Title: Attraction To A Wallflower
By: Smurf
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related trademarks, although it would be really cool if I did.
Note: Enjoy the Nedric slashy goodness!
Attraction To A Wallflower
Part III: Struggling
The Hogwarts Express had stopped rather abruptly, the lights had gone out, and a feeling that could only be called despair had seeped its way into Cedric Diggory's now sixth year self. The shadowy figure he had managed to make out floating ominously through the aisle had nearly caused him to cower in the corner like a three-year-old girl afraid of the bogeyman. In truth, about the only thing closer would be a Bogart. He shuddered at the thought, before silently hoping that Neville would be all right. He hastily amended that thought to include the rest of the train as well, before heading off -like a good prefect- to check on the rest of the students. Even Draco Malfoy, whom he didn't care for in the least (didn't the pale Slytherin have anything better to do with his time than torment Neville and his mates?). The train got underway once more, and all those aboard couldn't have been more relieved.
Cedric sighed as he sat through that years Sorting Ceremony; it had just become so predictable. He had been playing the Sorting Game for years now, and he had only ever been wrong once. He couldn't keep his gaze from wandering over to the Gryffindor table, where it sought out non other than Neville Longbottom. Neville, he noticed, had grown up quite a bit over the summer. He was taller, and leaner too, but his face remained the same; round and kind, and when he smiled, those twin dimples still flashed most becomingly.
Over the course of the summer Cedric had come to terms with the fact that his feelings for Neville were not going away anytime soon, nor was it simply an infatuation. No. Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff, heartthrob, Quidditch captain, and Seeker was most definitely in love.
Of course, that love was unrequited, at the moment, but there was always hope. Cedric knew that there was a chance- a rather large one actually- that Neville Longbottom didn't bat for the all boys team, but, then again, neither did Cedric; he was a co-ed kind of guy. Then there was the whole age difference problem, however that was beginning to matter to the tall boy less and less. He had already decided to tell Neville exactly how he felt about him… Only not yet, after all the sandy haired Gryffindor was only thirteen, and who really knew their sexuality at thirteen? He hadn't. He had been fourteen before he had discovered that he could appreciate both male and female beauty.
So Cedric would wait one more year, he would wait until Neville was fourteen, and would have at least an inkling of in which direction his interests lay. He figured that to be the best course of action, though his decision to wait could have also been due to the fact that he feared being rejected, and thus the owner of a broken heart. Still, he contented himself to wait, just one more year.
The presence of Dementors made everyone a little nervous, and Cedric was no exception. After all, they were very unpleasant creatures by nature- actually, come to think of it, there was nothing natural about Dementors at all. They were twisted, and wrong, and Cedric resented the fact that they were there at all, even if he did understand the reason behind their presence. However, even their presence didn't stop Sirius Black from getting inside the school.
The night that Sirius attacked the portrait of the Fat Lady, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Hufflepuff Seeker. All of the students were made to sleep in the Great Hall… all of the houses together in the same room, and as luck would have it, Neville Longbottom just happened to choose the sleeping bag directly ahead of his. He was so close to the younger boy that he could make out even the faintest sound Neville made in his sleep. Smiling, and contented, Cedric allowed himself to be lulled to sleep by the shy Gryffindor's slow rhythmic breathing.
Cedric and Neville moved in different circles at the school, so it was understandable that they hadn't had the opportunity to converse with each other one on one. As a matter of fact they had barely spoken two words to one another in the three years that Cedric had been aware of the younger boy's existence. Perhaps that was why the simple exchange they had the morning after the Fat Lady was attacked had left him grinning like a fool. Cedric had sat up, yawned, cracked open his eyes only to see Neville doing the same, and he had smiled and said, "Good morning Neville," and then Neville, his hair mussed from sleep, had offered him a sleepy, dimpled smile, that looked simultaneously sultry and adorable, and replied, "Oh, good morning Cedric."
Who had known that such a simple thing could bring so much happiness?
The next time that Cedric got to see the object of his affection- outside of the regular mealtimes- was at the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match. Of course it had originally been scheduled as a Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match, however, the Slytherin team's Seeker, Draco Malfoy's arm was still too injured to allow him to play- the lying, cheating, faking git! Still he was excited to see Neville in the stands watching him play, even if the Gryffindor wouldn't be cheering for Hufflepuff or himself. Not that he would expect anything else from his loyal lion.
The game had gone horribly, at least in Cedric's mind. To the rest of the team it had been a smashing success. Yes, Hufflepuff had won the match, and Cedric had caught the Golden Snitch, but only because a bloody Dementor had gotten hungry and decided to feed off of Harry's emotions. That was why Cedric had caught the Snitch, and that was why he had tried to arrange a rematch. Besides, seeing Neville's look of concern as Harry was carted off to the infirmary very nearly cleaved his heart in two. All in all it was a joyless win.
But, Harry got better, Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup for the first time in years, Wood got to graduate happy, Sirius Black was captured (even if he did manage to escape somehow), Buckbeak managed to avoid execution, the Dementors were gone, Professor Lupin resigned, and Cedric continued to think about, dream of, and care for Neville Longbottom.
And next year he would tell the shy sandy blonde boy how he felt.
Here ends Part III of Attraction To A Wallflower.
Only one more part of this story to go before I post the two companion pieces, Attraction To A Hufflepuff, and Nedric. Once again I find myself liking this less than the first part. I knew that there was a reason I intended this to originally be a one-shot drabble. Oh well, there isn't much you can do when plot bunnies attack.
Thanks to all of you who have read this and especially to those of you that have reviewed.
dogdemoninuyashaandkagome: Another review! Yay!
Dead Uchiha: A Sasu/Naru version? Hmmm… lol! You do have a one-track mind. But hey, so do I. I was planning on doing this as an AU Sasu/Naru thing, until an hour and twenty minutes before I went to start typing it up, and well it came out as this (maybe it had something to do with the fact that I had been watching Harry Potter). YAY! I'm glad you picked up on my pure and oh-so-innocent dirty humor. Gold star, and dirty pictures of Naruto and Sasuke in that hospital bed for you (you know what I'm talking about- Sakura may not have had a camera, but Jamesie sure did.)! Hands over said objects while thanking her dead friend profusely for the now rather large pile of Oreo's
SasukeBlade: Well, I'm very pleased that you're glad that I'm continuing this fic. Well, unfortunately, the next chapter will be my last for this particular tale. However, it will be much longer than the others so far. After this I'm going to write Neville's POV; it will be posted in a separate fic though. Oh And thanks for the sympathy flame! I finally got to roast marshmallows. I even made s'mores! LOL.
Lyddie: I was shocked to find that I am the only person that seems to like writing for this pairing. I'm glad to know that you find it interesting though. Good reviews make my day.