1a/n: Once again answer the question at the end of the page please for Your input may help me decide what will go on in the later chapters with great importance. LadyDiggory . . . XO!

Brainy But Confused

The morning sun glowed into the room which Cedric shared with his friends. It lit the room very elegantly that the room looked calmer than usual. The alarm next to Cedric's bed was sounding softly. There was a rustle of sheets from his bed as he awoke from his slumber. His hand came out of hiding from under the covers and hit the alarm clock with all his might. It shattered into pieces at the touch. He felt like taking a sick day today but knew that was absolutely not possible. For one Dan would not understand a bit of what was going on in the class room with Alicia sitting right in front of him in Charms. He needed to keep up in Herbology for he only had a B+ in that class. Snape was making them do more and more potions every day so he had to either keep up that or spend private time with him for extra practice. Exams were coming too so missing a day for a fake sickness was not the right move especially for someone who was not taking them anyway for the Professors were now cramming. He then closed his eyes, placing his pillow over his head. Cedric stayed under the covers for a bit longer trying to drift back to sleep but somehow never did. He finally gave in to the new day and step out of his bed. The only thing he could do was to get dressed and head across to the Great Hall to eat breakfast.

The rest of the room's occupants somehow never woke when the clock was smashed so it stayed silent. Hot water toppled over him in the shower with the steam filling, the room it helped him relax and prepare for the day but that was not enough today. When the cold water splashed into his face, it did not help one bit to wake him up at the early hours of seven in the morning either. That's when Cedric knew it was going to be another one of those long day when time was not on his side. Where he would sit on a chair for what felt like hours but only being minuets hoping, no wishing it would just be seven in the night so he could get the torturing done with. His school bag was packed late the night before so there was no need to pack now. He was dressed and nicely shaven with no cuts on his face. Cedric walked to breakfast. He was in a daze, unable to wake himself up.

If only, He thought.

If only the clock.

The clock allowed me more time to sleep.

Then well . . .

I really would not feel like . . .

Like shit.

Damn!

I have to help her today too!

This is the best day of my life.

He got up from the table when he finished and headed toward Potions with Professor Snape, he awaited the end of the day. Cedric did his best to remain focused during his classes but something inside of his clicked again. He was fidgety about the torturing session with Veronica, seeing this was a first for him. Would his lesson be good enough? Would she actually learn anything from him?

"Cedric!" James said. "What the hell is your problem? Professor Sprout thinks you're out of your mind."

Cedric almost jolted out of his seat when James hit him in Herbology. His mind was else where but knowing James Cedric just went back to plotting his plant and only replied, "Just thinking about torturing." James shook his head in agreement.

"I would need to too."

"It's probably going to be harder than I even think."

"Come on, it can't be that hard?"

"I was up most of the night studying and figuring out what I am going to review with her tonight at the library."

"So that's why you're in a different world. Get use to it mate it's how us non-Cedric's live our lives." James patted him on the back.

"I study. Just not as much as you."

"It's called brains, and you got that and looks." Cedric shrugged his shoulders with a grin across his face.

"Guess I'm lucky." James shock his head at Cedric's remark. Dan must have really rubbed off on him.

"Funny. Just funny Ced."

"What can I say?"

Cedric did the last few pats on the soft earthen ground which he placed into the pot along with a Muggle plant used for healing. Professor Sprout came by just as he was done and gave him a nodded with happiness. The bell the rung promptly after and Cedric left for his room to collect everything he needed for the library after dinner.

The room was empty and bare when Cedric swung opened the door. He ran to his trunk and traded the books in his bag for the ones he needed at the session tonight. The lid to the chest closed with a loud thud as he disappeared into the Common Room.

He was quite all dinner. Cedric did eat, nibbling his food, fast as possible. No one seemed to mind now that they all knew the reason for Cedric being uptight. He just wanted to get it done and over with. He got up from the table and headed toward the library.

