a/n: To remind us all of the first snow fall.

Tradition, Tradition, Dance

The December weather had finally begun. The air was brisk and cold that it stung the skin at the touch. There had been snow the night before and the ground was covered in a small layer of white puff turning Hogwarts into a winter wonderland. The sun was rising turning the grounds pink from the morning sky. Inside the school people were just getting up and in awe looking at the white grounds. Cedric's face was pressed against the iced windows Jack Frost did in his slumber. His warm breathy melted the ice frozen onto the window in a circular pattern. Far off he could see the Forbidden Forest covered in thick snow with ice hanging off the branches of the trees. Cedric longed to go out side and throw a snowball in Roger's face. To feel the flakes touch his tongue and melt fast on there sliding down his throat. For the ice cold snow to hit his numb face that felt so soft that it made him want to be young again. He turned around lost in his thoughts to see Mark and Dan rising from their beds and fighting each other for the first glance of winter. Cedric then grabbed his tie that was falling off his bed and tied it around his neck. He laughed as now Mark and Dan were wrestling on the cold wooden floor. "Why the hell are you doing it?" Dan pinned Mark down and walked over to the window.

"Doing what?" Mark asked as he got up off the floor brushing him self off.

"Yea what the looser said." Dan said as he breathed onto the window to see the first snow. Mark went to look over Dan shoulder to look around out side. Cedric stood there mute it was odd to see the two of them who spent their days tormenting each other standing next to each other acting like they were friends, which they were. Tim, James and Chuck had all awoken too, peering out the windows to see the white grounds too. Cedric walked out of the room without anyone noticing, just like little kids. Down in the common room it was warm and welcoming. Later the night before a fire had be ignited in the brick fire place. Cedric sat down near the fire and brought out an essay he need to finish for Charms. He figured breakfast could wait 'til he had finished what was assigned to him. He scribbled across the parchment with all his mental strength. Words just kept pouring out of him unable to stop. Cedric had to finish this essay, he just had to. He was already done with one piece of parchment but the Professor wanted two. Cedric began to doubt if his essay would have enough for two pieces. He wrote more and more flipping through books left and right as people passed him and headed toward breakfast. Cedric did not mind one bit about missing breakfast for he was not taking exams so everything Cedric did in class and for work counted even more than it did before.

"Cedric, good you're here." A young blond sixth year said as she took a seat next to Cedric. The girl glanced down for a second and adjusted her Prefects badge gleaming upon her chest. She had the stature of importance in the way she acted which came with the badge.

"Morning Pamela. What do you need?" Cedric placed down his quill and looked her in the eye. He knew that it was something important for why else would she need Cedric. Pamela did always think that being a Prefect meant more to her than how she treated others.

"Professor Sprout told me that every Huffelpuff should be in this Common Room at exactly eighteen hundred. Got it?"

"Why do we all need to be here?"

"Something about the Triwizard Tournament. Your badge is crooked, fix it. Cedric don't forget eighteen hundred everyone should be here." Pamela got off the chair and left Cedric alone once again. Cedric looked down at the Prefects badge on his chest and tilted it a little so it looked straight to him. He was back in his studies but in the back of his mind Cedric could not help but wonder what part of the tournament did they not tell the champions about, he knew when the task was so why the need for a House Meeting.

The day was bleak and the student were forced to stay indoors with their studies, Cedric looked outside the large window during Charms class still taking notes upon the class. The snow called him all day but yet work forced many to stay indoors. He could hear they younger kids playing in the snow and he still longed to go out there. There was a buzz around in the halls today. People were huddled in groups talking and looking around. Cedric did hid Prefect duties outside of him preparing for NEWTS, which were still more than a year away, the word had gotten around fast and news was not only for Huffelpuff either. Davies had told Cedric, he was told the same thing from a Ravenclaw Prefect, while he was on the way to his Common Room during his free period. He guessed it was something for everyone and not just for the Champion's house, still questions lurked inside his mind..

"But Roger does it really make sense."

"What?"

"That tonight Professor Sprout is going to tell everyone something about the tournament that I don't even know."

"I guess but really you need to breath it's more or less going to be something else."

