Cedric Diggory was different than most of the guys I dated. I never would have dreamed of him being attracted to me. After all, this was Cedric Diggory, a Triwizard Champion. He was Seeker for Hufflepuff and was another charmer.

I'd known of him since I was little. Sometimes he'd come over and play Quidditch with the twins. After all, he only lived over the hill and was the only Wizarding family for miles around. His father worked with mine in the Ministry.

I guess I'll start by telling you that I've always been attracted to blokes that were older and out of my league. After all, I wanted to date the evilest and most charming wizard and I married the Boy-Who-Lived. I guess I just had high standards and for some unknown reason, Ced saw something in the shy, moping redhead. After all, he was nearly four years older than I was at the time.

And still there was an attraction there that I can't really explain.

I suppose it started on the morning we left for the World Cup. I was just excited that my father had gotten tickets for the lot of us. It was a chance to be with my family and to spend time with Harry and Hermione. But when I saw him standing there with Mr. Diggory, I couldn't help darting eyes with Hermione whenever he did or said anything funny or cute.

And when he winked at us, my heart nearly melted. I wasn't even sure what they were talking about- perhaps, Ced's defeat over Harry the previous year—but it didn't matter, my heart flew into my throat and I blushed so hard, my cheek hurt.

We made it to the old, ruddy boot. Cedric's and mine hand touched briefly, but it wasn't until I fell flat on my arse moments later that real sparks had flown.

There, I lied on my back as he landed smoothly beside me.

"Need a hand?" He asked, in a smooth, coy voice. He outstretched his hand and playfully smirked at me.

I blushed, of course, and held on to his hand. He easily lifted me off the ground. I muttered an awkward thank you as I looked up into his hazel eyes. He smiled back before he ran off to talk to the twins or his father or whoever. I really didn't pay attention, as Hermione kept elbowing me in the ribs while the two of us giggled.

Merlin, was he gorgeous. He had sandy brown hair and sparkling hazel eyes. They were amazing to look at, especially when he was trying to seduce you. He had charm and a knack for getting girls to whole-heartedly melt for him. And his body was definitely something to blush over. The years of Quidditch practice had toned him into a very handsome young man.

I didn't interact with him much until about a month before the first task. I was sitting out in the courtyard when some Slytherins decided to stick their big, ugly noses into my business. I was minding my own business when a group of 5th year Slytherins came over and decided to tease me about my family. Not that I hadn't had this happen before, but the only other soul there was Cedric.

He got up and shooed them away. It was actually funny and I couldn't help laughing at his insults. He was so witty and so cute, he probably could have said anything and I still would have been laughing.

He leaned against the pillar and looked me over. "Ignore those gits, Ginny." He said, after they'd gone.

I smiled and nodded. They had teased me about my tacky, hand-me-down uniforms and frumpy red hair. It stung a little, but I was an expert at ignoring the Slytherins by the time I had hit my third year.

"They're wrong, you know. I rather like your red hair. It's cute, suits your freckles and all." He said as he took a seat next to me.

"Thanks, Cedric." I replied, abashed that the Cedric Diggory had complimented me. I thought that he probably had forgotten my name, let alone ever notice me, my freckles, or the red hair that so suited them.

I awkwardly cleared my throat and decided to change the subject. I brought up the tournament and asked him how he felt. He told me he was rather nervous and hoped he did well. He felt bad for Harry, stating that he believed it wasn't fault. Ced could be a caring soul when he wanted to.

And I fell even harder when he asked if I'd see him there the next day. I conceded and the next day could not have possibly gone any slower.

But I had come to see him for the second day in a row. He was sitting on one of the cement benches, fishing through his potions book. I took a seat next to him and smiled. He smiled back and we started to chitchat back and forth. It was rather meaningless and just to fill time.

He was coy and charming and flirted heavily with me. He acknowledged me and I found myself attracted to the same qualities that I found myself attracted to Tom. Of course I was a bit wary the first few meetings, but the difference between Tom and Cedric was that Tom was, indeed, the most evil wizard there ever was. Cedric was just a playboy.

