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Chapter Text

At first glance, Cedric Diggory was just a tall, handsome boy with silky brown hair, gray eyes, fair skin, and a body that was too developed for a fifteen-year-old. And at second glance, Diggory appeared to be a calm, silent and peaceful boy, an authentic example of Hufflepuff. But those who knew him deeply knew that he was single-minded, and it was his goal to be the most efficient Seeker at Hogwarts.

When riding on his broom, Cedric transformed. He left the shy and quiet boy on dry ground and assumed his adventurous side. With each graceful turn and daring dive, he felt a wave of exhilaration wash over him. The cold wind whipping his hair could be a problem when combing it, but in those moments, none of that mattered. It was just him, his broom, and the vast expanse of the sky.

Cedric played Quidditch from a very young age, encouraged by his father, who wanted him to be as good as his grandfather Derrick Diggory, who was captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team for four years and even played for the England national team. The teenager became a member of his home team in his third year. But he didn't get as many opportunities to play seeker, his favorite position. In his first season, he was a beater. His tall and strong body helped him in the defense of his team, but he was not able to prevent the opposing Seekers from capturing the Snitch before the Hufflepuff Ike Wormwood, a tall, strong boy who was practically an adult, even having a wispy beard. forming on your face.

It was in one of these games that he saw Harry Potter for the first time, the boy was a celebrity admired by all for having defeated Lord Voldemort as a baby, and his school mates were euphoric because in the previous game of his house, Gryffindor, Potter had epically captured the golden snitch: with the mouth.

- But you're bigger, you're stronger and you can beat him, Ike! - said Greg Stone, a young man with curly hair who was the other beater and also acted as captain of the team.

- That's it! I'm a senior, I'm much more trained than this kid! - Ike shouted, slapping his chest hard.

- Ike, I don't... - Cedric was going to try to say that Ike shouldn't feel superior to Potter, after all, all the Hufflepuffs knew that their Seeker wasn't talented in the sport, unlike the Gryffindor rookie.

But he knew that his words would be ignored by his teammate, who would be overcome with extreme ease. And he didn't give another one: in less than five minutes, Potter captured the Snitch and ended Wormwood's joy, who preferred not to play the third game.

- We're already lost...

Cedric thought it was the perfect opportunity for him to run for the post, but he was too insecure to take the initiative. It took his friends to encourage him:

- Go there, Cedric, talk to Greg that you want the job! - said Malcolm Preece, a strong black boy who was the team's chaser.

- You've already achieved the hardest part, which is joining the team being a seeker will be a piece of cake for you! - completed Herbert Fleet, a freckled blond from the same class as Cedric who also aspired to a place on his home team.

Cedric did, but didn't have the heart to spell out that he intended to be starting seeker. Instead, he just mumbled:

- Greg, I've been thinking... If there's no one available, I could... Replace Ike, only in the next game... It's like an improvisation, if you don't like it, no problem, you can put me back at catcher's job, or take me off the team...

- Calm down, Cedric! You are crazy? I will never give up a top player like you! You're always the first to come, the last to get out... Oh, if Ike was only half of what you are... I'm going to give you this chance, grab it, just like you're going to do with the golden snitch on game day with Slytherin!

That match would be in the second half of May, and Cedrico was on cloud nine, as he would finally be able to perform the way he wanted. Unfortunately, the realization of his dream lasted three measly minutes. The Slytherin Beaters immediately tried to neutralize Diggory by hitting two Bludgers toward him at the same time. But Greg and the other players thought he did well while he was on the broom.

- You're good, Cedric. I don't know if I'm still captain next year, but if I am, I want you to be seeker again.

The fourth year came (Cedric's second on the team), and he was optimistic about playing a full season in the position of his dreams, however, he had an accident while pruning poisonous tentacles and ended up being cut from the team in the eve of the game with the Ravenclaw.

One of his friends, Herbert Fleet, tried to console him:

- I know you had high expectations for this match, I also have, after all, I managed to be the new goalkeeper of the team, but we still have two more games, you will have your chance to show that you are better than that one overrated Potter and will show Slytherin cheaters how to play real Quidditch!

