Disclaimer: I own nothing. All, with the exception of my darling Megan Diggory, belong to the wonderful JK Rowling.

My Brother Cedric

Part One

I never could have seen myself writing this story. I never would have thought myself worthy of writing about my brother. He was always smarter, braver, and stronger. It was an insult to think of oneself as better than Cedric. For the fifteen years that I had known Cedric, he has always been kind, loving, and supportive. He's never yelled at me, even if he were mad, and would go ballistic if anyone even suggested hurting me. He was very protective of me. He would always make sure that I was okay, and that I was happy. He was the best older brother in the world.

The day that he got his letter, I remember it so well. We were eating breakfast, and planning what to do with our last few days of summer, before going back to muggle school. As we finished our cereal, an owl flew in the window. We were used to this now, since Dad received owls all the time. But this owl wasn't addressed to Dad. It was for Cedric. He opened it, then read it aloud. By the time he had finished, Mum was crying, and Dad had Cedric in a tight hug. That very same day, we all went to Diagon Ally. It was amazing there. Although I didn't get anything, I still enjoyed the trip immensely.

The day that Cedric left for Hogwarts, I remember crying, because I had just said goodbye to my best friend. It would be a whole year before I would receive a letter and travel with him to Hogwarts. Cedric wrote often, more to me than my parents, but he always made sure that I told them 'hello' for him. He wrote and told me about the gigantic castle, the giant squid, and that he was now a Hufflepuff. This surprised me, because I always thought that he would be a Gryffindor, or a Ravenclaw, because he was so brave and smart. But, I figured that since he couldn't be in both houses, he had to settle for Hufflepuff, which was kind of the middle ground. He kept me posted on what was going on, giving vivid descriptions of the school. He was very good at describing his surroundings.

When the summer finally came for me to go to Hogwarts, I was ecstatic. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to be in Hufflepuff, just like Cedric. In my second year, I would play Quidditch, just like Cedric. I would take Muggle Studies and Ancient Runes, just like Cedric. The list went on and on, but most of them had to do with being exactly like Cedric. Cedric was my role model. He was the standard that I had to live up to. I knew that I could never be "just like Cedric" but I felt that I had to try. Cedric always set a good example for me, which only made me want to be like him even more. He never minded being copied so closely. In fact, I think that he rather enjoyed the attention. Soon, the day had finally come for me to travel to Hogwarts. I sat with Cedric and his friends. They seemed annoyed that I was sitting with them, but Cedric didn't care, and neither did I. I was with my best friend again.

Once we reached Hogwarts, I had to leave Cedric's side, and travel across the lake with Hagrid, a very large man. Soon, we were standing in front of the Great Hall, which looked exactly as I had imagined from Cedric's depiction, and the sorting began. "Diggory, Megan," Professor McGonagall called. She was a tall woman with brown hair that was pulled back into a tight bun. I slowly trudged towards the stool sitting next to her. I sat down, and let the Sorting Hat fall over my eyes. A million thoughts were running through my head, most of which were 'Please let me be in Hufflepuff!' and 'I hope I get to follow in Cedric's footsteps!' Then, I heard a voice coming from nowhere in particular.

"So, you want to be like Cedric, do you? Want to be in Hufflepuff? I don't think that is where you should be placed. Maybe Gryffindor. But if you insist, HUFFLEPUFF IT IS!" The sorting hat shouted the last three words to the Hall. Once Professor McGonagall had taken the hat from my head, I could see my brother Cedric, clapping harder than the whole lot, and saying to the people around him, "That's my sister!" Once I reached the table of Hufflepuffs, I was greeted by a hug from my brother. He hugged me so tight, that I thought my head would come off. That night, I stayed up in the common room with my brother, talking about school, until Professor Sprout, the head of the Hufflepuff house, came in and suggested that we go to bed.

