A/N: There is a potentially triggering scene at the end of this chapter. Nothing too crazy, but a man does intimidate a woman in manner that could be uncomfortable for some readers.
Thirty-Three:
"You look stunning, Cedric." Jona yawned in what was perhaps the least complimentary tone ever used to pay a compliment. "Would you stop primping? You're going to make us late."
Cedric glanced over his shoulder to glare only to be struck dumb at the sight of his best friend. Jona, while not unattractive per se, had always been somewhat plain, never putting any effort or interest into his looks, but he clearly cleaned up quite well. His well-fitted robes made his form look less stocky and more sturdy-looking and the dark brown acromantula tweed matched nicely with his eyes. He'd done something with his hair; it was parted neatly, and the black strands looked healthy and shiny in the lamp light rather than their usual dry, messy state.
"There's no need to look so gobsmacked." Jona sighed, only mildly offended. "Y'know, Roger is one of the most popular guys in our year, right? We're not identical, but we are twins. Does it really come as such a surprise that I might be good-looking when I try?"
Cedric felt rather sheepish. He was being unkind to his best friend of all people. "I'm sorry. It's not as though you're an ugly bloke-"
"Gee thanks."
"You just always look so plain. A little unkempt, like you just rolled out of bed. Why don't you try harder? I know you're not interested in romance, but being physically attractive often makes people more likely to like you in a platonic manner too."
"To what end, Cedric? Networking? I don't have any delusions of grandeur, unlike some people. "
Cedric scoffed, turning back to his reflection as he debated between the yellow bowtie or the black. "My grandeur is anything but delusional, I'll have you know."
He elected to go with the black, abandoning house pride entirely. He looked undeniably good, his pitch black robes standing starkly against the crisp white button up beneath. There was not a hair out of place in his perfect, chestnut brown coif. He even made certain to take a Dreamless Sleep the night before, so only minimal glamors needed to be applied to hide the dark circles that always sat beneath his silver eyes these days.
"Now are you ready?" asked Jona, fiddling with one of his copper cufflinks.
"Now I am ready." Cedric agreed in a mocking voice, making his way towards their door, Jona close behind. "I don't know what you're in such a hurry for anyway. You're not the one who has to arrive there early."
"I know." admitted the shorter boy as he stepped carefully down the stairs to their common room, doing his best not to trip over the ankle length hem of his robes. "But, there's no way I'm gonna miss your reaction."
"My reaction to what?"
Before Jona could answer, the two were bombarded by the crowd of Hufflepuffs situated in the common room, seemingly waiting for their entrance.
"Cedric, you look even more handsome than usual!" exclaimed some younger year girl shyly.
The first string Hufflepuff Keeper, Fleet chimed in, "Yeah, mate those robes look great on you!"
"How do you get your hair so perfect?"
"Are you really going to be leading the opening dance?"
"Davies, you look great!"
"Who is your tailor?"
They were soon swarmed by a horde of well wishers and it was another ten minutes before they were finally able to wade their way out of the common room.
"See?" Jona panted while they caught their breath outside of the common room entrance. "One of the many reasons why I have absolutely no interest in being popular; just being associated with a popular person is hassle enough."
"Hoh, wow." said a voice to their right. The two looked up to see Cesaria, leaning against the wall nearest them. "You uh-" She cleared her throat, and stood up straight, smoothing out her cornsilk yellow dress which flattered her russet colored skin. "You two look... really g- good." she stuttered awkwardly, her cheeks an endearing shade of pink.
"N- not like in a - er romantic way or anything I- I mean obviously ; men don't really... I'm not interested- I just! Y'know..." Her face became increasingly more red with each word.
Jona, chuckled finally having mercy on the poor girl and offered her an arm in a gentlemanly manner which she gratefully took. "You look lovely as well, Ava. Especially your hair." He motioned to her elaborate dark brown updo that was dotted with little gold beads. "Did you do that yourself?"
"Yeah, it was all me. Do you really like it?"
"I really do! Although it always looks very nice, you clearly take very good care of it."
'Who knew Jona could be so suave?' Cedric thought, watching the two out of the corner of his eye as they made their way towards the Great Hall. The three of them conversed quietly as they navigated through the halls, speculating about which band had been booked for the event.
