AN: Here is chapter 24. Not long now. It ties up some loose ends before Cedric Diggory's untimely death. Be prepared, Cedric dies next chapter.


CHAPTER 24: LOST BETWEEN HOGWARTS AND HISTORY

I dropped my trunk at the end of my bed and breathed a deep sigh of relief. I was home. Really home. I sucked in a breath of dormitory air, giving myself a minute to compose my thoughts about the past couple of week's drama. The mixture of freshly laundered sheets and castle atmosphere rejuvenated me as it hit my senses. I smiled, my first proper smile in so long, and hoped to myself quietly that this renewed sense of spirit would stay for a while.

Back in reality, a pile of letters sat idly on my besides table, most of them addressed as urgent and over a week old. I assumed that most of them were requests of news and information on Derrick's death and I didn't bother to read any of them. Cedric's writing was scratched across a couple and one or two were from Angelina and Alicia themselves. One containing today's date sat on top, a letter from my mum no doubt checking everything was okay.

I stashed them into my trunk, remembering with a stab of sobriety that I hadn't read the one Oliver had left earlier today. I pulled it out, examined his small print on the front and felt a twinge ripple through my body. I didn't want to read it, the pain that this may be the last correspondence with him for a while was too much to comprehend right now. I turned it over and over in my hands for a while, examining every corner of the envelope for some clue of the information within. I couldn't bring myself to open it, and feeling cowardly, I pulled out my DADA textbook and stashed the letter in the middle of it again, amongst the crisp pages I hadn't read. I then stowed it under the bed for safe keeping….and easy distance if I ever gained the courage to open the envelope. When the time was right, I would read it. But that wasn't right now or any time in the near future. Just knowing it was there was enough for now.

Two weeks of moping around had revived me in a frightening, I-should-worry-for-my-sanity, type way. I didn't know how long it would last but I didn't want the motivation go to waste. I need to put the loss of Derrick and Oliver far from my mind if I wanted to make it through the end of term with some shred of sanity. And some decent marks.

After settling back in, unpacking and throwing some of my possessions around the room for good measure, I showered, changed and went down to dinner. No one had returned to the dormitory yet and I was feeling antsy. In my mind I had seen my return as a grand one, where I strode into the room of four extremely forlorn faces, announced my return, was met with gorgeous applause and suddenly my ex-best friend who had had an affair with my boyfriend, and my ex-ex-best friend who I had stolen my boyfriend from, were somehow extremely happy to see me and rejoiced. It was a sick wish, but I couldn't get it from my mind.

I walked into the Great Hall and dinner was already in full swing. The chatter was at a deafening level and the food smelt delectable. I stopped in the doorway, trying to search for my party at the Gryffindor table. People were still streaming into the hall in groups, but I noticed Fred, Ange, George and Alicia almost instantly. I smiled as they laughed joked and jibed at each other. Fred and George were in the middle of a typical comedy routine and Alicia and Ange were trying hard to contain themselves.

I sucked in a mouthful of air for luck and approached at top speed, dropping caution somewhere near the first years at the foot end. I just hoped that all hostilities between Ange and I had vanished while I was away. If it hadn't… we I didn't think I would be able to cope that was for sure.

"Hey," I said, tapping Ange on the shoulder. My voice was oddly high, so I sucked in some more air to try and calm myself. My heart was racing. I don't quite know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the enormous smile of surprise on her face.

She turned around ever so slowly and for the briefest moment my heart quivered in my chest before stopping with an enormous beat.

We looked at each other carefully, her chocolate eyes looking at me like she didn't know if she should jump out of the chair and hug me, or jump out of the chair and run away screaming. I'm glad she gave it a second thought. Her eyes gave a friendly sparkle and she leapt out of her chair, climbing clumsily to her feet.

"You're back!" she said engulfing me in a hug. "Oh Merlin you're back!" She rocked me carefully, squeezing me ever so tightly. "We hadn't heard from you and were so worried."

"Yeah," I said, smiling through the crushing hug. "I got back just now." I could hardly believe her attitude, all coldness from before forgotten. "I'm okay…"

The other three looked at me cautiously. I smiled at them. I really am okay, the smile said. I really am.

Alicia smiled at me. "It's great to see you," Alicia said, standing up and fighting Ange to get into the hug. "How are you?"

I nodded confidently. "Better," I said, and it was the only explanation they needed. The truth was, I was still mixed up. In fact, mixed up was probably the understatement of the century. It was like saying things between Oliver and I were complicated. We were so complicated that normal felt like a pipedream.

"But you're okay...?" George asked, before a crazed look from his brother forced him to cough loudly and pretend it never happened.

I beamed at both of them. Talking about emotions wasn't exactly their strong suit. "Yeah. I think I am….you know…okay…"

"How's Wood?" Fred asked, in a strange voice. He tried to grimace but didn't quite pull it off, leaving the rest of us to twitch uncomfortably for a few moments while I tried to think how to respond. The thing was, I expected him to still harbour some resent towards Oliver, but he seemed to be fine. He even gave me a smile.

"It's okay," he said, "We're allowed to talk about him."