Unfortunately for him and all Quidditch players, the championship ended in the first round, due to the opening of the Chamber of Secrets.

- It isn't possible that they're paying attention to these rumors... - he ruminated to his teammates, however, the scorer Heidi Macavoy, a girl with very short brown hair and a round face, contested him:

- It's not just rumors, Cedric, the monster has already petrified two! Ever wondered if he attacks in the middle of the match?

Cedric had to come to terms with it, but that didn't mean he was going to give up Quidditch entirely. He took advantage of the early mornings to escape from Hufflepuff's basements, mount his broom and cross the skies as high as possible. Winter mornings and rainy days were his favorites because there was no one outside but him. In those moments, he dared, he flew higher and higher, flying over the castle, the Forbidden Forest and even parts of the nearest magical settlement, Hogsmeade.

Sometimes, Cedric couldn't resist and invaded the Quidditch pitch. The months in which he did this most were the winter holidays, which took place amid Christmas and New Year's festivities and were unforgettable for him. The snow-covered field had a serene beauty, which aroused admiration and an intense desire to fly higher and higher in that winter sky. He always carried a golden snitch with him, a gift from his grandfather Derrick. The shadow of his achievements was a weight on his shoulders, and many times, Cedric wondered:

"Will I ever be like him?"

By the end of that school year, Cedric was adept at flying and an expert in waterproofing spells. The Hufflepuff is sure that it was this training and dedication that allowed him to be captain in his third year on the team and achieve the feat of being the only Seeker in the school to surpass the prodigious Harry Potter on the field. After all, it was an extremely rainy day when he managed to fly faster and reach the Golden Snitch first than his opponent. He, like his teammates, had the impression that Potter wasn't performing well that day, but it wasn't until he learned that the Dementors had tried to attack the Gryffindor that Cedric realized the seriousness of the problem.

- We have to annul this match, I didn't see Potter being attacked – he implored the teachers, without success.

- I give back the Snitch I caught! Here! - he exclaimed, handing the object to Professor McGonagall, head of the house he had just faced.

- No need, Mr Diggory. It's yours. Enjoy your victory.

Cedric knew it was hard for Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Head of Gryffindor, to admit the hard defeat she had just suffered, but he didn't want to do it without hearing what Oliver Wood, the captain of the rival team, had to say:

- No, Diggory, McGonagall is right. You won fair and square, congratulations.

Cedric didn't think it was fair, so he didn't celebrate so much with his teammates.

- Come on, man! Don't be silly, the Gryffindors have recognized that you've caught the Snitch! - Malcolm insisted.

- You beat Potter, the famous Harry Potter, there's more to partying until dawn! – celebrated Fleet, the happiest of the group.

- No, I'm not in the mood. You go.

When Cedric's Hufflepuff fellows walked away, he could see that a beautiful student with straight black hair, black robes and a blue scarf with bronze details was staring at him. Cedric had seen her before, but he couldn't remember her exact name.

He smiled at her, and nearly fell over when she smiled back. The Hufflepuff thought about talking to her, but he, always so shy, didn't know how to start a conversation with the girls. Usually, they were the ones who took the initiative. Luckily for him, that mysterious ravenclaw decided to approach him and start to talk:

- I saw what you did, or rather tried to do. Your initiative was good. It's nice to know that Hufflepuffs aren't lying when they say they're fair and trustworthy.

Cedric blushed violently, as never before in his short life. He tried to speak, but his tongue curled. Then she took the floor:

- I'm Cho Chang. And you're Diggory, right?

- C-c... Yes! Cedric, Cedric Diggory! I... I'm Cedric, I...

He held out the hand that held the Snitch, intending to squeeze hers, but carelessly dropped it.

- I'll take it - she said.

- No need, I'll get it myself – he answered.

The two went for the snitch at the same time, and accidentally hit their heads.

- Oh... - they spoked.

- Here we are, fighting for the snitch... - she joked.

- I'm glad it's not worth anything - told the young man.

- Lucky for you, because I got him first! – vibrated Cho, who held the golden object in his hands.

