Pen Pals [Cedric Diggory]

chapter fourteen

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"Did you hear? The Twisted Sisters are supposedly performing later tonight," said Cho, her arm linked with Cedric as they walked from the Ravenclaw Tower in the direction of the Great Hall.

"I couldn't say I ever listened to them," said Cedric.

A dramatic gasp left Cho immediately after. But Cedric was telling the truth, he always had himself more of a sports person than a music person, so listening to any music was a rarity even if it was the most popular band in Wizarding World. He gave Cho no room to complain with a side-eye look.

"I'm sure you'll love them." Cho then patted his arm and looked away as if giving an invisible audience some sort of reaction.

They arrived in front of the Great Hall where everyone was slowly gathering – groups of friends, pairs meeting and hugging and only a few people standing completely alone. The door to the Great Hall remained closed, concealing the interior from watchful eyes. Only the prefects knew what it looked like as they were the ones, along with Head Boy and Girl, to decorate it under the supervision of Professor McGonagall. Cedric did not help as he was relieved of all prefect duties since becoming the champion. He couldn't even say that he missed any of the mandatory activities he had to do last year.

Cedric's eyes scanned the crowd in search of his friends, who had left the dorm way before him and surely must have been here already. Luckily Maeve and Anthony were not hard to spot.

"At least tie your bowtie Anthony, you look like a mess."

"But it looks cool this way. I can't be like everybody else." Anthony's bowtie was loosely hanging from his neck. He looked as though he had already gone through a party, not before starting one.

"If I can't fight you on your gelled-up spiky hair, I'll fight you on this." Maeve pointed a finger at him and narrowed her eyes for good measure.

"Calm your tits, Mae. I – " Anthony's head snapped to the approaching pair. "Cedric! Cho! At last!"

"Hi," Cho greeted timidly.

"Malcolm still out of sight?" asked Cedric.

"Haven't seen him since we left the dorm." Anthony shrugged.

Cedric felt eyes on him and looked to his left at the exact moment Maeve moved her eyes away. Her hair was tied in a low bun, a few rogue blond curls escaping here or there. Her dress was a very shiny teal colour, which matched the teal of Anthony's bowtie. And on second thought, Anthony really did look like a mess standing next to his dance partner.

"Come on, Rickett, fix this." Cedric motioned to the bow tie.

"But I don't know how to," Anthony complained.

"So that was the problem all along?" Maeve asked in disbelief.

She didn't hesitate to grab the bowtie and start tying it instead of him. Cedric's smile turned into a sly one as he watched Anthony stiffen with his chin raised. Anthony's eyes narrowed at his friend but he couldn't do much else, while Maeve's hands worked so very close to his neck.

"There. Now you're pretty." Cedric chuckled as she was done.

Maeve sent him an appreciative smile. Her eyes then caught something behind Cedric. First, surprise washed all over her features, raised eyebrows and open mouth, and then she smiled again. Cedric turned around in curiosity and his eyes sought out an approaching Malcolm. He stood out among the mass of males dressed in black with his dark blue suit and his suit jacket over his shoulder, giving more of the white of his shirt. And linked with his arm was Kiera Mason, matching with a dark blue dress as well.