Spawn of Azkaban

Chapter Five

Song for the chapter: Rosyln-- Bon Ivner and St. Vincent

The next day seems to go by excruciatingly slow. Bianca's heart was beating a thousand miles per minute all day. She could only nibble at her food because her stomach was in knots thinking about going to therapy later today. Bianca and Cedric knew each other from both being in Hufflepuff. They'd exchange hellos and short conversations here and there, but were never super close. Today she seemed to see him everywhere she went or maybe she was just more aware of him.

At lunch, she kept stealing glances down the table at him. One time he looked up and the two made eye contact. He gave her a charming smirk that made caused her to blush and grin shyly back. She understood why so many girls swoon over him.

"Why're you making googly eyes at Cedric Diggory?" Lee asks a look of disgust on his face.

The girl's face grows even hotter as all of her friends stare at her with smirks. "I-I wasn't," she argues back but her voice is not convincing.

"Does Bianca have a crush?" Fred sings wiggling his shoulders suggestively.

"Absolutely not," she answers, this time sterner. She lowers her voice before adding, "If you must know we're going to therapy at the same building tonight."

"Now that's a date if I've ever heard one," George says sarcastically. They all stare at him in silence for a second before bursting out laughing.

Bianca can't help but glance down at Cedric again to see him deep in conversation with Cho Chang. Sure Cedric was attractive in that popular, pretty-boy way. She's never really thought about dating though, she's been so focused on staying under the radar. Having a boyfriend wouldn't be the worst thing, but it's not at the top of her priorities. Plus Cedric wasn't Bianca's type and he's obviously into Cho.

The rest of the day is more of the same nervousness. By the time Bianca is walking to Dumbledore's office, her legs are shaking so bad it's hard to ascend the stairs. She grips the railing hard, her knuckles turning white from the force. She breathes in through her nose and out through her mouth shakily, trying to calm herself. She knocks lightly on the door when she reaches it.

"Come in," Dumbledore calls in his usually calm tone. This makes her feel slightly better as she walks through the door. Cedric is sitting in the chair across from Dumbledore. He turns and they meet eyes as Bianca walks over to the two of them. Cedric gives the same smirk from earlier and Bianca's nerves calm even more. "Well now that the two of you are here, I just want to go over the rules for Bianca. You two will be traveling by the Floo Network and will end up right in the lobby of the facility. You guys will stick together while you are in Hogsmeade, waiting for the other after your appointment. If you wish to eat dinner in Hogsmeade you will have to go together, and you only get an hour. Otherwise, the two of you can come back here and grab something from the kitchen. Understood?" Bianca nods from Dumbledore gives her a smile and a little wink. "On your way then."

Cedric goes first, stepping into the green glowing fireplace. "St. Mungo's Mental Health Facility," he says clearly and loudly. The flames grow higher around him before he is pulled up through the fireplace.

"Alright then Bianca, it's your turn," Dumbledore encourages, holding out the bag of Floo powder. "Everything will be just fine."

She must have looked as sick as she felt for Dumbledore to add those encouraging words. The girl grimaces before repeating the same thing as Cedric and experiencing the same soaring sensation he most likely felt. Various rooms pass as she travels through the Network, but none stay long enough for her to make them out. This doesn't help the girl's upset stomach so she clenches her eyes shut until she feels still again.