"He-he sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter.

Potter took it, and read aloud to me; while I glances at the tear-stained letter.

Dear Hermione,

We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts.

Execution date to be fixed.

Beaky has enjoyed London.

I won't forget all the help you gave us.

Hagrid

"They can't do this," I say. "They absolutely can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous. Not like most of Hagrid's other pets."

"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it," said Hermione, wiping her eyes. "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope. . . .Nothing will have changed."

"Yes, it will," I tell her forcefully. "You won't have to do it all alone. I'll help. Heck, I can probably get Emma Rhee to help, too."

"Clara!"

Hermione flung her arms around my neck. I patted her shoulder as she cried. She really is over-stressed about her work. Then Hermione pulls back.

"I"m sorry, Clara. I'm so sorry I didn't trust you. You'd never work for your dad like that."

What do I say to her? I'm not ready to let bygones be bygones. They abandoned me. They left me at the mercy of the school on my own.

"Not now, Hermione. Please just wait until I'm ready to hear it."

Hermione frowns. "I'm going to go tell Ron."

She left me standing there with my ex-best friend.

*Time Skip*

The safety measures imposed on the students since Dad's second break-in made it impossible for me to sneak out to speak to Hagrid outside of Care of Magical Creatures.

He was numb with shock at the verdict.

"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up for me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em. . . ."

"There is still the appeal!" Ron and I growl fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

The four of us walked back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead I could see Draco, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and he kept looking back and gesturing for me to come join them. I just continued to glare in his direction. Learn, Draco, learn from your mistakes.

"S'no good, you two," says Hagrid sadly as we reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that. . . ."

Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his hankerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"

Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" says Draco. "And he's supposed to be over teacher!"

All four of us moved toward Draco furiously, but Hermione got to him first-SMACK!

She had slapped Draco across the face with all the strength she could muster. Draco staggers. Potter, Ron, Crabbe, Goyle, and I stood shocked as Hermione raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach!"

"Hermione!" said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.

"Get off, Ron!"

Hermione pulled out her wand. Draco stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. Do their brains cells even work independently?

"C'mon," Draco muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.

"Hermione!"

"Harry, you better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione screams shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"

"We're due in Charms," says Ron, still goggling at Hermione. "We'd better go."

As we hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom, I sent a text to Frisk.

Where are you?

Common room. Why?

Draco in there?

Just came in. What's up?

I'm asking you to slap him. If he asks why, tell him it's from me on Hagrid's behalf. 

Sounds dangerous. What if Lucius Malfoy found out? We'd be next on his list.

I'm in.

Might I ask why?

He insulted Hagrid, and I didn't get a chance to hit him. I've got Charms now, so I can't chase him down myself.

I'm on it.

Everybody on this planet needs a Frisk Rhee.

Potter, Ron, and I found our seats. It wasn't until I had my bag open that I noticed Hermione's disappearance. She didn't return all lesson.

"She could have done with a Cheering Charm on he too," I overheard Ron say as the class left for lunch, all grinning from ear to ear-the Cheering Charms had left us with a feeling of great contentment.

Hermione wasn't at lunch either. By desert, the effects of the Cheering Charms had worn off and I was getting anxious.

"Have you two seen her?" I asked Ron and Potter as we had a short remainder of time before the end of the lunch. Both of them shook their heads. Ron asks worriedly, "You don't think Malfoy did something to her?"

I shrug. It's possible but unlikely. Frisk would let me know if he was leaving the common room.

The three of us head for Gryffindor Tower. We passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password ("Flibbertigibbet"), and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room.

Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. We went to sit down on all sides of the table. Potter prodded her awake.

"W-what?" said Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. "Is it time to go? W-which lesson have we got now?"

"Divination, but it's not for another twenty minutes," said Potter. "Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?"

"What? Oh no!" Hermione squeaks. "I forgot to go to Charms!"

"But how could you forget?" asks Potter. "You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!"

"I don't believe it!" Hermione wails. "Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things!"

"Hermione," I say soberly, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book she'd been using as a pillow. "take a good look at yourself! I'm only saying this because you need to hear it, but you look awful. The black eyes you've developed from lack of sleep makes you look like a corpse. Not to mention, you're losing it. Have you considered the fact that maybe you're trying to do too much? Drop a few classes, Hermione. Do it for your health."

