BADGERS ○ CEDRIC DIGGORY

9;

A/N: back to
past tense lol
sorry

"Hello beautiful!" I heard Cedric say, as he ran towards me. He picked me up and spun me around. I grimaced, but laughed and forced a smile. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"To speak with Professor Dumbledore." I replied.
"Are you in trouble?" His eyes filled with concern.
"No, I... I'm going to see him on my own account," I frowned. "I probably should've talked to you about it first." Too late, the decision had been made.
"What do you mean?" He broke the hug and leaned back, to examine my expression. I cursed under my breath. It was a bad idea to make the decision without talking to him. Then again, I was allowed to make my own decisions. Right?
"Well, I... was thinking... of maybe..." My voice faltered. I saw the realization in Cedric's eyes. He knew what I was going to do.
"Is this about that Smith boy?" He snapped. I felt like slapping him. I had never seen him so mean.
"Please... Cedric, don't jump to conclusions."
"How can I not? You're leaving me, me and Vivienne, for him!"
"Cedric!"
"I thought you were my forever 'Hufflebud'! I thought you were my girl..."
"Ced! I am!" I grabbed his shoulders. "I haven't decided yet. I'm going to Dumbledore to see if we can work something out. So I can be in both."
"It's Slytherin!"
"SO?" I screamed. He winced. I felt immediately guilty. "What's you're problem with Slytherin? My sister is a Slytherin!"
"It's not about the Slytherins. It's about the boys in Slytherin..." Cedric admitted.
"Oh Ced! I'll be yours, no matter what I choose, I promise!" I assured him. He nodded.
"Okay," He agreed. "Go to Dumbledore, I'll meet you at dinner." I nodded and smiled. He gave me a thumbs up, for good luck. It was exactly like when I went to break up with Fred. The day he rejected me. I suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach. I shook off the feeling and walked into Dumbledore's office.

"Hello Professor." I started. "I was just wondering if there might possibly be a way for me to be in both Slytherin and Hufflepuff?"
"That's an odd request Ms. Williams." Dumbledore said.
"I understand, I just don't feel I fit into either."
"Ah"
"Perhaps I could stay in the Hufflepuff dorms, but have classes with the Slytherins? And alternate where I sit at meals." I suggested.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, I think it will most definitely work out. However, we should wait until after the second task to start this," He glanced at his desk. "Also, if you wouldn't mind, I have a few other students coming here. I was going to ask you to come up as well, but seeing as you're already here you might as well stay."
Just as he said this, the three people walked into the room. I recognized the redhead to be Fred and George's younger brother, Ron. He smiled weakly at me. One of the girls was Hermione, who went to the Quidditch World Cup with us. She waved. The other girl was Gabrielle Delacour. The sister of Fleur Delacour. I was seeing a pattern.
"Hello children. Thank you for coming! I was wondering if you guys would be willing to help me out with the second task, seeing as each of you is particularly close to one of the champions," Dumbledore spoke. I thought of Cedric as we all nodded in agreement. "Wonderful!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Each of you will drink this potion, it will send you to sleep and allow you to breathe underwater. You will then be placed in the Black Lake and your champion's task will be to save you."
"Is that truly safe?" Hermione asked.
"Of course! I wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't." Dumbledore said. Everyone was silent as we drank the potion and fell asleep.

~time skip ; second task ~

I could hear his thoughts. Like he was speaking directly to me, but there was a cloud around it. I could see what he saw, but it was a bit hazy. The potion must have connected us in some way. Magic, I'm guessing. He was staring out at the lake. Ready to jump in, I suppose. He was thing about... me.
'She told me she would help me. She said she would join me at dinner. Estelle's not even in the crowd, not even here to support me.' Cedric thought. I felt like crying at this point. I couldn't. He jumped into the lake. I watched as he struggled to get to the bottom. My mind was struggling to break free of the potion, so I could help him. Once again, I couldn't. I suddenly saw myself in his eyes. I felt his eyes widen as he saw me. I watched through Cedric's eyes as he shook his head. I saw him breaking me free. I felt as his arms wrapped gently around me. I felt lighter. I felt him kiss my cheek. It was a weird sensation, seeing Cedric kissing me through his eyes. But I also felt his lips on my cheek. It was extremely weird, but comforting. I watched through his eyes as he carried me to the surface. When my head broke the surface, I forgot everything that happened underwater. I forgot the kiss, the thoughts he had, everything.

