Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except Chloe and anything else you don't recognize.
Okay, here is chapter 10. Sorry it took so long to get up. But it's here so, enjoy!
Chapter 10:
The Aftermath
Cedric never let me out of his sight after that. Except for the last class of the day when one of his friends kept close watch on me. I was a little uncomfortable by that. I still wasn't very trusting of anyone but Cedric. Marcus had gotten in big trouble with the headmaster. It was actually pretty amusing. And Cedric didn't get into trouble! Well, not much anyways. But to every up-side, there's always a down-side. Once the teachers knew what happened, the whole school knew! And so did my parents, who were trying desperately to get me to come back home. I told them I'd be fine. Some of my fellow students offered their sympathies while others looked at me with pity. But the whole Slytherin house was angry with me for getting their Quidditch captain in trouble while others thought of me as a slut and always jeered at me and what not. Dang Slytherins! Oh well, at least Cedric was there to set them straight. I still hated waking up every day. That meant that the sympathy, the pity and the jeering would start. It was a day like today that I wished I would've just stayed in bed.
Cedric and I were sitting at the Hufflepuff table for breakfast. He was talking about the first task. Apparently, Harry knew what it would be and had told Cedric. There was a dragon for each champion but of course, he didn't know what kind. It was starting to get really annoying.
"I don't know what to do about your dragon, Cedric." I said, cutting him off mid sentence. Something about researching dragons and finding which ones that would be the most likely to be used? I don't know, I wasn't paying attention. I had been zoned out and irritable since…that night. "Can we not talk about this?" I asked. He nodded before focusing on his breakfast again. I tucked a loose strand of hair into my ponytail and started to play with my food. I wasn't hungry, or rather, I didn't feel like eating. Cedric noticed after a few minutes. He was going to try and get me to eat, he did it every morning.
"Aren't you going to eat something?"
"I'm not hungry," I answered.
"Are you sure?" He just doesn't quit. Well, it's nice to know that he cares.
"I'm sure, I'm not hungry," I assured him. He looked unconvinced but didn't press the matter further. I looked down at the plate of food in front of me. It didn't look appetizing at all. I pushed it away. I folded my arms on the table. I felt eyes burning a hole at the back of my skull. I looked behind me. There was a Ravenclaw girl staring at my pitifully. She shook her head before looking. Ugh! Blasted Ravenclaw! They weren't helping, those smarty pants! Think they know everything. I turned back to Cedric.
"Can we go to class now?" I asked, my voice just barely above a whisper.
"Yeah," I could see that he wasn't done breakfast. I didn't want him to starve! It was okay for me though.
"I can start heading to class by myself, so you can finish your breakfast?" I suggested as I stood up and grabbed my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. I already knew that it wasn't going to happen. He was being very overprotective. He snorted as he to stood up and grabbed his bag. "I'll take that as a no," I sighed. He looked at me, confused.
"Do you not want me coming with you?" He asked.
"No!" I exclaimed suddenly. I needed the protective shield that always seemed to be there whenever he was with me. It was like my own little protective bubble. No one was getting in. "It's just that you haven't finished your breakfast," I said. He chuckled.
"I'll be fine Chloe," he said. "Besides, you haven't finished your breakfast either." I gave him a look while trying to fight the smile that was threatening to appear. I failed. It broke out across my face as if someone was pulling it up with fish hooks. Cedric smiled back. I know he loved it when I smiled, especially when I was going through such a hard time like this.
"Let's just go to class," I said. The sooner we get this day over with the better. I thought. We walked out of the great hall. Practically all the eyes there were following us as we made our way to the doors. I hated all the unwanted attention I had been receiving over the past few days. It was annoying! I'm just a person? Okay? Geez, you'd think I was going to die of some rare disease with the looks these people gave me.
Cedric and I made it out of the great hall and started heading to class. We passed a group of Slytherins who wolf-whistled at me. I picked up the pace. Cedric looked ready to kill someone. I grabbed his arm and pulled him beside me.
"How about we-we meaning you-try not to beat any Slytherins to a pulp today?" I suggested. He didn't need anymore detentions for just defending me. He said it was fine and that I didn't need to worry about it. But I still felt guilty when he got detention after detention day after day. He nodded but there was still that murder in his eyes.
Class went by slowly as it did everyday. Cedric and I sat in the back of the class nearest the door for a quick escape. I always kept my eyes on my text book and notes, avoiding the eyes of the teacher. They pitied me to. They didn't even expel Marcus and yet they're giving me pitiful glances! They had no right. It was like they were setting everything up for another attack! I bet his parents didn't even care. They were probably Death Eaters. Practically all the Slytherin parents were. It was sick.
