Strawberry and Vanilla (Cedric Diggory AU)

Chapter Twenty: The Game!

Quidditch, as mentioned before, was a favourite of Cedric's. He loved the wind, the speed, the cheering. He had lost his place as a seeker for the team as soon as his name was spit by the awful Goblet of Fire. He had prepared to return to his team once the Tournament was over, but much to his luck, he was unable to due to his now crippled self. He missed the Hufflepuff students patting him on the back before a game, to give him good luck, to help him win. But now they were pats on the back for their sympathy. A 'sorry-you're-crippled' sort of sympathy pat.

"Ready to watch the game, mate?" Scott said, bursting into Cedric's room without knocking. Cedric rolled his eyes, standing only partially dressed without a shirt. He didn't mind, Scott was a male and wouldn't go gossip about seeing him shirtless, though the bursting into his room was a bit tedious now. "Mari and I made a sign for Hufflepuff since she's really not all prideful about Gryffindor or Slytherin."

Cedric pulled on a white-collared dress shirt and buttoned it up quickly with nimble fingers before tucking it into his jeans. "I'm viewing with Hermione, actually. I wish I could go rebel with you two love-birds, but I would rather not third-wheel."

Scott hummed, lost in thought it seemed. It had been a decent amount of time since Scott had told Marianne he loved her, just after the pregnancy scare. The baby was gone, they were both happy. What Cedric loved most about the situation was that he could now tantalize Scott about his previous lifestyle, when Marianne was a casual and Scott claimed he was born to be a bachelor. "I see, yes. I'll catch you later then?" Scott had one foot outside Cedric's door, ready to leave. It was later than Cedric had thought.

"See you at breakfast," Cedric agreed and Scott slipped out the door. "Remember to knock next time!" He called after his friend.

"No promises!" Scott yelled back. Cedric shook his head, smiling as he pulled his red sweater over his head and ran his comb through his bronze hair before grabbing his jacket, scarves, and gloves and quickly crutching himself down the halls toward the Great Hall.

"Hullo, Cedric Diggory," a dreamy voice called from behind Cedric. He turned slightly to face a giant lion. The voice surely didn't come from the giant lion hat. Cedric ducked down slightly, coming to face a smiling Luna Lovegood. She was very short compared to him, standing at what he estimated as 5'2. She barely reached his shoulders. "Great morning isn't it?"

"Yes, hello Luna," Cedric replied, distracted by the life-sized lion she wore on her head. "What exactly is it you're wearing, Luna?"

"It's something to support Gryffindor, a hat. It roars too, if you don't mind, you may not want it to roar in your face." Luna seemed entirely oblivious to the other students laughing at her for the foolish hat. Cedric stepped back and stood to his full height while she tapped the lion with her wand. It roared loudly, sounding very realistically and making the laughing students jump. Cedric chuckled to himself and ducked down a bit to talk to Luna again.

"You're ahead of your time," Cedric told her, touching the Gryffindor lion's mane. "It's genius, truly."

Luna smiled widely, "I assume you'll be sitting with the Gryffindor students, dating Hermione and all? I must say I think you two to be a great couple, though I don't quite understand why she doesn't tell you to change up your outfits once in a while. Turtleneck, khakis, white shirt, jeans, sweater. If I were her I'd tell you to wear a cotton shirt for once in your life. Not that you aren't fashion-forward, I think you are, just too fashion-forward for your own good."

Cedric agreed silently, thinking it over. Luna was entirely right and it was humorous. "Thank you for the advice, Luna. I'll be on my way. Really like your hat!" He walked into the Great Hall while the spirit was clearly in the air. Every house wore their colours, screaming green, silver, red, gold, yellow, blue, even if only Gryffindor and Slytherin were playing. Cedric could have worn his yellow sweater, but instead wore his red sweater. He would be out of place at his own table and it was bad placement for the head boy, but as long as he was with Hermione he'd be fine facing any teasing or insults to come his way.