The Hufflepuff Child

Chapter Five

The idea for the Bonding Ceremony came from the text post above, I found it intriguing and decided to use it. All credit for the idea to the tumblr user who posted it originally.

Chapter Five

The next morning, Cedric and I are immediately called to Dumbledore's office. "You ready for this?" Cedric asks. I take a deep breath.

"Honestly, no." I say. "It's one thing to read those things, it's another to hear them said."

"Well, no matter how it goes, we have a surprise planned for the first years tonight, so let's just try to just get through this." Cedric says.

"Ooh what is it?" I ask eagerly.

"Now, if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise then would it?" Cedric grins.

"Fine." I sigh. "Oh well, we're here anyway."

Even Cedric seems nervous. "Ready, Rissy?"

"Ready, Ced." I reply, and give the password.

The door opens and Cedric and I walk up the set of stairs to Professor Dumbledore's office. Cedric puts an arm around my shoulder, and I do the same. We look like best friends. "Let's do this." He opens the door. "Just act like you're not nervous."

"Unaccepta-" My father starts to say before Dumbledore cuts him off, saying "Look at who has arrived."

My father looks disgusted. Cedric sees it and discreetly gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Dumbledore waves his hand andū conjures up two chairs for Cedric and I. "Please, sit." He says. Cedric and I do as he says. My father chooses to remain standing.

I'm not sure if I should say anything to him so I merely nod. Dumbledore slides the letter across his desk towards Cedric and I. "Mr. Malfoy here has informed me that several days ago he received this letter signed by all of Hufflepuff. Professor Sprout has unfortunately identified the main handwriting as yours, Mr. Diggory." Dumbledore explains. "Can you tell me any more about this letter?"

"Well," Cedric begins.

"Did you or did you not write this letter, boy?" My father cuts in.

"It was a group effort!" I exclaim. "All of us contributed!"

Cedric nods in agreement. "The Hufflepuff family sticks together."

"Hufflepuff family." Father sneers. "A family of Mudblood and Muggle lovers."

I jump up suddenly. Every bit of anger I've built up comes out all at once. "Just because you hate anyone less than Pureblood does not make them bad!" I hiss. "I'm sorry you can't change when the truth's staring you in the face! Pureblood views are outdated and lies! I'm sorry if you think they're all evil without even knowing them for more than a minute! I'm sor-"

Cedric cuts me off quickly before I go off to much. "Calm down." He mutters. In the meantime, my father looks furious.

"Come on." He says to me quietly, grabbing my wrist. "You're coming home. They've poisoned your mind."

I throw him off. "My mind is clearer than ever. It's yours that is poisoned."

Dumbledore coughs to interrupt. "Back to the matter at hand," He says. "Mr. Diggory, what prompted Hufflepuff to write this?"

"Charissa received an extremely cruel letter from Mr. Malfoy, and our family was not happy with the treatment of our little sister." Cedric explains calmly. I can hear the controlled anger in his voice.