"What the is something else." Cedric said laying down on the curse words around the other student. He ran his fingers through his hair anxiously. The thought of not knowing what it was and him being school champion was driving him down a spiraling circle of nerves. Cedric was really getting anxious every hour that passed, closer to eighteen hundred. Roger on the other hand really did not seem to care about the whole thing at all and that drove Cedric even more ludicrous."I should know what the is." Roger placed his hand on Cedric's shoulder for comfort know how uptight he was.

"Maybe not, I'm not saying you should know everything but maybe you just don't." He patted his Cedric's shoulder and went up the staircase to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Cedric turned the corner and headed down a long corridor where the Huffelpuff house was. He approached a knight and said the password ("Chocolate Frogs") and went inside the room for his free period. There were few people in the Common Room expect a few seventh years talking in a corner. Cedric went straight to his work. The room stayed silent for a while while Cedric studied for Potions the next day. The window he sat by was clear and could see a boy throwing snow balls at another. Never did he notice Mark walking in the Common Room with something in his hand approaching Cedric.

"Dang!" Cedric turned around after mark and shove a hand ful of snow down Cedric's sweater. "That is unfair." Cedric got up and threw everything in his bag and raced up stairs to his room where he placed the bag on his bed. Throwing a scarf around his neck he ran outside, "I am so going to get you for that!" With Mark not that far in front of him. As he ran out though the door to the grounds and soft snow hit him right in the face.

"Good job mate." Mark said as he shook hands with Dan.

"Back at you." Cedric cupped snow in his hand and formed a ball and chucked it at Dan and then another at Mark. Snow started to fly into the air hitting who ever it could the he ran around trying to dodge the snow being thrown at him and then throw it at someone else. Laughter filled the air as the fight continued. The snow was soft and cold, it froze Cedric to the bone yet he stayed outside letting out his longing. His sweater was drenched with the snow that toppled on top of him long with Dan too. From the sky little white flakes began to fall to the ground. Cedric stopped and looked up at the sky. In an instant Cedric's tongue stuck out from his mouth and was catching snow flakes melting upon his tongue. Mark threw one last snow ball at Dan, instead it hit Cedric and he took the chance and threw a huge snow ball at him. Mark ducked and the snow hit someone inside the school. She ran outside to see what they were doing.

"Oi! Cho. What happened to you?" There was a huge wet spot on her robes where Cedric's snow ball had hit her. Cedric did his best not to laugh at Cho when he had said that. A grin swept across trying to hide his laughter. She did not look happy at all. Behind him Mark and Dan were soundless. Cedric face turned from jolly to straight. Cho then threw something from behind her back at Cedric. Soft snow hit his face, "Fair." She shook her head no and he threw snow back at her and the snow ball fight had begun again. He was getting hit left and right and was now numb. Cedric threw the snow balls at anyone and everyone as he made his way over to Cho. He took the snow ball that was in his hand and smashed it all over her face. She spit out the snow he had gotten inside of her mouth and looked up at him, "We're even now?" Cho nodded a simple yes as she wiped the snow off her face. Cedric then leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. They stood there as Mark and Dan still threw snowballs every which way, snogging.

Mark stood there in disappointment, "Now you all have just ruined the fun!" Dan looked at Mark and now realized what he was talking about.

"Yeah, the snogging needs to stop now!" Cedric did not listen to his friends at all for he was perfectly fine where he was and could tell Cho was too. His wet sweater press against Cho's half dry one, their body warmth not enough to keep the other warm. Cedric shivered from the cold air that was blowing on his face. Cho moved apart from Cedric but stayed in his embrace. He hugged her with all his might in the cold December air as his head rested upon her shoulder and her face buried deep in his chest. Cedric wanted this moment to last forever even though he was cold to the bone. He shivered again. Cho looked up at Cedric and their eyes met, "Let's go inside, you're cold."

"Cho, I'm fine." He shivered again worse than before. Cedric was being stubborn but for a good reason, he did not want Cho to leave. She forced her self out of his arms and took him by the wrist and dragged indoors, Cedric was stunned at how Cho was acting but did not say a word when he sneezed. It was for his health. He stood there holding her hand a bit longer until he hand looked down at his hand and saw the time 17.40. He jumped out of his skin and let go of her hand. "I've got to go the House Meeting is in twenty minuets." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and without even thinking said two words, "Love you." Cedric never realized how much it would affect his relationship with Cho, but it was truly how he felt and as he ran down the halls he heard her reply, "I love you too." He turned around thinking about going back but knew he needed to get to the Common Room and fast. Cedric smiled broadly from ear to ear and he could not help it for he was sixteen and in love with Cho Chang who loved him back. He ran all he way to the room that when he had entered the crowded Common Room his face was a bright pink and was breathing heavily. Behind him Professor Sprout had entered the room. The room was rowdy and loud with people screaming and playing chess. The paintings all around the room were buzzing out of excitement too.

