Disclaimer: You're a cobbler whore! (Get off of pie!) O-i

A note from the hungry authoress:

Hullo, lovelies! Another chapter for you. It's getting quite romantic, neh? And this chapter only moves it up a notch! Oh-ho-ho, yes! 8D Yay for the Yule Ball setting everyone's hearts ablaze. And on with it, I say! Please read and review!

Uh. I'm kind of dropping the Harry liking Kate thing for a while. I'm getting sick of writing sloppy envy for now. X3 But there will just be a little thing in the end of this. And dear God, Kate will never in this story have feelings for Harry. 8D Because I'm a romance Nazi. Ph33r.

This chapter is dedicated to John. :3 Rock on. I will keep your rally monkey until you give me back my Xena action figure. Please return it to its rightful spot on my drawing desk. Thank you. XD

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Someone Like You

Chapter Twelve - Serendipity

"The heart tells us things the mind doesn't know." -Unknown

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The Yule Ball was drawing nearer and nearer and Cedric still hadn't asked Kate to the ball. He didn't know why he was so anxious about it. He wasn't hesitant; he knew he wanted to go with her. He was just nervous of how she would respond.

Kate, meanwhile, was out of her head. She could figure herself out. She liked Cedric as a friend. But she realized after that night she had left him at the stairs after asking him about the Ball, she was attracted to him. She felt so terribly cliche, and she felt like she was thinking about her so-called impossible situation all the time. She hated it, feeling so petty and pitiful. It was just human nature, she tried to convince herself, but it was more. It had to be more when every other thought she thought had to do with him.

And she was definitely starting to scare herself, finding herself wishing the candidate Cedric had mentioned was her. She spent her time day dreaming, almost frustratedly, about Cedric. She felt so strange. She didn't hate herself for it, strangely. She just wished it would stop.

Kate was, once again, wondering if Cedric would ask her to the Ball as she sat in the Gryffindor common room after dinner on a couch in front the armchair, gazing calmly into the flames in the fireplace. They were dancing melodiously, almost rhythmically, along the logs. Pictures were dancing in Kate's mind, of a fairytale she wanted to see herself in.

Behind her she heard Harry, Ron, Fred, and George talking quietly. She heard them mentioning the Ball, and asking girls to it. Apparently, none of them had asked.

And before Kate's mind could catch up with her, she heard George say, "Oi, Kate?"

Kate turned around slowly, feeling oblivious.

"Yeah?" She said lowly and quietly.

"Wanna go to the ball with me?" George asked in a friendly way.

A million things went racing through Kate's head. She felt almost woozy. What did she do? She had been expecting Cedric to ask her to go. But he hadn't yet. Was he still planning to? She knew she should say yes to George. He had asked her first. And there was no way she could know if Cedric was going to ask her. But was if he was? He wanted to go with him so badly...she felt sure she would have a good time with George, but there was something in the back of her mind the told her that she wanted to really go with Cedric...

"Yes." Kate choked out after a moment of flooded thinking. The word fell over her lips with difficulty. She had to say it. She couldn't say no. She didn't have to say yes, but she couldn't say no. She smiled friendly at George.

"Well great." He said, turning back to his brothers and Harry. She heard him saying in a lower voice, "Now that's how you do it."

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Dear mum,

Things are just fine here. Guess what! I got asked to the Yule Ball by George Weasley. I've told you about him. He's a very nice bloke. Very funny. I'm excited to go. By the way, how is Alex? I haven't received any letters from him at all this year. I know I'm just over-anxious, but is he okay? I'm a tad worried. Please tell him to write me!

Kate stopped writing, and moved on to a letter to her friend. While rather masking her true feelings while writing to her mother, she wrote more of the truth to her friends. It is strange how that happens. We sometimes feel more free to open up to those who probably have hurt us somehow before, rather than the ones who raised us.

Dear Bridget,

Oh, Bree. I am so confused. I don't know how to think. I don't know how to speak. I don't even know how to feel. So you see, there's this Ball at my school. And this guy, you know, Ced, the one I've mentioned before, well...I really wanted to go with him. And I think he wanted to ask me. But this other bloke, George, asked me first, so I said yes. I feel so strange. Do you have any advice? It is wanted here. Where is someone witty and helpful like you when I need you?

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The next Hogsmeade visit had arrived, and Kate was doing her Christmas shopping with Angelina. She had gotten her close friends and family covered. They only one she was still puzzled about was Cedric.

"C'mon, Kate. You know him pretty well. There's got to be something you can give him that is special." Angelina tried to reason.

"It's really got to mean something, though..." Kate said stressfully. She searched her mind diligently, sorting through her memories with him. She remembered all the times she had spent with him, trying to recall what he had said, or what he would like.

An idea then popped into her head. She smiled. "I've got the perfect idea." Kate smiled brightly, dragging Angelina out of Zonko's Joke Shop.

