Analeigh and Harry sat at one end of the Gryffindor table while Hermione and Ron sat at the opposite side on Friday morning, the day after the champions of the Triwizard Tournament were announced and after Analeigh's conflict with Ron. It was a new and odd feeling, what with Analeigh already used to being with Hermione more often than with the boys and the fact that Harry and Ron were best friends and rarely ever were apart.

That morning, Hermione warned Harry to stay away from Ron for the meantime. He was confused and insisted to go over to his friend, and both Hermione and Analeigh had to explain that he wasn't exactly in the best mood. Harry found it extremely puzzling and unfair that Ron wouldn't talk to him even when they hadn't spoken last night.

"Remind me again why we have to eat separately?" Harry questioned Analeigh.

The blonde girl sighed and snuck a glance at Hermione and Ron who were in the middle of an intense conversation — Analeigh supposed Hermione was trying to reason with Ron regarding his anger for the two fourth year champions who were also one of his closest friends.

Analeigh faced Harry again. "I told you earlier. Ron and I had a... misunderstanding last night. It sort of included you. Sorry." She sent him a sympathetic look — she was the one who brought Harry up while talking to Ron last evening after all, even though he was already miffed at Harry but wouldn't have mentioned it without her bringing him up in the first place.

"S'alright, I suppose," Harry replied. "It doesn't matter. Either way, he's being a git and won't even tell me face to face what's wrong."

"Well, he can't exactly tell you face to face that he's mad because you were chosen for the tournament. It doesn't make sense."

"That's the point, Leigh. He should be happy for you and should help me with all this — he should know by now I hate being put in the spotlight."

"He's being unreasonable," Analeigh agreed. "But he's just... jealous. That's what he said. He's always been sort of an... underdog."

"Underdog? Like, a side-kick?"

"Yes."

"But to who?"

Analeigh rolled her eyes. "You can't be that blind, Harry." In turn, Harry sent her a glare and she just shrugged casually as if what she said wasn't offensive. "To you, of course! And now that even I was chosen as a champion—"

"At least you're an official one —"

"Well," she went on, ignoring him. "He just feels bad."

Harry knew she was trying to be neutral about everything despite having a misunderstanding with Ron, but it almost sounded like she was defending him— it was quite ironic considering it seemed like she was defending him to Ron just a few hours ago. And, this made Harry feel like he was being a bad friend.

In the midst of Harry's deep thought, he caught sight of Cho Chang. She was sitting with her friends at the Ravenclaw table, giggling at something one of them said before she sent him a friendly wave. Analeigh also heard this and looked up just in time to see Harry smile while drinking, causing him to accidentally spill some water out of his mouth.

Analeigh covered her mouth in laughter before glancing over her shoulder to see that the person Harry was looking at was Cho Chang, who always made Analeigh think of Cedric Diggory because of the endless rumors that they have something going on besides just being friends. It always made Analeigh uncomfortable. Not that she liked Cedric, of course.

"Smooth," Analeigh joked Harry as he wiped the water off of his chin with the back of his hand.

"Shut up."

Analeigh grinned in amusement at his embarrassment, but considering he's been embarrassed enough with everyone calling him a liar and cheat since his name flew out from the Goblet of Fire, she decided against endlessly teasing him.

"Come on, lover boy," she chose to say instead, getting up from the bench.

"Lover boy?" Harry furrowed his brows. "What do you — uh, where are you going?"

"We have Divination, remember?"

"I don't want to go," Harry whined. "Trelawney is going to make another weird prophecy about my inescapable death this year."

"You don't know that. She could predict Krum's death. Either way it'll surely make Ron worried."

"Yeah, but he won't be worried about me, anyway. He hates me."

"That's not true," Analeigh told him. "Now, let's not be so negative. Save that for later when we get our Divination homework."

"Alright, then," Harry finally said, standing up with a small chuckle. "Let's go."

Analeigh and Harry collected their belongings and began walking out of the Great Hall. It was quite awkward to say the least when they passed by Hermione and Ron; it was almost as if the atmosphere became ten times more tense when they did. Nobody said a word to each other, though Hermione and Analeigh shared grim smiles before the two groups were out of sight from one another.

