Switching Sides | Cedric Diggory vs. Fred Weasley

Chapter 13: the Match

A/N: Minor spice warning!

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Millie's hair flew behind her as she descended onto the pitch. It was 6:45 in the morning the day before the final match and her, Cedric, and Matt had been practicing for over an hour. They'd done this for the past three days, waking up at 5:30 and going out before the Ravenclaw's practice at 7:00. Millie had been thankful when Harry informed her they would have the later practice, but she was getting up way earlier anyways to train.

"You're more than ready, Barrett," Matt said as his feet hit the ground next to Millie. "Angelina's crazy for not letting you on the team,"

"Thanks, Matt," she smiled at him, Cedric dropping down next to her at the same time.

"She's a poor captain if you ask me," Matt stated. "I don't mean anything against her, obviously, it just bothers me that she let the whole thing with Fred get in the way of a winning team,"

Cedric and Millie had informed Matt of everything with Fred and Angelina when he asked why she didn't let Millie on the team, for he was very confused after seeing her play up close. They told him about everything, the overlap of the two relationships, Angelina's everlasting conquest to be with Fred, and her bias against Millie since she was Fred's ex. They mentioned all but the love potion, for Cedric didn't even know about that. No one but Fred, George, Angelina, and Millie did. 

"Ravenclaw doesn't stand a chance with you and Harry on the team," Cedric said.

"Don't tell Jeffery," Matt scoffed. "He won't shut up about his bloody girlfriend! She get's really freaky after a win, no one wants to hear that! Out of every topic of conversation possible, he keeps deeming it necessary to bring that up! Merlin's Beard, I swear, ever since him and Annabelle started going out he's been so different! I just don't know how much longer I can deal with his-" he stopped noticing the shocked looks on Cedric and Millie's faces. He never raised his voice, especially when talking about his friends. "I- er...sorry, I didn't mean to get riled up like that,"

"No, mate, go ahead," Cedric stated. "It kind of seems like you needed to get that off your chest,"

"I just," he sighed. "I miss my best friend, you know? Not that you're not- that's not what I meant...but everything's been so...oh I don't know, different since he started going out with girls. It's different with you because you've always had an interest in them, but his interest was so abrupt,"

Cedric knew exactly what he was talking about. Matt and Jeffery had always been a pair. While Cedric was friends with everyone and was always going off to talk to girls ever since second year, Jeffery and Matt stayed focused on Quidditch, school work, and each other. They did everything together. Neither of them ever showed a big interest in girls, but last year, Jeffery had come back in September having had a brief muggle girlfriend over the summer, and just like that he was hyper focusing on girls like all the other boys in their grade - aside from Matt.

"At least you can maintain a friendship while having a girlfriend," Matt said, gesturing to Cedric. "He just completely forgot about me when they started talking,"

"He didn't forget you," Cedric started, comfortingly. "He's just caught up in the idea of having a girlfriend. He'll realize sooner or later it's so much more than just sex, it's like having a best friend. You still hang out with your other friends, but that relationship just gets prioritized. He'll find a balance soon enough,"

"I used to be prioritized," Millie heard Matt mumbled under his breath as the three continued their ascend to the castle.

-

The next morning, the air of the Great Hall was thick with tension. The entirety of the Gryffindor table was nearly silent, glances crossing the tables as people debated whether or not they should break the silence. The nerves emanating from every player on the team could be felt by everybody around them. Fred and George were completely silent which was extremely unlike them, and Alicia and Millie sat trying to eat their food as their legs bounced like crazy.