♫ you're a fighter

- kyle dixon & michael stein

✧

Priscilla was still trying to make sense of everything when everyone came back into Dumbledore's office. She knew her powers were uncommon, but she never would've guessed it was because she was a walking paradox. 

It made sense though. The dress, Vader, the note with lumos infinitum scrawled on it... there was a rogue wizard out there somewhere. It made her look up at Cedric who was leaning against the wall in deep thought. 

"Priscilla, we've arranged where you'll be staying this summer," Angela said to her daughter. She knelt down in front of the chair, trying awkwardly to give off a motherly presence. It made Cilla want to puke, so she stood up and rejoined Fred.

"You'll be staying with our friend, Sirius Black," Molly explained. "You'll need to go into hiding now that the Dark Lord knows who you are and what you can do."

"Can I go?" Harry cheered up considerably at the sound of Sirius' name. He was like a whole new person now compared to his haunted expression moments before.

"Sirius Black, as in the escaped from Azkaban mass-murderer, Sirius Black?" Priscilla asked in shock.

Harry smiled at her. "He's my godfather," he explained.

"Lovely chap, really," Fred whispered in her ear.

Well, it was better than going back to America and be stuck with another random nanny.

James frowned at his daughter. "We won't be able to contact you again, either."

"Don't bother trying," Priscilla snapped at her dad. The air in the room became quite awkward after that.

"We'll miss you?" Angela offered sadly.

Priscilla rolled her eyes and walked over to the door of Dumbledore's office. She opened the door and summoned the stairwell and looked back at her parents. "Just like you missed me every other time you left me? Whatever."

"Priscilla, dear..." Molly began but quieted down when she saw how determined Cilla was about this. The girl was not going to budge. Molly had never seen such a broken family like this before, it was something she could never understand.

✧

"I don't understand why I can't come," Harry pouted. Priscilla's parents had long gone by now, and the children were waiting outside Dumbledore's office as the Order held a private meeting.

"We can't pick you up in a flying car or something?" Priscilla joked. She put an arm around Harry supportively, and he leaned his head on her shoulder. "You're so brave, Harry. I wish I could be as strong as you."

Harry chuckled. "I was thinking the same thing about you."

✧

Saying goodbye is never easy. Today, Cedric was grappling with saying goodbye to a past life. A past version of himself.

He stood in the courtyard outside the Great Hall for some time, watching the trees dance in the wind and the sun slowly go down over the horizon. This courtyard was where he told Harry about the dragons in the first task. It's where he would come with Priscilla and Nitara for charms practice. He used to make out with Cho out here too. It felt so different now; like he had no right to the memories he made here.

Cedric Diggory was changing. He wasn't a kid anymore. Technically, he wasn't supposed to be anything anymore.

"Hey, Ceddie."

He turned around and it was as if he had woken up from a dream. Priscilla and Nitara stood in front of him a ways away.

"Hi," he breathed.

"That's it, I can't bloody stand it anymore," Nitara snapped. She ran to Cedric and threw her arms around him. He staggered back for a moment, then returned the warm gesture. She was squeezing him so tight, but it didn't matter to him. If he had died in the third task, he would've never made up with Nitara.

Priscilla came up to them and joined in on the group hug, Vader meowing on her shoulder. The cat, who had grown considerably since they first got him in Diagon Alley during the holidays, hopped up on top of Cedric's head and purred.

"I love you both," Cedric whispered, "so much."

"We love you too," Nitara gasped out. She was trying not to cry.

They stayed like that for some time.

✧

Nitara couldn't hold back any longer. After seeing what she saw in the Pensieve and finally making up with Cedric, she now understood time is precious. It's now or never.

She marched right up that spiral staircase to Ravenclaw Tower with a determination so strong, it would've been shocking to anyone who knew her. Usually, Nitara was the follower or the silent observer. Not today. 

She marched right up to that stupid knocker and glared at it. Her mind was flooded with memories of a drunk Cho puking all over the stairs. As gross as it was, Nitara knew that was the night that started it all.

"What am I?" the door asked smugly.

A stupid bloody knocker, that's what, Nitara said in her head. She thought hard for the answer, then smiled devilishly when she figured it out.

