Hogwarts had just closed its doors for another year, and the long-awaited summer had finally begun. While your friends filled their calendars with plans for trips to Diagon Alley, beach getaways, and endless hangouts, you found yourself drawn to the quiet calm of your own home.
There was something peaceful about being here, away from the rush of the school corridors and the noise of the common rooms. You cherished the mornings when sunlight streamed through your window, casting a warm glow across your room and the afternoons when you could hear nothing but the soft rustling of leaves outside. It was the kind of quiet that made everything feel suspended, like time had slowed down just for you.
You could spend hours like this—reading, daydreaming, or simply staring out the window, watching the clouds lazily drift by. The familiar creak of the old wooden floors under your feet and the distant sound of your dad humming as he went about his day were small comforts that made this place feel like a sanctuary. But deep down, you knew this peaceful solitude wouldn't last long. As much as you enjoyed these quiet moments, your dad had his own plans for your summer.
After years of working at the Ministry of Magic, your dad had developed a strong bond with Amos Diggory. Their friendship had grown so close over time that they were practically inseparable. Whether it was working late on Ministry projects or attending events together, your dad and Amos were always side by side. Their connection went beyond being coworkers—it was the kind of friendship where they could rely on each other for anything.
Because of this, it wasn't surprising that their families had become intertwined as well.
At Hogwarts, you and Cedric didn't interact much. Your paths crossed only in the hallways or during meals, but your conversations were brief and casual. No one at Hogwarts knew that your lives were more intertwined than they appeared. To everyone else, you were just two students who barely exchanged more than a few words. What they didn't know was that, outside of the castle walls, you had been seeing Cedric every summer for as long as you could remember. It was a well-kept secret, one that you didn't feel the need to share. After all, the quiet bond you shared during those warm summer days felt like a different world altogether, one that had nothing to do with the bustling life of Hogwarts.
Even during the summer, when it was just the two of you away from the noise of Hogwarts, you didn't talk much to Cedric. Your conversations were limited to polite small talk—just enough to keep things from feeling awkward but never delving into anything too deep. It wasn't that you didn't like him; you simply didn't feel the need to fill the silence with meaningless chatter. Cedric, for his part, didn't seem to mind. He was content to sit next to you in comfortable silence, matching your quiet energy. Sometimes you'd find him reading a book or watching the clouds with you, perfectly at ease without the pressure to speak. It was as if both of you understood that there was no need for words, and that made the silence between you feel natural rather than uncomfortable.
"Let's go!" your dad called out from downstairs, his voice cutting through the peaceful quiet of your room. You sighed softly, knowing the moment had come. Pushing yourself up from your desk, you made your way to the door. As you walked down the creaky stairs, you saw your dad waiting at the bottom, a wide grin spread across his face. He looked almost childlike in his excitement, eager to see Amos again, even though they'd only parted ways a few hours earlier at the Ministry. His enthusiasm was contagious, even if you couldn't quite match it.
"Ready?" he asked, barely able to contain his joy.
"Yeah," you replied, placing your hand on your dad's arm, ready to Apparate to the Diggorys'. The familiar tension of magical travel already began to stir in your chest, but just as your dad prepared to take you both away, he paused. You noticed a shift in his expression, his usual carefree smile fading into something more thoughtful. He glanced at you out ofthe corner of his eye, a curious, almost suspicious glint there.