It wasn't until about a week later that Cedric kissed me. It had gotten chillier outside and so we moved our meetings to the 4th floor courtyard balcony.

I think it was all about the situations that we had gotten ourselves into. I clung to him for security and identity and he saw me as a way out. I didn't nag him about the Triwizard Tournament. I didn't nag him about being the Golden Boy. I didn't nag him about Quidditch, his grades, or our relationship.

Sure, I had heard about him and Cho, but he never brought it up. Where they really going out? I didn't know and I didn't care. All that mattered was him pushing me against the wall and snogging me.

And was he good at it.

He was the first boy I had ever done anything with. He was soft and gentle while still attacking me with passion and pure lust. He knew what to do and how to do it. We'd have these crazy sessions where we were nearly stripped down to our undergarments.

Our fingers and hands would roam each other while our mouths panicked for the others. Our breathing was sporadic, we became frantic, and all we wanted was the other, just for those brief moments together. He saw me as attractive and though we didn't really talk much, he was polite.

Of course after the first task, I was worried about him. He talked about it briefly in an abandoned classroom one Saturday. He didn't do as well as he wanted and really wished he thought of Accioing his broom. But he told me not to worry. He had the egg and though he was still uncertain what to do with it, Ced assured me that he would be safe.

And then of course he undid my robes and we digressed to our previous engagements.

I wasn't really hurt when he didn't ask me to the Yule Ball. After all, Neville had asked me first and I sort of knew that Cedric would pick Cho. We never really talked about it, but I saw him looking at the two of us a few times that night. Especially after Cho would obsessively pick at Cedric's dress robes. I'd smile at him and nod, but he managed to escape Cho's watchful eyes just once.

I was getting a glass of punch when he suddenly appeared across from me.

"Hello, Weasley." He said, smirking and giving me a taunting glare.

"Hi, Ced." I said as I spooned out the red liquid.

"You look stunning tonight. I've seen you quite a few times on the dance floor. Perhaps you could save a dance for me. Or even better, wait for me afterwards." He said as he took the ladle from my hands, lightly brushing his palms against the top of my hands.

I looked up and smiled lightly. "Thank you. You look rather good tonight, too." I said, thinking about his offer. "I don't know, Neville's having a great time."

He nodded as he looked over my shoulder to inspect my date. He made a look, still quite unreadable to me. Ced looked back over and shrugged. "Well, they're having a party for me in the common room, but I'll be back later. This'll give you enough time to… have fun with him and then have fun with me later."

Cedric cocked his eyebrow and then headed back to Cho, two cups in his hand.

I contemplated not meeting him that night. I knew this was purely lust, what the two of us had, but I couldn't help it. For once someone wanted me.

I danced the night away with Neville. He was a really good partner and a complete gentleman. I knew he liked me, and I knew I needed something better than Cedric, but I wanted to be wanted. I wanted to be lusted after. Besides, I knew that soon enough Cho would have him. This was just a fling.

And so I met him.

Long after the guitars and drums had stopped and after I had parted ways with Neville, I met Cedric in the abandoned classroom we had been meeting in for over a month.

He was leaning against one of the student tables, his robes loosened around the collar and his hair slightly hanging over his forehead. He was smirking wickedly up at me. He said no words as I stepped up to him. He wrapped me in those strong arms and kissed me longingly. He brushed the stray red strands that had fallen loose through out the night as his tongue found mine. My hands had found the ties that he had already loosened. I quickly undid them as he found the zipper in the back of my dress. Both of our outfits soon found their way to the floor as we flooded each other's senses. I could feel him against me and though I knew I was getting too deep too fast, I couldn't stop the train from flying off its tracks, proverbially speaking.

Our hands roamed each other's naked forms as I felt him set me on the table. I knew what was going to happen at that moment. There was no turning back and I didn't want to stop. Cedric was attractive and as we held each other in our arms and as I felt him enter me, I knew it was going to end.

And though that night was fantastic and though he knew how to fulfill me and take care of me, as I became a sexual being, the downward spiral after was horrid.

Cho had become suspicious after he abruptly left and soon she kept him on a short leash. We hardly ever saw each other, save for a few glances in the halls. Finally, one snowy day after the second task, he found me sitting alone outside.