"Why on earth would it be Celestina Warbeck?" exclaimed Cesaria incredulously, stepping aside so Jona could push open the doors to the antechamber. "What're you a middle aged mum?"
"What do you have against Celestina Warbeck?" Cedric defended, incensed.
"I must concur with Mr. Diggory!" said Professor McGonagall's voice, startling the three of them as they noticed her standing towards the back of the antechamber. "Mrs. Warbeck would have been a wonderful selection for this event, but alas, she was not the entertainer we picked." She seemed quite displeased by this, her arms crossed sulkily over her emerald green velvet dress.
"Don't you three look smart?" She complimented. "Though, Mr. Diggory, you'll recall, the opening waltz is intended for a couple, not a line dance. I'll need you to choose one of these two lovely students to be your partner before we enter the hall." she punctuated this statement with a cheeky raise over her brow.
Speaking over his now flustered, stuttering friends, Cedric elaborated, "Oh, my dance partner hasn't yet arrived, though I'm sure she'll-"
"Cedric!"
"Speak of the dementor." he grumbled under his breath, wincing as Jona elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
Chang was dressed in a silky cream-colored cheongsam, with long billowing sleeves. The dress was clearly a work of art, decorated with intricate gold floral stitching against a pearlescent backdrop that glinted in the lamplight.
'What a waste.' He couldn't help but think at the sight of such a lovingly crafted gown on such a hideous shrew.
Within seconds she was plastered to his side and he had to stop himself from pushing her off. Her long, manicured nails dug ever so slightly into his arm, and her perfume smelled saccharine and immature.
"Cho." His voice held none of the nausea he felt. He would play the perfect prince tonight, regardless of the toad he was partnered with. "You look even more beautiful than usual. That dress is breathtaking." See? He wasn't even technically lying.
She smiled widely, clearly very pleased by Cedric's compliments. Her fingers tightened around his arm and Cedric wanted to do the same thing to her twiggy little neck.
"You look very handsome yourself." She said in a coy voice, tilting her head in what Cedric supposed was intended to be a demure manner. "I had no idea you had such an eye for fashion."
Cedric granted her a long, amused smile, thoroughly entertained by her clumsy, off-putting attempts at flirting. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
Her face colored a blotchy, bright red in response to this comment, eyes half-lidded and intrigued. "Well..." she paused, presumably for effect. "I can't wait to learn more."
What a dumb bitch.
Thankfully he was saved from having to continue this pointless conversation when Fleur Delacour came flouncing into the room, a drooling Roger Davies arm in arm with her.
"Poor pitiful idiot." sighed Jona, making his way over to his brother to presumably snap him out of his love-drunk stupor.
"Your friend looks very nice." stated Cho, seemingly finally noticing that there were other people in the room besides the two of them. Her tone was somewhat odd though, slightly mulish as if she did not like paying a compliment to Jona. Cedric couldn't think of why that would be, though; it's not as though the two had ever really conversed. Perhaps the wench was really so full of herself that she couldn't handle the thought of sharing the spotlight with anyone else in the room.
"Doesn't he? Cleans up well." Cedric agreed politely while sizing up Delacour out of the corner of his eye. The girl looked good, he begrudgingly admitted to himself. Even taking the Veela heritage out of the equation she looked beautiful in her floor length gown, her hair done up in an elegant knot. She clearly knew that a simple look would only further enhance her graceful, otherworldly features.
He did his best not to show the envy that he was seething with. The french tart would surely steal the show. Cedric knew there was little he could do about it, but he couldn't help but be irritated that all eyes would be on her this evening.
However any thought of Fleur Delacour, or really anyone else was purged from his mind the moment the doors to the antechamber opened again.
Cedric had seen Harry in many different ways; in different outfits, from different angles, with different expressions and in different environments. One would think that after looking at someone for so long no matter how many various ways it would someday get old. And perhaps one day that would be true, but Cedric did not know; for today was most certainly not that day.
