Hi! Just confirming that I don't the GoF plot or any of the characters. Even though I wish I had a guy like Cedric in my life ;)

My inspiration for this chapter was the piano solo "Kiss the Rain" by Yiruma. Enjoy!

Chapter 14- The Right Life

Willa knew exactly what she wanted to say. Forming the words, however, proved to be much more difficult. She wasn't even sure that words could describe what this year had done to her. What it had meant to her.

"Cedric," she said. "Um, this is kind of weird," Willa joked with a laugh. "I'm not used to one sided conversations. And, I'm pretty sure that I don't want to have one ever again."

She paused for a moment. This wasn't going in the direction she had planned it to. Willa took Cedric's hand in hers and ran her fingers across it. It felt considerably warmer.

"I miss you. I know it's only been, like, two and a half days but I miss you. Not hearing your voice is so frustrating. I'm just not used to it. I'm not used to waking up in the morning to not find your eyes on me. Not holding my hand, not holding all of me. Not smiling at me. Cedric, I swear if you don't wake up soon I'm going to go mad. You've made this year incredible, Ced. You've given me something that I never thought I would have. And I don't want lose that. Not now. Not when all of this has happened to us in such a short period of time. You can't just give up on me. On what we have and what's in our future together."

She paused to sniffle and wipe away tears that silently flowed.

"And I know you have the strength to not let go. Because you believed in us. As a team, and as best friends. And if this doesn't end the way I'd like it to, know I will always love you Cedric. No matter what. I will never forget what we had and how we always had each other. How I had you, and how you had me. That's all that matters. And Cedric Diggory, I will love you until the day I die. I'll die knowing I loved exceptionally well. I can't ask for anymore than that."

Willa was finished. She slowly rested her forehead on Cedric's hand. And for a moment or two it was completely still. Then, as if by magic, Willa felt the slightest movement of a finger in her hand and on he forehead. She instantly sat up and stared at him, her eyes red from crying. She felt a tighter grip on her hand now and a smile began to grow on her face.

"Cedric?" she asked.

Cedric felt so groggy he didn't even know what he was doing or where he was. But the perpetual blackness that he used to see grew lighter and he could now see the blurry sunlight in his room. He could see a blurry mass of red above him and green eyes that soon came into focus. He knew where he was now and who was with him.

Willa watched him slowly open his eyes and waited to see if he would say anything. He squinted at the sunlight hitting his face.

"Willa," he croaked. Willa breathed a huge sigh of relief and her tears started up again. This time however, they were tears of joy.

"Oh Cedric," she said grabbing him by both sides of his face and kissing him. Finally he kissed back. It was so soft and yet so much passion was behind it.

"Oh my god," she said breathlessly. "You're awake."

Cedric smiled weakly. "Yeah, I am."

"I can't believe that worked. You heard what I said."

"Every word." Cedric reached up to touch Willa's cheek. When Willa felt his touch she melted inside. She missed that feeling. Willa reached up and held his hand there.

"You look so beautiful," he told her, his voice still groggy. Willa smiled.

"You don't look too bad yourself."

"Oh please, Willa, I probably look awful."

"Well, that's a lie," Willa replied. "I'm going to get your father and Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey." As she got up, Cedric grabbed her hand.

"Please don't. Not yet anyway. I just want to be alone with you a little while longer."

Willa smiled and pulled his arm away.

"We'll have plenty of time later. Your father and Dumbledore are more important right now. I'll be right back."

She quickly kissed him and left the room. Once outside, she grinned widely to herself and then, with a burst of energy, jumped high into the air. She couldn't be happier at this very moment. She then sprinted out of the infirmary and started to sprint down the hall. Kids gave her odd looks as she did so; it wasn't every day that students ran down the hallways at about sixty miles and hour.

Willa ran to Dumbledore's office and started banging on the gate that blocked off his quarters from the long winding hallway.

"Professor!" she yelled excitedly. "Madame!"

Inside, Dumbledore, Amos and the professors heard the banging and rushed to the gate to find a panting, smiling Willa clinging onto the bars.

"Willa, my dear, what's all this commotion for?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's awake! Cedric's awake!" she announced.

Every person in the room let out a sigh of relief and smiles filled each face. Amos broke into tears as Professor Dumbledore opened the gate. Madame Pomfrey took off immediately followed by Amos who took Willa into a giant embrace.

