𝐈𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 (𝐂𝐄𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐂 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐆𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐱 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑)

5: Study "Date"

Y/N PERSPECTIVE

"Wait! Y/N, wait up!"

I turned around, just as I was about to leave the infirmary. Cedric was hobbling after me, and it was only then I noticed how bad the damage was. Madame Pomfrey had healed his cuts and bruises for the most part, but his leg was wrapped in a bandage and his arm didn't look quite right.

"Have you been discharged already?" I asked skeptically.

"Madame Pomfrey said I could be worse," Cedric responded, but he looked away sheepishly. Yeah, right, Cedric.

"Following me, are you?" I asked slyly.

"Well we DO live in the same house, don't we?" he replied. I slowed my pace to match his and we started back towards Hufflepuff.

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

The common room was bustling with activity. Classes had started since Cedric was in the infirmary, and students were lounging all about and doing homework.

Cedric turned to me. 

"What class did you say we have together, Y/N?" he asked.

"Herbology. Why?"

"Well, I'll need someone to help me catch up. Are you busy right now?"

My breath caught in my throat. Blimey! Why did I keep having this reaction around him? Stay calm. He's just another Hufflepuff.

"Nope, I've just about finished my work for the day."

Cedric grinned. "Great! Let's go." He set off towards the boy's side stairs and began to clumsily work his way up.

Oh merlin. 

Okay, calm. I followed after him, and tried to ignore the catcalls and whoops behind me.

"Don't let the prefect catch you two, Y/N!" laughed a fifth year. I turned around and shot her a wry grin before hurrying after Diggory.

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

It was late in the day and the sun had started to set, so Cedric's room was dim. With a flourish of his wand, four candles lit themselves, and the fireplace blazed.

Cedric settled down on the hard floor, wincing slightly. I 

I cleared my throat, and began opening books and unrolling parchment next to him. "So, that was... quite the fall you took."

Stupid. Why did I say that?

"Oh no, it's not too bad," he rushed to assure me. "Thank you again, of course."

"You'd do the same for me. I mean, probably. Maybe. If you noticed I was falling, that is." FUCK! Why am I so awkward?

Thankfully Cedric merely laughed it off, and picked up a book. I began pointing out plants and teaching him the sayings we learned in class, and tried to focus on studying and hide the burning in my cheeks, hoping that the light was too dim for him to notice.

The next time I looked up, it was dark outside.

"We probably missed dinner," I heard him say. I diverted my eyes to him, and saw that he was looking at me too. Cedric dramatically flung his book to the side and sighed.

"I've always hated herbology. Quite dull in my opinion," he complained.

I set my books to the side as well, and rested my back against the foot of Cedric's bed.

"It's not my favorite, but I'm trying to enjoy every last moment here. I don't know what I'll do next year without Hogwarts."

Cedric turned to face me head on. "You have muggle parents, don't you?" he asked.

This caught me off guard. "I-I... yes, yes I do. How did you know that? Not that it bothers me, I just..."

Cedric shrugged. "Nothing to be ashamed of! I heard that bloke Bishop Crooks bitching about it to some other Slytherin last year. Worthless prat."

I breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't bother him. "Yeah, and they still don't quite understand wizarding. They want me to get a muggle job. I'd be miserable."

Cedric seemed to hesitate. "If I may speak freely...? I think you shouldn't let them control your life. Not just anyone is a wizard. Our world needs you."

I blushed again. Uh oh. He definitely saw it that time.

 I was suddenly hyper aware of every bone in my body. I heard Cedric gingerly shift his body closer to mine.

My heart was pounding as I turned to look at him, and suddenly I knew why.

I had never really thought about it before, but when I caught his eye again, I finally realized how beautiful he was. His white collared shirt stretching over his toned shoulders strained at the folds when shifted his arms to prop himself up. He had moved so close to me– I never knew he had freckles. He smelled like a bonfire and eyes looked like smoke... and it was right as he was turning away from me that I realized I wanted him to turn back. 

It was right then that I knew I liked Cedric Diggory.

The door flew open, and we sprung apart.

Shale Poults, Cedric's roommate, came striding in from dinner with a girl on his arm. Wait a minute–

"Elaine?"

★゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜☆゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜★

author's note

hey anyone! more coming very soon I promise it's about to get interesting hehe