The Things They Don't Know

Olivia Middleton's POV

The news about me dating Cedric spreads through Hogwarts like Fiendfyre. I mean, all gossip spreads fast here, but this? This is record-breaking. The boys are jealous of Ced, and the girls are giving me the kind of looks that say "how dare you." I don't care.

Cedric meets me at my tower before breakfast, takes my hand like it's second nature, and we walk into the Great Hall together. He doesn't hesitate—just presses a kiss to my lips in front of everyone. Full-on PDA. I can feel the daggers from half the Ravenclaw girls.

Then he heads to the Hufflepuff table and I make my way to Gryffindor. "Fucking finally," Fred says the second I sit beside Hermione, across from Harry and Ron. "Took him ages," George adds through a mouthful of toast. "The sexual tension was killing us."

"What?" I choke on my food, nearly snorting juice out of my nose. "Yeah, it was obvious," Fred says with a dramatic eye roll.

I glance at Harry. He's trying not to show it, but I know that look. I know my best friend. He's jealous. And as much as I want to talk about Cedric and all the butterflies in my stomach, I can't do that to Harry. Not today.

"It's not like that," I say quickly. "We've just started dating."

"So do you wanna—"

"End of conversation," I cut George off before Harry bolts from the table.

Classes pass in a blur. We've got Potions with the Slytherins—always a great way to ruin a day. I show up early, like always, and take a seat by myself. Hermione and Harry sit together, and I'm not about to sit next to Ron. Not after the Yule Ball drama.

And of course, Malfoy walks in, flanked by his goons. The only empty seat is next to me. He sits without saying a word, but he's muttering under his breath, clearly pissed off about something. I ignore it. That's always the safest route with Draco Malfoy.

Snape starts his usual lecture on Confusing Concoctions, and I'm scribbling notes when I feel it. A pair of eyes. I glance sideways—he's not watching me. He's watching my lips.

Seriously?

I turn to face him, but he doesn't flinch. I lick my lips, about to call him out, but then the bell rings. "Miss Middleton. Mr. Malfoy. Stay... behind," Snape drawls. I groan softly. Great. "It's been months since I told you two to brew Skele-Gro for Madam Pomfrey," Snape says, folding his arms. "Any updates?"

"No, sir. We were busy and—"

"I don't want your excuses, Miss Middleton." He glares. "Brew it. Tonight."

He sweeps out of the classroom, leaving me and Draco alone. "Malfoy, we need to—" He scoffs and walks out without a word.

What is his problem?

I sigh and head to lunch, but I don't make it to the Great Hall before someone grabs my wrist. A familiar voice murmurs in my ear. "Wanna ditch lunch?"

I turn and find Cedric grinning at me. I nod, and we sneak off to the Black Lake.

We sit on a ledge, legs dangling over the water. My head rests on his shoulder, his arm curled around my waist. We talk. We laugh. We kiss. We splash water at each other like first-years. It's the kind of afternoon that makes me forget we live in a castle crawling with secrets and scars.

By the time we head back, it's nearly four. As we're about to walk inside, we run straight into Malfoy. "Middleton," he calls. Cedric and I stop. "What is it, Malfoy?" Cedric asks, instantly annoyed. "I don't think your last name is Middleton," Draco replies, smirking.

I roll my eyes. "Yes, Malfoy? Do you need something?" He looks at me—his usual venom gone—and says, "Eight p.m. Snape's classroom. Don't be late." And then he walks away, not even waiting for an answer. Cedric looks completely thrown. "What the hell?"

"Right," I sigh, linking our fingers. "I never told you. Months ago, Snape asked Draco and me to brew Skele-Gro for Madam Pomfrey. He reminded us again today. That's what he meant."

"I don't like it," Cedric mutters. "What if he—what if Malfoy tries something?"

"He won't," I say softly. "He would never hurt me." That earns me a look. One of those explain yourself looks. I dodge it. "Don't be jealous," I tease, tugging him toward the tower.

