are you ready?" Holland asks Hermione, both just as nervous as the other. The two were now in front of the whomping willow, knowing nobody else would see them there as they'd be watching the final task. The winds were still present, and the sky was dark, not at all helping Holland calm down about what could possibly happen to the love of her life.

"I think so." Hermione swallows as she was unsure. "Are you?" Holland had lost the ability to speak when she watched Hermione's fingers fumble with the time-turner, a wonderful artifact lent to her by Professor McGonagall so she could take more than possible classes their previous year. She had no idea Hermione even kept it, she saw how much it stressed the girl out their previous year. She figured she'd have destroyed it had the Ministry not taken to account that they'd lent it to her.

"No," Holland shakes her head, scared to death. "I don't want anyone to die." Hermione begins to console her friend before telling her she had to hurry.

"Alright, go. Stay safe, I love you." Holland says, knowing they had to hurry. Holland eyed the sky above them, it was nearly nighttime, and she just had the heart-sinking feeling that things would go downhill the minute the moon had situated itself on the sky.

"I will. I love you, too." Hermione says before turning the pendant of her necklace and disappearing. Holland tried to breathe slowly and calm herself down. No deaths, please. I promise I'll be good, she said to nobody in particular, just to whoever would be able to hear.

-

"Well?" Hermione had been gone for longer than an hour. Holland jumping up quick as her friend reappeared.

"Holland, you're not going to like this—" Hermione stars, her state of uneasiness enough to let Holland know that Professor Trelawney had in fact been right. George, her George Weasley was going to die that night.

"No. No, no, no, no." How could she have been so stupid? She should have never broken up with George. Things have quickly gone downhill ever since she did. She began to wish she spent every single day telling him she loved him, as much as she could. She then began to think of possible scenarios as to why and how George could be facing death. George had been nothing but wonderful and just his old prankster self. Who could have wanted him dead?

"It's Cedric," Holland blinks, turning to look at Hermione. Holland stopped right in her tracks, all movements coming to a halt as she gaped at her friend like a goldfish.

"Cedric?" Hermione nods. "Is George okay?"

"He's fine. He was alive when Harry brought Cedric's body back," Hermione says quietly. Holland's eyes widen in realization. Demise. Body. Cedric was going to die.

"Oh.. Oh my God." Holland begins to hyperventilate. She didn't expect it to be Cedric. Cedric was her one true love? She'd been head over heels for George for over three years, despite breaking up with him, she knew her heart belonged to him no matter the circumstance. She had only just began talking to Cedric. Even then, how was she supposed to confess to the love of her life, if the only reason he loved her too was because he drank his own love potion?

"What are we going to do?" Holland panics, the final task was probably moments from starting down in the Forbidden Forest.

"Holland, I- I don't know if there is anything we're allowed to do—"

"Hermione, please!" Holland's sanity was long gone, her knees bucking as she pleaded, the bushy-haired witch crying as well at the sight of her distraught friend. Her breathing was way too fast for her body to handle, her fingers, toes, even eyesight no longer being able to keep up as the unfamiliar feeling of unconsciousness was ready to take her from where she was. But no, Holland would not let herself faint, she had about less than an hour to act quick, careful not to make a single mistake as she tried to fight for Cedric Diggory's life.

"I.. I don't know, Holland. I wish I could help, but we're not supposed to meddle with time!" Hermione says, in tears, as well. Holland wanted to scream, ready to throw out yells about Sirius and how they'd very well used the time-turner for his sake. Surely there was some way to do the same for Cedric.

"Oh to hell with this, I'm taking my chances." Holland mutters quickly before reaching for the golden necklace her friend had around her neck, mindlessly turning it.

"Holland, no!" Hermione screams, the two quickly squeezed in an unusual sensation, watching people and the sky zoom around as they rewound through the days they'd already lived. Then there they were again, standing at the exact patch of grass like before, Hermione glaring at her friend.

"You shouldn't have done that," Hermione scolds, quickly crouching down behind the vindictive tree while dragging her friend with her.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do! Maybe if we stalled Cedric from going in even for just a second, maybe he'd come back out alive." Holland explains, Hermione shaking her head.

"If that happens, things will definitely change. But we can't guarantee if that change will turn for better or for worse." Hermione says, grabbing her necklace once more, Holland stopping her.

"Wait. Please." Holland says through gritted teeth. Time was ticking, if the two didn't get a move on, Cedric could already be dead and there would be nothing they could do.

"Go on then, Holland! We don't have time." Hermione rushes, in stress as well. "We don't even know what time or day it is! You just yanked the turner before we could find out." Holland wished she'd have asked how the turner worked, but she needed to act quick.

"Let's find out," Holland says, running to where Cedric could be.

