Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter twenty three- back to school

I suppose I should be grateful, Mr. Weasley's urge to arrive home early meant that I didn't get enough sleep for any night terrors to occur. The sun had barely risen as we grabbed hold of an old tire that transported us back to the Burrow, where we were met by a disheveled looking Mrs Weasley

"Arthur-I've been so worried-so worried" she exclaimed, dropping a rolled up copy of the daily prophet, which read SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP, "you're alright, you're alive...oh-boys!"

We shuffled into the kitchen where Mr. Weasley read aloud the article, complete with an animated photo of the dark mark

"Ministry blunders . . . culprits not apprehended . . . lax security . . . Dark wizards running unchecked . . . national disgrace . . . Who wrote this? Ah . . . of course . . . Rita Skeeter."
"Oi wasn't she the one that wrote about (y/n) this summ-OW!" Ron was cut off by Hermione who slapped him sharply behind the head

No one saw much of Mr. Weasley or Percy in the following days, an overwhelming amount of damage control lead to them returning home well after supper and leaving for work before the roosters crowed the next morning. After a heated debate between Percy and Hermione on the topic of Mr. Crouch and his elf, we were sent upstairs to finish our packing. I had just sent off a letter to Cedric when I heard a loud noise of disguise behind me. I turned around and laughed when I saw Ron holding a pair of frilly dress robes with velvet and lace. Mrs. Weasley bustled in, handing me a pile of freshly laundered and folded clothing

"There you are, (y/n)" she said to me
"Mum, you've given me Ginny's new dress" Ron said, handing her the bundle of moldy smelling clothing
"Of course I haven't" said Mrs. Weasley, "that's for you. Dress robes. It says on your school list you're supposed to have them this year. Robes for formal occasions"
"Girls've been asked to bring a formal gown, something special must be going on this year" I said, "me and 'Mione are getting ours at Hogsmeade"
"Exactly, see Ron, it's mandatory" Mrs. Weasley said, smiling at me, "I got some for Harry too, show him, Harry"

Harry nervously opened his parcel, before revealing a set of dark green dress robes that resembled school robes, but slightly more formal, and definitely had no lace or frills

"Well they're okay" Ron said, "why couldn't I have something like that?"
"Well...because I hand to get yours second hand and there weren't very many choices" Mrs. Weasley flushed, before exiting
"Why is everything I own garbage" Ron muttered, shoving his robes into his luggage, as I exchanged looks of pity with Harry and Hermione.

The weather seemed to dread the end of summer holidays as much as everyone in the burrow did, creating a steady pelting of rain the morning of the journey back to Hogwarts. I weaved through the dense crowd of parents seeing their children off, and was chatting with Hermione when I heard a familiar voice call out. Cedric's hair was damp from the rain, strands of hair dripping rainwater occasionally. I breathed in his calming scent of mahogany and ash as he hugged me, before he swiftly placed his lips onto mine, his strong hands finding my waist and pulling me closer. I pulled away smirking before saying

"We are in public, Cedric"
"I don't see the issue" he replied coyly, going in for another kiss and I gladly complied.

The hogwarts express sounded their horn, and I said goodbye to him quickly before finding my friends in a compartment down the hall.

"What took you so long, (y/n)?" Harry asked as I placed my luggage above me before taking the seat next to him
"Nothing" I replied nonchalantly
"If by nothing you mean snogging Diggory, then sure" Ron joked, and I punched him arm, making him squeal in pain.
"Shhhh..." Hermione said, gesturing to the compartment next door, in which a distinct drawling voice could be heard
"Father actually considered sending me to Durmstrang rather than Hogwarts, you know. He knows the headmaster, you see. Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore-the man's such a Mudblood lover-and Durmstrang doesn't admit that sort of riffraff . But mother didn't like the idea of me going to school so far away. Father says Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the dark arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do"