Defend

Chapter Four I Told You To Shut Up

 I kiss my mum and dad's cheeks before dragging my trunk away and onto the train.

"I love you!"

"We love you too!"

I push my trunk onto the train and skip aboard before turning around.

"C'mon Ced!"

"I'm already on the train!"

I turn around again and Ginny and Cedric are waving to me out the window a few cars down. I run through the train to them and wave to my parents as the steam engine pulls away.

Ginny and I plop down into our compartment and slide the door closed before commencing a conversation about our summers.

"I missed you so much!" I gushed.

"Me too!" Ginny squeals.

"Fred and George almost blew up the living room!"

"Cedric almost did magic in front of a muggle!"

"Percy annoyed me the whole summer."

"Cedric put acid pops in my pillow."

Someone passes by our compartment and I slam myself so hard against the window I almost break the glass.

"Eliza! You alright?" Ginny laughs at my ridiculous movement.

"Who was that that just passed? He was very good looking!" I say, pressing my face against the glass in an attempt to see the charming stranger again.

Ginny stops laughing and a mischievous look settles over her face.

"Let's go find out."

We creep out of the compartment and follow the direction that the person went.

"Malfoy?!"

"What Diggory?"

"You um...," I stutter. "You're—" Ginny gives me a little push forward. "You um... look a bit...different."

Draco folds his arms and rolls his eyes at me. "Did you just come in here to pester me?"

"You uh..." I'm completely falling apart, and I can hear Ginny begin to snicker behind me.

"You're a lot better looking than last year."

"Thank you, I suppose." He turns back to his mates, before whipping around.

"Wait... did you just say I was ugly last year??" he snarls.

"Run!" I whisper to Ginny.

We dart away like we're chasing nifflers who'd stolen our jewellery.

Ginny pats my back, trying to consolidate me.

"You were a wreck back there."

"I know!" I sigh and bury my face into my hands.

"I'll teach you how to flirt, don't worry. We can't have a wreck like that again." Ginny laughs.

"Thank you!" We settle back into our compartment and begin eating some snacks.

Suddenly, all the lamps are extinguished and a cold chill floats over the darkness. Ginny and I cling to each other in the darkness. What was happening? Are my brother and our friends alright?

Wispy black figures float by the window.

All the happiness is sucked out of me. I'm not even scared anymore. I just want to... drown in my own sadness. I felt like I was never going to be happy again.