Blooming: The Untold Goblet of Fire Story

As they walked through the dimly lit corridors, Cedric's voice softened, taking on a more reflective tone, as though lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

"You know, Veronica, it's quite nice, sneaking around the castle like this. Makes me feel like a first-year again—everything was so new and exciting back then. But it's different now." He paused, glancing at her sideways, his nostalgic expression shifting into a playful one. "I dare say... better, even."

Veronica looked back at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice, and offered an understanding, tender smile. "Better, huh? And here I thought you were just looking for an excuse to break a few rules." Her tone was light, but she liked knowing that Cedric felt that way again—reminded that there's no age limit or rule against having a heart full of curiosity and dreams. She really valued that. After all, they were just young wizards who had only just met. And you're only that young once.

"You know, you're not so bad yourself, Cedric. I'm glad I'm here now, and you're the one giving me the grand tour." She tried to say it in a friendly way, keeping the conversation light, but deep down, she knew everything about this short time felt like the right moment, in the right place. As if she was always meant to be at Hogwarts, or right there, on that right night, or even in that great, endless, revolving staircase. She felt comfortable, and she had a feeling Cedric felt the same way.

They walked in comfortable silence for a moment, soft, silly smiles playing on their faces. The only sound was the soft echo of their footsteps. The castle seemed to hold its breath around them, as if it knew they were up to something secret and was waiting to see what would happen next.

The whole way, Veronica gazed enchantedly at the castle walls and then back at Cedric with that sparkle in her eyes. Even a simple painting of a wizard playing a medieval lute seemed to fascinate her now, as though she were experiencing magic for the first time all over again.

Cedric couldn't help but watch her with a smile on his face as they walked. Her fascination was contagious, and he found himself unable to stop admiring her. Everything seemed so new, so special—even the oldest, most familiar magic of everyday life felt refreshing now.

After passing through endless corridors, monuments, staircases, and statues, they finally arrived at what appeared to be the north corridor of the bell tower.

Cedric suddenly stopped, his arm shooting out in front of Veronica as if he were listening for something. He furrowed his brow, glancing around with an exaggerated air of seriousness. "Well, according to the stories, there's a riddle about it," he said, his voice low and mysterious.

"In the north, where shadows grow long,

Before the depths where secrets belong,

A mother and child in moonlit plight,

Cursed by the beast on a darkened night.

To find this tale of sorrow and fear,

Decipher the clues and draw near."

Cedric recited the riddle as though telling a tragic fairy tale, his voice carrying a touch of solemnity.

"It's somewhere near the north corridor, just before the dungeons," he said, his expression shifting to one of quiet concentration. His brow furrowed, and he tilted his head slightly, as if piecing together a puzzle.

Veronica widened her eyes, giving Cedric a look that was equal parts amusement and skepticism.

"Wait, you don't actually know where it is?" she whispered, lowering her voice as her gaze darted around. A few students were still lingering in the corridors, and with curfew fast approaching, she was clearly trying to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.

Cedric grinned slyly, though there was a hint of sheepishness in his expression. Lowering his voice to match hers, he replied, "Well, I know about it. Isn't that half the fun? Discovering it together?" He tried to play off his uncertainty with charm, but the flicker of nervous excitement in his eyes betrayed him.

Veronica couldn't help but chuckle softly. "So, let me get this straight. We're sneaking around the castle, almost past curfew, searching for a hidden passage that you're not entirely sure even exists?"

Cedric nodded, his grin widening. "Pretty much. But think of the story we'll have if we find it! Or, you know, even if we don't," he added with a shrug, keeping pace beside her, a silly yet undeniably charming smile on his face.

Veronica shook her head, her smile betraying her amusement.

"You really are something, Diggory. It pains me to admit that I actually fell for your so-called exceptional guide charm," she teased playfully. "Alright, take the lead again, but if we end up lost in some forgotten part of the castle, I'm blaming you."

Cedric chuckled, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Lost? Who said anything about getting lost? I prefer to think of it as exploring the uncharted territories of Hogwarts."

