Ch. 4 – Hearts on Fire

I woke up to the sound of Mikel singing in my ear. I looked around wildly, and she grinned at me before gliding out of the dormitory. I sat up, and I rubbed my eyes. That girl was so strange. But that was a better alarm clock than anything else, I supposed. Other girls in my dorm were starting to wake up as well. Ashlee and Hermione were both stretching, and I decided I would meet up with Mikel and go down to breakfast. I blubbered out of bed tiredly.

I reached in my trunk to get my robes, but then… I realized they were different! Instead of the "destroyed" dark pink, they were silk silvery blue-grey! It was a really elegant cut, like a cocktail dress! I didn't know my style robes could change every day! I felt a grin slowly spread across my face. Wait til everybody saw this! Pulling them on, I fixed my hair in the mirror so it coordinated with my new outfit. Excited and eager to see everybody's expressions, I ran to the Great Hall as fast as I could. Which was pretty fast, since I was the star of the track team back in Forks. Reaching the Entrance Hall, I took a deep breath and made sure I looked okay.

I pushed the doors open slowly and deliberately. That way, everybody would look at me and see my awesome robes. As they doors opened all the way, I saw heads turn in my direction. They all gasped. I heard a girl whispering about being jealous, and wanting to be as cool as that Bella Swan girl.

I was so surprised that people were jealous as I made my way to the dining table that I tripped. I made my way to where Harry, Hermione, and Ron were witting, and smiled as I saw Mikel sitting there. She might as well be a Gryffindor if she always hung out in our common room and stuff, but then I remembered she was shy, not brave. Then I stopped, almost keeling over in shock. I caught myself before I tripped earlier, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw next to Mikel.

I couldn't believe it. It was that bronze, windswept hair that I remembered from the train. I had forgotten all about him, since I had been so happy frolicking the corridors with Draco. Not that I like Draco or anything, well, like like, I only had eyes for Cedric. Draco was good-looking and all, but he was just my friend. I wished he could sit with us too. Maybe I'd have some classes with him…

Omg I let my train of thought stray away from Cedric, even though he was only several yards away. I joined my friends at the table.

"Hi guys," I said, helping myself to taost and some stuff I couldn't believe wasn't butter. They all greeted me in turn. "Cedric, what are you doing at the Gryffindor table? I giggled through my orange juice. I winked at him selectively.

He smiled back with a twinkle in his eye. "Because…" he cliffhung.

"Oh, just tell her!" bounced Hermione, looking excited, her bushy hair flying in any and all directions.

Cedric smiled again. "Well, Dumbledore transferred me to Gryffindor."

"Oh my God!!!" I screamed so loudly that several people turned and looked. "That is AWESOME! What made him decide that you should be in not Hufflepuff??"

Light from the enchanted ceiling danced on his cheeks. "Because he decided I was really brave. We also cleared it with the Sorting Hat. It's ok."

I could barely contain myself. I just wanted to dance on the tables and scream "I LOVE YOU" but obviously I didn't. Even though it'd be really daring and original and people would respect me for doing it. But I had some semblance of goodness. In public.

"Finish it…" muttered Mikel inextricably. Finish what? Who was she even talking to? Before I could ask, Edward spoke.

"Well, I also might have asked Dumbledore to transfer me over to Gryffindor," he added, almost looking embarrassed.

"Just tell her why!" shouted Ahslee, looking like she was going to die of excitement. "Can't you tell she's suspended?"

"Tell me, Cedric," I said in a deep, commanding voice. "Tell me, 'cause I'd like to know." I smiled at him. I really was suspended. He was so mysterious! But I liked that. It just added to the attraction. I tore my eyes away from his impeccable visage and onto his robes. He had a really nice body, I could tell. They plain black robes even looked good on him, framing his hot bod, almost making me drool. He leaned in closer to me. I thought I had died and I was now going to heaven. I inhaled deeply. He smelled sooo good. It was like nothing I had ever smelled. I couldn't be sure if it was flowers, a fresh rain, ripe fruit, lavender, sage, parsley, or neat cooked to perfection with grillmarks. Or maybe a combination of all of them, it was just that good. I wanted to lick him, he smelled so good.

"It's because I want to be with you. I switched to Gryffindor. I switched so I can be with you."

I opened and closed my mouth several times, not knowing what to say. All of my girl-friends smiled broadly at me. They had known before I did! I couldn't believe them for not telling me! I'd have to ask all of them about it later.

"Wow, Cedric. You really want to be with me?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. If you were a lawyer in court, you would know that you never ask questions you didn't know the answer to.

"Yes, Bella. You are beautiful. I couldn't imagine going through life without your angelic face shining down upon me. You are a little bit of heaven on earth for all of us to reflect upon with joy in our eyes. Ever since I saw you on the train, I couldn't stop thinking about you. You came to me in a dream last night, a winged beauty surrounded by sunshine and my love for you. That was when I knew I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life. I hope you feel the same way. If you do not possess similar feelings for me, which I would understand if you didn't, since I am completely undeserving of your unpunishable excellence, I think I would go straight to Rome and have myself condemned to the Volturi."

I didn't care about what the Volturi was. All that mattered was that he loved me. Just as much as I loved him. My friends around me smiled with tears of joy in their eyes, like shining orbs. I was completely overwhelmed. It was a dream come true.

"Oh, Edward, of course I love you! I have loved you ever since the train! I am so glad we can unite magnanimously, and live in happiness for eternity! We can live long and prosper under the banner of love together. I assure you that our love will only grow stronger as the years go by, because there is nothing in this universe or any other that could break us apart. Even when our souls depart our bodies, we will rise to the kingdom of Heaven under His loving care, where we will spend our timeless lives together, for death, which is merely the beginning, will not separate us. We will spend the rest of our lives together, and we will remain together, always. Forever."

After my pledge of true, boundless affection, all the students in the Great Hall clapped. Some even burst into tears, because this heartfelt proclamation was too much for them to handle. The sun shining above smiled upon us. Even McGonagall smiled as she gave out the timetables, and I might have seen a tear in her eye.