prospicere futurum

"All I'm saying is, if Snape is going to talk like that through the whole lesson, people are going to fall asleep!" Taylor's voice carried through the bustling hallway, Ella and Corinne biting back laughter at the looks people threw her as she spoke.

"I don't know how you can physically relax enough in that class to fall asleep." Ella's head poked out from the sweater she was pulling on as the girls started down another flight of stairs. "It's freezing, and I'm always on edge that he's going to find something new to be mad about."

"Well, he will either way, so what's the point?"

"Merlin!" Corinne gasped, two hands wrapping around her waist as Cedric collided with her, pulling her against him and barely saving her from smashing into the stone walls.

"Sorry! I'm sorry." Cedric rushed out, dropping his hands from her and turning back to the snickering group of friends across the corridor. "Idiots."

"Morning." Corinne spoke finally, feeling the heat creep up into her cheeks and trying to pull her mind from where his hands had just been. "Off to a rough start?"

"Oh, no. I love trampling pretty girls in the hallways." His lips pulled into the familiar dazzling smile. "Ladies, could I trouble you to have Corinne as my potions partner again? If I'm stuck with any of my friends today, there might be a murder."

"Diggory, I'll have you know you're really putting me out." Ella sighed, the group following the small current of students into the dungeons. "Taylor never follows my instructions and I think her goal is to get us the worst grade possible."

"Hey!" Taylor spun towards the brunette, her jaw dropped as she looked between Ella and Corinne.

"We'll have to work out some sort of system then." Cedric grinned.

"I'll make us a calendar." Ella agreed, nodding a goodbye as she and Taylor took their usual seats, Cedric leading Corinne to the other end of the room.

"I like her, she's funny." He said, both of them pulling out their books and settling into their desks.

"You think she's funny because you assume she's joking." Corinne laughed.

"Are you free tonight?" He asked, abruptly.

"Yeah," Corinne bit back the smile threatening to burst onto her face, "I've got a bit of transfiguration work for tomorrow, but I should have it done on time."

"Good. I'll come get you around 8?"

"What are we doing?"

"Surprise." He answered, his voice dropping low as Snape started towards the front of the room.

"Well, we've been through this, you don't have to come get me-"

"It's on the way." He answered, not letting her finish her argument. "Dress warm."

✵

Corinne flattened the sleeves of her shirt out beneath the sweater she had just pulled on. Combining the hints of dressing warm and that Gryffindor was on Cedric's way to whatever he had planned for the night, she was fairly confident she knew where they were headed.

"I think we'll follow along and see what it is." Taylor said from her perch on the bed. She was on her back, her head practically hanging off the end of the bed so she could meet Corinne's eyes in the mirror. "Cedric Diggory. I still can't even believe it. And I can't believe he doesn't even know-"

"Taylor." Corinne tried for a warning glance, yet even she couldn't pretend not to notice the smile pulling at her lips.

"I mean, honestly, people write books about this stuff." Her arms flopped dramatically to the bed before she rolled over. "Don't they? You two would know."

"Maybe you could try reading one and find out." Ella could hardly hide the grin before Taylor chucked her pillow towards her face, Ella sending it flying to Corinne's empty bed with the flick of her wand.

"When are you going to tell him, then?" Taylor spoke again, looking over Corinne's blue sweater and light colored jeans.

"I don't know, Tay. I'm trying not to think about it. Whatever happens will happen."

"He's going to be mad when he finds out you knew all along!"

"Well, he might be a bit freaked out that we've only just met and I'm telling him he's my soulmate." Corinne could hear the whine creeping into her voice before she stood up, pulling her first boot onto her foot.

"He won't be freaked out. But I think you're right," Ella nodded, rolling her parchment up and stowing it into her bag. "Whatever happens, happens. Everything's going to work out how it should."

"Thank you, Ella." Corinne offered her a quick smile before heading towards the door. "I'll see you guys in a bit."

"Or not." Taylor wiggled her eyebrows and Corinne couldn't help but laugh, pulling the bedroom door shut behind her as she started down the stairs.

The common room was still quite full, although as the nights grew colder and darker, it made sense that more people would gather indoors. Corinne hurried past everyone, pushing through the portrait hole, the noise disappearing as the door swung shut in the quiet hallway.

She only had to wait a few minutes, thankful that Cedric hadn't beaten her up here. Her eyes flickered towards the stairs when she heard the footsteps, smiling as his eyes met hers, walking easily to her side. He was wearing a plain white sweater with a zipper at the collar and a dark jacket, and even in the low light of the hall, his eyes were bright.

