♙CHAPTER TWO♙

( LYDIA BLAKE )

ONE: ACQUAINTANCE

"even perfect people have their silly little flaws"

3rd september 1994

nearly a whole school week had passed by and it was now wednesday. cedric's thought of becoming lydia's friend were gone nearly as quick as it came. she had only had 5 lessons that week but lydia was already swarmed with charms and potions homework, although she got through potions easily. charms, however, was one of her weaker subjects.

she currently sat in the hufflepuff common room. it was one of her favourite places in the whole school, the room was very spacious and large, circular windows were spread all around the top of the room. various plants hung and sat around the room. the golden coloured wall gave the room the old feel. and there were a few yellow and brown couches spread around as well as two bookshelves and a large fireplace in the wall.

she sat on a worn out yellow couch that was situated in the corner of the room as her charms books were spread across the low oak table in front of her. she also had her parchment and quill rolled out. only a quatre of the page filled, although the whole thing was meant to be filled in by the end by wednesday.

"little red!" the annoying voice of daniel grey all but yelled as he and cedric diggory approached the younger girl who looked quite focused.

lydia snapped her head towards the nickname as she sent her close friend a tight lipped smile, so badly wanting to discard her homework and have a conversation with him. but she knew better than to think that flitwick would give her any more extensions after last year.

she noticed that the diggory boy was with him and she let her eyes quickly skim over his figure, he wore his quidditch uniform and looked to be drenched in sweat. his golden brown hair wasn't groomed to it's usual style, and his eyes seemed grey as the early light shone on him. had his eyes always been grey? she thought they were blue.

"what're you doing up at this time?" daniel asked as he and cedric sat down on the couch opposite her, cedric sent a small smile which she returned. daniel let his hand snatch the charms book on the table before skim reading it.

to be fair it was seven- thirty in the morning as the girl had grown into a comfortable sleeping schedule that meant she'd usually be asleep by eleven and awake at half- seven. what confused her was why daniel grey, of all people was awake. diggory, understandable.

"i have a charms essay due in friday" she groaned as she nodded towards the paper in front of her before using her hands to tighten the extremely messy ponytail on her head.

"charms? what's the essay on?" cedric asked suddenly interested in the subject. daniel wasn't surprised considering cedric was very good at charms. he had even gotten an outstanding on his o.w.l.s last year.

"the mending charm, but i just can't seem to get the grip of it. look" she instructed the two boys as she pointed to a cracked tea cup. "reparo" she cast as she moved her hand in the correct motion.

the cracked teacup fixed itself for a second before the crack magically reappeared not even a second later. she let out an irritated sigh as she threw herself back on the chair, her head looking to the ceiling. she heard a slight chuckle from in front of her, and to her surprise it wasn't daniel. it sounded almost angelic to the girls ears, as she felt her heart speed up a little. was cedric laughing at her? he surely couldn't have been, he was cedric diggory. the nicest boy in school.

"sorry, it's just you're pronouncing it wrong" he apologised as he saw the confused look she sent him, he hadn't meant to make her feel embarrassed. he quickly put his hand out gesturing for her to pass her wand.

the girl didn't hesitate when placing her wand in his large palm, his hands were slightly covered in dirt. and his skin felt slightly rough against hers. she guessed it was from the broom he held nearly every day. it made her feel slightly annoyed.

although cedric noticed her hands were soft, as if she had just moistured them. he wasn't wrong. she couldn't stand rough hands. it was a pet peeve of hers.

"you're saying it like rep-are-o" he explained before a large smile grew on his face at her confused one "it should be reh-pah-roh" he cast as he pointed her wand towards the teacup, it instantly fixing itself.

the girl let her face morph into one of shock and happiness as she squealed before picking up the nicely decorated white teacup. "diggory, you're a genius!" she complimented as she looked over the once cracked teacup.

cedric let a small blush rise on his neck as he sent her a grateful smile and hung his head, daniel noticed how his younger friends words had affected the older boy and let a small chuckle leave his lips before feeling the harsh jab from cedric's elbow into his ribs.

lydia looked up at the small grunt that daniel let out to see the boy clutching the area with a small wheeze before seeing a smiling cedric who gave her an encouraging smile. "do you think you could help me with my essay?" she asked hopefully before feeling her cheeks warm "only if you want to-" she was cut off from her rambling.

