Author's note: It's been awhile since I've ventured onto this site as an author. I cannot think of anything to preface this with, other than it was inspired by listening to the radio way too often. I hope anyone who reads it enjoys it. Without further ado, here's chapter one of Simple Place, Where Have You Gone.
Chapter One:
When I Was Younger I Used to be Wild
Sunrise always hit the top of Stoatshead Hill first, cascading downwards towards the village of Ottery St. Catchpole, and then saturating the outlying areas. The village was a sleepy little place, full of your typical people just trudging through life, happy to be out of the way of big city problems. They were an agreeable sort, loving their normality, while never judging those who were, for lack of a better term, odd. They had one primary school in the area that was newly built and was the pride and joy of the townspeople.
The Diggorys were a family that everyone thought were just as normal as could be. It was known that Mr. Diggory worked in London, although it wasn't known where exactly. They mainly kept to themselves, and to the villagers of Ottery St. Catchpole, that was their prerogative. Imagine their surprise when, at the age of six, the Diggorys' son Cedric enrolled in the village school. He was a handsome boy, even at that age, and extremely well behaved. However, he rarely seemed to interact with the other children at all his first year. His teacher, Miss Henderson, was worried, and wrote home many times to express her concern to his parents. They assured her that he was merely shy, and had many friends outside of school. Still, in school he remained a loner.
That all changed in his second year at the school. The first and second grade students were lumped into one class, and a month into the year, she came to school.
"Class, we have a new student," Miss Henderson said happily. "Jennifer Andrews, why don't you go sit next to Mr. Diggory?" Cedric, who hadn't really been paying attention until he heard his name looked up. There stood a tiny brown eyed girl with long light brown hair and an inquisitive look on her face. She nodded to their teacher and moved to sit down next to him. That's when he saw it—the button on her sweater that clearly pronounced her support of the Holyhead Harpies. While Cedric was used to seeing students in class supporting their teams, he was taken aback. You see, the Holyhead Harpies were a Quidditch team. He knew this, but he had yet to encounter anyone in class who had heard of Quidditch. Not that he had asked, seeing as all the other kids were Muggles. This girl, however, was apparently no more a Muggle than he was. Cedric Diggory was a wizard, if his heritage and a few early signs panned out, and Quidditch was a sport from that world, the world of magic. He wondered if it was possible that this girl was like him. He supposed he would have to ask her, but right then did not seem like the appropriate time.
Normally, the students of Ottery St. Catchpole had plenty of time to socialize. However, it was just his luck, that he had no chance to talk to the mysterious Jennifer that day.
"All right class, tomorrow we will start looking at some excellent literature, so be ready to participate." Miss Henderson looked at Cedric as she said this. He was already grabbing his things and preparing to head out the door, determined to talk to the girl. However, once he got outside, she was nowhere to be seen. He sighed and started to walk.
"Why were you staring at me all day?" a voice asked from behind him. He turned in surprise to find her lithely perched on a tree branch. She jumped down and crossed her arms. "Well?"
"You're a witch!" he said before he could stop himself. She looked taken aback but suddenly burst out laughing.
"A what? Oh dear, that's the funniest thing I've heard all week." She started to walk away.
"Well the Harpies may be better than the Cannons, but real fans support the Wasps," Cedric said in a last ditch effort to prove to his seven-year-old mind that he wasn't crazy. Jen whirled around.
"Every team is better than the Cannons!" she said hotly. "That doesn't mean that I don't love them too, seeing as they're my dads favorite…" she trailed off. Cedric looked extremely proud of himself.
"Oh, so you're from a wizarding family too," she said, looking inquisitive once more. "I didn't know there were any others, besides the Weasleys and Lovegoods, I mean. Mum and Dad are already friends with Molly and Arthur. Of course, the Lovegoods are an interesting lot as well. What does your family do?"
"Um, well my dad works for the Ministry, just started with the Department for the Control of Magical creatures, actually. And mum mainly stays at home. They met at school."
