warmth - cedric diggory

after the last task

athena, belle, edmund, ivy, and the rest of the student population at hogwarts stood in the stands at the place where the last task ended. athena watched mr. diggory speak to their professors, laughing and talking highly of his son. she couldn't wait to tell him all about it.

athena already knew she didn't care if cedric won, she didn't mind picking up the pieces of him that wish he would've tried harder or something along those sorts, she just wanted him back safe and sound next to her.

no one really knew how long the task would take or how long they'd be allowed to stand there, but it felt like it had been days. edmund had non-stop been cracking jokes and the women around him, telling them dumbledore told him he was the second pick for the champion.

ivy went to correct him multiple times, not standing for his lies and flirting, but belle stopped her every time, allowing him to have his few moments of fame. the girls couldn't help but laugh at their loud gasps and blushed cheeks.

at the clock ticked on, the nerves inside her grew more and more. she questioned how long this should've taken, attempting to read the judges faces, beginning to feel a large lump in her throat. something didn't feel right.

"you doing alright, thena?" belle questioned, noticing her eyebrows knitting themselves together. the friend placed a hand on her knee, leaning in closer to let her know she wasn't alone.

"just a little worried, you know? they didn't explain much of what would be happening." athena replied, grasping belle's hand and giving it a tight squeeze.

"if anyone on this planet can do this and win, it's your boy." edmund reached his arm behind ivy to touch athena's back, giving her back a few comforting touches. ivy put her hand on top of the girls and smiled, giving them both a squeeze.

athena smiled at their support, thankful she had such a loving group of individuals around her. "thank you guys." she enjoyed their reassurance, but it still didn't bring cedric back.

before edmund could crack one last joke, a sudden spark appeared at the bottom of the stands, fleur snd krum had already returned, so it could've only met one thing.

the crowd grew loudly silent as they waited for the spark to disappear, this was their champion. the spark revealed a bruised and bloody harry potter.

his glasses seemed to be cracked and his face was covered in scratches and bruises, his chest rose heavily as he held the cup in one hand.

attached to the same cup, stood an out of breath, cedric diggory. his face was also covered in scratches and blood, but the smile on his face seemed to cover it up.

the students around them erupted in screams and cheers, chanting their names loudly, and jumping around in the crowd. the friend group stood up and screamed, clapping their hands as loud as ever.

athena let out a loud sigh of relief and began laughing as they all hugged one another, proud and glowing from the joy of seeing his face once again.

mr diggory hugged his boy tightly, gripping his shoulders, and yelling words they couldn't hear. a large proud grin tattooed his face as he held his boys hand in the air, gaining more and more screams.

athena couldn't help but run down to him, engulfing him in the tightest hug we had ever received. cedric let go of the cup, picking her up and spinning her in the air.

"you did it, cedric!" she screamed loudly, laughing harder than ever before. she knew he could pull it off, but anxiety also got in her head the second he left her sight.

"i cant believe it! thena, it was insane in there-" he began to explain and was cut off by the rest of the group giving him large hugs, congratulating him against his own odds.

athena stepped back, knowing she would be able to hear about it all later, and walked over to harry potter.

she gave him a congratulations and a soft hug, telling him how insanely proud of him everyone was. she almost mentioned his parents, but decided someone with more knowledge on them would.

"harry potter and cedric diggory have won the triwizard tournament!" dumbledore exclaimed loudly, a sense of relief and happiness spread across his cheeks.

the rest of the night was spent in cedric's room as he explained all the details of the maze and the twists and turns. athena was furious at the professors for letting them into such dangerous territory, but she couldn't take any of it back now.

they all just laughed and asked questions and then later watched the other schools leave the ways they arrived.

athena had made the executive decision to spend the night in his room, knowing they would never be caught because no one ever seemed to check, and they only had a few more days of their sixth year left.

"i cant believe you did all that, ced." she mumbled, looking up at the ceiling above them. all of the running, fear, obstacles he had to face within the maze scared her.  

how such a loving, warm boy could face all of that, she had no idea. she knew she wasn't able to do it, but was thankful cedric came out strong.

"me either, honestly." cedric replied, remembering the times the bushes almost sucked him in. it was a terrifying experience, but now he had the chance to drown in the popularity that came after it.

he didn't care about the popularity and fame, although it was nice, he knew he was fighting for another chance to see athena.

"if i didn't have you to look forward to after, i'm not sure if i would've made it." cedric said, moving his body to the side to face her.

her familiar face and warm features always made his stomach churn in a good way, he always felt light and fuzziness when he looked at her.

athena glanced up to him, scrunching her noise as she giggled quietly, studying the freckles on his cheeks.

"there's no way, ced. you would've done it with or without me." she had never experienced such unconditional love and happiness before this year, his love was nothing like the love her friends brought her.

although she loved her friends more than anything, none of them made her feel like he did. the way his eyes immediately smiled as he looked to her, the comfort she felt when he was around, the laughs he gave her just by saying one word.

"that's not true at all. i thought of you during the tournament, i thought of how much i needed to get back in one piece just for the chance to see you one more time." his words were true and convincing.

athena felt her cheeks burning, knowing she would never get used to the love he offered her. in this moment, she knew there was never going to be another cedric. there was never going to be another person for her.

"i am deeply in love with you, athena rosewood. nothing will ever change that." cedric spoke softly, moving a brunette hair away from her face.

"and you are the only person for me, cedric diggory. i would spend forever searching for you once again." she responded, leaning in to kiss him one more time for the night.

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