Whispers and Winks

Olivia Middleton's POV

I'm waiting for the train, heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. Ron, Harry, Hermione, and the twins are supposed to be coming from The Leaky Cauldron together. I couldn't go—my job kept me behind. Now, I scan the platform, weaving through the mess of crying first-years and swarming parents, searching for familiar faces.

And then... I see them. Not the ones I'm expecting, though.

A familiar pair of silver eyes catch mine through the crowd. Draco.

He's standing next to a tall, graceful woman—his mother, I assume. There's a softness in her features, the kind that doesn't quite match the Malfoy name. He gives me a small smile and mouths, "Good to see you." Something about it makes my chest tighten. He's actually glad I'm back.

Before I can process that feeling, I feel a hand on top of my head. I don't even have to look.

"George!" I drop my luggage and throw my arms around him. I'm barely tall enough to hug him properly, so I tiptoe, and he just picks me up like I weigh nothing. "You know he's got a brother, right? One that's way more handsome," Fred chimes in, clearly annoyed I went to George first.

"Oh, Fred, don't pout. She probably thought there was a mirror nearby, and you're just the ugly reflection," George teases, putting me down. "Hey!" I smack his shoulder, grinning. "That's mean!"

Fred steps in and sweeps me into a dramatic spin, my legs definitely hitting someone who mutters as they pass by. When he sets me down, his smile softens. "You look gorgeous, love."

"I missed you guys," I say, and I mean it.

Hermione and Ron arrive next, pulling me into tight hugs. Then there's Harry, finishing up a conversation with Mr. Weasley. The second he's done, he's sprinting toward me and wraps me in a bone-crushing hug. "Harry! How are you? I missed you so much."

"Better now that I've seen you," he says, grinning as he pulls back. "What were you and Mr. Weasley talking about?" I ask, curious. "I'll tell you later," he says quickly. "How's your job? The house?"

We board the train as we chat, finally finding a compartment with enough seats for all of us. "Who's that?" Ron asks, eyeing the man sleeping in the corner. "Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione answers without missing a beat. Ron squints. "How do you know everything?"

"His bag, Ronald," she says in that classic Hermione tone that makes me stifle a laugh.

Merlin, I missed their bickering.

"I'll be back," I say, standing. "Gonna use the loo. Anyone want anything from the trolley? My treat."

"Acid Pops," Hermione calls.

"Lemon drops!" Ron adds.

"Chocolate Frogs," Harry and I say at the same time.

I laugh. "Still your favorite, huh?" He just grins, and I head out, smiling to myself.

The washroom is all the way at the end of the train, and honestly, I hate walking there alone. But there's no way I'm holding it until Hogwarts. Unfortunately, it means I have to pass his compartment. Of course.

My steps slow a little as I get closer, my nerves winding tight. I saw Draco on the platform, but this... this is different. This is up close. "Lost your way, mudblood?" Pansy Parkinson sneers, throwing herself onto Draco's lap like she owns him.

My stomach burns. Jealousy? No, no way. Why the hell would I be jealous? Still, something ugly and hot rises in my throat. The rest of the Slytherins snicker like it's the joke of the year—which it's absolutely not.

Except Draco.

He doesn't laugh. That's the only reason I don't storm in there and punch Parkinson in the throat. Instead, he gives me a small, almost apologetic smile. And I keep walking.

Thank Merlin there's no line for the loo. I go in, do what I came to do, and come out... only for the train to jolt suddenly, then stop. The lights flicker—and then go out completely. "This can't be. We're not there yet..." I mutter, frowning. Before I can steady myself, the whole train shakes again and I lose my balance.

Suddenly, a hand clamps over my mouth. Another arm wraps tight around my waist, pulling me back—into the boys' lavatory. "What the—"

"Shh," a low voice says near my ear. The guy's taller than me. I can hear his heartbeat, that's how close we are. "I'm sorry. Just stay quiet. Dementors are on the train."

"D-Dementors?" I whisper, more scared than I mean to sound. "Yes. They're searching for Sirius Black."

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

The temperature drops like someone opened the gates of winter itself. I'm wearing an oversized sweater, thank God, but my skirt? Way too short for this. "You're freezing," the boy murmurs and suddenly pulls me into a hug.

We're already pressed together thanks to the tiny cubicle, but now it's full-on chest-to-chest. My hands are against him, his are still firmly on my waist. "Who are you, by the way?" I ask quietly.

"Diggory. Cedric Diggory. And you?"

Wait. Him? The nicest, most charming Hufflepuff in the school? The one every girl—and half the boys—swoon over? "Olivia—"

"Middleton?" he finishes for me. The lights flick back on as he looks down at me, his hands still holding my waist like he's forgotten to let go. "Erm, yes. How do you know who I am?"

