Switching Sides | Cedric Diggory vs. Fred Weasley

Chapter 43: Wasted Time

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

Also- sorry this chapter took so long to upload. Please understand I'm doing my best! <3

-

As the year progressed, Millie felt herself shifting further and further away from her friends. All but Fred, George, and, surprisingly enough, Angelina had individually sided with Alicia and would barely talk to Millie outside of practices. They wouldn't so much as look at her if she tried to apologize and explain herself. Fred and George would always says things like "they'll come around" or "they just need time", but by the time June approached, she was still being ignored.

The only thing she had going for her aside from Fred was the fact that they were up for the Quidditch cup against Hufflepuff. They were practicing five days a week, and the determination was so wide spread throughout the team, even Fred and George were pushing for six. But Millie, being the considerate caption she was, knew they'd be overworked and stressed out if they were practicing on the weekends as well.

She made sure everyone was staying on top of their school work, not wanting them to fall behind because of the Quidditch schedule she'd created. Everyone on the team got along on the pitch, and it was almost as if nothing ever happened, but the moment they stepped back through those castle doors it was like Millie didn't exist. 

The final match was Friday night, and the night before after practice, Millie sat alone in the library, her play book below her as she examined it intently.

"Hey, Barrett," a voice came from above her. She looked up and felt chills flush her body.

"Oh," she faked a smile and quickly closed her book, unnerved by the tension. "Hi Cedric,"

"Going over plays?" he asked, motioning to the book.

"Yeah," she put her arms over it. "No peeking,"

"I wouldn't dream of it," he chuckled. He cocked his head towards the seat across from her. "Mind if I sit?"

"Um, sure," she squirmed. She watched the way his shirt clung to his muscles as he sat down. Look away. "Is there something you wanted to talk about, or..."

"Oh, well-" he stammered. "Kind of, yeah,"

"What's up?" 

"It's just..." he struggled for the words. Any words. He decided on the ones he hadn't planned for. "W-What do you think you're going to do after Hogwarts?"

"Oh," she started. "Well, there's going to be Quidditch scouts at the game tomorrow...I was hoping something could come of that. I'll probably try out for the Harpies as soon as I can, but if the whole Quidditch thing doesn't work out probably some ministry job,"

"Ministry job?" he asked, slight disgust in his voice. "Why would you settle for a ministry job? You could do so many amazing things, don't let yourself get sucked into a life you don't want,"

"How do you know I don't want that life?" she asked, a sense of anger in her tone as she heard him assuming her life's intent.

"You may not know me, but I know you," he smiled sadly. "I know you'd never want that. If Quidditch doesn't work out, don't give up on your excellence. Don't settle for some low level ministry job. You're better than that and we both know it,"

"I'm not so sure about that anymore," she sighed, dropping her head in her hands. "Nothing seems to be working out for me. You think much too highly of me, Diggory. My friends won't even talk to me, I haven't spoken to my brother or Alicia in months, I'm terrified to leave this place as much as I may want to, my mom stopped owling completely, and it's not like I have my dad to comfort me when I'm- erm...sorry. I don't know why I'm pouring all of this onto you,"