#so the only one left was ced

[promenadewithme]

Glorious

a/n: I'm so sad that I accidentally lost the request for this! Long story short, I posted the unfinished story instead of saving it to my drafts, so I deleted it. It's been too long since I last posted and I promise I'll try to do so more often!! Also, this is my first time writing smut, so sorry if it's terrible!

Request: Cedric smut after quidditch practice

Pairing: Cedric Diggory x Female! Reader

Warnings: smut (obviously), switch! Cedric (mostly sub), switch! Reader (mostly dom), unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it, people!!), edging, orgasm denial, friends cockblocking ced (poor baby), dirty talk, slight breeding kink, praise and degradation.

Word count: I have no idea, but A LOT. More than I expected, to be honest. I want to say 4k of smut? (Don't come at me, I'm horny)

If you like this, reblog or (if you can and want to) buy me a coffee!

Glorious.

That was the word that came to mind as the one and only Cedric Diggory flew after the snitch. Autumn had just begun but summer has left its heat. And that left Cedric shirtless during training.

He was far away from where you sat, but his lean muscles glowed under the sun, leaving goosebumps on your skin despite the heatwave.

With or without a shirt, seeing your boyfriend train was a huge turn-on. His brows furrowed in concentration, his muscles straining to stay balanced on the broom, his agility and keen eye, the competitiveness of it all.

Of course, in the end, it was just a bunch if people playing with balls of all shapes and sizes. You were particularly a big fan of fondling in the bedroom, so why not cheer your boyfriend on while he did the same?

'Ok, maybe not the same. But we can't all be athletic.' You thought, just as Cedric laid eyes on the snitch.

"Come on, Ced!" You cheered, jumping up and down in the stands along with some of the other player's significant others and Hufflepuff supporters.

He flew quicker by the second, reaching out into the clouds. The golden ball was fast, but Cedric was faster. Soon enough, he caught the snitch and both teams went wild for their seeker.

Even though it was just a practice game, you cheered and jumped. Cedric caught your eyes from the other side of the field and flew toward you.

Every game he did the same thing, it became your tradition. The moment he caught the snitch, he flew your way for a celebratory kiss before touching the ground to cheer with his teammates.

"Hello, darling" he said with a huge grin before connecting his lips with yours.

Cedric deepened the kiss, urging you to part your lips with a brush of his tongue. You felt the saltiness as you swiped your own against his lips, but you didn't mind.

His warm tongue connected with yours a second later, causing a tingling sensation between your legs.

Cedric pulled away entirely too quickly, leaving you closed-eyed and chasing his lips. With a cocky grin and a wink, he flew down to where his team had already started removing their gear.

He would definitely pay for his teasing later. For now, you hiked your skirt a bit higher and went to meet him beside the locker rooms.

The two of you locked eyes and you made sure to sway your hips a bit more. His gaze scanned your body hungrily.

Due to the warm weather, you had removed your socks and tie, as well as opened your shirt. It hadn't been on purpose, but you were glad you did. If looks could kill, you'd be splayed and torn apart on Cedric's dick. Your thighs squeezed together in anticipation.

"(y/n)! Wait!" Exclaimed Luna, trotting down the bleachers.

You cursed under your breath and Cedric laughed before going into the changing rooms.

You loved Luna, she was one of your closest friends, but reading the room was definitely not one of her strong suits.

"Hi" she sighed, going in for a tight hug.

"Hey, Luna" you hugged her back just as tightly.

"Would you like to study potions later? I could use your help"

"Sure." You answered, starting down the stairs again, Luna trailing beside you "Lake or library?"

"Oh, library. The lake has too many distractions, I have to stay focused this time."

"Alright, after Snape’s class?"

"Yes, that will work perfectly." She nodded, wrote it down on her hand and turned to leave before glancing back with a smirk "have a nice time with Cedric, but do try not to get caught."

You stood there gobsmacked.

Purposely cockblocked by Luna Lovegood.

You laughed before heading towards the locker room.

Two players headed out, waving your way, as you leaned against the wall opposite of where Cedric was.

Fifteen more minutes went by and three players had left. You crossed your arms and sighed.

'What in Merlin's name is taking so long?' You asked yourself, patience growing thinner by the minute.

When your watch marked twenty-five minutes since the players went in, the 6th player left and Cedric was still nowhere to be found.

You decided to wait five more minutes.

'You're just being impatient. Calm the hell down, (y/n)' you told yourself, taking a deep breath.

But 30 minutes was too much. Not for you, but for Cedric. He bathes like there's a ticking time bomb in the showers.

'Is he hurt?' The thought crossed your mind and your feet lead you inside.

The air was humid and hot around you.

"Cedric?" You whisper-yelled "I swear to Merlin, if you're dead in here, I'll kill you."

A groan made you stop in your tracks.

"Cedric?" You called out, moving towards the deep breathing.

Rounding the corner, you found a sight picked straight out of your dirtiest maladaptive daydreams.

Your boyfriend was naked and wet. Cedric's left hand tried to grip the wall, beads of water trailing down his tense biceps and lower. It flowed down his torso and lower even, to where his right hand held a tight grip around his cock, pumping up and down in a slow and sensual pace.

"Took you long enough" he said, a smirk on his face.

Striding towards him, you smirked right back. Removing your uniform and shoes, then, ever so slowly, your underwear. A groaning Cedric quickened his pace at the sight of you.

You entered the shower, closing the water, as Cedric released his dick and grabbed your waist, pulling you into him.

He went straight for your lips, just as slow and sensual as his former pace.

Your hands went separate ways. One towards his hair, that pulled the short strands back to break the kiss. The other wrapped around his arousal, stroking till the tip.

The mixture of both sensations had Cedric moaning your name fervently.

"Who said you could start without me?" You whispered in his ear.

"Didn't mean to, didn't think you'd take this long to come find me" he replied, kissing your neck right where he knew your knees would go weak.

"You'll still have to pay for your hastiness."

"You know I love your punishments, darling" he grins and catches your lips in a passionate kiss. Tongues circling, teeth clashing and bodies drawing impossibly closer.

Your hand started stroking his swollen flesh again, drawling low and soft moans from his lips.

"I know, love." You soothed, but your hand only moved faster, your grip tighter.

A string of curses escaped his lips.

"(y/n)" he whimpered.

"You're so close, aren't you?" You cooed.

"So close, so close" he answered frantically.

"Not quite yet, I can't let you off the hook that easily." You said, halting your movements.

He let out a dissapointed groan.

"Don't be ungrateful, darling." You teased, "You'll come soon enough"

A bead of pre-cum leaked from his tip. You gathered it in your thumb and brought it to your lips, sucking the saltiness seductively.

Cedric's pupils were blown wide and an almost primal look took over his features.

You grabbed his neck and kissed him with everything you had, doing all the things you knew would drive him wild, then pulled away. He was left closed eyed, chasing your lips.

But you hadn't had all your fun yet. With a grin on your face, you turned around and headed towards your clothes.

"Darling?" he asked.

You ignored him, putting on your shirt and probably missing a few buttons in the process. You saw Cedric grab his towel, a confused look on his face. You put on your skirt and threw your lace underwear his way. He grabbed them with slightly wide eyes.

"I'd get ready quickly if I were you. If I wait too long for you, I might start by myself." with a wink, you left a bungling Cedric hurriedly drying himself.

You let out a low giggle while strutting out the locker rooms. You were leaving the field when Cedric caught up with you, shirt half open, your lace panties between his teeth, and still buttoning up his pants.

You stifled a giggle at the sight and walked faster. He tripped, but managed to catch himself.

Before long, he was fully dressed and walking fast beside you, glancing your way every few seconds with a giddy smile on his face.

That is, until Harry Potter started calling after him.

His eyes widened slightly, he grabbed your arm and said "Don't you dare stop walking"

With a playful smile on your face, you released your arm from his grip and turned towards the griffindor.

"Hello, Harry!" You smiled widely, mosty because of the impatient look on Cedric's face.

"Hey, (y/n)," he turned towards your boyfriend "Cedric, can I talk to you for a second?" the boy looked at you for a split second before returning his gaze to Cedric "Alone."

"Actually, we-"

"Of course! Take your time, Harry!" You answered, overly amiable.

As you started walking away, Cedric grabbed your arm again.

"(y/n)'s not feeling very well, I have to take care of her. Can we do this another time?"

"Oh, nonsense! You know I can take care of myself." You said, untangling yourself from him, "Besides, I feel much better now. I might even -"

Your words were cut off as Cedric pulled you against his chest.

"I'm sure (y/n) won't tell a soul, there's nothing you can say to me that you can't say to her."

Harry reluctantly started saying something about some girl. Maybe Cho? Ginny? You had no idea. You were too busy feeling Cedric's hard cock against your backside, his hands pressing at your stomach to hold you as close as possible.

You looked up at him and he had a smug look on his face. He knew what he was doing.

His lips were moving, but all you could thing about was his dick inside you, pounding over and over again until your whole body shook.

"What do you think, (y/n)?"

Your name pulls you back from your lustful state and you realise the words came from Harry. He looked doubtful and insecure. You understood him, you'd been in a similar situation after all. Who never has? Pining after someone and not knowing if they'll ever want you back? Too shy and insecure to do anything about it? It was a universal experience.

"I think that I never would have told Cedric about my feelings if he didn't make the first move. I never would have told him how I felt and we wouldn't be together now." You held Cedric's hands on your stomach and smiled at the memory of him first coming to speak with you.

"I think that you will never know how she feels if you never ask. Life is about taking risks. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but that only means that person wasn't the one for you. You are remarkable, Harry Potter. If anyone does not want you it's their loss, not yours. And if they do want you, they'll be extremely lucky to have you."

The boy was blushing by the end of your speech and Cedric smiled down at you.

"D'you really think so?" he asked, but a smile pulled at his lips.

"I do." you answered sincerely.

"Ok, Potter, cheers mate. We gotta go." Cedric said, taking your hand, not waiting for a reply before jogging through the halls, dragging you along with him.

Your laughter echoed through the halls and your stomach clenched in anticipation. Cedric lead you down the stairs and past the kitchens, his face no longer humorous.

He tapped the rhythm to "Helga Hufflepuff" on the right barrel and immediately pushed through, pulling you along with him. You both made your way to his dorm, thanking Merlin once again that prefects have individual rooms.

The click of the lock closing resonated through the room and the only noise left was your heavy breathing as you gazed as one another.

You made the first move, slowly unbuttoning your shirt and leaving it to fall on the floor. Cedric watched, unmoving, as you unzipped your skirt and let it fall as well.

You leaned against the door and he looked at you with a predatory gaze, but you both knew who was in charge.

"Kneel." you commanded and Cedric immediately obeyed, falling to his knees in front of you, holding the back of your thighs.

"Did I say you could touch me?" you asked, raking your hands through his hair.

He removed his hands from you, but begged "I need you so much, please. Can I make you come?" his pupils were blown wide, his brows furrowed, and his erection pressing against his pants.

"Only because you asked so nicely" you answered sweetly and Cedric sighed, his head falling to your mound.

His hands massaged your buttocks as he gave you kisses so close yet so far to where you needed him most.

"Now," you breathed "you are going to give me head and make me cum. Can you do that, baby?"

"Please," he whimpered, kissing your mound, "wanna taste you so bad, darling."

"Go ahead, Ced."

He immediately complied, hiking your right leg over his shoulder and licking from your entrance to your clit. You gasped, steadying yourself against the wall and he moaned against you.

"Always taste so good, my love."

Cedric licked and sucked like a starved man, tearing moan after moan from you.

"Cedric" you whimpered, gripping his hair to bring him closer or push him away. You didn't even know anymore.

He swirled his tongue around your clit before lowering his mouth to your entrance again and plunging his tongue inside. Your groan was loud enough for anyone in the hufflepuff common room and adjacent to hear as he fucked you slowly with his tongue.

"Just like that, baby."

He complied, keeping the same rhythm. In and out, in and out.

Your walls started clenching and warmth spread across your lower stomach, but it still wasn't enough.

"I need more." you said, looking down at him.

Like a good boy, he started stroking your clit with his thumb and worked his tongue faster.

Like that wasn't enough, he looked up at you and just the sight of him on his knees for you, with disheveled hair, eating you out while his spare hand stroked his cock would have brought on your first orgasm.

Your body shook and your knees gave out, but Cedric still held you and kept using his tongue to help you ride out your high.

When it was too much, you pulled his head away from your core by his hair.

"You were so good, my love." You caressed his face "Until you started touching yourself."

"I wasn't going to make myself come, I swear." He stood up "I just wanted to feel good."

"I'll make you feel good, baby." you dragged your finger and nails down his torso, leaving goosebumps as you told him to lie down on the bed.

"Finish taking your clothes off," you said, looking around "I want you naked when I get on that bed."

Finding what you were looking for, you crawled over your boyfriend's body and sat down on top of his erection. The direct contact with your heat made him swear.

You put his arms above his head and bound his wrists to the headboard with your house's tie.

"Please, I swear I won't touch myself." he pulled at the tie "I just wanna touch you, darling."

"Oh, I can't let you do that." you propped your hands on his chest and started a tortuously slow drag of your hips up and down his length, "You've been misbehaving a lot this afternoon. You only get to touch me when you've been a good boy."

"I'll be a good boy, I promise." he whimpered.

"We'll see about that." you answered, grinding a bit faster against him.

His hands were white from pulling at the tie, his breathing laboured and his hips shaking with restraint.

You leaned forward, your breasts falling to his face, "Suck on them."

He leaned towards them and captured your left nipple with his mouth. His nibbling and sucking tore moans from you and made you fasten your pace on his cock.

"Gonna come soon." he managed before turning his attention to your right nipple.

You took his jaw in your hand and kissed him passionately before resting your forehead against his.

His cock started twitching beneath you and Merlin if it didn't bring you an instant from your second orgasm, but you pulled away all at once.

Tears threatened to spill from his eyes and his dick kept spasming, his hips bulking.

Cedric whimpered.

"I know, I know." you cooed "You're doing so good, but I'm not done punishing you just yet."

You connected your lips one last time before making your way to the foot of the bed, caressing his leg as you walked. The growing wetness and incessant pulse between your thighs made you clench them.

"You did so good at training today, Ced." you praised him, "And you looked so handsome, too."

You got on the bed once more, between his legs this time, and he looked down at you.

"Wanted your pretty cock in my mouth the whole time."

He moaned as you started stroking his length, a bead of pre-cum falling onto your hand.

"Please, I want to be inside you." he begged, thrusting into your hand.

"Soon enough, my love." you answered kissing his tip, earning you a hiss "Have patience."

Your mouth watered as you looked at his engorged member, hard against his abs. All flustered cheeks, glistening skin, and shallow breaths, Cedric awaited your next move.

"Glorious." You breathed to yourself, but the seeker flushed even more from the praise.

Your eyes went back to his cock and the vein on the underside was your first target. You heard his moan as you licked him from base to tip, then took him inside your mouth all at once.

His hips bulked and his head hit the back of your throat, making you gag. Your pulse quickened everywhere.

Bobbing your head up and down, sucking harder at the head, you pushed Cedric closer to the edge.

He moaned your name like a prayer, over and over, and you kept up your pace even as tears fell from your eyes and drool spread down your chin.

"Touch my balls." He gasped and you complied, smiling around him.

You cupped and massaged his scrotum, already heavy with cum and you imagined all that inside of you. Moaning at the thought, you gave Cedric one last suck before getting up on your knees to untie him.

His hands flew to your hips and his lips to yours.

"You had your fun, darling, now it's my turn." he said, voice deep and eyes dark. His pupils were so dilated you could barely see the usual grey.

Holding your body to his, he flipped the both of you and looked down at you with one arm holding his weight beside your body, the other hand softly grazing your body.

"Hello, gorgeous." he smiled, diving to kiss you.

You kissed him back, tongues caressing each other and hands roaming.

Two fingers slid from your entrance to your clit and you shuddered.

"So wet for me, aren't you?" he took his digits to his lips and sucked them clean, you bit your bottom lip to contain a moan.

The sight alone could have made you cum.

"I need you to use your words, darling. I'm going to fuck you into the mattress right now, alright?" he said, caressing your face.

The contrast between his words and his tenderness had you squirming "Please." was all you could manage.

Taking his swollen cock, he teased you, dragging the head up and down your slit then circling your clit.

"Hurry!" you whined and he immediately obliged, completely sheathing his cock in your entrance.

Both gasping, your walls clenched around him and Cedric steadied himself against the bed.

Your mingling breaths evened out a bit before Cedric slowly pulled out until the tip and rutted back in again.

One of your hands shot up to hold his biceps while the other splayed against his back.

His length hit deep, hard and slow, making you dizzy.

He moaned your name in your ear, hair brushing the side of your face. Your legs made their way around his waist, letting him hit even deeper and you clenched harder around him.

"Fuck, darling." he groaned, quickening his pace "Need you to come for me, can you do that?"

His every thrust lead you to your second orgasm. How deep he hit, the moans and grunts he let out, how every plunge of his hips rubbed against you clit, the look he had in his eyes.

Every one of your muscles clenched and shook, Cedric moaned, and you let out a cry as blinding pleasure exploded through your body.

Even as you came down from your high, the thrusts didn't stop. If anything, they were harder and faster.

Cedric pulled out and turned you over, bringing your ass towards him. He plunged himself in again and continued his thrusts just as deep and fast as before.

You bit the pillow as he gave your ass a smack, but he still heard your low groan.

"You like that, don't you?" he spanked you again, a bit harder this time, and you cried out "My pretty little cock slut."

You moaned incoherently as he hit just the right spot over and over.

"Gonna come inside you, darling." he grunted.

Grabbing one of his hands placed on your hips, you looked back at him and, as always, the sight was glorious.

Cedric could have been sculpted by the gods themselves, with a layer of sweat that made his skin glow, veins and lean muscles bulging, and sexual prowess you were sure no human should have been made to have.

Interlacing your fingers, he looked into your eyes then shot his head up and his thrusts became sloppier. His dick started swelling inside you and you moaned. He was close and so were you.

"Fill me up, Ced. Wanna be so full of you." was the last thing you managed to say before your walls clenched tightly around him and you let out a silent scream.

Cedric poured out a string of curses and gave one final deep thrust before you felt his release coat your walls. Breathing laboured and bodies exhausted, he fell to his side and brought your body with him.

"You did so good, baby." he praised, kissing your hair, then asked sweetly "Do you need anything? Water, a bath?"

You turned around and curled into him "Just you."

He smiled and kissed your forehead "You'll always have me."

"I love you." you murmured into his chest.