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Cedric was even more nervous now. It was mid-December, and he still hadn't asked Kate to the Yule Ball. His fear now was that she had already been asked, and that there was nothing he could do to go with her. He had to ask her. He had to ask her tonight.

He saw her in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. His mind was running far ahead of his heart. He tapped his pen nervously on his pad of paper, until one of his mates next to him kicked him in the shin to make him stop.

He couldn't stop himself. There was no state of calm anywhere in his mind. Everything about him was jittery, and his stomach kept doing flip flops.

He had to do it tonight.

After class, he approached Kate slowly and anxiously as they filed out the door. He worked his way through the small crowd of people at the back of the room, until he was near enough to Kate. He lightly touched her elbow and said almost in a hoarse whisper, "Kate."

Her head snapped up to him as soon as she heard his voice and felt his touch. "Hi, Ced," she said with a fluttering smile.

"Could I...talk to you alone for a moment?" he asked slowly and quietly, his heart pounding. He felt sure she could here it.

Kate felt the blood drain from her face as he said those words. She felt she knew instantly what it was about. She didn't want to here it. She didn't want to think it. But it came.

As soon as they were out of the classroom, they took a few steps to the other side of the hall. Kate's heart was racing. She could hardly feel her own skin. He was standing close to her, closer than he needed to. She didn't mind that. It was nice having him close to her.

"Kate...er...would you..." Cedric stuttered. "Will you go to the ball with me?" he asked hastily.

Kate would not look into his eyes. She felt her stomach sinking. "Oh, Ced...I'm so sorry..."

Cedric's skin went cold. He didn't know what to say.

"I've already been asked...I'm so sorry..." Kate said, feeling herself almost trembling.

"No, it's okay. I was just to slow. Oh well, then. I'll catch you later, okay?" Cedric said shakily, eager to get away from the situation.

"Oh, bye..." Kate said, and they hurriedly walked away from each other.

Kate hurried back to the common room, feeling shaky all over.

She wanted to go with him. She wanted to go with him so badly.

His last words lingered in her mind as she climbed the dormitory and sat on her bed, there for many hours, alone with her thoughts.

She wanted to go with him so badly...

"Kate...?" She heard a voice. She lifted up her heavy head, as she lay discombobulated on the bed, her arm cramped underneath her. She had fallen asleep. She lazily opened her eyes, yawning obviously, and looked to her caller.

It was Angelina. She had just entered the common room to get ready for dinner, when she spotted Kate asleep on her bed.

"What's wrong with you?" Angelina asked exhasperatedly, rolling her eyes. She had a guess.

"Cedaskedmetotheballbutialreadysaidyestogeorgeandidunnowhattodo!" Kate cried in a rush. She didn't even think of why she was acting this way.

"Oh, shut up." Angelina sighed long and loudly. "If you were really meant to go with him, he would've asked you first..." she trailed off.

"If that were true," Kate began, slowing down her speech, "why would I feel this way?"

Angelina frowned, scanning her mind. She didn't know how to respond. She couldn't just say, because you have a thing for him, you idiot. She simply didn't let any words out of her mouth that she knew she would probably regret later.

"Look. Go downstairs. Maybe you'll find your saving grace." Angelina alluded.

Kate stopped to take a breath. What had just happened? What was wrong with her? The last few hours had passed by so quickly, so heedlessly, that she didn't know what to think, or what to feel. There was something inside of her, something deep and bold, that a small corner had just been unearthed, and Kate felt unstable because of it.

Kate looked down at her fingernails. Curving, somewhat long, and kempt. She didn't want to think of anything to do with the dance. With Cedric.

A word flickered in the back of her mind. She had heard it before, in old books about romance. It was soft, and just by the tone you knew it was romantic. She couldn't quite remember it. It was on the time of her tongue, but it wouldn't come out. She wanted to say it, wanted to know it, wanted it to explain what was going on...

Without saying a word to Angelina, Kate rose from her bed slowly, he knees feeling weak She walked very slowly down the stairs. She didn't know why she was so apprehensive, but she felt like whatever was going to happen was going to be really good, or really bad...

She saw George sitting in a similar position to where he was earlier, with Fred, Ron, and Harry.

"Kate!" He said merrily as she entered the room, smiling warmly. He stood up quickly, then walked over to her.

"I need to talk to you about the ball. I er, hope I don't come off as a real jerk, but..." George began slowly.

"Go on," Kate said breathlessly.

"Okay, well, Katie Bell, she...er, well, it's traditionally boys ask girls...but, she asked me..to the ball." George explained.

Kate nodded pallidly.

"So I was wondering if it would be too terribly offensive if I...went with her...I mean, word on the street is that Diggory asked you, and I bet you'd rather go with him, so..."

Kate smiled and nodded. "Oh, George, its fine, don't worry! Go with Katie! It's just fine. It's more than fine, it's wonderful–oh, is it dinner time yet?" Kate answered in a flustered voice.

