Disclaimer: Sweet. Swirling. Onion. Rings.

A/N: Behold, another chapter! Fwee! I hope you are all enjoying reading this. Please let me know if you do. Christmas break is soon. Yay. Happy Christmahannukwanzaka to you. Please keep reading and reviewing:3 Even though I'm not receiving as many reviews as I would like, at least I'm not getting flames. That's a good thing:3 Anyway, on with the show...

Thanks to:

Kate Manion

Sweet A.K

LionHeart of StarClan

PrussianBlue Cross

Wavy Blue

So HaPPy

SarmatianKnight13

bookworm1993

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Someone Like You

Chapter Four - A Victory for Kate

"Shake well." -Hidden Valley Ranch bottle

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The first two months of school flew by to most of the students, Kate included. October was rolling right on through. The month was almost over. The air was chilling and people began wearing more clothes outside so they wouldn't freeze. The only plants that were surviving were Hagrid's enormous pumpkins that would be used in the Halloween celebration.

The holiday wasn't the only important thing about that date; it was also the day the champions of the tournament would be chosen. Everyone who had entered was becoming more and more anxious and wired as the deadline drew closer.

Cedric had taken his gut instinct and entered the tournament. Kate had seen him approach the Goblet one day during lunch, and wasn't the least bit surprised when she saw him. She had known he would enter from the day she saw him with those books in the hall. It made her slightly disgusted, though, because everyone thought he would probably win. Everyone seemed to think he was perfect, some kind of golden boy, a genuine article, whatever you wanted to call him. But Kate didn't like it one bit.

Kate hadn't spoken to Cedric since that day in the hall. Oh sure, she'd seen him in class and in the halls and at meals plenty of times. But she made it a point to sit very far away from him and walk on the other side of the hall. And of course, she avoided eye contact at all times. She uniformly looked at her feet when she was walking down the hall to make absolutely sure she didn't look at him. She wasn't quite sure why she loathed seeing him so much, but she did. It was just a girl thing, she supposed. No, a Kate thing.

It was the end of a long week. All the students looked forward to the end of the week, because it was not only Halloween, but the Goblet would choose it's three champions. Everyone, not only the friends of the entrees, was wound up. People were always talking about it. Even some were placing bets on who would be chosen. Those people, of course, were Fred and George Weasley, and their friends.

"10 says Angelina Johnson." One Ravenclaw boy that had approached the gambling twins during lunch on Saturday, the day before the announcement.

Fred nodded. "Right you are, then." George took down his bet and took his money. The boy walked away. They looked satisfied.

Hermione muttered something insulting to them. That only caused them to laugh in unison and begin poking fun at Hermione.

Kate left lunch early. She needed to go to the library to do some serious studying. She had a critical Potions test on Monday, and since everything would be too exciting the next day, she needed to get it done now. She picked up her book bag, said goodbye to her friends, and made her way through the school to the library.

Kate picked a nice quite corner of the library by tall bookshelves to study at. There was a nice plush armchair she chose to sit in. The room was very serene. The only noise was an owl clicking somewhere off in the distance, the almost inaudible scratch of quills, and a small group of second year Hufflepuff girls whispering silently amongst themselves. There were a few other people in there, also in front of towers of books, studying.

Kate opened her Potions book and began to make an effort to read it. Okay, newts eye causes warts to break out on your back, werewolf hairs make and exceptionally thick and stingy lozenge when stirred and left to dry, hippogriff feathers something something...

And then she was extremely bored. She found it very difficult in that peaceful setting to keep her concentration, let alone keep her eyes open...

She decided, instead, to take out her copy of Pride and Prejudice and read some classic Muggle literature than rather bore herself to sleep with Potions.

She unconsciously heard the open and close of the library door. She ignored it, and kept reading.

Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Darcy...

Then Kate heard the Hufflepuff girls squeeing and giggling. She ignored that too. Young girls think everything is funny anyway. It wasn't worth Kate's attention.

Then she heard, quite to her disgust and contention, "Oh, hello, Cedric!" "You're looking exceptionally fine this morning!" "Is that a new sweater? It looks very nice!" from each of the young girls.

Kate looked up, making a gagging motion. It absolutely disgusted her how everyone loved him. All the girls wanted to date him, and all the boys wanted to be him. To her, it was a gross display of praise, like he was a God or something. He was just a bloke. Kate's blood boiled. He was nice and attractive. But she hated him. He was a good student and friendly. But she hated him. He was just and loyal. But she hated him. He was humorous and just so "perfect". But she hated him. And seeing him there, being swooned over by little pea-brained sycophants made her sick to her stomach.

Then she noticed he was looking at her. And smirking. Oh God, she thought to herself. He's going to come harass me for being the only person who doesn't LOVE him! She thought dismally.

Sure enough, after awkwardly saying "Hi" to the girls, he began sauntering slowly over to her direction. Her stomach sunk. Oh, great.

