The Real Story of Cedric Diggory Part II

After dinner, I wanted to help clean up, but my legs had started hurting again, so Mrs. Diggory gave me a dose of the dark medicine I was supposed to take and told me to go upstairs to bed. I bid her good night, and Cedric suddenly decided he would help me up the stairs. He took my hand and was patient with me as I stumbled and tripped more than walked up to the second floor. Just as I made it to the top step, I tripped and fell flat on my face. Cedric hadn't expected that, but knelt quickly by my side and helped me sit up. "Are you alright?" he asked, concerned. I nodded--I couldn't feel anything anyway, so of course I was fine. Cedric wrapped me in a hug that I sank into. I felt his arms tighten, and realized he was pulling me back up onto my feet. "Thanks," I mumbled. He smiled and pulled away from me, holding onto my hands again. He walked backwards in front of me, tugging me along as I slowly made my way down the long hall. I was grateful my room was relatively close to the stairs, because I wouldn't have been able to take going much farther down the hall by the time we arrived. Cedric opened my door, and stepped through, taking my hands again. He helped me to sit down on my bed, and I plopped backwards onto the comforter. He smiled and threw a nightgown at me from the shopping bags next to the bed. I pulled it on awkwardly, then stripped my other clothes off from underneath it, and tucked them into the drawer in the bedside table rather than give them to him. Then he surprised me by picking me up in his arms before tugging the blankets down and then lowering me back onto the bed. He smiled at me again when he realized I couldn't reach the blankets, so he tucked them around me. Just as Mrs. Diggory appeared in the doorway, Cedric leaned down over me, and kissed my lips again. The kiss was a lot longer than the last one, but still just as gentle, just as tender. "Thanks," I breathed when he broke contact. He brushed my hair back and watched me turn onto my side. "Good night," he said kindly, touching my hand. I smiled at him, and watched him leave the room. He looked at his mother briefly before glancing back at me, and smiling once more as he shut the door. I heard murmured conversation start up between Cedric and his mother before they moved off. Before I fell asleep, I reflected on the drastic change there was in my life between Cedric and me. I had never even dreamed that Ced and I would end up together, not even once considered the possibility. But it sure felt nice to have someone so fabulous fall in love with you.

The next morning I woke up grimacing in pain. I opened my eyes to see both Cedric and Mrs. Diggory standing beside my bed, and Mr. Diggory stood hesitantly in the doorway. Though my bedroom was spacious, it wasn't big enough to hold three people, a giant bed, and four or five huge bags of clothes, plus other furniture. Mrs. Diggory was clutching the bottle of medicine in hand, and Cedric looked ready to hit something and then start crying. "What--" I said, then broke off as I moved my legs, and pain stabbed through me. "Yeah, you were, uh, screaming somthing terrible." Cedric told me, shifting from foot to foot. I noticed he still held his wand in his hand. I thought I must have scared everybody in the house with my sleeping yells. "Here, dear," Mrs. Diggory said, giving me the bottle and a spoon. I glanced at the label and poured out the right amount before swallowing hurriedly. My legs went numb almost right away. I sighed in relief, and handed the bottle back to Mrs. Diggory before sitting up. "I'm sorry....." I began, adjusting my position in the bed. Mrs. Diggory shook her head. "No, no it isn't your fault. It's alright...." Cedric nodded emphatically. I swallowed, feeling a burden on them all. "Do you feel better now?" Cedric asked worriedly. I nodded. "Yes, I'm feeling much better." I whispered. "What is it, Bodicea?" he asked, kneeling at my side. I shook my head, and rubbed my eyes. Mrs. Diggory slowly crept from the room, and closed the door quietly after her. I began to sob. "Do you hurt?" Cedric asked instantly. I saw the fear in his eyes, the fear for me. He put a hand tentatively on my leg, the heat from his palm reaching me even through the blankets. I shook my head, but tears began to fall. "Oh, Bodicea," he murmured, standing and sitting near my hip. He took me in his arms. "I've never seen you cry so much in all the time I've known you. What is it, honey?" There, he'd said it again! He'd said it shortly after I had come to the cottage, when I was eating my lunch. And now he'd called me 'honey' again! I cried into his shoulder. "I don't hurt at all, but now I feel like some weight you all have to drag around. I'm so sorry!" I sobbed out. "No, sweet, no, you aren't a burden!" he said, rubbing my back. "Yes I am! I wish--" "No, you don't wish anything!" Cedric said quickly. "You would have too many regrets if you were somewhere else." I wondered how he knew what I had been thinking. I hugged him tight to me, thanking whatever lucky stars I had and the heavens above that I had such a fabulous friend. I realized Cedric was kissing my face. He rubbed my tears away from my cheeks, and looked into my eyes. "Don't worry anymore. We all want you to stay. Mom's quite taken with you; and not just because you're another woman to talk to, but because you are a very good person." His fingers slid down my neck. I suddenly noticed his cheeks were very pink, but he didn't stop kissing me. He didn't look into my eyes again, but touched his lips to mine for a moment. I breathed out slowly, and he hugged me to him again.
"Would you like anything to eat now?" he asked. I nodded, and he released me. "I'll go tell Mom. I'll be right back, okay?" I nodded, and slowly relinquished my hold on his hand. Cedric left the room, carefully shutting the door behind him. I sighed, thinking about him, and wondering if we might have a future together....but maybe I was getting ahead of myself. I had never really considered more than a career (and I barely had any idea what my career was really going to be, though I was heading for my seventh year at Hogwarts), but not a romantic future. It didn't look too bad with Cedric in it.....