#cedric fluff

DRACO MALFOY X CEDRIC DIGGORY X READER

Something Different | Part Ten

a/n: you know the drill: long wait, long chapter! and things are only getting more messy from here – the next part is gonna be A RIDE.

tag list: @call-me-banana-bandit@pillowjj@truly-insatiable@natsiboo@justmesadgirl@boredoffmebox@jjjmaybank@jejegu@superpowereddonut@irritantive@salemlilly@marshmelloyellow02@puffymints@is-it-really-a-secret @i-mmunity@sebastiansass@hisoldlover@kyobien@averagefangirl21@inurealiyah@fuzzzwald@lesfleursmonet@you-bleed-just-toknowyouarealive @darkqueennyx-blog @cityintexas-dallas @summerconcerto@awesomebooklover17@nicodoesntexist@ashleyriddle @uglymaggot

X

A week passed by without any further discussion of Draco Malfoy, or Y/N’s father. Frankly, the girl was just happy to have Cedric in her life the way she did, meaning the effect of Draco’s cold glares and that growing pit of curiosity she’d buried were stifled almost entirely. Almost. On the blond’s end, it almost seemed as if he had been sure she would come back. So, the longer she didn’t, the more bitter she watched the Slytherin grow. It was only at the end of the week, during which Draco had been especially frigid with the two Hufflepuffs, that Cedric spoke. But, when he did, his words certainly startled his girlfriend.

“I reckon we should talk to him,” he said as they left Potions class.

The sun shone magnificently on the cold day. The girl, folding her arms across her crisp black robes, stopped. The two had just emerged from the dungeons, the air sharp and cool as it snapped against her cheeks. Students in the corridor bustled noisily past without a care, and birds chirped encouragingly from the nearby greenery.

“What are you on about?” the girl asked questioningly.

“Don’t get me wrong, I hate the git,” he added cooly, “but he might know something about your father.”

“So?” she said defeatedly. “I cut him out, remember?”

“Right,” the brunette clicked his tongue, “that’s why I said ‘we’.”

She folded her potions book under her arm with a tilt of her head.

“Huh?”

“If the both of us talk to him, maybe we can get through to him,” Cedric elaborated.

“Cedric, he hates our guts,” she reminded him.

“Not our,” he corrected, “my.”

She grimaced.

“Well it’s true,” he shrugged in defeat.

“I’m not so sure.”

A contemplative silence ensued. Then they resumed walking. The halls emptied as students made their way to lunch, leaving the slow-moving pair in a thoughtful stroll.

“I don’t get it,” she chuckled, “why would you of all people want to help Draco?”

“Simple,” he replied at once, “for you. You deserve the truth.”

The girl sighed, full of so much love for the boy.

“That’s very sweet, Ced” she smiled softly. “But, aren’t you forgetting he nearly killed a girl? And that he’s likely a death eater?”

“Course’ not,” the Hufflepuff grinned. “That’s the only somewhat leverage we have on the ferret. And we haven’t said a word on it.”

“Meaning?” she asked confusedly.

“Meaning,” he stopped, “either he helps you, or we out his misdeeds for good.”

Cedric’s big blue-green eyes sparkled in the sunlight, the boy looking as handsome as ever as he blinked down at his girl. Y/N’s mouth fell into a hard line, the words ringing uncomfortably and weirdly in her ears as she stared up at her boyfriend. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that, after all. And then, at once, they were conveniently interrupted by a boy with a mess of black hair and a prominent scar on his forehead.

“Harry!” the girl chuckled in uncomfortable surprise.

“Hullo,” he waved with an on-brand nod of greeting.

Then, not knowing how else but to skip the niceties, he mumbled with a wave of his hand.

“Y/N, have a moment?” he asked distantly.

“Erm,” she cleared her throat, eyes darting to Cedric’s, “is this about Draco?”

The boy-who-lived read the two Hufflepuff’s with a squint, a crease forming between his brow. 

“Malfoy, yeah,” Harry said timidly, eyeing Cedric. “Does he–” Harry began.

“I’ve let him in on everything, yeah,” the girl answered Potter’s hanging phrase.

