Always - Welcome to the Wizarding World

Part 14

Soon after the selection of champions, it became known to me and the entire school that Harry was to compete in the tournament. I was incredibly nervous for him. I didn't even want to think about what he was going to have to face. On top of that, I was anxious about Cedric competing. I know he was older, more mature and more experienced than Harry, but I'd known Ced for three, nearly four years, now and I cared about him deeply. If I saw him get hurt, I don't know how I'd cope. I hadn't spoken to Cedric much since his selection; I hoped that he would be preparing himself for the tournament, hopefully with help from his friends. It wasn't until I saw the badges that I realized what they were truly up to.

Everywhere I turned, people were sporting badges saying "Support Cedric Diggory- The REAL Hogwarts Champion!" and on the flip side, "Potter Stinks!" I was disgusted, especially when people tried to sell them to me. Harry didn't ask for any of this! I decided to confront Cedric about it.

"So, where are we going again?" Zarah asked me in her thick Welsh accent.

"I need to talk to Cedric, to find out what he's playing at with these bloody badges" I replied as we roamed down the corridors together. 

"Oh, yes. I still can't believe you're friends with him. He's absolutely gorgeous! How can you be just friends with a boy like that?" I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to be "just friends" with Cedric, but there wasn't much I could do about that. I didn't want to tell Zarah about my feelings for Cedric, no matter how much I trusted her.  I couldn't risk it getting back to him, not until I was more certain about how he felt too. 

Zarah and I walked out into the quad to see Ced with some of his friends from his year. He was lying down on a bench, laughing and joking with his friends, his slender body flat upon the stone. Once he saw me and the disappointed expression on my face, he sat up and ceased his laughter.

"Ray, hi" Cedric said, clearly concerned. I gave him a half smile and he looked away awkwardly.

"Can I have a word with you, please, Ced?" I asked him. He nodded, standing up and turning back to his friends.

"I'll be back in a bit, guys" he told them. Some of his male friends elbowed each other jokingly.

"Oh, real nice, Ced. Leave us for a chat with your little girlfriend" an ugly blonde girl criticized. I scrunched my nose up at her, but took no notice. She was probably just envious of our relationship. Zarah tapped my shoulder.

"I'm going to go and talk to Bullstrode, so I'll just be over there" Zarah told me, motioning to Millicent Bullstrode, who was over by the stone archway in the quad; she was one of the only girls in my house who was actually reasonable. I nodded at her and she darted off. Cedric and I walked away from his friends and over to a brick wall beneath a large, over-hanging tree. We both leaned against it, Cedric smiling at me sweetly.

"I told you I'd get in, Ray, didn't I! I'm a Triwizard champion!" Cedric squealed excitedly. I nodded, forbidding myself to smile back. His handsome grin dropped. "Are you not happy for me?"

"Not happy, exactly. More concerned" I informed him. He chuckled at me patronizingly.

"Ray, how many times do I have to tell you? The Tournament. Is not. Dangerous! I promise you, I will be fine!" he reassured me. I shrugged at him, not convinced.

"And what about these horrid badges I see everywhere?" I growled, jabbing my finger hard into his shoulder. "Potter stinks? That's just nasty, Ced, and unfair. You know he didn't enter on purpose, he wouldn't!" I hissed. Cedric rubbed his shoulder where I'd poked him.