Chapter 9 - Hogsmeade

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It's been almost a month since school started and the free periods weren't for hanging around, I had spent a lot of my time in the library with Cedric or even with George for our Alchemy homework. I remembered Cedric wanted to talk to me about something, but every time I brought it up, he waved it off and I let it drop and went on about my business.
Things between me and the twins changed too, although Fred still flirted with me during Herbology or when we passed it each other in the castle, it wasn't as prominent as it was before. Not that I minded, I liked Fred but with him backing off a bit, Cedric wasn't glaring at him all the time. George on the other hand was still his flirty, charming self but he toned it down whenever Cedric was around, but during Alchemy he let is all loose. We grew close over the past weeks; we were becoming great friends as we learned more about each other each day.

Abbo just let them out of class as we made our way back to the great hall.

I was walking on the stone benches in the corridor as George walked next to me, so for once I was taller than him. George was explaining the puking pastilles when I nearly tripped on a loose stone and grabbed George's shoulder to steady myself.

"Hop on." He grinned, looking over his shoulder.

"What?" I chuckled.

"Well, first of all, you nearly fell headfirst on the stone floor; second, it's the end of the week and you've been studying non-stop and third... It's your birthday tomorrow, you can't walk around with a huge bump on your head or even worse, lying in the hospital wing for the weekend."

"Alright, fine." I laughed and hopped on his back. My arms circled around his neck, and he hitched his arms around my legs. I unwittingly rest my head in the crook of his neck, making George ears turn red.

"Ready, queen Guinevere?"

"Ready." I whispered in his neck, feeling him shiver. He laughed as he started to galop towards the great hall, making me laugh loudly as we entered. The heads in the great hall all turned to the laughing duo as we entered. He slowly lowered me to the ground and turned to look at me.

"Seems we gathered a crowd." He grinned. I looked past him and saw the eyes on us before I looked back up to George.

"Seems so." I smiled. "I'll see you later, George."

"Wait." He gently grabbed my elbow before I could leave and leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Tomorrow, Gryffindor common room. We're having a party."

I pulled back and looked at his mischievous smile, the twinkle in his eyes ever so present. "On my birthday?"

"Just coincidence." He shrugged trying to act nonchalant.

I bit my lip as I looked at him. "Hmm, right. What time?"

"It starts at 8. You can bring some Hufflepuffs if you want, it's not an exclusive Gryffindor party."

"Great." I smiled and leaned on my toes to kiss his cheek lightly, making him blush. I loved that I was able to make a Weasley twin blush, my smile wide as I headed to the Hufflepuff table. George stood there for a moment, still feeling my lips against his cheek before he shook his head and dropped down next to his grinning twin.

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I sat down on the Hufflepuff table and nodded my head at Drake who sat a few seats from me. When I started to fill my plate, Cedric sat down next to me, while Lyra and Odin sat across from us.

"How was Alchemy?"

"Brutal." I groaned as I took a goblet filled with pumpkin juice. "Oh." I turned excitingly to Cedric. "George invited us to a party tomorrow night."

"Us?"

"Yes, he said I could bring you guys."

"That sounds like fun." Lyra said between bites. "I can't imagine their parties being as crazy or as fun as ours, but it couldn't hurt to check out."

"What time do we have to be there?" Odin asked.

"It starts at eight."

"That gives us enough time after dinner to get ready." Lyra clapped excitingly. I smiled at Lyra before turning my head back to a silent Cedric.

"Ced, are you coming with us?"

"You want to spend your birthday surrounded by Gryffindors?"

"No, I want to spend my birthday surrounded by my friends." I frowned at him. "Come, for me?" I asked with pleading eyes.

"Okay." He relented.

A smile appeared on my lips, and I hugged him tight. "We can do something during the day, if you want."

"Oh, we can all go to Hogsmeade together."

"Is it a Hogsmeade weekend?" I turned surprised in my seat, to look at Odin.

"Yeah, didn't you know? Didn't you see the announcement?"

"No." I frowned as I racked my brain thinking about it. "I've been so busy with schoolwork, I completely missed it."

"And no one asked you to go with them?" Lyra asked in a teasing voice.

"No, who would've asked me?" I asked with eyebrows high. Lyra's eyes shot to the Gryffindor table and back. I rolled my eyes and chose to ignore her and looked back to my plate. "So, what time do you guys want to leave for Hogsmeade?"

"After a late breakfast?" Odin suggested.

"Brilliant." When the couple across from me, focused back on their dinner, I glanced over to Cedric who pushed a potato around on his plate with his fork. I nudged him, making him look up. I gave him a wide smile and after a moment he returned it. I leaned against him, his arm coming around my waist as we ate in silence.