"Thank heavens," he said whispering to her. The two then followed everyone else back to the infirmary. Cedric was sitting alone is his room when the door burst open only to allow a large group of professors to pile in. Willa, Amos, Professor Dumbledore, Madame Pomfrey, and Professor McGonagall were all staring at the boy. Cedric looked at Willa and raised his eyebrows. He expected just his father and Madame Pomfrey. Willa shrugged and smiled as Amos hugged his son and Madame Pomfrey flooded him with questions. The two professors stood there silently listening to Cedric's answers. When the nurse finished inspecting him and after she finished taping the bandage for the sprained wrist Cedric informed her of, Madame Pomfrey left stating that if Cedric felt strong enough, he would be allowed to return to Hufflepuff the next day. After the woman was gone, Dumbledore and McGonagall wanted to speak with Cedric about what had happened in the maze. Willa felt like none of this was her business and thought she might as well leave.

"I'm just going to go get a snack or-"

"No Willa," said Professor Dumbledore firmly. "You should hear this too. Even if Harry has already told you everything."

Willa moved away from the door

"Harry told me everything already as well," Dumbledore said.

"What actually happened?" Cedric asked. Willa sat down in a chair next to Cedric's bed and took his hand.

"Well, the cup was a port key which transported you and Harry to a graveyard and into the hideout of Lord Voldemort. He tried to kill you Cedric. If it hadn't been for Mr. Potter you would be dead."

Willa squeezed Cedric's hand. She could tell he was shocked at this but he took it well.

"Due to these circumstances, the faculty, Minerva and myself have come to the decision that the only way to protect our students as well as our visitors is to tell each and every one of them the truth. That Voldemort has returned."

Willa and Cedric looked at each other. They each knew in their mind that Dumbledore was right. Every student was entitled to knowing precisely what happened inside that maze.

"When will you tell them?" Cedric asked.

"Tomorrow at the commencement of classes ceremony," McGonagall said.

"Which reminds me, and I know this has entirely nothing to do with the current conversation, but you two have both been excused from your final exams."

Willa and Cedric's mouths dropped.

"Are you serious?" Willa asked.

"Quite serious," McGonagall replied with a smile. "Your professors all agreed that your overall grades throughout the year have been fantastic and were happy to count your overall grades as your finals ones."

Cedric let out a breath and looked at Willa with a relieved grin. Willa returned the expression and stood up to shake Professor McGonagall's hand in gratitude. Cedric's thanks overlapped Willa's.

"Thank you so much Professor," she said.

"Oh it's no trouble at all. You two have been through a lot these past couple days. We all assumed it would help."

"It certainly does," Cedric said.

"Cedric," Dumbledore began again, "You do realize that this occurrence puts you both in a lot more danger than ever before. From now on things in our world are going to change for the worse now that Voldemort has returned. There's no turning back for any of us now."

Willa and Cedric looked into each other's eyes. Within the other they found safety and strength and the will power to carry on with life just as it had always been.

"We'll be fine," Cedric assured them while still looking at Willa. "We have each other, our friends and our families. They've helped me through this. They're all I need to feel safe."

Willa smiled. He was right. They both then looked to Amos who stood smiling near the door. Dumbledore grinned at the boy's maturity.

"Your absolutely right my boy," he told Cedric.

Dumbledore and McGonagall then told Cedric they would expect to see the both of them at the ceremony the following day and then took their leave. After they had left, Amos, Cedric and Willa sat in the room and just talked. Cedric suddenly felt so rested and awake and was so grateful to be around the people he ok we once again. When night came, Amos left, saying he would see the both of them at the ceremony. When Cedric and Willa were finally alone, she climbed into his bed and kissed him until she didn't think she could kiss him anymore. It felt so comforting to be in his arms once again. When they had finished kissing, the two lied in his bed talking. As they grew tired, Willa propped herself up on an arm.

"Do you really want to marry me?"

Cedric looked at her quizzically.

"Of course I do," he assured her. "Why are you asking me this?" he asked with a smile.

"I don't know," Willa replied. "I suppose I asked because I didn't believe it had happened. I just can't believe I've chosen my life so quickly. But it feels right. It feels so right. And I know that this is the life I'm meant to live. A life by your side. Forever and always."

Cedric drew Willa closer by gently guiding her chin to his face and locking his lips with hers.

This was certainly the right life.

A/N- Another chapter done! That means one more left =( But don't worry, I am planning a sequel with the future adventures of Willa and Cedric only I'm not sure what I want the plot to be. It will either take place during their last year at Hogwarts or start after their seventh year. I would love some input from readers! That would be just peachy!

Also, thank you to my amazing reviewers. I'm so glad you have taken to this story!

~TheatrePirate