Harry didn’t judge, only observed curiously, a cautious smile dancing on the corners of his mouth. Beside her, Cedric nodded, folding his long fingers into the pockets of his robes. Not revealing a word, the Gryffindor blinked in silence for a second, his green eyes narrowing as the cogs in his brain whirred.

“Ah,” Harry shrugged at last. “Well, erm, that’s good actually. There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. It’s about Katie and that cursed necklace.”

The Hufflepuff pair tensed in anticipation.

“I–” Harry began timidly, “–I think he did it. Malfoy, I mean”

Y/N and Cedric exchanged a silent glance, communicating wordlessly in their wide stares.

“What makes you say that?” Cedric feigned ignorance, moving his eyes back to Harry.

“Well, I’ve already got the itch that he’s working for Voldemort, right? But then I saw him leaving towards the castle looking desperately guilty only moments before she was cursed. And he’s been acting extra offputting this whole week since,” he rambled.

The girl clenched her jaw. His pieces were lining up, even if the latter ones had far less to do with the necklace than Harry knew. Sucking in a breath, Y/N darted her eyes to Cedric’s before responding carefully.

“I don’t know, H…” she tried.

“If the three of us all come forward,” he stammered, “surely then McGonagall or someone would listen, right?”

Probably, actually, he was right. But doing so meant severing ties with the blond for good and making him suffer a deserved but likely ghastly fate. And it also meant losing any chance of gaining intel on her father, she thought. Not that she loved Cedric’s idea morally, either. But, she felt upon his proposal that she couldn’t not try.

“Listen, Harry,” she sighed. “I don’t think it’s best unless we have actual proof.”

Harry frowned, “and have you found any?”

The girl shook her head, hating to let him down like this again. More specifically, she hated that she was keeping secrets from a dear friend.

“Draco and I haven’t been talking,” she told the half-truth.

“Again?” Harry retorted.

She winced.

“Sorry– just–” Harry caught himself, “that git is one hell of an emotional rollercoaster.”

The girl looked at Cedric, swallowing, “I know.”

He looked rather off-put, as his mouth hardened into a faux smile of assurance.

“Well,” Harry cleared his throat, “okay. I suppose you’re right. I can’t go about sounding loony with baseless accusations, even if they are true, so… okay. You’ll let me know if anything changes?”

The Hufflepuff’s made a noise of agreement, staring at the jet-black-haired boy as he pushed his glasses up his nose and made down the corridor with a sigh. She noticed he was looking a little disheveled, what with his laces undone and a rather crumpled set of robes on. Kindly, Cedric gave his friend a pat on the back as he departed, the polite smile fading from his lips as he watched him go. Then, slowly, he turned back to his girlfriend. He didn’t look all the most pleased, but what was there to do? This was them being honest with each other, after all.

“Alright, Ced,” the girl exhaled slowly, bringing each of her hands to the side of his robes as she leaned into his torso, “what do you think I should do?”

… 

This time it was Y/N who sent the bird-shaped parchment Draco’s way. On it, she’d written:

. . - Y/N

Of course, what she hadn’t mentioned was that Cedric would be joining. After a rushed dinner of rosemary glazed potatoes and pork in the Great Hall, the pair slipped away into the castle and pattered over to the library. For a second, they stood outside together. The girl wore her robes still, her hair in a high pony and her lips flushed a little red. Cedric stopped, grabbing her gently by the wrist. His blue-green stare moved all over her face, his expression worried.

“You look very lovely,” he offered nervously, rubbing his thumb against her wrist.

Taken aback, the girl chuckled a bewildered thanks.

“You do,” he prodded again, moving his free hand up to brush back the loose pieces of hair she sported.

Then, eyeing her hair with an odd determination, the boy moved his hand to her hair tie, pulling her hair loose altogether.

“Ced?” she questioned, scrunching her nose as her locks fell around her halo face.

“Well, now you just look arguably more beautiful,” he huffed in annoyance, fiddling at her with his long fingers again.

“Ced– what–” the girl was laughing now as she slapped his hand back with a giggle. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” he shrugged through his lie, letting his fingers stay on her rosy cheek, “nothing. Come here.”

