Warnings are on first chapter
My Infinity- Chapter 14
"Man, I've never seen that place so crowded before. It's as if the entire school itself was in there buying things," Cedric said as he smoothed down his rumpled shirt and combed back his hair with his hands. "I know," Harry said. "It's bonkers how anyone can even call out an order of what they want with everyone talking at once." Cedric nodded in agreement. They turned down a corne where the street sloped downhill. Less people seemed to be wandering around in this part of the town which made it alot more quiet. "I've never been down this way before," Harry noted. "Oh, well not many come this way. Unless you need to send a package. The post office is down this way. And a few scraggly shops as well but they don't seem to attract too many custmers." Harry wasn't suprised. This was the more 'run down' side of town, so it seemed. At the end of the block he saw numerous owls flying out of a deteireating chimney, letting him know that was where they were headed. "You don't mind, do you Harry? I just want to send these to my parents. It'll just take a second." Harry nodded. "It's fine, no worries." Cedric smiled thanks and they entered the post office. The door jingled as they walked in. Inside was a bit cramped and dusty, the air dank and dense. Packages big and small were stacked up against walls, on tables, counters and chairs. An old man with a tuff of orange hair and by-speckled glasses looked up at the sound of the bell and gave them a warm smile. "Good afternoon young sirs. My name is Fortnik. How may I assist you today."
Cedric put his bundle on the counter and smiled back. "I want to send these to my parents. Would like it to be in one package if it could be helped," he said. Mr. Fortnik smiled and nodded. "No problem at all. Just fill out this label as I wrap up your items," he said, gathering the items and going to the back of the room. As Cedric filled out the label, Harry wandered to the end of the post office where he saw a huge stone fireplace where a about twenty or so owls of all shapes and colors were perched on numerous pegs, chairs, ledges and windows. One grayish, speckled horned owl flew in from the chimney and dropped a large package into a huge basket near the front desk. It landed on a brass head sculpture; where there was a bowl of dried meat. Bending down it grabbed a piece, and then flew up to one of the empty perches on the wall. Mr. Fortnik came back with Cedric's items neatly packaged. "Here they are, all ready to be sent," he said smiling as he took the label from Cedric, pasting it to the bundle. "Thank you," Cedric said, pulling out his wallet. "That'll be six sickles and thirty knuts." Cedric nodded and gave him the money. One beautiful reddish barn owl swooped down and perched itself on a small wooden box next to Mr. Fortnik. "Here ya go old girl. Make sure you deliver them well and dry." The owl hooted softly and with package in beak, it flew up the chimney and out of sight. "Thanks again," Cedric smiled as they left.
"Would you mind if we take a walk this way? There's an abandon park that on one uses anymore, I'd like to see if its ok" Cedric said. "Yea, sure," Harry replied. They cut through some small buildings and turned left. Up ahead, Harry saw a broken down see-saw, a rusted out slide with the middle bent far to the ground and as they got closer; saw that a family of birds had once built a nest where the slide looped. To their right were five swings. All but two were hanging by a single rusted chain. Harry looked up at him questioningly. "I figured we can sit a spell before it's time to go back to school," Cedric shrugged. "No one ever comes here anymore as you can see." There were a few scraggly trees sprinkled across the barren park. A few yards away Harry saw what he thought to have once been a children's sand box, but now was over run by dandelions and thistles. "My parents would bring me here a few times; when I was young. Fond memories will always linger for this place inside me," Cedric said softly, sighing. Harry could understand a bit on how he felt. He thought on how he had no memory at all of his parents. But even so, the stories people have told him were just as precious to him as any other thing in the world. "
He followed Cedric to the swings, eyeing the two remaining surviving ones, making sure they were safe enough to use. They sat side by side quietly for a moment, their weight causing them to rock on them slowly. "So Harry, are you ready for the new school year?" Cedric asked as he looked sideways at him. Harry shrugged. "Yea, I guess. I mean, is anyone really ready for school at all?" Cedric nodded to this in agreement. "Every year it gets harder Cedric, not only for me but i'm sure for a lot of the students." The older boy nodded again. "Yea, I agree. My father is always pushing me to make the grades. Not good grades, great grades…the best of all grades. He's always on me about how I have to work hard, study continuously; so when I make it to the o.w.l.s I can pass them with flying colors." Cedric wrung his hands together as he slowly rocked back and forth. Harry could only comprehend a bit from seeing on how the Weasleys were with their brood, not from personal experience. The Dursleys never cared if he had homework or anything for that matter when it came to him. "Well….he's just taking an interest in your well being Cedric. He's your father, and from what i've seen from Ron's family, well…that's just what parents do. They encourage the best for their children." Cedric nodded and sighed. "Yea, I guess. Just that….I wished he didn't focus on me so much."
