The next morning, I headed down to breakfast looking forward to enjoying the afternoon at Hogsmeade with Cedric. I found a space between Emily and SuYoung and began eating. I peered over at the Hufflepuff table and saw Cedric communicating with his friends, the same two that were laughing at me in the library. I then glanced over at Fleur and her fellow Beauxbatons friends. The other Beauxbatons students were huddled together at the end of the Ravenclaw table. Fleur and her friends were talking rapidly in French. I wish I knew what they were saying, I thought before someone interrupted me.
"Cho, I told you not to worry," Emily said, waving her hand in front of my face.
"Worrying will give you wrinkles," SuYoung said.
"Ah, your mom told you that didn't she?"
SuYoung nodded with a smile. She was also Korean and Korean mothers had many things in common. My mother also told me that worrying gives one wrinkles but I was ignoring it at this point.
"Remember, Cho, Hogsmeade, the Three Broomsticks…ask him then," Emily said, putting eggs in her mouth.
I nodded. "I know, I know. I'm not worried about it anymore though. Cedric has a right to keep his mouth shut too, you know."
"So? That doesn't mean he has to keep his secrets from you."
"Who said that he had secrets?"
"No one. I'm only suggesting, Cho."
"Well, stop it. I've had enough ideas from you already."
Emily smirked and continued eating. "Oh look, here comes Marietta."
Marietta found a seat next to me with her hand bundled in a fist.
"What d'you have there?" I asked her.
"I found these in the library. I just thought I'd pick them up – I'm sure nobody noticed," she said, showing them to me. They were badges – the same ones that the Slytherins had begun to wear after the champions were announced. All four of them beamed brightly in red letters SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY – THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION! "That's not all!" she said, pressing them against her hand. Another message appeared but was in green lettering but still glowing POTTER STINKS. "Here, take one, Cho."
"That's so mean!" I said to her. "I wouldn't wear such a thing!"
"Why not?" Marietta said, showing them to Emily, SuYoung, and Min. "You support Cedric don't you?"
I hesitated. "Yes…but it says that Harry stinks and I don't think that despite what everyone has been saying about him."
"Despite what Rita Skeeter has been saying?"
"I wouldn't trust that lady with my life let alone to think that her stories are true," I said.
"Well, just take one. Don't press it – that way it won't say 'Potter Stinks'." Marietta held one out to me.
I looked at Emily, SuYoung, and Min. They all had grabbed one. I took one but stuffed it in my robe pocket. "I'm leaving now." I stood up and rushed out of the Great Hall so no one could follow me. I hurried out of the entrance hall, up the Grand Staircase, and into the Ravenclaw common room. I walked up to my dormitory. I opened my trunk, throwing the badge into it, and taking out my bag of money. I glanced at the badge one more time, grumbled, and shut my trunk. I pulled my cloak over my body and headed out of the dormitory and out of the common room. I stuffed my hands in my robe pocket. How could Marietta wear one of those? Sure, I do support Cedric but I support Harry too. I don't care if I'm seeing Cedric – no one assumes that I would wear something like that. "A total disgrace," I mumbled, walking into the entrance hall.
"What's a total disgrace, Cho?" Cedric's voice said.
I looked up. "Oh, hi…erm…nothing."
He started at me.
I sighed and confessed. "Marietta found these badges in the library – you know the ones that the Slytherins were wearing after the champions were announced? She asked me to wear one after she showed me what they did. I said that I wouldn't wear one."
"Are you talking about the ones that say to support me but then when you press them they say that Harry stinks?"
I nodded as we walked into the crowd of students anticipating to leave for Hogsmeade. "Yes, those are the ones."
"Those Slytherins – I wouldn't even wear one if I was myself. Harry's not that bad. He's the one that told me about the dragons—"
"He told you?"
Cedric nodded. "Surprisingly, yes. I figured he wouldn't have told me. I reckoned he would have kept it to himself. I talked to him after the Yule Ball – I told him what to do with the egg… We're fair now."
Just as Cedric had finished Professor McGonagall had appeared along with Professor Flitwick, Snape, and Professor Sprout. The entrance hall doors swung open. We formed five lines and followed her out of the entrance hall, onto the grounds, and onto the train.
I tried to avoid Emily as we climbed onto the train, passed a few full compartments before finally finding an empty one. I sat down close to the window and Cedric sat next to me. The train began to move slowly as the compartment door opened. It was Michael with one of his dark-haired friends behind him. He cleared his throat.
"D'you mind if we take a seat here?" he asked.
Cedric looked at me but I was looking at Michael. "Sure," Cedric replied before I could protest.
Michael and his friend walked in and sat down across from us. He glanced at me but quickly looked away when I caught his eyes and stared out the window.
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Author's Note: I'm not sure if any of this is fluff or not. Yeah, I'm adding some Michael/Cho stuff early…oh well. Please review!