Disclaimer: Not mine. :)

Authoress note!

Yes, it's me again! Thanks to all the great feedback from last chapter. I hope you all like this one. :) Yay for love! Thanks for reading! Have a good week! Woo, chapter fifteen? O-O We're half-way done!

Happy Valentine's Day!...Late. :3

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Someone Like You

Chapter Fifteen - You're Beautiful

"But to see her was to love her;

love but her, and love for ever." -Robert Burns

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"Blue or red?" Kate asked intently as she stood before her wardrobe in the Gryffindor girls dormitory.

Angelina, who was sitting nonchalantly on her bed, her textbook sprawled across her lap in an effort to make it look like she was doing something. "Er...what?"

"Blue or red? Earrings, I mean." Kate specified.

"I don't care!" Angelina said stressfully, casting Kate a distressed look. Angelina had noticed how much more energetic Kate was since she had been spending more time with Cedric. She believed there was a concurrence.

"Oh, fine, blue." Kate sighed in a slightly irritated way. "Say, did we have Divinations homework?"

Angelina shook her head as she leafed through the pages in her book. "No...you sure seem to be a bit more flaky lately than you used to be."

Kate had inserted her blue shiny earrings and was proceeding to cross the room to Angelina's bedside. Her foot caught on the corner of her trunk, and she stumbled forward, barely catching herself.

"And more clumsy." Angelina added, shutting her book with a quick snap.

Kate straightened herself up, pretending to be oblivious. "I...er, must just be distracted."

Angelina smirked as she swung her legs over the side of her bed and stood up. She coughed something that sounded like "golden boy" as they left the room together, going to breakfast.

"Good morning, ladies!" Fred and George chimed in unison, joining them on their way out the door.

"Happy Friday!" Angelina sighed. It had been a long week, with loads of homework including a Potions essay they had all royally failed.

The continued jabbering about how relieved they were it was finally the weekend until they reached the entrance hall, crossing over to the Great hall. Then Kate heard, to her delight, "Good morning, Kate!"

Kate glanced behind her, to see Cedric a few yards behind them. He was smiling happily, glad to see her. Kate smiled back, their eyes meeting graciously.

"I'll catch up with you guys later." Kate said quietly as she left the group, gliding over to Cedric.

"It's good to see you," Cedric said sweetly as Kate reached him.

"It's almost ten o'clock! Seems a little bit late for you to be getting out of bed." Kate teased, folding her arms over her chest.

"Well, I had to make sure to run into you." Cedric smirked.

"And sleeping in was the best way to do it?" Kate retorted, then remarked sarcastically, "I like your way of thinking. You've got to tell me some of your secrets."

"I'll hold a class sometime." Cedric sniggered, placing on hand on Kate's arm.

"So, why did you need to run into me?" Kate asked inquisitively.

"Well, I needed to see you. Isn't that enough?" Cedric smirked. "Also, I was wondering if you would meet me at lunch under the big oak tree again."

Kate felt herself flush as nice shade of red. "Sure thing, I'll be there." she answered."Well? Are you hungry?"

"Oh, I'm starving. Let's go." They entered the Great Hall together, Cedric's hand placed lightly on Kate's shoulder, as if he were guiding her along.

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"Kate!" Angelina hissed as they bent over parchment in Potions class. They were outlining a paper they were going to write on Tuesday in class. The topic wasn't thoroughly exciting(cases of werewolf attacks), but it was simple work.

"What?" Kate responded in a similarly annoyed voice, glancing up from her paper spread in front of her.

"You're doing it again." Angelina accused.

"Doing what?" Kate asked again.

"Humming!" Angelina replied, lowering her eyes.

"Really? I was?" Kate said, confused, as she put the tips of her fingers to her bottom lip. "I...didn't even notice."

"That was your excuse last time!" Angelina sighed loudly, dropping her pen onto her paper for emphasis.

Kate looked down at the few lines she had scribbled onto her parchment. "I'm sorry. I'll try not to do it again."

"Yeah, yeah..." Angelina trailed off, sighing. She picked up her pen and continued her writing.

Kate couldn't seem to get back on task and think about her paper. She kept wondering what was provoking her strange behavior. How could she have been humming and not even noticed that she was? It couldn't have something to do with Cedric, could it? He wasn't that distracting...was he?

And thanks to Kate's befuddlement she was unable to finish her paper outline, leaving her with a nice addition to her already heavy homework load.