That year, I enjoyed myself more than I ever had. My brother would bring things back from Hogsmeade for me. Once the Weasley twins, who I had come to know, showed me how to get to Hogsmeade I began going with my brother. We had the most amazing time dodging teachers and walking through the town. Soon, Christmas came. We stayed at Hogwarts, because our mum and dad were visiting an aunt in Salem, Massachusetts, in the United States. We spent the break playing Quidditch, even though I wasn't on the team. I often showed up to help out at their practices. I was learning how to be a chaser, even though I would much rather have been a seeker like Cedric. I learned the ropes of the game very quickly that Christmas break. When Christmas finally came, we sat together in the common room, and exchanged presents. I had gotten him a book called "Quidditch Moves for Seekers." Cedric then handed me a small box. At first I thought that Cedric was a bit behind his normal standard. Then I opened the box and saw what was inside. "Cedric this is beautiful!" I said. Inside lay a small bracelet. The delicate chain was adorned with a heart charm. It had been engraved. It read: "Megan and Cedric Diggory, Best Friends Forever"

"I thought that you would like it," he said confidently. He helped me put it on, then I threw my arms around him. After a few minutes, we went down to the Great Hall for the Christmas feast. We sat together, chatting warmly about what we would do during the remainder of our break. Soon the rest of the school had returned. I wore my new bracelet everywhere, and showed it to anyone who would stay around long enough to see it. Since I didn't really have many friends, that number was relatively small. The reason that I didn't have many friends, was that I really wasn't meant to be in Hufflepuff. The common room was too quiet, and every one worked on their homework whenever they were in there. There was no exploding snap, or wizard's chess games. There was only books, parchment, and people. Like the sorting hat had said, I was more like the Gryffindors. That is why I had become friends with many from their house. Fred, George, and Lee became my friends, but they didn't appreciate fine jewelry. Another reason that I didn't have many friends in my own house, was that I spent most of my time with Cedric. I became better friends with the second years than I did with my own year. Yet another reason was that I didn't dress like most girls when I wasn't wearing robes. Since I wanted to be just like Cedric, I felt that I had to dress like Cedric. I wore slacks and sweaters. I also cut my hair as short as my mum would let me.

Soon, the year had almost finished. Once Cedric and I had boarded the train, we sat down in a full compartment with Cedric, Lee, Fred, George, Cho ( a pretty second year Ravenclaw that Cedric and I had come to know) and a couple of others. We walked off the platform together to meet our parents. We were greeted with hugs and kisses, and "welcome back"s. We returned home to our house in the middle of the village of Ottery St. Catchpole. Cedric and I went over to see the Weasley's often. We would spend the day playing exploding snap, or wizard's chess. Ron, the twin's younger brother, was a very good chess player. While Cedric and Ron played chess, Fred, George, Ginny (the youngest child and only girl) and I played exploding snap. This is how we spent most of our summer. The next year, after reading an article in Mum's Witch's Weekly I realized that I didn't have to dress like Cedric to be like Cedric. Also, a lot of the reason that Cedric was who he was, is that he is popular. Part of the reason for this is that he dresses well. So, my style changed from slacks and sweaters, to jeans, skirts, shirts, etc. I felt very confident while packing up my school trunk. I also decided to become more sociable with the students in my year. This became something of a New Year's resolution.

When school finally started again, I was more than happy to board the train. With new books and a new year ahead of me, I was ready. Dad bought me a Nimbus 2000, for me to use in Quidditch. He had not told my mum, for she felt that Quidditch was too rough of a sport for a girl to play. But I was determined to be just like Cedric, and I already had my name down for a position as a chaser. That year, I was allowed to go to Hogwarts in the carriages, like the rest of the school. I went in a carriage with a few students that I recognized from my classes. I tried to strike up a conversation, but it didn't seem to work. So, most of the trip was spent in silence while I twiddled with my bracelet. Once in the Great Hall, the sorting began. It didn't change at all, except for the song, which had been rewritten, but portrayed the same information.

Then, Professor McGonagall began reading names. We received a plethora of new students, including Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbot, Ernie McMillan, Susan Bones, Anthony Goldstein, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, and Michael Corner. The Gryffindors received Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, Ron Weasley (the twin's younger brother) and...

