Cedric thought he could gain a few points by helping out his classmates, especially with his growing reputation as a top student.
But things didn't quite go as expected.
"Hello, Cedric!" a Slytherin girl greeted sweetly, tucking a loose strand of wavy hair behind her ear and giving him a flirtatious wink.
He could hear her friends chuckling suggestively nearby.
Under the table, he felt at least two different legs brushing against his own.
Of course, Cedric wasn't naïve. He knew she hadn't come over with a genuine academic question. Still, he returned her greeting with a warm smile.
"Is there something you don't understand?" he asked politely.
"Of course!" she replied brightly and took the seat next to him.
They ended up talking for over ten minutes before she finally stood to leave. But just before she walked off, she took his hand, squeezed his palm, and lingered for a moment, gently rubbing it.
Cedric sighed inwardly. Students here definitely matured quickly.
He didn't mind answering questions, but if every tutoring session turned into a flirtatious ordeal, it would seriously cut into his time for gaining experience points. He would be better off practicing spells on his own.
And as for romance?
Well, he'd wait and see about the legendary Cho Chang.
He'd heard she was of Chinese descent, which matched his aesthetic preferences quite well. According to the original story, she eventually married a Muggle who bore a striking resemblance to Cedric.
That kind of steadfastness, even in grief, was something he admired.
Still, Cedric wouldn't pursue anyone solely because of how the story originally played out. Cho would be entering school next year. There was plenty of time to meet her and see how things unfolded. No need to rush.
For now, he pushed aside any romantic distractions and focused again on his main goal: getting stronger.
In truth, not many students came to him with genuine questions. So he shortened his tutoring sessions and dedicated more time to personal practice.
Thanks to his efforts, he was the first among his peers to reach level 10 in the newly acquired skill:
[Symphony Spellcasting (Max Level): Maintain rhythmic wand movements between spellcasting. Depending on your emotional state, each successive spell can increase in power by 10% to 50%.]
[Maxing a spellcasting technique grants 500 experience points and a bonus: 1KG of magical potion.]
"So that's where the potion reward comes from," Cedric mused.
The potion, valued at around ten Galleons, was a welcome gift—but what excited him most was the emotional core of the skill.
Symphony Spellcasting wasn't just about music; it was about channeling emotion through rhythm.
It was said Professor Flitwick had pioneered this technique. As a maestro with a deep love for symphonic music, he once found himself humming a tune during a tense duel. The emotional momentum from the symphony amplified his spellwork dramatically.
That epiphany birthed the concept.
Cedric realized the key wasn't just musical rhythm—it was emotional resonance.
Power in magic, as he'd begun to understand, was deeply connected to emotion.
For instance, when Mrs. Weasley thought her child had died, her maternal fury allowed her to overpower Bellatrix Lestrange in a fierce three-spell volley.
Even Dumbledore often spoke about love being the greatest magic of all.
Though to Cedric, that was the cruelest irony.
The greatest triumph of Dumbledore's early life was defeating the very man he had once loved most. He and everyone he had loved perished in that lonely tower.
And the Ministry? In all its callousness, it commemorated Dumbledore's darkest day by awarding him a medal.
The only true consolation was that their names could now appear together on a Chocolate Frog card.
That was the closest they had been since 1945.
Cedric sighed, feeling a mix of sadness and sympathy.
He made a mental note to send Dumbledore some fresh clothes and parchment next time—perhaps even spare him the indignity of writing on old bedsheets.
Maybe, just maybe, he could keep the old man alive a little longer.
Of course, that meant being especially careful with the temptation of the Gaunt family's cursed ring.
"Yes, I see you watching me," Cedric thought, smirking into the void. "But your stories moved me, Headmaster. Maybe I'll let you see the ending before you go."
He couldn't help but laugh to himself, though he made a second vow as well.
Someday, he'd deal with the Ministry of Magic.
It had never done anything right.
With his newfound understanding of the emotional core of Symphony Spellcasting, Cedric changed the music he played in his head during training.
He chose: "The Internationale."
The effect was astounding.
His growth accelerated. He became more efficient. And the enchanted book Slughorn helped him publish was moving forward faster than expected.
Slughorn's latest letter confirmed that printing arrangements were underway:
> "It will be in Flourish and Blotts' bestseller section by Christmas Eve! Trust me, I know people. And about that medal? I've got friends in high places!"
Cedric trusted him. Slughorn's connections were gold.
So with the book almost ready, Cedric turned his attention to the next major event:
Hufflepuff's first Quidditch match.
He had spent 3,000 precious experience points upgrading his team's overall performance, and now, the results were showing.
Hufflepuff's Quidditch training was more intense and organized than ever. The team had grown significantly, now at least twice as strong as when he first joined.
Team spirit soared, and everyone was so motivated that they readily agreed to Cedric's proposal for an additional hour of practice each week.
If no other house pulled a miracle out of their hat, Hufflepuff might actually win the Cup this year.
They were already leading in House Points.
One victory on the Quidditch field, and Hufflepuff could claim both major honors this year.
After another week of intense training, November arrived—and so did the match.
The format was a round-robin. Each house would face off against the other three throughout the season.
Hufflepuff's first opponent: Ravenclaw.
Match day.
11 a.m.
In the Hufflepuff common room, the team surrounded Cedric, offering encouragement.
"Don't be nervous, Captain! Just play like you always do!"
"Ravenclaw isn't even that strong. We've got this!"
"Yeah! We've improved so much since you became captain!"
Cedric grinned confidently. "Let's enjoy ourselves out there."
After a group cheer, he led the team out toward the pitch.
When the Ravenclaw players saw him, their eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're Hufflepuff's captain?" Roger Davies, Ravenclaw's own captain, stared at him in shock.
In the announcer's booth, a familiar, indignant voice echoed across the field.
"What the hell!"
It was Lee Jordan, clearly stunned. His voice boomed through the microphone without even a hint of restraint.
"Hufflepuff's captain is actually Cedric Diggory?! This is ridiculous!"
As usual, he was voicing the thoughts of his best friends—the Weasley twins—who were now under Cedric's unofficial employment and too polite to speak up themselves.
"This is nothing short of a cheat code!"
"Jordan!" came Professor McGonagall's sharp whisper.
Then, in a much louder tone, she called out, "Team Hufflepuff, take the field!"
It seemed not everyone had accepted the news gracefully.
Cedric ran out first.
As he crossed the threshold onto the pitch, the system interface lit up:
[Legendary Value -1, 5 Points Remaining.]
[Quidditch Talent Upgraded: SS → SSS.]
[First SSS Talent Unlocked – Rewards: 3,000 XP, Potion Material: Silent Bird Feathers x100.]
The difference was instantaneous.
Cedric could feel it in every muscle, every breath.
This—this was no longer just a game.
H
e was playing on another level now.
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