Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Forty Eight |*|

Aquila wasn't one to forget things. Even though a week had gone by since she saw Alexis and Fred in the corridors, she still had to know more. She began snooping on Alexis. She rummaged through the twin's drawers and clothes, but Aquila found nothing. There were no letters, diary entries, or anything useful.

Aquila didn't give up on her search, so she decided to ask George if he knew anything.

"Georgie," Aquila asked, "have you noticed anything out of the ordinary about your brother lately?"

"Yeah," he said, "Ron has been acting quite strangely. Especially around Hermione."

Aquila slapped him, "I meant your other half!"

George continued to mess with her, "I'm afraid I haven't found that special person just yet-bloody hell! Stop slapping me!"

"Sorry," she said. "I mean Freddy."

"Um... no," George said. "He's acting normal... really happy, but normal."

Aquila couldn't take the secret keeping anymore, and she just blurted it out, "Fred is dating Alexis!" She proceeded to cover her mouth with her hands.

"How do you know that?" George asked, suddenly defensive.

"I... wait!" Aquila exclaimed. "You know about this?"

"Of course I know about this! Fred's my other half!"

"You just said you... Merlin, I hate you. He told you?" Aquila asked.

"Yes," George admitted. "Told me to keep it quiet. How did you find out? I don't suppose he told you."

"He didn't, and neither did Lexi," Aquila said. "I saw them in the corridors. I was kinda eavesdropping."

"You can't tell anyone," he told her, "Fred wants this a secret."

"When did you find out?" she asked.

"A few days ago," he said. "They were keeping it from me until she was ready for me to know."

Aquila smiled. "They're so cute together!"

"I know!" George said.

|*|*|*|

Aquila decided to confront Alexis about her relationship with Fred. If it was anything like the beginning of her relationship with Cedric, she knew Alexis would really want to talk about it. It was damn near impossible to keep happiness tucked away.

"Lexi," Aquila said. "I'm sneaking to the astronomy tower to stargaze tonight. Wanna come along?"

"Won't we get caught?" Alexis asked.

"I've done this a million times," Aquila reassured her. "Trust me; we won't get caught."

|*|*|*|

"That constellation right there is Leo, the lion," Aquila said, pointing the the cluster of stars.

"I can see it," Alexis said. "That's actually a really cool pattern."

"I know," Aquila said. "Stars are epic."

"I have a feeling you didn't just bring me up here to look at the sky, Quil," Alexis said. "What did you want to talk about."

"Well," Aquila began, "corridors aren't the most private of places, you know. One might be able to see a couple of people... even hear them..."

"I don't understand what you're trying to say," Alexis said. "You're making no sense."

"Okay, so what do you think of Fred Weasley?" Aquila said. "And be honest."

Alexis's eyes widened, "What... how?"

"Like I said," Aquila explained, "corridors."

"You can't tell anybody," Alexis said quickly. "If Abby finds out-"

"She won't. So... spill everything! How's the love life?"

|*|*|*|

All was going smoothly for Aquila and Alexis that night. Alexis spoke very fondly of Fred and all the nice things he'd done for her. "He has never failed to keep a promise," she said, "and he's helping me to change."

Aquila was happy for her new friend, and they spoke for hours about Fred and Cedric.

All was well until Aquila looked at the night sky. The message was back. The message from so long ago. Plainly glowing in the sky for her to see.

Beware the final task.

Aquila gulped, "Lexi, do you see that?"

"See what?" Alexis asked, looking at the stars.

"The words," Aquila said. "The warning."

"Um... Star talking is your thing, not mine..."

Aquila stared at the message. "Why?" she asked the stars. "What's going to happen?"

Fate's plan is deadly.

"What!?" Aquila yelled.

Alexis tried not to look strangely at Aquila, but failed. "Quil, what the devil are you doing?"

"Shh!" the green-haired girl commanded. "I'm having a conversation here! Don't be rude!"

Alexis raised her eyebrows, but said no more.

"What is fate's plan?" Aquila asked. "Can it be stopped?"

Yes, it can be prohibited.

"How?"

Only by the befriended one.

"The who now?"

That is the only one who can prevent it.

"A name would be nice."

Beware the final task.

"We've been over this already!" Aquila was growing frustrated now. "Just give me a bloody name!"

The stars didn't change their position. Their final message remained in the sky all night, even after Aquila was asleep.

|*|*|*|

Ethan couldn't sleep that night. He woke up around four o'clock, and walked into the common room. "All I want is some sleep," he mumbled. "That's all I want."

He sat down in an armchair by a window and looked out at the night sky. "So, that's the lion constellation," he said, remembering what Aquila told him. "What's it called? Leon... oh! Leo, that's it. I might need to know that for the Astronomy exam... maybe.."

He continued to pinpoint some constellations when something strange caught his eye. He stumbled back in the armchair and fell to the floor.

"Bloody hell," he whispered. "Aquila, whatever sick joke you're playing now."

He stood back up and looked at the stars once more. "Aquila, I swear if this isn't your doing, I'm going to scream... why would you say something like this? Unless..."

The realization that the message in the sky wasn't Aquila's doing hit him hard. "Merlin's sweaty armpits... am I talking to the stars!?"

|*| no Ethan, they're talking to you |*|