Chapter 1
Cedric is about to start his third year at Hogwarts. He is a handsome tall boy for a third year and already popular with the ladies. He is currently trying to avoid an annoying group of first year girls that have been following him around since he was on platform 9 ¾.
He got past the trolley lady before she blocked the aisle from the first years. Then he dashed up towards the front of the train and knocked on the door of a cabin with a lone witch in it. She had bushy hair and was reading a huge textbook.
She looked up and he opened the door.
"Hi um… I'm really sorry but is it alright if I hide out in here for a while?" Cedric said looking nervously over his shoulder.
"Some girls won't leave me alone." He smiled anxiously at the little witch.
The little witch who must have been a first year because Cedric didn't recognize her seemed stunned that someone was in her cabin and froze for a second before replying.
"Um sure it's okay with me. No sense in this entire cabin going to waste on only me." She said looking down.
"Thanks you're a life saver." He said in relief as he quickly shut the door pulled down the shade and sat opposite to Hermione.
"Sorry if I'm being rude, but shouldn't a boy like you be seeking out attention from girls not running from it?" Hermione said timidly.
"What do you mean a boy like me?"
"Nothing… well I mean you… never mind I'm so sorry I never should have asked." Hermione stammered as her face turned pink.
Cedric laughed. "I'm just messing with you. I know you must be wondering what a sexy guy like me is doing running away from a bunch of girls." Hermione scoffed at him. "Well it's not that I don't like the attention, but you'd think they'd give it a rest once in a while. Blimey it's the first day of school and they've already started stalking me."
"You're popular I don't see how that can be a bad thing. Now if you don't mind I 'd like to finish this chapter before we get to Hogwarts. She started reading her book as if he wasn't there. He found it amusing that this little first year was reading a huge textbook so intently. The book was bigger than she was.
"I'm Cedric Diggory by the way." Cedric said feeling drawn to the little witch. He was never very chatty, but he felt compelled to fill the silence.
"Oh I'm Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you."
"Like wise Hermy."
Hermione blushed and looked down.
"Please don't call me that. It's just awful." She looked a little angry and yet scared as if the entire train heard Cedric call her that.
Cedric chuckled at her.
"No problem Granger. So, are you liking your first Hogwarts experience so far?" He asked smiling.
"How do you know I'm a first year?"
"Well the petrified look was my first clue, and I would have remembered seeing you around." Cedric said still smiling.
"Oh… well I am. Um it's… been nice so far." She said nervously.
"Jeez Granger you seem like you're about to combust. Relax." Cedric said while of course smiling.
Doesn't he ever stop smiling? Hermione thought to herself. "Sorry. Um it was a nice experience until this annoying boy stormed into my cabin and started talking to me." Hermione said dryly.
"Whoa there's a personality in there after all!" Cedric said laughing.
Hermione blushed .
"What year are you in?" She asked
"This will be my third. What are you reading?" He asked trying to peak a look at her book.
"Oh this is Hogwarts A History." Hermione said proudly.
Cedric laughed. "Jeez Granger you must be the only witch or wizard that has ever read that book. Well maybe people like Dumbledore, Sprout, Professor Bins, or some other person who knew Merlin!"
"I'll have you know DIGGORY that this is a fascinating book that every new student at Hogwarts should read. You don't have to be old to figure that out." She said glaring at him.
"Awww don't be mad Granger you have an old soul. That's the kind of quality every guy looks for in a girl." He said smirking.
"Wipe that smirk off your face Diggory or else I'll get your little fan club in here." She threatened.
"Taking out the big guns already. Feisty little one aren't you."
Hermione ignored him and went back to reading.
"What house are you in anyway?" Hermione asked not looking up from her book.
"What house do you think I'm in?" Cedric Said smiling playfully.
Hermione put her book down and looked at him.
"Well you are definitely not a Slytherin. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you're not a Ravenclaw either."
"Ouch Granger. I'm wounded." He teased.
"You laughed at me when I told you I read a book… am I wrong?"
"No. I'm not in either of those houses."
"Well I have no idea if you're brave or chivalrous but I do know you seem pretty laid back and kind even if you do like to tease."
"Only you Granger." Cedric said wiggling his eyebrows.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Hufflepuff?" She said unsure.
"Is that your guess or a question?"
"My guess." Hermione said annoyed.
"You amaze me Granger. I think I'm sitting with Ravenclaw's future Head Girl." He said smiling.
"Maybe, but… Cedric? Has anyone ever not gotten sorted before?" Hermione asked with fear in her eyes.
"Well there was Sara Jones a few years back. The sorting hat said she was unworthy and could not be in a Hogwarts house. Everyone laughed and her parents had to get her and send her to Beauxbatons."
Hermione looked at Cedric with wide eyes, and Cedric began to laugh.
"Never mind Granger. You're far too gullible to be in Ravenclaw." Cedric laughed loudly.
Hermione huffed and folded her arms.
"Don't you have friends you can bother?" She asked him irritated.
"Are you kidding that's the first place those crazy girls will look. Where are your friends?"
Hermione looked down blushing.
"Well I don't have any…yet. I mean I'm a muggle born so I didn't know any witches or wizards growing up." Hermione defended herself.
"A muggle born aye. Well muggle born or not that's just a bad excuse. You could have got to talking with someone on the platform."
"For your information Diggory I spoke to a boy named Neville on the platform but he lost his toad on the train and has been looking for it since. Then I met Harry Potter and some other boy on the train." She defended herself.
"Okay, okay no need to get all defensive." Cedric said with his hands raised in surrender. "It's far too easy to get you riled up Granger. I'll leave you alone now anyway. We're almost there so I have to put my robes on." He said with a smirk on his face.
"Umm… Diggory." Hermione said meekly. "I have read a lot about this and well I was just wondering if there was a difference between muggle borns and purebloods." Hermione asked.
"Well Granger from my experience there is no difference between a pureblood and a muggle born, but not all wizards believe that, but don't worry about them they're just nutters. If anyone gives you a hard time about being a muggle born just tell me and I'll punch them in the nose alright." Cedric said.
Hermione let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and nodded. "Thanks."
Cedric opened the door and turned around in the doorway.
"Hope I see you in Hufflepuff Granger. Oh and when we get to Hogwarts just find Hagrid he'll show you where to go."
"What does he look like?"
"Don't worry. You can't miss him." Cedric chuckled. "See ya." Cedric said running out of the train car.
"Bye" Hermione said to the empty doorway.
All he did was tease her, but he seemed really nice. Hermione couldn't wait to get to the Great Hall. The idea of seeing Cedric again made Hermione smile.
"Merlin I'll be president of the fan club soon." Hermione whispered to herself.