Title- Just Stacey
Author- 4give4get
Rated- T
Pairing- CedricxOC
Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter, the story, or the character (even though I don't really use Harry) and I don't own Cedric or Cho. Although I wish I did. If I was Ms. Rowling, and owned Harry Potter, I would have saved Cedric in the end of GOF. I cry every time I read that part. Nor do I own Catherine Morland, Jane Austen does. Or did, anyway.
Serena- Yes, another chapter. I felt pretty bad about how the last one turned out, so I felt like I owed you guys another one. THANKS FOR READING!
Who Wears Pants Anyway?….
"A heroine returning at the close of her career, to her native village, in all triumph of recovered reputation, and all dignity of a countess… is an event on which the pen of the contriver may well delight to dwell; it gives credit to every conclusion, and the author must share in the glory she so liberally bestows. —But my affair is widely different; I bring back my heroine to her home in solitude and disgrace; and no sweet elation of spirits can lead me into minuteness. A heroine in a hack post-chaise is such a blow upon sentiment, as no attempt of grandeur or pathos can withstand. Swiftly therefore shall her post-boy drive through the village, amid the gaze of Sunday groups, and speedy shall be her descent from it." I read, barely over a whisper to myself.
I look up from Northanger Abbey and sigh. Poor Catherine. Poor me… I am in solitude and disgrace like her, aren't I?
It's been three days since THE EVENT (if you don't know what I'm talking about, use your imagination) and yes, I'm in solitude and disgrace. Summer was partially right. Most people don't really care about stuff like that, nor do they know who I am.
But I'm still waiting for that run-in with Cho. It will happen. I KNOW it will happen.
I stare out at the lake. And I suddenly want to take a swim. It's February, and freezing cold, no snow, but still cold. And I want to swim. Victor Krum can do it, right?
Please don't start making a list of everything he can do that I can't, I am AWARE that the following could fill several books.
I set down Northanger Abbey and wade in, not really bothering to kick off my shoes or socks. The water BITES, it's so cold. But as I go deeper and deeper, I find that I can even ignore it. Deciding to put my head under, I bite my lip and hold my breath. The lake water folds around me like deep green silk.
I glance over at the retreating sun and at the castle. Everyone else is in their dorms, winding down for the day. I let myself float some. The freezing, green lake water dances about in waves, softly caressing my face.
I begin to imagine all sorts of things. Like a time long since past. How many other people have swam in this lake on a cold, February evening? I think back hundreds of years ago. Leaning back, I splash around with my arms imagine the water as green satin ribbons.
I feel like a Celtic goddess or something. I giggle and put my head under again. The rocks form dark and mystic shapes under there. I see something glint out of the corner of my eye.
It was right down… THERE. It is deeper out there, but not horribly deep. Probably not yet fifteen feet. I kick off a rock and investigated the deep lakebed. My fingers brush over sand and other tiny rocks, looking for whatever had reflected the light.
I can't find a single thing, and soon I need more air. I kick off and as soon as my head breaks the surface I take a deep breath. SWEET AIR.
I also see that on the lakeshore, Cedric Diggory is standing there, looking right at me. GOOD GREIF. Why is it that whenever I'm doing something like swimming randomly in a lake, he is always there too?
Shy all of a sudden, I swim back over to where I can stand, and climb out, squeezing the water out of my skirt.
"No! Don't go!" he shouts, briskly walking over.
What does he want, anyway?
I don't leave, but I don't fully turn to face him either. I can't. He's too beautiful, and I'm too—well… Stacey-ish.
I wipe the water blots off of my glasses, though.
"Aren't you cold?" he asks.
"Only a little," I say, and it's a tad of a lie, because oh, I'm only FREEZING OVER HERE.
"Uh, Stacey," Cedric begins, and I turn my head a little towards him. He's rubbing the back of his neck and looking awkwardly down at his shoes. Almost like he's embarrassed about something.
I have got my pants on, right? Joking, joking…
Having figured out that he's about to say something somewhat serious, I actually face him. What a switch this is, HE is stumbling for words, not I.
"Stacey?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think I'm an idiot?"
Where is this going?
"No."
"Do you think I'm likable?"
Curious. Slightly curious, is all I have to say.
"Yes."
"Do you like me?"
"Yes."
"I have to tell you something…but not here…" he trails off.
There's more?
"And?" I prompt.
"Would you meet me at the tea shop in Hogsmead next Saturday?"
"I would."
"Will you?" Cedric corrects himself.
"Yes," I say,
"Well, great," he says, probably suffering from a lack of anything else to say.
"Um, Cho Chang isn't going to be there is she?" I ask, wincing, making sure.
His face looks at me oddly, but then replies in the negative as if that's the stupidest question in the world.
Which, maybe it is, I don't know.
I shudder from the cold. I'm dripping wet and rather miserable. I think of a hot shower and dry sweat pants. Ahhhhh.
