Too Shy To Tell You (Cedric Diggory x Reader)

This Was A Mistake

Cedric's P.O.V

Kathryn's lips were soft against my own and I could, just barely, make out her grin. I smiled into another kiss as she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me closer. I let all of my weight fall onto one forearm, towering above her. She giggled, pressing her lips firmly to mine. We hadn't been dating for that long, though we had been practically inseparable over Holiday. I looked down at her, grinning, as I tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.

My father had always been good friends with the Chang family, seeing as he worked with Mr. Chang in the ministry and that they were half bloods like we were. Not that blood status mattered. He had insisted that they stay with us over Holiday and to be honest it felt like a set up. Our parents had decided to try their hands at match-making and much to my surprise, it had worked, as I had asked Kathryn on our first date, two days later. I was happy with her. Unbelievably happy, but something felt off. The joy felt empty, though I didn't know why.

A hand slipped into my hair, pulling me down farther. I obliged as I kissed my raven haired girlfriend. She was so incredibly sweet. Her grades were impeccable. She was kind and always thinking of others, so effortlessly selfless. I didn't know how I had managed to get so lucky. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that we weren't meant to be together. I had a voice in the back of my head telling me this was wrong, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. I pushed the thought away, frustrated, and focused all of my attention on Kathryn. She smiled.

My hand trailed down to her waist as the darkness sheltered us. I began to apply more force to our kiss, but she pulled back. I cast her a confused look. "I feel like we're being watched," she whispered into my ear. I shook my head, chuckling. There was no one down here but the two of us. Class wouldn't be starting for another 20 minutes. We were completely alone.

"That's nonsense," I murmured back. "No one is down here but us, besides, the bell doesn't ring for another 20 minutes. Everyone else is at breakfast." She scanned the hallway once more, before nodding, standing on her tip toes to kiss me again. I fell into a trance, savouring every moment with my girlfriend, before my head shot up.

I felt someone else's presence. It felt familiar, but once again, I couldn't place it. Still, the ora seemed so recognizable and for some reason, I felt drawn to it. Was someone else down here? I shook my head, I was just paranoid, there couldn't be anybody down here this early.

Before I could think on it any longer, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors. I froze, as (Y/N) stepped around the corner, her head held high. Her normal self confidence swarmed around her as she walked, demanding attention and respect. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, she had me completely captivated, just as she always had. As she stepped closer, I couldn't help but gasp. Several dark bruises covered her face and I could faintly make out a blackened print wrapped around her neck, as if she had been strangled. My eyes were immediately drawn to them, they weren't hidden from sight, instead, they seemed to stand out even more than the injuries, I knew, covered her delicate arms. My anger seethed, I was enraged. How could this have happened? How could he have done this to her? Why didn't she tell me? Then I remembered. All of the memories came flooding back. How could I have forgotten?

That night in the astronomy tower. The tears streaming down her cheeks. Me, holding her in my arms, whispering to her as she tried to calm herself. Her shaking hands. Her vulnerability visible for what seemed like the first time, exhausted from maintaining so much strength. However, it was the last memory that hit me harder than any of them. Her lips on mine. My hand on her waist. The fireworks exploding inside my head, wanting more of her. Yet... after all of that... I had run away. I had left her. I had abandoned her. I was a coward...

I studied her face as she passed, behind the hard scowl present on her beautiful face, I saw what had been broken. I saw her pain. My heart broke... I had caused that pain...

Kathryn sneered at (Y/N) as she passed, pulling be down into another kiss. I went willingly but my mind was far away. I didn't want Kathryn to know what I had with (Y/N). Had. I had lost her and to make matters worse, it was all my fault. A wave of guilt washed over me as I thought about all of the things I had done to hurt her. How could I?

I pulled away from Kathryn, steadying myself against the wall, suddenly dizzy. The first day I had met (Y/N)—our very first day at Hogwarts—I had her promise me that no matter what happened, we would always be friends. She had kept her promise, as she said she would. She sacrificed so much, going against her house's rules, going against her father, something that could have gotten her killed. And what did I do? ...I had failed her, miserably. When she had kissed me, I didn't know what to do. I panicked. But I had to admit, I loved the feeling of her lips against mine and the feeling of her in my arms.

Now that it was all coming back, Kathryn meant nothing me and I began to regret every kiss that we had shared. To be honest, I wasn't sure why I was ever with her in the first place. I was too scared to think of (Y/N) as more than a friend, but seeing her now, all of that fear, dissipated. (Y/N) had trusted me and I had stabbed her in the back, forgetting her and abandoning her as if she had meant nothing to me, when in reality, she was everything to me. I didn't know what was wrong with me, but I knew that I had made a terrible mistake.

(Y/N) Middlebrook, was the strongest, most powerful, most ambitious girl I have ever met and ever will meet. She was incredibly intelligent, fiercely loyal, unbelievably beautiful, so sarcastically witty, talented beyond comparison, and quite frankly stubborn as Hell, but I loved that about her. I loved everything about her. My God. I loved her! I was in love with her!

The bruises on her face were undeniable pieces of evidence of everything that she had to go through and all of the battles she had to fight, yet she continued to keep her chin up, she refused to give in, she continued to survive. She had trusted me with her most important secret. I was the only one who knew what her father did to her... and what he did to Matthew... She had confided in me and she had faith that I would always be there to get her through it. But, I wasn't. I wasn't there for her when she needed me most. I had betrayed her. I had broken my promise.

I turned back to Kathryn, slightly dazed and distracted. "I am so sorry, Kathryn. I truly am, but this was a mistake. My mistake. I rushed into a relationship with you, when my heart belonged to someone else, though it has taken me more time to realize that, than it should have. I'm sorry, but this isn't going to work. I can't be with you." I couldn't believe what was coming out of my mouth, but my heart was in (Y/N)'s hands. I couldn't leave her. Not again. It wouldn't be fair to (Y/N) or to Kathryn, if I had decided to continue this relationship. I didn't want to be with Kathryn and it would be wrong to lead her on, when I knew I was in love with someone else. I looked away, waiting for Kathryn's reaction, expecting her to cry or to scream but all she did was snicker malevolently, surprising me.

"Oh, Cedric! You are sweet but so naïve, it's pathetic really. I wasn't ever interested in you, truth be told, I never really even liked you. My boyfriend, Daniel, had broken up with me just days before Holiday. You were nothing more than a fun distraction, a rebound. But, I should thank you, after all, it made Daniel awfully jealous thinking I had moved on so quickly." I staggered backwards, though I wasn't hurt—slightly pissed off—but not hurt, not when I had (Y/N) to worry about. Yet, I was in shock. She blew be as kiss, before she walked off as if nothing had ever happened. I could feel my anger boiling as I glowered at the back of her head, having half the mind to go after her. But then I remembered... (Y/N).

I had abandoned her for months, and what for? For a girl who never liked me? To date a girl who just wanted to use me? Out of fear that I'd ruin our friendship? Out of fear that I didn't deserve her? I wasn't quite sure, all I knew is that I had fucked up. Bad. I had to make this right. I had to fix this. She had to forgive me... I needed her... I was in love with her...