Cedric's heart swelled in his chest and he said "I love you." but you were already asleep.

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[imaginesbymonika]

LOML- loss of my life | Part 1

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x fem!Reader

Plot: You knew him at a time when he didn't, and now he is looking for you...

Warnings: depiction of violence, angst, mentions of (perhaps) death, angst, fluff at the end (maybe), takes place after TFATWS

Previous Chapter | Masterlist

Bucky couldn’t possibly open up to Sam about his nightmares. Let alone tell him about her. How would he explain anything to him if he didn’t even manage to remember her name or what she looked like? He furrows his eyebrows. Y/e/ced eyes. Yes, that’s it. Your y/e/ced eyes looked up at him with an emotion he couldn’t quite place- one he rarely got to see.

They remained on him for a short moment before you turned to look at one of the guards. Pierce and the others had left by now, leaving you alone with The Winter Soldier and one single bodyguard- which was truly a joke. One gun wouldn’t be anywhere enough to stop The Winter Soldier if he decided to launch at you.

But Hydra wasn’t a caring employment agency. They couldn’t care less whether you lived or died. In the morning if they would stumble upon your lifeless body, they would burn it and toss your remaining ashes into the trash. Then they would just go out to abduct the next doctor. You softly scoffed at the thought and turned around:” Can you please bring me my bag?”

The guard merely nodded at you, and for a moment, he turned his back on the two of you. However, as you perked up at The Winter Soldier, you didn’t feel any kind of fear. Maybe you had already given up on your life, who knew?

“Here.”, the guard let out and tossed the bag on a table. “Rude much?”, you whispered underneath your breath before standing up and walking towards it.

“Okay.”, you declared as you walked back to him with a bottle of sterilizer and a handful of cotton pads:” I am not going to lie to you, this will probably sting- a lot. You have a few mildly concerning cuts and a few stitches up that got infected.” A sigh left your lips:” I don’t know which of the other doctors did such an awful job, but I’m going to fix them, okay?”

The Winter Soldier observed you carefully and tilted his head at your movements. “Please, remember I am not trying to hurt you. I am here to help.”, you whispered and leaned down again, putting some of the brownish liquid on the white cotton:” Are you ready?” No one had ever asked for his opinion before.

Then he nodded.

It took you roughly 8 Minutes to clean every cut on his exposed torso, and once you were done you leaned back:” Okay, great. None of these have to be stitched up.” Your hand moved softly over his arm, and he flinched when it came in contact with one of the scrapes.

“Shit, sorry.”, you got up and made your way over to your bag. Your gaze drifted to the guard, who was waiting for you to finish so The Winter Soldier could be thrown back into his cell again. You have never seen the cell but you can only guess that, if anything it’s dark and cold in there.

You turn back to the man with the lengthy hair and bite your lips while holding a couple of bandages in your hands: ”I’m almost done. I promise.”

You quickly made your way back to him to put them on before you ultimately looked up at him. “I’m sorry.”, you whispered, trying your best to make it seem like you were not saying a single word:” I’m so sorry for the way these people are treating you. If anything I believe that there is still good in you, at least somewhere. That deep down you’re a good man, used to fighting a war you’re not interested in. I-.”

„You’re aware that you can tell me anything, right?“, Sam‘s voice cuts straight through the fog. Bucky only exhaled deeply before he leaned back in his chair outside Sam‘s house.

The weather is nice and he shuts his eyes for a few seconds while facing the sun, how he treasures the warmth on his skin- her warm hand on his cheek was an extraordinary contrast to the coldness of the room, and he would have leaned into it if it wasn’t for the guard ripping you off of him, and throwing your body onto the dirty tiles. He-

„Last week, when we were having dinner you called me a friend in front of Sarah, and you know what friends do.“, Sam lets out, and even though his voice has a playfulness to it, there is a layer of concern in it.

Bucky rolls his eyes:“ Are you implying that I lied to your sister?“ „I don’t know. Did you?“ „I would never lie to your sister. She means too much to me.“, Bucky winks at Sam before bringing the beer bottle up to his lips again, and a chuckle escapes his lips once he sees the look on his friend's face.

[spideyanakin]

Heather

Cedric Diggory x reader

Based on Heather by Conan Gray

Synopsis - ‘As she walks by, what a sight for sore eyes, she’s got you mesmerized.’ Cedric is oblivious to your feelings, so you end up watching as he dates a girl that isn't you. Will the two of you get a happy ending?

Masterlist 🧚🏻‍♀️

Cedric Diggory Masterlist 🌻

I still remember the third of December, me in your sweater

It was a cold day - a third of December to be exact. It was late in the afternoon and quidditch practice had just ended. You were drenched in sweat, your bright red Gryffindor quidditch jersey barely shielding you from the cold now that your body was cooling down from the exercise.

You fished in your bag but loudly cursed when you realized you had forgotten to pack your sweater and jacket. Fred had asked you to do something for him right before practice, making you almost late and also making you forget half of the things you wanted to pack on one of the Burgundy common room chairs.

A shiver slipped passed your lips, eyes darting up to the gloomy pathway leading up back to the castle. A thin strip of paved stone slithering up through the grass, the polished stones shining as rain poured down its hill.

Great.

You swallowed, wondering how you were going to make it back to the castle without freezing to death. You watched as the one and only Harry Potter got out of the changing room--all cozily wrapped up in warm layers of clothes, a big Gryffindor scarf wrapped around his neck, and a knitted sweater poking from under his blue raincoat

You really wished that could be you right now.

Keep reading

That was until your savior's voice broke you out of your spiraling thoughts like he always did.

Your name, so perfectly coming out of his lips, making butterflies flutter deep in the pit of your stomach. You tried to calm them down, try to make your heart beat calm before lifting your gaze to his. Eyes clashing with his grey ones. Like always, you felt the shivers tumble down your spine.

"Let me guess," he had a slight smile to his tone, the corner of his lips fighting to not form a teasing smirk, "you forgot your sweater?" The corner of his lips couldn't hold out the smirk any longer as your face fell in defeat.

"I think so," your eyes went back to the small window by the door, the pouring rain was threatening to turn to snow later in the evening. You bit your lip at the thought of walking through this storm in an already drenched quidditch jersey.

"What am I going to do with you?" He smiled, a bright smile that made you weak in the knees.

"I don't know Ced," you shrugged, brushing of the way his eyes never left you.

"Here," he didn't think twice before handing you his. "I know it's not Gryffindor but I'm sure it will at least keep you warm until you get back inside," all your thoughts froze in place, and for a second it felt as though it was only you and him in the small space between the changing rooms.

He was towering over you, arm reached towards you and his yellow sweater balled up in his hand. "Plus, it's too small for me now," he added, "It would look better on you, anyways," you had to look away to compose yourself from his words, an anxious breath leaving your lips.

Only if he knew how much you liked him.

You stared at the ball of yellow before gazing up to him, trying to make a decision. You were about to speak, maybe even accept his offer but you had to watch as his gaze flickered from you to someone passing behind. You painfully watched as his eyes softened and almost sparkled under the light.

Your shoulders slumped, bracing yourself for the worst of impacts; you already knew what you were going to see if you followed his eye line.

It was already as if he had taken your heart out of your chest and ripped it apart before your eyes.

You felt your head turn by itself, your heart dropping to your stomach when your suspicions were true. She walked there, right behind you in all her glory, Heather.

She flashed a bright smile towards Cedric, blatantly ignoring you before walking out the door, and into the raining lands of Hogwarts.

You watched the door for a good few seconds, the silence feeling heavy in your chest.

Heather was a Hufflepuff chaser, always first in class and always having something bright and positive to say.

What a sight for sore eyes, brighter than the blue sky

Of course, she had to be prettier than you. Long brown hair braided for Quidditch, and crystal blue eyes that seemed to glisten in the sun. You would have sworn on your life she was part Veela if you hadn't already been familiar with her parents.

She's got you mesmerized, while I die

"No it's alright, I'll be fine," you muttered, "but thanks, I appreciate it." You brought him back to reality. His grey eyes leveled back to you as you pushed his hand back towards him. "I'll freeze my way back to Hogwarts," you half-joked, standing up before he could even argue.

So, you walked back up to the castle, heart broken into a thousand pieces and shoulders shaking from the cold.

Every day you had to be reminded that he loved someone else.

It all started last June, right before the summer holiday. Professor Trelawny paired them up in divination and ever since he only had eyes for her.

She seemed so perfect; a good sense of humor like you, mixed with the brains and the looks. She was even on the quidditch team, again like you...

But he only saw you as a friend. His childhood best friend who was placed in a different house than him. His childhood best friend who got into way too much trouble with the Weasley twins. His childhood best friend who was doomed to watch him love someone else from the other corner of the room.

But your misery couldn't end there. Because you knew Cedric and you knew that even if he was a Hufflepuff, bravery was his most prominent trait. You knew that it wouldn't be long until he asked her out: he had already been debating the idea since September.

And every single second of it felt like a knife to your heart.

And, by the next week of December, you had to watch as they walked into the great hall--hand in hand.

Watch as she stands with you, holding your hand

Of course, she would have said yes. It was Cedric Diggory--the heart throb. Everyone liked him, everyone dreamed of him. He was kind, and brave and everything someone could ask for in a relationship. All of his golden traits mixed into one beautiful being.

Somehow you thought that being his childhood friend would have made you higher up the list. That he would notice your lingering eyes and the way you reacted when he was close.

But you like her better, wish I were Heather

She was wearing his Hufflepuff sweater, the one he had offered you a week earlier. Now you sort of wished you had accepted it, not even that--that he would have given you the sweater as a token of his love, not as only helping a friend.

You gave her your sweater

Of course, Cedric spotted you by the Weasley twins, and of course, he wanted to introduce you.

Oblivious to how he painfully twisted the knife inside the wound, he sat in front of you by George, and Heather gracefully took a seat at his side, delicately hooking her arm around his torso.

put your arm 'round her shoulder, now I'm getting colder

The lunch went on, and with every second you felt another piece of yourself crumble away. So much that by the end your mind had fully gone blank. Desperately trying to tune out the way he was holding her, stealing glances with her and everything you wished could happen with you.

She's got you mesmerized while I die

The worst part is that it was so painfully obvious to everyone else. Fred and George played eye tennis, reading each other's minds in an attempt to find ways to help you.

Fred who sat by your side ended up placing a hand on your knee in an attempt to comfort you. It somehow made you feel better, but you knew nothing could fix the Cedric-shaped hole in your heart apart from the man himself.

And after a painful half an hour, you decided you had enough, instead of holding in the pain, and pretending like everything was alright, you finally excused yourself, pretending you had finished your lunch early and mumbling something about extra homework to be done before class.

Your feet flew up to a little hidden corner of Hogwarts that to your knowledge only you and Cedric knew. It had become your hiding place, but he never seemed to come anymore. It was just you in this lonely corner of the world these past few months.

So you let the tears fall. Hot drops stained your cheeks and this time you couldn't do anything about it. It wasn't a random joke from the twins that could fix it. It wasn't his smile or something he would say that could cheer you up. It wasn't anything he could give you, because his heart was already taken. His heart had been partly given to someone else and in your lonely corner of the world, you wished you could have a piece. You wished that Heather hadn't taken all the pieces for herself.

Maybe it was selfish. But also how could you hate her? She had always been kind to you and even today she hadn't shown an ounce of jealousy towards your friendship.

But how could I hate her? She's such an angel

No one was to blame.

You had to live with your misery.

December turned into April and the pain in your chest had become nothing but a numb feeling.

The tears were frequent though. And it would always be the red-haired twins that would try to glue the pieces of your heart back with jokes. Bring the pieces back with soft laughter and dumb pranks, but it was never enough.

You hated the way this made you drift away from him.

His presence seemed to get further as she stole him piece by piece. She made him drift away from you like a deadly river that was so beautiful you wouldn't guess that stepping in it would drag you miles away, making you drown in the process.

Was that what she was doing? Making him drown in her presence as the tied of her river dragged him further and further from you?

"Hey Y/n/n," George broke your thoughts, snapping his fingers in front of your eyes.

"S- sorry-" you blinked again, your eyes falling to the work on your lap.

"I asked you what you knew about Disneyland," he pointed to the paper; Muggle studies.

"I've been there once," you replied, your tone slightly off as the thoughts of Cedric tried to grab your train of thoughts again.

"And?" George paused and watched you swallow as you blankly stared at a spot on the carpet. "Y/n/n," he sighed and shuffled closer to you--placing a hand on your shoulder to catch your attention again. "Cedric's a dumb dumb," he whispered. "He's dumb to have chosen her instead of you, and dumb to have abandoned you after they started dating."

You took a long breath in and out, looking back down to the homework on your lap.

George looked at the clock and clicked his tongue "Let's go to quidditch practice, it will cheer you up," he grinned and stood up, making you follow him.

Rain was pouring down the freshly cut lawn of the quidditch pitch, reminding you a bit of that December evening.

You leaned a bit against George as you walked, your eyes drifting to the opposite side of the pitch, wondering the house you were playing against today.

Of course, practice had to be against Hufflepuff...

To your surprise, Heather wasn't glued to Cedric as they walked out--and both of their gazes seemed to be lost elsewhere.

Did they fight?

Something in the back of your mind was asking. Cedric looked pretty mad, and it didn't take long for you to get confirmation when you watched him guide his team. Although he wasn't being mean, his tone was harsher and his patience short--making every yellow-wearing player feel uneasy.

From the other side of the pitch, Heather was pointing a deadly glance at you. The rain was already bringing you shivers, but her stare was even worst and it made you wonder what in the world happened.

You hadn't done anything. Hell, you hadn't even talked to Cedric in weeks.

You hadn't even noticed George had left your side and paired up with his twin again, excitedly whispering to each other.

"What's going on?" You questioned, their grins only expanding as they caught your eyes.

"I've got something to tell you," he sang along his words, bouncing on his feet.

"What's up?" You smiled with them, their grins contagious and spreading faster than any other disease.

"There's a rumor."

"A very interesting rumor," George chimed.

"Cedric and Heather had a fight."

"A fight?" They got your attention. "About what?"

"2 rumors: That she cheated on him with Jamie Lammerson,"

"they've been awfully close lately," George added.

"Second rumor is that she did it because he's been acting more distant lately," Fred continued.

"That's he's been acting distracted," George finished.

"Distracted? By what?"

The twins looked at each other like they knew the biggest part of the puzzle which you were apparently clueless off.

"You!"

"Me?" You shook your head. "Impossible," you laughed, a bittersweet laugh that felt sour on your tongue.

"Not as impossible as you think," they said in unison before making their way further the quidditch pitch, leaving you stranded with your own thoughts.

~

This time you hadn't made the mistake of forgetting your sweater, and Cedric noticed.

He noticed?

"I'm glad you brought your sweater today," he smirked. A smirk you hadn't been on the receiving side of in weeks.

What the heck was he doing talking to you? Shouldn't he be with Heather, laughing about a dumb joke she made?

You blinked, "y-yeah."

Him, on the other hand, he had completely forgotten his. He was soaked with rain, wet hair that fell to his forehead making water drops drip onto his shoulders.

"But you forgot yours," you noticed.

"I did," he scrunched up his face and twisted a part of his shirt to drench the water in a poor attempt to dry it.

Somehow it wasn't awkward. Even if he had spent weeks without talking to you, your friendship didn't seem to have taken any impact.

Your smile lingered and you noticed that his stare did too.

Weird.

Were the twins right?

Right until Heather stepped out of the changing room. Her wet hair tied in a bun, she was all wrapped in dry clothes, fixing something about her bracelet by the changing room entrance.

Cedric noticed her, and suddenly, the glim in his eyes died down, making you frown.

He cleared his throat--giving you a stiff nod before following her out and back up to the castle. You heard his words echo from a distance--something about needing to talk about their fight.

It made you frown even more.

But you couldn't dwell on that too long, you were on broom cleaning duty.

The rain had made your job easier. It had partially removed all the dirt from the collections of nimbus and cheap school brooms. You didn't mind the work and the thundering rain made relaxing music as you meticulously scrubbed every last one of them.

You dusted your hands and admired the clean brooms aligned on the floor of the big shed, awaiting polish and all the other products to make them stay pretty and shiny.

You opened the closet and frowned when you saw that the polish was empty, realizing you would have to go to the other side of the field to the second storage unit; the one with old broken brooms and extra products.

You grabbed your raincoat, securing the hood before darting across the pitch and slipping in between the tall bleachers, walking along the field downhill towards the crooked storage shed, half hidden in between the overgrown trees and bushes.

"Wait- we have to stop-" You heard mumbling from the inside, freezing as you realized people were in there. Great. You had forgotten this was a famous make-out spot.

"What do you mean stop? Is this about Cedric? Aren't you two practically broken up?" You gulped as you heard the name, your heartbeat quickening.

Maybe you heard the name wrong, or it was another Cedric?

But the female voice that spoke again felt way too familiar.

"Well, I think we sort of made up?" You balled up your fist. So it was true, Heather was cheating on Cedric--with who you expected to be nonother than Jamie.

Cedric wore his heart on his sleeve while she was doing all this behind his back...

"You made up!?" Jamie's voice became a bit angrier. "Heather, I thought you were ending this? I thought you said he became interested in what's her name again?"

Was he talking about you? You munched at your lip in anxiety as the conversation went on.

The rain was still harshly falling against your raincoat, but you were frozen in place. It felt impossible to move with what you were overhearing.

"Yeah, Y/n. She's one of the Gryffindor chasers. The one who broke your nose last game, remember?"

"Oh, her. Aren't they like best friends of something?"

"Kind of..." She mumbled--she seemed angry.

Jamie laughed at her reaction. "She's definitely a threat. I thought they were together before the two of you were a thing."

What you didn't see was Heather shooting daggers at him with her stare.

"Will you shut up?" She sounded mean, nothing like the facade she wore every day.

"Why? You dragged me here remember?" Jamie bickered back and you could sense tension in their words, this felt like your cue to leave.

The brooms would be fine without polish.

You turned back, making your way back up the small field leading up to the pitch. Walking through the bleachers again and back inside the shed.

What the fuck?

~

The next day, that overheard conversation was eating you whole.

You were walking in the middle of the hallway as you headed to your next class, Fred and George on either side of you like usual. You were drifting off into thoughts again, running images of how you were going to tell Cedric, or how you were going to attempt to make this situation stop.

He was your best friend, and he didn't deserve this. He didn't deserve her.

"Hey!" A voice came from behind you, making you jump as you felt two hands on your shoulders. You all turned around to meet a bright-eyed Cedric.