At the portrait hole, he pulls me in, one hand on my waist, the other brushing my cheek. His kiss is deep, possessive, and warm. I smile against his lips before slipping inside.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione are already on the couch when I walk in. I sink down beside Harry, let my head fall back, close my eyes, and sigh. I'm so damn tired. "Ronald?" Hermione nudges him, her voice low but sharp. I open one eye and glance his way.

"Err—Liv," Ron says awkwardly, guilt all over his face. "I just wanted to apologize for—"

"Practically calling me a slut?" I cut him off, my voice flat. "Y-yeah. Sorry, Liv. That was really rude of me. I wasn't thinking about what I was saying," he mutters as he sits on the other side of me.

"Clearly," I say, rolling my eyes. "Please, Livia," he pleads. "You know I'm not like that." I stare into the fireplace. The flames blur, golden and quiet.

"It's not alright," I say eventually. "But I'll let it go. Just... think next time." I give him a fake smile. Convincing enough to ease his guilt. He sighs, relieved, and we end up talking until dinner like nothing happened. Except Harry stays quiet the whole time.

"Harry?" I ask him gently. "What is it?"

And then he tells us everything—about the Pensieve, about his dream, Barty Crouch Jr., Snape being a former Death Eater. All of it. I listen with wide eyes, barely breathing. We're all stunned into silence.

Later at dinner, I'm deep in conversation with Oliver when someone shoves their arm in front of me, flashing a watch. "It's 8:05, Middleton," Draco says from behind me. I turn, and there he is—eyebrow raised, voice cool.

"Alright, see you in the dorm, Mione," I say, getting up. I nod goodbye to the others and follow Draco out of the Great Hall. "You see those people every day," he says with a scoff. "What's the point of saying goodbye when you'll see them again?"

"I don't know—basic human decency?" I mutter.

The dungeons are as cold as ever. I forgot to bring my robe. Of course I did. As we enter the classroom, Draco shrugs off his own and holds it out to me.

I blink. "Wait, seriously?"

He raises his brows and gives the robe a little shake. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Middleton," he grumbles, draping it over my shoulders and holding out the sleeves. I slip my arms through, quietly stunned. It smells like him—peppermint and something expensive.

I gather ingredients while he hauls out the massive cauldron. We set up our books, light the fire, and begin brewing. "So," he says, smirking slightly, "you and Diggory, huh?"

"Yes. Me and Cedric," I say, without looking up. I stir the potion clockwise, reaching for the next ingredient, only to find Draco already handing it to me—red spiders, right in my palm. I blink. How did he—

"It's anti-clockwise, darling," he says, stepping closer. "After the spiders."

He's right. Of course he is.

"Wow, you're smarter than me and Hermione in Potions," I mumble, handing him the spoon. I sit down, rest my head on my folded arms, and sigh again. If he weren't still talking, I'd probably be asleep.

"Already feeling sleepy, Olivia?" he says as he adds arm bones to the mix. "Yeah," I mumble into my arms. "My hand's been hurting, keeps me up at night."

"Oh?" He pauses. "I thought Diggory was the one keeping you up. Not so good, then, is he?"

I sit up instantly, clearing my throat. "If you're talking about sex, then no. We haven't, actually. It's only been a few days. Do you think we're animals like you and Parkinson?" I get up and start pacing the room. He laughs.

"Me and Pansy? We've only kissed. That's nothing," he says, glancing up from the cauldron. "And why do you care? Jealous, Middleton? That I kiss other girls and not you?" I shoot him a smirk. "Please. You were the one asking about my sex life. I'm not the one acting jealous."

He snorts, and we both start laughing. We joke and banter the rest of the night. It's strange—how easy it is with him when no one else is around. He's not mean or cold. Just... Draco. Funny. Smart. Kind of charming, if I'm being honest.

It takes us hours to finish a few batches of Skele-Gro. It's nearly eleven by the time we pour the last bit into a bottle. "Finally!" I groan, collapsing into a chair. We clean up, organize Snape's desk, and leave the classroom.

"Goodnight, Middleton," he says blankly, already turning away. "Sleep well, Malfoy," I reply, heading toward the Gryffindor Tower.

When I enter the dorm, Hermione and Ginny are sitting on their beds, still chatting. They both gasp a little when they see me.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Your—" Ginny starts.

