Chapter 1
The evening was so perfect it was almost like it had been taken straight from my imagination and put into reality. I mean, we didn’t plan it, the night was completely coincidental. and all because of a stupid exam the next day.
I had been studying in the library, cramming. Facing the consequences of thinking i can get Os with no hours staring at a charm textbook. but that evening the panic hit and curfew was creeping closer and closer. With one hand furiously writing, i was clicking my knuckle with the other. the skin on my left hand was red and bruised, i had made it almost 4 months without my fist hitting anyones face, but that slytherin was looking particularity punchable at lunch when the words “mudblood” and “filth” left his mouth in the same sentence. directed at a first year.
Although i faced the risk of letting my mum down, i didn’t feel an inch of regret. After some begging with Sprout, she agreed to let it go if i did well in this exam - hence the Late night studying. It wasn’t the harshest punishment and i guess i deserved it, but it didn’t feel great in the moment.
i had my headphones in that were connected the the walkman sitting on the table, in that moment playing “semi charmed life” by third eye blind. i knew, and anyone who could see me would know that the grade i achieved on this exam could have been a lot higher if i hadn’t studied with this shit banging in my ears. but it wasn’t shit, and i whispered the lyrics under my breath while i copied notes from my textbook. who ever said that was an efficient way of studying?
while i turned the page, i tapped my quill along to the beat. seeing as it was late and i planned to head straight to my dorm as soon as my brain had sucked in this information, i wasn’t looking the most presentable. my hair was in a high ponytail, some strands framing my face, most clipped back from getting in the way. I was wearing baggy plaid pyjama trousers and an old worn t-shirt of annie’s with one of kate bush’s album covers on it. My glasses slid down my bare face while i struggled to understand whatever i was reading. That was when the available chair opposite me moved, and identical textbooks to mine slammed down on the table.
I looked up from the scrawl of notes i was writing, and saw messy brown hair and a yellow tie.
“hey cedric” i took out my headphones and paused the music, now playing “talking in your sleep” by the romantics. i cant say my music taste is exactly chronological.
“bella” he nodded and smiled. “studying for charms tomorrow?” he had already sat down and was laying out his textbooks, loosening the tie round his neck
i groaned. “i take it i’m not alone in the ‘night before panic’ or whatever it’s called”
He chuckled “anywhere is better than being in the library the night before an exam, but you being here makes it a little more bearable”
fireworks. in my stomach. merlin he was cute, and somehow cuter when he was exhausted. my eyes lingered, they always lingered on him even when i didn’t want to, and after hours of staring at words on a page i couldn’t even try to hide it.
He continued speaking in my absence of words. “what you listening to? not something slow and depressing i hope, but to be fair it would fit the mood”
I was snapped out of my staring trance with that question, i listened to music almost constantly, so why was it so nerve racking to answer this mundane question?
“oh just some muggle music” i shrugged “it’s not helping me ingest this information but it’s certainly making studying more enjoyable”
he nodded “so i take it something not sad and depressing?”
“nope. but i do have knowledge in that genre if you’d prefer?” he hadn’t even asked and i was holding the earphone up the him, offering him a listen. what on earth was i doing? he probably didn’t even want to listen, everyone knows he’s polite, no doubt he’d just ask to start conversation.
“Merlin no, you’re the expert i trust you completely” he took the earbud and placed it in his ear, happy to listen to whatever i chose. what the fuck was happening?!
i picked up my wand that was resting on the table, i was close but hadn’t completely perfecting playing a song with wandless magic. “boys don’t cry” by the cure started playing loudly through the headphones, and i saw cedric’s face light up.
“i like it already” he leaned forward and said lowly “are you even allowed this in school grounds?”
I continued to crack my knuckles with one hand out of nervousness. “if i say yes will you agree not to tell?”
“hm, tough decision” he was clearly playing along, but it took my mind off of the work, and extended our time together. i knew the bell for curfew was going to go soon, but i didn’t want our time to be up when it had barely even started. “being a prefect and all..i may have to get something in return”
“blackmail? that’s not very hogwarts champion of you cedric diggory” i smiled.
“all i ask is a few muggle songs a week, if you can spare the time”
The song had finished by now and the walkman had gone back to playing third eye blind, it was my favourite album at the moment and i think i’ve listened to it on repeat enough that it’s just automatic at this point.
“you have a deal” we shook hands and both laughed quietly.