I laughed and sat down across from him, the ice clearly broken. "That's a surprise."

"Isn't it?" George added, giving his brother a shove. They laughed at each other, before Fred's face drew a more serious expression. "I'll be the first to admit that Wood's probably been though hell and doesn't need me to add to that."

"So, how is he?" Alicia asked.

I breathed a sigh. "Well…he's in….rehab…" I eventually stammered tripping over the words as they poured out of mouth. It had been the first time I had actually said it to anyone outside of the Oliver bubble. He was in rehab. I could only imagine the images this was conjuring in their minds.

The truth bounced around my own mind…sending it spiraling. Rehab. Rehabilitation. He was seeking professional help. He was going to a retreat…he was hiding away…he was running away….he would be better. He was an alcoholic. He was an alcoholic. It suddenly gutted me, rushing through my body leaving my legs wavering unsteadily like jelly. He was an alcoholic. And I had absolutely no idea what the fuck that actually meant. How could you really define it?

"Rehab?" Alicia asked breathlessly, watching my reaction studiously. She had grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly. Rehab was not a concept readily thrown around in the Wizarding World. People didn't go to rehab, they took potions, learnt charms or reconfigured their memory. It wasn't discussed, just swept under the rug and labeled different. And most of us were too stubborn to even want to learn what the muggle concept entailed. Whatever it meant, it wasn't a good sign that's for sure.

I nodded. "He's an alcoholic." The words sounded foreign and knocked the wind out of me. I looked into my lap and almost collapsed into the table. Just don't cry, I urged myself. That will be expected of the old Katie right now, and we don't need to bring her back into this confusing mess that has become her life. Just don't cry.

"Oh Merlin," Ange said, flopping down on her seat, propping me up by tucking me under her arm caringly. She stroked my head for a bit, soothing me like she would a cat. I didn't take offence to it, mainly because it worked.

"That's terrible," Alicia added, patting my back comfortingly.

George looked across the table at me pained. "Hey, if you need us…" he looked mildly uncomfortable finishing the sentence, as is face was now was red and his hair.

"If you need us," Fred continued his expression a little less uncomfortable that his brother, "We're here Kates. All of us." He gestured to Alicia and Ange too just to make it clear that it was all four of them. All for one and one for all.

I smiled, completely astounded by this Weasley sensitive side. "Thanks…" but the words just felt weird and I left it at that. I was sure that my appreciate was apparent.

Sensing the weirdness, George and Fred finished up their meal and headed off back to the common room. Ange and Alicia however, fixed me some food and sat, close by watching my every move. We didn't talk and I was grateful for that. I had talked and talked and talked over the past two weeks. Soaking up silence and friendship was a much better alternative.


Monday morning dawned and classes were back in full swing.

I ran into Cedric at breakfast before first period and he was ecstatic to see me. We made to catch up in the library after dinner that evening and Cedric rushed off to Transfiguration while I started the week with Potions.

As usual, despite being organized I ended up walking in late and earning myself a detention. I smiled at Snape as he glared at me and took off points for Gryffindor. It appeared to unnerve him a little and he banished me to the back of the class. In a twist of fate I had to sit with Fred as Angelina was sick with the flu. I decided to take the time to question him further on his new attitude towards Oliver and Angelina.

He and Ange had reconciled big time while I was away. It was as if nothing had every happened. Ever. They were sickening. Saturday night I spent locked in the dorm trying to escape their make out sessions in the common room. Snape wrote the page number of the potion were meant to be creating for this lesson and left us to it as he strode around the room like an overgrown bat. I chose to ignore him, opened my potions book but set straight to work questioning Fred.

"So," I said in slight exaggeration, "You and Ange huh?" I wiggled my eyebrows for effect.

Fred grinned. "What about me and Ange?" he asked, pouring a glass bottle of a thick green liquid into the cauldron.

It immediately started to smoke pungently. I frowned at the substance and took over, stirring it clockwise three times. The smoke subsided and it started to bubble – the desired outcome. I gave Fred a wink and went to work on my own potion. "You know what. I go away for two weeks, you and her are together but at each others throats. I come back and you're acting like a pair of lovebirds and can't keep your hands off each other. Very unlike both of you."

Fred rolled his eyes at me. "I have been waiting all weekend for your interrogation. Both and Ange and I predicted it."

I grinned. "On you and Ange had time to talk over the weekend did you?"

Fred cleared his throat. "Look I know I didn't do you any favors and we had plenty of run ins over it…but I just got tired of being so angry about it all. So Ange and I made a pact – we still really liked each other and didn't want to throw that away. So we just forgot about it and chalked it up to the past."

I stopped what I was doing and looked at Fred. He had started to cut up some dried leaves. I waited for him to elaborate. But he didn't…

"You just forgot about it?" I asked in a small voice, hardly believing it could happen. "Like wiped it voluntarily from your memory?"

Fred nodded.

"Fred, you can forget your textbook for class. Even forget you had an assignment due. Forget where you placed your tie…how on earth can you forget that your girlfriend slept with another guy?"

