Azkaban's Youngest Prisoner

Ch. 26

Chapter 26:

I have to admit, it was hard not talking to Cedric. I would be lying to myself if I said that I didn't enjoy his presence, because I did. It was hard enough as it is ignoring him, but it's not like he made it any easier. He'd try to catch me by himself in between classes, in response I would look down and walk faster. He even went to the extent of owling me notes asking how I was or even trying to meet me up in the courtyard in late night hours, which is saying a lot considering he was a prefect. But I didn't reply to them. I had too much to focus on. The plan, grades, protecting Draco. Plus I had the trio and Cho, I didn't have to worry about being lonely. But nonetheless, I still missed him. I missed the way he would tell me stories about his childhood. I missed the proud way he spoke about his mother and father. I missed his eyes and how lost I'd get in them. I missed- wait what am I even talking about at this point?

"Tessa?" Harry waves his hand in front of my face. We were in the astronomy tower yet again for me to help Harry with potions. "Did you hear what I said?"

"Hm?" I snap back into reality. "Sorry Harry I got distracted, what did you say?"

"I said have you talked to Cedric yet? He was asking for you earlier," He says with a frown.

"I told him I wouldn't talk to him. I need to protect Draco,"

"Tessa, listen," Harry sighs. "I know Malfoy is really important to you, but Cedric is really willing to try and make you guys work, he told me himself. You might want to give him another chance."

"Harry it's not that I don't believe you because I do, but he had countless times to prove himself and he didn't. I don't want to be friends with someone who won't put in the effort. He didn't even try solving the problem until weeks after the incidents happened. And it took me having to snap at him for him to make an effort to try and fix things."

"The thing is Tessa, I think he wants to be more than your friend." Harry clenches his fist as he pushes out the last part of his sentence.

"What do you mean?" I lean in across the table, interested in what he has to say.

"I mean I think he fancies you." I blink at Harry's statement.

"Oh. Well, I don't think so. Even if he did, I don't like him back," I look back down at the notes we were going over.

"Wait, really?" Harry asks quickly.

"I mean yea, I thought it was obvious," I responded.
"More people thought it was obvious that you guys liked each other actually," Harry points out.

"What? Well, no I don't fancy him and I'm pretty sure he doesn't fancy me."

"Do you fancy anyone?"

"Not right now no, I mean I'm not really looking for anyone right now. Plus, I think if I ever got into a relationship with anyone it would be too complicated."

"Why do you say that?" Harry starts to roll up his parchment.

"Well," I start to clean up my things as I explain. "First of all my parents, or my father specifically. The whole dumb pureblood supremacy thing, which I think is rubbish. Besides that, I don't think I'm someone anyone would want to be in a relationship with."

"Why?"

"Well as of right now to everyone else, I'm a criminal" I joke. "And, I don't know, love just seems very unrealistic for me. I've never fancied anyone before and the only type of love I know is family love. I just don't think I deserve to be loved by a person like that, it's really stupid I know."

"It's not stupid to feel that, Tessa. I understand where you're coming from. And, don't get mad at me for saying this but, I think you're afraid to fall in love because you're scared you'll get hurt. Which is completely normal for a lot of people, so you're not alone. But just trust me when I say this Tessa, I truly believe that you would be an amazing girlfriend. I see the way you care about your brother and your friends, you wouldn't hesitate to do the same for someone else. Don't ever say that you don't deserve that kind of love because you deserve a lot more than you think." I smile at Harry's response.

"Wow Harry, since when did you become as wise as Dumbledore?" Harry gives a soft laugh. "But, thank you for that. It means a lot." That's the difference between Cedric and Harry. Cedric could see right through me, it felt like that wall I put up was something that he could get past. Harry on the other hand couldn't see right through me, but he would at least try to understand.

a/n: Sorry this took longer to get up than normal, I've had AWFUL writers block and trying to transition to the next part is rly hard for me for some reason. Anyways don't forget to comment and vote. The next part of Love, Lexi Jade will be out soon so please go check that out!