BADGERS ○ CEDRIC DIGGORY

7;

~time skip [just after the first task]~

"Ms. Williams. Professor Dumbledore would like you in his... office, before lunch." Snape says in his droning voice. I nod and thank him. I turn back to my potion, and stir it gently. Jackson squeezed my hand.
"Do you know what that's all about?" He asks. I look at him.
"I think I have an idea, but I can't possibly be sure." I say.
"What is it?" He asks.
"Yeah... I think he's going to ask whether or not I'm staying in Slytherin or going back to Hufflepuff..." I say, quietly. We stand up after Snape grades us. We walk towards Dumbledore's office.
"You're going to choose Slytherin right?"
"Jackson... all of my friends are in Hufflepuff..."
"What about your Slytherin friends?" He questions, raising his voice. Now I'm upset.
"What Slytherin friends?! You?! And Eileen?! If you guys truly cared, you would be fine if I was in Hufflepuff!" I yell at him.
"I didn't—," I cut him off by storming into Dumbledore's office.
I enter the office, trying to calm down. My face is obviously flushed, but there's not much I can do about that. "Hello Ms. Williams. I believe you must know why you were asked to come here?" Dumbledore asks.
"I have a pretty good idea, Professor."
"Well, then I guess you know that now you get to choose whether you're staying in Slytherin or going back to Hufflepuff?"
"Yes, I choose Hufflepuff."
"That's what I thought you'd say," He smiles. "I'll have your belongings transferred to your old dorm. In the meantime you can change into this Hufflepuff uniform." For the second time, I thank him and leave to change.

~time skip ; lunch~

I walk over to the Hufflepuff table, nervous. I wonder if they will accept me back. Part of me doubts it. I walk up to Vivienne. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I gesture to the seat next to her. She doesn't look up.
"Go ahead," She says kindly. When I sit down she looks up. "Well, well, well. If it isn't my Slytherin friend." She smiles and hugs me.
"Nope! Not Slytherin, look, yellow and black!" I point to my tie, laughing. Cedric walks over and sits down.
"Why is the traitor here?" He says, scowling.
"Ced! She's a Hufflepuff just as much as you are! She picks up a fork and bangs the flat part on the top of his head.
"I wasn't referring to her house." He glares at me. I immediately think of Jackson.
"Don't bring Jackson into this." I say, in an attempt to stay calm.
"Who is Jackson?" Vivienne screeches. We ignore her.
"You think I want to? You shouldn't even be on first name basis with Slytherins, except maybe your sister! Much less dating Slytherins!" He yells.
"Dating?!" Vivienne screeches louder.
"Yes, Viv, we are dating. How could you forget?" I squeal as George speaks, wrapping his arms around Vivienne and kissing her cheek. Vivienne goes bright red.
"Did someone forget to tell me something?" I say, winking at Vivienne.
"George, now is not a good time." Cedric says. I glare at him.
"Cedric!" Vivienne knocks his head with the fork again. "Anyways, who is Jackson and are you actually dating him?" I nod, slowly.
"I don't—," I'm cut off by Cedric.
"You shouldn't be dating him. He's a bad kid." He says.
"You know nothing about him!" I snap. I turn my head and glance at the Slytherin table. Jackson isn't talking to anyone. I feel bad.
"You don't just get sorted into Slytherin for no reason!" He snaps back. My eyes sting with tears. I decide I need to talk to Jackson.
"I'll be right back." I say, getting up.
"Estelle, I'm sorry..." Cedric says.
"It's fine. Honestly."
I walk over and sit next to Jackson. "Hi." I say.
"Other houses aren't supposed to sit at the Slytherin table. Especially not Hufflepuffs." I feel hurt. I put on a fake smile.
"Can't you make an exception for your girlfriend?" I ask.
"Is that what you consider yourself? My girlfriend? Because only a little bit ago, you decided to ditch me. For the Hufflepuffs, of all people." He says.
"Jackson..." I say. He cuts me off.
"I really don't want to hear it. Just go, Estelle, please." It's harder to choke back the tears this time. I stand. I don't say anything, for fear of breaking down. I walk back over to the Hufflepuff table. I sit down, and bury my face in my hands.
"What happened?" Vivienne says, hugging me.
"I don't... even know," I say. My vision is blurred by tears. "He said... earlier this year... that he's liked me since first year. Now, I don't even know what just happened." I start to cry.
"Let's go back to the dorm." I attempt to smile. We get up and walk out of the hall.
We are just out of the hall when I hear footsteps behind us. "I did this, didn't I?" Jackson's voice speaks. Vivienne and I turn around.
"Is that Jackson? He's cute!" Vivienne whispers to me, barely audible. I laugh.
"You have a boyfriend, Viv," I whisper back. Jackson looks at us, questioningly. I work up the courage to speak. "Yes, you did." I say.
"Of course," He groans. "I'm so so sorry." I feel Vivienne tense up. He obviously notices too.
Vivienne starts to turn me around. "There's no fixing this is there?" Jackson asks. I try to speak, but no words come out. Vivienne glared and shakes her head. I meet Jackson's eyes, and give him an apologetic look.
"Maybe later..." I whisper. I'm not sure he heard. Vivienne and I finish making our way to the Hufflepuff dorms.

~time skip ; the weekend ; hogsmeade~

"You're going. Whether someone asks you or not," Vivienne complains, dragging me to a dress store. The Yule Ball has just been announced. George already asked her. I groan. "I'll ditch George if no one asks you," She promises. "Please try on a few dresses." I agree and we enter the store.
     I end up buying a yellow-peach colored dress. Vivienne says it is the prettiest one I looked at. It is extremely bejeweled. "You have to buy it. Or I will." Vivienne says.
     "Fine. I'll buy it." I give in. I pay up front, and we leave.
      After we walk around for a bit, we sit on a bench and just talk. Someone walks up to me.
     "Estelle, I'm really sorry for everything I said. I didn't mean a single word of it. I was wondering... do you maybe want to go to the ball with me?" Vivienne looks at me awaiting my answer. I look at her. I turn my head to look at Jackson. I smile.

A/N: YOU GUYS DONT
EVEN KNOW WHAT JUST
HAPPENED . anyways it took
so long to find a picture of Sabrina
Carpenter in the perfect ball
dress . but i did it . pic at the
top is her outfit during
hogsmeade . bye honeys !
xo