"Potter, Harry!" Professor McGonagall shouted. The hall suddenly went quiet as Harry walked up and put on the sorting hat. There was a silence that seemed to last forever. I could see all the prefects and Quidditch captains hoping and praying that he would be sorted into their house. Finally the sorting hat gave an answer.

"Gryffindor!" it shouted. All the faces of those praying fell, while an eruption was heard from the Gryffindor table. Everyone clapped anyway, trying not to show their disappointment. Even Cedric was looking a bit down, which was unusual for his perpetually sunny personality.

The month wore slowly on. Eventually, Quidditch trials began. I showed up, and auditioned for the Chaser position that they had open. Over the summer, the Weasley's, Cedric and I had been practicing, making sure to fly low, so as not to be seen by muggles. Anyway, I showed up, and was put to the test against their keeper. I managed to score three goals. The captain was obviously impressed, because as soon as I landed, he told me I had made the team.

Soon we were practicing every night, which didn't leave much time for homework, friends, or gaining popularity. I was still trying to make more friends, but since my first impression wasn't my best, it was harder than I had expected. Often I found myself coming into the common room near tears. Cedric was always there for me. "What's the matter Megan?" he asked one night.

"You wouldn't understand," I told him.

"Why not? Please tell me."

"After Quidditch practice, I went to the library, to do my homework. I was in one aisle, and a few second year Hufflepuffs were talking about me in the next one over. They were saying things like 'she's got an attitude' or 'she shouldn't be a Hufflepuff, she's too loud' or 'she gives us Hufflepuffs a bad image,' " I explained. I began to cry.

"Well, it's obvious that they don't know you like I do. You are the perfect Hufflepuff. You are smart, pretty, hard-working, and brave. Braver than me even." This shocked me. I never would have seen myself as braver than my brother. It just didn't seem possible.

"But it's all true. I'm not supposed to be in Hufflepuff, I'm supposed to be in Gryffindor. The sorting hat told me so." Cedric looked confused. "But I told the sorting hat, in my head that I didn't want to be a Gryffindor. I wanted to be a Hufflepuff, just like you. That's why I can't make any friends in Hufflepuff. Because I'm nothing like them."

"If the sorting hat didn't think that you belonged in Hufflepuff, then why did it put you here? There must be some sort of reason."

"I told the sorting hat that I wanted to be in Hufflepuff. It knew that I would be just as miserable if I weren't in the same house as you." Tears were still pouring down my cheeks. All the other Hufflepuffs were too busy doing their homework to notice that I was crying.

"Well, I still think that you are a fantastic Hufflepuff. Mainly because we are going to clobber the Ravenclaws this weekend." I couldn't help but laugh, which made all the Hufflepuffs in the common room shush me. I hugged Cedric. He always had a way of making me feel better about myself. Maybe it has something to do with knowing that the person you hope to be like is supporting you, and watching out for you. "Trust me. As soon as we beat the Ravenclaws, everyone will be wanting to be your friend." It was a comforting thought, knowing that if I helped beat the Ravenclaws, that everything would be perfect. This thought made me work even harder during Quidditch practices. I felt that I had to live up to Cedric's expectations and beat the Ravenclaws.

When the day finally came, Cedric made sure that I was feeling confident about myself. I was, seeing what I could do during practices, but games were a completely different story. Your teammates know what you are doing in practices, while in games, you can catch them off guard. In practices, the plays are choreographed, while in games, the opponent may have an interesting approach to a play, causing it not to work. We did end up beating the Ravenclaws, but not by much. Cedric's prediction of after the game was only partially correct. A few die-hard Quidditch fans would come up to me, and say hello in the morning, but only to leave very quickly. At least I was getting a little more attention.

Soon Christmas came. We went home for Christmas. It was a very uneventful break. For that matter, so was the rest of the year, unless you count Harry Potter foiling the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's plot to steal a precious stone an event. But it didn't affect me directly, so I guess not.