★ ★ ★

"Hermione, this is our only free period today, and you're selling more SPEW badges?"

"It's S.P.E.W., Leigh. I thought you'd be the most supportive of me."

Analeigh sighed. "I'm not against you trying to uphold the welfare of house-elves and all but... well, that's what they do. Sure, they deserve more respect, but —"

"That's my point," said Hermione indignantly. "They deserve respect for all they do!"

"Okay, okay," Analeigh said slowly, not wanting to anger her. "I get it."

Hermione huffed, knowing very well that Analeigh still didn't fully get her point of the reason she's starting the organization anyway.

"Well, here's your badge," she finally said, handing it to her. "Your 2 Sickles will surely contribute in helping the house-elves one day."

Then, Hermione turned on her heel and stalked off, leaving Analeigh in the Transfiguration Courtyard alone after their class with Professor McGonagall half an hour earlier. Normally, Hermione would accompany her whether they discussed school matters or they just relaxed — well, Hermione's definition of relaxing was doing some light reading, as she called it.

"Did you have a little fight with Granger?"

Analeigh recognized that voice and looked at the boy. "Why so curious, Cedric?"

"I simply like finding out things." Analeigh chuckled at that pun. Of course he would make a joke about his house's qualities.

"Clever," she mused. "But no, we just didn't see eye to eye."

"I see." Cedric walked over to where she sat on the bench, his books tucked under one arm. He motioned to the space next to her as if questioning her if it was alright to stay there. Analeigh nodded, then Cedric took his seat beside the blonde girl before speaking again. "So, may I ask why?"

Analeigh handed him the S.P.E.W. badge. He took it from her with a frown, turning it over and scanning it before confusedly saying, "SPEW?"

"S-P-E-W. Hermione claims you're not supposed to say SPEW."

"What is it?"

"Society of the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. I think."

"Elves? As in, house-elves?" asked Cedric, adjusting in his seat to get a better look at Analeigh.

"Yes," Analeigh laughed, shaking her head. "Personally, I think it's a bit —"

"Useless?" Cedric offered then quickly added, "No offense."

Analeigh smiled slightly. "In a way. She has good intentions, but house-elves like what they do."

"That's very true."

"Now, where are your friends?"

Cedric shrugged. "None of them have a free period at the moment."

"Not even Cho?" Analeigh teased. On the inside, though, it felt odd bringing her up, and she wasn't sure why she did in the first place. Perhaps she actually did want to confirm the rumors about the possible couple from one of them himself.

"I don't know if she does," Cedric said. "Besides, I have wonderful company now."

Analeigh blushed and shook it off with a laugh as if it was nothing. Cedric just had a way with words, the way he spoke always either entertained or flattered her. The boy smiled as the Gryffindor girl laughed at his words.

"By the way," he said. "I heard the champions will be having a shoot for the Daily Prophet soon."

"A shoot?" said Analeigh disbelievingly. "Oh, Godric, I'm going to look horrible."

"I don't think that's possible."

Analeigh cleared her throat awkwardly and bit her lip. Was he flirting? Or has he always been this straightforward? Suddenly, she didn't know how to respond to him. Luckily, from the corner of her eye, she saw students beginning filing out of the classrooms nearby, signaling that the next period was about to start.

"I'm sorry, but I have to get going now," Analeigh said, packing up her things. "I have double Potions next with the Slytherins."

Cedric gave a grimace, mirroring what Analeigh felt. She certainty did not want to spend two hours with Snape, the man who loathed Gryffindors the most (especially Harry, who would be in that class as well).

"Oh, of course. Wouldn't want you to get into trouble because of me, right?" he said teasingly.

Analeigh scoffed. "Don't get so arrogant now, Diggory."

Cedric chuckled. "It was nice talking to you, Analeigh."

This time, she gave a genuine smile. "You too."

A/N: Sort of a filler chapter but I hope you liked that little conversation between Analeigh and Cedric ♡ I've also realized that I have never given them a ship name... any thoughts? Go comment hihi!