Then he brought his lips gently down to hers, the kiss soft and brief. Blinking through her surprise, the girl cleared her throat and stared at the towering boy’s mouth. He looked utterly love-struck, and something else, too. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was jealous.

“What was that for?” she mumbled softly.

“Nothing,” he lied obviously, silencing her with a peck to the lips and a grin. “Nothing.”

Struggling to breathe right, the girl came off of his lips once more, breath faltered. Regaining her composure, she smoothed her hands over her little black skirt and cleared her throat with a nod. It was odd, but she wasn’t complaining. Entering the library first, the girl slinked between its opened doors. She knew where to go immediately this time. Brushing past huge wooden oak shelves, focused huddles of students, and warm gas lamps, the girl made her way to the musty and dusty abandoned back corner of the room. Crammed between the two back shelves, she stood alone, just like last time. Recalling her previous encounter there, she reached nimbly for an old blue book on healing incantations, the one she’d skimmed the time before. Flipping it open, she barely had a second to observe its old yellowed pages before Draco Malfoy stood before her. He didn’t hide behind the opposite shelf this time, embarrassed to be seen near her. Rather, he strode quite confidently to her, his long pale fingers glittering as he pushed the book gently down from the girl’s nose with a smirk.

“Hello,” he murmured, icy blue eyes gentle.

She lowered the reading slowly, growing nervous at the proximity. He wore his uniform, too, but minus the robes. His dark emerald tie stood out against the white fabric that clenched to his definite chest. His bright white hair was neatly framed over his head. His pale and sallow features held some smug in them, she noticed.

“Hi,” she cleared her throat, setting down the book.

She gave a nervous glance around. Some nearby students had lifted their heads from the other side of the shelf. She could just make out Cedric’s tall frame approaching from the opposite side. In front of her, Draco hummed curiously.

“I was wondering how long you’d shut me out,” he spoke softly, “before you’d come back.”

The girl’s doe-eyes narrowed. Was he really that full of himself? Or was this him being vulnerable?

“I missed you,” the blond added softly, taking the girl immediately off-guard.

Perhaps it was both, she decided with a swallow. His words and that dark minty smell alike were making her head spin. She wasn’t sure how to reply. In all truth, as much as she was furious with him, this– him– she’d missed. But she couldn’t ever admit that to herself, much less Draco Malfoy. Opting for something curt, she straightened.

“Draco, I’m not doing this.”

His pale brows came together, his pink lips creasing, “hm?”

“We’re here on behalf of my father and nothing else,” she continued, leaning back away from him and into the bookshelf.

Draco’s face grew dark.

“We?” he asked dangerously.

“That’s right.”

Cedric stood behind the blond, both of his hands in his pockets as his hard gaze leveled that of the snow-white boy. Grimacing, Draco tilted his head with a scowl.

“Diggory,” he uttered with dislike.

From behind him, Cedric’s throat rumbled an acknowledgment

The smug Draco wore dissipated, the blond hardening before Y/N’s very eyes. The glitter in his icy eyes melted, a cool gray glaze replacing it.

His hands moved to his pockets, “what is this, hm?”

Cedric stepped around him now, Draco’s eyes dead-set to the girl still.

“What is this?” he repeated, flicking a finger between the two Hufflepuff’s but speaking only to one.

There was a brief silence. The girl felt as if her heart had grown tendrils that were now reaching from her chest to her throat, shutting her down from the inside out. Now the cozy library suddenly felt too hot, and the turning of yellowed pages too loud.

“If you’re going to say anything to me,” the girl said through an unconfident stammer, “it should be something the both of us are hearing.”

The Slytherin pondered this for a moment, his enrapturing eyes glinting devilishly.

“Anything?” he dared, ego consuming him.

The girl swallowed, “to the both of us.”

Draco’s lips split at once – it was as if she was just begging for it.

“Alright,” he decided with cheek, turning to the brunette with predictable spite. “I kissed her.”

