Willow || Cedric Diggory

It was You All Along

The winter break was far than pleasant for Rey. Both Adrian and Beau kept teasing him about his unusual closeness with Cedric, which he quickly found to be annoying and unbearable. He couldn't be more happy when it was already the time to go back to Hogwarts. 

The train ride back was therapeutic. Cedric and him, once again share the compartment at the back coach. Apparently the Christmas break didn't make the students any less relaxed regarding the chamber of secret problem. The students still filled each compartment to the brim, leaving the back coach empty once more.

Rey, as usual, read a book for Cedric. Albeit that time, he continued on his previous book, Iliad, that he hadn't have the chance to finish during the break. He was too busyreading the book of ancient monsters that Adrian get for him. So there he was, sitting side by side with Cedric. Head leaning on the older boy's shoulder, while he read the books word by word. 

If he thought about the gesture they were in, he would have found it absurd, even for close friends. Almost too close, almost... affectionate. But as they were getting comfortable in their position, someone knocked and opened the door.

"Hi, can we help you?" Cedric stared at the ravenclaw girl, who was already in her robes.

"I was looking for my shoes. Did you see it by any chance?" The dirty-blonde hair girl asked in a breathy voice.

"We don't think so." Rey asnwered as he shifted his attention to the girl.

"I'll be looking for it somewhere else then." The girl's eyes trailed to the compartment next door.

"Interesting necklace by the way." Rey complimented about the cork necklace the girl put on.

"Oh, thank you. It keeps away the nargles." The girl paused before adding, "I like your bracelet by the way, fit into your robes pretty well." before she left.

"Told ya it would fit well into your robes." Cedric turned to Rey.

"Oh, Ced. Please." Rey shed a light pink on his cheeks, only to blush way more when Cedric put his arm around his shoulder and pulled him closer.

As they returned to Hogwarts, people got the swift that Hermione was in the hospital wing. People, including Rey, was curious. They wondered if Hermione has fallen victim to the monster, but by the looks of Madam Pompfrey dismissal it looked like she was well and alive. Rey tried to visit Hermione but Harry and Ron restlessly assured him that she was just catching a very nasty flu. So without a second thought, Rey left her be.

Weeks has passed and along that period of time, just like last year, the teacher went over the line with their assignments. Never ending list of essays, quizzes, question works were listed on Rey's study list. He had to scratch them over with puffy red eyes every night after he was done with them. 

People started to shifted their attention from the chamber of secrets problem to their assignments. Ocassionally reminded with the words that were spreaded by Macmillan, but nothing else happened. With the situation became a bit safer, Rey decided to study at the library again.

That evening, the library was quite deserted. Only a few students clumped into small groups here and there, nothing more. So Rey picked his usual spot and continued his half-finnished potions essay. 

Rey was buzzing his head off doing Snape's essay. Three rolls of parchments describing Hair-Raising Potions? What a ridiculous request. Sane not that teacher, but atleast he knew what he teach. Just as he was about to scratch the potions assignment from his list, Rey heard a muffled sob. At first he thought it was Moaning Mrytle. But when he realized it was highly unlikely for the wailing spirit to visit the library, he decided to take a look.