1a/n: I'm back from Italy and it was fantastic, the sites and the people. Though I did not write as much as I had hoped and I also had a new idea for a story so that is now five stories I am writing. This chapter is kind of posted later than I thought but I had to clean out my computer because for some reason I cannot type on it any more so it all had to go on my laptop. Dang summer here in the States is going very fast. It seems that I will not be posting as many chapters as I wished at the beginning. Still this is good enough for me so far, for writing five stories at the same time. This story though seems to be the only one I am updating because Torn Between The Worlds can wait a bit before I update and the sequel (kind of sort of) to this story (Guys Don't Know Nothing About Love) will be posted when the Yule Ball is done with. As I had said before in my last author note there is a whole lot to introduce and I did not realize how mush there is. The Yule Ball may not be for a while but if you think of it there is a month difference between both the first task and the ball so the chapters are really nothing and there are about eleven more chapters not including this til the Yule Ball. Looking through my previous chapters I think I have made a mistake, in What Life Is Like for A Shadow. Veronica is in fifth year and so is Katie, Angelina and Alicia are in sixth. Katie Bell's friend in the sixth book is not in the story yet. This story will be rated M later on but I'll keep it on Teen for now. At the end of this chapter I have decided to post a question and I would really like to hear your response to so then I can decide what happens after the Yule Ball. LadyDiggory . . . XO!

Lending a Hand and Maybe a Heart

Outside the rain pounded against his window creating thumping noises and little puddles on the cobble stone grounds of Hogwarts. It was ice cold rain, cold that it stung the skin at the touch. It plopped to the ground with a loud puddle. Against the window it created gunshots of rain in the night. The sky was black against the heavy grey clouds. The room was silent though other than an occasional snort or snore from its inmates. The beds were messed up and each person asleep in their dreams. Lightning turned the room blue for a moment before it once again turned dark in the night. The dreams still intact with its owner. Cedric was peaceful in his slumber. His dreams all to himself. The rain began to calm slowly in the night and the sun rose against the painted red sky. The grey, heavy clouds were replaced with white ones floating through the sky with the wind dragging them along. The trees now bare from the stormy night branched out into the morning sun. The glowing warmth reflected in the puddles. On the grounds it was silent and beautiful, for the last day of November.

Cedric arose from his bed and into the early morning light that flowed through the room. Everyone else was silent, still dreaming. He crept down the hallways to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone was still asleep at seven in the morning for it was Monday and everyone was still tired from Sunday festivities. He piled the usual food onto his plate and when he was done left for the Transfiguration class room with his school bag in tow. The hallways were filled with students, drenched in sleepiness at the beginning of the day. The class room filled up and Professor McGonagall stood upward to direct the class with the daily lessons. Cedric pulled his wand out from inside his robes.

"No need for your wands at this moment. Many of you are talking during class so I have decided to move a few of you after which we shall go on with the usual lesson. Miss Johnson please trade seats with Mr. Yates. (Mark groaned as him and Angelina traded seats.), Mr. Weasley please trade seats with Mr. Flint, and Mr. Davies please switch with Miss Wilson." Roger sadly got up and left Cedric by himself to sit next to Marcus Flint his least favorite person. A girl took the place of Roger and sat their adjusting something on her chest. Professor McGonagall smiled and began her lecture. Cedric pulled out parchment and a pen and began to scribble down all the notes that needed to be taken and the girl next to him became invisible. NEWTs were not until next year but the way all of the Professors were talking and treating the students it felt like the NEWTs were going to happen this year. Cedric didn't mind all the homework kept his mind on school, other than the golden egg placed on his trunk.

Professor McGonagall approached his table as he scribbled down the last of the notes, "Mr. Diggory and Miss Wilson will you please stay after class." Cedric looked up. Why did the professor need to talk to him? He did not talk the whole period, no, he had just sat there writing the word Professor McGonagall had said during the entire lecture. The bell rung and the rest of the class was dismissed. She walked over to the table as Cedric was placing all his belongings into a bag. "Diggory I wanted to ask you something. Would you be kind enough to tutor Miss Wilson here? She is very bright for her age but is struggling in this class. I know you have the Triwizard Tournament and all but you also have the highest grade in the class."

For the first time he looked over at Miss Wilson and recognized her promptly. It was the same girl from the library who had noticed him on his invisible day, Fleur's cousin, also know as Veronica.

Though how did she get into this class I thought she was a fifth year.

I never thought you were able to skip a year.

