Darkest Hours (A Cedric Diggory Fanfic)

Chapter 12: Surprise

McGonagall announced the Yule Ball that would take place right before Christmas break. The girls were all extremely excited while the boys fell under the pressure of asking a girl out.

Kiara leaned against a pillar while Angelina and Nathan sat on the steps that led down to the courtyard which was covered in snow. Morgan sat on the space between Kiara's pillar and the next one. Fred and George were next to her, claiming to do potions homework, but when had they ever willingly done homework?

Ron and Harry made up the night of the First Task, so the trio and some of their friends joined them as they killed time before dinner after classes that day.

"Has anyone asked you yet?" Morgan asked her while they people watched.

Kiara shrugged, "No one I said yes to."

Morgan laughed, "Same," then she turned and smacked George, "who are you asking to the Ball?"

"Jeez, woman," George frowned, rubbing his arm, "obviously not you."

Morgan rolled her eyes, "Thank you for sparing me from crushing your heart."

"How are you supposed to ask any of them when they all travel in packs?" Harry asked and his friends nodded in agreement.

"Girls like confidence," Morgan told the boys, "we want to see if you're man enough to come up to us while we're with our girlfriends and pull us aside."

As Kiara's best friend gave tips to the younger boys, she looked up to find Cedric looking at her, clearly not paying any attention to what his best friends were saying. He looked good, dressed in Hufflepuff colors and a black overcoat. His hands were shoved into his coat pockets and the collar of his coat stood up to block the chilly November air. Kiara's heart skipped a beat. They hadn't talked since that day in the corridors but it had been a hectic too. They only saw each other in passing, in class, or in the Great Hall for meals. They hadn't been sneaking around either, not since the night of the First Task. Kiara wasn't sure why she looked at him when Morgan started talking about the Ball. Of course, she wanted him to ask her, but so did half the female population. The Beauxbatons girls were really trying hard to get his attention.

Cedric gave her a smile before he looked back to engage in his friends' conversations. But when he looked at her again, she smiled back and gave him a small wave. He said something to his friends. Anthony shoved Cedric out of their circle, smiling as the boys turned to watch him walk up to Kiara.

"Hey there, stranger," Cedric started with a small smile.

"Hey. Haven't seen you much lately," Kiara said, taking a step closer to him and away from her friends.

"I know, I'm sorry. I was hoping to see you today though."

Kiara couldn't help but smile as she said, "I've been here forever hoping you'd come over."

"Gag," Fred commented behind them, causing Cedric to look past Kiara to notice their audience.

Cedric shook his head, smiling at them before he looked at Kiara, groaning, "Please don't be like those fangirls."

Kiara fixed his scarf's fold as she said, "I have absolutely no intentions of being one of your fangirls begging for your attention."

"Because you already have it," he assured her.

"My baby cousin, Diggory, baby cousin," George warned and Kiara could only imagine the pointed look he must have been attempting to pull off.

"George get out of here! You're ruining this moment for your baby cousin!" Morgan yelled at him and Kiara groaned, tugging on Cedric's scarf.