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"Give it back!" Cedric laughs echo behind me as I run. I look behind me to see him not far behind smiling at me.
"Not a chance!" I say, turning my head back around.
Cedric chases me through the courtyard and to the hill by the Black Lake, earning looks from others. I stole his camera and ran away. That's why he's chasing me. I won't be able to outrun him for long though.
As the lake comes into my view, two arms wrap around my waist and lift me off of the ground. I squeal, holding the camera up as far as I can. He reaches up for it but looses balance and we go tumbling down the hill, our laughter filling the air.
I land on my back in sand. Cedric is on top of me, still laughing along with me. As his laughter dies down he examines the camera. "Does it still work?" I question. "If it is I'll feel horrible. I'll pay for-" Click. I stop my sentence short.
"Yup. It still works." He gives me the biggest grin ever.
"Cedric! You were supposed to delete the last one you took!" I complain. I took his camera in the first place to delete a horrid picture he took of me dancing in my room.
"But you look too beautiful." He says, getting off of me.
I blush, looking away. "Stop it." I mutter. "I'm gunna go grab some blankets." I say, changing the subject.
"Okay, don't take too long." He leans back on his elbows and smiles up at me.
"Stay here then, while I grab some blankets." I stand up and dust the sand off of my pants and shirt. Cedric nods and lays down on the sandy beach.
As I'm walking back to my dorm to get blankets I can't help but think about Cedric. He's incredibly flirty with me and everyone thinks we're dating but we're not. In fact every time someone asks if we're dating or says we're a cut couple Cedric clams up and denies it. Which, I mean he's right, we're not dating. But still, I like him a lot.
I reach my dorm and grab some blankets. I shut the door behind me and start walking back to where I left Cedric.
I tuck the blanket under my arm and my mind wanders again. This time I think about the Yule Ball. My best friend got asked by her crush yesterday. Oliver Wood asked me last week but I turned him down. He's not bad looking and he's captain of the quidditch team, so he wouldn't be a bad date. I think I'm just waiting for the chance that Cedric will ask me.
I sigh, wanting to silence my thoughts. I reach the top of the hill but stop, hearing voices. I know I shouldn't eavesdrop but I can help it. I pause sitting down, hoping they won't see me.
"Have you got a date to the Ball yet?" Someone says. I recognize the voice as Cedrics.
"I just asked out Cindy yesterday. She said yes." The other voice says. It's my best friends crush who happens to be best friends with Cedric.
"Wait that's amazing!" Cedric exclaims. The excitement to the atmosphere dies down and it goes quiet.
"Have you asked Cho Chang yet?" Cedrics best friend says. My heart stops. Of course he would ask Cho. She pretty and smart and kind. I'm just Cedrics friend, nothing more. So why would he ask me? Tears well up in my eyes and I quickly leave before anyone can see me.
I can't believe I was so dumb to believe he'd actually like me. I'm even more dumb for crying over it. Gosh I hate this. He's talked about Cho before. I'm nothing but a friend, obviously. Maybe I need to take a break from Cedric and my friendship and get ahold of my feelings. Before it ruins our friendship.
-next day-
"Mind if I sit here?" A sweet voice says. I know it's Cedric. I refuse to look at him, remembering yesterday and how I said I would back away from our friendship.
"Yeah actually, Cindy's going to sit here." I say, moving my stuff over to show the seat is taken.
It goes silent, and Cedric shuffled around a bit. "Oh, I'm I'll see you at lunch then?" He asks hopefully.
"I don't think so. Sorry." I reply shortly. Cedric goes quiet again.
"Okay, I'll um see you around then. I guess." He mutters and walks away. I let out a sigh and my head falls forward onto my arms. I hate this. I don't want to ignore him but I also don't want to be heartbroken.
-before dinner-
I have successfully ignored Ced all day. When I would see him in the hall I would walk faster, not meeting his eyes. When he came up to talk to me I made up an excuse to leave.
I'm finished with classes so I've been hiding in my room until dinner. It's been working so far. Cindy is off with her boyfriend, and Cedric, well I'm ignoring him.
A knock on my door sounds. My head shoots up, peering at the door. Curiously, I get up and open the door. Cedric stands there looking worried.
He looks at me with a look in his eye that I haven't seen. "Y/n-"
"Oh gosh! Would you look at the time! It's dinner time. So if you'll just let me past-" I say quickly, trying to get past him but he gets in my way every time.
"No. Dinner can wait. Just tell me what I did wrong. Why are you mad at me? Why did you never come back after you said you would get blankets yesterday?" He fires out questions all while I'm trying to leave to avoid this conversation.
I stop moving and my shoulders slump forward. "I like you Cedric. But you like Cho and you're asking her to the Yule Ball." I sigh in defeat. I really don't care anymore. Cedric stares down at me with a surprised look. He begins to speak but stops himself. I'm obviously getting rejected, Cedric is just too nice to say he doesn't like me back.
"Just- just forget it. It doesn't matter." I finally push him out of the way, shutting my door with a bang.
On my way to the great hall I run into Cindy. Her pretty blond curls bounce behind her as she excitedly skips over to me. "Y/n you won't believe-"
I put a hand up silencing her. "I'm sorry Cindy, I'm not in the mood." I really don't want to listen to her rant about how great her boyfriend is.
"Woah what's the matter?" She asks but I just keep walking, ignoring her question.
I push the doors to the great hall open and in front of me is a giant sign, held up by Cedrics friends. I gasp, everyone turns to looks at me.
The sign reads: "will you go to the Yule Ball with me Y/n?"
I turn my head when I hear rapid footsteps. Cedric is running towards me, his hair disheveled. He reaches me and looks down at me, trying to catch his breath.
"I don't like Cho. I like you." He says between breaths. "That's an understatement, I love you." He grabs my waist and pulls me into him, looking into my eyes for permission. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him without hesitation.
"The answer to your question is yes." I point to the big banner. Cedric smiles and kisses me again.
