Unreal

Chp 100.5 Through the Pages

We reached a table tucked into the corner, light spilling in from the high windows. Cedric slid the book in front of him and flipped it open, the quiet rustle of the pages filling the space between us.

"Cedric," I started, my voice hesitant, "about the task—"

"You're not going to scare me out of it, Aeris," he said, teasing, not looking up. "Unless your big plan was to bore me to death with statistics."

"I'm serious," I tried again, but it came out less convincing than I wanted.

He only grinned, eyes on the page. "That's what you said before the Second Task, remember?"

"This is different," I insisted, leaning forward.

But he didn't seem to catch the weight in my tone, mistaking it for playful banter. "If this is your way of psyching me out, you'll have to do better than that," he said, flicking another page with an easy smile.

I sat back, my chest tightening with a quiet, creeping sadness he didn't notice.

We stayed tucked in the far corner of the library, the sun filtering in through the tall arched windows, catching motes of dust in the still air. The murmur of Madam Pince at the front desk and the soft turning of pages from scattered students made it feel... safe, for now.

We'd talked spells for a while—Cedric leaning forward over the book he'd been flipping through for the last fifteen minutes, me skimming the margins for anything useful, half of my mind still knotted with thoughts I couldn't voice.

Eventually, my stomach made the decision for me. I closed my book with a soft thud and pushed back my chair. "I think I'll head down for lunch," I murmured, standing and adjusting my jumper.

I'd barely taken a step when Cedric stood as well. "Hey—" His tone was warm, casual, but there was something hopeful in it. "Do you want to join me later? Bit of spell practice?"

I paused mid-step. The first thought that leapt into my head wasn't about the spells. Would Fred be okay with this? He wouldn't... mind. Right? Cedric's face looked so genuinely expectant that I found myself hesitating, then quietly deciding. It's just practice. Cedric and I are friends. That's all.

"...Alright," I said after a moment, managing a small smile.

His eyes lit up, and he gave me a short wave before sinking back into his seat, already flipping to another page.

I walked out of the library, the echo of his invitation still lingering in my mind—along with the faintest prickle of guilt I couldn't quite explain.

•••

By the time I reached the Great Hall, the lunchtime hum was already in full swing. Sunlight spilled down through the enchanted ceiling, painting the long tables in a gentle midday glow. Plates clinked and goblets caught the light as chatter rolled over the room in a comforting, chaotic wave—students leaning close to swap gossip, bursts of laughter carrying from the Gryffindor table, the faint aroma of roast chicken and fresh bread curling in the air.

I started toward the Ravenclaw table, eyes already on my usual spot near the far end where Luna would no doubt be tucked away—

A warm hand suddenly wrapped around my waist.

I jolted, heart leaping into my throat, and spun around.

Fred was grinning at me like I'd just made his entire day. "Merlin, you should've seen your face," he chuckled, slipping his other hand into mine before pressing a quick kiss to my forehead.

"Fred," I hissed under my breath, cheeks heating, "there's people here."

He didn't even glance around. "Yeah. And?" His smirk deepened. "I'll send them all a thank-you card for witnessing this moment."