It isn't that bad to be here…I already have felt what the common room of Gryffindor looks like from the excerpts of the books but the Hufflepuff is quite a new experience.

As she got out of her chamber and into the common room where the burgundy rusted couches were laid out, she spotted two boys occupying a large couch with rolled arms. They weren't visible except for their heads. She went and sat on one of the couches while reading the book "The Tales of Beedle the Bard". She could sense the two of them staring at her as if she invaded in their privacy by sitting in front of them.

"I've read that book." One of the guys said to the other and when she lifted her gaze up to look at them, she saw Cedric Diggory sitting right next to Draco Malfoy.

Draco? Here?

"Hey Cedric, are we allowed to bring in the people of other houses inside our common room?" She asked Cedric because it felt way more comfortable than to ask Draco himself.

"No, it's a little secret of mine and I can let you in if you promise to not let it out." He said

That was some quick decision right there.

"I won't" she said

"I know that." He winked at her. "He's not Draco. I mean, he sure does look like him but he is actually Banner."

"Banner?"

"My dog, Ally. You forgot about Banner?" He sounded a bit bitter.

"Oh, not that. Of course, I remember Banner. I am sorry, I am just way too shaken up by Draco sitting here right now." God, save me.

"It's alright, it happens." He calmed down

For a moment, nobody uttered a single word and Ally stared at Cedric who was already looking and she gave him an awkward smile.

I must find a way to get out of here. This awkwardness is killing me.

"So, you want some alone time with Draco? I think I can read this somewhere else." She pointed at the book while lifting off of the couch.

"That sounds about right."

She smiled one last time at him and at Draco too and proceeded towards the exit.

She pulled the doorknob and opened it just a wee bit but it got closed with a loud thump as Cedric circled around her and held her by the waist.

"Hey! What on earth are you doing?" A giggle escaped her mouth and he grinned at her too. Dread crept up in her body as he grazed his fingers up her arms and pulled her in towards himself by grabbing her waist.

Who is he to me? Not a friend certainly. But then…. this is so uncomfortable. What if he isn't my boyfriend? And maybe he isn't... because it definitely shouldn't felt wrong. And this feels not wrong but also not right.

"Hey Cedric, can we talk." He looked down at her with him being a foot taller than her. His hands still rested on her waist.

"Talk about what? Ally, I am done being away from you. I don't care what happens but I want this. You call it love or lust or whatever but I just can't fathom being away from you and all these days when you were gone…it was so hard on me. For you, it may be easy but not so much for me." He bent down nearing his face to hers while cupping her face in his long hands.

"I think it's about time that I tell you everything."

"What do you mean?"

"Firstly, I would like some distance because it doesn't feel…"

"Right?"

"No…but I kind of feel uncomfortable."

"So, this is uncomfortable for you now. Well, that's a shocker." He stared at her incredulously.

"What is it?" He added after a while

"Can we sit down for a while?"

"No, tell me right now. Right here, tell me everything and get it over with. My brain won't shut off if you don't tell me what's going on." He let go of her waist.

Why is he being so intense? Or was I too for him? But one thing I totally forgot about… Draco.

She looked to her side and Draco sat there motionless and then looked back at him.

"Oh, I told you he is not real. It's Banner and we have made out so many times in front of banner so I guess it won't be an issue now."

"Made out!" Wow… this guy will make my head wander to a gazillion different places.

"Cedric, I honestly don't know what I feel for you."

"Yes, Ally. You think, I am crystal clear about you? But we do have something for each other…right?" He cupped her face again

"I didn't mean that."

"Then, what is it?" His eyes pierced into hers as if he sensed something bad.

"No, it's not bad or could be maybe…" she said "But I have no idea or I should say no memory of us. And even when you said made out…."

He cut her off in between "What! What did you just say?" Cedric's frowned and took another step back.

"What is this? Are you playing with me here?" He sounded defensive and exasperated.

"I would just say that I am being totally honest here. Someone casted a spell on me."

"I know what you are trying to do here. All those days, when you weren't sure about me you actually were searching for a way out and now it seems you have got that."

"It was obliviate."

Cedric fell into rumination for a while and his mouth was ajar while he looked at her intently.

"I…. I just don't know if I should trust you right now. Maybe, I can't face any of this." He blurted out

"You have to…."

He lifted his gaze from the floor and looked at her in disbelief.

"Stop what you are doing." He yelled at her

Well, this isn't appropriate.

"I think you need to help me out here." In the face of his growling enraged voice, Ally's voice sounded like a puppy's cry.

"No, I won't. I can't…do this anymore." He said and turned away from her.

"There can be a probability of us if that's what you want." What he wants? This sounds really bad. "We can start all over again from square one."

"I doubt that you will change. You will still be the same plain old, confused, non-committal Ally. You're memory may have zoned out but you're still you and if you weren't sure about me in the past then I don't think we should be doing what we are doing right now." He said turning a bit to her side.

Am I confused or non committal? I don't think so or maybe… for him.