Switching Sides | Cedric Diggory vs. Fred Weasley

Chapter 33: Complicated

As soon as Gryffindor Quidditch practices started, it seemed as though Paisley and Millie had been friends their whole lives. They were attached at the hip walking down the halls, studying in the library, and hanging out in the common room. By late October, her friends were beginning to notice how little she'd been hanging out with them, especially Alicia.

"I'm just saying, how much do you really know about this girl?" Alicia asked Millie one night after she'd spent almost a whole day hanging around Paisley. "She could be super into dark magic,"

"Oh, please," Millie scoffed. "She's perfectly friendly. You'd really like her if you gave her a chance, I just know it,"

"I don't know," Alicia sighed. "There's just...something about her. I can't put my finger on it,"

Millie was confused. Paisley was one of the nicest, chillest, most relaxed people she'd ever met. She never felt anything but excitement and interest and passion exuding Paisley. Dark Magic? she thought, Not in a million years. The one time she had a slightly off-vibe from her was when she first met Cedric and he'd announced he was her boyfriend, but that went away in an instant. They clicked so well, Millie didn't understand how anyone could dislike her. 

"You just need to be open minded," she said.

"You're not...replacing me, are you?" she asked nervously.

"What?! No!" Millie responded quickly, looking straight at Alicia with a surprised expression. "You're irreplaceable, Alicia. I promise, you'll always be my best friend,"

"Okay, good," she smiled. "You'll always be mine, too,"

"Are you sure that's not my brother?" Millie asked with a giggle. 

"Shove off," Alicia rolled her eyes, a goofy grin crossing her face.

The girls spent the rest of the night catching up a little, laughing and joking and gossiping as they always had.

-

The next morning, Cedric woke up early to try and catch Millie outside her common room before breakfast. They hadn't been spending much time together recently, and it was really getting to him. He missed her terribly.

"Millie!" Cedric exclaimed as she stepped out of the portrait. He walked over to her, engulfing her in a hug.

"Hey, Cedric," she smiled wide, tucking her head into the crook of his neck. He held her for much longer than usual, and a small giggle escaped her lips. "What's all this?"

"I just miss you," he said, pulling away from her and resting his forehead against her's. "We've barely seen each other in days. You're always with that new girl,"

"Uh, hi Cedric," Paisley said from the entrance to the common room.

"Oh," Cedric stepped back from Millie. "Hey, erm...sorry. I didn't know you were standing there,"

"I figured," she giggled, her soothing, raspy voice echoing through the corridors. "I'm gonna head down to the Great Hall...I'll give you your girlfriend back for a bit,"

She smiled happily at the both of them before gracefully descending the stairs, her long, ruby red hair following her angelically. Cedric didn't like the way Paisley said "girlfriend"...it was almost as if she was disgusted with the idea of him and Millie together. He glared at her slightly as she walked down the stairs. 

"Will you sit with me at breakfast?" Cedric asked Millie hopefully once Paisley was out of sight. "Then come with me back to my dorm for a bit?"

"Ced, I really have to study-"