The Infirmary was silent as you slipped through the door, undetected. You weren't planning on coming down but it was urgent. You needed to see Ced. Now. You were practically shaking with fear. All you wanted was your boyfriend. You needed him.
A lone figure was curled under a pile of blankets on the other side of the room. Cedric. You sucked in a breath, contemplating weather to wake him or not. You were just about to turn around and leave when I raspy voice startled you out of your daze. "(Y/N)? Baby girl? Is that you? What are you doing here? Oh God! Oh my poor baby! Come here!" You shifted to face him, nervously. In the dim light he could still see the tears that stained your cheeks. He sat up, groaning as he did. He held his arms open, his head cocked to the side.
You walked briskly to his bedside, letting him envelope you in his strong embrace. He hushed you as he pulled you into the bed next to him. You sobbed into his chest as he caressed your hair, lovingly. His fingers moving against your head delicately.
"It's going to be okay, baby. I'm here. It's going to be okay. Tell me what happened. It's okay. What happened?" He sighed as you wrinkled your nose in discomfort. You reached into the pocket of your robes and pulled out an envelope. He stopped breathing.
He pried the envelope out of your fingers, struggling to get it out of your grasp. He sighed as he broke the wax seal, looking at you unsurely. You shook you head. "I haven't opened it yet. I just found it. I didn't know what to do. I didn't really think about it. I didn't want to open it without you. Or alone." He nodded, kissing the top of your head.
"Do you want me to read it aloud or do you want to read it?" He asked quietly. You bit your lip unsure of what to do. He continued stroking your hair, reassuringly. You nodded, signaling for him to read the letter aloud. He unfolded the parchment, still keeping a protective arm wrapped around your shoulders. He inhaled a sharp breath before he began reading."Dear (Y/N). As you know the Holidays are coming up in 2 weeks time and your father has requested that I bring you home early. I don't know why he has requested this but I will be at Hogwarts to pick you and your brother up in 2 days time. I wish you the best until then."
"Oh God! Oh God, Ced! What the hell am I going to do? He told me we were staying here over the Holiday. Cedric! Oh My God!" Cedric hushed you again, kissing you gently.
"Aw, my sweet girl. I don't know what to tell you. I promise you I'll write you everyday and I promise I'll always be there for me if you need me, but I can't stop it from happening. I wish, more than anything, that I could. I'm so sorry baby. I wish I could do more."
"I'm not ready to leave. I'm not ready to leave you. I don't think I'll be able to survive an entire month with him. I lost the last Quidditch game. He's going to kill me!" Cedric's fists clenched and unclenched as he pulled you closer to him.
"Listen. And listen to me very carefully. If anything happens. If he does anything. Anything at all. I want you to owl me. Immediately. I'm serious (Y/N). If he does anything to frickin' hurt you I want to know. I'll get you out of there if I have to. Understood?"
"Yeah. Okay. She's skirting over the truth. I know, she knows why he wants us home. She has to know. And I swear it's not going to be good. She acts like everything is going to be fine. Like I get to start my Holiday early. I just get to start my torture in 2 days time." Cedric shook his head, biting his lip.
"Promise you'll be safe. I don't want anything to happen to you. Make sure you can contact Higgs or Weasley. Make sure you have a way to get out."
"He'll probably be to busy with the Holiday Ball to pay any attention to us. At least that's what I hope. This year's theme is a masquerade. No one will know who is who. Will you be my date?" You asked shyly. Cedric shot you his signature dazzling grin.
"I want to. I really want to but don't you think that if anyone talks to me I'll seem a bit out of place?" You shook your head.
"No. The whole purpose of the ball is to boost my father's image. The adult's never speak to the anyone they don't know right off the bat. Trust me." He sighed, tiredly. You could practically hear his exhaustion.
"Alright. Send me my invitation. I'll be there. I just want you to be safe. I'm only going to come if you promise me that it won't put you in danger." You nodded.
"I need to go. It's getting late," you announced abruptly, pulling yourself off the cot. Cedric frowned, holding onto your hand tightly. You shook your head. "I'm not staying here tonight. Absolutely not."
"That's not what I was suggesting. Although it does disappoint me you shot that down so quickly. I'm surprised my own girlfriend didn't ask how I was feeling." You sighed. You were barely keeping yourself together. Let alone thinking about him.
"I'm sorry, Ced. The letter just kind of scared the crap out of me. I feel awful for not asking about you. God! I can be such a terrible girlfriend. How are you holding up baby?"
"My stomach kind of feels like it's on fire. Madam Pomfrey claims that I have 3 broken ribs and I damaged my jawbone. So I won't get out of here until the day before Holiday." You sighed, bending to kiss him. He smiled against your lips, causing you to grin. "I love you. Come see me tomorrow before you leave?" You nodded and slipped back out of the Hospital Wing. You weren't ready to see your father again. You never would be.