He reached her, and Kate prepared herself for words of mock. So she was very surprised when he turned the corner and walked up the isle nearest her, the section labeled "Monsters and Creatures".

Kate spoke vainfully before she could stop herself. She snapped her book shut and looked at him angrily. He was innocently looking at the books on the shelves, his hands thrust into his pockets. He was humming a tune.

"Are you ALREADY studying for the tournament? I hate to tell you this, but you haven't won yet." Kate snapped, provoked most likely by her disgusted feelings from earlier.

Cedric smiled to himself, turning her direction and leaning against the book case. "The keyword is yet." he teased.

Kate furrowed her brow. "Are you that vain to think you're the obvious choice for champion? Guess again." she said smugly.

"I was kidding." he said obviously, like Kate had missed the entire point.

Kate shrugged. She didn't know what to say then.

Cedric looked back at the books. "Care of Magical Creatures homework." he answered simply.

Kate felt herself go red. "Oh. I see."

"Personally, I don't think I'll win. I think your friend Angelina Johnson deserves it more than me. But the Goblet is the judge. We'll see what it says." Cedric answered as he continued looking at the titles of the books. He pulled out one labeled "You and Your Skrewts: The Basics to Keeping Yourself Alive" and began humming again.

Kate was still silent. She didn't have anything to say. She couldn't think of anything. Nothing witty or expertly insultive entered her head. She just sat there, looking like an idiot, watching him inspect the books.

"Skrewts. Nasty buggers. Hagrid's going to have us raise them. I really think he's brilliant, but these creatures are supposedly quite dangerous." he told her frankly.

Kate wanted to say something to that, like "...and I care why...?" but she nothing came out of her mouth. She wasn't thinking straight. She was simply dumbstruck for some reason. Maybe it was because he was so humble about entering the tournament. Or the fact that this was the first time they had spoken that she wasn't continually insulting him. When she seriously thought about it, he really hadn't ever insulted her before. He had actually saved her life. Okay, so it was a stupid little thing, falling down the stairs. She honestly wouldn't have probably died. But still, he'd helped her.

But still, she hated him!

...Or did she?

Kate had honestly confused herself. She didn't like him. Oh no, no, no. But she didn't feel she hated him as much as when he had entered the library. She found it easier to dislike him than hate him, strangely.

She then became aware of the fact that she was staring in her space cadet-ness. She adverted her eyes and opened her book again.

Cedric momentarily left, checking out the Skrewts book he had picked up. Kate stayed in the library until dinner. She didn't do any studying. She just read her book, and day dreamed...

Oh, Mr. Darcy...I wish there was someone like you...

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"Oi, Kate!" George called across the common room. It was Sunday afternoon and only hours before the naming of the champions during dinner. Everyone was very excited, especially Angelina. Her friends remained sure that she would win.

Kate was sitting at a table, once again making some attempt to study for her Potions test. She looked up to George, who was lounging on the sofa with Fred, Seamus, and Dean Thomas.

"You wanna make a bet? Only a few more chances!" Fred encouraged.

Kate sniggered and shook her head. "No, thanks."

"C'mon! Aren't you sure Angelina's going to win? And besides, you can get money out of this!" George pressured.

Kate still shook her head. "But I don't have any money with me. I'd have to go all the way upstairs to get some."

Fred rolled his eyes. "Oh, rubbish. Never mind. A lot of us Gryffindors are pulling for Angelina, but there's a lot of talk around Cedric Diggory too...they're probably the two highest combatants for Hogwarts champ."

Kate frowned. Oh, yeah, great. Sure Cedric was being talked about. Everyone that wasn't a Gryffindor seemed to think he was going to win...

Soon that hour came. Everyone rushed eagerly into the great hall, crowding through the doorway and into their seats. Angelina didn't eat hardly anything because of her nerves. They were killing her.

"I don't know why I'm so nervous, Diggory's probably going to win anyway." Angelina said hopelessly, forking her mashed potatoes.

Kate furrowed her brow, trying to think of something to say. She'd never been too good at trying to comfort people. When she did she usually just ended up sounding like an idiot.

After what seemed like an eternity of eating, Dumbledore rose. He said some things, but no one paid much attention. They were just all eager to see who the Goblet would choose.

Dumbledore approached the Goblet. Red flames appeared, emitting a piece of paper with something scribbled on it.

"The champion for Durmstrang...Viktor Krum!" he said loudly.

No one was too surprised at this. He was the obvious choice, being a star Quidditch player and all. A great eruption of noise came from the Durmstrang students as Krum made his way across the hall to the room behind the teachers table.

Then the red flames rose again, emitting another scrap of paper. Dumbledore grabbed it.

"The champion for Beauxbatons...Fleur Delacour!"

The Beauxbaton girls erupted with screams and claps. A pretty blonde girl rose and glided across the hall to the same room Krum had entered. Every eye of a male in the room followed her as she walked.

