prospicere futurum | fred weasley | cedric diggory

20

Corinne tucked the soft fabric of her scarf closer around her neck, even as the warmth from the castle took over the chill that had sank into her bones from the long, winding walk back from Hogsmeade. It had been a lovely lunch and a lovely trip, even with the blistery cold, and she could still feel the warmth that had flooded her chest as she had watched Cedric laugh and smile down at her and kiss her goodbye before hurrying off to the Quidditch practice he had almost let himself be himself late for.

She started up the steps, looking forward to finding her roommates and perhaps spending the rest of the evening in bed with at least a dozen blankets and a good book before she heard a low whistle from the dark corridor to her left, the fire from the lanterns dancing along the walls and illuminating the figure as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Look at you, Baker... Bit cold out for a skirt that short, isn't it?" McClaggen called as he neared her, and Corinne slowed as she neared the next staircase, whirling around to face the Gryffindor, her mouth pulling into a sneer before she had even realized.

"Excuse me?" She scoffed, watching annoyance take over the smirk on his face.

"Oh, lighten up. That was a compliment."

"Funny. Try keeping them to yourself."

"Oh, Corinne, don't play games. You're just loving all this attention, aren't you, you little traitor? Short skirts, dating Cedric Diggory, playing the helpless victim while he pulls you from the lake in front of the whole school?"

"You're delusional." She rolled her eyes, starting up the steps again, her stomach dropping when he raced forwards, stopping her in her tracks.

"I'm not the one treating everyone like they're beneath her all of the sudden. You think dating a champion makes you one too?" He was grinning, as if all of his words were coming out much more frightening than they really were, though Corinne didn't like the lack of space he was giving her, or the nasty look in his eye. "How about this, Baker. No one even knew your name at the start of term, and now you're dating golden boy and strutting around in little outfits." His fingers slid along the fabric of her tights for only a second before she jumped back, her hand surrounding the railing before she could trip down the steps.

"Don't touch me-"

"As if you're not letting Diggory do a whole lot more than that... He had half the school pining after him even before he was a Hogwarts Champion." He mocked, "So don't even try to act like you're not putting out. And when he's done with you, you'll just move onto the next boy who will touch you, and maybe I won't be waiting around anymore after the way you've treated me-"

She hardly hesitated, her hand flying forward and landing on his cheek with a sharp smack, her skin stinging immediately before she spun and raced back down the staircase, ignoring McClaggen's screams and threats as she ran.

She wasn't sure where she was going, only that she wouldn't let him see her cry or know how badly her hand was stinging as she shoved it deeper into the pocket of her coat.

-don't even try to act like you're not putting out.

She huffed, finally slowing down as she reached the next intersection of corridors, scanning wildly left and right before choosing the emptiest one and resuming her march.

-when he's done with you,

"Ugh." She groaned, leaning against the wall at last and hardly caring about the chill eating through her jacket from the stone as she pulled her hand from her pocket, scanning over the fiery red skin.