♙CHAPTER THREE♙

( LYDIA BLAKE )

ONE: ACQUAINTANCE

"cared for some in a specific way more than others"

6th september 1994

since that day in the library cedric and lydia hadn't spoken to eachother, and lydia knew she was right. they couldn't have been friends. but that didn't worry her too much, it was now saturday and they were allowed to hogsmeade. sharon and elena hadn't asked any questions about what her and cedric spoke about or did and she was glad, but she knew her friends and she knew that they were eventually going to.

it was nine in the morning and the three girls stood lined up ready to sign out for the day, they were all dressed in jeans, t shirts, jumper, hoodies, cardigans. anything to keep them from freezing in the slightly harsh weather.

they planned to go to honeydukes and grab a few treats which they would probably finish before they arrived to the three broomsticks, the three found a nice small booth by the windows and settled down before lydia went to go and buy them three butter beers.

after she arrived with the drinks the three girls savoured the taste, no words being exchanged. lydia had missed the taste of the warm sweet liquid going doing her throat. they didn't sell them in france. the froth on the top was her favourite and the part she looked forward to most.

"diggory" sharon said as she placed her cup down on the table quite harshly, the jolt making lydia nearly jump.

she sat across from her two best friends and only stared at them knowing it was coming "yes?" she asked innocently.

"what did you even do?" elena asked as she crossed her arms leaning on the table, the look she sent lydia was softer and more welcoming. however sharon's was harsh as if she were hurt.

"we studied charms" lydia shrugged, she honestly felt bad that neither of her friends knew. sharon seemed almost hurt that the girl hadn't told her anything about that night.

"just studied?" the raven haired girl nearly laughed "with a boy that looks like that. i know you lydia and i know you don't date, but even you would want to grab his face and kiss him" she finished with a stern look.

sharon had been on the quidditch team with cedric since her second year. the two were sort of friends but not the kind to have meaningful conversations. and sharon never admitted when she thought someone was goodlooking, but cedric was an exception.

lydia blushed furiously, something she had been way too much. "and spoke" she shrugged as she thought back to that night.

she was quite upset when cedric hadn't made the effort to speak to her the next day, but then again she could've spoken to him. and they weren't friends anyway, so it didn't matter.

"about?" both girls asked at the same time as they were slightly growing annoyed at their friends vague answers. something that didn't happen usually.

"i honestly can't remember half of the things we talked about." she admitted, both girls rolling their eyes. she let a small smile grace her features before smiling "but it was nice. it was really nice"

sharon let a large grin settle on her face, that being all she needed from her friend. elena however squealed earning multiple looks from people but she ignored them, she grabbed her friends hand and held it tightly.

――――

they had gone back to school and quickly separated. they may have been best friends but they were never able to handle being in each others presences for too long. elena claimed she was going to study but lydia knew she was probably going to have a conversation with a certain slytherin.

draco and elena certainly weren't friends, but that didn't mean that elena didn't like him. and from the way draco looked at her proved he felt something. since draco's third year, him and elena had been sneaking off to the abandoned girls toilets and they would just talk. nothing more. nothing less.

sharon made her way to the quidditch pitch to practice for the tryouts which were on monday. lydia didn't know where daniel was, but she guessed he was either with diggory or jones. both boys who she was not in the mood to talk to at the moment.

she walked around the halls of the school, dressed in her teal blue dress with her black tights. her black heels echoed throughout the fairly empty halls as she began to braid her hair into a fishtail. she usually fiddled with it whenever she was bored.

she stopped herself as she could see a girl sitting alone on a bench in on the left corner of the corridor, she debated going over to see who it was or going into the great hall which was to her right. she went with the first and slowly approached the girl. the bushy brown hair was recognisable upon further inspection.

"granger?" lydia asked as she stood a few feet away from the girl who looked distracted. hermione didn't reply as she stared forward at the door to the hall in front of her.

lydia felt herself growing concerned as she walked closer to the girl placing a hand on her shoulder, although when hermione didn't move she bent down in front of her so her face was directly in front. she brought her hand up and snapped a finger which seemed to work.

