C E D R I C

     “What?” Cedric asked, brows raised as he was slightly shocked at the statement. He indeed trusted Viktor, and he didn’t mean for his doubts to come off as him being mistrustful or anything of the sort. “--No, no. That’s not it at all.” He reached out, gripping Viktor’s shoulder to give it an apologetic yet reassuring squeeze.

     “I just wanted to make sure you’re alright. You look tired,” he added, a look of concern now on his face. Even to this day, Cedric still suffered from nightmares; nightmares that made him relive what he went through during the third task. Viktor, too, had gone through his fair share of trauma during the task. His mind hadn’t been his own, as he’d been put under a spell and had been helpless to resist it.

Draco had to blink hard to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, and if his arms weren’t full he would have pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. Hang out with him? Where? And why would someone like Cedric ever want to do that?!

“It’s been a very long time.” He said, still a bit gobsmacked, voice wheezy before he cleared it. “I’m in, uh, department of Magical Law Enforcement.” He said, “I don’t do much field work, I.. mainly write up the reports, find the people who need the - uh, enforcing.” He replied, all in a bit of a rush because Merlin he thought it was impossible for Cedric to gotten more handsome. That mans eyes were absolutely dazzling.

“What about you? What do you.. do here.” He asked, wondering very breifly if Cedric was here to model a new book or something. That would suit him. Especially if he was wearing glasses.

Once upon a time, Cedric would’ve seen himself as perhaps pursuing a career in Quidditch or within the Ministry that dealt with the game itself. However, after nearly dying to Voldemort and his minions in the maze and seeing what Harry went through, and then fighting in the war, he took it upon himself to help keep the wizarding world safe from dangers. Would it be a permanent job? Maybe. Maybe not. He wasn’t sure, but it was what he wanted to pursue for now.

      “is it true what they’re saying?” the ravenclaw beauty practically mumbled. she was never the one to give gossip any attention, but that was the kind of thing that was way too astounding for cho to ignore. “what did you do to be immune to veela charm?” she asked cedric with slight suspicion, yet holding his hand carefully within her own as they walked, regardless. “when i heard fleur delacour was willing to be your date to yule ball, i thought you would politely withdraw the invitation you made me.”

( @triwizardfallen )

“I’m aware of how...strong their magic can be, and how easily people can fall into it,” Cedric began to explain, frowning slightly as he did. He wasn’t necessarily immune to Veela charm, for he could feel the effects of Fleur’s magical abilities, but he had the willpower to choose to ignore them. It didn’t effect him the way it did so many others because he didn’t let it.

          ’ show’s over everyone ! i know, i’m sure you all looking forward to it tremendously ! ’ he sarcastically called to the leaving crowd - followed by a scoff. the only person being expelled would be the other student, never him. ‘ oh, please. as if i’d be expelled. not if my father has anything to say about it. ’

           ‘ other methods ? what are you talking about, other methods to what ? ’ a slight pause as he grimaced, ‘ you know what actually, you can save it. i’m not interested. you’ve done your job - you can run along now. ’

Was pity what Cedric felt towards Draco? Perhaps, but it wasn’t something he intended on showing. The Malfoy’s were far too prideful for that and wouldn’t take kindly to it. It would only be a step in the wrong direction. Cedric had merely always felt that there was more to Draco than met the eye; that he wasn’t quite as terrible and tough as he made himself out to be. That still didn’t excuse his actions, though.

Cedric knew the likes of Draco; always the one to taunt people and feel the need to get the last word in. There’d been multiple occasions where he’d heard people complaining about what the blond had said to them, and this time he’d caught him in the act. Both parties were guilty, however, for he’d heard the insults be thrown back and forth and they were both prepared to draw their wands.

Being a prefect came with the responsibility of ensuring safety and order within the school, and so Cedric had stepped between the two and deflected the first spell. Regardless of whether or not Draco was a bully, he didn’t want to see him or anyone else get hurt. To no surprise, he didn’t get a thank you in return, but he hadn’t been expecting one either.

@triwizardfallen

smack.

shit.

There goes all his paperwork across the floor. Draco let out a long breath, oh so completely fed up with the day when it was only 11am. He took a step back to examine the situation, rubbing his forehead from where he had smacked it into a pillar- this is what happened when he couldn’t have his morning coffee.

He bent down halfheartedly to begin to gather up all the pieces of paper, muttering under his breath and scowling at the floor. Why Merlin had forsaken him to have such an incompetent partner and Draco had to end up doing all the paperwork, he had no idea.

He stood up again once it was all gathered in his arms, only to come face to face with - “Diggory?” He asked, almost dropping everything again.

Had Cedric been a little quicker, he would’ve gladly gone to help pick up the paperwork that had been scattered across the floor. He’d had an instance before as well where his briefcase had broken open and he’d had to pick it all back up and reorganize it, which had been the worst part of it all.

As the blond stood up and he came face to face with him, Cedric found himself equally as shocked to recognize the face staring back at him. “Draco?” He replied, having not seen him since his years at Hogwarts and briefly during the war. He didn’t expect to find him here either, figuring that perhaps he would carry on some sort of legacy that the Malfoy’s had.

It was just after 10 pm, (which was curfew for students) the hallways shadowed and the portraits beginning to fall asleep. It was the prefects job to ensure that the students were in their common rooms, for it was against the rules to be wandering the castle or its grounds past curfew; lest given permission by a professor on the rare occasion.

Cedric could hear some commotion from coming around the corner at the end of the hall, one of the voices being one he recognized. Draco Malfoy. He must have caught a student wandering, but his way of dealing with them and telling them to return to the Gryffindor common room didn’t sound all too kind. Typical of him, Cedric thought. He’d caught him bullying students like Neville Longbottom on several occasions, but hoped that perhaps being a prefect and having a sense of responsibility would influence him to change his ways.