a/n: There is some spanish in this one :o

So if you want the translation of it just go down the page

2. Lost In Navigation

Did I look fine? Did my rimmel slide down my face? Ack, why did I even get pretty? I hated re-doing my cosmetics. It wasn't the same as the first time. Wait, why did I even care? It was just Diggory and his pop; no biggie there. No wait, I looked rather nasty, just wash up my face and some fiery cinnamon paste and orange flavored Listerine could fix.

I hopped out of the bathroom and looked at the clock on top of the stereo, which was blasting Seduction by Stellar MC. I think the lyrics are a bit naughty for my taste but the techno beat was my right amount of sweet ivory taste.

Oh it was half past noon; The Diggorys would be here in any moment. I let my hair down and the smell of citrus floating in the air, making me sigh in delight. I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair seemed too plain so I put a bright yellow rubber elastic rubber band onto my head. I fixed my hair and it got the shape I wanted. Once I got into the living room, the song was different and the sound was very different from electronic. I heard Hayley Williams…from err…Peramoore? Ack, no Paramore. Sorry, I'm not really in tune with northern American bands.

I tapped my new Nikes on our wooden floor and kept musing with the music until the doorbell rang. I jumped up, turned off the stereo and grabbed my handbag. I peeked inside of it, to make sure I had everything. Okay, vault key, muggle money, my peach juice and my school list…and my wand.

I hurried towards the door and once opened I was a polite smile and warm gray eyes.

"Are you ready to go?"

Mr. Diggory was a chatter box.

I always thought he was like his son: strong sturdy and silent. But on the contrary, he was jiggery short and balding and looked nothing like his son. I'm guessing that Cedric had his mummy's features.

It seemed that Mr. Diggory knew my father. They both worked in the Ministry of Magic and in the same department.

"Now, my wife Niven Diggory is busy most of the time now. So that's why Ced and I are coming with you. Have you told young Alice here about how you beat Harry Potter last year? Great scott, it was wonderful!"

Oh yes, and he keeps talking rather fondly of his son. And Cedric seemed to be embarrassed by it.

"Dad I told you…he fell off his broom," he muttered softly and began to flash like a tomato.

Mr. Diggory howled with laughter and showed a dazzled smile. "But you didn't eh Ced? Shows how much of a better player you are."

"Harry fell only because of the dementors…he's a strong opponent."

Cedric was muttering with embarrassment, not wanting to talk about it. Pride was something Cedric Diggory didn't want to negotiate with.

"The important thing here is that you caught the snitch!" said Mr. Diggory beaming. He just doesn't stop talking until he's pleased with himself. But Cedric stopped trying to reason with his father and looked out the window from the backseat. He said it would have been rude of him to sit in the front and so he sat in the backseat with me. I really didn't mind if he sat in the front or even the trunk.

But he is Cedric Diggory; it's in his nature….ha-ha.

As the outskirts of the city came into view I realized that we were almost there. I remembered that I told myself that I would buy Audrey a new rattle. But a magical one or a muggle one?

I think I'll go with a muggle one; they are much safer and ordinary.

A magical rattle is known to be unexpected.

I want Audrey to be safe a possible from her toys. Wouldn't you be afraid if your rattle just suddenly grew legs and began to tap dance on your head? I let my eyes wander and I noticed a small squeeze bottle on the patch of the passenger seat. In bold letters it said the word 'passionate'

'Mmm…blended with tempting apricot nectar, exotic papaya and coconut cream, this passionate fragrance is intoxicatingly tropical and irresistible. Let this tropical passion fruit body cream make silk wonders to your needy skin…' Mmm, sounds tasty. I guessed this was Mrs. Diggory's cream. Hah, cause I can't imagine Cedric or Amos smothering themselves with this body cream.

I looked out the window and saw many people walking down in the streets of good ol' London. Most of them seemed like business workers. I glanced at the clock on the car. Huh, well no wonder the streets were packed. It was lunchtime; most people go out in their lunch hour to eat. Amos cleared his throat and parked the car in front of a bookstore. Cedric swiftly got out and opened my door before I could even reach for the handle. I'm guessing that he ran. Ha-ha, that's funny.

"Thank you Sir Diggory." Teasing him about his gentleman manners was rubbing off on me. It was becoming a habit so fast.

"You're welcome Ms. Roulette, and if you're ever-"

"Ah-ah-ah-, it's Mrs. Sykes. Please, I'd rather you call me that."

Cedric's grey eyes opened widely and his lips stammered.

Oops.

"You're married?" He asked stumbling with weary words.

"Ha-ha no eww!" I was just messing around, sheesh, you're so gullible and easy to trick.

