DISCLAIMER: ANY RECONIZABLE WORK BELONGS TO J. . ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO J. . IF I WAS HER I WOULD NOT BE WRITING FAN FICTION FOR MY OWN STORIES HERE ON THIS SITE OR ANYOTHER SITE. I JUST LIKE TO PLAY WITH THE CHARACTERS AND TWIST THE PLOT AROUND TO CREATE A SLIGHTLY NEW ONE.
PS: THIS DISCLAIMER GOES FOR THE WHOLE FAN FICTION.
The first week of Hermione's stay with the Diggorys' was a transition period for her and Cedric both. Cedric and skipped working in the ministry all together and found work in a muggle coffee shop near his family home while he researched muggle schools with help from Hermione. Hermione had to get use to living in a magical home that was different from the Weasley's. It was close to the end of the summer and she would be leaving for the Weasley's who lived not far away while Cedric left to experience muggle school.
She had heard from Sirius a few times but he had to keep on moving so the ministry didn't catch him. Hermione also knew that he was back to living most of his time in his animagus form as snuffles (aka: Padfoot). She did spend most of her spare time researching Wizarding Laws on trials and escaped criminals because she wanted to do what she could to help Sirius and because she wanted to help Sirius that she and locked herself inside the Diggory family library on a nice day going over trial information that just seemed to repeat its self over and over again which was starting to get on her nerves.
"The Prophet is here." Cedric said coming into the room.
Cedric hadn't gone to the muggle school yet but the one in town started in a few weeks and he hadn't signed up yet. They had planned on going down to the school today claiming that he was home schooled for most of his life and wanted to try public school for his final year of schooling. Mr. and Mrs. Diggory had planned on going down to the school with them so they could play the dutiful parents for the schools head master.
"Oh really what's it saying today?" Hermione asked.
"Just another article about Harry being the chosen one, I have to say this one is a bit more accurate though." He replied handing the paper over to Hermione.
Hermione grabbed the newspaper from Cedric but set it aside so she could finish reading a particular passage in the newest book on wizarding law that she had found. It was written by a young wizarding law student and was based off of his thesis –at least that's what you would call it in the muggle world. It mentioned several trials from the past twenty years including Sirius but there was nothing on how someone like him could be proven innocent in the eyes of the law but the author Mitchell Cullen seemed to lean toward the fact that Sirius was innocent because he had pointed out several inconsistencies in the trial and arrest documents pertaining to Sirius.
After rereading the passage Hermione pushed the book aside. There was nothing helpful in the book except for the inconsistencies listed by the author.
"Are you all right?" Cedric asked.
"I'm fine. I just can't find any way to help Sirius and I wish I could."
"I know you do you can stay here if you want to while my parents and I go down to the school."
"No I want to go but for now I am going to read about Harry." She replied.
"I'll come get you when it's time." Cedric said before leaving.
She picked up the paper and read the article about harry. The head line was big and bold lettering that was sure to grab your attention.
HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE?
Rumors continue to fly about the mysterious recent disturbance at the Ministry of Magic, during which He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was sighted once more.
"We're not allowed to talk about it, don't ask me anything" said one agitated Obliviator, who refused to give his name as he left the Ministry last night.
Nevertheless, highly placed sources within the Ministry have confirmed that the disturbance centred on the fabled Hall of Prophecy. Though Ministry spokeswizards have hitherto refused even to confirm the existence of such a place, a growing number of the Wizarding community believe that the Death Eaters now serving sentences in Azkaban for trespass and attempted theft were attempting to steal a prophecy. The nature of that prophecy is unknown, although speculation is rife that it concerns Harry Potter, the only person ever known to have survived the Killing Curse, and who is also known to have been at the Ministry on the night in question. Some are going so far as to call Potter "the Chosen One," believing that the prophecy names him as the only one who will be able to rid us of He-Who-Must-No t-Be-Named.