"Robes," Hermione finishes.

I look down.

Shit. I'm still wearing Draco's Slytherin robes.

I sigh and smile. Of course he didn't ask for them back. Maybe he knew I'd need them to make it up here. "Yeah," I say casually. "I forgot mine, so Malfoy offered his. I'll return them in the morning."

I change into my nightclothes, fold Draco's robe carefully, and set it on my bedside table.

I wake up late. No surprise—my sleep's been crap lately, and today it finally catches up to me. I scramble out of bed, throw on whatever I can find, and sprint to class, completely forgetting about Draco's robes still folded neatly on my bedside table.

The day goes by in a blur, filled with lectures, half-finished notes, and barely-contained yawns. It's only at dinner that I finally spot Cedric. He's sitting at the end of the Hufflepuff table, poking at his food. His usual brightness is gone—he looks... off.

After dinner, I find him outside. He looks up as I approach and offers me a small smile—one that doesn't quite reach his eyes. We walk together into the courtyard, but this time, he doesn't walk backward to keep eye contact like he usually does. He walks beside me, quiet.

We sit on a bench. Silence stretches between us, and I glance over to see him deep in thought, jaw tight, brows drawn. Something's bothering him.

"Ced," I say softly, placing a hand over his. "Is everything okay?" He looks at me, hesitant. Then— "Do you like Malfoy?" I blink. "What? Where is this coming from?" He doesn't answer. Just looks away, jaw clenched. "He's always mean to you. Always. And yet... you're nice to him. Laughing at his jokes."

I pull my hand back into my lap, stung. "He's— Wait. How do you even know I was laughing at his jokes? Were you spying on me, Cedric? Do you not trust me?" He grabs my wrist gently before I can stand up. "I trust you with my life. And I wasn't spying on you. I was spying on him."

"What?"

"I was worried," he admits. "Worried he'd hurt you. But that's not what I saw when I came by Snape's classroom." I take a deep breath. My heart is pounding now, because I know I can't keep it in anymore.

"There's something you should know," I say, looking straight ahead. "Do you remember the summer party? When you all came over, and Hermione talked about that safety technique—how she always checked in, just in case? You guys came around to check on me now and then."

He nods slowly.

"Well... that night, Malfoy visited. He stayed the next day too. I told him about the technique, and he asked for the phone number and all that." My throat tightens, but I keep going. "A few days after the party, someone broke into my house. Through the back door."

I pause. My hands start to shake.

"Before I could do anything, he drugged me and..." I can't get the words out. I swallow hard. "He tried to rape me." The tears come fast and hot. I don't look at Cedric—I can't. "What?" he breathes, his whole body going rigid.

"Malfoy had been checking in on me too," I continue, barely able to speak. "But I think he missed a day or two. When I didn't respond, he followed the safety steps. Broke into my house. He couldn't find me upstairs—he even tried getting Hermione's number to call her. No luck. But eventually, he found me. In the basement. He rescued me."

Cedric is silent. I finally glance at him—his face is a mix of fury and heartbreak.

"If he hadn't come when he did... I don't know what would've happened." I wipe my face. "So yeah, he's a bully. But he has a good heart. He lived with me for almost a month afterward. Took care of me. Stayed up with me during the nightmares. Let me heal on my own terms. No one knows—just him and Mione. Please don't tell anyone else."

He pulls me into a hug. It's tight. Tighter than anything I've felt from him before.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he whispers, voice shaking. "I can't imagine the pain. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. And as much as I hate Malfoy... I'm glad he was." I nod and pull away, wiping my tears again. "It's not your fault, Ced. But now you know—he won't hurt me."

Cedric takes a breath and then asks, "Alright... how about we go out tomorrow? Hogsmeade? It's Saturday. Maybe our first official date? If you want to." I smile, cupping his cheeks. "Why are you nervous, Ced? I am your girlfriend. Of course I want to go."

He grins and leans in, kissing me gently. Then he walks me back to my common room. I float inside, heart lighter than it's been in days. Hermione and Ginny are still up.

"I have a date tomorrow," I say.

Ginny practically screams.