I certainly hadn't forgotten about it, even though I had forgiven Oliver. I think forgetting it was so incredibly far from my mind the only way I would be able to was if by forced memory modification. And that wasn't something I wanted to dabble in.

He shrugged noncommittally, leaving me feeling like a prat for bringing it up. "I just did."

George turned around from the desk in front of us, and stole some of Fred's chopped up leaves which caused a minor commotion. Fred brandished the knife at his brother warning him, in a less than serious tone, that he'd chop his fingers off if he did it again.

I prized the knife from Fred's hand and tried again. "You forgotabout it? Fred, you're like McGonnagall. You never forget."

Fred sighed. "Well…I hate to say it but it helped having Oliver out of our lives." He tried to give me a sincere smile, but I knew what he really meant. It helped not having me there. My life was consumed by Oliver, even during the period between his departure and Derrick's death. I guessed just seeing me every day reminded both of them what had happened. I had never really thought about it, but I guess it was the same with Angelina and I. Even though I didn't want to admit it, trying to be friends with her, waking up every morning in the same dorm…it had been hard. Especially when Oliver hadn't been there to blame anymore.

I grew quiet and went back to my potion. Fred and I spent the rest of the lesson, working together in silence on the potion. We finished ten minutes before the end of the lesson and bottled up the potions. I then cleaned up as Fred went to hand them in. Mine had turned a deep sapphire blue and was thin and silky. Fred's had been a pale baby blue and was thick and lumpy. George had given up half way through the lesson, had thrown everything into the cauldron at once and had prodded it with his wand a couple of times. Needless to say, it exploded, sending orange goop all over him and Alicia. He had been banded from potions work for the rest of the term and landed himself a poor mark. George didn't care.

The four of us headed to lunch but I couldn't get Fred's revelation from my mind. I felt like an infection and I couldn't shake it. Ange joined us for lunch coughing and spluttering and I offered to take her to the hospital wing. At least it was one infection I could help cure.

"Fred said you finally had the Oliver chat," she coughed as we left the hall and walked towards the grand stair case.

"When did he have time to tell you that?"

Ange smiled, despite her watery eyes and running nose. "I hope you're not offended?"

"Offended? What do I have to be offended about?" she looked a little pained and I gave her a quick side hug. "Ange I think it's great that you and Fred have patched things up finally…and that you're happy." I paused, "You are happy right?"

She thought for a second. "Yea I am."

I smiled. "Then that's the main thing." Hmmm. I felt like a fraud. Although I had to admit, I was relieved that someone was getting their life back on track.

"And we're friends again right?" She had stopped and was looking at me as if her next steps depended on my answer being favorable. "Honestly Katie I need to know. Is it behind us for good…I mean I hate to do this to you but…"

"Ange…" I held up my hand and forced what I hoped was a very sincere smile. "It's all in the past."

I then gave her a quick hug and fled to my spare period before I reconsidered everything that had happened since my return.


The rest of my first day raced by and every period I walked out with another lot of stress placed firmly on my shoulders, and another assignment tucked into the confines of my bag. It certainly didn't help that Fred and Ange were still weighing heavily on my mind.

By the time I made it to the library to meet with Cedric that evening, I was practically beside myself. I spotted him at a study table as soon as I walked in the door, and ventured over, dropping my bag heavily on the table and letting my head rest on the desk.

He rubbed my shoulders comfortingly.

"Bad day?" he asked, putting down his quill and placing the top back on his bottle of ink.

I exhaled. "Bad month really. Bad six months. Is it too dramatic to say bad year?"

He looked at me, trying hard not to laugh. "Ohh Kates."

"You don't even know the half of it," I said, looking up at him.

"Can you give a summary?" he asked.

I gaped at him.

"I'm sorry I don't mean to be insincere but I have to meet very shortly."

I smiled. "How's that going then?"

He shrugged. "It's complicated." He then smiled at me. "And Wood?" he said cocking an eyebrow.

"Also complicated," I grimaced. "He's in rehab…."

Cedric's eyebrows shot up his forehead. "I had no idea."

I nodded. "Hmmm." I didn't want to relive it for Cedric so I decided to leave it there.

"I sent Wood a condolence letter…did you get it?"

I shook my head, surprised by Cedric's act. "I'm not sure. He didn't mention anything."

This information sent my mind reeling. Why hadn't Oliver told me about Cedric's letter? Had he not received it? Or had he wanted to keep it quiet? I was bursting to ask what it was about but found that I couldn't. It was simply none of my business. However it still intrigued me. What was one of my ex-boyfriends saying to the other?

He frowned, somewhat crestfallen. It had taken the spark out of his mood. "Guess it must have slipped his mind. Is he coping?"

I nodded. "Sort of." I didn't want to talk about Oliver. I was sick of thinking about Oliver. I wanted to know about the letter. "As best as could be expected I guess." I sighed. "I have no idea."

He gave me a comforting smile which actually made me feel a little better. "So what is the news with you?" I asked. And why did you write a letter…?

He shrugged. "Nothing new. The Third Task is coming up fast…something I am not excited about…."

"There is one good thing about the Third Task," I mused. "The tournament will be over and you can go back to a normal boring Hogwarts life."