Cedric looked through out the room to find his Mark and the others. The Common Room was more crowed than ever because it was about the tournament. He stood on his toes so he could see the rest of the room. There in the corner by the fire place was Tim, with his girlfriend Lindsay, and all the others lounging and talking. Cedric pushed through the rest of the house to get to the corner. And when he had finally got there all eyes were on the other side of the room. The portraits fell quiet but the rest of them did not.

"Quiet! Quiet! Quiet! Now is everyone here?" A seventh-year Prefect answered yes and the room fell into a soundless pit. "I presume that everyone is doing well and trying their best. Oh, yes! Now lets see. The Yule Ball is approaching, it is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception. It gives every single one of us another chance to become friends with the foreign students spending the year here at Hogwarts. Sadly though not all of you can participate in this event for it is only for fourth years and above - although you may invite the younger students at your own will. Now would the younger kids please go to their rooms." Disappointment filled the air as third years and below left for their dormitories. Near Tim, Lindsay was filled with giggles, along with her friend that had now joined them by the fire place, as Tim had his arm wrapped around her. Dan was looking past Cedric that stood in between him and Tim eyeing one of Lindsay friends. Professor Sprout ignored the sighs and giggles from the Common Room and continued with her little speech.

"I expect the rest of you to place your best foot forward for the ball is ,firstly, a dance. Everyone shall wear dress robes as it is truly a formal event, which means I expect every single one of you on the best behaviors I have ever seen. The ball will start at seven on the Twenty Fifth and will end promptly at midnight in the Great Hall. Now this ball is also a time for us to uh . . . be free from the usual school day and uniforms. Still as I said before this is not a time to humiliate the house of Helga Huffelpuff. Lets sort you out now. Boys on this side. Boys on this side! Good. And girls on this one. Now inside every girl a flower waiting to bloom and inside everyone of you boys a lion waiting to prance. Mr. Goodman if you please?" Professor Sprout extended her hand out to Dan who was talk to Tim and he sadly took it. Cedric patted him on his back along with Tim to get him up off the wall. "Now I presume you know where your hands go Mr. Goodman? The waist, Mr. Goodman the waist. Now take my other hand. Good. And one. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Very good. Everyone together now, boys up off your feet. Hurry up now. Mr. Goodman find your self a partner."

Slowly Cedric got up off his feet as Dan and Mark both approached the girls. Never had Cedric even realized that the house of Huffelpuff contained so many girls. He approached the one girl he knew would never mind, "Pamela . . .er . . ."

"Cedric, I'd be honored." He placed his right hand upon her waist gently and grasped a hand with the other. He shivered a bit, still cold from being outside in the snow. Pamela seemed to not notice but was more concentrated on what Professor Sprout had to say. "Ready? Good. Now boys you lead and the girl follows. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Now you switch arms. Good. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Now boys you lift your partner into the air as you spin around clockwise. And then you start again. All together now. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Switch. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Jump and spin. Good now keep on going."

Cedric held onto Pamela's waist counting out loud in a whisper, "One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Switch. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. One. Two. Three. Jump and spin."

"Cedric must you."

"Sorry, just trying to get it right."

"Then don't say it out loud."

"Fine Pamela." Cedric began to count inside his head making few mistakes in the process. While dancing to the music Professor Sprout had chosen there were "ouch!" and "aww!" or "shit!" followed by "don't say that!" from Professor Sprout. They danced like that for a half hour being correct and getting better. By the time Cedric was done dancing with Pamela he had stopped counting inside of his head.

"Mr. Diggory would you be kind enough to stay behind?" Professor Sprout said motioning Cedric to come closer to her. She then placed her arm around his broad shoulders. "There is something I did not mention in front of everyone. I thought it would only be fair to only tell you for it will not go with anyone else. The champions and their dances partners will open the dance as it is a tradition going back to the beginning of the Triwizard Tournament. Cedric you are a Hogwarts Champion and it will be expect of you not to only have a partner but to be good at dancing too. You have gotten your self into this and there is now way out."

