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

Chapter 8

Draco and I walked hand in hand to the library as I explained to him my conversation with Harry Potter, only leaving out the bits where we had mentioned him.

Draco sneered, "That Harry Potter is always on my last nerve.  I can't go two seconds without seeing his stupid face.  It's like he's plagued my mind."

"Yeah that's kind of how I feel about Cedric ever since our fight."

Draco looked at me in shock, but reclaimed his composure after a moment.

"That's what having an enemy is like, they never leave your head."  He laughed awkwardly, as if he was trying to cover up something.  I didn't want to drag the conversation, so I kept my curiosities to myself.

We continued looking at the vast selection of books, when I spotted none other than Cho Chang sitting and reading in a corner.  I couldn't believe I had correctly predicted her whereabouts!

I pointed her out to Draco, "She's quite pretty that one, isn't she."

He quickly nodded and went back to sorting his stack of books.

"I've heard she's very intelligent, and kind-hearted as well."

"Yeah, mhm."

I could tell that Draco wasn't listening to a word I was saying.  I had to think of something quick to get his attention off of his books and onto Cho.

"I heard she likes Harry Potter!"  I blurted.

He looked up at me, and then onto her, "Is that so?"

"Yes, I heard that they have a little crush on each other.  It's about time one of them makes the first move."

"You really shouldn't believe everything you hear.  Why would a perfect girl like her be into Harry Potter.  He's just awful."

I guess the topic of Harry Potter was causing Draco to be not only upset, but angry.  I had never seen someone with such hate for another person- it truly baffled me.

"It'd be quite funny to see Potter all lonely because someone else swiped her up, wouldn't it?  I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to, Harry isn't the best option there is."

"I agree," Draco replied, "I'd like to see him lonely as well."

His eyes pierced onto her, and I slipped away hoping that the rest of my plan would play itself out.  On my way out of the library I saw Harry speaking with Cedric and had a sigh of relief. Cedric would be safe after all.

I wanted to be with him, I wanted to give him words of encouragement and comfort him.  I knew he'd be scared, and that there wasn't going to be anyone to tell him it would be alright, but it was too soon for me to apologize.   I just stood there watching him from a distance, hoping he could feel my warmth from afar...

Weeks passed, and I saw progress with Draco and Cho.  They became friendly with each other, which is the exact direction I wanted them to be going in.  At one point when Harry was in a near proximity between the two of them, I caught Draco flirting with her.  Any normal girlfriend would be absolutely livid, however I was as happy as can be.

When I thought of my split with Cedric, the only positive I could find to the situation was that now if he Draco and Cho together, he wouldn't try to defend me by calling him out, he simply strolled past them.  I guess it wasn't only that but he did have a lot on his mind.  The first task was nearing and it was no surprise that he was incredibly nervous.

On the day of the first task the school was as jittery as ever.  Even I couldn't resist talking about it, nothing this exciting had ever happened in all of our years here, so there was bound to be commotion.

I hugged Draco goodbye as he went to go sit in his respective area with the other Slytherins.  As I walked to the Hufflepuff section, something told me that it was time to finally settle things with Cedric Diggory.  If something were to happen to him, God forbid, I wanted to be by his side, and I wanted him to remember me as his friend.

I ran over to the Champions tent, and noticed Hermione Granger trying to sneak inside as well.

"Visiting Harry?"

"Yes, I wanted to wish him good luck."

"I know he'll do well, he's Harry Potter!"

She laughed and we both made our way inside.  I hid in a corner to avoid being photographed by Rita Skeeter, as I saw her trying to take a photo of Hermione and Harry hugging.  I tiptoed over to the beds, trying to find out where on earth Cedric was.

He surely hadn't ran away, he was too brave to do so.  I sat on one of the beds when another champion had come in from the back entrance.

"I'm sorry is this your bed?"

"Yes it is, I'd usually be willing to share it with a friend."

I turned to see Cedric Diggory towering over me.  He was wearing a uniform with the Hufflepuff logo on it, his hair perfectly combed.  I knew there was no way pretty-boy Cedric wouldn't look his best, even if he was going to battle a dragon.

"Cedric, where do I even begin?"

"I don't care, because you're right- actions do speak louder than words, and you being here right now is worth more than any sappy apology you could whip up."

With tears in my eyes, I gave Cedric a big hug.  He squeezed even tighter.  After going so long without being together, this truly was the greatest feeling ever.

He wiped the tears off of my cheeks and smiled.

"Ced has anyone ever told you that you have the sweetest smile in the entire world?"

"It only looks like this when I'm around you."

I blushed, even from time to time Hogwarts's Heartthrob could catch me off guard.

"We have to promise to each other that from here on forth that we'll never fight so terribly again, and that no matter what happens we'll be best friends."  I said

"I promise.  These past few weeks have truly been hell."

"Ditto."

"Well at least you have Draco Malfoy," Cedric bit his lip, "Although you should know something about him."

Great.  Just great, how would I explain to Cedric that I'm not upset about Draco being with Cho.

"He's been hanging around with that fifth year girl, Cho Chang.  I should've told you earlier, even if we weren't on good terms.  I'm so sorry."

"Ced it's alright.  I know the two of them are just friends, I even introduced them to each other. Besides, you have no reason to feel guilty for not telling me, I'm the one who called off our friendship."

"Yeah well I'm the one who let you do it."

I grabbed his hand, "It doesn't matter.  We're the ones who are never going to let it happen again.  Ever."

He gave me another one of his heart-melting smiles.  I hugged him once more, it felt right to be in each other's arms again.

He let go of me, "It's time."

I kissed him on the cheek for good luck, and left.  I only caught a glimpse of his face after I did it, and I could see that it had turned red, and that he was very confused.

I sat down with the other Hufflepuffs in the stadium and waited anxiously for the task to begin.

Please be safe Cedric.