The Troop
Cedric Diggory was fifteen years old when he became the Alpha. Passed down from Agnes Brown, who had ruled with an iron heart since her fourth year, he knew he was not to be cruel or selfish, for his troop would depose him in a heartbeat. And he wanted them to.
His troop consisted of those he trusted, five students from third year to seventh that supported him in taking care of the house. Whether it was homework, bullying, or familial issues, the Troop was there to care deeply for each student in their house, no exceptions. They taught, and supported, all.
Cedric ruffled Zach's hair. "No need for that, kid." He helped the younger move the very large pile of books they had accumulated. "Us of age know what we're doing when we enter."
Zach frowned, "I just worry."
In another life, Cedric would have loved to pass down the mantle to Zach. Zach was so good with the younger kids, and he was very capable of being a good Alpha. But Zach was still just... impressionable. Alpha needed to be adaptable, self-reliant. Zach got caught up easily in Hogwarts drama, and that was something the Alpha could not do.
"It might not even be one of us," Cedric reminded him, the two putting each book back carefully on the hand carved bookcases. "It's probably going to be one of the lions. I doubt Angelina can stay away."
"Cedric! Cedric!" Susan ran in, panting, a paper in her hand, her face flushed.
"Susan, you left for the library ten minutes ago." Cedric placed a hand on her shoulder, "What's wrong?"
"Theodore Nott slipped this into my book while I wasn't looking."
Cedric read the paper silently, even as more of his troop came to surround him. "Seems like Acacia's finally joining the field." Cedric chuckled.
Mason Griff, a sixth year, rolled his eyes. "Do you think Abreo and Weasley got the same ones?"
"I wasn't planning on responding without asking them. Especially with Ginny being new and all." Cedric ran a hand down his face, "I just wonder what she could possibly want to summon us for."
"Can she summon you?" Susan piped up, "Just because she's Slytherin Queen does not mean she controls us."
Jean sighed, "It's courtesy, she has something to say."
"Why now?" Zach asked, "She's been Queen for over a year."
Margaret Smith, Zach's older sister, and Cedric's best friend shook her head. "Who knows why the snakes do anything they do. But you might want to get word to Abreo and Weasley soon."
Cedric nodded, folding the note carefully before slipping it into his pocket. "It's late. Get everyone to bed."
As he sat alone in the common room, in his safe little den, he curled up. Cedric didn't want to be Alpha after Agnes graduated; he had outright refused. But Agnes had said something that had made him change his mind.
"You can say no, and I'll pick someone else. But if I did, you would forever wonder what you could have done had you said yes. Don't live regretting what you didn't do."
Cedric hated being in charge. All he wanted to do was pass his classes and hang out with his friends. Maybe get a girl. Running the house, keeping all these kids in line, was never something he wanted. Mason should have been Alpha, he should have been. He would thrive like this, under pressure, and would always know what to do. Cedric could have been a Troop member, help from the sidelines, not be in charge.
But he wasn't. And Agnes chose him. And Merlin, he wished he knew why.
"Cedric," The soft voice of Amelia Hufflepuff, the last to ever live, three hundred years ago, called from her portrait. "You need to sleep."
He smiled at her, "Sleep won't come, not tonight."
Her blonde hair reminded him of his mothers. What would she think about this?
"No, I suppose it won't."
"Did the Court ever bother you during your time?" He asked. Amelia had become a mentor in his time. Someone who could tell him what to do.
Her chuckle was soothing, "The Court has always stuck to itself. They could go years, plenty of rulers, without meeting with another house. They exist as they are. Talk to the Pantheon and Pride, they will help."
Cedric nodded, "Hopefully Ysabeau is in a better mood."