Cordelia Lyra Malfoy had always been different from the rest of her family. Her family were blood-supremacists who tried to teach their views to their children. Cordelia never believed with their views and would be punished for it.
She never felt a...
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On the train to Hogwarts, Cedric and Cordelia sat in their usual compartment with their friends, and they were up to their usual antics of jokes and Exploding Snap. When the train got closer to the station, the girls went to the bathroom to change into school uniforms. Fred watched the girls leave, not taking his eyes off Cordelia until the door was fully closed. He wouldn't admit to himself yet, but his feelings for her had increased over the last year. Not having her there for a few months when she was Petrified solidified how much he cared for her. George's teasing had been correct; he did indeed have a crush on Cordelia. He just wasn't willing to admit it out loud (or even to himself) because he was afraid of the rejection that would come from it.
"So, Cedric... What is going on between you and Cordelia?" Fred inquired once he knew the girls were out of earshot. Cedric smirked, guessing why Fred was asking him this question.
"I love her. She is my best friend. I know her better than she knows herself, and she knows me better than I do. I would do anything to protect her and keep her safe," said Cedric as he smirked mischievously, watching Fred's hopeful expression fall. But Cedric couldn't keep up the joking act as he observed Fred's pitiful expression. "I vlove her... As a sister."
Fred didn't say anything as his brother and friends watched the interaction. His bexpression of disappointment and jealousy changed as he grew more hopeful once more at that statement.
"Can you three keep a secret between us?" asked Cedric, who had decided he could trust the boys with his secret when all of the boys nodded. "My parents are trying to get parental custody over Cordelia. They are trying to legally adopt her and when they do, she will truly and officially be my sister."
Fred's small smile grew into a grin with this information. He was still relieved at their platonic, sibling-like relationship status, but he was happy to hear that the girl will finally have the family she deserves.
"Bloody hell. That's huge!" George, exclaimed. "Why wouldn't it work out, though? Everything seems great with your family."
"it's not that," Cedric informed the boys. "There's a lot that can go wrong. They have to hire a Ministry social worker to give approval. The Malfoys have to agree to it, too. My parents might need a lawyer if they refuse... And after all that, it comes down to her choice."
"And she has no clue?" asked Lee. "How are you able to keep this big a secret?"
"Of course I can't keep it a secret if I told you lot." Cedric declared. "But seriously, you can't say anything. She doesn't know. She did hear part of the conversation, though not all of it. She thought we were getting rid of her at first, but I told her we had a surprise. She thought we were getting her a puppy." Cedric chuckled, remembering their dramatic conversation and Cordelia's panicked attempt to run away.
