The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

vii.

Slowly, Electra began to warm up to Cedric.

Cedric made it nearly impossible not to. He was very talkative, well-mannered, and very interested in Electra's life with muggles as they ping-ponged questions about the muggle world and magical world while playing chess game after game (until Cedric got tired of losing).

At some point the topic of music came up, and Electra pulled out her cassette player and passed one of her earphones to Cedric —who was entirely fascinated with them— and shared her music with him. They must've listened to Manfred Mann's version of Blinded by the Light about a hundred times and until they knew all the lyrics by heart.

When the sweet trolley came around, they ditched the music and Cedric bought two of everything on the cart so Electra could try all the foreign treats. They enjoyed Bertie Blotts Every Flavor Beans and exchanged Chocolate Frog cards, for Cedric had enough Morgana cards.

Before either of them knew it, they were chatting and swapping stories like they'd known each other for years. Cedric, at some point, even began calling her by a nickname. "Here, Lexi, try Peppermint Toads! Oh, you don't mind me calling you Lexi, do you?" he rattled off before gasping and lunging off his seat at her to swat a jellybean out of her hand. "No, don't eat that color bean! I think it's canned meat! Oh and you can call me Ced if you want."

It was amazing. Electra had never felt so comfortable with another person quite like she did with Cedric. It was true what Sister Wilhelmina and Professor McGonagall said, she belonged with other witches and wizards. Or so she hoped and Cedric wasn't just a fluke... though if he was, she wouldn't really mind Cedric being her only friend, so que sera, sera.

Time continued to roll on as Electra listened to Cedric prattle on about the wizarding sport Quidditch for far too long, not having the heart to stop him. Cedric loved the game and she tried to grasp as much of how it worked as she could, but really what was the point? She's not exactly the athletic type.

He must have seen the confusion on her face though because he smiled and said, "Well, when you watch a match, you'll understand more."

Electra made a face. "I'll take your word for it."

"So what house do you think you'll be in?" asked Cedric. It sounded as if he was also asking himself the very same question, and her suspicion was confirmed seconds later. "I bet I'll be in Hufflepuff. Both my parents were in Hufflepuff. It's a really great house. But I also kind of hope I break the chain and get sorted into Gryffindor."

She could tell he thought highly of Gryffindor as his voice brought on a dreamy tone as he said it. His grey eyes slid towards Electra and his face fell slightly. "Bet you'll be in Gryffindor," he said almost enviously.

Electra scowled. "What makes you say that?"

He shrugged. "Dunno, you just seem the type."

Electra bit off the head of another Chocolate Frog. "Whatever you say."

Cedric shifted in his seat. "I think... it would be cool, ya know, if we were in the same house. Whatever house that may be."

Electra's lips pursed. "I think I'd like that too."

"Really?!" he said, piping up considerably. "But we can stay friends even if we aren't though, right?"

"We're friends?" Electra asked genuinely.

"Aren't we?" said Cedric, tilting his head like a puppy. "I thought you only shared sweets with your friends?"

"Never heard that," croaked Electra, choking down a snort to spare Cedric's feelings. Poor lamb.