Misery || Harry Potter's Twin Brother

Chapter Six

Cedric kept his promise and met Sirius and Ernie at the train station, and walked them back to his home. They chatted happy nothings as they went, but Sirius was still worried. Harry had not yet replied to his letter.

"Sirius?" Cedric had noticed his change in mood.

"Sorry, Harry hasn't replied to my letter yet." He explained.

"He's fine, I saw him." Cedric told him, "honestly he's fine."

"Thanks Cedric." Sirius smiled. Cedric put an arm around him.

"This is going to be so fun." He said as they continued to where Ernie had stopped to wait for them.

^^^
Cedric wasted no time in teaching the two how to play Quidditch. His collection of broomsticks was extensive and he spent time choosing one that would fit their skills perfectly. After going over the rules, Cedric assigned Ernie and Sirius as chasers and positioned himself as a keeper. He had an entire full-sized quidditch pitch on his back garden.

Sirius positioned himself on the Comet model broomstick Cedric had assigned him and kicked off, he didn't like flying, but he was intrigued to learn Quidditch.

Once in the air, Cedric tossed him the quaffle, which he had to dive to catch. Once he had it, he had Ernie had to try and get it from one another and then try to score a goal.

Weaving through all of Ernie's attempts to get the ball from him, Sirius soon found himself faced with the goal. He threw the ball, which sailed past Cedric before he could react and scored a goal.

He dived and went to catch the ball, but Ernie was already there. Cedric clapped his hands in delight.

"You two are naterals!" He exclaimed. "I'm so proud of you."

^^^
That night, Sirius couldn't sleep. He and Ernie were in one of the two guest rooms of Cedric's home, but whilst Ernie slept soundly, everytime Sirius closed his eyes and began to sleep he had the most horrible dreams.

Finally giving up on sleep, he got up and snuck carefully out of the room, being so careful as to not wake anyone as he wandered down stairs and sat in the living room. He just didn't know what to do. There was too much going on, he felt as though he was being pulled in multiple directions, from Aro, from Ollie, from Elias, from his friends. It was as though everyone was expecting different things from him and he couldn't please them all. He didn't even know what he wanted, let alone what everyone else wanted of him.

"Can't sleep?" Sirius was broken out of his thoughts by Cedric, who sat down beside him.

"Sorry if I woke you up." He said by way of reply.

"You didn't." Cedric told him gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know what everyone wants from me." Sirius replied. "I just feel like everyone is expecting something from me and I don't know what it is."

"Don't focus on what they want, focus on yourself, focus on what you want to do." Cedric told him. "No one else matters but you."

"When did you get so wise Ced?" Sirius managed a smile. Cedric wrapped an arm around him, Sirius immediately leaning into his side.

"What can I say, I'm that good." The older boy laughed. "Don't worry about what everyone wants from you. You're going into your fourth year, just enjoy your subjects and your time at school."

"Thanks Cedric." Sirius smiled, "I really needed that."

"I'm here for you." Cedric replied. "I always will."

Sirius smiled again, "I don't deserve that." He muttered.

"What makes you say that?" Cedric frowned, he seemed concerned. "Why wouldn't you?"

"I'm pathetic." Sirius sighed. "I'm just useless."

"No you're not, you're smart and funny." Cedric told him. "Don't put yourself down. Like that."

"Sorry." Sirius muttered. Cedric wrapped his other arm around Sirius and pulled him closer.

"Don't let anyone tell you you aren't worth it." He said. "Promise me."

"I promise."

^^^
Justin wouldn't be joining them until the 24th, and Ernie had just left for his grand birthday, meaning Sirius and Cedric had just themselves to keep occupied. Harry had let Sirius know that he was absolutely fine and there was nothing to worry about, which Sirius only half believed, but Harry wouldn't tell him the truth that he was convinced he wasn't being told.

"Sirius come on!" Cedric yelled, they had decided to go on a walk up in the hills, and Cedric with his long legs was going a lot faster than Sirius.

"I'm going as fast as I can." Sirius grumbled, finally meeting Cedric where the older boy had waited for him.

"Come on, or we'll never get there." Cedric told him, earning a glare from the Potter boy.

"We aren't all athletes you know!" Sirius responded, Cedric rolled his eyes and crouched down in front of him.

"Get on." He said.

"What?"

"I'm going to carry you, get on." Cedric replied, Sirius sighed and vaulted onto Cedric's back, loosely wrapping his arms around the boys neck. Cedric set off walking.

"I'm not that slow." Sirius complained.

"Yes you are." Cedric replied with a laugh. "I want to get home before nightfall."

"You're so rude!" Sirius frowned, pouting at him. "Why are you so mean to me?"

"I'm not mean to you." Cedric replied instantly. "I just notice that your short little legs won't get us there fast enough."

"That is being mean to me!"