He looked all happy and giddy and it made you raise an eyebrow.

"Can I steal Y/n for a second?" He looked at each of the twins.

"Ask her," they both pointed to you.

"Yeah," You nodded, not being able to help the small smile that bloomed on your lips at the sight of him. "What's up?"

"I wanted to talk to you." He looked behind your shoulder to make sure the twins had continued their way and weren't eavesdropping like they famously did. "Somewhere quieter," he smiled and you almost thought he was blushing.

"Sure."

You followed him down to your secret place. Your hidden corner of the world where you had spent the last few months coming alone.

It felt weird seeing him there again, especially with you.

"I wanted to apologize." He awkwardly stood in front of you, scanning your features for a reaction.

"Apologize?" Your scrunched your eyebrows. "For what?"

"For how distant I've been lately..." He went back and forth on his heels and looked down to the floor. "For the way I've been ignoring you-"

"Cedric, it's ok."

"No, it's not. It's not because you didn't deserve this. I've been an awful friend lately and it's been because of-" He didn't want to stay it. He didn't want to voice the name of the person whom he knew had caused you and him all this pain.

He might have been oblivious for a long time, but now he knew.

And he wasn't going to take this opportunity for granted.

"Because of her"

"You can't blame her, it's normal, she's your girlfriend-"

"Was," he corrected you. "She was"

You blinked, your breath catching in the back of your throat as the words registered.

"What?"

"We broke up," you looked to the side as you tried to process the information.

Was that why he was acting all happy when he asked you to follow him here in the first place?

"But I thought?"

He shook his head.

"I told her it was over yesterday. We got into another fight because she complained about the fact that I was talking to you after practice," he took a step closer to you, "but she also made me realize that it wasn't her I liked," he looked down to his feet, and you could feel your heart leaping in your chest.

"I've heard things... about um- the way you might feel too. But- if it's not true, I'm not going to ask you to feel the same-" He sighed through his nose and suddenly your whole world lit up again. "But I want you to know."

"I'minlovewithyou" you muttered, barely audible.

He heard it. His whole being lighting on fire as the words climbed up to his mind.

But he wanted to hear you say it again.

"What did you say?" He muttered, reaching to cup your cheek as he took a step closer to you, chests touching.

"I'm in love with you," you said again, loud and clear for him to hear.

Cedric didn't think twice before leaning down, breath mingling together as he whispered.

"I'm in love with you too," he smile before closing the gap between your lips faster than you could say Quidditch.

You thought you were going to explode, your body as his hand found itself on your waist.

You were kissing Cedric.

You were kissing your childhood best friend.

find the archived version here

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[teddypickerry]

Your hp Halloween headcannons were so sweet and well written 😭😭 I would love to see you write something else with Cedric in, his segment was cute!!

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐌𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐒.

— pairings! cedric diggory x gn reader

— word count! 1.1k

— warnings! none, pure fluff

— summary! in which a picnic in autumn leads to a discussion about the future between you & your hufflepuff boyfriend.

— a/n! not my best work but hey at least i posted something. ANYWAYS request things pleaseeee i would love to write something cool <3 thank you for the request!!!!

AUTUMN WAS CEDRIC'S favorite time of year. He loved being able to wear his cozy sweaters and gift them to you. He loved the muggle diner dates after quidditch practices on free nights where you could order coffee and pancakes to share. He especially loved the walks around Hogwarts as the leaves fell to the ground, creating the most perfect picture. It was the most beautiful time of year. And you made it even more so.

It was no shock that the two of you found yourselves on a walk throughout the gloomy courtyards. A jean jacket wrapped around yourself, Cedric's hufflepuff scarf practically strangling your neck. His classic grey jacket zipped up with his hands in his pockets. You by his side, smiling ear to ear.

"You know, you look absolutely beautiful today." He complimented as the two of you made your way past the Whomping Willow. It was a chilly October afternoon, and the both of you and had just arrived back to Hogwarts from a Saturday morning in Hogsmede. The two of you originally hadn't planned to meet there but you were both with your friends, and of course ran into one another. The smile on his face and the light in his eyes when he saw you made his friends chuckle. You lit up his world like nobody else — and you had only been dating for two months.

So, being the gentleman he is, Cedric of course offered to walk you home. It was a quick "yes" and you were wrapped in his scarf — watching him pull pieces of butterbeer fudge out of his pocket and absolutely obliterate it. "Are you implying I don't look beautiful everyday?"

He let out a laugh as he stood in his tracks, pulling out another piece of fudge. "Mhm, that's exactly what I'm implying." A smile was quickly present on your face, your hands falling in your pocket as you stood beside him. "Let's sit."

You pulled out your wand as he fumbled the fudge back in his pocket. Pointing the wand at the dewy grass, moving it in a left motion. "Accio blanket." It seemed like no time that a gray plaid blanket had taken place ontop of the green grass. Cedric smiled with a mouthful of fudge as he took a seat, making you giggle. He patted a spot beside him as you took a seat yourself, leaning on your elbows.

Birds chirping in the near distance was the only sound heard as he leaned back. His brunette curls sprawling out on the picnic blanket. He looked peaceful in a way, all you wanted to do is hold onto him and never let go. He wasn't like any person you had ever known. Cedric was respectful and kind — like every guy should be, but at Hogwarts they weren't. Well at least the guys you had gone out with. He was so different.

"What're you thinking about?" The hufflepuff asked you, his head turning towards you. His nose was turning slightly red from the cold which only made his face even more enjoyable to look at. "Just... you."

"Me?" He breathed, pressing his hand to his heart as he sat up slightly acting quite dramatic. Cedric's eyes poured into yours, like he was looking at the soul of his Universe. "'Course."

He pulled into his pocket offering a handful of fudge. You couldn't even question how he had anymore left before he questioned you. "What about?"

You shook your head at the offer as he shrugged it off and threw one in his mouth waiting for you to respond to his question. You pressed your lips together before forming a smile, watching Cedric chow down on his fudge. "You're great, Ced." No words could describe the way his toothy grin made you feel, watching him swallow the fudge. "You're my boyfriend and you still get giddy when I call you great?"

"Mhm," Cedric hummed as he went silent glancing down at the blanket. He seemed to fall into a transe as you watched him. A piece of hair fell before his eyes and he seemed to not even notice it. Orange and brown leaves falling in the distance, the sound of students crunching their shoes against them. You pressed your finger onto his forehead, lightly pushing the curl out of his face. "Pretty boy, what are you thinking about?" You asked, mimicking his words from before.

His eyes blinked over to you, his hand coming up to press against yours. It was warm pressing your own hand into his cheek. "You," He mirrored making you throw your head back in a giggle. A smile forming on his face as he watched you. "Hey, Y/N?"

"Hm?" You hummed as you leaned closer to him, your hand never leaving his cheek. "Do you ever think about the future? Not like seventh year but... after Hogwarts. When we're not under the rule of Mcgonagall and we actually can afford to go to Honeydukes everyday." Cedric joked making you smile. "Well, yeah we kind of have to, don't we?"

"Yeah, yeah we do." He nodded along hesitantly as you removed your hand and he sat up. "What do you see in that future?" Cedric's demeanor changed all of the sudden, his hands twirling together. Your smile nearly dropped nervously as he looked away, an awkward smile growing on his face.  "I don't know it was a dumb question anyways..."

"No... I guess I see a job as an auror. Working with my friends and having a house. A pretty one in the countryside with a willow tree outside. And a garden with fresh fruit like the way the muggles do it. So I can always have something baking so the house smells like fresh bread-" You pressed your lips together as you watched him listen intently with a smile. "I'm ranting, sorry."

"No... keep going, please. I beg." Cedric smirked as you let out an awkward laugh. "Well, I don't know. Maybe a kid or two in the far- far future. Um, I don't know I've always had that dream."

"Yeah, kids?" He asked, a lopsided smile taking over his face. You couldn't help but grin at him. There was something that made your heart race at his questions of the future. "Ced?"

"Hm?" He tilted his head as you pressed your lips together as sighed. "You're there. In the future, my future."

"Well I'd sure hope so." Cedric didn't waste anytime pulling you forward to press your lips into his. His hand pressed against your cheek as the other held you up for balance. Your hand wrapped around his forearm while the other found its way to his hair. You never felt such a feeling of happiness in your heart. Like the sun rising on a cold day.

"Mmm for the record, it'll be two kids. One boy and one girl. Someone's gotta carry on the family name." Cedric pulled apart making your bite your lip. "Yeah okay, why don't you just kiss me some more?"

[trevvylovesspence]

~The blinds wide open so he can see you in the dark when you're sleepin'~

Creepy Stalker Cedric x Fem! Y/n

This is for @b0nes-phobic​ who really wanted creepy Ced.

Content Warning: Cedric is creepy, he also low-key has a degrading kink, probably not canonical at all

~The One Where Cedric Diggory breaks into your dorm and you catch him~

Cedric followed you down the hall, just to make sure you got home safe from class, at least that’s how he saw it. “Hey creep, you need something?” It was Cho Chang, right next to him now. “No, just walking.” She tilted her head, staring at him. “You sure? Cause you should be going the other way.” He scoffed and turned to her, “Why do you care?” She put her hands on her hips, staring at him. “Because you’re creepy! And that’s my friend you’re trying to stalk weirdo-” She was cut off by Cedric putting his hand over her mouth. “Cho..shh, she’s gonna hear you!” She glared up at Cedric, “And she should! You’re a creep!” 

You turned around hearing a scuffle and saw Cedric and Cho. “Oh Cho! Hey!” She smiled and waved back, “I’m gonna expose your creepy ass!” Cedric’s face immediately washed over with fear and guilt. “Cho…please? Please don’t tell her.” But Cho had already turned around walking off and he glared at her back. “What was that?” You asked with a tilt of your head as you looked at Cedric over Cho’s shoulder, she just dragged you to walk along. “Just Cedric being weird.” You nodded and finally followed and the Diggory boy could feel air fill his lungs again, Cho hadn’t said anything.

He sat next to you in potions the next day and you smiled at him before finishing your conversation with Harry. He had always liked the Potter boy, but not anymore. Now he felt the need to bash his head into concrete. But all he did was bite his bottom lip and look forward. And then in the mess hall you spoke to the Malfoy boy, he just really wanted to push his head into the table, repeatedly until Draco bled everywhere. But you waved at him so he put on a respectable front and smiled, waving back.

This time he went further with his following you however, he got as close as you door, even telling you he was walking past when you saw him. He could see the tilt of your head, and your unease but he was quick to assure and comfort you, leaving quickly. Then he saw you in the morning and walked you to class, you talked to only him as he escorted you everywhere, and it made him feel nice. Then again he followed you home, and this time you left your windows open, he could see the small lamp lit up on your desk and he could see you walk around your room, getting ready for a shower. And he prayed you’d leave your blinds open for him every night. Your blinds were just open because of laziness, but no, in his mind it was all for him.

I mean, could watching you be so bad if you left yourself visible for him? He didn’t think so, so when you started undressing he saw no problem with watching, except for a moment he did, he felt guilt but your beauty and the need to see you pushed him to further watch. Once you stepped into your bathroom, shutting the door, the guilt and gross feeling encased him and he left back to his house, the next day he didn’t speak to you. Waves of guilt covering him, but also the sight of you just brought back his need. “Cedric?” He looked up at you quickly. “Are you alright?” You asked with that small head tilt you always gave him, why was that a habit of yours, and why did it make him want to kiss you? “Y-yeah, i’m fine, why?” He mentally cursed himself for his voice cracking but it was fine when he heard your small laugh. “You sure? You’ve barely spoken a word all day.” Your kindness had affected him so heavily, that as he followed you home that night he felt the need to make himself known, but he knew it was stupid, so he waited until you were asleep. 

Once he knew so, since you left your blinds open yet again, he opened the window, being as quiet as possible as he stepped into your room. He wasn’t going to be creepy, he decided, he just wanted to admire you. He sat in your desk chair and smiled, lucky he didn’t have to move it, it was right next to your bed. He softly leaned forward, his breath on your face made you scrunch your nose and he lightly brushed hair out of your face, an action which he noticed made you push yourself forward, as if to feel his hands. He chuckled quietly and stared at you, his breathing on your face making you squirm. He leaned back with a smile, letting his hand caress your cheek, a feeling he noticed you leaned into, he knew it, even subconsciously you wanted him as much as he did you. “All mine, hm? Aren’t you sweetheart?” He whispered it in your ear and watched your shiver afterward.

After that he was gone, as if he had never been there. The next night you had your blinds closed, but of course you had forgotten to lock the window again. So he snuck in again, only problem, you weren’t asleep. And as he sat on the chair you opened your eyes groggily, you were half-awake, maybe he could chalk it up to you dreaming? “Cedric?” The way his name came out of your lips made him shiver, and the way you stared up at, sitting up and leaning in as if he might disappear in front of you, the way your lips were parted. “How did you get in?” He didn’t answer, or move,hoping you’d assume he was a hallucination and lay back down, but then you poked him. “I know you’re real Diggory, now talk.” He suddenly moved his hand to lay on the back of your neck, leaning in to kiss you, it tasted like copper, without realizing he had been biting his lip, so hard you could taste the blood. You pushed him back, eyes wide and lips parted. “No, no, it’s not what you think you have to listen to me!” You watched him panic. “You’ve been following me home! You, you! It was you in my room last night!” He froze, guilt encasing him. “It’s not like that, I swear, I-i-...” His excuse fell flat. “All mine, hm? Aren’t you sweetheart?” You quoted his words to him and his eyes widened, you were asleep, how the hell did you hear him?! You tilted your head and he felt the urge to kiss you again, he left his hands where they had fallen into your lap.

Don’t give that desperate puppy look.” You whispered, your lips brushing against his. “Do you know how fucking disgusting you are?” Your harsh words seemed to ignite something in him, that and your close proximity, he let his hands squeeze your thighs as you sat in front of him, continuing to degrade him. “Do you really think you can touch me? I bet you have before hm, how can I trust you haven’t done anything to me when you snuck in.” Your hands snaked around his neck and one tugged his hair while he whined and shook his head. “No, baby I promise.”  You tilted your head, looking down at him, not an ounce of pity in your gaze as he whined and looked up at you, his face in an adorable little pout. “You promise? How can I take your word? You followed me home after all.” He whimpered when you leaned down to kiss him. “You’re disgusting, but you’re all mine, right sweetheart?” He nodded quickly and you chuckled. “God, look at you, so eager for me.” he again nodded and you kissed him again. You whispered against his lips, “Stop following me home creepy…ask next time, maybe I’ll let you come inside.”

[fefuckability]

The Thracia 776 Bracket Qualifier! Starts Monday, July 1st at 3pm EDT

Here’s how it’s going to work:

There are going to be nine qualifying polls (six for the men, three for the women)

Pick your most bangable favorite from each poll

Polls will run for one week (I’d prefer 3 days but alas Tumblr doesn’t offer the option yet)

The top 32 male characters and the top 16 female characters will qualify for the men’s and women’s bracket

Polls:

Qualifier 1 (Finn, Osian, Halvan, Dagdar, Marty, Ronan, Lifis, Brighton)

Qualifier 2 (Fergus, Dalsin, Hicks, Shiva, Carrion, Cain, Alva, Robert)

Qualifier 3 (Fred, Salem, Perne, Troude, Glade, Deen, Homer, Ralf)

Qualifier 4 (Ilios, Sleuf, Shannam, Xavier, Conomor, Diarmuid, Saias, Ced)

Qualifier 5 (Galzus, August, Julius, Manfroy, Hannibal, Dryas, Arion, Travant)

Qualifier 6 (Bloom, Raydrik, Veld, Kempf, Reinhardt, Lewyn, Seliph, Leif*)

Qualifier 7 (Eyvel, Tanya, Safy, Machyua, Lara, Karin)

Qualifier 8 (Nanna, Selphina, Olwen, Mareeta, Linoan, Misha)

Qualifier 9 (Amalda, Ishtar, Altena, Julia, Eda)

I am also adding a Google Form to submit characters for an enby bracket so Limstella, Kyza, Mark, and Bramimond don’t get left out. These can be characters from any game as long as there is canon basis for them being nonbinary.

Extra notes under the cut

Characters who are excluded from voting:

Anyone who obviously both looks and acts like a literal child. I am not taking Kaga/manga ages into account. IS is very inconsistent on whether or not they bother following them anyway. So the standard is literally "if a reasonable adult could look at this character and immediately clock them as a child, then they're out". Some characters are borderline so discretion may be used

Palette swaps or characters who are mostly the same portrait with only slight variation to hair, outfit, etc. (so, basically, all of the tertiary antagonists lol)

Anyone who lacks either a unique portrait or a unique name

Characters who do not have a unique human form

Special Notes:

While Genealogy and Thracia have mostly different casts, there are going to be some characters that overlap. e.g. Lewyn, Seliph, Altena, Ced, etc. Since I've never actually played Thracia I have no idea how involved some of these characters are, but I've decided to just run them twice (once on Thracia, once on the Genealogy polls when we get there). If you don't think they belong with Thracia then feel free to not vote for them.

We're using whatever name popped up for them on the wiki when I googled "Thracia characters", which seems to be the localized names IS uses for them in the CYL polls.

*Leif was very borderline on whether or not I should include him. I've ultimately decided to include him because of his presence in Genealogy, where he's older. Since he uses the same design for both games I thought it'd be odd if I put him on the Genealogy bracket but not on the Thracia bracket. Feel free to not vote for him if you don't like that he's here

[panandinpain0]

So I've never done a request before, but could I get a Cedric X Male ravenclaw reader. I just finished reading "good luck charm" and im in love

Being Best Friends with Cedric Diggory

Hey! So sorry this took so long, I've been... avoiding my requesting section tbh.

But I'm so glad you liked "Token of Good Luck"!

Me from 10 minutes later: Okay, I can't for the life of me think of a plot for this, so I'm going to do headcanons(ish) of being his best friend/falling in love with each other.

I'm really sorry, idk where any ounce of creativity went but it's left my brain.

Requested by: Anon

Cedric Diggory x Male!Ravenclaw!Reader

Reader is a muggleborn :)

Warnings: Lots of physical touch (Sorry, its my love language)

--

(Y/N) and Cedric had met during the sorting ceremony

(Y/N) was terrified-

It made sense, seeing as he had only been introduced to the wizarding world, what

a month ago?

So he was visibly unsettled

His hands were sweaty and his face was flushed

His hair was ruffled from having run his hands through it

And Cedric took pity on him

"Hi! I'm Cedric Diggory! What's your name?" Cedric asked, smiling as he held out his hand.

