Diggory Is Still A Loser (book 2)

12- Revelations And Reassurance

Celia ended up staying at the Hog's Head much longer than she had initially planned, and drinking veru heavily.
In her drunken state she even ended up sending a love letter to Benjamin Taylor, who she had broken up with after Cedric's death, from the owl post office in town.
But by morning the next day, she had completely forgotten all about the letter, due to her hangover. And she felt too wretched to even leave Ravenclaw tower, as she kept vomiting.
Harry had been right that drinking would not solve Celia's problems, but as usual, she hadn't listened to him.

After Zacharius Smith had mentioned Cedric's death, Celia found it hard to focus on anything else for the rest of the week.
Her mind kept wandering, imagining all the horrible ways he could have died in the graveyard.
She was even struggling to eat, as her appetite had left her completely.
One Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson she failed to write out the correct amount of lines, and she hoped that Umbridge wouldn't actually count them all out.
But the following lesson, Umbridge informed her that she would have to write double the amount of lines, to make up for her insubordination in the previous lesson.

As Celia left the class, with her hand dripping in more blood than usual, her head began to spin.
Climbing all the stairs up to the owlery certainly didn't help either. And when she got up there she collapsed onto the ground.
Luckily for her, she was meant to meet up with Harry. So when he found her passed out on the floor, he immediately carried her off to the hospital wing.

"Is she going to be alright?" Harry asked Madam Pomfrey, after she had assessed Celia.
"Don't worry Mr Potter, Celia will be fine. I've given her a blood replenishing potion, and some fluids. So she will be O.K" reassured Madam Pomfrey.
"Good. I was so worried when I saw her lying there, not moving" admitted Harry.
"I'm sure it was rather unsettling, but you don't need to worry about Miss Diggory, she's stronger than she looks".

A few minutes later Celia came around and was very suprised to find herself lying in the hospital wing.
"Harry, what happened?" She asked, when she saw him sitting beside her.
"I found you passed out in the owlery, so I brought you here" answered Harry.
"Oh, O.K. I'm glad that you were the one to discover me, so that no one has to find out about this" admitted Celia, as she looked at the bandage around her scarred hand.

"I'm afraid, that given the circumstances, I had to inform Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick that you were in here" revealed Madam Pomfrey.
Celia groaned loudly, "There really was no need".
"I'm sure that the headmaster will want to know exactly why the two of you have matching scars on the backs of your hands" replied Madam Pomfrey.
Celia and Harry shared an awkward look, as neither of them were sure of how they were going to explain Umbridge's punishments to the teachers.
They had both agreed to keep it a secret from everyone but Hermione and Ron. So Celia wasn't looking forward to everyone knowing.

It wasn't long before Dumbledore arrived, with McGonagall and Flitwick at his sides.
As Madam Pomfrey explained exactly what had happened, Celia and Harry sat in silence, unable to look at each other.
"I think the both of you need to start talking" informed McGonagall, once Madam Pomfrey had finished.
"It's nothing, Professor" mumbled Celia.
"It's clearly not nothing. Madam Pomfrey has just told us that you were found passed out, with blood dripping down your arm from cuts on the back of your hand. And the reason you passed out, was because you had lost too much blood, and are severely under weight. She also says that while examining you she found old scars on your wrists. So, you need to tell us exactly what has been going on" insisted McGonagall.

Celia pulled her sleeves down to cover her scars, and she kept her eyes low, to avoid meeting her teacher's gazes.
"We only want to help you" Madam Pomfrey said softly.
"Yes, you need to tell us what is going on" added Flitwick.
"I'm fine. I can handle it" reassured Celia.
"Clearly you can't" replied McGonagall.
Celia sighed and looked over at Harry, "Show them your hand, since mine's covered up".
Rather reluctantly, Harry showed the teachers the writing on his hand, causing them all to gasp.
"And you have the same on your hand?" Questioned McGonagall.

