23- Separate Ways

                                    

                                          

Celia accompanied Harry and his friends back to the castle, delighted to be part of a group for once.
"I can't believe you broke into Snape's office to help Harry" admitted Ron.
"Don't tell the whole school" hushed Celia.
"Thanks for helping him when we couldn't" smiled Hermione.
"You're welcome. I know that you tried your best, but these tasks are meant to challenge older students, meaning that they're almost impossible for people our age" admitted Celia.
"Impossible is certainly the right word. I would have ended up standing by the lake for an hour, if it weren't for you" replied Harry.
"Well, I'm glad I could be of help" beamed Celia.
"You've got to come to the after party in Gryffindor common room, to celebrate my victory" insisted Harry.
"I can't go in there, I'm a Ravenclaw" reminded Celia.
"I'll sneak you in, it will be fine. No one will look twice at you, if we get you to come in with a large group of people. And once we tell the Gryffindor's that you helped me, they will welcome you in, I'm sure of it. No one will snitch on you" reassured Harry.
"I've already broken one school rule for you, do you really want me to break another?" Asked Celia.
"Why not? It will be fun. Fred and George will steal food and drinks from Hogsmeade and the kitchens, so you won't go hungry. There will probably be music, and laughter as well. And our parties are known to last for hours" grinned Harry.
"I'm not really a party girl" admitted Celia awkwardly.
"Come on, for me. You're not going to get another chance like this"
"I suppose I have always wondered what happens at a legendary Gryffindor party"
"So, you'll come?"
"Yeah, why not".
"Celia!".
Celia spun around and saw Cedric running up the stairs towards her.
She sighed and stopped walking so that she could face him, "What do you want?".
"I have to talk to you" replied Cedric.
"That's too bad, because I have no intention of talking to you" informed Celia.
"Please, I must talk to you. It's important".
Celia groaned, "Fine".
"We'll wait for you in the Great Hall" promised Harry.
"Thanks" mumbled Celia, before following Cedric into an empty classroom nearby.
"So, what do you want?" Demanded Celia, as she folded her arms.
"You helped Harry, didn't you?" Frowned Cedric.
"What makes you say that?" Questioned Celia.
"You were hanging out with him by the lake, and he seemed really grateful to you, when he came out of the water"
"So what if I did help Harry? You did too, by telling him to put the egg under water, so I don't see what the problem is"
"I gave him a hint, to repay him for warning me about the dragons in the first task. I didn't help him breathe under water, like you did. Do you really want me to lose so much, that you're willing to help my opponent beat me?".
"This isn't about you. I helped Harry because he is younger than you lot, so he needs all the help he can get. Harry is also my friend, so it's only right that I should help him" admitted Celia, as she placed her hands onto her hips.
"But I am your brother, you should be helping me" insisted Cedric.
"You didn't ask for my help Ced, but Harry did" informed Celia.
"So, if Fleur or Viktor had asked you for help, you would have assisted them too?"
"Yes, probably. Because unlike you, they are nice to me. Although, I wouldn't want to give them too much help, as I would still like Hogwarts to win".
"But I am your brother! You shouldn't be helping anyone to beat your own brother" Shouted Cedric.
"Shouldn't I? Well, while we are on the topic of sibling love, why don't we talk about the person you would miss the most. Because I was not held hostage at the bottom of the Black lake, like Fleur's sister. Your girlfriend was chosen instead of me. Your pretty and popular girlfriend, instead of your weirdo sister" reminded Celia.
"You're jealous that Cho was taken instead of you?" Frowned Cedric.
"It's not about being jealous. The other champions lost the thing that mattered to them most. And your girlfriend was taken, instead of your own sister. Which means that you care about her more than me".
"Don't be silly. You're my sister, so I care about you more than anyone else" insisted Cedric.
"I know now that that's not true" replied Celia.
"Look, I didn't choose my hostage. I didn't give Professor Dumbledore a list of the people I cared about most, in order of how much I cared about them. The tournament runners just picked someone close to me. It could have been anyone" admitted Cedric.
"I think that everyone can see who you care about most. They picked Cho, because everyone knows that you spend more time with her than anybody else"
"The only reason I don't spent time with you, is because you don't want me to. You told me to stay away, remember".
"This isn't about me, it's about you. If someone observing us, can see that you care more about your girlfriend than your sister, then what does that say about you? It's clear to everyone that you love Cho more than me" informed Celia.
"So, you really think that Viktor cares more about Hermione than his own parents?" Questioned Cedric.
"Quite possibly. Viktor's a very closed off person, and Hermione is the first one to get through his tough shell. For all we know, she is the closest person to him right now. Besides it would be easier for the tournament organisers to get their hands on Hermione than Viktor's parents. You can't use that excuse, because me and Cho live in the same dormitory".
"Look, I didn't ask for them to pick Cho. If they'd asked me who I cared about most, I would have said you. But they probably didn't choose you, as they didn't want to put you through anymore pain" admitted Cedric.
"So, they were putting my interests first, were they? Somehow I doubt that" replied Celia.
"I'm sorry they didn't choose you. And I'm sorry that all this hardship has fallen on you. But I can't do anything about any of that" 
"Of course not, because it's never your fault. It's always somebody elses. You know what, I hope you fucking die in your quest to win this stupid tournament, because we all know that's what you care about most right now. You can't wait to get crowned Triwizard champion".
"How can you say that?" Gasped Cedric.
"Your reaction when you found out that I helped Harry, has made it clear to me that you are desperate to win, which is why you don't want me helping the other champions" replied Celia.
"So, I take it that if I asked you to help me prepare for the final task instead of Harry, you wouldn't help me?" Questioned Cedric.
"I would rather boil my head in hot oil than help you" spat Celia.
"And if I asked you not to help any of us, and just remain a neutral party, you wouldn't do that either?"
"No, you can't tell me who to help and not to help".
"Please Seals, just stay out of all this, and don't make things worse between us" begged Cedric.
"Why, what are you going to do to stop me from helping Harry? Are you going to hit me too, like father did?" Asked Celia.
"No, of course not" replied Cedric.
"You're not as different from him as you like to think... I wish you weren't my brother. And I wish that my life would just go back to normal. But I know that it won't, as long as you're around. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to hang out with some people who actually want to hang out with me".
Celia turned away from Cedric and began to head towards the door.
"When did everything go so wrong between us?" Whispered Cedric.
Celia looked back over her shoulder, "I don't think we were ever right together, because father has always favoured you".
"We were closer when we were younger, I'm sure of it" insisted Cedric.
"Maybe we were, I don't remember. But as soon as I came to Hogwarts, I realised that I would forever be walking in your shadow. And there's nothing either of us can do to change that. I will always be the lesser Diggory, the disappointment" sighed Celia, before stepping out of the room, leaving Cedric behind.