A/N: Ugh, I did this with Vanity too, it seems I've forgotten if I mentioned Shandie's eye color. If I did, someone PLEASE tell me what it is and where I said it…On a lighter note: I love my reviewers. (Esp. Moonlights Desire- I hope you're getting those like full page reviews of mine, lol). And something really odd I noticed, for all my fans from 'Vanity' or just those of Tom: James Franco would make the most kick ass Tom Riddle. Don't ya think?

Five: Dancing Along A Line of Wrong and Right

Well I've been a dancer, I've been a dancer all my life
But I'm not dancing 'round this one tonight
'That's How Love Should Be'- Tyler Hilton

She didn't know what she was thinking. It was like she had been watching someone else and egging them on when her nails raked through the tin of ashes on the mantle. The smoke turned green and she wondered if she was as well. She tried spotting, a trick she'd learned from her mother so as not to get dizzy from spinning on her toes when dancing. It didn't have time to work because by the time Shandie tried to pick a spot to fix her eyes on she lost her balance and jerked forward only to fall on a thin rug which covered the hard wood floor of the Diggory's formal living room. Silver ash flew up in clouds all around her and the warm glow of fire light returned. Within seconds it was clear that half of the guests were in this very room, around the fire, and they were all staring at her.

"Shandie?" her gaze lifted and her heart seemed to melt with relief when soft gray eyes met her own. He helped her to her feet and everyone soon went back to chatting amongst themselves, though they continued to glance curiously at her every now and then. Embarrassed and still covered in ash, Shan found herself being maneuvered out of the room and into the dimly lit hallway by the grip Cedric held on her arm.

"Thought you'd crash my party, huh?" he laughed. She cracked a smile still covered in soot.

"Yah, thanks for saving me back there. I'm sorry I made a fool of myself in front of your party guests." she sighed, dusting her shirt off some more. He smiled sympathetically, attempting to help her shake some of the ash from her hair and back.

"Don't even worry about it, was that you're first time traveling by floo powder?"

"Was it that obvious?"

"You fell on the floor Shan." he chuckled.

"Yah, I guess your right." she smiled and shook her head at what had just happened.

"Is everything alright? Is your family with you?"

"I'm afraid not. I'll tell you everything, can I just get some water first? My mouth is full of ash and it's disgusting." she made a face and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yes, yes. Of course. Follow me." he lead her to the kitchen which was empty and large. Shandie immediately became well acquainted with the sink faucet, washing any trace of ash from her mouth and lips, splashing her face with the cool water to get the heat from traveling by fire out of her skin. It didn't leave. It was then that she was reminded of how feverish she felt when she was with Cedric.

"So what happened?" he asked, concerned. The young girl beside him sighed before turning to face him.

"I told you how my grandparents are over at my house, right?" he nodded "Right, well, every year they come and visit and every year the whole house hold gets into this huge row because my father's parents are Irish and even though my mum was raised in Liverpool for most of her life but her parents are firmly French and they've never liked my father much or his family. So they got into this ridiculously large fight and then my parents got dragged into it and then I did and I was crying and all that bother and I stormed up to my room. Well, I ended up crying myself to sleep and when I woke up I could hear them still fighting downstairs and I don't know what came over me…I just grabbed some floo powder and before I could even think about it I'd taken myself here. I know you weren't expecting me, I'm sorry about dropping in like this"-

"No, no. Don't be. Here have a seat, have you eaten?"

"I'm not hungry." she shrugged.

"Alright well, let me take your coat. There, most of the soot's gone anyways." he left her for a few moments as he hung up her coat but came back shortly, "I'm so sorry about your grandparents and all. Is there anything I can do?"

"If I could just stay here, I'd be really grateful. I won't be trouble."

"Sure you will." he smirked. She cracked a smile.

"I can't help it. You're a bad influence Mr. Diggory." she teased.

He chuckled, "Hey why don't you come meet my parents and everyone?"

"Would you hate me terribly if I didn't? I just don't feel up to a party right now."

"Oh, of course. I understand."

"I'm just going to go take a shower, if that's alright?"

