George Weasley x Reader ~ Jaffa Cake

12 - Cedric Diggory

'I'm glad you're feeling better now y/n'.

It had been about 12 hours since you'd gotten out the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was unsure as to how laughing to an extent that you fell off your broom had caused such damage to your muscles, but nonetheless she had you back to normal in a few days. The unfamiliar atmosphere of the cold room with a large array of identical beds was engraved into your senses - you could still see the half full glass of water on the hazel bedside table, accompanied by tall bottles of a variety of different potions. You could recall so easily looking upwards and never even seeing the very top of the ceiling, it seemed to go on for eternity, and you could remember looking across from your bed to where a handsome Hufflepuff boy you thought you'd never seen before lay.
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Flashback, first full day in the hospital wing~

'Ughh-' you groaned quietly as you awoke slowly from your deep therapeutic sleep, pushing your palms onto your eyes and rubbing as if hoping the frantic movement would awaken you. It felt like you'd been asleep for 2 years, the pressure of the air weighing down on your head made you feel slightly nauseous as you picked yourself up and leant your back against your pillow.

Someone stirred from across the room, directly opposite you, and appeared to be mirroring your position. There was a dim morning light filtering through the glass windows, just enough for you to slightly see the person's face, and as you made eye contact he smiled softly.

'Alright?' he asked you simply, and you smiled back in response.

'I'm okay thanks, my head really hurts though', you said truthfully and he nodded. 'If you don't mind me asking, who are you?' you continued as you couldn't really see his face well, 'Sorry if that's rude. I never got the chance to meet many people because they were all too busy being scared of me'.

At this he laughed gently at your remark and continued smiling. 'Not at all. Cedric Diggory. I'm in the same year as George.'

A lightbulb flashed in your head and you immediately knew who he was at the mere mention of his name. 'Oh Cedric! Of course, I know who you are. Sorry, I'm a bit... yeah', you trailed off and gestured towards your body, which was still shaking ever so slightly. 'So uh.. what did you get in here for?'

Cedric motioned towards one side of his body. 'Dragon burned me during the first task', he stated shortly before straightening his body back to its original position. 'You?'

You did not answer, but rather sat there for a moment, feeling almost dazed. You could just make out Cedric looking at you in concern. 'How... how long have I been in here for... did I miss the first task?' you felt a heavy wave of disappointment wash over you. You'd missed the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.

'Er... well, I don't know since I came in yesterday. You must have slept through it by accident or something', he offered. The happy smile he wore prior to your realisation had faded quite a bit. You could tell he knew you were dispirited because you hadn't been able to watch the first task - furthermore, you hadn't been able to cheer on Harry. The thought of this made your heart ache a little - the Gryffindors hadn't done much but they'd still been there for you - the least you could have done was actually turn up to offer Harry your support. You felt the previous wave of disappointment turn into a wave of guilt, and a familiar tightening sensation crept up your throat as you felt your breath catch a little. Cedric definitely noticed your discomfort and, almost alertly, he propped himself up in a less slouched position.

'Hey, hey y/n. Harry knows you're hurt. It isn't your fault', he reassured you softly before pausing to make sure you were listening. 'Look, would you like me to tell you exactly how the first task went?'

Your throat felt less tight and air flowed more freely through it as you nodded weakly, and Cedric began describing everything that happened during the first task, making sure you stayed grounded in the process. He was talking so animatedly, keeping in every detail, and you could almost see it in your head. Harry yelling accio broomstick; Cedric narrowly escaping the dragon with the mark of its menacing burn; Krum using a blinding curse and causing the dragon go into violent convulsions; Fleur charming the dragon to sleep and suffering from a burn as well.