Anything that rings a bell belongs to JK Rowling

Chapter Sixteen: Getting Into His Pants

"Godric's sword!" It was a beauty. Shiny and scarlet and hidden behind a magic wall. And it was alive!

"I think you mean Sword of Gryffindor."

"No Mi. I meant the first one. Big difference. BIG." Ky was too enamoured by the cacophony of sound and plethora of colour to notice the look of disapproval on her friend's face.

Charlie grabbed her trunk and followed the boys into a compartment. Ky ran after them. She was having an Aerosmith moment; she didn't want to miss a thing. She barely paid attention to the conversation around her, stopping her perusal of her surroundings to say goodbye and thank you to Bill, Charlie, and Mrs Weasley.

"I'm taking a walk down the train, see you guys in a bit." And she was off, not waiting for her friends offer to accompany her; they'd only slow her down. Ky smiled at random people and high-fived a cool looking dude with dreads. She was just about to go and ask the mousy brown-haired boy with the camera to take a picture of her when a hand grabbed her and pulled her into a compartment.

As if on high alert and to compensate for its lack of action the other night, her body reacted on its own, aided with all those years of tae-kwan do training. Once in the compartment she broke the hold on her hand, twisted the attacker's arm around and had it placed at the centre of his back and pushed him up against the wall roughly.

"Ky, it's me!" She let go, recognizing the voice as she turned and drowned in the familiar charcoal grey.

Ky let go of his hand took a step back. As he turned around, her heart sped up a bit, his face bringing back the shock of the other night.

The feeling of familiarity upon seeing the Mark in the sky disappeared as when her head snapped up with the breaking of a twig, grey met grey. He ran toward her, his face so pale it made his brown hair look black in contrast.

Cedric dropped to his knees.

"I heard voices. Merlin, Ky are you okay… look at your neck. Look at your leg. No, don't stand up!" He pushed her back down and she actually snarled at him, but he didn't bat an eyelash at her feral behaviour.

"I don't know many healing spells, but I think I can get a-"

"I don't need spells. I just need to find Mi and the others." It seemed Cedric wasn't listening to a word she said, tilting her this way and that, looking for more injuries.

"Look at your neck. Was that person you were talking to trying to strangle you! Was it a death eater…fuck."

Cedric had finally looked down, past a point on her face, eyes on her midriff which had been quite cold. The reason it would seem was that half her t-shirt had vanished.

Ky looked down, horrified, she hadn't even realised, perhaps her magic got its wits about before the sick fuck could finish his spell.

There was a very distinctive five finger mark above her exposed waist…fuck…did he do that? Was that what that stab of pain was? Maybe she could pass it off as something else…or maybe she just wouldn't say anything about it all, it didn't hurt anymore, and who cared if it scarred.

She straightened up and caught Cedric's stare…oh no…he was already giving her that look.

"Ky…fuck. I am so, so sorry. Did he…are you…did he…"

"Look Apple, no need to get into a tizzy. I'm fine. I just need help getting to the Weasleys', I hurt my leg, perhaps a mending spell or two, and we both can be off. I'm sure you have more awkward situations to intrude upon so don't let me get in your way."

Instead of helping her up though, he sat down next to her, reaching for her stomach and she scurried backwards, swearing at herself the instant she did it.

Fuckity fuck fuck.

She was acting like some damsel in distress. Panicking at a boy touching her flesh like some wide-eyed virgin. Well… she was the latter, but not the former. It was too late though, he was already sputtering an apology, his face horrified.

"I'm so so sorry. I didn't mean to startle you, I just wanted to check if the injury was superficial, or if it extended to your muscle because I would have to use episkey or vulnera-"

"Shut up!"

Ky launched herself off the floor, anger boiling in her veins. Now this idiot thought that he could pity her and somehow owed her something. It seemed her leg had other ideas as she fell to the floor, her already hurt knees taking the worst of it.

A pain so fierce it was unparralleled to any feeling prior shot through her left leg. She must have shouted out because Cedric was at her side instantly, and he bend down to help her up.

"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!"

Ky yelled before she could stop herself, the words bursting forth like water from a broken pipe… why didn't she say that before? Why didn't she scream?

The pain was making her irrational. Shit. That's all she needed now…it was raining. She felt the drops on her hands and looked up at the clear skies in momentary confusion.

Oh boy. It wasn't raining at all…she was just crying.

Ky was lying in the mud, crying in front of a stranger. Cedric held his hands up in the air as if she was holding him at gunpoint.

"I just want to heal the wounds that I can. I think the longer we leave it the further along the bruise progresses-"

"Do it."

