Chapter 2: I Come Face to Face With the Hottest Man I Have Ever Seen in My Life

                                    

                                          
Chapter 2: I Come Face to Face With the Hottest Man I Have Ever Seen in My Life
Laughter carries through the air on a light breeze, snippets of conversations brought to listening ears. The cold October air is heavy in my lungs, but refreshing. Cedric and I are sitting in the courtyard discussing his love life. It's one of my favorite pastimes. Although I do anything I can to hide it, deep down, I'm a romantic. Not that I have the guts to act on it. No, I would wait for someone to approach me. Cedric says that I'm oblivious and that plenty of boys have tried but... Well, no one ever explicitly asked me out, so I never went out. The next best thing is living vicariously through my best friend.
"Ask her out," I say boldly.
"It's not that easy," he protests. 
"Ask her out."
"It's not-"
"Cedric, just do it! The worst she can say is no!"
"She could tell me that I smell weird," he scoffs. "Or that she thinks my hair is ugly."
"Cedric, be serious. Just ask her out," I say.
"No, I can't. I won't," he decides.
"Alright, then stop complaining about it."
"Well, it's not my fault," Cedric says. "I can't help what I complain about. I don't think before I speak."
"There's your first problem," I say and laugh at him. "I think that Cho would go out with you if you asked. If you don't ask her out, someone will."
"What do you mean?"
"Cedric, she's really pretty and smart. You think you're the only person who's noticed? Harry has been ogling her since we got back to school," I say.
"Harry Potter?" he asks with wide eyes.
"Yes, the only Harry that goes here."
"I have to ask her out," he says and stares into the grass.
I roll my eyes and pull my knees to my chest.
"The other schools are coming here tonight, you know," I say as I gaze over the courtyard.
"I have to ask her out," he repeats.
"Are you listening to me?"
"No," he admits. "Sorry, killer."
"It's fine. I was just saying that the other schools are coming here tonight."
"Yeah, I know. Still thinking about trying for the tournament?"
"Yeah. My dad thinks it'll be fun. Are you going to try?"
"Of course. We'll try together, and if one of us gets in, then we tie our limbs together with the strongest rope fifteen galleons can buy and pretend we're one mega man."
"I hate you. Genuinely." 
***
The feast is awkward, to say the least. The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students are doing their best to isolate themselves from us, only ever speaking with us if they need something. Dumbledore watches over us excitedly, and it seems that the headmasters of the other schools are feeling similarly out of place based on their uncomfortable body language.
"This is so weird," I mutter to Cedric. He nods and scans the room over his glass of water.
"Can we go together to put our names in the goblet later?" he asks and looks over at me.
"Yeah," I say with a nod. 
However, that doesn't happen. Cedric decides to pursue Cho after the feast, so I'm left to go by myself. He sees her alone and leaves me in the hallway as he jogs after her with his most charming smile.