"sure, i'll find you later at lunch" he smiled at the girls words, she seemed to get quite nervous as she asked for his help.

she nodded eagerly before he got up and sent her a small wave, as he moved towards the stairs that let to the boys rooms to get ready. daniel waited until cedric was out of their sight before looking at lydia who had gone straight back to her charms book with a tiny grin.

"nice boy, isn't he?" daniel questioned his friend as he tried getting some kind of answer out of her. he knew that she didn't date but that didn't mean that she didn't have crushes.

but lydia blake had only ever had one crush in her whole life. the girl however was too scared to ask them out. that person was cho chang, a fourth year ravenclaw who played seeker on her quidditch team. the girl with long straight raven hair and the tremendously strong scottish accent, had hold of lydia blake's heart for a year without even knowing it.

lydia let out a hum of agreement as she didn't really pay attention to the boys words. she was more focused on trying to get facts for her essay. daniel let out a sigh trying to get her attention, apparently it was too quiet as when he didn't considerably louder the second time her head snapped to him with a raised eyebrow.

"so thoughts?" he pestered before she gave a muddled look "on cedric!" he whispered harshly as his eyes widened and his arms flailed around.

"he's a nice boy?" she answered however it came out more as a question as she didn't understand what the boy was trying to get her to say.

he flicked her in the forehead, earning a pinch back. "do you think he's attractive?" daniel interrogated as he leaned forward.

lydia didn't mean to let herself feel flustered at the very straight forward question, she stumbled over her words for a few seconds before taking a large breath and answering "yes, so?" she exhorted.

seeing lydia blake flustered was not a sight to be see often. the girl who would be turning boys and occasionally a few girls every day was not one to be nervous. she would always be the one making others flustered. and over a simple question none the less.

"so why don't you, you know- ask him out?" daniel encouraged his friend but after seeing the face she sent him all of the ideas already swarming in his head were pushed away.

"just because i find someone attractive, does not mean i fancy them" she said sternly before she shut her book on her lap frustrated "now please, leave me alone" she requested in a pleading voice.

daniel rolled his eyes before pushing himself off the chair, and looking down at the seemingly stressed girl "i'll bring you some breakfast if you're not there, but don't be late to class" he offered before walking away towards his room to get ready.

lydia rolled her eyes but she was thankful for her friend, she didn't know why she felt so reluctant to answer the boys questions. but the boy was gorgeous, and older, and could make anyone feel nervous. he was cedric diggory, for merlins sake!

――――

lydia had seemingly missed out on breakfast resulting in daniel grabbing her a small portion of fruit which he had put into a small zippy bag, which was then passed to sharon and after some reluctance the girl took the food with her to their first class together.

all three of the girls loved care of magical creatures and knew for some absurd reason they'd all pick it. and considering they were all hufflepuff that meant that they would all be in the same class. they shared this particular one with a few ravenclaws, gryffindors and the two random slytherins.

all the students had been led by professor grubbly-plank to the school greenhouse where they were instructed to put on goggles, gloves and gardening coats. all of them then surrounding a fairly large table where plant pots were spread out with a single green plant in the centre.

"does anyone know what this is?" professor grubbly-plank asked as her voice sent a slight shiver through sharon's body, the girl had never liked the woman.

barely any hands shot up considering no one in the room knew, well except elena cooper and a ravenclaw boy named marcus belby. the old woman looked between the two before deciding on marcus causing elena to let her hand fall disappointingly.

"a bowtruckle, they're usually found in western england, southern germany and certain scandanavian forests" the boy said smugly before everyone including a few ravenclaws rolled their eyes.

"very good mr. belby. ten points to ravenclaw" the woman awarded making his smug grin to grow wider, and a fellow ravenclaw to pat him on the back.

"now can someone tell me why they're so dangerous?" she asked and almost instantly lydia's hand shot up, after the boy had named the creature random facts had hit the girl like a bulldozer.

"it could gouge out an attackers eye if itself or its tree feels threatened" she recited the information she read as everyone listened intently. there was just something about the girl that was hypnotising, many claimed it was her eyes, her hair, or just her whole being.

"excellent! if another hufflepuff can tell me how to distract the creature they'll be awarded twenty points" the woman offered as sharon's instantly shot up.

the old woman nodded towards the girl as a small smile graced her face "wood lice or fair eggs?" she answered uncertain but the large smile the woman sent her calmed her nerves.

"that's twenty points to hufflepuff!" she awarded as the many hufflepuff fifth years sent thanks to the two girls.