Harry looked positively ethereal in his bottle green dress robes, the color complimenting his eyes perfectly. While his inky black curls never seemed to be tamed, there was a certain artfulness to their styling that came across as intentional. His features looked even softer in the dim lamplight and there was a blushing bashfulness that conveyed a discomfort in being dressed in such fine clothes.
Cedric personally thought that Harry belonged in nothing but finery, most especially if it made him blush in such a sweet shade of pink.
The boy glanced timidly around the room's occupants before glancing back up at his date-
Wait.
"Who the Hell is she?" Cedric found himself saying aloud and for a moment he thought that there was perhaps an echo in the room, until he realized that the other voice was much higher pitched and coming from his immediate right.
He looked over to see Chang already looking back up at him, blinking in confusion. After a moment of staring at one another she spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Right?" She agreed and Cedric realized that they really did just say the same thing, how shameful, how mortifying. Had he lost his mind? How could he possible share anything in common with this stupid, ugly, useless, vain, vomit-induc-
She continued, unaware of his inner turmoil. "I think she's one of the Patil twins, but I didn't know Harry was close with either of them. I'd thought for sure he'd bring that muggleborn girl who follows him around."
Cedric gritted his teeth before admitting, "I'd thought the same." He put on his most pleasant smile, his mind a mess not only with his disdain for Chang's very existence, but also with a burning curiosity for this mystery girl who was hanging from Harry's arm. "We should go greet them." His voice belied nothing.
Chang agreed, her beady black eyes sizing up Patil like a Beater eyeing a Bludger that was straying a little too close to their Seeker.
Cedric was for once grateful for Chang's presence as when they approached he found his voice completely absent, too stunned by Harry's presence to even formulate words, the boy's glittering green eyes leaving him breathless. Thankfully Chang had no qualms with speaking up.
"Hello, Harry." She greeted him with a small smile. Cedric quite suddenly remembered the whole reason he asked the hideous bitch to the ball in the first place and felt like a complete moron for facilitating a conversation between her and Harry. The two should be kept as far apart as possible. However, before Cedric could yank her away, Harry responded, his voice odd and distant.
"Cho. You look very nice." Harry seemed determined not to look at her, instead keeping his eyes fixed to the floor. Good, hopefully the boy was finally recovering from the horrible attraction he had previously held for Chang. He glanced only briefly in Cedric's direction and said in a rather perfunctory tone, "You too, Diggory."
Diggory. Diggory? Why Diggory? Why would Harry call him Diggory? Cedric had not been Diggory to Harry since the Quidditch World Cup. Cedric should be Cedric! Not Diggory, not that again, not a stranger again. He couldn't possibly cope with not getting to hear his name on Harry's voice any longer.
"Thank you, Harry." he found himself saying despite his racing mind. "You look great as well. That color suits you."
Harry smiled shakily and briefly up at him and Cedric felt a sense of vertigo. A cold sweat broke out across the back of his neck as Harry turned away from him, going to greet Granger who had just arrived with Krum.
Chang was saying something to him, but Cedric was too preoccupied with watching Harry's back to register it.
Had he done something wrong? Was Harry displeased with him? He'd noticed that he'd not seen Harry much in the past couple of weeks but he'd assumed the boy was preoccupied with class work and preparing for Yule.
Chang said something again, this time more insistently and Cedric dragged his eyes down to look at her. He wanted to make her disappear. He wanted to hurt her even more than he usually did, anything to relieve the awful feeling in his chest.
Her mouth was forming words and he finally forced himself to listen to her even if he'd rather be doing anything else.
"-ver it eventually."
"What?" he snapped back, reigning in his temper at the sight of the wary look in the girl's eyes.
"I said -" How dare this stupid cow take that tone with him? Who the fuck did she think she was?
"He'll get over it eventually. I know he's probably feeling a bit jealous right now, but Harry is a very sweet boy. He'll forgive us sooner or later."
Jealous? He looked back over at Harry, who quickly noticed his stare and turned away. Was Harry jealous? Truly?