They were quiet for a moment. All was quiet and unmoved. Not even a bird nor a squirrel seemed to inhabit this isolated park. A small wind began to blow gently, causing a lock of Harry's unruly hair fall over one eye. Cedric found it hard to tear his gaze away Harry but he did. "Hey, let's have a race. Let's see who can swing the highest," he said with a smile. "Er, race? On these rickety old things?" Cedric looked them once over and nodded. "Yea, I mean they're a bit rusty but I think they're sturdy enough for it." Harry snorted. "Uh, don't you think we're a bit old for playing on swings?" causing the other boy to roll his eyes. "Oh come on, ya old fart." Harry scrunched his eyebrows at that. "It's just swings, it's not like I asked you to come play with my action figures or something," he said rolling his eyes and Harry chuckled at that. "Fine-fine, on the ready…" Cedric smile and both got into a standing position, holding on to the chains. "On the mark," Cedric said. "Get set-"
"Go!" Harry let out and started swinging before Cedric knew what happened. "Hey! You cheater!" he said, causing Harry to laugh. Both pushed themselves hard and as fast as they could. Higher and higher they swung. "Wwwhhheeeeeeee!!." Cedric chimed out, putting his head back and smiling, causing Harry to laugh at that. Harry knew that they were being childish but he had to admit, it felt good to let everything go, to be carefree for a moment and just laugh. "Ha! I'm beating you!" shouted Cedric. Indeed he was, swinging so high that he reached passed the top of the bar holding the chains of the swings. Harry pushed himself back and forth faster, harder to gain more leverage and height. "Wwwhhhhheeeeeee!" Cedric sang out again. "Oh shut up you geek!" Harry shouted laughing. Cedric looked over to him and smiled goofily. "Ok, on the count of three, we both jump off and see who lands the farthest." Harry nodded in agreement. "You know how ridiculous we'll appear if anyone comes and sees two over grown blokes playing on these things, right?" Cedric shrugged. "I never really cared what anyone thought of me, and i'm not about to start now." Harry felt the same way. "Ok, on the count of three…." Cedric repeated. "One……..two……..THREE!" They both let go in mid air and jumped as far as they could. Both landed hard on the stony grass but Cedric landed about a couple of inches farther and announced victory. "Yes! I am the champion, yes I am the chaaammpppiiiooonnnn!"… he sang as he raised his arms up in a victorious jester as he laid still on the ground, breathing hard. "I would have never pinned you as such a dork," Harry laughed. Cedric looked at him and snorted. " You're just mad cause I beat you." Harry got up and dusted himself off. "It wasn't a fair race. Your legs are longer than mine, therefore making you able to jump the furthest."
"Excuses, excuses" Cedric said as he stood up, dusting himself off. Harry was dusting off his pants when he felt Cedric's hand in his hair. Harry looked up at him questionly. "You had some leavens in your hair," Cedric said softly as he looked into Harry's eyes. It was quiet for a moment, neither of them knew what to say next. As both boys continued to gaze in each others eyes, a small chirping sound came from Cedric's wrist, breaking what ever spell they seemed to be under. "Damn, we better go. I had my watch on a timer to let us know when we had to leave." Harry nodded and they left the park. They were quiet the whole time they walked back to where the rest of the school were waiting. When Dumbledor saw no other scragglers were joining the large group, he raised his wand and muttered a spell. The entire crowd of students were engulfed in a bluish tinge glow for a few seconds than it disappeared as the professor lowered the wand. "Good," he smiled. "Glad to see that everyone of you made it back. Never hurts to be sure," he said with a wink. Everyone was talking and chattering on the way back, showing friends the purchases they made and what they did. But for some reason Harry and Cedric walked the whole way in silence. Neither of them new what to say to the other. Harry was trying to figure out what had happened back there in the park. Why Cedric was looking at him the way he did. Taking a quick peek he saw the other boy's face solemn and looking down. When they finally reached Hogwarts, the school was once again filled with the many voices of the students, laughs and more talk about their day.
Harry turned to Cedric. "Hey-thanks for inviting me on this trip. I really had a nice time." Cedric nodded and smiled. "Yea, it was fun." Again silence fell between them. "Ok…well i'll see ya then," Harry said. Cedric wanted to say something, to call him back but no thought came to his mind, no excuse to use this time to keep him near. And so Harry smiled and walked away, joining up with his two friends and chatting up the stairs with them. Cedric sighed and walked towards the door leading to his common room. Thankfully when he got there he found himself alone. He kicked off his shoes, closed the curtains around his bed and laid back, thinking about the day. He sighed and closing his eyes he saw green. Beautiful green eyes. Moaning, he turned onto his side and after a while of laying there, of thinking back how the wind ruffled Harry's hair, how pink his cheeks were after the race; fell asleep with those eyes following him into his dreams.