♫ pretty when you cry

- lana del rey

✧

Priscilla's second trip to the Hospital Wing was vastly different than the first. When she eventually woke up, she was sore all over like last time, but once her eyes adjusted she was surprised to see she was completely alone other than who was sitting at her bedside.

Surprisingly, it was George.

"Hey Cilly," he smiled down at her. "You're quite the hero, you know."

She blinked around the room.  "Where's Fred?"

The door to the hospital wing opened and closed quickly. The sounds of shouting and cameras flashing could be heard and seen from the corridor as Dumbledore and McGonagall came in, making their way over to Priscilla's cot. They were arguing with each other in hushed tones. George looked between the two professors and leaned closer to Priscilla protectively.

"Ms. Roberts, forgive us for the intrusion but we would like to ask a few questions," Dumbledore asked, trying to hide his tone of urgency behind a facade of composure.

"George, hand them my coat?" Cilla asked, already guessing what they would ask her. He leaned down and picked it up off the floor, handing it to Dumbledore without a word. "Check the pocket," she instructed, her voice breaking from the strain. Confused, Dumbledore pulled out the piece of parchment with the spell inscribed on it and showed McGonagall. "I found it in my pocket the other morning, it wasn't there the night before," she explained.

"Albus, this spell doesn't exist," McGonagall said, shocked. "I've never heard of Lumos Infinitum. Only Lumos, Lumos Maxima, and Nox!"

Dumbledore waved his wand over the piece of parchment, and it slowly floated an inch above his hand. It burned from one corner, flames spreading to the other corner as it began to curl in on itself. It eventually became ash and fell to the floor.

"It was a time turner, wasn't it?" said Priscilla.

Dumbledore sighed at the girl. "Indeed, I'm afraid so. I so wish you had brought this to my attention, as you did the dress," he said with a frown.

"There was another wizard in the water. They cast an unforgivable at me," she whispered. She didn't realize she was shaking until George squeezed her shoulder. The smell of flowers from his sweater soothed her nerves.

McGonagall nodded solemnly, giving her a supportive smile. "It will be investigated, dear."

"What happened with the mermaids? Aren't they supposed to be peaceful?" George asked.

"Whoever was in the water must've disturbed them... made them turn on their allies. They've all been temporarily blinded from your spell, and I will be discussing the matter with Merchieftainess Murcus," Dumbledore explained. "How do you feel?"

"Sore, but better than last time," Priscilla shrugged.

McGonagall put a hand on her chest, her mouth was agape. "There was another time?"

"Cilly's cast weird spells before. She faints right after and gets really sore," George explained.

Dumbledore's expression was indiscernible. After a beat, he gave Priscilla a stern nod. "Do you have knowledge of any family having similar capabilities?"

"No clue, my parents didn't even tell me we were wizards until I got my Ilvermorny letter," Cilla admitted. "Now," she said finally, feeling her strength slowly coming back. She looked at George, who was pursing his lips. He knew what she was going to ask, but he didn't know how to answer.

"Where is Fred?"

✧

Two hours after the second task was over, Fred Weasley was running amuck in the halls of Hogwarts, Lee Jordan fast on his trail. He was laughing and launching his newest firework invention off in the halls, Lee doing the same behind him. 

They ran straight past Filch, not even bothering to tone down their actions to save them from detention. Filch began to chase after them, making the surrounding students laugh at the scene.

All while his girlfriend was passed out in the hospital wing. George urged his brother to come upstairs with him to stay with Priscilla, but he had refused.

✧

Nitara and Cho didn't flinch when a firework erupted over their heads. They didn't dare break eye contact with Cedric as Fred, Lee, and Filch ran past them in the hallway. Surrounded by laughter and fireworks usually would've made Nitara's heart soar, but the conversation she was having at this moment was making her heart break instead.

"So you cheated on me?" Cedric said, the corners of his eyes turning red. He was haloed by the fireworks going off behind him. "With my best friend?"

Cho was already sobbing. She nodded through the tears. Nitara wanted to reach out and hold her, tell her everything was going to be alright, but that would be a lie. 

Nini's world was crumbling all around her.

"I knew you two were too close," Cedric said, almost to himself. Tears began to trickle down his cheeks, and he looked down to the floor. His crying made Nitara break out in a sob.

"We were drunk-"

"Don't, Cho," Cedric snapped. "It still happened. And you," he said, pointing an accusing finger at Nitara. "You're my best friend. How... How could you? When did this happen?"

Nitara took a deep breath, but it didn't help center any of what she was feeling. She felt so small at this moment. She knew she had to tell him. 

"The Yule Ball."

Cedric left the two girls there as he marched down the hallway, wiping his eyes with the back of his hands.

Cho looked to Nitara, likely seeking some comfort, but Nitara couldn't bring herself to do it. She walked away in the opposite direction, her face in her hands as she cried. She had failed.

Cho slouched down against the brick wall, wrapped the now freezing blanket from the second task earlier that day around her tighter, and hugged her knees. She stayed there for some time.

✧

Fred and Lee eventually got caught, of course. Their detention was to disassemble the stands around the lake from the second task. A group of Aurors were still hanging around the water, scanning the perimeter and speaking with some of the merfolk. Professor Moody was among the group, but he watched silently in the distance.

They had to do things the muggle way, so they were using the backs of hammers to pull out the nails in the wood that were holding the structure together. Fred yanked back a little too hard, cutting his finger. When he looked down at his now bleeding hand, he was surprised to see a teardrop fall onto it.

"You alright, mate?" Lee asked when he noticed.

Fred couldn't bring himself to smile like usual. He couldn't lie to his friend, either. "I don't know if I can do this, anymore," he said, not believing the words coming out of his mouth.

"Do what, Freddie?"

"I can't be with her anymore. I can't see her passed out like that again. I don't know how to help her when shit like this happens and I know I love her, I do, but I'm not right for her," Fred said out loud. The tears were falling down his cheeks in spades now. "I can't keep smiling through it, pretending like I know what's going on or what to do. It's exhausting, I can't-"

"I can't believe you!"

The two boys whipped their heads around to see Priscilla and George standing behind them. Priscilla's skin looked awfully pale accompanied by dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. She had the blanket from the hospital wing wrapped around her for warmth as the harsh wind hit her from the side. George looked to the floor, unsure of what to do.

"Priscilla..."

"Am I a burden to you, all of a sudden?" she asked, heartbroken. "You kept pushing me to tell you I loved you when you thought this relationship was too much for you? Are you fucking kidding me?"

Fred wiped the tears from his cheeks and flashed a broken smile that didn't match his sad eyes. "But you do love me, right?"

"Wrong," Priscilla spat. Before Fred knew it, she was fiddling with her finger awkwardly. She threw the ring he gave her at him with a glare so fuelled with anger that Fred wanted to run and hide. She spun on her heel and ran back to the castle, leaving the boys behind. 

She never looked back.