" Well why the fuck wouldn't he be? " said a voice coming somewhere from his subconscious that sounded suspiciously like Jona. " You quite literally asked out his crush. Who wouldn't be jealous? Did you think everything would just be copasetic? "
Cedric could feel his breath picking up, the sweat that had been crawling down his neck was now making its way down his back. His hands were shaking and someone was talking near his right ear. Chang it was fucking Chang. She was saying something again. Did the bitch ever shut up?! Where did she get off speaking to him in a time like this? This was her fucking fault in the first place! Harry was mad at Cedric because of her! Jealous over HER! What the fuck was so great about her anyway?! Oh what washe doing contemplating that in a timelike this heneededto figure out how to get backinto Harry's good graces how could he be so fucking stupidstupidSTUPIDwhat was he thinking!?taking someoneeven someoneasuglyandstupudandworthlessasCHANGstupidumbbitchshouldveneverbeenborndeaddeadsheshouldjustfuckingdieandgetoutofthefuckingwayruiningEVERYTHINGHEEVERWORKEDFORDIEdiedieDIEdi-
"Ow!" He yelped involuntarily feeling a sharp pinch on the back of his neck, reaching up to rub it he found a hand already there and looked over to see Jona smiling up at him. "Woops!" laughed the shorter boy, patting Cedric's neck soothingly. "Sorry Ced, was just trying to fix your collar."
He leaned closer, eyes glinting in the lamplight, a smile sharper than a quill's nib and hissed in a voice so quiet Cedric had to strain to hear it., " Keep it together, you psycho. Harry's never gonna forgive you if you hurt someone. "
He turned away so quickly his robes snapped in a manner Cedric had once only thought Snape capable of. Before Cedric could even process what had happened Jona had already vacated the room, dragging a confused Cesaria with him.
"What a weirdo." Chang groused and a sense of clarity came over him. Jona was right. Now was no time for a panic attack and certainly not the time to hurt Chang in front of all these witnesses. He needed to calm down and put his best foot forward. He could fix this. He would fix this. There was no need for hysterics.
Cedric faked a laugh and looped arms with Chang, turning his eyes to the doors to the Great Hall, which McGonagall had just swung open. "That's Jona for you! Now are you ready to put these dance lessons to work?"
-0v0-
The opening dance had gone well enough, or at least Cedric supposed it did, he'd been far too preoccupied with watching Harry and his fumbling partner out of the corner of his eye. But, Chang looked pleased with herself when they sat down at the champion's table, so presumably nothing had gone awry.
Taking his seat Cedric was irritated to find that he was situated nowhere near Harry instead sandwiched between Chang and Harry's bucktoothed, know-it-all friend. She smiled at him as he sat down, and he resisted the urge to glare at her; she should've been the girl that Harry took as his date, not this other girl that Cedric had no information on. It was throwing his whole night askew.
Dinner was a dull affair with Chang nattering in his ear about topics so inane Cedric could hardly recall them. Thankfully Krum and the know-it-all mostly kept to themselves so Cedric just spent the majority of his time pretending to listen to Chang while nibbling away at food that tasted about as flavorful as sawdust to him.
Harry was clearly not faring much better, his date seemed to be entirely too preoccupied with staring longingly at the other male champions while simultaneously shooting jealous looks in Delacour and the Muggle Born's directions. Notably, she paid little attention at all to poor Harry who had been dragged into a rather one-sided conversation with Percy Weasley of all people.
By the time everyone had finished their food Cedric was desperate to get as far from Chang as possible. However, he was fully aware how bad it would look if he didn't spend some more time with her on the dance floor. With that in mind he made certain to entertain her through the first few songs the Weird Sisters played before making way over to the refreshments table to gain himself some distance.
In the shuffle he'd managed to lose sight of Harry, but was easily able to locate him again as soon as he'd realized that the boy was not on the dancefloor. Instead he was sequestered off to the side and settled at an otherwise empty dinner table with the youngest Weasley boy.
He'd contemplated approaching, burning with a need to make things right. To make Harry like him again. He felt his feet begin to carry him in that direction, but a voice to his right stopped him in his tracks.
"I wouldn't if I were you, Diggory."
Cedric looked back to find Percy Weasley leaning lightly against the refreshments table, nursing a glass of Gillywater. His countenance was a snide as ever despite the dark circles under his eyes and the pale pallor of his skin.
