𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒩𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

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The days following the blow-up between Iris and Theodore had been a strange readjustment for not just the two of them but just about everyone in their lives, or at least Iris's. Theodore Nott didn't have many people…

Iris had vanished the rest of that day and skipped out on dinner, normal enough. And Theodore tended to return to his solitary way of life when Iris wasn't attached to his hip, so when he ignored the girl's questions of where their friend had vanished, they just shrugged. Normal enough.

No, the first sign of something being wrong for the roommates came the following day at breakfast. Iris always left early with Theodore, and the girls would join them at their usual spot. And Iris did leave early that morning… just she wasn't in her usual spot. Instead, she was on the end of the table, the furthest she could physically get from the boy, as she silently read a book, an apple in hand.

Sharing a look, the girls tentatively made their way to the empty space surrounding Iris, all seemingly in agreement to not mention anything when Iris started up a conversation as usual. But that plan would crash and burn the moment Jane Yaxley sat down, the question flying out of her mouth.

"Why are we sitting over here?"

Tracey, Valeria, and Sally-Ann all cringed back, shooting the blonde cold stares. But much to their surprise, Iris kept calm, "Anyone want to switch me seats in our core classes?" She ignored the question with one of her own, but remaining calm was an achievement nonetheless.

The girls shared another look at the question and how blatantly she ignored explaining what was happening, but Sally tried to keep things light. Flashing a smirk to Tracey, she suggested, "Sure, Tracey here would take you up on that, already is stuck next to Nott in potions anyways."

Tracey shook her head immediately, "Nope, step one of personal growth. Stay away from Nott for at least three weeks. Valeria's orders, she even has a plan to switch my seat in potions out."

Another readjustment is Iris's life… Tracey's grand adventures in gaining confidence. The room was filled with candles and rocks, and the room had been subjected to daily readings of passages Valeria's mother sent her. Valeria and Jane were into it. Iris and Sally-Ann much rather agreed that they should just lock Tracey into a room with Theodore and shouldn't let them leave until she confessed.

Tracey was very opposed to that plan, so all she had was whatever Valeria felt like subjecting her to.

But that's beside the point for now.

Jane sent Iris a smile, "I will switch you seats. Could also get my parents off my back if they catch wind of me sitting beside a Nott."

Valeria pointedly looked up, "Or it will just get you betrothed to him."

Jane cringed back at that, "Or it will get me betrothed, but a risk I can take."

And so began Iris's new life. Her new routine now that she found herself without Theodore Nott.

She spent the early mornings on her own. She sat next to Valeria in all their core classes. Wandered off for lunch, lately finding herself joined by a certain Cedric Diggory. Dinner was a mixed bag, sometimes spent with the girls, other times at the Gryffindor table with Ronald and Harry, the two still ignoring Hermione following the broom incident. Late nights were for homework and gossip, locked away in the dorm. Weekends, for whatever she so pleased, except the library. That place she avoided like the plague.

Iris even added to her routine, finding that she would join Remus and Harry for the dementor lessons every Thursday at eight in the evening.

Overall, Iris's life went on without the companion she spent so many months clinging onto. If anything, she found her life much more social than when she was following after him.

And Theodore Nott seemed to have gotten his life from before Iris back. Spending most of his time on his own. The only people he ever spent time with that of the other Slytherin purebloods of their year.

He and Iris may as well have never met. The way they both pretended the other never existed, one would mistake that maybe they really just never had. And with how normally their lives continued, how content they both seemed… it was hard to believe that anyone once considered them friends… but looking back.

Were they ever?

~~~~~~

Iris never seemed particularly fond of being in The Kitchens at Hogwarts. The House Elves, as they were called… seemed to cause her the faintest bit of discomfort. But Iris still always went in for lunch, letting the small creatures do what they seemed to enjoy best, provide the best service they could.

But Iris could never bring herself to stay and eat. She always just politely took her easy lunches and off on an adventure she went.

Cedric Diggory had caught her on the third day back from break… and since, the two had met every day for lunch, typically sneaking off into the Hufflepuff Common Room that was only a short trip away from The Kitchens.

That day wasn't going to be much different… or at least had not made any plans for a shake-up in routine. So when Iris rounded the corner into the corridor that hid the kitchens, she was rather confused to see Cedric standing in front of the painting of the fruit, behind which were The Kitchens.

In his hand was a basket.

Raising her eyebrows in question, Iris stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, "Would you rather I remain surprised, or can I look into your head for whatever it is you have planned?"

It was almost annoying how happy simply just hearing her voice seemed to make him. Knowing just how special the type of fondness he held her towards her was rare. That boyish smile jumped onto his face before he could even look at Iris, "I'm doing my best not to think about it. But the surprise won't drag out for long anyways."

Iris couldn't not smile back. She remained planted in her place just past the corner as Cedric approached her, "I'll do my best to not snoop then. I do enjoy surprises. Pity I usually have them ruined."

Cedric shifted the basket to his other hand while he paused just before Iris… her eyes narrowing in question as to why he stopped before she noticed it…

He held out his empty hand, a quiet ask as he stared at her with that unfair boyish, and so very contagious, smile.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second, an unfamiliar glint passing in those unnatural yet captivating eyes… but almost tentatively, she did allow her hand to slide into his. Their fingers interlocking in a gentle hold.

The contact somehow seemed to make Cedric's smile grow more frustrating to look at. The way it reflected in his eyes just so… special.

Iris Blackwell would pride herself on the way she was the one in the room who made others slip up, shut down, and lose themselves to her suffocating nature. She would pride herself on the way she could walk into a room, meet someone's eyes, speak a single word, and stop anyone in their tracks. Iris Blackwell was the one who made people stumble and fluster with one look… it was never the other way around…

So she was pleasantly surprised that while looking into Cedric's eyes at that moment… being the person all that admiration was directed to… she was the one who needed to take a moment to remember how to breathe. She smiled faintly as she let him drag her along to whatever was next.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Words lost on her as all she could think of was that unfair boyish smile.