The next morning, I skip breakfast—too excited to eat. I brush my teeth, tame my hair, and get dressed in my favorite outfit. Over-the-knee boots, eyeliner, a little blush. I let my hair fall loose around my shoulders, just the way Cedric always says he likes it.

He told me to meet him at the Great Hall entrance. I practically skip there, and sure enough—he's already waiting.

"Ced!" I call, and he turns around.

His eyes run over me, slow and warm. "You look absolutely pretty. Glad to say—" he points up and down at me— "this is all mine."

He kisses my cheek and I can't help the way I blush. "Let's go!" I say, grabbing his hand.

And just like that, we head to Hogsmeade together—hand in hand, hearts light, the future finally feeling possible again.

Cedric Diggory's POV

She looks breathtaking.

Her dress is short—which I definitely don't mind—but it's not that. It's the way she moves, the way her eyes light up when she sees me, the way she smiles like I'm the only thing that matters. Olivia Middleton, the most beautiful girl in all of Hogwarts, is my girlfriend. I still can't wrap my head around it. I feel like I'm walking on air.

We head to Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, the unofficial headquarters for student couples. It's tiny and a little too pink, cramped with two-person tables and even less personal space. Around us, everyone is holding hands, giggling, or kissing over steaming teacups. I try not to laugh—it's exactly what I expected.

We find a spot near the window and sit down. A waitress hands us menus. Liv purses her lips, scanning the options, eyebrows raising as she flips it open. "Everything looks good," she murmurs. "Yeah? Ready to order?" I ask, watching the way she's already twirling a strand of her hair. She nods.

"I'll have the Belgium Mint tea—it has chocolate in it, doesn't it?" she asks the waitress, who nods. "Great. And a slice of the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, please."

Of course. She loves chocolate.

"I'll have the Chamomile Citron tea," I say, "and the apple scones with blackberry compote." The waitress scribbles it all down and disappears. Liv looks around, taking in the sight of a Ravenclaw couple practically eating each other's faces two tables away.

"This is... cozy," she says, eyes darting.

I laugh under my breath. "I'm sorry. I'm not exactly a pro at this, since—well, it's our first date. But I promise the next one won't involve so much public snogging." She smiles, and it eases something tight in my chest. Then the tea and desserts arrive. She takes a bite of her cheesecake and her eyes widen.

"Mmm... this is amazing."

"Yeah?" I ask, curious, and she offers me a bite of her dessert without hesitation. Just like that—no fuss, no pretense. She's always so generous. So effortlessly kind.

We finish up, laughing a little at the sugar rush. The check lands on the table and before I can even blink, she reaches for it. I snatch it before her fingers get there. "What do you think you're doing?" I say.

She tilts her head. "Paying the check?"

I shake my head. "Not a chance. We're on a date. I'm paying."

It might be the first time I've spoken to her that firmly, but she doesn't seem to mind.

"Alright, then I'll get the next one," she says, that soft smile playing on her lips again.

We leave the shop hand in hand. Every couple around us is kissing. We're not—but I don't mind. Being with her like this is more than enough.

We make our way to Honeydukes next. I know she loves chocolate, so I guide her toward the shop without even thinking. She lights up, rushing to the shelves, grabbing every kind of sweet she can find. I go to pay, but she grabs my wallet right out of my hand.

"I can get this, thank you very much," she says with a teasing grin and a mock curtsey.

Outside, we're laughing until a voice cuts through the street.

"Are you really thinking of eating all that chocolate, mudblood?" It's Pansy Parkinson, sneering like the petty, bitter troll she is. Draco's standing behind her with his usual crowd—but he's not smirking. In fact, he gives me an apologetic look.

Liv's staring down at the bags in her hands, then glancing at mine. Her smile fades.

"These are unopened, I—"

I don't let her finish.

I lean in and kiss her, slow and sure. Right there, in front of all of them. Parkinson scoffs and storms off. Malfoy says nothing.

Liv looks up at me when I pull back, a little surprised, a little breathless. "You'll do no such thing," I say quietly, brushing a thumb against her cheek. She smiles. "Thank you."

And in that moment, I know I'd kiss her a thousand more times just to keep that look on her face.