Chapter 53 - First Date
"Ready for food?" Remus asked after a while of silence.
"What time is it?" Sirius then asked.
"Nearly half six..." Remus answered before I interrupted.
"What?!" I yelped in shock whilst jumping from the sofa. "Cedric's going to be here in half an hour! Shit!" I shrieked and ran up the stairs to my room to get ready.
"Girls." Harry sighed.
"She probably heard that." Sirius mentioned.
"Damn right I did." I called back while throwing my hair back into a messy bun and getting started on some light make up on. Afterwards going to the wardrobe that was pretty much empty... I freaked. I had nothing to wear. It wasn't until I searched that I found a plain black rah-rah skirt stuffed in the back. I added a yellow vest, black t-shirt belt and a long owl necklace. After brushing my hair, I slipped on some ballet flats and skipped downstairs. "What do you think?" I asked nervously. Sirius grinned and wolf-whistled. "Shut up."
"I wasn't aware we'd allowed you to go." Remus stated.
"Are you going to stop me? He'll be here soon, you do realise." I smirked.
"I don't reckon we'll stop her, you know." Sirius murmured.
"No. She'll sneak out." Remus added.
"Perhaps we should allow it... Just this once."
"Perhaps..."
"Well then, decision made. Enjoy your boring evening." I replied dryly.
"Well can I ask what on earth your legs are doing out?" Sirius asked seriously then.
"Because it's a date. What? Don't I have nice legs?" I asked back spinning.
"Of course." Remus replied immediately.
"Bit inviting for him aint it." While Sirius replied.
"Sirius!"
"Remus!"
"Boys!" I called to stop the argument.
"Sirius has a point, it's a bit short." Harry added.
"And what would you know Harry Potter! I don't reckon you've yet looked twice at a girl. Or even noticed that Hermione and I are girls. I'm afraid we're simply much more than you and Ronnie." I smirked.
"Are not." Harry replied with his tongue out.
"Mature." I rolled my eyes at him as there was a knock at the door, everyone in the room froze.
"Sirius." Moony hissed. Padfoot sighed then changed into his dog form before I answered the door. There he stood. I nibbled at my lip as I took in the sight of Cedric, with his hair slicked back and in black trousers and a checked red top, holding a bunch of white Calla Lilies. My favourite.
"Hi." Cedric said then he held out the flowers. "For you."
"Thanks." I grinned as I took them, blushing slightly. "Come in." We walked both inside as Harry, Remus and Padfoot seemed to stand in a line.
"Hiya Harry, Professor. And who's this wonderful dog? He looks kind of like the Grim." Cedric grinned. I smirked at the dog.
"This is Snuffles." I replied. "He's a bit of a dopey dog."
"Hello Snuffles." Padfoot growled back. Cedric drew back his hand instantly.
"Oi! None of that or I'll lock you outside in the garden." I glared at Sirius, he whined slightly.
"Amazing." Cedric whispered. "I don't reckon he's all that dopey." Sirius tail twitched slightly.
"That remains to be seen." I smirked. "I'll just go get a jacket. Behave." I added eyeing the boys before running up the stairs to my room, grabbing the nearest jacket, a black leathery one, plus my wand then running back.
"Make sure she's back for ten, Mr. Diggory." Remus was saying.
"And no funny business." Harry added. I rolled my eyes then cleared my throat with a raised eyebrow when I re-entered the room.
"That is not behaving." I said dangerously eyeing them up. "Let's go then?"
"Brilliant idea." Cedric replied.
"Put these in a vase please, Uncle Remus." I ordered. "They really are beautiful."
"Thanks, just like you." Ced grinned. Harry snorted. I glared. "We off?"
"Yeah." I replied leading him out the door before peering back behind it. "I'll deal with you twats later." I hissed before following Ced.
"Back for ten!" Moony called.
"Bite me!" I yelled back. Before grabbing Ced's hand as he held up his wand, calling the knight bus.
-.-
We were in the finest wizarding restaurant in Diagon Alley, Rendell Raistlin's Ristorante. It was just down the alley beside Eeylops above Florean Fortescue's, chief restaurant for any courting couples such as myself. We were seated and had butterbeers before ordering a pizza to share.
"What do you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?" Ced asked.
"I don't know... I have years yet." I chuckled. "What about you?"
"I think I want to be a curse breaker." He replied thoughtfully.
"I think Ron's big brothers a curse breaker, you could ask him about it. I think perhaps I'll work at the ministry, like father." I added.
"I could see you as more of a Quidditch player." Ced reckoned.
"Maybe both." I giggled. "What are we doing next?"
"Well, I thought we could go into the muggle world and take a walk into Soho Square. It's just down the road, and we could just... talk. What do you think?" He asked.
"Sounds lovely. We could get some hot chocolates to take with us." I added.
