**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee.
The Christmas break flew by quickly and soon it was time to head back to Hogwarts. I needed to make a pit stop at the Diggorys' before catching the train, so I headed out earlier than everyone else. With my trunk packed and shrunk within my pocket, I popped into Fred and George's room.
"Ah! If it isn't my favorite ghost girl!" Fred shouted and mauled me with a hug. I laughed as I struggled to be released from his grip. George stood, arms crossed and glared at Fred.
"Hey now! Hands off my woman." He said, feigning irritation. Fred finally released me, giving me a waggle of his eyebrows. George grinned at me, sauntering towards me. He took my hand and kissed it gently. "Why hello there love. What occasion merits such pleasure as your presence brings?" He asked in a funny accent. I held in my laughter but it was hard especially when Fred was making dramatic fake barfing noises.
"Oh, cut it out George." I said with a smile.
"So, uh, did you get that letter I sent ya?" He asked.
"Letter?" I asked, confused. Just then, Trixy flew in through the open door and landed on my shoulder.
"I should ask for a refund. Late delivery." George said eyeing Trixy with mock annoyance.
"George, you seriously sent me a letter when we're in the same house?"
"Yeah…" He answered like it was a stupid question and as if he hadn't done anything abnormal. "Instant messaging…"
"I would think it'd be faster to just apparate to where I'm at…"
"Well, ya, but I thought Trixy here was like super bird or something. I'll have to send a recommendation letter for her to the muggle mail service. I've heard it takes them a month to deliver a letter from one end of a street to the other." Trixy hooted in displeasure and pecked at George's hand. "Ouch!"
"You deserved it! Leave Trixy alone! She delivers as fast as she can. Just be happy she's delivering for you at all." I said smacking George playfully in the shoulder. He smiled at me.
"I'm just trying to ruffle your feathers." He said, pulling me into his arms.
"Oh… ruffling my feathers… That sounds fun." I said with a flirtatious smile. We were nose to nose, grinning like fools. George's hands slipped down over my butt, squeezing me as he kissed me.
*COUGH!**COUGH!**COUGH!* "Excuse me… I'm still here." Fred said from across the room. George grinned as he pulled away from our kiss.
"I didn't forget." He said, not even turning his eyes away from me.
"Oh, well, Thanks for the consideration then. I really want to see my twin feel up his girlfriend." Fred replied sarcastically. I blushed and pulled away from George some. George glared at Fred.
"Anyways, I just came to say goodbye. I'm leaving early." I said.
"Aren't you going to read my letter?" George asked with a smile. I gave him a look that said; 'Seriously?' before sighing and taking the letter from Trixy's leg.
L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L
Hey love! It's me, George! Well, not really me. This is a letter written by me… Anyways… I just wanted to tell you, I'm not letting you skip out on me anymore. So, wherever you go, so will I. I love you!
Sincerely, (well, as sincere as I can be anyways.)
George
L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L
"No way George! I know if you go, Fred will demand to come too."
"Yep! If George gets to come, so should I." Fred said mischievously with a waggle of his eyebrows. George looked at him sharply and shoved him, but Fred just laughed.
"Get your own girlfriend." George sniped. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. My face was red from embarrassment at what his dirty mind was implying but I still thought it was funny.
"I'm not as handsome as you George. You're beatin' them off with a bludger while I'm stuck just beatin' off…" Fred replied. I gasped and burst into laughter and George couldn't help but to laugh too.
"I'm going with you Dee." George said with conviction when he finally was able to stop laughing.
"No. Especially not if Fred insists on coming along." I said, crossing my arms across my chest, still giggling.
"Oh. You two kids go on without me. I'll just sit here all alone, lonely… Don't worry about me. I'll find something to do all by myself… all alone…" Fred tried to guilt us but we just pretended not to notice.
"That's great Fred!"
"Yeah! See ya later bro." Holding hands, George and I disapparated away, leaving Fred behind.
When we apparated onto the Diggorys' door step, I looked to George. "What about your stuff?" I asked. I really didn't want to have to go back for it. He grinned.
"All right here." He said, patting his pocket. Rolling my eyes at him, I turned to the door and knocked. "Where are we?" He asked in my ear. The door opened and Mrs. Diggory smiled at me before looking cautiously at George.
"Hello… May I help you dear?" She asked formally. I looked at her confused by her formality.
"Hi Mrs. Diggory. May we come in?" She looked suddenly nervous and uncertain. "Is everything alright Mrs. Diggory?" I asked. She bit her lip and then leaned closer before whispering;
"Too many guests already Deirdra." Oh… I nodded my head in understanding. I wonder who's here…
"Well, I just came to pay my respects to your son. I don't suppose he would've minded if I popped in…"
"Yes, yes. He would've loved that." Mrs. Diggory played along.
"Basement?" I whispered. She nodded. George was watching the exchange with a confused look.
"Well, I supposed we should be going. I'm sorry to have bothered you while you have company."
"Goodbye dear." She said, closing the door.
"What was that all about?" George asked.
"Shh… I'll explain later." I said before disapparating us from the Diggory doorstep and into their basement.