I kept laughing by his side as we passed the bookstore and entered into a gloomy shrubby pub that cannot be seen with the muggle eyes. This pub was crouched between the bookstore that Amos had parked in front of and a fish market that reeked of moldy sardine. Gross.

Then I gasped for air as I turned to Amos, who was smiling casually.

"Mr. Diggory, do you mind if I make a small errand here in London. It's for my baby Sister Audrey."

He frowned.

"I'm in charge of you. You have to be in my sight at all times. I'm sorry dear, maybe later on."

I bit my lip. The baby boutique closed at two-thirty and we were going to take a while in Diagon Alley. My brows furrowed as I came up with a plan, just believable enough, when Cedric noticed my anxious stare.

"Dad…it's not a burden, I can take her. She'll be safe with me."

He seemed so serious when he said that. As if as though his life depended on it. His stern and hard stare looked the part as his toned did. Mr. Diggory looked as if as though he'd been defeated. He stood still, now in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron which was surrounded by wizards drinking brandy and witches gurgling sherry down their throats.

How can they like that shit? It's disgusting to the core. But I snapped my attention back to Cedric's determined face and Amos's; filled with chagrin. I guess he just didn't feel safe with young wizards roaming around with their wands stuffed into their jean pockets in the muggle world.

"Yes Mr. Diggory, besides Cedric patrols Hogwarts at night with great vigilance, I'm sure he can take his prefect job to an excellence in daybreak."

That must have done it. Amos's face shone so brightly that he forgot what he must have been arguing about and the chagrin was wiped off his face.

He stammered.

"Er. W-well, good boy Ced! I knew you had it in you. I'm proud of you son."

Cedric smiled vividly as he heard his father say 'Proud of you'. Right off the bat, I knew that Cedric loved making his father proud and happy.

"Alright then, I will meet you both in front of Madam Malkin's Robes. Alice, I will buy your things if you can just give me your key."

He seemed to be so happy with me since I made that comment about the Hufflepuff prefect.

"Alice."

"Yea?"

"We're lost aren't we?"

"Umm…no?"

"Alice."

"Okay, so I think I took a wrong left."

"Where did you want to go?"

"The baby boutique on Middleborough street."

"Where'"

I forgot Cedric didn't really know about the muggle that much. But his politeness made my patience grow more. I'm not really much of a patient person to some.

"It's a store with baby supplies on the far corner of a park with a large fountain on it. I want to buy a new rattle for my little sister Audrey, she absolutely loves rattles. But I wants to get her a muggle rattle…wizard rattles are too risky."

Cedric's nonplussed face turned into a dazzling stare and gave out a honey aroma laugh. "yes, you're quite right. I remember I had on when I was about three years old. I cried so much." He chuckled and smiled as he went down memory lane.

"You remember those years. I can't."

He smiled and nodded. Then he turned towards his right and muttered something inaudibly but I'm sure he said 'strange, these muggles.' Then he said loud enough so I can hear.

"Alice, what are those muggles doing?" he asked with a pinch of curiosity at the tip of his tongue.

I turned to my right and saw two men arguing with a police officer about the time meter next to the men's car. The officer popped her pink gum and scribbled violently on a sticky note and slapped the paper on the window of the shiny green Peugeot.

"Come off it Miss' for Christ's sake!"

"Ey, I'm sorry you didn't get on bloody time, now you gonna move tha' piece of rust or what?"

The police officer snapped at them both. The men scowled and huffed. They muttered curses under their breath and slammed the doors of the Peugeot and zoomed out of there.

Cedric blinked and turned to me with eyes wide open.

"Yes I know…Muggles are very cold. You'll see more of that later."

I explained about the time meter and its rules. Cedric was just astounded by the ways of the muggles.

"The ideas of these muggles; it's quite interesting. I never have seen anything like it."

"You're not in tune with the muggles are you Ced?"

He shook his head. "Not quite, are you?"

I nodded. "Yes, I come to London every once in a while."

"Oh, so Alice, can you remember where the baby boutique is? There are some many muggles out, I'm getting kind of nervous."

I saw how Cedric twitched his hand and tried not to reach out for his wand, which was still snoozing in his jean pocket. So I reassured him.

"There's no need for that. They are just like you and me. Just without the wands," I muttered that last word so quietly because the onlookers were eavesdropping very discretely; puzzled about our talk. "So don't worry Ced. Shall we get a move on that?"

Cedric's hand went dead calm and he nodded cautiously.

"Okay then, onward Diggory!" I said clutching his arms and linked it with my own. I swiftly moved around all the people without bumping into them.

