The Boy In My Dreams -HEDRIC (1)

20.(CH) the only exception

CEDRIC

L

Harry gave Hagrid a short goodbye hug, and the man barely kept the tears from his eyes. Cedric looked in another direction, himself threatened by the moisture in his, to give them privacy. The professor was very fond of animals, and having to say goodbye to one like that...

It was just awful.

Cedric didn't forget to thank him for the invitation and they stepped out into the warm afternoon air. Not a word was spoken for several long minutes, both plunged into a shared silence.

"I wish I could do something," Harry muttered halfway, looking at the ground. "Sometimes I think... I don't know, that Draco enjoys making others suffer, especially if I'm related in some way. Hagrid is the closest thing I have to a family, and it sucks to see him like this and not being able to do anything to change it."

How Cedric would have liked to have a solution to offer.

Or had the courage to hug him as he wanted.

He wasn't sure if it would be well received, even though he remembered that day in the forest. Neither did he know then if their recent friendship was on such terms and it seemed to him that it had made Harry nervous. After arriving at the castle entrance, Harry thanked him for his company. Cedric placed a hand on his arm, moving it gently over the fabric of his robes, in an affectionate gesture that he couldn't contain. For a moment he was afraid that he had made him uncomfortable, but Harry threw him one last small smile before heading up the stairs to his common room.

LI

He was aware that there was probably nothing he could do to help.

That didn't mean he wasn't going to try. He headed back out of the castle to the greenhouse, where he discussed the situation with Professor Sprout. She was saddened to hear the resolution of the whole affair, and she assured that she would drop by to visit Hagrid that very day. Unsure whether there was anything else she could do, it seemed an atrocity to her to condemn a creature. Mr. Malfoy had made a wonderful recovery , she said, but it was his family who had insisted to the end.

Dumbledore had done everything in his power to stop it.

He even hired a specialized magic lawyer.

"Money and social status, Cedric, are sometimes stronger than justice."

She looked just as dejected and disappointed as he was.

LII

In addition to probably not working, the other idea he had was also lousy. His entire body refused to do such a thing, but he had to try talking to Draco. He might be able to forgive the creature at the last moment. Maybe he wasn't such a pitiful person.

Everyone must have a compassionate side.

One that Draco certainly didn't show with Harry, and that was why Cedric was the only one who could try.

He hoped they could keep a civil conversation.

"What do you think you're doing by talking to me?" Draco questioned right when he greeted him, surprised in the worst way.

It was already going as wrong as he knew it could go.

Cedric gathered courage and decided to calmly explain the case.

His experience as a prefect helped him face confrontations before, mostly as a third person intervening, but it was something. He figured Draco wouldn't disrespect a fifth year with a badge. Not that Cedric liked to use his claimed authority, though he might find it convenient at times.