"Hi." He grinned, closing the space between them, though he still towered over her.

"Hi." She answered, not sure if she wanted him to take a step back so that she could finally breath, or close the distance once and for all.

"Ready?" He asked, nodding down the hall, both of them beginning their walk.

"I'm not sure I am." She grinned, jokingly. "Where are we going?"

He paused for a second, letting them reach the staircase to the astronomy tower before he answered. "To look at the stars."

Cedric pushed the door open, quietly, peering around the tower before deciding it was empty and leading them towards the look out. Corinne pulled her arms over her chest, the night air already seeping through her sweater.

The night sky was black, the sun long gone behind the trees. It was one of the most magical things about Hogwarts, even amidst the spells and the potions. You could see every star in the sky, nearly every night.

"I come up here on Patrol some nights. I never realized how clearly you could see them here until I went back home after second year. I swear it's like night and day."

"That's a lot of stairs from Hufflepuff." She smiled, sneaking a peek to his face and looking back to the sky before he caught her.

"Worth it though." He answered, dropping to the floor and slotting his legs through the gaps in the railing as she took her place beside him. "How was the rest of your day?"

"Alright, did you have that lesson on the Inferi in Defense?" She had leaned back against her hands to watch the sky, though pulled them into her lap now, the night air this high up was causing her fingers to feel numb.

"Tomorrow." He turned to her, eyes pulling from the sky, a small grin pulling to his lips. "Should I be scared?"

"Yeah, I bet they're gonna get ya, Diggory. The whole lesson was about how when they attack they always start in the warmest basements with the nicest students-" Her foot hooked into the railing as she tried to escape his grip, giggles breaking through her scream as he caught her, pulling her tightly into his chest.

His fingers slid along her arm softly as they sat in silence for a few moments before his eyes narrowed slightly, his lips pulling into a smile.

"What?" She asked, her breath clouding up between them.

"Nothing." He answered, softly.

"What are you looking at?" She pulled back with as much room as he would give her.

"Your nose is turning pink."

"Yeah, it's freezing! I can see my own breath!" She laughed, exhaling again as proof.

"Is it too cold? We can go back down." He pulled his hand from her arm, pressing it to the ground as if he was going to get up.

"No, I'm okay!" She set her hand on his to keep him there, pulling it away when she felt the shiver run up her arm. "I don't mind the cold. And I like the stars."

He nodded, settling back beside her and pulling his arms from his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

"Good. But if I'm the reason you get frostbite, I'd never forgive myself."

"I'd never forgive you either." She teased, wrapping the jacket around her closer.

"What do you want to do after graduation?" He asked, eyes sparkling down at hers in the dark. "I realized I never asked the other day. You know, after you agreed I was going to be a world renowned seeker."

"I don't remember that actually," She laughed, enjoying the relaxed smile that had settled on his face. He was possibly the most care-free person she had ever been around, and it was contagious, calm settling into her bones. "I don't know... My parents are always pushing the jobs at the ministry, and some of them sound alright. I just don't know if that would be much fun, doing the same thing every single day?"

"Like what?" He nodded for her to go on.

"I don't know. Sitting around at a desk and doing paperwork. I mean, some of them you get to go out and fix things. Obliviators or Aurors. But then that sounds like too much for me-"

Cedric laughed, slapping a hand over his mouth as she looked up towards him. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you."

"Yes, you are!" She couldn't control her own laugh now. "I don't know what I'm saying. I guess I could see myself doing paperwork all day if it was for something good. Getting new laws passed for house elves or goblins or muggle relations."

"Well, luckily, you've got the grades for whatever you want." He answered, his hand wrapping back around her shoulder and pulling her closer until her back rested against his chest.

"You've got no idea what my grades are like," She bit back, "I could be flunking everything."

"You're not. Potions is hard enough, and you do great."

"Oh, I do great?"

"Well, you have a good partner."

She let out a quiet laugh, letting her head fall back onto his shoulder, feeling his chin nestle onto her head.

"I'm really glad I knocked you over in the hallway." He murmured against her hair and she scoffed.

"Thanks so much." She chuckled.

"I mean it, though. I'm glad I met you." He was tracing slow circles over her arm through his jacket sleeve. "You're... you're not like anyone else I've ever talked to."

"What am I like then, Diggory?"

"Bloody annoying," He huffed out a laugh. "Stop calling me that." He paused for a few more seconds, letting the two of them fall back into silence, the only sound from the whistling of the wind through the tower. "You're just so alive. You're fun, and happy, and genuine. I like it when you smile at me."

She turned slightly to meet his eyes and he nodded once. "Yeah, just like that."