So it doesn't dawn on me that CEDRIC DIGGOY asked me out until I'm in the dorm bathroom and halfway out of my wet clothes.
WAS THAT REAL?
Or a dream?
He said he needed to tell me something… but what? WHO CARES? I, Stacey, am going on a date (sort of) with Cedric Diggory! Wasn't it only a few months ago that I was thinking on how hopeless my situation was? AND NOW THIS!
I run out of the bathroom and laugh like a maniac, "NAOMI! SUMMER! ELLA! BETHANY! GUESS WHAT?"
Naomi looks up from Witch Weekly, "Stacey, you might not realize this, but it's past eleven o'clock, you are soaking wet and haven't got any pants on."
"Does that matter?" I am giddy now, "Ask me what happened, please, please, please!"
"What happened?"
"CEDRIC ASKED MY OUT! LAAAAAAA!" I jump around from bed to bed, screaming.
"Are you serious?" Summer wants to know.
"YES! IT WASN'T A DREAM, EITHER!"
Bethany screams and hugs me. Summer jumps up from her bed.
"You mean it? Cedric Diggory?"
"YEAH!"
Before you know it, we're all screaming and laughing so that someone knocks on the door.
"Will you lot be quiet in there?"
I fling open the door and shout into the hall, "NO!"
An older girl in her pajamas is standing on the threshold and just stares at me, "Where are your pants?"
"What? Pants are for losers!" I slam the door in her face, and just sink into my joy and pleasure again about Saturday.
I eventually do shower and put some pants on. And sleep rather well. I'm going to the teashop with Cedric in two days.
Who woulda thought?
Not I.
.x.X.x.
Saturday didn't come soon enough. So maybe it SEEMED like forever. But it's here now, and I feel rather sick.
"What are you going to wear, Stace?" Bethany asks, lying on her stomach on my bed, staring at me, staring at myself in the long mirror Naomi put up in the beginning of the term. I look like a toad.
I examine my face. I would say UGLY, but I definitely wouldn't say pretty, either. I step back and look at my body. I wouldn't say FAT, but I wouldn't say thin, either.
Good, bad?
"I don't know," I reply, biting my lip.
"Well," Naomi puts in, jumping on top of Bethany, causing her to shriek in surprise, "What sort of look are you going for—wanton or demure?"
"What the hell kind of a question is that?" I demand, putting my hands on my hips.
"Exactly as it sounds, idiot!" she retorts back, sitting on poor Bethany the whole time, "Wonton or demure?"
I turn back around and examine my face again. Was that face even CAPABLE of looking wonton?
No. No, it was not.
"I was not thinking either. I was thinking along the lines of what a NORMAL PERSON looks like!" I say, defiantly.
"Demure then," Naomi decides, climbing off of Bethany and begins to make a real mess of the room trying to find something.
"What are you looking for?"
"An outfit for you, help me!" she tears apart trunk after trunk.
We all look through every article of clothing in that room. Bethany wants me to wear a black and white waist-high skirt.
"Beth, I can't a skirt!" I cry.
"Why not?"
"Many reasons—it's February!"
"But, Stace," Bethany hugs the skirt, "It's lucky. And a quite a nice skirt."
"It's perfectly nice," I agree, "But Beth, you would look great in that skirt—I would… well, I would look like a toad wearing a skirt!"
"You don't want to look too nice. It is only a teashop after all," Summer puts in loudly.
"Let her wear my ripped jeans," Naomi suggests.
"Yeah," Ella jumps up from her seat, "And my pink tennis shoes!"
So I am pretty soon dressed and they all pronounce me date-worthy and sexy. Great. Now I just have to not faint and we're golden!
I meet him by the entrance and he smiles at me. I smile back and I hope I don't look like Godzilla doing it. If I do, he doesn't show it.
So, first we walk.
"Hi," he says, "Thanks for coming."
HE is thanking ME? Talk about irony.
"No problem," I force myself to speak, "Just out of curiosity, is what you're going to tell me bad?"
Good job, Stacey. Bringing THAT up. Just enjoy, okay? But noooo, I had to bring up the reason I'm even here.
Cedric smiles sheepishly, and turns away, "Uh, about that."
Oh god.
"What?" I demand.
He turns back to face me, his beautiful face and all, "I was just saying that. I guess I was scared you'd reject me."
INTERESTING. But I will admit, it is a lot of weigh off of my shoulders knowing that. And then, I realize that he wasn't just asking me out for reasons unknown—he actually likes me! Or must… a little…
"That's funny," I say, staring down at Ella's shoes on my feet, "I was actually hoping you'd say something like that."
WHAT DID I JUST SAY?
Did that sound totally pathetic and stupid? I've got to watch what I say more… But Cedric actually looks relieved after I say that. I mean, I'm not a relationship counselor but that IS a good sign, yes?
