Disclaimer: Tis only a flesh wound!

Most Splendiferous Notice From the Esteemed Authoress:

Uh, is authoress a word?

Anyway, here's the next chapter. Sorry for the little hiatus, I have been very busy the past week with work and school, and there was writers block caused from a severe (and stupid) fight I had with my boyfriend. ;x; But I'm back, don't worry. Much love! Please review!

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Someone Like You

Chapter Fourteen - Somewhere Only We Know

"You can tell everybody

this is your song." -Elton John

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The following days seemed to pass by on a swift breath. It seemed like each week was beginning sooner than the last. The end of December slipped through with devilish cunning, causing the students' attitudes to return murky due to the fact they would soon have to return to classes. January began shortly, and the first classes of the year began.

The students' only saving grace was the prospect of a Hogsmeade visit in the middle of the month. Everyone was looking forward to it with eagerness. Even Kate, who had recently been victim to what Angelina called "more buddy-buddy-ish than you think". Referring, of course, to Kate's building relationship with Cedric.

It was obvious that the changes in Kate's heart were incontrovertible. It stood where it stood, and Kate didn't mind being there. Sure, on occasion she reminded herself how cliche it was to even consider Cedric as potentially more than a friend, but she played it off with frivolity.

They were spending more and more time together since the Yule Ball. They made a habit of studying together at least every other day a week, sometimes more. And Angelina wasn't the only one who noticed Kate and Cedric's new schedule. Many younger students were noting how "that Spanish girl" and "Cedric, the real Hogwarts Champion" were becoming closer and closer everyday.

Of course, Kate seemed oblivious. Anytime anyone questioned her about her relationship, she gave them a callow look and said, "Er...what?"or, "No, of course not!" or, in the case of the Weasley twins, "Dear God, get your minds out of the gutter!"

She could not deny, however, how every morning she looked forward to seeing him and had the best times when she was with him.

Cedric was less dense on this matter. He knew that things were changing every day, that things were getting deeper. And he knew every new thing they did together, whether it was studying, taking a walk, or merely waving in the hall, brought them closer to being...closer.

And that closeness was something he did not dislike in the least bit. He too, was always looking forward to seeing Kate, and found that she was the first thing he thought of in the morning and the last thing he thought about before he fell asleep.

Cedric had decided he was going to ask Kate to go to Hogsmeade with him. He wanted nothing less than that.

After Defense Against the Dark Arts on the Friday before the visit, Cedric sifted through the throngs of students to Kate, who was chatting with Fred Weasley. Cedric pulled one of his little habits he had developed with her, touching her elbow slightly to get her attention.

Kate smiled, knowing it was him, as they migrated out the class room door to the hallway. She said so-long to Fred, then turned to Cedric, and they stopped walking to the side of the hall.

"Good afternoon, golden boy," Kate said with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Kate. How are you?" Cedric asked with a smirk.

"I'm just peachy. And you?"

"I'm fine. Listen, I was wondering if you would be at all interested in going to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow," Cedric requested, unable to conceal a grin.

"Sure, that would be great!" Kate agreed excitedly. She thought his idea was a completely excellent suggestion.

"Well, alright, then. I meet you tomorrow in the courtyard, okay?" Cedric said, setting the time and location.

"Okay. It's a date." Kate said with a stupid grin.

Cedric noticed this time she didn't recant calling their outing a date. As he watched her walking (or more, glide) away after a short good bye, being unable to conceal a smile of admiration, he found himself quite glad that she hadn't taken back what she said.

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Of course, mother nature decided to conspire against our young lovers. As Kate woke up the next morning, seeing lugubrious and gloomy clouds filling the sky through the nearby window, she grumbled angrily, untangling herself from the sheets.

After breakfast, students began filtering outside to leave to Hogsmeade. Everyone was wearing a heavy coat, many also with hats, gloves, and scarves. Every person had an umbrella handy, betting it would start to rain anytime.

Teaming up in the entrance hall, Kate and Cedric walked outside to the courtyard, taking a brisk pace as the rest of the students were, trying to get out of the cold.

"So, I realized something," Kate smirked, as they walked along, huddled close together. Their hands were thrust into their coat pockets.

"Oh, yeah? And what is that?" Cedric asked in a comical manner.

"I realized, I don't know your specifics." Kate told him frankly.

"My...what?" Cedric questioned, not understanding what she meant.

"You know, you favorites of things. I mean, I remember you like seafood, and mystery novels, but I don't know a whole lot more." Kate said, nodding as she talked.

"Actually, I feel the same way. About you, I mean." Cedric agreed. "So, lets have a get-to-know-you-better meeting."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Kate sniggered. Hogsmeade was not far away now. She could see its hovering sky line just a little ways off.

"I suggest The Three Broomsticks. Seems like a good place to have a meeting." Cedric suggested.

"Good idea." Kate agreed again.

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After their frigid hike from Hogwarts, Kate and Cedric hand finally settled in at a cozy table in The Three Broomsticks. After order butter beers and de-donning their winter wear, Kate laced her fingers together and placed them on the table. Leaning forward, she asked, "Okay. I hope you're ready for this." she teased.

"Kate, don't make me feel like a murder suspect in Interrogation," Cedric joked.

Kate sniggered as she went on. "Don't worry, it won't be that bad." she paused, noticing how the other students in the pub were giving them peculiar looks. Some of the younger girls were glaring at her contemptuously. Kate laughed to herself, then said, "So this is how it works. One of us says something, like, 'Pushed someone over a cliff'. If you or I have, you take a drink. Makes sense?" Kate questioned.

Cedric nodded. "Yes, I understand." He then smirked, saying, "You haven't really pushed anyone off a cliff, have you?"

