A Change in Fate || Cedric Diggory [1]

Chapter 9: Mornings

Analeigh and Harry sat at one end of the Gryffindor table while Hermione and Ron sat at the opposite side on Friday morning, the day after the champions of the Triwizard Tournament were announced and after Analeigh's conflict with Ron. It was a new and odd feeling, what with Analeigh already used to being with Hermione more often than with the boys and the fact that Harry and Ron were best friends and rarely ever were apart.

That morning, Hermione warned Harry to stay away from Ron for the meantime. He was confused and insisted to go over to his friend, and both Hermione and Analeigh had to explain that he wasn't exactly in the best mood. Harry found it extremely puzzling and unfair that Ron wouldn't talk to him even when they hadn't spoken last night.

"Remind me again why we have to eat separately?" Harry questioned Analeigh.

The blonde girl sighed and snuck a glance at Hermione and Ron who were in the middle of an intense conversation — Analeigh supposed Hermione was trying to reason with Ron regarding his anger for the two fourth year champions who were also one of his closest friends.

Analeigh faced Harry again. "I told you earlier. Ron and I had a... misunderstanding last night. It sort of included you. Sorry." She sent him a sympathetic look — she was the one who brought Harry up while talking to Ron last evening after all, even though he was already miffed at Harry but wouldn't have mentioned it without her bringing him up in the first place.

"S'alright, I suppose," Harry replied. "It doesn't matter. Either way, he's being a git and won't even tell me face to face what's wrong."

"Well, he can't exactly tell you face to face that he's mad because you were chosen for the tournament. It doesn't make sense."

"That's the point, Leigh. He should be happy for you and should help me with all this — he should know by now I hate being put in the spotlight."

"He's being unreasonable," Analeigh agreed. "But he's just... jealous. That's what he said. He's always been sort of an... underdog."

"Underdog? Like, a side-kick?"

"Yes."

"But to who?"

Analeigh rolled her eyes. "You can't be that blind, Harry." In turn, Harry sent her a glare and she just shrugged casually as if what she said wasn't offensive. "To you, of course! And now that even I was chosen as a champion—"

"At least you're an official one —"

"Well," she went on, ignoring him. "He just feels bad."

Harry knew she was trying to be neutral about everything despite having a misunderstanding with Ron, but it almost sounded like she was defending him— it was quite ironic considering it seemed like she was defending him to Ron just a few hours ago. And, this made Harry feel like he was being a bad friend.

In the midst of Harry's deep thought, he caught sight of Cho Chang. She was sitting with her friends at the Ravenclaw table, giggling at something one of them said before she sent him a friendly wave. Analeigh also heard this and looked up just in time to see Harry smile while drinking, causing him to accidentally spill some water out of his mouth.