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"If I could have one wish, it would be that homework would never exist. Or, at least, it wasn't boring." Kate sighed as she slumped down next to Cedric, who was already outside. For it being the end of January, the weather was surprisingly nice and warm. The bright sunshine only added to the warmth. It was remarkable, especially since it had only been a few weeks previous that it had been that frigid Hogsmeade visit.

Kate put her bag on her lap, strangling the strap.

"There could never be a world so good to us." Cedric smirked, glad Kate had arrived.

Kate chuckled, leaning back, feeling the rough bark against her spine. She breathed in the deep, clear air around her, and closed her eyes, taking in the moment. It was so peaceful. Why couldn't it always be like that?

"So what's the damage today?" Cedric asked, referring to Kate's homework load.

Kate sighed her answer. "I'm in critical condition," she told him as she pulled her Potions paper out of her bag.

"I'll help all I can," Cedric replied sportively. Kate smiled back at him, her blue eyes meeting his grey ones.

"Thanks. Really, I appreciate it. I mean, really, you are too nice to me." Kate laughed, blushing.

"I'll try harder to be mean." Cedric joked.

"You'd better. I want to hear you insult me." Kate tempted, laughing.

"Well, okay." Cedric looked her up and down, then said, "I don't like your...shoes."

Kate sniggered. "Oh come on, is that the best you can do?"

"Well, I guess I like everything about you!" Cedric retorted, pushing Kate's shoulder playfully.

Kate blushed as the last of her giggles left her. "Well, ditto."

Cedric gave her a perplexed look. "You like everything about yourself?"

Kate clapped her hands together enthusiastically as she began laughing again. "There you go! A decent insult!"

Cedric began laughing as well. Anyone watching from a distance would have seen two students, both overwhelmed by homework, doubled over laughing like lunatics. Surely only Cedric and Kate felt what happened in that moment. There was such a bond of friendship, it was amazing they had only known each other for five months. You'd think they'd been friends their whole life. But then there was still that additional mystery factor. The thing that Kate and Cedric were addicted to, and only seemed to feel when they were around each other. They both wanted to know what it was. But they just couldn't figure it out yet.

Kate straightened herself, saying, "Okay, okay, better try to get something done."

Together, bent over Kate's single page of paper, they wrote a brilliant outline, their minds working as one. Kate's senses tingled when she felt Cedric's fingers brush hers–and he definitely was not doing that on accident–and she wished that lunch hour would have lasted forever. She felt absolutely dismal when she looked at her watch, which read 1:12, meaning she needed to be in class in eight minutes.

"Guess its time we, ahem, reconvened, eh?" Cedric shrugged, as he began shoving books and papers into his bag.

Kate sighed, sad to slip out of peace into reality. "Yeah, back to class."

Cedric stood up, and outstretched his hand to Kate. She took it, as he pulled her up. Once she was up, his hand didn't let hers go. He certainly didn't want to, and she didn't want him to either.

"So, I'll see you in Herbology." Kate said sweetly. She was sure she was blushing again. Why did she keep doing that!

"Right then." Cedric leaned forward and planted his lips against Kate's cheek for a brief moment, then pulled back away. "Bye."

"Bye," Kate managed, her heart set ablaze. She felt a tingling sensation from her head to the tips of her toes. She felt like she would collapse into the grass as she watched him walk away, a familiarly happy smile planted on his lips.

She then rushed–or rather, skipped–to Divination, put in a very, very good mood.

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Kate had arrived very early to Herbology. She was one of the first people there, while the fourth years were still clearing out. She even was able to say hello to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She took a seat on a bench near the back of the room, and placed her bag next to her, saving a spot for Cedric. The few other people there sat all scattered; no two people were together. Kate smiled to herself, thankful for this slight tranquil moment. She only wished she could have Cedric to share it with.

She glanced out the dirty old windows of the greenhouse. It was still shiny and bright outside, the sun still far away from the horizon. She loved this warm weather. It was so unusual. It had been only yesterday the temperature was below thirty. That day it was around 65. It seemed the makings for the perfect day weather-wise. As for the events that had taken place, it really hadn't been too bad. In fact, everything had been quite wonderful today, except for the Potions paper. She had noticed how all of this was good because of Cedric.

