Eighteen:

Things were looking dire. Hufflepuff was down a keeper and two of his chasers had taken notable tumbles after being knocked about by their Slytherin counterparts. However, despite having already spotted the snitch twice now (it's honestly baffling that Malfoy is still on the team with his complete lack of awareness) he has yet to go after it as they were currently 170 points behind.

He simply couldn't allow himself to squander a chance at facing off against Gryffindor in the finals, the well-being of his teammates be damned.

He grimaced as he watched their reserve keeper just barely manage to block yet another score. If it weren't for the fact that their reserve seeker, Cesaria was still healing from an incident in Herbology he'd probably have taken over Keeping by now.

The match drew on, more and more of his teammates sustaining injuries from Slytherin's violent tactics. They'd manage to gain a few points purely from the amount of penalties, but it was looking more and more unlikely that they'd be able to bridge the gap. They needed a game plan.

He signaled Hooch to call a time-out. As soon as his feet touched the green Jona and Cesaria came marching (or in Cesaria's case; limping) up to him.

"What the Hell do you think you're doing, Diggory?" exclaimed Cesaria as soon as she got within shouting distance, brown eyes blazing with indigence. "At this rate someone's gonna end up seriously hurt."

Cedric resisted the very sudden and violent urge to hex her. "Excuse me?" He growled. "How is it my fault that the Slytherins are out for blood?"

"You gotta end this, 'Ced." Pleaded Jona, placing an arm on Cedric's shoulder that was immediately shrugged off. "It's not your fault that the Slytherins are a bunch of cheats, but the cup isn't worth putting your team at jeopardy like this. You've already got two players down and a boatload of injuries, it's only going to get worse."

Cedric glanced over his shoulder, looking at his teammates. They looked even more tired than they did in the air, shoulders hunched and eyes dull. He could see a few of them clutching bruises.

However, towering just behind them stood the Gryffindor stands, it's shadow looming over them.

He turned back to Jona and Cesaria, any sense of guilt he had before, gone.

"It's not about the cup." As soon as he said this Jona's expression blanked.

Cesaria however, was still quite passionate."Then what? What is it about? Your pride? The points? What could be worth more than the safety of your teammates?!"

Cedric didn't really care about her tirade at this point. They had to win. They had to get to the finals. He had to face Harry again, there was no other option.

"Don't you want to seem nice?"

He jolted, Jona's voice tearing him from his fantasies of flying again with Harry. Jona was looking back at him, expression as blank as before, but a knowing glint in his eye.

"Gryffindors value that." continued the shorter boy, his voice barely loud enough for Cedric to hear. "Self-sacrificing behavior. Heroism. Leaving your pride behind to do the right thing."

He could feel his breaths speeding up, his eyes glazing over. If it weren't for the already sweltering heat, he's sure a blush would be rising to his cheeks. Jona leaned forward, his voice barely a whisper.

"Be his hero, Ced'. Catch the snitch."

Within five minutes of ending timeout Cedric had caught the snitch.

-0v0-

Jona tried his best to tune out all the noise the other occupants of their compartment was making. For whatever reason their Quidditch team had insisted on sharing a carriage for the duration of the train ride home, so Jona was trapped, shoved up against the window while the Hufflepuff keeper laughed louder and louder in his ear about something inane. He'd long given up on reading through his trip like he'd originally planned.

He looked to the other side of the compartment. Cedric was seemingly in the midst of a rather exciting conversation with one of his chasers. But, Jona could tell by the glaze in his best friend's eyes that his mind was far, far away.

Jona was worried.

He'd told himself time and time again that he was over-exaggerating. That things were not as bad as they seemed. Yes, Cedric clearly had a somewhat unhealthy infatuation with Potter, but it was harmless, hero worship, a phase. Surely he'd grow out of it, right?

Jona wasn't so sure anymore.

Cedric was clearly at the very least a hazard to himself. But based on his reckless single-minded determination during their last Quidditch match, he was quickly proving to be a hazard to others as well.

He thought back to the few mornings he managed to wake before Cedric left for his morning jog. Before he had a chance to apply his glamour. Based on the dark circles beneath his eyes it was very clear that Cedric was losing sleep.

His best friend was unraveling right before his eyes and he was powerless to stop it. He didn't know where to turn. Cedric's parents were useless and the school staff worshipped the very ground he walked on. No one would believe him if he told them that there was something wrong with Cedric, Hufflepuff's Golden Boy. And more importantly, he didn't want to put Cedric under suspicion and jeopardize any future opportunities for him.

