metanoia - cedric diggory

chapter nineteen

December 30th, 1994

It had only been a few days since Clementine left Hogwarts to go home to her parents but her absence made everything feel like it had been going much slower.

Although he spent months not speaking to her, this time felt much harder and lonelier. He stayed at school to research the Triwizard Tournament more, figure out his next moves, and so on.

Knowing that she was far away this time around, she was probably positively thinking of him, making sleeping and studying much more difficult.

Cedric sat in the library alone, glancing up to see the few students that stuck around, observing them as they laughed with their groups of friends.

Without a second thought, he reached for his quill and began to write a letter to the girl he loved and longed for.

"Dear Clem,
The holiday has been difficult without you but I hope you and your parents are having a lovely time. Tell them I said hello, please."

He stopped for a minute, twirling the quill around his fingers, feeling the feather in between his index and middle fingers. His thoughts wanted him to write about how much he missed her, how much he wished to press his lips against hers, how lonely he felt without feeling her hand.

Unfortunately, Clementine got frightened by words and their meanings. He knew of her tendencies before, but this year taught him to tread carefully when it came to his affection.

She was probably thinking of how the Yule Ball came about, how everyone knew they were finally embracing their relationship, and he knew it scared her.

Especially with everything going down with the Death Eaters and such, he knew she was terrified right now. Probably talking to her mother, lying on her chest, and pretending it didn't happen the next day.

Cedric pondered what it would be like when she came back, knowing she had so much time alone with her thoughts and fears, the poor girl had always been an overthinker.

"Hopefully when you return, I'll know my next move in the tournament. Thinking of you, Ced."

Short and simple, he thought. Nothing for her to overthink or get nervous about, just simple and sweet.

Cedric tucked the note in his bag, ready to be sent out whenever, and continued to read different history books.

He headed to the Great Hall for dinner, humming to himself and glaring up to the portraits on the wall, thinking of all of their stories and lives.

Much to his surprise, there sat George and Fred at a table, eating and laughing loudly, thinking of how funny the other twin was.

"Hello boys," He said as he sat beside one of the boys. "What brings you back so early?"

Fred had a face full of something unknown, waving his hand for his brother to speak. George cracked a smile and shook his head playfully.

"We snuck out of the house, you know how bloody mad that household can get around the hallways." He chuckled, giving Cedric a short shrug.

"And Hermione is there, they'll never know we're gone. Probably head back there soon." Fred added, adding another spoonful into his mouth.