Chapter 11 – Give in

Three whole days of ignoring Cedric seemed to help Abby getting her life back on track. Someone from Hufflepuff had designed badges with Cedric's head on them and had offered her one. When she looked better she could see Cedric's head with "Ced's Great" twirling around it, and after that it turned into Harry Potter's face, with the words "Potter Stinks" twirling. It seemed as if everyone was getting more and more excited about the upcoming tasks of the Tri-wizard Tournament.

"I just don't get it. He's risking his life for a stupid game, it's ridiculous." Rose was folding her clothes and mumbling about the tournament.

"You know what I think?" she asked Abby who was trying her best to focus on her homework. When Abby didn't respond Rose went on anyways.

"I think that miniature prostitute is turned on by the whole tournament status."

"Rose." Abby said looking up from her homework.

"Yes I know you don't want to talk about it and you supposedly don't care. But I think you do. And I know Ced does..even though he's too proud to admit it."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I mean it, I.."

"Can we please not talk about it?"

"Sure. I'm sorry." Rose rolled her eyes. "Still think you should talk to him though." She whispered after which she ran out of their dorms.

After half an hour of homework Abby was finished and went downstairs hoping not to bump into Cedric. She strolled down the stairs not looking around for him, too afraid to see him.

"Abby!" a high squeaky sound came out of someone looking like Rose, except scarily excited about something.

"Rose, what's up?" Abby tried to sound as excited but failed tremendously.

"You'll never guess what they put on the announcement board this morning!" her voice was almost as high as the tones only dogs can hear.

"No, but I'm pretty sure you'll tell me anyways." Abby replied.

"Of course!" Rose said with a exaggerated move of her hand. "We're going to Hogsmeade this weekend!"

"We?" Abby asked, when she saw Rose's disappointed face she continued "Great! But what do you mean?"

"It's the first weekend we can go to Hogsmeade this year, let's go shopping! Or..no..let's go on a date!"
"Yes, 'cause those usually work best when you're with two girls and one boy."

"Don't be ridiculous, I bet Cedric would like to take you…"

"..or Cho."

"Please stop talking about her before I think of a master plan to kill her, and don't say I wouldn't do that, I might be a very intelligent serial killer who wants to save her best friend."

"You're crazy." Abby laughed.

It was cold and wet outside, autumn was slowly changing into winter. It was Friday, the day before the weekend to Hogsmeade and a week before the first task. Abby had gotten quite good at ignoring Cedric the past few days. She spend most of her time in her dorm or at the library with John who constantly asked what was going on between her and Cedric Diggory. It was November the eleventh, her father's birthday. She had written him a letter a few days ago to ask him how he was going to spend his day. He wrote back he was just going to stay at home alone and relax, he said he needed his rest and that a friend of him would come by to have dinner. Abby knew that it was quite unlikely for her father to invite a friend over for dinner. She felt sad and guilty she couldn't be there for her father. He had changed a lot since her mother's death, he seemed a lot more helpless.

After classes Abby decided to go for a walk outside, the rain took a break from falling and some fresh air would help her clear her mind.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Rose asked.

"Rose, you still need to finish potions if you ever want to be allowed to go on that date with that guy you still haven't told me about." Abby replied with a grin that didn't reach her eyes.

"As if they'd ever keep me from going to Hogsmeade if I turn in my homework just a tiny bit too late." Rose amplified the word 'tiny' by putting her fingertips close to each other, her eyes narrowing.

"They would. And you should finish it, it's not that hard after all. And when I get back from my walk you have to tell me who your date is." For a while Abby thought she saw Rose blushing, but Rose turned around and started walking away, dashingly graceful.

"Have fun in the rain then." She said on a fake mean tone.

The cold wet world outside was comforting. It was silent and cool, nobody there to break the silence. The air was fresh and crisp, something to clear her body and mind. Everything looked strangely green and grey, the light of the sky was like a blanket covering the entire landscape. Halfway around the lake Abby heard something that wasn't part of the peaceful surroundings. She stopped walking to focus on the sounds. She could hear someone's footsteps but she didn't want to turn around to look who it was. Maybe someone was just going for a walk as well, she shouldn't bother someone who wanted to enjoy the same thing she was enjoying. So she walked on.

"Abby?" Cedric Diggory's warm voice sounded from a few steps away. Slowly Abby turned to face him, not entirely sure what she wanted to say.

"Cedric." The minute she had said it she wanted to take it back. It sounded so utterly stupid she hoped she wasn't blushing because of it.

"Listen..I'm sorry about what happened…last week." He seemed uncomfortable for a while, a nervous smile playing around his lips. Perfect lips Abby noticed.

"It's perfectly fine." Abby half whispered, she was standing so still she could almost pass for a statue.

"No it's not." His London accent suited him more then anyone else she knew "Listen, Cho's just a friend. I actually followed you here because..well.." he paused and didn't know where to keep his hands or how to put his feet " I saw you walking and I wanted to ask if you'd like to come to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow, as in a date..?" he asked. Abby was stunned for a moment. The words came out perfectly clear but she just couldn't believe someone actually spoke them to her.

"Did Rose ask you to do this?" was the first she could think of to say. Cedric started to laugh and at the same time it started to rain again.

"No. Would I ever listen to my sister? Most of the time she's completely mental." Abby couldn't help but laugh, a little insecure laugh at the beginning of more laughter.

"I'll ask you again, with you knowing my sister didn't ask me to do this, will you go out on a date with me tomorrow?"

Abby didn't know what held her back. Probably the thing that was holding her back from living for years now. She was too afraid to get hurt, to do something wrong, to not be enough. But Cedric's kind eyes, his half crooked smile and the sound of his voice made her want to change. Made her want to take a chance for once in her life. Made her want to live.

"I would love to." She whispered barely audible but loud enough for Cedric to hear because a dashing smile appeared on his face, a relieved one almost.

"Great! I'll wait for you in the common room tomorrow morning."

"I'll be there." Abby smiled faintly, not sure of what was to come of tomorrow. He smiled and turned around to walk back to the castle. Abby watched him walk for a moment, after three steps he stopped and slowly turned around.

"May I join you?" he asked polite. Abby nodded carefully, letting him walk with her right now meant a lot to her, and she wondered if he could ever understand.