"My dad works there, too! That's how we know the Weasleys. Dad works for the Department of Magical transportation. Mum works at that big book store in Diagon Ally." Jen talked the whole way as they walked together, and Cedric laughed and smiled with her. They split up as they reached the Hill, Jen going left while Cedric went right.
"So how was school?" Mrs. Diggory said as he entered the house.
"'s ok," he said, not wanting to sound too enthused. She noticed that he was in a much better mood, however.
"Anna, you'll never guess who I just ran into," Amos said walking to the house. "Hank Andrews. Can you believe that he and Penny moved back into his family home?"
"That's wonderful, Amos," his wife said, looking genuinely pleased. "We'll have to invite them over for tea, seeing as they're new to the area."
"Oh, but that's not all," Mr. Diggory started. "Apparently they're sending their daughter Jenny to the school in the village. They want her to have a full respect for the Muggle world before she goes to Hogwarts."
"I met her," Cedric piped up happily. His parents looked at him. "She had a Holyhead Harpies pin on her sweater."
They continued to discuss the Andrews family through dinner. Eventually they did invite them over for tea, but by then Cedric and Jen had become inseparable at school. Miss Henderson was absolutely thrilled that Cedric finally had a friend in class, and soon more of the kids hung out with them. During the summer holidays, they played Quidditch—which Jen was atrocious at—and sometimes visited the Weasley family. Jen's parents were closer to Arthur and Molly than to Amos and Anna, but they all got on just fine. Months passed, and then years, and before they knew it Cedric was standing in Flourish and Blott's with his parents while Mrs. Andrews helped him find his books.
"I wish I could go to Hogwarts. I'm in your year in the Muggle school, why can't I just go now?" Jen whined, as Cedric told her all about the owl he had bought, and the plans he had to join the Quidditch team.
"Jen, you're just too smart," he laughed. "You'll be there next year. Maybe we'll even be in the same house! And I'll owl you all the time, honest."
"Won't you be too busy with Quidditch?" she said, looking at him sadly.
"First years never make the Quidditch team, not in a century at least I've heard," he told her.
"I suppose that's alright then," she said, "Not that I don't want you to get on the team, Ced. I'd just rather be there to see you."
"You won't forget about me, will you?" Cedric asked her quietly, suddenly frightened. "I mean, you'll still have Ginny and Ron to pal around with. I'm starting from scratch, basically."
"You've got the twins," Jen pointed out. Cedric made a face. She laughed, knowing full well that he found their antics childish at best. "Don't worry Ced, what have I always said? We're best mates forever. Nothing- wind, rain, hail even— " she glanced around apprehensively "—Even You-Know-Who himself won't split up a pair like us." She whispered the last part. Ced smiled at her then.
"Ok, Jenny," he said, ruffling her hair.
"That is, unless you're in Slytherin," she amended, and they both laughed, knowing that there wasn't a witch or wizard that went bad who wasn't in Slytherin.
Cedric was shaking in his sneakers as he walked into the Great Hall days later. He waited as they called a few people before him, then it was his turn.
"Well, well," he started as the hat spoke to him. "A bright boy for sure, and brave no doubt. However, the thing that stands out about you is your loyalty, lad. Therefore it has to be HUFFLEPUFF!"
One table erupted in applause and Cedric happily moved towards it, sitting next to a boy not much larger than him with black hair and bright blue eyes. Cedric watch as Fred and George were sorted into Gryffindor, much to their elder brother Percy's dismay. Dumbledore made a speech and then told them to "tuck in" to their food.
"Brilliant!" said the boy next to him as Cedric ate. "I'm Joseph Robinson, but everyone just calls me Joey. Nerve-wrecking, isn't it, the sorting? I remember mine last year."
"It wasn't too bad," Cedric said.
"So, Cedric, right?" Joey said, shaking his hand. "So, do you like Quidditch? I'm hoping to make the team this year. Never even heard of the sport til I got my letter." The other boy was laughing. "My mum was so confused when I started spouting off about it. She thinks football is mad enough."
"What position do you want to play?" Cedric asked him.
"Seeker or Chaser. How about you? Going to try out?"
"Maybe next year."
