𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 | 𝐜.𝐝 𝐟𝐟

𝙬𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙢 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. It was difficult to believe that I hadn't just imagined what Cedric had said, and the way his eyes had looked. Maybe it was just a very convincing memory that I'd confused with reality. That seemed more probable than really appealing to him on any level. I'm losing it. 

So I was impatient and frightened as Zabini, Nott and I entered the cafeteria. I wanted to see his face, to see if he'd gone back to the cold, indifferent person I'd known for the last several weeks. Or if, by some miracle, I'd really heard what I thought I'd heard this morning. Nott babbled on and on about his dance plans completely unaware of my inattention.

Disappointment flooded through me as my eyes unerringly focused on his table. The other four were there, but he was absent. Maybe he was a figment of my imagination. Just a memory I brought back to life to help cope with trauma. I followed the still-babbling Theodore Nott through the line, upset. I'd lost my appetite — I bought nothing but a bottle of lemonade. I just wanted to go sit down and sulk.

"Edward Cullen is staring at you again," Jessica said as I arrived at the table. "I wonder why he's sitting alone today."

My head snapped up. I followed her gaze to see Cedric, smiling crookedly, staring at me from an empty table across the cafeteria from where he usually sat. His head rested on top of his fist, a contented smirk on his face. Once he'd caught my eye, he raised one hand and motioned with his index finger for me to join him. As I stared in disbelief, he winked. 

It brought back many memories I tried to forget. He is real. And I had a chance to win him back.

"Does he mean you?" Jessica asked with insulting astonishment in her voice. Bitch.

"Maybe he needs help with his Biology homework or something," I muttered for her benefit. "Um, I'd better go see what he wants."

I could feel her staring after me as I walked away. I could hear the rest of my friends holding in their breaths.

When I reached his table, I stood behind the chair across from him, unsure.

"You need help, or something," I asked, still not confident in my vision.

"Or something. Why don't you sit with me today?" he asked, smiling.

I sat down automatically, watching him with caution. He was still smiling. I was afraid that he might disappear in a sudden puff of smoke, and I would wake up. 

He seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

"This is different," I finally managed.

"Well..." He paused, and then the rest of the words followed in a rush. "I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly."

I waited for him to say something that made sense. The seconds ticked by. I tried to get into his mind, he seemed honest. But I still couldn't get what he meant. I could dig even further, but that would cause unnecessary pain. And I wasn't in the right state of mind for that.

"You know I don't have any idea what you mean," I eventually pointed out.

"I know." He smiled again, and then he changed the subject. "I think your friends are angry with me for stealing you."

"They'll survive." I could feel their stares boring into my back. It's deja vu. All over again. This happened in Hogwarts too.

"I may not give you back, though," he said with a wicked glint in his eyes. Definitely deja vu.

He laughed. "You look worried."

"No," I said, but, ridiculously, my voice broke. "Surprised, actually... what brought all this on?"