Dear Thea // Cedric Diggory

08

TW: non consensual groping

Althea;

I'm cuddled closely into one of the dark leather couches lining the Slytherin common room, a book resting in one hand as my other turns the page. Beyond Good & Evil by Neitzsche is my book of choice this morning, a recent addition to my collection of philosophy texts. Kierkegaard, Plato, Kant, and Scanlon were a few of my favorite philosophers, Neitzsche being on the list, too. I had always enjoyed the study of philosophy, it was something I intended to explore even after my time at Hogwarts.

Other students are studying around me, the dim, emerald lights providing just enough light for them to concentrate. It's somewhat quiet, that is until Draco Malfoy and his little pets, Crabbe and Goyle, walk through the room's entrance.

God I hated them.

Draco had a knack for pissing people off, me especially. He strolls through the common room, taking a seat at the couch across from me.

"Reading another one of your stupid muggle books," he sneers.

Setting my book down, I flipped up my middle finger, "piss off."

"Fine," he rolls his eyes, leaving his seat upon my request. 

He's why Slytherins have a bad reputation.

I try picking my book back up again, but I have lost my place and train of thought. So far, I've been doing my best to ignore my plans for later today. I know that when I first confronted Quinn about the bet, I felt like I believed him. But with everything that has happened recently, I'm not sure where I stand. I'm too stressed to even go out today, let alone go on a date with him.

That's not what's plaguing me the most, though; I can't get the picture of Cedric in the library out of my head. It was tormenting me. Over and over again, I'm met with the question of 'why?'. For all I know he's still dating Cho, thus making this even more confusing. I recall what I was like in the library, how a surge of pleasure coursed through me, and although I still can't stand him, I liked what I saw.

Without my permission, something in me seems to have turned itself toward him.

I let out a deep, exhausted sigh upon realizing that sitting here and worrying myself sick isn't going to help. Checking my watch, the time reads close to 11:30. I might as well get up and go, I'm supposed to meet Quinn in the entrance hall at 12'.

/

Quinn is standing where we promised to meet. I'll admit, he looks nice, but there's no way in hell I'm leaning into the whole date thing. I'm just here to get this over with as quickly as possible.

Our walk into Hogsmeade is fine but boring. I'm intentionally dry, not wanting to give too much to the conversation. I bring up baseless things like our classes or the weather, but Quinn won't shut up about the fight from yesterday. I don't need Quinn talking about Cedric, too, for he's been all I can think about.

What bothers me the most is how desperately he is trying to sound innocent in the whole thing. Whatever the real story may be, I saw him hit Cedric, meaning he's in the wrong as well. While we continue walking along the snowy path, a cold wind blows through, making me shiver. January at Hogwarts was beautiful, but freezing. And I don't do cold.

As we make our way through the small, snowy roof-topped array of shops, the warmth being emitted from The Three Broomsticks is practically begging for me to come in. I rush inside the pub, taking my seat close to the crackling fireplace. The inn was warm, crowded, and a bit smokey, but clean and welcoming. There was a mirror behind the bar that reflected the cozy atmosphere, and glasses full of foaming Butterbeer and FireWhiskey were being served.

"I'll go get us something to drink," Quinn offers, "I'll be right back."

And with that he's off. I put my hands close to the fire, my fingers tingle with the return of the heat. Usually I'd love curling up next to the furnace with a Butterbeer, but the circumstances of my visit are preventing me from doing so. After a few minutes, Quinn walks back, placing the piping hot drinks on the table. He sits himself close to me. Very close to me.

"So, what else has been going on with you?" he attempts to spark conversation.

"Nothing much, really," which is the biggest understatement in the world right now, "just studying hard."

"Don't overwork yourself too much, you're already the top student in all of your classes," he laughs.

I suppose he's right, but I hold myself to a high standard, one that I can't let down without hearing the repercussions from my parents.

The more meaningless small talk we share, the more I just want to leave. Quinn is inching closer and closer to me every second, and I don't know if he thinks I'm dull or something, because I can very obviously tell. We're practically hip to hip when I can feel his knee suddenly touch mine, his finger making contact next as he begins to brush it along the side of my leg. He continues, now beginning to glide his hand slightly under my skirt and over my thigh.

My body was frozen, my heart was hammering in my chest, panic overwhelmed my body. I don't know what to do. I want to scream and cry and shout and be anywhere but here right now. But I can't get up and make a scene, he knew that. As he brings his hand up even further, beyond the hem of my skirt, messaging the most inner part of my thigh, I can't take it any longer.

Pushing him away from me, I leapt up from the table.

"You think I'd like that shit? It's not sexy it's disgusting," I grit out while trying to be as fierce yet quiet as possible, hoping to not attract the attention of any others.

"Thea, I-," he tries.

"No," I hissed, cutting him off, "save it for your team. I'm out of here."

I rush out of the inn, trying to make as much distance as I can between me and what just happened. My legs are weak, my heart still moving at thousands of miles per second. I'm walking so fast that I'm almost running towards the school. Suddenly, the cold engulfing me didn't seem so bad; I'd take freezing to death any day over having to go through that again. All I wanted right now was to be cuddled in my warm, safe bed, with Jade stroking my hair, telling me everything was going to be alright. I had a bad feeling about today. My gut instinct was always right, I knew I shouldn't have gone.

Quinn's actions only confirmed what a part of me already knew, the bet had to be real.

A/N: I wanted to add Malfoy in just that one small part at the beginning for any Draco fans, and for the nostalgia, too; 2020 Dracotok was wild, but oh do I miss it <3 I don't think he will be mentioned again in the story. I know this chapter was really short, sorry, but the next chapters are going to be very very spicy, I'll try to update as soon as possible!