The class ended and Cedric and I were the first ones out, avoiding the looks and the 'How are you?'s and ''I'm so sorry about what happened's. This is a habit I had become used to. We always rushed out of class. Well, Cedric practically dragged me out but he meant well. I didn't mind though. It was better then what would have happened if we didn't get out of there fast enough.
The day had been hard, like any other day. People needed to realize that the glances and consoles weren't helping in the least. They were just reminding me. It was the last class and my protective bubble had left and I felt vulnerable. That's how it always was when Cedric left me. His friend-who's name I found out was Anthony-didn't seem so obsessive over my protection. He didn't seem to want to be watching me. He was probably only doing because Cedric asked, no begged him to. There was always an awkward silence between us in class that I wouldn't have gotten with Cedric. I hated awkward.
When the class ended, I started gathering in my things and I didn't even notice Anthony leaving. When I looked up, he was gone. I sighed and rolled my eyes, trying to hide the fear that I now felt even more then during the class. It's okay, I told myself firmly. Just walk to Cedric's class and meet him halfway, or sooner then halfway…or later. I shook the thought out of my head and started heading towards class. I would be fine. Cedric was probably hurrying to meet me now. Granted, he would be angry with Anthony for leaving me but I could probably convince him not to kill Anthony.
I was halfway to his class, pushing past people who tried to talk to me. I hadn't met him yet, I wondered why. Oh well, I'd probably meet up with him soon. I came to the hall that his class should be in. The flood seemed to pass through here and already and no one was there. Had I passed Cedric? I probably did. I was about to turn around to go find him when three Slytherins cut me off.
"Well, well, well what do have here boys?" One of them spoke. I guessed he must be the ring leader. He had greasy black hair that fell over his face, a muscular build and greedy coal black eyes. I gulped. I couldn't show fear. I put on my best brave face.
"Get out of my way Slytherins," too bad my voice betrayed my face. Stupid voice.
"Oooo," the greasy haired boy and his friends said. His friends both had brown hair. One was plump and one was rather skinny. They both had brown hair. The plump one's hair was short and curly while the skinny one's hair was long had hung over his face, covering his eyes. I wondered how he could see! The greasy haired boy raised his hand to my check. I slapped it away.
"Oo, feisty,"
"Get out of my way!" I repeated, ferociously. He looked mad. He grabbed my wrists and slamming against the nearest wall. I had the wind knocked out of me for a second. I gasped for breath.
"No," he whispered in a voice that made my skin crawl.
"Get off of me," I said. My voice wasn't very strong considering that I was still breathless.
"No!" His voice was much more forceful and angry. I glared at him. I inhaled deeply.
"Get off of me," I said forcefully through my teeth. He glared at me. I balled up my fists, my knuckles turning white. If he started leaning down or tried to do anything funny, I was going to kick him in his 'area'.
"Get off of her!" An all too familiar voice yelled. Mr. Greasy Hair was pulled off of me. Cedric was holding against the opposite wall by his collar. "Never touch her again, never!" He hissed through gritted teeth. He was angry, I could tell.
"Ha! I'm not afraid of you!" The greasy black haired Slytherin spat. Cedric glared before drawing back his fist and punching the Slytherin in the nose. I'm pretty sure I heard it brake. The Slytherin cried in pain and clutched his nose. I sighed and closed my eyes. So much for our deal. I opened my eyes and watched as Cedric let go of the Slytherin boy's collar and let him fall to the ground. I couldn't tell, but I was pretty sure he was bleeding. He got up and stumbled away, his goonies following close behind. Cedric turned to look at me, his expression softening.
"Are you okay?" He asked. I ignored his question. I was fine, though.
"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't beat any Slytherins up today," I sighed. Cedric chuckled a little. I smiled. His face went serious again.
"Where is Anthony?" He asked.
"I don't know, he just left."
"He just left you?!" Cedric looked furious again.
"Cedric, please calm down." I begged. "Let's just go to the library, you can kill Anthony later." We had taken to studying in a corner in the library where no one noticed us. It was horrible when we studied. It made me uncomfortable when everyone in the common room was staring at me.
"Alright," he sighed. He began walking and his arm snaked around my shoulders, protectively. I leaned into him, feeling content and safe. "You never answered my first question." I sighed.
"I'm okay, he didn't get the chance to do anything," I said, smiling gratefully up at him. "Besides, if he did try anything I was going to knee where it counts most." We both chuckled as we walked to the library.
Okay, I might rewrite this chapter, it's not my favorite. And I was in Twilight mode when I wrote this so Cedric might be a little like Edward. Anyways, R&R!