"Ok. I'm going to touch your stomach, just to-"

"I don't need a fucking commentary, just do it."

Ky lay back, her hair in the sand, fighting the tears.

She was acting like such a bimbo, and that angered her more.

She felt warm hands on her tummy and she flinched, wincing as she accidentally bit her tongue, and the tears were now flowing sans inhibition.

Cedric had quickly removed his hand, "It's superficial." He muttered some spell and slowly loomed over her, "Erm…could you stretch…your neck?"

Ky complied, and she felt his fingers ghost across her neck, spindly like the man's.

He muttered spells again as she closed her eyes, this was just Cedric. Cedric Diggory. Apple.

"Okay. Erm, I don't know about your leg, it looks really bad. I could help you get to the medi-wizard tent; I know they'll be set up somewhere and then-"

Ky stood, stubbornly ignoring the intense pain. "Listen here Apple and listen good. I have a feeling you have some cock and bull story about playing knight in shining armour and whisking me off to this medi-wizard tent and then calling the wizard cops and telling them all about this little fuck up. Well, let me tell you something and let it permeate through that thick pretty skull of yours: you are not, now or any time in the future, going to tell anybody what happened here today. Nah uh, hold your tongue handsome, I'm not finished, I don't care how offended you get by this. I'm not a broken little lamb…" She cringed as she realised that that's what the sorry-excuse-for-a-human called her.

"It's ok to be angry. But you have nothing to be ashamed of; it wasn't your fau-"

"Finish that sentence Apple and by Circe I will cut you. Look… you don't have to worry, there will be no wrist slitting and definitely no 'sinking into a bath whilst Placebo plays in the background montage', so you can be on your way, and I'll be on mine."

Ky turned, biting her lip, willing herself to ignore the assault her leg was going through. There was a warm hand on her elbow, and instinctively she flinched but she did stop, though not turning around.

"Look…. I obviously don't get it. But I can't just pretend what happened didn't happen. And neither should you. For one thing, we need to find the sick fuck-"

"Nothing happened Apple, he didn't get far…. didn't even manage to cop a feel." Ky laughed humourlessly, seconds away from crying again. "You actually saved him from getting the beat down of his life. So, you don't have to worry your pretty little head, there's no story to tell."

"Don't do that."

"What?"

"Belittle what happened to you here. Don't, ignorance doesn't look good on you."

"And yet you wear it so well." The comment was nasty, but she didn't care. She wanted to be anywhere but here. She wanted Linus. She wanted Lenzo. Thinking about her brothers calmed her down a bit, and also reminded her why she needed to keep this quiet. "Look, I am OK. Really. Please, I have my reasons…. just don't tell anybody." Ky hung her head; this was akin to grovelling on the ground for her.

"It's fine Ky. I won't…for now. I think you should at least tell a friend or something…the brunette girl that was with you. Please tell someone."

"Heaving Helga would you just shut it. I keep telling you nothing happened! I'm fine!"

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that." He hooked her arm around his shoulder and led her to the others. Once they were at the edge of the forest Ky didn't hesitate, she let go of him and turned and limped to Mi, Harry, and Ron. Not looking back. Not wanting to be reminded of that clearing and what didn't happen there.

Cedric massaged his hand, and she dropped into the seat behind her.

"You've got some grip."

"Don't make excuses for your femininity. A girl just whipped your ass."

He rolled his eyes at Ky, "There was no arse whipping. I believe you jumped me!' She cocked an eyebrow at what he said, and his ears went slightly pink, but his face stayed cool, "You know what I meant. You just surprised me, that's all."

"Sure. Keep telling yourself that." She quoted him from the other day with a smirk on her face. He didn't seem to find the humour in it, and he dropped down on the seat across from her, stretching out his long legs and she shoved his feet away.

"Do you mind keeping your freakishly long legs away from me?"

"Yes, I do mind."

"Too bad, because I don't care."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Why do you exist?"

He didn't reply to her childish question and leaned back, propping his feet up right next to her lap, still observing her like a shrink would a psych patient, "I must congratulate you on your act. It almost looks like you got your shit together."

Ky raised a brow at that, he seemed like the polite, preppy type. She guessed one should never judge a book, "Oh please Apple, let's not be children…we're all actors, some of us own the stage and some of us choke."

"Life isn't the theatre."

"Bullshit, the world's a stage. Sooner you realise that the sooner you can shine." She leaned forward and smirked at him. Ky managed not to flinch when he mimicked her action, his face mere inches away.

"Don't be a child. Life is real. People are real. What happened to you was real. Acting like it didn't happen is the worst kind of delusion."

