On Saturday morning I awoke at 8am, my stomach a surprising bundle of nerves. I'd joined in with the girls the night before, and it quickly turned into them questioning me all about Cedric Diggory and what he was like. I knew he was popular, I just hadn't realized I was about to become the envy of the fourth year girls. Myra and Alexandra were kind enough to help me pick out an outfit that both maintained the attitude I regularly conveyed and looked nice enough for a date.

We all sat together for breakfast, where I was forced to tell Adrian and Graham that I wouldn't be joining them at Hogsmeade this time. They were more annoyed I hadn't told them sooner, but forgave me with the condition that I introduce Diggory to them if all goes well. I agreed, trying not to think of the butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. When we were finished eating we all walked out of the Great Hall together, my friends all waving at me as they went on ahead. I stood nervously in the entrance hall. This was very new ground for me.

I was just starting to grow impatient when he came into view, his face breaking out into a breath taking smile when he saw me. I smiled shyly as he spoke "I almost worried that you wouldn't be here."

The smile dropped from my face, turning instead into a playful glare "After what my father told me last night I could hardly go back on my word."

His smile stuttered and his face pinkened "He told you?"

I smirked knowingly "Oh, he told me." I briefly mused over the similarity to my father's words at dinner last night before continuing on in a teasing voice "Something about you and nervous muttering?"

He groaned as I gave him a shove towards the doors, following me despite his embarrassment "I really hoped he wouldn't tell you how it went."

A bubbly laugh escaped me "There was no way he wasn't going to tell me. There are very few secrets between me and my father."

He stilled beside me, forcing me to turn back to face him. His face had gone a weird shade of white "I just realized that dating you means that Professor Snape is going to have so much material to insult me with."

I rolled my eyes in amusement "You asked me, not the other way around." When he still didn't move I grabbed his arm, yanking on it to pull him forward "Come on, I've got a list of potions ingredients to get from the apothecary, and then I need to stop and buy some more parchment."

His chuckle drew a smile out of me, but his hand entwining with mine made me flush "An interesting way to spend a date, so I'm just going to follow you around while you run errands all day?"

I shrugged, slowing my pace when we hit an icy patch on the path "If you like. I was just planning on getting that out of the way first, after that you can decide." He opened his mouth, the look in his eye mischievous, making me continue "Just as long as it's not Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. I refuse to let anyone drag me in there again."

He laughed as I shuddered at the memory. When we arrived at J. Pippin's, he pulled the door open for me, grimacing at the smell when he stepped in behind me "I'll never get used to the smell of these places." His expression turned incredulous as I took a deep breath, allowing the smell to soak in "You enjoy the smell of this place?"

I nodded, waving absently at the shopkeeper as I went down the aisle "I've spent more than half my life brewing potions with my father and helping him track down ingredients in apothecaries. The smell of these places is like home to me."

We didn't spend long in there, as I only needed a couple of ingredients. When we stopped for me to get more parchment he raised an eyebrow at the number of rolls I purchased, but kept silent on it. When I was done we walked aimlessly through the village, chatting about whatever we liked. While they were still there, the butterflies were calmed the longer we talked. I was left reassured that he was just as nervous as me every time he stumbled over his words.

He caught me by the arm as I slipped on a hidden patch of ice, and I clung to his arm to help right myself "Merlin I hate the winter!"

"You alright?" I nodded, breathing slowly to calm my heart. We walked more carefully after that, eventually coming to a stop in the clearing in front of the Shrieking Shack "Why do you hate winter?"

I looked up at him as I leaned back against the fence "I just do. It's always cold and icy, and I just can't stand having to bundle up. I get enough of that in the dungeons."

He tilted his head to the side curiously "Why not just use a warming charm?"

I scoffed bitterly, kicking the ground harshly "I would be more likely to maim myself if I tried." He seemed very confused, so I asked "You don't know, do you?" He shook his head, and I resigned myself to some level of embarrassment "My first attempt at the levitation spell I lit the feather on fire and it whipped around the room, almost poked a few eyes out. The second time I performed the mending charm the tea cup I was supposed to be putting back together exploded into tiny pieces."

Astonishment lit up his whole face "Has every major incident in Charms for our year been you?"

I nodded, crossing my arms with a petulant pout "Probably, I have a feeling Flitwick has been preparing for the day I send someone to the hospital wing."

He shook his head, clearly stifling a laugh before he spoke "Well we've all got something we're not so good at."

I frowned, knowing that wasn't the only reason I couldn't perform a charm, but he didn't need to know that. I tucked my hands into my pockets, turning and staring out at the Shrieking Shack. The air between us suddenly felt awkward and tense. It wasn't his fault, he couldn't know it was a touchy subject for me. But it was just a reminder that I really shouldn't be wasting time on a date when I had to focus on figuring out what spell the incantation Dumbledore used on me belonged to.

