Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter ten-badger boy

I was relieved at the news that Professor Lupin had returned to teach DADA, Harry and I had agreed to ask him about dementors, and why we reacted so severely to them. When a particularly interesting class on Hinkypunks, I waited with Harry for the classroom to empty, before speaking to Professor Lupin

"Er Professor?" Harry began nervously
"Harry and I were wondering if we could ask you something."

The professor put a stack of parchment into a drawer before motioning for us to sit down, saying

"Of course you can, is there something wrong?"
"Not really, we just wanted to know why...why the dementors affect us so much" I nodded at him, and added, "No one else ever faints except for us."
"The Dementors affect you worse than the others" the professor explained, " because there are horrors in your pasts that the others don't have. I, as is the rest of the Wizarding world, am very familiar with Harry's and am certain his reactions to dementors are due to his parents-"
"I can... i can hear my parents being murdered" Harry croaked weakly, and i placed my hand in his comfortingly
"I hear the voice of boyfriend calling to me, like...like when he died". Harry hand squeezed mine gently

With the thought that Harry and myself would be receiving patronous lessons from Professor Lupin, along with the news that Ravenclaw had won the match against Hufflepuff, I was in a considerably better mood as I made my way to the Hufflepuff table the next morning. I walked along the table, my eyes scanning the row of cautious heads that rushed to face me. I was a Lestrange, after all, and Hufflepuffs were the last kind of people to want to get into trouble with a Lestrange. Finally, I caught sight of a golden brown head of hair, and promptly took a seat next to him, much to the collective surprise of the boy's housemates.

"Hello" Cedric said politely, though the confusion was evident in his voice, "I'm Ced-"
"I know who you are, badger boy" I interrupted, not wanting to prolong my stay,"you have something of mine. I'd like it back please"

He paused, looking at me and trying to recall what I was talking about, then it dawned on him

"Oh yes, your broom! I caught it after your match, I'll take you to go get it it's just been sitting in my closet since, I wasn't sure how to give it back" he stood up and offered me his hand

My eyes narrowed though I took his hand nonetheless

"Ever thought of maybe picking it up, finding me, and giving it to me?" I teased, sharing a laugh with him then looking down and realising my hand was still in his. He noticed this too, and started blushing profusely as I quickly let go, suddenly painfully aware entire great hall was now whispering, their eyes darting from me and Cedric, to their friends. clearing my throat, I said

"Well, come on then, let's go. Some of us have places to be"
"Right. This way then, it's just down here, next to the kitchens"

He lead me past the tables, where Hermione shot me a knowing look. Deciding I'd bring it up later, I followed Cedric out the double doors and to the kitchens, where he tapped on a set of barrels which opened to reveal a lush and spacious lounge room. The Hufflepuff dorms looked similar to the gryffindor ones, except in place of maroon, Cedric's dorm was decked out in every shade of yellow I'd even seen.
I plopped onto his bed and leaned back lazily, waiting to be reunited with my beloved Firebolt.

"Making ourselves comfortable, I see" Cedric joked lightly
"Would you get me my goddamn broom, Diggory" I said, trying to sound annoyed but giving up when I saw his smile that i couldn't help but return.

He held his hands up in surrender, walking over to his wardrobe and offering out my broom, his smile never wavering. I got up from his bed and walked over to where he was standing and took the broom from his hand, his fingers slightly brushing mine and leaving a queer sort of tingly feeling. I looked at him to find his gaze already on me, studying my face.

"(Y/n)..." he whispered, looking down at me
"Cedric"

And then the guilt came. What the hell, was I doing, cozying up to a guy I had just met, when I should be mourning the death of the boy I love? And with these thoughts, I placed my hand gently on Cedric's chest, stopping him from leaning in for what was undoubtedly going to end in a kiss, and shook my head, saying

"I'm sorry, Cedric, I cant, I"
"It's okay I get it, I was moving too fast" he says with a sad smile, and I can see the hurt in his eyes
"No it's not that" I said quickly, "I-I just got out of...a relationship last year and, I'm just not ready for anything like that, yet"

His expression softened knowing the reason behind my rejection

"I get that, (y/n), and I'm sorry it ended"

I smiled sadly

"Me too"

We sat there in his dorm, just talking. And it was wonderful. He told me about him and his exes and I told him about myself, even opening up a little about Noah. When we checked the time, we gasped and ran out of the dorm room, arriving twenty minutes late for Herbology. I said goodbye to Cedric as he went to go sit with his friends, their eyes fixated on us, or rather, our arrival together. I took my usual seat next to Harry, across from Ron and Hermione, and spent the next few minutes insisting that nothing happened with Cedric.