Aderic [DISCONTINUED]

Ch 13 - Office

The thundering footsteps of thousands of students leaving echoed through the Great Hall. Adelaide slipped past Ron, Hermione, and Harry who were talking with Fred and George about the Tournament.

She had just made her way out of the Great Hall, when.

"Ade-"

"Who the fu--" She started angrily as she turned around.

"Oh, Cedric," she said the frown vanishing from her face.

"Were you in a hurry?" Cedric asked.

"Uhh...Kinda. The washroom. I wanted to go to the washroom, actually" Adelaide lied. And it sounded really awkward.

She mentally facepalmed. Her excuse-making skills sucked and add to it the nervousness she felt around Cedric.

"Oh, well. I just wanted to say goodnight" Cedric said.

Adelaide found this quite endearing

"Goodnight Ced," Adelaide smiled sweetly at him pretty sure she was blushing.

"Goodnight, Adele" Cedric beamed at her as he waved and walked away

'Cute,' she thought as she went on her way to Dumbledore's office.

Through many corridors, and then she was in front of the gargoyle when reality bitch-slapped her. She didn't know the password yet. Well FU-

Suddenly she heard footsteps. Panicking, she quickly climbed into a hidden tapestry. She saw Dumbledore, walking towards his office, followed by Mad-Eye Moody.

Adelaide lost her mind. Shit! SHIT! HOLY FRICKING SHIT! He can see through his damn head! Without a second thought, she bolted in the opposite direction, further into the corridor concealed by the tapestry.

Panting, and hoping that they hadn't noticed, she slumped down on the floor and waited. An hour and a half later, she decided to check again. Cautiously she went back, the corridor was empty. Slowly she got out and went towards the gargoyle.

"Is he still there?" Adelaide asked the gargoyle. It just grunted and stood as still as stone.

Adelaide had decided she would just blurt out every candy's name she knew when the gargoyle sprung to life and jumped aside. Mad-Eye Moody limped outside.

"What are you doing here, missy?" he said, in his growl of a voice. So this is how Moody sounded, Adelaide thought.

"Good evening, sir. I wanted to speak with Professor Dumbledore" Adelaide said as calm as she could. Moody was staring at her with suspicion. Suddenly a thought struck her. He could be a legilimens! Adelaide didn't know occlumency, so there was no way in which she could block him out. But! If she couldn't block him out, she just had to misguide him. Adelaide quickly thought about the first thing that came to her mind. CHOCOLATE PUDDING! She filled her head with thoughts about her abandoned chocolate pudding.

"Name?" Moody growled.

"Adelaide Gracia,"

Moody opened his mouth to say something, but Dumbledore interrupted him. Dumbledore was standing behind Moody, his long silvery beard shining in the yellow candlelight. His kind blue eyes twinkled cheerfully. Adelaide couldn't help but give a small smile.

"Ah, Miss Gracia is here on time. We had an appointment you see, Alastor," Dumbledore said kindly.

"I see," Moody growled and he limped away. Adelaide felt a familiar chill run up her spine. He was watching her with his magic eye.

"Follow me," Dumbledore said.

Adelaide nodded and followed.

A few minutes later they were settled in the old, familiar headmaster's office, both of them sitting in their usual seats, with the mahogany desk between them.