Out of the Woods

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Harry Potter'. All recognisable characters, content or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: Another year comes with another set of challenges, but this time, it's not quite the fatal kind. Not for Elle Potter, anyway. Voldemort still lurks in the shadows, however, and her safety isn't as certain as she would believe. Goblet of Fire but… not. Spans four years. Fem!Harry AU. Elle/Cedric.

Author: tlyxor1.

Chapter One

The girl in the mirror stared back at her, petite and trim, with curves that seemed to have flourished overnight. Her verdant eyes were critical as they assessed her form from bottom to top, and in the end, she came to the conclusion that puberty was a nightmare. Never mind she'd had to put up with her cycle for the last two years already, the discomfort of bras was a misery Elle could do without, but such was life, and the girl supposed there was nothing she could do about it.

The examination of her body led to a study of her face. She'd grown out of the puppy fat that had clung to her cheeks, and in it's wake, her face was slender, with high cheekbones, a button nose, and plump lips stained pink. Verdant eyes were framed by thick black lashes, dark hair cascaded past her shoulders in a tumble of thick, heavy curls, and her scar, ever unwelcome, was hidden behind a box fringe she'd boasted since the age of eleven.

With a grimace at her reflection, Ellie pulled on the dress she'd set aside for the occasion, a pale blue number with thick straps, a clinging bodice, and a skirt that reached mid-thigh. It was one of many garments her newfound cousin had purchased for her in Sirius' name, but as she slipped her feet into the accompanying ballet flats and retrieved her accompanying handbag, her thoughts were on the day ahead and, specifically, the journey to Hogwarts.

There came a knock at her bedroom door, and once she'd opened it, she found Remus on the other side, prematurely aged by the wolf, but smiling, and happier than he'd been the entire school year prior. Sirius' presence back in his life, broken and hollow as he was, had done Remus wonders, and Elle supposed it was part of the pack mentality he adhered to. She hadn't asked, she probably never would, but she was glad to see that her godfather, and the man who might as well have been another one, were finally recovering from the tragedy that had destroyed all their lives.

"Are you ready?" He queried.

"Yes," she confirmed, and followed Remus' descent into the basement kitchen of her new home.

12 Grimmauld Place had been rather unpleasant at the start of summer, but with the destruction of most every black magic artefact within the townhouse, and the hard work of Dobby and Winky, it had been transformed by the end of July. The dark decor and grimy windows had been replaced by light, neutral colours, the rooms brightly illuminated by sunshine, and it hadn't taken long for Elle to consider it her home.

"Have you got everything, Ellie?" Sirius enquired. He was stretched out in a chair at the small kitchen table, the 'Daily Prophet' in front of him, but his gaze on Elle herself, grey eyes fathomless behind thick lashes. He was on the road to recovery, far less gaunt than he had been, but he still had a long way to go, and a lot of hurdles to climb. She didn't think he'd ever be the same man he had been before Azkaban though. He was far too jaded by the hardships life had thrown his way. He was part of her life, at least, and that was more than Elizabeth had ever dared to dream for.

"Yes, Sirius," she confirmed, mildly exasperated. She wasn't used to the attention of parental figures, was instead accustomed to taking care of herself, and though a part of her appreciated their attentiveness, was even grateful that she now had two adults in her corner, the rest of her rankled at the treatment.

"Time to go, then," Sirius acknowledged.

Elizabeth herself smiled gratefully, approached the fireplace, and deposited a handful of floo powder into the crackling flames. She stepped inside, called out her destination, and disappeared from Grimmauld Place in a whirl of emerald fire.

Fireplaces flew past her in a blur of light and colour, Elizabeth put her weight on one foot, and as she was spat out onto platform 9 and 3/4, she took a few skipping steps forward until her momentum had slowed, and her balance had returned. She looked around her, the station the very same as it had been at the start of summer, and she smiled fondly at the sight of the Hogwarts Express. Behind her, Sirius and Remus stepped through the flames, the motions almost artistic in their ease, and the girl envied their grace.

The sensation was fleeting."Are you excited to be headed back?"

She tilted her head side to side, and shrugged. "More or less."