I had just decided I should go back to the castle when he nudged me, giving me a small smile "Hey, it's alright if charms aren't your strong suit. You're practically a potions master already, and I've seen your work in transfiguration. You're still a good witch, definitely one of the best in our year." I flushed, letting out a shaky breath. Okay, so maybe wasting one day won't kill me. I still couldn't look him in the eye until his laughter forced me to. At my inquisitive look he just shook his head and wrapped an arm around me "I didn't think you'd be so shy."

My eyes rolled as I tugged his arm, pulling him closer to me for some warmth "I have a reputation to uphold, Diggory. Blushing every five seconds is a very good way to ruin it."

He gave me a small frown, pulling me with him as he turned to start walking again "If I'm going to be taking you on dates the least I can get is you calling me Cedric."

I snorted, clapping my hand over my mouth in shock at the sound. His lips twitched as he held back his smile, but it wasn't strong enough to win. That made me sigh, knowing the teasing remark on the tip of my tongue would not go over well this time. Instead I looked up at him briefly, squeaking and gripping him tightly when my foot slipped again. We had to step to the side so I could talk without distraction "I'll agree to using your first name under one condition." He raised an eyebrow, signaling for me to continue "For now, it will only be when we're alone."

"Why?"

I could understand why he was so confused, which is why I didn't protest explaining "Because my father and my friends are all very.." I trailed off, trying to find the right word for it "Custodial?" I shook my head "No, that's a bad word for it. But the point is, I didn't start calling Adrian and Graham by their first names for a very long time. I didn't even call my father 'dad' until I was four or five. Circumstances might be different with the whole dating aspect, but if they hear from anyone that I call you anything other than Diggory in the first few months of this they'll have a cow."

A small smirk grew on his face "Are you scared of what they'll think of me?"

I scoffed, rather unconvincingly "No, I just don't need them pestering me." He hummed, rocking on the balls of his feet with a cheeky grin. My curiosity got the best of me "What?"

He shrugged noncommittally "Nothing, just that you want this to last, which is the only reason you're even agreeing to call me Cedric at all." My own eyebrow raised, but he just wrapped an arm around me and started walking again "You said for the first few months." I was about to respond when he quickly barreled over my voice "Is everything in life a negotiation for you? That's twice you've done this to me."

The sheepish laughter wasn't something I could hide "It's become a habit since people have started asking me favors since second year."

He stopped, opening the door to the Three Broomsticks as he spoke "I never quite got that, how did it start?"

I grinned as the warmth washed over me and we went to find a table "At first everyone wanted my help in potions, then in transfiguration. I always made them pay by helping me with charms, though that's stopped now. Then one of the older Slytherins asked me to give a message to some guy harassing their sibling in Ravenclaw, it just kind of spiraled from there."

We sat across from each other at a table against the wall, and he gave Madame Rosmerta our order when she came by moments later, facing me after "What's the weirdest thing someone's asked you to do?"

I mulled over it for a moment, but very little came to mind "I don't get very many weird requests, none that stick out anyway. I do have a running deal with the Weasley twins where I give them test subjects for their inventions and they test out experimental potions for me. And last year-"

"I thought you hated the Weasleys?"

I grimaced, ignoring the fact that he interrupted me in favor of answering his question "I don't like them, can't really stand their company. They feel the same for me. It's a very strenuous peace that I hold with the twins, but I owe the rest of them nothing good. I've set Slytherins against the youngest boy of their lot a few times already."

He nodded knowingly "That explains the times that a few Hufflepuffs in their year mentioning a grudge Slytherin house apparently has against them."

I shrugged carelessly, unapologetic over my actions "He should know better than to wrong a snake. We protect our own, and he has a knack for attacking the wrong people."

Cedric didn't seem pleased with that, but for whatever reason I wasn't sure. He shook his head, smiling thankfully at Madame Rosmerta when she placed our butterbeers in front of us and continued to another table. He took a sip of his before speaking "And what happened last year?"

It took me a moment to process what he was asking as I traced our conversation, but I quickly jumped in once I remembered "Oh that, Harry Potter and his friends needed my help getting a dragon off school grounds."

My blasé tone clearly took him off guard as he choked on his butterbeer, coughing violently. I waited patiently, a bit worried at how long it took him to recover. He ran a napkin under his nose, the expression on his face looking pained "I'm sorry, did you say a dragon?"

I nodded, elaborating when he said nothing more "Hagrid bought an egg, it hatched in his hut, Harry and his friends asked me to help them get it off school grounds before it got too big."

"And what was your price for doing that?"

"That I got to see it." He looked incredulous, staring at me with a slack jaw. I couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling it gave me "What? Like I'm not going to want to see a real life dragon? I wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity."