He aired it so confidently that the slow stopping shuffle of nearby pages had to be an indication that his words had reached a few perked ears. Draco didn’t seem to care. As the girl swallowed, she thought back to when she’d last been with him, like this. At the time, Draco Malfoy had tried with all efforts to keep the girl a secret, a mindset he’d clearly lost interest in sporting.

Cedric sucked in a breath with a straight smile, “I know.”

And there went his cheek.

“What?” his facade crumbled quickly, his brows lowering on his handsome face.

“I know,” Y/N’s boyfriend uttered, leaning in a little this time, so he could really get it.

“I don’t–” 

Draco’s face softened, then grew hard again. His snowstorm gaze was slow as it moved back to the girl’s face. She wore a look of feigned togetherness and a hint of something else… guilt? Her eyes were quick to flee to the floorboards, her bottom lip disappearing beneath the gentle bite of her teeth.

“Did–” Draco began, so soft now that his quivering was hard to place as rage or upset, “did something happen with you two?”

She hadn’t responded, but judging by the Slytherin’s next words, her and Cedric’s expressions had told him enough.

“Right,” he said, and it came as a sour, hurt, laugh. “Well, I suppose you’re in luck then, Y/N.”

Her glossy eyes lifted. His own were right where she’d left them. Buried under the familiar loathing within his demeanor, she sensed a quelled but definite rage, one he barely had on edge.

“I have nothing to say to you,” he uttered, cold and firm, his back straightening.

His stare flickered to the other boy, who folded his arms in silence.

“Diggory.”

“Still feeling cocky?” he shot back cooly, the reply fired instantaneously.

The blond’s nostrils flared, his slender fingers growing tight in unison.

“Right. You must be loving this,” he snarled sarcastically.

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

It was like watching a ticking bomb.

“Ced,” the girl perked up glumly, reaching for his arm, “don’t.”

Two blue-green eyes moved to hers, but they were shrouded in defiance. Before them, the snow-white was shaking. But then, pale fingers trembling as they came undone, Draco Malfoy stopped. That crystalline stare went dim as he turned, various curious eyes and ears tuned into the sight of his swift exit from the library. It was only after he left that Cedric spoke.

“I’m going after him,” he announced coldly, bright eyes forward.

“What?” the girl stammered, pulling her fingertips from their gentle clasp of his wrist. “He’s never going to want to help us.”

“He will,” the boy said, barely giving her a glance as he began striding forward.

“Ced! No! Ce–” the girl tripped on her boots after him.

Y/N went stumbling through a maze of novels, hands still clasped to her own book as she tried to slow the Hufflepuff with a loud library-like whisper-scream. When wandering eyes turned, her mouth closed, the girl straightening her back as a good Prefect might. Palms to her sides, she proceeded to curtly and formally chase her boyfriend through the doors of the library in silence.

“CED!” she hollered the second her feet landed outside the place.

But the boy was practically miles ahead as he hollered down at his target, Malfoy.

“Draco!” he called. “DRACO.”

Cedric’s hand touched his shoulder, and he stopped. The blond looked like he was holding it together by a half of a hair as he turned, his eyes alight with rage and facade tremoring with something more wounded. Very slowly, his lips split.

“Malfoy,” he responded.

There was that voice thick with hatred – she knew it from memory.

“Malfoy,” Cedric corrected himself with a curt smile. “Won’t you hear us out?”

“No,” he responded simply, eyes darting to the girl who came to a halt behind Cedric’s shoulder. “Not you. Not her.”

Cedric’s jaw went stiff, the boy half-turning to cast a pair of sad eyes upon his girlfriend.

“I’ll talk to him,” she tried softly, willing Cedric to listen.

His brows creased. This was grappling with logic and ego.

“Please, Ced. It’s fine.”

Her words were soft, the boy’s demeanor shrinking as he stepped back with a nod, a brown lock of hair falling handsomely over his right eye. His gaze grew defeated as he turned, moving to stand just behind the heavy-breathing Hufflepuff. Sighing with relief, the girl closed her eyes. Bomb diffused.

“Draco,” she began softly, her eyes opening.

He didn’t correct her.

“Draco, I want to know more about my father,” she spoke, stepping closer.

