Strawberry and Vanilla (Cedric Diggory AU)

The Order: Part Two

Cedric was given a seat and took it with the greatest amount of ease he could muster in the crowded room. He recognized the faces of Mad-Eye Moody, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley and Sirius Black. Sirius was not at all what Cedric had expected from seeing the posters that flew around while he was in his fifth year and Sirius Black had 'escaped' Azkaban. He remembered that year as it was the year he dated Violet. Sirius didn't look all dirty and homeless like he had in the poster- he looked happy and wholesome.

         "Sorry to bother you all on Christmas, but Dumbledore himself called this meeting to order." Mad-Eye inaugurated, pacing in front of everyone else. He had everyone's attention in an instant. "We consider the entry of Cedric Diggory."

      The heads turned to Cedric in his seat and he was unsure, with the solemnity of the group, if he should have waved. He solely nodded and sat still to look back at Mad-Eye, who was mumbling under his breath about attention span. He spoke up again, "Diggory, we here are a secret organization made by Dumbledore himself back in the seventies. It was our job to protect wizard-kind once and it is our job again now to protect Harry Potter from You-Know-Who's grasp. Heading right into it we need to have somewhat of interrogation, to see you fit for the Order. You would be our youngest member and would give us the drone of the school like what's going on with that hag-like woman who thinks herself fit to physically punish students. You know most of the faces here but before we start, let's introduce you to some of the other faces."

     "Mundungus Fletcher," a dirty man raised his hand, introducing himself. He was wearing a jacket that Cedric was sure he could see a metallic pot stuffed under. A thief, great.

     "Remus Lupin," another voice said, and the man who was seated at the table's face became clear. "You may not remember me, but I taught you Defense in your fifth year."

      Cedric grinned, "Of course I remember. It was the first year of many in which we had awful teachers, that we had a teacher who truly taught us what was useful and in the books. You were by far my favourite." Remus looked flattered and turned back to Mad-Eye to pay regard to the lecture of a meeting.

      "Now, of course, this isn't the full Order, Diggory. There are many other members of which you may know and may not know. Now that we know everyone here, we shall start with some questions."

      Cedric only nodded, as he was more nervous than he would have liked to admit. Two hours ago he was back home in London, in his big house without Hermione. Enduring this was worth seeing Hermione. He could get through it. There was a silence before Mad-Eye slammed his hand down on the table and yelled, "Why do you see yourself as a fit Order member?!"

     Cedric's eyes widened but he spoke calmly and rationally, "I can provide a unique viewpoint and I have a different kind of authority over students. They listen to me but don't hate me as they would shun someone who is an adult and also has authority. I'm mature, approachable by children and adults alike. I'm head boy of Hogwarts- it's my position to listen to students, make sure they aren't into trouble or planning to join the Dark Lord. I'd continue my head boy tasks, except I report the better findings to the Order as an idle member."

      Moody looked over-impressed and frankly so did everyone else in the room. "In what condition are your legs, Diggory?" Sirius asked curiously, obviously not meaning any harm.

     "I will be paralyzed mid-thigh down in about ten years' time," Cedric answered seriously. It pained him to admit, but it was true. If he wanted this spot in the Order, which he did, he would have to act like the adult that he was. "That is unless they find a cure or an anti-spell. From then to now I've lost a significant amount of leg ability and stress or high emotion can cause the degeneration of my nerves to speed up. I'm still entirely capable of walking, just not very fast."