****

It's his first year at Hogwarts, his first day, and he's a bit nervous, and he needs somewhere to sit on the train. He's went through all the compartments and now he's in the last one, watching two older boys talk, trying to sum up the nerve to ask if he can sit there. And then they look at him.

The bigger one asks, "First year?"

Cedric nods, unsure if he should look at them.

"Play Quidditch?" The boy asks.

Ah, something he can talk about. Cedric is relieved. "Yeah, of course."

"What position?" The boy asks again.

"I usually play Chaser, but I think I'm better at Seeking."

"How good?" The boy wants to know.

"Pretty good," Cedric replies, grinning.

The boy nods a nod of approval. "I'm Oliver Wood. Our Seeker isn't that great. Are you planning on trying out?"

"I heard first years aren't allowed to be on the team. But next year, maybe."

"Good, good. Do you know which house you'll be in?" Oliver asks. The other boy laughs, and Oliver glares at him.

"I don't know..." Cedric is back to feeling unsure.

"Are you brave?" Oliver is persistant, his voice sure.

"I guess..." Cedric doesn't really know what to say.

"Come on, sit down," the third boy says, and Cedric realizes he is still standing. He sits down, next to Oliver, then blushes when he realizes how close he is and scoots over a little. It would be really strange if Oliver realized how close they were sitting, when there was so much room.

The other boy, who introduces himself as Roger, asks Cedric some more questions. Oliver asks, too, but it's mostly when he started playing Quidditch and how long does it take him to catch the Snitch after he sees it and how often he plays and whether Cedric owns his own broomstick. Roger rolls his eyes at Oliver's questions and asks Cedric some general questions. Cedric can feel that Roger is trying to make him feel more comfortable, and he's relieved, altough a bit embaressed. But it's okay, because Oliver and Roger go back to talking between themselves, about the Quidditch league and who wil lwin, and which House will win the Quidditch Cup in Hogwarts, and homework, and Cedric stares out the window and pretends not to listen.

Roger points Cedric in the direction he's supposed to go when the train stops and they all get off. Oliver is ballancing one foot on top of the other.

"Thanks," Cedric says. He looks around, at all the other first years. Who will be in his House? Who will be his friends?

"You're welcome," Roger says, and leaves to get a carriege. "Come on," he tells Oliver.

"Okay, bye, then," Oliver mumbles. "Hope you're in Gryffindor."

Cedric watches Oliver as he walks away.