- Funny, now give it back, please.

- Okay, I'll give it back, but this will be the last time I do it.

Cedric was surprised, but the Asian girl was justified:

- I'm also a seeker. Or rather I will be, I haven't had my first match yet.

- And when will it be?

- Two weeks from now, against Slytherin.

- Oh yes...

- If Malfoy hadn't hurt his arm, it would be our teams' turn to face each other!

- Really...?

- Yeah! – Cho smiled, leaving Cedric even more amazed with so much beauty.

- But that's great because I'll have more time to study my opponents!

The girl smiled and turned her back on him, walking slowly to the end of the hall. Cedric remained in the same place, with the Snitch struggling in his hand, and just watching his future opponent walk away.

Chapter Text

Cedric didn't tell anyone about his conversation with Cho, as he assumed his teammates would make fun of him, and at worst, scold him for showing interest in the rival seeker.

He and his friends watched Ravenclaw's match against Slytherin. From the stands, they could see the two teams entering the field, but everyone's eyes were on the newcomer, which was Cho.

- Oh, look at their seeker! – Preece pointed to the girl.

- So skinny and frail... – Fleet teased, and Cedric refrained from saying good things to him.

- The Slytherin Seeker is not far behind! – Heidi Macavoy said, indicating the short, blond boy in the greenish robes, who was famous at school for being from an influential family.

- Is it Draco Malfoy who paid to be on the team? – the other Hufflepuffs agreed, and Fleet gave his verdict:

- Oh, so I'm going to be a Ravenclaw since I was a kid! – Everyone agreed with Fleet, especially Cedric.

The Ravenclaws were better on the field, but again the Slytherins won. Cedric, unlike many onlookers, only had eyes for the seeker. Cho flew divinely, her blue clothes moved gracefully, in harmony with her black hair, and the boy had fun imagining the expressions that her face would be making during the game. He knew that she had smiled a lot at each point scored by Ravenclaw, that she had become indignant and sulked at each foul caused by the Slytherins, and that she had become serious and concentrated the moment she saw the snitch next to her.

However, Malfoy was luckier, as when he saw the snitch, the golden object was closer to his left arm. The Slytherin would only need to fly faster than Cho, and that would be extremely simple for him, who owned one of the fastest broomsticks in the school. But Draco wanted to ensure that Chang wouldn't stop him from winning the golden object, so he waited for her to approach and gave her a violent push, which made her unbalance from the broom and need help not to fall to the ground.

This made Cedric angry, to the point that he stood up and shouted:

- This is cheating, Madam Hooch has to mark a foul in favor of Ravenclaw!!!

Before Madam Hooch could do anything to punish Draco, he caught the Snitch and ended the game, helping his house turn the tables and secure victory.

Cedric returned to Hufflepuff's quarters trembling with rage, and still indignant:

- That coward, he didn't need to have appealed like that, he just had to fly a few meters, but no! He had to knock Cho Chang off the broom! He could have killed her!

- Calm down, Cedric! – asked Preece, who was scared for never having seen his friend like that.

- When it's our turn, he'll see what's good! - commented Fleet, in a tone of hope.

But before the next Hufflepuff Quidditch match, there were still long months to go. And in the meantime, Cedric would have his beloved winter break. As they got closer, the Seeker's thoughts turned to spending time with his friends. He found himself organizing a winter celebration for his fellow Hufflepuffs that could only be complete with a roaring fire, steaming mugs of hot chocolate and a festive atmosphere. Together, they decorated the common room with twinkling lights and an imposing Christmas tree, a pine tree that Head of House Professor Pomona Sprout always had placed in the Hufflepuff common room.

That year, the Hufflepuffs wanted to extend the celebration of their team's victory over the dreaded Gryffindor. They created several cartoons praising Cedric's achievement and ridiculing Potter for being terrified of dementors.

- Please remove these posters.

- Didn't like them, Cedric?

- No, Herb. And I think Potter should be treated with more respect by all of us, who always like to say that we are the most tolerant house at Hogwarts.

