By the next day Hogwarts had an it couple and it wasn't pretty. Both Cedric and Queenie were getting grilled by both male and female students alike from all the houses and all the years. Cedric's fan girls were upset and made a point to insult Queenie on her baby pudge or 'poppy out eyes' or to Cedric that she was too young. Others were excited and wanted to know what it was like the kiss, hug and other unspeakable things with Hogwarts golden boy.
After the fifth day of ridicule and abuse Queenie couldn't take it anymore. She ran into the girls second floor bathroom where she locked herself in a toilet and weeped. She'd just had an altercation on the ancient runes corridor with a fifth year Ravenclaw who'd called a 'fat bitch undeserving of love, especially love from a person as perfect as him'
Queenie didn't know how long she was in there for but it was long enough for Moaning myrtle to come and see her thrice. A harsh knocking on the cubicle door shook Queenie from her state of self pity. She stood from the toilet (she'd closed the lid and used it as a seat) and opened the door not caring about the tear tracks that adorned her face.
"Cedric?" she croaked, her voice from hoarse crying. Why was he in the girls bathroom? Too see her? Surely not. That's when Queenie noticed his eyes were red, puffy and slightly glazed over. He suddenly grabbed her a pulled her flush against him, wrapping both arms tightly around her. She buried her face into his chest while Cedric kissed her head and rocked her back and forth to try to calm her.
"Please don't cry … please don't cry … they're not worth your tears" he whispered and Queenie pulled slightly out if his chest, she looked at him fresh tears in her eyes and running down her face as she choked out:
"B-but I'm … be-e-ing target-ted for something-g … that isn't-t-t true!"
"Well we could make it true and then we'd both have something to gain from this shit situation" Cedric smiled coyly but he had to stop her pain, he had to.
"Are you-u ask-king … m-me to be-e you-ur girlfriend-d?" Queenie smiled slightly, like a rainbow on a rainy day when the sun comes out. The verbal abuse was the rain, Cedric to sun and her decision to his proposition the rainbow, a good thing from the bad. Cedric nodded and Queenie smiled back before bouncing up into her tip toes and placing her lips against his before pulling away
"Does that answer your question?" Queenie cheekily smiled
"Yes" Cedric grinned, picking her up and spinning her round causing her to squeal
-line break-
Now in December the school year was plodding on and people had finally come to terms with the Diggory/Askoy relationship. Today was the day of the Quidditch final, Hufflepuff vs Gryffindor.
Cedric was pacing the changing room nervously, he was the youngest seeker of all the four houses' teams and the pressure to beat 7th year seeker Charlie Weasley was suffocating. Soon they were called out on the the pitch by Madam Hooch. As she cited to rules, droning on and on, Cedric looked to the stands.
Cedric caught Queenie stood at the front of one of the higher stands, smiling wildly. She was wearing Cedric's deep red (and on her over sized) hoodie, black leggings, yellow Wellington boots and pink fluffy wellie socks peeking over the top.
Queenie couldn't stop smiling, Hufflepuff had done really well and Cedric had definitely helped. Cedric suddenly caught her eye and smiled nervously. Queenie beamed back her happiness and excitement creating a positive aura around her.
Queenie's positivity rolled off her in waves and reached Cedric's tense form in minutes. Upon reaching him he relaxed instantly and felt his self belief boost.
-line break-
The match was close, very close. There was ducking and diving, swerving and turning, flipping and dipping. Obviously there were multiple injuries too but in the end, Gryffindor just snagged victory, Charlie Weasley catching the snitch and putting them more than an unbeatable amount in front.
-line break-
After a day or two of mourning their Quidditch loss, life returned to normal for Hufflepuff and the rest of the school for the last few weeks of term.
It was now the end of December and the students were one the Hogwarts Express heading home for christmas.
"And you'll write?" Cedric asked in hushed voice. There were not enough seats so Cedric, Queenie, Rita, Marie, Gemma, Cho, Rohm, Jeremy, Harriet, Jenny, Leah, Joshua, Freddy, Charles, Zach, Nathan, Lewis, Clark and Daniel were all stood on of the narrow gangways that ran down the carriages. Cedric had his arm wrapped around Queenie's shoulders and held her back flush to his front as she had nowhere to hold on to so Cedric grasped the over head bar, and her supporting them both.
"Yes. Do you promise you'll reply?" Queenie smiled
"Yes" Cedric smiled in response
"Would you two stop with the sickening-" Charles began before a loud battle cry and at least a gallon of icy water was dumped on the group forcing shrill small screams from the girls and groans from the boys. Cedric pulled Queenie even tighter against him trying to take the majority of the cold water so she wouldn't get ill.
