You Know I Love You, Right? (Cedric Diggory x Reader)

Chapter 3

After the two schools got settled down Dumbledore continued his speech.  He stated that because of the dangers of the tournament only students who were 17 and older were permitted to enter.  This, indubitably, caused outrage among the students.  However across the table I saw Cedric beaming, and reality hit me like a bludger.

Cedric was going to enter the Triwizard Tournament.

I just couldn't let him, no matter how upset I was with him at the time, there was no way I was going to let someone who had been so important to me put their life on the line for a trophy and 1000 galleons.

But then I remembered Cedric's mother.  The poor woman was in Saint. Mungos, and I knew Amos wouldn't be able to scrape up enough money for her treatment.  If he didn't pay they were going to release her, and if they did, she'd die.

Cedric needed that money.  I couldn't stop him.

Why did I even care if he got hurt anyway?  He had become a jerk, I couldn't care less about his well-being.

But in that moment when I saw Cedric's excitement about the tournament, I saw a glimpse of my best friend- someone who's willing to put themselves in danger for the people they love, and having a smile on his face while doing it.

I saw him there.  I didn't see pretty-boy Cedric, who would pick up random girls like pieces of litter on the street just to dump them after a few moments.  Had I become a piece of litter to him?  Was that all I was this whole time?  Another pretty face he'd let go of?  Our friendship, down the drain, like it had never happened?

The small hope that Cedric had returned faded away at these thoughts.  He called you a cunt, I reminded myself.  Although it was typical teen slang, it hurt coming from his mouth, especially because he had never said something so vile to me before.

I lost my appetite, and decided not to eat that night.  Instead I spent dinner trying not to make eye contact with Cedric, because I could feel his eyes on me the entire meal.

I was over the moon when the feast had ended, I instantly ran to my dorm to go to sleep.  I definitely needed rest after a long and sleepless night the day before.  I also needed my mind to take a break after being so busy keeping up with all of my thoughts.

After unpacking almost everything, save a few small trinkets, and writing to my parents, I threw myself onto my bed and got ready for a good night's sleep.  The first day of school had already drained me so much, and just as I thought it was over, I heard a knock on the door.

Of course it was him there.  Why couldn't I catch a break?

"Hey you're not supposed to be in here!"  My roommate, Hannah Abott, cried.

"I'm sorry I just have to borrow her for a minute."

Cedric looked at me with a please-dont-slam-the-door-in-my-face expression, and I reluctantly got up.  I decided it was best to let him apologize as I wasn't one to hold grudges.  However I wasn't too forgiving either, but I'd rather see him as an acquaintance than as an enemy.

We walked into the common room and sat on the couch facing the large burning fireplace. Awkward tension filled the room as we had no idea what to say to each other.

"I'm an idiot." He blurted.

"Yup."

"And I'm a jerk."

"Correct again."

"But worst of all, I'm a bad friend."

"Bingo!"

He placed his hand over mine and my face instantly got hotter.  Was it just me or was the fireplace burning a lot more than usual?

"Ever since all of my mom stuff happened, I've become a different person.  Especially to you.  I just thought that since I could lose my mom so easily, the same thing could happen to you."

His voice cracked, I could tell he too was on the verge of tears.  Cedric wasn't as much of a crybaby as I was, but he wasn't a stranger to the feeling of crying either.

"I- The thought of losing you...  I couldn't even imagine it without getting sick to my stomach. You know I love you right?"

I gulped and felt a drop of sweat run down my forehead.  I didn't really know what to say to thats

"-As a friend of course.  Well you should know because I didn't tell my mom that enough. Anyways, I thought, maybe If I can distance myself from you, maybe if we aren't friends, then if anything happens to you, I won't be as hurt.  Which of course, was awful of me to do.  This whole summer I really wanted to be with you, there wasn't anything I wanted more than to see your face- but I told myself I couldn't, and I hate myself for that.  I told myself, if I flirt with all of these girls, one of them is bound to be my girlfriend, and I'll forget about you, and for that I feel awful. I love you I really do, and I'm sorry.  I just don't want to be hurt again.  I'm so scared of being hurt again."

A tear ran down his cheek and onto my lap. In our nine years of friendship, never had I ever seen him be so vulnerable.  I had just one question before I was ready to forgive him.

"Do you really think I'm a cunt?"

Another tear fell down Cedric's face as he felt the guilt of the words he had said earlier.

"Oh good Merlin, absolutely not!  I'm so stupid for ever saying that to you.  You're the greatest witch in this school, an amazing Keeper on the quidditch team, the kindest girl, but most importantly you're my best friend.  You are not a cunt."

I giggled and gave him a hug.  He was right, it was hard to try to resist his hugs.  Our little fight was meaningless, because we knew deep inside that we were best friends and that nothing, not even ourselves, could get in the way of that.

After a few minutes of embracing each other I backed away and became stern, I knew I had to bring it up.

"Ced, as your best friend, I can't let you enter the Triwizard Tournament."

"How'd you know that I wanted to-"

"It doesn't matter."   I interrupted, "you just have to promise me that you won't do it."

He sat in silence for a moment, cleared his throat and continued, "I can't make that promise."

"Cedric,"

"You know my mother needs that money."

"We'll get it another way-"

"There isn't another way and you know that."

"Ced what if you get hurt, how do you think your mom will feel knowing that you risked your life for because of her?"

"How do you think I'll feel if I know I can get this money to save her and I don't?" He shouted, letting all of his anger out in that one sentence.  I didn't get upset this time, he had a right to be mad, however I couldn't let him do this.

I shouted back, "Ced, how do you think I'll feel if I watch you get hurt, or die?"

We both went silent.  I finally understood how Cedric had felt during the summer, because the thought of anything happening to him made me want to vomit.

Cedric took hold of my arm and kept a firm grip on it.  "I know you're scared, I'm scared too.  But you know how much I need this, and I've got my mind set on it.  All I ask is that you can support me on my decision just as you always have."

I sighed, there was no point in arguing anymore.  I pointed my pinkie out at him, "I promise I'll be by your side no matter what."

He hooked his pinky (much larger than mine by the way) onto mine.

"I promise I'll be safe."

There was no real reason to worry yet.  He hadn't even been chosen, but Cedric Diggory was a champion at heart, and deep down inside I knew he'd get picked.