"And what happened to me? Some guy with a small penis decided to try a little overcompensation in the demonic act that is sexual assault. He however, much like you did five minutes ago, got his ass handed to him and ran away like a little bitch." Cedric's face went red, probably not happy about her thoughtless comparison of him and that bastard. He launched off his seat and banged his palms against the wall in frustration.

"Ok fine sorry, I forgot…I caught you unawares. It was just-"

"Just stop it! Fucking Hades just STOP. STOP pretending. Stop making it seem like you're OK. You are not OK."

She didn't blink as he screamed in her face, "But I am OK." Ky put her hand on his shoulder with a sympathetic face, "I think this is affecting you more than it is me. Tell me Apple Pie, did Uncle Greg have a go at you-"He pushed her hand away, his face red and he turned and walked out the carriage.

Just like that.

She sat there in shock for a second, and then left her seat.

That was weird.

Just as she was about to exit, her shoulders hit the wall. Her heart quickened and she felt like her eyes were exploding. Cedric's face was inches from hers, "Yes. Of course you're ok. That's why you're immobilised by fear, your hearts racing and you're trembling. The lowest kind of human put his hands on you, against your will. He tried to steal your innocence. He may not have touched you anywhere that you deem as personal but the very fact that he touched you at all makes my blood burn. Yours should too. Burn Ky. Burn and feel. But do not pretend that this is something small. Something inconsequential. You got lucky, but you were five seconds away…"

Cedric stopped and dropped his hands, almost like he just realised what he was saying. He looked down at her, and then looked away. He shook his head and walked out, and as Ky stood against the wall of the compartment, silent and still.

She knew this time he wasn't coming back.

-x-x-x-

Ky stormed out of the compartment. Fuck him! He thinks he knows everything; he thinks he can dictate how she should be feeling! He knows nothing! She was fine; he is the one that needs to get his head out of his ass. Nothing even happened!

There are girls in this world that have been raped and molested and abducted and kept as sex slaves, all that happened to her was a little altercation with a demented oaf. Ky couldn't stand people like him, up in their ivory towers, protesting against the horrors of the world when they haven't even had one thing in their life go wrong. Okay, maybe she was exaggerating, but there's truth to it! Why did he have to the one that walking in on that blasted situation! He just better keep his mouth shut or she would -

"Hey! Here's a fucking thought. Why don't you use those two globes jutting out of your fucked up face and watch where the fuck you're going!" It came out of her mouth before her brain finished processing it. The blonde boy who had bumped into her looked shocked for a nanosecond, but he schooled his face into nonchalance quickly. He probably learnt that in the Beginners Guide to Prickery, the prequel to Advanced DoucheBaggery.

"I believe it was you who had walked into me. Maybe you should take up your own advice; then again those are more like light houses jutting out of your face than globes."

Oh wow, make a jab at her big eyes, how rakish of him.

Ky didn't need a reminder of who this boy was. He was the boy she had introduced herself to at the World Cup. Of course, that was just to antagonise his father at the time…two shadows loomed in front of her, and she couldn't help but think of Tweedledee and Tweedledumb. They were cracking their knuckles menacingly and she looked at the blonde boy incredulously.

"Won't you call your jesters off, your highness? I don't have time to play." Draco Malfoy looked at her in confusion. Oh of course, pureblood supremacist, muggle references fly right over their heads. The taller of the two took a step forward. Malfoy just gave her another lazy look and turned around and walked away,

"Come Goyle. She isn't worth the amount of Mrs Skower's we'd have to use to get rid of her stench on your hands."

"Oh sweet, do you three have a bath together often. Or is it just a weekly thing?" He stopped and turned around.

"It seems that associating with Granger hasn't only polluted your skin, but your mouth as well."

Ky smirked at him. "Wow, a jab at Mi's blood. You're just so creative, aren't you? Must get that from dear old daddy. Probably inherited some other things from daddy too." She looked pointedly at his pants. "Wonder when you're going to start rocking a cane, nothing says overcompensation like-"She ducked to her left as a shot of red missed her cheek.

"Crabbe!" He hit the shorter one on the head.

"But she was-"

"I don't care for it; did I tell you to do that?"

"Oooh Crabbe, looks like you're going to get a spanking. I believe that's my sign to take my leave, I'm not a peeper but I do advise taking your little S carnival act behind closed doors."

She smirked and walked away; sure the pompous fool didn't understand half of what she said. Ky opened the compartment door, and it was like walking into a funeral. Ron's face was red, and he was looking out the window. Mi who was sitting next to him kept giving him nervous glances and Harry didn't look like he was as fuming as Ron, but he did look a shade redder than when she last saw him.

