Dear Thea // Cedric Diggory

00 | prologue

A/N: The prologue is very important for the storyline, please don't skip ⌃-⌃

Five Years Ago
|1990|

Althea Barlos stood on Platform 9 ¾, waiting for the train to arrive with excitement burning in her eyes.

Her mom hadn't felt the need to wave Althea off into her first year, so she had just dropped her off at the station. She wasn't surprised by her mom not waiting, but at this moment she was too thrilled to care.

Althea was ecstatic to finally start learning magic properly, she couldn't wait to get away from home. Unfamiliar faces surrounded her; parents kissing their kids goodbye, older kids heading onto the train, and other nervous first years waiting anxiously to arrive at Hogwarts.

Not knowing anyone there, she decided it would just be better to head onto the express. New and old students bustled around her, trying to find a spare compartment while trudging along their luggage. As Althea walked through the train, the only space she could find was in the very back. Plopping herself down and tucking her bag safely under the seat, she looked out the window.

The loud noise of train wheels turning and a cloud of dark smoke circling the station indicated that the train had started to slowly move. Hundreds of adults were lovingly waving and cheering off their kids as the train began to leave the station.

Althea couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Why did it matter to have her parents there anyway? She thought to herself. Even if hers had come, they wouldn't have truly cared about something as fickle as goodbyes. She had always been used to her parents not giving her much attention. Althea was aware that they tried their best, but they always ended up missing the important stuff. Being that they worked in the Ministry of Magic, she knew that their work schedule greatly overpowered personal time.

Their absences in her life made Althea grow to enjoy spending time by herself, which is why she was so frustrated when the compartment door suddenly slid open.

A young boy in black slacks and a tucked-in collared shirt sat down across from her. Althea turned to him, annoyed that he disturbed her train of thought. He seemed rushed as he attempted to catch his breath. While he tried to form some words, Althea leaned back in her seat and studied him.

His light, honey brown hair was slicked back, which contrasted with his dark gray eyes. He was rather tall for someone who looked to be around her age, and he had prominent features too big for his face; though she felt these would make him popular with the girls when older. Once he got a hold of himself, he realized Althea was staring.

"Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer," the boy started laughing, cracking himself up with his own joke.

"Wow good one, never heard that before," Althea sighed, resting her face on her palm once more to look out the window.

"Sorry...erm, can I sit here? My friends' compartment was full."

Althea wouldn't get her quiet ride to Hogwarts anymore, but she didn't mind that much, "uh, sure, go ahead."

Cedric found his seat and similarly tucked his luggage away.

"So, what's your name?" he questioned.