"Yah, by all means. Umm, you can just hang out in my room until everyone leaves if you'd like."

"I think I will." she said, standing. "Just call me down when they've all gone. I'll help you all clean up."

"Don't be silly. You're a guest, you're not lifting a finger."

"I like staying at your house." she smirked as he led her past the pantry, through the foyer and to the stair case.

His room was enchanting, charming and rather a mess. The walls were covered with photographs of his friends and family, quidditch posters, scribbled quotes on torn bits of parchment, framed awards and achievements and a few battered broomsticks were mounted on one of the walls. These were organized from smallest at the top to largest at the bottom. Under each was a small plaque with a description of memorable moments Cedric had achieved on the brooms and at what age he had used them. The walls were dark blue and somehow matched the Huffelpuff throw blanket which covered his bed. There were all sorts of medals and trophies and Shandie snorted as she passed the dresser they all sat on top of. A small smile decorated her mouth when she came to a very large, framed map. It was the same map from the Captain's office.

The view from his window, which found itself hovering over his desk, Shandie got an eyeful of grassy field stretching out about 50 meters towards a forest thick with night and darkness. Beyond those fir trees were more of their brothers, spreading over gently rolling hills. It was nice and mildly rugged. Somehow the feel of the place matched with Cedric's masculine warmth perfectly.

Having no pajamas of her own, Shan threw her underclothes back on and took a romp through his dresser for some of his sleepwear. Red and white striped boxers and an oversized white t-shirt later, she flopped onto her back on his bed. A sigh left her mouth and she stared up at the ceiling.

Why had she come here? Her parents were going to have kittens when they found out. The problem was that didn't give Shan much incentive to go home and if she wasn't going home that meant she was staying. And staying meant all kinds of bad. Staying meant time alone with Cedric. Something that she wanted but that she also knew would lead to nothing but trouble in the end.

Still exhausted and emotionally worn out, Shandie closed her eyes, rolled over and tried to forget about her family. Cedric's sheets were soft and his blankets were thick and the warm scent of butterscotch quickly lulled her to sleep.

Shan woke to the sound of hustle and bustle far off somewhere. Dishes clanging together as they were thrown in a sink, people laughing loudly, chairs and tables being dragged along floors and bumping into walls. Her senses felt groggy and a frown decorated her features as she sat up in a bed unfamiliar to her. The familiarity of her surroundings sunk back into her memory slowly as she looked around. Her first instinct was to call for Cedric. She felt lost and alone and desperately needed to see him to feel grounded and safe.

As though reading her mind, the bedroom door opened and a boy about her own age slipped in. He did his best to close the door quietly, not noticing her return to consciousness until looking up.

"Hey, you're up." a smile lit up Cedric's face and his words were gentle as he sat down beside the young girl in his bed.

"Yah, has everyone gone yet?"

"Of course they have, it's nearly midnight!" he chuckled, handing his guest a glass of water.

"Thank you." she gratefully accepted the glass and gulped.

"I see you took the liberty of rooting through my clothes." he smirked. It took her a good moment or two to get the gist of his meaning but she was soon smiling as well.

"Yah, nice boxers by the way."

"Thanks, they look better on you than me though." he assured her.

"When did everyone leave?" she asked, setting the water on his bedside table.

"Oh not long ago, Cho was the last one out she left about fifteen minutes ago. I would have come up sooner but my parents needed help tidying up."

"Well you must have come up sooner otherwise you wouldn't have been surprised to see me awake." Shan wondered if she was imaging the slight blush on his cheeks since the lighting in his room was low to begin with and she was still sort of waking up.

"Yah, I came up a few times through out the party." he admitted slowly. The side of her mouth ticked up slightly.

"How many times exactly?" she was interested to hear about how he had felt the need to leave Cho's side just to check on her.

"Three or four, I'm not really sure."

"Well that was sweet of you, I appreciate it." she took his hand in hers and scooted off the mattress, "Come on, let me help you guys clean up."

"If you're feeling up to it and you really want to"-

"Of course I want to." she insisted over her shoulder as she lead him down his own hallway. "I'm just glad to be out of my house and here with you."

