Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Twenty-Five

I grinned as Cedric chuckled, shaking his head.

"It's not funny!" I said, even though I was laughing myself. "It was downright traumatizing!"

"Well at least you know he really does fancy her. Or…erm fancies her." Cedric coughed.

"I'd rather I didn't." I replied, making a face. "Honestly, worst night ever."

"Come on, it couldn't have been all bad." He insisted.

He was right. It wasn't. Last night Fred and George, the party throwing extraordinaires they are, hosted one last shebang to mark the end of another school year. Apart from the miniscule venue that is the Gryffindor Common Room (honestly, I don't get how we manage to fit everyone in that sardine can every time), catching one of my best mates and her seemingly drag of a boyfriend locked in an all-out passionate (read: sickening) embrace, and my other best mate, drunk off her bum as she was, breaking out into very loud, very off-key, impromptu song, there were some highlights that made the night not totally worthless. Like when, as soon as I discovered them in a darkened, deserted corner of the room, too caught up in each other to notice little old me, I saw a flash of something flickering across Simon's face as he stopped to tenderly graze Katie's flushed cheeks with his fingers. And after Leanne's butchered rendition of her favorite Weird Sisters song, her directing the whole of Gryffindor into singing Hogwarts' school song was pretty epic and massively hilarious (Leanne wasn't the only tone-deaf Gryffindor). And, okay, ending the night in the kitchens and running into Oliver, sharing some ice-cream in comfortable silence, well that—that was nice.

I shrugged. "Alright," I admitted half-heartedly. "It wasn't the worst."

Cedric grinned, leaning back against the window to make room for the tea trolley.

"Would you like anything dears?" The women pushing it asked sweetly.

Cedric shook his head, but I took a licorice wand and a handful of chocolate frogs, handing her a couple of sickles and thanking her.

Stuffing one frog in my mouth before it could escape I unwrapped another, placing both of the collectible cards in Cedric's awaiting hands.

"Nice." Cedric said studying them. "Hengist of Woodcroft is pretty rare."

I raised a brow, amused, as he read the descriptions on the cards. "Who would've thought Hogwarts' resident dreamboat is an avid Wizards Cards collector?"

Cedric flashed his pearly whites. "Hey, everyone is."

"If you say so." I sang, smirking.

"Plus Cho thinks it's cute."

"Oh, then by all means!" I said offering the other two chocolate frogs in my pocket.

Cedric pushed my hand away gently, laughing.

"How's it going with Chang?" I said working on the licorice wand.

"Really good." Cedric answered cheerfully, looking every bit content and happy.

"Wow, so are things official yet?" I adopted a mock serious tone, "Are you boyfriend-girlfriend?"

He smiled, "No, not yet." He said. "We're taking things slow for now."

"Not a bad idea." I commented, a little surprised Chang wasn't pushing it (I had heard from the Hogwarts' rumor mill that she was the clingy type, but then again the same source had called me a home-wrecking midget hoe-bag so chances are gossip wasn't very reliable.)

"You seeing each other this summer?" I asked.

"That's the plan." He said. "We're meeting up at the Quidditch World Cup."

"Ah, so exchanging cheesy love letters before then, I see." I nodded knowingly.

"More or less. My parents and I'll be camping around Europe for a while. Don't really have the time to pour my heart and soul when moving one place to the next."

"Camping?"

"Yeah we do it every year. Really brings us together."

"I take it you're close already." I said glancing at him.

Cedric nodded. "They're the best people I know."

Huh, wonder what that's like.

"What about you?"

"Huh, uh, same." I replied automatically, hoping to get off the subject.

Cedric gave me a weird look. "No, I meant are you and you're parents doing anything this summer?" He elaborated.

"Oh, well since my parents aren't exactly the rugged type…" I said tucking a curl behind my ear and gnawing at the licorice. "Um, no, no plans…they're actually away right now, so …" I replied vaguely, trailing away.

"Weren't they on a trip the last time they wrote you?"

"Yeah, but that was ages ago." I said offhandedly, only to realize a moment later how bad that sounded. "I mean, you know, it's been a busy year."

I felt Cedric's eyes on me and I crossed my arms, my sticky fingers brushing against my shirt.