He laughed. "I have never been so happy." Cedric stole a glance at his watch and swore. "Damn," he said, reaching for his things. "I have to get going if I am going to make it back to the dorm to drop these things off then meet Cho." He considered me for a moment. "Listen, I've been going for a jog in the mornings, blowing some cobwebs out. Would you like to join me tomorrow? Might help de-stress…and you can keep me up to date with the Wood situation. "

I nodded, thankful for a distraction. "Yea, that would be good. What time."

"6.45am? Entrance Hall?"

"Yeah great," I grinned watching him head off.

I was sure that I would come to regret it but at least it would be some form of exercise. Especially now Quidditch was off limits.


Three weeks back at School soon passed and I awoke on to a particular sunny Tuesday morning to an Owl taping at my dorm window. I climbed from bed, took the letter and gently opened the envelope. It was from Laven.

Dear Katie,

I hope this letter finds you well and you've settled back at school fine. Things are going well here in Paris…. But who am I fooling…it was a terrible idea to come back here alone. I miss Hogwarts and everyone dearly. I didn't think I would but I do desperately. I constantly feel like I have forgotten something and its starting to get to me. Daily chats and checkups with Mum haven't helped at all.

The only consolation is that I am enjoying my work with Sisley immensely. The one good choice I made was to take time off school…but how much longer that remains a positive I don't know.

I don't know if you've heard yet, but Gwen and Tony have decided to move into the homestead while Mum and Erinn take a break from the property for a while. They have moved to London to be closer to your family. Frankly I am relieved, I don't think it is a good environment for both of them to be in at the moment. I just hope that the move isn't permanent. No matter what my hang-ups are about home…it still is my home you know? And Dad and Duncan will still be there.

How is Oliver? Insert your eye roll here. And don't tell anyone, especially him that I asked after him. Please keep him safe. I don't know what contact you have with him but I am comforted by the fact that someone is there for him. There for him like I should have been…

And so, I must be off.

Good luck with this term and I will see you very soon I hope.

Love Laven.

I rolled the letter up, storing it in my trunk. I check my watch. 6.30am. I had a jogging date with Cedric in 15 minutes. I gingerly stifled a yawn, pulled on a pair of track pants, runners and a singlet top. Then I headed downstairs to meet the day with a long exhausting run.


"Have you heard from Wood yet?" Cedric breathed as we sat down on the lawn after a fairly decent jog in which I had kicked his butt.

I was stretched out across the grass, eyes closes as the morning sun belt down on me. I opened one eye. "No," I said, rolling over so I could look at him. "No I haven't."

He nodded, rubbing down his legs. "Do you want to?"

I nodded. "Of course I do." Like every morning I spent with Cedric, my mind wandered to the letter. Cedric had not said anything more about it. I half expected him to slip into the conversation more about it. His reluctance to talk about it had intrigued me. I had given him 3 weeks to tell me about it. Nothing so far. I decided to push, I mean what was the worst that could happen? Cedric was pretty timid these days with the looming event of the Third Task constantly on his mind.

"What did your letter say to him?" I asked quietly.

Cedric frowned. "It was a condolence letter," he said simply, having repeated the phrase at least 20 times.

"Come on Ced, there has to be more."

He looked at me grimly. "Katie it was a letter. I felt terrible. I thought that I should offer my condolences. You're making this out to be bigger than it is."

"If it wasn't a big deal, why didn't he mention it?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I'm the last person on the earth that understands how Wood's brain works."

I was fairly sure he was just trying to brush me off. I don't know why I couldn't just accept it. But I had seen the bad mood it had put him in and decided once again to drop it. I rationalized that if I continued to ask then I would eventual break him down and he would give in. Providing there was something to tell, otherwise I was possibly just pissing him off and for no particular reason.

"How is Cho?" I ventured. I asked almost every morning. It always seemed to be my next logical conversational step.

"Fine," was his everyday answer. Then he would grimace, get to his feet and head back to the castle to shower and dress before breakfast. "See you tomorrow," he said, giving me a small wave and heading off.

I did the same, walking back to the castle trying to put my finger on why he was being so secretative about a silly little letter and why I hadn't seen Cho properly in weeks.


My brain ached with thoughts of potions as I skimmed possibly the hundredth book for the day. It was my 6th week back and I was immersed thickly in school work. There were 3 and a half weeks until exams and everyone was going crazy. I had skipped dinner and opted to spend the evening finishing off 2 of Snape's essay he had due the following day in the library. Apparently one essay had not been enough punishment. I often wondered what sick satisfaction he got from burying us with work. Did he even read then? Or just grade them all accordingly to how much he like each student? Because it seemed lately, no matter how much work I put into an essay I was scraping through with less than desirable marks. I hated Snape and I hated exams even more.

I sighed heavily and pushed my textbook away from me. "Merlin I wish I was Laven right now…"

Alicia looked up from the opposite side of the table. Her eyes were drooping with exhaustion and she had ink smeared on her cheek. "Why are we doing this? Why do we leave it to the last minute every time?"

"Because we are stupid," Angelina said stretching her arms above her head.

"This is stupid," Alicia added unhelpfully.