Celia nodded as Harry lowered his arm.
"We have the same scars, because we have both written with the same quill. And when you write with the quill, it uses your blood instead of ink" explained Celia.
"Where would you even find such a quill?" Questioned McGonagall, who seemed horrified at the thought of such an item existing.
Celia shrugged, "Who knows".
"Then how come you and Harry ended up using it?" Asked Madam Pomfrey.
"Because Umbridge makes us" revealed Celia, who was relieved to get it off her chest.

"Professor Umbridge forces you to write with it?" Quizzed McGonagall, who hoped that she had misheard.
"Yes, she makes me write with it during my Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, since she refuses to teach me. And she makes Harry use it in detention" answered Celia.
"That is evil" commented Madam Pomfrey.
"And what about the scratches on your wrists?" Asked Dumbledore.
"I was drawing lines with the quill, to see if it only worked with words. And lines appeared on my wrists. I only did it once, which is why the scars are older" lied Celia.

Harry raised an eyebrow at Celia, since he knew she was lying.
Celia also felt that Dumbledore knew she hadn't told the truth, but he didn't question her further.
"Dumbledore, you must speak with the Minister, and get him to remove Dolores from the premises immediately, for she has been harming our students" insisted Madam Pomfrey.
"It's not that easy, Poppy. Dumbledore can not sack Dolores and he can't ask Fudge to do so either" admitted McGonagall.
"Minerva is right. However, I can talk to Dolores and insist that she allows Celia to join in with lessons again. If she wishes to punish Celia, then she must put her in detention. She cannot simply refuse to teach her" said Dumbledore calmly.

"Why did neither of you two say anything earlier?" Asked Madam Pomfrey, as she looked from Celia to Harry.
"Because we knew it would do no good. Professor Dumbledore and the Minister don't get on any more. And Umbridge is on her own level above the other teachers, so we didn't think any members of staff would be able to tell her what to do" admitted Celia.
"Do you know if anyone else has been forced to use this quill?" Questioned McGonagall.
"Not as far as I know. I think she just picked on me and Harry, because we have been the most vocal about Voldemort's return and my brother's death" replied Celia.

"Alright then. Potter, you should head down to dinner, and allow Miss Diggory to get some rest" instructed McGonagall.
"But I want to stay with Celia" insisted Harry.
"Just go, I'll probably have a nap in a minute. And I don't want you watching me sleep" said Celia.
"O.K, I'll go" sighed Harry, before leaving the hospital wing.
"You will be alright now, Dumbledore will sort everything out" reassured Flitwick.
Although Celia didn't believe him, she forced a smile and nodded her head.

McGonagall and Flitwick then left the room, and Madam Pomfrey headed into her office, leaving Celia alone with the headmaster.
She felt very awkward having him staring down at her, with his piercing blue eyes.
"I don't know if you are aware, but I am good friends with the Hog's Head barman" revealed Dumbledore.
Celia bit her tongue, "So, you know that I was there on Saturday, and that I got drunk".
"Yes, I do" admitted Dumbledore.
"Am I in trouble?" Asked Celia nervously.
"I'm not going to punish you. But I want you to promise me that you are not going to put dangerous substances of any kind, into your body, or cause it any more harm through lack of eating or other means".

Celia frowned, as Dumbledore seemed to be implying that he knew about the drugs stash in her room, and that she had been self-harming over the summer.
"I promise that I won't drink anymore" insisted Celia.
"That's good. But I need you to promise to avoid all kinds of illegal substances, not just alcohol" informed Dumbledore.
"I- I don't think I can" admitted Celia truthfully.
"You are stronger than you know, Miss Diggory. And I know that you can get through this. Things will get better, you have my word"
"Really? Because things seem to be getting worse, not better".

"Sometimes, in order for things to improve, they have to temporarily get worse first. But I promise you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel" reassured Dumbledore.
"I really hope that you are right" sighed Celia.
"I am. And help will always be given at Hogwarts, to those who ask for it. So, if you do need help in the future, all you need to do is ask" replied Dumbledore.
"Thank you, Professor. And I promise that I will try to give up the drugs"
"If you do try, you will surprise yourself and find that you succeed"
"I guess we will have to wait and see then".