- Yeah, I agree with Cedric. Let's remove these posters, they are in very bad taste! – Ernesto Macmillan, who Cedric knew was from Potter's class, was the first to support his attitude, and together with his third-year friends, he removed the posters from the Hufflepuff common room.

- Damn, man, you cut the mood...

Cedric didn't want to answer Fleet, limiting himself to leaving the Hufflepuff Basement. He decided to enjoy the end-of-year party together with his colleagues from other houses in the Great Hall.

Cedric sat down on one of the benches, and he couldn't help but notice the joyful laughter and warm smiles that filled the room. He engaged in lively conversation with students from different houses, who were buzzing with rumors that there would be a Triwizard Tournament next year.

- It will be the first in over four hundred years! It would be so nice if someone from Hogwarts won! – said a Hufflepuff that Cedric knew he had strong contacts in the Ministry of Magic.

- Who do you think wins? – asked a Ravenclaw sixth-year, and the Gryffindors in the group answered together:

- Obviously, that's Harry Potter!

- The way he trembles with fear when he sees a dementor, it's going to be difficult – teased a second-year Slytherin boy.

- Okay, so... Angelina Johnson! – said one of the Gryffindors.

- That one just has beauty! She thinks it's just because Lee Jordan stops narrating the game to keep calling her out – suggested a fifth-year Slytherin.

- If she liked the attention he gave, she would have already accepted it! said another Gryffindor.

- And you, Diggory, who do you think will be the Hogwarts champion? - asked a Hufflepuff third-year girl, who Cedric knew was the niece of Amelia Bones, a good friend of her parents.

- I don't know, Bones... Maybe Johnson, even.

- I think the champion or the champion will come from Ravenclaw...

Cedric felt his heart beat faster when he heard the sweet sound of that feminine voice, and when he turned around, he was sure that it was her: Cho Chang, his charming opponent.

- But it wouldn't be bad if he came from another house, like Hufflepuff.

And approaching him, she said very softly:

- I would cheer for you if you were our champion, Cedric Diggory.

Her smile was more charming than ever, and it, along with his captivating presence, caused a spark of warmth to emerge from within his passionate rival's heart.

Before he could respond, she got up and left. Cedric took a while to follow her, he only did it because her body seemed to want to force him to leave the place. He walked aimlessly across the Great Hall, looking around for his beloved, but only found her in the place he least expected: standing under the mistletoe-covered archway.

She was smiling and looking at him, seeming to challenge him to go there and try to win a kiss. Cedric walked slowly, he didn't want to scare Cho, much less let escape the turmoil of emotions that dominated her body.

As he approached her, he smiled shyly and asked, in a low, deep voice:

- Would you like to go for a walk, Cho? The snow outside is quite magical tonight.

The two looked into each other's eyes for the first time since noticing each other. Both the black and slanted eyes of the croaker and the small and gray eyes of the Hufflepuff shone brightly, just like the metallic balls that decorated the Christmas tree. She smiled again and nodded in the affirmative.

- You accept? – Cedric asked, still incredulous.

- Yeah, do you want me to say it out loud?

- It is not necessary. Unless you want to.

- So let's go? – she extended her hand to him, he took it, and together, the new couple moved out of the castle.

They walked hand in hand, their breath a pale mist very visible in the frigid air. The moonlit snowflakes gently fell around them, creating a scene worthy of painting.

Under the starry sky, Cedric and Cho talked for long minutes. They didn't talk so much about Quidditch, or the impending clash between their teams, they focused more on their stories, their dreams and the things they had in common. Although most of the time, it was inevitable to mention the sport, since she was as dedicated to the subject as he was.

- I've always loved Quidditch, I've been a fan of the Tutshill Tornados since I was six, that's when I decided I wanted to be Seeker and I tried flying on my dad's broomstick for the first time, but I took a bad tumble that my front teeth fell out ...

The two laughed, and he made a rare joke:

- I bet you must have looked cute with a little window...

- Nowadays I think so, but at the time it was a nightmare! It took me a while to get on a broom again, but once I felt safe, I never wanted another life! I still don't know if I really want to be a professional player, but for now, I'm enjoying the moment.