"A question. Now open the door," she demanded.

The door mumbled something about a clever Hufflepuff and the lock clicked open. She slid inside and didn't stop to look around. Thankfully, nobody was in the common room after the events of this evening, so she crept along, up the ornate stairs, and towards the women's dorms.

"Cho?" Nitara whispered in the hallway. "Cho!"

A door creaked opened, breaking the quiet. It was Cho. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying over Cedric's almost-death earlier that evening. "Nini?" she whispered in shock. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. "How did you get in here?"

"Your knocker is an asshole and his riddles are too easy. Move over and let me in before someone sees me!" Nitara whispered-yelled.

Cho obliged quickly. Her roommates were luckily out, having a party in someone else's room down the hall, leaving her and Nitara alone together.

"What are you-"

She was interrupted when Nitara crashed her lips against hers, pinning her against the wall. Cho was shocked but melted into the kiss quickly, wrapping her arms around Nini and pulling her even closer.

"I love you. Stay with me and my family this summer?" Nitara whispered against Cho's lips, her heart beating hard in her chest.

"I love you too," Cho nodded quickly, tears of joy pricking her eyes. She kissed Nitara again, overcome with happiness.

They were finally together.

✧

Soon after the day of the final task, it was time for the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students to depart back to France and Russia. Today the Hogwarts students were to hop on the express and head back to London as well. Exams were finally over and the turbulence of the Triwizard Tournament would officially end.

"Merci, Mademoiselle," Fleur said to Priscilla in the hallway as the Hogwarts students clapped for the visitors' departure. She was holding her sister Gabrielle's hand as she gave Priscilla the two polite kisses on the cheek goodbye.

"See ya, Fleur," Priscilla replied. "Later, Gabrielle!"

Fleur smiled and made her way over to hug Harry and give Ron a kiss on the cheek, making the boys blush furiously. Hermione and Ginny were having a field day making fun of the two.

"Dovijdane, Priscilla," Viktor Krum said, giving her a militant nod. "Try quidditch. You have good build," he complimented, tapping his chest with his fist.

"We should play sometime, eh Fred?" she said, turning to her boyfriend.

"Wicked," he smiled.

Viktor continued over to Hermione, bowed deeply, and gave her hand a kiss. "Until we meet again," he said stoically, then walked off with the rest of his Durmstrang classmates. Now it was Harry and Ron's turn to make fun of Hermione.

The rest of the Slytherin house was piping with anger at the sight of Viktor being so close with Priscilla. She was seen as a traitor to the house, and it was absolutely no fair.

"He's hot. There, I said it," Cassius said to Adrian in the group of steaming Slytherins.

"I couldn't agree with you more, Cass," Adrian chuckled at his boyfriend. "It's a shame he's straight."

Nitara and Cho entered the hallway, joining the celebration a little late. They were smiling at their friends sheepishly as they held hands.

Cedric noticed. The wound of the girls' betrayal still hadn't fully healed, but he smiled at them supportively either way. They returned the gesture gratefully.

Priscilla was trying not to scream and shout because she was so happy for them. She grinned in Nini's direction, and the girl blushed. "Hey, Nini! Let me see your eyes! Are you still pure?"

"Priscilla!"

✧

"So, we won't be able to see each other most of the summer, huh?" Fred said sadly as they walked towards the train station.

Priscilla shook her head sadly. "I'm not allowed contact with the outside for my protection. I'm... going to miss you, Freddie."

He held her hand and stopped her, that mischievous grin she loved so much growing on his face. Smooth as ever, he slid the ring he gave her with fireworks erupting inside on her finger and gave it a kiss. Priscilla smiled, grateful that he kept it after their fight. "Who says you have to leave now?" he asked.

"Um," she chuckled, "the Order?"

"Those old farts? When have they ever followed the rules? Your next babysitter is a legend prankster, even Peeves still complains about him," Fred countered.

"So what are you suggesting?"

Fred nodded his head at the Whomping Willow. "How's about I make you shriek all night at the shrieking shack?"

"Gross," Priscilla laughed at his bad joke, and rose up on her tippy-toes to give him a quick peck, "but a brilliant idea." 

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝.