A/N: I've been MIA since Thursday because our Internet connection went down, and it didn't come back on until earlier today. I don't have much to say about this chapter, except that please review, it really makes my day.
One thing though; I've come up with a (lame) reason why Cedric is 17 but still a 6th year, and it's pretty lame. But honestly I couldn't (can't still) come up with anything else.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, only my original characters.
Falling at my own pace
Chapter 3
The first Potions class of the year was hell. Not only did I sit beside Cedric, but I had a hard time concentrating with him so close that I would practically feel the heat coming from his body. This resulted in Snape giving me a hard time the entire class, and I was so frustrated that I nearly burst into tears when he gave us an 18 inch long essay on Felix Felicis for tomorrow's class. When the class was over we walked out together, in silence.
"Are you doing anything now?" he asked as we walked the long hallway from the dungeon towards the common room.
"I'm going to the library, I've gotta do the Potions homework,"
"You want to do it together?"
No! I wanted to scream. Because if I spend too much time with you I'm gonna go mad. "Sure, why not. Two minds are better than one, right?"
He laughed, and the sound echoed on the damp walls. "Yeah, that's right," we changed our course to the library, and I still felt enormously confused and frustrated. When we entered the library, Cedric look the initiative of finding us a table. And as if God hated me, he chose a table that was in the back, pretty much secluded from the rest of the library.
I sat down opposite from him, opening my book and appearing busy. When I scooted my chair closer, I felt my knee bump into his and automatically my face went red. We worked in silence, only talking to ask each other questions about the essay. I was perfectly happy with that arrangement, it gave me time to think about this. I still didn't know what he wanted from me, and I didn't like that. I didn't like not being in control, never had. I was a bit of control freak, I admit it.
--
"There, I'm all done," I smiled and put down my quill at the table. Cedric looked up at me, dropping his quill too.
"I knew you could do it," he smiled, his grey eyes twinkling. The way he stared into my eyes was making me slightly uncomfortable, and I gave an embarrassed laugh.
"We should probably get to dinner, I promised Tara I'd eat with her," I said, and I thought I saw a flicker of disappointment in Cedric's eyes.
"Yeah, let's go,"
We packed up our stuff and walked down the four flights of stairs slowly. I was bothered by the lack of conversation, and tried to think of subjects to bring up. However, he beat me to it.
"Are you planning on entering the Triwizard Tournament?"
"No, I'm not. I don't turn 17 until January. How about you?"
He shrugged. "Yeah. I mean, I think so,"
"So you've already turned 17? Why are you a sixth-year then?" I asked as I hoisted my book bag higher on my shoulder.
"I don't know really. I think that I didn't show signs of magic until it was too late to start when I was 11, so I started a year later,"
"Oh, okay,"
"Would you enter if you were old enough?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. The whole competition thing isn't for me. Maybe that's why I'm not really into Quidditch,"
"That hurt," Cedric joked, and I playfully punched his arm.
"Hey, I've been on every Quidditch match since my first year thank you very much. It's school spirit after all, have to support our team,"
He laughed. "Spoken like a true Hufflepuff,"
I chuckled, enjoying the conversation as it left me with little room for thoughts. Thoughts I wasn't sure I wanted to have. The buzz from the Great Hall caught my attention both too early and too late. The sound of someone's running footsteps behind me meant little until that someone knocked into me, sending me flying forwards. Okay, now I'm really going to die, were the thoughts that went through my head as I watched the marble stairs coming closer and closer. Then, just like the day before, warm hands gripped my waist, preventing me from falling.
"You really have a knack for falling, don't you?" the words came with a chuckle as he pulled me upright again.
"I'm glad I amuse you," I winced as I rubbed my sore shoulder. The student that knocked into me had already disappeared into the Great Hall.
It was in that moment I became painfully aware of his hands on my waist, and the fact that I was practically smashed into his chest. He seemed to notice it too, and one of his hands left my waist and instead travelled up to my face. He pushed back my bangs behind my ear and then let his hand linger on my cheek. The moment our bare skins touched, I got thrown into a sea of emotions. It felt like I was drowning and being brought back to life all at the same time, like fire and ice racing through my body.
I took a deep breath, but regretted it right after when his scent filled my nostrils. His eyes glanced at my lips, and I realized what was about to happen. He leaned down slowly, and I felt my heart rate quicken.
"We should get to dinner," I breathed, and he seemed to shake himself from the daze. He stepped back and removed his hands, dropping them to his sides.
"Yeah, we should get to dinner,"
I walked ahead of him to the Great Hall, wondering what just had happen. Was Cedric about to kiss me? Why would he do that?
"Ava!" he called behind me, and I froze. I didn't dare turn around, fearing what I might feel once I saw him.
"Ava, over here!" Tara's voice came to my rescue, and I hurried over to where she was sitting, ignoring Cedric completely. I needed some time to think. I slumped down next to her with a grateful smile on my face.
"Hi! How was your day?"
"It was great! I'm defiantly looking forwards this year, and with the Triwizard Tournament and all,"
I laughed; she switched moods so often, she could be bipolar.
"How has your day been?"
I hesitated. Was this the place to tell her about Cedric? "I'll tell you later," I promised, and she looked confused at me, but didn't press the matter. Instead she began a very detailed description of her Ancient Runes class, which was a good way to distract me from my other thoughts. I tried to eat as slow as I possibly could, and it was nearly 7.30 when Tara and I walked out of the Great Hall, being amongst the last ones to leave.
The common room was packed with people as usual, and I spotted my roommates Amanda Harper and Louise Anderson over in one corner, reading something that looked like a horoscope. I'd never really gotten along with them, so sharing a room with them wasn't the greatest. Tara disappeared from my side and moved to one of the tables, where Jennifer Jordan, the fifth girl in our room, was sitting with some sort of homework.
Martin Garver and James Brandon, both in my year, was sitting and playing a game of wizard-chess, laughing loudly every time a chess piece would get smashed. Ethan Pratt and Ryan Austin, also in my year, sat on a sofa, just relaxing. They were joined soon by Cedric, whose laughter could be heard even over the other loud students.
His eyes met mine, and I looked at him for a second before turning away, steering my steps to the tunnel on the right, leading to my dormitories. I got ready for bed, changing into my plaid flannel pyjamas pants and tank top before washing my face and brushing my teeth.
I slipped into bed, laying down and closing my eyes; trying to get some sleep. After a few minutes though, it proved to be impossible. Instead, my thoughts drifted to Cedric, and what had happened today. I felt myself being more and more drawn to him, in a way that was almost eerie. I felt more alive than I'd ever done when he smiled at me, and it scared the hell out of me. I must have lay there for at least an hour, just thinking. Much to my dismay I felt tears appear in my eyes, and I turned my back against the room when I heard the door open.
"Ava? You awake?" Tara's whispering voice came, and I turned to look at her. When she saw the tears she sat down on the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong? Has something happened? Do I need to hex someone?"
I shook my head. "No, it's just..." I scooted over and pulled down the duvet, allowing Tara to sit down next to me. I reached forwards and pulled shut the heavy curtains, shielding us from the rest of the room. Grabbing my wand from the bedside cabinet, I pointed it at the curtains, mumbling 'Muffliato' before dropping it back in it's rightful place.
"I feel so confused," I said, my voice cracking a bit. Tara just looked at me, urging me to continue. "For the past two days I've spoken more to Cedric Diggory than I have since we started school six years ago. He acts like we're friends or something,"
"You don't want to be friends with him?"
I hesitated. Did I want to be friends with him? An image of us appeared in my head. Sitting in front of the fire in the common room, his hands on my face as he drew me in for a kiss. "I don't know," I responded truthfully. I told her about all the little things that had happened, and most importantly; about the almost-kiss before dinner. I told her about how this whole thing made me feel, and about how scared I was.
"Maybe he likes you," she said comforting, brushing away a tear that had escaped from my eye.
I shook my head. "Not bloody likely. He's probably into girls like...I don't know. Pretty girls without a brain who giggles at everything he says,"
"Based on his behaviour the past two days; I'd say that he likes you. You just don't see yourself clear enough. You're beautiful, and you're smart, and any guy would be lucky to have you,"
I gave her a sad smile. "Too bad you're the only one who thinks so,"
She gave me a small smile. "Hey, don't be so negative. Just relax about this whole thing, and let it lead where it wants to. If it's right you'll notice,"
"I know. It's just..." I trailed off, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know, I just hope that I won't have to feel like this anymore,"
"It'll work out, I promise you. Do you want to sleep?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm knackered,"
She smiled and stood up. "Goodnight then,"
--
I spent the next two days avoiding Cedric. If I didn't have to see him, I wouldn't think about him, and my sanity would therefore be protected. It didn't help that I double Potions with him first thing Thursday morning, and that I had Charms with him right after. Luckily, Charms was the only class all of us Hufflepuff sixth-years had together, so I could to sit with Tara and Jennifer.
I discovered that it wasn't the classes that was difficult, but the rest of the time. By 3.30, all of my classes had ended, and I had approximately 6 hours to kill before bed time. I spent as much time as I could in the library, doing homework. And it seemed like my plan was working. The weekend proved to be more difficult, since there were no classes to distract me from Cedric. I'd only seen him twice since Wednesday, and very brief both times. However, when I'd met his eyes, I was shocked by how confused and hurt he looked. Did he not realize why I was avoiding him?
At night, I cried myself to sleep. The stress of everything finally got to me during those dark hours, and I often had to cast a 'muffliato' spell on my bed so that my roommates, especially Tara, wouldn't hear my sobs.
"Hey, are you done with that book?" Tara asked me Sunday evening as we sat in the library, studying.
I handed her the book without a word, and turned my attention back to my Herbology book. I looked through it absentmindedly for a few minutes, and then sighed. "I think I'm going to go to bed, I'm pretty knackered,"
Tara looked up at me. "Okay, give me a few minutes and I'll come with you,"
"Tara, I know you're not finished, so don't even try it. I can get to the common room myself,"
She smiled. "I guess. I probably won't be too long, though,"
I packed up my things and smiled. "See you later," I walked slowly along the long rows of aisles and book cases, just enjoying the silence. My worn out red converse made almost no sound against the cold marble floors, the only sounds being heard was my breathing and the song I was softly humming on.
"And then I go and spoil it all, by saying something stupid like I love you,"I sang to myself as I walked carefully down the stairs, as they switched places as I walked. When I'd reached the entrance hall, I saw someone standing by the flight of stairs that led to the basement. I squinted my eyes, trying to make out in the darkness who it was. It wasn't until I came closer that I recognized the familiar pose the person was standing in.
"Cedric, what are you doing here?"
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