"now i'd like you all to write a small paragraph this lesson describing the creature, state what you already know and what you can see. and in a different colour write the facts from your books that you were unaware off" the professor ordered before snapping her fingers causing a glass border to show up around the table and the creatures plant pots to disappear.

around thirty green stick creatures began running around in the box, their long green fingers didn't look dangerous but they all knew better. they were small but still the face they all shared looked emotionless, meaning the small creatures wouldn't care if they harmed someone.

the three hufflepuffs had gotten through the lesson without any problems. it was an advantage that they were hufflepuff considering that they were "one with the earth" as everyone liked to joke. but in a way it were true, hufflepuffs felt themselves drawn to herbology and care for magical creatures. it was one of the reasons that lydia wanted to be a magizoologist, it had been her dream since her first care of magical creatures class in third year.

――――

the three hufflepuffs then had potions for two hours and it was now time for lunch, lydia and sharon had finished their lessons for the day. however elena had arithmancy, after lunch with a few other fifth years and sixth years.

the three girls sat in the great hall contently as all the students piled in from their previous classes, a few seventh years looked about ready to die. which was a huge difference to the bouncing first years who were still getting used to the large place.

sharon and elena sat side by side as lydia sat across from them, the hufflepuff table was in between the ravenclaws and the gryffindors and from where was sitting she had a clear view of the gryffindor table. however she wished she hadn't, maybe then she'd be able to ignore the weasley twins waving her over.

but being the good natured girl she was she got up from her seat, pushing her half eaten plate forward away from the edge and beginning her way over to the weasley twins. she didn't notice the stares from multiple students, but they were oh, so obvious. everyone knew lydia blake, and everyone could agree she was breath- taking. she could grab the attention in the room within a minute.

she stood across from the two, angelina johnson a gryffindor quidditch player sat in front of her, unaware to her presence. "what would you two like?" she questioned as she crossed her arms, her voice caused angelina to jump around clutching her chest before realising who it was and calming down.

"merlin's beard! lydia. you down right nearly gave me a heart attack" the girl laughed as lydia sent a small apologetic smile.

the weasley twins grinned mischievously before wrapping their arms around eachother "can we not just want to talk to our friend?" fred asked offended.

although the girls look showed she wasn't interested and the boy cleared his throat "we heard you're struggling in charms, granger had some good notes" he continued as she tilted her head.

"why're you telling me?" she asked slightly cautious now, she felt as if the two boys would prank her at any moment.

"to make up for last years prank" george explained seeing how the girl wouldn't want to believe the. they both sat worried before her cautious look broke out into a gentle smile.

she remembered what they had done to her in her fourth year, she didn't realise they had done it until daniel pointed it out. they had changed her golden strawberry blonde hair into a ghastly blue. sure she didn't look horrible because it matched her eyes, but her hair was her most prized possession. it took two days before the spell had worn off.

"thank you guys" she said gratefully before she began striding down the gryffindor table towards harry potter, ronald weasley and hermione granger.

she had never spoken to either of the three once, but she felt like they were nice enough kids. it didn't matter that hermione was a year younger she knew the gryffindor girl was one of the smartest people in the school and would certainly be able to help her.

"why is lydia blake coming towards us?" ron asked as he dropped his teaspoon into his bowl, the contents of the food splashing up slightly.

harry's head snapped towards where the boy was staring before he quickly cleaned himself and sat up straight. hermione rolled her eyes as she continued rolling the food around her plate "i don't see what everyone see's in her" the girl muttered.

lydia had gotten there quite quickly and sent smiles to the two boys watching her intently, if she payed enough attention she'd have noticed that half of the hall was waiting for what she'd do next. she slowly brought her hand to hermione shoulder, tapping the girl twice.

the small, pretty, dirty blonde haired witch turned to her with a confused face before she felt herself visibly relax under the girls touch "yes?" she asked softly, hermione hard facade she just displayed, crumbled immediately when looking into her eyes.

no matter how hard many people tried to hate lydia blake. it was damn right near impossible. sure sometimes her being anything but perfect got a bit overwhelming. but could they really hate someone that only was nice to others.

"i was wondering if i could borrow your charms notes?" lydia asked as she moved from foot to foot. "i could help you in another lesson, even though you probably don't need it considering you're really smart-" the hufflepuff slightly rambled as she stared at the younger girl.

the gryffindor girl looked shocked as the hufflepuff sent her a warm smile. probably the most popular girl in school was asking her for her notes, in front of everyone. and she wasn't being a bitch, she actually seemed genuinely nice.