"No, Clara, I'm not trying to do too much." cries Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry. . . .I'll see you in Divination!"

I groan as she leaves. "What do we have to do to get her to listen?"

*Time Skip*

Hermione joined us at the foot of the ladder to Professor Trelawney's classroom twenty minutes later, looking extremely harassed.

"I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come up in our exams; Professor Flitwick hinted they might!"

Together they climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling tower room. Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Potter, Ron, Hermione, and I grabbed a table together in the back.

"I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Ron mutters, casting an eye around for Trelawney.

"Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry," Potter mutters back. "I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands."

"Good day to you!" said the misty voice belonging to Trelawney. She emerges from the shadows like a bat from a cave. Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the dim glow of their crystal ball.

"I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned, " Trelawney tells us, sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice."

Hermione snorted.

"Well, honestly. . . .'the fates have informed her'. . .who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!" Hermione scoffs, not troubling to keep her voice low. Potter, Ron, and I choke back laughs.

It's difficult to tell whether Trelawney had heard us, as her face was hidden in shadow. She continued, however, as though she didn't.

"Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art," she says dreamily. "I do not expect any of you to See when you first peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes"-Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise- "So as to clear the Inner Eye and the super-conscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will See before the end of the class."

So it began. It seemed rather pointless, to me at least, to stare blankly at a crystal ball, trying to keep my mind empty but thoughts about the small noises the other students were making the way to the forefront of my mind. After ten minutes, I, instead, devoted my time to thinking about the wand movement required for the Blindness Curse that Sky showed me. It was a sort of jab with the incantation caecitas. Potter seemed annoyed by Ron's silent giggling and Hermione's constant tutting.

"Seen anything yet?" Potter asks us after a quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing. 

"My life wasting away," I answer.

"Yeah, there's a burn on this table," Ron tells him, pointing. "Someone's spilled their candle."

"I could be practicing something useful. I could be catching up on Cheering Charms-"

Trelawney rustled past.

"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portions within their Orb?" she muttered over the clinking of her numerous bangles.

"I don't need any help," Rob whispered. "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be a lot of fog tonight."

Potter, Hermione, and I burst out laughing.

"Now, really!" said Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in our direction. Parvati and Lavender looked scandalized. "You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!" She approached our table and peered into our crystal ball. Oh no! I know where this is going.

"There is something here!" Trelawney whispers, lowering her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. "Something moving. . .but what is it?"

Three. . .two. . .one. . .go. . . .

"My dear. . .," Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Potter. "It is here, plainer than ever before. . .my dear, stalking toward you, growing ever closer. . .the Gr-"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" shouts Hermione. "Not that ridiculous Grim again!"

Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger. 

"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane."

There was a moment's silence. Then-

"Fine!" says Hermione suddenly, getting up and cramming Unfogging the Future back into her bag. "Fine!" she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Ron off his chair. "I give up! I'm leaving!"

And to everyone's amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight.

It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim. She turned abruptly from Potter, Ron, and I's table, breathing rather heavily as she hugged her gauzy shawl more closely to her.

"Ooooo!" said Lavender suddenly, making everyone jump. "Oooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!' Yous aid it ages ago, Professor!"

Trelawney gives her a dewy smile.

"Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs. . . .The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know. . . ."

Lavender and Parvati looked deeply impressed, and moved over so that Trelawney could join their table. I rolled my eyes and resumed my staring at the crystal ball.

Maybe I should try that Blindness Curse on Trelawney. I'd have to get Sky to teach the counter-curse, visus, movement first.

*Time Skip*

The Easter holidays weren't relaxing. The third years had more homework than first and second year combined. Neville Longbottom seemed close to a nervous collapse, and he wasn't the only one.

"Call this a holiday!" Seamus Finnigan roared at the common room one afternoon. "The exams are ages away, what're they playing at?"

None of us were working as hard as Hermione. Even without Divination, she was taking more subjects than the rest of us. She was usually the last to leave the common room at night, first to arrive at the library the next morning; She has shadows like Lupin's under her eyes, and was always on the verge of tears. I wish I could slip a sleeping potion into a drink for her, because I'm really worrying about her.