"you okay?" lydia questioned as hermione pulled herself back out of lydia's hold. the hufflepuff not being hurt by her reaction.

"sorry, i'm fine. did you say something?" hermione said as she quickly covered up her state not wanting to worry anyone.

"you seem tired" lydia said ignoring her question, she stood up and stuck her hand out to help the girl stand. "i think we should get you back to bed" she suggested with a tiny grin.

hermione didn't feel like arguing as all she wanted to do was sleep anyway, she took the girls hand to stand and felt lydia wrap a comforting arm around her shoulder as she showed the older girl to the gryffindor common room.

hermione didn't let the painting that covered her common room say anything before she muttered the words "banana fritters" and the painting moved to the side, letting both girls enter.

"well, this is different" lydia mumbled to herself as she looked around at the room which was so different to her houses. she led hermione to a couch before the younger girl literally collapsed on one of them. lydia deciding to sit on one across from her.

"so, are you going to tell me why you're so tired?" lydia asked. she had never acted this concerned over someone, not when they weren't friends. she had spoken to hermione once but the fact the girl was younger made her feel more protective.

"i've been doing a lot of work" hermione said honestly as she shut her eyes and lay on her back lydia just nodded before remembering hermione couldn't see her.

"you shouldn't put so much pressure on yourself, you're smart enough to take a day away from work" lydia began, her tone sounded as if she were scolding the girl but her words were sincere.

hermione only nodded before opening her eyes and turning her body onto its side to see lydia "why're you being so nice to me?" she didn't care that the question was blunt, she was so confused. her and lydia weren't even friends.

"because you're a nice girl" lydia said simply, as she stared at the girl. she looked so innocent and small. she reminded her of her cousin gabrielle, maybe that was why she felt protective. she let out a giggle making hermione raise her eyebrow.

"what?" the girl asked feeling conscious, as she felt her knees bend. her legs being brought up slightly.

"nothing. sorry- you just remind me of my cousin" lydia said as a soft look crossed her face. she loved her cousins with her whole heart and even speaking about them lifted her mood instantly.

"does she go to hogwarts?" hermione asked curiously, lydia seemed to have no intention of leaving so she decided to actually speak to her.

"she goes to beauxbatons in france. she's only eleven, she's this pretty little blonde girl, very pale. but she is also extremely intelligent, for such a small thing" she laughed "you know i was having this exact conversation with diggory not even a week ago" she said before she remembered they weren't friends and let her face take a content look.

"why'd you call him diggory?" hermione asked confused, she though they were friends.

"well, we're not friends" lydia said as a sad glint passed her eyes and her lips sightly tugged to a frown as she tilted her head.

"i thought you two had something going on. i saw you leave the hall on wednesday" hermione explained as she moved her hands underneath of her head. she was becoming increasingly more tired by the second.

lydia felt that stupid blush begin before she let out a dramatic gasp before covering her mouth with fake shock. "don't be loud, you'll expose our secret relationship!" she joked. hermione caught on quickly and began to laugh.

it was a sight. she had a very pretty smile, lydia thought to herself. her eyes became smaller as she put her head down. although her body was the only thing that was still, as her thick hair waved around her face. it stopped as a yawn left her lips.

"can i plait your hair?" lydia suddenly asked as she noticed hermione would probably pass out in a few seconds. hermione seemed reluctant but nodded eventually.

lydia looked triumphant before jumping up and moving behind hermione's chair, she began to section her thick hair and do a simple plait. by the time she was finished, hermione was out cold. the girl smiled before grabbing a quilt and covering her.

she made sure hermione looked comfortable before smiling triumphantly and began to walk towards the exit. but when the face of the 'boy who lived' suddenly bumped into her, she had to pause. she held her hands out to stop harry as he looked scared. he was about to apologise but she shot a hand to her lips to stop him.

