George Weasley x Reader ~ Jaffa Cake

16 - Déjà Vu

Y/n/n is your nickname for those who don't know <3

The subtle echo of yours and Cedric's footsteps against the cold floor could barely be heard as you walked as silently as possible towards the Fat Lady's portrait. What was louder as you reached the steps, however, was your inner monologue shouting at you to keep your laugh in as Cedric accidentally tripped up and almost fell face first into them.

'Cedr- be careful!' you whisper-shouted breathlessly as he flailed forwards, holding his hands outwards trying to catch himself before he hit the floor. He managed to land on his hands, but you were both trying not to laugh so hard that he laid there for a moment, looking as if he was having some form of a seizure as you doubled over, holding in your laugh and clutching your stomach. Eventually he couldn't stop himself - you didn't blame him for it, the poor boy looked like he was about to rupture a vein in his head - and he burst out laughing, causing you to loose it as well. Your abs were aching from the strain you'd put on them by forcing your laugh down, and now that you couldn't stop they were aching even more - but it wasn't painful to you. You allowed your legs to drop you to the floor and your back to slide down the staircase banisters, leaning all your weight into them as you fully collapsed into fits of laughter. At that moment, it didn't matter how loud you were being, or how many people you'd woken up - you were both laughing, and laughing was usually a good thing. 

This laughter eventually subsided, however, as an unfortunately timed encounter with Severus Snape took all the joy straight from you like a kid who'd just been dragged out of a toyshop. 

Cedric stopped laughing and looked up at Snape with wide, scared eyes. You could tell he was worried as to how Snape would react to you and him having an obnoxiously loud laughing fit whilst nearing the Gryffindor common room, and you didn't blame him, not one bit. Snape was a scary man in most cases, but you had a feeling you could handle this. Snape whispered 'Lumos' into the dark, the tip of his wand was quickly illuminated, and he brandished it towards you and Cedric as if he was trying to identify who you were. When he saw your shadowed face in the light of his wand, there wasn't much of a reaction, however when he saw Cedric and realised you were laughing along with him, he didn't look too pleased.

'Well. Perhaps you would care to explain yourselves, Miss l/n and Mr... Diggory, I believe? Or are you going to sit there staring at me in the hopes that I am merely a fragment of your imagination?' he asked acidly, focusing on Cedric. This made you realise you were still sat by the banisters, so you quickly stood up to face Snape, as did Cedric. 

You stepped forwards slightly and smoothed your robes down. 'I think you'll find we haven't done anything wrong, Professor', you said carefully. 'I was helping Cedric with his Golden Egg'. At the mention of the Golden Egg that was now sitting on the stairs, Snape raised an eyebrow. 'That's allowed', you added quickly. 

Snape kept his eyebrow raised and tilted his head slightly. 'Of course, our very own Hogwarts Champion', he mocked, a slight curl on the corner of his mouth. 'If you want to set a good example for our school, you wouldn't be running around with that Egg late at night, now would you Mr Diggory?'

Cedric swallowed nervously and picked the Egg up off the stairs. 'Uh, no Professor. We didn't have any time during the day though', he said, fiddling tensely with his loose yellow tie. You gave him a reassuring smile and shuffled closer so that you weren't stood on opposite sides of the staircase, and gave Snape a deliberate look.

'If you'd let us go, Professor, it won't happen again', you said, offering him a sort of a bribe so that he would let you off unscathed. Snape seemed to consider deducting house points for a moment, but eventually he blinked slowly and looked at you. 

'Mark my words, if you decide to wake up the entire castle again you will not be let off like this. Understand?' Snape told you sternly, earning a 'yes Professor' from the both of you. You were about to continue on your way to the Gryffindor Common room before Snape held out an arm, preventing you from moving. 'The Slytherin Dungeons please, Miss l/n, Marcus Flint is not at Hogwarts anymore.'