His eyes met hers on the way down the staircase but before Cedric could properly respond his mother caught them by surprise.

"Cedric, is that your little friend?" she beamed from the bottom of the staircase. Her features were warm and inviting, just like the low lighting all around them. Mrs. Diggory was a mildly stout witch, but still attractive with thick, auburn hair around her shoulders.

"She's a year older than me mum. Her name's Shandie, remember?" they had reached the bottom of the staircase by then and Shandie had instinctively dropped his hand.

"Good evening Shandie. It's lovely to meet you. Cedric's done nothing but talk about how wonderful you've been to him. I really appreciate you being there for my son. These past few weeks have been rather difficult for him."

"It's quite alright, I love the company." Shan smiled first at his mother, then at Cedric.

"Well, I see you found my son's sock and underwear drawer. You're a brave girl to go poking around in there." Mrs. Diggory laughed softly. Shan found herself drawn to such a personable woman and liked her almost instantly.

"Yes, I'm afraid I hadn't thought far enough ahead to what I was going to wear after I took a shower."

Cedric's mother laughed softly again, "It's no trouble dear. Did you have a good rest? Cedric told us you passed out on his bed."

"Oh, yes thank you. I actually came down to see if there was anything I could do to help you clean up."

"Aren't you sweet! I appreciate the offer but we're actually just about done. The brooms are just sweeping the last bit of dust up now. If you're hungry though feel free to eat. There's too many leftovers for just us anyhow."

"Thank you, I probably will."

"Alright, well I'm going to go to bed. You two stay up as long as you like, just try not to make too much of a mess, alright?" Mrs. Diggory edged towards the staircase.

"Yes mum, goodnight." Cedric hugged his mother and watched her ascend the stairs.

"Good night darling. Good night Shandie, it was lovely meeting you."

"You too." Shan called as they walked towards the living room. True to what Mrs. Diggory had told them it was practically spotless, thought the fire was still alight and crackling merrily. This however was the only source of light in the room and everything was either cast in shadow or bathed in dancing gold light. The first thing that caught the attention of Cedric's guest however was the grand piano in the corner. It was still playing softly, the keys submitting under invisible fingers called enchantment. Her ears recognized the romantic melody of Allegro Moderato, though the name of the artist was escaping her brain at the moment. She wasn't allowed much to time to think however because within moments of her staring down at the ivory keys and inky black piano surface Cedric had gently taken her hand in his.

Shan looked up, surprised and curious. A few backward steps took them into the middle of a space which had been cleared earlier for couples to dance.

"Dance with me." he whispered in her ear, his other hand already resting just above her waist. His proper frame impressed the dancer in his arms and without a word she rested her elbow on his extended arm, properly resting her other hand in the palm of his own. It swept over her then, the sensation of waves crashing into her. Waves of silent adrenaline and lust. Waves of desire and denial being snuffed out for good. His eyes refused to leave the gaze of her own as they began a foxtrot she was barely aware of. The steps were grained into her ankles, she could have been leading if she had needed to. The wonderful, puzzling, breath taking part of it was that she didn't need to. He was sweeping her off her feet and she hadn't seen it coming in the least. His hand rested firmly on the small of her back and when her toes took her away from him his wrist would always sharply pull her back.

"You're terribly good at this." her words were breathy as he all but yanked her back to his side.

"Thank-you. You're not bad either." he replied.

"Yes, but I'm a dancer." she reminded him, dying to know how and when he had come into such skill. His timing could use some work and he lacked the light, sweeping grace Shandie had been trained for, but still, he was very good.

"I've learned a lot at these parties every year."

It wasn't just because of practice though. He wanted to be there with her. It was almost as though their artful steps were imitating their real life situation. Holding each other close, wanting to be there and at the peak of a fiery gaze Shan, in accordance with their dance, would have to step away from him. When she stepped forward her whole body wanted to crash into his (so much so that she could already imagine exactly how it would feel to have his gray sweater vest flush up against her arms and to feel his own chest muscles firm against her upper body) but he had to respond and step back. He didn't have a choice. It was like the way she had to end certain beats on certain feet, it just couldn't work unless they held back.