I laughed. "This is torturous."

Angelina nodded. "Incoming…."

I looked around to see Cedric approaching. "Hey," I said waving him over.

He looked peaky. "Hey. I've just had a chat with Ludo Bagman…about the third task." He eyed Angelina and Alicia who took it as a hint for privacy.

"We'll see you back at the dorm," Ange said, dragging a tired Alicia to her feet and gathering the books she needed.

"Okay."

Cedric took a seat beside me. "It's a maze," he said desperately. "A maze."

"A maze? What does that mean?"

"I have no idea," he said exasperated. "But I had this giant knot of dread forming in my stomach. First dragons, then the lake and now a maze. I think I am in way over my head."

"Hey," I said, comfortingly reaching out for his hand. "Hey, you'll be fine."

He recoiled as my hand brushed against his. "You don't get it do you?" He said getting to his feet. "You just don't get it."

I watched as he stormed off, knocking some first years out of the way. I sighed heavily, rubbing my face. I wasn't exactly sure what I didn't get. But I was afraid that it was most definitely something that explained Cedric's lack of enthusiasm when it came to Cho Chang.


I returned to the dormitory late, after half finishing my second essay. I had effectively given up, completely put out by what Cedric had said.

Angelina was still awake when I returned, her bedside lamp still on, curtains open. "finished?" she asked.

I shook my head, shrugging off my uniform and putting on my pjs. "No, gave up. Snape will have to make do; besides he'll only give me a shit mark anyway." I threw my things on my bed and sat down with a sigh of exasperation.

She nodded. "What did Cedric want?" she asked, blowing on her essay to dry the ink sentence she had just written.

"To confuse me," I said.

"Oh?" she cocked her eyebrow at me – an infuriating gesture.

"He just said something that threw me. I don't really get it." I stood up again, and fished my pjs out of my trunk.

She cocked an eyebrow. "You don't get it? Hell honey even I get it."

"What do you mean?"

She closed the book she was reading. "Cedric likes you. We've all seen it…especially how close you guys have grown since Oliver."

I shook my head. "No a chance. Crazy. We're friends." My face fell. He wasn't interested in how Oliver was going…he was keeping check that we were still apart. As for Cho…he had told me not long ago that he still loved her. And maybe he did, but her disappearance from his side was strange. Was I the Cho rebound? My stomach plummeted. I didn't want this to happen. Ever. I loved having Cedric as my friend. We had been terrible together both as a fake couple and as a real one only months ago.

"To you maybe…" Ange said.

"No don't do that…" I said walking towards her bed. "Don't do that. That's not fair."

She frowned. "I didn't do anything. You don't believe me, fine. I'm not going to convince you. Hell as if you need more complicating factors in your life. I'm just telling you like it is before it's too late and suddenly you have yourself squashed into a position you don't want to be in."

I threw my hands up in the air. "Because this situation is so much better!" I looked back at her. "What do you mean complicating factors?"

"You got a letter," she said pointing to my bedside table. "From Oliver. It came about half an hour ago."

My heart leapt…my first contact with him since that day all those weeks ago. I looked at it as it lay surreptitiously wrapped in its envelope. He always had radar for bad timing.

"I recognized his writing on the front," she said getting out of bed and walking towards it. She picked it up and handed it to me. "Are you going to open it?"

Alicia pulled back the curtains of her bed. We both looked at her. "Are you going to open it?" and she looked at Angelina. "Why didn't you tell me your Cedric theory?"

Ange shrugged, "I thought everyone got it."

"Not me," Alicia said.

"Me either," I muttered turning the envelope over and over in my hands.

Ange shrugged again. "Open the letter," she said.

I looked at Alicia. "Open it," she said anxiously.

I debated reading it in front on them.

"And read it out…" Alicia instructed as if for encouragement.

Reluctantly I agreed and took a deep breath, unwrapping the letter and starting to read it.

"Katie, please send word of the next Hogsmeade visit so that I can arrange a lunch date with you.. Yours Oliver." I turned the page over even hoping for a P.S. There was none. I stared at the letter dumbfounded. I wasn't quite sure what I expected but I was almost sure it wasn't this.

"That's it?" Alicia stammered. "That's it?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Complete anti-climax," Ange breathed.

"Tell me about it. First unwanted information about Cedric and now this from Oliver…excuse me but what the fuck is going on?"

Ange shrugged. "It did say 'yours Oliver'".

"It could have said 'I love you with all of my heart' and I still would have been in the dark."

"Twelfth of June," Alicia said.

"What?" Ange and I asked both seemingly annoyed at Alicia's nonsensical interruption.

"Next Hogsmeade weekend," she said slowly, sensing our annoyance. "The twelfth of june."

I gulped, "that's in two weeks."

Angelina smiled. "Is that a problem?"

"Yes," I nodded. "I would have probably thrown myself out of a window by then."

They both laughed and headed to bed. I folded the letter up, vowing to reply tomorrow morning when I could stomach to write to him.


