Author's Note: I didn't expect this to be another chapter…it was supposed to be connected to chapter one…which was supposed to be a memory.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the song.

Let's pretend

That I've moved on

Then I'll tell myself

That life goes on without you

Open my eyes

Look deep inside…

-Britney Spears, I Run Away

I was walking down the hallways, when I saw Malfoy walking toward me. He passed, bumping his shoulder to mine on purpose.

He fell down, just as I did.

"Look what you've done!" he shouted.

"It's not my fault you didn't bother to look at where you're going! And you hit me on purpose!" I retorted, surprised that I had done so.

"And how dare you speak to me like that! You have no right to be in the wizarding world. Dumbledore ought to be ashamed that you walk around this school's hallways. Filthy mudblood!"

His friends, Crabbe and Goyle, helped him up as he brushed away dust from his cloak. He ran a hand through his blonde hair, still keeping the smug smirk on his face.

I felt my tongue freeze as he said the word. My lips moved, but I couldn't say a word. Nothing could be said to him that was lower than what he had said.

"Malfoy!"

I turned around to see Cedric Diggory walking toward us, almost glad that he was coming to help…almost.

"Causing more trouble, I see. Would you like another detention with professor Flitwick tonight. Looks like you deserve it."

My eyes traveled to Malfoy who just walked away, bumping Cedric the same way he had done to me. Stupid ferret boy still didn't learn his lesson.

"Are you okay?" I looked up to see Cedric holding out a hand for me.

I nodded, realizing that I was still sitting on the floor. "Thank you."

I smoothed out my skirt. It felt weird…since what had happened a week ago.

"And what were you doing with Malfoy? I heard you two bickering, and it seemed like you don't like each other very much," he smiled again. It was hard to tell if it were real or just out of pity.

I smiled, wiping away a tear that I had no idea was there. "Yeah…I think it's natural for Gryffindors and Slytherins to hate each other. You know…the evil and the brave."

He chuckled. "Would you like to take a walk with me?" asking the question he had asked that night…

"A walk would be nice."

We started to walk. Then continued outside…near the lake. I felt uneasy, as if walking with a boy…and older boy… made me feel conscious. And it did. It felt weird…the way he had helped me today. The way he smiled at me… That night…

"Malfoy…he…he said something…" he refused to look back at me, as I turned to face him.

I looked away. Shoot, why did he have to hear that. It was bad enough that Harry, Ron, and the Slytherins knew…but now, Cedric?

"It's true," I said, a lump rising to my throat. "Is that why you wanted to walk with me?"

I saw him struggle for words. "Not really…"

"Then what else do you want to know? What do my parents do? What's it like to have a muggle family and study in the wizarding world?" I couldn't control myself, feeling the cold tear as it rolled down my cheeks. I quickly wiped it away.

"No…that's not it…" he said defensively, stepping in front of me.

"Good Night, Cedric." I started to walk away, the snow rustling past my boots.

He grabbed me by the hand, and I was almost glad that he did. "Wait," I turned around.

"Look, I know something happened between us, but that doesn't change anything-" I continued angrily.

"Yes it does!" he answered.

"Yeah…how?" I asked. "You should have a good night's sleep. The triwizard tournament is still ongoing…and you need the energy for your tasks. Plus…you need to find a date for the Yule Ball…that's about a week or two from now. No need to waste it on a mudblood." I wiped away more tears. I hated that I was walking away again, just as I had before.

He grabbed me by the shoulders. "What if I want to!" he said frustratingly. "What if I want to go with you? What if I don't want to go with a pureblood? So what if you're a mudblood? It doesn't change anything…it doesn't change what happened that night…you know there's something there…why do you have to be so scared?"

"I have faced more than what you are facing in the triwizard tournament right now…so you have no right to say that I am scared. I AM NOT SCARED. That was just one night. It can't change my life. I WON'T LET IT CHANGE MY LIFE." I looked down…letting the tears fall quietly. I cried for the fact that what he had said was all true…and I was lying once more. I WANTED it to change my life. I WAS afraid…

He lifted my chin to face him. Just as he did that other night… he leaned in, his lips barely brushing past mine. I felt my heart beat loudly in my ears as he inched closer.

He pulled away, and pulled me to a tight hug.

I was sobbing quietly as he rustled his hands through my hair. We stayed like that for a few minutes, until my tears subsided.

"Are you okay?" he asked again.

I nodded. "Good night, Cedric." I said again. And I walked away, as if nothing had happened. I could see from the corner of my eyes that he was walking away as well.

Leaving unseen footsteps…but marking a time in our lives…that can't be erased.

Author's Note: Should I write another chapter for this? What about the Yule Ball…if you review me enough…I will:D