The boy’s ice-colored eyes doubled in size as they moved from Cedric to Y/N, his entire face softening with the like for her that he couldn’t quite hide. He shook his head with a clear of his throat, masking whatever pain was crawling around at the back of his vocal cords.

“Why is he here?” he asked back simply, dodging her plea.

“Because I trust him and I want him to be a part of this,” she responded firmly.

From behind her, Cedric’s back straightened a little.

Draco moved a hand to his emerald tie, pulling at it with unease. He looked unhappy with her reply.

“And because you kissed me,” she added definitely, moving her hair behind her ear with a glance down.

This was the answer he’d both expected and dreaded together. The boy’s lips tightened as he rubbed at his chin, the silver on his long fingers glittering. Next to her, Cedric didn’t move.

“Because you kissed me,” the girl repeated breathily, “which means you can’t be trusted alone around me.”

Draco’s frosty stare glimmered, his slender fingers dropping from his face.

“Because I can’t, or because you can’t?”

He’d asked it so softly, so calmly, that she’d barely caught it.

Feeling her throat close, the girl stammered in a wordless reply.

“Watch your mouth,” Cedric warned, turning a broad shoulder out with a glance at the Slytherin.

But Draco didn’t pay him any mind. Rather, his eyes were still locked to the flushed cheeks of the girl before him.

“Draco please,” she ignored his remark, “I’m ready for this.”

It was true, not that she knew what ‘this’ implied. Knowing more? Absolutely. Vengeance for her mother? Most certainly.

His eyes softened, “Y/N, this is so very dangerous. For bot– all of us.”

Her jaw hardened, “it’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

He tilted his perfect face a little, white locks splaying across the edges of his sharp features.

“This might not work,” he tried.

“Well, then I’ll take that risk too.”

The blond sighed, his jaw pulsating as he shook his head with a sheepish laugh.

“Ever stubborn,” he said with a press of his tongue to his cheek.

The girl suppressed a smile, eyes flickering around nervously. And, for a moment there, Draco looked at ease – happy, even. Hie eyes on the girl’s uplifted mouth, the Slytherin’s smile faded slowly, his stare shifting to the Hufflepuff boy beside her. Cedric was facing him now, wearing a look of mingled stress and upset on his creased brow. As the brunette’s shoulder bumped against his girlfriend’s, Draco Malfoy grew quickly bitter.

“I don’t trust you,” Draco announced simply, his eyes dead-set on his rival.

“I don’t trust you either,” Cedric chuckled, voice thick with distaste.

“Then it’s her or nothing,” he shrugged simply.

“Draco,” the girl chimed, stepping forward.

His crystal stare moved quickly down, hurt visible behind those wide pupils. He took a step forward, lowering his voice for her.

“I do trust you, you know?” he uttered gently, sucking his lower lip beneath his teeth with a shake of his head. “That’s something you earned.”

True, she thought. Trust wasn’t something Draco Malfoy gave easily. But then again, the basis of their trust revolved around a lie she’d schemed with Harry, which of course he had no clue about.

He threw a glance at Cedric as if he wasn’t a person worth actually acknowledging, “but not him. I mean, what would I even get from this? From him?”

“The skin on your back,” Cedric replied flatly, interjecting the exchange before him.

The Slytherin didn’t look too pleased.

“C’mon, Cedric,” the girl moved her head, shaking it.

“I haven’t forgotten about Katie,” Cedric continued calmly. “Watching you terrorize students under my nose isn’t something I could’ve.”

Draco scoffed, “so righteous. And even if that lie were true, what would it serve you, Diggory?”

This was pointless. Even without flat-out blackmail, the girl had found herself on the verge of earning Malfoy’s agreement. What was happening now served no purpose but to quell Cedric of the sting of his challenged ego. She had never wanted it to come to this, not if there was an alternative.

“Stop,” the girl tried, finding herself growing quickly invisible. 

Only the light from the cobbled wall’s torches illuminated the deserted hallway as the three stood there, fiercely entangled.

“I’m suggesting that you’ll help the both of us, or I’ll report you to the headmaster myself, and out you as the traitorous death eater you are.”