To help lighten Hermione's load, Ron, Emma, and I have taken full responsibility for preparing Buckbeak's appeal. Ron and I don't talk unless we have to, but whenever we aren't doing our own work, we were invested in enormously thick volumes with names like The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology and Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality. We only paused to write down dates and key facts.

The Gryffindor-Slytherin match is the first Saturday after the Easter holidays. Slytherin is leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. If Gryffindor was going to win they'd need to win the match with more than that. Unfortunately, Lee was fit to commentate for this match and, despite overwhelming support for the twins, McGonagall said Lee would be the regular commentator until his graduation. 

As if I needed more proof the school is biased towards the Gryffindors.

All of Gryffindor House was obsessed with the match. They haven't held the cup since the legendary Charlie Weasley (Ron's second oldest brother) had been seeker. Draco was determined to thwart Potter. At every opportunity, Draco was complaining to Frisk, Adam, and I about Potter. If I dare call Draco my friend, I should be on his side. It wasn't much of a struggle to say I was. While we may be getting friendlier, I was still angry enough at Potter to hope he loses the match.

What can I say? I like to watch my enemies fail.

Never has there been a match approaching with such a highly charged atmosphere. By the time the holidays were over, tension between the two teams and their Houses is at the breaking point. A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year (Daniel) ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears. Daniel still flirted with me though. 

Potter can't walk to classes without Slytherins attacking Gryffindors. Sky, Draco, and the Rhees had to play bodyguard so the Gryffindors wouldn't kick me then I beat them up. 

All usual pursuits were abandoned the night before the match. Even Hermione put down her books.

"I can't work, I can't concentrate," she said nervously.

This isn't a surprise. Fred and George Weasley were dealing with pressure by being even louder and exuberant than normal. Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch field in the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wand. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were laughing at Fred and George's jokes. Even though I was sitting right next to the Golden Trio, I ignored them and instead was texting with Frisk about random stuff.

"You're going to be fine," Hermione told Potter.

"You've got a Firebolt!" said Ron.

So do I, Weasley. Also, thanks for the idea. I stood up and went upstairs.

Meet me in the courtyard in the morning. Around seven would be good. Bring Draco. It could help Slytherin win the Cup for certain.

*Time Skip*

I was sitting in the courtyard at seven o' clock. Thirty minutes later, Frisk and Draco appeared at the castle doors, spotted me, then walked over. They both looked happy. 

"What's your plan?" Frisk asks before yawning. "And why so early?"

"I want to surprise people when Draco appears on the field with my Firebolt." I say innocently.

"You mean it?" Draco's face breaks into a child like grin. "You'll let me use your broom?"

"I want Slytherin to win as much as you guys do." I say, gesturing to the emerald green shirt I was wearing. "I'd love nothing more than to see Saint Potter's disappointed face."

Draco's grin broadens. "I never thought you'd say that."

"I was capable. I just never had a reason to say it."

At breakfast, I joined the Slytherin table. When the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall everybody clapped. That is, everybody except the Slytherins. We hissed loudly as they passed.

Draco seemed to become paler when they entered. James, my current boyfriend, asked him what was up. Draco shook his head. Nerves is my guess.

"We should go," Frisk yells the table. "Match begins in thirty minutes."

Sitting in the stands, I glanced around. All of the Slytherins were wearing green, even Snape, and we were brandishing banners with the silver serpent of Slytherin. Everybody else was wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them, or holding banners with slogans like "GO GRYFFINDOR!" and "LIONS FOR THE CUP!"

"We're outnumbered," I whisper. James takes my hand and kisses my cheek.

"We always are, Clara. Try not to think about it." 

He's sweet. Maybe I'll keep him around longer than a week. I dunno. A week's a long time.

"And here are the Gryffindors!" yelled Lee Jordon. "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years-"

We may have been small in number, but we easily drowned out Lee's voice.

"BOO!" We screamed as loud as we could.

"And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill-"

More angry shouts from us. Adam actually yelled, "They performed better than the rest in tryouts!"

We watched Flint and Wood approach each other and grasp each other's hand very tightly; it looked like they were trying to break the other's hand.

"Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch shouts. You couldn't hear her blow her whistle over the sound of the crowd, as fourteen brooms kicked into the air.