"Holland, be careful!" Hermione hisses at the sight of her friend running out in the open, not thinking about possible witnesses to their time-traveling. Holland wanted to ignore her and simply bask in the confusion of fellow students at them, but deciding that Azkaban wouldn't be a great place to spend the rest of her life in, after all.

The two finally arrive at the kitchens, portraits and elves coming out from the kitchen letting out gasps and expressions of astonishment, probably knowing just what the two were up to, but deciding not to comment on it.

"Miss Holland! Is you looking for Mister Cedric?" Pokey asked, smiling brightly at the two, wiping her hands on the beaten-up dishwashing cloth she had been wearing ever since Holland had first met her.

"Yes, Pokey. Please, tell me. Where is he?" Holland asks quickly, relieved to have been offered help.

"Over there with Mister Dane Oliver, see!" Hokey points at the end of the corridor, a corner that would lead to the portrait hole of their common room. Holland and Hermione silently agreed to keep quiet and creep closer to the boys, Holland inwardly groaning as she had a feeling she'd hear Cedric ask Oliver for another potion to make him fool himself that he actually liked her.

"I'm crazy for her. She won't believe me," The girls hear one boy say.

"You're supposedly under the effect of amorentia. Can't say I blame her, mate. You sure you're even fully potion-free?" Dane asks, Hermione turning her head to look at Holland, who had an unreadable expression on her face.

"Just because you're the master, does not mean you've done brewed this potion well. It wore off after a week or two, I think." Cedric scratched his chin as he tried to recall. Things slowly began to make sense. Cedric had been sweet, but he didn't behave as if he were lovestruck unlike the time he'd do anything to kiss Holland. Holland brought a hand to her mouth, shaking her head.

"So what are you asking for, then?" Dane asks, visibly offended he'd been told that he'd misread the book to create the draught of peace, and brewed an amorentia unsuccessfully.

"Don't get me wrong, I know I like her, but I still feel it in my system, maybe about an ounce left." Cedric begins. "I want you to create an antidote. I want to prove to her that I'm not a lovestruck fool ready to pounce of her like a wolf, that I'm genuine." Hermione could't take it, she grabbed Holland's hand and turned her necklace once more.

"You sure you trust me enough for this? You just told me I wasn't at all an outstanding brewer." Dane had retored, clearly still hurt. "And don't you think I wouldn't have immediately offered an antidote the day Avery and Granger basically hung me by the shirt by the bridge that day!"

"I know, I know. But I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think it was possible. I've got no exams, if you do this, I will personally write out a proper review sheet for your Charms test." Cedric offered, smiling in triumph at the defeated look on Dane's face.

"You're writing out a sheet for Charms and Transfiguration. I reckon this potion will take ages," Dane rubbed his temple.

"You made a mistake, that doesn't mean you're absolutely clueless about brewing. Maybe double-checking the page you're reading would be nice this time, though." Cedric says thoughtfully.

Out of nowhere, the girls were still in the corner of the corridor, except back to present day.

"Why?" Holland asked in anger, glowering at Hermione.

"It was a private conversation! Besides, you heard what you needed to hear. If we stayed any longer, we'd have wasted time." Hermione says, beginning to run to the forbidden forest. Holland began running as well, trying to think of ways to put a small stop to the final task to begin.

The two had finally arrived behind the stands positioned in front of the Forbidden Forest, now enchanted to become a maze. Holland was still trying to catch her breath when she'd caught a sight of the Hufflepuff champion about to enter the maze. Holland, no longer thinking, began to run once more.

"Wait!" She yelled out, Hermione panicking as her friend had began to run to the maze with her wand pointing towards the hedges. No person was able to realize what she was doing, as she'd remained in the small passage underneath the stands so she remained unseen, only having been seen by a certain professor.

"Oh, no you don't, missy!" Moody bellows, grabbing the girl by the shoulder as she'd yelled out 'Incendio!' to the grass before Cedric, causing the boy jump back in alarm at the sudden spark in front of him.

"Cedric!" She shouts, the entire crowd turning heads in panic and puzzlement, trying to figure out what was going on. Cedric looked confused, turning to face who'd called him and smiling to see Holland. To Holland's surprise, Cedric didn't seem to be fazed by the fact that she called out after him. He was beaming at first, before his smile immediately turned into a frown as if he just remembered something. He turned away from her, facing the maze again and entering it after he shook his head in agony. Holland felt defeated, but was still hopeful that her few seconds of stalling could go to Cedric's favor. She had no idea why he responded like that when he saw her, but maybe it was because she'd really hurt his feelings.

"And just what do you think you were doing, Avery?" Moody quizzes her manically, the girl cowering away in fear and wiping her tears.

"Holly?" She hears someone say, she'd turned to see George, face painted all festively but had the expression of worry, Holland shook her head, expression blank as she bit back a sob. It was bad enough that she was very much aware of what could happen tonight, but letting George see her cry after Cedric made her feel even worse.