~~~~~~

There was perhaps one place in all of Hogwarts that Iris had yet to step into, and that was the Quidditch Pitch. Growing up, she had been dragged to a few Quidditch games and long decided that it was by far one of the least interesting sports she had the misfortune of watching.

Sally-Ann and Valeria thought her insane and argued in defense of the sport several times, but to no avail… to Iris Blackwell, Quidditch was boring.

So she hadn't bothered to attend a single game and most certainly had no care to explore the pitch itself. There were far more exciting places to be in Hogwarts and its surrounding grounds.

And with all that being said… her surprise was very underwhelming as Cedric led her up the steps into the stands. But an underwhelming surprise is not a reason to complain or get down. So she went with it, letting Cedric Diggory share an important aspect of his life with her.

Besides, she was still focused on their hands… the touch seeming so foreign to the girl that she just had to process it. The way his thumb would draw the faintest of touches up and down, the way he tightened his grip as he led them around the odd obstacle, the way his grip loosened anytime Iris stretched or wiggled her fingers.

It was all so new… no, a caring touch wasn't new… it was just forgotten. Something this gentle and caring wasn't technically new. It had just been so long that perhaps it felt that way.

And Iris was utterly lost in this all the way up into the stands. Only seeming to gain her full sense of self back when the touch was gone. Her attention almost visibly snapped back into existence as she watched Cedric begin to set up their lunch date.

Iris sat sideways on the bench, one leg touching the ground as the other pulled up to her chest. Head rested on her knee as she allowed the boy to take charge of his plan… allowing herself to just watch.

First, he had pulled his wand out along with a small jar, lighting a fire inside and placing it on the bench just above their seats… just a fire, no fuel visible in the jar. Just a lone flame that almost immediately seemed to warm the winter air. Cedric's face lost a bit of the flush it had before… Iris, of course, hardly seemed to notice it ever was cold.

Next was the food, and with it, a spark of nerves seemed to overtake the boy, "Since you special order lunches, I have been keeping note on what you get every day, looking for anything you ordered twice. So I could pinpoint a favorite food." He carefully unwrapped the plate meant for Iris, "But all I noticed is that you tend to go light for lunch."

He presented the club sandwiches with an unsure smile, no doubt hoping with everything in him that he got it right… and relaxing immediately at Iris' smile, "No tomato… I've known private chefs that have still added tomato to meals despite having a list."

Cedric seemed quite a bit proud of himself for nailing that one and was a bit quicker about pulling out the rest of what was hidden in the basket. First, his own meal, then two Gillyweed waters, and then a bowl he uncovered to be a variety of chocolate-covered fruits, "You never seem to really eat anything overly sweet, so this seemed like a good dessert choice."

Cedric set the basket by their feet as he finally settled down, relaxing more when he finally gave Iris his full attention to see her smiling. She hadn't yet touched her food, waiting for him and for when she could properly say…

"Thank you for this. It's cute… although I will admit bringing me to the Quidditch Pitch is hardly a surprise factor for a date."

His smile was wide in an instant, excitement flashing through him as he shook his head, "The surprise is after we eat. I just didn't want to break our lunch routine. So eat quick if you are getting impatient."