"Hey, Ginny. Do you mind if I sit down?" He said, his sullen eyes downcast.

I closed my Charms book and looked up at him. "Sure, what's wrong?" I asked, knowing he was going to bring up the night of the Yule Ball.

"Look, you're great and all, but I think we should stop…" He said blankly.

"Cho." I stated.

"Yeah, Cho…" He tapered off. "She thinks something is up and she wants to become more serious."

I simply nodded. I had figured as much. It wasn't like I saw much of him since that night.

"You okay?" He asked, lightly grazing his hand on mine.

"Yeah, Ced. I'm fine." I said as I smiled up at him.

"Friends?" He asked simply.

"Friends."

He walked away from me and though there was a small pang in my heart, I knew it was for the best. I was just tired of guys walking away from me. I still was sore from Harry sort of rejecting me and from Tom deceiving me. I felt like Cedric was just another guy to add to the list.

However, it would get much worse.

Two weeks prior to the third and final task, Cho confronted me. Following closely, Cedric was behind her.

"You lousy, boyfriend-stealing tart!" The normal docile Cho screamed at me.

"What?" I gave her an unsure glance before looking at Cedric. He merely kept his head down.

"Ced told me about yours and his escapades up in the old Ancient Runes classroom." Cho said. If looks could kill, I'd be dead where I stood.

I had no response. I didn't knw ow much she knew and I wasn't about to admit that I had stole Cedric. After all, they weren't dating then. It was she who stole him off of me.

"I can't believe you. Didn't you…" Cho stopped, flustered. "What do you have to say, you mangy tart?"

My brows furrowed and I went from looking at Cedric to looking at her. "Don't you bloody dare call me a tart! It's not my fault you couldn't secure him." I yelled back, arms crossed. My left hand touching my wand, just incase she started anything.

"And you," I motioned to Cedric. "Thanks for throwing me under the bus. Forget to mention to her that you seduced me. You came to me, remember?"

Cho narrowed her eyes and flipped her long back hair back. "That is not the point. You knew I was with him."

"Oh, no. Of course not. Don't blame him? And you were not dating. You two were merely around each other." I said quite pointedly.

Cho shook her head and drew her wand.

"Woah, hun…" Cedric said as he tried to intervene.

Too bad I had drawn my own wand and had casted the Bat Bogey Hex at the two of them. And that was when the news of the strength of my hex had leaked out.

No one quite knew why the two of them had been hit. Cho was too angry and humiliated to explain it to anyone and Cedric wanted to forget the whole situation.

As I have said, I think it was all about situations with the two of us. We needed someone that didn't care and it would be momentary lapses of reason, but at least we had those moments to unwind. Of course it got out of hand and in the end, he left and I was all by myself.

But what I find humorous in the entire thing was Cho. I had never really liked her, but her involvement in this makes me laugh. When I told Harry about the confrontation years later, he even laughed. It was so unlike Cho to act. She was miss priss. Ever so elegant and would never act out on another.

Harry once commented on the animosity between us. He always thought that it was over him, and though I was a little discouraged and angry that Cho went after Harry the next year, there was still some unresolved feelings over Cedric. Especially because of his death.

I still can't believe it happened. I still remember his unmoving body appearing with a thud as Harry appeared with him, screaming. The horror story of how that happened still haunted Harry until the day he died. It still affects me.

Sure, I was angry with him for choosing an uptight snob over me, but I never wanted him to die, especially such an undeserved, harrowing death. It hurt to attend the assembly for him the following day.

Dumbledore's words were real. He talked to us like we were adults. It was hard for him to tell us such details, but we learned about Barty Crouch Jr. and Voldemort's plot to come back to life. At the cost of Cedric.

I still am sorry he died. But I wonder how happy he would be now. Would he be sipping his afternoon tea while Cho fretted over their grandchildren as I write this? Would he be trapped in a relationship that was based on the perfect image of a couple? Or perhaps he would be happy with the girl on the side?

Either way, he will always be remembered as that coy, charming boy who had the life, the popularity, and the girl that so many envied.