Cedric looked pleased as he aired out his threat.

“Impressive, for a Hufflepuff.”

Draco’s head tilted, his ice-blue eyes wide with alarm and even horror, like he couldn’t comprehend the words he was hearing from good-boy Cedric Diggory’s mouth.

“Cedric!” the girl hissed quietly, shaking her head in frustration.

Draco Malfoy moved his bewildered stare to the girl, begging a question of her from within his eyes. Was this her idea? Had she been in on it? The answers in her expression told him no, and also somewhat.

“And was this what you wanted?” Draco then asked the girl, bonds of trust fraying quickly.

“No,” she said surely, throwing her boyfriend a disappointed glance. “No, Draco. I just want to know about my father, but… I don’t want to see you hurt, either.”

The bonds somewhat mended, Draco just looked disappointed now. So did Cedric.

“Even if he deserves it,” Cedric worded from behind her shoulder.

She snapped around, “don’t.”

The bronzed boy’s expression fell, his face hardening and ocean eyes moving to the stone ground. Turning back to the blond now, the girl released a sigh of distress, hating every second of what was happening. Timidly, she approached the Slytherin. She came before him, folding her hands into her pockets with a nervous chew of her jutted lip.

“Will you help us?” she pleaded softly, blinking up at the boy through long lashes.

Still stinging, Draco looked down at her with a sense of betrayal festering in his stare.

“Have you left me a choice?” he asked softly.

The girl couldn’t reply, opting for a gentle head-shake of sadness. She could barely hold his gaze, feeling her heart race and blood rush hot against her ears as she tried desperately not to break the guilt-inducing scrutiny of the blond. With no words, she begged of him.

“Okay,” he decided softly, clearing his throat. “I will.”

Cedric perked up, eyes lifting. It had worked. Now, however, Draco acknowledged him.

“But know one thing.”

He swallowed.

“I’m doing this for her,” Draco spoke firmly, stepping so close the girl had to retreat into Cedric’s front with alarm.

The boy’s arm snaked into the girl’s front, holding her arm snugly into the grasp of his large hand. She could feel Cedric’s heart thumping against her frame.

“Not for your sake, or the sake of the skin on my back,” he murmured assertively, confidently. “But for her.”

Cedric tensed, his face hard as he nodded with unenthusiastic understanding. 

“Whatever it takes to help her,” Cedric responded calmly. 

She felt his grip tighten. From before her, Draco’s eyes fell, resting on hers with a mingled hurt and care. It looked as if there were a million things he’d wanted to say to her, but he had restrained them behind his parted lips.

“We’ll need somewhere to meet,” he said at last, straightening. “Somewhere we can’t be found.”

The girl thought hard, eyes widening as she thought back. 

Then, with a clear of her throat; “I know a place.”

… 

The two Hufflepuffs had made their way from the Library and to their Common Room in almost absolute silence. It was quiet, save for the clack of their shoes on the ground and the occasional passing set of students chattering. The girl was aware of the silence, of course, since it was paired with the intense and upset stare of one Cedric Diggory. The boy, though keeping his mouth shut, looked desperately like he was fighting for his life. Only when reaching the set of barrels at the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room did Cedric dare make a noise.

“Wait.”

A large hand sprung out, its hold gentle as Cedric’s long finger curled against his girlfriend’s wrist. She turned, her eyes blank as she tilted her jaw up, giving him the floor. Cedric’s handsome face looked stricken with regret.

“I shouldn’t have been so–” he tried.

“So eager to get yourself into a pissing contest?” she replied.

“Y/N, he almost killed a girl,” he defended.

“And is that why you said what you did?” she challenged with a raise of her brow.

Slowly, Cedric’s hand moved away, his lashes fluttering as he stood straight. From outside their Common Room, the girl could hear the jovial delights of fellow friends and the wonderful smell of fresh cookies. She craved knowing those two things at that moment.

“No,” the boy admitted, running a hand over the curve of his jaw in agitation. “No, you’re right.”

The girl swallowed, sucking in a breath.

“I got very defensive, I’m sorry. I didn’t need to be that way he just–” Cedric heaved, his head rolling back. “He’s infuriating.”

