The Golden Quartet (Harry Potter x Reader x Cedric Diggory)

Third Year - Chapter 2

The entire Hufflepuff dormitory was quiet when you woke up. In your nervousness and excitement, you had gotten up extra early. Padfoot was still asleep, not even stirring as you got out of the bed. You watched a gecko scramble past your window. That was something you could never get used to but thoroughly enjoyed— the windows in the Hufflepuff dorm being at exactly ground level. Adjusting your tie and tucking your wand into the waistband of your skirt, you exited your room and headed towards the kitchen.

As far as you knew, you technically weren't breaking any school rules. With the sun having broken through the horizon, curfew was over. The barrels rolled out the way and you stepped through, nose immediately upturning at the delicious scent in the air. Did being by the kitchen mean you always smelled such wonderful things in the morning? Because if it did, Hufflepuff was getting better by the second for you. Your feet carried you into the kitchen where a few house elves briefly turned to look at you. One in particular, with rather large eyes, looked at you before jumping up suddenly. Your eyes followed him until he suddenly disappeared only to reappear with another house elf in tow.

"Mistress Black?"

"Kreacher?" you asked in a mix of shock and confusion. It had been years since you had seen the house elf.

The little elf ran up to you and grabbed your hand. He began to move towards one of the many kitchen islands, you having to bend down a little to keep your hand in his. Kreacher began to ramble about how he had been so lonely in Grimmauld Place. After you had been kicked out, the few relatives of the Black family that weren't already married with other families decided to join some of the darker wizards in your family tree. But following any path that led to Voldemort also led to death; and, soon the little elf was left with no one.

Kreacher patted the spot on the island and you took a seat. You graciously accepted the hot chocolate he prepared with a small thank you. You couldn't remember much about Kreacher, only the fact that he didn't seem to care that you were a Squib. You did remember that he tended to have a temper with everyone and anyone that wasn't in the Black family.

"Day one and they are already feeding you."

You turned your head at the voice to see Cedric Diggory. He gave you a smile as he approached and took a seat. Noticing Cedric talking to you, Kreacher handed the Prefect a cup of hot chocolate as well. Cedric reached around you to grab your schedule that was peeking out from your school bag. He scanned it over before summoning a quill out of seemingly thin air and making lots of scribbles on it. He handed it back to you.

"The circled ones are classes with no magic required, stars need magic and if underlined you should sit in the back and try not to be noticed by the professors."

"Thank you... why are you being so nice?" You asked skeptically.

"Truly? Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout are worried about you... adjusting to Hogwarts." Cedric struggled to find the right word.

"So you're just a babysitter," you muttered into your hot chocolate.

"Not a babysitter, think of me like an older brother," he said, scratching the back of his head.

"Well, I've never had an older brother before."

"And I've never had a younger sister. Here's to fake younger sisters." He held up his cup of hot chocolate.

"Here's to fake older brothers," you mimicked.

With morning drinks finished, you left Cedric to go up the stairs while you exited the castle. Your first class of the day was Herbology. A class that you were informed by both Professor McGonagall and Cedric would be one that you would probably enjoy very much. Professor Sprout was pleasantly surprised to see you there bright and early.