"Thanks professor." Cedric stumbled out of her grasp and went up the stairs to his dormitory where everyone else was dressed and ready for sleep. Though they were snugged up in the blankets no one in the room was truly ready for sleep. As he opened the door James took the spare blanket and threw it around Cedric's shoulders.

"The man of the hour . . ." Mark began and then Tim spoke.

"Cedric Diggory the . . ." And then Dan interrupted.

"Hogwarts School Of Witch Craft And Wizardry . . ." Chuck finished.

"Triwizard Tournament School Champion!" Cedric laughed.

"It's a bit late don't you think. The task was a week or so ago."

"Yeah but thanks to me, we now know that you have to dance in front of the whole school." Dan said pointing to himself. They now all surrounded Cedric clearing their vocals chords as the sung the school song.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy, Hoggy, Hogwarts. Teach us something please. Weather we be old and board . . ." Cedric stood there speechless. He was really surrounded by maniacs and nothing could be done about that. They sung the song once for each person in the room and by then their voices were worse than they had started with that Cedric had to plug his ears.

"Now that you're done with that song please no more. Just be quiet."

"Why? I mean now who the hell are going to be our dates?" Tim said pacing back and forth.

"Well Cedric taking Cho, that's a given," Dan said, "and you'll more likely take Lindsay. Me I'm gong to take that hot brunette from Beauxbotons ."

"In your dreams Dan." Mark replied throwing a pillow in Dan's face.

"What the hell do you mean in my dreams?"

"I mean you'll never get that girl to touch your arm."

"Oi! Is that true?"

"Bloody Hell it is!" Both their faces had turned redder than ever and every word they were saying in that room was coming straight from the heart now, it was all for real. Cedric never realized what was going on thinking that they both were on on of their rampages.

"And why is that?"

"You know bloody hell why!"

"Well then I guess you'll never get a date at all you prat!"

"You filthy git! You're the one with no date!" Dan threw a punch at Mark that hit him right in the eye. He did not like people making fun of him and the ladies, even if they were his friends. Mark threw one back hitting him in the groins. Cedric jumped off his chair and ran over pulling Mark off of Dan. Tim pulled Dan up off the ground. James stood between even though punches were being thrown. Both were still yelling at each other loudly. But Cedric and Tim pulled the farther apart holding their arms now.

"Now can you both act like gentlemen?"James said still between them. Chuck stood there helping Tim hold Dan who was trying to get away. Both reluctantly nodded at the question. James looked then at Cedric with the do something look.

Cedric coughed, "Sadly by your behavior I'm going to be forced to think about giving both of you a punishment I don't want to, think."

"Must you both carry on like a bunch of dumb assess?" Tim replied hoping neither one of the would answer still holding Dan back.

"Of corse they must it's Mark and Dan." Chuck said. "I just thought they were actually friends."

Mark looked down at the floor as Cedric let go and walked over to his bed. Tim did the same with Dan and they both did a quick hug and then ignored each other.

"Why do you think I'll take Cho?" Cedric asked. James sat down changing the subject.

"She's your girlfriend, why else. Well unless you break up before the ball . . ." Tim finished knowing that James was going down hill.

"Which you will not cause you both really like each other. Right?"

"Of course! It's just that well she's been a bit uptight lately." Dan stood up seconds after hearing what Cedric had said.

"Oh, trouble in paradise."

They stayed up another half hour talking until Chuck pulled out a Muggle electronic that he called a Game Boy DS. Then, only then, did the room fall silent as they watched him play a game with a big monkey and barrels hoping each of them had a turn. It was late when the Muggle game ran out of something called batteries so Cedric went into his bed and snuggled under his covers. The air in the room was cold so that not even the covers placed over him could keep him warm. The days activities had caused him to shiver. Cedric made a mental note, never go outside for a snow ball fight in only a sweater. Now he was paying the price. As he dreamed the dance was playing in his head hoping that he would not forget either that or make a fool of himself. He thought in his slumber.

What am I going to do?

What if she does not want to go with me?

What am I going to do?

Who is your least favorite OC?

Next chapter Can It Be . . .