"granger's sleeping, don't be loud" she pointed a thumb behind her as harry scrunched his eyebrows. "please let her sleep, she needs it" she nearly begged as harry looked at her confused but nodded anyway.

as far as he knew lydia and hermione had spoken once. and before that hermione didn't even seem to like the girl. but now lydia was nearly begging him to let her rest and looked to be leaving her alone after, spending time with her? she sent a grateful smile before patting his shoulder and leaving the sleeping girl and the boy with his thoughts.

――――

after lydia left harry and hermione she made her way to the great hall for lunch, she couldn't see sharon and saw elena sitting with katie bell and cormac mclaggen. mclaggen was an annoying git in her opinion, but she never shared her distaste to him. because like every other person in the world, he had his good moments.

she saw that her table had hufflepuffs that she never really spoke to, but she also saw daniel, cedric and tyler. she went with the latter and began walking over to the empty space next to tyler. she said nothing as she let out a small grunt as an indication she was there. "lydia blake, sitting next to me willingly?" tyler asked incredulously as she stared at the small girl next to him.

"only because my friends are occupied" she said honestly, before sending him a tiny smile "but you're not that repulsive" she joked. he let a playful a grin cross his face before throwing an arm around her.

"you know i think i've realised why you won't go out with me" he admitted, the two had either forgotten about daniel and cedric or just weren't showing them interest.

"and why is that?" she asked curiously as she leaned her chin into his arm which crossed around her neck.

"you're more into girls aren't you?" he asked although he knew. whether she admitted it or not, he knew. they were barely friends, but he knew more about the girl that he liked to admit.

and it was for this simple fact that he wouldn't like her anymore. not because he was homophobic or anything of the sorts, but because he knew that there was nothing he could say or do to get her to go out with him. because she simply wasn't attracted to him.

she laughed a little before tilting her head. "i'm more of a one soul at a time kind of girl" she smirked. she didn't feel weird admitting it to him, and he didn't seem to care when he suggested it, so she felt comfortable.

"hello, we're here too" daniel suddenly interrupted as he clapped his hands in between their faces. the two teenagers turning to face him and cedric.

"had to ruin the moment, didn't you?" tyler asked with an eye roll as he left out a scoff, his arm not leaving her neck .

"well seeing you flirt with a girl who i consider my sister is quite disgusting" daniel said as he began shaking his head. lydia suddenly sat up straighter.

"we were not flirting!" she objected as she slammed her hands on the table in front of her. it earned a few glances, the people who looked doing double glances after seeing her and jones' position.

"that was flirting" cedric agreed with daniel as he stared the girl directly in her eyes. her intoxicating blue eyes.

she sent a small glare to cedric, but she looked more cute than scary, it was nearly impossible for her to look scary. but in serious situations the girl could be more terrifying than a dementor, that was a side of lydia blake that no one but her family had seen. it was all thanks to her being part veela, although she couldn't transform into the large bird her face did shift to a rather ghastly one.

the conversation was suddenly interrupted as lydia's owl flew in through one of the opened windows. she had two pets, a black cat and a white owl. her owl was called snowy, she was four when she named him in her defence. the owl dropped a letter in front of her before flying straight through the opened doors.

all the boys raised their eyebrows at the blood red letter which had a gold stamp on the centre. the girl nearly groaned in annoyance as she pushed the letter away. "who's that from?" cedric asked curiously as daniel grabbed it to further inspect it.

"mahoutokor school of magic!" the boy said dramatically as he shook his head to see if he was reading it correctly. tyler grabbed the letter as he heard the name, his arm leaving lydia's neck.

"why are they writing you?" he asked as he opened the letter, he pushed the girls arm away as she tried grabbing it. he began to read through it before cedric snatched it.

"not our business" the boy said plainly as he handed it back to her, she sent a meek smile as she hid it on her lap.

"they're asking you to reconsider spending your fifth year there" tyler stated shocked as he turned to look at her. she shrunk back at their stares as she turned a slight pink colour. "they're probably the best wizarding school in the world" he nearly yelled. "you got in!"

she let out an arrogant look cross her face before she let out an extremely short laugh "what? like it's hard" she questioned as she looked between their shocked faces.

