**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee.
I found myself slowly sinking into a depressed state of mind. Harry had been cleared of all charges and things were going well enough with the order, so I didn't understand why I was feeling this way. I sat on my bed, trying to ignore the bustle of excitement from the rest of the household as everyone prepared to go back to Hogwarts. George and Fed kept randomly popping into my room to bug me but I wasn't in the mood, so I invisified every time they did. A copy of Little Women lay open in front of me but I stared blankly at the pages. My hand absently played with the diamond heart on my bracelet. Instantly my mind went to Cedric. I missed him. If George couldn't get me to cheer up, maybe he could… Now that's the Most ridiculous thing you've ever thought… I laughed at the absurdity but decided to give it a shot anyways. I got up and checked myself in the mirror before disapparating away.
I apparated right onto the front doorstep to the Diggory's house and rang the doorbell. Invisifying, I waited for someone to answer the door. Mrs. Diggory opened the door with a smile, which soon disappeared into a nervous frown as she saw nobody there. I slipped in past her.
"Who is it dear?" Mr. Diggory called as he strolled down the hallway towards us. Mrs. Diggory closed the door quickly and looked nervously to her husband.
"No one was there." She said shakily. Mr. Diggory frowned. I decided now was a good time to show myself. I didn't want them to get too worked up over the incident. Mrs. Diggory gasped, startled. Mr. Diggory was taken aback for a minute before smiling widely at me and opening his arms in welcome.
"Deirdra! It's so good to see you!" He greeted. I smiled, my soul feeling slightly elevated from the gloom that tried to weigh it down.
"Mr. Diggory, it's good to see you too. Where's Cedric?" I asked, slightly anxious to see him. Mrs. Diggory pulled me into a tight hug as Mr. Diggory answered.
"Oh, he's around somewhere. He tends to spend most of his time in the library anymore. Don't know if it's more to feel closer to you or to try to forget about you by getting caught up in a book." Mr. Diggory egged on the guilt. I frowned, a sad tingle spread through my body, making me shiver. "CEDRIC! Someone's here to see you!" Mr. Diggory shouted down the hallway. Cedric's head peeked out of the library doorway a moment later. He grinned when he saw me.
"Thanks." I said to Mr. & Mrs. Diggory dismissively as I ran down the hallway to meet him.
I entered the library and Cedric immediately pulled me into his warm embrace. He clung to me as if afraid that I'd disappear at any moment. After a long moment, he pulled away looking at me intensely.
"How have you been?" He asked, sounding concerned. I wondered if I looked as down as I felt. I hoped not. I gave him a smile, trying to make it seem happy and bright but failed miserably.
"I've been okay." I said softly, my false smile fading. He didn't seem to believe me. Well, duh! You aren't making yourself believable. Don't kid yourself, you want him to know how sad you are feeling because you want him to comfort you and cheer you up. That was the whole point of this trip right? I scowled at myself. "How have you been?" I asked, trying to focus on him instead. He smiled but it was a knowing smile that said he knew I was trying to change the subject.
"I've been okay." He copied my response. I made a face at him, scrunching my nose and glaring. "What?" He asked, grinning, trying to feign innocence. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. This led to me laughing and we both stood there unable to speak due to the hysterical laughter bubbling out of our bodies. It was as if we both had been sad but unwilling to actually tell the other, though we both realized that we were in the same boat. The situation wasn't really funny, but sometimes you just have to laugh… or cry. I think we made the right choice. We finally calmed down after a few minutes, only a few sporadic giggles escaping occasionally.
"So, really, how have you been?" He asked seriously. I hesitated shortly before answering.
"I have been keeping busy but bored sometimes." I said casually. He quirked an eyebrow at me and gave me a crooked smile.
"Can you tell me more? I swear not to tell the books about it." He said with a wink and chuckling slightly at his own statement. I laughed too. I suppose it is safe to tell him about stuff. He IS sort of excluded from the world currently…
"I've been staying at the Head Quarters for the Order of the Phoenix, keeping an eye on its inhabitants." I told him all in one breath, as if I had to get the words out before my mouth clamped shut on me. He looked shocked.
"Wow!" He replied. I smiled nervously, hoping he didn't get mad at me for not telling him I was involved in stuff important stuff before.
"Do you know what the Order of the Phoenix is?" I asked. He nodded his head yes. The conversation stemmed from there, blossoming into a full account of what I'd been doing at Head Quarters. We moved while we kept talking and set down on the couch. I curled up next to him and he put his arm around me. I spilled about EVERYTHING, even the parts about George. I wasn't sure how he'd take the news about me and George snogging but it had to be told. He did get a jealous look on his face but he didn't say anything against it. His favorite part was when I told him about the water bombing. He laughed his butt off and I couldn't help but to join in.
"You really need to start writing to me so we can keep in touch while you're busy working. Are you going to head back to Hogwarts here soon?" He asked. My mood dampened again. I shook my head no.
