Switching Sides | Cedric Diggory vs. Fred Weasley

Chapter 25: Not his girl

During dinner on her very first night at the Weasley's, any hope Millie had for this being an okay holiday shattered. She sat directly across from Fred and George, and neither of them so much as looked at her. She would try and get their attention, kicking their feet or staring at them to a point where they should turn their heads, but she got nothing. By the time dinner was over, she had tears burning in the backs of her eyes and she practically ran to Charlie's room without clearing her dishes or helping clean the table like she always did.

She threw herself down onto the bed and let herself silently cry into Charlie's pillow, finding herself wishing he was here so she had someone to comfort her. She then found herself rummaging through her trunk and pulling out parchment and ink, desperate for any kind of consolation or at least a distraction.

Cedric,

If you're free, I'd like to meet up and talk sometime soon. Maybe some time at the Leaky Cauldron for dinner?

Let me know.

Millie

P.S. I'm at the Weasley's for holiday, so send your response here. I'll explain why when we're together.

She waited until around 3:00 am to sneak downstairs and tie the letter to Errol, sending him on his way to the Diggory's. She didn't have any intentions of forgiving Cedric yet, but she had told him she'd speak with him over the Summer; she needed anything to distract her, even if it was having dinner with her cheating ex-boyfriend.

She wasn't that surprised Fred was ignoring her, but George's actions were a total mystery. They hadn't talked in months! What could she possibly have done to make him completely ignore her? She wondered if they knew about her dad...surely they wouldn't act this way if they did. They'd never be so selfish as to inflict even more pain on Millie than she was already in; they wouldn't make her being there about themselves.

Millie eventually came to the conclusion that she'd attempt to stay out of their way for a bit, but that only kept her locked in Charlie's room, crying her eyes out and wishing more than anything that Cedric hadn't slept with Isabelle and that her dad was healthy and that her best friends would just talk to her. She'd been the happiest version of herself possible a month ago, now she was the most miserable version.

-

Since she'd locked herself in Charlie's room after dinner last night, she didn't so much as hear another voice before 8:00 pm the next day, just after the whole family had dinner without her.

"Millie, dear?" Molly knocked lightly on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah," she croaked, her voice heavy and dry.

She hadn't slept for a second; her eyes were puffy from crying and exhaustion.

"Dear, you have to eat something," Molly said as she sat on the edge of Millie's bed.

"Not hungry," Millie mumbled, not shifting her gaze from the wall.

Molly could hear the hurt in her voice, and she knew this was deeper than her father's illness.

"What's wrong?" Molly asked, rubbing her calf from above the quilt. Those two words sent Millie spiraling. The tears that had subsided came back in full force and she started sobbing uncontrollably. "Oh, dear,"

Molly moved closer to Millie as she sat up next to her, her face red and soaked with tears. Molly pulled her into her arms and rubbed her back as she wept into her shoulder. The witch felt her heart shatter as the girl she saw as a daughter shook with despair in her arms, unable to communicate her feelings any other way.