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The next day in Hogsmeade, the four of us strolled through the streets. Cedric and Lyra checked out the quidditch shop, while Odin and I went to get sweets from Honeydukes. They congratulated me that morning at the breakfast table, singing loudly. I was glad we had a late breakfast, so the great hall was nearly empty by the time we walked in. Odin and Lyra gave me a new record from a muggle rock band called The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Cedric gave me a vintage Winnie the Pooh canvas with a text that read: When I first saw you... I knew an adventure was going to happen. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the text and I hugged him tightly against me, longer than I normally would. We both blushed when we pulled back, Lyra and Odin purposely looked in the other direction.

When Odin and I walked out of the candy shop laughing about some lame joke Odin heard a Slytherin tell in class, I saw Cedric and Lyra coming up. I waved them over when a voice came from behind me.

"Hey, Gwen."

I turned and saw Harry standing there with Hermione and Ron. "Hi Harry. Hermione, Ron." I smiled at the trio.

"Happy birthday."

"How -?" I started. "George?"

"Yeah, he mentioned it." Harry said with a grin. "Are you coming to the party tonight?"

"Yes, we are." I looked over to Odin, who watched the interaction in silence. "Oh, sorry. This is Odin. Odin this is Harry, Hermione and Ron, all Gryffindors, fourth years, I think." To which Harry nodded in agreement.

"Looking forward to see a Gryffindor party." Odin glanced between the three of them.

"Probably nothing like a Hufflepuff one. The stories I heard about yours." Ron shook his head, laughing.

"Well, next time there is one, you're all invited, you can find out for yourselves." Odin invited them with a smile.

"Wicked!" Ron grinned wide.

"So, are you planning on entering the tournament?" Hermione asked as Cedric and Lyra joined them.

"I am." Cedric answered, stepping next to her. "Odin and Lyra won't be seventeen until the new year."

"I'm still debating." I said with a shrug. "It isn't something to go over lightly."

"I have been through enough the last few years. Even if I was old enough, I wouldn't enter." Harry shook his head.

"But the money." Ron gasped.

"I rather have a normal year and live, then some prizemoney." Harry countered. I couldn't blame him; destruction has followed the poor boy around for years. He seemed to never catch a break. Lyra and Odin whispered something to each other before they turned to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?" I called to them, looking over my shoulder.

"I love you both, but we need some alone time." Lyra grinned, stretching out the word alone. "We're going to Madam Puddifoots."

I crunched up my nose at the thought of going on a date in the frilly pink tea shop. Cedric snickered as he saw my face and I nudged his side with my elbow, trying to hold in a laugh myself.

"We'll leave you to it, we're off to the three broomsticks, see you tonight!" He said as they walked away with a wave. I watched the three of them disappear in the pub before I turned back to Cedric.

"Want to go back to the castle?" He asked, offering his arm.

"Yeah, sure." I smiled and took his arm. The walk back to the castle was a sight to see. All the trees began changing colours, making it look like a painting. The sky started to fill with grey clouds, making it turn dark earlier than planned. We talked about the Tournament and about the visiting schools, when he stopped me before the castle, putting his hand on my arm. I turned to look at him, his soft eyes already on me.

"I've got you something." He whispered as he searched his pockets.

"You already gave me a present." I pointed out with a small smile.

"Well, yeah but-" He blushed fiercely red. He placed a small box in the palm of my hand. I looked at him for a moment before I let my eyes fall in the box, with my thumb I clicked it open. A rose-gold medallion necklace with the letter G engraved on it laid in the small box. I let my fingers graze the necklace. "Turn it over."

I did as Cedric suggested, and on the other side of the necklace at the bottom was a date engraved on it, 09.01.1987, the day they met. Above it the text: If there ever comes a day, we can't be together. Keep me in your heart... I'll stay there forever. I looked up at him, my heart stammering fast.

"Cedric..." My voice barely a whisper as my eyes locked with his. Cedric took the necklace out of the box and gestured for me to turn around. I did so and pulled my long silver hair aside so he could lock the necklace in place. His hands lingered on my neck before I turned back to him. Cedric gently cupped my cheek, his eyes on me, and I instantly leaned into his touch.

"Winnie... I-" He looked from my lips to my eyes before a voice interrupted us.

"Cedric!"

The two of us tore our eyes off each other with great difficulty and watched Cho run up to them, her long black hair flapped behind her. I took a step back, to create more space between the two as Cho glared at me, before she turned up her smile for Cedric.

"Hey Cho." Cedric said with a neutral voice.

"I was wondering..." She started coming closer to him, her hand on his arm. "If you're going to the Gryffindor party tonight?"

"We are." Cedric said, stepping closer to me, away from Cho.

"Oh." Cho looked between the two with a frown, before she tried to pull Cedric back closer to her. "I missed you." She whispered, trying to sound seductive. "Save me a dance tonight?"

"We'll see." Cedric said, trying to get out of her grip. He looked back to me as I looked at the desperate Cho amused. "Let's go get some dinner." He took a hold of my hand and pulled me in the castle, leaving a glaring Cho behind.