"So we're on the same page now?" he asks, looking down at me seriously. God, he's adorable when he looks serious.
"Yup," I reply, and we reach the teashop.
We sit down at an outdoor table, despite the cold. I don't really mind it now, I guess. And I fold my hands in front of my chin like you always see in movies.
"Tell me about you, Stacey," is the first thing Cedric says as we get our tea.
"Why? I'm boring," I admit, blowing the steam forming on my teacup.
"Because I'm interested in you. So… talk," he explains, scooting his chair closer to the table, making my heart skip a beat or two.
"Well," I choke the words out, "What do you want to know?"
"You'll tell me anything I want?"
"Well, that really depends…"
"Just agree, it'll go faster," he advises, grinning.
"Fine, shoot."
"Where do you live?"
"London."
"So vague…"
"Vague question. Next!"
"Your favorite color?"
"Black."
"Why?"
"Because… reasons," I stutter, "Kind of complicated."
"Tell me," Cedric insists.
"Next."
"Fine. Favorite season?"
"Easy—autumn."
"Do you like flowers?"
"Name one girl you know who doesn't," I remark, dryly.
"Good point," he laughs, "What place is the farthest you've been from home?"
I smile crookedly, "Right here. Hogsmeade."
"That's it?" he seemed astonished.
"Okay, my turn," I announce, "If you're so surprised at my lack of traveling, where's the farthest place you've been?"
"Pyongyang, probably," he answers, sipping his tea.
"Holy crap!" I blurt, "Where is that, anyway?"
"North Korea," he seems confused that I am so shocked.
"What were you even doing in North Korea?" I ask.
"Quiditch tournament. Really big game… a lot of people went," He explains.
"Wow," I breathe, "What's it like there?"
"Pretty interesting actually," Cedric smirks and tells me all about North Korea.
The conversation then slips back to me, and I don't know why, but it makes me sort of uncomfortable. But, hey! I've come a long way. I am no longer awed to be in Cedric's very presence, and can even talk to him pretty easily. So what if I can't really tell him about myself?
When the bill comes, I reach for by bag, but Cedric stops me, "The girl isn't supposed to pay, Stacey."
He does pay, and I thank him. I guess chivalry isn't dead after all.
When it's time to report back to the castle, he even walks me all the way to the Ravenclaw common room! I say a rather awkward good-bye, see you later, and he just smiles and squeezes my hand.
And then walks off.
I make a mental note to ask Bethany what that means later.
I run up to our dorm, to see Ella, Bethany, Naomi, and Summer. They must have been waiting.
"So…" Summer trails off.
"It was great!" I gush, "Absolutely perfect! And neither of us mentioned Cho once!"
"Uh, Stace, why would he?" Naomi asks, looking at me strangely.
"You never know," I sniff, and fall back onto Ella's bed, "It was the best day of my life!"
"Great," Bethany giggles, but then straightens up and barks, "Details, woman!"
"Um… he paid?"
"Well, I would hope so. After all, he was the one that asked you," Summer points out.
"Come on, you've got to say more than that!" Bethany whines.
"And he walked me back here," I say, uncertain what she'll make of this information.
"And…" Naomi pushes me.
"He squeezed my hand and left," I finish.
"You mean that rat didn't kiss you?" Bethany screams.
"Why would he?" I shout back, "It was the first date, okay?"
"Oi, shut up in there!" someone banged on the wall and shouted from another dorm.
"I've got pants on this time!" I yell at the wall, and then turn back to the rest, "That's about it."
"Well, so far so good," Ella points out.
"Yeah, congrats, Stace, I knew you could do it!" Summer hugs me.
Ha, from fan club captain to person he actually associates himself with. In under two months. Yeah, I'm pretty cool.
"Are you going home for Easter?" Naomi asks Summer.
"No, my parents are working, anyway."
"So are mine," Bethany says, "But that's okay, we can check out boys while the classes are out, Summer!"
They high five.
"Boy crazy freaks," Naomi snorts, "Leave me the hell out!"
"You're staying?" I ask.
"Yeah, my mom's not working, but my brother is going, so she'll be satisfied with just him around," she explains.
"What are you doing Ella?" I ask.
"Going to Wales to stay with my great-aunt," she moans, falling on her bed on top of me, "She's going to make me eat everything she cooks. Her cakes could be sharpened and used as swords!"
"Kill her with one," Naomi jokes.
"I wish."
"You, Stace?"
"My mum's working," I tell them, "But I'm going anyway."
"A truly dedicated daughter," Summer finishes.
Perhaps. Easter comes in a matter of weeks. I sort of can't wait. But I sleep well. The best I've slept in a long time. Years, maybe. Professor Moody and my Cedric-notes are laughable. And the last thing on my mind.
End Chapter
Serena- Over and out!
Thanks for reading, please review! Thanks again for being so patient! Blame my brother for it all!