"You're such a charmer, aren't you?" She teased, trying her best to bite back her smile.

"I don't know. Is it working?"

"Yeah." She nodded, leaning back against his shoulder again, eyes to the sky, enjoying the slow movement of his finger on her arm.

They stayed under the stars for a while more, until they could no longer feel their toes. Cedric pulled himself up from the railing, fingers tightening around Corinne's before she was on her feet tucked beneath his arm again. He yanked the front of his jacket closer around her with a soft smile, leading her down the steps towards Gryffindor tower.

"I'm sorry I kept you up this late."

"I stay up late." She protested, quietly, as it was now well past curfew.

"Your eyes are practically shutting on their own." He teased, "You look like a baby kitten."

"Have a lot of experience there?" She cocked an eyebrow at his metaphor and he shrugged her off as they reached the common room. "Thank you for the jacket." She dropped the jacket from her shoulders, passing it over to him.

"Course. It looked nicer on you." He glanced down before his eyes returned to hers.

"I'm not sure I agree." She leaned against the wall beside the portrait door, willing her eyes to stay open.

"Goodnight, Corinne." He whispered before starting down the stairs in the silent apartment, Corinne waiting until she could no longer hear his footsteps, muttering the password and heading into the common room.

The fire was dying down, casting a slight orange glow around the vacant room. She pulled her wand from her pocket, starting over to put it out before noticing the lanky form of Fred Weasley stretched out over the couch and the coffee table, head sagging against the arm rest at an odd angle with a familiar worn book propped open against his chest.

"Weasley," She hissed, nudging his knee with her own and earning herself a low groan. "Fred!" She held back a laugh as he jolted awake, his fingers closing around the book as it slid down his side.

"What?" His voice was loud at once, as if he hadn't just been in a deep slumber.

"It's late, you fell asleep!" She explained, taking a step away from the couch as he straightened up.

"Did not." He stretched his arms over his head, "Was just resting my eyes."

"I thought we discussed you being careful with my book." She joked, already headed towards the steps to her dorm.

"I'm nothing if not careful, Corinne." He grinned, "What are you doing down here so late?"

"I..." She paused, having no lie ready.

"Corinne Baker, sneaking around the castle after curfew?" His eyes lit up with mischief. "I cannot believe my eyes!"

"I was not sneaking around," She shook her head with a scoff, "Put the fire out when you come up."

"Yes, ma'um. I can let you know when our next prank schedule comes out if you're coming over to the dark side!" He called after her up the staircase, probably waking up half of the dorms without a second thought.

✵

Corinne took another bite of the giant bowl of fruit she had mixed up for herself, forcing herself to eat something healthy before she went back for another muffin. Somehow, even after years of Hogwarts food, she never grew tired of it.

"I should have taken Charms too. What am I going to do with a whole free period by myself twice a week?" Taylor whined, pushing her eggs around her plate with a pout.

"You said, and I quote: 'Charms is so boring, what else could there possibly be to learn?'" Ella pointed out, taking another sip from her black coffee.

"Well, that was my attempt to get you two not to take it with me! Then we would all have a break right now!"

"Maybe some of us like learning, Tay." Ella grinned, clearly holding back a laugh as the blonde rolled her eyes.

"Attention! Attention, everyone! I noticed that breakfasts have gotten rather boring lately..." Fred's voice rang over the Great Hall, loud and cheerful, the Gryffindor table he was stood on already whistling and laughing as they watched him step around coffee mugs and juice glasses. "I've got a little number planned for you all today, going out to a very special girl who cannot possibly ignore me after this." He smirked, shooting Corinne a wink as her jaw dropped. Her eyes whipped between her two friends, Ella sharing her horror, Taylor biting back a laugh.

"No... Not again." She sunk her head into her hands, staring down at her half finished breakfast.

"I feel the night explode when we're together. Emotion overload in the heat of pleasure..."

The crowd cheered, even some of the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables were smiling up at the ginger haired boy as he sang into his wand, his voice amplified over the hall.

"Take me I'm yours into your arms! Never let me go... Tonight I really need to know-"

"I have to leave, this is horrible-" She mumbled, starting to slide from her seat when Fred's shoes appeared before her on the table, his voice directly above her head.

"Tell it to my heart! Tell me I'm the only one, Is this really love or just a game?" Corinne finally looked up at him, hoping he could read her willing him to stop with her eyes. "Tell it to my heart,"

He shot her another wink, moving down towards his friends a few seats farther at the table as someone slid into the seat beside her, an arm wrapping around her shoulder and pulling her close.

