The Marauder's heiress returns

A badger in the pack

Sorry, everyone. This is a short chapter and most certainly not the best but I just wanted to get one out.
It has been decided that Mattheo Riddle will be joining the next year, not entirely sure how yet but either way, I hope you will enjoy it!

Cedric sat opposite the headmaster, his attention focused on the arm of the old man's glasses instead of his twinkling eyes, as instructed by Adelaide. He had spent the last three minutes half heartedly listening to Dumbledore talk about the positives of being a Hufflepuff. As if he knew what it was like to be a badger, Cedric scoffed internally.

"Friends found at Hogwarts are important, Mr. Diggory, but don't forget that they can come and go quite quickly. Hufflepuff has a reputation—some good and some bad. While members of this house are often overlooked, which is unfortunate, the last thing I want, dear child, is for you to feel left out simply because you are part of that house."

Cedric frowned slightly, not quite sure where the headmaster was going with his comments. "I'm not sure I understand, headmaster"

Dumbledore let out a soft sigh, though a look of annoyance flashed through his eyes. "You have been spending time with Miss Potter and her... gang" The Hufflepuff immediately caught the tense tone when Adelaide and the pack were mentioned.

"It's Lady Potter-Black, headmaster and yes, I spend time with them. They're my friends, after all," Dumbledore's jaw clenched under his long white beard, hearing the loyalty and affection he held for the girl who lived and her friends.

"I'm glad to hear that, Mr Diggory but I couldn't help but notice you are often... what's the word? — excluded in their little clique" Cedric gritted his teeth, his hands clenched on his lap as he realized what the headmaster was trying to accomplish. To distract himself from lashing out, he turned his attention to the wall filled with portraits and made eye contact with a familiar man he had seen at Potter Manor. Phineas Black gave a subtle nod before disappearing from view, having noticed a certain expression in his descendant's friend's eyes.

"Not sure I understand-" The door to the headmaster's office was suddenly thrown open, revealing three people unlikely to stand together on normal occasions.

"Dad?!" Cedric jumped up, shocked to see his father standing at the door along with Lord Black and Professor McGonagall. He briefly wondered where Professor Flitwick was until he appeared from behind the group along with Lord Longbottom.

"Hello, Son-" Lord Amos Diggory greeted before turning to the headmaster, his face hardening at the sight of him. Albus, however, sat tense in his seat as he looked over the group of powerful Lords standing in his office. He knew Black and his two professors were close, Miss Granger had expressed her theory on the two having some sort of relationship with his pawn and her gang of... disgraces and so Albus has every right to assume that the father of Neville Longbottom will immediately have an in.

"Albus, long time no speak-" Albus shifted in his seat, never hearing such a cold tone spoken from Amos' lips before. The Diggory Lord moved forward and sat on the chair beside his son's, his back straight and face emotionless. "I think it's about time we have a conversation regarding my heir, don't you?"

Frank and Sirius stood beside the two Diggorys, while Minerva and Filius leaned against the bookshelf to the left, their eyes keenly assessing the headmaster. Suddenly, the air in the office thickened and crackled with dark, alluring magic, causing Dumbledore to tense even more in his seat. His once twinkling eyes now wide with fear as he looked around frantically.  The moment he spotted a figure stepping out of the shadows on the opposite end of his office, he jumped up from his seat with his wand pointing towards it.

"Seriously, Dumbledore? What could you possibly do with that?" A proud smirk appeared on four faces, while the two Diggorys stared wide-eyed. Sure, Cedric had felt Adelaide's magic before but never had she shown it to this extent, nor did she sound so taunting.