Cedric leaned into my ear.

I felt his warm, honey breath. It was shivering.

"So you know where the baby boutique is now?" He asked so softly and calmly.

"No."

And that left him silent.

"Just trust me Diggory; we've got luck on our side."

I pulled him by his strong arm and turned right. I think I'll go to Daisy. She knows the muggle world like the back of her hand.

She worked as a part time model photographer and as an extra receptionist for the same company. Daisy meets all her potential lovers there. Lucky, lucky girl.

Ha-ha but that's good, I've got my Craig.

Yes I have a boyfriend…well he's kinda like my boyfriend. He's in Gryffindor, but I see him every day at Hogwarts. He's a sixth year and just sweet to the core. He's one fabulous boy. But this kid on my arm is making me feel dizzy about my Craig Bokan. I need to see Craig to feel right again. He's one of my favorite people in my life. I admire him and he admires me. I'm happy.

As we left the crowds of London and the streets were quieter and tall skyscrapers were taking over; the mood totally changed. I felt Cedric stiffen and once again twitched to get his wand at the ready, waiting for an enemy to pounce at the attack.

"Don't get your wand in a knot! We're perfectly safe here. A friend of mine works in that building." I pointed towards a teal colored building with many floors and many gleaming windows. On the top it said the name of the company. 'Tootsie Doll Magic' Cedric turned his apprehensive grey eyes towards me and I gave him a warm smile.

"I just want you to be safe even if I have to break the law. You're under my supervision," he said with great determination.

It made me blush a bit, aww man. It was nice knowing I've got my own burly, tall and handsome bodyguard. I feel like a star. "Ced," I started sweetly. "I've been here alone, many times. We'll be fine."

He must be shaken to see the muggle world this way. I felt kinda bad in the pit of my stomach. He was so tense and he seemed precautious with every footstep that he took. Well where Daisy worked, it did seem like a dark and gloomy alley.

"Alice, it just doesn't seem right."

"Ced, trust me."

"…Yeah, all right," he said with a chuckle and smile.

I opened the door of the sturdy building and inside seemed the opposite of the outdoors. The building seemed so elegant with pricey; the decorations were glistening on the peach walls and the air conditioner made you feel so relaxed. Ced and I looked like outcasts here, by our clothing. I tugged him towards the receptionist and tapped my fingers on the white sleek marble impatiently.

The receptionist moved her brown hair and green eyes towards us with great frustration. "I'm sorry, she's not in today, may you please have a nice day," she drawled on but then gasped as she saw her best friend standing in front of her.

"Oh my Go-I'm so sorry Alice! I didn't recognize you; I mean a lot of suits come in very moment of the day. Just seeing you here surprised me," she said blinking blindly about; her eyes filled with surprise and excitement.

This receptionist is Daisy.

Daisy Annabelle Valentine…well you know her by now...if you kept reading up to this point.

"Hullo Daisy, hey check it out. I've got the Nikes I wanted."

She laughed. "The clown ones, hah that's official. I know you wanted those once we went window shopping last time you were here in London."

"Yeah, I made Justine drive me all the way to London, but she also bought 'Poochie food' (dog food, sorry I call it that way). I smiled at the cheerful Daisy, who clicking away at the desktop.

"Ha-ha and how is Poochie? Oh and Jack and little Alfie?"

Jack is my sister's husband and he's a famous author by his book called 'Wizards Mothers: Saviors of All' I thought it was good; really nice trauma. Or maybe you're heard of 'Not alone' that's the best one. But yes he's mostly busy at the time being and Alfie is my nephew. He's one but he packs a real good punch when you baby sit him.

I frowned. "Well Jack went off on a book tour and Alfie is at Nana's house."

Daisy also frowned. "So he's not coming to your house this summer?"

"Mmm…yea, next week and then…well yeah…yeah I dunno."

She and I laughed out loud at my idiotic and immense brain fart I had just now but suddenly my hand felt very warm…I'd totally forgotten about Cedric. He remained still and quiet.

"Daisy, this is Cedric, he-"

"Yes I know."

Cedric nodded and his gaze turned hazy and seemed indifferent at Daisy.

I felt the tension between them, so I cut to the chase. I let go of Cedric's hand and placed my elbows on the marble desk.

"Daisy, I need a favor."

"What is it?"

"I need directions."

"To?"

"The baby boutique on Middleborough street."

"Mmm."

I can see the cold glaze in her eyes as she first laid eyes on Cedric. She didn't want to help anymore. I cleared my throat.

"¿Por favor, ayúdame no? Es para mí, Cedric no cuenta. Solo me está acompañando. Olvídate de él." I whispered so quietly.

