Diggory Is A Loser

18- Angry Amos

Although Celia wanted to try and forget about what she had read in the paper, and move on with her life, it wasn't that simple.
Half-way through Potions that morning, Dumbledore arrived and asked Celia to come with him.
She had to feel everyone staring at her as she left the room and began to make her way towards Dumbledore's office.
When she arrived, she found that she wasn't the only one who'd been summoned.
Cedric was already waiting in the office, and he was stood beside Amos.
Celia had never seen her father look so mad before, and it scared her.

"Hi dad" mumbled Celia, as she stepped nervously into the room, and stood inbetween her father and brother.
"Here she is, the Diggory's disappointment" announced Amos.
"Ease off her dad" pleaded Cedric, as Dumbledore went around them all and sat behind his desk.
"She has disgraced us all son, including you" replied Amos.
Celia lowered her eyes and stared at the floor, unable to look at her father.
"So, what exactly did you tell the journalist?" Continued Amos.
"Nothing" insisted Celia.
"I told you dad, that Celia is far too smart to talk to people like Rita Skeeter" admitted Cedric.
Celia looked over at her brother, suprised to have him backing her up.

"Then where did this Skeeter woman get the idea for this fictitious story?" Questioned Amos.
"I don't know" answered Cedric.
"Well, Skeeter claims that she spoke to Celia, and that she told Skeeter that I hate her" admitted Amos.
"I never said that. She was asking me all these questions about Cedric. And I told her that Cedric is exactly the kind of person everyone thinks he is; kind and caring" informed Celia.
"You said those things about me?" Asked Cedric.
"Yes. Just because I don't like you, it doesn't mean that I'm going to make up lies about you. And I'm certainly not going to gossip about you, to a reporter" replied Celia.

"So, you didn't talk about me at all?" Quizzed Amos.
"I might have said that you enjoy boasting about Cedric and not me. But there's nothing false about that, since it's true. However, I certainly didn't tell Skeeter that you hate me. And I didn't tell her anything that might have convinced her that I was a bastard" answered Celia.
"You shouldn't have said a single word to that dreadful woman"
"I didn't intend on saying anything, but she cornered me and questioned me before I could get away. But I honestly didn't think that I'd given her anything she could use against us".

"That's the problem. You don't think. You might be highly intelligent, but you don't think things through" admitted Amos.
"Look, this is not my fault" insisted Celia.
"I suppose you told her about your night in the Forbidden Forest as well" replied Amos.
"Of course I didn't"
"Then how did she find that out?"
"I don't know"
"Perhaps your new boyfriend Benjamin Taylor, told her"
"He's not my boyfriend, since we've only been on one date which ended badly. But I'm pretty sure that it wasn't him. Because no matter how angry he was at Cedric, he wouldn't betray my trust".

"Why would he be angry at Ced?" Asked Amos.
"Well, Cedric did punch him in the face" reminded Celia.
"I have already spoken to Benjamin Taylor, and he insists that he did not speak to Rita Skeeter" revealed Dumbledore.
"I don't suppose mum and Benjamin's dad are old besties?" Questioned Celia.
"They were in the same year at Hogwarts, nothing more" answered Amos.
"There must be more to the story than that. Skeeter would have needed something more to base her article on" admitted Celia.
"Are you suggesting that your mother actually did have an affair with Frederick Taylor, and that you are not my daughter at all?".

Celia shrugged, "I wouldn't be surprised. You do seem to hate me, so your hatred would make sense, if you knew I was not your child. Besides, Benjamin is charming, so I expect his dad is the same, unlike you. You're a stubborn git".
Amos smacked the back of his hand across Celia's face, causing Dumbledore to stand up out of his chair.
"Amos, please control your temper" Dumbledore said sternly.
"Are you alright?" Whispered Cedric, as he stepped closer to Celia and began to look at her lip which was now bleeding.
"I'm fine" mumbled Celia.

Amos wasn't a violent man, and he had only slapped Celia a couple of times in her life.
But since it hadn't happened in ages, Celia hadn't been expecting it. So she was stunned by her father's actions.
"I think we should wrap this meeting up and get Cedric and Celia back to class" announced Dumbledore.
"Good idea. Now, I want both of you to keep your mouths shut about this situation. You are not to discuss it with anyone. Do I make myself clear?" Questioned Amos.
"Yes father" replied Cedric, who still hadn't moved from Celia's side.
"Celia?" Asked Amos.
"Who would I tell anyway? You know that I don't have any friends" mumbled Celia.

"Well, I'm off to work to do some damage control. Hopefully this whole situation will disappear soon, as I'm sure Skeeter has other lives to ruin, so she won't focus on our family for much longer" admitted Amos.
"I hope you're right" replied Cedric.
"Good luck in the next task my boy. I'm sure you will do us all proud"
"I will do my best".
Amos then left the office, without directing another word towards Celia.

"Are you alright Miss Diggory? Do you need to visit Madam Pomfrey?" Questioned Dumbledore.
Celia shook her head, "No, I'm fine Professor. It's just a little cut".
"Alright then. The both of you should return to your lessons" sighed Dumbledore.
As the siblings turned to go, Cedric placed his arm protectively around Celia's shoulders, but she shrugged him off.
"Leave me alone" she hissed, as they exited the office.
"It wasn't me that hit you" reminded Cedric.
"Maybe not, but you didn't exactly do anything to stop father" replied Celia.
"I did try to stand up for you. But father is a very stubborn man"
"Yeah, I noticed".

"You shouldn't have wound him up like that" admitted Cedric.
"So you're saying that I deserved to be hit?" Frowned Celia.
"No, of course not. But you must have known that what you said was going to cause a negative reaction from father" replied Cedric.
"He's never hit you, even though you've spoken back to him loads of times. But he wouldn't want to hurt you, not his perfect golden boy"
"I wish you wouldn't call me that"
"And I wish that things were equal between us. But some wishes will never come true. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go and hide in the owlery for the rest of the day"
"Is that wise? To hide from the situation?"
"Probably not, but I'm going to do it anyway. Goodbye, brother, it's time you returned to your fan club, as I expect they are missing your presence".