e l e v e n

826 35 11
                                    

"Cedric?" Maeve looked up, hurriedly standing up as she wiped her tears. 

"What's wrong?" the prefect frowned, nearing her. "Why aren't you in class?"

"Why aren't you in class?" Maeve countered. 

 "Well I was on my way to Muggle Studies when I heard sobbing. And then I found you." Cedric frowned. "What's going on, Maeve?"

"I - nothing." the girl smiled. "I just didn't do so great on a quiz Snape had prepared for us today, that's all. Sorry to bother you."

Cedric didn't look as if he bought a word she'd said. "Look, I know we haven't spent as much time as I would've liked this year - what with the Tournament and Cho and I..." he sighed. "But that doesn't mean you can't talk to me about anything."

Maeve looked away, knowing that everything would spill out the second she glanced back at him. 

Cedric looked around. "I know I'm a prefect and that I'm supposed to set an example, but how about we go to the lake? I know that's your favourite spot on the grounds. Besides, you won't be afraid of anyone eavesdropping on us."

The Hufflepuff took a deep breath before she looked back at him and nodded. 

_____

"Are you feeling a little bit better now?" Cedric grinned, wrapping his Hufflepuff scarf around Maeve's neck to keep her warm in the chilly winter weather. 

"Yes, thank you..." Maeve smiled softly before they fell into silence. "Ced... there's something you don't know about me... and... well, I don't know how to say this."

"It's alright. Take your time." the boy held her hand in an effort to coax her. 

"It's been almost three years by now and I haven't told anyone." she sighed. "I don't like boys, Cedric." 

His brows scrunched together as he gave her a confused look. "I know. You told us all around a week ago, remember? That you don't like the boys at Hogwarts. Don't worry about it Maeve. There's so many boys other than the ones at schoo-"

"No." Maeve stopped him firmly. "I don't like any boys, Ced. Not romantically. I like girls." she clarified, her eyes searching his for any kind of reaction. 

Silence.

"So you're homosexual?" Cedric blinked, trying to process the sudden information. 

Maeve nodded, not having the courage to say anything. 

"And you've been hiding this all along... for three years?" his eyes widened. "May..." he frowned, hugging her tightly. "Merlin, I'm so stupid. And to think I kept trying to set you up with Francis." he chuckled, his voice coming out watery. 

"It's alright. You couldn't have known." Maeve squeezed him, feeling a lot better that someone who was such a huge part of her life now knew her better.

"Wait... but why were you crying?" Cedric pouted before his eyes burned with an anger Maeve had never seen on the kind boy's face before. "Did someone bully you after they found out?"

"What? No." Maeve shook her head hurriedly, trying to calm him down. 

And then she told him the story of how she had had a crush on Elizabeth for years. How Pansy and her had grown closer as friends. How unknowingly, she had started to develop feelings for Pansy. And how Elizabeth had confessed her feelings for her during the night of the Yule Ball. Right up until the part where Pansy had kissed her. 

"So... you like Pansy Parkinson?" he asked uncertainly. 

"I think so..."

"May, I'm all for your sexual identity here but I really don't think Pansy is someone you should be that closely acquainted with. Her parents were Death Eaters. Her brother works at Azkaban. She's bad news." Cedric said slowly. "I just don't think it would be good for you to date her. Granted that I don't know as much as I would like on the topic, my gut keeps telling me she's not a good influence."

Pathos | A Pansy Parkinson FanfictionWhere stories live. Discover now