Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Seventy Four |*|

Aquila ventured out of the compartment to find Cedric and Ethan. She intended to bring them to her and Alexis's compartment so they could all sing friendship songs and make the blonde girl feel better. Aquila knew what it was like to be bullied by her family, and she couldn't help but feel bad for Alexis. For Aquila, it wasn't physical, but it was for Alexis.

Instead of finding her friends, she found Carlos. The boy was sitting on the floor in a little human ball. His dark hair covered up his eyes, but Aquila knew he'd seen her. The Slytherin boy stood up and blocked her way. "Quil-"

"That name is reserved for my friends only," she spat at him. "I suggest never using it again unless you want to be stabbed with an actual quill."

"Please, just listen to me," Carlos pleaded. "I just want to explain-"

"There is nothing to explain," Aquila told him as calmly as possible. No matter how much she wanted to, she knew that punching the boy would do no good to Alexis. "Just get out of my way, Carlos."

"Just listen!" he shouted. "Please, just hear me out!"

Aquila sighed, "Make this quick." She couldn't deny him the chance to talk. She wanted to know more about Alexis's situation anyway, and she knew the blonde girl wouldn't tell her. He was her only source of information, even if he wasn't a very credible one.

"I never meant for her to get hurt," Carlos explained. His voice was soft and rushed, and he sounded to be on the verge of tears. "Abby sent me a letter halfway through summer break. She said that Alexis refused to join the Dea-them. Said that Alexis didn't want anything to do with them and confessed to have relationships with the Weasleys and their sort. Abby told me that she was disowned and sent away and that we shouldn't talk to her anymore; cast her out like... like you."

"If you're supposed to be casting me out, why are you telling me this?" Aquila asked. "What is that even supposed to mean?"

"She's friends with Gryffindors; you're friends with Hufflepuffs," he explained. "We were supposed to ignore her-to pretend she didn't exist. At least, that's what Abby told me to do. But I can't; I can't shun her and pretend like we were never friends. I... it's complicated between us, but I could never throw her away like rubbish in a bucket.

"Quil-sorry! I mean-Aquila, I have feelings for her. I'm sure this isn't a big mystery to you, but I do. We-I suppose you'd call it 'dated'-back in third year or something. I don't quite know how it ended, but I know I've always felt the same about Alexis. I always will. She's an amazing person, completely different from Abby. I wanted to apologize to her for everything that's been going on, but Abby found me. I wish I could apologize..."

When Carlos spoke of their past relationship, Aquila couldn't help but feel a tiny pang of guilt. She was the one who broke them up, and although she'd never reveal that to either of them, she needed to do something to make up for it. Maybe things would've turned out better for Alexis is she hadn't interfered.

It was far too late for her to say she was sorry anyway. Even if she did apologize, she still wouldn't have even been sorry. It was a fun joke to play...

"Carlos," Aquila said, lowering her head to avoid his gaze. "I know you want to apologize, but you can't. There isn't a reason to; the things that happened to her were far beyond your control. But you can keep Abby away from her, keep Alexis safe. Neither of us wanted this to happen, but we didn't know it could've happened anyway. Now, all we can do is help her."

"What can I do?" he asked, tears brimming in his eyes. "I've already failed her; I've already done it."

Aquila's eyes trailed to his arm. It was covered by his robes, but she knew what was etched on his skin underneath it. She whispered in disbelief, "You... you really did it?"

Carlos's head sunk low. He didn't look at the green haired girl as he spoke softly, "I did. I did, and I wish I could take it back. I'd wish on a thousand stars to take it back."

Aquila raised his head up gently with her hand. "Luckily for you, you've only got to wish on one."

"I don't understand," he said, looking into her dark eyes. Aquila was a mystery to him, and it seemed like she was speaking in gibberish.

"As I'm sure you know, I've got a direct link to the stars," she told him. "And I've also got a direct link with Alexis. I'll let her know you're sorry, but you have to help too. You have to prove to her that you're sorry."

"If you want me to write a love song-"

"You could, but I think that's a bit extreme as a starter..."

"Then what should I do?"

Aquila's stare at him intensified, and she seemed to be staring into his brain. "You need to stop listening to Abby. Stand up to her."

"How?" Carlos asked. "Just agreeing with her scares the shit out of me."

"You need to put your big boy robes on and tell Abby you're done following her around like a leashed dog."

"I don't think I can," he admitted.

"Then stop thinking."

There was a pause before Carlos spoke, "You were right about us from the beginning you know. You were right to hate us."

"No," she said, "I was wrong to hate you. No one deserves to feel hated, not even you, Carlos."

"And not Alexis."

Aquila nodded. "Definitely not Alexis."

"Thanks, Aqu-"

"Quil," Aquila interrupted. "Call me Quil."

"Isn't that reserved for-?"

"Friends only, yes," she told him. "And you're my friend now."

"So, can I sit with you?" Carlos asked.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Both Aquila and Carlos turned around to see Ethan and Cedric standing behind them. Ethan was barreling towards them while Cedric tried frantically to hold him back. "You will do no such thing, bloody asshole!" Ethan roared. He fought hard against Cedric's grip.

"Ethan!" Aquila exclaimed. "Calm down!"

"And why the devil should I do that?" the Hufflepuff asked. "Isn't this the bloke who's been messing with you since first year?"

"Yes," she said.

"Then let go, Cedric! I'm gonna beat him to a pulp!" Ethan yelled, fists flying.

"We're friends now," Aquila's told Ethan. "So, that means you're going to stop punching the air and hug him."

Carlos raised his eyebrows. "Did you say hug? I don't hug."

"You do now!" Aquila told him happily. "Group hug!" She wrapped her arms so tightly around Carlos that he gasped.

Cedric and Ethan looked at each other. "Is this really happening?" Ethan asked.

"Not all wars end in violence," Cedric replied with a shrug.

"So what do we do now?" Ethan asked.

Cedric smiled. "Group hug."

Ethan shook his head. "Not a chance."

|*| i love group hugs |*|