"¡Pero me enfada! No lo conoces como yo."

"¿Lo conoces?"

"¿Pues estoy en la misma casa no?"

She took a breath and looked uneasy, Was it the Spanish? The look on her face demonstrated the frustration. Either it was because Cedric was standing right in front of her or because she didn't know how to form her sentence in Spanish.

"Eh…bueno, este, no lo conozco, solo por lejos…pero…no Alice! Solo por verlo me pone de mal humor."

I sighed and Daisy frowned. I turned to Cedric but he wasn't there. "Where's-"But I stopped at mid sentence. He stood still watching the painting on the other side of the room, his eyes moving with every blotch of pastels. A little smile was plastered on his lips. How could Daisy retch at the sight of him?

"Alice…just please…don't get too comfortable with Diggory alright?"

Nonplussed, I sort of nodded my head and changed the subject back to the directions to the boutique.

"I'll take you; I'm getting my lunch hour anyways."

"You got a car?"

"You should get the pink and yellow…Audrey like those colors."

"You mean she's attracted to those colors. She has no knowledge about the taste in liking an object. She's at an early age."

We walked down an aisle, all three of us and Daisy laughed at my answer. Cedric gave a questioning look towards the muggles that were arguing over an orange ball; a new basketball; from outside the window. I wanted this trip to end already. I shuffled my hands into my jean pockets and examined the rattles on sale. Daisy was by my side and Cedric was in back of us, which Daisy didn't like.

But she handled it as if as thought he wasn't here. So she laughed and laughed.

"You're such a Ravenclaw."

"Ashh…Hufflepuffs these days." I teased going along with the game. A middle aged woman looked at Daisy and I with bad humor written all over her face.

Daisy frowned. "Muggles these days, come on Alice."

She pulled me by my hand and dragged me to the back of the aisle. "Don't call Cedric," she murmured deadly, shooting bullets from her eyes.

My head twitched at her rough tone and I nodded quickly.

She sighed and even hushed her voice more.

"Cedric may seem like the boy of your dreams…but if you really know him…you see another side of him…an obstinate impious side of him. But everyone doesn't notice it. Of course, he's the golden boy of Hogwarts…tch Alice, the boy is a bit of a womanizer. And his goonies as well."

I shook my head. No way, Cedric a womanizer? Cedric Diggory? This can't be true. My eyebrows struggled with frustration and disbelief. "But that's your presumption right?" I asked carefully and I diverted my glance to Cedric, who was smiling curiously, looking at the bibs and bottles all around him. The fact was that I wanted to have a friendship with this boy. He seems like a real genuine boy.

Daisy shook her head.

"No…I have seen them-by mistake, of course."

"Are you sure it was them?"

"Yes."

"How can you tell if it was him?"

"By his voice and body structure."

"…I need to see it to believe it."

So I got a bit skeptic. Not the first time…you know, I questioned Hermione Granger from Gryffindor once. It was brutal. I will never do that again. She huffed away and was muttering about. I remember what she said.

She looked me in the eyes; madden with a desire to slap me hard in the face. Her bushy brown whistled as she turned on her heel and walked away while she spat. "Peevish little Ravenclaw." And I couldn't keep my mouth shut. "I'm older than you honey, and quite less obdurate than you." Then I walked away…but in hardcore speed. Granger might've shot a curse or a jinx at me. You can't underestimate her power; she's very intelligent.

Ahh, I got distracted again. I turned to Daisy and gave one stiff nod and snatched a purple and yellow rattler with pink stars. Daisy sighed at my stubbornness and linked with my arm.

I didn't want to disappoint Daisy but not believing in her, but this is what you call a rumor, a juicy rumor. I didn't like gossiping about horrors. That's just not me. Makes me feel revolting and sick to my stomach. The pressure of the guilt and shame pressed down in your heart because you know you did wrong. I don't want to live like that in my heart and on my shoulders. You make a fool out of yourself with no dignity whatsoever.

My mind was imprinting all of this on the car ride back to the gloomy and shrubby inn: the Leaky Cauldron. This time I sat in the backseat but far away from Cedric. I didn't feel like using my voice or moving my mouth. I was anticipating the time on which we would get into Diagon Alley. It went faster than I had expected.

I smoothly got out and shut the door. I glanced at daisy and saw my reflection on her dark aviator glasses. I opened my mouth to thank her but-

"See you September 1st Rumer."

"Later Annabelle."

I knew she was a bit irritated about the whole 'Cedric hanging out with me' thing. But she'll grow out of it.