"AHA! SUCKERS!" Fred and George Weasley ran past with a now empty bucket.
-line break-
Christmas was a long holiday for Queenie, cooped up in her Turkish villa she was pining for Cedric, she didn't realise how depend she'd become on his company to feel whole and warm. Her mother had been thrilled to here about Cedric her father not so much. Crete had threatened to bet him to a pulp if her hurt and Bubble and Squeak being only 6 thought marriage was the next thing on the cards for the couple.
Now on Christmas Day, Her father, Baris (the principle chef of the family) had made a feast fit for a king and all his court. In front of her was Yaprak Sarma (wrapped vine leaves with a filling of rice, onion and spices like mint, currant, pepper and cinnamon), Dolma (aubergines, peppers, tomatoes or zucchinis are stuffed with a mixture of rice and onion with various spices), Taze Fasulye (Green beans cooked with tomato and/or tomato paste and onion), Karnıyarık (fried aubergine with a minced meat, onion, parsley, garlic and tomato filling) Lahmacun (pizza style dish topped with minced meat, onions and spices on flaky, thin dough), Sade pilav (plain rice) and turşu (pickles and finely cut cabbage).
While Bubble and Squeak played their collection of new dolls and Crete was playing Mario on his muggle nintendo hand held console, Queenie was listening. Her parents were having a hushed conversation and she couldn't help but eavesdrop especially when Harry Potter was mentioned.
"He coming to Hogwarts next year, you said yourself the boy's trouble!" Baris exclaimed to Jasmine in the open plan rustic kitchen which led on the dining room where the children were eating.
"I said he brings trouble, I NEVER said it was his fault!" Jasmine hissed
"Well what if Q or Crete gets mixed up in this trouble?" Barks pressed but Jasmine didn't answer, she couldn't lie to him, she loved Baris and all though he didn't know the magical world he still needed to know the truth about it.
-line break-
It was now the 14th February. Queenie and Cedric were still going strong. She'd told him about what she'd heard but Cedric assured her nothing would happen and If it did he'd protect her. Anyway today was valentines day and Cedric had something planned that would boost his 'dreamy, ideal boyfriend' and his and Queenie's 'cute couple' status to the max.
Cedric had blindfolded Queenie and was leading her down the tress surrounding the black lake. Queenie was wearing a black tank top with a red and green checked shirt on top and not buttoned up. She also sported a pair of dark denim high waisted skinny jeans and white, low top, canvas converse. Cedric gently guided her through the trees and bushes careful nothing caught her.
Cedric himself had gone for a similar look to his girl. He was wearing dark denim slouchy skinny jeans and a green, blue loose fitting checked shirt that was (minus the top two buttons) fastened and white, low top, canvas converse. They walked to the lakes edge where Cedric unclasped Queenie's sparkling eyes and her face spread into a grin. In front of the them was a picnic for two, in a secluded spot far from the school. Whipping round she threw herself at Cedric, her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. Cedric embraced her back just as tightly.
"It's perfect … thank you" She mumbled into his ear.
"So are you and no need to thank me" he replied in an equally low tone before he set her down on the picnic blanket and sitting beside her.
"And this is for you …" he trailed off, diving into the picnic basket before pulling out a small black box. He opened the lid and Queenie gasped. He'd bought a white gold ring with a single small rainbow stone set in the middle of the narrow band.
"Oh my god …" she whispered, tearing up. Cedric slipped it on her narrow dainty middle finger on her right hand before clasping it tightly in his own.
The two chatted and dined on the stuff Cedric bought, which was Jam sandwiches, Cucumber sandwiches, Crisp sandwiches, apples, strawberries and cloudy lemonade. After a long talk about when Cedric was going to meet Queenie's family and vice versa, Queenie decided to present her gift.
"Cedric?" She said in a singy-songy voice to gain his attention as he marvelled at the define tranquility of the lake. He looked at her, humming to urge her to continue. Queenie held out a small package. Something narrow and square wrapped in brown paper and secured with string.
Cedric took it from her cautiously and opened it. Inside was a journal with the Puddlemere emblem etched on to the front. Inside was a signed picture and message from each player and player in the reserve team. Cedric placed the book down on the ground and playfully dived on Queenie. He straddled her waist, pinning her arms above her head. He moved his mouth close to her ear only to whisper:
"You are a little bundle of unfathomable cuteness!" Before starting a relentless tickle tirade on her body.