Blooming: The Untold Goblet of Fire Story

A cheer erupted from the Hufflepuff table, and the energy in the hall shifted. The other students joined in with applause, though the Gryffindors, Slytherins, and Ravenclaws exchanged lingering looks. As the word echoed through the Great Hall, a sense of clarity washed over Veronica. The hat had chosen, and in her heart, she knew it was the right choice.

Her clothes, which she had carefully adjusted earlier, now bore small yellow details that subtly represented her new house. As if in silent approval of the change, Dumbledore gestured towards the Hufflepuff table, indicating that it was time for her to join her new housemates.

Veronica took a steadying breath and made her way across the hall. The applause that had started when the hat made its decision was still lingering, and as she approached the Hufflepuff table, she was met with warm squeezes on the shoulder, gentle claps, and bright, welcoming smiles. There was a friendly ease among the Hufflepuffs that made her feel comfortable and welcome. It wasn't every day that a student left the Sorting Hat undecided for so many minutes, almost belonging to all four houses. Even some of the professors exchanged impressed glances, murmuring quietly among themselves. Only Dumbledore appeared entirely unsurprised, his wise smile suggesting he had foreseen this outcome all along.

As she received praise and warm welcomes from her new housemates, she looked across the table and saw him—the Hufflepuff boy from earlier. He was just a few metres away, and this time, she could take in more of his features. His blue eyes were still fixed on her, but now they were accompanied by a playful, almost teasing smirk—the kind that made her feel both self-conscious and curious all at once.

It wasn't the first time that their eyes had met tonight, but this time, there was a quiet understanding between them, even though they hadn't exchanged a single word.

Her heart skipped a beat, unsure of how to interpret this unexpected attention from the handsome stranger. Yet, she couldn't deny the strange mix of nervousness and excitement building within her. He gave her a friendly nod, as if to say, Welcome, and for a brief moment, the noisy chatter of the Great Hall seemed to fade away, leaving only that look between them.

Dumbledore, with a final wave of his hand, drew Veronica's attention back once more. "There is much to do and prepare," he began, his voice resonating through the Great Hall. "I suggest you take this time to rest and gather all the necessary items for the year ahead. Tomorrow, there will be no classes due to the teachers' council meeting, which will allow us to delve deeper into what this school year will entail. I encourage you to use this time wisely and enjoy your weekend to the fullest. That is all for today."

The students rose from their seats in a burst of excitement, their voices filling the Great Hall as they eagerly made their way towards the exit. Groups of friends clustered together, already making plans for the weekend, their laughter and chatter echoing off the stone walls.

Veronica barely had time to gather her thoughts before she found herself surrounded by a group of curious Hufflepuffs. They crowded around her with bright smiles, firing off questions faster than she could keep up.

"What's Castelobruxo like?"

"Do you study magical creatures?"

"What's your favourite subject?"

The barrage of questions came at her from every direction, leaving her no room to answer as their curiosity overflowed, eager to know and learn everything about the new student.

As Veronica was bombarded with questions by the eager, friendly, and curious Hufflepuffs, Cedric spotted her from across the room. He considered introducing himself to the intriguing newcomer, but as he approached, it became clear there was no space for him among the tightly-knit circle of students clamouring for her attention. With a slight chuckle, he decided to wait for a better opportunity. Later, maybe, he concluded.

From a distance, Cedric observed the scene, noting the wide-eyed confusion in Veronica's eyes as she tried to keep up with the barrage of questions. He knew all too well how his fellow Hufflepuffs could sometimes be a bit overwhelming in their enthusiasm to be welcoming. He chuckled to himself at the thought of how overwhelmed she must feel by the attention, yet she seemed to handle it all with grace and politeness.

"Oh, popular already? Couldn't be more Hufflepuff, could she?"

Professor Sprout remarked, appearing beside him as if out of nowhere. She followed his gaze, a warm smile spreading across her face as she observed the lively scene.

"Miss France will be a fine addition to our house, don't you think?"

Cedric turned to his head of house, caught slightly off guard by her sudden appearance, but he quickly nodded in agreement.

Professor Sprout's eyes twinkled with approval as she added, "Now, do me a favor and escort her to the Hufflepuff common room, won't you? I'm sure she could use a friendly guide."

