Blooming: The Untold Goblet of Fire Story

As they walked down the corridor, Veronica couldn't help but glimpse over at him. There was something about Cedric—a quiet, charming confidence that made him seem so at ease. But it was his genuine, playful warmth that really caught her attention. It felt like he'd been waiting for this moment too, hadn't he? The way their eyes met now and then, lingering just a little longer than they probably should have, as if they were talking through glances in silence. It felt tender and flirty, friendly-like, an unspoken connection suspended in the air.

"So..." they started saying in unison, breaking the silence together. Both paused, surprised, before chuckling at the unexpected synchronicity. The shared laughter eased some of the tension, yet it left something lingering in the air, something unspoken.

Cedric, with a slight grin, gestured toward Veronica, his hand sweeping out in a gentlemanly manner. "Ladies first," he offered, his voice tinged with that same playful warmth.

Veronica returned his grin, tilting her head slightly as she met his gaze.

"Oh, how chivalrous of you. Is this where you charm all the new students, or am I just special?" she teased, her tone light, but her eyes holding his just a moment longer, letting him feel the subtle undercurrent of curiosity and attraction.

Cedric's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He took a small step closer, closing the distance between them just enough to make her heart start racing. It was enough for her to catch a hint of him—the warm, inviting scent of him wrapped around her, a light touch of shampoo, fresh clothes, something like cedarwood and cologne.

Cedric raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Oh, just special? I was hoping for something a bit more dramatic—like 'absolutely unforgettable.'" He moved a little closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "You know, my tours tend to leave quite an impression."

Veronica laughed genuinely, finding all that really alluring. As they continued walking and neared the stairs leading down, she stopped at the top, turning to Cedric. She lowered her voice to a mischievous tone. "But just so you know, if this tour is anything less than epic, I'll be telling everyone that it's just all talk."

Cedric chuckled at her low, mischievous tone, his eyes glinting with a playful challenge. He really liked the way she provoked him, her bubbling and spirited nature making it even more impossible for him not to be drawn to her. 

"Oh, I have no doubt you would." He leaned in closer, his voice as low as hers, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "But don't worry, this tour will be legendary. Nothing less for the newest Hufflepuff transfer."

Veronica met Cedric's gaze, a playful smirk on her lips. "I'll be taking notes for my own future tours. You know, in case you're so good at this that I might want to book you again."

Her teasing smile was infectious, and Cedric couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, really? Guess I'd better step up my game, then."

This flirtatious back-and-forth game seemed impossible to escape. It was her first day there, but everything felt so natural that it seemed as though they had known each other for years.

"So, what's first on this legendary tour?" Veronica leaned in a bit, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "The infamous Hufflepuff common room? A secret passage that leads to some hidden, dark place? Or maybe we'll venture into the Forbidden Forest?" She made a dramatic expression, clearly enjoying the thrill of it all. "You know, I've heard whispers about the real Hogwarts. Are you ready to spill some secrets?"

Cedric's heart rate increased at Veronica's teasing and dramatic expressions. He chuckled, feeling challenged by her playful banter, and his eyes sparkled with mischief at her eager tone.

"Oh, I see you've been doing your homework," he teased her and then continued, "Well, actually, I was just about to be a responsible guide, like Professor Sprout asked me to be, and take you to the Hufflepuff common room." He stopped, pointing with his head towards the end of a hallway full of barrels, as if indicating that it would be that way.

"But..." He paused, stepping closer and tilting his head as if he were planning something guiltily innocent, shrugging his shoulders as though he was enjoying all this far too much. "As I suspected," he continued with that purposefully teasing tone, "I can see that my incredible tour skills and your Hufflepuff curiosity have impressed you, and perhaps you'd like to explore a little further..."

He paused before continuing and extended his hand at the bottom of the stairs, that amusing smirk still on his face. He glanced up behind him, then back at Veronica.

"So, what do you say? Ready to explore dark corners, hidden passages, and empty rooms with me?" Cedric's eyes sparkled with a mixture of mischief and curiosity, an awkwardly charming smile tugging at his lips. He waited, his hand outstretched, hoping she would take it. He wanted to run away from there with her, to steal a few more moments together. It couldn't be over yet—not before he uncovered more about the strange and fascinating newcomer.

Veronica knew that it was her first night in a completely new school, in a country she didn't even know yet. But something about Cedric made her forget, for a moment, all the shoulds and shouldn'ts.

Veronica raised an eyebrow, her playful smirk lingering as she thought about the time. There was definitely still time before curfew. "So, you think you can just sweet-talk me into a late-night adventure? I hope your tour guide skills are as good as your charm."

A glimmer of hope flashed across Cedric's face, then he chuckled, leaning in slightly closer. He smirked back, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he replied, 

"You're right, I do think I can sweet-talk you into a little late-night adventure. But I can assure you, my skills are top-notch. Plus, who wouldn't want to explore with someone as intriguing as you?"

