Chapter 41 - 95 / 96
GN
After another three days at Bill's, Bash and I apparated to Cedric's house. Bash explained it was his big brother duty to take me to Ced's house, but I knew he was just worried. We appeared right in front of the door, and I rang the doorbell. Not even a minute later the door flew open, and Cedric stood there with a large grin.
"Winnie." He pulled me in a tight hug.
"Hey, Ced." I chuckled in his chest. We pulled away smiling.
"Happy holidays, Bash." They shook hands. "How is wedding planning going?" He asked as we followed him inside. Bash placed my trunk near the stairs before we sat down at the kitchen island.
"Been making progress." Bash smiled as Olive greeted us with a cup of tea. "You're invited to the wedding, of course Cedric."
"So, keep July 28th free." I grinned behind my cup.
"I'll put it on my calendar."
"We actually went shopping a few days ago." Bash said.
"He'll make everyone swoon this summer." I nudged my brother with a smile.
"Me? Did you forget your dress?" He said with a raised eyebrow and a crooked grin.
"Can't wait to see it." Cedric's eyes twinkled. "Do you have it with you?"
"No, it's safely being stored at Bill's flat." I chuckled.
"Speaking of, I better get going. The portkey in Bill's flat will leave in -" He glanced to his watch. "Ten minutes." He hopped off from the stool. "Thanks for the tea, Olive."
"Anytime, Sebastian." She smiled lovely.
"I'll see you soon." He hugged me before planting a kiss on my cheek. "Happy new year, little one."
"Happy new year, big brother." With a last goodbye, he walked out of the house, and I could hear the small pop as he disappeared.
"Why don't you help Gwen with her trunk, Cedric." His mum suggested as she cleared the empty cups. Cedric nudged his head to the stairs, and they walked up.
"So, how was it at Bill's?" He asked once he dropped on his bed, and I unpacked my things.
"It was fun. Bill's a funny guy." I said as I placed my shirts in the closet. "Did you know he's a curse breaker?"
"No." He pondered.
"Here." I tossed him Bill's book. "I know you're still deciding, but I also know you're in the right classes for becoming a curse breaker." I walked over when I saw his confused look. "Bill thought I might like it."
"With your parents." He stated and I nodded.
"Yeah, I told him I want to travel and said that the things in here might come in handy, if I come across... odd things."
"Odd?" Cedric chuckled.
"Yes, odd." I punched his shoulder and went back to unpacking.
"Oh, we're on our own on new year's. Mum and dad are going out for dinner."
"Ok." I looked over my shoulder to him. "Have any plans for us?"
"Depends." He said looking at me. "Are you allowed to go out?" He gave me a lopsided grin.
"He prefers for me to say here. But he doesn't need to know everything, does he?" I grinned devilishly.
"Then I have a plan." He rubbed his hands. "Lyra told me about a muggle club in London. We can get dinner there, and when the clock strikes nine it turns into a dance club."
"Sounds good. Do we tell your parents or is it a secret?"
"They know. I just had to promise we keep our wands on us at all times, and apparate home the moment something happens."
"We better check out your muggle wardrobe then." I grinned, turning to face him. "Don't want a repeat of the summer before our second year."
"That's not fair! I was twelve!" He countered but walked to his closet, nonetheless. I grinned broadly as I hopped on my bed and looked at the clothes he pulled out.
GN
"Be safe, kids." Olive kissed us both on the cheek and Amos helped his wife put on his coat as the four of us stood in the hallway.
"We will. Don't worry about us. You enjoy your dinner." Cedric smiled at his parents.
"We'll see you in the morning." Amos said before they popped out of the house.
Cedric and I turned to go back the living room. "I'm going to go get ready. What time do we have to leave?"
"Dinner starts at seven." Cedric said following me up the stairs. "Why don't you take the bathroom, I'll take the bedroom."
"Don't you need the bathroom? It takes you at least half an hour just to get your hair right." I laughed as Cedric poked my side.
"Not all of us can change in a matter of seconds."
I shrugged my shoulders with a grin before disappearing in the bathroom. My dress for tonight hung on the shower glass. It was a simple little black dress with a slight cut out V-neck. Once my dress was on, I focused on my hair. I changed it into wavy rose gold locks, that reached a little over my shoulders. I kept my natural blue-grey eyes and turned my lips just in a shade lighter than normal. Once I had tucked on my gladiator heels and stepped out of the bathroom and walked over to our bedroom. The door was ajar, so I just pushed it open. I froze when I saw Cedric standing there, he was only wearing his dark jeans, his chest bare. It wasn't that he was standing there bare chested that had me rooted to the ground. I had seen it enough over the years, but now that I thought about it, I haven't seen him bare chested since last year. And now I knew why... He had a large scar that went from his chest to his back.
"Ced." I whispered, as my eyes left the scar and found his eyes. Cedric quickly put on an undershirt.
"Winnie, it's nothing." He tried, but I ran up to him and my arms wrapped around him, my face nuzzled his chest.
"Why didn't you say anything?" I mumbled in his chest. Cedric's arms went around me the moment I embraced him. And a hand was slowly going up and down my back.
