Chapter Eleven - Strange Dreams

                                    

                                          
Year Four, Jan. 1995:
                          
'Hey Harry, can I talk to you?' Harry turned around from his seat in the great hall and smiled up at Cedric.
                          
'Yeah sure, what's up?' Cedric motioned to follow him outside and Harry's nerves suddenly spiked up. Was this about his sister? Was he going to threaten him?
                          
'So my sister...' He knew it!
                          
'Yeah look, she's the one that asked me out, although I was about to ask her too, so that doesn't really change anything.'

                          
'Harry, stop.' Cedric was laughing at him now, his laugh was contagious and Harry managed to calm down. What was he thinking? Cedric Diggory wasn't the threatening kind.
                          
'Sorry, I was worried you were going to go all big brother on me.' He replied.
                          
'Oh, don't worry, I am. But I also just wanted to say thank you. Celia's had it rough, especially this last year. She's not dealing with me being in the tournament very well and... well that doesn't matter. But I just wanted to say thank you, because you've given her something to be distracted by.'
                          
'Oh?' Harry was surprised. 
                          
He remembered the times that he'd seen Celia sneaking out of Dumbledore's office. He'd never known another student to visit Dumbledore as frequently as him and he was worried that something was wrong with her.
                          
'I'll make sure she's okay Cedric, that's a promise.'
                          
'Good, because I'm not always going to be here for her and I need to know that she has people around her who care about her too.' Harry nodded in agreement.

                          
Did he care about her? He'd only known her for a short time, but he'd had one of the best nights of his life with Celia at the ball. She looked so beautiful.
                          
'I do care about her, she's in safe hands.' Cedric grabbed hold of Harry's shoulder and held it tight.
                          
'I haven't seen my sister as radiant as she looked that night, but if you hurt her, I promise you that I have a side that not everyone gets to see. If one tear leaves her eyes due to your ass, you'll be one of the first to see that side, Potter.'
                          
'I hear you loud and clear.' Cedric walked away after a pat on Harry's back, leaving a lasting impression on the boy.






                          
Present Day, 10th May 2003:
                          
I woke up in a daze, startled by the memory of my brother that I had never experienced before. It'd been through Harry's eyes, I wondered if that had actually happened? 
                          
After breakfast we were meant to meet up with the gang for lunch and drinks. The girls wanted to finalise some things for the party and I figured it would be a good excuse to find out if my dream last night had actually been true.

                          
"So I've put this off because I didn't want to pry, but where did you go on Thursday?" George bumped my fully healed arm as we walked down the busy London streets together. 
                          
I was still processing everything that had happened with my father and hadn't managed to tell George what could potentially be my future. 
                          
"I went to see Amos..." I realised then that I couldn't keep secrets from the man beside me and he deserved to know what was going through my brain. I hadn't felt right since that discussion and the idea of being the reason for my mother's madness dug deep into my consciousness.

                          
"You realise that he's wrong, yeah?" He told me after I had finished telling him everything that had happened.
"I mean, what if he's not wrong though, George? What if the exact same thing that happened to my mother, happens to me?"
"It won't Celia. You're so much stronger than she is and the fact that your strength has shielded you for this long proves that." I sigh into George's chest as he brings me in for a hug.
"You're right, it's just hard to not take what my father said personally." I reply, leaning into his body.
"Your father is a right prick and always had been. I never liked him, even when he was a friend with my dad too. He's treated you like shit your whole life and literally just blamed you for something that no one could control. Don't listen to a word he said, Ceils." I nodded at him and looked up into his eyes.
                          
"I think it's time to go back to Hogwarts. Some of the best witches and wizards are there and Pomfrey knew how to help me once, maybe she can again."
"Okay, if that's what you wish. I'll support you no matter what." I kissed him on the lips, grateful that he was always by my side.
"I love you." I tell him, grabbing his hand; grateful that I had someone so caring that loved me too.

                          
"So, George tells me you had a weird dream last night." I sit on a table away from the others with Harry. I needed to know if the dream I had had last night was true, and if so, why was I seeing it now?
"I need to know if it was real. Did Cedric pull you aside after the Yule ball to talk to you?" Harry opens his eyes in amusement and grabs hold of my hand.
"Wow, I'd forgotten all about that until now. Yeah, yeah he did. He told me that he had a side not many people had seen..."
"And that if one tear fell from my eyes due to you." I continue.
"He'd show me it." Harry finishes. Both of our eyes lock as I realise that I had dreamt something that Harry nor Cedric had told me about.
                          
"How?" I start.
"How is that possible?" Harry completes.
"I'm not sure... but I saw Amos on Thursday."
"Your dad? How did it go?" I shake my head at him, the anger from our conversation appearing once more.
                          
Harry knew all about my hatred for my so-called father. He'd had to deal with my ranting's on a daily basis as Cedric continued with the trial. I hated the man for forcing Cedric to do all those things, just to prove that his son was one of the greatest. 
                          
"He's no father to me. He basically admitted to me that he hated me, all because my mother got worse after her pregnancy with me. It turns out she was a legilimens too and it can get worse if you don't learn to control it." I continue, thinking about the argument all over again.
                          
"Do you think that's why she rocked up to our game randomly the other week?" 
                          
The dots connected as I realised that she was probably there to gage an idea on whether or not I was following in her footsteps.
                          
"I think you're right Harry. I think she might have been there to warn me."
"Are you going to see her?" I shake my head.
"No, I'm going to go up to Hogwarts in a couple of weeks, see if I can find any answers there. Rita's got me doing a column on Herbology and modern medicine so I need to go see Neville anyway."
"Hopefully that helps. Did your chat with Amos do anything to help you out?" He questions, taking a sip of his beer.
"I mean it was good to know that there's a reason to why I am like this, but honestly it only made me realise what a hypocrite I am."
"What do you mean?" I sigh and lean back on my chair, reliving the argument all over again.
                          
"Well, it just made me realise how similar I am to him if anything. All of these years I refused to say that Cedric is actually... dead. Until Thursday, I'd never said it out loud. All I did was blame Amos for everything, when I should have realised that there was only so much he could control. Cedric could have said no, he didn't have to put his name in the goblet." Harry nods along with me and I take a drink.
                          
"True, but your father pressured him a lot. I remember him before the trials, he was always making sure Cedric knew how to be better and look better. I'm sure it was hard for him to deny your father's pressure. It was easier for him to just say yes, instead of saying no and it affecting the both of you."
"Cedric always had the answers for everything... I wish he was here now." I look down at my hand and close my eyes.
"If I could change what happened I would, Ceils. But I hope you find everything you're searching for, I truly do, you deserve so much better." I squeeze Harry's hand in reply.
                          
"You've always been too good to me." I smile at him.
"Yeah, well I've always cared for you. We've been through some tough times together, but you've always been there for me. Even when I got with Ginny you were there. Plus that kiss with Cho wasn't the greatest thing I've ever done to you." I laugh at the memories of my argument with that girl.
"Yeah well, Cho knew what she was doing and you and Ginny were made for each other."
"Still, it wasn't fair that I didn't tell you. We had a history with each other." I nod and remember the times we had shared together.
                          
"It's all in the past... how's work been?" I decide to get back to normality; I needed something to distract me.
"So bloody busy, Ron's got me busting my ass for the both of us with his move."
                          
After we finish our conversation, Hermione and Ginny whisk me away. This weekend was reserved for dress shopping and final party preparations. 
                          
Next weekend was the big day and there were still many things we needed to get. I enjoyed this part of the process as it took my mind off of my own problems. 
                          
Once the party was over I would figure it all out, but for now, it was time to make sure my friends had everything they needed.