The current whereabouts of the prophecy, if it exists, are unknown, although {ctd. page2, column 5) ~HP&the halfbloodprince~J. ~
Hermione read the rest of the article but it sounded more like a gossip magazine than a trustworthy newspaper article. She folded the paper up and set it aside to read later if she felt like it –which she probably would if she needed a break from looking through the wizarding law books.
"Hermione it's time to go." Cedric said poking his head in the door.
Hermione followed Cedric so they could meet up with his parents. They were dress impeccably in muggle clothes as was she and Cedric but Hermione couldn't see herself wearing robes unless she needed to and since she wasn't in school she didn't wear them during the summer break.
They walked down to the school since it wasn't located very far from their home. The school it's self looked like every other muggle school Hermione had seen. It was a small brick building with two floors. By the sign out front it held both the younger and older kids; younger kids on the bottom level and older kids on the top.
The meeting with the head master went well and Cedric would be attending the school starting the first week of the new school year –which was in a couple of weeks.
A week later Hermione stood in the room provided to her by Mr. and Mrs. Diggory staring at her school trunk. She was once again trying to figure out which books to bring with her and which ones to leave behind. She had cleaned it twice since being with the Diggory's both times were out of boredom.
"Going through your trunk again?" Cedric asked from the door way.
"Yes. I have been through all the law books concerning murder trials and have not found a thing to help me with Sirius." Hermione replied. "I didn't think it would be this hard to help him. I know he's happy to be out of Grimmauld but he's still on the run and can constantly be with me or Harry like I know he wants to be."
"Well you are leaving for the Weasley's in two weeks so you will be able to head to Hogwarts with them. So that might take your mind off things." He replied.
"True but I'll have Fred and Gorges inventions to look out for who knows where they have hidden those things around that house."
"You'd have to keep an eye out for them; I heard they are living over their shop now because they've gotten so much business."
"That wouldn't surprise me. They made a pretty good chunk of change while they were still at Hogwarts and that was behind Umbridge's back." Hermione told Cedric.
"That's true, so what is the problem with your trunk this time?" Cedric asked.
"Oh I'm just trying to figure out what books I should leave behind and which ones I should take with me besides the new ones I will get when my book list gets here."
Hours later Hermione was a sleep with one of her old school books in hand. Cedric had walked quietly over to her and took the book out of her hand. Hermione grunted in her sleep when he removed the book. Hermione had an alarm clock sitting on the bedside table set for twelve am because of a letter hidden underneath it. The hand writing was the untidy scrawl of her father. She hadn't heard from him in a while and was going to speak with him through the two way mirror he had given Harry had in turn given to her.
Dear Hermione,
If you can I'll be glad to talk with you at eleven p.m. tomorrow. I am writing this because things have gotten worse out here now that our old nemesis is back. Using Floo would be too much of a risk at this point. I know Umbridge still watches them hoping I'll pop up somewhere on her radar. That won't happen I do have ol' Moony on my side –not that he would help me terrorize her—he's too much of a good boy to do so even with her prejudice against all half breeds. I suspect that she may be one herself.
Love,
Your father
Hermione had read the letter several times since she had gotten it the previous morning. The clock read nine and she had two more hours to wait until Sirius would call her name through the mirror. She couldn't wait for it because she hadn't spoken to him much since before she left Hogwarts and hadn't seen him (outside of the mirror) since he was in his Padfoot form on the platform after coming home and it was because of this that she had hoped to be able to talk him into coming to see her before she left on the Hogwarts express and she was pretty sure Harry would agree with her but he hadn't written her back yet but the Dursley's could be preventing that; after all they did do it in between their first and second years but Dobby hadn't helped in that department either.
"Hermione." She heard. She knew it was Sirius.
She immediately picked up the mirror from her bed side table.
"Hi." She greeted.
"So how are things?" Sirius asked.
"Fine, I haven't found anything that could help you get a new trial."
