🖇·˚ ༘ ┊͙[ chapter fifteen ] ! ˊˎ

╰─▸ first dates, secret spots and snowfall

     HOGSMEADE IS A SMALL VILLAGE JUST OUTSIDE HOGWARTS, and there isn't a student who has a bad thing to say about it. Students in third year and up have the opportunity to go on selective weekends, providing we have our parents' permission. It was particularly beautiful at this time of year; the snow was just beginning to fall, and Christmas break was approaching.

     Hogwarts always outdid themselves when it came to decorating for the holidays. And this year was no different to the rest. The great hall was lined with smaller Christmas trees, with one large one at the front, decorated by Charms teacher, Professor Flitwick himself (he has a knack for pretty things like that). The ceiling was charmed to look like it was snowing inside, and large wreaths were placed at every end. And for some reason, I can't quite work out, the tinsel didn't look tacky at all.

     "You two going to Hogsmeade?" Spencer asked Ava and me, as I tucked into my cereal, the atmosphere at the breakfast table blooming with the excitement of the approaching festivities.

     Ava nodded her head in time with my own, "Uh huh," we replied in unison.

     "Oh great, we can go together then like usual," Spencer replied, delicately spreading butter on a slice of burnt toast.

     It was in situations like these that I lacked the creativity to reply. I spoke my mind in 99% of the scenarios I find myself in, but one like this, cannot be saved for the likes of me. Instead, I sat there uncomfortably and scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly.

     I cleared my throat, by swallowing an extra-large mouthful of scratchy cereal (an act of procrastination, I will admit). "About that . . .," I croaked out, the odd thing being that Ava said the exact same thing, at the exact same moment.

     My spoon made a piercing clatter as I dropped it into my bowl. Our heads shot at each other, eyes wide, and expressions dubious.

     "Who are you going with?" I spurted out.

     "Who are you going with?" she asked directly afterwards with a sceptical tone and creased forehead.

     "I asked you first," I said sternly. Ava sunk into her seat. "Wait," I cringed, looking to Spencer for confirmation.

     "Marcus," we drawled in unison, causing the two of us to chuckle together, despite the fact that Ava and I had left Spencer by herself for one of the few Hogsmeade weekends.

     Ava bit her lip, "How did you guess?"

     I tried to ignore the urge to roll my eyes, but it became too much, and a scoff soon followed.

     "Enough about me, anyway," Ava spoke up, "Who are you going with?"

     I shrugged innocently, "I don't really think that's any of your business."

     "That's not fair," Ava sulked.

     "Yeah," Spencer whined, "I think I'm at liberty to know who you're ditching me for."

     "You know who I'm going with," Ava countered, "It's about time you let us in on the details of your apparently flourishing love life, y/n."

     "Both valid points, but both ignored," I replied smugly, with my chin held high. "The particulars of my whereabouts later today are for me to know, and for you two to forget."

     Ava and Spencer didn't bother me that much after that. It was sort of a huff in response, and sigh to signal they were going to at least respect my wishes of keeping my date with Diggory a secret. It was my personal business anyway. I wasn't even sure if it was a date period. Nonetheless, I should figure that one out before I even think of sharing anything, because the pair of them would just jump to conclusions before I even get to defend myself.

     As if on cue, a loud group of Hufflepuffs, strolled into the Great Hall, bright-eyed, and with broad grins, and it took me all but a milli-second to spot Cedric. But that was all it was. I was too cowardly to directly look his way. There would be plenty of that later anyway.

     I had to distract myself, "So I guess you're on your own then Spence," I rekindle the conversation that had apparently fizzled out. "Sorry about that." I shrugged, still not distracted enough from the laughing students taking their seats at the table one over from us.

     Spencer sighed dramatically, "Oh it doesn't matter," she cried. "I'll probably sit in the library, alone, since my only friends have abandoned me." she pretended to wipe a tear from her eye and after Ava gave in and let out a little chuckle, I quickly followed.

     I then decided to get up and say goodbye to the girls. "I bid you adieu."

     "Enjoy your date." Ava winked at me, as I just grinned, shaking my head and began walking out of the Great Hall.

     I had a made it a mere few steps before a voice called out and stopped me. "y/n!" I turned around to see Cedric, jogging over in my direction, a toothy grin settling on his face.

     "Oh, hey."

     "Meet me at the carriages at twelve, alright?" he asked, his smile not wavering from his face.

     "Yeah sure." I smiled back. Cedric gave me a nod, before strolling back to the Great Hall, while I began heading back to my common room. I refuse to admit my nerves. Because September-me wouldn't have even given this kid the light of day, let alone a goddamn first date.

' ੈ˚ ❃ 

     "HONEYDUKES?" Cedric asked me from where we stood underneath the safety net of the awning outside of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, post tea and cake.