“why don’t we start now? i’m much more interested in what music you listen to than charms”
“unfortunately, i won’t just feel shame inside like i usually do when failing” i rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair, taking out my hair from its ponytail and letting it fall down over my shoulders, i was suddenly very conscious of what i looked like in front of cedric. “ i don’t know if you heard”
“your mishap with, excuse me for assuming, but someone in green robes? yeah i heard”
He continued, and as the album continued to play i could see his index finger tapping along to the beat on his textbook.
“he deserved it if you ask me” he shrugged
“oh trust me i know, unfortunately the reputation i’ve cultivated for getting slightly too agitated-“
“and punching people in the face”
i sighed, “some may put it that way. anyways that reputation means i can’t exactly get away with a warning this time, and i’ll do anything if they won’t tell my mum”
he nodded, because he understood. i think everyone knew cedric diggory had a father who expected a lot from him, the most even. although my mother never expected too much from me, i knew what it was like to not want to let down a parent, and it was nice that he could get that.
“i get it, we might have to do a bit of work then”
the mood lightened and i smiled “maybe a little”
i had been there for a good amount of hours before cedric arrived, so we studied for about ten minutes, before curfew. it was so relaxed, and even though the library was almost empty it really did feel like we were the only ones there. we managed a balance of talking and doing work, and those ten minutes got me more information than copying notes for hours ever gave me.
At some points our feet would accidentally touch under the table, and it’s so cliche, but we really did look up at each other and hold eye contact for a few seconds. it was in those moments when he really did look beautiful, his hair falling over his eyes, a soft pink glow on his cheeks.
by the time the bell rang i had changed the music to something much calmer and less distracting, and “the lakes” by taylor swift was the song i paused to pack up. the time had gone too quickly, i couldn’t lose the moment.
“do you think you’ll do well enough?” he spoke while putting things in his bag.
“i don’t know, i might do some work with annie when i get back to the dorm, if i don’t fall asleep the moment i feel my mattress”
“you’ll do great bella, i know it” bella. the way he said my name, not just bel, but bella. something about it made my stomach go crazy, but my face didn’t let it show.
“you as well, that’s not even questionable” he thanked me while we walked back to the common room together. the halls were empty, the sound of our shoes and our voices echoing on the stone. being in my pyjamas, i was wearing slippers but he didn’t seem to notice, so i tried to not be embarrassed.
“oh by the way”
“hm?”
“why are you still in your uniform? lessons ended hours ago”
“oh just prefect stuff, but you know you’re not actually allowed to be wearing your own clothes until after curfew?”
“no!?” my mouth was open, bevause honestly i was shocked. five years and four months at this place and i had never heard that before.
he just nodded and laughed at my surprise “yup. i have the authority to dress code you for that outfit bella martin”
my mouth was still open “you wouldn’t! you can’t dress code kate bush you just can’t”
that made him laugh harder “who?”
i just rolled my eyes, forgetting that muggle music was completely new for him. “lets save her for part of your blackmail why don’t we”
he just nodded, his face still smiling “as you wish”
we walked through the halls until we were at the common room, the lights were low and the fire was still burning. i thought maybe we’d part here, go to your seperate dorms, that was the logical thing to expect.
But oh was i wrong.
“hey can i walk you to your dorm? there’s just something i want to talk to you about.”
it could have been weird, it could have been serious, but it just wasn’t. he still had that smile on his face, so i just nodded and we walked up.
while we walked, he spoke. “oh also before i forget, what were all the songs we listened to today? i want to keep a list”
the way he was so interested in the music i liked didn’t help how bad i was falling for him. he wasn’t just being polite, he cared. i guess that’s what made my heart beat fast around him, he was always genuine, without a doubt.
“oh yeah, i’ll make you a tape with them tomorrow”
“a tape?”
my brows furrowed and then i was again reminded of his lack of muggle knowledge. “oh right- i’ll show you tomorrow, you can borrow my speaker and everything”
he looked down at his feet and smiled, almost to himself “i’ll let you explain it all tomorrow”
we arrived outside my door, the small slither of light peeping out from under the door, the faint sound of abba playing on the other side.
“so that’s what you wanted to talk about? the songs?”
he told silent for a moment, as if he was trying to remember what to say, his hands holding the strap of the bag draped across his body.
“oh right- yeah no um” he simply paused “have you got a date for the ball yet?” no fucking way. my heart suddenly picked up the pace by about a thousand. he wouldn’t ask me now would he? he wouldn’t ask me!? honestly i thought everything i felt for cedric had always been one sided, no chance of being reciprocated. but right then, in that moment, i thought i could have been wrong the whole time.
I hesitated “no, some guys asked me earlier this week but i said no”
“why?”
