Fall A2 - Rebellion

Setting E5 - Apartment Building

Shipping D4 - Gender Bend

Stacked With: SoC; PP; LL; NC; StL; BAON; FPC; Cluster; Rum; MLG; ER; Fence; Star; RoIL; O3; FR; SN; T3; TY; Ship; FaB; Set

Individual Challenges: Short Jog (Y); Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Neurodivergent; Rowl in Her Grave; Ethnic & Present; Disabled; Setting Sail (Y); Hold the Mayo (Y); Lunar Era (Y); Gryffindor MC; Hufflepuff MC; Magical MC x2 (Yx1); Old Shoes (Y); Not the Mama; Go Fluff Yourself

Primary & Secondary BCs: Where Angels Fear; Getting On; Second Verse (Rock of Ages; Muck & Slime; Brooms Only; Car in a Tutu; Nontraditional; Not a Lamp; Persistence Still); Chorus (Some Beach; Turtle-Duck; Unicorn; Machismo; Odd Feathers; Wabi Sabi)

Tertiary & Generic BCs: RoIL (Amelioration); O3 (Orator; Oath); FR (Satisfaction; Evolution); SN (Rail; Ameliorate); T3 (Toad)

Team: Earth Tones

Word Count: 1505

Warnings: Misgendering

~o0o~

Cedric was in love with the girl on the balcony the floor below his. He was sure they went to the same school, but they didn't run in the same circles. He didn't know her, exactly, but he noticed her. They had lived in the same building for years. They were both magic, though he was sure her parents weren't. It was almost eight o'clock, she would be outside soon.

"I'm going out," said Amos. "Make sure your homework is done, Candance."

"Sure, Dad."

When he left, Cedric hurried to his room and quickly changed out of his dress and into baggy jeans, a band tee, and his leather jacket. He'd saved up to buy them for himself and kept them hidden from his dad. Amos never cleaned, that was women's work, so Cedric didn't have to worry about being caught. It wasn't that he hated skirts or dresses. In fact, he often enjoyed wearing them, especially in a punk or goth way, but he didn't like how they enforced peoples' assumptions of his gender. He was Cedric and he was a boy and until he could be so openly, he would do it privately.

He didn't mind her seeing him like this. He doubted she would tell.

Brushing his hair back, Cedric climbed out onto the balcony with his backpack and sat in his chair. Amos would be gone for hours. Sure enough, he could see him strolling down the street towards the pub on the corner. He glanced through the narrow slat in the wood panels in hopes of seeing her.

The girl, Hermione was her name, stepped out onto her balcony not long after. He admired how her hair shone in the mix of moonlight and the light coming from inside her house. Rather than sit down to read her book, she stood there and looked up as if trying to find a star. They never did get many stars this far in the city. Her eyes flicked to his balcony and he shrank down so she couldn't see him. He didn't want to come off as creepy.

A phone rang within the house and she ran back inside to answer it. She never closed the door and he heard every word.

"Mum? Dad? You're late. Did something happen with your flight?" She was silent for a moment. "Oh… how much longer? … I see. Yeah, I can manage by myself. I'll see you... when I see you. Okay… bye."

She stepped back out a moment later and sighed heavily.

Cedric wanted to chance another look at her, but if she was looking up again, she'd notice him sooner or later. He heard a sniffle and a small gasp and his heart broke as he realized she was crying. Had she been alone all this time?

Biting his lip, he drew his wand and conjured a sunflower, standing up to toss it down to her balcony. As he stood up, he saw Amos storming home. Shit. Dropping the flower, he gathered his things and hurried inside hearing a small, "Thank you."

It was a while before he could sit out on the balcony like he usually did.

His next opportunity was when Amos was being sent on a business trip.

"Where are you going?" Cedric asked, coming home to find him packing up a large suitcase.

"Work is sending me on a trip," he said. "I'll be gone a week or two. Some rules: The house better look the same when I come home. No wild magic or parties. I'll leave you money for food, do not spend it on eating out."

"Yes, sir."

"And don't cut your hair that short again. It makes you look like a boy."

Yeah! I sure hope it does! he thought sarcastically.