Cedric nodded again, trying to keep calm, "Yeah, of course, Professor." Cedric said, his voice a little tighter than usual, his nerves showing despite his attempt to keep calm. He quickly masked it with a slight grin, hoping to hide the excitement bubbling up inside. "Happy to help. I'll make sure she gets there." though he couldn't help but wonder if Professor Sprout had somehow read his mind. He felt a slight flush of embarrassment creep up but quickly masked it with a smirk, determined to appear cool and composed. He caught Professor Sprout's eye and smiled, signaling that he was prepared to fulfill her request.

Before Cedric could catch up to the group of Hufflepuffs surrounding the new arrival, a pair of tall, red-haired Gryffindor boys with wide grins and an easy-going manner strolled over, effortlessly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Their presence seemed to be well-known among the Hufflepuffs, though Veronica couldn't quite tell if it was for good reasons or not.

"I'm George, and this is Fred," one of the redheads said with a grin, gesturing to his identical twin brother as if they were a well-practised comedy duo.

"But if you want," Fred chimed in with a mischievous glint in his eye, "you can call me 'boyfriend,' so you don't get confused with my brother."

George struck a mock-heroic pose, adding to the absurdity of the unpretentious flirting. Veronica couldn't help but chuckle at their boldness, though she still wasn't entirely sure if they were joking or not. Their playful audacity was both amusing and baffling.

"Brilliant way to introduce yourselves," a third voice cut in, laced with dry humour. "If you don't want her to ever look at your faces again."

A red-haired girl pushed her way through, rolling her eyes as if she'd seen this act a hundred times before.

"I'm Ginny. Ginny Weasley. Just ignore them, and you'll be fine," she said, her tone warm and welcoming despite the exasperation in her eyes.

Cedric watched from a distance as the group of Gryffindor boys approached the Hufflepuffs, especially Veronica. He could hear their bold introduction and couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose while approaching them. When Ginny Weasley stepped in and pushed the twins away, he let out a quiet chuckle, appreciating how quickly she came to Veronica's defence.

"Oh, sure. I'll try—boyfriend, Ginny, and… Fred," Veronica said, her eyes flicking to Fred as if trying to remember while she said his name.

Fred gave that creepy, silly wink at Veronica when she looked at him, saying his name. "I like her. She's got a good sense of humour," Fred completed.

"Hmm, that's why she calls me boyfriend Fred," George said, still playing the funny game, like they were two court jesters loving the attention.

Cedric watched the scene unfold, still a little way off but hearing all the banter between Veronica, the twins, and Ginny. He chuckled at the twins' insistence on the "boyfriend" nickname and how Veronica played along with their humour. Even Ginny seemed unable to keep a straight face and rolled her eyes at the playful exchange.

He found himself watching Veronica, admiring her ability to take things in stride and match their energy with her own wit.

Ginny looked around, noticing that the twins had unintentionally scared off the other Hufflepuffs who had been crowding around Veronica just moments ago. She turned back to Veronica with a friendly smile.

"So, do you know how to get to the Hufflepuff common room? Didn't they give you a tour guide?"

Veronica's earlier confidence wavered as she glanced at the endless corridors and staircases. She realised she had no idea how to find her way in this enormous castle, and her face said it all.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but also concerned. "That's not very Hufflepuff of them," she said with a chuckle.

Cedric, noticing the lost look on Veronica's face, quickly decided to intervene, stepping closer to the group.

"I was supposed to guide her there, actually," he said, his voice warm and reassuring.

Before Veronica could respond to Ginny, she caught sight of him again—the boy she had exchanged glances with earlier, sharing those small, playful moments of flirtation. A wave of relief washed over her; he would be the one to guide her after all. She noticed the slight happiness in his expression, the way he tried to maintain a casual demeanour, suppressing a smile that hinted at his excitement.

"'Diggory,' the twins said through clenched teeth as if they were bothered by something, forcing a frowning smile.

"Cedric!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice bright with surprise and delight.

Veronica tilted her head, an amused and intrigued glimmer in her eyes. It felt almost ironic that the very boy she had been thinking about would be the one to escort her to the common room. A sly, charming smile curled at the corners of her lips, radiating satisfaction.

