Switching Sides | Cedric Diggory vs. Fred Weasley

Chapter 35: End of the Year

A/N: Minor spice warning! This chapter contains mature content.

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"Thank you for staying with me," Millie mumbled as Cedric lay with her in her bed the night of the funeral.

He hummed into the side of her neck, spooning her from behind. After Millie talked with Killian, she went and found Cedric. The two of them quickly left the funeral home and had been at her house ever since, just laying around and ignoring the world.

"Are you okay?" Cedric asked quietly.

"I will be," she said. For the first time since her dad died, she felt like she meant it. 

"Do you know when you're coming back to school?" he asked, holding her hand and stroking the back of it with his thumb.

"Tomorrow night. I have to be back in time for classes on Monday according to my mum. I probably won't go to them yet," she stated. "Will you- or...do you think you can stay with me until then?"

Cedric nodded. "Of course, love."

He pulled her closer, his head in the crook of her neck as they closed their eyes. Cedric drifted off to sleep, but Millie couldn't. She hadn't gotten in good nights sleep in weeks.

-

Just as planned, Millie and Cedric stood in front of the fireplace with Killian the next day. Killian was saying goodbye to Charlie, who had come by to talk to him again before he left. Millie hadn't gotten the chance. 

"Ced?" she asked quietly, turning to face him. "Do you mind if I go speak to Charlie for a minute before we go?"

"Isn't he the one who...kissed you?" he asked wearily. She nodded hesitantly with an expression that reminded him everything he needed to know: I only love you. He smiled. "Of course you can...you don't have to ask,"

"Just common courtesy," she giggled, kissing his cheek and walking up to Charlie and Killian.

"Ah, the Romanian returns," she said as he looked up at her. Killian wandered away towards the fireplace again so they could chat. "Didn't think I'd see you back so soon,"

"Yeah, well, I had to be here for my pen pal over there," he whispered, cocking his head. "He's been having a pretty rough time. I'm sure you are, too. Sorry I didn't talk to you much yesterday,"

"Oh, please, it's fine," she smiled. "You're the only person that can get through to him, so it was great to see you'd come home,"

He smiled back. "How are you doing, though? Holding up?"

"Not great, but holding up, yeah," she sighed. "I've got good company,"

"That's Diggory right?" he asked, prompting Millie to nod her head. "Didn't he and Fred, like, try to kill each other?"

"Once or twice, yeah," she groaned, her eyebrows raised. "But things in that arena are going great right now,"

"That sucks," he chuckled with a smirk, running a hand through his hair. "You should go...it's getting late,"

"You're right," she frowned. He pulled her in tight for a hug. 

"It was great seeing you," he whispered into her hair. 

"You, too." She smiled.

The two parted from each other and he stepped back next to Lucinda, who had entered the room to say goodbye to her children. She hugged them for a while, choruses of I love you's and I'll miss you's circling the room as they stepped back towards the fireplace, floo powder in one hand, their trunks in the other. Killian went first followed by Cedric and then Millie. They all arrived in Professor McGonagall's office to be met with her waiting for them.