A/N: So I am very sorry. I got preoccupied with school stuff again. Graduating will do that to a person but without further ado I present chapter ten!
Chapter Ten: I Could Have Danced All Night
"Well…?" I ask as Alex takes a seat next to me.
She smiles.
"Glad you came?"
She nods.
"Good, cause I'm having a wonderful time and I would hate for you to spoil it with a bad attitude."
Alex laughs. "Where's Cedric?"
"I think he's getting punch."
"Ah, Fred too. Cedric's so cute… such a sweetheart."
"I know, and a perfect gentlemen too."
"You miss Faye" Alex punches my shoulder, "Are a lucky girl"
"And what about George? I mean he's probably less gentlemanly, though not necessarily in a bad way right?"
"Well…" Alex laughs. "He's kind of a goofball." She looks contemplative. "But I think I like that about him."
"You'll always be laughing."
"Till he gets me in trouble."
"Yes." I say nodding very seriously. "And then you'll be cracking up laughing so hard you can't breathe."
That breaks us. We're laughing so hard no noise is coming out of our mouths. I'm almost in tears.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Cedric places a glass on the table. It's filled with fizzy pink liquid.
Alex and I look at each other.
"It was nothing." I take a few deep breaths then I grab Cedric's hand. "Let's dance." I lead him to the dance floor.
A new song starts. It's the first slow song of the night. Cedric pulls me in closer until my head is resting on his chest. Both of his hands are placed on my upper back like a gentleman.
"Do you know this song? It's really beautiful." I don't recognize it probably because it's from the wizarding world.
"It's 'Magic Works' by the Weird Sisters."
"It's beautiful. I really like it."
His heart beat drums rhythmically in my ear that's pressed to his chest. I felt suddenly lucky he couldn't hear my heart beat which was fluttering out of control. When the song ends a more upbeat song starts playing, something I actually recognize from the muggle world.
"I love this song!" I say as I move out of my slow dance positioning.
It's almost complete silence as Cedric walks me back to the Gryffindor commons, with his arm around my back. It's making me feel awkward so I decide to say something, just before we reach the portrait.
"Hey I had a really good time."
Cedric smiles. "Yeah?"
"Yeah"
We reach the area by the fat lady portrait and Cedric unlinks from me.
"I guess this is goodnight."
"I guess so."
He starts to leave.
"Hey wait." I grab his arm. "Don't I at least get a goodnight kiss?" Immediately I blush realizing how blunt I'd just been.
Cedric reaches out and touches my cheek, much more sure of himself then the last time he'd kissed me. He leans in and out lips touch, soft and sweet.
"Goodnight Faye."
"Goodnight."
I watch as Cedric goes back the way we'd come then I turn to face the portrait. Something is wrong. Why hadn't I seen it before? Where the fat lady had been earlier that day was now just a torn canvas. I look around. No one is there. Could I really be the first one here? No, where is everyone else?
Suddenly I hear hurried steps back up the stairs. Cedric peels around the corner, pale. "Thank god." He heaves a sigh of relief and begins to catch his breath. "You're still here."
"Where else would I be?"
He doesn't find this amusing.
"Cedric, what's going on?"
"The fat lady, they found her. She said it was Sirius Black who ripped the portrait. For now all the students are in the great hall. Percy told me to come get you."
Confusion sets in as we walk down the stairs. "Who's Sirius Black?"
Cedric's face becomes sullen. "He's a wanted murderer who escaped earlier this year."
"Oh"
"He went to Azkaban for leading you-know-who right to the Potters. He killed twenty people before they caught him. You really didn't know any of this?"
I shake my head. "None of it"
When we reach the great hall my cousin is waiting for me. She runs up holding a bundle of clothing. "I figured you might need these."
I take them. Pajamas. "Thank you."
"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" Shouts Percy, who is standing in the middle of the hall. "Come on, now, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes."
Cedric touches my shoulder. "Will you be alright?"
I nod.
"I'll be right over there if you need me." Cedric points across the hall to where the Weasley twins have already set up their sleeping bags. He kisses me on the forehead and returns to his sleeping area.
Alex gives me a look.
"What?" I say jokingly defensive. "Don't doubt the forehead kiss. A forehead kiss is very intimate." I smile.
"So did anyone tell you the deal with this Sirius Black guy?"
I nod.
"Pretty crazy stuff huh"
"I know" I say crawling into the sleeping bag and sneakily changing into the pajamas in there. "Poor Harry."
"The lights are going out now!" Percy is once again shouting. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!"
Suddenly all the candles go out. What little light left is made by the starry sky of the celling.
"Night Alex."
"Night"
A/N: I hope you all liked the chapter and I promise to try to update more often. But a little encouragement in the form of reviews couldn't hurt ;)
