The next day at lunch, I was sitting with Julia and Alexa. We were still friends but it wasn't the same. They tiptoe around me like I'm fragile. Like glass about break with one wrong move.
"So how's it going with Cedric?" Alexa asked. Julia's eyes lit up and she blushed. "He said it." she said. Our jaws dropped. "He said he loved you!" I exclaimed. She nodded. "Did you say it back?" Alexa asked. "Of course! He's perfect." she said. "So you've shagged him?" Alexa asked. She nodded. "Is he good in bed?" she asked. "The best, we do it a lot and he's so amazing. He always tells me he loves me after." she said. I smiled for my friend. "Pay up," I said to Alexa. She rolled her eyes and handed me my money. "You guys had a bet on us?!" Julia exclaimed. "Of course we did." I said. We all laughed. This wasn't uncommon for our group.
"When did this all happen?" I asked. "A few days after the Yule Ball." she said. Alexa kicked her under the table at those words. Julia looked at me with worry. As if just the mention of that was the most tragic thing. Truth be told, the mention of the Yule Ball made me sick to my stomach. Images of that night filled my head. "Shit- Anna- I'm sorry, we didn't-" Julia started. "It's fine. I'm fine." I mumbled. They exchanged pitiful glances. "I have to go." I said and I rushed off.
I got to my dorm and laid in my bed. Hermione and Ginny were gone so it was nice to be alone. I can't believe there's only 1 month left of school. 2 weeks until the Final Task too. It's crazy. This year was supposed to be the best one yet. That all went to shit real quick.
I was relaxing on my bed and doing my Potions essay when there was a knock on my door. I assumed it was Ginny or Hermione without their key. It is almost curfew.
I walked over and opened the door. Harry pushed past me and walked in. "Come on in." I said sarcastically. Harry and I haven't been the same since I got back from my runaway with Theo. He knows it, I know it, I think everyone recognizes it. He's upset because I left and I'm upset because he stayed. I once thought that Harry and I would do everything together. The day I found out about him, I was so happy because I finally had a brother. But we aren't kids anymore.
I'm not the only one who's changed.
Harry started pacing back and forth and mumbling to himself. I shut the door and looked at him. "Harry-" I said. He kept going. "Harry!" I yelled. He looked at me. "It doesn't make sense. He's dead. Someone killed him but he's in Azkaban. He's in Azkaban right? He has to be. Nobody escapes that place. I keep thinking about the World Cup. Someone conjured it and what if- no it couldn't be. And the school- the school is a fortress. At least I thought it was-" he started. "Harry- slow down" I said. He just kept ranting. "Now there's 2 death eaters. Snape and Karkaroff. Sirius says nobody stops being a death eater. But Snape- it doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense. Who put my name in the goblet? What do these dreams mean? Too many questions, not nearly enough answers. It's like there's a game being played and I have no idea what the rules are. I thought- I just-" he stammered. "Harry!" I shouted, grabbing his shoulder and shaking him. He looked at me and snapped out of it. "You are going mad, talk slower because I have no idea what you are saying." I said. "Your camera, I need to see that picture from the night of the world cup." he said. "I told you, it came out blurry. You can't see-" I started to lie again. "Just let me see!" he shouted. I flinched at his voice and his face softened. "Anna, I'm sorry. Just please, I know the picture is fine. I need to see it." he said. I nodded.
I went into my dresser and fished out my photos I had recently developed. I developed that photo and hid it in a book under my bed. It was just a man. It was dark but thanks to the flash, you could see him. I handed Harry the photo and his eyes widened. "Fuck-fuck-fuck-" he mumbled. "What?" I asked. "That's Barty Crouch Jr. He's supposed to be in Azkaban!" he said. My veins iced. "What? Why? How!" I asked. "He helped torture Frank and Alice Longbottom. His father put him in Azkaban and that's not even the worst part." he said. "What do you mean?" I said nervously. "Barty Crouch was found dead. This morning." he said. My heart stopped.
"You think..." I started. He nodded. We both sat on my bed. "We can't tell anyone." he said. I looked at him in surprise. "Why not?" I asked. "Because, the teachers were right. Whatevers at play, I have to be the bait if we are going to know what is going on." he said. I shook my head. "Why do you always have to risk your life? Why can't it be someone else? Why can't they figure out another way?" I asked. "I don't know." he said. I nodded. "I'm sorry Annabelle." he said.
"For what?" I asked. "Everything. I haven't been there for you and I know you needed me." he said. 'I'm fine." I said. "You're not. You think I can't smell the whiskey and cigarettes on you. Hermione tells me you don't come in till late at night. Remus says your grades have dropped. You asked me to come with you and I stayed. I shouldn't have done that. Not after what happened." he said. "It's alright Harry, really. You've been busy with the tournament." I said. "Family is supposed to come first." he said. I shrugged. "Don't worry about it." I said. He nodded. "I just worry about you. You've changed. You don't care about anything anymore." he said.
"It's just life. It'll be over before we know it." I said.
He sighed and walked over to the door before stopping. "Of all the people I know, I never thought you would be the one that the world breaks." he said. Then he walked out and shut the door.
"Me either, Harry" I mumbled to myself as I climbed into bed.
TIME JUMP: 2 WEEKS
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The Day Of The Final Task
I woke up in Theo's bed with only a bra, underwear, and his oversized shirt. Theo laid next to me in his boxers. His chest rose and fell softly and his lips were slightly parted. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Theo stirred and his eyes opened. "Hey Belle" he said in that morning voice I love so much. "Hey" I said. I looked around and it was already 11. "What happened last night?" I asked.
"Well, we hung out with Draco, Blaise and Pansy. You got drunk and high. Like really drunk. You were talking nonsense about- well it doesn't matter now. I took you back here." he said. "Did we..." I asked nervously. "Bloody hell, no. You were drunk off your ass. I had to carry you here. I only changed you out of your clothes because you were wearing jeans." he said. I nodded. "Thanks" I said. "Of course." he said. I laid back down with him and he exhaled slowly.
"What was I saying last night?" I asked. "It was nothing." he said. "It's clearly bothering you, so just say it." I said. "You told me about the lake." he said. I sat up and so did he. "Oh" I mumbled.
"You were saying since I already knew, you wanted me to know why you did it." he said. "What else did I say?" I asked. "Nothing. Draco stopped you and then I took you back here. You didn't say anything else. You just fell asleep." he said. I nodded. "Why did you do it Belle?" he asked.
"I was already drowning Theo. Before I stepped foot in that lake, I was already underwater." I said. "What about us?" he said. I looked at him and kissed his lips gently. "You are the only reason I am still alive." I said. He just nodded. "I won't leave." he said. "Ok" I replied.
Sometimes I wish he would. I wish he would quit on me so I could quit on myself.
