A/N: I've been getting a lot of questions here about the ages (and it will be mentioned in a later chapter), so before we start, I just wanna point out that the OC and Cedric turn 15 and 17 respectively after September 1st :)

"Leigh, wake up. You've got to leave early."

Analeigh groaned exaggeratedly, earning an unamused scoff from the person shaking her awake. When her eyes finally opened and she was met with her mother's face hovering above hers, she jumped away slightly and was finally brought out of her initial sleepy state.

"For Merlin's sake, mum," said Analeigh, putting a hand to her chest. "You scared me."

Analeigh's mother, Grace, rolled her eyes at her daughter and merely shrugged. "You have fifteen minutes to finish packing and get dressed. You have to Floo to the Burrow soon if you want to make it."

Once again, Analeigh groaned loudly as she ran her hands through her dirty blonde hair. "What time is it, anyway?"

"Around five."

"Five?" Analeigh gasped disbelievingly to her mom's figure as she left the room.

"Molly told me you lot have a bit of a walk to get there!"

Analeigh sighed and grudgingly got up from her bed. She picked up her rucksack full of the things she needed for an overnight stay — she would be watching the Quidditch World Cup with Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys. She met them at the beginning of the previous school year, right after she left Beauxbatons Academy and transferred to Hogwarts instead. However, the reason she was able to really befriend them was after Analeigh witnessed Ron Weasley being bitten and dragged to the Whomping Willow by a large, black dog who she later learned was Sirius Black. Analeigh, despite not knowing Ron and the others well at that time, did her best to help them out of their predicament with a notorious mass murderer. Fortunately, everything turned out fine; Sirius escaped as an innocent man while Harry, Hermione, and Ron created a newfound friendship with Analeigh — but, that's a tale for another time. All she could say now was that she was more than grateful to have them by her side. Having lived in France for most of her life, she constantly worried how she would adjust to living in Britain. After all, it was her father's relocation back to his home country that forced her to deal with it, but at the end of the day, she was thankful that it even happened.

Half an hour had almost passed by the time Analeigh had finally finished getting ready. She rushed down the stairs wearing jeans, a white jumper, and her bag slung over her shoulder.

"Mum, dad, I'm leaving!" the blonde yelled when she didn't spot her parents anywhere near the living room.

As she neared the fireplace, her mother came out from the kitchen. "Your father is at the Ministry already, but I'll tell him you said bye," she explained. "Au revoir, dear! Have fun."

Analeigh gave her mother a swift kiss on the cheek. She then grabbed a handful of the Floo powder, stepped into the fireplace, then clearly said, "The Burrow!" She was engulfed in the bright, green flames and was sucked into nowhere.

★ ★ ★

"Ouch! Bloody hell — oops."

Analeigh stumbled into the Burrow, coughing and cursing at practically everything. Once she was successfully out of the fireplace, she took a look at her surroundings to find that only Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were there.

"Analeigh, dear! It's good to see you!" Mrs. Weasley said at once, dropping the plate of food she held to make her way to the girl. The plump woman brought her into a hug, taking her by surprise. She had only met Mrs. Weasley a few times: at the train station at the end of the school year, then during one shopping trip to Diagon Alley once when her own mother, Grace, tagged along. But the number of times Mrs. Weasley saw a person didn't seem to matter to her; she was just such a warm and kind woman that she would welcome almost anyone into her arms, especially if they were friends with her children.

"You too, Mrs. Weasley," Analeigh smiled at her before facing the other girls. "Hermione, Ginny!"

"Hello, Leigh," the bushy-haired girl attempted to be enthusiastic for her friend, but she was still very sleepy for it was way too early in the morning. Ginny's head merely slumped down onto the breakfast table.

Analeigh looked around the Weasley home again — it was practically empty.

"Uh, Mrs. Weasley?"

The woman who had returned to cooking glanced at Analeigh briefly. "Yes?"

"Where is everyone?"

"Oh, the boys are all still asleep."

"I thought we had to be up early?"

"Well, yes, but even Arthur isn't ready and it's no surprise that the boys are lazy."

Analeigh sat down on a chair across a drowsy Ginny, sighing as she plopped her bag onto the floor. Good Godric, she couldn't believe her mother woke her up at the crack of dawn when the boys were still sleeping.

"Don't worry," said Hermione, getting up from her seat. "I'll go wake the boys again."