I had a strange dream that evening. I was down at the boathouse standing on the pier. Oliver and Cedric were there, standing on the edge, tethering on falling off. I had to save one of them. Only one. I only had the time to help one out and I was frozen by the choice. So I didn't make one and both of them drowned. Fell right of the edge into the watery abyss.

I woke with a start and found that I couldn't get the dream out of my head long enough to go back to sleep. It was five am I decided to head down to the Common Room to finish Snape's essay off before his morning class. I hoped to Merlin that Angelina had just been stirring with all the Cedric stuff, but I did have an uneasy feeling about the whole situation. Cedric only tended to get weird and moody when I was involved in his problems.

I shot off a reply to Oliver advising him that the next weekend was on the 12th and then headed down to breakfast at 7.30am after a couple hours of forced study. It was a mindless attempt because all I could think about my relationship predicaments.

On my way to Potions that morning I ran into Madam Pomfrey who said after last nights announcement of the requirements of the Third Task that she would most definitely need a hand in the infirmary tent on the evening. I agreed to help out and decided that I could use it to help calm Cedric's nerves before the final event. Providing we were still friends by then.

As the 12th of June grew closer I felt a massive knot settle in my gut. Cedric and I had stopped our morning runs and had cut down spending time together as we were both in the thick of assessment. At least that is what we rationalized it as. I must admit I was a little freaked out about the situation. We didn't talk again about the letter he had sent Oliver and Angelina, Alicia and I had reached a silent understanding that we wouldn't talk about Cedric. I had to admit, the list of conversational topics were dwindling. Cedric and I had also come to agreement that the evening in the library would never be talked about again. Of course it was a silent agreement initiated by me, but Cedric had stuck to the plan so far.

"Wow," Ange teased, walking into the dorm on the morning of Saturday June twelfth. "Don't you look all dressed up."

I frowned at her as I finished the last touches on my newly regrown hair. It was a lot longer than before, sweeping past my shoulders. After some helpful hair advice from a couple of forth years who had taken more pride in their appearance than it was worth, I had been working all week on growing it back to the glory of its former length. For lunch with Oliver I had secured it in a low side ponytail and swept it across my right hand shoulder. I was under the illusion that a new hairdo would signify the start of a new relationship with Oliver. The lie made me feel much better as I prepared for Lunch.

She gave me the thumbs up. "Seriously, Kates, you look great. The hair – suits you much better than the shorter do. I love it."

"Thanks," said nervously, heading towards my trunk and fishing around for a cardigan.

"Nervous?" she asked bemused watching me. I looked at my shaking hands.

I thought for a moment. I wasn't nervous. I had experienced many lunches with Oliver, albeit it most of them at the Three Broomsticks ending in some sort of eventful occurrence. The main thing I was worried about was seeing him again. I was worried that things might have changed way too much for us to go back….okay so I guess that did actually make me nervous.

"Ermmm…I guess a little," I admitted. "Is that normal?"

She laughed. "I am the last person you should be asking about normality. Did you want Alicia and I to tag along?"

I knew she was joking…at least I hoped to god she was. I wasn't ready for a meeting in her presence just yet. We'd come a fair way but I may loose my mind if I had to see them together again right now. Especially with all this Cedric stuff. And a part of me didn't believe that Angelina's inclusion would ensure that things ran trouble free.

"No it's fine. Are you two going to Hogsmeade?"

She nodded. "Yea, wanna walk with us? Alicia is waiting down stairs."

"Sure let's go…" and with one final mirror check the three of us headed off.


"So do you have any rules?" Alicia asked coyly.

I laughed at her. "Rules?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "Like you know an enforceable distance at all times?"

"Between me and Oliver?"

She nodded, "Yea."

I laughed. "Oh come of it, I'm sure I can handle my –"

I stopped abruptly as we rounded the corner of small cobbled street and Cedric and Cho loomed into sight. They were standing on the doorstep of the post office yelling and gesturing wildly at each other.

Not wanting to walk past the commotion at this point in time I tried to back track but Angelina stopped me.

"They'll notice if we leave…."

The argument went on for a couple more minutes before Cho slapped him and stormed off towards Zonko's. Cedric kicked at the ground angrily.

"You should go talk to him," Alicia said.

"No." I said firmly. "I'm not getting involved."

He looked up caught my eye before heading in my direction.

"Enjoy the show?" he barked at the three of us as she stormed past heading back to the castle.

"Well that went well," Ange said.

I tried not to grimace. "Yea." I checked my watch, I was to meet Oliver in five minutes which meant now was the time to get rid of the stragglers. "Well, wish me luck," I said giving them each a quick hug and a wave as I set off.

The weather was warm and fine, signally that the start of summer was near. I had worn a knee length skirt, singlet and a summer cardigan for the affair. I hadn't been this dressed up since the funeral and I felt the coincidence like a painful memory.

Cedric had cracked. And I didn't have time to do anything. I had to work on not loosing my own mind.

His hair was cut short like I had always liked it and he had put weight and muscle back on again. He was reading the paper when I arrived a glass of pumpkin juice in front of him. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a royal blue polo shirt and to my surprise was hiding behind his reading glasses.

I gave myself a quick once over, waved at Rosmerta as I walked past the bar and headed towards the table accommodating Oliver.