By the end of the year, I had a few more friends than I had last year, but the number hadn't gotten too much higher. That summer, our family went to France. It was a beautiful place, but the muggles were plentiful, so not much magic was used, and we basically lived like muggles for several weeks. When school started again, I felt very glad to be leaving muggles behind. I never had anything to talk to them about. I couldn't talk about Quidditch, or Hogwarts, or magic. Most of the time, I would comment on the weather, they would comment on my bracelet, and I would leave. Once we got to Hogwarts, we went through the annual sorting ceremony. No other famous people were sorted this year. Quidditch went on as usual. Classes also began uneventfully. The only treat, were random trips to Hogsmeade.

On Halloween, though a horrible thing happened. After coming from the Great Hall and the Halloween feast, Mrs. Norris, Mr. Filch's cat was petrified. Nobody knew who had done it, but Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger were found at the scene of the crime. Also, red words were written on the wall. It said that the Chamber of Secrets had been opened. Soon, muggle-born wizards and witches were found petrified. Everyone became skittish. Teachers escorted students from class to class. It was not a very good time at all. And then, Fred and George's little sister, Ginny was taken captive in the Chamber of Secrets. Things were horrible. But soon, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley came to her rescue. Then it was summer time once again.

That summer, while watching the muggle news with the Weasley's, we saw that Sirius Black had escaped from prison. Cedric and I rushed home to be with our parents. They were very worried. When the Daily Prophet came, we got full wizard details. He had escaped from Azkaban, a feat that no other person had ever achieved. He was now looking for Harry Potter! Dementors would be sent to Hogwarts in order to keep Black out. Also, they were given permission to administer the Dementor's kiss to him on the spot. This was kind of reassuring, but I still kept thinking that he may burst through the window and kill Cedric or myself with one curse. I frequently had nightmares about such events. Often I found myself running into Cedric's room in the middle of the night, and allowing him to comfort me. He would never get angry if I woke him up. He was always caring. I was quite relieved to get on the train. I felt much safer at school with Dumbledore around, and now with the Dementors coming to guard the entrances, I felt like he would never be able to get in.

The trip on the train was kind of scary. While the rain poured down on the steam engine, we stopped in the middle of a dark and spooky forest. Then, the lights flickered. A cold presence swept over me. A dementor had just boarded the train. The rest of the trip was very cold and unhappy. When we reached the castle, everyone was more than happy to get inside and dry off. The rest of the first couple months resumed. Soon, we had our first Quidditch match. The first game of the season was supposed to be Gryffindor versus Slytherin, but due to a problem with their seeker's arm, Hufflepuff would be playing Gryffindor. Cedric had been named the Quidditch captain, and had managed to fill all the vacancies in a short period of time. The day of the match was horrible. The rain made it impossible to see anything and the wind didn't help either.

We all walked out onto the field, wearing yellow robes. Before the first whistle was blown, we were soaked to the bone. Even with the rain and wind, we managed to score a few goals. But even with our few goals, we were fifty points behind. At that point, Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor keeper and captain called for a time-out. "We are down by fifty points, but we can make it still. Chasers, we need as many points as possible. I will do my best to catch the snitch, but if not, we need those points to help us in the Quidditch Cup running. Let's go!" We were up in the air for only a few minutes before we had made two more goals. Suddenly, Cedric flattened himself to his broom, speeding towards the Hufflepuff goal. Harry Potter, the Gryffindor seeker was looking in the opposite direction. Only when Wood told him what was happening did he chase after Cedric. The chasers stopped, and I'm pretty sure that the crowd gasped, although I couldn't hear them over the wind. Then, a chill rushed over us, not from the storm, but from the hundreds of Dementors in long black cloaks that were spilling onto the field. I watched as Harry Potter's hand slipped from his broom, falling to the ground. Dumbledore caught him with a levitating spell, and brought him back to the castle, but before anyone could do anything, his broom collided with the Whomping Willow, a large tree that hits back.

