Hello all!
So, part one of this story is almost over...I can't believe I've written this much :) But, I have no intentions of stopping just yet.
Thank you all for your continued support, it truly does mean the world to me. Reviews, especially, are my lifeblood here on , so please don't be afraid to drop one off, or leave a question for me or any of the characters!
Speaking of questions, Ultimatefangurl1 left one for Maggie Mae...but unfortunately, Maggie can't answers questions, since she's just a cat...or is she?
Well, with the Final Task approaching, I'd like to ask you guys: do you think I'm planning on killing off Cedric or not? Leave your predictions with the rest of the reviews and comments :)
Love you all, and thanks for the support.
Here's the chapter.
April finally finished, and May and early June seemed to come and go in a whirlwind. In this period of time, Amelia split her time between Cedric and Fred, mostly. She helped Cedric practice and prepare for the Final Task, which was quickly approaching. Though she really kicked his arse when it came to getting the spells and jinxes and whatnot down pat, she also tried to lighten the mood and get rid of some of his stress by reminding him about all the stupid, funny things that had happened over their years at Hogwarts.
There was the time during her second year, and Cedric's third, when they were playing Exploding Snap with Leanne and Herb, and Amelia held the cards so close to her face that when they exploded, they singed her eyebrows right off. The following year, Ced and Amelia were out by the lake, studying, and a when a group of Slytherins they didn't particularly like made their way by, Amelia hexed them so that they all sprouted monkey tails. It really threw them for a loop, and they all started wrestling each other, thinking the other one hexed them. Well, there were a lot of funny pranks on the Slytherins that Amelia had pulled over the years that she reminded Cedric of to lighten his mood - she'd turned their Quidditch team's eyebrows black and yellow before a match, she'd filled their common room with nifflers, she'd practiced many of her experimental gag spells on them, and much more.
On the flip side, when Amelia was with Fred, she introduced him to her favorite Muggle music, and the two of them pranked together. They managed, along with George, to fill up one of the heavily trafficked corridors with a kind of quicksand that got a handful of second-years stuck up to their chests. And, when George wasn't around to help them prank, Fred and Amelia had plenty of time to snog, and just talk.
Fred told her all about the Weasley clan - Bill, the oldest, who worked at Gringotts, Charlie, the dragon-whisperer, Percy, the one with "the stick up his arse," as Fred put it, he and George, "the two best Weasleys ever to grace the earth," even if he, Fred, was the better looking one. Then, there was Ron, the one with a bottomless pit for a stomach and who was still figuring everything out, and Ginny, the youngest, who Fred claimed just might be the most brilliant of them all. His dad, who he referred to as a "Muggle junk loving nutter" worked for the Ministry, and his mother was "the most terrifyingly lovely woman."
She simply laughed and said she couldn't wait to meet them.
About a week before the Final Task was set to happen, Amelia decided she'd better go and check in on Harry, to make sure that he was as ready as he could possibly. As she'd stated earlier, she wanted a Hogwarts champion. Sure, she slightly preferred Cedric, just because of their friendship, but she was rooting for Harry was well. So, she found him, Hermione Granger, and Ron in the library one day, and decided to stop by.
"Hello," she greeted, with her usual warm smile. "Mind if I have a seat?"
"No, go ahead," Harry told her with a slight smile in response.
"Oh, Amelia, I haven't asked you to join S.P.E.W yet, have I?" Hermione asked brightly. "Here, one moment…"
Rolling his eyes, Ron muttered, "Merlin, I thought you'd finally come off of that stupid spew rubbish."
"It's not rubbish! And it's not stupid!" Hermione screeched in response. Regaining herself, she told Amelia, "It's the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare."
"Gee, just when I thought you two had started to get along again," Amelia chuckled, crossing her arms.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked.
"Well, last time I had a real conversation with Hermione, at the Yule Ball, you two were having quite a row, if I recall," she replied with a wink.
"Well, so did you and Fred," Ron countered.
"Yeah, but learn a lesson from Fred and I - admit your feelings, snog, and you'll soon start seeing the world through rose-colored glasses," she joked, winking again. Seeing he didn't quite get the joke, she dropped the grin, cleared her throat, and then told Hermione, "Er, sure, I'd love to join spew."