A little over five minutes later, Analeigh had settled on reading a book for some advanced studying, Ginny was fully awake and eating her breakfast, Hermione had returned and was reading as well, and the boys — Harry Potter, Ron, Fred, and George Weasley — had finally made their way down the stairs and took their places at the table as well. Unsurprisingly, Ron started to pile food onto his plate whereas all Harry got was some butter and toast.

Without even greeting the boy, Analeigh looked up and said, "Ron, if you're going to eat all of that, you're going to explode."

"Em hugery," was his response.

"What?" asked an irritated Hermione. She was sitting directly in front of Ron who had his mouth full and was spitting bits of food as he spoke.

Ron swallowed and repeated, "I'm hungry." Then, his eyes flitted from Analeigh and Hermione and to their books. "You two are actually reading? It's six in the morning in summer!"

"Nothing abnormal about reading, Ronald," Hermione said right away.

"You should be used to this by now," added Analeigh. "Especially after knowing Hermione all these years."

Hermione glared playfully at the girl and said, "Oh, don't act like you don't do the same."

Mr. Weasley entered the kitchen a little while later. After some greetings were exchanged, everyone brought down everything they needed and finished getting changed.

"Why do we have to be up so early?" Ginny complained as she trudged down the stairs.

"We've got a bit of a walk," her father answered simply before clapping his hands together excitedly. "Well, children, let's go!"

Goodbyes echoed all around the house as Mrs. Weasley told everyone to have fun and stay safe. But just as everyone — from Mr. Weasley to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Analeigh, Ginny, and then to the twins — began making their way out the door, Mrs. Weasley shouted, "George!"

Despite her calling only one of the twins, everyone turned around at the sound of her shrill voice.

"What?" George said back. Analeigh swore she saw him exchange smirks with his twin brother, Fred, giving her a hint that once again, they were guilty of doing something mischievous.

"What's that in your pocket?"

"Nothing!"

"Don't you lie to me!" Mrs. Weasley warned her sons. She gave them a menacing stare as she whipped out her wand and pointed it at Fred and George. "Accio!"

Suddenly, bright colored objects came zooming out of George's pocket — if Analeigh wasn't mistaken, these were some of the sweets Ron told her in a letter that his brothers were creating. Both George and Fred made attempts at catching them, but it was no use. They eventually landed in the hands of Mrs. Weasley.

"We told you to destroy them!" she scolded.

It wasn't long before voices were raised and accusations were made. Fred and George and their mother burst into an argument right in front of everyone who stood silently to the side, not wanting to cross an angry Mrs. Weasley. But even with the twins' reason that they have been developing those treats for over six months, Mrs. Weasley wouldn't have it.

"Oh, a fine way to spend six months!" she said. "No wonder you didn't get more O.W.L.s!"

If it was possible, the Burrow had become more silent than it was that morning before everyone was up and about. Mr. Weasley eventually broke the silence and ushered all his kids and their friends out into the dark

Mr. Weasley was right about what he said earlier. They did have a bit of a walk — actually, an incredibly long walk. Analeigh's legs were beginning to ache when they began to walk uphill after quite some time, and even the small talk everyone had at the start of their journey had dissipated.

After a while, Ron asked, "Dad, where exactly are we going?"

"Haven't the foggiest!" Analeigh scrunched her face up in confusion at Mr. Weasley's answer. "Keep up!"

"Arthur!" The sound of a new voice made everyone look up to find the source. It was a tall man with a scruffy beard standing by a tree a few feet away from where Analeigh and the rest currently were. He started walking towards Mr. Weasley with a friendly smile.

"Amos! Everybody, this is Amos Diggory."

The last name wasn't new to Analeigh or the others. This man had to be the father of the one and only Cedric Diggory — the Golden Boy, Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain and prefect, and top of his class. Analeigh rarely saw him last year aside from the Quidditch games she watched, and she guessed it was because being popular made one quite busy.

Analeigh's thoughts were interrupted when a figure dropped down from the tree Amos stood by. It was a tall boy with bronze hair and fair skin. Of course, this was Cedric Diggory.

