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Walking to the Slytherin Common Room, Malena couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. How she had just weaseled her way out of trouble with Harry Potter. How she had actually enjoyed it, but she quickly dismissed the thought of taking pleasure in his company and called it an "adrenaline rush" instead. After all, she had agreed to forgive him to get him off her case, not because she actually forgave him. All in all, he was still an judgmental git. Only now, he was an honest judgmental git.
The next few weeks, Hogwarts was buzzing about the Triwizard Tournament during the Halloween lunch. Students from each house hoped someone of their own would represent the school.
"I really hope you get it, Angelina!" Hermione chimed, patting her shoulder.
"Yeah, better you than Pretty-Boy Diggory." Seamus said, scowling at Cedric and his Hufflepuff posse.
Malena had overheard and scowled at Seamus from afar, turning her gaze back towards Cedric.
"Tell me you aren't fawning over Diggory." Daphne snarled, rolling her eyes at Malena.
"Of course not." Malena managed to spit out, forcing herself to look away. Like most pureblooded families, the Diggory's and the Valverde's were close. Cedric and Malena had basically grown up together. She had even developed a small crush on Cedric ever since he gave her a Nimbus 2000 as a birthday present when she turned 12. She remembered how her father used to tease her, "You don't just give anyone a Nimbus 2000, Lena. Cedric liking you isn't a bad thing anyways. What's not to like about Malena Valverde?" She reminisced about looking forward to those yearly Christmas parties at the Diggory manor, especially standing under the mistletoe with Cedric during last year's party. How softly he kissed her, how his hand gently crept up to cup her cheek, how her knees trembled when he slowly pulled away and smiled down at her. But none of that mattered now, rumor has it he was romantically linked to Cho Chang. Shivering back to reality at the though of Cho, she muttered "I'm over Cedric."
As much as Malena said it, she never fooled anybody but herself. She'd tighten her eyelids and say it to herself whenever her mind was clouded with their memories, but she always knew it wasn't true. Cedric was her second love, after Quidditch of course. Her favorite feeling was soaring over fields of grass in her brooms, but kissing Cedric Diggory was a close second.
"That's what you always say yet whenever I see you, your eyes are glued on the bloke." Daphne answered annoyed, but Malena's mind had drifted back to Cedric. What was so special about Cho anyways? She wasn't that pretty, or talented, or smart. Well, she must've been smart to be in Ravenclaw, but she wasn't brilliant. She was plain to Malena, but she knew Cedric thought otherwise.
Did Cedric ever think Malena was pretty? Or talented? Or smart? Was Malena just plain? Was that why he'd moved on so fast and why Malena was stuck living in a childish past? That's probably all Malena ever was to Cedric. A childish crush that was part of his childish past. Maybe the kiss they'd shared wasn't as gentle and soft and knee-buckling as she thought it had been. Maybe it was an average kiss with an average girl.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and everyone's head turned in his direction. "Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "When the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber where they will be receiving their first instructions."
The flames turned red and pit out a piece of parchment. "Durmstrang champion will be Viktor Krum!" Dumbledore announced, a storm of applause sweeping the entire Hall as Krum walked over into the chamber.
"The champion for Beauxbatons will be Fleur Delacour!" The instant he finished his sentence, two other Beauxbatons students dissolved in tears while Fleur disappeared into the chamber.
"Lastly, the Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!" Malena's stomach flipped in excitement for him, but she contained herself, her eyes painfully following his figure until he walked inside the dark chamber.
"Excellent! We now have our three ch-" Just when Dumbledore had started his sentence, the goblet had once again turned red and spit out another scrap of parchment. "Harry Potter."
Everyone turned to face Harry, whose face was furiously blushing. "I didn't put my name in," He said to Ron and Hermione who stared at him blankly.
"Harry Potter!" The headmaster called. "Up here if you please!" Malena watched as Harry gulped heavily and started trotting over to Dumbledore. When he passed by her, he looked up at her, worry and fear were evident in his eyes. She held his gaze and Harry immediately looked down. Her message had gotten across loud and clear without having to even mutter a word. After last night's ordeal, she had to admit she changed how she thought of Harry. His apology seemed sincere, but now, after cheating his way in the tournament, she started doubting him again. He was probably just trying to make her feel sorry for him; it was all just part of his act and she was not about to fall for it.