Here's my new HP fic. I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, they all belong to JK Rowling. I do, however, own Lark, Mack and Jules. I hope you all enjoy and reviews are most welcome :D

Chapter 1

I watched him brush his light brown hair out of his eyes, as he walked over to the Goblet of Fire, casting the parchment with his name into the blue flames. It sparked and accepted the paper. He laughed and walked back over to his friends, looking over at me watching him. He flashed me a quick smile and I smiled back. Such a kind person he is. Cedric Diggory, the person my heart has been yearning for. I sighed, looking back down at my book.

"And what's got you all depressed?" George Weasley sat beside me.

"Nothing," I responded. "I'm fine."

"Saw you watching Diggory," he waggled his eyebrows at me.

"Shove off George," I glared standing.

"Hey, don't take such offense," George stood up with me. "I didn't mean to upset you Lark." I smile.

"I know George," I said. "I just want to study by myself." George nodded and let me go. I stopped by the bathroom on my way back to the common room. Looking in the mirror, I saw the pale face with brown eyes staring back. My shoulder length brown hair is soft and glossy, my eyebrows slightly arced and full. All in all, I wouldn't say I was that bad looking. But a person as handsome as Cedric would never pick a girl as plain as me. Even if he wasn't shallow, he had his pick of all the girls in school. I sighed, grabbing my bag and heading on to the Hufflepuff common room. I plopped into a chair by the fire, pulling my book back out. I was 17, but had decided not to enter the tournament. I would never win, so why subject myself to the humiliation? I heard loud cheers and turned around, seeing Cedric climb through the portrait hall.

"So you entered then?" Justin asked. Cedric grinned.

"I hope you're Hogwarts' champion," a third year squealed. I turned back around, flipping through the pages.

"Did you enter Lark?" I looked up at Cedric, shaking my head.

"Saw no point in it," I answered.

"Why not? You've got just as much chance as anyone." I laughed.

"I'd never be good at it."

"Says who?"

"Says me." Cedric studied me for a moment, then smiled again.

"Does this mean I can count on you to cheer for me if I'm picked?" he winked. I laughed.

"Of course." He nodded the walked over to the boys' dormitories. I sighed again. I found myself sighing a lot lately. My heart was lonely. It wasn't that I couldn't get a boyfriend, because plenty of guys had asked me out, but I just couldn't get the one I wanted. I suppose I should have just given up, but I couldn't. I mean, you can't just make yourself stop liking someone. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that. The next night at the feast, I found myself sitting next to my best friend Jules, in the midst of Cedric and all his friends. He was straight across from me.

"Hey Lark," he smiled, sitting down.

"Hi Cedric," I smiled back. I was experienced enough that I was able to keep myself from blushing every time he was around or spoke to me. Jules sent me a smirk, so I kicked her before Cedric noticed.

"You nervous?" I questioned.

"A little, but what are the chances I'll actually get picked?"

"I think you have a fair shot," Jules spoke up.

"Thanks," he turned to face Dumbledore, who had stood up to speak.

"The Goblet is about ready to make its decision, ah yes," he reached out a hand to grab the piece of parchment that the goblet had spit out. "The Durmstrang Champion is Viktor Krum." We all clapped hard for Krum, the hero of Quidditch. "The Beauxbatons Champion is Fleur Delacour." Jules and I exchanged looks as the guys cheered and the girls clapped politely. "The Hogwarts Champion is Cedric Diggory." A tumultuous applause came from our table. Cedric looked shocked and was pulled to his feet by his mate Mack. I cheered as he walked down the Great Hall.

"Now you'll have an excuse to look at him," Jules whispered. I elbowed her.

"Now we have our three champions, let's give them another round of applause!" We all clapped again, my hands beginning to turn red from the friction. There was a collective gasp, and someone cried out "the goblet!" Whipping around in our seats, the entire student body plus the foreign students faced the goblet, which was emitting red sparks again. A piece of parchment flew out of it, and Dumbledore caught it, staring down blankly.

"Harry Potter," he called out. We looked around, searching for the boy who belonged to that name. I saw Hermione force him up as he slowly walked down the Great Hall. What was going on? Cedric was supposed to be the only champion. Potter was trying to steal the glory away from my Ceddy Bear. Oh god, what was I thinking? I never thought mean things like that, and I Cedric certainly wasn't mine. Nor had I ever referred to him as 'Ceddy Bear' before.

"What's going on?" Jules whispered.

