I Only Wanted

A/N : Ok, here's the second part of my cliffy chapter! LOL. Adorable!Cedric is going to make his return. We'll find out what Cedric wants and some other stuff along the way. Maybe some lyrics again. If you haven't yet, run, don't walk, to your local record store and buy Nickel Creek's album "This Side". Beautiful music.

    Oh, yes, big twist in this chapter! Remember back when Snape said that he knew Katie's parents (back in Chapter 8). That's going to come into play at the end of this chapter.

    Ok, enjoy!

****

    Katie ran up a staircase and down a long corridor. She thanked the gods for allowing her to stay in such good shape as she ran. She skidded to a stop outside of a rarely used classroom and peeked in to see Cedric, standing by the widow, just staring out of it. Katie snuck up behind him and tried to see what he was watching. Out of that window had a perfect view of the Quidditch pitch. She noticed a team out there practicing, but couldn't tell who it was without giving herself away. She took a few steps back and cleared her throat. Cedric jumped slightly and turned to greet her.

    "Hey Kate," he said, a slight blush rising in his cheeks.

    Katie smiled at him mischievously. "What're you looking at out there?" she said moving past him.

    She could recognize the team easily now. It was the Ravenclaw team. Katie turned and looked at Cedric curiously.

    "Ravenclaw?" she asked.

    "Uh, yeah. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about," he said nervously and Katie couldn't help but smile.

    What in the world had Cedric this flustered, or better yet, who? Katie turned to the window again and as she watched the players, she had an epiphany.

    "You like their Seeker too, huh?" Katie said, crossing her arms across her chest and looking at Cedric.

    "Who else does?" Cedric asked nervously.

    "Oh, just Harry. Its just a crush. Can't even talk to the girl. What did you want to ask about her?"

    "What do you know about her?"

    "Well, she's a mediocre Seeker. She's a popular little witch. Uh, and she's got to be damn smart, being in Ravenclaw and all. Other than that, I have no clue. I'm not exactly in with the in crowd like you, Diggory," Katie said teasingly.

    Cedric scoffed. "Just because I'm a Captain doesn't mean I'm popular," he said rolling his eyes.

    Katie walked over to him and reached up to pat the top of his head. "Sure it doesn't honey," she said, and hid behind a desk when Cedric lunged for her playfully, "Well, why don't you go talk to her, stud?"

    Cedric stood up straight. "I don't know what to say," he said softly.

    "Just talk to her. You're both Seekers. Find something else in common by talking to her about that," Katie suggested.

    "I'm not even on her level, Kate," Cedric said sitting at the desk Katie was hiding behind.

    Katie hugged him from behind around his broad shoulders. "Don't put her on a pedestal. If you do that, you'll never be able to talk to her. She's just another Quidditch player."

    "Could you talk to her for me?" Cedric said looking at her over his shoulder.

    "Why should I?" Katie said laughing, "I don't like her."

    "Just ask her if she would think about talking to me. Please Kate?" Cedric said, looking up at her with puppy dog eyes.

    "No, not the eyes," Katie said turning her back on him.

    "Please!"

    Katie sighed heavily, and walked over to the window. She noticed the team heading back up to the castle. "Fine, but let me run down now. Once she's with her little friends, I'm not going to attempt it. Besides, Rodger loves me," she said smiling at Cedric before running from the room.

    Katie was really starting to hate running. But she made it down to the entrance hall in record time and had time to sit down on the stairs and catch her breath. When the doors opened, and the Ravenclaw team entered, Katie stood and made a beeline for Rodger Davies, the Ravenclaw Captain. His eyes lit up at the sight of her.

    "Katie Bell. To what to do we owe the pleasure?" he said, smiling at her.

    "Oh, no one really. I just need to speak to Cho, if its alright?"

    "Oh, sure. Cho," Rodger said calling Cho over to them.

    Cho smiled at her and Katie motioned for her to follow her back outside. "Thanks Rodger. I appreciate it," she said, smiling over her shoulder at him.

    Once outside, Katie turned to Cho and just blurted out her statement. "Cedric Diggory has a bit of a crush on you and he sent me down here to ask if he could possibly talk to you."

    Cho laughed. "Are you serious? First Harry and now Cedric," she said a blush rising in her cheeks, "He just wants to talk?"

    "Yeah," Katie said easily, "He wants to get to know you better. He thinks you're out of his league."

    "Oh," Cho said, thinking this over, "Well, that’s stupid isn't it?"

    "That’s what I told him," Katie said smiling, "So can you talk to him?"

    "Yeah, sure I will," Cho said and then smiled, "So, how's things with you and Oliver?"

    It was Katie's turn to blush then. "Good, I suppose. Why do you ask?"

    "No reason. You guys look really cute together," Cho said shrugging.

    "Thanks, Cho."

    "Don't mention it."

    Katie smiled and looked at her watch. "I better get back up there. Cedric's probably flipping out waiting for me," she said, and upon seeing Cho's confused expression, continued, "I've been tutoring him in Charms."

    "Oh, ok, well then I won't keep you."

    "Yeah, see ya around," Katie said, walking back into the castle and up the marble staircase.

    She decided to walk back to the rarely used room on the fourth floor. She was sick of running. When she reached the room, Cedric was staring at the door, waiting for her.

    "Well?"

    Katie rolled her eyes. "She said she would talk to you."

    Cedric ran over and picked Katie up spinning her around and setting her back down to hug her properly. "Thank you so much, Kate," he said softly.