He looked around at the Quidditch players surrounding them, all staring up at Cedric with vapid, idolizing looks. How could they not see it? How could they not see the man they're looking up to was barely holding on? Hufflepuffs were supposedly known for their perceptiveness. Clearly that was nothing more than a myth.

When the Hogwarts Express finally drew to a halt, Jona made certain to grab Cedric and hold him behind, ushering out the sycophants attempting to stick around and bother them.

"Is there something you wanted?" Cedric asked after a moment. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk much, usually we have the ride home to ourselves."

Jonathan smiled, hoping he didn't look as tired as he felt. "It's alright. It was a nice change of pace." He lied. "I just wanted to let you know that if you need anything even if it's something you don't think I can help with; please let me know. I want you to know that I'm here for you, okay Ced'?"

Cedric blinked blankly back at him, clearly uncomprehending. All the same a genuine smile crossed his face and he placed a large hand on Jona's shoulder. "Thank you. That means a lot, Jona. Please know the same is true vice versa, you're my best friend, after all."

He resisted the urge to bask in this moment, and instead nodded jerkily and marched out of the compartment, Cedric on his heels.

-0v0-

"You've been much more... even tempered lately, Cedric." Commented his father cautiously as they were sitting down for breakfast.

It was true, Cedric's vitriol towards his parents had faded quite significantly since his visit over Easter break. Perhaps his little break down had been cathartic, or maybe Cedric was just tired of caring about his parent's opinion of him. Whatever the reason was, Cedric had stopped seeing his parents as enemies and more just as annoyances with the occasional use.

And such an occasion had arisen.

Cedric had spent much of his time studying his own classmates, learning what it is that made them popular or unpopular. However, he'd spent very little time studying noteriety in adulthood. It was silly really, considering both of his parents were rather well-known and well-liked individuals in wizarding high-society.

Cedric suspected the majority of their positive perception was due to their blood purity and wealth. While they were not technically of the Sacred 28, they still had many ties to it through marriage. His own grandmother is the second daughter of Hector Fawley, who also happened to be a former Minister of Magic. In addition, they held an unusually large number of seats on Wizengamot for a family that was not within the Sacred 28. The only non-first generation families with more seats were the Potters and the Zabinis.

However, Cedric is certain that the political power that Amos Diggory inherited through name is not the sole reason for this renown. After all, Eldritch Diggory has never actually given Amos access to his hard-earned Wizengamot seats, nor did he ever directly provide Amos any leg up in the Ministry hierarchy. Amos gained his position largely on his own.

Cedric found this baffling. His father was an obnoxious, idiotic, braggart. How was it that he gained the favor necessary to become a notable Ministry official? If Cedric didn't know how incredibly prideful his father was he would have suspected that he'd paid his way to his position, but he knew better.

Pulling himself from his reverie he looked up from his omelette and smiled back at his father. "I'm glad you think so. I apologize again for my turbulent moods. I believe it was the stress from my OWLs , but that was no reason for me to take it out on you."

His OWLs had gone wonderfully, by the way. Os and Es across the board aside from his A in Arithmancy, though, that was to be expected considering he'd picked up the class 4th year, he's certain that with enough self-study he'll get an E at the very least on his NEWTs , especially considering his plans to drop Divination.

"Growing up is hard." his mother intoned softly, a relieved-looking smile on her face. "I'm just glad the things you're stressing over are classes and responsibilities rather than the nonsense I stressed over at your age. You've truly grown to be so responsible, Cedric."

"Indeed you have." seconded his father.

"Thank you. But, on the subject of responsibilities, I was wondering, father; how is it you achieved your position in the Ministry? I realize that our family name certainly helped, along with your above-average NEWTs , but surely grandfather's... er displeasure with you held you back some, no?"

Amos Diggory looked absolutely delighted at the direction this conversation was going in, completely abandoning his food in order to give his son his full focus.

"Many reasons, my boy! My work ethic, for one, towards the beginning of my time in the DRCMC I was in the office just as much as out of it, going as far as clocking in unpaid overtime on occasion when situations were dire enough. Though, you really have to have a passion for your career to do such things, that is something you ought to remember, Ced. Can't tell you how many young men and women I've seen burn out pursuing a position rather than a cause."