"S.P.E.W," Hermione corrected. "It's just that I don't think elves are treated fair, you know, they're just like slaves….anyway, it's a sickle to join, and if I could get you to sign your name here…."
Amelia coughed up a sickle and signed Hermione's parchment. She agreed, house elves were mostly treated like rubbish, but she didn't bother trying to tell Hermione that no matter how unjust it was, it was how house elves liked things. After signing, Amelia received a S.P.E.W badge from Hermione, which she then pinned to the front of her Hufflepuff yellow sweater.
"Anyway, the reason I came over here to talk to you was to see if you're ready for the Final Task, Harry," Amelia told him. "If not, and you want to cram some stuff in, I'd be happy to help you out."
"Oh, that's really nice, but I think I'm pretty well prepared," Harry replied. "Hermione's been teaching me loads of stuff - Impediment Curse, Reductor Curse, Four-Point Spell, Jelly Legs Jinx, Shield Charms and more."
"Ah, should've known the brilliant Hermione Granger would have your back, Harry," Amelia said, causing Hermione's cheeks to flush. "No, Hermione, I mean it, you're really brilliant. And I'll be rooting for you on the 24th, alright, Harry?"
"Thanks."
"Not a problem."
June 24th, the Final Task.
Amelia entered the Great Hall that morning with Cedric, who was on edge, very understandably so. There was the Task that evening, after all.
"Oh, cheer up Ced, tonight's the night you'll win it!" Herb hollered as they sat across from him and Leanne at the table.
His hollering got all the rest of the Hufflepuffs riled up and screaming and cheering, but they finally settled down at Cedric's direction.
"I haven't won yet, Herb," Cedric said, pouring himself some tea. "Don't jinx me."
"But you're sure to win," Leanne piped up. "Fleur Delacour's just a pretty face, Krum has an empty head….Potter could win, but only by cheating like he does, y'know…."
"Harry doesn't cheat," Amelia said in defense of the fourth year student.
Leanne rolled her eyes. "That's your opinion."
"Well, just drop it, alright?" Cedric requested. "I'm tired of hearing about Potter. I've been hearing loads about him from my dad, and I'm sure I'll be hearing more today. He's still mad that Skeeter woman left me out of the Daily Prophet article all those months ago when she wrote him as the only champion, but honestly, I don't even care. I just want to survive the bloody thing."
"You'll win, mate," Herbert assured him, buttering his toast. "I can feel it."
"Are you having visions of the future?" Amelia prodded. "Should I start calling you Trelawney?"
"You think you're hilarious, don't you?" Herb deadpanned, narrowing his eyes. "I guess that's what happens when you spend all your time snogging a Weasley."
"Arse," Amelia snapped, launching a strip of bacon at his head, which stuck to his cheek.
They both stared at each other for a moment, before the two of them, Leanne, and Cedric all started laughing hysterically, and then went about with their breakfasts. Amelia noticed Fred giving her a thumbs-up from across the way at the Gryffindor table, in apparent approval for her retaliation against Herbert.
Cedric went off to greet his mum and dad, who had come to watch the Task, once they'd finished eating.
After enduring a few boring exams they had in place of the formal O. , Amelia and her fellow classmates re-entered the Great Hall for lunch. She felt rather brain-dead, as if she could not possibly handle any more thinking, but sighed, knowing she still had more exams after lunch.
"Amelia, my girl!" came the unmistakeable voice of Mr. Diggory, Cedric's father.
"Oh, hello, Mr. Diggory," Amelia replied, as she was squashed in his arms in a bone-crushing hug. "Good to see you, sir."
"Same to you, same to you," he continued, with his usual radiant smile. From over his shoulder, she saw Cedric mouth, 'sorry,' to her.
"You look like such a young lady now!" Mrs. Diggory told her, beaming, as she hugged her as well. Holding Amelia at shoulder's length, she continued, "Last time I saw you, last Easter holiday, you were such a little twiggy thing! Now look at you! Has anyone took you shopping for….you know, lady things?"
"Oh, yes, thank you," Amelia replied.
Again, Cedric mouthed, 'sorry,' but this time, looked much more apologetic. Amelia laughed.