Cedric smirked in amusement at everyone's mildly shocked faces from his sudden appearance. In front of him stood majority of the Weasley clan, from Arthur to the twins in his year, Fred and George, then Ron and Ginny. Harry Potter was there too, of course, as well as Hermione Granger. What intrigued him was when he noticed Analeigh Heart, the British-French transfer student from last year among everyone else. He knew she was friends with Granger; it wasn't hard to notice things at Hogwarts, especially when it included a new student in her third year — but this was the first time seeing her up close aside from the opening ceremony when she got sorted last year. He had to admit that he didn't expect her to become close with Potter's group of friends; they seemed to be quite exclusive from the moment they entered Hogwarts.

"Ah, and this strapping young man must be Cedric!" Mr. Weasley now said, shaking the boy's hand.

Analeigh's thoughts mimicked Cedric's as she observed him. She realized why he was popular at all: not only was he academically successful, but there was no denying that his looks and charming personality topped it off. Like any regular teenage girl, her mind couldn't help but focus on his attractiveness. When she glanced at Hermione and Ginny, they found themselves sharing sly looks as if they all had the same thought.

The Weasleys, Diggorys, Harry, Hermione, and Analeigh continued up the hill. Analeigh expected some amazing magical object awaiting her, but she was instead met with the sight of a manky old boot sitting there.

"Now, everybody, you have to touch the Portkey!" Mr. Diggory explained. "On three."

"Three..." began Mr. Weasley. "... two... one!" Analeigh's hand shot out to reach the boot on time and she instantly felt that odd tugging sensation at her navel. It jerked her forward and she was sucked into nothingness, quite similar to how to felt to travel by Floo but even more uncomfortable, if possible. And then, the sucking feeling became a spinning one, and she could see everyone as they all held onto the boot while they spun away.

"Let go!" Mr. Weasley ordered.

"What?" shrieked Hermione, but Mr. Weasley and Mr. Diggory had already let go. They were followed by Cedric, then as if on cue, everyone else released their hold on the old boot and were sent hurling towards nothing again. That is, until they all landed with a thud on the ground.

Analeigh sat up and tried to get her messy hair out of her face. When she did, she saw the adults with Cedric gracefully landing on their feet in front of everyone looking windswept and disheveled on the grass.

Cedric so happened to land in front of Analeigh Heart. He smiled, bemused at her attempts to fix her hair. He politely held out his hand to her, which Analeigh blinked at before accepting.

"Analeigh, right?" Cedric said with a charming smile.

"Yes," said Analeigh. "Or Leigh, for short."

"I don't believe we've ever been introduced," Cedric went on. "I think I might've remembered getting acquainted with such a pretty girl."

Analeigh was flattered, but she was sure he had done this many times. It wasn't that she suspected that he lead many girls on, but based on the rumors and his natural charm she was witnessing, he seemed to be the type to either flirt a lot or be mistaken for flirting.

So, to prevent any embarrassment, Analeigh simply laughed it off and jokingly said, "Then it must be fate that we are finally meeting."

"It is. I'm Cedric Diggory, by the way."

"I know," she admitted with a teasing smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cedric."

The entire group had to get past Mr. Roberts, a muggle who had to be obliviated after seeing two wizards Apparate in front of him. After he handed Mr. Weasley and Mr. Diggory their separate maps, they all set off on their way once again.

After what felt like an eternity, Analeigh was met with the sight of thousands of tents and burst of red and green colors spread all around to show their support either for Bulgaria or Ireland for this year's Quidditch World Cup finals.

Mr. Weasley was leading the way, and when he stopped in front of a tent that looked to only fit two people, everyone else halted in place, too. Analeigh also noticed that on the floor had a sign that bore the word WEEZLY, obviously mistakenly spelled instead of WEASLEY.

Nevertheless, Mr. Weasley was ecstatic as usual about everything. "Well, go inside!" he chirped.

As Analeigh's group began to file in, Cedric said a friendly, "I'll see you all at school!"

There was a chorus of "yeah," sure," and "see you, Cedric!" Analeigh was last to enter the tent, so she gave a little wave towards the sixth year boy who began backtracking with his father to find their own tent.

Cedric couldn't help but grin. He looked forward to seeing her in the school year and to at least become friends with her — befriending people outside of his year and house was also a good thing, and there was no denying that he felt this certain pull towards her.

As Analeigh dropped her hand, Cedric mouthed, "Bye, Analeigh," before he finally disappeared into the crowd of red and green, and Analeigh herself disappeared into the tiny tent to join the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry inside.