"What the hell is happening?" Cedric chuckled, scanning over the table as he watched the show.

"-every time you call my nam..." Fred trailed off, looking back to Corinne at last, his eyes raking along Cedric's arm, his smile vanishing at once. The music from his abandoned seat continued as his eyes bored into Corinne's for a few more seconds. "Thank you, Hogwarts! I'm here all week." He called out finally, the music stopping at once as he jumped from the table, storming towards the double doors, George and Lee at his heels.

"They never let us get bored, do they?" Cedric popped a grape from Corinne's bowl into his mouth with a grin, looking between the three Gryffindors. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Corinne answered, "Did you eat breakfast?" She changed the subject from the Weasley boy, hoping her stomach would stop churning inside of her.

"Yeah, I've got Transfiguration next, but not for a while." He let his fingers slip down to her waist as she finished her breakfast, pushing the bowl over for him to help himself.

"We've got charms..." She started, "I'm going to head over, I have a question on our homework for today I want to get it finished before class..." She stood from her spot, hating the loss of contact with his arm.

"Alright." He gave her a warm smile, turning in his seat to get up with her. "Well, maybe I'll see you for lunch? You can eat with me?"

She smiled, running her bottom lip under her teeth. "Sure. I'll find you around noon?"

"I'll be here." He ran his fingers along her hand as a goodbye and headed back to his spot with his friends at the next table over.

Corinne started towards the doorway that the Gryffindor trio had exited nearly ten minutes before, not waiting for her friends to ask where she was headed, as if they didn't already know. Part of her was hoping she wouldn't find him. Any of them. She had no plan for what she was going to say if she did find him, but she knew she would spend the entire day feeling guilty if she didn't.

She had nearly given up, having taken the longest route to the Charms classroom as she could, about to accept that she would just have to make up an excuse to Flitwick on why she was there so early when she saw him. He was half in the shadows at the end of a long hallway, leaning against the stoney walls and spinning a fanged frisbee back and forth between himself and the statue opposite him.

"You must not have heard, those are banned this year." Corinne called out once she was a bit closer, watching as he looked to her slowly, as if he had known she was there all along. His eyes didn't leave her as he continued tossing the frisbee, catching it without looking and somehow without it snagging any of his skin in it's fangs.

"Got a free period?" She asked when he didn't respond.

His eyebrows raised slowly as he gave her a single nod. "They're all free periods when you get 3 O.W.L's."

Corinne nodded, wrapping one arm over her other as she watched him, knowing full well that this was going terribly.

"What are you going to do, then-"

"What do you want, Corinne?" He cut her off, finally catching the frisbee and dropping it to the floor at his feet.

She swallowed, remembering that she still had no plan of what she had wanted to say. She tucked a piece of her bangs behind her ear and leaned against the wall, mirroring him.

"I... I just wanted to find you... You seemed upset when you left the Hall-"

"Oh, did I?" He asked, dryly. An odd smile had risen to his face. "That's funny. I wonder why."

"Fred..."

"No, Corinne. Don't Fred me." He scoffed, shaking his head at her as if she had done something truly terrible. "I thought you weren't looking for a relationship." The words sounded like venom on his lips. As if he was hurt and trying to hurt her all at once.

"I know, I-"

"You meant you weren't looking for a relationship with me." He finished for her, no smile hiding on his face, his brown eyes looking dull in the dark corridor.

"It's not like that."

"No, it's pretty much exactly like that." He sneered. "So thanks for letting me down easy, Corinne. Really great."

He pushed past her, leaving the frisbee behind.

"You don't even know what you're doing." He added, hardly looking back, his voice carrying quietly down the hall.

"Yes, I do, Fred." She answered taking a step to catch him. "I'm sorry. I'm just... It's him... It's Cedric, who I saw, when we made our potion. There just wasn't really a point for anything else, once you know-"

"What are you talking about?" Fred jeered, whipping back to face her. "You think Cedric... You think Diggory is your soulmate?"

Her stomach fell again at his tone. The minute she had seen Cedric in the fog that night, she had been waiting for this reaction from someone. Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff Prefect, Quidditch Captain, top grades in their year. With some random Gryffindor student who he hadn't even known at the start of term.

"I know he is. And you don't have to mean." Her eyes fell to his shoes, not wanting to meet his gaze anymore. He took a step closer.

"I'm not being mean, Corinne."

"Yes, you are." She protested, taking a step back and looking up to him again. "And it's none of your business anyway. I came to find you to tell you I'm sorry for breakfast, and now I've said it." She pressed past him, starting towards the direction of charms, hoping she wouldn't be late.