- To be honest, I also have doubts. I like flying and playing Quidditch, but my father pressures me a lot to be like my grandfather, his father, who even represented England in the Quidditch World Cup...

- What year did your grandfather play in the national team?

- 1942. It wasn't a great participation, England was eliminated in the first phase, my grandfather didn't even enter the field. That must be why my dad wants me to go professional, to finish what he couldn't even start. But what I really wanted was to be an auror or a curse breaker...

- They are good jobs, I don't believe your father will think it's bad.

- Do you think?

- Yes, the Quidditch career is very uncertain, your grandfather was talented, but he had few opportunities, am I right?

- It is, unfortunately... He avoided talking about it when we met, so that I wouldn't be discouraged from being seeker.

- But don't feel bad. You can always try plan B if plan A fails.

- What if plan B fails too?

- Then you try the C, the D, the E... And when you finish the alphabet, use numbers, Greek letters, runes, anything.

The conversation between the two flowed effortlessly. The crunch of snow beneath their feet created a gentle rhythm as they walked, their footsteps echoing the growing connection between them.

When they reached a secluded spot near the frozen lake, Cedric stopped walking, piquing Cho's curiosity.

- What there was?

- I want to give you something...

The boy put his hand in his pocket, took out a small object and put it in her hand. The Asian blushed because she knew it was a golden snitch.

- Cedric... I can't accept it!

- Why not?

- It's your snitch! You captured it!

- But I don't feel like I own him. You must not have seen my match with Gryffindor, did you?

- I saw it, but I didn't stay long, because of the rain... But they told me that Potter had a bad feeling, because of the dementors.

- So it is. And if not for that, he would have caught the Snitch. Or at least, fought me more fairly. Anyway, I'd rather give him up and leave him with someone else, very special to me...

- Oh, Cedric... - Cho was moved, and leaned towards the Hufflepuff to kiss him, however, he kept talking:

- In addition, I will still have other opportunities to fight for the Snitch. There are still two games to go, and I...

This made Cho give up the kiss and tease him again:

- I hope you're not thinking you're going to defeat Ravenclaw easily! Because I intend to fight for the snitch until the last consequences!

- That's not what I meant...

- I know, you fool!

The two exchanged shy smiles.

- Well, then since you won't accept my present...

Cedric walked away, heading towards the lake. He felt so good that he was encouraged to do a small but complex spell. With a few flicks of his wand, Diggory caused a shimmering ice sculpture to form. The sculpture represented the golden snitch, the item that the two would fight over in matches, and was done in such a precise and detailed way that it gave the impression that its wings would flap at any moment.

- How beautiful, Cedric!

- I never did that in front of anyone, you know?

The meeting went on for hours as Cedric and Cho sat by the lake, engaged in friendly conversation and the warmth of their growing affection. The winter night seemed to envelop them in a world of their own, where time stood still and their hearts beat in unison.

But when the couple saw some of the Hogwarts castle lights go out, they realized that their time together was coming to an end.

- Oh, no... I can't believe they're going to bed already...

- Unfortunately, yes, and we will have to do the same, Cho.

- You're already sleepy, right?

- Yes, I usually sleep early, I like to get up before dawn...

- I know, I've seen you a few times. You like to fly at dawn, don't you?

- You saw me? – Cedric got nervous, he couldn't be seen in his secret training, even more so by the one who would be his future opponent.

- I saw it, but I promise to keep it a secret...

The two shared a knowing laugh, and also vowed to cherish the memories they created and nurture their connection, knowing that the magic of their winter break would continue to ignite their hearts throughout the year and that it would persist regardless of the outcome of the match between their teams in the Hogwarts Quidditch Championship.

As he said goodbye to winter break, Cedric carried with him the warmth of a newfound love and the hope of endless possibilities. He knew that, even when the snow melted and spring arrived, his heart would forever keep the charm of those moments lived with Cho Chang, who at that point, was much more than an opponent in the capture of the golden snitch: it was his first great love, and he hoped it would last until the end of his days.