Disclaimer: Stick that in your blunt and smoke it!...Yeah, I said blunt!
A/N: Yuss, another chappie! I'm sorry to say things may slow down a bit more now as school has started again and I, although its surprising, have a life and my duties go first to my schoolwork. So sorry if the update flow really slows down. I'll try to get at least one chapter up each week, but I can't make any promises. Maybe more, though. I have days off for the next to weeks so I will take full advantage of those and write for you. 3 So please, bear with me. Much love. I've realized I keep contradicting myself from things I said in the first chapter and these more recent ones. Feel free to let me know when I do this, so I can clear things up. Also, I'm trying to include more of Ced's feelings, because the love story has the guy, too. I like the emotion to be evenly balanced when I write things like this, and I don't think I've done very much. Anyway, enough of my rambling. On with the chapter!
Thanks to:
tropicaltoadfly: Don't worry, I'm a romantic sucker, too. :B Thanks for reviewing!
Mysticdark1: Thanks! And I think I joined your c2...ack, darn my craptastic computer and lousy Internet service! Try sending me another invite. Maybe that will work.
RobynLesko: Thanks! I've had very weird conversations, too. There was one just the other day about basketball poles and bungee jumping...XP And yes, my sex slave and I had fun. XD Fraggle Rock is the shite! I love Spraket. Hehe, good times.
Iris Knotwise: Waharhar, don't feel guilty. We all do it. XD Thanks for reviewing! Yes, Harry is an obstacle...yay for the love triangle!
katy-ducky: Thanks! Sure thing.
Boni: Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it! And I'm from southern California originally, but I only lived there for a few months, so that doesn't really count. I currently reside in Utah.
HelloLonely:Thank you muchly! 3 I'm glad you think it's funny!
This chapter is dedicated to teh sexy Tinnesha. I only have one thing to say to you, and that's URN you. 3 Thanks.
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Someone Like You
Chapter Seven - The Scarf and the Heart
"It taught me to hope." -Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
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Kate sat the next morning at breakfast reading letters she had received from her family and her friends in Spain. She'd received one from her mother, father, and sister Raquel, but not her brother, Alex. Kate didn't expect letters a lot from him, because they weren't that close. But she hadn't received one letter from him all year. Kate hoped he was okay.
Her friends Bridget and Camilla had written her. Kate was glad when she heard from them and they told her about all the happenings back at Magnifico. It made her feel back at home.
Kate was re-reading Bridget's letter and preparing to write a response, when she heard a hoarse and restrained whisper in her ear.
"Dragons."
Kate looked over her shoulder at Harry, who was looking very worn out and a little pale. He was frowning as he took a seat next to her.
"What?" Kate asked curiously.
"The first task. We've got something to do with dragons. I'm not sure what we have to do, but it has to do with dragons. Hagrid took me to see them last night." Harry told her, a note of anxiety in his voice.
Kate cringed, her stomach sinking. Anything to do with dragons had to be bad business. She didn't know quite what to say. She finally thought of something that sounded remotely good.
"You'll do fine. I know it." she told Harry, nodded in exaggeration.
Harry looked into her deep blue eyes and the corners of his lips turned upwards. "Thanks. I appreciate it. I really do." he replied, gasping for air, fumbling over his words. He found his mind cloudy and found it was particularly difficult to concentrate on anything but Kate.
"Oi, Kate, good day!" Said the cheery voice of George Weasley as he and Fred sat down at the table. "Slept in a bit today."
Harry snapped out of his trance and listened to the twins. He was giddy, unable to concentrate on anything. He felt a hot flush of jealousy as he saw Cedric Diggory walking out of the great hall. Harry wanted to be the one alone with Kate.
Kate decided to take an early leave and went into the common room to write her response to the letters she had received. She read over them one more time. She decided to tackle Bridget's first, since she had written the most questions. Kate pulled out a scroll of parchment and her ink and quill, and began writing her letters.
Dear Bree,
I hope you're doing well, too! Things are just swimming here. School work is going great, and I'm learning useful stuff. The most exciting thing that has happened is this tournament that the school is holding. There are two other schools that are competing, and a champion is picked from each school. Except there were two from our school, somehow. One of them is my good friend, Harry. You've heard of him.
Kate hesitated, re-reading Bridget's next question. She had asked if she had met anyone special. No, she hadn't. She hadn't met anyone. So why was it so hard to write that?
No, I haven't met anyone. Sorry to disappoint you.
Kate couldn't think of anything else to put on the matter. Just then the portrait door swung open and Hermione entered the common room.
"Guess what! The first Hogsmeade visit is next week. You'll be coming, won't you?" Hermione asked excitedly, rushing over to Kate's side.