He blinked at me "And you weren't scared?" I shook my head, making him whistle "Can't say I wouldn't have been. I hope I never have to face a dragon in my life."

I snickered at that, taking a sip of my butterbeer. We didn't stay much longer after we finished our drinks, Cedric insisted he pay for them both and I begrudgingly allowed him to, under the condition that this was the only time he did. He just gave me a fond smile and shook his head. I didn't understand it, until I realized I'd made yet another deal with him.

The walk back to the castle was relatively quiet, since we were one of the first to leave Hogsmeade. I found myself conflicted over the date ending, and Cedric seemed just the same. He contented himself with making sure that we'd go on another date, and that he'd see me in the library tomorrow anyway. There wasn't any anger or annoyance to be found over him knowing I would be in the library tomorrow.

He escorted me back to the dungeons, stopping with me in front of the entrance to the Slytherin common room. I gave him a small smile, one that felt more awkward than anything. I have no idea how any of this is supposed to go now. Apparently, Cedric did, because he was suddenly as nervous as he'd been on Tuesday.

I raised an eyebrow at him, checking over his shoulder before speaking "You alright, Cedric?"

His face lit up at the sound of his name, sending a fresh jolt of butterflies through me "I didn't think you'd actually call me by my first name." My eyes rolled, but the grin never left his face, even as he bounced on his feet nervously "I, umm, well. I really enjoyed today."

My laughter was soft as I stepped closer to him, placing a hand on either of his arms to still him "Are you trying to launch yourself in the air to fly away?" He shook his head emphatically, making me chuckle "What's got you so nervous this time, then?"

He swallowed heavily before placing a hand on my cheek, stepping close enough for me to feel his breath fan my face. His eyes seemed to search mine, flickering down for just a brief second and meeting mine again "This."

I inhaled sharply as he leaned forward, connecting his lips to mine. It wasn't like how most girls described their first kisses. I didn't feel any fireworks. But it did feel energizing, like adrenaline was pumping through me faster than a dragon could fly. It took me a second to respond, just long enough for him to start to pull away, but I gripped his wrist and reached up around his neck with my free arm. I could feel him smile when I pulled him close again, making me smile as well.

My face was red when we parted, and I buried my face in his chest to hide it. Being this close made it easy to feel him chuckle, his voice sounding deeper "I'll take that as a good sign." I peeked up at him, my breath hitching as his smile grew "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Vanessa."

I could feel my face trying to flush a deeper shade of red, but I fought to make sure it didn't. Reluctantly, I pulled away from him and nodded. He turned and headed off on his own way as I responded "I'll see you tomorrow then, Ced."

I barked out a laugh as he tripped slightly, his face red even as he grinned back at me. That was a reaction I could enjoy over and over again for the rest of my life. I whispered the password to the wall, stepping inside with a small smile still playing on my face. When I got up to the fourth year girls' room I was ambushed by Ember and Lillian, who had stayed at Hogwarts to work on homework. They wanted every detail of my date, and I tried to oblige without giving the whole thing away.

My father wasn't much better, he'd asked how it went the moment I stepped into his classroom to help him with his newly undertaken project. I tried so hard not to react to anything he said, but he knew the kind of buttons to push with me. Thankfully, he didn't actually want any of the details, just enough to know if there would be future dates without any problems.

He was well aware of my hesitation to date anyone, given my condition and what I am. Knowing about those things made it easier for him to soothe any worries I might have, but he didn't know every hang up I had. Those hang ups were reserved for Adrian and Graham to hear about, since they already knew about Dumbledore.

The thing was, all of these things put together left me with one big problem: I was putting the people in my life in danger. Did I really want to bring someone else into that? Even if it didn't last very long, I would have to build this relationship off of more secrets than truths. Just today I had to let him believe that I was just no good at charms, when in reality I was incapable of performing them consistently, and soon enough I would be incapable of performing them at all.

That thought turned my attention back to my main focus for this week. I grabbed the book I'd checked out from the forbidden section, turning it to my marked page of 'O' spells and setting it in front of my work space. My father's new project, the wolfsbane potion, required many expensive ingredients and an experienced hand to make. The ingredients he had me preparing were a part of the steps he was doing tonight, and he wanted me to learn while he made the potion. Some of them could only be prepared as he was putting them into the potion, however, so I had the book there for me to read in between steps.

I'd asked him why he was making the potion before, but he refused to answer, telling me I would know when the time came. It confused me, but I accepted his answer for what it was. I spent the rest of my night helping my father, eating dinner with him in his chambers when we finished. When I got back to the common room it was already past curfew, so I was spared the teasing from my best friends and Harry for the night. I went to bed more at peace than I'd been since I woke up in the hospital wing.