I'm not a coward, just shy (Hogwarts fanfic)

ch 14 - Party planner

I like there was a lump in my throat and I was completely shocked, I watched him. The boy I knew my not understand. The boy who crawled into my mind more often than not. The boy who I could never know what he was thinking. The boy who just kissed me.

"It's not just the girls that like you" Cedric smiled making me flush. I leaned in.

"Meet me on the seventh floor at midnight. That the middle stair case and you won't be caught" dodging round the Curtin before my face could go redder.

"Taylor, are you feeling alright" Hermione asked.

"Fantastic" I grinned widely and I left hearing barking laughter behind the Curtin.

Back in the Gryffindor common room a full scale party preparation was under way. I somehow got roped into helping Fred and George steal supplies from the kitchen but with Fred and George's knowledge of the secret passage ways and a gravity spell which was in Percy's seventh year charms book with was easy to balance the six crates of butter beer between the three of us.

"We should try the canary cakes on some people tonight" George smiled mischief in his words.

"Great idea, we just cooked up some last night" Fred said.

"How has the vomiting sweet coming along" I asked seeing that the caldron was set up in their dorm bathroom.

"The sugar worked, I think, turned a rose colour last night" Fred heaved opened a mirror in the one of the main boys bathrooms, climbing out before helping us down with the rest of the beer. The light was blinding as we enter the well lit place. For me it felt like hot pins piecing my eyes. I hissed and recoiled, my eyes were becoming worst and soon I would have to get strong glasses.

"You alright" George asked, I nodded shielding my eye.

"A little bright is all" I said slowly coming out. I saw Fred eyes widened suddenly.

"Taylor your nose is bleeding" He said rushing to pull toilet roll from the dispenser. I raised my hand and touched my fingers to my nose. I touch something wet and pulled back. The tips of two of my fingers were red. It wasn't much, barely a drop but I was surprised. I have never had a nosebleed before. another drop of scarlet dripped onto my palm. Fred pushed the ward of toilet paper to my nose forcing my head back, using his other hand to hold the back of my head so I couldn't escape.

"I am fine, I can do it myself" I said half muffled by the paper and trying to swat Fred's hands away.

"You said that and the next minute you're collapsed on the ground" Fred said stubbornly.

"I'll take the crates down stairs. If it doesn't stop in 10 minutes go to the hospital wing" George said, easily balancing three crates in each hand, thanks to the charm.

After a few minutes of my protests Fred pulled it away. I could see there was only a small amount of blood on the tissue and After Fred was satisfied with forcing my head this way and that, he let me go.

"You should be such a worry wart, you'll get grey hair" I muttered looking at Fred's worried expression.

"I am worried that you might come down with something worst, more serious than a fever" he didn't look at me, rather at the tissue which was patched with crimson. His face seemed to turned to a grimace and he throw away the tissue. I knew that one day I would get something worst than a fever but I couldn't think about that right now. I wouldn't. I punched him playfully in the shoulder.

"I am not dead yet and I am not planning to go down without a fight, so come on" I said picking up a tray of other goodies nicked from the kitchen. "No one could throw a party like the Weasley twins" I smiled my most infectious grin and luckily it worked. He chuckled dropping the serious look.

"You're right, Wouldn't want the party to start without us" he said and together we worked down to the common room just as Harry, Ron and Hermione walked it and almost fell back in shock with the full volume of the cheers, whoops and congratulations.

Still in, his tournament robes, Harry walked in, the golden egg still clutched tightly underneath his arm. They had broken out an old banner which waved in mid air of its own accord. I laughed at their reaction, preferring to stay in the background as Fred and George went to greet them. I smiled sadly as I watched them. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Fred and George. They let out this warmth, a warm glow, the kind that made you want to joy. However I felt joining them when dampen this warmth. They were so much different to them. I felt outcast intruding in on a moment. Even though I love the Weasley's, even Percy, I would never be one myself. I ignored my longing to join them instead deciding to slip out of the common room, unnoticed. I slipped through the corridors walking slowly and calmly. It was 10 o'clock and knowing it was too late to go to the meet up spot to meet Cedric, I let my gift lead me. To my surprise, I ended up in front of Snape's office. The light was still shining from underneath, so I shrugged and knocked.

"Come in" Called the same familiar droning voice.

I did so, the door groans slightly with the effort. Snape was standing on the other side of his desk, pulling down his left sleeve. He looked surprised to see me.

"Taylor? Why are you out of your common room so late? I would have thought you would have been celebrating with the rest of your... house" He said as if saying the word Gryffindor was like trying a shot of vinegar. I flushed realizing I didn't have a reason for coming to see Professor Snape. I was just destined to come to this room on this night.

"I sort of followed my gift and It took me here, I honestly wasn't paying attention. Sorry, I should probably go" I turned to leave.

"That is quite alright Taylor. Would you like to stay for a bit" He asked. A little surprised at the response, I did come in, shutting the door carefully behind me.

I walked over to one of the cauldrons, were a rose pink liquid was bubbling. I sniffed the steam. Wood polish, a garden, old books, a musty mint and the burrow.

"Amortentia?" I asked, raising an eye brow to Snape.

"Yes, that would be corrected, but how did you know that? This potion is learned in sixth year."

"I like to read potions books in my share time" I lied having come across the potion while looking for Weasley wizard wheezes ideas. He nodded and I could tell something was wrong. Snape wasn't himself. No one would have noticed difference in his mood but it was the shifting of eyes and my Sight. I gasped as I saw, somewhere in a deep future that might never happen. I looked at Snape's Left arm.

"Is it bothering you?" I asked and he looked as if I had slapped him which I might as well have done. I was Surprisingly calm. I didn't feel any fear of Snape. No... not Snape... the fear that was anchoring itself in my stomach was for the mark itself. The Mark which had been burned deep into my mind's eye at the Quidditch world cup.

"How...?" He asked. I stood up.

"I looked for what was bothering you" I answered.

"What will you do now?" Snape asked putting on a mask of stone with a side annoyance.

"Nothing" I answered truthfully. "What you may have done in the past is none of my business. With a Curse like mine, I am forced to look to the future" I paused looking at Snape's expression falter for a millisecond. He wasn't expecting that answer. "I believe that the Dark Lord is returning. The fact you mark is beginning to show is only more proof. I asked you to choose your side carefully, for now your secret is safe with me. I am good at keeping secret" I smiled with rare humor, walking to the door. Snape didn't try to stop me.

Once I drop to the Seventh floor, all thoughts of Snape vanished when I laid eyes on the shadow like figure.

"Cedric?" I hissed. The Figure turned, a bright white smile painted on his face. The kind that made everyone's insides melt.

"So what did you want to show me?" Cedric grinned excitedly.

"Come and I'll show you" I grinned back.