A/N: I promised you guys another chapter to make up for the short chapter I posted on Thursday, and here it is :) As you've probably realized, I've started to go more and more into canon, but I can assure you that I will not, I repeat, I will not kill Cedric. I love him and Ava too much to do that. Big, big kudos to those of you who have reviewed, it means a lot to me.
Without further notice, on with the show :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, only my original characters.
Falling at my own pace
Chapter 9
"What the bloody hell is that?" I exclaimed, picking up one of the small circular badges that lay on a table in the common room. It said 'Support Cedric Diggory, the REAL Hogwarts champion', and after a few seconds the text changed to 'Potter stinks'.
"I haven't the foggiest," Cedric replied, looking at the badge in disbelief. That minute Ernie Macmillan came in from his dorm. He smiled widely when he saw us.
"You like the badges then?" he said, sticking out his chest so that we could see the badge that was attached to his robes.
"They're terrible!" I exclaimed. "I can't believe people actually wear these! If Potter says he didn't put his name in the goblet, you lot should just believe him,"
Ernie looked at me like I had two heads or somthing, before turning to Cedric. "Everyone but the Gryffindors are wearing them, to show their support," he went out through the portrait hole, and I stared after him.
"This is daft!" I sighed and threw the badge back on the table with a disgusted look on my face. "I hope you're not expecting me to wear one," I told him firmly, arching an eyebrow.
"Merlin, no," he laughed slightly. "I wish that they would support him as much they do me. Besides," he winked, "it doubles the chance of this being a Hogwarts victory,"
I chuckled. "You're right as usual. Anyway, we should get down to breakfast,"
It seemed like every person we passed on our way to the Great Hall was wearing one of those badges, and it was seriously starting to piss me off. Didn't people have anything better to do? When we entered the Great Hall, Harry and Hermione Granger were just leaving, and noticed that Harry looked a bit flustered. I didn't blame him.
I spend breakfast trying to avoid the badges that were all but thrown at me. Both me and Cedric tried to talk Ethan and Ryan out of wearing them, but they refused to take them off.
"Okay, I'm off. I'll see you in History," I gave Cedric a small kiss and then went towards the greenhouses for my double Herbology class. As I went out on the courtyard, I met Malfoy and his usual gang of idiots.
"Like the badges Roxley?" he said with a sneer, and I huffed. He blocked my way, and I looked down at him. Yes, I said looking down, because he was at least 2 inches shorter than me.
"Get out of my way Malfoy," I pushed past him, ignoring his voice as it rang through the air.
"I figured you'd want one, but apparently I was wrong,"
"No shit, Sherlock," I muttered, sighing in relief when the greenhouses came into view.
--
I was almost late to my next class, having knocked over a flower-pot the last five minutes of Herbology, and slid down in the seat next to Cedric with only a minute to spare. He chuckled low at my dishevelled hair, which was bushy from the wind, and I playfully smacked his arm before putting it up in a braid. Then Professor Binns slid through the black board, and I opened my note book, ready to start taking notes.
"I swear, that class just gets more and more boring each year," I complained as we walked out of the class an hour later.
"It doesn't help that you can barely keep you eyes open," Cedric replied. He had his hand on my lower back, guiding me towards the Great Hall for lunch.
"I can't help it!" I whined. "He just goes on, and on, and on. It's enough to put anyone to sleep!" I glared at him. "Oh and by the way, I hate you for not having to do any exams this year,"
He laughed at that. "It's not my fault, you know. Tell you what, if you want, I'll help you with the studying when it comes down to that,"
I grinned and leaned up to give him a kiss. "You better. You got Outstandings in all your O.W.L's, so it's the least you can do,"
--
Luckily I arrived in time for my Defense class, and slid down next to Angelina Johnson in the back.
"You're lucky you're not late," she whispered, and I opened my book. "Moody might have turned you in to a ferret,"
I let out a low chuckle at the memory of Malfoy bouncing around the Entrance hall in the shape of a white ferrett. I went silent though when Moody entered the classroom, his wooden leg echoing against the stone floor.
"Today we will start working with the Patronus charm. Who in here can tell me what a Patronus is and which charm is used to conjure it?" his voice bellowed, as he looked out over the class. I raised my hand tentatively.
"Roxley,"
"A Patronus is a silvery phantom shape, usually that of an animal, which is the embodiment of the positive thoughts of the caster. Patronuses are very efficient in protecting you against Dementors. The charm is Expecto Patronum,"
"Good, 20 points to Hufflepuff,"
I grinned at Angelina, who mouthed 'teacher's pet' at me, though a smile was on her face. I only winked at her before turning my attention back to Moody.
--
I met up with Cedric in the common room later that day, where he was doing homework. I sat down next to him with a sign, and he looked up from his books.
"You okay?" He was frowning, and I nodded reassuringly.
"Just tired," I yawned. "I haven't been sleeping very well lately." I gave him a small smile.
He smiled crookedly and closed his book. He opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when the portrait hole swung open and a blonde first-year stepped in.
"Cedric, Dumbledore wanted me to tell you to go to classroom 11, he said something about an interview," the first-year said, looking proud to be carrying a message from the Headmaster.