She punched him in the shoulder playfully. "Oh no, you found out my secret!" She remarked sarcastically. "Okay, I'll start." She paused, thinking of something to say. "Broke the 'no magic outside of school' law."

Kate took a sip. Cedric's cup remained on the table.

"Really? What did you do?" Cedric asked peculiarly.

"Oh, I just used a healing spell on my poor cousin who fell into the street and cut his knee open in front of some muggles. It wasn't that big of a deal." Kate explained.

"Alright." Cedric nodded, understanding. "Ever said hello to someone you thought was saying hello to you? But in reality, they weren't?"

They both picked up their glasses and drank.

"So many, many times..." Kate sniggered, trailing off as Cedric laughed.

It went on like this for quite a long time, though it drifted by quickly. Soon the questions became more intimate, and they became more comfortable.

It was Kate's turn to ask, and she had been itching to do this one for a while. She had just worked up the courage, as she placed her hands apart on the table, leaning forward, and said, "Kissed someone, on a romantic basis."

Kate's draw dropped as Cedric didn't pick up his glass. She didn't either.

"You haven't? You, the Casanova of Hogwarts?" Kate asked, astonished.

Cedric nodded, laughing. "I can't believe you just said I am a Casanova."

"Well, I'm glad to hear you aren't." Kate said, looking down at her hands. Cedric's were on the table as well.

"D'you ever wonder...what it would be like if I'd never hated you?" Kate asked depthly, this question coming from somewhere inside of her. "I mean, always liked you since the day we met?"

Cedric smiled, looking down at their hands as well. He searched carefully for what to say, wanting to place out the exact words he wanted. His heart was beating frantically, planning a stratagem, as he said, quaintly, "I don't think that I would feel the way about you that I do now."

Kate felt a cold sweat rush over her, as she looked earnestly into Cedric's grey eyes. Such an inexplicable feeling ran through her. She felt that that mysterious connection had been made again, and they knew exactly how the other was feeling. Their emotions were aligned, and it was obvious, with out words, where they were going to go from there.

Then as Cedric smiled at her, their eye lock not breaking, he twined his fingers with hers. Kate noticed right away just how perfectly their fingers fit together. But that was nothing to the rush of felicity that came over her, infiltrating the farthest depths of her heart. A corner of her emotions were turned, and she realized that what had been going on for the past few weeks came full circle. The touch of his fingers in her told her things she never expected to hear through her heart. It told her the truth of what she was feeling, and how he was, too.

Once again, like the night of the dance, words weren't needed to communicate. Their hearts were speaking to each other then.

They left The Three Broomsticks slowly, their hands still intertwined together. Cedric led her, a joyful grin on his face. They left Hogsmeade, heading back towards the castle. He veered off to the left, and began leading her toward the lake. In a matter of moments, they arrived there, like they were riding a cloud.

"Look." He said simply, pointing out to the center of the lake. The placid blue reflected against their skin as the grey clouds over head threatened with thunder.

"On clear mornings, right when the sun is rising through the trees, and the light reflects against the surface of the water..." Cedric said softly. "And you can't hear anything, and it only seems like the only person in the world is you, and the person next to you..."

He faced her, taking her other hand in his. "That's how I feel about you. I don't need the sun, or the reflection."

Kate smiled, her heart set free. Her cheeks burned red "I..." She didn't know what to say. "I'm glad to hear that." Which she thought sounded intensely lame, but it was apparently very satisfying to Cedric.

This is so weird, this is so weird, Kate kept telling herself. Now what, you have feelings for him? Isn't this exactly where you didn't want to end up? How could you let this happen to you, to swoon over him like every other girl?

But then again, why had it been so easy?

She looked up into the sky, unable not to laugh as the rain came tumbling down onto them in a rapid torrent, soaking their clothes. Cedric smiled as the rain woke up his senses. He laughed as well, feeling quite ridiculous.

Of course, that's what love does to you.

They began to run back towards the castle, in an effort to survive being drowned. Kate's fingers never came untangled from Cedric's. This rain, the cold, relentless force, seemed to be a sign, a wake-up call. Kate still didn't quite understand what was going on. She liked him, and she couldn't deny it. And he felt the same way. But it also told her that this was more than just a crush, more than just silly teenage puppy love. That question hadn't been answered yet, but she felt that they would discover it together sometime, whether it was tomorrow, next week, or next year.

Kate knew she had begun to fall for him. Cedric, however, had begun falling for her a long time ago, and to him, this only brought good news.

Kate couldn't get to sleep that night. Her mind was abuzz with the many things that had happened that day. Rumors had spread, of course, but she didn't care. Younger girls were glaring at her, but she didn't care. Fred and George chastised her for fraternizing with the enemy, but she didn't care. She hated being this sort of slave to her emotions, but it was so nice at the same time. She was enjoying every minute of it. She noticed then, how usually she was scared to open up to new love. She cowered from it, hiding from it's influence. But this time it was different. While new love usually caged her in, this did something different. The last things she thought before drifting off into a fantastic dream world, were simple words that were full of meaning...

All your life, you've waited for him to set you free.

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Thanks to:

awakeanddreaming

Dean's Leather Jacket

Flying Tiger

Mysticdark1: :) Thanks for the review! Good luck with your fic!

Summerluck2: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it! Hold in to your camera:3

silenceintheforest: Thanks, I'm glad you like the story!

Authoress's note junk:

Hmm...I don't know how to feel about this chapter. I like it, but I don't...hmm. Oh, and BTW when I use the word 'love' now, I mean it in a more brotherly-love way, not like 'in-love.' We're not there yet. Well, hopefully you liked it. :) Sorry it's kind of short...

Please please please review. I need your feed back to get me out of my writers block:3