The flames turned red once more. The room went silent as Dumbledore grabbed the paper that had erupted from the fire.

"The Hogwarts champion...Cedric Diggory!"

"No!" Ron cried, but no one heard him. The noise from the Hufflepuff table was too great.

Kate's stomach sunk. Sure, she had known it was going to happen somewhere in the back of her mind the whole time. But she sure felt bad for Angelina.

She looked at her friend. Angelina looked fine, like she had been expecting it, at least on the surface. Kate could see the jealousy and disappointment in her eyes.

Kate felt her blood boil as she watched Cedric, who had an excited grin on his face, walk across the room happily. That should be Angelina, she thought angrily. He doesn't deserve it. He gets everything anyway.

Her opinion of Cedric went from Dislike to Hate again. It just wasn't right. He didn't deserve it. Angelina was much more capable...

"There! We have our three champions..." Dumbledore was saying.

Then, unexpectedly the flames turned red again. Yet another piece of paper emerged from the flames, and once again, Dumbledore caught it.

The room was silent.

"Harry Potter!"

Kate hadn't been paying attention until Dumbledore read that name. Everyone's head turned toward Harry, who was looking bewildered.

Harry cautiously got up and went to the room behind the teachers table.

That's when everyone erupted with talking.

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Dumbledore decided Harry had to participate. Ron was mad at him, for some reason. Harry was tired and wished people would stop asking him how he got his name in the Goblet. "I didn't," was his uniform response.

Kate noticed just how tired and worn he looked. It made her feel more malice towards Cedric, for a reason beyond her knowledge.

"Hey, Harry...don't worry about it. They'll get over it. I know you didn't put your name in that cup." Kate sympathized as they sat on the couch before the roaring fire in the common room.

Harry looked at her and smiled faintly. "Thanks. At least some one believes me."

"You don't need to worry about them." Kate told him. "The most important thing is you know you didn't do anything wrong. That's all that mattered."

Harry felt relieved, realizing she was right. Then something strange happened, and he found himself looking into her eyes, realizing just how pretty they were...and how pretty she was...

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Kate spent Monday afternoon walking around the grounds. She felt very angry still. Angelina should've won. Harry shouldn't be competing. Cedric didn't deserve it. Everything was wrong with this competition.

She stood on the grass near a large tree outside the castle near the lake. She looked about, her hands shoved into her pockets. She spotted someone standing on the dock at the lake.

He turned around. Ugh, Kate thought, it's him. The undeserving champion. Cedric.

Kate was filled with impulse and angry erupted inside of him. She needed to show him that not everyone wanted him to be champion. That not everyone loved him. She wanted to show him up.

He was already looking at her when she began stomping quickly over to him. He smiled innocently as she reached the dock and walked up to him.

"Hullo, Kate." he said politely.

Kate glared at him. She said the very first thing that popped into her head. "Your not perfect, so get over yourself! You don't deserve to be champ! I mean, who do you think you are, David Beckham!"

And with that she ejected her hand from her side. It collided squarely with Cedric's chest, who teetered backwards, lost his footing, and landed swiftly into the cold lake water.

Kate smiled with a satisfied look on her face. Cedric broke the surface of the water. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came to him. He just floated there, looking baffled at her. A competitive feeling stirred in him, and he even smiled in disbelief.

Kate crouched down and sniggered at him. "Oh, sorry. I, er...slipped," she remarked sarcastically.

Cedric did not hesitate. He reached up, grabbed her venerable wrist, and pulled her toppling into the water.

Kate felt the rush of the cold lake cover her. She popped her head above water quickly.

"Why you..." Kate fumbled. Cedric was laughing.

"Mr. Diggory! Ms. Lowe! What is the meaning of this?" they heard McGonagall's voice rasp.

Cedric stopped laughing and they exchanged looks of desperation.

"Detention! Both of you. My office, tonight, 6:00. It would be wise of you to get there early." she demanded, the walked away.

Kate then laughed. She felt absolutely ridiculous. And she caused Cedric to have detention. That was delightful. She swam triumphantly out of the lake, and walked away feeling like she had just won a very important battle.

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Do you have the time
to listen to me whine
About nothing and everything
all at once
I am one of those
Melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone
No doubt about it

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Or I'm just stoned

I went to a shrink
To analyze my dreams
She says it's lack of sex
that's bringing me down
I went to a whoreHe said my life's a bore
So quit my whining cause
it's bringing her down

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Uh, yuh, yuh, ya

Grasping to control
So I better hold on

Sometimes I give myself the creeps
Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I'm cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Or I'm just stoned

Green Day - Basket Case

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A/N: Well, I hope you enjoyed that. More hilarity next chapter. Is Harry crushing on Kate? How will Cedric handle the first task? And will Kate and Cedric ever get along? Please keep reading and please review so I keep writing!