Chapter 2 – Dances on the Field

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When the Weasleys were out of sight, he dropped his arm from my shoulders. Amos was greeting everyone in excitement as they searched for the plot. The campsite was already packed with tents, wizards and witches. Kids were running around laughing as they chased each other with brooms. Amos said they had to limit their use of magic because there were muggles around, but it looked like no one took that to heart as I saw a man cleaning his underwear with the use of his wand, or a witch who let little snitches fly over a crib to sooth her child.

I was so charmed by everything around me, the sounds, the laughter, the magic, that I didn't notice when Cedric stopped in front of me. I bumped into him and fell backwards on the damp grass. Cedric turned and went to help me up, but someone beat him to it. I looked up to see another Weasley in front of me.

"Charlie?" I asked taking his hand as he pulled me up. I hugged him tight and talked in his shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too." He chuckled, pulling back. "Hi, Cedric."

Cedric smiled and he shook hands with the dragon tamer. At least there was another Weasley who didn't get a glare from him.

"Charlie, how's it going in Romania?" He asked as he unpacked the tent from his father's rucksack.

"Busy, unfortunately." He sighed. "Had three injured dragons come in just three nights ago. It's a miracle I could get away for a few days."

"Hopefully the match doesn't take too long then." I looked from Charlie to Cedric. "Want any help, Ced?"

"No, I'm good." He answered not looking up from the instructions of the tent. Amos had disappeared from view after he found a colleague from work. Charlie looked between the two of us, eyebrows high but didn't press the matter.

"There's someone who wants to see you."

"I want to see him too; it's been over a year." I sighed as I leaned into Charlie.

"You'll see him soon." He rubbed my back, when I looked up frowning, he just winked and turned his attention back to Cedric, who was getting frustrated at the poles in front of him. "Diggory, step back."

Cedric looked up and saw Charlie waving his wand, with a grin. He stood up and patted the dirt of his jeans and walked over to stand next to me. Charlie looked around but no one was paying any attention to us, and he waved his wand effortlessly and the tent popped up in a second.

"You're a life saver." I grinned up to Charlie.

"Anything for a Northon." He winked at me. "I better get back to the family. I told them I would be right back. I'll see you at the game."

"Bye, Charlie." Cedric and I waved him off.

Amos came walking back, smiling broadly and looked proudly at the tent. "Great work guys."

Cedric and I shared a look, grinning. "Thanks."

Let's unpack and then you two can explore the grounds. The game doesn't start until six." Amos opened the flap of the tent and ushered us in. The tent was beautiful. Amos bought it two summers ago and was practically new. The tent had two rooms on either side of the tent, one for Amos and one for me and Cedric. There was even a kitchen in the back while a sitting area covered the front of the tent.

I took my backpack from my shoulders and put it on one of the beds in the tent. I took my clothes out and placed it in on the shelves on the side of the tent, when I turned, I bumped into Cedric again, now against his chest. Before I could stumble backwards, Cedric grabbed my upper arms softly and pulled me close. His eyes fixed on mine and a small smile on his lips.

"Hi." I breathed weakly.

His smile grew bigger. "Hi." His eyes flittered from my eyes to my lips and back up. One of his hands went from my arm to my face, cupping my cheek. I instantly leaned in his touch, my eyes not wavering from his. Cedric leaned forward, slowly lowering his head until our lips met. I let out a small gasp before I pressed my lips harder to his. But it looked like it was the wrong thing to do. Cedric pulled away and stepped back, looking down. "I'm sorry... this – I – this is wrong. You're not-"

"Oh." I said softly. "Right... wrong." My brows furrowed. "I'm not one of those beautiful girls, I'm not Cho." I backed away.

Cedric's head shot up at my words, eyes wide. "No, Gwen."

"I get it." I was trying hard to hold back the tears that started to form. "I'll see you later."

"Gwen!" Cedric called after me as I walked out of the room. He heard me call to his father that I'll be back before the game. Cedric stood rooted at the entrance of the bedroom as he saw me disappear from the tent. His father was humming a song as he made tea in the kitchen, oblivious to anything.

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Well, this day turned out for the worst, I thought to myself as I kicked a pebble. I didn't even look at my surroundings, I just walked through the crowded fields as I looked at my feet. I was pulled out from my thoughts when a small quaffle rolled against my foot. I picked up the ball and looked around, to see who it belonged to. Two small children, a boy and a girl around the age of 7 came running towards me.

"I'm sorry." The girl piped up. "Artie threw it too high; I couldn't reach."

I kneeled down until I was face to face with the small girl and smiled. "It's okay. What's your name?" I handed the quaffle over.

"Rose."

"Rose, do you want to learn how to play quidditch?"

"Yes!" She said excitingly. "I got my first broom last year; I've been practicing with my brother."

The shy boy came closer, but still hid himself a bit behind his sister. I smiled at the little boy. "You must be Artie."

"Arthur."

"Arthur is a very strong name; do you want to become a quidditch player too?"

The boy brightened a bit. "No, I want to become the minister of magic."

"Oh, wow. I bet you two can do anything, if you put your mind to it. I'll be keeping an eye on you two." I winked as I stood back up.

"What's your name?" The girl asked, tugging my sleeve.

"Gwen from Guinevere."

"Like Queen Guinevere?"

I chuckled at the girl. "Yeah. Enjoy the game."

"Bye, queen Guinevere." The kids waved as I walked away with a smile on my lips.

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With my change in mood and Cedric pushed way back in my mind, I enjoyed the sights around me. Greeting and talking to some kids from school. I wasn't surprised to see fellow Hufflepuffs Andrea and Jace cuddled close together at a fire in front of their tent. We talked a bit and they asked where Cedric was, I told them he was unpacking in the tent before I went to explore any further.

