8- White Owls

                                    

                                          

The only person having a more miserable time at Hogwarts than Celia, was Harry Potter.
People whispered about him even more than they did Celia, and everyone but those in Gryffindor, despised him for tricking the Goblet of Fire.
Draco Malfoy had created badges that said Support Cedric Diggory- the real Hogwarts champion, on one side and on the other they said Potter Stinks.
At first just Draco and his cronies wore the badges, but by the end of the day everyone in Slytherin had one on. And by the end of the first week, half of the school wore the badges.
Celia of course, did not wear one, as she didn't feel the need to brag about her brother being Hogwarts champion. And she didn't want to bring Harry down any further.
The other girls in her room wore a badge, except for Cho, who claimed that she hadn't wanted to damage her Prefect status by wearing one.
With people whispering about her, Celia began spending as much time away from the other students, as possible.
One of her hiding spots was a secluded spot in the owlery.
But when she went up there one evening, she found someone else in her place.
"Oh" exclaimed Celia, as she looked down at Harry Potter, who was sat in her usual spot.
Once he'd been seen, Harry immediately jumped to his feet.
"No, stay there, it's fine. I can use one of my other hiding places" continued Celia.
"I only just discovered this particular spot recently" admitted Harry, as he climbed out of it.
"Well, you've never had a reason to hide before, since you are the famous boy who lived. When you arrived at school, everyone wanted to be your friend. Whereas I've known about this hiding place since my first year at Hogwarts" revealed Celia.
"Why did you want to hide yourself away?" Asked Harry curiously.
"I've never been a very social person, so I liked to use this spot to study in secret. I even placed a charm around it, so that no bird droppings would land in it. But now I use it to get away from the stares I recieve on a daily basis".
"Why are people staring at you? I thought I was the only one people whispered about and gawked at" admitted Harry.
"That's just because you are so self obsessed, you don't notice anyone around you... Sorry. That was mean. I'm not good in social situations, because I'm too sarcastic and quick to anger. Or as Cedric would put it, too cold hearted" sighed Celia.
"Despite what everyone thinks, I don't seek out attention. I would love to have a quiet life and be just like everyone else"
"I believe you. And I also believe that you didn't put your name in the Goblet of Fire".
"You do?" Questioned Harry.
"Yes. No offence Harry, but you're not the brightest student ever. And I don't think a 4th year like you, was able to outsmart Professor Dumbledore and the Goblet of Fire" answered Celia.
"I wish I knew who did put my name in" mumbled Harry.
"Clearly someone with a grudge against you"
"There's a long list of people who hate me at the moment"
"Yeah, I know. But if you noticed, I'm not wearing a Support Cedric Diggory badge, even though he's my brother. Not everyone at this school hates you, it's just that those who do, are a lot louder than those who don't".
"I still can't believe that you and Cedric are related" admitted Harry.
"Neither can everybody else, which is why they've been talking about me. But siblings can be different, just look at Percy Weasley, who left last year, and his brothers Fred and George, they are totally different" replied Celia.
"I guess that's true. But people did know about Percy, while he was here. Whereas I didn't even know your name, or that Cedric was your brother, until I saw you at the Quidditch World Cup".
"I'm a Ravenclaw in the year above you, so there is no reason for you to know my name. But you've got a point, everyone at school already knew Cedric, the popular Hufflepuff Seeker, before he became a champion. No one knew my name, I was invisible. However, I was used to being invisible. And I would rather be unseen, than have people point and whisper about me behind my back, for being Cedric's freak of a sister" admitted Celia.
"I don't think that you're a freak. You're quiet, sure, but you're not a freak" insisted Harry.
"Thanks" mumbled Celia.
The sound hooting interrupted their conversation.
Celia spun around and saw that Angel at entered the owlery.
She tapped her fingers against her right arm, and Angel came flying through the room, before landing on her arm.
"She's beautiful" commented Harry.
"Thanks" smiled Celia.
"I think she's the only other snowy owl at Hogwarts, besides Hedwig" admitted Harry.
"Yes, I think you're right".
"I don't think I've seen her very often though" said Harry.
"No, you wouldn't. She spends most evenings in my room, keeping me company, instead of being in here. You won't see her very much in the great hall either, since I don't send or receive any letters. I wasn't going to get an owl at all, since I knew my father was unlikely to send me any mail. But when I saw her in the shop, I knew I had to get her. She came flying towards me, with her white wings spread wide, like an angel. Which is why I named her Angel" explained Celia, as she fed Angel some bird seed from her pocket.
"I think it's a great name... Thank you for talking to me. Not many people have recently" Harry said quietly.
"I'm not like everyone else. I'm sorry that you and Ron Weasley have fallen out" replied Celia.
"How did you know about that?" Asked Harry.
"You two normally do everything together and now you don't. Those paying attention can see that you are no longer friends"
"Well, you're right. Ron won't talk to me, because I'm a Hogwarts champion".
"I'm sorry about that. But as someone who is constantly being outshone by someone close to them, I can sympathise with Ron" admitted Celia.
"I don't want to outshine anyone. I just want to get through my time at school, without someone trying to kill me" sighed Harry.
"You do seem to have a knack of attracting bad things to you. But if you ever need someone to talk to, you can always come and find me"
"Thanks"
"You're welcome".