She smiled fondly as she thought of him, and the peck on the cheek he had given her when they said goodbye at lunch. What did it mean? Was she reading into it too much? Could it be possible to read into it too much?

Kate also noticed then how many questions she had because of Cedric as well.

Soon students began filtering in. Cedric was not one of them. Fred and George sat down on one side of Kate.

"Where is your main man today, Kate?" Fred asked, smirking as he pulled on the gardening gloves that were lying on the table.

She shrugged. "I don't know. He said he be here at lunch." she felt perplexed, and frankly, worried.

"Probably just signing autographs. I wouldn't worry." George sympathized sarcastically.

"Oh, right." Kate laughed. All the students who were coming had seemed to have arrived.

Professor Sprout stood as tall as she could at the front of the greenhouse, clearing her throat, indicating the students she be quiet.

"Right then, time to get things going. Today's lesson, I warn you, is very long, and will be very hard work."

There were simultaneous groans throughout the room.

"Enough of your whining. Now, please pull on your gloves..."

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Kate checked her watch in between her work(which was mixing potions very precisely into temperamental plants that implode). Class was almost over, then it would be dinner time. Where was Cedric? It wasn't like him to miss class for anything.

A few moments later, she heard his familiar voice from the front of the room. He was conversing with Professor Sprout.

Kate felt herself lights up at the sight of him. She couldn't help but smile.

"Kate, your boyfriend is here," Fred snickered.

She shot him a dangerous look. "You have ten seconds to take that back."

Fred kept on laughing. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry."

Cedric hurried over and sat down next to Kate. "Hey, I'm sorry I'm late."

"What happened?" Kate asked in a concerned and somewhat motherly voice.

"There was a sudden meeting for the Triwizard champions. I had to go." Cedric explained.

Oh yeah, Kate thought. I almost forgot about that whole school champion thing.

"Students!" Professor Sprout said loudly. "It is time to start cleaning up. Please put your plants on that table over there," she gestured with a finger, "And wash your hands. Then you may leave."

"Kate, can I ask you a big favor?" Cedric implored.

Kate nodded before she could stop herself. Cedric was surprised at her acquiescence.

"Can you help me with this assignment? To keep up in this class I need to do this tonight. You wouldn't mind staying with me until I'm done, would you?" He asked earnestly.

Kate momentarily glanced outside at the fading sky. She then smiled fondly, turning back to Cedric. "Sure. No problem."

"Thank you! You're a life saver." Cedric thanked thoroughly.

Kate smiled sweetly. "Really, after all you've helped me with, I'm only repaying the debt." She reassured him.

Cedric slung his arm around her shoulder as the students filtered out of the greenhouses. "Just...thanks."

Professor Sprout was the last one leaving. "I trust you can lock the door when you leave, right? Just remember to clean up when you are through." And she was gone.

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"I hope you're ready for this. I'm not so sure I'm the best teacher, but I'll do what I can." Kate said as she examined the potions in front of her.

"I'm sure you'll do great." Cedric reassured. He took the first vial in hand. "Just tell me what to do."

Kate walked him through the entire days lesson in a time much shorter than Professor Sprout had. She must have just used much more time yelling at loud students.

In little less than an hour, Kate had finished walking Cedric through the lesson. The sky outside had grown into a midnight dash of blue, the stars dancing in the air. It was not much colder than it was a few hours earlier; the temperature was pretty stable.

They cleaned up and left the green house. Kate's fingers slid into Cedric's as he said, "Thank you so, so much. I really appreciate it."

"It's no problem, really. You don't have to be so nice." Kate said in a somewhat teasing way. They had begun the trek back to the castle.

"But I want to be nice. I want to be the nicest to you." Cedric smirked, looking into Kate's eyes.

Well then." Kate replied sportively. She stopped walking and faced him. "I truly think you're the nicest guy I've ever met."

Cedric smiled at her sweetly. He couldn't think of what to say.

"You are simply the most confusing girl I've ever met." Cedric finally said, teasingly.

"Oh, insult!" Kate snapped as she laughed. "Let's make a bet. Whoever can run to the lake's shore faster gets dinner from the other the next Hogsmeade visit."

"Fine it's a deal." Cedric agreed. They shook on it mockingly.

"Okay. Ready, set..." Kate began as she laughed. She was running on pure adrenaline and that one feeling that Cedric brought to her.

