Cedric Diggory (prettyboydiggry) wrote in thedogdays, @ 2011-02-12 21:23:00 |
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Current mood: | drunk |
Who: Cedric Diggory & Rhys Cadwallader
What: Both of them need to forget about their problems and secrets are revealed
Where: Starting in the Hufflepuff dorms and moving up to the Astronomy Tower
When: Sat. 8 October 1995, evening after Hogsmeade.
Rating: PG-13?
Status: Incomplete log.
Cedric found it interesting how being mentally and emotionally exhausted easily pulled him into physical exhaustion, no matter how much he slept. It reminded him of when he was first recovering from the injury he received after the Tournament and he supposed that it was a good comparison, even if the injury now was just in his heart and soul this time. However, it had been left to fester since that conversation with Cho and reopened with every glimpse he got of her and Roger around school. He knew he wasn’t the smartest student at Hogwarts. He knew he likely wouldn’t even be in the group of just plain smart students, but was he really so dumb to believe the lies she seemed to so easily tell?
As if that injury weren’t enough, he felt even more stupid for letting it get to him when there were greater things to worry about. Students to take care of and to try and strengthen when their family and friends were dying and being injured. Trying to stop the school from spiralling into depression, which was hard when he felt like he was going to be sick at the thought of more fighting. Of people like the man he faced causing havoc and killing innocents. Thoughts of that fight also brought up the hot stab of anger and open hostility at Cho trying to use the Tournament in her excuses. She had no right. She had no idea what it had been like. Only Harry was allowed to make comments like that because the other boy knew what that unexpected event had felt like. What it meant at the time. Using that had been a low blow and while he was still sore about the other things she said, that one burned the most.
But he had to be strong. For his house. For the Prefects. For the team. It just made him so tired and he was looking forward to having the night off from his Head Boy duties. Part of him wanted to just go and soak in the Prefect’s bath until curfew, but that place had too many memories associated with everything going on in his head. Plus it meant risking walking through the hallways and after dealing with Hogsmeade, he didn’t feel like suffering through that much of a crowd. So, instead, he flopped down on his bed on his back and charmed the quidditch figurines he had to life, running plays over again with their help in hopes of finding something that would win them the Quidditch Cup this year. Or at least get them into third place rather than last again.
Rhys might be clueless in a lot of ways, he had almost no interest in dating and probably wouldn’t know when he was being hit on, but over the past seven years, he’d learned to read his best friend fairly well. And what worried him is that Cedric didn’t seem to be getting over Cho. Of course, seeing Cho and Roger, well, it made even Rhys want to punch Cho. Except he didn’t punch girls. (Unless they punched first). He had made some purchases today at Hogsmeade with the hope of achieving distraction. Or at least denial. Flopping down on Cedric’s bed, he snatched one of the quidditch chasers out of the air.
“You’re not patrolling tonight, are you?”
Cedric blinked out of his thoughts as he looked over at Rhys and smiled softly. “That chaser is going to take your finger tip off of you keep a hold of him like that,” he joked before shaking his head. “No. Patricia has supervision duty tonight. Why? Do you want to practice more?”
“Well, I didn’t need the finger anyway,” Rhys said before setting the quidditch figurine back on the bed. Going over to where Cedric’s robes were hung, he unpinned the Head Boy pin before putting it in the drawer of the nightstand.
“Good. Because you’re not Head Boy tonight. You and I are going to go up to the Astronomy Tower.”
Cedric raised first one eyebrow and then the other as he watched Rhys. Uncharming the Quidditch figurines, he started placing them back on his nightstand as he gave Rhys a wary look. “We’re not in the Astronomy class...” he ventured tentatively. “Why would we be going up to the Astronomy Tower?”
“Because, to put it bluntly, Captain, life sucks. Between Cho dumping you, the Death Eaters escape, and all this shite that’s been happening, I need a drink. And if I need a drink, you need a drink. Because my dad taught me not to drink alone. So, I bought a few bottles of firewhiskey and you and I are going to go up to the Astronomy Tower and drink. How’s that sound?” Rhys said, as he grabbed his bag that had the firewhiskey in it, not really going to take no for an answer.