"It's no big deal." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "I hang around my brother's place all summer mostly."

"But, isn't he busy with healer school?"

"Med-school." I corrected. "And yes, he can be."

Cedric went on looking at me with that same expression: like I was some kicked puppy licking my wounds.

I hated that look.

"Seriously Ced, don't go all Hufflepuff on me," I said, avoiding The Look head on, and busying myself with another chocolate frog. "It's not that big of a thing."

From the corner of my eye, I saw him nod his head, but I knew if I faced him again, I would be met with those eyes: worried and a bit pitying. Not that fond of those either.

The train jostled and I accidently let go of my last frog as I steadied myself against the door to a compartment behind me. I watched it go, hopping away to its freedom only to be squashed underneath the foot of an unknowing first year, smudging its delicious entrails along the carpeted floor.

I handed the new card over to Cedric. "You know I'll be busy causing havoc and eating all the food I can get my hands on in Theo's flat," I started, my voice light and breezy, easing the conversation out of this slump. "I don't think I'll have all that much time to write you."

Cedric took the queue, glancing at the card, pocketing it, before adopting the same tone. "I have to say, I'll be quite preoccupied as well. It's a bit of a challenge to find a place to go to the loo peacefully in the middle of the woods. The squirrels are always watching."

My lips twitched upwards, not for the first time appreciating the great company Cedric offered, even with his Hufflepuff-y tendencies.

"Hey Diggory!" A gangly Ravenclaw called walking over to us, "Shifts over, I got the next one." He said, attaching a Prefect's badge to his robes.

"Thanks Bradley." Cedric said, "Have a good summer."

"Likewise!" Bradley said clapping him on the back as he passed.

Cedric and I walked further along the hallway until we reached the compartment Katie and Leanne were in.

"Thanks for coming with me on Prefect patrols." Cedric said, smiling down at me as we stood in front of the door.

"Of course, I wanted to meet up before we get off."

After a pause Cedric outstretched his arms, stepping closer. I wrapped my arms around his waist as his hands circled my shoulders, pulling me closer and engulfing me in a hug.

"I expect at least one letter this summer." I told him, my voice muffled slightly by the robes pressing against my face. "To let me know you're still alive, and a bear hasn't eaten you, or a group of squirrels haven't captured you."

He chuckled and I felt the tremors of his chest.

"Will do." He said as we parted.

I turned to go inside, but Cedric stopped me, putting a hand on my sleeve.

"I know you don't like to talk about it, but if you're ever feeling lonely don't hesitate to write." He said, voice soft.

"I thought you were too busy to pour your heart and soul in letters." I reminded him.

"Not too busy to comfort a friend." He responded, his lips parting to reveal those dazzling teeth of his.

My mouth mirrored his, "Stay handsome Diggory." I said, my fingers curling around the cool metallic edge of the door handle, sliding the door open. "And thanks."

xxx

When the train pulled into Platform 9 ¾, some thirty minutes later, Leanne and I had just finished with our respective rounds of weepy goodbye hugs à la Katie.

She was still sniffling as we stepped off the train and onto the platform.

"Wicked!" Leanne exclaimed spotting a few empty carts, a bloody miracle, they're usually all taken in the span of literally a minute (ruthless these Hogwarts students are, I'm telling you). She rolled two of them over as I grabbed the other, moving back to Katie who was standing in a less populated corner of the platform, looking over all of our stuff.

"Ouch!"

"Hey! Watch it!"

"Sorry!" Leanne called out to all her fatalities as she awkwardly maneuvered the carts through the congested platform, wincing every time someone would shoot her a dirty look as she took out people's ankles, big toes, an occasional child.

A couple more curses and glares thrown at Leanne and we were finally before Katie, clothes rumpled, hair disheveled, covered in battle wounds (I had to have a bruise from that middle aged woman corralling all those first years, who brutally elbowed me right in the ribs, didn't even have the decency to apologize).

"Maybe it's less crowded on the other side?" Katie yelled in order to be heard over the chaos, nodding to the barrier between Platform 9 ¾ and Kings Cross behind her.