Veronica felt a rush at his compliment, feeling a little bit tempted. "Intriguing, huh? Is that your way of saying you're curious about me, or just trying to butter me up?"

"Maybe a bit of both, is it working?" Cedric replied, his grin widening. "But really, I think we'd make a great team. Just imagine all the stories we could tell after tonight."

Veronica couldn't hold back her laughter, running her hand over her face, trying to contain herself. "Oh, I don't know about that, Diggory. Speaking like that, it almost sounds like we're going to be telling stories to our future children. It's hilarious, truly."

"Well, I've never thought about children before," Cedric said with a flirty teasing grin, shrugging casually as he raised one eyebrow. "But if you want that much, we can have some, dear." He gave a playful wink, his posture relaxed but his expression full of light-hearted mischief.

Children? What a nonsense idea, she thought. Veronica couldn't help herself; her cheeks were hurting from smiling so much, almost urging Cedric to stop.

"Alright! You need to stop with the child talk before I start questioning your sanity," she managed to say between laughs.

Cedric laughed, still hearing her laughter, pleased to see that his jokes were having quite an effect. He loved the sound of it, so he couldn't help but continue.

"What? Isn't it romantic?" he replied, feigning innocence as he raised an eyebrow. "I mean, just think about it—'Oh look, Charlie, you were conceived right there!'" He gestured dramatically towards a nearby wall, a playful glint in his eye. "And wait until you see where your brother was conceived. Spoiler: it has to do with the Astronomy Tower."

Veronica doubled over with laughter, shaking her head. "Oh, I can't believe you just said that! You've got a seriously wild imagination, Diggory. The Weasley twins will have to watch their backs, they may have some massive competition with you around."

"Gotta keep things interesting," he said, shrugging playfully. "Besides, you started it with all this talk about stories. I'm just painting a vivid picture here." He said, wanting to get every last drop of laughter out of her.

"More like a nightmare!" she shot back, still giggling. "I came here for an adventure, not to plan a family!" She said, finally wiping away her tears of laughter and trying to compose herself.

"But adventure and romance go hand in hand, France!" Cedric insisted, stepping a little closer as he leaned in conspiratorially. "You never know when a little romance might sneak up on you. Maybe it's lurking in one of those hidden passages we're about to explore."

Veronica then rolled her eyes, but still had a grin on her face. "You're unbelievable," she said, trying to hold back her smile as she pinched her nose. "Do you really think you can charm me with this talk of family and romance?"

"I'm not just thinking; I'm counting on it," he shot back, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "What can I say? I like to dream big." He completed it with that coy smile, as if he was loving every second of the conversation.

"Dreaming big is one thing, but let's keep it realistic, shall we?" she replied, her voice teasing yet light. "First things first—how about we make it through the night without getting caught before we start planning our future?"

Cedric raised his hands in mock surrender, a grin still playing on his lips. He tugged at his sweater and then glanced at his wristwatch, as though analysing it.

"Alright, you've got a point. One adventure at a time. But I might remind you, we still have time before curfew. Just remember, one day you might find yourself thinking about those stories we could tell our future kids."

Veronica shook her head. "Honestly, Diggory!" Her laughter echoed down the hallway, making even some students passing by start to notice the fun banter between the two of them, wondering what the new girl and Cedric had to say that was so funny.

They calmed their nerves for a moment when they reached the grand staircase, as a group of curious students passed by. For a moment, they stood there, still letting out a few chuckles and exchanging glances.

"So, tell me, future dad," she said in a mocking, teasing tone. "Where should we explore first?" She asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, wondering what Cedric had in mind for their possible adventure or a completely new place.

Cedric glanced around, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he considered her question. "Well, future mum," he teased back, matching her tone, "we could start with the Astronomy Tower, but that might be a bit too predictable after all our talk." He wore a mischievous smirk, clearly enjoying the moment, as if he had no intention of stopping. Then, he softened his smile, as if deciding to be more serious. "How about something more... mysterious?"

Veronica leaned on the railing of the grand staircase, seeming to ponder for a moment. She glanced at Cedric, then at the paintings around them, which always seemed to be watching them.

"Mysterious? I'm listening." She was completely intrigued.

Cedric leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, building suspense before he spoke. "There's a secret passageway not far from here, one that hardly anyone knows about. It's supposed to lead to an old part of the castle—abandoned for years. They say it's full of forgotten rooms and relics from centuries ago. What do you think? Up for a bit of ghost hunting?"

Veronica's eyes lit up at the idea. She couldn't turn down a first adventure in the castle, no matter how much she sometimes hesitated. She always had the habit of repeating to herself, "Do it for the plot."

"Ghost hunting? Now you're speaking my language, Diggory. Go on, lead the way."

Cedric smirked, pleased with her enthusiasm. "Alright, but stay close. I wouldn't want to lose you in the dark corridors of Hogwarts."

He extended his hand to her again, a big excited smile on his face. Cedric was just as eager for the unknown adventure that was about to unfold. This time, Veronica took his hand without hesitation, a thrill running through her at the touch.