"sure" hermione instantly agreed as she opened her bag and pulled them out "i'll tell you if i need help in another class" hermione added as she watched lydia not move from the spot.

the deck of revision notes was large and would probably help her out more than she thought. she threw an arm around hermione's neck hugging her slightly before kissing the younger girls head "merci mon ami" she thanked before waving goodbye as she walked back to her table.

hermione blushed furiously as harry and ron stared at her wide-eyed. as well as most of the hall. they had seen her send sharon, elena and daniel kisses on the cheeks or foreheads but they were her friends. and the fact she just kissed hermione granger of all people on the forehead had them thinking. did they just need to be smart to get her attention?

"you kissed lydia blake before me?" ron exclaimed with a gobsmacked expression as his still stature didn't seem to be moving anytime soon.

"how does it feel?" colin creevey asked as he pulled his camera out aiming it at the girl, hermione was still trying to grab her thoughts before the flash of his camera snapped her out of it.

"maybe she's not that bad" hermione grumbled as she quickly recomposed herself and began eating again, although that didn't wipe the smile off her face.

lydia had sat back down and ignored her fellow students as they stared at her, the hufflepuffs weren't as shocked knowing how the girl openly shared her affection with others. "i think you gave granger a heart attack" sharon laughed as she pointed behind her.

"she's a nice girl" lydia laughed lightly as she began to finish off her left over potatoes which had been covered in large amounts of butter.

"you're really giving hogwarts hope" elena pointed out as she watched lydia raise an eyebrow in question, elena only groaned "people are really thinking they have a chance, with the girl who doesn't date" she explained as sharon nodded in agreement.

"they're not wrong" daniel said draping a heavy arm around her shoulder as he sat beside lydia, behind him stood cedric with a smile.

"hey, diggory, when's quidditch tryouts?" sharon asked as she looked up at the captain, lydia turned to the older boy and nodded in acknowledgement.

"i already told you, your spots guaranteed" he nearly laughed as he watched her expression turn sheepish before she took a sip of her pumpkin juice.

"won't stop her from showing off" elena countered as she wrapped an arm around her friend "and we're so proud of her" she added as she began peppering kisses around her face. sharon let her do so before pulling away with a look of fake disgust.

"blake, should we go now?" cedric asked as he stuck a hand out for her to use when leaving the bench. she assumed he meant to study and nodded.

"excuse me, you can't take our bestfriend and not tell us where?" elena nearly screeched as she watched lydia take cedric's hand and stand.

they were still rough she noted. she would've scolded him if they were friends. but alas they were only mere acquaintances.

"we know you think she's "the most beautiful girl to ever grace hogwarts" but that gives you no right!" sharon detested as a deep scarlet blush took over cedric's face.

elena and sharon smirked before fist bumping eachother under the table, lydia looked surprised as her ears turned pink and she turned to see the sixth year boy who looked redder than a strawberry. lydia thought it looked cute though, like he had just tried tanning.

"okay, let's go" cedric said as he placed one arm around her back grabbing her furthest shoulder and another on the arm closest to him, he began to quickly rush her away.

"what was that about, diggory?" she asked with a small smirk as they weaved their way through the tables and student's walking around. selene was oblivious to the eyes watching them but cedric only seemed to go darker as he noticed them. he was used to stares but not that many.

who wouldn't stare though, hufflepuffs golden students. the perfect boy and the perfect girl. they looked like they could be a couple. and from the way they were rushing they looked about ready to get away from everyone else and only be in each others presence.

when cedric didn't answer, the girl lightly laughed before ruffling his hair. they had just gotten out of the hall "i think you're quite alright yourself, diggory" she complimented before he turned to her feeling confident.

"just alright?" he asked as he didn't seem to believe her. was the boy flirting with her? he couldn't have been.

she pushed the slightly flirty tone away from her voice as she chuckled awkwardly "just alright" she nodded before they made their way to the library to begin the revision session that lydia was slightly dreading.

――――

the two had been near the restricted section of the library and had been studying for nearly an hour. lydia had seemed to nearly be finished with her essay. and cedric was no leaning back in his chair as he was making a book on the table levitate.

"so why do you keep rejecting tyler?" cedric asked curiously even though he remembered what daniel had told him yesterday, he wanted to see what she'd say.