Kate nodded and smiled, looking up at her. "Of course. But you didn't need to come and tell me."
"Harry asked me to. He seemed to really want to know if you were coming or not." Hermione told her suspiciously.
Kate didn't know what to say. She was filled with an awkward uncomfortable feeling that overwhelmed her. Harry seemed very interested in her lately, and she didn't know what to think of it.
Hermione left and Kate went back into writing. She crossed out what she had just put and started over.
I haven't met anyone. At least, I don't think so.
And Kate was not talking about Harry.
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Cedric hadn't spoken to Kate since he had returned her book to her, but they made acknowledging nods to each other in the hall. He was grateful to receive even that, since last time he checked she still terribly disliked him.
He had spent much of his time dreading the first task. Hoping some kind of clue would come along about what was going to take place. He had leafed through books on past tournaments, but he hadn't succeeded in finding a common point that would clue him in. The only thing he knew was that it was in two weeks and it was going to be dreadful.
The week flew by mysteriously, and the Hogsmeade visit came fast. Kate and Angelina were heading out together. Angelina was waiting for Kate in the dormitory while she gathered her things. After a minute or two of waiting, impatience took it's toll and Angelina left early, telling Kate to catch up with her later.
Kate hurriedly grabbed her scarf and bag, while scuttling her feet into her shoes. She missed terribly, getting the left shoe on the right foot, and vice versa.
Kate ran out of the common room as soon as she was ready. There were a few people there, including Fred and George (who were shoving unidentifiable objects into their pockets). Kate waved to them as she rushed by.
Kate walked very quickly through the near empty corridors, eager to catch up with Angelina. She saw few people still lingering, and everyone else was at Hogsmeade. Kate's feet made a loud echo through the hall as she ran down the stairs. She biffed at the bottom of the marble staircase, barely about to keep herself from falling on her face. She dropped her scarf as she stood on the landing, halfway bent over from her fall. She saw the scarf land by someone's feet.
Kate reached out to pick it up, but her hand collided with another's, her fingers brushing gently across his skin. Kate's hand distinctively retracted as the other picked up the scarf. Kate's eyes met Cedric's a lot of sudden bewilderment on his face.
"You...dropped this." he told her, holding out the scarf to her, eyes not leaving hers.
"Um, yeah..." Kate stuttered, grabbing the scarf absentmindedly, feeling herself slightly flustered. "Thank you." Kate broke their eye lock as she tied the scarf around her neck. She then noticed that she was standing close to him. Way to close for someone she hated.
Kate took a nervous stepped backwards, feeling her cheeks burning. She didn't know why they were burning. She was just...and he...was so frustrating.
"You heading to Hogsmeade?" Cedric asked warmly, breaking the tense awkwardness between them.
Kate nodded. "Yeah, I was just running to catch up with a friend. And you, do you just stand here at the stair landing for fun?"
Cedric smirked and shook his head. "I'm waiting for someone."
"Who?" Kate blubbered to her own dismay.
"Oh, Cho Chang. She's a Ravenclaw." Cedric answered.
Kate stood up straight, fixating her spine. She began to walk slowly, and stopped after she had made a half-circle around Cedric. She felt a portent need to harass him for this, slightly offended deep down.
"Hmm, and inter-house relationship. That's pretty racy for you, golden boy." Kate smirked speculatively.
"What?" Cedric exclaimed, taken aback. "It's not like that. She's just my friend."
"Oh." Kate said, finding herself a little surprised at that. "I see."
"And did you call me golden boy?" Cedric asked accusingly.
Kate nodded pridefully. "Yup."
"Well, that's nice of you to say." Cedric remarked sarcastically.
"Oh, bollocks, I don't have time for you!" Kate stammered, beginning to tromp away.
"Kate," Cedric called after her, turning on his heel. Kate stopped and turned around.
"Yes?" Kate asked professionally.
"I hope you have fun." he told her, smiling friendly.
Kate nodded, smiling back. She was strangely touched by his comment. It was just nice that he was thinking of her, that was all.
Then Kate heard her own mouth speaking before she could stop it. "Thanks. You know, you're really not that bad. You're actually a decent guy, I guess. I mean, you still irritate me, but...that's okay, I guess." she trailed off.
Cedric smirked and said, "Well thanks. But I take it you still hate me, right?" he teased.
Kate rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, that's right."
Cedric laughed. "Well, on the bright side, you don't think I'm an idiot."
Kate nodded, laughing too. "Well, so long. Enjoy your time."
"So long." Cedric said sweetly, watching her turn and walk out the doors. He felt a strange feeling inside of him. His hand still tingled where her fingers had brushed his skin. He was quite distracted by that for a moment, then he saw Cho coming down the stairs.