Cedric’s expression closed off a moment at the mention of Cho. He pressed his lips together as he thought over Rhys’ suggestion. Drinking wasn’t a real solution to either of their problems and it likely wasn’t a wise idea. But then wasn’t he the foolish one? And he understood the need for that sort of therapy. For taking a bit more of his pain potion than he really needed to take the edge off. Or to help sleep. A good night’s sleep would be really nice... But he was the Head Boy. He needed to set an example.... Glancing at the drawer where Rhys had put his pin, he mentally battled with his sense of responsibility before he puffed out a heavy sigh and pushed himself up off his bed. Grabbing his robes, he gave a stiff nod. “Alright. Let’s go.”
Rhys couldn’t help but grin. Hogsmeade hadn’t been as much fun as he remembered. He wasn’t able to drown himself in quidditch or dragons or classes there, so his thoughts returned to his parents and what had happened.
“Excellent,” he said, grabbing a jumper and a cloak and pulling it around himself before leading the way up to the astronomy tower. Once there, he pulled a battered old blanket out of the back and spread it on the cold stones. It was still early in the school year, but it got chilly up here. Sitting down, he leaned his head back against the stone walls and pulled out a bottle of firewhisky, opening it and taking a swig. It hadn’t been expensive and it burned as it went down his throat.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” Rhys said. “Seventh year is supposed to be the glory year..”
Sitting down next to Rhys, Cedric hesitated a moment before he took the bottle from Rhys. He wiped the mouth of the bottle with his robes before taking a long swig of the firewhisky. He closed his eyes and grimaced, not used to the burning sensation as the liquid went down his throat and settled in his belly. He took another sip before coughing and holding the bottle back out to Rhys. “I would settle for a nice quiet year where all we really need to worry about is classes and Quidditch. Glory is horribly overrated.”
Rhys raised an eyebrow as he took another swig of the firewhiskey, coughing a bit.
“Are you telling me being Hogwarts champion is overrated?” Rhys asked curiously, suddenly a bit more sober.
“Hogwarts champion wasn’t so bad,” Cedric puffed out. “It was nice for Hufflepuff, to be in the spotlight. I’m glad I could at least give the house that. But all that fuss because a cup said I was best suited? It makes me wonder what criteria the magic uses to choose.” He shook his head as he took the bottle from Rhys, not bothering to wipe the bottle this time before he took a swig. “I was a shit champion, Rhys. I barely got that egg without being burned alive and I likely would have been hurt worse if Harry hadn’t told me about the dragons. I wouldn’t have even figured out how to open that egg without that hint from Moody and even with the hint I got so horribly lost that I couldn’t even rescue Ch-” He stopped himself as he pressed his lips together. He took another gulp of firewhisky. “I didn’t get to the people we needed to rescue within the time limit. And when I got to them, I didn’t even think that the others may actually be in danger and to help them. Then there was the mess with the maze.” He shook his head again before taking a good long drink from the bottle.
Rhys slung an arm around Cedric, giving him a manly hug. He took the bottle to take a long drink.
“This is not Cedric beats up on Cedric time. This is Cedric and Rhys talk about how the world has been shite,” he said, taking another swig before passing the bottle back to Cedric.
“Wait, what mess with the maze? You beat Potter..”
Resting his elbows on his knees, Cedric cradled his head in his hands, tangling his fingers through his hair and mussing it up. “I didn’t beat Harry...” he said very quietly as he closed his eyes. “Going through the maze, I ran into Viktor attacking Harry and we dueled him before we finally managed to stun him. We agreed to grab the cup together. To make it a true Hogwarts victory since we were the last two standing.”
He took a deep breath as all the images came back. The graveyard. The confusion at first. Then the fear that only increased as time went on. Fighting for his life and Harry’s. Trying desperately to remember that Harry was there too, that it wasn’t a one on one fight. The pain of the curse hitting him and the helplessness and panic at not being able to fight better, being torn about going for help. Worrying he had made the wrong split second decision and that Harry had suffered for it. And then the more recent white hot anger at Cho. Of using something that she had no idea about as an excuse for why she was right. His jaw clenching, his fist clenched in his hair.
“Do you know what she said to me when she broke up with me?” he hissed out bitterly. “She said that anyone who thinks that the Aurors would do their jobs was foolish and that the Tournament was proof that things don’t go as planned. As if she knows what the Tournament was like. As if she actually knows what it feels to have the rug pulled out from under you and to find yourself fighting for your life and someone else’s. I bet she wouldn’t be so keen about referencing it if she had been worrying about whether she would actually live to see any other place other than that graveyard.”