"Uh- I'm (Y/N)... (L/N)," (Y/N) hesitated, his hand shaking as he took Cedric's hand.

Cedric could feel the sweat on his hand as he shook it, but he shook it off.

"That's a cool name! What house do you think you'll get sorted into?"

(Y/N) didn't know, nor did he care

He just cared about going back home to normal school

And he told Cedric this

Causing his face to heat up as Cedric laughed

"You want to go back to normal school? Why? It sounds boring to me," Cedric had said as you waited for McGonagall to call the new students into the Great Hall.

"You're right, it was really boring. But it was less nerve wracking than this." (Y/N) gestured vaguely around them.

Cedric had offered his hand as a comfort

and (Y/N) took it

And that was probably the most defining moment in their friendship

Of course they only got closer through the years

And their friendship was very physical

The two of them were constantly touching

Holding hands

Hugs

Arms over each other's shoulders

Etc.

You get the point

So naturally (?)

People assumed they were dating

"Hey Cedric," another Hufflepuff came up to him, sliding into the seat in front of him with a flirty smile.

"Hey Axel!" Cedric greeted with a smile. The truth was, (Y/N) and Cedric were hardly apart, but (Y/N) had been pulled away by another friend.

"How would you feel about going out with me?"

Cedric was a bit shocked by the bluntness of the question, but was even more confused as one of Axel's Slytherin friends came up and hissed a whisper.

"Axel, I already told you- Cedric and (Y/N) are dating!" said Slytherin scolded, trying to pull Axel away.

"Wait, what-" Cedric's brows furrowed.

"So sorry about that, he doesn't know what he's doing," Axel's friend apologized, laughing nervously and pulling Axel away.

Cedric was left absolutely puzzled as (Y/N) rejoined him.

"Sorry about that, Ced. Woah, are you okay?" (Y/N) asked as he adjusted his blue and silver tie, looking at Cedric with concern.

"I think people think we're a couple," Cedric revealed, looking at (Y/N) with concern.

The two promptly burst into laughter.

Of course, they were both hiding the fact that they really did want to be a couple

But they'd never tell each other that.

Until Hermione Granger shoved them into a broom closet together.

"Hermione, let us out! I was in the middle of my painting!" (Y/N) shouted, hitting the door a bit for extra dramatics.

"Not until you two spill your guts!" Hermione shouted back.

"We have nothing to spill, Hermione, we're best friends!" Cedric shouted back.

Both boys waiting a moment before realizing Hermione had walked away.

(Y/N) groaned and twisted around, dragging himself against the wall until he was sitting on the floor.

"So, what famous painting are you working on now?" Cedric teased, sitting next to his best friend of six years.

"Uh- another landscape," (Y/N) chuckled, scratching the back of his neck nervously. He was clearly lying, but Cedric didn't question it.

Instead Cedric picked up (Y/N)'s hand and played with his fingers, noting the brown paint covering them.

"What were you painting that required so much brown paint?" Cedric snorted, noting the amount that (Y/N) was sporting.

"...Dirt?" (Y/N) sheepishly tried. ((Y/N) was very bad at lying, and Cedric knew this.)

"Seriously, what are you painting?" Cedric was genuinely curious now.

"...You."

Cedric's gaze darted up in surprise, eyebrows raised with a smile growing on his lips.

"You're painting me? Why?" Cedric asked with a laugh, whispering now.

"Because you're really pretty, why wouldn't I want to paint you?" (Y/N) shrugged with a smile, avoiding Cedric's gaze and hoping he couldn't see his rosy cheeks in the dark of the closet. "I'm not sure I'll be able to do you justice, though. The reason there's so much brown paint is because I'm trying to find the right shade for your hair- which surprisingly won't match your eyes."

Cedric brought his hand up to (Y/N)'s neck, using his other hand to turn (Y/N)'s face to look him in the eyes.

"Can I kiss you?" Cedric asked, eyes bright as he smiled widely.

"What?" (Y/N) gasped, blinking a few times.

"Can I kiss you?" Cedric repeated with a small laugh.

"Uh- yeah," (Y/N) stammered, and Cedric swooped in to steal a kiss.

As they parted, (Y/N) sighed, blinking his eyes open.

"Pinch me."

"What?" Cedric laughed, shaking his head.

"Pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming."

You can imagine majority of the school's surprise when they realized the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw boy had just gotten together-

and hadn't, you know, been dating for the last couple of years.

End

--

Sorry if this didn't turn out like you expected, but I hope you liked it!

Thank you so much for requesting, anon! Hope you're having a great day!

-Author Max <3

[sereinegemini]

Two Dark Princes ₊⋆ ☾

— Chapter VII

Pairing: Draco Malfoy x Fem!Reader x Theodore Nott

Word Count: 879

Summary: Two years after Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord during the Triwizard Tournament, Hogwarts and most of the Wizarding World has returned to normal. But, F/n’s mundane life is flipped upside down after she learns that two of her best friends, Draco and Theo, are secretly in love with her. When this knowledge begins to affect her relationships, she is faced with difficult decisions, each one laced with promised heartache and the potential to awaken an unexpected darkness

Warnings: hostility, blood, a wee bit spooky

Hogwarts

Sunday, May 4, 1997

True darkness engulfed you. You could feel it shifting and swirling on some unknown wind. No light penetrated the empty space, but when you held out your hand you were able to see it. The black air slithered around your fingers like water. As far as you could tell nothing but you existed in this space.

“F/n?” a voice asked from all around you. It had a dreamlike element to it, almost like all at once it was there and not. And it was warm, reminding you of–

“Cedric?” you called back, frantically spinning and searching the void for any sign of another being. Your head was swimming. What was this place?

“I’ve missed you so much, my sunshine. You have no idea how lost I am without you.” Knuckles grazed your cheek gingerly, and you flinched at the phantom touch. No one was there.

“Ced, where…where are we? Where are you?” You couldn’t settle the rising panic in your voice.

“I’m right here, F/n.” Frustrated, hot breath washed over your face. You should have been able to see him. He was right there, dammit. But your vision remained blank, and if you hadn’t just seen your own hand you’d be positive your eyes were closed. He gripped your shoulders, nails biting into your skin enough for a whimper to escape you. “I’m tired of these games, F/n.”

“You’re hurting me. Ced, that hurts!” you cried. You moved to rip his arms away from you, but your hands met nothing but empty air.

He only clenched harder, roughly shaking you back and forth. “Why did you do it? Why did you throw away our love—our future—for them? They’re nothing. They’re filthy Slytherin snobs. We were going to have a future together, F/n. A family. Why did you ruin it? Why did you ruin it? Why did you–” Suddenly, an intense wind billowed past, gone as quick as it came. Cedric gone with it.

Left shaken and panting, you ran your fingertips along the pain burning in your shoulders. They came back wet. Confident you knew what the substance was, you licked it. Copper. Blood.

“Like what you taste?” a smug voice asked from behind you. Whirling around, you were met with exactly what you expected: nothing.

“Not particularly,” you whispered, your skin prickling alongside his presence as he circled you.

Stopping behind you, Theo roved his mouth over your ear. “That’s a shame, I’ve always sort of enjoyed it. It can be...comforting.” He pushed a finger against the small cuts, making you wince. You felt him lift it to his own mouth, a pleasured groan following. Then, his hand on your jaw, he forced your face towards him and brought his lips to yours. His tongue slithered between your teeth and spread the metallic taste into your mouth. Grimacing, you tripped over your feet as you broke away.

“What’s the matter, F/n? I thought that’s what drew you to us. The wickedness dwelling underneath. The Death Eaters our fathers raised us to be.”

“Isn’t that why you destroyed your perfect life for us? You know deep down a part of you is just like those little boys we’re trying desperately not to be,” Draco whispered against your hair, pulling your back against his chest.

Your chin was gripped with dreadful strength. “But you can only love one of us, L/n. So go on, who is it? Hm? It sure as hell isn’t that dumb Hufflepuff.” Theo’s dark chuckle made your veins run cold. “You destroyed that boy’s heart in the most admirable way. It would have been more merciful for you to rip it clean out and wear it on a chain around your neck.”

“Shut up.” You willed the tears in your eyes not to spill.

“Oh? Are you not proud of the way you wrecked poor Cedric Diggory? I hear he’s been awfully careless with his wand lately. Poor bloke is bound to blow himself up.”

“I said shut up!” you shrieked. 

The words continued to echo seconds after you sensed Draco disappear into thin air. You were left standing face to face with a red-eyed creature. It resembled a man and had its boney fingers pressed bruisingly into your jaw. He had replaced Theo, and in your sinking gut you knew exactly who this was despite never having seen him.

Lord Voldemort gave you a rotten-toothed grin. “I’ve been looking a long time for you, girl.”

Gasping awake, you laid completely still out of fear while you took in your surroundings. You were in the Astronomy Tower, rain from a storm pelting the floor mere feet from where you lay. Beside you, Theo was snoring softly, completely unaware of you or the nightmare previously tormenting you. Quills, parchments, and textbooks littered the floor where you’d spent most of the night studying. Final exams would begin next month and now was the time Professors encouraged students to start revisiting the material.

Lightning flashed across the moody sky, and the last thing on your mind was passing your finals. Because there was no doubt in your bones that nightmare wasn’t just some bad dream. Voldemort had been in your mind. And he wanted you for something.

« Chapter Six || Masterlist || Chapter Eight »

Be notified of future chapters!

[braveclementine]

Chapter 13

Warnings: None. However, future chapters will contain sexual content so readers that are under the age of 18 may have to skip those chapters (However they are very few so those under the age of 18 can still read a majority of this book. However please keep note of the warnings).

Copyright: I do not own any Wizarding World characters that J.K. Rowling wrote. I do however own Elizabeth Kane (main character) and Trang Nyguen (best friend). There should be no use of these two names without my permission. I also do not condone any copying of this.

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"𝕸𝖆𝖞 𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖛𝖊 your attention." Snape said coolly at the end of a potions lesson. He looked extremely bitter. I assumed that whatever it was, he didn't actually want to tell us. All the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws stared at him expectantly.

His mouth was set in a grimace. "It is my unfortunate duty to educate you on an event that is happening on Christmas. The Yule Ball." Some of the girls giggled and he glared in their direction. "The Yule Ball is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament- unfortunately- and will be open to fourth years and above. However, you may invite a younger student if that suits you."

The girls, despite his glares, giggled again. I grinned, my cheeks red. "Dress Robes are to be worn and the ball will start at eight o'clock and end at midnight in the Great Hall. Now get out."

The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws sprang up and dashed for the door, the girls are congregating in the hallways to laugh and talk about whatever they were talking about. I rolled my eyes and got up much slower, stuffing my textbook in my bag.

"Who are you going with?" Snape asked from behind his desk, not looking at me, "I'm sure you've foreseen it."

I paused, "No, I haven't actually. It's not Fred- He's going with Angelina Johnson. Ced's going with Cho. Harry's going with Parvati, Ron's going with Padma, and Viktor Krum is going with Hermione. So that doesn't leave much for me. I'm thinking about not going."

Professor Snape scoffed, throwing a stack of parchment in the trash. "Yes because I'm sure only five boys like you in the entire school."

"I'm just saying I don't foresee me going with anyone." I paused and then in a teasing voice I asked, "Who are you going with? Professor McGonagall?"

"Funny." he said, sitting down behind the desk. "Get out."

"Yes sir." I said sweetly, and smiling, left the room.

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𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖗𝖊 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖑𝖊 seemed filled more with girls than with boys by the time Christmas break started. I wondered if the boys had all escaped, or if it just seemed like there were more girls because I was hoping a guy would ask me.

Against my visions, Fred and Cedric asked me first and I told them who I'd foreseen them going with without even saying yes or no. They accepted my visions however and they both decided they would go with Angelina and Cho, respectively.

I was anxious again. Another mark against my visions. I was also sad, wishing that I had accepted one of their offers, despite my visions.

Hannah Abbott was going with Ernie Macmillan of course. They'd been dating for a couple of weeks. Susan was going with Zacharias. Seamus was going with Lavender. I wondered briefly who Dean was going with- or if he was going at all.

Harry and Ron approached me as the weeks continued. Harry still hadn't asked Cho and Ron hadn't asked anyone yet either.

"Look." I said, running my hand through my hair. "Here's the thing. Harry, you're going to ask Cho. Ron your going to ask Fleur Delacour. I'll meet you back at the Gryffindor common room tonight."

And so, later tonight, I waited a the portrait when Ron came tearing up the stairs, Ginny coming after him. "Why'd you make me ask her?" Ron asked, ashen face. I stared back, unamused.

"Fairy lights." Ginny said and I followed them in. Ron made his way to a far corner. Ginny was trying not to smile.

A moment later, Harry came up, looking equally depressed.

"What's up Ron?" Harry asked, not looking at me as he joined us.

"Why did I do it? I don't know what made me do it!" He said wildly, throwing me a glare.

"What?" Harry asked.

"He-er- just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him." Ginny said, still fighting her smile, patting Ron's arm sympathetically.

"Oh." Harry asked, briefly looking at my stony face.

"I don't know what made me do it! I mean, I knew I was going to but still! There were people- all around- I've gone mad- everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall- she was standing there talking to Diggory- and it sort of came over me- and I asked her."

"Well, he sort've yelled it at her." Ginny said, her smile fighting to the surface of her face.

Ron put his face in his hands, groaning and said, almost incoherently, "She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then- I dunno- I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it."

"She's part veela. You were right- her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and got a blast of it- but she was wasting her time. He's going with Cho Chang. I asked her to go with me just now, and she told me." Harry finished dully.

Ginny stopped smiling.

Ron glared at me. "This is mad, We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone- well except Neville. Hey- guess who he asked? Hermione!"

"What?" Harry asked, distracted and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, I know! He told me after Potions! Said she's always been really nice, helping him out with work and stuff- but she told him she was already going with someone. Ha! As if! She just didn't want to go with Neville. . . I mean, who would?"

"Shut up!" I snapped so sharply they stopped laughing. "Ginny's going with Neville."

Hermione came through the portrait at that moment. "Why weren't you two at dinner?" she asked, joining us.

"Because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" Ginny said angrily.

"Thanks a bunch Ginny." Ron said sourly.

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" Hermione said loftily. "Eloise Migden, starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you."

I laughed.

"Hermione, Neville's right- you are a girl." Ron said, staring at her suddenly.

I stopped laughing.

"Oh well spotted."

"Well- you can come with one of us!"

"No, I can't." She snapped.

"Oh come on, we need partners, we're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has." Ron said impatiently but Hermione interrupted him.

"I can't come with you, because I'm already going with someone." Hermione said, blushing.

"No, you're not! You just said that to get rid of Neville!" Ron said.

"Oh did I?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing and flashing and she had a hard edge in her voice, "Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!" She stormed off toward the girls' dormitories.

"She's lying." Ron said flatly.

"No she's not." I said angrily.

"Who is it then?" Ron asked sharply.

"I'm not telling you, it's her business."

"Ginny you can go with Harry-" Ron started and I growled, rolling my eyes.

"I can't." Ginny said, blushing too. "Didn't you hear Eliza? I'm going with Neville. He asked me after Hermione turned him down and it wasn't like I could go anyways since I'm not a fourth year. I think I'll go have dinner." she said abruptly, getting up and leaving.

"What's got into them?" Ron asked.

"Hermione wanted you to ask her but someone asked her first and she said yes." I said flatly. "Ginny wanted Harry to ask her but he's got his eye on Cho and Ginny's got enough dignity not to ask."

"What about you?" Ron asked. "Who are you going with? I heard you turned down Fred and Cedric."

"Yeah, I did." I said sharply. "Because I saw Fred going with Angelina and saw Cedric going with Cho. I don't interfere with the future."

"Then who are we going with? And why did you tell us who we were going to ask if we weren't going with them?" Harry asked.

"Because it's important that Cho knows you like her, despite the fact she won't be going with you. And Ron was going to do it whether I told you or not. And you, Harry are going to go over there and ask Parvati right now. Ron, you are technically going to go with Padma, but considering you'll be in such a terrible mood at the ball and won't even dance with her, it'd probably be better you don't go with anyone. If you are going to ask them though." I said, glaring at them angrily. "IF, you do ask them, you'd better dance with them, do you understand me? Girls hate not dancing."

Harry and Ron looked at each other and both of them nodded. "Here comes Parvati." I muttered. Parvati and Lavender had just entered the common room. Harry got up and went over and said, "Parvati? Will you go to the ball with me?"

Parvati giggled, blushing under her dark skin and then said, "Yes, all right, then." She said.

"Thanks." Harry said in relief. "Ron wants to know if Padma will go with him."

"I'll ask her." Parvati said, smiling.

"Thanks, that would be great." Harry said and came back to where we were sitting.

"Elizabeth are you going with someone?" Harry asked.

I shook my head, a bit downcast. "I haven't been asked by anyone that I haven't seen the future about."

"I'm sorry." Harry said.

I realized that I sounded extremely upset and I jumped to my feet. "No! Sorry, I'm fine, don't worry. I'm going to go eat."

I walked out of the Gryffindor common room. I went down to the Great Hall and grabbed something to eat and walked out to the forest. It was still light out and I found Firenze easily.

"Elizabeth Kane." He greeted me.

"Hi Firenze." I said, sitting down nearby.

I was quiet and he asked what was wrong.

"Well. . . nothing really." I said. "I just don't like being able to see the future much right now."

Firenze laughed, "Can't see who your going to the ball with?"

I blinked. "How'd you know?"

"Girls are usually very interested in balls and such. So judging by your down face, I assumed it had something to do with that." Firenze said, continuing to sharpen his arrows.

"It's just. . ." I hesitated. "It's stupid to complain about not having a date, you know? There are worse things than not having a date. And it's not like I wasn't asked. . . it's just that those who asked I'd already seen going with other people. . . you know I hate interfering with the future."

Firenze nodded, "I understand that and you are right that there are worse things. But I think someone as young as you shouldn't be worried about worse things. But perhaps that's a biased answer considering how much I like you."

He held my gaze for a second before tossing another arrow onto his pile of fixed arrows. I got closer, interested in the process.

"Can you teach me how to make arrows?" I asked, changing the subject.

He showed me that using fire could help bend arrows- and bows- into the shape that you wanted. Plants could be stripped and plant insides could be used as bow string. There were flat rocks that had to be chiseled and sharpened to turn into arrow points and more twine and feathers and leaves to attach the heads to the sticks and decorations for the bottom of the arrows.

I practiced with some of the wood he had laying around. I could make decent arrows but I couldn't make a good bow. I was very frustrated by this fact and it showed on my face.