The halls were quite now seeing many of the students went up stairs to gossip about the day. Cedric was calm even if this task caused more stress than Professor McGonagall would have expected. Though he never did deny that he was one of the brightest in the class and would be willing to share his brain with another. The timing though could not have been worst. The tournament had placed so much unwanted crape upon his shoulders that he would have to deal with it. He looked up as he approached the library. Veronica was already standing there with her books in her hands. Cedric took a deep breath. It was now time.

"Hello." Cedric said as he opened the doors and let her in.

"Thank you." He walked to a table and sat down. She followed him and placed her books upon the table.

"So." Cedric said.

"So." Veronica replied.

"Where do you want to start?"

"Er . . . I don't know."

"Um. Then how about you take this test to see where you are." He pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag and placed it in front of her. He scratched his head and then nodded hoping this would take up most of the time being fifty questions and all.

"Okay." She shrugged and went to work on a piece of parchment that Cedric had written on during the day. Mark had suggested it during Potions when Snape was far away from both of their cauldrons, so in his free period he had done so. Cedric was now on his toes waiting as Veronica finished the last question. It had been a half hour since she was given the test which was maybe a good thing, seeing it meant that she had to take time to think. He leaned back in the chair as the front legs lifted off the floor. The half hour had been useful for the first ten minuets but now the last twenty he had nothing to do. So Cedric just sat there and stared at the walls, books, people going in and out, or Veronica though now a little spot on the table caught his eyes. He would have rather been with Cho out in the courtyard with his arms around her, holding her to keep her warm and kissing her. No one really did see them out there every night. It was peaceful. Just the thought She lifted her quill off the paper and right next to it.

"Done." Cedric look up from the spot and right into Veronica's eyes.

"Already?"

"Yes, already."

"Then I guess that's it for tonight. We'll meet here on Thursday at the same time." She got up out of the chair she was occupying and nodded. She brushed her lips against his cheek and left them there for only a second before speaking.

"Thank you. I know it's a big job, but thanks." Cho had just walked into the library to look for Cedric and when she saw Veronica give him a peck on the cheek. Her face went fire red and approached them.

"Cedric? What are you doing here?"

"Oi! Cho!" Cedric stood up and gave Cho a quick kiss on the lips. "I told you eight."

"I know, I know but I went to find you to tell you I can't come tonight. Hello Veronica."

"Oh." Was all Cedric said a bit crushed.

"Hi." Veronica replied quietly. " I think I'll go and leave you two alone."

When Veronica was safely out of reach Cho blew up as loud as she could in a library. "What were you both doing!"

"Professor McGonagall asked if I could help tutor her."

"And you said yes?"

"Yeah surprisingly."

"Then why did I see her kiss you!"

"She was thanking me." His face was turning red from anger and embarrassment, How dare Cho think I would cheat on her! He though in his mind.

"What is she French?"

Cedric shrugged even though he knew the answer, "I guess."

"Fine!"

"Cho are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine just a bit scared that you were . . ."

"What?"

"Cheating on me." Her head hung low.

"Did you really think I would ever cheat on you?" Cedric wrapped his arms around Cho and pulled her close. She blushed a bit to the question and nodded yes with embarrassment. Cho never was able to stop blushing around him and that she hoped would never stop. All Cedric did was place his lips onto of her at that moment. Her books fell to the ground as her arms went around his neck. They stood there kissing for a long time. People would pass on their was out though they never looked that way. Cedric finally released her. He had enough breath to say. "Never would I."

Cho smiled. Her face still red from before. She slowly took her hand off the back of his neck and wiggled out of his grasp. "I really do have to do and study. I'm real sorry."

"Cho do you think I'd ever stop you from studying."

"No but I would stop you." He kissed her one more time before they left the library together and went their separate ways. He laid wide awake that night thinking something would happen in the next few days, something Hogwarts rarely did. He fell asleep though just as the moon shone high in the sky fill the grounds with light from the night sky.

You'll be seeing a lot of both Veronica and Cho now so who do you want him to end up with? Why?

Next chapter Tradition, Tradition, Dance . . .