Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Forty Four |*|

|*| WARNING: SASS |*|

Aquila and Cedric were led through the sea of dancing students, out of the Great Hall, and down to the dungeons by Professor Snape. The professor spoke to them in his office, a frown on his face. How many times had he had to reprimand Aquila Whitman?

He was done with it.

"I don't see why we're down here when the party is upstairs," Aquila said, smiling at him.

"Funny," Snape said, "how you weren't even in the Hall. You were outside doing who knows what."

"Would you like to know what we were doing?" Aquila asked politely. Professor Snape knew something was up; she never spoke in such a polite manner.

Cedric knew something was up as well, and he didn't want the conversation to end up going downhill. He was going to say something to his green-haired girlfriend when Snape spoke again, ridding him of the chance.

"I most certainly would," the professor said.

"Well, this mean girl Cassiopeia came up to me and punched me in the face," Aquila lied, fake tears forming in her eyes. "She came over to me and told me I'm a terrible excuse for a Slytherin, showing up to the ball with Cedric... and then as I tried to get away from the conversation, she punched me! So, I ran outside in tears-look at this mess of makeup!-and Cedric came to comfort me.

"I'm sorry, professor. I know leaving the castle is against the rules, but... but I was so angry. I am truly sorry, sir."

Professor Snape stared her down, "I didn't think apologies were your forte, Whitman."

"Ah, there are a lot of things you don't know about me, Professor," she said.

"Is this story true, Mr. Diggory?" Snape asked.

Cedric but his lip. "Yes, sir. It's the truth."

"You're lying," Snape accused. "Don't lie to me."

"That's a big accusation, professor!" Aquila shouted. "If you don't trust Cedric, Hogwarts Champion and future Head Boy, then who can you trust?"

"I know what I saw, and you didn't look angry," Snape said.

"Because Cedric here comforted me," she told him, "like I said."

"Don't lie to me," Snape commanded. "You weren't angry. What were you doing out there? Something you didn't want the other students to see? Perhaps even the Daily Prophet?"

"What do you mean? The Prophet can see everything. Besides, I've nothing to hide."

"You weren't hiding explosives?"

"I-wait! How did you know that?" Aquila asked, stunned.

"I have my ways," he told her.

"Blake!" Aquila muttered. "That son of a fat hippogriff!"

"Quil," Cedric warned. "Let's just remain calm."

"I agree with Mr. Diggory," Professor Snape said. "It's best to remain civil."

"I'm sorry, professor, but civil isn't one of my best qualities," she said. "Anything else you're going to accuse me of?"

"Yes, actually. I happened to hear you talking about murdering students."

"I did not!" Aquila shouted.

"Don't lie to me."

Aquila sucked in a deep breath, "You're beginning to irk me, Professor. I'm officially irked."

|*|*|*|

"You didn't have to say that, Quil!" Cedric shouted. "Look what you've done to us!"

"It's not my fault!" Aquila defended. "I blame all of this on Snape!"

Because of her outburst, Professor Snape thought the proper punishment would be to clean up the Great Hall along with the house elves. That even made the house elves angry, seeing as they weren't aloud to use any magic.

"It really is your fault," Cedric said.

"Whatever," Aquila muttered.

|*|*|*|

"Aquila! Aquila!"

Aquila was shaken awake by Carlos Blake, whom she immediately slapped across the face.

"Ow! What was that for!?"

Aquila sat up and found that she was on a sofa in the common room. "That was for dancing with the enemy!"

"Wha-? Cassie?" Carlos asked. "She's not the enemy!"

"She's my enemy, therefore she's everyone's enemy," Aquila said. "What were you doing with her?"

"We had an agreement," Carlos said. "I'll tell you what it was if you tell me what I need to know."

"What do you need to know?" Aquila asked. "Is this your agreement?"

"Yes," he said. "I need to gather the information and tell her. But, first I've got a side question because I'm confused."

"What are you confused, Blake?" Aquila asked.

"Why'd you get back so late? The Yule Ball ended long before you showed up."

"I was on the Yule Ball Cleaning Committee, obviously," she lied. "Now what is it that Cassiopeia wants."

"Where are your loyalties?" Carlos asked.

Aquila snorted. "This is ridiculous! There's only one side, Blake. You-Know-Who isn't coming back."

"You're unfaithful?" he asked.

"Call it what you will, but he's gone, Blake. He was killed last year in the bathroom basement by a snake tooth."

"He'll be back, and when he is, you should join us."

Aquila snorted again. "Us? Please, if he does come back-which he won't-there's no one else in his plan. He'll just use idiots like you to do his bidding. There is no us. Get that through your head."

"And Cassie is just using you too," she added. "She might not be a Slytherin, but she's sneaky. And she's using you like You-Know-Who used the Death Eaters. And you tell Cassie whatever the hell you want; it doesn't matter to me, but if she comes near Cedric or me one more time, I'll punch the evil right outta her."

Carlos stood up, "You'll join me, Aquila. You'll join me."

"Just die, Carlos," she spat.

|*| Carlos won't be the one dying... whoops... |*|