Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 4- Ch. 51

"Where did she get that idea?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Clearly Creevey." Said Daphne. She looked at Céline. "Since when were you and Diggory in a loving and passionate relationship?" She asked with a smirk. "And you never told your best friend? I'm hurt." She joked.

"I— I'm not!" Céline stuttered out. Her face had turned beat red. She felt so embarrassed that her name was in an article, specifically for something like a relationship and unrequited love. She looked at Harry so looked just as embarrassed.

Harry look around and noticed other students around reading the Daily Prophet. He sighed knowing this was going to be another problem.

"They have your full name in the article, Cél." Daphne spoke up again, "what if your parents see it?"

"If they do... I suppose I'm lucky that I won't be going home for Christmas. I'll probably just get a strongly worded letter." She said, dreading the thought.

"I just hope you'll be okay here. Cedric is a really popular guy. A lot of girls like him." Harry said, already dreading how the school react and treat them because of this article.

"I'm sure it won't be that bad. Besides we're not even dating. I can just tell them it's not true." Said Céline.

How she was wrong.

The three headed to the Great Hall for dinner, on the way there they got a lot of looks. Many were snickering at Harry, while a lot of the girls were glaring at Céline. If looks to could kill, Céline would be at the bottom of Black Lake.

Once they entered they felt like a lot of people were looking at them, Harry found Hermione at the table and said bye to Céline and Daphne. She smiled and waved to him, before walking to her table with Daphne.

Just before sitting down, Cedric came up to her with an awkward smile.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" He asked, he ignored the looked they were getting, specifically the glare he got from a certain platinum-haired boy.

Céline's cheeks turned a little pink and nodded. She placed her bag down and she followed him out of the Great Hall, down the hall until they found a little alcove away from prying eyes.

They stood in front of each other for a moment in silence. Both unsure of what to say until Cedric finally broke the silence.

"So.." he cleared his throat. "Did you see the article that came out?"

"Oh... er- yes. I did." She said, her hands fiddling with her robes. "I didn't know we were in a passionate relationship." She gave out a little nervous laugh.

He gave out his nervous chuckle, "apparently so... I actually wanted to talk to you about that." His cheeks turned a little pink. "I, well— er-" he struggled to say what he wanted. She looked at him in confusion, since she wasn't understanding what he was trying  to say. He took a deep breath.

"I like you, and I wanted to know if we can make the relationship part of the article true, that is, if you felt the same way." He finally said. Céline's eyes widened.

She was speechless, Cedric just told her that he liked her. So many things rushed in her mind. Did she like him back? She definitely had a crush on him. She's never had a crush on anyone before. Was that enough to say yes?... yes? Was she too young? Was the age gap going to be a problem? She didn't know.