"Well, do you want to sit next to me and Freddie?" He offered, still sounding sad. Holland nods slowly, following the boy to his seats. Hermione had already found a seat next to Ron, looking at Holland worriedly.

"You'll be okay," She tries to comfort.

"It's not me we should be worried about," Holland says sadly, the crowd could do nothing but wait in silence. Holland remained silent, cursing herself when she thought that Cedric shaking his head at her would be the last ever memory they'd share. Holland closed her eyes as she tried not to keep thinking about his death, the silence of the crowd almost ringing in her ears as she began to sweat. After a minute of waiting, as the champions have all entered the maze, Holland could no longer control herself. She'd quickly snatched the golden chain off Hermione and ran off the stands, ignoring the menacing looks the crowd was giving her for causing such a scene while they waited. Fred, George, and Ron seemed to have agreed with each other that this was a situation that needed to be settled between the two and only the two as they sat still, deciding not to follow them out the stands.

"Holland!" Hermione scolds, running after her. The two were now outside once more, wind blowing in their faces as the stars began to appear above them. "Holland, please. Think for a moment," the girl pleaded.

"I haven't got a moment, Hermione and neither does Cedric!" Holland yells in frustration, hastily twisting her arms around herself as she wore the time-turner, Hermione could do nothing but stare at her in exasperation.

"Let me at least go with you," Hermione said firmly, standing right in front of Holland. Holland made no sound in response, but had wrapped the chain around Hermione's neck as well.

"How many turns? I want to be completely able to talk to Cedric today without any confusion, without anybody interrupting." Holland said with no emotion, though knowing Hermione couldn't possibly know the boy's schedule. Hermione's lips pursed as she began to think, before answering.

"Four." And with that, the two found themselves squeezed up in another transparent tube of whirls and color as they sped through time to relive four hours earlier that day. Holland let out a breath as Hermione began to blink back moisture in her eyes. "Tidy up your hair, Cedric should be alone right now while you and I are knitting in the Astronomy Tower. Thank God we never told anyone where we were."

While the two walked quickly, Holland began to plan out how she'd even talk to Cedric. What would be a surefire way for her to let him live after the third task? Just as Holland had perfectly outlined just how their conversation would carry out, the moment she'd met eyes with the boy she was supposed to be angry with, all her mind's content had suddenly vanished. She could do no more than just gape at him. Hermione, who would normally smirk at the sight, nudged her harshly.

"Hello, Holland." Cedric greeted unsurely, eyes falling curiously on Hermione, someone he had never spoken to before. I'd like to have a word, just say that, Holland! It's not that hard, Holland began to ease herself to remain calm and act so, but resorted to grabbing Cedric by the wrist and dragging him along further the corridor where he'd been, pacing and frowning in thought.

"Do you love me?" Holland blurts out mindlessly.

"Wh— yes, I do.." Cedric was rather caught off-guard at first, but managed to compose himself quickly enough to save himself from another unpleasant row with Holland.

"Would you do anything for me?" Holland was not the type to ask such things, but she knew that this could just be the best way to get him to stay alive.

"Of course." Cedric nods as he responded solemnly, Hermione peering from where she was left in curiosity, they were probably taking too long, Holland needed to hurry.

"Don't go," Holland says firmly, and judging by the puzzled look on the brown-haired boy's face, she had to elaborate. "Don't go the final task for me." Holland said, hoping that Cedric didn't notice how her lip had trembled as she spoke. Cedric was shaking is head. The pressure of the situation was enough to make her sob, but the fact that the boy's broken face was added unto her agony almost had Holland doubled over in pain.

"Holland, I can't just do that— My father, everyone,— Hufflepuff! We haven't won the House Cup in ages, let alone the Quidditch cup. I love you, but I don't know if I could do that for you. I'd do anything—anything else! Please, name it!" He begs, holding the crestfallen girl's hands in desperation. Holland felt like punching herself in the throat, Cedric was begging for any other way to have her no longer angry with him, and it left a sharp pain in her chest knowing he'd been truthful with her all along, and the knife in her chest seemed to twist as she remembered that if things go wrong, she'd never be able to tell him that she loved him, too.

"You have to trust me, I can't say anything more. Please. Don't go, lose." Holland had to do something more. "Do you love me? Do you really love me?" She was yelling now, hopefully frightening the boy to agree. But this time, Cedric stood completely still, now sporting a look of reluctance. Holland used this to her advantage.

"I do, I really do. But let's talk about this after the task? Maybe you're just tired. I'll always understand you. Please don't be mad with me anymore." Cedric said sadly before hurrying away. Holland stared after him, jumping in alarm when Hermione had once again looped the chain around the two of them as they returned to present day.

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