It was Saturday morning and Ginny was getting ready for tea with Mrs. Diggory in her gloomy room at Grimmauld Place. She was wearing her favorite dress-which was peach in color and had flowers dotted around it in varying colors with a piece of ruffle lining the v-neck centre. It was a warm summer's day and so she wasn't planning to spend it in her usual attire of jeans and a plain shirt. She actually felt like looking girly for the first time in ages.
Unfortunately, Grimmauld Place was so dark and it barely let in much light, so she was happy to be going out today. Her father was accompanying her to the Diggory's who lived just over the hill from the Burrow, and then he would be returning to pick her up by lunch time. Ginny still felt nervous about speaking to Cedric's mum. She wasn't sure why either. She generally wasn't a nervous person.
When Ginny walked down the stairs, her mother was running around, already cleaning for dinner. She looked up and smiled briefly, "You look pretty dear. Don't forget to be back by twelve." Ginny nodded as her dad appeared and she smiled, "Ready to go dad." He nodded and looked at his watch, "Yup, it's time. See you in a bit Molly." Her mother nodded and as her dad took Ginny's hand and apparated them to the hill sitting above the Burrow. Ginny saw her home and missed the lightness that filled it. It had a protective charm surrounding it to prevent people from breaking in.
They walked a fair way in silence and when Ginny reached Cedric's house, she turned to her father and whispered, "Thanks dad. I'll see you at twelve." He nodded, hugged her and disapparated. Ginny glanced over Cedric's house. For some reason, the house looked far older than when Ginny had last been there about eight years ago. Maybe it was the vines growing around the wooden paneling which intercepted the perfectly white paint, but it looked like more of a cottage now than the mansion Ginny somewhat remembered it being.
Ginny rang the bell and Mrs. Diggory must have been waiting for her a she was already at the door. She was wearing a grey skirt, matched with a grey blazer and white blouse. Her grey hair was pulled back and she smiled kindly at Ginny, "Thank you so much for coming, my dear. Please come inside." Ginny swallowed hard as she took a step over the welcome mat. The entrance hall was made from entirely wood from head to ceiling- a dark oak. Portraits of the family hung all around the walls, all of them moving.
Ginny was mesmerized by the one on her immediate left. It was a lone portrait of Cedric, standing with his arms folded and his smile beaming widely- the smile that she sorely missed. His eyes shone in this picture and she inhaled sharply.
Mrs. Diggory commented, "We had that taken at the beginning of last year, for a family photo shoot. He was so happy because it was before…well you know, Cho." Ginny nodded, refraining from commenting about Cho. She looked to a small on the right of it and it depicted Cedric sitting on the front porch and laughing with Cho right beside him grinning at him happily.
Ginny felt a sudden urge to memorize every single picture on the wall. Mrs. Diggory seemed to have read her thoughts as she murmured, "Ginny dear, why don't you follow me to the kitchen? We can come back and look at these later." She followed Cedric's mother into the beautiful, spacious kitchen she had always loved-nothing like the one at home. The tiles were white and the counters matched the floors, except they had a blue surface which added color into the room. The long, wooden table seated ate people and the garden light looked directly onto the kitchen.
Mrs. Diggory sat down at the head and Ginny sat beside her, the nerves suddenly bubbling at her core. She wasn't sure what Mrs. Diggory wanted from her. She fiddled with her fingers and Mrs. Diggory began, "Ginny, there's something I haven't told you. During Christmas time, I went shopping with Ced for presents and I knew we had to get one for Cho, but then he told me about you. He was adamant that he wanted to get you something." Ginny froze in shock at where this was going-it was not at all what she had expected. She felt her eyes becoming the size of sauces and she blinked rapidly. Mrs. Diggory continued, "We bought something for you, and I thought it was a little strange that he insisted on buying you something and not his other friends. But he told me it was more for when he could finally be with you. You must understand that Cedric is a very loyal person." Ginny noticed the use of the present tense, but she wasn't about to correct Mrs. Diggory. She still felt his presence everywhere. But only a small part of her brain picked up on this. The rest was ringing in frantically in sheer panic. She wasn't sure what to think. Cedric had bought her a gift? So he had truly meant it when he had said all those months ago that he wanted to be with her?! She thought he had just said that because he'd known it was what she wanted to hear.
Mrs. Diggory smiled kindly, as she pulled out a square box from her pocket. She walked over to the counter top and picked up a white envelope. She handed it to Ginny and whispered, "I found the gift and the card that came with it. You can open it in your own time if you'd like." She stared awestruck at the gift in front of her. Ginny stuttered and stared at the table, "I…I don't think I did anything to deserve this." Mrs. Diggory took one of her hands in her own and replied, "You don't need to deserve it, Ginny. It was meant for you and Ced would want you to have it. I am certain of that. Whether or not you wish to open it or keep it is your choice. At least I've given you the option and I've done my part."
Ginny looked into her bright blue eyes, which were a total different color to Cedric's. She was stunned into silence before she sighed, "Thank you, Mrs. Diggory. I really appreciate it. I will open it when I get home if that's alright?" Mrs. Diggory nodded and replied, "Of course, dear. There's one more thing I want to show you."