I had to hold back a laugh when I saw different wizards and witches dressed as 'muggles'. I even saw a man walking around in a woman's nightgown, like it was the most normal thing. The sizes were either too large or too small, the clothes clashed against each other. Stripes against animal print. Checkers against dots. I was pretty confident in my muggle clothes as I passed the strangely dressed wizards. It was then when my mind drifted back to Cedric. I wasn't ugly, at least I didn't think I was. Maybe not so pretty as Cho or any of the other girly girls but the twins even stated I was somewhat pretty.

My thoughts were interrupted when music filled my ears. I looked up and saw a band playing some rock/folk music. The band had gathered a crowd around them, all tapping their foot on the beat of the music. I started swaying myself on the beat as I walked a bit closer to the band. One of the younger music players of the band caught my eye and beckoned me closer. I shook my head, smiling but the young man didn't give up. He put his sticks down and placed them on is drum as he stood up. He walked closer to me and bowed deep, holding out his hand for me to take. I took in the handsome young man; his black hair slightly fell before his dark brown eyes. I shrugged before he took my hand. He pulled me into the open space between the spectators and the band. He started to twirl me around, dipping me so deep, my braids graced the ground for a moment before he pulled me back, making me laugh loudly. The spectators applauded and the group became bigger. Some others came to dance with us, and when the band player gave me one last twirl, he let my hand go and I fell into the arms of a Weasley twin.

"Lady Guinevere." The twin grinned. I took a moment to take him in, after the sudden departure of my previous dance partner.

"Sir Fred." I smiled back. "What are you doing here?"

He dipped me low before bringing me back close to his chest. "We got curious when a large group started applauding so we came to check it out. Much to our surprise, every eye was on you."

"We?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Fred grinned twirling me out of his arms, right before he pulled me back, I saw George and Ginny dancing next to us. George tipped his head towards me before I came back to Fred. "Oh." I said as my hand lands on his firm chest.

"You intrigue me, Guinevere." He whispered in my ear. After my encounter with the two kids, I didn't mind hearing someone call me Guinevere. And certainly not in the way Fred had whispered it to me. I craned my neck to look up at him.

"How so?"

"You're not like the others." He stated as we danced. "George and I tried to talk to you, engage in a conversation for multiple times last year, did you know that?" I shook my head, because I had honestly no idea. "Between Cedric and Gavin, we never got our chance to get you alone."

"Hmmm." I hummed as I looked at the Weasley twin. I knew the twins joked and pranked a lot, but it looked like he spoke the truth. Before I could say anything more, a voice came above the music.

"SWITCH!" And I was pulled in the arms of George. I laughed as I saw his grinning face. I looked over my shoulder and Fred winked at me as he twirled his sister around. "Hi, love."

"Geo-RGE! I cried out the rest of his name as he picked me up at my waist and we spun around. The crowd and the band players around them laughed in amusement and I couldn't hold back a laugh myself.

"What happened between you and golden boy?" George whispered in my ear in the same matter Fred did. I looked up at him surprised, eyes wide.

"Nothing, why?"

"Because he's been following you around." He spins me around and my eyes fell to the crowd, my eyes locked with Cedric in the back, who quickly ducked away before George brought me back against his chest. His too was firm, probably from playing quidditch all these years. "So, what happened?"

"How do you know he's been following me? Maybe he just arrived here." I countered, ignoring his question. I saw George blush a bit, grinning at me sheepishly.

"Because we've been following you?"

"What?" I laughed. "Why would you be following me?"

"Hmm, well. Dad told us where your plot was, and we came to look for you, to ask you to come exploring with us. When we arrived, you just came storming out of the tent, Cedric calling out after you. We wanted to go after you, but Ginny stopped us when Cedric walked out and followed you. We thought he wanted to talk to you, but he just watched. So, naturally we followed."

"Naturally? So, four people have been following me for hours." I said shocked and stopped dancing.

"We wanted to choose the right time to come up to you." He said as he started to dance again, I followed his lead. "And that was when you started showing your dancing skills, Guinevere." He whispered. I shivered as my name reached my ear.

"You can always just come talk to me you know."

"I do now." He grinned. "So, care to tell me what made you run out of the tent?"

I bit my lip, contemplating what to say. I didn't know the twins that well, we barely spoke in the five years in Hogwarts but there was something about them that made me want to tell them everything. "I don't think I know you well enough to tell you that." I decided.

"Then we need to change that, don't we." He winked. I shook my head and smiled, taking my hands out of his. He pouted as I let him go, making me laugh.

"I better get going. Need to change before the game."

"Change? Why?" He twirled me around again. "You look stunning already."

"Yeah, right." I snorted. George opened his mouth to reply but I cut him off. "I want to change into the right colours."

"I like this colour on you." George said as he followed me through the crowd.

"Because it's the colour of Gryffindor?" I grinned. Fred and Ginny joined the pair as we parted from the crowd.

"What's Gryffindor?" Fred asked loudly, leaning against his brother.

"Queen Guinevere here, wants to change out of her lovely colours." George pouted.

"Don't call her queen, or she'll know-"

"You've been following me?" I teased. Fred and Ginny looked shocked at me before Fred turned to his brother.

"You told her?"

"Sort of. But that's beside the point."

"No, you three are wearing green, so why can't I wear the colours?"

"Fred, George, leave her alone." Ginny groaned. "We need to go to the tent anyway; dinner should be ready by now."

"Thanks." I grinned at the youngest Weasley. "Ginny, right?" The girl nodded. "Gwen. Maybe I'll see you guys in the stands." I waved at the three Weasleys before I made my way back to the tent, now fully aware Cedric is following me, a few meters behind.

"We'll be on the top stands!" George called over the crowd.