"Hello, Ced, who were you talking to?" Cho asked as she reached his side.
As they started to walk, Cedric smiled to himself and said, "Oh, just a girl."
"A girl, huh?" Cho laughed. "Sounds like you..."
"Don't say it, because it's not true." Cedric accused.
"What?" Cho asked innocently.
"Nevermind." Cedric replied.
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Kate enjoyed her trip to Hogsmeade after she caught up with Angelina. She asked what had been taking her so long, and Kate replied, "Oh, I just ran into someone." Kate didn't mention who that someone was. She wasn't sure why she didn't say it was Cedric. Not like she had anything to hide, like she fancied him or something. All that she had finally concluded was that he wasn't as bad as she first thought he was, which was a big step up from loath. She didn't need to conceal his name like they had been having some elicit conversation that needed to be kept secret. So she didn't understand why she didn't just say who it was.
As Kate sat in the common room that night, she felt inspired to ask Harry something as she went over the events of the day. Strangely, the run-in with Cedric had left the biggest impression on her mind. It wasn't that interesting, she told herself. But it still ruled its way to the top.
As she sat in a plush armchair and Harry sat on the couch next to Hermione, Kate asked, "Harry...the other champions. Do they know about the dragons?"
Harry looked at her attentively, then thought it over in his mind. Krum and Fleur probably had been told by Karkaroff and Maxime, but Harry couldn't be sure about Cedric, unless Professor Sprout had found something out and told him.
"I think Krum and Fleur know, but I don't know about Cedric." he finally told her, after an extended silence between them. He cast his eyes to the floor, almost as if her eyes were to beautiful for his.
"I see..." Kate was surprised to feel a knot materialize in her stomach. Worried? About Cedric? Okay sure, she was. She was worried for everyone. She was even slightly worried for that prick Draco Malfoy when Professor Moody turned him into a ferret. So why did she care?
Kate felt rushed as she asked her next question. "You'll...tell him won't you? I mean, just to make it fair." she asked, lowering her voice.
Harry felt slight pangs of jealousy again, but beat them down, nodding. "I will."
"Thank you." Kate was feeling unnerved now. She needed to have a serious intervention and evaluate her mind.
She said good bye to Harry and ran up to the dormitory, spending the next few hours thinking and sitting on her bed.
Kate was a thinker. She used her mind. She wasn't one to believe in intuition. She wanted to logically deduce everything. She was no match for Hermione in brains, but she spent a lot of her time letting her mind rule her.
Cedric was just like anyone else to her. So why did she care that she was worried about him? Why did she care that she didn't want to say his name to Angelina? Why did she feel that every time her friends talked about them she got so flustered, even though it was obvious some sort of competitive friendship had been formed?
Kate cradled her head in her hands, coming to a realization. She had just spent three hours thinking about him. That was not normal. You idiot, she told herself, getting working up over nothing. Then she felt something else inside of her, that made her realize.
Kate never listened to her heart. Maybe it was time to stop using her mind to figure everything out and take a chance. Her heart knew where it wanted to go, and that scared and confused her. She knew then, that it was time to stop letting her mind make all the decisions and give her heart a chance.
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I
never understood before
I never knew what love was for
My
heart was broke, my head was sore
What a feeling
Tied up
in ancient history
I didnt believe in destiny
I look up
you're standing next to me
What a feeling
What a feeling
in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
Brighter than
sunshine
Let the rain fall, i don't care
I'm yours and
suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine
And it's brighter
than sunshine
I never saw it happening I'd given up and given
in
I just couldn't take the hurt again
What a feeling
I
didn't have the strength to fight
Suddenly you seemed so right
Me and you
What a feeling
What a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It's brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm yours and suddenly you're
mine
Suddenly you're mine
It's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun
It's brighter than the sun, sun,
shine.
Love will remain a mystery
But give me your hand
and you will see
Your heart is keeping time with me
What
a feeling in my soul
Love burns brighter than sunshine
It's
brighter than sunshine
Let the rain fall, I don't care
I'm
yours and suddenly you're mine
Suddenly you're mine
I got a feeling in my soul ... repeat chorus to end
Aqualung - Brighter Than Sunshine
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A/N: YAY ROMANCE. It begins. Heh heh heh. I hope you enjoyed reading that as I did writing that. Everything is going to get romantic now, so through your hands in the air and cheer! But the end it not even in sight, oh no. We are even still many, many chapters away from that Kodak Moment first kiss. But it will come, oh yes. X3 What the heck is with Kate? And what the heck is with Cedric? And what the heck is with Harry? With Kate being more friendly towards Cedric, how will this affect Harry? More of this and more next chappie! 3 Please review and keep reading, my lovelies!