"You wanted to meet at a pub," I said shaking off my cardigan. "You can guess my surprise when I got your note."

He looked up from the paper, a wide grin on his face. He pointed to the goblet. "Not even touching the butterbeer. Pure pumpkin juice Rosmerta assures me." He flashed a grin at the bar lady and she gave him a wave, as he folded the paper up. He stuffed it into his shoulder bag that sat on the seat to his left.

And then he took off his glasses and really looked at me. "Hey," he said roguishly and I'll admit, I fell all the way back in love with him.

I beamed. "Hiya, yourself."

"You look beautiful." He said, standing and walking around the side of the table to kiss me on the cheek.

"I can always count on you to dish out the compliments."

He laughed. "And I can always count on you to ruin a moment," he winked.

I beamed, my heart skipping beats. He was back. I actually felt like singing. I did however suppress the urge. "More compliments. You'll get a girl's hopes up with all this flirting, Wood."

"That's the plan," he smiled, turning back to the table and draining his glass. He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, putting his glasses back on. "Shall we?" He said gesturing for the door.

"I thought we were having lunch here?"

"Nope, it's a beautiful spring day. We're having a picnic," he grinned leading me out of the pub.

He gave Rosmerta a thank you wave as he went passed and we were off.

"What's with the glasses?" I asked as I feel in stride beside him. "You only need them for reading."

He smiled. "Disguise," he laughed. "New hair cut and glasses. Less easy for Rita to track me. She's expecting to find photos of me in the middle of comprising indiscressions. No way is that going to happen." He tapped his nose. "Clean and sober 45 days."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised," he laughed.

"You seem much happier."

He smiled. "It's early days yet, but I am. Especially now I've seen you."

The picnic lunch was amazing. He told me all about his track thus far. The good and the bad parts. He had fallen on the wagon once during rehab and said he had never been more disappointed with him self. But he was doing well now. Feeling really positive, taking it one step at a time. It was helping him a lot but he wasn't in the clear yet. And for the first time since Derrick's death, he spoke of his father with love and pride, not anger or bereavement. It was however, still a day to day process.

"I have you to thank for give me the motivation to clean myself up."

"Me? All I did was yell and scream at you."

He smiled. "And it helped, believe me." He studied me for a couple of moments. "Merlin I miss you."

"I miss you too. You look fantastic." I leaned into him a little. "You smell fantastic," I smiled.

He grinned, saying almost on my lips. "God, I miss you."

We kissed, only for a moment, but a great moment at that. "I thought you didn't want any kind of indiscressions," I said smiling, as he pulled away from my lips. "I think snogging me in public would be an indiscression."

He laughed. "Snogging you at all is an indiscression. Besides we're not in public. We're in Hogsmeade."

I wiggled my finger at him. "How would you know, its been months since we were together."

"Very long months," he said rougeishly.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Enough," I laughed. "You only ever want me when you can't have me."

"Part of that is true," he said. "But I want you all the time."

"Is that a proposition?" I asked.

He smiled. "No. I just want you to know that I think about you all the time."

I laughed. "You keep haunting my dreams, I can't forget you."

"Good to hear it. What does this mean for us now?"

"Well, I guess we could still do this," I said, pushing him backwards onto the rug.

"Deal," He grimaced and leaned up to kiss me. It was passionate as his hands settled on my waist. "So just kissing?"

I laughed. "Just kissing. Can't have everything you want."

He smiled. "I'm pretty happy with what I've got."

Oliver and I made plans to have lunch together the day of third task, as he would be back to lend Dumbledore a hand with festivities. We then said goodbye (numerous times mind you) and I walked back to Hogwarts feeling like a giddy little school girl.

Ange, Alicia, Fred and George were all waiting patiently in the Common Room for my return and when I entered leap to their feet. "Well?" the four of them practically cried in unison.

I took a step back, debated whether to run away but decided against it.

"So are you back together?" Alicia asked.

"How's he holding up?" said Ange.

"How's rehab treating him?" asked Fred.

"Does he still wear those tighty whities?" George asked offhandedly.

I gaped at him for a second. I gave an exaggerated shudder. "I don't even want to know how you know about them."

"Locker room," George replied with a broad grin. "Boys will be boys."

"I also don't want to know what that means," I replied.

"I second that," was Alicia's fast reply.

They continued to stare at me as I stood before them. "What?"

"Well?" they asked in unison.

"You mean you actually want me to answer all of those questions right now?"

Fred and George looked at each other. "Would we have asked if we didn't?" George asked.

I rolled my eyes. "He's great. Looks well…we talked a lot." Okay so the last bit was a lie but I wanted to throw it in just to prove, albeit it illegitimately, that they were wrong with any thoughts about Oliver and I.

"Well that's all well and good, but you didn't actually answer the main question…are you back together?" asked George.

How did one answer a question there really was no answer to?

"Ermmm….I guess the best way to define it…that we're oh Merlin I don't know, we spent the entire afternoon making out."

Alicia squealed.

"Ohhh tough one," said Fred beaming.

"Really tough one," said George agreeing with his brother.