While all this was happening, Cedric was pleading with Madam Hooch to allow a rematch. She stood firm in saying that Hufflepuff had won fair and square. Cedric had caught the snitch as Harry fell. He felt bad that he had won because of the dementors. Then Oliver Wood came over and shook Cedric's hand. "Well done Diggory. You've won," he said in a monotone voice. Cedric tried to ask for a rematch, but no one would give it to him. The rest of the year continued slowly. There were a few instances with Sirius Black breaking into the castle. At one point they caught him, but he slipped through their fingers. The dementors were relieved from their duties when Harry Potter was almost "kissed" by a dementor.

We returned home, to Ottery St. Catchpole. That summer, continued rather dully until Dad came home one day, thrilled about something.

"What's happened Dad? Have they caught Sirius yet?" I asked.

"No. I've got even better news!" he remarked.

"Even better that catching a wanted convict?" Mum asked, surprised.

"Yes, much better than that!"

"What could be better than that?" asked Cedric, getting anxious.

"I've got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup!!!!!" He practically screamed. Cedric and I

jumped up from the chairs where we were sitting.

"YOU'VE GOT TICKETS!!!!!" Cedric and I exclaimed at the same time.

"Or rather, Cedric and your father have tickets," my mum corrected.

"What do you mean?" Dad asked.

"Well, you know how I feel about the sport. It's too violent for a young woman to be participating in. I would feel much more comfortable if Megan didn't accompany you this time." I was speechless, which rarely happened. I began playing with my bracelet, as I did when I was confused, mad, sad, or experiencing any other negative emotion.

"But Mum, she won't be playing. Just watching," Cedric said in my defense.

"Just the same, I don't want to encourage such a rough game."

"Oh, come on Martha. This is a once in a life time opportunity. She may never see the World Cup played in England for another thirty years!" Dad said, trying to convince Mum. But she stood firm on her decision. In addition to not going to the game, I was dragged through Diagon Ally for Cedric and my school supplies. Not that I needed to be dragged, I just would have rather been at the World Cup. Cedric promised to tell me everything, and bring me a souvenir. After an extremely long day, they returned home. Cedric showed me the program, the Viktor Krum figurine, and the pictures he had taken, while he then recounted everything that happened, from the portkey, to the campsite, to the game, to the Death Eater after party. He didn't seem concerned that something like this happened with such tight security, but I was.

"Why would the Death Eaters try and pull anything with all the Ministry people walking around?"

"They were drunk. They couldn't control themselves," he reassured.

"Are you sure? What if something happens? What if this is a sign of things to come?" He smiled gently.

"There is nothing to worry about. They got the whole situation under control very quickly." Cedric seemed sure that nothing else was going to happen. But somehow, he had not convinced me. That night, at dinner, Dad told us about the Triwizard Tournament that would be held at Hogwarts this coming year.

"It will be amazing. There hasn't been one in over 100 years. Students from Wizarding schools in France and Bulgaria will be coming to Hogwarts. Three champions, one from each school will compete in three tasks. They will be awarded points, and the person with the most points wins," Dad explained.

"Wins what?" I asked.

"Now Megan. I don't want you trying to win something like this. This is dangerous. I don't want you going and getting yourself killed," my mum chided.

"Mum, she's tougher than you think," Cedric said, taking a bite of his potatoes.

"Yes, of course she is. But Dumbledore has recognized that even though special precautions have been taken, that wizards of a certain age will not be prepared to compete in such a difficult competition. Therefore, he has decided that only wizards who are seventeen, or older will be able to compete." Both my and Cedric's mouths dropped.

"Good for him. He may be saving himself a lot of time and trouble by doing it this way," said Mum sourly.

"Anyway, the prize is one thousand Galleons." Once again our mouths dropped open.

"One Thousand Galleons?!" Cedric whispered.

"And your name down in history! The Triwizard Cup is serious business," Dad continued. "You will be eligible to enter Cedric. Why don't you give it a shot. Merlin knows that you could use a thousand galleons once you finish school, and step out into the world."

"But Amos-" Mum started.

"Mum, Cedric's tougher than you might think," I said, smiling at Cedric. He smiled back. Just returning the favor, I thought.