"Thank you Eliza," Cedric smiled, and she went completely red, a small smile on her face, happy that Cedric knew her name. Cedric gathered his books and gave me a kiss. "I'll see you at dinner,"
"Have fun," I winked, and his melodic laughter echoed in the room as he left. I chuckled and took out my books, determent to do as much homework as possible before dinner, I didn't want to be stuck doing homework all weekend.
I was half way through my History of Magic essay when Tara sat down next to me. She didn't say anything, just pulled out her Arithmancy books and started to work. When I was done with my essay I started to feel my eyes drop. The lack of sleep was catching up with me, I noticed.
"I think I'm going to try to catch a few hours of sleep. Will you wake me up before dinner?"
Tara looked up at me and nodded. "Yeah, off course. I'll see you later,"
As I walked into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, I noticed that the dark circles under my eyes were worse, and I took a small sip of the sleeping draught I had gotten from Madam Pomfrey earlier that day.
I lay down on my bed still fully clothed, and soon felt the draught take its effect. Obviously it worked, because after what only felt like a few minutes, Tara was shaking me awake.
I changed into muggle clothes, since my uniform was wrinkled from sleep, and went towards the Great Hall. I pulled my hoodie closer to my body, a chill going through my body as it worked to stay awake. Cedric was already at the table when I got there, and I gave him a soft kiss as I sat down.
"How did the interview go?"
He sighed, shaking his head. "Bloody awful. Guess who was doing the interview. Rita Skeeter,"
I choked back a laugh, putting my hand over my mouth. "Sorry, but it's a bit funny,"
"Not likely. You try being stuffed into a broom closet with that hag while she uses her bloody quick-quotes quill and is trying to get you to confess that you're mental and have a death wish,"
"I'm sorry it was such a pain," I touched his shoulder lightly, and he grinned. Lowering his lips on mine, I realized just how much I'd missed kissing him today. I'd been so busy that I'd only had time to give him small pecks. I found myself moving closer to him, deepening the kiss as I ran a hand through his hair, my fingers scraping lightly on the back of his skull. He didn't seem to mind that I was practically pouncing on him as he started to kiss me back, his hands going to my waist.
We only broke apart when someone cleared their throat, and I looked up. I gave Ryan, who was the guilty person, a dirty look, before I started to eat. Cedric's left arm was around my waist the entire meal, and I stroked his fingers with my right hand, masterfully managing to eat with only one hand.
When I had finished eating I glanced over at him. He gave me a crooked smile, and I felt my heart flutter.
"Let's go," I tugged on his hand and he stood up with me. "We're going back to the common room," I told our friends, before we went towards the exit.
I led him in silence down the stairs, along the corridor, past the painting that led to the kitchen, and through the portrait hole. His hand was tightly clasped in mine, our fingers entwined. The common room was deserted, everyone was still eating, and he sat down on the couch.
I sat down next to him, toed off my shoes and folded my legs beneath me. He raised his arm and wrapped it around my shoulders, pulling me close to him. I leaned my head on his shoulder and wrapped my arm around his waist.
"I missed you today," I said, a smile tugging on the corners of my mouth.
"What do you mean? We've seen each other loads today,"
"I know, but we haven't had any time for this. And I need this,"
He kissed the top of my head. "I know. I agree,"
"Between the stress of the tournament and all the homework the time spent with you is the time I cherish the most,"
He was silent for a few seconds, and then I felt a wide smile appear on his face. "You're so cheesy,"
I laughed and looked up at him. "That I am. But you love me for it," I teased and closed my eyes, snuggling closer. I was on the verge of falling asleep, when his voice sounded in the distance.
"Yes, I do,"
--
A cry of outrage came the next morning at breakfast, and I looked up from my toast.
"What is this rubbish?!" Ethan exclaimed, holding up the Daily Prophet for us to see.
I skimmed through the article, and my eyebrows rose higher and higher the further I read. The article, written by Rita Skeeter, was mainly about Harry Potter. The names of Durmstrang and Beaxbatons were misspelled, and Cedric's name wasn't mentioned at all. I noticed that every Hufflepuff that had read the article was looked over angrily at the Gryffindor table.
"Come on, this is Rita Skeeter we're talking about. You shouldn't take anything she writes seriously," I told Ethan, who was muttering curses under his breath.
"Yeah, let it go mate," Ryan chipped in, his mouth stuffed with egg and bacon.
"I agree with Ava," Cedric said, putting the Daily Prophet down on the table. "Everything that Skeeter woman writes is rubbish, and you shouldn't care about it,"
A heated discussion occurred then between Ethan, Ryan and Cedric. Ethan argued that Potter was getting all the attention when he wasn't even really supposed to be in the Tournament in the first place, while Cedric and Ryan argued back that Potter hadn't asked for the attention. I finally called Ethan out for being an insensitive prick, and the breakfast was ended with him throwing an egg at me.
--
"Look at this!" Tara exclaimed excitingly when she saw the note that was stuck on the message board in the common room. "Hogsmeade next weekend,"
"It's about time, I have to buy some new quills," I replied, and smiled when a pair of arms encirled my waist.
"Hogsmeade, eh?" Cedric said, placing a kiss on my cheek. "We're going together, right?"
I spun around in his arms, eyes twinkling. "Off course,"
"You two are so cute I want to throw up," Tara huffed before leaving us.
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