"I'm going to go with yes," said Angelina a smile on her face.

"Yea well let's not start engraving it in stone or anything just yet okay?"

"Oh come on it's a tale as old as time," George added. "Wood and Katie. It's legendary."

"It's really only a couple years old George," Fred corrected.

"Minor detail Fred, minor detail."

I laughed at them. "You two are pathetic."

"Pathetically right," George said.

"What does this make," he counted on his fingers, "fourth time?"

"Yea you guys have got to be getting good at the getting back together thing by now."

"Hey guys, come on. I'm sure Katie's got things under control. So what if they get back together, they're crazy about each other." Alicia said, ever the romantic.

"Thanks Alicia," I laughed. "Now can we not talk about this again until everything's confirmed?"

Reluctantly they all agreed. And before we knew it, finals were upon us and there was actually little time to talk about anything but exams.


My final exam was scheduled for the morning of the third task, something Madam Pomfrey was hardly happy about. I spent the evening before the Potions final helping her organize a medical kit and supplies to take down to the pitch the following day. The final was something I couldn't prepare as it was a practical, so Hospital Wing duties were a welcome distraction.

The following morning I woke early, had breakfast and prepared myself mentally for the long day ahead. The only comfort I had was that by the end of the day I will have finished my assessment and the Third Task would finally be over meaning I could set things straight with Cedric. We hadn't spoken since the day in Hogsmeade and I felt awful. I missed him. I made the vow that tomorrow, when everything was behind us, I would finally confront him about the evening in the library. After I spoke with Oliver about it tonight of course.

The final went well, I managed to produce something similar to what was required and I skipped out 20 minutes early. I met Oliver in the Great Hall for lunch and we sat eating together at the Gryffindor table. Many people Oliver knew dropped by the talk, so the setting wasn't exactly appropriate for banter about our future.

"So is Diggory all ready for last hurdle?" Oliver asked.

I shrugged. "I'm not really sure…."

Oliver knitted his brow.

"I thought you guys were friends again…good friends…"

"We are. We just haven't…" I debated telling Oliver. But I couldn't. I didn't want this all to blow up again. I wanted to nip this in the bud with Cedric first. I smiled at Oliver. "We just haven't really spoken about it. He's not nervous or anything. Barely mentioned it."

Oliver was surprised. "Wow. That's great for him. I mean I would be freaking out."

I felt awful but continued with my charade. "Yea me too."

"Katie," I looked up, meeting Madam Pomfrey's eyes.

"Oliver," she greeted with a smile. "It's good to see you again."

He smiled at her. "You too Poppy."

"Are you all set?" she asked looking at me. "I need someone to help setup down at the pitch."

I smiled at Oliver. He had hoped that we'd have at least some of the afternoon together. I shoved the last mouthful of my sandwich and nodded. "Yea, I'm good to go."

Oliver rolled his eyes at me. "I'll see you later this afternoon then?"

I smiled. "Possibly," I whispered, after Madam Pomfrey had started off already.

"Tease," he laughed and I flashed him a grin before leaving.

It was 3pm before I finished helping set up the tent and mini infirmary down at the Pitch. Madam Pomfrey had transferred just about everything from the real hospital wing down to the Third Task. I finally took a break, pulling up a chair outside of the tent and looking up at the behemoth maze that now occupied the field. I was positive that Oliver hadn't seen this yet or I would have definitely heard about it.

I soaked in the pitch transformation, before noticing a suspicious yellow speck up high in the Hufflepuff stands. I got to my feet and wandered up there.

"You're not meant to see this until tonight," I said, sitting down beside him.

"I've been here all morning. Couldn't get it out of my mind." He didn't take his eyes off the maze. "I am so in over my head it isn't funny."

"Hey," I said loudly, breaking him out of it. "Don't be stupid. It's only a task. You'll be fine Ced, you're a good wizard. Win or loose, you'll be fine."

"You don't understand," he said through gritted teeth. "I have to win this."

"You have to or you want to?" I said indignantly. "Because I'm not saying you won't win. I'm saying, sitting here wallowing about it, isn't going to bring you any closer."

He scoffed. "Oh right. How could I be so stupid…you want Harry to win. You blood Gryffindors, you're all the freaking same!"

I got to my feet. "This has nothing to do with Harry! To be honest, I couldn't care less who won. But as your friend, I was barracking for you."

His eyes flashed. "You're right, this isn't about Harry, it's about you and Wood."

"This isn't for discussion," I said firmly. "I get to decide when we talk about Oliver or not. And right now, I'm pretty sure I don't even want to talk to you at all." I glared at him. "Why are you doing this?"

"I like you, Katie."

I closed my eyes, willing myself to keep my cool. I couldn't deny that I had expected it. It's why I had avoided him for so long. I didn't want to deal with this, not now, not ever.

"I'm sorry Cedric," I said. "I'm sorry."

And I walked out, heading back to the castle to change before the final task.


AN: Thanks for putting up with the long time between updates. I've been trying to get this chapter on paper but it's been crazy. No promises, but I have Wednesday off and am going to try my very best to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. There are only two left after this and they are an emotion loaded couple of chapter.