Leanne was panting, her forehead covered in a light sheen of sweat as she glanced back at the trail of mauled feet and children she left in her wake. "Good idea!"

Katie relieved Leanne from one of the death contraptions and we piled our luggage onto our carts. We braced ourselves before diving into pandemonium again and making a run for it.

Reaching the brick wall, barely escaping with our lives, Leanne passed through first, then Katie, then me. I felt the familiar pull of magic surrounding me as I went.

Unfortunately as soon as I stepped out onto the other side, things weren't any bit different. In fact it was worse. At least on the other side of the barrier there was just one platform, in Kings Cross there were countless of them, all in the same condition as the next: brimming with annoyed and impatient people in a rush. In a matter of seconds I had already lost track of Leanne's chestnut braid and Katie's shiny blonde hair. I couldn't even hear myself think over the roar of the people bumping and shoving by, much less if Katie or Leanne were calling after me.

Figuring I couldn't just stand here until one of them came back for me, I pushed forward, looking out for them and my brother. Hard to do when you're short as fuck and can barely see over people's heads.

It was when I paused to simultaneously tiptoe and protect myself against anymore piercing elbows (bloody hell, they were everywhere) that she bumped into me.

I only needed a flash of an insane afro and a whiff of jasmine to recognize my brother's girlfriend.

I put a hand out to stop her from passing me. "Liz?"

Hazel eyes glanced back at me before widening in recognition. "There you are Charlie!" She exclaimed pulling me into a hug. "Theo just went looking for you! Oh my god, I love your hair!"

I smiled. "Thanks." I said returning her embrace. "You came here together?"

Liz giggled. "Well, duh!" She smiled, the tiny gap between her front teeth on display. "Why else would I be here?"

I didn't say anything as Liz bent down to grab some of my bags from my cart.

Usually it was just Theo who came to pick me up from the train. We only met up with Liz once we got to the flat. So, what was up?

I looked around me, trying to spot my brother in the sea of people with no luck. When I turned back to Liz she was straightening up, bags in both of her hands, only now I noticed the nervous expression barely hidden behind her smile, which now looked rather forced. My brows furrowed. "You okay?" I asked her.

Her teeth peeking out, she bit her lip. "Fine!" She let out hastily.

Alright, now I was suspicious. I haven't seen her this jumpy since she was keeping her engagement with Theo a secret.

"Liiiiiz," I said drawing out her name as she went on fidgeting. "What aren't you telling me?"

She dropped my bags back onto the cart, wiping her hands across her awesome printed silk pants. "I don't know what—Oh! Look! Theo!" She shouted in relief, pointing behind me.

True enough, when I whirled around, there was my brother, waving both hands, jogging to us, never mind the passerby.

My mouth immediately broke into a smile, rushing forward to meet him. I let out an embarrassing squeal when he reached me and picked me up by the armpits, twirling me around (my converse-clad feet probably smacking people across the head in the process). Once he set me down and we could have an actual normal hug, he ruffled my hair. "Good to see ya Charles."

I made a face at the familiar nickname, but put an arm over his shoulder anyway. Tugging the little nub of a ponytail he had going on. "What?" I said, smiling at him, "I cut mine and you decide to grow yours?"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, you know how much I detest it when people confuse us for each other."

"Right, because my beard has been coming along rather nicely." I smirked, stroking an imaginary one.

Theo guffawed, clumsily tripping on his own feet and knocking into a businessman deep in conversation on his phone. He shot a stink eye our way when Theo apologized.

"Did you put him up to this?" I asked Liz, motioning to my brother curls now gathered at the nape of his neck.

"Nope!" Liz said truthfully tucking a piece of Theo's hair behind his ear. "But, I wish I had. It's pretty hot."

"Gross." I fake gagged, while Theo just stood there, cheerfully, glowing from the compliment on his supposed 'hottness.' Typical.

"Anyway," I went on before they could start to snog in front of me (it has, unfortunately, happened before), "I assume Liz's failed attempt in hiding something from me has to do with you so what are you two conniving, hm?"

"Lizzy!" Theo moaned. "Did you tell her?"

"No!"

"Tell me what?" I interjected.

"See! She could just tell!"