"Weasley." Cedric blinked, ignoring the voice whispering in his subconscious begging him to get as close to Harry as possible. "How are you?"
Weasley smiled, adjusting his horn-rimmed glasses with a freckled hand. "I'm well, thank you." He replied succinctly. "Perhaps we could take a step outside? I'd love to catch up." He motioned towards the exit, with a polite smile.
Cedric found himself nodding despite feeling somewhat off-put by the invitation. He and Weasley had never been close and even if they had been, the man did not really strike Cedric as the type to catch up with old schoolmates.
They ended up settling on a bench a few windows down from the entrance to the Great Hall. Cedric found himself feeling distinctly awkward as Weasley sat silently next to him, staring contemplatively up at the snow drifts meandering down from the sky.
"Was there a... er... reason for this excursion?" Cedric asked after a while.
Weasley glanced back at him, eyes widening as if remembering that he was not alone. "Ah, yes my apologies, just gathering my thoughts." He cleared his throat posture stiffening to its usual ruler straight form.
Alarmingly, Cedric noted that the redhead had drawn his wand from his holster.
"Harry is displeased with you."
Cedric felt the hot sting of anger at the sound of those words and he was suddenly on his feet, but before he could lose himself, his emotions began to just as quickly as Weasley casted a light cheering charm on him.
Cedric blinked down at the man, who seemed wholly unsurprised by his reaction, cornflower blue eyes watching him analytically. "Alas, it's not gotten any better, has it?"
"What?" blinked Cedric dumbly, feeling as though he'd missed half the conversation.
Weasley motioned for him to sit back down, which Cedric complied. "If you recall," began the red head after a moment. "During my year as head boy, I instituted a checks and balance system. Each Prefect was assigned a notebook that automatically recorded any disciplinary action that a prefect took against another student as well as the motivation of said discipline."
"Yes," Cedric nodded, still not sure where this was all going. "I remember. We still use it, in fact."
Weasley looked momentarily pleased by this revelation before he continued.
"These measures were put in place to ensure that the Prefects were not abusing their privileges. I would review these notebooks on a biweekly basis. I must say that I found yours particularly interesting."
He closed his eyes and began to speak quite rapidly.
"September 2nd, 15 points from Malfoy Draco (Slytherin). Insulting Potter Harry.
September 3rd, 20 points from Malfoy Draco (Slytherin). Bullying Potter Harry.
September 3rd, 20 points from Crabbe Vincent (Slytherin). Threatening Potter Harry.
September 3rd, 20 points from Goyle Gregory (Slytherin). Threatening Potter Harry.
September 17th, 10 po-"
Cedric could see that the man would just keep going if he wasn't stopped and promptly interrupted.
"How on earth do you remember all of this?"
Weasley stopped and opened one of his eyes to glance back at him, raising a brow. "The muggles call it an eidetic memory. I remember most everything I've ever seen."
He turned to face Cedric more fully, continuing on as he had not just revealed this super power that he supposedly possessed.
"Surely you see where I'm going with this, Diggory. Of the 171 disciplinary actions you took, 127 of them were in defense of Harry Potter."
Cedric did his damnedest to feign offense. "Are you implying that I've been abusing my position as Prefect?"
"Well, naturally." Sneered the man, imperiously before waving a hand as if it were inconsequential. "But, that's hardly relevant. It's not as though the students you were disciplining didn't deserve it, you just... approach your prefectorial duties with a single minded focus."
The cheering charm had clearly worn off as Cedric was getting rather irritated at this point. This conversation was going nowhere.
"Well, what is your point then?"
Weasley looked down his nose at him with an expression that clearly communicated that he found Cedric to be very obtuse. Cedric was starting to see why this man's siblings bad-mouthed him so passionately.
"My point is that you clearly have a very deep fixation with Harry Potter."
There was a moment where Cedric contemplated if he should play dumb, but Weasley seemed to see right through his hesitation.
"Oh, please don't bother denying it, I don't think either of us are very patient people."
Cedric sighed, Jona was usually the only person who could so easily see through Cedric's facade. He was somewhat concerned about what this meant for his image. Were there other students who were aware of the kind of person he was? He clearly needed to be more careful.
