Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter.

The month flew by and before I knew it, it was Halloween. Today was a Hogsmeade trip day, and I had convinced Oliver to tag along with Aurora and I to keep his mind off of the Quidditch cup.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to bring Oliver along?" Aurora asked while we made our way down to the Great Hall to meet with Oliver.

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

"Because Cedric will think you're taken."

I laughed, "I told you that my interest in Cedric is completely competitive."

"Alright, whatever you say."

I realized that wasn't the first time she had spoken those exact words to me, and I also realized she didn't believe a word I said.

"Besides, Oliver needs to relax and the only time he doesn't blather on about Quidditch is when I'm around to distract him."

I could sense that Aurora was formulating a response, but we had reached the Great Hall and Oliver was headed our way before she could get a word out.

"I just thought of a brilliant play!" He announced excitedly.

I didn't say anything, but Oliver continued anyway.

"If I put Katie and —"

I had placed my index finger over his lips to silence him. He blinked at me, as if he couldn't believe I had touched his lips, then he smiled and I pulled my finger away.

"I'm sorry, I'll shut up about Quidditch now."

I smiled back at him, and the three of us left the castle and headed towards Hogsmeade.

After we parted ways with Oliver in the Great Hall, Aurora and I headed towards Ravenclaw tower. We didn't get very far before someone called out behind us.

"Katrina!"

Aurora and I turned around and there stood Cedric Diggory about ten feet away, with his chest heaving. I spared him the last few feet that separated us and walked over to him.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, you dropped this."

He held out his hand and I saw the little box nestled there that contained Katie's Christmas present.

"Thank you so much."

I took the box from his hand and slid it into my coat pocket.

"So did you have fun today?" He asked.

"If you call keeping Oliver away from the Quidditch shop all day fun, then I guess so."

He laughed, "Maybe your next Hogsmeade trip will be more enjoyable. See you at the feast."

I stared after him as he walked away, completely aware of Aurora's gaze on my back.

"That was interesting." Aurora smiled as she knocked on the seemingly blank wall. I waited until after Aurora had answered the question to reply.

"He saw that I dropped something and had the courtesy to return it to me."

"Make excuses all you like, Kat. But for now, let's just get ready for the feast."

The feast was delicious, but by far the best part had been when Roger Davies' mashed potatoes had exploded in his face. Aurora and I were on our way back to the common room, when we heard a scream.

"Sirius Black has broken into Hogwarts!"

Aurora and I shot each other nervous glances just as Percy Weasley approached.

"Down to the Great Hall." He ordered.

We didn't question him, instead we followed the large group of students all the way down to the Great Hall, where purple sleeping bags had been conjured in place of the tables.

"There's some empty bags over in that corner." Aurora pointed out.

I nodded and we hurried over to the corner and claimed two sleeping bags. We both laid down and tried to fall asleep. Aurora fell asleep right away, but I couldn't. I fidgeted for a while, until finally I rolled over and came face to face with Cedric Diggory.

"Having trouble sleeping?" He whispered.

"A bit; this kind of stuff never happened at Beauxbatons."

He smiled comfortingly, "We'll all be fine, Kat. They won't let anything happen to us."

I flashed him a grateful smile, "Thanks Cedric, goodnight."

"Goodnight." He grinned.

I rolled back over-I didn't want Cedric to see me drool- closed my eyes, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

The first thing I noticed was that I was extremely comfortable, the second was that my head was resting on something firm, and third was that someone's arms were wrapped around me. I opened my eyes to the light of early dawn, and saw that I was in Cedric's arms. He stirred as I tried to extract myself from his arms, and I knew he had to be awake. Luckily I glanced around and saw that we were the only people awake at this early morning hour. I quickly sat up, as did Cedric.

"I'm sorry Kat, I didn't do it on purpose."

"It's okay Cedric...I was comfortable and sound asleep."

He gave me a little smile, "Good."

We stared at each other for a minute before I finally broke the awkward silence that surrounded us.

"I better get some more sleep while I can." I said.

"Yeah."

We both turned away, and I fell back asleep easily, with dreams of Quidditch on my mind.