Daisy zoomed out of there and I walked into the Leaky Cauldron without even shooting a glance at the Hufflepuff prefect. But I knew he was behind me. His scrumptious scent was wafting into my nose.

Cedric seemed loyal…then I think of what Daisy said; it made me feel hoarse and uncomfortable for some reason.

I knew who I had to talk to.

The pessimistic side about was that he wasn't near me right now.

I want September to arrive already.

I wanted to hold him in my arms and let his smile break every nerve in my body and me collapsing to his demand. I needed him…to make me feel right again. I clutched the plastic blue bag and touched the bumps of the handle of the rattle. It felt weird though, walking with him in silence. I could hear the noise the rattle was making; my hand was terrible shaking. From afar it might look like I was nervous, but I wasn't. This is how I entertain my mind from thinking anything drastic. I was just trying to concentrate on something else before I could be all melodramatic.

"So you think your little sister will love the rattle you bought her?" Cedric asked with a warm smile on his soft lips.

"Uh, yea, it has the colors she's attracted to. Nice combination if you ask me."

He laughed and it soared through the air. I felt goose bumps that invaded my body. My eyes fell on the brick wall which was the entrance to Diagon Alley. I tapped the three correct brick with my wand and the wall began to shake and move aside.

As the laughter and chatter came into earshot, Cedric linked my arm with his. This made my head more confused. I turned to face him and his face was sketched with determination and seriousness. He glanced at me and cleared his throat.

"I'm in charge of your safety," he muttered as we walked into Diagon Alley. He shuffled through shoppers so quickly that I didn't even notice we were moving.

"Where are you going to meet your father?"

"In front of Madam Malkin's"

"Okay."

As the store came into view, Mr. Diggory was waiting for us will all books bought; new school robes; floating in the air beside him. As he spotted us he gave a small cry of joy. I checked the clock tower in the square. It was half before three. We weren't that long. I could've sworn we took less time.

"Ah good boy Ced! There are no injuries on young Alice!"

I blinked. Oh come on…we just went to the boutique. No harm in that.

"Now let's go off, shall we-oh here, Alice your key."

Cedric talked with much ease as we drove away from the busy streets of London and towards the open skies. We both talked about our lives, dreams, dislikes, likes, hobbies, talents and Quidditch.

I found it really easy to talk to him.

I noticed that Amos wanted to jump into the conversation but he didn't see a clear opening and he stopped try-oh I just heard Cedric's giggle. It sounded so…childish. I let out a hard howling laugh. I never heard such a giddy and goofy giggle before. I felt the humid in my eyes as tears fell down.

After I calmed down I looked at Cedric and he was gazing at me. Then Daisy came into my mind.

Womanizer. Diggory. Womanizer. Diggory…

I shut my eyes and smacked my thigh. I fell into rock bottom again. I cleared my throat and slurped my juice all the way home.

The Diggorys helped me with my supplies and I thanked and offered them a cup of tea. They said no.

Amos said they were in a hurry. Well it was late, about quarter to four. They were going to the World Cup and with the Weasleys, Potter and ahh…Granger. Nah I don't want to go.

So I waved goodbye to Amos, who was already in the car. Cedric stood at my door and grabbed my head. Oh no, I knew what was coming next.

"Ahh itchy!" I snapped my hand back and pretended to scratch it as he bent down to kiss it. Sorry…only Craig can do that…and only if I let him do it. I really don't like that.

"Sorry Ced, I was itchy and err…only Craig can do that…sometimes. If another young man does it, the magic slips away."

Hah, corny much?

He blinked and his expression became still and serious. "Your Craig?" His lips were a thin line.

"Err yeah, Craig Bokan. He's in Gryffindor, excellent chess player and prefect. Sixth year."

"Oh, I've seen him in the corridors; patrolling at night."

"Ya that's him."

Cedric nodded and gave me a crooked smile. "See you Alice."

"Yah, bye."

I shut the door and slid down.

Ugh, this boy confuses me.

Er the spanish in the chapter can be translated here:

I can see the cold glaze in her eyes as she first laid eyes on Cedric. She didn't want to help anymore. I cleared my throat.

"Please, can you help me? Cedric doesn't count in on this. He's just acompanying me." I whispered so quietly.

"But he gets on my nerves! You don't know him like I do."

"Ya know him?"

"Well I'm the same house as him, aren't I ?"

She took a breath and looked uneasy, Was it the Spanish? The look on her face demonstrated the frustration. Either it was because Cedric was standing right in front of her or because she didn't know how to form her sentence in Spanish.

"Err... well... I don't know him, only by an house companion...but no Alice! Just seeing him gets me in a bad mood."

:]