"You," she said in a flirtatious and direct tone, as if she had been waiting for Cedric for a long time, even before they had met.

Cedric tried to maintain his cool and calm manner, but he couldn't help but let a small, crooked smile slip onto his lips.

He held her gaze for a moment, his heart racing and his thoughts swirling. He suddenly felt nervous, as if this unexpected connection between them had heightened every sensation. Without breaking eye contact, he nodded slightly, raising his eyebrows and adopting a drawl that mirrored her flirty tone. "Yes, me."

There was certainly something in the air, but the Weasleys couldn't quite put their fingers on it, so they decided to entertain themselves instead.

"Oh, so you already know each other?" Ginny asked, a knowing smile playing on her lips, as if she had almost caught something between the lines.

Veronica shot her a confused look, silently conveying, I have no idea what you're talking about.

"If you want, we can escort you—" George began, but Ginny quickly nudged him, cutting him off.

"Yeah, but we have classes tomorrow, and it's getting late, George," she said, almost defensively, as if she didn't want to get in the way of anything.

"But classes were suspended—" Fred tried to stand up with his brother, but, like George, he was promptly interrupted by Ginny.

"Let's go. You two, now. See you around, Cedric. Veronica!" Before either Cedric or Veronica could respond, they were swept away down the hall, the twins grumbling something to each other.

Veronica turned to Cedric, still processing the rush of events. "Well… that was definitely something," she said, letting out a light chuckle, finding it all quite entertaining.

Cedric chuckled as well, watching Ginny and the twins walk away with a mix of amusement and gratitude. He had a feeling Ginny had picked up on something between him and Veronica, but he didn't mind. Turning back to Veronica, his smile widened at her light-hearted reaction.

"Yeah, the Weasleys are quite the lively bunch. Always full of surprises," he couldn't help but be completely charmed by Veronica's smile. "Anyway, shall we continue?" Cedric made a playful gesture as if to make way for them to continue walking.

Veronica let her eyes linger on him for a moment before giving a casual shrug. "Lead the way, then," she said, flashing him a cheeky smile while tilting her head slightly, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Though, I have to admit, I'm curious to see what tour you've got for me."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, a teasing grin creeping across his face. "Oh, you know, the usual—scenic routes, hidden nooks, perhaps a few legends about the castle's ghosts. But I can assure you, I'll make it worth your while," he replied, his tone mischievous as he gestured for her to follow.

"Wow, a guided experience! Lucky indeed," Veronica replied in a playful, mocking tone, though her thoughts were still running through her mind about the moment. He's funny, she thought. There was something about him that had caught her attention from the very first moment she laid eyes on him—an almost undeniable attraction.

Cedric's eyes glimmered with something deeper as he caught her gaze, his grin softening into an inviting, challenging smile. "You know, I don't usually give tours this late. But I'm tempted to make an exception for you."

Veronica stepped a little closer and glanced towards the stairs he so dramatically indicated, then looked back at him with that smug, thoughtfully mischievous look.

"A grand tour of Hogwarts instead of being in our dorms, led by the one and only Cedric Diggory? I suppose I'd be a fool to turn that down," she replied in that sarcastic tone.

Cedric chuckled, the sound low and mischievous, as Veronica stepped closer with that playful expression. He loved the way she matched his tone, she was funny, he thought.

He feigned a hurt expression, a hand going to his chest dramatically.

"A fool you would be. And a crime against your Hufflepuff heritage to pass up this opportunity," he smirked, taking a step closer to her and offering his arm.

Veronica let out a soft laugh, shaking her head in disbelief, then glanced at his offered arm before slipping her hand gently onto his.

"A crime against my Hufflepuff heritage?" She raised an eyebrow in a playful way. "I'd guess I can't have that on my record, can I?" She teased Cedric with a playful smirk. "Besides, I wouldn't want to deprive you of the chance to show off your legendary guiding skills now, would I?"

Cedric felt a surge of electricity course through him as Veronica placed her hand on his arm, almost a tingling sensation. It was a small gesture, but it sent his heart racing. He met her charming, cheeky smile with one of his own, feeling a thrill of excitement at the way she leaned in towards him.