Its been about two weeks since I've arrived to the house of Hufflepuff and I've now acclimated nicely. I soon came to find out that Luna is not a peaceful sleeper and that she tends to sleepwalk quite often, in spite of this she sleeps with her shoes on just in case she wanders off during the night. She says it doesn't bother her much to sleep in her shoes, claims she's gotten used to it. Luna also took it upon herself to instruct me to not ever wake her if I notice her sleepwalking, as it is very dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. She claims that she's never gotten into much trouble and is usually never in any real danger.

Anytime Luna sleepwalks, I always hearing the clicking of the door and her heavy footsteps, but it's not anything I can't handle. Personally, I find it quite scary to see her sleepwalking, so I would never approach her or get in her way, unless it were to be absolutely necessary.

Cedric and I have been working on our Transfiguration project all day in the Hufflepuff commons eager to be done with. Each of us seated on our own comfortable yellow cushion, surrounding an oak coffee table.

"So, what do you think?" Cedric asks turning to me. I inspect the project once more checking for any flaws.

"I don't know" I announce nervously, biting down on my lower lip, "you think it's good enough to earn us an A?"

He laughs, "Y/n, with me as your partner, your guaranteed an A" he beams, with a cheeky smile. I roll my eyes in response.

"Ok, whatever you say" I hum, starting to lower my voice: "teachers pet."

Cedric immediately turns his attention away from the project and faces me with grin, "what'd you say y/l/n" he cheerfully challenges.

I clear my throat dramatically getting ready to repeat myself, but louder this time with a smirk: "I said, teachers pet."

Without another word Cedric launches himself onto me tickling my sides and stomach, mercilessly. I explode into a furry of laughter as I scramble at his touch, "Ced please" I plead with laughter. "Not until you apologize" he announces with a laugh as he continues to attack my sides.

*throat clears*

Straight away, Cedric ceases the tickle fight, still keeping his hands around my figure and turns his attention to whoever is in front of us, I follow doing the same. Shit. I feel my cheeks and ears flush red before pulling myself away from Cedrics grasp.

"Hey Harry" I greet innocently, taming my hair from the surge of events that just happened.

"Hey y/n" he replies, "Ced" he greets nodding towards his direction, "Er-um, we're all ready to go, so we'll be waiting for you lot outside" he announces awkwardly, before heading out the main barrel door.

"Ready?" Cedric questions with a weak smile as he stands up offering me his hand. I refuse his hand, not caring to give him another glance and get up on my own before walking out of the Hufflepuff commons. As soon as I walk out I'm immediately greeted by Luna, Hermione and Harry, who've been patently waiting by the door for me and Ced.

"You lot been waiting long?" I question, embarrassed.

"Not at all" Hermione asserts with a smile, "now come, Hogsmeade waits."

As we walk off into the direction of Hogsmeade I hear Harry and Ced begin to chat behind us girls on the way to The Three Broomsticks.

"You alright Y/n, you seem a bit- flustered" Luna questions kindly, linking her arm with mine.

"Yeah, of course" I respond nonchalantly, with a fake smile. "Never better."

---

We finally make it to The Three Broomsticks and take a seat in a circular booth located in the corner of the pub, the only booth that could fit all of us. "I'll order us butterbeers" I announce, before any of them can take a seat.

I walk on over to the bar and order five butter beers for me and my friends and decide to take a seat at the bar while I wait for them. Fuck, I can't believe the scene Cedric and I displayed in the common room today, how embarrassing. If Draco ever got word of it he would kill Cedric for instigating such a thing. I don't understand why Cedric would do that though, he knows I'm with Draco and he knows that I love him. Oh, and not to mention two weeks ago at the Slyhterin match! He was inches away from kissing me, I sigh.

"Ma'am" the bartender announces motioning his hands in front of me, "Ma'am!"

I jump out of my seat due to the suddenness of his voice, "My apologizes sir, thank you" I say to the bartender as I grab the tray filled with butterbeers. As I approach the booth I see only one vacant see available and of course, its one on the end, next to Cedric. I place the tray down in the center of the table and take a seat next to Cedric. Everyone reaches to the center grabbing a butterbeer, except Cedric. He grabs two, placing one in front of me and the other in front of him. "Thanks" I mutter in response.

The whole table joins in on a conversation about Quidditch and the next match which is Gryffindor v. Hufflepuff. Cedric and Harry playfully go back and forth each one claiming that their team is more superior than the other. I try my best to keep focused on the conversation at hand but struggle, I can't help but feel guilty. I feel like I've hurt Draco by letting the tickle fight from earlier happen and guilty for not telling him about how Cedric almost kissed me. However, my thoughts are quickly interrupted by warm hand.

"Feeling alright Y/n?" Cedric questions rubbing my arm, to which I respond to by quickly jumping out of my seat.

"Er- I just remembered I have somewhere I need to be right now" I smile weekly glancing at all of my friends who're seated around the table, "I'll catch you guys later."

Without waiting to hear a response, I walk out of the pub and into the windy night.

Not even a minute goes by before I hear a familiar Hufflepuff shout my name.

"Go away Cedric" I shout, not caring to turn back and face him, but doing this only seemed to encourage him more. His footsteps start to increase in speed as they get closer, "Look can we just talk, please?" he announces in a low tone, eventually catching up to me.

"Fine." I announce, sternly "Explain to me why you almost kissed me that night after the Quidditch match and explain to me why you overstepped earlier today and found it ok to initiate a tickle fight" I state coldly crossing my arms as I await his response.

He exhales deeply, "That night after the match I was out of line and I apologize deeply y/n, but I would've never went through with it no matter how badly I wanted to" he consoles furrowing his brows, "And as for earlier today I do apologize, but in the moment you never said or did anything that would point to you not being pleased with what was happening. Aside from your playful pleading, but i never truly made you feel uncomfortable did I?" he questions with worry in his eyes.

"No, I guess not" I struggle to force out, biting the inside of my cheek.

"So you admit, earlier today was consensual then?"

"I guess so" I sigh in defeat, "I just feel guilty".

"Y/n, I would never do anything that would intentionally jeopardize your relationship with Malfoy" he scoffs lightheartedly, "you must know that."

"I know that" I say looking down at my toes, feeling a bit embarrassed, "but the kiss, what about that?"

He laughs to himself. "Think of it as a heat of the moment thing" he suggests with a smile, "It could've been Harry for all I know, I was just on such a high after wining, but I do apologize for overstepping" he says once more. "I just wanna be your friend, and be there for when you need a shoulder to cry on y/n" he announces sweetly with a charming smile.

"I'm so sorry for suggesting otherwise Ced" I say looking into his soft grey eyes.

"Don't be," he chuckles, "now come on" he announces linking my arm with his as we make our way back to the pub.