Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Fifty One |*|

Aquila got a plethora of gifts for her birthday-even from people she'd never met. The birthday party helped her to meet new and awesome people.

She met Fred and George's friends from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Lee Jordan, whose quidditch commentary made Aquila bust a gut at every match, Nearly Headless Nick, Seamus Finnegan, who almost blew up her cake, and Dean Thomas, who couldn't stop laughing at Seamus.

The only people she didn't see were Cho Chang and her boyfriend Calvin Blake. Carlos told her he didn't come because "Cho is scared of you."

Aquila wasn't surprised.

Richard even came to the party. "I just came for the butterbeer and hot guys," he told Aquila.

The party would've lasted all day if it wasn't for Professor Snape. "What the devil is going on in here?"

"You see sir," Richard said, being the first person to speak up. "We were holding a meeting to discuss... um elvish welfare."

The professor's eyes found Aquila chugging down a bottle of butterbeer in the back of the room. "Whitman," he said.

She nearly chocked on her drink, "Yes, sir?"

"What is going on here?"

"It's my birthday," she told him.

"Cake?" Fred and George asked, walking up to the professor with a slice of cake.

"It's chocolate," George said.

"Good for the soul," Fred explained.

"But you don't have a soul," George said.

"Maybe you could grow one," Fred suggested.

"Detention," Professor Snape told the twins, "both of you."

"Oh come on, Professor," Richard said, "can't you take a joke?"

"Would you like to join them, Mr. Wayne?" Snape asked.

"No thanks," Richard said. "I'll pass."

"Everyone clean this up!" Snape instructed. "And clear out."

"You're such a buzzkill, Snape!" the portrait of Sir Conners yelled. "Can't the childrens just have their fiesta?"

Snape ignored the painting and walked out of the classroom.

Once he was gone, Aquila stood up on the table. "Thanks for coming everyone! I'll send you all thank you cards and party favors some time this week! Have a good weekend!"

"Great party, Aquila!" the Weasleys said on their way out.

"You sure are lucky," Fred told her.

"Yeah," George said, "Cedric throws some wild parties."

"Let's not forget about Ethan!" Ethan told them. "He practically planned the whole thing! He enchanted the streamers!"

"Shut up, Ethan," Aquila said. "I'm trying to talk to Gred and Forge here!"

"You're lucky it's your birthday," Ethan whispered, walking away.

People filed out, each one saying goodbye to Aquila. By the time everyone had left, Cedric and Ethan managed to clean up the entire classroom.

"You guys work fast," Aquila said.

"Yeah, no thanks to you," Ethan said.

"Are you on your man-period?" Aquila asked. "You're awfully grumpy."

"I'm not grumpy!" he yelled.

"Yeah, you are," Aquila told him.

"You really are," Sir Conners interjected.

"I agree," Cedric said.

"You all suck," Ethan said.

"He needs a hug," Cedric said.

"Let's hug him," Aquila suggested.

"Why?" Ethan asked.

"Because it's my birthday and I like to give out hugs," Aquila said.

"No amount of hugs will make this any better," Ethan informed her. Aquila knew there was something wrong that wasn't just about the party. Something had happened, and she had to find out what.

"Hold up!" Aquila yelled. "What happened?"

"It's nothing-"

"What happened, mate?" Cedric asked.

Ethan huffed and sat down at a desk. "Accio butterbeer," he said. "This talk requires a drink."

"What's wrong Eth?" Aquila asked.

"So you know that girl you set me up with?" Ethan asked after taking a swig of the drink.

"Yeah, Gwenivere," Aquila recalled, "what about her?"

"We kissed at the ball," Ethan told them.

"Really?" Aquila asked. "Great!"

"Not great," Ethan said.

"Why?" Cedric asked.

"A few days ago, I found her in the corridors," Ethan said. "I guess she thought we were dating or something because she kissed me again. But I showed her away. I mean, we weren't dating, and honestly, I didn't feel any connection to her.

"But she starts yelling at me, saying I'm a horrible person. I told her we weren't dating, and that sent her into crazy mode. You were right, Quil. She is desperate. She practically told me I had to be with her, but that's not what I wanted.

"And it just so happened that some Gryffindor boy had been walking down the corridor and heard us. I guess he thought he was helping me when he came over and told Gwen we were dating-"

"What?" Aquila and Cedric asked at the same time.

"This random boy came up and told Gwen we were dating!" Ethan yelled. "And when she didn't believe it, do you know what this asshole did?"

"Put his arm around you and sang a love song?" Aquila guessed.

"No, that would've been better," Ethan told her. "This random boy just kissed me on the lips!"

"Merlin twisted knickers!" Aquila exclaimed.

"Are you for real?" Cedric asked.

"Why would I lie about this?" Ethan asked. "And after that, the boy just grabbed my hand and dragged me away from her. And now Gwen went around and told her French friends that I'm gay."

"Are you?" Cedric asked.

"No!" Ethan said. "Especially not after what happened with that guy."

"Do you know who he is?" Aquila asked.

"No," Ethan said. "He was about to tell me when I punched him in the face. If I ever see him again, I'll let you know."

"And why are you mad?" Aquila asked.

"Now, the whole school thinks I'm gay," Ethan said. "But I'm not. Hell, that Richard kid came up to me and said it was great to meet a fellow member of the gay community."

"Bloody hell," Aquila gasped.

"I want you to take my head and remove it from my body," Ethan said. "Then throw it down the stairs."

"Ethan," Aquila said. "I know how to make your problem disappear!"

"How?" Ethan asked.

"I don't like where this is going," Cedric said, seeing the smirk on his girlfriend's face.

"Don't skip breakfast tomorrow," Aquila said. "And put on your best acting faces, boys."

|*| oh quil... |*|