Rhys’ mind was reeling and he wasn’t sure he was drunk enough for this discussion. Cedric hadn’t won the cup? But.. how.. He tried to slow his brain down. This required more firewhiskey. Obviously. He pulled another bottle out from his bag and opened it, chugging it down until he coughed and sputtered from the burn.
“You didn’t win the cup? But why.. if you and Harry.. why did they say you won?” Rhys asked in confusion. “Fighting for your life? Cedric, it was just a game.. it was safe, relatively, right?”
Then there was the word that made his blood run cold.
“Graveyard? Cedric, what happened that night?” Rhys asked, not sure he was ready for whatever the answer would be.
“After we came back, Harry wanted me to say that I had won,” Cedric breathed out before he took a deep drink from his bottle of firewhisky. “I didn’t want to, but... He wore me down on the matter...” He drew his knees up closer to his chest as he nursed the bottle a moment, not sure if he was ready to fully talk about it. But he had started and the drink was making him feel warm. Plus with how the world was going to shit, what did it matter? “The cup was a portkey... When we touched it, it pulled us to this graveyard...” he murmured softly in between sips of whisky. “There was a man there and he wanted to sacrifice Harry... We fought him. It... It’s not easy, Rhys. I mean, of course it isn’t supposed to be easy, but it feels like too many people just think that it is glorified dueling. It...” He paused to take a large gulp of the whisky, making a face from the burning sensation before he shook his head. “There came a point when I wasn’t sure if we’d make it... And then... the curses they use are nothing like what we learn. Even being hit by that dragon’s fire wasn’t nearly as bad as when the curse hit me... I couldn’t fight, so I came back to get help and I felt sick with worry that I had left Harry there to die...” He shook his head again. “I probably would have done anything he asked from relief that he was actually still alive.”
Rhys couldn’t help but squeeze Cedric’s shoulder, feeling horribly for the other boy.
“Shit. Why didn’t you say anything? Dealing with all this on your own? I’m surprised you didn’t go bonkers,” Rhys said, taking another swig of alcohol.
“At least you survived. I think surviving whatever happened in that bloody graveyard earns you the right to be Hogwarts champion,” Rhys said as he squeezed Cedric’s shoulder again.
“I’m glad you’re alive mate. Don’t know what I’d do without you. Especially now.”
Cedric shook his head before leaning his forehead on his wrist. “What was I supposed to say? Everyone was so happy that I won and I promised Harry that I’d take the glory,” he said with a sigh. “It doesn’t seem right. Being called a champion just because I survived. Especially when Harry isn’t included in that.” Weaving his arm around Rhys’, he gripped the other boy’s shoulder tightly. “I’m sorry... I wish there was something more I could do for you. To help with... I can’t imagine what it must be like and... I don’t think I want to imagine it either.”
“You’re here and you’re not treating me like I’m made of glass. That’s enough for now,” Rhys said. “You’re not going all head boy on me right now which is another feather in your cap,” he said, tapping Cedric’s forehead with his finger.
“It’s.. I don’t know.. It’s surreal. I don’t think about it much. I mean, live goes on, yeah? I don’t think it’ll hit until the holidays - not going home for Christmas and all that.”
“You know you’re welcome at my house, right?” Cedric asked before batting Rhys hand away. “And don’t tap like that. It sounds weird in my head.” Sitting back against the wall, he breathed out a sigh before taking a slow sip of drink. “It would be nice if I could easily leave the Head Boy badge behind all the time. Especially if they just gave it to me because of this champion business.” Looking up at the sky, he puffed out another breath. “Maybe we could travel somewhere over hols... Away from all of this...”
Rhys chuckled. Well, it came out more as a giggle.
“How can feathers sound weird. They’re all light and fluffy and wingardium leviosa,” Rhys said with another chuckle.
“They gave it to you because you busted your arse the past seven years. You deserve your shiny HB badge, even if your name had never popped out of the Cup. I think Romania is probably off your list, isn’t it?”
“Feathers are light and fluffy. Your finger is not,” Cedric pointed out as he tapped Rhys’ forehead the same way Rhys had done to him. “I will tell you something. Romania is higher on my list than China right now. Even with all the dragons.”