"I can't believe we are doing this..." Cedric trailed off. He then turned and pointed to something behind Kate's head. "What on earth is that!" he exclaimed.

"What? Where?" Kate asked as she turned to look. Cedric took off running.

"Hey! You cheater!" Kate yelled after him in between laughs as she began running as well. Something magical was happening. She normally would have thought they were down right behaving like children. But nothing was normal anymore. Everything was special with Cedric. That was just the way it was.

"You fell for the oldest trick in the book!" Cedric yelled over his shoulder, laughing as well.

Kate ran as fast as she could. She had to catch up to him. She just had to. For how much she liked Cedric, competition was still a part of her.

They were nearing the lake shore. Cedric was sure he was going to get there first–though he had resolved he would pay for dinner anyway because that was the gentlemanly thing to do.

Then suddenly, Kate caught his elbow, and she grabbed on, dragging on him with all her might. Together, they crashed into the sand. Kate landed first, on her back, then Cedric landed next to her.

Kate was laughing, coughing, and spitting out sand all at the same time. "I've got sand in my shoes!" She laughed insanely.

"You're lucky if that's the only place you've got sand." Cedric laughed. He rolled over onto his stomach, propping up his torso with his elbow. He leaned over Kate.

Kate's fingers found his again. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, as the last of their laughs faded away. Their eyes were locked together.

"You have stubble." Kate said breathlessly as she gazed into his face. "Just a little."

"That was romantic." Cedric smirked.

Kate made a pretend pouting face. "Then you do better."

Cedric took a few moments to think of the best thing to say. What actually came out was not exactly what he had in mind. He was sure, after he said it, he could have thought of something more lyrical and appealing.

"You're beautiful." he told her.

But it was all Kate wanted to hear.

His eyes danced in front of her. They were so pretty...grey, like the moon on a dusky night. There seemed to be more in them in that moment than she had ever seen before. There was something so deep and so meaningful in the way he was looking at her. Something so magical. Something so important to her heart. She dare not look away, or she felt she would lose that feeling.

She loved the way he made her feel. He made her feel so much better than she thought she was. And she finally decided, that maybe being attracted to him, maybe even having feelings for him, was not a bad thing at all. It was, in fact, a wonderful thing. A wonderful thing she wanted to explore deeper and deeper. She wanted him to dive into her mind, and stay there. She wanted him to waste all his time with her.

Kate no longer questioned what was going on. She knew the answers. And she knew that any questions that came up later would be answered by her heart in time.

Love takes its own course in time. You can't rush it, you can't slow it down. You just have to go with it. Kate knew that.

And then she felt, slowly but surely, Cedric's torso closer to hers. She continually gazed into his eyes. Her hand found the side of his face, her fingers caressing his cheek.

They hung onto everything in that moment. They wanted to. They needed to. They had to.

And then in a moment that contained an eternity, Cedric's lips pressed against Kate's, and her eyes fluttered shut. Her heart leaped out of her chest, going frantic through her body. She had never felt anything like that before. She had never felt something so wonderful.

She showed her acquiescence to the kiss by pushing back with her own lips. They seemed to fit with his perfectly, like they had been made for each other. Kate smiled into their kiss as she thought this.

This was her first kiss. It was the most amazing thing she had ever felt.

Two words had come to Cedric's mind while he was kissing her. Two words that were so simple, while containing an eternity of purpose to his heart. They were simple dream girl. Dream Girl. She was his dream girl. He wanted nothing more than her. To him, there was nothing more that a girl could be.

His lips stayed on hers for a few minutes more, then he pulled away. His grey eyes flashed into her blue ones. They were questioning, like he wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

She reassured him by pushing her lips against him. He happily received them.

Soon she broke away, and Cedric sat up. He stared dreamily up into the sky, his mind buzzing with what had just happened. He didn't know what to say.

Kate sat up as well. She smiled at him, feeling shy. "You wanna go?" she finally said.

"Yeah." Cedric answered shortly. Turning and smiling at her. He outstretched his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her up. Her hand staying in his, they walked back to the castle. It was the longest, and the best, walk either of them had ever taken.

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authoress note:

Holy pockets, Batman! Long chapter! This makes up for the last ones. I hope you liked it. You've been waiting fourteen chapters and over two months for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed!

Please give feedback. I need good feedback for this chapter to keep me writing:3

Thanks to:

mysticdark1

summerluck2

Iris Knotwise

Nayerz