Mrs. Diggory sat up and walked opposite the kitchen, through the hallway and into the opposite door. She walked into her lounge. The carpet was golden in color-Ginny guessed in true Hufflepuff colours- and the walls were wooden like the hallway. She picked up a heavy looking photo album from the coffee table and sat down on the red sofa. Ginny followed her lead and she scanned through several pages until she came across one with a group of red heads.
She pulled it out and smiled sadly, "This was at Cedric's ninth birthday party. You guys were all invited. There's you over there." Mrs. Diggory pointed to a four year old Ginny who was putting a piece of cake in her mouth and wearing a party hat. Ginny had to laugh at her cringe-worthy dress sense. Ron was sitting beside her with cake already smeared all over his mouth in typical Ron-style. Fred and George were busy pulling wizard streamers into the air and Cedric was standing still, face clean and smiling for the photo. His mother stood behind him and her mum was trying to separate Fred and George.
Ginny sighed and said, "I can't remember this unfortunately." Mrs. Diggory nodded, "It's not surprising. You were only four years old at the time. But here, you should keep it." Ginny shook her head, "No. Thank you Mrs. Diggory, you have been more than generous towards me but I think it's too much." Mrs Diggory shook her head passionately and replied, "No my dear, Cedric would want you to have it." Ginny nodded and smiled gratefully, "Thank you for your kindness. I really appreciate it." Cedric's mum smiled properly for the first time, "Not at all my dear. It's me who should be thanking you. Now let's go and have some tea."
During tea, Mrs. Diggory told Ginny about her favorite memories of Cedric growing up. They laughed at most of them. Ginny especially laughed at the one where Cedric had stolen her wand and turned their cat into a walking, talking parrot. They'd received an angry letter from the ministry of magic in a warning not to let it happen again.
Eventually Mrs. Diggory fell silent and Ginny sighed, "Can I tell you something? I don't want to freak you out though." Mrs. Diggory nodded and she smiled kindly for Ginny to continue. Ginny inhaled and sighed, "I had a strange feeling about Ced entering the tournament from the get go. I thought it was a bad idea and I told him so. He didn't want to believe me." To Ginny's surprise, Mrs. Diggory nodded in understanding, "I know. I felt the same thing. He was adamant though and so was Amos." Ginny raised her eyebrows and asked disbelievingly, "Really?" Mrs. Diggory nodded and sighed, "Amos feels in?" Mrs. Diggory nodded and sighed, "Amos feels incredibly guilty for encouraging him so much, I think. He shoulders a lot of the blame on himself."
Ginny nodded in understanding, "I think Harry does the same thing. They battled out fair and square and helped each other along the way so that by the time they reached the cup, Ced told Harry to take it because Harry had just rescued him. But Harry was just as stubborn as Ced and he insisted that Ced should take it. I think he wanted Hufflepuff to win…for a change." She bit her lip there, worried she'd offended Mrs. Diggory. Mrs. Diggory seemed to be listening in awe as she responded, "Amos never mentioned this. Carry on." Ginny frowned. Why would Cedric's dad not say anything to his wife? Ginny continued, "So eventually they reached an impasse and then Harry suggested they take the cup together. I know that's what he feels guilty about- because if he had just taken the cup himself then nothing would have happened to…to…" she couldn't finish her sentence but it was pretty obvious she was referring to Ced.
Mrs. Diggory shook her head and sighed as she sipped her tea, "I was there. I remember it all happening. I went to go and visit Mr. Potter in the hospital wing afterwards. He offered me the money he had won." Ginny hadn't known this, "Oh! Harry never told me that he gave it to you first. I'm not surprised though." Mrs. Diggory nodded, "He's a very kind, young man. You two seem to be very close." Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "Yes. Harry's my best friend. He has been for about two years now. Everyone thinks we're dating though. It's so annoying."
Mrs. Diggory smiled kindly and asked over her tea, "Wouldn't it be beautiful to fall for your best friend? Those are the relationships that last the longest." Ginny did a double take. She was a little shocked that Mrs. Diggory was even suggesting this! Especially after she knew about how Ginny felt about Cedric. Ginny stammered, "Uh…um…it's a bit more complicated between me and Harry than just that." Cedric's mum laughed and replied, "If there's a will my dear, there is always a way. I can see the way Mr. Potter looks at you. Just consider it." Ginny nodded dumbfounded and whispered, "Yes, ." She put down her empty cup of tea and nodded, "Thank you for chatting with me, Ginny. It really means a lot."
Ginny smiled bleakly, "It's not a problem. And thank you, for everything-the gifts and the tea." Mrs. Diggory smiled warmly before the doorbell rang and Ginny sighed internally in relief. Mrs. Diggory commented, "That must be your father!" They both got up from the table and Ginny picked up the picture, the present and the card and followed Mrs. Diggory to the hallway.
She opened the door and her father and Cedric's mum spoke briefly, before Ginny thanked her again and her father apparated them back to Grimmauld Place. Ginny wanted to open the present and card straight away, but as soon as she got inside, her mother was ready and waiting for her to come and help start cooking for the Order's meal. Hermione was already in the kitchen with Ron. Ginny said, "I'll be there in a sec, mum!" before running up the stairs and hiding the gifts in the draw of desk in the room she was sharing with Hermione. They would have to wait until later.