"narcissist isn't a good look on you" daniel rebuked as he focused his gaze on her. she let out a huff before letting out a small sorry.

"anyway i'm not going, my home is at hogwarts with my best friends" she said with a large smile. the thought of leaving sharon, elena or daniel upset her to no end and there was no way she would be leaving any time soon.

"is there anything you can't do, blake?" tyler asked impressed as he stared at the girl. he remembered why he was so obsessed with the girl last year. she was a female cedric.

"charms" cedric laugh out before covering it up with a cough as the girl sent a shocked look that held amusement.

"how dare you, diggory!" her eyes widened as she shot him a look to say she couldn't believe he had just said that.

the boy only shrugged before he leaned forward and sent a soft punch to her arm "only a joke between some friends" he used as an apology.

friends. he considered them friends. lydia let herself think it over before agreeing. they were friends, they may have only been speaking for a few days. but he saw her as a friend.

"alright, diggory" she nodded as the smile stayed intact. daniel grinned at his friends as he watched the small interaction. this was the first step to them falling in love he thought.

"kitty!" a very recognisable voice called out as rushed footsteps began approaching the group. nearly everyone in the hall was watching sharon todd as she hurried to her friend.

she had her hair in her usual messy bun as she wore pyjama shorts and a large jumper which had been stolen from her older brother. her feet were padded with trainers considering she probably ran from the hufflepuff common room to the hall. it was a sight, but a lovely sight to most. the girls tanned legs were a something to see, barely ever on display. you would have to treasure the sight as much as possible.

most boys stared at her with the same looks they'd give lydia. a look of lust. and lydia knew that sharon was loving it. she always loved the attention, one main reason she had joined the quidditch team. she'd always be on display.

"yes, my love?" lydia asked as she looked up at her friend who now stood in front of her with her arms crossed.

"we have care of magical creatures homework you promised to do with me" she reminded as lydia let out a tiny breath. she was about to continue but a yell from the slytherin table stopped her.

"nice legs, todd!" the male voice yelled, they couldn't see who it was but it was accompanied by a few wolf whistles and claps from others on the ravenclaw and gryffindor table.

both girls were oblivious to the longing looks from the other two boys on the table, daniel's was the most entertaining. his mouth was slightly open as drool nearly began to exit. he may have a small disliking towards the girl but he wouldn't deny she was attractive

"i'd much rather kiss you then one of these idiots" sharon said honestly as she stared at lydia, she may have loved the attention but not when it was from slytherins.

"no one's stopping you" tyler said happily with an opened mouth smile as he stared at the girl with a smile. daniel and cedric both sent him a small kick at the same time.

"nice to see you too, jones" sharon laughed lightly as she sent a tiny wave to the boy. him nodding his head in reply.

"thank you for this encounter boys, but the love of my life is calling" lydia joked as she go up and sent a kiss to sharon's forehead. she waved to each boy, cedric being the only one in his right sense to wave back with a smile before they left the hall.

it seemed to be that no matter how many pretty girls were in a room he'd always focus on lydia. he did find simply alluring.

"diggory is so in love with you" sharon laughed when they were out of hearing range, lydia felt her heart jump at her friends words before slightly pushing her friend.

"we're just friends" she whispered before following up with a smirk "but he is hot, isn't he?" and with that she quickly rushed in front of friend not wanting to see her reaction.

"lydia cordelia blake!" sharon gasped before running up to her friend and jumping on the girls back. lydia nearly stumbled but caught her friend and let out a very loud laugh.

"what are you two lesbos doing?" elena asked as she joined the girls side, she looked very flustered as she sent a playful smile.

"oh elena, my heart will always belong to you" sharon said dramatically as lydia threw her off her back. sharon moved in between her two friends throwing an arm around each of their shoulders.

"but seriously, i love you guys" she admitted with a grin, as her head swapped between the two girls.

"i love you too" lydia and elena said simultaneously as they enjoyed the small moment.