"Your being to gentle with the wood." Firenze said, "here." He placed his large hands over mine and pulled on the wood harder. "See?"

I tried concentrating on what I was doing, but I was more distracted by his hands. They were so warm, big, and comforting. I blinked, trying not to think about them.

There was a better bow shape than I had done. "But if I pull to hard it'll snap in half." I said.

"No, that's what the fires for." Firenze said. "It's gentle, fast, and hard all at the same time, see?" And then, for some reason, his face turned red and he took his hands off mine and busied himself with the rest of his arrows.

I looked at him curiously. "What? I don't understand." I had never seen Firenze flustered before.

"It's nothing, Elizabeth." He said, his face still red. "I'm just saying that while you have to be careful with the wood, you have to pull hard to make the shape."

"Oh." I said, but that hadn't been what I'd meant at all. I was trying to figure out why his face was all red. I'd never seen Firenze embarrassed before. But I let the conversation drop.

"Who would you like to go to the ball with?" Firenze asked suddenly, tucking his back legs out to the side in a more comfortable position.

"Well. . ." I hesitated, holding another arrow in my hand. "I would've liked to go with Fred or Cedric but it wasn't possible of course. . . and anyone else I could've asked is much older- like graduated from school old- so they can't come obviously. . . I don't know if I'll even go."

Firenze was quiet, carving the stone into a triangle point. We talked about different topics for the rest of the time until it got dark, and then I headed back up to the castle. I wondered how Sirius and Dad were. I wondered how Trang was. I ought to write to them all tonight.

I did just that, going straight up to the dorm and pulling our parchment and ink.

Dear Sirius, Yule Balls coming up... yay. I guess. Anyways, I just wanted to make sure you got the chicken. I don't want you to be feeding on only rats! I'll send more food when I get a chance. Miss you a lot, Write soon Love, Elizabeth

Dear Dad, Perhaps I should've come home for Christmas- don't know why in the world I wanted to stay. I just realized only now that I don't dance. I suppose I should've thought ahead better. Wish you could come up here for Christmas since I messed up. I miss you a lot. I can't wait for summer to see you again. I love you. Write soon, okay? Love, Elizabeth

P.S. Did you ever send a letter to Uncle Moody about classes? He said on our first day that he got a letter from you describing what the class had been over. I just figured you'd told him when he came to our house. Perhaps you sent a follow up letter?

Dear Trang, There's a ball going on at school this year! I know you talked about a 'homecoming' back in September. I suppose this dance is something like that. It's called the Yule Ball. I don't have a date but I might go anyways. I only said no to Fred because I foresaw him going with Angelina. I think if I didn't have visions I would've said yes. But maybe there's a reason I don't go with him- right? Anyways, wanted to get your opinion on Magical candies. I'm going to send you a lot of different things for Christmas. It'll probably get there after Christmas though. Depends on how fast Sadie can get to America. (owls don't fly over oceans well of course). Write soon okay? I want to hear all about your crazy American friends. How's Carter? Have you found anywhere secluded to fly? Did you go to that homecoming dance? Love, Elizabeth

I stuffed each letter in an envelope, scrawling their names on the outside, and put them aside so that I could send them off tomorrow. Three days until the ball. I took a deep breath. I thought about what Professor McGonagall said a long time ago. She was right. My self-worth wasn't my visions. My self-worth wasn't if I had a date at the ball. I'd been asked and I'd turned them down.

Feeling much better, I laid down and went to sleep.

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖉𝖆𝖞, I rose and hurried up to the owlery. I'd need three owls. Sadie had come back from Sirius, a small note attached to her mouth. "I have a letter I need you to take to Trang." I said. "I know they aren't your favorite trips and I know it's a long wait so get some sleep, okay? I'll leave the letter with you and you can take it when your ready." She hooted softly. I tied the small letter to her leg, making sure all the flaps were down. She went up to the straw and slept.

I took Hedwig down so that she could deliver a letter to Dad and then I borrowed a school owl for Sirius. I'd attached parchment to Sirius letter so that he wouldn't have to scrounge around for parchment.

I sent them off and then was going to leave the Owlery when Dean Thomas came in. We bumped into each other and both clutched our foreheads in pain.

"Hi Dean." I said. I noticed he had no letter in his hand. What was he doing up here?

"Will you go to the ball with me?" He asked breathlessly in greeting.

I stared in surprise. "Oh."

"I mean, I wasn't going to go with anyone and I know you weren't going to foresee me going with anyone so I wanted to know if you'd go with me." Dean said awkwardly. Perhaps he blushed, but it was to hard to tell because his skin was so dark.

"Sure." I said, blushing. "yeah, I'll go to the ball with you."

He grinned. "Great, okay. I'll meet you in the entrance hall, yeah?"

"Yeah." I said.

He dashed down the Owlery steps and I stood there for a second. Then I cursed. I'd just sent those letters off! Bloody hell.

Groaning in frustration I set down the stairs. I entered the Great Hall and sat down with the others. "Guess who just asked me to the ball?" I asked lightly.

"Who?" Ron asked, interested. Padma had told him she'd go to the ball with him.

"Dean Thomas."

"Really?" Hermione asked, a bit amazed. "I didn't think he was going to go with anyone."

"Yes." I said, pulling over a plate of toast and the butter dish. "He said as much in the Owlery. However, I didn't foresee him with anyone, probably because he wasn't going to go with anyone, so I said yes."

"I'm surprised." Harry said. "Thought you'd go with Fred or Cedric."

"Well. . ." I said slowly. "They did both ask me, as I've said before. But since I'd seen them with other people. . . I didn't feel comfortable interfering with the future for selfish gain."

Ron was shaking his head and muttered, "Mental." I gave him an annoyed look.

We left the Great Hall and Ron ducked behind Harry to hide as Fleur went past saying, "It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food. I will not fit into my dress robes!"

"Oooh there's a tragedy." Hermione snapped. ''She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"

"Hermione- who are you going to the ball with?" Ron asked quickly. He'd been asking her frequently, trying to startle her into giving in. It wasn't working.

Hermione simply frowned and said, "I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me."

"You're joking, Weasley! You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?" Draco's voice came from behind us.

Harry, Ron, and I spun around and my wand was out. Before I could cast a spell, Hermione beamed, and waved to someone behind Draco and said, "Hello, Professor Moody!"

Draco went pale and jumped backward, looking wildly around, but Uncle Moody was still up at the teacher's table, eating.

"Twitchy little polecat, aren't you, Malfoy?" Hermione asked scathingly and we went up to the library.

"Hermione, your teeth." Ron said slowly, looking sideways at her.

"What about them?" She asked defensively.

"Well, they're different." Ron said, frowning.

"Of course they are- did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.

"No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you. . . They're all. . . straight and- and- normal sized." Ron said.

Harry and I leaned around to see her mouth too as she smiled mischievously. They were different.

"Well. . . when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were, and I just. . . let her carry on a bit. Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my braces. you know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth and magic should- look! Pigwidgeon's back!" She said, pointing.

Pigwidgeon was twittering on top of the banisters, a scroll of parchment tied to his leg. People passed by, pointing and laughing and group of third year girls paused and said, "Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?"

"Stupid little feathery git! You bring letters to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!" Ron said, grabbing Pigwidgeon out of the air in a fist. Pigwidgeon hooted, his head protruding above Ron's fist. The third-year girls looked scarred for life.

"Clear off!" Ron snapped at the third-years girls. I frowned at him. "Here- take it, Harry." Ron added.

In the corner of the Gryffindor common room, Harry read aloud Sirius' letter.

Dear Harry, Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitis Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point but your way was better, I'm impressed. Don't get complacent, though, Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. Keep your eyes open- particularly when the person we discussed is around- and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble. Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual. Sirius

"He sounds exactly like Moody. Constant vigilance! You'd think I walk around with my eyes shut, banging off the walls. . ." Harry said, pocketing the letter. I giggled.

"But he's right, Harry. You have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means. . ." Hermione said.

"Here." I said. "Cedric's going to give you a hint and you should take it up."

Harry scowled.

"I know." I said, rolling my eyes. "But he's already figured it out. Stupid thing really, he won't exactly be paying you back and I'm not telling you what it is. But if you take up the offer sooner rather than later, you'll be much better off."

"Want a game of chess Harry?" Ron asked.

"I'll see you guys later." I said. "I'm going to get some homework done."

"Sure Ron. See you later Elizabeth." Harry said and I left the common room.

💙💙💙💙

𝖂𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊 up on Christmas day, I bounced out of bed to see the stack of presents at the foot of my bed.

Dad had sent books, of course. Lord of Chaos, Insomnia, The Bingo Palace, and Born in Fire. He'd also sent me a binder with sleeves in it. I wasn't sure what it was for a moment until, after looking at it, I realized it could be used to hold my Chocolate Frog cards. He'd also sent a letter.

Dear Elizabeth, Is Hogwarts really so bad that you wish it was summer already? And I'm sure you'll end up being glad that you stay at Hogwarts for the winter. Despite that, I do miss you too. I love you a lot. No, I never sent Mad-Eye a letter. Perhaps he's mistaken or perhaps he wrote down the contents of our conversation which he then mistaken for a letter. Not entirely sure. Or maybe he just didn't want the students to know that he knows me personally. I can understand and respect that. Anyways, let me know if anything else goes on at Hogwarts. Love you, Dad

I frowned. Sure, Uncle Moody made some rash decisions but mistaking his own handwriting for a letter from dad? Not likely. Of course. . . not every wizard or witch liked to admit they knew a werewolf. . . and while dad could respect that, I most certainly couldn't. And I couldn't see Uncle Moody being ashamed of knowing Dad. He didn't care about people's opinions. So why had he said he'd received a letter from dad over the summer?

Hermione had sent me a Quidditch book titled Quidditch Teams of Britain and Ireland.

Trang had sent me American candy and new books from the Vampire Diary series.

Ron sent me a book called Mythology and a note saying that I should stop reading IT. I had actually gotten him the book IT for Christmas. I wondered if he'd get nightmares from reading it. Then I wondered if he would even read it.

Harry had sent me chocolates from Honeydukes.

Hagrid had sent treacle fudge and a carved dragon statuette.

Mrs. Weasley had sent me hot fudge cakes and a pink sweater with white rabbits knitted on it. She had also sent a letter thanking me for the portrait I'd done of the family and told me that it was hanging on the wall in the living room.

Fred and Cedric had sent me more charms to put on the bracelet that Fred had originally bought for me on my first Christmas here. Fred had sent a rabbit, dolphin, and British flag charms. Cedric had sent a snitch charm and a book charm. I added them to the bracelet immediately.

Bill had sent me an artkit, fit with a book, to learn how to Gongbi, a type of Chinese style painting.

I was glad that Dean hadn't given me anything for Christmas because I hadn't gotten him anything.

Sirius had sent me a penknife, not unlike the one he sent Harry. I had been meaning to ask him about the house key he'd sent for my birthday but was afraid of the answer.

As always, there was an anonymous present, which I was almost always fairly certain came from Professor Snape. I dropped the rock into my hand and stared at it curiously. It was black onyx but it didn't seem to be a decoration of any sort. There was no holes or loops to put string through to make it a necklace.

Then, looking through a small part of the onyx, I saw that there was a diamond in there. It wasn't large. Probably smaller than my pinky fingernail. But it was there. It had to have hidden meaning- I just didn't know what. I set the onyx down carefully on the table, not wanting it to get broken.

Then, I noticed there was one last present. It was wrapped in a sheaf of animal skin and I carefully laid it on my bed and opened it up and gasped. It was a bow. It was beautifully crafted- obviously handmade with a pink tint to the wood. There were about a dozen arrows with it as well. Everything about it was perfect. There was a handwritten note inside that read For my favorite human.

I laughed and set the animal skin, bow, and arrows underneath my bed. I grabbed my cloak and scarf from the bedside table and raced down the stairs, out of the castle.

I had to search a little bit before I could find Firenze. He and Ronan were talking amongst themselves. Ronan bowed to me and I bowed back quickly. "Hello Ronan." I said. "How are you?"

"Very well, and you, Elizabeth Kane?"

"Decent." I said with a smile. "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Ronan said with a smile. He nodded to Firenze. "I will converse with you later." Firenze nodded back and then turned to me as Ronan galloped off.

"Thank you for the bow and arrows Firenze." I said, smiling still. I didn't want to use the word gift or present in case that was offensive to their kind. Firenze already had animosity with Bane- I didn't want to create anymore.

"You are quite welcome." He said with a smile. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a drawing I'd done of him. There were actually a few sketches on the page. He took the page, looked at it, and laughed. "I think you've overdone my arm muscles a bit Elizabeth Kane."

It was probably true- I'd done up the muscles in his arms and stomach. I blushed. "It's fairly realistic in my mind."

Firenze put a hand on my shoulder. "Thank you Elizabeth Kane." Then, to my surprise as he rarely showed any type of physical affection to me, he pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back tightly, savoring the moment for I was sure this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"You're welcome Firenze." I said, smiling upwards. My stomach growled. He laughed again.

"I suppose you came out here without breakfast?" His teeth were absolutely perfect and white. We pulled out of the embrace and started walking back towards the edge of the forest.

"First thing." I said.

"Got a date for the Ball?" He asked.

I sighed, "His name's Dean Thomas. It was a bit of an unexpected invitation to be completely honest. I'd never gotten a vibe from him that he was interested in me, but I accepted as I didn't see any futuristic problems about going with him."

Firenze nodded, "That's fair enough I think."

"Anyways!" I said cheerfully. "I think I'll go inside and get some breakfast. How clear do you think the stars will be tonight?"

"Hmm." Firenze stared up at the light sky. "Probably clear. What time does the Yule Ball end?"

"Midnight." I murmured. "Best time for viewing."

My stomach growled again. I said good-bye and hurried back up to the castle to eat.

💙💙💙💙

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖕��𝖘𝖘𝖊𝖉 quickly- most likely because I was dreading dancing. I forgot I didn't know how to dance.

There was the normal Christmas lunch that took place every year. The tables looked weird because everyone was visiting different tables. There were Hufflepuffs sitting with Ravenclaws and Gryffindors sitting with Hufflepuffs. It was very bizarre to see, especially with the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons sitting throughout the four tables.

Then, afterwards, I went outside with the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione. We had a snowball fight. We mostly targeted Ron. Ginny was very good at throwing snowballs and more importantly- dodging them.

Hermione however, decided to watch on the steps. I would've thrown a snowball at her just to get her to join in, but I knew what she wanted to do with her hair so I refrained from the temptation.

She left a full three hours before the dance started. Ron shouted after her as she went up the steps, "What, you need three hours?" and then, "Who're you going with?"

But she didn't answer and simply disappeared into the castle. "Who is she going with!" Ron said in frustration, taking another snowball to the head.

"You know." I said. "If she doesn't want you to know, you'll just have to find out at the ball-" I ducked a snowball thrown at me by Fred. "-and then, you have to promise you're still going to dance with Padma."

I threw a snowball at George's stomach and it hit. I went in with about an hour and a half left and I pulled Ron aside, and said seriously, "I'm serious. You pay attention to Padma tonight, do you understand?"

"Yes, I get it." Ron snapped.

"You're going to be looking for Hermione until you find her and not paying attention to Padma. Try and change the future and give her some attention. You'd better dance with her." I said and walked away, dodging one last snowball thrown by Fred.

In the girls dorm up in the Hufflepuff house, Susan was wearing green dress robes and Hannah was wearing pink.

I quickly got into my own long purple dress. Susan zipped up the back. It took me about twenty minutes to finish my makeup. I played up the eyes and lips. Then, with a bit of help from Susan, I finished my hair in an elegant bun with small braids circling on my head. I stuck in pearl bobby pins to keep everything in place.

I helped Susan with her hair in return, and then went over to my dresser and took out the silver heels I had saved for the occasion. As jewelry, I put on the black sunflower necklace that Snape had given me for Christmas last year and the dragon ring that Dad had given me for a past birthday. I didn't wear the charm bracelet- it was to juvenile, I thought. I left my glasses off as well. My vision was a bit wonky but clear- I'd been getting used to it.

I walked down the stairs to the entrance hall. My vision was slowly adjusting. Dean came out of nowhere, wearing black dress robes.

"You look lovely." He said, a blush creeping up his dark cheeks.

I smiled at him. "Thank you."

A moment later, Harry came down with Parvati, Ron trailing after him.

"Hi Harry, Hi Parvati." I said in greeting. My arm was around Dean's.

"Ah, you look so pretty!" Parvati squealed.

I blushed. "You look lovely as well." She really did. She was from India and had worn the traditional Indian dress with a sash. The robes were a shocking pink. Her dark black hair was plaited with gold and she wore gold bangles on her wrists and gold jewelry about her neck. Her sash- if that was what it was called- was a purple color.

"You turned out well." I said to Harry.

"Gee, thanks." Harry said, looking extremely nervous.

"Chin up." I said. "You've got a pretty date and she's a strong dancer too." I winked at Parvati. She smiled. "Besides, four or five dances isn't that much now, is it?"

Ron was looking around the crowd. Parvati found her sister and brought her over to meet Ron.

"Hi." Ron said, and I was pleased to see that he was looking directly at her rather than around the crowd.

Padma was just as pretty in her dress robes. They were the same style as Parvati's, but turquoise in color with a yellow sash. In my opinion, I thought she might even be prettier. She had slightly fuller lips than Parvati and I preferred the colors of her dress robes.

"Oh no." Ron cried out and ducked as Fleur passed with the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. He stood up as she passed by without a single look at us.

I ignored a group of Slytherins that had just come up from the dungeons. Instead, I focused on the front oak doors. A moment later, Professor Karkaroff entered, the Durmstrang students and their partners following after.

Krum was at the front of the party with Hermione. Her hair was done up elegantly and sleek looking. Her dress was periwinkle colored. I looked over. Harry had a blank look on his face, not knowing who she was. Ron however, looked a bit sour and I stomped on his foot and glared at him. He winced. I'd forgotten I'd been wearing heels.

"Champions over here please!" Professor McGonagall called from across the Great Hall.

"See you later." Parvati said to Ron, Padma, Dean, and I. Dean gave me his arm and I took it. Ron gave Padma his arm and she took it delightedly. His robes, I'd forgotten to mention where a dark maroon and looked well on him. No lace or nothing.

We walked past the champions. I smiled at Hermione and nodded to Cedric as we passed. Cho looked absolutely beautiful and I was glad I had declined. I wouldn't have looked like that next to Cedric. The two of them were made for each other. I found I wasn't jealous like I thought I might've been. After all, I couldn't be with all my crushes.