"Great." He grinned then paid the bill before walking out of Diagon Alley and up Charing Cross Road, talking all the way. The little park was really quite beautiful; old lamps, something right out of Narnia, lined the gravel path, dotted with little flowers all the gazebo in the middle of the park. It was a wooden black and white building that in the dark was covered in fairy lights. And the whole place was empty. Beautiful and definitely romantic. "What do you think?"
"I never realised just how much of a romantic you really are." I smiled. He held my hand and pulled me to the gazebo where we laid on the benches.
"You're the only person I've been romantic for ever... I thought I'd let my romantic life start off pretty good." Cedric grinned as he stroked my legs on his lap.
"I'm sure the many girls of your future will enjoy it." I smirked.
"Nah, I think I'll just stick with you." He replied.
"Forever?"
"Yeah."
"Forever's a pretty long time."
"I know. I'll enjoy every moment of it. You're pretty special, you know that?" He pushed some hair out of my face as he stroked my cheek.
"As long as you think that, then it's great. You know, you're pretty amazing yourself. I predict many good years." I grinned as he brought down his lips upon mine.
"Why thank you." Cedric whispered. I looked at him serious then.
"I have some secrets. Some that you will think are mad. Illegal stuff." I looked at him nervously.
"What are you talking about?"
"I can't tell you them yet. But you might go mental, they're pretty bad. And not many people know." I was nibbling at my lip as he looked at me confused.
"You haven't killed someone right? You're not a death eater?"
"No and hell no!" I almost shrieked. "I have hurt a death eater... with a very bad curse. At Hogwarts, last year."
"Death Eaters? At Hogwarts?"
"There's either been You-Know-Who or a Death Eater at Hogwarts since I started."
"Voldemort's dead."
"No. Not fully he isn't. And he'll keep coming back. I know it. So does Dumbledore. It's no coincidence... all the stuff that keeps happening every year." I sighed then flashed a grin. "I don't know why we've got so serious on our first date."
"Well, if you think about it... this could be considered our third date. We spent that day in Diagon Alley and at the World Cup. And you're my girlfriend, I want you to be serious with me, baby." He explained.
"I think I'll tell you one more secret. You ready for it?"
"I'm honestly not sure..."
"I'm an animagus... illegally of course. But Uncle Remus knows, and Dumbledore, and of course Harry, Ron and Hermione. And know you." I grinned.
"That's some impressive..."
"I had an incentive. I felt I really had to... so I did. I'm teaching Harry now." I replied.
"Well... what are you? Can I see it?" He asked. I nodded then changed into my Panther. "Wow." I changed back then.
"Thanks."
"You know, we should probably get back. It's nearly ten." Ced pointed out.
"Already?" I sighed. "I don't want to go yet. I can be late."
"I don't want to get in trouble with your Uncle." He replied. I smirked and sat up, then drew him into a deep kiss. "On the other hand..." He threaded his hand into my hair as he held my lips against his, passionately kissing, and stopping only to breathe. "Your brothers would kill me if they knew what I thought about you when we're like this." I smirked and felt daring so I reached my leg over and sat on his lap.
"And just what would your thoughts be about Mr. Diggory?" I whispered in his ear and his answering groan moved me to slowly kiss down his neck. His hands tightened around my waist as I moved back to his lips. He pulled away and looked deep into my eyes.
"You're being ridiculously tempting." He said through almost gritted teeth. I had never seen anyone look at me passionately like I had in his hazel eyes. It made a girl feel pretty good about herself. "We should get you home, Ash."
"Yeah, Uncle Remus might be getting a little pissed." I grinned.
"You need to get off of me then."
"Are you sure you really want me to move?"
"Behave Ash." Ced smirked. I sighed over-dramatically then got off of him and pulled him up. He grabbed me and pulled me to his lips again for a quick delicious kiss.
"Come on." I grinned and weaved his hand into mine as we went to the end of the road and caught the Knight Bus back home. I was nearly half an hour late getting back when we arrived at my front door. "Good night kiss?" Ced smiled and dropped his lips onto mine for a sweet kiss. I grinned and wrapped my arms around his neck and into a deeper kiss, my body pressed against his. "I'll see you later."
"Good night Ash."
"Night Ced." I grinned and opened the front door before going in. Remus was stood waiting for me.
"You're late." He stated.
"Dinner ran over." I replied kicking off my shoes and collapsing on the sofa.
"Good night?" Sirius asked from the arm chair. I nodded and grinned. "No funny business?"
"How old am I Sirius?" I asked him.
"Fourteen." He replied.
"Then doesn't that answer your question." I grinned at him as I skipped towards the stairs.
"I suppose..." Sirius said begrudgingly. I smirked as I popped my head around the corner.
"Of course there was funny business, Cedric's of age in a few weeks." I giggled at the look on their faces then ran to my room. I giggled again thinking about Cedric. It was an amazing first date with a pretty gorgeous guy.