"I didn't want you to worry." He murmured in my hair. "It's just a scar."
"Is there nothing the healers can do about it?" I looked up at him, and he shook his head. "Does it hurt?"
"No, it itches sometimes but that's all." He said reassuringly. "They say ladies dig scars, or is this too much?" He grinned but I heard the insecurity in his voice.
"You're as handsome as ever." I kissed his cheek. "Now, get ready or we'll be late." I smiled and walked out the room. If I would've turned, I would've seen Cedric's eyes follow me until I was gone. His eyes that looked sad by the fact I was not his, and probably never will be.
GN
We apparated together to an alley around the corner of the club. The streets were already filled with party goers, that were singing loudly and dancing around. Street artist preforming on every corner, salesman who walked around with a basket full of flowers. Cedric stopped one of them and bought a single rose.
"I know this isn't a date." He smiled; a tinge of sadness hidden behind it. "But every girl deserves a rose. Especially the one that saved my life."
"You're too sweet." I kissed his cheek, and Cedric wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked towards the club. We were standing in line of the club as I twirled the rose between my fingers, a small smile playing on my lips.
"Are you cold?" Cedric asked as I involuntarily shivered.
"I'm okay." I lied. "We're almost inside anyway." I nudged my head to the four people in front of us. But Cedric didn't look at them, he just shook of his coat and placed them on my shoulders before I could protest. Ten minutes later we were seated on our own private table and ordered our dinner.
"So, Christmas at the Weasleys. How did it go?" Cedric asked once the waiter disappeared after we placed our order. It told him about the two days in the safe house and the plan that the twins, Bill and I formed. "No!? You changed into a Weasley?" Cedric asked shocked, not containing his laughter. Then he looked me up and down. "All of you?"
"Merlin Ced, get your head out of the gutter." I laugh with him as I slapped his arm.
GN
We were enjoying our dessert as we saw people already going on the dancefloor not that far from us when Cedric pulled out a gift.
"Happy Christmas and New Year." He smiled and pushed the gift towards me. I grinned and pulled out a box myself and pushed it to him. "Where did you stash that?" He laughed as he eyed my dress.
"It's a witch's secret." I winked and took the gift from the table. I opened the gift and it showed me a small replica of a dragon's egg, it looked like a deep blue sapphire egg. "It's beautiful, but what is it?" I looked to Cedric confused.
"It's dragon's egg." He stated and I shot him a look that expressed 'Duh'. "There is something hidden in it. It will open at the right time."
"And when will that be?" I picked up the egg and after examining it closely for any clues but not finding any, I looked to Cedric with a raised eyebrow.
"You'll just have to wait and see." He grinned and I rolled my eyes.
"Do I need to keep it on me the whole time? I don't want to lose it."
"No. When it's time, it will appear." He said seriously.
"Thank you for the mystery gift." I chuckled before kissing his cheek. Cedric smiled before he picked up his own gift and undid the wrapper. It revealed a superman shirt. "I know it's not much, certainly after the egg -" I started nervously as I twirled my fingers.
"It's great." His smile happy and honest. He picked up the shirt and spotted the second part of the gift. It was a Superman comic book, one that was signed and sealed. "Winnie." He gasped, he looked at me wide eyed and without thinking he cupped my cheeks and kissed me. He pulled back and we both looked wide eyed at each other. "Sorry, I didn't - I was caught up in the moment." He said red-faced.
"It's - it's okay. Just don't let it happen again." I said as my heart pounded fast in my chest. "So, you like it?"
"I love it." He said as he looked back to his superman comic. The first summer we had spent together, we went to a comic bookstore and flipped through the comics. Cedric was an instant superman fan, and a few days later went to go watch the film in the theatre. In the years that had past, he toned it down a bit, especially when we were at school. I didn't just buy it because I knew he was a fan, but because this was something that meant something to the both of us. It was something that cemented our friendship, it was something we always did together.
Cedric had shrunk the items under the table and tucked it in his pocket. He took my rose from the table and tucked it in my hair before standing up.
"Time to dance." He grinned as he held out his hand, trying to get past the slightly awkward moment.
GN
We danced well into the night between the large crowd. Girls and boys tried to pry us away from each other, but we didn't let them. Not only because we came here together, but we just didn't know who those people were or what they're capable of. At midnight we kissed each other's cheek before dancing again. My feet were starting to hurt, and I was slightly drunk from the wine that was being served, so Cedric picked me up and once we were alone in the bathroom, he apparated us home. The apparition didn't sit well with me, and I ran over to the bathroom.
"Sorry, Win." Cedric had followed me and held my hair together.
"It's okay." I said as I stood back up. "I feel better now."
"Are you sure?" Cedric looked worried at me, but I nodded. "Alright, why don't you go climb into bed, I'll be there in a minute."
I strolled to the bedroom while I took of my heels and crashed on my bed, not taking my dress off or covering myself with sheets. I heard Cedric chuckle at the sight of me and he transfigured my dress into pyjamas before he tucked me under the blankets. I snuggled into my pillow when Cedric leaned over and kissed the top of my head.
"Good night, love." He whispered as I succumbed to sleep.