It had been an exciting summer. She'd moved in with Sirius and Remus, she'd visited her friends and they'd visited her in return. She'd written letters to others, back and forth in a loop that had only ended the day before. Finally, she'd had the distinct pleasure of attending the Quidditch World Cup with her friends, and Elizabeth had been entirely serious when she'd insisted that it had been the best summer of her life. For that, she was sad to see it come to an end, but she was excited for the year ahead as well, and it was also nice to know she'd have Sirius and Remus at home, waiting for her, when she returned.

"Try not to stress too much about your OWL's," Remus advised, "Have fun. Arguably, Hogwarts will be the best years of your life."

"I will," Elle assured, hugged them both, and made her way towards the train. Her trunk was the size of a matchbook in her handbag, Hedwig was probably already at Hogwarts, and Elizabeth boarded without incident, unable to shake the melancholy she felt. For the first time, it felt as though she was leaving a part of herself behind, and as she glanced over her shoulder, and caught sight of Remus and Sirius watching her, Elle supposed she was.

Inside their usual compartment, Elle found Ron and Hermione in the midst of another one of their spats. A prefect's badge gleamed on the breast pocket of Hermione's blazer, and Elle was neither surprised to find that Hermione was already in her uniform, and had been assigned the prefect responsibility for the Gryffindor girls in her year.

"Hello, Ellie," Nora greeted, and Elle returned the address in kind, happy to see her quietest friend.

Elle had visited with Ron and Hermione, and a number of others during the Quidditch World Cup, but Nora had spent her holiday hiking through the Amazon, and though she didn't begrudge her friend her adventures, Elle hadn't been fond of the consequent radio silence from the Longbottom heiress. They'd bonded over their shared status as orphans and their respective inheritances, and the expectations they were burdened by, and Elle had missed her - a lot.

"How are you? how was Brazil?"

"Wonderful," Nora replied, "Though I could have done without the insects. On the bright side, I've gotten really good at insect repellent charms."

"I'll bet," Elle agreed, dropped herself into the seat beside her friend, and cast her gaze onto the platform. "You'll have to teach me some. They'll probably come in useful someday."

As Ron and Hermione, after properly greeting Elle, took off for the prefect's meeting, the two girls used the opportunity to catch up on their respective lives. As it happened, Nora had indulged in a summer romance with a wizard from Columbia, and Elle soaked up the details, excited for her friend.

"What about you?" Nora queried, "You and Cedric had that thing going on at the end of last year."

That thing had been a mutual flirtation between seekers, and perhaps had the year not come to an end, it would have become something more. They'd exchanged letters though, and she'd gotten to know him better for it, and Elle was excited to see him again. The time and distance had done nothing about her attraction for him, and rather, the letters probably just gave her feelings a depth they'd previously lacked.

"I don't know," she shrugged, "I guess we'll see."

She withdrew her trunk from her handbag, enlarged it on the floor,and floated it onto the racks overhead. She'd have to retrieve her uniform later, but there was still several hours until they reached northern Scotland, and as the rain began to pelt down outside, Elle thought she should enjoy her summer clothes while she still could.

After a while in which most of their conversation topics had been exhausted, Elle withdrew a novel from her bag, propped her feet against the opposite bench, and immersed herself in the tragedy that was Katherine and Heathcliff, ignorant of the students that passed their cabin by.

That is, of course, until Cedric Diggory made his appearance.

Elle smiled up at him, unsurprised to find that he'd grown over the holidays. An inch or two taller, and his shoulders broader than she recalled, he still wore that same lopsided smile on his face, and when he asked to talk alone, Elizabeth couldn't refuse.

Instead, she linked their fingers together, and side by side, they meandered down the train until they'd found an empty compartment in the very last carriage. He closed the door behind them, and after a hug that didn't last nearly long enough, the sixth year guided Elle to settle beside him, far closer than a platonic friendship really called for.

The thought made her stomach churn with nervous anticipation, and as she gnawed at her lower lip, she silently hoped that Cedric had sought privacy for a reason.

"What is it?" She queried, when he only smiled at her. His thumb traced patterns into the hand he still held, and the sensation seemed to burn right through her. "I'm nervous."

"I'm really glad we wrote this summer," Cedric informed her, "And I was just… well, I really like you, Elle, and I wondered if you'd go out with me? I mean, I know there won't be a Hogsmeade weekend until October, but I didn't think I could wait that long, and I've wanted to ask you for ages, but I felt like I didn't really know you until this summer, and I'm kind of barmy for you, so, will you? Go out with me, that is?"

Elle's smile was beatific. "I'd love to, Cedric."