Before I knew it, June had come upon us. The whole of Hogwarts was buzzing with excitement for the third and final task.

I, however, was just wishing it was over. And then maybe after, Cedric and I could resume some sort of 'normal' relationship.

Because he was always in demand these days and I barely saw him. Draco didn't bother to hide his feelings on this. ("You're better off without that prick to be honest, Blaire," he shrugged as he munched into the bag of Skittles I'd gotten him for his birthday, tossing me the occasional green one. "Nothing but a vain, egotistical twat.")

In a way, I didn't mind because I was so glad to have Draco back, and found I was happy just chilling with him like we used to.

But I did miss the moments Cedric and I had shared by the lake. I missed the way he looked at me as he held me in his arms; I missed the way he would kiss me and how he would make me feel like the only girl in the world. I even missed the nervous butterflies I would get at the anticipation of seeing him.

Now all I got was bitter disappointment whenever he waved off a suggestion of meeting up.

Two nights before the third task, however, he finally caught up with me.

"Blaire, wait up," he said breathlessly, just as Draco and I were about to descend down the stairs to the dungeons.

Draco emitted an angry hiss the second we wheeled around to face him.

"What the fuck do you want, Diggory?" he spat, moving a fraction closer to me.

"To see my girlfriend, Malfoy," Cedric said; a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "Not that I need your permission. Now why don't you run along and go see to yours... Patsy, isn't it?"

Draco went to take a menacing step towards him, but I quickly placed my hand on his arm halting him before he could do anything stupid. "It's okay, Drac; leave it. You go on without me, I'll be down later."

With a look of reluctance, Draco left, although not before glaring at Cedric one last time.

"So, I see he's back to being your little guard dog, then?" Cedric muttered, shaking his head disdainfully as if he regarded it as some childish little game that Draco and I played.

"He's just looking out for me, Ced, that's all."

Cedric opened his mouth as if he were about to say something nasty, but then he seemed to change his mind as his eyes softened, and he reached out his arms to pull me to him instead.

"God, I've missed you, Blaire," he sighed, brushing his lips against mine. "I'm sorry I've been so busy lately; things have been hectic getting ready for this final task. I've got no more plans tonight though, if you want to accompany me down to the lake?"

I looked up at him, surprised. "Really?" I asked, the butterflies in my stomach already taking flight at the prospect of a whole evening of kissing Cedric.

His grey eyes sparkled down at me as his lips tugged into a warm, heartfelt smile. "Of course, I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing."

It felt so perfect as we snuggled in one another's arms in our usual spot, overlooking the glistening water.

I once again relished in his scent, sighing with happiness as he kissed me slowly and sensually; his hands stroking and caressing me in a way that made my whole body shiver.

"Being with you feels so right, Blaire," he murmured in my ear as his hand tangled in my hair, gently tugging it back so he could move his lips down to my exposed neck, grazing his teeth against my skin.

"Cedric," I whispered, feeling as though I was melting underneath his spell.

"Let me make love to you," he said, his voice hoarse with longing as he looked back into my eyes, his own dilated in want. "Let me show you how it feels to be touched properly."

I pulled back, suddenly feeling panicked.

And it wasn't because I didn't want to. No, on the contrary, I was panicked because, in that moment, I really, really wanted to.

And yet, I wasn't ready.

"Cedric, I-"

"You know, part of why I wanted to see you tonight was because I have a confession to make, and I don't think you're going to like it, but I want to tell you because I want us to have an honest relationship."

"Oh?" I said, feeling hellishly confused by the sudden turn of conversation.

"Cho came to my room last night." He paused, looking at me carefully as though studying my reaction.

"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling sick; the worst thoughts hitting my mind all at once. "Why?"

"Because she wanted to have sex with me."

It was like being punched in the gut.

"She- she wanted to-?"

"I turned her down, of course," he said, cutting in. "I told her I'm in a committed relationship with you. She didn't take it very well, said some nasty things about you being too immature to give me what she could offer."

I felt an instant wave of nausea swoop low in my stomach. White spots clouded my vision. All I could see, I could hear, was Cho seducing Cedric, telling him things she knew he wanted to hear; trying to get him to kiss her and hold her the way he does me.

And she was offering him more.

"Nothing happened, I promise," he reassured me, cupping my face in his hands, forcing me to look up into his eyes. "I'm telling you this because it made me realise something."

"Realise what?" I whispered, my voice trembling, not sure I was able to cope with any more revelations.

"I think I might be falling in love with you, Blaire."

My heart pounded fiercely against my ribcage as my skin prickled with sweat. I couldn't absorb the words I'd just heard leave his lips; wanting to believe them but not daring to hope.

I didn't know what to say, I was struggling to process my thoughts and emotions. In the space of five minutes he'd propositioned me, told me another girl had literally tried to have sex with him, and then he confessed he was falling.

"You don't have to say anything," Cedric said at once, obviously reading my mind. "Just go back and think about what I've spoken to you about tonight."

He walked me back to the dungeons, not letting go of my hand the whole time. When we arrived outside the entrance to my common room, he pulled me up against his chest and kissed me hard, tangling his fingers in my hair as he groaned with longing into my mouth.

"Did I make a mistake?" He panted after we'd broken the kiss, his grey eyes searching mine urgently. "I'm starting to feel I'm overwhelming you before you're ready for this kind of stuff. Perhaps I should back off-?"

"No," I said at once, shaking my head. "I am ready, I promise you. In fact..." I paused, taking a deep shaky breath; it was time to grow up before I lost Cedric forever. "I'd like to come and see you tomorrow night; in- in your bedroom."

Cedric's eyes widened at once, his face lighting up with pleasure. "Really, Blaire? You mean that?"

I nodded before I could change my mind. I was scared but I knew I could trust him.

"You know," he gushed, between peppering kisses all over my face, "you will be giving me the perfect gift the night before I go into that maze. It will mean the absolute world to me, Blaire; you will mean the absolute world."

The uneasy feeling in my stomach returned as I smiled back at him; my face aching from the effort of trying to make it look genuine.

I needed to take my own advice and chill. Losing my virginity at fifteen was no big deal, after all.

So then why was I feeling this way?

*****

A/N: I feel kind of bad for doing Cedric's character dirty like this so soon after destroying Percy's in Poison Ivy... But please bear with me guys, there is a reason behind all of this and all will be revealed in due course.

Also, just to add, manipulation/grooming is no joke, and anyone can be susceptible to it, even the strongest or most *chilled* characters, so please don't assume you are a weak person if you've ever fallen victim to it.

Oh, and thank you for reading/voting/commenting - I love you guys and your support, always.

*****