"So what?" He snapped. "Are you blackmailing me or something?"
Weasley looked briefly contemplative as if he hadn't really considered the concept, but ultimately shook his head.
"A tempting offer, but no."
"I wasn't offering, you complete pr-"
"It is my belief," he continued staunchly. "That despite, or perhaps even because of your concerning obsession with Harry; you have his best interests, or at the very least his safety, in mind. That is why I've decided to entrust you with the intel I've gained as Mr. Crouch's personal assistant."
Cedric blinked, feeling once again as though he'd missed half the conversation. "Your Barty Crouch's P.A.? How on earth did you land that job fresh out of Hogwarts?"
"FINALLY!" Weasley bellowed loudly enough to make Cedric jump. "A proper reaction! Do you know what my father said when I told him I'd secured that position?! How dreadfully boring , Percy. Are you sure that's what you want to spend your life doing? Finally someone who appreciates what an accomplishment this is so early on in my caree-"
He seemed to stop himself mid-rant, his face which had been turning a rather disconcerting hue of red cooling off as he collected himself.
"Apologies, I digress. As I was saying. I would like to share with you some of the conclusions I have drawn about Harry's inclusion in the Triwizard Tournament, as you've proven yourself a... staunch protector of the boy in years past."
Cedric's eyes narrowed at this, his immediate reaction to anyone concerning themselves with Harry was mistrust. What did this man care about Harry's safety? He asked exactly that.
"What do you care about Harry's safety?"
Weasley made it immediately apparent that he was insulted by this line of questioning, his blue eyes flashing behind horn rimmed glasses as his perpetual sneer became even more severe.
"Excuse me? Here I am offering up valuable information that you could use to protect and potentially endear yourself to Harry and you're questioning my intentions?"
"Yes," replied Cedric simply. "I am."
Weasley sighed, the righteous expression slipping from his face, clearly caught in the act. "Fair enough, I suppose. Despite what it may seem, I actually quite like Harry. He is the little brother I've always wanted."
Cedric blinked. "Don't you have like three younger brothers?"
"'Always wanted' is the operative part of that statement. Harry is polite and quiet and doesn't insult me and sometimes asks me how my day has been-"
Cedric was beginning to feel a little bit sorry for this guy.
"So, it would be a shame if something happened to him. But, I will admit, that I do have some other... ulterior motives for sharing this information with you."
"Those being?"
Weasley sighed. "Well, given your lineage and my current goals in th-"
"Cedric?"
The two of them both froze, glancing to Cedric's right to see Chang, leaning out of the nearest window to frown down at them.
"There you are!" she exclaimed in an even more grating voice than usual, looking rather irritated. "What are you doing out here? Weren't you going to- Oh," her eyes widened as she finally registered the person seated next to Cedric. "Percy? What are you two doing out here?"
Weasley stood, dusting off a few snow drifts that had stuck to his trousers and smiled politely up at Chang. "Hello, Ms. Chang. I'm sorry that I monopolized your date like this. We were just catching up a bit." He turned his shiny polite smile towards Cedric next, offering a hand to the Hufflepuff and pulling him up off the bench.
"I hope you can forgive me as well, Diggory. I let the time get away from me. As for that little issue. Just give him a few days to cool off and then offer your apologies. He'll understand."
With that he turned on his heel and began to make his way back into the Great Hall, Chang and Cedric left watching his retreating back.
After a moment of silence Chang turned back to Cedric. "I hadn't realized you were close. Did he tutor you as well?"
"Not quite." Cedric denied, refusing to lower himself to Chang's pathetic level for the sake of an excuse. "He was just giving me some advice regarding my career goals."
Chang seemed suitably impressed by this excuse and the two of them made their way back to the dance floor, continuing to dance like this encounter had never happened.
It was only hours later as Cedric and Chang were meandering their way at the emptying Hall that Cedric noticed a small note stuck to the inside of his shirt cuff with spidery, but neat script written on it.
Expect my owl. - PW
Cedric frowned at the sight of it, still not sure what exactly to think of this entire encounter. Chang, the self centered idiot that she was, seemed to believe this sigh had something to do with her.
