Celia I A Harry Potter Fanfiction

Chapter Thirty-Six - Second Chances

29th October 2003:

"See you later, Ms Diggory!" I waved my students goodbye as they left for their common rooms.

Over a month had passed since my book launch and I had reconnected with the group. We had kept in constant contact since and it felt better, knowing that they didn't hate me for what had happened during my break.
I walked towards Hogsmead village, desperate to get some sort of costume for the Halloween celebrations. I had forgotten how intense the ghosts got with the holiday and realised that I hadn't even got something to wear.

As I walked into the village, I tripped on a branch sticking up through the pavement and squealed as I landed on the floor.
"You okay?" I stopped myself from getting up as I recognised the voice talking to me.
"Uhhh." I was stuck for words, looking up into the striking blue eyes I hadn't seen for months.
"Celia..." George muttered as he stepped back and frowned.
"Hi." I said, getting up finally and facing him.
"I forgot you worked here now." He mentioned, looking away from me.
"Yeah." I couldn't get out more than one word as I stared at him, longing for him to take me into his arms.
"I heard your book launch went well." He trailed off and I nodded, smiling slightly at him.
"Yeah, it did." I mumbled. I couldn't help but just stare at him. Wishing we could go back to how it was before everything had happened.
"Sorry, I'll get out of your way." He started to walk past me and I turned around... it was now or never Celia Diggory.

"George, wait!" I called out, watching his figure stop and turn around.
"Yeah?" He asked, his eyes finally finding mine.
"Do you think... do you want to have dinner, with me?" I asked him, watching his eyes light up and nod.

We walked silently to the pub together and sat down in the corner.
"So what are you doing here?" I asked him, finally.
"I just bought Zonkos." He states, grinning at me as I smile in excitement.
"Really?"
"Yeah, finally decided to do it." His smile beamed with happiness.
"That's so great." I reply.
"How have you been?" He asks, the awkwardness returning.
"I'm better than I was... I guess the others told you everything?"
"Yeah, I got kept up to date." I nod and look anywhere but at him.
"I..." I begin to start talking but he interrupts me.
"I know you had to work through something, I completely understand and support that. I just wished you had talked to me, Ceils." I nod, knowing he was right.
"I know. I should have talked to you... all of you. I know I should have and I have no excuses other than I just wasn't myself." He nods in understanding and I look at him again, trying to get an understanding with where his mind was.

"I'm sorry for everything I said. I should never have put that pressure on you." He apologises.
"Thank you." I reply.
"I regret everything I said, I just couldn't help but feel sad. I shouldn't have blamed you, nor should I have been so horrible." I nod my head.
"I know. I shouldn't have closed off." I reply.
"I feel as though we're really bad at communicating." He jokes, and I laugh with him.
"A bit..." I trail off, knowing he was thinking of Draco.
So..." He begins again and I interrupt him.
"There's nothing serious between me and Draco, just so you know. I needed a distraction, but he's just a good friend now." I try and reassure him.
"I guess I was right about him then... he obviously had a thing for you." I laugh a little as he makes light of the situation. I can feel that he didn't judge me for my actions.
"I've never loved anyone but you." I state, watching for his reaction. He stops and stares at me for a while and I force myself to not enter his mind, letting him have his privacy.

"I was hoping you'd say that." He finally replies, smiling at me and grabbing my hands.
"I've missed you so much." I reply, a weight being lifted from my shoulders.
"So it worked then? You feel better?" He asks, staring at me and I nod.
"I know I should have done everything differently. But honestly, I just... I hadn't figured out how to deal with everything on my own, and having that time to do that, it really made a difference." I state, smiling at him.
"I can tell... you're different, a good different though." I laugh slightly and thank him.
"Are you okay?" I ask him, worried.
"I'm good. It was just hard not knowing anything about you for so long, but I dealt with a lot of stuff I had pushed back too. I think it was obviously good for both of us." He states, I watch his lips and force myself to stop.
"So, what now?" I ask him.
"I'm here for the next couple of weeks, if you'd like to do this again?" George says, smiling through the awkwardness.
"I'd love that." I mention to him.