Ky dropped into the seat across from Ron and swung her feet up between him and Mi. She seemed to realise she just walked in.

"Where were you?""

"Here, there, everywhere. Ron?"

He turned and gave her an annoyed look and Ky smiled back at him. "Want to teach me wizard's chess?"

"I'm not particularly in the mood Ky." He turned and looked out the window again.

"That's OK. Potter, you teach me." Harry gave Ky a quizzical look and Ron turned around.

"Fine, fine I'll teach you." He got out the chess board and Harry gave him an affronted look.

"I know how to play chess! I could teach her."

"I know you know how to play mate. But that doesn't mean you're any good at it."

Hermione chipped in, "He's got a point Harry."

Harry rounded on her, "Oh and when did you ever manage to beat him. And I'm not the cleverest in the year so I'm expected to lose. What's your excuse?"

"I cannot believe you said that. I do not have time to waste learning to play frivolous little games. I spend my time learning and-"

Mi's affronted tirade became background noise as Ron and Ky played chess.

"Checkmate." Ky looked at Ron who was smiling down at her. He was excellent. She was never good at chess, too much patience needed. "Again?"

A few checkmates later, Mi said it was time to change into their uniforms. Ky shot up excitedly and grabbed her trunk, "Beat it boys." Ron chuckled and Harry rolled his eyes and left. Mi looked at her amused.

"What? I've never worn a uniform before. I don't even really know what it looks like considering Minnie ordered them for me whilst we were at the World C-" Ky stopped mid-thought, frowning down at her open trunk.

Mi came over, "Oh, don't worry. Once you get put into a house all the plain stuff will change to your house colour."

Ky picked up the offending article, "It's a skirt."

Mi laughed at her, "Yes. Of course, it is, what were you expecting? And you don't have a problem showing your legs!"

"No, it's not the showing off of the legs that I'm peeved about, it's the having to keep them together!"

Mi looked at her in shock, "KY!"

"Oh no not like that Mi. You see how I sit….! Oh, she is devious. This is just another one of Minnie's 'make Ky a lady or die trying' schemes. She's been going on about how I sit for weeks, but it never mattered before because my knickers were always protected by a nice layer of pants. Now I'll probably have to sit…with my legs crossed or something like that! Or with them together and poignantly to the side like you do!" Mi was laughing at the horrified look on Ky's face.

"Calm down. Yes, you do have to sit in a more dignified manner, which is probably about time you start doing so. No more hoisting your leg up onto any object in front of you! But its ok, because you can wear stockings; I mean its pouring outside so you can't exactly go bare legged. Wait Ky, where are you going?"

Ky crossed the aisle and knocked on the compartment opposite there's. She didn't wait for a reply, and opened the door with a hand over her eyes. There was a round of "Hey's" and a very Irish swear word she couldn't even repeat.

"Don't get your knickers in a knot, I can't see a thing. And how sad I am seeing as there's a room full of fourteen-year-old muscle men in my presence. I'm here for Potter."

There was a chuckle and a smooth, deep voice saying, "Of course she is. All the girls after you mate."

"Shut up Dean, believe me, you don't want this one after you. Well, what do you want?"

"I want your pants."

"Oh my, straight to the point this lass is." The Irish voice said. Ky felt Harry take a deep breath, and she could smell that musky scent of his…she wondered whether it was cologne, but she was pretty sure he smelled like that before showering…she flicked her hair back and straightened up, she needed to reel in her hormones!

"She's American, she means trousers. And I suppose I should just whip them off and hand them to you, no questions asked?"

"Now, now Potter. Reel yourself in. I need a spare pair. It seems Minnie thinks she's going to get one over me and I can't let that happen. I figured I could alter one of yours and wear it. And before you get ahead of yourself thinking, "She wants to get in my pants!" I was going to ask Ron but then he has got more of a manly figure, too much alteration to be done there."

Ky held up her hand in a fist which Ron bumped like she taught him to. The compartment filled with laughter and then she felt someone turn her around and push her.

Ky opened her eyes realising she was back in the corridor. She turned and saw Harry's tousled hair jutting out the compartment, his bare chest hidden by the door, "Yes Ky, that's how you get things from people. You insult them. You're not getting anywhere near these 'pants' so get acquainted with your new best friend, her name is skirt. Don't worry; she has your back…side."

"That might be the lamest thing I have ever heard Potter. I don't need your pants anyway!"

She turned and stormed back into the compartment. She let out an annoyed huff and then a sly smile came over her face as inspiration struck.

A/N: Thank you for reading!