Veronica rolled her eyes, though a grin stayed firmly on her face. "Exploring? Sounds suspiciously like a fancy way of saying, 'we're probably going to end up in trouble.'"

"Trouble?" Cedric waved a hand dismissively before sliding it into the pocket of his trousers with a shamelessly relaxed posture, his teasing smile unwavering. "What's life without a little excitement, France? Besides, if we do get caught, I'll take full responsibility. Just tell them I was leading a daring rescue mission for a lost Hufflepuff." His eyes flicked over her playfully, the flirtatious tone returning with ease.

Veronica raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence as she leaned in slightly, mirroring his flirty tone. "A lost Hufflepuff, huh? And what makes you think I'm lost, Diggory?"

Cedric grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement as he stepped a little closer, enjoying the way she responded to his advances. It was almost impossible to escape her charms. He lowered his voice to a whisper, his breath lightly tickling her ear. "You're right, maybe I'm the lost one here..."

Veronica couldn't help but chuckle. "Smooth talker, I see" she teased, poking him playfully in the arm. "And here I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be the innocent ones."

Cedric feigned shock, his sly, charming smirk never leaving his face. "Innocent? C'mon, France! I'm breaking all the stereotypes here. A rebellious Hufflepuff on a mission? Now that's something you don't see every day."

Veronica laughed, shaking her head. "Wow, I'm shocked you didn't end up in Gryffindor," she said, her tone mocking.

Cedric chuckled, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Oh, the audacity! Suggesting that I might have been a potential Gryffindor..." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "I take offense to that! Hufflepuff is the house of loyalty and hard work, you know. Being a rebellious Hufflepuff requires a lot of both."

Veronica couldn't help but laugh, feeling as though she had been laughing for hours, yet the smile never left her face.

Cedric's heart warmed at the sound of her laughter. It was a delightful sound, and he loved being the one to make her laugh.

"Ah, that laughter," he said with a grin, almost intoxicated by the feeling, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. "Suddenly, overnight I discovered I have a talent for comedy, just to hear more of that."

Veronica chuckled, raising an eyebrow as she leaned closer to him, her arms crossed in an almost theatrical, flirtatious manner. "You know," she said, her tone playful, "if comedy doesn't work out, you've always got a future as a charming flirt."

Cedric's grin softened at her words, and he stepped a little closer, his expression becoming more sincere. "You know, I think I might prefer being a charming flirt if it means I get to spend time with you."

Veronica's heart skipped a beat at his unexpected honesty. She tilted her head, her playful demeanor lingering, appreciating the depth behind his charm.

"Oh, really?" she said in an alluring, softened tone. "And here I thought you were just out to break every stereotype about Hufflepuffs…"

The air between them crackled with a playful and flirtatious energy. It was as if every word they exchanged was a subtle dance, filled with lingering glances and hidden meanings in a quiet, concealed corner of the castle. The playful banter they shared had slowly morphed into something more subtle, a current of flirtation neither of them could resist, no matter how hard they tried.

Cedric's grin softened into something warmer, more intimate, as if there was something more in his gaze. With every inch he moved closer, it was as if he was testing the waters, seeing just how far he could go. His gaze lingered on Veronica, no longer mischievous, but filled with something deeper, something more. Something that made his heart beat a little faster. It was as though the game they were playing had shifted into new territory, a line crossed without either of them even realising it.

Veronica felt it too, the way her pulse quickened when Cedric leaned in, his grey eyes fixed on her, the way his presence suddenly felt like more than just a teasing conversation. She couldn't stop the smile that lingered on her lips, her eyes sparkling with both challenge and curiosity. Her body instinctively mirrored his movements, leaning in slyly closer, almost daring him to continue.

Even their silence was laden with meaning, the unspoken words hanging between them. It wasn't just flirting anymore, it was the magnetic pull of two people caught in the gravity of something thrilling and undeniable.

Just as they were both teetering on the edge of surrendering to the heat of the moment, Veronica's gaze drifted past Cedric, her attention caught by something unusual at the far end of the dimly lit corridor.

A large medieval tapestry. It depicted a mother and child bathed in soft moonlight, a sight so captivating that for a moment pulled her attention away from Cedric.

