Cedric Diggory had messed up.

And not just in some small, forgettable way—he had truly messed up. For someone who was the epitome of perfection, the pride of Hufflepuff as both prefect and Quidditch captain, admired for his talent, charm, and heart, failure was not supposed to happen. Especially not now.

Because the moment he stepped into the glittering Yule Ball, his composure shattered the second he saw you.

Cho Chang, radiant in her crisp white robes, clutched his arm as they walked together, her lips moving in polite conversation. But Cedric didn’t hear a word. He didn’t look at her. His entire world had narrowed to you.

You, gliding across the ballroom floor in a dress that seemed woven from the stars themself, every detail ethereal and breathtaking. You looked like a vision conjured from a dream, and Cedric’s knees nearly gave way at the sight.

You had been by his side through everything since his first year—laughing, comforting, sharing stolen kisses and quiet nights tucked away in the warmth of his dorm. You weren’t just a friend; you were the person who understood him, the person he had always known he was meant to be with.

And yet here he was, arm-in-arm with Cho, a Ravenclaw, knowing deep down that his heart belonged to you entirely. He loved you with a fierceness that made everything else feel hollow, yet he had made a foolish, irreparable choice.

It was always meant to be you. Only you.