The Summer Holiday was ending in 2 weeks. You're heart sank more and more with each passing day. The moment you went back to school was the moment you had to pretend that everything that happened over the Holiday, never existed. You had to pretend Cedric didn't exist. You had to pretend like you hated him. He was a Hufflepuff after all. You loved Hogwarts. It was your home, but that didn't change the stereotypes that ran deep, throughout the halls. Slytherins were not supposed to associate themselves with members of other houses. Especially not Hufflepuffs. No exceptions.
You pushed through the crowd, making your way in and out of the different shopes. Diagon Alley was bustling with students eager to buy their new supplies. It felt strange to be wondering through such a large crowd all alone. You and Cedric had agreed that it was best if you split up. You couldn't risk the wrong people seeing you together. Especially if said people had connections to your father. You sighed, thinking of all the lies you had to tell, just to get away from him for a few months. But it was worth it.
Weaving your way through a group of middle-aged women, who were giddy with excitement, you were finally able to slip into Flourish and Blotts. You stepped inside and your mouth fell open. The book shope was filled to the brim with screaming women. And at the front of it all was none other than Gilderoy Lockhart! You scowled in disgust. You couldn't stand the thought of him. You shoved past the masses of people, trudging up the wooden stairs. You pulled out your supply list from your back pocket, reading over the list of course books you needed. The entire list was practically made up of Lockhart's "autobiographies".
You reached the top of the stairs, where you were met by 2 familiar faces. Matt jumped up, crushing you in a tight embrace. You stroked his black hair, hugging him back. He'd gotten at least 4 inches taller and his voice had grown deeper. "I missed you so much,      (Y/N)! Summer Holiday wasn't half as fun without you!" You smirked down at him.
"I'm sure it wasn't. But did you have fun with Draco?" You questioned, eyeing the platinum blonde, standing idly behind your brother. Draco nodded in a polite greeting. You smirked. That was a classic Malfoy move. Matt nodded, answering your question.
"Are you coming home for the last 2 weeks?" Matt asked, hopefully. You bit your lip, nervously. You, more than anything, wished that you could stay with Cedric for the rest of the Holiday, but your mother insisted you return home.
"Yes, Mother wanted me to come home for the last couple of weeks to look after you and Draco." Matt nodded, sympathetically. Lucius Malfoy had requested that Draco stay with your family for the last few weeks, before term started. Your father had agreed, although, you couldn't even begin to understand why. He hated children. Especially his own.
"Yeah. She told me you were coming home soon. I'm sorry to cut your Holiday short. Did you have fun staying with Aunt Ella?" You gave him a look, warning him to shut up, but you nodded slowly. He grinned, mischievously.
Out of the corner of your eye, you watched as Draco nudged your brother, pointing to the lower level of the shope. You peered around the banister, curiously. What you saw didn't shock you in the slightest. Lockhart had just pulled the Potter kid onto his makeshift stage and was now posing for the Daily Prophet. Next to you Draco and Matt sneered as Gilderoy handed Potter an entire set of books, free of charge. You rolled your eyes as your brother and his best friend made their way down the stairs. This is not going to end well. Not when all 3 of them are involved. Oh Dear God! Here he comes.
Draco stopped in front of the entrance, Matt stationed next to him. You sighed, pausing on the landing, watching the scene unfold. You noticed Fred and George staring, but you ignored them, keeping your eyes trained on the 3 boys in front of you.
"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter? Famous Harry Potter! Can't even walk into a book shope without making the front page," Draco sneered. Matt plastered a wicked smirk onto his face as you rolled your eyes. A little girl with fiery red hair stepped in front of Harry, her face covered in soot. She scowled at Draco and Matt. You held in a laugh.
"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" She snapped. Matt and Draco howled with laughter. You leaned against the railing, a smirk on your own face.
"You've got yourself a girlfriend, Potter?" Drawled Matt. Draco cackled next to him. Harry scowled, pushing the girl behind him. Before Potter could respond, a silver snakehead landed on Draco's shoulder, pushing both he and Matt out of the way. You sighed. Whatever happened next, wasn't going to end well, you were sure of that.
"Now. Now. Play nicely Draco." Lucius Malfoy stepped out from behind the 2 boys, who quickly hurried to stand next to you. Lucius eyed the situation, suspiciously, before he began to cause a scene. You tuned him out, already bored by his antics.
A sudden crash snapped you out of your daze. Your brother and Draco gasped in shock. Author Weasley and Lucius Malfoy were on the ground, throwing punches left and right. The men rolled to the left, heading in your direction. You sucked in a breath, unsure of what to do. Matt and Draco jumped out of the way, and before you could process what was happening, someone yanked you out of the shope and into an abandoned alley.
You were about to scream, when a pair of lips collided with your own. You immediately tensed, ready to punch someone yourself, but quickly relaxed when you realized who it was. "I can't leave you alone for a single moment without you getting into some kind of trouble, can I?" Cedric grinned as you wrapped your arms around him.
"I don't go looking for it. I suppose I'm always in the wrong place at the wrong time! And you need to stop sneaking up on me like that!" You snapped as his arms snaked around your waist, pulling you closer.
"Maybe that has something to do with your punctuality issues," he whispered, quietly. You pulled back, a scowl evident on your features. He chuckled, kissing your cheek and then moving his lips to the tip of your nose. You swatted him away.
"What are you doing here? We're supposed to be keeping our distance! What if someone sees us!" You glanced around, nervously. There wasn't a single person in sight. You exhaled, relieved.
"I told you. You're my weakness       (Y/N/N)! I need you!" You rolled your eyes, but you couldn't keep the grin from spreading to your lips. He always knew just what to say.
"You've been following me around all day, haven't you?" He stayed silent, but averted his eyes. You didn't even have to ask to know the answer. You had sensed his presence all day, but didn't say anything. He just wanted to be sure you were safe.
"You know why though, right? I just wanted to be sure you were-" You cut him off, planting another kiss on his lips. He grinned.
"Yeah. I know why. But now it'd be better if you got out of here, so no one sees you." His face fell, a look of disappointment passing over his features. You kissed him once more. He caught your wrist, preventing you from leaving. You let out an exasperated sigh. "I have to go, Ced. I love you. I'll see you at school. In the astronomy tower."
"Wait! I have something for you! For when we go back! So you won't feel so alone!" You scowled. You hated it when he bought you gifts, because they were usually expensive. It made you feel guilty. Before you could protest, Cedric slipped a ring onto your right hand and ran off. Disappearing from sight. You sighed, glancing down at your ring finger. You smiled when you saw the gift. It was beautiful.
It was a simple ring. There was a single emerald set in, what appeared to be, white gold. You pulled it off your finger, inspecting it. The inside of the band had a simple engraving that etched another smile onto your features. What an idiot he was! The engraving read: Cedric Loves You!