On the other hand, Cedric scowled at Dean, looking quite jealous. I paid him no attention. Luckily, Cho hadn't noticed- looking at her Ravenclaw friends in the crowd.

Ron and Padma followed. We made our way to a small round table in the back and joined Seamus, Lavender, Neville, and Ginny. Ginny looked lovely in her blue robes and Lavender was wearing. . . lavender robes. Us girls grouped together and the boys all sat with each other. I didn't mind though.

The champions entered in a line, following Professor McGonagall up to the high table. She was wearing crimson robes which I thought would've looked nice on her if she hadn't put such an ugly wreath of thistles around her hat.

Everyone in the Great Hall started clapping and I joined in. Ron wasn't looking sulky, the way I'd seen before, but he was getting close to it, staring at Hermione and Krum with a look of distaste. But he looked at me and immediately turned to engage Padma in conversation.

I turned my attention to the high table. There was Dumbledore, wearing robes of blue. Then Karkaroff, he was wearing a moody expression, as he watched Krum and Hermione, to rival Ron's. I remembered his bias against Muggle-born witches and wizards. Ludo Bagman was in robes of bright purple with yellow stars- ugly to say the least. Madam Maxime was wearing a flowing gown of lavender silk, applauding politely and properly. Mr. Crouch, of course, was not there- the reason still remained unknown to me. However, in his place was Percy Weasley.

I was slightly irked about Mr. Crouch not being here, as I had wanted to corner him and see if he'd managed to throw off the curse. Or maybe he'd thrown off the curse and that was why he wasn't here. The thought made me uncomfortable.

I looked over to where some of the other teachers were sitting. Professor Sprout had ditched her normal patched and frayed clothes and was now wearing clean dress robes of tinted gold. Professor Flitwick was wearing navy blue. Hagrid was wearing his usual horrible brown suit. Professor Snape was wearing black, but not his usual overflowing robes.

He was wearing long black pants and a stiff white shirt which he'd covered with a long black coat. The edges of the bottom of the coat stuck out, the entire outfit was crisp. His hair looked exactly the same and he was wearing an expression of extreme boredom. He looked extremely handsome- I couldn't help noticing.

Professor Moody was wearing brown as well with a white ruffled shirt. He kind've looking like those explorers that Trang had showed me in one of her American history textbooks, except he was missing the funny black hat. But he had the long white socks and black buckled shoes. Pilgrims- I think was the word. I wasn't very certain about American history as I was British.

Once dinner ended, our entire table got to their feet so that we could start dancing. I had my arm on Dean's again. Harry had one hand on Parvati's waist and his other was clasped in her head. Seamus and Dean sniggered and waved at him.

The Weird Sisters- not one of my favorite bands- started up a mournful tune and the champions and their partners started to dance. After an appropriate amount of time, other couples stepped in. Dean led me into the circle and we started to dance as well.

As much as I complained about not being able to dance, it was easy when it was choreographed to be somewhat the same. There was a pattern to be memorized, it wasn't just something left up to everyone.

Dean and I moved in a circle, closer to the teacher's table. I tried my best not to glance over at Professor Snape- I cared about his opinion way to much to see if he was looking at me or not. I noticed though, that Karkaroff was nearby, staring at the two of us, wearing robes of white with a black belt across his waist.

Finally though, as Dean twirled me around, I gave the briefest flicker with my eyes over to the Professors. Professor Snape seemed to be staring into my soul as our eyes met for a second. And then, my eyes were back on Dean and we were waltzing away.

Another dance started up and my eyes darted over to where Harry and Ron were but they continued to dance and I relaxed a bit.

Both Fred and Cedric interceded with Dean to get a dance or two in with me. Angelina didn't mind so much with Fred, going off and dancing with George and Lee, but Cho was another story. She threw jealous glances mine and Cedric's way, while talking to her Ravenclaw friends.

I frowned at Cedric, "You're making Cho jealous."

He looked uncomfortable as we danced, "I wanted to take you."

Now I was uncomfortable.

"Why'd you turn me down?" He asked.

"Because I saw you going with Cho and I don't interfere with the future." I replied honestly.

"What if you couldn't see the future?" Cedric asked.

I hesitated and then admitted, "I probably would've said yes."

He seemed a great deal happier with that answer and I quickly said, "But it doesn't change the fact that you were and are supposed to be with Cho."

He pursed his lips. "It's a dance Elizabeth. This is the only dance I get with you probably ever. Let me enjoy it."

I scowled at him. "I'm enjoying it."

"Good." He said with a grin and twirled me around. I finally laughed.

"You are a good dancer." I admitted.

"I know. You're terrible." Cedric teased.

I blushed, laughing again. "Oh Ced. . ."

The song ended and we broke apart, staring at each other for a moment before Cho glided over, taking Cedric back into her arms. I took the hint and went to find Dean.

Around eleven o'clock, I said goodnight to Dean. I stopped by Hermione who was in deep conversation with Krum and another boy by the drinks table. He was incredibly short.

"You look gorgeous Hermione." I told her earnestly and she smiled at me.

"And you look beautiful." She complimented me back.

"Hello Viktor." I said and simply nodded to his other friend.

"Elizabeth, you looked very nice." Viktor said awkwardly, looking at Hermione like he hoped she wouldn't take offense to him complimenting me.

"This is Viktor's friend Felix er- I can't pronounce his last name." Hermione said quickly, introducing us.

I shook hands with him. He was thin and tall with light brown hair. He was from Sweden and was only eight years old, though he looked at least twelve. I was surprised by his age. Apparently he worked under Karkaroff as a study. I thought it was very interesting. His last name was: Kjellberg. Apparently understudies started at young ages. Probably because learning things at a young age made it stick longer in the brain.

I said good-bye to them and made my way out of the Great Hall and down into the entrance hall. I noticed Harry and Ron had taken a walk too, though not with Parvati and Padma. I wondered briefly if they would still over hear Hagrid and Madam Maxime's conversation or if that had already happened.

Snape and Karkaroff had just passed them. Karkaroff had broken off from Snape, passing me now. He slowed and we exchanged a look. I shivered and looked away.

I turned down a side path, away from Karkaroff, that would lead to the greenhouses- but I went into the forest instead. I wondered where Firenze could possibly be tonight. I looked up at the sky as I walked. Firenze had been right, there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

"You look stunning tonight." a voice that wasn't Firenze's said. My heart started to beat extremely fast. I turned around slowly. Professor Snape stood there, his arms behind his back. He had no expression on his face, though there was a faint colour in his cheeks.

"Thank you." I said, barely whispering. My words carried across the clearing. I realized how story-book this was. The perfectly circular clearing with the stars shining down on us. The lovely glowing flowers that were in half-bloom. If only it was the summer and not the winter and lightning bugs were flying around.

Professor Snape seemed to be thinking along the lines of the weather because he said, "Aren't you cold?"

I looked down. I had forgotten a cloak. I shrugged instead, "I was only planning on staying out for an hour or so."

He took a step closer, a hesitant one. His eyes were locked on mine. I felt the way I had in the potions classroom with Karkaroff, except I wasn't frozen from fear- but anticipation. I shivered. He mistook the shivering however.

I met him halfway in the clearing. He held out his hand and asked, "May I have this dance?"

It was such a corny, fairy tale like line that I was utterly surprised he had used it. I placed a hand in his, noticing how warm his hands were. That surprised me even more, I think. Being in the dungeons was freezing and I expected his hands to be cold.

I put my other arm around his neck. His other hand was on my waist. I had expected him to be a good dancer- an expectation that he met.

"I did mention how beautiful you look tonight, didn't I?" he whispered in my ear.

"Yes." I whispered softly. "And though I never said a word, I think you look extremely handsome tonight."

Though I had grown over the summer, I still wasn't quite as tall as him. My head rested just on his shoulder. We'd stopped dancing formerly and were now more swaying side to side. I was trembling now, a bit from the cold, and a bit from nerves.

"You should've brought a cloak." He murmured again, against my cheek.

"I don't usually think before I act." I muttered. "You know that."

He laughed, a real one, and said, "Yes, I suppose I do."

What was this? I had never really expected romantic feelings from him- him being a teacher and all. He hadn't danced with anyone at the ball and had left early. I knew, of course, he'd had feelings for my mum and that could've been a reason he never loved anyone. The words, "I act heartless because my heart died with her" kept popping into my head when I thought about his cold demeanor.

But this wasn't cold, this wasn't heartless, and this was certainly borderline romantic. Okay, it was completely romantic. Dancing in the moonlight in a forest. His hands were warm and so was his body. I was growing careless.

"The stars are pretty aren't, they? I suppose that's the reason you came out here in the first place." he whispered. Did he just call the stars pretty? How completely unlike him.

I opened my mouth to explain exactly why I came out here, but my brain didn't work and instead I whispered, "I love you."

We stopped dancing. He froze and I froze and then I clapped a hand over my mouth in horror. His eyes were locked on mine, looking almost frightful. Without saying another word, I drew away from him, dashing past him. Kicking off my heels, I ran back to the castle, leaving Professor Snape behind in the clearing.

⬅️➡️

[bettathanyou]

The Choices That Make Us, Part 2

Look at that, a double feature! I know the quotes of his memories don't align chronologically with Sofia calling him "Ceedric", but we're doing it for the sake of angst. Final Part will actually be not as gut wrenching, pinky swear it

TRIGGER WARNINGS

IMPLICATIONS OF SUICIDE, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, AND COMMITING THE ACT. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Cedric stands at the balcony again, the same siren song beckoning him to hop the railing and just do it- to jump off, feel his world slow down as his body raced to the cold, hard pavement below and then finally, every ache and raging storm within himself will quiet.

That's what Cedric really wanted. For everything to be still, all around him but most of all inside of him.

To be in a position of royal sorcerer was already stressful enough, but to be dragged around like a mutt on a leash- only to be beaten down with verbal stones when he can't perform a trick correctly.

To say he felt dehumanized was an understatement.

The sorcerer groans, holding his head in his hands as the embarrassment and shame wrack his body again, tasting the tang of blood in his mouth as he bites the inside of his cheek- an old habit that has now become compulsive whenever bad memories resurfaced.

"Stop! You're making it worse!"

I know. I'm sorry, Cordelia. My hands ruin everything they touch, and I've never stopped trying to atone for it.

"Not much of a sorcerer, is he?"

I tried, didn't I? Wasn't that enough? ....Why wasn't that ever enough?

"Just as bad as that Cedric guy from Enchancia..."

Yeah... I suppose I really am a bad, piece of shit person. No one believed I was good anyways, and I think I'm starting to see why.

"We're stuck with him..."

Cedric gulps, well, gasps really- his lungs can't seem to find oxygen now, and his tears were free flowing rivers of torment running down redden cheeks.

Blinking away more tears, he realizes he was leaning over the rail again- when did he start doing that tonight? Was it just muscle memory now, to look down at the ground beneath him with an aching, burning feeling in his chest that could only be described as longing?

"You won't... be stuck- with me forever..." Cedric's voice garbled out the words between gasps, feeling the bob and sway of his balance fighting against the pull of gravity. His throat burns, a lump forming in his throat- good. There was nothing much left to say now, his mind was made up, and-

"Mr. Ceedric?"

A sweet, innocent voice cuts through the haze with the sharpness of a knife, making the sorcerer still. Whatever breath he had left was stolen, coming out of his mouth in a wheeze.

Shit.

Why now, must he be disturbed? Can he truly not get one goddamn moment to himself, for once?

"Mr. Ceedric? Why are you hanging over the railing like that-? It's not safe!"

He purses his lips shut tight, afraid of what words might come out of his mouth and even more afraid that if he tried to talk he would break down into tears right then and there.

He hopes in vain the princess would just leave- maybe if he stood still long enough, didn't make a sound, she'd leave. People seem to have no trouble ignoring him... Well.

Almost everyone, it seemed.

"Mr. Ceedric...?"

He feels the briefest touch of small fingers wrapping around the fabric of his robe, tugging to get his attention. Cedric flinched from the contact, harder than either of them expected. He hears her small heels scrape against the stone floor, clearly startled by his response.

Hot, boiling shame courses through his veins, and of course, whenever Cedric is faced with shame, somehow anger is the only thing that he defaults to, to cover it up.

"It's CEDRIC, Ced-ric!" He retorts, barely keeping his voice steady as he furiously swiped the tears off his face. Cedric's lanky body slides off the railing, on the side that kept his feet planted on solid ground once again.

He inhales a deep breath, trying to stop his heart from racing. Cedric felt like it was thundering so loud in his ears, surely Sofia could hear it? Either way, he didn't want to know.

"What do you want-? And why didn't you knock, princess, you always knock!" He asks defensively, meaning to scold the child- but out loud, there was evident panic lacing his voice. Panic at the idea of having being caught, of having someone- no, not just someone, Sofia, almost witness him commit-

"I did knock, Mr. Ceedric...!" Sofia protested, biting her lip in a nervous manner.

Cedric blinked, a clumsy, half-hearted "What?" being his only response.

"...You didn't answer, so I..." Sofia pauses, a skittish air about her that makes Cedric want to jump off the balcony right then and there, for making such a sweet girl feel scared around him.

"I got worried."

[therealdesastrffxiv]

Warning: Do NOT feed the Ashkin.

No matter how nice he asks or nice he looks.

Finn bites. (sometimes not intentionally).

Also, here's some fun writing for this guy. I post screenshots of my lovelies all the time but not bits of story. I think I should change that! (should you be interested, click keep reading :) )

Context:

Basically, Gideon was an evil sidekick to Rook, who's been tormenting these people for years (straight up torture for 'scientific info' but also pleasure.) Gideon sold his body to her to get his people resources after the fall of Garlemald. In exchange, he rose the ranks and provided her the tech she needed to advance.

He went on a journey and spared (mostly because the dice said so - he was never meant to survive but did) along with many of his people.

His sister, Morana, was put through the Resonant experiment because of him, and gained necromancy - Morana is the necromancer who raised Finn. Her people and Gideon's people had clashed for years, and so, Gideon's people have been torn to pieces by the zombies for a while.

Callista had been forced to work with Gideon to survive, because she found him during the fall of Garlemald and he took her in…despite her having tried to assassinate him in the past for being a corrupt Garlean commander hellbent on conquest.

(Gideon is a whole different can of worms and actually is on a redemption arc ^^)

STORY:

“You sure you’re alright to go talk with him?” Finn asked, staring Morana down with concern. He’d followed her out of the room, having finished up breakfast and fixating on trying to help her. Like a loyal hound, always concerned, even if he could sometimes be… well, Finn. 

A long pause, and Morana grumbled, “No. But I have to be.”

Finn nodded. Softly, he asked, “Want me to join you? I could explain to him how well I could–”

“Probably not a good idea, Finny,” Morana murmured, turning to chuckle at him. She took in a deep breath and leaned in to give him a hug, holding him tightly for a moment. He returned it, his concerns intensifying. She could show affection, sure, but typically did so openly only when very, very nervous. Wanting him to be reassured, Morana said, “You can remain near the place, how’s that. If something happens, you can come in and help.” She didn’t know what that would entail exactly, and was confident that wouldn’t come up. It would give Finn peace of mind, though.

Returning the hug, Finn repeated, “Not a good idea,” sheepishly, but then grew serious. “Understood. Remain near the room. I will do that, Morana. Even if I hope things do not erupt into violence for the sake of your sanity.”

“You hope things don’t erupt into violence…. Right. Sure you don’t.”

Finn gave her an awkward smile as the hug ended. “I don’t,” he tried, and at the eyebrow raise from the necromancer, he chuckled. “Specifically for your sake, otherwise, yes, I would love to be involved in violence.”

“There’s the real answer,” Morana said softly, smirking at him. Her smirk faded, and she hugged herself for a moment, closing her eyes. “....I’m frightened, Finny.”

“You want me to get Ced?”

“No. He and Cass are there with one another. But… all of you comfort me, we’re a family. We’re comrades. We’re close friends. You being here means a lot. I hope you all know I don’t derive comfort from Ced alone.”

“Oh, we do, mistress. But the feeling is mutual,” he said softly. “And not just because you give us aether and flesh to chomp on.”

“...You word things in a very interesting fashion even when not trying to,” Morana mumbled.

Finn gave her a dazzling smile. “That was very tame,” he assured her. “I will stay here.”

With that, well… he stayed there. When Morana rushed off to a guest room she was directed to, he had the mental struggle of going to see if she was alright. But gentle reassurance from Phera told him it was best she was left alone to recover from such heavy things. He knew it wasn’t that she didn’t want to see him or any of the other Ashkin, but that, well. Being alone sometimes was very much needed. Thanking Phera profusely (and inquiring very descriptively if she could dismember the voidsent she was restraining, feeling sad when told that wasn’t quite possible just yet), he headed out to his wanderings. 

“...This is all so…” he murmured to himself, unsure of how to feel. Finn knew Morana (17). He’d caught onto her quirks - as many of their people have. She could snap one thing and mean another. Her tone indicated that she wanted so badly to hate Gideon forever, but was slowly cracking. She had expected the opposite of what happened. She’d expected to face someone who confirmed all of her beliefs, and was met with the opposite. 

What does one do in that situation? Faced with someone so horrible and twisted, but hearing an entirely different person, one you cannot help but *feel* is telling the truth? 

Finn made his way down the halls of the City, eventually coming upon Callista’s room (12), a location he learned about by observation. Pacing, he eventually… knocked. 

Most (normal) people would head out after the lack of response for about fifteen seconds - but Finn could hear her heartbeat intensifying and scent her fear. She was off put by visitors, people wanting to talk with her. 

Hm. 

Maybe this was a bad id–

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps grabbed his attention, and he blinked, refocusing. The door creaked open, and pale purple eyes fixed upon him before immediately glancing away. A light intake of breath indicated her fear. “Finn?” she muttered softly. “...You’re not here to…  … hurt me, are you?”

“What? No,” Finn said. “Though I could tear you to pieces really easily, and really… *really* wanted to in the past, you are no longer on the menu, unfortunately.”

“... Un… for…”

“Yes,” Finn said in a dead serious tone, clearly not catching on that he is just *not helping*. “Your flesh looks tasty and you were an enemy. The former still applies, the latter does not, which allows you to be disqualified from becoming a meal. You, Ares, Sparrow, and I had a movie night, and we were birds. Did something happen between now and then to make you question my motives?” he asked with genuine worry.

Callista stared at the ground, her fear intensifying. “...No, just my own thoughts.” Callista was torn between admitting Finn absolutely terrified her and realizing that this was just him being him(10). After a shudder, she took in a deep breath. “We’re.. Friends… I … I think. Er, why…are you here, then?”