"Honestly," Theo raised his hand to cup Liz's chin, mushing her face together with his fingers while she laughed. "Lizzy, my love, this face of yours is like an open book."

"I can't help it!" She exclaimed, lips pursed and cheeks pushed together.

"Well?" I prompted as they kept up their sickeningly cute adorableness.

Theo dropped his hand from Liz's face. "We're getting married!" He announced ecstatically, absolutely beaming as he pulled Liz to him.

"And we would love your blessing." Liz added, expression equally bright.

I raised a brow. "Of course, you totally have it." Theo and Liz exchanged excited smiles.

"But, um—this isn't exactly news." I said looking pointedly at the diamond ring decorating Liz's finger. "You've been engaged for two years now." I reminded them.

They giggled in reply. It was only when Theo looked expectantly at me that I finally got it.

"Oh my god." I said, eyes wide as Liz took one of my hands squeezing it. "Wait, you're going to get married, like the actual ceremony—oh my god." I repeated, gripping Liz's hand.

"Way to finally catch on Charles." Theo joked.

I gave him a punch on the shoulder, "Congratulations! It's about bloody time!"

Liz laughed. "Don't I know it."

"Seriously, what took you guys so long?" I said. "I mean, I know you wanted to wait until you finished med-school, pretty adamant about it really but—wait, why did you change your mind?"

This time it was the both of them being all shifty. Theo could tease Liz all he wanted, but he wasn't any better at lying than she was.

My brows knitted together. "When exactly is this wedding being held?"

Liz bit her lip while Theo tugged at the collar of his dress shirt. "End of July?" He let out a nervous chuckle.

My mouth dropped open. "That's next month! Are you serious—why would you—unless—you're knocked up aren't you!" I blurted out, piecing two and two together.

Liz turned red and I slapped a hand across my mouth, wincing as people passing glanced at us.

"Guilty." She said with a slight shrug of her shoulders and an impish grin.

I stared wide eyed at her, then at her stomach.

"I've only just found out." Liz told me patting her flat stomach. "Wanted to have the wedding before I inflate, right?"

"You'd still be beautiful." Theo said giving her a peck on the forehead. "Even if you'll be as big as a whale."

"Fuck." I swore, grabbing both Liz's and Theo's hands and pulling them towards me for a group hug. "This is too much good news for this small body to handle, quit it."

Theo and Liz laughed, bringing their arms up around me. We stood there for a moment, until I was breaking apart, bringing a hand to wipe at my eyes quickly.

"So are we just going to stand here all day and chat?" I said motioning to the still overly-crowded station. "Or do you have more surprises to tell me?"

Theo grinned, grabbing most of my bags and Liz taking the rest.

"Ah—" I let out, remembering. "I should see if I can find Katie and Leanne, we got split up when I—" My eyes met Liz's. "Um, when we got off the train."

"Oh, I bumped into them while looking for you. I think they've already gone." Theo said, already making his way to the exit. "You probably couldn't even find them again in this crowd."

I glanced behind me. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

I trailed after Theo and Liz. They were chatting animatedly. Theo was letting out one of his obnoxiously boisterous laughs as Liz flung her head back, giggling equally loudly.

I might be a pessimist when it comes to optimistic things, but seeing my brother with Liz, Merlin, they were soulmates, if ever such a thing existed.

My mother, though she's gotten over it more or less, thought differently. She had been adamantly against Theo and Liz when things first started to get serious between them. In her eyes her beloved Theodore deserved a girl of stature, fine upbringing, specifically from the set of socialites she had personally picked out, not some apothecary-owning hippie (her words not mine). Daddy assured her that it was probably just a phase, though I think he was just saying that to appease her since he was actually quite fond of Liz. As for me I honestly couldn't care less, although Liz was, no contest, the best out of the bunch of dim-witted twats my brother usually went for, Theo wasn't exactly a one women show so I didn't much pay attention to his 'girlfriends'. In a way I thought Liz was Theo's method of finally rebelling against my parents' wishes and his golden child image, dating someone outside my mum's social set. Now, after five years with Liz, it was safe to say she wasn't just a method of sticking it to the man—or mum. It was a blessing really, that Theo had ended up with someone so down-to-earth.