"I dunno," I replied, staring at Potter's back. The teachers sent us back to our common rooms, telling us to go to bed. Of course no one did. The older students sent everyone third year and below to their dormitories so we could have enough room while waiting for Cedric to return. He finally did.

"What happened Ced?" Mack asked.

"Potter's been made a fourth champion," he answered, sitting down in the chair we'd left open for him. "He says he didn't enter his name."

"Please, we all know how Potter likes his glory," one girl stated.

"But did you see how shocked he was when Dumbledore called his name? He couldn't have entered himself."

"Supporting the Gryffindor?" Mack hissed.

"Back off Mack," Cedric glared. "I don't think Potter entered himself either." I sent him a thankful look, to which he nodded.

"You can take him Ced," Mack punched him on the arm.

"One can only hope," Cedric laughed. The common room laughed with him. "Now why don't we all head to bed? Still have school." The room slowly dispersed.

"Thanks for saving me back there," I smiled at Cedric as I passed him.

"No problem Lark, I know you'll still be cheering for me to win, right?"

"Of course."

"Good." He gave me another big smile and headed for the boys' dormitories. Jules raised her eyebrows at me, and I deliberately ignored her. The next morning, the whole hall was abuzz with talk of the tournament.

"The first task is ages away," I said to Jules. "They're going to run out of things to say eventually."

"You would think," George said behind me. "Good morning gorgeous."

"Hey George," I threw my arms around him in a hug. George was my other best friend. We'd bonded after serving detention together in Snape's classroom.

"So how big was the party for Diggory?" he asked, sitting down beside me at the Hufflepuff.

"No party, too much hate towards Potter. How was your party?"

"Now what makes you think I had a party?"

"Because I know you, and you use any excuse to sneak food from the kitchens and party," I gave him a look as I scooped hash brown casserole onto my plate.

"Excellent point m'dear," he grinned. "So how pissed is everyone that Harry got picked?" I shrugged.

"Pretty, I guess. I personally doubt that Harry entered himself, so does Cedric."

"Well good luck to your Champion, I of course, shall be supporting ours," he stood and bowed, leaving for the Gryffindor table. I shook my head.

"George is so cute," Jules stared at him longingly. "I wish he were interested in me and not you."

"What are you talking about Jules? He's not interested in me, we're just friends," I scooped the potatoes on my fork, shoveling it into my mouth.

"Lark, everyone knows that if you wanted to, he'd date you in a heartbeat," she countered. I paused, fork in midair.

"And I suppose this is another Hogwarts rumor you've heard?"

"I don't need to hear a rumor to know the truth. You're just too smitten with Cedric to realize it."

"I am not smitten!"

"All right, obsessed then."

"I'm not obsessed either, but if you must use a term, I prefer smitten." She smirked at me. Jules was gorgeous with long blonde hair, deep blue eyes, dimples and a curvaceous figure. She had guys lining up to date her. She was a total flirt and had been around the bases a fair amount of times.

"Well, if it isn't the champion himself," she whispered, nodding towards the doors of the Great Hall. I looked over to see Cedric. People all around were congratulating him, clapping him on the back, girls asking him for his autograph, which made him blush. He was adorable when he blushed. Heck, he was adorable all the time. It took him a good 15 minutes to make it to the Hufflepuff table, where he sat across from me and Jules. Mack slid in next to him.

"Morning Jules," Mack winked at her. Smitten was a word I would have used for him. Jules smiled politely. Mack was someone she'd turned down point blank.

"How's life as a celebrity?" I asked Cedric. He grinned that to die for grin.

"It's great, although I suppose it'll get tiresome and boring after a while," he answered.

"How boring can it be to have girls drooling all over you?" Mack asked. "Any guy would kill to be you mate." Cedric looked away.

"Not one of them wants to know me though," he answered.

"True, they all just want in your pants," Mack pointed out. Cedric blushed furiously. Mack slapped him on the back. "Ced's embarrassed to be a virgin."

"Shut up Mack," he blushed even more.

"There's nothing wrong with being a virgin," Jules' countered. "Lark is one, and she's perfectly content." Now it was my turn to blush.

"Jules," I whispered menacingly. She smiled sweetly. I looked over and saw Cedric smiling embarrassedly at me.

"I notice Potter hasn't shown his face," Mack looked around the Great Hall. "Too ashamed. Good thing too, the cheat."

"Come on Mack, you don't have to be so harsh," I said.

