I was a dirty little hypocrite.

Because all I wanted to do was kiss Cedric.

And luckily for me, he was keen to oblige.

We kissed at every opportunity we got, whether it would be long passionate make outs down by the lakeside at break times; or quick, hasty pecks as we passed in the hallways between lessons.

"It's disgusting," Draco muttered bitterly after Cedric had swooped down at the Slytherin table to plant a firm kiss on my lips before swiftly moving on over to the Hufflepuffs ("See you later, beautiful."). "We are trying to eat. And what did he mean by see you later? I thought we were going to work on our Potions homework after dinner?"

"Relax," I sighed, glancing back at the Hufflepuff table just as Cedric caught my eye and winked. "The essay will only take five minutes. And besides, I'm not meeting him until half eight, he says he's got to work on his clue for the second task first."

"But curfew is at nine!" Draco spluttered, "you could get into trouble if he makes you late back!"

"He's a prefect, and not only that, but a champion, too," I reminded him, my stomach already squirming in anticipation of being alone with him. "Rules don't apply to him and his... friends."

"Friends? So that's what you're calling it are you?" Draco spat, his face tinged with colour. "Funny, I'm your friend and you don't see me shoving my tongue down your throat at every opportunity I get, treating you like a piece of meat."

"No, because I thought that was what Pansy was for," I snarked, throwing her a withered look on his other side as she gave a little pathetic yelp.

"I don't kiss her at the dinner table when people are trying to eat their lamb chops!" Draco roared as he dramatically banged the end of his fork down on the table.

"No, you just ram your tongue down her throat right in front of the entrance to the girls dorms instead, so that I have to walk around you when I go to bed every single night. Not an image I want to see right before I close my fucking eyes, thank you very much."

"It's called a goodnight kiss! And you can always wait until we've finished!"

"Goodnight kisses shouldn't take forty five fucking minutes!"

"Guys," Pansy whimpered in a small trembling voice, "can you please keep it down, everyone is staring!"

Draco and I blinked, hastily moving apart from where we had gotten right up in each other's faces.

And, as I looked around, I could see Pansy was indeed correct. The entire hall had stopped eating to watch Draco and I argue. Cedric was already on his feet, frowning as he made his way towards us.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Draco muttered under his breath.

"Is everything okay, Blaire?" Cedric asked, his eyes casting accusingly down at Draco.

"No, it's not fucking okay," Draco jumped in, sneering, before I even opened my mouth. "Blaire has a Potions essay that she needs to work on tonight, yet instead you are going to keep her out late just so you can take advantage of her!"

"Drac, shut up!" I gritted, closing my eyes in horror. He was really killing this for me.

"Well, I could help you, if you like?" Cedric said smoothly, flashing me a smile that showed off his pearly white teeth. "I did, after all, get an Outstanding in my O.W.L.s. for Potions."

"But what about your clue?" I asked, my heart racing as I stared at his beautiful lips, picturing them on mine. "Didn't you want to work on it?"

"Your school work comes first." His eyes darted to Draco; a smirk twitching at his lips. "I mean it's clearly important to your friends that you succeed, so it's important to me too."

Draco scoffed loudly next to me, folding his arms crossly; but he didn't say anything.

"Thank you, but I've already promised Drac that we'd work on it together," I said apologetically. "And besides, you need to get working on that clue, the task is only in a few weeks."

On my fifteenth birthday, in fact; February twenty fourth. It was going to be quite the treat.

"I reckon I've got it sussed," Cedric shrugged coolly, his grey eyes dancing as he looked at me. "Perhaps I could show you later, if you like? It'll mean using the Prefect's bathroom-"

There was a loud clattering sound as Draco's chair hit the floor from where he had jumped to his feet so suddenly. "SHE'S FOURTEEN!"

"Woah, calm down buddy," Cedric said, looking down at the wand which Draco was pointing right in his chest. "I wasn't suggesting anything untoward. Just an innocent bath with swimsuits."

"Fine, if it's that innocent then you won't mind me joining you." Draco said, swiftly pocketing his wand as Snape billowed past.

"Er, you want to come and take a bath with me?" Cedric asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Why not?" Draco shrugged as I just sat there shaking my head. "As you said, nothing untoward is going to happen. So it shouldn't be a problem if I tag along."

"Oooo- can I come too?" Pansy asked, looking up at the three of us hopefully. "I've been dying to try out my new Prada bikini. Daddy says it's from the latest line."

Panic started to flicker in Cedric's eyes. Clearly, the evening wasn't going to his plan.

"Look, I think maybe the clue thing is something you need to do on your own," I said, trying to save this whole situation from getting out of hand before Draco started inviting the teachers along. "Let's just meet up in the Entrance Hall as planned and go for a quiet walk."

To be honest, as much as I liked kissing Cedric, there were still some things that I wasn't comfortable doing. And being alone in a bathtub with a seventeen year old boy was definitely one of those things.

It didn't stop Draco dragging out the Potions homework that night, however.

"Wait, I just want you to go over the last part with me again," he demanded as I started to pack my things away at twenty five past eight.

"Drac, stop it. I know you don't need my help, in fact you've never needed my help where Potions is concerned."

"Promise me you won't go to the Prefects bathroom," he implored as I got to my feet. "Please."

I looked down at him and I was shocked to see the desperation swimming in his eyes.

"I promise," I sighed heavily. "Look, I don't want to start getting naked with him, okay? I'm quite happy with just the kissing for now."

A look flickered over his features. I wasn't quite sure what; although there was definitely relief, something else was also there I couldn't quite identify.

And then, out of nowhere, I had the sudden desire to throw myself back down on the sofa and embrace him; to feel the reassurance and safety of his arms around me.

But I held back, not sure where that had come from. My heart racing uneasily, I turned away from him and headed for the exit.

An unpleasant ache filled my chest as I reached the wall. I paused; glancing tentatively over my shoulder to see him looking sadly back at me.

"Bye, Drac," I said quietly, trying to swallow down the lump that had appeared in my throat.

He hardened his features almost immediately, bristling as he scowled down at his essay.

"Don't expect me to wait up," he muttered; his eyes already darting accusingly at the clock.

But he did, of course. He always did.

*****