HPFC: 2016 Multi-School Tournament

Starter Prompt: Quill and Ink Pot

Character: Cedric Diggory

Word Count: 526


Love Letter Sent

Cedric sat down at his makeshift desk in the Hufflepuff Common Room and dipped his quill into his ink pot.

He pulled the piece of parchment closer to him as he began to write a letter to the girl that he had been admiring from afar for the last six months—the girl who had beaten him to the snitch in the most recent Ravenclaw vs Hufflepuff Quidditch match.

She was so beautiful and so intelligent. And she absolutely took his breath away whenever he saw he in the corridor.

But how could he put his feelings down into words? He rested the feather of his quill against his bottom lip as he contemplated what to write.

Nothing he had written so far was anywhere near good enough for the fetching Ravenclaw. He picked up the parchment and crumpled it up into a tight ball before throwing it into the bin.

Finally, after what felt like hours, Cedric felt as though he had produced a letter worthy of the gorgeous girl. It was by no means a masterpiece, but all the same, it conveyed everything he wanted to.

He picked it up and read it back to himself.

Dear Cho,

You were so great this afternoon during the Quidditch match. You soared through the air with such style and grace. And your capture of the snitch was impeccable!

Words don't seem to be enough to capture your beauty—I think they have yet to invent a word worthy of you.

Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you have so much of it on the inside. I see how you support everyone around you, always listening, always caring and always offering advice. The world needs more people who have as much compassion as you.

I know you probably don't know who I am, and I think I'd like to keep it that way—for now at least. Maybe some day, I'll find that courageous side of me and reveal my admiration for you, but for now it is enough for me that you know that someone, somewhere is thinking of you.

Keep shining, you lovely, radiant girl.

Love from,

Your Secret Admirer

X

Cedric smiled to himself and folded up the parchment, and tucked it inside the Valentine's Day card before placing it inside the scarlet envelope.

On the front of the envelope, he wrote Cho's name in his neatest and most elegant handwriting, before sealing it and placing it to one side to deliver the next day via one of the school owls.

Cedric then settled down to make a start on his Potions homework.

~o~o~o~

The next morning, Cedric got up earlier than usual and headed up towards the Owlery. He picked out the most handsome tawny owl he could find and attached the card to its leg. A glance at his watch told him that it was almost time for the mail to arrive, so he carried the owl over to the window and let it take flight, before rushing down the stairs and towards the Great Hall, eager to see the look on Cho's face when she received the card and letter.