"Why are you sticking up for him Lark? Wishing you were a Gryffindor all the sudden? I saw how cozy you were with Weasley."

"George is my friend, and there's nothing wrong with having friend's from other houses."

"Doesn't mean you have to support their cheat of a champion."

"I'm not! You know I want Cedric to win!"

"Seriously doubting that. You're a house traitor, Lark."

"Mack, quit it," Cedric looked darkly at his friend. I stood up.

"Don't worry about it Cedric, Mack's allowed to have his opinions." I threw a death glare at Mack and walked out. I was fuming. Mack was an arrogant jerk, and to make me look bad in front of Cedric was just…I shook my head and walked on to class, sitting outside the door of the Potions classroom. Most avoided getting here more than a minute early, but I had nowhere else to go, and knew I wouldn't be bothered here. Unfortunately, Cedric and Mack were in my class. I laid my head back against the cold stone wall, listening to the silence. I heard footsteps and looked over to the source of the sound.

"Hey Lark." It was Cedric. Part of me was smiling, and the other part just wanted him to go away. "I hope what Mack said didn't get to you."

"I'm fine, really," I smiled. He studied me for a moment, unsure of whether he should accept that answer.

"Well, I just wanted to apologize for it. Mack can be kind of…intense when believes something. I know you aren't a house traitor."

"Thanks." I looked away, breathing out heavily. An awkward silence fell as Cedric sat beside me and I refused to look at him.

"So…you and George Weasley. You're just friends right?" I gave in and looked at him. His gray eyes shone as he slouched against the wall. I loved everything about him.

"Yeah," I nodded, giving Cedric a brief smile, then resorting back to my silence.

"How do I break through your shell?" I looked at him quizzically. "You're so quiet and cut off, I want you to be able to talk to me."

"Keeping up the Mr. Congeniality title?" I asked. He looked at me.

"Is that what you think?" he questioned quietly. "That I'm only nice because I want everyone to like me?"

"No, I think you're nice naturally. I just don't see why breaking through my wall is so important to you." I was lacking in the self confidence area.

"You're my friend," was the reply. That caught me off guard. "We are friends, right?" He looked unsure, like I was going to reject him. Who could reject that gorgeous face? I ran a hand through my brown locks.

"Of course we are," I smiled encouragingly. Relief spread through his features. The bell signaling the end of breakfast sounded, and we heard the shuffle of feet above us and descending the stairs. Cedric stood, offering me his hand. I took it as he helped me to my feet. Losing my balance, he caught me in his strong arms. I looked into his grey orbs, blushing again.

"Careful there," he smiled, setting me straight on my feet. My heart was pounding, I was positive he could hear it. We heard voices and he let go of my arms, turning towards the sound. The spot his hands had previously occupied tingled as I tried to catch my breath. Cedric had such an effect on me. I saw Mack and Jules walking down the stairs.

"How was your alone time with Cedric?" Jules winked. I chose not to answer. Snape came stalking through the corridor.

"Into class," he barked. We all immediately obeyed. After six years at Hogwarts, we all knew better than to not listen to Snape. I sat down at my usual table, Jules following behind me. Cedric quickly slid in and stole her seat, smiling at her.

"Watch your back Diggory," she glared, sitting next to Mack, and turning around to face us. "You so owe me for this!" Mack grinned stupidly, stretching an arm out to put around her shoulder. She smacked it away.

"Quiet! I am in no mood to deal with your petty lives today. Follow the instructions, do your work and there will be NO problems unless someone wants to lose 100 house points and earn a month of detentions," he glared. "I have business to attend to, but don't think for one moment that I won't find out about anything." He glared again then stalked out of the classroom.

"What's with him?" Mack raised an eyebrow as we got our cauldrons and supplies out. I shrugged.

"Hey, sorry bout this morning Lark," he said. "I was just mad that Potter had to go and steal the spotlight."

"No problem," I smiled, slicing up my daisy roots.

"So there's a Hogsmeade trip next weekend," Jules placed her cauldron in between mine and Cedric's. "I'm planning to get all my Christmas shopping don early. You coming with me Lark?"

"Yeah, but I already promised George we'd meet him in the Three Broomsticks for some butterbeer."

"Well Jules, why don't you ditch the lovebirds and spend the day with me?" Mack put his arm around her, winking.

"Because I'd rather spend the day with Filch," she glared, removing his arm.

"That stings baby, but I know you love me." Jules rolled her eyes. I shook my head, laughing, and went back to cutting my roots.