"C'mon, join us for lunch, won't you dear?" Mrs. Diggory then requested, tugging lovingly at Amelia's arm. She helped her into the bench seat next to Cedric at the Hufflepuff table, saying, "There you go, right next to Cedric….Ceddy, dear, I'll sit next to you, Amos, darling, you can sit across from us….there we go…."
They all sat, and began chatting about the school year and whatnot, while starting their lunch. Herb joined the conversation, as was his way, though he talked through most of it with his mouth full. Mrs. Diggory didn't look too impressed, and Cedric and Amelia laughed at him and her reaction beneath their breaths as they stuck their heads down into the plates.
Lunch was nearly done with, and Cedric and his parents decided to head off a bit early so that he could really give them a nice look around the castle. As soon as they were up and heading out of the hall, Amelia felt a familiar tap on her shoulder - Fred.
"Can I help you?" she inquired sarcastically, swiveling around to greet him.
"I was waiting for you to be done charming the pants off the Diggorys," he told her. "And now that you're done, come meet my mum."
"Oh yeah, you've got to meet your mother in law," Herb joked with a wink.
"Shut it," Amelia warned lightheartedly. Her cheeks were bright red and her heart was pounding, as she swiveled back to face Fred. "Er….you want me to meet your mum?"
"My mum, and my brother Bill," Fred responded. "Y'know, the one who works at Gringotts?"
"Yeah, I know," Amelia nodded. Lowly, she then said, "I don't know if that's the best idea."
"Why?"
"I stutter when I'm nervous," she admitted, embarrassed. "...I make horrible first impressions…."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, love, c'mon," Fred responded, tugging on her hands. "Look, they're all waiting."
Looking over his shoulder, she did indeed see who she presumed to be his mother and brother Bill, with long hair and earrings, looking at her with bright, expectant smiles as his mother waved. Her heart pounded once again. She knew there wasn't anything she could do to get out if it now.
"Fine," she grumbled, now allowing Fred to tug her up from her seat. "But I'm not responsible if they hate me."
"They won't hate you," he assured her, rolling his eyes. "C'mon."
Nearly holding her breath from the nerves, she allowed Fred to guide her over to the Gryffindor table, where Harry, Hermione, Ron, George, Ginny, Bill and Mrs. Weasley were all sitting. George gave her a smirk and a wink as she approached, and she wasn't quite sure about how she felt about that.
"Mum, Bill, this is Amelia," Fred proceeded to introduce, presenting her to his family.
Nervous, cheeks flushed, Amelia mustered her best grin and gave a slight wave.
"Nice to meet you, dear," Mrs. Weasley piped up, rising to her feet as she gave Amelia a warm handshake and accompanying smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, really, don't look so nervous! I've only heard good things about you, and if you're getting my Fred to settle down a bit, then, well, I have to thank you."
"Oh, thanks, but I don't know if anyone would be able to get Fred to settle down," Amelia replied honestly.
She was smiling for real now, something about Mrs. Weasley was just so comforting that she felt genuinely comfortable around her, not at all how she expected she would feel.
"Smart girl," Bill nodded in approval as he stood to shake her hand while his mother still chuckled at her comment. "Nice to meet you, Amelia. Bill."
"Nice to meet you too," she responded, feeling his strong-gripped handshake.
Seeing that the Great Hall was beginning to clear out now, she sighed, and then apologized, "I'm really sorry, Mrs. Weasley and Bill, it was lovely to meet you, but I've got to go take my Potions exam."
"Not to worry, dear," Mrs. Weasley assured her kindly. "We wouldn't want to make you late," with a wink, she then added, "You've got to do well on all your exams to become a Healer. From what I've heard, though, I'm sure you'll do just fine."
"Oh, thanks," Amelia replied brightly. "Pleasure to meet you, I'll be seeing you tonight at the Task?"
"Course," Bill nodded.
"Good luck, love," Fred bid her, along with a quick kiss that made her cheeks even more crimson.
"Fred Weasley!" she scolded under her breath, embarrassed that he'd just done that in front of his family and everyone else in the Hall. "Sometimes, I really can't believe you, you know that?"
"I know," he nodded, with a smirk.
As she turned, to catch up with Leanne as she exited the hall, she heard Bill remark, "Well, from what I've seen, you just might've found yourself a keeper, Freddie."