     I had my green and silver scarf wrapped tightly around my neck and we began approaching the sweet shop. We had been in Hogsmeade for the last hour and although it pained me to admit it, Cedric was great company. He was funny, spirited, not to mention very easy on the eye.

     Honeydukes was a small sweet shop in the centre of the town. It was always buzzing with life and jam-packed with Hogwarts students. We entered the shop and were immediately hit by a waft of sweet scents.

     I had picked two chocolate frogs and those sound-changing sweets. He noticed the bag of voice-altering candy in my hand and furrowed his eyebrows. "Seriously?"

     "Oh come on Ced," I sang, "it'll be a laugh."

     "Ced, ey?" He grinned flirtatiously, making me blush ever so slightly. "Onto nicknames already huh? I must have really wooed you."

     "I request that you never say the word woo ever again, Mr Diggory."

     We approached the till and he paid for his jelly slugs and I did the same for mine, before we left through the front door, entering the peaceful atmosphere of the snow-sprinkled village.

     The peace was quickly destroyed.

     "Oi, y/l/n." I turned around to see Cassius Warrington and friends lurking in a corner, calling out to me. "I heard you smelt something particularly interesting in potions the other day." His smirk was undeserving and frankly, laughable. There was no way he thought I was describing him, right?

     Anyway, there was no way, I was going to give Cassius Warrington any kind of satisfaction.

     I rolled my eyes, "Oh come on Warrington, don't be so naive. It doesn't suit you." I smirked. He gave me a confused yet embarrassed look. "I lied, you prick. I can't believe anyone actually believed what I said." I scoffed, then slowly approached the tree he was leant up against. "You're my teammate, a complete swine and frankly, unattractive. So I suggest, to save yourself from any more embarrassment, that you walk away." 

     Stunned would be the best word to describe his face. Bored of the conversation already, I turned back to an, apparently bewildered, Cedric. "What?" I asked him.

     "Y-you lied?" He asked curiously.

     "Oh wow, I thought you were smarter than that Diggory," I laughed. "You didn't actually believe that I smelt, him in my Amortentia did you?"

     "So who did you smell?" He asked slowly, but I detected a slightly flirtatious tone.

     I hummed, brushing past his shoulder and continuing to walk in the opposite direction, "Hmm wouldn't you like to know." I ran my tongue along my top line of teeth. "Some things are best kept secrets."

     Cedric was no fool. He wasn't going to beg or plead or feed into my playing-hard-to-get act just to get me to answer truthfully. He dropped the subject immediately. "Right then," he cleared his throat, "Well where to next?"

     I only had to think for a moment before it came to me. I lifted my gaze to meet his. "Follow me."

' ੈ˚ ❃  

     WE TRUDGED THROUGH THE SNOW and out of the village and had made it to a secluded area near the shrieking shack. It was a small clearing, surrounded by trees that had lost their leaves. There was a small, rusted, old bench in the middle that was outlined with a thick blanket of snow.

     "It's cute right?" I looked up at him as I cleared the bench of snow and perched down on it carefully. "I come here alone quite a lot, just to think, you know?" He smiled and sat beside me, and quite close I might add. "I haven't exactly shown anyone this place before, so don't go bringing girls here for make-out sessions."

     He chuckled, "And what girls would they be?"

     "Hmm let me think. I don't know, all of them." I shrugged and he laughed once again, pulling out his sweets and offering me one. I gladly accepted and smiled gratefully.

     "Would you be one?"

     The question caught me off guard. But the pang of nerves quickly settled when I realised how easily and confidently he had asked me it. Cedric Diggory is a flirt, through and through. I should at least allow myself a little bit of bravery. "Are you flirting with me Diggory?" I asked incredulously, a jokey tone in my voice.

     He shrugged, "Would that be a crime?"

     "Of the highest decree," I replied. 

     Cedric smirked, "I best not get caught then."

' ੈ˚ ❃  

     WE STAYED ON THAT VERY BENCH for what seemed like hours, the snow falling around us. Sometimes we'd sit in silence, sometimes our laughter echoed through the forest around us, but it was never awkward. I watched peacefully as the snow gathered in heaps, basking in the winter air. And the entire time, I could feel his eyes on me. "Am I that interesting to look at?"

     Cedric puckered his lips. "Nope," he said casually, "just beautiful."

     Considering the chilly temperatures surrounding us, and the icicles gathering in my hair, a flush of warmth in my chest was unusual. It was unfamiliar. In the best way possible.

     I did the only thing I could when I was pretending not to be as flustered as I was. I nudged him. "No flirting permitted, remember?"

     He just sighed, and clawed his eyes away from mine, staring out into the distance before us. "You are a hard book to read."

     "You're not illiterate are you?" I teased.

     Cedric was still gazing straight ahead when a smile crept up onto his face. "No," he said, bringing his eyes back onto mine, "just curious."

     "Curiosity killed the cat, you know."

     I stared into his irises and he stared into mine. He spoke softly, "I don't think anything bad could ever come from this."