"Is something wrong, Ceddy?" Yes, this nickname was a new and unfortunate development that had cropped up not long after Chang had gotten her hands on some spiked punch. "You've been a little off this whole night."
Understatement of the fucking century. This was undoubtedly the worst evening Cedric had had in the past year. Having to spend hours on end pretending to enjoy the company of someone he absolutely hated was absurdly draining. It was even worse knowing that the stupid whore was the reason Harry was mad at him.
He glanced back at the table where Harry and his ugly little redheaded sycophant had spent the majority of the night and felt something awful bubbling in the base of his gut at the sight of it.
Chang's insistent tug on his sleeve made it bubble to a boil.
"Cedric?"
He looked down to the wide dark eyes staring up at him. Perhaps he could get something out of this whole endeavor.
-0v0-
Cho could hardly contain her excitement as her handsome new boyfriend ushered her down the corridor towards an unoccupied classroom, a large hand resting on the small of her back.
He'd implied that we wanted to, "Get away from it all." when she'd inquired about his slightly despondent behavior over the course of the night.
It was a pretty vague request, but Cho hoped it meant what she thought it did.
Despite having had a few boyfriends over the course of her time at Hogwarts Cho had not gotten all that far in... that area. But, if there's anyone she'd like to experiment with it would certainly be the popular, handsome and talented Triwizard Champion Cedric Diggory!
She could feel herself blushing at her somewhat lewd thoughts and when she turned to look up at the object of her affection she was met with a sultry raised brow. If she was a more dramatic girl she would have swooned. Instead she settled for a shy smile.
Cedric's expression stuttered a bit at this, almost like a twitch and Cho wondered if perhaps he was feeling as bashful and excited as herself.
"I'm happy we can finally be alone." she said after Cedric had closed the door to the empty room, warding the door behind himself.
"As am I." said the Hufflepuff with a mysterious smile. "There's... something I need to talk to you about."
Cho fought down the shred of disappointment. What she'd been hoping for would've required minimal talking .
But her hopes didn't remain dashed for long as the man stepped closer, backing her into a dusty desk situated behind her. Her breath caught as a large, calloused hand reached out and lightly held a lock of hair that had fallen from Cho's previously perfect bun.
"You wanted to know what's been bothering me all night, right?" He asked while absently, playing with dark strands. His gray eyes glistened a mercurial shade of silver in the dim light, like the gaze of some sort of nocturnal hunter. The sight of it sent a pleasant shiver down her spine.
Cho nodded, bringing her hands to his chest and caressing lightly. "I do." she found herself saying breathlessly. "Really. You can tell me anything, Cedric."
He leaned closed, nearly nose to nose with Cho, his smile sly and pointed. "Anything?" At the feeling of his warm breath Cho's own breathing picked up as she stared helplessly into his unrelenting gaze.
"Anything." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
"The truth is, Chang," the hand that had been previously playing with her hair had now settled on the back of her slender neck, his thumb caressing at the tender skin just under the ear that he was now whispering into.
"I can't stand the sight of you."
Cho froze for a moment, her blood running cold at the words. Surely she'd misheard him. Surely.
She turned her head to see him smirking down at her, expression heavily amused.
"What's wrong~?" He asked with a sing-song quality to his voice. "Is that not what you wanted to hear?"
"W- What?" She found herself stuttering. "Cedric... what are you-?"
'He does not like you, Chang. Not in the slightest.' Jonathan Davies words echoed in her mind as she looked up at the man who was grinning gleefully down at her. 'One might even go as far as to say that he actively dislikes you.'
"Look at you," Cedric's voice startled her out of her spiraling thoughts. "You really don't get it do you? So used to everyone catering to your ego."
"That's not true at all, Diggory!" Cho snapped, finally getting a hold of herself enough to respond coherently.
"No?" His words came out oddly breathless. "Are you sure, Chang? Be honest. Do you really think anyone in this school actually likes you?"
Cho blinked, stunned and confused, feeling a little bit like she was hallucinating. She stepped away to the best of her ability, still pressed against the desk behind her. Diggory's hand slipped from her neck. What was he on about? Why wouldn't people like her?