George shook his head, giving her a worried look. "Er, thanks for being so...light about it..." he said apprehensively. "I think you can go to dinner if you want..."

Kate's blood was pumping through her faster than she thought her heart could beat. She rushed out of the common room without a moment's hesitation, a feeling of lassitude overwhelming her unusually. She didn't know how to respond to herself. She didn't know what to think. So she just went with it. Her heart was in control now, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She felt so sure of it. He would be there. She needed to see him, to speak to him. As soon as possible. And she knew she was going to.

She nearly slipped down the marble staircase, her ankles tripping about and doubling over. She managed to keep herself from completely biffing it. She had already done that a couple of times, and she didn't wish to add another tally to that list.

Especially when she saw who was walking into the great hall.

Somehow, she knew he was going to be there. He had to be. It was the only way.

"Hello, Kate," Cedric said warily across the room, as he saw her come tumbling down the stairs. He smiled to himself. It was painful, however, wishing that someone that clumsy would be dancing with him.

He hadn't gotten over it yet. He really, really, really wanted to go with her. But he supposed there was nothing he could do about it know. He knew eventually he would need to ask someone else, and he was running out of time. But he just didn't think he could do it. The only person he wanted to dance with the girl falling down the stairs, a red mark on the side of her face from being mashed into a pillow–Kate.

"Ced...!" Kate couldn't help herself. She tried to compose herself, then walked quickly, almost in a run, over to Cedric. As soon as she reached him, she threw her arms around him and said, "Good day!"

Ced gave her a curious look, losing his breath when her arms surrounded him. It wasn't a bad thing though, he quite liked it. But he didn't know whether to respond by hugging her back, or if he should just stand there.

"What's...up?" He finally said, stuttering, feeling his cheeks burning.

Kate, realizing what she had just done (which was running up to her once-hated enemy and throwing her arms around him), let go of Cedric quickly, and took a few steps back. She was way too close. And behaving too strangely. Some strange was definitely going on. And while her heart liked this feeling, her mind didn't like it at all.

No, you don't, you don't, her mind told her.

Yes, I do, I think I do, her heart told her.

She knew her heart would tell her things her mind didn't know. But this was a very big leap of faith to trust in her heart. She hadn't ever felt like she did just then.

Then she heard herself say, "I'm not going to the ball with George."

Cedric's ears burned as he heard this. He didn't quite comprehend it at first, but as soon as he understood what she had said, he smiled secretly (but it was obvious this time), and said nervously, "So, who are you going with, then?" Hoping for the answer he obviously wanted.

Kate smirked. "Why, you." she answered, timidly drawing a circle with the point of her shoe on the ground.

Cedric couldn't help but smile. This was music to his ears. A wave a relief swept over both of them as they realized, truly, this was what they had wanted all along.

Kate, as she looked happily up into Cedric's grey orbs, flicked through her head again. Finally it came to her.

Serendipity.

She was meant to be here. He was meant to be here. This was meant to happen. It wasn't just chance. It was...destiny.

She laughed to herself as Cedric smirked, "Well, that is good news. So I 'spose it's official this time, right?"

Kate nodded. "Yeah. It's official."

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief, taking in her astonishingly beautiful blue eyes once again before he said, "Well, would you like to eat dinner?"

Kate nodded. This was exactly the way it was supposed to be. Her mind had finally surrendered, and her heart knew what it was doing. She was sure of that.

And as they walked together, both grinning stupidly, knocking elbows as they were close, Serendipity was fully recognized, its purpose fulfilled.

For she was the only one for him. And he was the only one for her.

It wasn't chance. It was destiny. Fate.

And although Kate and Cedric didn't realize fully what was ahead of them, Serendipity opened a very large gate of opportunity, leaving a lot of room to be filled with love.

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Authoress note time!

Yay, end of chapter. X3 Personally I think I wrote this a little sloppily and repetitive. But oh well. My computer decided to cooperate again! -cheers- So I will be update regularly again. :) Yeah, that's right, I tricked you! I was originally going to have Ced go with Cho, but I was like, "Bah, this is a fluffy romance. Happy stuff is supposed to happen. Harharhar!" So I infringed on the original story and changed that part, even through I will be tomatoed by strict Potterphiles for changing the story. XD I don't care! Please review, my lovelies:3

Thanks to:

luv sean faris: Thanks! Term papers suck, I know. XD Just don't be like me and procrastinate/forget until 11PM the night before. :3

Mysticdark1: Thanks for the review:3 I hope I pleased you.

i luv Lupin AND Potter: Assuming you got my message, I cleared everything up. n.n Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it!

Nayerz: Thanks muchly! -eats muffin- I'm glad you liked it so much. :) It's good to be appreciated!

Wavy Blue: Thanks muchly!

ibcandy: Thanks for the alert!