Cedric cooked dinner and played the role he'd always been expected to. Amos left early the next morning. Being summer vacation, Cedric at least didn't have to worry about school. He slept in as late as he wanted, and once he was sure Amos wouldn't turn around, he dressed in his favorite clothes. It felt good to be home and feel like himself.

That evening, after a dinner of pasta and salad, he stepped out onto his balcony and inhaled deeply. There were certain smells only a city could have. Some good, some bad, but at least he knew this freedom, however temporary, was grounded in reality. He rested his elbows on the railing and saw the pride flags hanging from the places of business. Most were the classic rainbow, but some had gone the extra mile to include more specific identities. Including the pub Amos frequented, which probably explained his unusual absence from the haunt.

He looked down to her balcony and jumped back to see her standing there, staring up at him. Before he could run inside, she called out, "Wait, please don't go."

He hesitated. She was sure to recognize him. He had wanted to use magic spells to make his features more recognizably masculine, but was terrified of forgetting to change himself back and his father finding out. But he wanted to talk to her. Steeling his nerves, he returned and leaned over the railing.

"I… this may sound strange," she said. "But I missed you... You didn't… you weren't there. I wanted to thank you for the flower. Sunflowers are my favorite. I'm actually a bit embarrassed that you saw me crying, but we've been sort of neighbors for so long that… well… I've seen you at school as well, but..."

Her brown skin darkened with a blush and she covered her face.

"I feel like I know you," said Cedric. "Er… I do know you. Or of you." Moment of truth. "My name is Cedric."

She studied him a moment and smiled softly. "I'm Hermione."

"I know. Or rather, I know who you are. Captain of the Academic Decathlon."

"And I you. Cedric Diggory. Captain of the Athletic Decathlon. Though from the word around school your academic prowess is nothing to sneeze at."

He smiled. His name coming from her lips, it made him feel lighter than air. "I'd shake your hand, but you're rather far away."

She grabbed hold of her shoulder and yanked, her arm coming off. Cedric screamed, then sank behind the railing with embarrassment.

"Most people have that reaction," she laughed. "Magic gave me a more realistic prosthetic, so nobody thinks twice about it."

Getting a grip on himself, he straightened up to see her extending her arm towards him. The fingers wiggled and he laughed. He reached down, grasping hold and shaking it.

"Pleasure to officially meet you," he said, dragging his fingers along her palm as he straightened up.

She blushed and he wondered if she saw, or maybe felt, the gesture. There were magical prosthetics that could simulate touch.

"Likewise," she said, fastening it back in place. "I hardly see you out here when it's light."

"My father is out of town," he said. "Call it a form of consequence free rebellion."

"My parents are away again, too," she said.

"Are you… by yourself often?"

"Yes. Mum and Dad are always going to conferences or on trips. It's alright, I'm used to being alone. I'll have to be someday won't I? It's good practice."

That sounded like lies she had been telling herself. Cedric couldn't stand it. What was with adults treating children like toys? It wasn't fair! He didn't want to be alone anymore and he could tell she didn't either. Ducking back inside, he grabbed his key and stuffed it into his pocket before hurrying back. Swinging one leg over the side of the rail, he looked down at Hermione, who backed away in shock.

"What are you doing?" she squeaked. "That's dangerous! Get down from there!"

"What do you think I'm trying to do?" he asked, bracing his foot against the space beneath the wooden slats. He swung the other leg around and carefully inched over to the drain pipe. He grabbed hold, praying it would hold his weight, and hopped down, sliding a few feet before his foot braced on her balcony. "Sorry, left my broom at school."

She was stock still as he carefully got down and stood across from her. He had always been tall and was looking down at her even when they were both standing on the same level. As she stared at him, he regretted the act. He came on too strong! Stupid! They had just started talking, what was he thinking jumping down like this?

"Grey," she said.

"I'm sorry?"

"I—Your eyes," she said. "I wondered what color they were. Grey."

He smiled shyly. "Yeah…"

Hermione shuffled her feet. "Want to come inside?"

"Yes." He blushed. "Sorry, should I have hesitated?"

She smiled. "Well… I think it's nice knowing I wasn't alone. I've noticed you sitting out there when I was. It… it felt like meeting with a friend. And it's about time we have a proper conversation!"

"Yes, of course."