"I might've brushed up a bit with my mum, just in case you decided to come." he whispered in her ear with a small smile. Stepping back he twirled her on the spot.

Shandie could hardly keep herself moving, "You did that for me?" she gave him a look of amazement when they were once again facing one another.

"Well, I couldn't lead if my partner knew the steps better than I." he smirked.

"I wasn't even supposed to come." she reasoned with him.

"I still wanted you to."

The air between them was silent for a time and they just danced. Shandie had never known such loveliness existed. Dancing alone was one thing. Especially dancing ballet. Being supported by the arms of a man she had honest, deep feelings for though was breath taking. Each step by his side, the feel of her left palm nearly pushing into the space between his shoulder and chest, the way he would whisper for her to relax in his arms and she'd realize that she'd been tensing up again because her mind was drifting and she felt helpless because she was drowning in the truth that she couldn't help it because she was just so in love with him.

The pair tripped as she came to an immediate halt and his momentum had kept going, sending them collapsing to the ground right in front of the couch facing the fire. Cedric ended up half on top of his dance partner with her arms thrown around his instinctively for balance.

The bubble of laughter which threatened to burst in her throat was smothered with the way he was staring at her just inches from her face-not to mention her lips. The warmth of the fire seemed intense even though the couch they were up against was quite some feet from the mantle. Before Shan could make a move to get up or repress her feelings once again, Cedric's lips were suddenly on her own. Soft and gentle he kissed her before backing off, staring her in the eyes for a moment or two and then throwing all care to the wind and capturing her mouth in his. Her hands moved to his shoulders as he situated himself more properly over her and allowed her to straighten her back against the couch, all the while still kissing one another.

So much of her wanted to stop. She knew she should. But her body just wouldn't. His mouth was so warm and hers melted so perfectly against it. When it came down to it kissing him felt good. Not good in the casual, 'How was your day' sort of way. Good in the 'This is right.' sort of way. Good in the way God found the earth and stars to be when he created them. Good in the way that makes you never want to let go. Good in the way that never lets you get deep enough. Good in the way that makes forever seem real and incredibly desirable.

When his own large hand found its way under the hem of her shirt and began caressing up the side of her torso Shan finally pulled back, her lips swollen and strawberry red. Her eyes darted down to where his hand rested then back to his own beautiful, gray eyes. They stayed like that, eyes locked, for a bit, just breathing and staring and processing.

"Aren't you scared?" she whispered.

"Of what?" he barely breathed back, leaning forward for another kiss. As he went to get up on his knees, Cedric's hand moved lower and cupped the underside of her thigh, lifting it gently. She didn't need much persuasion, within seconds both her legs had wrapped around his hips and he had lifted himself to stand, still kissing her. Trying to make as little noise as possible, he took her all the way up the stairs and into his room. The process was stop-and-go because he knew his floorboards were old and yet he was prevented from quickly hopping around the known squeaky spots because he was holding a whole other person in front of him.

Shan hadn't even been aware of leaving the living room until suddenly her mouth was no longer being warmed and moistened by Cedric's and her back hit the soft springs of his mattress. Her eyes were only open long enough to see his shirt thrown aside before he crawled back over her, his kisses more ardent then.

As her fingers flirted with his belt and pant zipper Cedric quickly pulled his wand from his pocket and cast a weak, breathy "Muffliato." at the door of his room. A flurry of kisses and hands shed them both of their clothes and before long they were both gasping and sighing, laughing and crying. The night passed by in a haze of breathless, feverish heat marked by exploration and climaxes. The pair pulled an all-nighter and though tears stung her eyes when Cedric first entered her, by the third and fourth go Shandie wondered where this had been all her life and why she hadn't gone after it sooner. Their exhaustion finally caught up with them around five in the morning and they fell asleep under a mess of sweaty sheets and blankets.

A/N: So sorry about the long wait guys, and the lack of description with them sleeping together. I just couldn't get it to feel right so I finally gave up, lol. Anyways, I know it's not my best work but I really just wanted to get past this chapter since the majority of it had been written out for so long anyways. So yah, hope you like. -Aspen