Chapter Two

A Morning Conversation

The day after the second task was one not so different from the previous. Although the four Champions did not have to plunge into the freezing, murky lake again, people were still celebrating a Hogwarts victory. Frowning, Elizabeth sat at the Hufflepuff table, nonchalantly nibbling on a roll as she read the Daily Prophet. There was a picture of Cedric on the front cover, waving and smiling, dripping wet, as his friends and followers jumped around excitedly next to him. There was an article on him and Cho, fondly written by Rita Skeeter. Disgusted, Elizabeth thrust down the paper, folding it up angrily. As she did this, though, her eyes caught sight of someone slipping on the bench directly in front of her. Moving her eyes up as she slid the paper into her bag, she could not believe what her vision showed her. Cedric Diggory was looking at her from across the breakfast filled table, smiling cheekily at her. Blinking, she returned his smiled after staring at him, dumfounded, for a few moments.

"'Ello there, Torrington…" he said in his deep but quiet voice, the voice that made Elizabeth's insides melt to pumpkin juice every time it rang through her ears. He reached over and grabbed a roll, and then began to pile his plate with food, occasionally glancing at her as he did so.

Nervously trying to keep her hands busy, Elizabeth began to rip up her roll into pieces on her plate, occasionally eating a small piece. Smiling sheepishly at him, she fidgeted in her seat. "'Ello Cedric…" she replied. It was very odd, him sitting with her at breakfast, without his usual group. Glancing around, attempting not to look odd, she noticed that not one of his usual male friends were in the Great Hall. Cho, though, had just entered. There was also, oddly, a couple of sixth year girls at the end of the table that usually followed Cedric around. They were eyeing the two suspiciously, leaning towards each other, chattering nonsense and whispering to each other. Looking back at Cedric, she shifted her legs a bit underneath the table.

"How are you doing this morning?" Cedric asked after a moment of buttering a bagel, and he looked at her again. His eyes were sparkling, Elizabeth noticed, and this made her stomach do a flip.

"I'm fine, how are you?" She asked innocently. Stuffing a piece of bacon into her mouth, she tried to keep her hand from shaking slightly. Her mind was racing from one thought to another. She thought if her hair looked alright, if there was something on her face, if there was something on her sweater. Running a trembling hand through her long brown hair, she tried not to seem like she was staring at him. She could not, though, keep her eyes off of him.

He smiled over at her, shifting his own weight a bit on the bench. Cedric, whom had just woken up, as his attempts to fall asleep last night were disastrous- he was very tired that morning- had felt relived when he saw Elizabeth seated by herself at the Hufflepuff table. He was even more relived when he noticed that none of his friends were around. Maybe today he could get in a regular conversation with her.

She seemed a little jumpy this morning, a bit nervous as he talked to her. He was concerned, although he found it utterly adorable. Smiling at her, he continued to eat his bagel, trying to speak friendly with her.

"I'm a little tired…" he said to her. He felt eyes on his back, boring into his hair. Turning his head a bit, he noticed Cho staring at him. Grimacing to himself, he flashed a quick smile at her as she beamed at him and waved. Turning back around to face Elizabeth before Cho could do anymore; he smiled more prominently at her. "Have you done all your homework for our N.E.W.T classes?" He asked her, attempting to make more of a conversation than about how he had slept that night.

Elizabeth stumbled over her words a bit, stuttering only a little, trying to control herself. "Well, yes…I suppose I'm almost done. It's been piling up so…Still have Potions…" she wrinkled her nose a bit, and looking ghastly, she thought herself, but adorable in Cedric's eyes. She did not know this, though. He kept smiling at her.

"Well, you are most likely way ahead of me…Haven't even started half the rubbish I need to finish…" he said, a bit of a laugh dancing around his words.

Elizabeth smiled, relaxing a bit. "Well, that could be potentially problematic…although I'm sure a few Professors would let you off the hook…I mean, you are the Tri-Wizarding champion and all…I would think saving your neck from dragons and Merpeople would come before Arithmancy and Potions essays…" Laughing a bit, she tossed her hair gently over her shoulder.

Cedric smiled at her. Elizabeth was an extremely smart girl. He always wondered how she came up with some of the things she did and said. She was always so quiet, but when they struck up a conversation, she was very intelligent, and very charming. He, however, found himself to be bumbling and obnoxious sometimes. Nodding at her, he let out a short laugh. "I suppose so…Although; Professor Snape doesn't see it your way. He should, though…" Putting down his half eaten toast, he glanced at the clock.

Elizabeth was doing so as well. "Speaking of Professor Snape…" she said warily, biting her lip. It was half past nine. In only ten minutes, the pair of them, and the rest of the Hufflepuff Gryffindor sixth years had to be in the Dungeons for Potions class.

"Bloody hell! We're going to be late…" Grabbing his bag, he glanced at her. "Want to walk with me?" he asked her. It was a stupid question; he had just wanted to see her reaction. They were both walking to the same destination, anyhow.

Elizabeth was in mid grab, also in mid rise from her bench. Stopping, she looked at him. Immediately, her face turned red. "Well, I suppose…sure why not." She spat out quickly. She swung her leg over the bench, placing her bag strap on her shoulder. Adjusting her school robes, and her knee-length black skirt, she glanced at him a few times as the two walked to the end of the table.

Cedric smiled at her as the two met at the end, and began to walk towards the Great Hall doors together. He eyed her a bit, whenever he could risk it, as they hurried towards the dungeons. They did not speak, in fear of halting their speed towards the classroom. Cedric only spoke when they were safely running down the steps towards Snape's dungeon with six minutes to spare.

"I guess, since I won't be able to talk to you during class, I'll see you later when we supervise the first years…" he said as he opened the door for her.

Elizabeth had a bewildered look on her face, but smiled at him nonetheless. "Thank you…and yes, I will see you then…" Cedric flashed her another smile before walking off to his table with his friends, leaving Elizabeth to walk to her table, sitting down, her mind racing of what had just gone on…