Somehow I managed to keep the events of Halloween night to myself, because if Aurora knew...she'd never let me forget. Things seemed to go back to normal, except for the new curfews.

"I don't care..." Oliver began, "We're still going to have early morning practices."

"I'm sure you will, Oliver. But we're here to study, not talk about Quidditch."

Oliver looked out the window, his gaze full of longing.

"Oliver, you need to catch up on your homework."

He sighed and turned back to his Charms essay. We worked in silence for a few minutes when Aurora ran into the library and over to our table.

"Where have you been?" I asked.

"I got caught up." She said guiltily.

I knew she hadn't told me the whole truth, but I let it slide and went back to my Transfiguration homework.

"Oh great, Diggory just walked in." Oliver scuffed.

I looked up quickly and saw Cedric start to walk our way.

"Why don't you like him?" I asked Oliver curiously.

"He's a Hufflepuff."

I wanted to question him further, but then Cedric was right there, smiling down on us.

"Hello Wood...ladies." He greeted.

"Diggory." Oliver said with a little nod.

"I was hoping you two could tell me what the homework in Transfiguration is; I forgot to write it down.

"An essay about your thoughts on Animagus." I replied.

He smiled, "Thanks, I'll see you guys later."

Once he was out of hearing distance, Oliver turned to be with a scowl on his face.

"You don't talk to him about Quidditch do you?"

"No, and if you're implying that I would tell him your plans then you can leave."

"No, no...I was just curious."

Aurora looked up from her essay to stare back and forth between the two of us as we stared each other down. She seemed to be amused, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Oliver, your secrets are safe with me okay?"

He nodded, "I know...I was just being stupid."

"Couldn't have said it better myself." I chuckled.

"You know Kat, for a Ravenclaw you can be pretty dense." Aurora stated calmly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

It was dinner time, so I kept my voice low and stared at Aurora over the rim of my glass of pumpkin juice.

"It means that you are completely oblivious."

"Oblivious of what?"

Aurora chuckled and looked around the Great Hall before she turned back to me with a great big satisfied smile plastered on her face.

"You're a Ravenclaw, so you'll have to figure it out yourself."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No."

"Bloody hell, I don't even know where to begin!" I groaned.

Aurora smiled, "I'll give you one clue and that's all. Just pay attention to the attention that is given to you."

I blinked back at Aurora and then turned back to my dinner.

"Maybe I should hang with my sister more." I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing."

I caught up with Katie and her friends right after dinner. Not only had I wanted to escape from Aurora for a while, but I needed to speak with Katie about her plans for the holidays.

"Hey Kat." She greeted.

"Hey...are you going home for Christmas?"

She glanced over at Angelina and Alicia, who were patiently waiting, then replied: "I usually stay, but I think I will go home this year. Are you?"

"Yeah, it'll be good to be a complete family again."

Katie smiled, "And Oliver lives close by, so we can hang out with him."

"He lives near us?"

"Yeah, he moved there six years ago. It's almost curfew so we better go. I'll see you later."

"'Night."

After they left, I was all alone in the darkened hallway and curfew was just around the corner. I quickened my pace for Ravenclaw tower. I only had a few minutes left and I wasn't even close yet. And to top it all off a prefect stood just a few feet ahead. I squinted and realized it was Cedric, just as he realized that it was me.

"I'm sorry, I got caught up. What's my detention?"

Cedric smiled down at me, "Don't worry about it; come on I'll walk you the rest of the way."

I sighed in relief, "Thanks Cedric, I owe you."

"I'll hold you to that, but don't let anyone know I did this."

"Deal."

We walked along in comfortable silence for a while, and were almost to my common room when he finally broke the silence.

"Are you going home for Christmas?"

"Yeah, it'll be our first Christmas together since I was nine." I replied.

"Wow."

"I know."

"You know...we should meet up over break." He suggested. "I know where you live, I could stop by sometime."

I smiled, "I'd like that; just send me an owl sometime and we'll make plans."

Then we arrived at the entrance and Cedric looked around curiously.

"Don't worry, this is it." I said as I gestured towards the wall.

"Alright goodnight, and remember you owe me."

"I'll remember."