What If? Year 1

Chapter 34

"Tell me all the juicy details!" Ara shouts at me as I get into the dorm, "Every little thing.. you hear me?" I set my skates box down on my bed and throw myself next to it. 
"He is so romantic!" I swoon, covering my face, "He literally kissed my hand." Ara sighs and smiles. 
"He got me these." I open the box and show her my new skates. 
"They're beautiful!" she says, taking them.
"I know, he.. ugh," I sigh, "I don't know quite what love feels like.. but man, I think I might love him, and it's only been one date!" Ara smiles and comes to sit next to me. 
"What else did you do?" she asks, still staring at the skates.  
"We skated around the lake and talked," I tell her, "he had his friends host a party, so that no one bothered us." Ara nods. 
"I think that's where Heather and Ginny have gotten off to," she says. 
"Cedric offered to go with me to the party," I tell her, "but I knew that you'd be here. So I came back." Ara smiles. 
"We could go now, if you'd like," she offers, but I shake my head. 
"I've got homework to finish, sorry, you can go though," I respond, getting out my Charms book and a piece of parchment. 
"Alright, I'll see you at dinner then," she says, getting up and putting on some shoes, "You can keep the dress." She smirks at me and shuts the door. I stare down and the empty parchment and sigh. 
You should have gone to the party.

I finished all of my homework and decided that I would just chill with Midnight.  Midnight sat in my lap and rapped her small paws around my hands.  We both just sat in my bed until Heather came back to the dorm. 
"Hello, Goldie," she says, "how was your date?" My face flushes and I look down at my hands. 
"It was good, Heather," I whisper, embarrassed, "Cedric offered to take my to the party, but I had homework." 
"You always have homework," Heather complains, "You should try to get out there more.. like to parties and stuff. The party is still going on, it's going on until dinner." 
"But wouldn't it be odd if I came this late?" 
"No, people have been coming and going all day.. Cedric is still there though, so are Ara and Ginny. I think I saw Harry, but not for very long." 
"I'm not surprised he went though," I tell her, "Let me get my shoes." Heather fist pumps the air and I laugh. Midnight meows at me and I poke her nose. 
"We'll cuddle tonight, okay, Midnight?" The cat seemed to understand me and relaxed off my arm. I giggle and put my boots back on.  

The courtyard was crowded with all the students of Hogwarts, and a few teachers.  Dumbledore and McGonagall sat on a bench together, probably supervising. My eyes quickly glance over the crowds. My eyes catch a glimmer of hot pink hair with some ginger. Heather and I rush over to them and Ginny smiles at me. 
"I didn't think that'd work, honestly," she says, hugging me. I quickly notice that she was a lot thinner than usual. 
"It didn't take much," Heather replies honestly, "she had finished her homework." Ara laughs. 
"We should go find Cedric," she offers, and I smile. 
"No, I should spend time with you guys!" I tell them, "...so what does one do at a party?" Ara laughs.
You don't get out much do you?" she jokes, "People usually dance and talk and eat food.. I think, but there isn't any music or food here." 
"So this was a waste of my time?" I reply, scrunching my nose and giggling.
"Hey, Golds, I didn't think you were coming," Cedric says, setting his hand gently on my shoulder. 
"Oh, yeah," I respond, my cheeks flushing, "I had homework that I needed to do, and I didn't know how long this was going to be." Cedric smiles. 
"Hello, girls, are you three enjoying the party? I presume you're the ones that got Goldie down here." The other girls giggle and nod. 
"May I sit with you all at dinner?" 
"Sure, man," Ara response for all of them, "A friend of Goldie's is a friend of mine." Cedric nods and smiles and puts his arm around me.  
"I'll see you at dinner then, Goldie," he says giving me a quick hug. I smile as he walks away. 
"You are just smitten by him," Ginny swoons, "you're face is bright red!"
"So is yours when ever Harry's around." Ginny looks to the ground. I smile and she shakes her head. 
"She's not wrong," Heather replies, patting her shoulder, "But your face doesn't get as red and Goldie's does." Ginny laughs and I hit Heather's shoulder. 
"She isn't wrong." Ara tells me. I shake my head. 
"I'm going to get a drink," Ginny says, walking away. Heather, Ara, and I continue to talk  and after a while, my mind starts to wander. 
I have never been around Ginny when the attacks have happened. That's a terrible thought, Marigold, thinking that your friend is petrifying people. But it is easier to get around if people trust you. Awful, just awful! 
A voice rips her from her thoughts. 
"Ginny left quite a while ago." Ara says, "Should we go see where she's gotten off to?" Heather nods, and they both look at me for affirmation. 
"Umm, yeah," I tell them, "You guys do that, I'm starting not to feel the best. I think I'm still not in the school routine.  I'll see all of you at dinner?" Heather and Ara both look at me, clearly concerned because of my sudden mood shift. They nod and walk off.  I walk off in the opposite direction, towards the castle. My eyes catches Nearly-Headless Nick in one of the windows, looking slightly worried. 
"Are you leaving already, Goldie?" Cedric calls out, not leaving his group. 
"Yeah, parties aren't really my scene," I call back, picking up my walking speed.