I'll Call You Mine [Cedric Diggory]

chapter five

Almost a week had passed since Tatums' altercation with Cedric. The two had only ever stolen glances at each other, not a word, though. When Tatum would be caught lost on his way to the Dormitory, Cedric would merely look over the male as if not to exist, and Tatum would only treat Cedric as another lame student. They sat by each other only because they had to; there was nothing really more to it. They were never amazing friends to begin with; they just knew each other, that's all it ever was, and all it ever was meant to be.

Every once in a while, someone would ask Cedric what would have happened to 'his Slytherin,' but it was a simple answer; they weren't compatible. But this hadn't changed much of either's goals for the school year. Cedric had actually become one of the Champions picked for the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and wouldn't you know it, the first task was coming up in little to no time at all.

"Tatum, have you heard about the first task?" He would hear Draco speak as he would wrap an arm around the male's shoulder with a small smile on his face.

"No, and quite frankly, I couldn't care less." Tatum would speak as he would hear the blonde chuckle. He would have kind of turned a cold shoulder to the Tri-Wizard tournament after Cedric was announced to be one of the champions.

"Oh, come on, Tatum, you ought to be just as curious as everyone else," Draco would speak. Tatum would not have mentioned what went down between him and the Hufflepuff simply because it really wasn't that big a deal.

"Well, I'm really not, I think that it's a stupid tournament in all fairness," He would speak with a subtle shrug. He did think the concept behind the tournament, in fact, was stupid, but he thought that maybe the tasks themselves could have been a little interesting.

"Well, Mr. Scrooge, it's dragons, or at least that's the rumor Potter started." He would speak as Tatum could feel himself chuckle at the male's words as he would look over at the male.

"What's so funny, Tatum?" He would speak, bumping him gently as Tatum would only shake his head, holding his hands up in defense before he would speak up.

"Nothing, Nothing, just, you and Harry," He would speak as he would watch Draco roll his eyes with a subtle red taking over the pale boy's face as he would push his fingers through his hair. Tatum knew this boy had to have had a crush on the brunette, I mean, c'mon, the perfect enemies-to-lovers troupe right in front of his eyes.

"Tatum, how bout you say it a little louder? Why don't you" Draco would hiss at the male as Tatum would smirk at the blonde with a cock of his eyebrow, as he would feel the male punch his arm gently.

"I definitely could, couldn't I?" He would speak to the blonde as he would feel the male push his face, and he would laugh a bit. He would hear the sound of Cedric's laugh coming from a mile away, making his smile dim as he looked at Draco.

"I gotta get back to the dorm," Tatum would speak quickly as he would have turned away sharply, leaving the blonde male standing where they had originally been awaiting their other friends to come out from their final class.

"Okay?" The blonde would speak. Tatum's chest was beating about a million miles per hour for whatever reason. His eyes were kind of glossy as he would rush back to the dorm almost as if he was late for curfew. Speaking of curfew, he hadn't missed it in almost two nights, well, not only because he learned the way back, but he hadn't really been going to dinner. He would just eat a huge lunch, then realize he wouldn't be hungry till the next day... so he could have more time to study.

"Hey, excuse me, sorry, wait up!" Tatum would hear someone yelling as he continued to walk. He would take an unexpected turn in the opposite direction of the dorms towards the balcony where he would have smoked on his first night at the school. He would have been looking out at the beautiful blue sky only momentarily before he would hear the huffing of someone trying to catch their breath.

"Tatum, Merlin's beard, you walk fast." The male would speak as Tatum would turn around, meeting eyes with Fred. He would nod slowly as he sat on one of the stone benches that sat on the balcony.

"What do you want, Fred?" Tatum would speak as he would look up at the male whose eyes would lock with his, as he would huff slightly as he would notice the redhead had almost a look of desperation in his eyes.

"Just wanted to see if you were alright mate, haven't seen you since, y'know." He would speak, and Tatum would nod, waving his hand almost in a dismissive tone as he would take a deep breath.

"Yes, yes, I'm aware of the incident, and I'm just fine." He would speak as he would take a breath, as he would sit up straight, looking at the Gryffindor boy who remained standing as he would begin to speak again.

"You know, he does feel awful about what he said." Fred would speak, and Tatum would feel himself chuckle to himself as he heard Fred speak.

"Well, he sure doesn't act it," Tatum would spit almost at the male, who he knew was simply a messenger in some way.

"Well, I mean, you have been avoiding the guy," Fred would speak as Tatums eyes would look away swiftly as he would cross his arms over his chest with a small huff.

"He's had plenty to apologize for," Tatum would speak with a bit of hurt and salt lacing his voice as he would take a deep breath, looking around to make sure no one was around.

"Trust me on this, Cedric's not one to apologize half ass." Fred would speak as he would take a seat next to Tatum, and Tatum would find himself resting his head on Fred's shoulder.

"We had only known each other for not even a couple of days," Tatum would have said, feeling a bit defeated as Fred would look at the male who leaned on him before speaking up.

"It doesn't take long to know if someone's the one or not," He would speak, causing Tatum to raise an eyebrow as he looked at the redhead.

"What are you talking about?" Tatum would speak as he would look at the Weasley twin with a mass amount of confusion running through his brain.

"Well, I've just never seen Cedric stand up to someone the way he did for you that day, and I've also never seen him be so upset over some decision of someone else." He would speak as Tatum would raise an eyebrow gently. He would feel himself gasp as he would realize that maybe Cedric just went off out of fear of losing Tatum as a friend.

"So what, he was just scared to lose a friend?" Tatum would speak, knowing that it was most probably the case. Maybe Cedric had lost someone and wasn't ready to lose another person whom he considered a friend.

"I guess you could say that," Fred would speak almost with a close enough look in his eyes as he would shake his head, amused by the male's words.

"Maybe, I should talk to him," Tatum would speak with a deep breath as he would watch Fred nod gently, as Tatum would feel his chest pound as he would hold it gently.

"But tonight isn't the night," He would speak as he would grasp his chest, walking off quickly as he would hear Fred trying to speak, as he would make his way towards the Slytherin common room, where he would walk in, lying upon the couch with his head on the arm of the couch. He would take a deep breath in through his nose and out through his mouth as he would try and calm the pounding in his chest, to try and calm his nerves. He had never thought that he had genuinely scared people that day, but of all people, why would Cedric be the most hurt by it...