Poison | Cedric Diggory

6: subtle

{ 6: subtle }

dedicated to Kenzie_Lee_T for all the great comments

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The next morning, it took all of the other sixth-year female Slytherins to wake up Oleander. Her eyes flew open when a pillow smacked her in the face. "Finally!" exclaimed Claire, brushing her hair out of her face. "We thought you'd never wake up."

"I'm trying to sleep," Oleander said sharply, rolling over.

She was smacked with the pillow once again.

"Leave me alone!" she yelled, leaning back on her elbows. "You have no idea how awful I feel right now."

The other girls began to disperse; they knew better than to face Oleander Alsbrook when she was mad. But Claire set the pillow down on her bed and sat beside her friend.

"Look," she sighed, "I see the problem. You're upset about Cedric."

"No!" Oleander said defensively. "Why would I be?"

Claire met her with a knowing look. "You love him, Oleander!" she said, shaking the other girl's shoulders. "You keep trying to deny it. Why do you deny it?"

Oleander flopped back on the bed, letting out a long breath. "Because I don't want to get too attached."

"Oh, Ollie." Claire lay down beside her.

"Don't call me Ollie."

"Sorry. But come on. If you don't tell Cedric how you feel about him, pretty soon it'll be too late!"

Oleander looked at her with wild eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that he might find someone else. So go get 'em, tiger," Claire said with a small smile.

Oleander rolled her eyes. "You are so annoying." But she got out of bed anyway.

"But be subtle about it," Claire continued. "You don't want to go up to him and say, 'hey, Cedric, I love you, now go do this crazy Triwizard Tournament task and maybe die and I'll be in the stands cheering you on.'"

Oleander blinked at her. "You are...very weird."

Claire took a bow. "Yes, I know."

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At breakfast, Oleander ate and talked to Claire halfheartedly. She kept sneaking glances at Cedric over her shoulder. "Go talk to him!" Claire urged quietly.

"Okay, okay! I'm just waiting for the right time," Oleander replied.

"Just go slow. No snogging yet, okay?"

"Okay, okay."

As she watched, Cedric excused himself from the Hufflepuff table and walked out into the hallway. She saw that as soon as his back was turned on his friends, his bright smile disappeared.

"I'll go now," she said, getting up quickly.

"And try to keep the flirting to a minimum!" Claire yelled after her.

"Cedric!" she called once she had left the Great Hall. He looked back at her. "Where are you going?"

"Lavatory," he said quietly.

"But...what's the matter?" she asked. She was only a few steps away from him now.

"Nothing."

"Hufflepuffs are terrible liars," Oleander mused, half to herself and half to Cedric.

"What? I'm not lying!"

"Yes, you are. Tell me what's wrong. I can help you."

Cedric finally met her eyes, all of the laughter in his brown ones gone. "Look, I'm..." He bit his lip. "I'm scared," he said softly.

"You're scared? Oh..." Her heart broke for him. "About the Tournament?" He nodded. Oleander put a hand on his shoulder. "Cedric, look at me. You are strong, and smart, and brave."

"I'm not brave. I'm terrified."

"Look, being brave doesn't mean you're not scared."

This earned her a slight smile.

"I mean," she continued, "you're Cedric Diggory, for Merlin's sake! And I'll always be here for you."

"Really?" He searched her eyes for any hint of a lie.

"Always," she promised.

"Thank you." He gave her a small kiss on the cheek and went to join his friends.

Oleander's heart soared.