It was perhaps one of the best years of Cedric's life up to that point. He had friends, more than one, and they thought he was cool. It was a different world at Hogwarts, and he couldn't wait until Jen came the next year.
Jen was at platform 9 ¾ when he got off the train with Joey and some of his new friends, standing off to the side with Ron and Ginny, looking slightly worried. As soon as Cedric saw her, his face broke into a grin. That summer passed much like the others, except Cedric had more to talk about.
"And classes? Even the classes are amazing Jenny!" he said as they sat in a compartment waiting for the train to leave at the end of summer. "You'll love it, you really will. I can't wait for you to meet Joey and Seth, and the rest of those blokes. "
She in turn told him about her year, about how she had missed him, but had gotten close with Ron and Ginny.
"Gin's almost like a little sister to me now, I hate to leave her with only her brothers. Did you hear Bill's working for Gringott's now as a curse breaker?" Cedric hadn't, and shook his head. Just then, however, the door slid open.
"Oy, here's the fine Mr. Diggory himself," said Joey as he entered, followed quickly by Seth and Duncan. "Is this the lovely Jennifer we've heard so much about?" Jen fought the urge to roll her eyes.
"Jen, I'd like you to meet Joey, Seth and Duncan. They're all on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team," Cedric said about his friends proudly. Jen smiled.
"It's nice to finally meet you."
"There's no way they'll put you in Hufflepuff if half of what we've heard is true. You're too smart," the fourth-year, Duncan, said. "Ravenclaw for sure."
The train finally stopped at the platform, and the older students headed off for the carriages, Jen followed the first years.
"Are you nervous?" a dark haired girl asked her.
"Terrified, but that just makes me want to move on, you know?" Jen answered.
"Exactly," said a brunette standing next to her. "I'm Katie, by the way."
"And I'm Cho," said the first girl. "Cho Chang."
"I'm Jennifer," Jen answered as they all climbed into boats with a freckly girl who's name turned out to be Marietta.
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Katie said to Jen as they moved across the Black lake.
"Why?" said Marietta bluntly. "They're all just hard-headed stubborn fools there. Anyone with any brains is in Ravenclaw." Jen decided that she didn't like Marietta much at that moment. Katie looked slightly embarrassed,
"Many fine witches and wizards have been in Gryffindor," Jen said helpfully. "Dumbledore himself for one." Marietta just shrugged. "Not to mention I have friends in that house, and they are all absolutely brilliant!" Well, the Weasley twins were brilliant, in their own way. Marietta acted like she hadn't heard her. As they exited the boats, she hurried off. Cho smiled apologetically but followed her.
"That was amazing!" Katie said as she and Jen went through the front doors and were ushered into a waiting room with the others. "I'd never have stood up to her like that!"
"Oh, sure you would," Jen said, happy that she had made at least one new friend. "I just wish I had remembered more of the people I had read about in Hogwarts: A History."
"You actually read that?"
"My mum works at Flourish and Blott's," Jen explained. "I've read a lot." The girls laughed, but quickly quieted down as a stern looking lady came in, informing them of their impending sorting, and leading them into the hall. Jen was up first. She caught Cedric's eye and smiled as she hurried up front, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering unsettlingly.
"Ah, Miss Andrews, I wondered when I'd see you," the hat said mysteriously. "Not a bad mind, but your inquisitiveness will serve you better in GRYFFINDOR!" Jen placed the hat on the stool and, glancing at Cedric who smiled at her anyway, went to sit by her good friends Fred and George Weasley. Katie Bell joined her, but Cho and Marietta went to Ravenclaw.
"Maybe you can keep my brothers in line," Percy muttered to her as they started to eat.
"Not likely," Fred and George said as one, causing Jen and Katie to laugh as Percy scowled. They joined Katie in a discussion of Quidditch as Jen sat happily by, glad that she was finally at Hogwarts. She looked across the hall and raised her goblet to Cedric who nodded and followed suit. They may have been in different houses, but they were still best mates.
Author's Note: So there's chapter one, please let me know what you think. I have this more or less mapped out but suggestions are always appreciated and considered. Hope you keep reading.
