A/N: Well, here it is! Chapter 2. I'd like to express my gratitude and wish all of my reviewers a Happy New Year!You are very much valued and appreciated. I will post individual thank-you'sin theficsoon. Also, a note to Iris Knotwise- I'm not sure about the beta thing. I'm not sure how it works. It was stupid of me asking for one. Please let me know and accept my humblest apologies. As an apologypresent-of-sorts, I'm dedicating this chapter to you. I'm so sorry. Please don't stop reading! That would honestly kill me. Okay, well, here it is, Iris Knotwise's chappie!

Disclaimer:I don't own Harry Potter. And that, my friends, is a depressing fact of life. I'm not sure if I had a disclaimer in my first chap, but trust me, I didn't own it then and I sure as heck don't own it now.

Slowly

The walk to the library seemed to take forever and a leap year. I didn't know what to say, or even if I was supposed to say anything at all. I snuck a glance at Cedric and was surprised (and a bit embarrassed) to find him looking at me, too. I gave him a small smile and quickly turned away before he saw me blush. I heard what sounded like a faint laugh from Cedric, which made me feel even worse.

"You're awfully shy for a Gryffindor," stated Cedric, raising his eyebrows at me, a slight grin on his lips.

"Uh...uh...I never was terribly good at talking to other people," I said, mentally smacking myself for sounding so stupid.

"Really? You don't seem like that kind of person," he smiled one of those smiles again and I wrinkled up my forehead, trying desperately to figure out where I knew it from.

"Is something wrong? Or o I have some dinner in my teeth?" Cedric asked playfully. I mumbled an apology and looked away. Cedric laughed, a deep, beautiful sound that made me think of waterfalls and sunshine and dancing in the rain.

"I was kidding, Bre."

"Oh." By this time, we had reached the library. I pushed open the door and walked in. Professor Flitwick was standing on a table, pointing his wand at a falling, toothed book. Madame Pince was cowering near her desk, her eyes wide.

"Um, Professor? Is this a bad time?" I asked tentatively, dodging the monstrous book.

"Oh, yes, I'm really very sorry, but we have to get this book under control. It's really very dangerous," squeaked flitwick in his high voice. Doing our best to avoid the attacking book, Cedric and I scooted out of the library.

Sighing, I said, "Well, that was a waste of time. I guess I'll just finish my essay later."

"Yeah, I guess so..." Cedric said, a little dejectedly.

"I'll see you around," I said, offering him a bright smile. I turned and began to walk away. I hadn't gone ten feet when someone grabbed my elbow.

"Er...sorry about that," Cedric pulled away his hand, looking at his feet.

"Don't worry about it," I said, suddenly very interested in my thumbnails.

"Would you like to go for a walk? I mean, if you don't mind. Uh, er...I mean..." Cedric stuttered, his face turning a light pink.

"I'd love to go for a walk."

"Honestly? Uh...n-never mind," Cedric turned a pale red and looked away as he offered me his arm. Surprised, I timidly took his arm and we headed to the great outdoors.

Cedric and I walked along, my left arm resting comfortably in the crook of his right elbow. We didn't say anything for a while, until Cedric asked me where the most amazing place I'd ever been to was.

I thought for a minute, before saying, " Hogwarts. It's so...I dunno. There's just something about it, something threatening, but in a beautiful way. How about you?"

"Paris, last summer with my parents," Cedric said.

"Wow...I've always wanted to visit Paris. It's supposed to be the romance capital of the world." I clamped my mouth shut quickly before anything else idiotic spewed out of it.

Luckily, Cedric didn't seem to notice my embarrassment as he continued, "It was- at least for my parents. I was a bit bored there. I didn't have anyone to see the real beauty of Paris with. If it weren't for the food, I would've lost my mind."

'That last part was added pretty quickly,' I thought, smiling to myself. Unconsciously, I shivered. Cedric gently removed my arm from his elbow and pulled me into his cloak with him. He wrapped his arm around me and I leaned my head on his shoulder, shocking myself. I began to pull away.

"No, it's warmer like that," said Cedric. I looked up at him and my eyes were drawn to his. Silently, I leaned down again.

'I think I'm falling for him. Slowly.'

A/N: So, what did you think? You know the drill, so let me know!