"STUPEFY!" Cedric shouted. I screamed and ducked. "Deirdra?" He hollered as he rushed towards me. "Are you okay? Who's that with you?" Cedric questioned as he helped me up. I brushed myself off and looked around for George. He lay stunned on the floor.
"It's George you git and you hit him with that stun!" I rushed over to George. Cedric grimaced, standing, looking down at us.
"I'm sorry. You startled me. I knew Mum and Dad were upstairs with the Minister. I was worried someone came with him and decided to snoop around." I looked sharply at Cedric while holding George's head in my lap.
"Why is the Minister here?" I asked, worried.
"I'm not sure…" We stared at each other silently for a while. "So why did you bring George? I'm guessing you told him about me?" I nodded my head.
"Yes. He refused to be separated from me. He's worried I'm gonna disappear on him."
"Can't blame him… Though it'd be the perfect time to do that now." Cedric suggested ornerly. "You and I could run away on some grand adventure!" He added. I smiled and rolled my eyes at him. It was an effective way to let him know I wasn't about to take him seriously even though I could sense that he was slightly serious.
"I just came for a visit before heading back to Hogwarts." I said standing up, making sure to place George's head gently on the floor. "I wanted to thank you and your parents for the Christmas presents."
"You're welcome. I'm sure my parents will be furious at the Minister to know he's making them miss your visit. You need to write more often by the way…" He said in good humor.
"Ya, I know… Sorry."
"I miss you…" Cedric said softly. A quiet, uncomfortable moment passed between us as I sensed more behind his statement.
"Cedric…" "Deirdra…" We both said at the same time. We both paused, staring at each other.
"You're my—" "I love you." We both started to talk at the same time again
"What?" I questioned in shock. Did he just say he loves me? What are you deaf?I argued with myself.
"I love you Deirdra. I had to say it. I know you're with George now… but I have died once already and I know it's not best to live with regrets and I know I would regret it if I never told you." Cedric rushed to say, raw emotion on his face. I wished desperately for George to awaken so I could leave. I didn't know what to say in return.
"Cedric…"
"Shh… No. You don't have to say anything. I'm sorry for putting you in an awkward situation. I just had to let you know." Cedric apologized. George began to stir and I went to him immediately, relieved that he was awakening.
"George! Are you okay?" I asked with concern. He groaned. I helped him sit up. George blinked rapidly and shook his head.
"I'm alright. I think… What happened?"
"Sorry. I was surprised and thought you were intruders." Cedric said. George looked at Cedric and paled slightly.
"Kind of weird man… Sorry. It's like seeing a ghost." George said to Cedric. I laughed, causing them both to turn confused smiles at me.
"George, you never had a problem with seeing ghosts before…" I reminded. George took a second to understand what I meant before he laughed too.
"Ya. I guess you're right." Cedric was watching us, confused.
"George thought I was a ghost when we first met." I explained to Cedric. He looked slightly amused. George stood up and brushed himself off.
"So, What'd I miss?" He asked cheerily.
"Nothing." "Nothing." Cedric and I both answered simultaneously. George squinted his eyes at us suspiciously before grinning.
"Okay then! So, Cedric, nice to see you in the living flesh. How are ya? How does it feel to be alive man?" Cedric couldn't help but laugh.
"I'm good. It's nice to be alive." I smiled at the exchange. I was a little worried about how Cedric was going to interact with George, everything considered…
We all had a nice chat. Cedric and George both behaved themselves, surprisingly. I hated missing out on seeing Mr. & Mrs. Diggory but it was time to head off or we'd miss the train. I'd just have to remember to write them, A.S.A.P!
"Time to go." I said finally, grabbing George's hand and pulling him up from his seat. Cedric rose too.
"Don't forget to write me. I miss hearing from you." Cedric said softly.
"I promise." I said as I hugged him. I felt his lips brush against my neck and I pulled away faster than I intended to, tripping as I did. Luckily George was there to catch me. I looked up at Cedric to see pain and longing but I turned away fast. I waved a quick goodbye and smiled at George. We disapparated away. Time to catch our train…
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
Fred glared at George from across the compartment. He was still mad that George and I had left him behind earlier. Mrs. Weasley hadn't been very happy that I'd stolen George away without telling her and then was even more upset when we wouldn't tell her where we went.
I sat, invisible, next to George. Lee sat across from me, next to Fred. The train moved steadily towards Hogwarts but no one seemed excited about it. It was going to be a long spring term at Hogwarts…
*** Well, uploading this chapter soon after the last one since I didn't get many reviews. I assume you guys didn't like the last chapter as much… *sad face* =( LOL, maybe I'm just shootin the gun early. It's only been a little over 12 hours… Anyways, this one is fun too but it shows some serious drama getting ready to happen. Thanks to those who reviewed. =) Everyone else… START REVIEWING! Please? *please don't make me beg…* I have given out some teasers to some of my reviewers though. *Yes, I'm bribing you to review* I love hearing your feedback; it really helps me keep up the writing effort. I am hoping to get this story finished before I start back to college for the fall. (In 3 weeks) because I'm worried I won't have time to write for fun then… Thanks everyone for Reading. Thanks for following and favoriting my story. =) Please Review! Luvs yas!