Thursday

2009-06-12T01:42:36Z

As I was walking on the stair
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish, he'd go away.

I wish, I wish.
Sometimes I don't know if he's not there or if I'm not. If I'm going to slip back into that dark, empty place that's nowhere, but it's behind everything, in the well of every shadow.
The unforgettable sight of nothing to see, stretching for the whole world in endless, drowning black. No lancing yellow to pierce through, prove existence, light, life.

A den is dark, but it's warm. It's home. This house isn't a home. Some days, it feels like a tomb, like my being here is a lie.

I need to get out.

Oh! You pretty things,

2009-04-03T16:44:17Z

Cedric Amos Diggory
Character Biography

Character's Name: Cedric Amos Diggory
Age: 28
Birthdate: October 16th 1977

Family background: Cedric is the only son of Amos and Celia Diggory. His father never saw the need for more children, not when they'd come so near to perfection with the first. He was raised with a measure of doting and discipline, and shouldered well the weight of his father's expectations. Amos wanted more for his son than he himself had achieved, though his high level position in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was nothing to scoff at.
House in School: Badger pride, yo. (Hufflepuff).
Bloodline: Pure, though those foolish enough to ask if it matters get any reaction from a deadly glare to a tirade on the sub-human bigots who brought about the second war, depending on how much sleep he's had.
Political Views: Democracy, equality, and hard justice.

Appearance
Visual Representation: (attach several pictures please) Who else but Robert Pattinson?
Description: Cedric stands at an even 6 foot, with broad shoulders and a muscular form he maintains with regular weightlifting sessions and running. He's been called classically handsome, what with the razor-sharp cheekbones that were drawing eyes even as a 17 year old champion. While he's usually clean shaven, he can descend into scruffiness at an armingly rapid rate.

Psychology and Personality
Sexuality: Straight. He'd like to remind all ladies that he does, in fact, have a pulse and everything is in working order.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Cedric is loyal, decent and determined. He feels a large weight of responsibility for the welfare of the wizarding world, and while this gives him a good work ethic, he has a tendency to let it push him to far if not for the efforts of friends. Given his 'missing years', the sense of detachment he lived with then will sometimes return; he oscillates between desperately needing time and space to himself and not being able to stand the thought of being alone. He's incredibly agile and observant, and highly proficient at blending in to any given situation. While Zach works more with intimidation, Cedric's very persuasive; if he wants to, he can lull you into a deep sense of security and have your innermost secrets spilled before you realise he's asked you.
Habits\Quirks: Sleeps with a green ambient light, for reasons that shall become clear later on. Lapses into silent periods on occasion. Has been known to have rather interestingly scruffy hairstyles. Plays piano, especially when he thinks he's feeling too much; or not enough.
Likes\Dislikes: Likes: Rice pudding, pint glasses, a fresh breeze on his face, flying, proving his worth, soft green light, not being dead. Dislikes: Prying questions from strangers, over-familiar barkeeps, the DoM's very long list of Ced-specific caveats, mango body butter, beetroot.

Lifestyle
Occupation: Unspeakable, partnered with everyone's favourite bastard Zach Smith. Ced considers keeping Zach in some sort of line as part of his job description.
Financial Status: Cedric combines his work income, inheritence and a special stipend owing to his 'missing years' to be rather well off.
Residence: This information is restricted by the Department of Mysteries.