Cedric was so confused at her, "Sure Professor I'll help her." She smiled at him before she picked up her stuff and left the room Cedric followed her lead. He reached up to her in the crowed halls. "How did you get into that class? I thought you were a fifth year?" Veronica tossed her hair over her shoulder and looked at Cedric with her hazel eyes.

"I am, a fifth year that is. It's just that Professor McGonagall thought I need a challenge in Transfiguration for I got everything perfect last year but I'm no Hermione Granger." Cedric shrugged his shoulders.

"I guess then you need help." She looked at him confused.

"Yes, did you not just hear McGonagall?"

"Then I guess we'll meet tomorrow at the library, around seven?"

"Um . . . sure. That would be great."

"Bring your book and prepare to read a whole lot." Cedric turned the corner and headed toward Defense Against the Dark Arts. The halls were dimming down now as classes were about to start. Cedric turned the corner and went inside the class room to see Professor Moody already writing stuff down on the board.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

The Dining Hall was filling up for dinner time. It was still odd that a fifth year was in a sixth year class. The food came but Cedric was rating very little

"Cedric, are you okay?" Chuck said looking concerned.

"Fine. Fine, just . . . nothing."

"Nothing." Mark echoed. "Sure, that's what it is nothing. Really funny Ced."

"It is something but really nothing." Dan stopped eating and looked at Cedric.

"Does it have to do with . . . Oh! What's her name? Cho? Cho, yes that's it! Cho."

"No Dan nothing with Cho."

"The egg!" Chuck asked enthusiastic about the answer.

"No. Still can't get the damn egg opened without that horrid noise."

"Well what about Veronica?"

"Veronica?" Dan repeated, "Tim, who is she?" Mark spoke instead of Tim.

"Oh, yeah. Veronica. She's a fifth year that's in Transfiguration and now sits next to Cedric."

"Oh, well is she hot."

"Dan," Cedric started, "is that all you think about?" Dan nodded yes, Cedric shook his head in disappointment. "She hangs around the Griffendor chasers so what do you think?"

"Thanks for the answer." Dan replied coolly.

"Cedric are you thinking about her?" Tim asked.

"Yes and no. McGonagall asked me to tutor her and I said yes . . . and so on."

"Oh." Was all Chuck said, "What will you start with?"

"That's what I'm thinking about Chuck." Cedric said running his hands through his hair.

"Start off with the beginning of the book and review everything we have already done it's that easy."

"That's what you think Mark. I mean I think she skipped fifth year Transfiguration, the whole thing."

"So then do a review of fifth year with her." Dan said shoving a sweet into his mouth.

"I don't have a fifth year book with me seeing I am in sixth year."

"Barrow."

"Tim you really think the library has a fifth year Transfiguration book."

James, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke. "Well then let me say this to you. You're doomed." Cedric's face turned pale, "Feeling better."

"Never better James."

"Great now eat." Cedric did as Mark had said and dug his fork into the plate, eating the sweets he had placed there. He did his best not to think about tomorrow and only on today. Later that night Cedric sat on his bed with a bunch of sticky pads and his Transfiguration book, looking through it for the next night's lesson plan and reviewing what he had learned today during the lecture just to be up to date. Outside there was no light expect the stars over head gleaming in the black velvet sky. The moon was full and shone brightly on the now silent grounds of Hogwarts. The green felid in the moonlight had a silver glow. No rain hit the ground. Last nights symphony on drums had stopped only the rustle of the trees and the cracking of the Willow tree. His room was silent other than the scribbling of Cedric's pen on pieces of parchment and the flipping of pages. He was up all night reading and writing what he was going to do.

Cedric had finally finished and got out of his bed. As he walked toward his trunk the floor creaked below him as he took each step. The trunk was closed tight with his uniform on top of it nicely folded and organized. Cedric slowly took off his clothes and lifted the wooden lid trying with all his might tried to keep quite. He slowly placed his book in the case and went off to the bed. Cedric lay his head down on the pillow and fell asleep gently. The room was now truly silent. Snores could be heard oh so often in the night. Nothing pounded against the window nor scratched it. Cedric's dreams were filled with joy and happiness. He wanted them to stay this way and never fill with the horrors he would face in the Triwizard Tournament. Seeing the dragon in real life was enough for him, once at all for him was enough. The other task and the creatures which they held he also did not want to see for it would always remind him of the year with out Quidditch.

Should Cedric Live or Die during the Triwizard Tournament?

Next Chapter Brainy But Confused . . .