High Hopes {h.granger}

Seven

They'd gained two new members, one of whom the twins were unhappy with. Cedric Diggory was in the year above them, a bright and vibrant seventh-year and Hufflepuff's very attractive Quidditch captain. Not that she'd thought about it. Okay, maybe. She'd seen him around the castle and he'd always said hello to her in the corridors. Nora never really asked how he knew her name. Maybe she would now.

She saw an opportunity as Amos and Arthur began chatting whilst Fred and George grumbled about Quidditch and glared at Cedric. Nora sidled up next to Cedric who beamed at her, happy to see someone who wasn't blaming him for Gryffindor's Quidditch loss last year.

"Hi Nora, I didn't know you liked the world cup," Cedric greeted, rubbing his hands slightly for warmth. "Or is this another thing the Weasley twins have roped you in to?"

Nora laughed, casting her eyes towards Fred who was whispering furiously at George as he eyed Nora and Cedric. "I do like Quidditch," Cedric's mouth made a round 'o' shape in surprise. "Playing is alright and the thrill of being on a broom is a feeling like no other,"

"I can agree with that," Cedric nodded, a faraway look in his eye and Nora was sure he was remembering the last time he'd ridden a broom. "Flying is incredibly freeing."

Nora nodded. "I couldn't do it competitively," She winced, recalling the first and only match she'd played for Gryffindor in second year and how brutal that match had been. "I played one match when I was in second year, but that was it for me. Now I just play through the summer."

"I remember that match, Hooch let Slytherin get away with too much. You were hit by Montague's beaters bat," Cedric turned to her and lifted his hand, his finger going up to trace her temple, right where a scar sat. "Right here, I remember it."

Nora's eyes widened and she could feel the prickle of heat rise from her neck towards her cheeks. The skin of the area he had traced felt like it was on fire. What the hell was that?

Cedric dropped his hand and cleared his throat, as if he'd only just realised what he'd done. He took a step to the side. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me," Nora shook her head but Cedric continued. "You were a good beater, Nora."

"Thank you, Cedric. I hope your team does well this year, though I don't hope you beat Gryffindor," She winked and sent him a smile. "I hope we see more of each other this year."

She was doing her best not to internally panic. Nora's whole body was on fire.

Cedric smiled too. He was quite beautiful, with curly chestnut hair styled in a long mullet. He was taller than her too, which was a feat in itself. Plus he had good fashion sense, something that Nora held high on her checklist of things she was attracted to.

"I hope we see each other too." With that, Nora gave a slight wiggle of her fingers and joined the twins and a furrowed browed Hermione who was glaring at Cedric's profile. Maybe she too was mad at Gryffindor's loss against Hufflepuff. Harry had been injured that day.

Before Fred could even begin to start grumbling about why Cedric had touched her face, the boot they had all been waiting for began to glow blue. The portkey was ready.

Nora was flanked by the twins as they all found a spot in a circle around the portkey. She took a moment to look around. Ron was rubbing his eyes from Harry's left whilst Harry had taken to gazing at Cedric with a thoughtful look on his face. Hermione was staring at a point in the ground with such ferocity that Nora was surprised the grass wasn't on fire.

Then, suddenly, the boot began to blink. They all soared forward and caught the boot, just before it left. This was the first portkey Nora had taken.

Nora decided she hated portkeys.