We went met up almost everyday after that and as November arrived, it was a though nothing had ever changed between us. I moved back into the flat with him and everything was as it was meant to be.
A couple of weeks into November, the official reviews for my book came out and George quickly whisked them up from the letterbox and began to read them.

"Diggory, in using her intuitive and emotive writing skills, showcases the type of book I would recommend to anyone wanting an intensive and exciting read." George reads, smiling widely as he places the paper down in front of me.
"Don't..." I state, a blush already forming on my cheeks with the notion of his proudness.
"Why can't I celebrate my girlfriend?" He dramatically states, standing up from his side of the table and walking over to me.
"Because it's embarrassing. I already have enough attention coming from the public." I reply, laughing as he pulls me into his arms.
"Well if you want me to stop giving you attention-" He starts, pulling away and I whine in response.
"That's not what I meant and you know it." He laughs at me and brings me back in again.
"I thought you were okay with the idea of being more famous." He asks, leaning his chin on top of my head.
"I didn't realise how intense it would be." I sigh, wishing I could have published anonymously.
"I mean, I'm not complaining. Your new found status is bringing in more customers than ever before, even if they're just coming in to find you." George laughs again, pulling back and taking the dishes over to the sink.
"I was wanting to get some puking pastilles please... oh also, while I'm here can you tell me more about that time in your book when-" I trail off, imitating the certain style of customers we'd been getting.
George laughs at me and shakes his head, pulling his jacket on as he readied himself for the day ahead.
"It'll get better. You're so new and exciting still, you'll become old and boring soon enough." I fake laugh and slap him on the arm, kissing his cheek as he opens the door.
"Have a good day." I tell him.
"You too." He replies, before shutting the door behind him and going to work.

I arrived at the school quickly and entered the teacher's lounge. I had been going back to the flat over the last few weekends, it had been nice to have a change of scenery after an entire week surrounded by teenagers. The new shop had been really intense and not left much time for George and I to spend a lot of time together, but it was perfect having the weekends just to us.

"How was the weekend?" Draco asks, breaking me from my thoughts as he brings over a mug of coffee.
"Great! George and I are in a really good place." I reply, sitting down with him.
"It's so good to know you guys are okay." He replies, staring into the distance.
"How are things with Astoria going?" I ask him, noting the slight blush in his cheeks.
"It's alright." I found myself entering his mind, watching him thinking of the girl he had been dating over the last few weeks.
"It seems more than alright." I reply, nudging him.
"I thought I told you to not do your mind reading thingy with me." He states, frowning at I laugh at him.
"Great English there, Professor." He huffs and stands up. I giggle at myself as I follow him into the corridor.
"Don't you have a meeting with McGonagall?" Draco asks suddenly, stopping his walking and facing me. I perk up, realising he was right and I rush down the corridor to her office.

"I'm so sorry Professor." I state, entering the office as she smiles at me.
"Its fine, come on in Celia." I walk over to her desk and sit down opposite her, my mug of coffee still in my hands.
"You wanted to see me?" I ask, looking up to the portraits on the walls.
"I just wanted to check in with you, see how you are going." I smile gently at her and relax in my seat.
"Honestly, I couldn't be better. I'm so thankful that you offered me this position, it's the dream I never imagined." Her smile widened as she took me in.
I wasn't lying to her either, with the stress of this year and my book launch, being back in the castle had helped me feel whole again.
"I'm so glad to hear that. Your fellow Professors and students speak only good things, so I am very happy with my decision." I let out a breath of relief as I hear the praise for my work.
"I'm glad they think I'm doing okay." I laugh a little.
"I wanted to talk to you about furthering your career. I know you have your hands full at the moment, but this will be Professor Sprouts last year with us and I wanted you to start spending more time with her. Follow in her footsteps..."

We continued talking into the late morning and I couldn't be more excited for my future.