"i don't date" she said plainly as she didn't remove her eyes from her parchment, her handwriting was small and neat. it was no wonder it was taking her so long to finish.

"come on there must be one person you'd want to date" he pestered, it wasn't like cedric. but the girl didn't seem to be offended or irritated.

she let out a hum of disagreement, but that didn't satisfy the boy enough. "there must have been a special boy" he argued.

she finally sighed before dropping her quill and looking up at the boy, he didn't seem like he was going to give up. "there was this girl..." she started not knowing how the boy would take it.

however the look on cedric's face urged her to continue and reveal who it was, he didn't even seem to care that it was another girl. "cho chang, okay!" she whispered making sure that not another soul would hear it.

"the ravenclaw?" he asked as a small smile began to grow on his face. "she is pretty" he agreed.

"she's gorgeous!" lydia nearly yelled as she let her smile grow at the thought of the girl. she didn't like her anymore but it didn't mean the thought of the girl didn't give her butterflies.

"so you like girls?" cedric asked although he mentally face palmed himself considering it was quite obvious

"and boys" she said as she went back to her work, pointing a finger up as if to make it clear. cedric nodded understandingly.

"there are about a hundred over students in hogwarts who would love a chance to go out with you" cedric started "maybe you should give one of them a chance" his voice sounded suggestive as he thought of his friend.

lydia gave him a look of disbelief "no, they just feel bad i've never had a boyfriend" she laughed slightly as she looked at the boy. although he didn't laugh with her.

"and who's put that absurd thought in you head, love?" cedric asked absentmindedly leaning forward as he leaned his chin on his knuckles.

"i mean what could they possibly find interesting about me, love?" she asked imitating the boy as she also copied his position.

"i wasn't lying when i said you were beautiful" cedric said as he started directly into the girls eyes.

he noticed that her iris was outlined by an extremely thin layer of grey. it complimented the deep blue that her eyes were. it reminded him of the ocean near his house in devon. although, more of the bottom of the ocean floor than the top.

she felt herself begin to blink rapidly as she processed his words. the boy questioned himself as to why he was saying those things.

"you know i'm part veela?" she said as she changed the subject not knowing how to react. pulling herself back away from the boy.

cedric looked surprised for a second as he stayed quiet waiting for her to continue "my maman is french. and my cousins go to beauxbaton's, they're part veela too" she continued, she didn't know where she was going with this but it was nice to talk about them.

"when i came here my father thought i'd be ravenclaw, like himself. my mèmè is a veela, and she wanted me to go to beauxbatons but my father couldn't bear leaving london. so instead we go to france for christmas and birthdays" cedric just smiled at her.

"anyway, enough about me. what about you?" she asked the boy as she quickly wiped the memories of her and her older cousin fleur playing in her mèmè's flower garden.

"well i'm from devon, so are both of my parents. my dad's a half-blood and my mums a pure blood. i'm closer to my dad" the boy didn't exactly know what to say "i don't have any sisters of brothers. but i wish i did" he continued "but then i wouldn't be my dad's pride and joy" he laughed.

lydia found herself listening intently to the boy as he began rambling, he probably didn't know that he was. but he spoke about his dad mainly, the way he described him sounded as if he were his bestfriend. he usually spoke about how his dad got him into quidditch and would take him to the quidditch world cup every year.

the conversation then moved to quidditch and how lydia wasn't very fond of it, she found it dangerous but she tolerated it because of sharon's love. she started speaking about elena and sharon and cedric spoke about daniel and tyler.

by the time they were finished it was nearly time for cedric to do his prefect duty by patrolling the halls. lydia had finished her essay some time that night in the library that they spoke. they packed away all the stuff they borrowed and began walking back to the common room.

"thank you for your help tonight, diggory" the short girl thanked the boy as they stood outside of the common room. she didn't know whether they could consider each other friends or if they were still acquaintance considering it was only one conversation. a very nice conversation. but still one.

"anytime, blake. need anymore help just find me" he smiled as he opened the common room for her considering her books kept her hands busy.

she sent one more smile before turning around prepared to get ready for bed and just sleep. she honestly had tired herself out speaking to cedric. "blake!" cedric spoke loudly causing her to stop and turn around.

"i'm sure that people don't ask you out because they feel bad" he said in all honesty as the girl stopped and just looked at him. she didn't know what to say so she just nodded before going back in.