“You have my word, Callista, I will not bite you without permission,” Finn said gently. “No touching the frightened…” He studied her for a moment, then smiled lightly. “Magpie. I will be a good butcher bird, I promise.”

Callista couldn’t help but smile at that, recalling the memories and how, well. Happy-go-lucky and gentle the very intimidating Ashkin could be. “Okay,” she muttered. 

Finn’s gentle smile soon faded, however, and he sighed. “...I wanted to talk about what I overheard. I do not know if I should, but… it is something you should know, too. And I am unsure how to feel. You know my mistress’s brother more than I. So…”

“Oh… you can come in, and we can talk.” Callista led him in, took a seat, and continued to not really look at him, shy despite their friendship and entirely off given all of the circumstances stressing her out endlessly. Finn did not seem to mind at all, and in fact, delved into what he overheard.

By the time he finished, Callista was wearing a deep frown. She stared at her hands before saying, “I’ve not mentally been all that there, Finn… I’m sorry. My past comrades have really left an impact. I’m … not doing well at all. (12).” From there, she proceeded to bury her face into her hands and begin to sob (19), not having the mental strength to hold it from Finn, but babbling, “They’ve changed but I am still so… so… I … I…”

Finn widened his eyes, the instinct to comfort overwhelming. The shy woman was no doubt on edge, though. Softly, he asked, “Hey, need a hug?”

“A shirtless Ashkin who wanted to rip me to shreds at one point and could very well do so now would like to offer a hug,” Callista squeaked. “...sure. What could go wrong.” There was a hint of melancholy humour in her tone which caused Finn to chuckle. He got up and took her into his arms, giving her a very gentle, friendly hug. 

Callista returned his hug, relaxing just slightly and continuing her sobs. Eventually, she calmed down after several deep breaths. “I… I want to be okay again. I want to be their friends, again. I want to check up on them more, Gideon too, I… I … but right now it is so hard. It sounds like Commander Gideon has truly changed but is just… aimless. I want him to be okay, to show him forgiveness. Irene, Krista, and Nico, too. Mintha always…stuck to the shadows, but those three… frightened..me… erm. But. I want… I don’t know.”

“You’re shattered,” Finn said softly. “And that is okay. You do not need to forgive them now or ever.”

“But… that is the thing. I want to. A-and… maybe Morana does too. But does…does that make us bad people, Finn?”

“No. Why would it?”

“We were hurt so badly by them… and…a-and… but…”

“You are in control of what you do, Callista. Hey. Look at me.” He leaned back as the hug ended and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Callista flinched and glanced at, then away from him. Finn smiled. “Close enough,” he said gently. “This is coming from your new friend who previously would want to rip that bastard to shreds, alright? It isn’t wrong to change your mind. To forgive. But no one should force it. That is your decision, it is Morana’s decision. And if neither of you do, that is okay, too. They have their own demons and have dug their own graves. For some. It is too late. For some. It is not. Anyone who demands you forgive them or decides you are a terrible person for forgiving them, if you do, is unreasonable.” 

“Okay,” Callista whispered. “...What do we do, Finn?”

“I do not know. How are you feeling?”

“Not okay. I needed to know this but… not okay. I want Gideon to be okay, though. I don’t want him to hurt himself, I just – right now, I’m … I’m not able t-to…”

“Which is okay. Morana cannot, either. Do…whatever it is you wish to do. I came here wondering if you thought it was all true. It seems like that is the case.”

“I saw them change, it… it was… so surreal. A miracle. It was all true, yes, what you heard. His change of heart. He’s… so lost. And I cannot help him right now. I can barely help myself.”

“Are you frightened here in the City?”

“I am,” Callista admitted. “In Garlemald, I took it day by day. Focusing on my targets, successfully destroying a few. But a woman of the shadows on the streets, not all…there. Then it… it fell…. A-and I had to rely on the EVA… for quite some time. I … stopped being brave. I do not know if I even was in the first place.”

“You carried on, which is still brave,” Finn said softly. Callista sniffled, just closing her eyes. “Need me to leave?” 

“...No. You can stay.(15) I… would like to spend time with you, Ares, and Sparrow again, if … if they are… okay with it. I just… just wish I could grasp how to handle everything. I thought I was, but it all went down again. The more I thought about it, the more frightened I became.”

Finn nodded. He looked around, then spotted a TV. “I have about 15 hours before I head out to a different place for important matters.  I think… in that time… we can do another movie or two. What do you think? Are you okay with Ares and Sparrow coming here? I see you have a small setup.”

“Y-yes… Ares helped with that, Sparrow too… erm… but, yes, I am okay with them coming here. Can…”

“I can go fetch them,” Finn said cheerfully. “Here, you stay in your hidey-hole, and I will call upon our very excitable friends. Oh, and do not feel insecure about being so quiet, I know you’re thinking that. I am a mind reader, after all.”

Callista widened her eyes. “You–”

Finn laughed, taking Callista into a hug again briefly and ruffling (messing up) her hair. “Nope, Ashkin cannot do that, but I made you admit it right there. A point for Finn!” He cheered, causing Callista to smile lightly and roll her eyes. Finn said, “Stay here, I will fetch the birds like a loyal badger.”

With that, he set off to spark another movie night, this time in ‘Callista’s den’!

[fandomsaligninstories]

Year Two: A Touch of Kindness

Chapter List WC: 1,495 A/N: I'm the actual worst, I'm so sorry I haven't been updating. I promise I've got some drafts in the works, I just haven't had time or energy to edit and post. Be prepared for some angst in these next few chapters... Don't forget that my taglist is open if you want to be added to be notified whenever I post! Just comment or message me.

13th November, 1992, Friday Evening

Violet missed her friends. She decided that no matter what it took, she would make up with them that weekend. The fight wasn't entirely her fault, as she'd only been trying to defend Draco, but that didn't stop her from being rude to her friends.

Sure, they were rude about Draco. And sure, they would never apologize for it, but it wasn't like she could explain to them why their words had upset and angered her so. That's what had made their fights so bad- she took their insults towards Draco personally and would turn the fight against them. Neither Hannah or Aimee said anything bad about Violet, yet she lashed out as if they had. And in turn, they reacted just as poorly.

They really hadn't talked since Tuesday morning, after the Herbology incident. She barely looked at each other, their interactions limited to narrowed eyes, crossed arms, and huffs of annoyance.

She'd wanted to speak with the girls after Transfiguration, but they both brushed past her in the hallway. She tried desperately to keep the tears from flowing as she made her way to the library. She might not hate Draco, but she didn't want him seeing her so vulnerable.

It was a losing battle she realized. She stopped outside the library, ducking into an alcove just as the dam finally broke. She turned to face the wall, burying her face in her hands as she cried. It was the first time she allowed herself to cry over the mess she was in, to feel her sadness so deeply.

She tried desperately to muffle her cries as she heard footsteps coming down the hallway. She leaned against a pillar, her vision blurry as she stared out the window to her left, trying to appear casual. When the footsteps subsided, she kept a palm over her mouth, her sobs finally subsiding.

"Violet?"

She startled at the voice suddenly by her side. She jerked back, bumping her head against the pillar behind her. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the remaining tears.

She looked up at the boy, his grey eyes alight with concern. For a moment that was all she could focus on, and she thought it was someone else, but she took in Cedric's brown curls and gentle expression.

He took a step closer to her, hesitantly reaching up to cup her face in his hands. "Violet, what's happened? Why're you crying?"

"Nothing's happened, Cedric." She wanted to step away, to escape this moment, but something about the warmth of his skin against hers and the look in his eyes had her hesitating, "I just needed a good cry."

"Is it the fight with Aimee and Hannah?" His voice was soft, laced with concern. His thumbs were tracing lines along her cheeks, wiping away any remaining tears.

Violet couldn't reply, her eyes welling up and throat tightening. All she could do was nod. Cedric wrapped his arms around her shoulders, one hand cupping the back of her head as she buried her face in his shoulder.

He held her tightly as she cried, whispering gentle reassurances that it would be okay, that things would get better. After a few minutes, when Violet felt like she was out of tears, she settled against Cedric. His hold tightened around her, and her arms tightened around his waist on instinct.

She decidedly didn't want to leave this moment anymore. She hadn't felt such comfort since she was a young child, bundled up in her mother's arms whenever she was sad or in need of a hug. Reluctantly, she pulled away, a nagging feeling at the back of her mind.

Draco, she realized. She was meant to be in the library with him by now.

She rubbed at her tired eyes, unsure of what to say now. She settled on, "Thank you, Ced."

He smiled softly before leaning down, placing a kiss on the side of her head. When he pulled back, his voice was just above a whisper, "I'm always here for you, Vi. Always."

She tried to smile in return, but she knew it was a pitiful thing. When she turned away from Cedric, she was shocked to find another boy standing in the entrance of the library, watching them. No, watching her.

Draco stared at the two as Violet pulled away from Cedric. He'd only happened upon them a moment ago, when he'd wandered into the hall looking for Violet, as she wasn't usually late for things.

It was as he was watching Cedric cradle Violet into himself that Draco was finally able to name that unknown feeling he had. The ache in his chest that he'd been feeling the last few days? It was longing, Draco realized. Longing to be the one that could provide that comfort for Violet. Longing to be the one that could make Violet feel better, not worse. Longing to be the one holding her, rather than insulting her.

The realization made his stomach drop.

He knew something was off about the girl, about how he'd been watching her and what he'd been feeling. He knew something was wrong with him to find her so fascinating. What he couldn't admit to himself was that it was all connected to one thing- he was starting to care for her.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔

Draco rushed back into the library once he realized Violet had seen him. He was already sitting at their table when she finally got in. She was torn between ignoring what she happened and confronting him about it.

She slowly took her spot across from him at the table, her eyes flicking between his lowered head and her bag in her lap.

When Draco finally spoke, his voice was so quiet Violet had to strain to hear him, "Are you okay?"

She hesitated, "I'm... fine."

He nodded once, never once looking at her as he handed her a piece of parchment. It was the quiz they'd had in Astronomy the night before, and he'd gotten top marks on it, having missed only two questions of the fifteen total.

"Draco!" All of Violets worries forgotten for a moment, she beamed at the boy, "This is fantastic!"

He simply shrugged, "I still missed two."

"I missed those as well. But it doesn't matter, you're already doing so much better!" She chuckled to herself, "Soon enough you won't be needing me anymore."

His head snapped up at this, his tone strained, "Don't say that."

Her smile dimmed, "Isn't that the point of this, though? I help you catch up so you can pass?"

His expression was panicked, "That doesn't mean I won't need you!"

Violet wasn't sure how to respond. This was entirely new territory for her, for them. They'd only been working together for less than a week, and before that they'd never even had a friendly conversation.

"Draco..." She leaned towards him, "What's going on?"

"Nothing, forget it." He snapped, snatching his quiz back. He turned his focus towards their current homework assignment, having barely started it.

Violet wanted to push for more, to get him to open up. Something was obviously bothering him, and she wanted to help. She didn't want another person to shut her out.

"Alright... But I was only joking, you know. I'm not that easy to get rid of."

He still wouldn't look at her, but she could see some of the tension leave his shoulders.

They worked in silence for the rest of the hour, only exchanging few word replies when one of them had a question. When the bell rang for dinner, Draco was halfway out of their secluded corner before Violet could even stand up.

He suddenly froze mid-step, turning slowly back towards Violet, "You coming?"

She stared at him a moment before nodding, throwing her bag over her shoulder as she made her way towards him. They walked to the Great Hall side by side, maintaining their silence, but each glancing at the other when they weren't paying attention.

When they walked into the Great Hall, several students turned to stare at them. Violet felt an odd sensation at the way they were all staring, especially the older students. Their eyes narrowed at Draco, disdain clear in their faces.

Violet reacted before she could stop herself. She raised a hand and gripped Draco's forearm, smiling softly at him, "Bye Draco."

He stared at her in disbelief as she walked away. He was used to being stared at by the other students, but it didn't bother him much anymore. It was one thing to have walked in together, he knew it would bring more attention to him, but for her to touch him? To speak so kindly to him in front of everyone? He didn't know what to think or how to act.

He let his body turn to autopilot, spacing out for the rest of the evening.

Violet had expected the onslaught of stares and questions when she sat down to dinner, especially from Cedric. What she hadn't expected, however, were the accusations her friends threw at her.

━⊱༻ ༺⊰━ TAGLIST: @stellarlune-love

[imaginesbymonika]

“Shame” Part 7

A Pedro Pascal x fem!Reader fan fiction

Plot: For the last four years, Y/N and Pedro have been dating in secret. The fear of rejection has turned them into a mystery that could only be encountered in yearning looks on red carpets or hands that are touching one another briefly. However, for the longest time, things have been working out that way just fine. But now Pedro's agency wants him to have a PR relationship with another woman and neither Y/N nor Pedro is sure if their love is going to survive that.

Warnings: swearing, mgg is here to STAY (this is for you kim, love ya)

A/N: you guuuyss!! hello!!! i was gone for such a long time (?) i was just really busy with university and just life, but yeah, im back for now, i guess <3

"To be honest, I didn't expect you to show up.", the tall man states as his eyes light up at the sight of the young woman. Y/N just chuckles at the sincerity in his voice. She watches how he takes a step to the side, offering her to walk through the door into his home. There is a certain tension, lingering in the chilly evening air. Who would have thought, that they were living in the same city… She mouths a brief 'thank you' before doing so and waits for him to close the door. However, before he does his brown eyes scan the street in front of the building. Curious if any paparazzi have seen her. But once he realizes that no one has noticed his guest his posture visibly softens.

„Well, I didn’t expect you to reach out to me, Gubler.“ At the mention of his last name, he giggles (actually giggles) and wipes the corner of his mouth with his left thumb. His gaze falls on the floor for a second, before he meets Y/N's again. She can clearly see that he wants to say something in return but doesn't. Instead, he makes a hand gesture, telling her to step further into the house.

„Oh my god… This is actually so stunning.“, the y/h/ced woman whispers as she wanders down the corridor into his living area. She can sense Matthew’s eyes on her form but acts like she has no idea. "Thanks.", is all she receives back.

A silence falls upon the two again and when she sits down on his long couch, she feels its softness:" You know, I always wanted a couch like this myself." "Why didn't you buy one?"

"Are you sure this is the one?", Pedro scratched his chin, his finger moved up his face and stayed underneath his nose. He taps his skin a few times and sighs:" Don't you think that leather would be a better choice?" There was something in his look that told Y/N that the decision was already made.

"I don't know." He lets out a soft chuckle:" Well, I tend to spend a lot of time in here. So I figured, that the least I can do is make this space as cozy as humanly possible." Y/N feels how she sinks further into the colorful and fuzzy furniture:" Oh Really? Because whenever I see videos of you meeting fans, you appear to be outside quite a lot!" At that, Matthew laughs out loud:" You've seen videos of me online?"

"I may have looked you up."

The actor crosses his arms in front of his chest, and Y/N watches how his muscles flex. She swallows and her hands stroke the material of the couch. "You looked me up?"

"You're asking me a lot of questions." His chuckle is as soft as honey. Y/N already wants to hear it again." You're right, sorry." "But yeah, I did."

Hot tears were dwelling up in her eyes and she felt how her hands were violently shaking:" God! Everyone thinks that you are so sweet! That you're this perfect nice guy! Hollywood's goddamn fucking sweetheart! I wish people could know the disgusting and ugly and horrendous truth about you and your stupid and mean lies! And- and- and the way you're only acting! You're not like that at all! You have them all fooled!"

Pedro stared at her. Her hand flew up to wipe her eyes:" You're so mean!" "You don't mean that.", Pedro whispered and swallowed thickly. "You're so mean."

[deadrics]

-ˋˏ cedric diggory ˎˊ-

⌜humming a frog choir song that is still stuck in your head; an easy smile that doesn’t quite meet your eyes anymore; the drip of guilt down your throat and the constant wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was something you could have done differently; a soft pillow under your head even as thoughts rush about your overthinking mind; quidditch as therapy, longing for the burn of a cigarette in your lungs; the reassuring squeeze of a hand, the pressure of friendship; hope for a better future, though your once quiet optimism is waning⌟

THE BASICS;

full name : cedric amos diggory

nickname(s): ced, diggory

age & year: 25, seventh year

birthday: september 7th

house: hufflepuff 

sexuality: bisexual (not necessarily closeted, but has only dated women so the subject hasn’t really come up beyond his group of friends)

blood status: pureblood

wand: ash wood with unicorn hair core, 12 ¼ inches, pleasantly springy

patronus: capybara

zodiac sign: virgo

place of birth : ottery st. catchpole, devon, england

APPEARANCE;

faceclaim : nicholas galitzine

height & build : 6’2”, tall and broad shouldered, bad-postured

eye color : hazel

hair color : light brown & wavy

other: tiny scar on his little finger on his left hand (left by a foul-tempered garden gnome); long burn scar down the right side of his abdomen (left by an even fouler-tempered blast-ended skrewt); arms tops of shoulders dotted with light freckles (courtesy of hours upon hours practicing quidditch)

PERSONALITY;

positive traits : self-effacing, generous, helpful, sensible

cedric has never been one for glory or fame; the only reason he entered his name into the triwizard tournament was at the insistence of his father and badgering of his friends. he is humble nearly to a fault, never wanting to take credit for his achievements and quick to hand out house points to students in other houses. despite nearly always having people around him, cedric isn’t one to stand out, never wanting to be the loudest in the room; he’s a quiet observer and knows a lot about people because he listens rather than talks. many have taken this quietness as almost a sign of arrogance, and a lack of questions a sign of disinterest.

negative traits : dubious, withdrawn, self-sacrificing, perfectionist

the lack of want for any form of recognition is due to the fact that cedric feels he has great pressure to be perfect. his parents have great expectations of him, and, though he is a rather gifted student, there is still a fear that he won’t measure up. constantly immersed in studies,  ced tends to get particularly irritable when a big exam is coming up. 

prior to the events of the third task, cedric was always around for a quick word or helpful advice. you needed something? ask cedric. but the events surrounding harry potter’s death, the rumor mill running rampant, as well as watching alastor moody’s eye pop out of barty crouch’s skull, the shaking of the real alastor moody locked within a trunk, cedric isn’t seen around much anymore. usually tucked inside the hufflepuff common room, walking the grounds at night under pretense of head boy duties or under the warm glow of the greenhouses, he’s put his focus on his studies–or, really, anything to keep his mind off that fateful night in june. 

likes: warm september days; spending afternoons in the greenhouse with professor sprout (he has no great love for herbology, but mainly he studies and tries not to get in the way of the venomous tentacula); playing gobstones, charms and transfiguration classes; a warm cup of earl grey tea; writing letters to students so they have something to open for owl post; lazy afternoons on the back of a broomstick

dislikes: confined spaces, care of magical creatures (this one is new, he used to rather enjoy it, but now he can’t even look at hagrid without being reminded of the maze’s monsters); too many questions; large crowds; nighttime

FAMILIAL TIES;

NUCLEAR FAMILY

amos diggory: father

catherine diggory: mother

while the diggorys are a long-standing pureblood family, they never got caught up in the antics and politics of magical society. or, at least, catherine didn’t. amos, on the other hand, had always been an ambitious lad, always trying to work his way up the ranks in the ministry. cedric’s father had a certain air of superiority to him, not that he was ever unkind to cedric, but he would kick the gnomes in their garden and always had something to say about the state of ministry officials’ houses (and the poor jobs their house-elves were doing). he worked for the department of regulation and control of magical creatures and always had some story to tell; as a child, cedric found these stories fascinating, but as he grew, he realized how much amos hated where he was positioned. as cedric grew, his father’s insecurities were taken out on him: he always said that cedric was going to become the next minister for magic: (“my boy, my son, top of the class! ‘Atta boy, ced!”) he’d boast about cedric’s tiniest of accomplishments. cedric loved his father dearly, but he couldn’t help but feel that the weight of amos’ hopes and dreams were all pinned directly on his shoulders. 