He grins, and Merlin help me, it's annoyingly cute. "Please. You're Harry Potter's best friend—but honestly, that's not how I know you. You've got the prettiest smile in Hogwarts. No wonder half the school's got a thing for you. Actually, scratch that. Probably every boy in school would fall for your smile."

I blink up at him. Am I blushing? I think I'm blushing.

"And judging by how you knew my name... have you fallen too?" I blurt. What the hell? Am I—flirting? He smirks. "Hmm... maybe."

"Let's go," he says, finally stepping back. "I think the coast is clear." He pulls open the stall door, still holding my hand, and thank God the hallway is empty. If someone saw us walk out of the boys' loo like this? 

Scandal.

"Hi, I'm Cedric Diggory," he says formally this time, offering his hand again. I shake it, smiling. "Nice to officially meet you."

As we walk, he places a warm hand on the small of my back. I pretend not to notice the shiver it sends down my spine. "So, excited to start the new year?" he asks, making small talk.

Before I can answer, Goyle's voice booms from Draco's compartment as we pass. "I heard the Potter boy fainted!"

What?

Harry fainted? Why? How?

Their laughter erupts and snaps me out of my spiral. Everyone in the compartment is laughing. Including Draco.

That's it. I'm two seconds away from marching in there and giving them a piece of my mind when Cedric tightens his grip on my hand and pulls me away.

We race down the corridor until we reach Harry's compartment. The second I see him, I launch myself at him. "Are you alright?" I ask, nearly knocking him over with my hug. "Yes, Liv. I'm alright now," he says, holding me just as tightly.

"Ahem." Hermione's soft cough reminds me we're not alone.

Right. Ron and Hermione. Probably Cedric too. I pull back, cheeks flushed.

"You two okay?" I ask, trying to play it cool. They both nod, biting their lips like they're holding back laughter. Cedric clears his throat behind me. "Alright then, Liv. I'll see you around school," he says, scratching the back of his neck.

I follow him to the door. "Yes—and thank you, Ced. You know, for helping me." He winks. Winks. And disappears down the hall.

"Was that Cedric Diggory?" Hermione squeals the second he's out of earshot. "The Hogwarts heartthrob?"

"Yeah," I say, cheeks on fire. "I was, um, using the loo when it all happened. He kinda saved me." "Hush!" I add quickly, before she explodes into another squeal.

We reach Hogwarts in the carriages, the sky dark and dramatic above the castle, just the way I remember it. There's something oddly comforting about the rumble of the wheels and the soft, excited chatter filling the air.

Once we're inside the Great Hall, we all settle at our tables, and I exhale slowly. The enchanted ceiling glows with stars, and Professor Flitwick's choir starts singing something beautifully haunting. My eyes drift up toward the floating candles—but I'm not really listening.

But, darling, you have an amazing voice. Professor Flitwick would kill to have you on his choir.

Draco's voice rings in my head, uninvited and annoyingly clear. I bite my lip, trying not to smile like an idiot. "What are you smiling at?" Hermione asks, narrowing her eyes. I snap out of it, finding myself sandwiched between Harry and Fred, facing Ron and Hermione across the table.

"Nothing," I lie quickly, shaking my head.

Hermione raises a knowing brow but lets it go as Professor Dumbledore stands and begins his start-of-the-year speech. I half-listen, mostly just glad to be back in this chaotic, magical bubble we call school.

"And now," Dumbledore continues, "please welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—Professor R. J. Lupin." Polite applause echoes through the hall. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all glance at each other knowingly.

"Potter! Potter!"

We all turn at the sharp voice.

"Is it true you fainted?" Draco calls smugly from the Slytherin table. "Like actually fainted?" He's grinning, eyes gleaming with mockery. I spin around. "Shove off, Malfoy," I snap, nudging Harry to turn back toward his plate. Draco just rolls his eyes and smirks, like my words bounced right off him.

"How'd he even find out?" Harry mutters. "It's Malfoy," Ron says, disgusted. "He probably bribed the bloody train to talk."

"Just leave it, Harry, he's a git," Fred says from beside me, casually sipping his pumpkin juice like this is all routine. "Forget about it," Hermione adds, just as Dumbledore announces something that makes us all perk up.

"Hagrid?" I blink. "Hagrid's teaching now?" The Gryffindor table erupts into cheers and claps as Dumbledore confirms it—Hagrid is our new Care of Magical Creatures professor.

I smile wide. That giant of a man deserves this more than anyone.

Snape looks like someone pissed in his tea, which just makes the announcement even sweeter.

After the applause fades, Dumbledore sobers. His voice turns serious as he begins to talk about the dementors stationed around the school. I tune him out again, chewing absently on a piece of bread, until—

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

I freeze mid-bite. That line... Merlin, that line wraps around my chest like a warm blanket.

I glance across the table, past the noise and plates and laughter.

And for a second, everything stills.