"Plenty of people like me, Diggory ." She snapped. "What the Hell're you talking about?"
He outright laughed at this, throwing his head back as he let out loud guffaws. Eventually once he found his composure he reached out to delicately take one of her hands, the gentle display even only confusing Cho even more.
"Plenty of people tolerate you, Chang." His thumb was rubbing soft circles on the back of the hand, the calluses rubbing in a way that would be almost pleasant if it weren't for the situation at hand. "Plenty of people put up with you and your little band of gossiping harpies. It works well, I suppose, running the rumor mills as you do." He leaned closer again, the proximity no longer intimate, but rather intimidating as he used his superior height to loom over her.
"If I were ugly, lazy and talentless I would do the same thing. Spread nasty rumors about others to make myself look good. Surround myself with other ugly, lazy talentless individuals so people don't compare me to people who actually matter ."
His eyes were still that same metallic shade, shadows casted over his face in the dim light made them the only discernible feature on his face. He really did look like a nocturnal hunter, however in this context the image was anything but attractive.
"Then why-" her voice was quivering as she spoke, unable to tear her eyes away from Diggory's. "Why did you ask me to the ball?"
Diggory contorted his expression into a mocking frown, his tone patronizing and slow as if speaking to a particularly dim child. "You were just so pitiful, Chang! I couldn't help it. It'd be like leaving a mutt out in the rain."
Cho felt sick just looking at this horrible, gleeful man. What the Hell did she ever see in him? How could she have felt anything but disgust for this devil looming over her.
"Besides," Diggory leaned back in again, expression dulling to an unsettling, indiscernible void. Cho only just now realized that he was still holding her hand as his grasp tightened to a vice-like grip. "If I hadn't asked you you would've gone sniffing around Harry. I'm going to let some dog accompany him anywhere. He deserves better than the likes of you ."
'He's crazy.' Was the only thought in Cho's terror stricken mind. 'He's fucking crazy and I'm alone in a warded room with him.'
Snatching her hand from his grasp, she reached for her wand, only to find the holster empty.
"Looking for this?" His tone was back to gleeful as he pulled her wand from one of his pockets, tossing it over his shoulder as soon as she got a good look at it. "You clueless bitch."
"I- I'll tell." Cho stuttered, her words her only defense at this point. "I'll tell everyone what a fucking psycho you are."
"Oh?" Diggory's tone was simultaneously skeptical and amused. "One of the biggest gossips in the school thinks the perfect and popular Hufflepuff champion is quote, 'fucking psycho'. Yes, I'm sure that story will go over well." He rolled his eyes before grinning wolfishly. "Be realistic, Chang. Do you actually think anyone will believe you over me ? Most especially after I tell everyone that you spent the entire time desperately pining after Potter?"
"But, I didn-"
"It doesn't matter what did or didn't happen. What matters is what people will believe . And no one is going to believe you over me ."
His teeth glinted in the dim light as he grinned down at her, eyes curved into mirthful sharp crescents. Cho wondered briefly if Diggory was entirely human, surely such a cruel expression was not natural.
She was pulled from her thoughts when he spoke again in a positively gleeful tone. "Are you crying?!" A hand grabbed roughly at her face, squeezing her cheeks harshly as he pulled her slightly closer. "You are!" He clicked his tongue in mock pity. "You poor dramatic thing."
Cedric let her go and Cho could feel herself sobbing at this point, bringing her hands up to hide her face from his mirthful gaze.
He let out a contented sort of noise, like the sound of someone slipping into a bath after a long day. "Ah... yes this is exactly what I needed. Finally, I've found a use for you. You ought to be thanking me, you know? For giving you a purpose and all."
He watched her sob for a moment longer. Or at least, Cho assumed that's what he was doing; she refused to look at him at this point. But, eventually she heard him sigh after a moment's silence.
"Alright, I suppose I've had my fun. Let's clean up shall we? I've never tried this spell before, so you'd better hope for your sake I get this right."
Cho felt as if she'd suddenly been plunged into ice at the sound of those words.
"Wait-! "
He didn't wait.
"Obliviate! "
A/N: Not very happy with this chapter, but I don't want to rewrite it a fourth time. Sorry about that.