“i don’t know” i smiled gently, avoiding his eyes. “ i guess waiting for someone i actually wanted to be there with”
he nodded “well, good.”
“good? what does that mean?” i laughed, confused.
Cedric didn’t respond to me, he never answered that question. “i have to get back to my dorm, but i had a really nice time tonight bella” there it was again, bella. the way he said it was unlike anyone else.
“yeah me too.”
we took on silence, his eyes were boring i to me for those seconds we were just looking at each other, the muffled music playing behind the door beside us. no one was speaking in the other room, the doors to the dorms were surprisingly not soundproof, and in this moment i was grateful that whatever annie was doing in there didn’t involve her speaking.
cedric’s eyes glanced, only quickly, down at my lips. and it was then that i knew he was about to kiss me. he looked back up at me, and i knew that if i didn’t break eye contact i would be kissing the guy i have had a crush on for the past two years right outside my dorm.
I didnt look away, and he leaned in. i hadn’t had much experience with kissing but it was clear he was good at it. it wasn’t passionate, but soft, nothing far from how i’d imagined being kissed after curfew outside my room would be.
I kept my eyes closed, but when he pulled away after a few seconds, my eyes fluttered open, my face hot. i knew i was about to grin like a maniac and no way i could put him off after that.
“night” i said with a smile and red cheeks while i opened the door and slowly entered my room, keeping the door pulled too.
“night bel” he responded, without moving from his position. i closed the door shut behind me.
annie had been laying on the bed reading a magazine but she was up the moment the door closed, seeing the grin on my face and no doubt she could feel my heartbeat from there.
“out after dark professing your love to fred weasley are you? cheeky” she smiled wide.
my expression fell and i rolled my eyes, slapping her arm, “what?! no! i told you to drop that shit!”
“when i’m right you’re going to regret saying that to me” she said proudly
“we can argue about that later okay? don’t you want to hear about cedric diggory kissing me outside this very room?”
all previous subjects were forgotten in that moment. Annie was the only one who really knew how hard i’d crushed on cedric the past two years, and that was clear.
“you’re kidding”
i shook my head
“youre fucking with me”
i shook my head again and walked past her to sit on the bed, i was exhausted
“and he wants a tape of the music we listened to together”
she turned and jumped to hug me with the widest hug i’d ever seen grace her face “you slut! you absolute fucking whore!” Annie squealed so much it made me laugh “i’m so happy for you!”
we sat crossed legged opposite each other on the bed as i told her each and every little detail of the night.
“it gets better”
“it doesn’t!”
“it does”
she stayed silent, intruiged by each and every word
“ he asked me if i had a date to the ball”
her eyes widened “um you said no right!? and then yes when he asked you to go with him” she was almost angry and i hadn’t even responded yet.
i gave a pained face “well yes and no”
“yes and no? bella martin if you ruined this for us i would never forgive you!”
i stared at my best friend across from me “us?”
“yes us! after two years this becomes an us problem! now stop stalling and tell me what on earth yes and no means!”
it was funny how much she cared, and sweet, it was moments like these i knew why we really were friends. she was so enthusiastic for things in my life that she didn’t even need to be bothered about, and that’s what mattered.
“so yes i said i didn’t have a date, to which, might i add, he said ‘good’ to, like what does ‘good’ even mean?”
“obviously it means ‘good because i wanted to ask you which i couldn’t do if some other git is already taking you’”
“thanks for that”
“you’re very welcome, continue” she nodded
“anyways, and then he didn’t actually ask me to go with him, but i really think tomorrow is the day, there’s hardly even any more time to ask right?”
she stayed silent for a second “true, but why wouldn’t he just ask then? instead of wasting time”
i just shrugged. i thought that too, but maybe he wanted to do it in front of people, maybe he wanted to be more romantic, but what i did know that it wasn’t going to help me sleep.
“aren’t you glad i made you reject that ravenclaw boy bel? you were seriously considering him” she jumped up and started removing her earrings, and placing the
on her bedside table.
“hey, i was being realistic! the ball isn’t very far away and i still didn’t have a date” i was already in my pyjamas, so all i needed to do was get in under my duvet and drift off.
“yes but aren’t you glad you rethought that choice?”
i smiled rethinking our kiss. “in what world would the answer to that be no”
“good point.” she turned off the light with a wave of her wand. we were in darkness but i knew that i wouldn’t sleep for a while now.
“sleep well rapunzel”
“you too bel, i can’t wait for you to have a date to the ball tomorrow”
“me neither” my jaw hurt from smiling
“night”
“night”