"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goalposts, looking good, Alicia! Argh, no-Quaffle intercepted by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing up the field-WHAM!-nice Bludger work there by George Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by-Johnson, Gryffindor back in possession, come on Angelina-nice swerve around Montague-duck Angelina,that's a Bludger!-SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"

Angelina punched the air as she soared around end of the field; the sea of scarlet screaming in delight-

"OUCH!" 

Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom by Marcus Flint. Marcus had flown directly at her and she nearly fell off.

"Sorry!" Flint shouted as the majority of the crowd booed. "Sorry, didn't see her!"

Fred Weasley vented his feelings by chucking his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.

I turned to Adam as Madam Hooch gave both teams penalties. "What if he hurt Angelina? That was a really dirty move."

"You think he cares?" Adam answers.

"Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends," Frisk quoted the Sorting Hat.

"Welcome to the darker side of the House, Clara," James tells me.

Alicia of Gryffindor comes to take the penalty.

"Come on, Alicia!" yelled Lee Jordan into the silence of the crowd. "YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"

We watched as Flint, still bleeding freely, fly forward to take the Slytherin penalty. Wood was hovering in front of the Gryffindor goalposts, his jaw clenched.

"'Course, Wood's a superb Keeper!" Lee Jordan told the crowd as Flint waited for Madam Hooch's whistle. "Superb! Very difficult to pass-very difficult indeed-YES! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! HE'S SAVED IT!"

Potter zoomed by, gazing around for the Snitch. C'mon, Malfoy!

"Gryffindor in possession, Slytherin in possession-no!-Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's streaking up the field-THAT WAS DELIBERATE!"

Montague, a Slytherin Chaser, had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cartwheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle.

Madam Hooch's whiswtle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past the Slytherin Keeper.

"THIRTY-ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING-"

"Jordon, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way-!"

"I'm telling it like it is, Professor!"

Potter focused on something by the Slytherin goalposts, then speeds off. What's he doing? If he catches the Snitch now Gryffindor will lose the cup. But Malfoy can't get it either.

"No" I yell. Draco can't hear me as he zooms after Potter, just as he wanted.

"Dammit!" I swore. Adam seemed to realize it too and looked nervous.

A Bludger streaked past Potter's right ear, hit by our Beater, Derrick. Then again-

The second one grazed Potter's elbow. Bole was closing in on him.

"They're going to crash." Frisk groaned.

"And it's not even going to be the one I want to crash." I sigh. "How unfortunate."

Potter turned the Firebolt upward at the last second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch.

"Ha haaa!" yelled Lee Jordon as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each other, clutching earlier than that to beat a Firebolt! And it's Gryffindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle-Flint alongside her-poke him in the eye, Angelina!-it was a joke, Professor, it was a joke-oh no-Flint in possession, Flint flying toward the Gryffindor goalposts, come on now, Wood, save-!"

But Marcus Flint scored; there was a rise in deafening shouts coming from Slytherin supported, and Jordon swore so badly that Minnie tried to tug the magical megaphone away from him.

"Sorry, Professor, sorry! Won't happen again! So, Gryffindor in the lead, thirty points to ten, and Gryffindor in possession-"

This was the dirtiest game I've ever seen. The Slytherins were all ticked by Gryffindor's early lead. Their anger led them to resort to any means necessary to win. They had to win because of their pride. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a Bludger. Clearly, Slytherin players are not picked for their intelligence. George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Wood pulled off another spectacular save, making the score forty-ten to Gryffindor.

There was no sign of the Snitch. Draco was sticking close to Potter as he searched for it.

Katie scored. Fifty-ten. Fred and George Weasley were swooping around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were thinking of revenge (we always are, of course). Bole and derrick took advantage of this ti aim both Bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded.

Madam Hooch was livid.

"YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUADFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCHORING AREA!" she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. "Gryffindor penalty!"

And Angelina scored. Sixty-ten. Moments later, Fred pelted a Bludger at Warrington, but Warrington avoided it and put the Quaffle through the scoring hoop-sixty-twenty.

The crowd was screaming itself hoarse-Gryffindor had sixty points, and if they got the Snitch now, they win the Quidditch Cup. The hundreds of eyes in the stadium watch Potter and Draco zoom around high above the rest of the game.

Potter put on a huge burst of speed toward a point twenty feet above him. Despite the speed of the Firebolt, Draco can't catch up to Potter because Potter is deliberately keeping him blocked from speeding up.