"So how was school?" Liz asked once we had settled down in Theo's shiny new car (courtesy of Daddy most likely.)

I let Liz ride shotgun, so I could stretch out in the back seeing as how I didn't get much sleep last night. Oliver and I had gotten back to the common room just as the first rays of sunlight were peeking through the window.

"Oh you know," I began nonchalantly from the backseat, sinking into the plush leather and making a face at the new car smell. "Fell thirty feet or so from midair, got accused of being a home wrecker, oh and there was an alleged mass murderer lurking about."

Liz turned in her seat to look at me.

"She's kidding." Theo told her, glancing at the rearview mirror to send me a wink.

"Yup," I went on breezily. "Actually, it was a pretty uneventful year. Except for the murderer part, that was true, I don't know what ever happened to him." I told Liz. "I think he escaped again."

Still twisted in her seat, Liz grinned at me. "Is that so?"

"Yeah, but don't worry no one was hurt."

"You're hilarious Charlie." She said, finally facing forward.

I smiled dryly, catching Theo's eye in the mirror again. He rolled his eyes.

I closed mine, hearing the familiar sounds of city life, a car honking, people shouting, forever unfinished construction going on somewhere.

When I jolted awake only a few minutes later, we were still on the road except not to Theo's place but to—

"Wait, this isn't the way to your flat?" I said, sitting up quickly. "This is going to—

I recognized old Mr. McKinnon's place instantly, then the creepy manor came into view. I averted my eyes away from the house that still gave me the heebie-jeebies to narrow them at my brother.

He steadfastly avoided looking into his rearview mirror. Liz glanced back though, biting her lip at me and mouthing, "sorry."

We passed by more houses and with each familiar one we passed I sunk lower into my seat.

Up a hill, round a corner and we were there. The gates were already open and we rolled into the driveway, Sylvia, the gardener, working on my mother's rose bushes waved as we passed.

Theo stopped the car right in front of the house. I got out, slamming the door shut a little too forcefully. I crossed my arms as I looked up at the red bricks, the tiny bit of ivy scaling it to give the house a more picturesque feel. "Why are we here?" I said as Theo got out as well and stood beside me.

"Well, the thing is you gotta stay here for a few days."

I didn't say anything.

"It's just, something's arriving for you here…in a few days."

I raised a brow "Something?" I questioned.

"It's a surprise!"

"A very good one!" Liz piped up from the car before giving me an apologetic look and rolling her window back up. The girl was always smart to not get in the middle of things.

"It better be." I grumbled, walking to the trunk and opening it.

Theo went over to help, grabbing most of my things for me and bringing it up the steps, setting them in front of the door.

"Hey, please don't be mad." He said earnestly.

I rolled my eyes. That was my brother for you, quick to apologize and eager to please. "This had better be a bloody good surprise."

"It is." He assured me, ruffling my hair. "It's brilliant."

I made a face at him, opening the unlocked door and placing my bags in the foyer. "Going back to the flat?" I asked, leaning against the doorway.

"Yeah, got a shift tonight and Liz has to wake up early to open the shop tomorrow."

I nodded, folding my arms across my chest and squinting from the rays of the setting sun hitting my face.

"Dinner tomorrow night though, alright?" Theo said going down a step. "At your favorite restaurant? On me!"

"I'm ordering all the desserts." I informed him.

"Whatever you want baby sis!" He grinned, fishing his car keys from his pocket and heading to the car. He stopped midway, turning back. "What's this about being a home wrecker?"

I flipped him the bird as a response and he put a hand to his heart. "Aw, love you too Charles!"

Liz rolled her window down again, sticking her whole head out. "We've missed you!" She called, blowing me a kiss.

I waved to her, watching as she popped her head back in and Theo turned on the engine. The car revved back to life, inching forward and slowly circling the stone fountain dividing the driveway. Theo stuck his hand out for one last wave before they were pulling away, the gates closing behind them, officially leaving me alone.

I heaved a sigh, dragging the rest of my things inside and closing the door behind me. "Missed you too."

Hopefully this wasn't as long as a wait as most (all) my updates!
As always, thanks for reading!

Mar