"Cedric," Veronica murmured, her voice tied with breathlessness as she struggled to bring herself in reality.

Otherwise, Cedric, whose eyes were still locked onto hers, appeared lost in the intensity of their connection, as if every fibre of his being was holding back—desperately and yet hesitantly—like he needed her more than anything. The tension between them was almost unbearable, as if it physically pained him not to have her. His heart pounded in his chest, his mind swirling with thoughts and emotions he could scarcely comprehend.

"Cedric…" Veronica repeated, her voice a little stronger now, struggling to resist the magnetic pull between them. With a small, reluctant movement, she eased away from the wall where he had gently cornered her. It felt like breaking a spell for a moment.

"The riddle—'A mother and a child in moonlight.' Look," she said, her voice now tinged with a mix of realisation and urgency. She pointed toward the large tapestry, just a few metres away, woven into the ancient fabric of the castle itself, nestled in a stone alcove before the stairs leading down to the dungeons.

Cedric blinked, snapping out of the moment as he followed her gaze to the tapestry. His breath hitched as her words began to make sense.

"The riddle," he echoed, trying to pull himself together, his voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile connection they had just shared. He turned to study the tapestry, examining the figures in the moonlit scene. "Do you think that... this must be it," he said, his tone a mixture of awe and excitement. "A mother and child... in the moonlight. It's exactly what the riddle described."

Veronica took a step closer to the tapestry, her fingers lightly brushing against the intricate threads. "But what does it mean?" she wondered aloud, her mind racing to piece together the puzzle. "Is there something behind it? Or maybe... a spell?"

Cedric joined her slowly, intrigued, his fingers tracing the edges of the tapestry as he searched for any signs of a hidden passage or clue. "There has to be something more," he murmured, his focus now entirely on the mystery before them.

As they examined the tapestry, Cedric's hand brushed against hers for a brief moment, enough to send a jolt of electricity up her arm. They both froze, their eyes meeting, and the charged, flirtatious atmosphere from earlier seemed to return, but now it was infused with a shared sense of discovery and adventure.

"Wait," Veronica said, as if something was running through her mind. "Maybe if we tried..." she trailed off, taking a step back, analysing the scene. She picked up her wand, and before she could say anything else, she flicked the wand and twirled it. "Revelio."

Something seemed to reveal itself as a soft, shimmering light emanated from the wall, illuminating a hidden doorway just behind the coat of arms on the large tapestry, not much bigger than Veronica.

Cedric's eyes widened with excitement as he stepped closer, barely containing his eagerness. "I can see now why the Sorting Hat was in doubt between Ravenclaw. Brilliant move, France! You might just be the cleverest Hufflepuff I know."

Veronica couldn't help but smile, the thrill of discovery coursing through her veins, her heart racing not just from the new discovery but also from the thrill of having Cedric so close to her. "Well, someone has to keep the adventurous Hufflepuff on his toes," she replied, glancing sideways at him with excitement for the unknown adventure that was to come.

Cedric leaned closer, intrigued. "What do you think is in there?" He felt the magnetic pull of the moment intensifying, but he pushed the feeling aside to focus on the mystery hanging in the air above them.

"I don't know," Veronica admitted, her gaze fixated on the shimmering outline. "But we won't find out just standing here. Do you think we should open it?"

"Definitely," Cedric encouraged, his voice low, excitement brimming. "But let's be cautious. We're not exactly supposed to be here."

"I thought that's your job, Mr. Daring Rescue Mission." She playfully replied with a grin, pretending to look offended. But inside, her heart was pounding in her chest—the thrill, the unknown, the exciting stirring of the adventure that was about to unfold.

Cedric chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, let's see what we've got," he said, his fingers dancing over the edge of the tapestry, searching for a latch or mechanism.

Veronica took a deep breath, her heart beating fast in anticipation. "On the count of three?"

"Three… two… one!" They both pulled the tapestry aside, revealing a narrow opening just big enough to squeeze through.

Veronica looked around one last time to check if there were any students or snitching ghosts walking around late at night before squeezing into the newly opened passage.