Iris really didn't need to be told twice.

~~~~~~

In retrospect, Iris should have maybe slowed down.

And she most definitely should have seen it coming… honestly, what else was she expecting to do on a Quidditch Pitch?

How she could act so shocked when Cedric handed her a broom was honestly the most proof that was needed that Iris Blackwell was so against Quidditch that she had just erased flying from memory entirely. Rather impressive, really.

She still seemed in that initial shock as she was led out onto the pitch. Broom held out like one would hold a bomb as she followed behind Cedric Diggory and further into the open field.

The moment they came to a stop, the words flew out of her in a rush, "I've never flown before!"

The shout came as a shock to both him and her. One that made him laugh and, in turn, her scowl.

Cedric was quick to correct himself, simply smiling down at her with obvious amusement, "How about we change that then. I could run through the basics with you, at least?"

Her scowl dropped, but her eyes did go just a tad bit wider than normal. But Iris Blackwell would never have been one to turn down an experience… even if this one was truly only a bad idea…. But there were worse people to go through a first time flying with. So with one firm nod, Cedric placed his broom on the ground, giving his full attention to Iris.

With that stupidly gentle smile and those annoyingly comforting eyes, Cedric placed one hand on the top of Iris' broom handle, "I'll be here the whole time, so don't panic. The broom is like a wand. You have to be in control in order for it to listen."

A mocking glare jumped onto her eyes, "A wand is an extension of you that only you can have complete control of. A broom would let any moron take a ride."

"Well, then, you should have no problems with this."

Iris only grumbled as she allowed Cedric to move the broom from her grasp. Holding it straight up in front of her with his gentle smile, "Start with putting your dominant hand here," he pointed at the spot and allowed Iris to do so, "and here," her other hand followed into position.

Still keeping a strong hold on the top of the broom, he nodded in approval of her own hold, "Now mount it as you would prepare to sit on it."

Another nod followed as Iris did as told, her grip on the broom tightening the faintest bit in anticipation. "Okay, and now I just want you to jump," he remained calm when her eyes shot open wide, "Trust me."

He trusted her once with a jump. Granted, it was just to put on skates and trick him into slipping… but Cedric Diggory had, at multiple moments, put his trust in her… so maybe that is what made it so easy to look into his eyes and give him the same trust.

Maybe that is why when he said jump just one more time… she did.

Iris sucked in a breath as her feet left the ground, and her body fell forward as she gripped the broom for dear life. Her eyes closed as she waited for what was to come… waited for the impact of hitting the ground hard… waited for Cedric's sharp laugh…

But it never came.

It took a moment… far too long a moment for Iris to open her eyes. And the first thing she would see was Cedric's proud smile… the second thing she would see was the confirmation that her feet were off the ground.

Her eyes quickly locked back onto Cedric. Her smile was heart-stopping. So much pure, unfiltered joy radiating off her in waves. Her smile the widest he had ever had the pleasure of seeing. Her annoyingly American level of perfect teeth on near full display. She only smiled that wide with her top teeth visible… Cedric would have that smile engraved in his mind and soul for the rest of his life.

He watched her have her moment. His gaze grew fond as he took it all in. The way her grip had yet to tighten. The way she still leaned over, her eyes level with his. The way she had moved her hand up in her jump, her touch faint on his hand that still held the broom steady.

And shit, that smile.

It reached those eyes that seemed to turn almost entirely blue in just the span of seconds. Almost as if the smile actually did spread to her eyes.

Cedric would only describe the way he quickly leaned forward to catch that smile in a kiss as autopilot. Something his heart simply needed to do. A way to express the absolute flood of affection running through him.

When he pulled away just a second later, her smile was still there, but she had toned down enough to finally sort out a coherent sentence, "I'm flying."

Cedric bit back his laugh, "Hovering, but a good first step."

"Can I fly?"

He shook his head, eyes twinkling, "Your enthusiasm is great, but if I wasn't holding this broom steady, you would fly into the stands right now."

Iris glanced down to where his hand was, holding back the broom from the slight jerks it would make from time to time, "Suppose I am not relaxed enough."

The two shared a little laugh over it, Cedric speaking through his amusement, "And besides, I want to finally show you the surprise."

He helped her off the broom before stepping over to his, and in the most showoff way ever, simply holding a hand out for the broom to fly up into. Iris would admit that this side of Cedric… him in his most natural element. Where he felt most confident and free… it was something she was glad to witness.

Cedric was hovering just off the ground before he turned to Iris expectedly, holding out his hand again in the unasked question…

That damn hand.

Iris stared at it for what felt like too long. Remembering the touch that had left her at a loss for thought. That gave her a taste of what effect she could have on people. It wasn't new, no, just a forgotten touch.

A touch that she found herself sucked into again as she took Cedric's hand. Allowing him to help her on the broom.

~~~~~~

Iris was bursting with energy in the Common Room that night. Excitedly explaining every detail about her date with Cedric to the girls as they took over the seating near the fire. From the picnic to the speed at which Cedric could fly.

Sally-Ann and Tracey were a bit more focused on the kiss than anything, though.

Iris was just about to begin explaining her favorite part when Jane got distracted by something just behind Iris… well, someone, "Hi Theodore!"

It was just a quick greeting as he passed by. A habit from the girl… but it may have been a slip as everyone around her flinched. Everyone except Iris.

No, Iris just paused. Her jaw tightened for just a moment before she pushed away the anger and kept on with her good memories of the day, "You should have all seen the view. It was unlike any other I have found of the grounds."