Battles of Darkness and Strife

Chosen

Merrily POV

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"I can't believe you got chosen!" I punch David in the arm and he winces and holds his arm.

"Yeah, neither can I." I lean against the railing opposite David as we wait patiently for the stairs to finish moving. "I'm actually really nervous now."

I smirk at him. "You'll be fine."

"But will I?" David's tone turns worried and irritated. "We already have the entire world trying to kill us; do we really need something else?"

"You don't know that the task will try and kill you," I offer weakly. David gives me a disbelieving look and we enter the Gryffindor common room. David immediately hurries up to the boys' dorms and I slump in a chair. But then i find myself instantly jumping up as Harry storms into the room.

"Hufflepuff has a new Beater!" Ron sits straight up in his seat.

"Who is it?"

"One of the Americans... Feathers or something!"

"Abigail?" Harry looks at me. "She's one of my best friends," I clarify. "I didn't know she was trying out!"

"Technically there shouldn't have been tryouts," Harry explains. "Their team should have been the same as last year, except Goodridge decided to quit last minute. So Smith held tryouts yesterday and released the results today."

I grin. "I'm so happy for her! I didn't know sports was her thing."

"I'm not happy," Harry scowls. "Now I have to scout out their practices as well as Slytherin's."

"I imagine you'll live Harry," Hermione comments, not looking up from her book. "Just relax." Harry's left eye twitches and Ron starts to shake.

"Are they okay?" I ask hesitantly.

Hermione glances up from her reading. "They'll live." She gives me a knowing smirk and I remember she's spent the better part of eight years with these idiots. Harry and Ron start whispering furiously and go upstairs to their dorms. Hermione then peers over her book at me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just worried about David," I admit. "Entering our names seemed cool in the moment, but now I'm scared for him. I don't want him to die again."

"Again?" Hermione looks at me confusedly. I squeeze my lips shut and silently curse myself for letting anything slip.

"Nothing... inside joke," I say quickly. "What do you think the tasks will be?" 

The brown-haired girl doesn't look like she believes me, but she takes the change of conversation with grace. "It could be anything, but I guarantee it'll be terrifying." 

"That's helpful..." I mutter under my breath. I slouch in my chair and the common room is silent for a while longer. 

"How did you and David become friends?" Hermione's brisk English accent interrupts my brooding. 

I bite the inside of my lip awkwardly. "Um, it was complicated at first, but then you know we got to talking about our pasts and stuff and... bam. Bonding." All of this was a gross understatement, but it was the best I could come up with on the spot. "Anyway, why isn't anyone celebrating?"

"Mostly everyone knows what happened the last time, and not many people agree with it." Hermione closes her book. "I do hope David makes it out okay." Hermione heads up to bed and doesn't hear me whisper "I hope he does too."

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Oh look, she updated... It's a short one. I'm sorry for the lack of updates. On the bright side, summer vacation is next week, so that's good!

*breaks fourth wall*

Me: *immediately dodges chair*

Me: Guys!

Ryan: *stops bashing Leo on the head* What?

Me: Quarantine is almost over, but uh you've got some new friends...

Draco: Ugh, what is this place?

Merrily: Welcome to hell.

Anthony: You're joking, right...

Abigail: I wish I was-Nico stop stabbing David! 

Me: Yes, please stop that, he's supposed to do the disclaimer.

Draco: Who are you?

Merrily: She's the author. She likes to torture us!

Me: CheyPaigeFanfic, nice to meet you! David...?

David: *bleeding out* CheyPaigeFanfic does not own PJO or HoO. She also does not own the Harry Potter franchise.

Draco: Of course Harry has a franchise... I want a franchise. My father will hear about this!

Leo: You've just signed your death warrant.

Ryan: An annoying person... ATTACK!

Draco: *getting beat up* Anthony! Why are you beating me up?

Anthony: SURVIVAL!!!

Merrily: Please vote and comment!