Diggory Is Still A Loser (book 2)

9- Shared Pain

Celia struggled to get through the rest of the day, as the pain in her hand failed to cease.
The moment she was allowed to return to her room, she locked herself in the bathroom and took some strong drugs to take away the pain.
Celia then headed to the owlery, without going to dinner, for she wasn't hungry, and she wasn't in the mood to be stared at by everyone.
But she wasn't alone for long, as she was shortly joined by Harry, who was all by himself as Ron and Hermione were busy with their Prefect duties.

"Bad day?" Asked Harry, as he sat down beside Celia.
"It wasn't great" admitted Celia, as she hid her hand from view, as she had been doing all day.
"Don't you have detention with Umbridge?" Questioned Celia.
"Not yet. I've still got some free time before I have to go and see the old hag" answered Harry.
"She really is the worst" replied Celia.
"There are times when I'd rather face Voldemort than her"
"That's understandable... What does she make you do in detention?".

Celia watched as Harry clenched his left hand, "She makes me write lines" he revealed.
A thought struck Celia, as she realised that Umbridge may have punished them both the same way.
She leaned towards Harry and grabbed hold of his arm, so that she could pull up his sleeve.
"What are you doing?" Questioned Harry, as he tried to fight Celia off.
Celia held her own and stared at the back of Harry's hand, which was red and covered in the same bloody writing as Celia's hand.
The writing on her left hand had begun to fade, but Harry's was still rather bloody, as he had been forced to cut his hand open more times than her.

Harry pulled his arm free from Celia, and he yanked down his sleeve.
"Why did you do that?" He demanded angrily.
Instead of answering, Celia showed Harry her own hand.
Harry's attitude changed instantly, and his face was full of concern.
"She made you write with the quill, didn't she?" Asked Harry softly.
Celia nodded as she lowered her hand.
"Even though I apologised to her, she wasn't happy that I still believe you about Voldemort. She's going to make me write lines in the back of all of my Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, from now on" admitted Celia.

"She can't do that. Torturing me in detention is one thing, since I'm the one the Ministry hates. But refusing to teach you, and banishing you to the back of the room, is another. She is supposed to teach you, not make you write lines" insisted Harry.
"Well, she wants me out of the way, where no one can see me. And I don't expect she wants to put me in detention with you, as we could conspire together. People also say that there is strength in numbers. Which is why she is punishing me in class, instead of giving me detention" informed Celia.

"What if you refuse to write with her evil quill?" Asked Harry.
"She has other harsh punishments up her sleeve. Like making me stand at the front of the class, with a silencing charm on me. And who knows, maybe even put a full body bind curse on me. I don't want to see what other punishments she can come up with. So, I've got no choice but to write I must not tell lies, until my hand bleeds" admitted Celia.

"She is evil" announced Harry.
"I agree. But there's nothing we can do to stop her... Have you spoken to Dumbledore recently?" Questioned Celia.
"No. He doesn't want to see me at the moment" answered Harry coldly.
"Have you told anyone about this?" Quizzed Celia.
"I haven't even told Ron or Hermione"
"Really? I would've thought you would have done, since they are your best friends?"
"Well, have you told anyone?"
"I've told you".

"Are you going to tell anyone else, other than me though?" Asked Harry.
"I don't have any other friends, so no. You're the only person I trust" admitted Celia.
"I'm sorry that you are suffering and being punished because of me" apologised Harry.
"It's not your fault. No one is making me stand up for you. I could stay quiet, like your other friends. But I'm not going to do that. I don't want you to face Umbridge's wrath alone. I'm going to stand up for you, and for Cedric"
"At least there is someone on my side".

"I think other people do believe us, they are just too afraid to come forward. I mean, they've seen what happens when you stand up to Umbridge, and they aren't going to want to end up like us" sighed Celia.
"Not everyone is as brave as us" agreed Harry.
"I'm not sure whether it's bravery or just stubbornness" admitted Celia.
"I'm going with bravery"
"Well you would say that, you're a Gryffindor afterall. Bravery is kind of your houses thing"
"That's true".

"Harry, what are we going to do about this?" Asked Celia, as she raised her red hand.
"There's nothing we can do. The old hag is a teacher, so we can't stand up to her, without getting into more trouble" admitted Harry.
"So, we just have to sit back and take her punishments?" Questioned Celia.
"Unless we want to give her the satisfaction of beating us, we have no other choice"
"Umbridge said I could return to lessons, if I admitted that I honestly don't believe Voldemort is back anymore"
"Are you going to lie and give in?"
"That would be the easy thing to do".

"Something tells me you aren't going to choose the easy path" smiled Harry.
"No, I'm not" answered Celia.
"Good" replied Harry.
"I'm standing up to her, like you"
"Well, I did kind of promise Angelina that I wouldn't get into detention again. I'm on the Quidditch team, and I can't afford to miss every single practice"
"But you are going to stand up to Umbridge, if she calls you a liar, right?"
"I don't want to let her antagonise me. But if she starts sprouting bullshit, them I'm going to stand up to her".

"That's good to hear, because I'm not strong enough to face her by myself" Celia said quietly.
Harry took hold of Celia's good hand and squeezed it tight.
"You are never alone. I will always have your back, I promise" reassured Harry.
"It looks like it's Potter and Diggory against the world" sighed Celia.
"For now. But soon, everyone will know the truth about Voldemort's return" insisted Harry.
"I hope that you are right" mumbled Celia.