Catherine was kind, but quiet, and her husband tended to talk over her a great deal of the time. before cedric went to hogwarts, she stayed home with him, reading to him, watching him sail around on his child-size broomstick, looking after him and his cousins, and caring for the many magical plants in their garden. after he left for school, she began working at dogweed and deathcap in diagon alley, tending to the plants. though cedric has no passion for herbological studies, he finds home in the greenhouses and thinks of his mother. 

EXTENDED FAMILY

barnaby thistlewood (distant) uncle – deceased

abigail thistlewood: (distant) aunt

grace thistlewood: (distant) cousin

thom thistlewood: (distant) cousin

the thistlewoods are the closest things to siblings that cedric had. thom was two years above ced, and was idolized by his little cousin. grace was in the same year and always wanted to help catherine water the plants. though genealogically distantly related, the trio were anything but. summers, especially after uncle barny died in a potioneering accident, were usually spent at the diggory house, practicing quidditch, putting on skits, and causing a bit of mischief. 

PETS & MORE

galileo: bought for cedric’s 11th birthday, galileo the eastern screech owl has been his constant companion. he’s a bit temperamental, but nearly always seeks out his owner to nibble on bits of pumpkin pasties. 

babbity rabbity: the thistlewood’s ancient irish setter; bow-legged and bug-eyed, babs became a fixture in the diggory household during the summer holidays when the thistlewoods would come and stay for weeks at a time

gnomes: inhabiting their well-tended garden, cedric grew up with the gnomes and would build them little houses out of sticks. many became his friends (except brocc, who found it funny to latch onto his fingers) and would help catherine tend the garden and even allow her to place miniscule hats on their heads

BACKGROUND;

HOGWARTS

hogwarts, as for many students who walk its hallowed halls, quickly became a second home to young cedric. he was sorted into hufflepuff in an instant, and found that the cozy common room and the house-elves next-door provided the same comforts and familiarity as home. cedric instantly found himself liked and surrounded by people all the time, which he wasn’t used to, as an only child, but he didn’t mind in the slightest. 

he excelled in classes–potions made him nervous and herbology (sorry professor sprout) bored him–but transfiguration and charms were where his talents lay. flitwick doted on him and he found he could even coax a smile or two out of mcgonagall. though he didn’t adore her classes, there was no question that his favorite teacher was professor sprout. she was strict in classes, but outside she was a big softie, and would invite cedric to tea on occasion on free afternoons. the greenhouses were not densely populated, so he often took his studies there (professor sprout didn’t mind if he practiced charms on empty pots either). quidditch also took up a good deal of his time; he didn’t quite have the build of a seeker, but he was a fast and experienced flier. 

cedric became a prefect then head boy, but the only thing weighing on his mind was what to do after graduation. he had aced his owls and had a pick of the lot. his father was already trying to line up internships for him at the ministry–”minister of magic, my boy”--but there was something to be said for being a mediwizard, helping people, that cedric found appealing.

THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

it hadn’t been his idea at all, it had been marshall colby’s–”just imagine it, three bloody brilliant tasks! hey, you’re the best in the whole year, ced, you’re putin’ your name in, aren’t ya?”-- and the owl from his father came the day after it was announced–”you’ll be a shoo-in for any job you want next year, ced! i’d be so proud! my boy! triwizard champion!”-- so it wasn’t really an option to not submit his name. after all, so many sixth and seventh years had, the odds of him being picked were slim. on the afternoon of october 31st, cedric printed his name neatly on a piece of parchment, stepped over the age line, and dropped it into the flickering blue flames. it was that simple. 

less simple, perhaps, when his name, along with viktor krum’s and fleur delacour’s came out of the goblet. less simple when harry potter’s shortly followed. it was pure pandemonium afterward, a whir of yelling and accusations of cheating, but cedric, looking at the young gryffindor’s terrified and confused face told him that, even if he had found some way to cross the age-line, that this was more than he had bargained for. 

the hufflepuff common room was a madhouse that night, no one letting cedric out of their sights. they’d gotten food from the kitchens and the party lasted into the early hours of the morning–some bashed harry potter, but cedric was too overwhelmed, felt everything was too surreal, to correct them. 

then came the first task. with a tip-off from harry potter of all people–he’d asked people to stop wearing the ‘potter stinks’ badges, but he figured that harry wasn’t his biggest fan at the moment–he found out that he’d have to face a dragon! a bloody dragon! he took to the greenhouse to pour over books, figuring out the best way to deal with this daunting first task (professor sprout said she wouldn’t help him as she didn’t condone cheating, but she did purposefully knock his transfiguration book off the work bench and coughed pointedly until he got the hint). it all had gone to plan, his transfiguration had worked (sorry babs), but it was just a pity the dragon didn’t like the taste of labrador. 

the second task drug out, but the prefects’ bathroom and the golden egg were the perfect companions. and, as it seemed harry potter did not vehemently despise him, and he’d warned him about the first task, he’d decided to give him a leg up, as well. the bubble-head charm worked like, well, a charm, earning him maximum points and putting him in the lead tied with harry for first. 

the third task was the most daunting of all, with nearly sixteen-foot tall hedges and the looming dread of ‘being prepared’. so he worked, day in and day out, brushing up on defensive skills and jinxes and hexes and charms. he hardly ate, barely slept, and the paranoia set in. then his parents came, the day of the task, all smiles, catherine beaming and amos crying with pride. 

then all hell broke loose. blast-ended skrewts, acromantulas, a psychotic durmstrang champion and the most agonizing pain he’d ever felt, and then, there it was. It was just he and harry staring at the shining cup. they stared at it, they stared at each other. they stared at it again. “together?” the boy who lived had asked, as his fingers closed around the handle of the cup a moment before cedric’s did. and then he was grasping at thin air. and harry was gone. 

will discuss the whole barty crouch shenanigans later, but this is getting lengthy at the moment.

THE AFTERMATH

guilt ate away at him the entire summer. he was supposed to intern at the ministry, they’d been so impressed with the idea of him as hogwarts champion. he’d even technically won the prize money, but the galleons sat and stared at him all summer, he wouldn’t take that bloodmoney. cedric hardly saw his father that summer, and his mother would check on him every few hours to make sure he was still breathing.

once the school year started back up in september, the whispers began. voldemort, he-who-must-not-be-named, you-know-who. others said it was barty crouch, but cedric knew that wasn’t the case. it couldn’t have been. the ministry overlooked it, every questioning letter he wrote to his father was simply answered with “nothing to worry about, focus on your studies”, and so the question remained: if the ministry wasn’t going to do something about it, who was?

CONNECTIONS;

FRIENDS

canonically, my man is mr. popularity! he needs his loud, boisterous group of friends. some would obviously be closer to him than others, but he just wants people to like him. 

BEST FRIEND/CONFIDANT

cedric’s ride or die, the one person he tells everything to; the only one who he voices his concerns to and has told all the gory details of what happened in june. 

CURRENT OR EX-PARTNER

not too picky with how this one turns out, but cedric has obviously been greatly affected by the final task and has withdrawn from people due to this; this person would be one of them. he feels so guilty and is struggling to cope with that, so this could be what is/did drive a wedge between them

QUIDDITCH RIVAL

honestly i just think it would be really hilarious if this was a one-sided i-hate-that-cedric-is-so-great relationship, especially when it comes to quidditch. ced thinks it’s all a bit of fun and he loves quidditch so having someone who is good is fun for him, but if they legitimately don’t like him, i would love it.

HERBOLOGY BUDDY

ced isn’t great at herbology, but he’s always been found in the greenhouses. maybe tutor/study buddy?

if anyone else has any ideas, i’m not set on any one thing for these, just throw some plots my way!

[louvay]

(Gen II)

You're invited to stay in a really nice hotel. Of course it's not haunted, psssh. I mean sure you probably meet the same girl wearing the same clothes if you ride that elevator exactly at 00:00 but that aside, you're really allowed a free stay for a week with all expenses paid! This means you're free to use every amenities the hotel has. Pool, sauna, even the billiard board at the bar except you'll need to pay your drinks. That, too, if you even get some.

The only problem here, however, is that you will need to share a room. Best hotel in Jugdral so it's not like you're going to lack anything even spaces because hey, suite-type room is comfortable with its own parlor, and you're free to be wherever you want to be during the day. Only that you will need to share a room with a group, so choose wisely!

The Nordions have a nice suite, three beds with one comfortable couch convertible into a spartan bed. Ares, Diarmuid, Nanna -- four if you are with them -- so what is left would be kicking off one of them to steal their bed. Nanna takes pity of you, and you're not sure about how bad it may make you look in front of Respect Women Juice gang if you send the only girl of the group to a makeshift bed.

The Chalphies have one king-sized bed and one couch. Oifey insists on taking the couch so Seliph can be comfortable, but your arrival makes everything awkward. Oifey offers you to share Seliph's bed because there's a good room for two, and you're not sure. Oifey is sure, however. Seliph's guest is also his guest to be served. Seliph doesn't mind to give the bed for you, however.

Lene, Coirpre, and Hannibal have a suite with one king-sized bed and one deluxe bad. Hannibal and Coirpre share the king-sized big bed because Little Coirpre has nightmares sometimes and there's a good curtain as a divider between them and Lene. Hannibal doesn't mind camping at the couch, but he is very suspicious of you even though Coirpre doesn't mind a new friend there.

Julius and Julia's suite is probably the best of these all. Presidential suite with its own parlor and fireplace, separate rooms for them both within that suite. They sometimes bicker. Julius is a mean Mario Karter and Julia pierces through your soul as she speaks to you. You will gladly exile yourself to the couch -- not very comfortable, and the parlor is rather cold at night. Strange. Julius offers his room, but you have heard of strange noises and whispers before. Julia's room smells of incense. She oddly says you will need to stay for a few hours without opening the door if you go there, because you will break the fence. What fence, you don't know. Fencing from what/whom, you have a good feeling you may not want to ask further.

Ced, Arthur, Fee, and Tine are cramped together in a suite with three beds. It's a merry bunch. Ced usually makes tea and breakfast because nobody trusts Arthur with a kettle or microwave anymore. Only you feel awkward because you're not sure if you should be there. It feels as though interrupting a double date even though nobody is admitting anything. "No, we aren't," Ced says, "I love my sister normally." That's not what you are asking, but he is very serious about it. Tine asks you what dating is, and whether boys are secretly calendars. Fee throws a hand towel at Arthur's face every hour, perhaps, but ask Arthur why he keeps threatening to put anchovy paste in her tea.

Lester and Lana's suite is very respectful. Serene, two twin beds, a couch for you, non-negotiable. But they are also very quiet, and you have to make sure they are still alive sometimes.

Faval and Patty's are merry. Bed? What is a bed? You suspect Patty leaves the room from the window as a cat burglar. Or vampire. You don't know. Faval is so royal and doesn't think twice to pay your snacks, but you're not sure where he gets the money because you have seen his wallet, and there's only a mock-up credit card with some small changes.

Ishtore, Ishtar, Liza, in a suite. It's clear that Liza and Ishtore are dating seriously and they share a bed as a couple. The suite is great though, similar to Julius and Julia's with its own rooms, so it's not like you'll ever walk in on them together and that's good. Only Reinhardt looks very inquisitive each time Ishtar calls you because she hates feeling like third-wheeling her twin. Apparently, her mom made her go with them. You aren't sure if this is still within your paycheck. Well, whatever you get paid for!

The Isaachians' room is vibrant. They simply bundle together in any way they want, except Shannan's bed remains untouched. Usually Larcei and Mareeta share the king-sized bed, but it's not very common for Larcei to pass on Ulster's single bed, kicking him out of it to the floor. They are only inside to sleep, as they are very active. They like outbound activities and Larcei loves to eat, so you'll likely end up doing that too if you choose them as roommates.

Ah, the Clauses, Knightly Leonster. Altena's bed is the nicest. Leif and Finn shoot dagger glare at you if you would do so much as lingering too close to it. Altena is very relaxed and has expressed what a sad sight you make for bundling on the floor in a nice suite, but you have a strong feeling that Finn does have a glare and Leif has a sniper rifle. Somehow you just know. Finn deadset says he will sleep on kitchen counter if only Altena or Leif tells him to, so he wonders why you can't. You have tried humoring him by sarcastically asking why not in the fridge, but deadpan Finn opens the mini fridge and sincerely curious as to how you would fit.

Well?

Gotta take Lana and Lester’s room then, I love some quiet time inside an hotel suite. The others are either too dangerous, too crowded or I might instigate a declaration of war by accident

[skelezomperman]

Revising A Tale of Star-Crossed Knights - Chapter 9

Link to Chapter 9: https://archiveofourown.org/works/39015690/chapters/101133303

This chapter is probably one of the lowest ones in terms of substance in the entire work, but I decided that it could get a post on its own. It's the first chapter in Part II which covers the time period in between Finn and Erinys separating for the last time all the way until Erinys' death and the beginnings of FE4 Gen 2/FE5. When I was approaching Part II, I initially wanted to write it in such a fashion to where it would swap between Finn's perspective and Erinys' perspective. I still did that for the second half, but for the first three chapters I segregated the perspectives. This was mostly because I didn't want to interrupt the Silesse Civil War arc which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the entire work.

Chapter 9 is another filler chapter. The original version had some highlights of me rushing chapters again, that being abrupt endings in transitioning between scenes. That's definitely going to be a big thing to fix during the rest of the work. The other big thing, of course, is excising non-important worldbuilding stuff. (e.g., In the original version, Finn's bully is named Aillan, but I took that name out (as well as any Italy references) because I don't want to put something in that gets forgotten later on.) I also have worked at reducing the amount of interruptions between scenes and making them flow into each other. What would really be best is adding more content which is what I'm too lazy to do, but I still think it's worked well.

That said, while it's filler I do think it's good for Finn's character. He left Leonster as a young squire (maybe not 15 years old in this story, but young) and he comes back as an adult. So he has a sort of difficulty integrating back into Leonster, not only because of his longing for Erinys and Ced but also because he's matured more than his peers. Besides Quan, Glade is really the only close friend that Finn has. Even he doesn't truly understand Finn, but he at least helps through the culture shock of Finn coming back to other people suddenly changing their opinion on him and making crude jokes about his wife.

I think that's all I have to say, so the original author's notes are below for your perusal.

---

Welcome to Part II, the part where Erinys and Finn are completely separated. At first I was intending for the point of view to swap from scene to scene, but I realized when planning this out that it would interrupt story arcs if I did that - imagine if, say, the story flipped directly from Altena and Leif being little shits to Erinys learning about Annand dying. That would be whiplash. So the plan for now is that Chapters 9 and 12 will be in Finn's POV, while Chapters 10 and 11 will be Erinys' POV. That may change though.

Shorter chapter because lol taking a break for a week meant that I need to get back in my rhythm of writing. Nothing heavy happens in this chapter, it's just Finn returning home to Leonster. Which I initially wanted to base off Italy but I realize now that it's more fun to think of some kind of English influence too...not that it really shows in this fic. Next chapter will definitely include heavy stuff though...everyone knows what happens in Chapter 4 of the game so break out the tissues in a week.

Leif's born too and by necessity he's going to play a role in later chapters. I don't intend on this to be a complete retelling of the entire events of FE4/FE5 because that would be boring and I want to keep the focus on this relationship between Finn and Erinys, and later between Finn and his biological children. But obviously Leif is going to show up in some capacity, and Altena too beyond just being a little girl.

Miscellaneous notes: Altena's a weird thing. It feels weird that Quan and Ethlyn would be away from their daughter for three and a half years, especially when she was only a few months old when they left Leonster. It kind of makes sense if they expected to return to Leonster after two months and not get dragged into in a wild goose chase, but I feel like Altena shouldn't be able to recognize her parents *at all.* She'd recognize her grandparents though for sure. Credit to @PEve862 on Twitter for bringing up that according to Leonster's Fall, Finn really only had Glade as a friend (at least before he turned into a war hero.) I already felt like Finn was awkward and not really liked by others when he was a squire but that piece of info solidified the deal for the scene with the other nights. It's kind of like if someone who was bullied in middle school comes to a high school reunion and turns out to be more successful than their bullies. But I still felt like Finn would find it awkward - even though they're all about 20-ish years old, Finn's still more mature than his peers, and it really comes across when the others wanted to hear about what it's like to do The Thing with an "exotic" woman than actually listen to Finn who is truly in love with her beyond just in the bed. But Glade is there to save the day because he actually understands Finn and is friends with Finn beyond just wanting to suck up to their new commander. Aillen is the name of a fire breathing monster whom Fionn mac Cumhaill slays in mythology. I thought the name looked natural enough to be thrown in. Yudu is mentioned in supplementary material as an earth god worshipped prior to the arrival of Gair/Loptous. I wanted to call the tavern something other than "the tavern" and the name flows well. I almost had Glade call Finn "fra" as a reference to Italian but decided to change it to "bro" because I want readers to understand the connotation immediately. I know that it breaks the immersion of this being medieval times but we're ultimately still in modern times so sometimes it's okay to use modern words. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Feel free to kudos/comment as always if you liked it, and see you guys next week.