"Da came to see me a few days ago and told me that he needs me to go with Hagrid somewhere. I leave tonight." I said sadly.
"You don't want to go?" He said it more as a statement than a question.
"Not really… but I know Hagrid would appreciate the help and company. So I need to go." Cedric nodded his understanding as I explained.
"Do you think you'll be able to keep in touch even though you'll be traveling?" He asked.
"I don't know, but I can try." I said brightly.
"Good then. I'll expect at least 3 letters by owl every day." He said in a bossy but teasing tone with a smile and a wink. I laughed.
"You're impossible! How about, I aim for 1 letter a week and if you get more it'll be like a special treat." I said, telling him how it was. He sighed dramatically.
"Oh, torture, torture… but I suppose I'll have to live with it." He said with a silly pouty face. I smiled.
"Anyways… I should be getting back. I didn't tell anyone where I was going but I doubt anyone even realized I was gone." I said. He frowned.
"Well, I noticed your absence here… I really have missed you." He said seriously. I blushed under his gaze. "Don't forget to write me." He added as he watched me eye the clock.
"I won't." I promised, getting up. I left before he could say anything else; afraid it'd cause me to want to stay instead of leave, like I should. Time to go home. The thought dropped me short. Where is home anyways?
B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B
I was packed and ready to go. I sat on my bed, my trunk on the floor beside me. I waited. Da was supposed to be here soon to take me where we were meeting Hagrid. My doorknob jiggled. It was locked, so it remained closed.
"Dee, you in there?" George said, his voice muffled through the door. My heart fluttered and tears brimmed in my eyes. I supposed I should say goodbye to him now… I pointed my wand at the door.
"Alohamora." I whispered tearily. George slowly entered once he heard the lock click free. His eyes found mine instantly. He frowned, seeing that I was crying. His eyes flicked quickly to my trunk before returning to me.
"You're leaving?" He asked sadly while moving towards me. He sat down next to me and draped his arm around me. I nodded my head yes. "Are you going to Hogwarts early?" He asked, but I could tell from his tone that he already suspected the answer. I shook my head no. His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer to him. I leaned my head on his shoulder and he reached up to push my hair back away from my face, the tender gesture causing goose bumps to spring up all over my body. "Can you tell me where you're going?" I tilted my face up to look at him. He was looking down at me with loving eyes. A tear slowly leaked out of my eye, trailing down my cheek. George reached up, gently wiping it away with his thumb. "No crying now. It's not like this is goodbye forever. Right?" He tried to sound cheerful but ended in uncertainly.
"Of course not forever, but…"
"What about my butt?" He said, jumping up and animatedly spinning around, trying to look at his butt. I laughed. He stopped and gave me a playfully suspicious look. "You just wanted to check out my butt… I see how you are…" He said with a grin. I couldn't help but to laugh. "Now, that's better. No more crying, it makes me sad." He said with a false pout. I laughed again.
"George…" I said, trying to contain my smiling and laughter.
"Ah, my name sounds so good coming out of your pretty mouth." He said, his voice sounding like some rich person enjoying their luxury. "But you know what?" He asked with a sly grin.
"What?" I asked cautiously, a slow smile spreading across my face.
"I like your pretty mouth silent." He said ornery. I playfully slapped his shoulder but he grabbed me and pulled me into his arms. Tilting my chin up, he kissed me. It was hard and sloppy at first but as we found our rhythm, the kiss deepened. Our tongues battled playfully as our pulses raced. His hands stroked my hair gently before slowly moving downwards. My breath hitched as his fingers tickled down my neck and barely caressed over my breasts. He pushed me gently backwards till we were lying on the bed. We lost ourselves in each others' kisses and gentle caresses until a voice in the doorway interrupted.
"Eh hm." Da, surprisingly gently, and calm, interrupted. George scrambled quickly up off the bed and his face was bright red and he looked a little frightened. "I knocked but when no one answered, I was worried." Da explained. Why isn't he yelling at us? He gave me a small smile that told me he knew he was blowing my mind with his calm reaction. "I suppose you've said your goodbyes?..." George and I nodded, slightly numb. "Good. Deirdra and I must be off now. I would suggest you get some sleep. It'll be an early morning to catch the train to Hogwarts." He added looking directly at George. George gulped.
"Yes Sir. I mean, Professor Dumbledore." George stammered in reply. George then turned to me. He pulled me into a tight embrace once more. When he released me, our eyes remained glued to each other until George disapparated away.
***Thanks everyone for great reviews. Keep them coming! Nothing is more encouraging while writing than getting wonderful reviews from your readers. I really appreciate it. I'm so happy so many people are enjoying my story. Hope you liked this one. The rating may go up in later chapters though for more mature content, but hopefully not too bad. I try to reign that in. Tell me what you think. Do you want more mature content (mainly physical relationship and language)? I like reading stuff like that but writing it, I'm not so sure about… it makes me blush. LOL Anyways, thanks for Reading! Please Review! =) 3 3 3 you all!