Amelia Phelps was an anomaly-a rare Muggle-born in Slytherin, never expected her sixth year at Hogwarts to spiral into chaos. A chance encounter with a mysterious woman in a dark alley unlocked secrets she wasn't ready to face, and falling for Cedri...
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"We are not doing that again," Amelia declared the moment they slipped inside the empty classroom. She pressed her back against the door, heart still hammering in her chest. Across from her, Cedric exhaled a breathless chuckle, running a hand through his tousled hair. There were beads of sweat on his forehead, and his tie had come loose in the rush. "That's the last time I'm ripping pages from a book."
Cedric grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. "Who said anything about ripping pages?" He reached into his robes and pulled out a rather thick, leather-bound book.
Amelia's eyes widened. "Merlin's beard, Cedric—" She straightened from the door. "I never suspected you as someone who'd do something like that."
"I try to have character," he said, entirely too pleased with himself. He placed the book on a nearby desk and pulled out two chairs, dropping into one. With an easy smile, he gestured to the other. "Every now and then, at least."
Amelia folded her arms but took the seat beside him. "Character? You're the nice one. You're supposed to be the nice one. I should be the one causing trouble."
Cedric leaned back, crossing his arms and legs in a way that made him look both relaxed and amused. "Can't I be both?" He tilted his head slightly. "And you're not trouble, by the way. You're just Amelia."
She narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He hesitated, studying her for a moment before answering. "Just that... you're you. You're usually quiet—observant. But when something matters to you, really matters, you don't just sit back. You fight for it." His voice was steady, but there was something thoughtful about the way he said it. "You get this look in your eyes—like you've already decided you're going to figure it out, no matter what."
Amelia blinked, caught off guard. "That's... oddly perceptive of you."
Cedric grinned. "Told you. I have character." He nudged the book toward her. "And right now, I also have stolen property. So, are we reading this, or are we just going to sit here and admire my moral downfall?"
Amelia eyed him for a long moment before shaking her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I can't believe you, Diggory."
"Believe it," he said, flipping open the book. "Now, let's see if this was worth risking detention for."
"Hold on." Amelia hastily dug into her pocket, fingers closing around a crumpled piece of parchment. She pulled it out and smoothed it against the desk, though the ink was already smudging at the edges. "I've got this. I don't know if it answers anything, but it's all I could manage to get. There wasn't enough time."
"It's alright," Cedric said easily. "Better something than nothing, right?"
"I suppose," Amelia murmured, glancing between the parchment and the book. After a moment, she exhaled sharply and tapped a finger against the page. "Who are we figuring out first? Anastasia Black—" she gestured toward the book "—or the Red Woman?" She motioned toward the crumpled paper.
