𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭 ; 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲

Part 29- Thanksgiving

"What's going on?"

"Look at their faces!" Fred puts his hands on his knees from laughing so hard.

"Why don't you four sit down." Arthur gestures to the table, a smile on his face and Cedric runs over to a chair and pulls it out for me.

"Thanks Ced." We smile at each other and he sits across from me.

"Explain." Ginny says, glaring at everyone.

"So... We thought it would be funny if we told you guys that we were going to throw this epic prank." Fred begins.

"And that we were going to steal everyone's dinner and bring it back here." George says.

"But we actually told the Diggory's and Lovegood's and mom and dad about it, so really you were the ones who got pranked." Fred grins, while twirling his spoon between his fingers.

"So everyone knew what we were doing?" Ron asks.

"Not me! I wasn't involved whatsoever!" Percy crosses his arms.

"Yes, everyone knew." George ignores Percy.

"So, when you two were running out of the Lovegood's house, that wasn't real?" I ask.

"Nope! Just to make everyone extra nervous." Fred says.

"You guys are evil. All of you." Ginny shakes her head.

"Ginevra! Be nice to guests!" Molly hollers and Ginny rolls her eyes.

"So, what was the point of this?" Ron asks.

"It's funny. You guys thought you were pulling this big heist and you were barely a part of it!" George laughs.

"Hilarious. Can we eat now?" I ask picking up my fork.

"Of course." Molly nods and we all start piling food on our plates.

"So? Good year for quidditch, huh? Or should I say for you, y/n?" Amos nods at me.

"Yeah, I guess. But we had a re-match and Slytherin tied with Hufflepuff." I take a bite of mash potatoes.

"I didn't hear about this re-match, tell me about it, Cedric." Amos turns to Cedric, who is sitting next to me.

"It wasn't official or anything, just for fun." He shrugs.

"Bonding with your teammates is very important. I'm glad to hear that your two teams can get along." Amos smiles.

"Ha! I wouldn't say they get along." Fred says and I kick him under the table.

"What do you mean?" Amos asks.

"You know, no one really gets along with the Slytherins." Fred explains and shoots me a dirty look.

"I remember my days at Hogwarts. The Slytherins were never too friendly back then, either."

"Maybe that's because no one ever includes them." I say, under my breath.

"Excuse me?" Amos says.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to sound disrespectful but I just think that people assume Slytherins are inherently evil when they're not." I say.

"They may not be evil but they sure are mean." Percy says.

"That's because no one ever includes them. Imagine having everyone hate you because of your parents and then expected to be perfect." I sit up straight in my chair.

"I agree." Luna says quietly.

"No one is perfect, y/n." Ron leans closer to me, across the table, ignoring Luna.

"That's not the point. Slytherins are immediately seen as malevolent the moment that hat announces who they are to the whole school. A Hufflepuff would never have to prove their kindness." I explain.

"But, if I were a Slytherin people wouldn't think I'm some soft simple minded Hufflepuff. It took a lot to show people how competitive I am." Cedric says.

"Yeah, everyone gets sorted into a group and it's your responsibility to show others that you're more than that." Harry says as he waves to Ginny to pass the corn bread.

"It all just seems un-fair." I say.

"Why do you care? You have friends in every house. Besides, this is the way it's always been." Ron says, in his more serious tone.

"Yeah, from what I see, you've become quite popular." Percy says.

"It's probably from hanging out with Diggory." Ginny raises her eyebrows and I send her a dirty look.

"I'm right here." Cedric says and we laugh.

"Cedric, you know your everyone's favorite person." I say, and his face goes rosy.

"Not Malfoy or his minions that's for sure." Cedric replies.

"Malfoy doesn't like anyone." Harry says.

"I'm not so sure your right about that." Fred nudges George and they both snicker.

"Yes I am. That boy doesn't even like his friends let alone anyone else." Harry says.

"Well, I don't think he's looking to be just friends with y/n." George says and everyone turns their head to me.

"What?" Harry says and I look at Ron, his eyes wide with what I assume is confusion.

"I have no idea what your talking about." I lie.

"Mhm." The twins say in unison.

"May I be excused? I think everyone has heard enough about my endlessly interesting life." I say and walk up the stairs to my room. The moment I sit on my creaky bed a I hear a soft knock from the other side of the door.

"Y/n?" Cedric's voice echo's into my room. I get up from the bed and open the door.

"Stop it, with your concerned puppy face." I place my hands in front of me, blocking off Cedric's head.

"What was all that?" He lowers my hands and wraps his around them.

"Nothing." I shrug.

"What's with all the misunderstood Slytherin talk?" I stare at the crease that has formed between his eyebrows.

"What do you even mean by that?" I furrow my brows.

"God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to belittle what you were saying." He says, shaking his head.

"Not everyone is lucky enough to have good parents. Or grow up with people who teach you right and wrong." I say.

"If you're talking about Draco he's old enough to make his own decisions." Cedric says.

"Is he though? Isn't who we are just who our parents taught us to be?" I ask and his brow crease disappears.

"No. Think about all of the dark wizards that turned to you know who's side. A lot of them came from good, well respected family's." I don't say anything and look down.

"Y/n, you are not your parents. Plus, they're good people, right?" Cedric asks.

"First, people are just 'good or bad'. Second, my parents ran away when things got hard. They didn't fight. What if something bad happens and I can't even help anyone." The concern grows on Cedric's face.

"Seriously, where is this coming from?" I take a second to think about the letter my father sent. The apparent danger I'm in. The clues, and the map. The uncertainty of it all.

"I don't know. I have just been homesick lately and I've been trying to find ways not to miss them." I lie.

"It's ok to miss them." Cedric squeezes my hand, lightly.

"Thank you for talking with me. I just need a moment alone though, ok?" He nods and leaves the room.

I start looking in one of my bags and pull out a piece of paper and a quill.

Dear Father,

I have found the Marauders Map.