    Katie laughed and pushed him away from her playfully. "You're pathetic. Come on, let's get to work."

****

    Katie carried her report down to the dungeons to hand in. Snape had decided to make the students hand their reports in on their own time, as long as it was before due date. Just to extra mean, of course. And since they had gotten the assignment the Wednesday prior, Katie thought she had an advantage at being done so early. She was being closely guarded by Lee. Upon returning from Cedric's tutoring session, she had found Lee alone and told him about Marcus. Lee would tell the other guys later, but for now he took up his guarding duties.

    "Merlin, I hate the dungeons," he said shivering slightly.

    Katie laughed at him. "Baby."

    "Oh, you're tough now, cause I don't have any toast," Lee said nudging her slightly.

    Katie shushed him and knocked on the door to the Potions room. A few moments later, Snape answered looking angry at the disturbance, but dropped the act upon seeing Katie. Well, sort of.

    "Yes, Miss. Bell? I'm rather busy."

    "I just wanted to hand in my report," Katie said, holding out the pile of parchment for him to take.

    "You can't possibly be done," he said, his voice holding a pride that surprised Katie, as he took the parchment.

    As he thumbed through it, scanning the pages, he looked more and more pleased. When he reached the last page, he looked at Katie, a look of immense pride on his face. "Like I've told you, Miss. Bell, you will have a career in Potions if you choose it."

    "I still have two years to think on that," Katie said, hiding her happiness at the fact that Snape was proud of her.

    "Nonetheless, I'll have this graded for you on Monday," he said, and with a curt nod, shut the door.

    Katie began to walk back out of the dungeons, when she realized that Lee was not following. She turned to see him just staring at the door. Katie walked back and grabbed Lee's arm, dragging him from the dungeons. Once in the entrance hall, Lee stopped completely and turned Katie to face him.

    "What the hell was that!" he said and pointed to the dungeons, "I think he's bloody possessed!"

    "Oh, that’s nice Lee. Someone thinks I have potential to do something well in my life, and they're suddenly possessed?" Katie said, crossing her arms over her chest in anger.

    "But, hun, this is Snape. He's evil, love. And he looked….proud! Like you were his kid or something," Lee said, trying to make Katie understand his confusion.

    "I'm his most promising student, Lee. I mean, sure, he had to get used to the fact that it wasn't Malfoy or one of his other little Slytherins in my position, but- I don't know, Lee. I never really thought I was any good at anything and when he recruited me for the advanced class, I was stunned. And when I had my detention, and I did that potions with him. It was fun. I didn't believe it myself, but he's not so bad. Lupin says he's just bitter," Katie said smiling.

    Lee shook his head. "I think you're coming down with something, my dear," he said throwing his arm around Katie's shoulders, "Potions being fun. Honestly, love."

    Katie just laughed at him and poked him playfully as they walked up to Gryffindor Tower. Neither of them noticed the person watching them, or that they exited the entrance hall and down a little used pathway.

****

*

    "Severus, please stop pacing and sit," Dumbledore said kindly to the panicked man.

    Severus sat and looked at Dumbledore, still panicked. "I think I have every right to pace, Albus," he said slumping in the chair, "That letter," he said pointing to the parchment on Dumbledore's desk, "has got to be a mistake."

    Dumbledore smiled. "I assure you it is not. And as much as I do not think well of Miss. Bell's parents, this is what they have requested. You knew them well, did you not Severus?"

    "Very well. They never deserved a child. Especially, one as gifted as Katie. I don't even know why Carolyn went through with having her. She's far too selfish to be taking care of another human being," Severus said, pinching the bridge of his nose, "And Andrew. Well, he was a 'follow the leader' type of person. Whatever Carolyn wanted, he gave her," Severus suddenly banged his fist against the arm of the chair, "This is absurd! How could they ever think that I am suitable for this?"

    "I don't think you unsuitable, Severus, quite the contrary. I think you would be an excellent caretaker."

    Severus looked at Dumbledore curiously. "Albus, I have nothing to offer the child! I live in the castle. I'm horrible with children. I'm used to living alone," he said throwing his hands up in the air.

    "Ah, but Severus, you said yourself that Miss. Bell has taken a liking to you. Even against the opinions of her Housemates."

    "That may be, but honestly Albus, what the hell were they thinking? Leaving her alone. She's only what, sixteen now?"

    "I believe so, yes," Dumbledore said kindly.

    "Merlin, what are we going to do?"

    "Well, as much as I disapprove of students staying at the castle over the summer holidays, as her guardian Severus, she has to be where you are. So, she shall inhabit the Gryffindor Tower for the summer. It's only appropriate."

    "You're right, of course. How am I going to tell her, Albus? When I accepted the duties, I never thought I'd ever have to do anything about it. Nor did I think they'd trust me after I joined the Death Eaters," Severus said sighing.

    "Well, nevertheless, she is your godchild. And now that she has been orphaned, it is your job to step in."

    "Send her off with Lupin, Albus. He's become like a father to her," Severus said bitterly.

    "We both know that that is not possible," Dumbledore said patiently, "Werewolves are not allowed to have minors under their care. It's just not safe."

    Severus ran a hand, tiredly, through his hair. "Then I have no choice?" he said, looking Dumbledore in the eye.

    "No, you don't. And you have to tell her, soon," Dumbledore said in a no-nonsense voice.

    Severus nodded and stood. "I will, Headmaster."

    And with that, he left Dumbledore's office and went down to the dungeons to contemplate how he was going to tell Katie Bell that he was her godfather.