Diggory Is Still A Loser (book 2)

2- Troublemakers

The heat that summer was unbearable, and it did nothing to improve Celia's mood.
Despite her friends attempts to encourage her to visit them, Celia stayed away from them all.
She didn't plan on seeing any of them until the 1st of September, when the new term started.
But this idea was flipped on it's head when she overheard Amos saying that Harry had been suspended from school, for using magic.
Celia immediately hopped on a bus and travelled to Little Whinging, where she knew Harry lived.
It took her a while to find number 4 Privet Drive, but eventually she found the Dursley's house.

Since Celia knew that Harry's relatives wouldn't be very happy with her turning up out of the blue, she decided to sneak around the side of the house.
She was certain that Harry's bedroom was facing the back garden, and since it was so hot, so thought he would have his window open.
Once in the back garden she looked up and saw a black haired boy staring back at her.
Harry immediately pushed his window up all the way and poked his head out of the window.

"Celia. What are you doing here?" Questioned Harry.
"Nice to see you too" replied Celia.
"Sorry, it's nice to see you as well. But why are you here?" Asked Harry.
"I heard that you used underage magic and that the Ministry want to expell you. So I thought I'd come and see if you're O.K. Can you come down, so that I don't have to keep shouting up at you?"
"I'm not supposed to leave the house until I'm told to"
"And do you always do what you're told?".
Harry frowned, "No, I don't... I'll be right down".

Celia smiled and made her way back around to the front of the house, where Harry joined her several moments later.
"Hey" Celia said awkwardly.
"I expect the whole wizarding world knows what I did yesterday" sighed Harry.
Celia shook her head, "No, it wasn't in the Prophet, so you should be O.K. Only certain people at the Ministry know that you used underage magic... So, why did you do it?" Asked Celia curiously.
"I was attacked by a Dementor, so I didn't exactly have much choice. I had to perform a Patronus charm, to protect myself and my cousin" revealed Harry.

Celia's jaw dropped, "A Dementor. Do you think he sent it?".
"Unless the Minister for Magic wants me dead as well, then yeah, I expect it was Voldemort" answered Harry.
After hearing Harry say Voldemort's name a bunch of times, it no longer effected Celia. She couldn't quite say it out loud yet, but she didn't react when hearing it any more.
"I mean, I wouldn't be suprised if the Minister did want you dead, since he wants to get rid of you. But sending Dementors after you, would be a bad move on his part, since they are supposed to solely be under the control of the Ministry. And he can't have people thinking that he tried to kill a teenage boy. Or have them thinking that someone else has taken over the Dementors" admitted Celia.

"Why does the Minister hate me so much all of a sudden?" Questioned Harry.
"I don't think he necessarily hates you, more what you stand for. He doesn't want anyone to know how my brother really died. Which is why he wants you out of the way. He also knows that deep down you are loyal to Dumbledore and not him" explained Celia.
"The Minister used to like me" Harry said quietly.
"Yeah, well times change... Do you want to go for a walk or something? Instead of just standing outside your house. Since I don't think your aunt and uncle will want to see someone like me on their street"
"I'm not really supposed to leave".

"Says who?" Quizzed Celia.
"Mr Weasley" answered Harry.
"You're in contact with all the Weasley's?" Asked Celia.
"No. I mean, I send letters to Ron, but he never says much in his replies. Mr Weasley sent me and owl last night, warning me not to leave my house or do anymore magic"
"I wish I knew where the Weasley's were"
"They're not at the Burrow?"
"No. They haven't been there for several weeks. Didn't Ron say that they've gone on holiday somewhere?"
"No. Like I said, Ron hasn't told me anything, and neither has Hermione. I can tell from their letters that they are together though".

Celia noted the anger and resentment in Harry's voice. But she could also sense a lot of pain beneath the surface.
And she understood how he felt, as she knew what it was like to be trapped with awful relatives all summer.
"How are you doing with everything? I mean, it's been over a month since Cedric died" Celia said quietly.
"I'm fine" muttered Harry.
"This is me you're talking to, remember. You don't have to lie about how you feel" reminded Celia.
"I know... I visit the graveyard every night in my dreams. I have to relive Cedric's death over and over again".

"I'm sorry that you have to suffer like that" admitted Celia.
"I deserve it for taking Cedric with me, and not doing anything to stop him from getting murdered" replied Harry.
"No. Don't think like that. There was nothing you could have done to save my brother. You were a victim that night, just like him, only you got to live, which is just as much a blessing as it is a curse" informed Celia, as she grabbed hold of Harry's wrists.
"I'm glad that you don't blame me- hey, what's that?" Asked Harry, as his eyes caught the red marks on Celia's arms.

"Nothing" mumbled Celia as she released Harry and pulled down her sleeves, so that her wrists were covered.
"It didn't look like nothing. What are those marks? And why are you wearing a long sleeve t-shirt on one of the hottest days of the year?" Demanded Harry.
"It's none of your business" snapped Celia.
Harry frowned and lent forward, grabbing one of Celia's arms, and pulling up her sleeves to reveal the red cuts on her wrist.
"Who did that to you?" Questioned Harry.
"No one did it to me" replied Celia, as she pulled her arm out of Harry's grasp.

"Then where did- wait, are you saying you did that to yourself?" Asked Harry.
"If you must know, then yes. I was in a dark place when I first came home. But don't worry, I'm not dong it any more. I've found other ways of coping, as there are some wonderful drugs out there" reassured Celia.
"Jesus Christ Celia, that's really bad" replied Harry.
"Do you really think I don't know that? You may have been there when Cedric died, but you didn't lose your only brother. So you don't know what it's like to be me"
"No, I just lost both of my parents because of the same murderer"
"I know, and I'm sorry about that. But you were only a baby when they died, so you can't miss them in the same way".

"You need to get some help" insisted Harry.
"You mean a shrink? No thanks. Besides there's only a few weeks to go until we will both be back at Hogwarts, and everything will be good again" replied Celia.
"Unless I'm expelled" mumbled Harry miserably.
"The Ministry won't expell you, Dumbledore won't allow it. Besides, underage wizards are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations. So, there's no way you will get expelled"
"I wish I had your confidence"
"It'll be fine. You'll see, I promise. Everything will return to normal once we get back to Hogwarts".