Star Girl | Cedric Diggory

|*| Seventy Five |*|

Carlos decided it would be best not to join Aquila and her friends for the train ride. He wanted to let Alexis have her space, and he knew that Aquila and her friends (no matter how crazy they were) would be able to help cheer Alexis up. Aquila thought it would also be a great time for him to break his ties with Abby.

While Cedric was okay with Carlos joining their friend circle, Ethan was not. He constantly would say sentences that started with, "Remember when Carlos," and ended with something he did to wrong Aquila in the past. Aquila would always counter with a sentence that began with, "Yes, but remember when I," and ended with something she did to wrong Carlos in the past. Their feud was amusing to Cedric, who would just listen and agree with Aquila, making Ethan even madder.

The conversation was no different as the three friends made their way to Alexis's compartment. "Remember when Carlos tried to chop off your hair in fourth year?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, but remember when I cut a hole in the back of his robes?" Aquila asked. "We're both at fault."

"Yes, but he started it," the light haired Hufflepuff reminded her.

"Actually, I started it," Aquila told him. "I insulted his sister. Said she looked like she was constipated."

"But you weren't wrong!" Ethan defended.

"But I still shouldn't have said it!" she exclaimed. They had reached the compartment, and Aquila opened the door. "Seriously, Eth, let it go."

"I can't just let this go, Quil," Ethan told her. "You can't forgive everyone-"

"I forgave you, remember?" Aquila explained with a smirk. She had found the argument that he wouldn't be able to fight. "You helped spread those wonderful rumors about me all around the school, but I still forgave you. Everyone can be forgiven, Eth. Even people like him."

"Are you talking about Carlos?" Alexis asked. She sat in the corner of the compartment closest to the window; she didn't even look at Aquila as she asked the question. Her attention was focused on the passing scenery outside the train.

Ethan was about to answer when Aquila suddenly said, "Not anymore. Alexis, this is Cedric, and that is Ethan. Ethan's slightly insane, so I think it would be best for you to just ignore him. He has no filter."

"That's not bloody true!" Ethan yelled in his defense.

"Sure," Aquila muttered, rolling her eyes.

Cedric had closed the compartment door and sat down across from Alexis. He didn't see the mean little girl she used to be; he didn't see the girl who made his girlfriend miserable. He saw a girl who was completely alone.

He looked at her expression; he'd seen it before. Aquila wore that same expression after her parents had sent her the Howler. Alexis looked to be hiding her sadness inside, and Cedric knew he had to do something to distract her from whatever it was that she was thinking about.

He was about to ask how her summer was, but he thought better of it. Judging by the expression on her face, her summer didn't turn out to well. He was at a loss for words, and that was most unlike him.

"Who do you reckon'll be the new Defense teacher this year?" Alexis asked. Cedric was thankful that she spoke, because he was about to ask her if she liked the taste of lemons.

"I hope Lupin comes back," Aquila chimed in, sitting down next to Alexis. "I know it's a long shot, but I actually enjoyed that class when he taught it, you know?"

"Yeah," she said. Alexis had finally taken her eyes off the window and was looking at Cedric. She seemed to study him for a second before saying, "I never knew why Aquila likes you so much. I'd always just thought you were... I don't know..."