(no subject)
Title: Wangoballwimme? (chapter 8)
Rating: Whatever is lowest. I forgot, and can't be bothered to check.
Genre: Romance/Angst
Warnings: Nothing. Just a bunch of kids. And by a bunch, I mean two.
Summary: Flashbacks baby! Cedric's first day at Hogwarts. Also, Cho's first day.
Notes: Yeah, this took me absolutely ages. My muse died or something. And I've been busy. There are many more flashbacks to come. Background exposition is cool. Also, I'm gonna link previous chapters a bit later. Promise.
September 1st 1989
Cedric Diggory is 11.
Cedric looks about ready to burst into tears. He doesn’t want to go. He’s afraid that he won’t be smart enough. He’s afraid that nobody will like him. He clutches his suitcase in his hands and looks up at his mother and father, pleading them with his eyes.
His mother kneels down in front of him and places her hands on his shoulders. ‘Cedric darling, you’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll have a great time and forget all about us,’ she laughs a little at this. Cedric does not, ‘and besides, we’ll see you at Christmas.’ She leans forwards and gives him a tight hug before standing back up.
‘Remember to write home often.’ His father beams down at him, ‘I want to know your house as soon as you do.’
Cedric’s apprehension grows at his father’s words. He hears the whistle blow behind him, and silently pleads with his parents once more. They merely smile down, waving and bidding him goodbye. So he struggles onto the train with his suitcase and drags it to an empty compartment.
~*~
September 8th 1989
Cedric Diggory is 11.
Cedric sits alone at the Hufflepuff table, re-reading his charms homework ready to be handed in later. An owl lands in front of him, making him jump; he grabs the envelope, and quickly tears it open, reading the letter inside.
Darling Cedric, it reads, I’m so glad to hear you’re okay. I was worried, the state you were in when we said goodbye! Arthur Weasley told us his twins were now at school, have you seen them around at all? They’re in Gryffindor apparently, hardly a surprise, given the rest of the family! Your father was surprised to hear you’re in Hufflepuff, but you know we don’t care what house you’re in.
The letter then rambles on about general day to day matters, but Cedric’s attention stays focused on that section. ‘Your father was surprised...’ surprised means disappointed. Cedric knows this. He abandons his charms work, and hangs his head over his porridge.
~*~
September 1st 1990
Cedric Diggory is 12. Cho Chang is 11.
Cho looks around the station. She doesn’t know anyone. She’s nervous, yet excited at the same time. Her dad helps her left her bags onto the train, and she hugs her mother tightly, and sets off to find a compartment. Unable to find an empty compartment, and unwilling to join a nearly full one, she finds a boy sitting alone, and she opens the door.
‘Is it okay if I sit in here?’ she asks in a quiet voice.
‘Urm... sure.’ The boy mumbles in reply.
The pair sit in an awkward silence for a while, the boy reading a book about the -
‘Tutshill Tornadoes!’ Cho cries out, suddenly.
‘Pardon?’ the boy looks thoroughly confused.
‘Your book!’ Cho is visibly excited, ‘It’s about the Tutshill Tornadoes! I support them!’ she shows him the badge on her jacket.
‘Really?’ The boy sits up straighter, ‘me too! I love quidditch! In fact, I’m trying out for the Hufflepuff team this year.’
‘Oh! I thought you were a first year... sorry...’
‘That’s okay, I am still kinda small. But, no, this is my second year. My name’s Cedric by the way. Cedric Diggory.’
‘Cho Chang.’
‘That’s pretty.’
Cho blushes.
The pair talk for the entire journey, discussing quidditch, family, and Hogwarts. When they reach the castle, Cho leaves to the boats with the other first years.
‘I hope you’re in Hufflepuff!’ Cedric calls out to her.
‘Me too!’ she calls back, her fellow first years scandalized that she’s already made friends with an older boy.