Cedric was honestly a bit surprised to hear this. While he could easily recall his father spending much of his time at the Ministry, especially during his early childhood, he'd always assumed it was due to his unwillingness to spend any extended amount of time with his disappointment of a son, rather than an actual passion for his job. Cedric supposed it had probably actually been a combination of the two.

What was he passionate about? Cedric wasn't sure. Nothing that was career-worthy, he thought. Truthfully, he took very little enjoyment in his classes. While he always felt a surge of pride at succeeding, it was never the subject itself that brought him any happiness.

"And what was your cause, exactly?"

Both of his parents seemed to sober a bit at his question, glancing briefly at each other before looking back at him.

"Well, it was a different time." started his father, carefully. "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was still at large when I'd entered the Ministry, you see. You may not know this, but I had originally applied for the Auror program at your grandfather's insistence. He'd claimed that I was obligated. That I ought to lend a hand in the fight against the Death Eaters. I imagine he also wanted me to follow in his footsteps as an Auror. However, I've never really been the greatest of duelists, while I've always been a strong spellcaster, I've always had a tendency to overthink things when facing off against another human. Unsurprisingly I ultimately didn't qualify for the Auror program.

However, it was not just dark wizards that our world needed defending against; The Dark Lord was known for using all manner of dark creatures to achieve his goals. While I still clam up sometimes when facing another wizard, I've always been more than able to defend myself against dark creatures. My proclivity for Care of Magical Creatures only helped matters. I'd thought that if I couldn't help the war efforts as an Auror I could join the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and help there. However, that had never really been enough for you grandfather, but even still I did not allow that to affect my passion for my career." he finished gravely.

Cedric supposed that made sense. It was probably much easier to become passionate for a cause when you and your loved ones were regularly in life-threatening danger. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how one looks at it) that was not the case for Cedric.

"Amos can also be quite charming." his mother said with a slightly sappy smile, to all appearances a non-sequitur. At the blank stare she received in response, she continued. "Another reason for his success in the Ministry, I mean. You've not really seen your father in action, I suppose, but he really can be quite suave."

"Can be? Are you saying I'm not always suave?"

"Of course you are, dear." dismissed his mother with an exasperated smile. "You're always very good at charming the masses, it's no surprise you're always so popular at Ministry functions." She turned back to Cedric and grinned winsomely. "You know you really ought to join him at some point. If you really are interested in joining the Ministry there's much to learn from such an experience."

"Oh, yes!" agreed his father excitedly. "What a lovely idea! Alas, it will have to wait until after next summer unfortunately. We're far too busy right now with the upcoming World Cup as well as our plans this fall, to host an event right now."

Ah yes, the Ministry's ever-elusive 'plans.' While Cedric had no idea what they were specifically, he'd inferred they were probably either taking place at, or including Hogwarts in some way, and were likely somewhat dangerous considering his Father's department's involvement.

"Well, perhaps someday." replied Cedric agreeably. "How goes the plans for the World Cup, while we're on the subject? You were pretty worried over it a few weeks back."

"Yes, well, Ludo has been running both Barty and I ragged with his increasingly ridiculous, borderline illegal ideas for the opening ceremonies. Honestly, sometimes I suspect his nickname is short for ludicrous rather than Ludovic. However we've gotten most everything sorted out at this point. I'm quite certain this will be the Quidditch match of the century, my boy. I actually meant to tell you that I received a few tickets for all of the work I've put in as well as the fact that I'm obligated to attend if something goes awry. I was wondering if you wanted to join?"

Cedric opened his mouth, preparing to decline. While he took a clinical interest in the new moves he could learn from professional Quidditch, he'd never been particularly excited by the subject. He'd much rather play than watch. However, before he could decline, his father continued.

"They gave me 11 tickets, though, can you believe it? I'm honestly not sure what they thought I'd do with all of them, I've half a mind to share them with the Weasleys, they've certainly got enough kids to use them all and Arthur can be quite the laugh sometimes."

"I'd love to." The words burst forth from Cedric's mouth before he could truly consider them, but even still he didn't regret them. "I've been hoping for the chance to spend more time with you, Dad." He resisted the urge to smirk at the thrilled grin that crossed his father's face. "And I agree, the Weasleys would be a great choice. I'm sure they'd appreciate them far more then any of your other Ministry buddies."

"It's settled then!" exclaimed Amos with a clap of his hands. "I'll fire-call, Arthur right now, in fact."

For once, Cedric allowed his excitement to show on his face. After all it's not like his parents would actually know what he was so happy about.

A/N: Hello, welcome back. Thank you for reading.