Chapter 93: Goblet of Fire [Side Story]
The Story of My Dance with You
The girl looked completely exasperated at the hand extended toward her.
"You too, Cedric?"
"Won't you dance with me, Maria?"
A soft, gentle smile graced his handsome features as he kept his palm extended toward the girl, who had been fully prepared to remain a wallflower for the rest of the evening.
"Won't Cho glare at me again?"
"Don't you think she looks lovely when she glares?"
"So, you're just using me as a foil to make her jealous."
"Just a joke. I made sure to clear it with her beforehand."
True to Cedric's word, his girlfriend and Yule Ball partner, Cho Chang, was chatting happily with her friend Marietta—though her eyes occasionally darted over to the two standing by the wall.
She is definitely not okay with this... Maria thought. However, Maria didn't care enough about Cho's feelings to reject Cedric, whose eyes were shining with genuine anticipation at the prospect of dancing with her. Maria knew all too well how head-over-heels Cedric was for Cho, having been forced to listen to his endless gushing. He truly had no ulterior motives; with pure sincerity, he simply wanted to dance with Maria, whom he doted on like a younger sister. Honestly, he was a dangerously charming man.
Maria let out a heavy sigh.
"You're the last one, okay?"
"I wonder about that. You're very popular, Maria. There might still be a few gentlemen out there who haven't given up on dancing with you."
"Is that coming from the Prince of Hufflepuff?"
"It just means there are students in my House who are absolutely smitten with the Gryffindor Princess."
They looked at each other, paused for a beat, and giggled softly.
"Oh, all right. You better lead perfectly, Mister."
"I shall do my best not to embarrass the Lady."
Taking Cedric's hand, Maria lightly swirled her dress. Right on cue, the music shifted to a slow tempo. Hand in hand, the striking young pair stepped out onto the center of the dance floor.
"So? What did you really want to talk about, Cedric?"
"I really can't hide anything from you, Maria."
Cedric gave a wry smile as they swayed to the music. Maria’s cat-like, strong-willed eyes curved into a smug, triumphant grin. Cedric thought even that trait of hers was endearing, looking at her with fond affection.
"—You met my father, didn't you?" Cedric brought up the subject in a low, hesitant voice.
"Oh, right. At the Quidditch World Cup?"
"Yes. I want you to be completely honest with me... what did you think of him?"
It wasn't that she was taking advantage of his request for honesty; her true feelings had simply slipped onto her face: I really can't stand that man.
He must have anticipated it. Cedric smiled gently at Maria, who was hurriedly trying to mask her grimace.
"I figured he didn't leave a very good impression."
"Well, I mean, err..."
Incapable of hiding her emotions well, Maria could only nod in the end. She possessed memories of a future where Amos Diggory’s desperate wish to bring back his son triggered a major incident. Above all, back when she was Harry, Amos had ruthlessly forced reality upon him: How many people died because of you? It was only natural for her to feel bitter.
"Why do you ask?"
Having endured hellish dance lessons with Draco, Maria was now capable of executing a perfect follow-step even while her mind wandered elsewhere—after all, both Maria and Harry were practical learners rather than classroom theorists. She tilted her head slightly, her hair ribbon swaying adorably. She really is cute, Cedric thought. It wasn't the kind of feeling he reserved for a romantic partner, but rather the affection one might have while playing with a frisky kitten.
"Well, I tend to consult you about a lot of things, Maria."
"...Is it about Cho?"
Cedric nodded, radiating happiness yet looking slightly conflicted.
"I have one more year until graduation. Once I leave, she'll be left behind at Hogwarts for a year."
"Yeah."
As she acknowledged his words, Maria felt she already knew what was coming next.
"—I'm thinking of inviting her to my house to introduce her to my parents." Cedric spoke with firm conviction, shedding his previous anxious tone.
"Congratulations."
Maria beamed, her face lighting up. Her wide, round almond eyes—so like a cat's—crinkled, and her lips parted in a gentle smile, resembling someone dozing off in warm sunlight. Only at moments like this does she look so mature. Cedric realized that the striking imbalance of the girl before him—seeming like a child one moment and an adult the next—was precisely what made her so captivating.
"You're getting ahead of yourself. First, I have to graduate."
"But that's the ultimate goal, right?"
"...If I were to invite you to the wedding, for example, would you come?"
"Of course!"
This time, Maria let out a bright, youthful laugh. An older boy dancing past them glanced at Maria, his eyes softening into an affectionate smile.
"So, the real hurdle before the wedding is convincing your parents."
"Yeah. She's Asian, and to be quite frank, I can't guarantee my father won't say something that hurts her."
Maria pictured Amos Diggory’s face once more. Insulting Cho without meaning to... yes, he was exactly the type to do that. He acted entirely out of what he believed was good nature, and the complete lack of malice made him all the more difficult to handle.
"I just don't know how to keep her from getting hurt..."
"There's only one way to do that, Cedric."
Pulling their joined hands closer, Maria brought her lips to his ear as if sharing a deep secret.
"—No matter what happens, always take Cho's side."
Cedric blinked his grey eyes in surprise at her whisper.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
Maria gave him a mischievous wink, leaving Cedric even more bewildered.
"That's all it takes. —I know a man who did exactly that. He defied his own parents, whom he respected more than anyone else in the world, just to protect his wife and child."
Even though he ultimately lost his wife—there was a hopelessly clumsy man who stayed true to his love until the very end.
"Since you love your parents too, Cedric, it might be hard for you."
"Maybe not as hard as you think. Though, of course, I do love my parents."
Cedric closed his eyes solemnly, letting Maria's words sink in.
"...He sounds like a remarkable man."
"He truly is."
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at the clumsy man in question, who was currently laughing and talking with his beloved—the one who was his light. Look at them... they looked so incredibly happy.
As the song came to an end, they released their hands. Bowing with dramatic flair, Maria looked up to meet Cedric's gaze at eye level. Simultaneously, they both let out a conspiratorial grin.
It was still a secret from everyone else. —A secret shared only between the two of them.
"Congratulations, Cedric," Maria repeated.
Cedric's face crumpled into a warm, crinkly smile.
May your future be filled with utmost happiness.
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