~time skip ; on the dock~

I hugged Cedric. I cried into his shoulder but I didn't remember why I was so upset.
"Essie, what's wrong?" He hugged me back and comforted me.
"I... I don't remember." I laughed when I realized how stupid that sounded.
"It's okay... you're safe now." He said. The crowd started to clear out, everyone heading back to the castle. After most people were gone, Jackson headed over to us. I was sitting with my feet over the edge of the dock, leaning into Cedric. Jackson sat down next to me.
"Thank you... for working with Dumbledore to be in Slytherin..." Jackson whispered. I smiled.
"Of course, anything for you." I turned my head and said to him. The three of us just sat there for a while.
I was the first to get up. "I'm going to talk to Viv. I'll be back." I said. I ran towards the Hufflepuff common room. Almost halfway there, I found two people sitting in the corridor. The blonde was curled into a ball, crying. The brunette was Vivienne, comforting the blonde. Vivienne stood up and hugged me.
"Thank god your here," She whispered. "She hasn't stopped crying. She was looking for you. I told her you were with Ced. I tried to comfort–." I cut her off by running over and hugging the other girl. I recognized the sobs as Vivienne was talking.
"Eileen, what happened?" I sat with her on the ground.
"Draco..." She started. I shot up.
"Vivienne. Get Cedric and Jackson. Get the Potter boy too. Harry I mean. Fred and George also. Quickly please!" I shouted after her.
"He broke up with me." Eileen said. I looked her straight in the eyes.
"I know," I sighed. "Stay here. I'll be right back. Vivienne will be here soon." Eileen nodded. I ran in the opposite direction of the Hufflepuff common room. I ran towards the dungeon.

I stormed into the Slytherin common room. I saw Malfoy in a chair talking to Crabbe and Goyle. I saw Jackson on the couch. Jackson looked up.
"Estelle!" He ran over to me. "What are you doing here?" He whispered.
"I'm here to get Draco. And you too of course." I answered, glancing at Draco.
"Malfoy! Get over here. We're going for a walk." Jackson said. Malfoy swaggered over to us. He knows how to respect his elders, is the least I could say for him. I grabbed his arm. We speed-walked out towards the corridor where Eileen was. As we entered the hall, Vivienne shouted.
"Ess! I couldn't find Jackson, but I found the others!"
"Don't worry. I found him." I saw Eileen quickly wipe her tears with her sleeve when she saw Malfoy.
"W-what's he doing here?" She asked, trying to sound like she hadn't been crying.
"He is going to apologize."

~time skip ; hufflepuff common room~

"Why'd you ask for so many people?" Cedric asked. I playfully kissed him.
"Witnesses incase it got ugly." I said.
"You planned on fighting him?" I kissed him again.
"It was an option."
"Are you going to kiss me every time I ask a question?" I kissed him.
"Does that answer your question?"
"Yeah," He laughed. "Do you realize this makes me want to ask more questions?" I kissed him again.
"I don't mind talking."
"You could always just kiss me, we don't have to talk." I smiled mischievously at him.
"The rule."
"Fine. Will you just kiss me instead of talking?"
I kissed him, but broke the kiss to say "Of course." I pressed my lips back to his. I tangled my hands in his hair as he laid back on the couch. He hugged my waist tightly, like he would never let go. We laid like this, kissing and talking, for about half an hour. We were on the kissing part when Vivienne walked in.
"Whoa! Is it just me or is it getting steamy in here? My children you are too young!" Vivienne laughed. I sat up and smirked at her. I noticed her messed up hair, and she was out of breath.
"Vivienne, it's 11:00. Where were you?"
"George. Fred. Snowball fight. I'm tired. I'm going to bed. When you two are done, you should too." She winked at me.
"She has a dirty mind." Ced said once Vivienne left. I laughed.
"Yeah, she does. She always has." He laughed this time. He sat up.
"I, also, am tired. And going to bed." He said. I kissed him one last time.
"Me too."