Then I had a snake-worthy idea. I pull out my phone and flash sunlight into Potter's eye. 

The brightness of the sun shocked him, and he retracted his hand. That gave Draco the chance to swerve around Potter and grab the Snitch.

"I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!" Lee screams into the microphone as the Gryffindor supporters scream in anger and the Slytherins celebrate. "THOSE CHEATING BASTARDS WON! ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TO SIXTY!"

McGonagall doesn't even tell Lee off. Even she seemed upset by the sudden turn of events.

The Slytherin team does a victory lap as the Slytherins start singing "Victorious" by Panic! at the Disco.

Tonight we are victorious

Champagne pouring over us

All my friends were glorious

Tonight we are victorious

We rushed onto the field as the emerald robed players celebrated. We pulled them up onto our shoulders, and all of us continued singing over the angry remarks of our opponents. 

Double bubble disco queen headed to the guillotine.

Skin as cool as Steve McQueen, let me be your killer king

It hurts until it stops, we will love until it's not

I'm a killing spree in white, eyes like broken Christmas lights

Madam Hooch gives the Quidditch Cup to Bole, who passes it to Draco. Draco has never looked happier. Frisk and Adam were hopping up and down like excited toddlers. Marcus Flint was pumping his fists in the air. Even Snape came down and patted the team on the shoulder.

Oh we gotta turn up the crazy

Livin' like a washed up celebrity

Shooting fireworks like it's the Fourth of July

Until we feel alright

Until we feel alright

All the Gryffindor supporters were starting to get over their anger. Most, like McGonagall and Percy, were just in shock. Wood was on the verge of tears. Potter, Ron, and Hermione were giving me suspicious looks.

I'm like a scarf trick, it's all up the sleeve

I taste like magic, waves that swallow quick and deep

Throw the bait, catch the shark, bleed the water red

Fifty words for murder and I'm every one of them

"Party in the common room!" Someone shouts. Still carrying the team, we make our way back to the dungeons.

My touch is black and poisonous

And nothing like my punch drunk kiss

I know you need it, do you feel it

Drink the water, drink the wine

The lyrics of the songs bounce off the walls of the castle. Somebody shouts the password. We enter and break out the leftover drinks from last time.

Marcus walks over to me, still grinning.

"What did you do?"

The crowd's still singing.

Oh we gotta turn up the crazy 

Livin' like a washed up celebrity

Shooting fireworks like it's the Fourth of July

"What are you talking about, Marcus?"

"There was no way Malfoy was going to catch up to Potter." Marcus says. "But then he stops. You blinded him. How?"

"I used my phone to flash sunlight in his eyes. I couldn't let them win."

Tonight we are victorious

Champagne pouring over us

All my friends were glorious

Tonight we are victorious

Marcus leans in suddenly. Now we're kissing. The Slytherins standing nearby wolf-whistled and jeered at us. I kissed him back.

Tonight we are victorious

Champagne pouring over us

All my friends were glorious

"I'm sorry," Marcus says with a sly smirk. "I don't know what came over me."

"Do you hear me complaining?" I grin. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

Marcus nods and lets me leave. I push through the crowd, searching for one face in particular. I pass Adam flirting with a brown-eyed girl and Frisk and Draco, who were talking. Draco was playing up his win.

Then I spot Jame's sad smile

Oh we gotta turn up the crazy

Livin' like a washed up celebrity

Shooting fireworks like it's the Fourth of July

Until we feel alright

Until we feel alright

"Hey," I say. "Can we talk?"

"I know what you're going to tell me," James sighs. "'You're a good guy and all, but I don't think we work'. I heard you tell Blaise."

"It's just how I am. I kinda doubt I'll stay with Marcus any longer."

We stand in silence for a bit. Then I gesture to the red-haired girl who has been checking him out. "I think she likes you. You should go find a real girlfriend, because honestly I'm just not good with commitment."

"I think I will. Goodbye, Clara."

I walk back to Marcus, who'd gotten me a Butterbeer while I was gone. We turn up the music.

Tonight we are victorious

Champagne pouring over us

All my friends were glorious

Tonight we are victorious

Song: "Victorious" by Panic! at the Disco

Sorry if I messed up the lyrics a bit. I don't own the video, characters, or song. Characters belong to J.K Rowling and the video was made by Leon van der Noll on YouTube.