History from student days at Hogwarts to the present time:
Cedric had what one might term a unique adolescence. What many believed to be his death, was, in fact, a night riddled with enchantments and unforseen repurcussions. When Barty Crouch Jr.'s portkey-cup transported Cedric and Harry to the graveyard, an Unspeakable picked up the trace of an unlicensed portkey. Apparating to the graveyard, he arrived just in time to see Cedric crumple to the ground. Contrary to popular belief, however, the AK didn't kill Cedric. Wormtail had used Voldermort's wand for the spell, and as Voldermort's resurrection had not occurred at that point, the lifeforce feeding the magic was not whole, and so Cedric could not be wholly killed. Instead, he was thrust into a kind of limbo; a starless night outside of existence, where what was left of Tom Riddle's soul waited too. The old man Frank had not possessed the will or vitality to withstand the place; but Cedric was young and brave. The Unspeakable knew a prophecy about Harry and Voldemort existed, and so knew better than to disturb them, but on a hunch, he took hold of Cedric's unconscious body and Disapparated with him, back to the Department of Mysteries. There, a team of Unspeakables working feverishly into the night combined with Voldemort's successful resurrection pushed Cedric back into the land of the living, though he would not regain consciousness and all his faculties for almost a year. During that time, he was kept in a glowing, green tank which was kept topped up with a cocktail of restorative potions and secret enchantments. It was hoped that, while he'd been in the timeless limbo state along with Riddle's soul, he might have learned something valuable, a plan or key weakness his enemies could exploit.

Finally, he awoke, and the trusted few who knew of his existence put their efforts to rehabilitating him, helping him regain the strength he'd lost. After countless hours of searching, penseives and legilimency proving futile, it was finally concluded that Cedric hadn't absorbed any secrets that could be of help. This was a massive blow to him, and planted a deep seed of guilt that wouldn't be assuaged for several years. However, as the department had already poured considerable tme and resources into Cedric, it was decided to 'keep him on', though the direction of Project Badger, as his file was known, changed direction slightly. Now, he was honed as a secret weapon, given much more indepth training than anyone but the highest level of Unspeakables received. His time in the restorative tank had also proved useful, enhancing his senses and sharpening his instincts. While he hadn't learned anything of value, he was being honed into a highly effective agent; all the more beneficial because his existence was known by a precious few. He spent three years in the bowels of the DoM, living in an impenetrable enclave. For a brief preiod, he even embarked upon an affair with a female Unspeakable, though the pressure of his highly intense existence put paid to that before true feelings developed.

When the final battle broke out at Hogwarts, the DoM decided they needed every available body, and Cedric was finally allowed back into the world, his heightened skills and reflexes proving very effective in the fight. After years of all-but-solitary confinement, the calm before the storm also brought Cedric the first of his reunions. One of his friends, Zach Smith, had decided that, this not being his fight, he'd do better to leave, when he came face to face with what he thought could only be a hallucination.

-*-

Zach's eyes widened as he beheld the visage of his mate, someone he'd grieved for and believed lost forever. The tall boy stopped in his tracks, heart pounding. "Ced. What the fuck are you doing here?"

Cedric was calm, serious as he always had been. "Exactly what I should be. This is it, Zach."

The weight of reassurance in his eyes settled on Zach, compelling him to stay. Even so, he couldn't help but ask in a whisper, "But why aren't you dead?"

This time, Cedric allowed a glimmer of a smirk to show through. "This is why."

Zach's face split into a grin. He cracked his knuckles, drew his wand, and turned to stand shoulder to shoulder with the proudest Puff the house had known. "Then maybe it'll be better than I thought."

-*-

After the battle, Ced joined the ranks of the 'normal' Unspeakables, recommending Zach as soon as he'd applied to join. The two were partnered and proved an effective team, Ced's heightened skills and Zach's lowered ethics combining to strike just the right balance, though they niggle at each other in a way that only friends can. Cedric's parents were overjoyed to have him back, though it took a period of family counselling for them to get over the shock at having not lost their son. His return was never denied, though the Ministry took pains to esnure that it wasn't hugely publicised either, meaning many people still recieve a shock if they suddenly find the "dead champion" is alive and has them under arrest. He also has a list of "Donts" issued to him by the DoM, such as overseas travel or owls. He's not sure why these restrictions still apply, and is working to get rid of them as soon as Cedricly possible.

cedric_sheep

Thursday

Oh! You pretty things,