“I’m aware,” she replied, stifling a tired chuckle. “Ced, I’m aware.”

“No, you d–” the brunette started, stammering and growing quickly flustered. “You don’t see what I see, Y/N. When he– When he looks at you, he does it like you’re a piece of food. Like you’re prey and he’s the predator.”

It sounded ridiculous. She couldn’t help but to snort, her nose scrunching. Cedric involuntarily smiled at the sight, then grew more frustrated yet. His brown locks were becoming messy as he streaked his fingers through them in distress.

“I’m being dead serious,” he tried, “it’– it’s maddening.”

The girl’s smile faltered. What was she supposed to say to that? She pulled nervously at her skirt as Cedric’s big bluish greenish eyes grew sad. He stepped forward, bringing his index and middle fingers to her cheek with a tilt of his head.

“Y/N,” he began slowly, so slowly she could feel his thickly layered hesitation, “are you sure about this? About him? There’s still time–”

“I’m sure,” she answered shortly, blinking through a shaky sigh. “I’m almost certain of it. And I’ve committed now, so, I suppose I can’t run from my past forever… right?”

Cedric’s face softened, “yeah. Right.”

There was a moment of tension. It was somewhat dark in the little corridor and felt cold in comparison to what lay behind the bricked wall. The girl ran her tongue against her teeth nervously, then shook her head. This was right, and everything was going to be okay. Desperate to ease herself of the rigidity of it all, the girl allowed herself a smile.

“And you promise you’ll not go about making trouble?” she said, voice rising with cheek.

The girl’s lips quivered as they split. Slowly, she stepped forward into her boyfriend’s muscular chest. Her small hands moved to his golden-yellow tie, grabbing him by it with ease, and tugging in playful request.

Cedric let out an attractive sigh, lowering his forehead closer to his girl’s.

“Not unless he does first,” he said.

She smacked lightly at his bicep. The boy’s lashes fluttered closed as his forehead came upon the girl’s. Beneath him, she giggled. His lips twitched into a devastatingly gorgeous smirk, his shoulders relaxing from her touch and the sound alone. Eventually, the two and their quiet laughs fell quiet, their breathing low as they embraced each other’s gentle touch. Silence ensuing, the girl’s eyes opened, meeting Cedric’s magnificent ocean stare. He had something clear on his mind.

“Nothing,” he began, his voice wavering. “Erm..”

He pulled away, clearing his throat and curling his arms to his chest with a nervous and adorable chuckle.

“Ced?” 

He tried again, smiling anxiously

“Nothing frightens me more than the thought of losing this,” he announced simply. “This. You.”

The girl felt her brows crease and her heart grow three sizes. He was certainly direct, not to mention he had caught her very off guard. Blushing furiously, Y/N bounced to the balls of her feet, grabbing each side of her boyfriend’s face with a flicker of her love-struck stare. Cedric burned red beneath her touch, his lashes fluttering as his dimples creased beneath the girl’s palms.

“Good thing I’m not in a rush to go anywhere,” she teased, smiling into his mouth.

Her lips closed to Cedric’s. They were delightful and soft, just like always. He hummed lowly with content against the girl’s mouth, two hands coming gingerly beneath her chin so as to keep her propped to his level, the kiss slow and drawn. He smelled wonderfully of aftershave, and his skin was perfectly smooth. When at last the two pulled back, it was with a slow and drawn sigh, as well as a lingering smile. Cedric grinned one of those earth-shattering grins of his as he reached for his wand and turned to the barrels before them like he was a little drunk. Taking Y/N’s hand, he tapped at the barrels in order, the warmth and light of the Hufflepuff Common Room spilling invitingly over the pair. Fellow housemates were eager in greeting, and a set of cookies was soon to make its way over to them, of course. Smile fading, the girl trailed after her best friend, the noise around her beginning to ring ever so slightly. The voices grew a little fainter, and the lights a little brighter, Then, amongst the commotion, she heard it. It was soft but present, and there was no denying it, for that was surely the dreadful and indistinguishable sound of a bomb, its ticks growing louder, and louder.