It was still awkward for them to talk to one another but they were getting better, getting closer to the father daughter relationship they both craved.
"I never had one." He told her.
"What do you mean you never had one? Isn't that illegal?"
"I was sent straight to Azkaban and I don't know much about law muggle or wizard so I can't answer your second question and I don't want you looking into it if it's going to cause you trouble." He replied.
"I'll be fine dad. I have Harry, all the Weasley's, Remus, the order and Cedric to look after me. If anyone wanted to hurt me right now they would be out of their mind to even try; especially with you as my father and I would suspect you would have Remus as my god father since you don't have Harry's dad around to do so. Not to mention I knew several sixth year spells long before I was even a sixth year."
"I get it you can protect yourself but I can't help but worry. Molly told me that is a small part of being a parent. I never thought that I would have to feeling double time."
"Me and Harry." She said.
"Yes I worry immensely about you both all though Harry doesn't really know that." Sirius replied. "I've got to go it's not safe for me to talk. I'll write you when I can and stay safe Hermione."
Before Hermione could say anything Sirius's face and disagreed from the mirror. It upset her a great deal more than she would care to tell anyone. She set the mirror back on to her bed side table facing the bed so that she could hear Sirus call her name if he came back to it during the night. She doubted that he would reappear but she was always prepared.
She pulled the bun out of her hair and climbed under the covers and went to sleep. It was a fitful sleep –because of how Sirus had stopped their conversation—but it was sleep none the less. She woke up the next morning with a crick in her neck and to the smell of bacon and eggs made by Mrs. Diggory. She dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and went out to eat. Cedric wasn't there and neither was Mr. Diggory.
"Where have Cedric and his father gone?" she asked Mrs. Diggory.
"They went to try that muggle fishing." Mrs. Diggory replied. "And they are sure to come back home soaked to the bone in water or covered in mud. They always do when they go do things like that."
"At least they haven't tried hunting with guns." Hermione replied. "That would not end well and the healers would be well worked if that happens."
"I would rather not think about it." She replied. "I'm going to Flourish and Blotts for a book club meeting would you like to go?"
"No thank you. I've got some summer school work to finish. With the house being quiet I should be able to finish." Hermione lied. "But thanks for the offer I would have gone had I gotten my book list but that's not likely for another week or so."
"That's fine dear. I'll have to let Cedric know to take you as Amos and I would be out of the country."
"Oh I'll be at the Weasley's by then but I'm sure he would be welcomed to tag along after all Fred and George haven't seen him in a while and would probably like to catch up with him."
"I'll see you some other time then." Mrs. Diggory said before leaving the room.
Hermione was glad when the woman left the room. She liked Mrs. Diggory but they never really had gotten along after their initial meeting. They were cordial but she talked with Mrs. Weasley more in the short times she had stayed with the Weasley's than she had ever did with Mrs. Diggory. Hermione would be great full to the woman for letting her stay in her home along with her loving family.
Come Thursday (about a week before she went to the Weasley's) Hermione was at the end of her nerves. Cedric was the only Diggory at home as Mr. and Mrs. Diggory decide to stay out of the country for a short while as a sort of second honeymoon. Cedric could have joined them but he had school in the coming weeks as did Hermione but he also had something planed for Hermione and would not tell her what was planned.
"Come on Cedric tell me where we're going." She pleaded with him for the tenth time in five minutes as they walked down a dirt path in the middle of a wooded area.
"No. Just be glad that I didn't blind fold you." He replied.
"You are mean." She said.
"You will forgive me when you see where I take you." Cedric told her.
"I discovered this place with some of the Weasley's a long time ago."
"So how long ago was that?"
"I was nine so nine years ago." Cedric replied. "I haven't been there much because it's more of a romantic place and it's completely magical area in a muggle town. We have no idea why but also know that it is completely safe and only good magic comes from it."
"Have you taken any one else hear and if you have why are you taking me here now?" Hermione asked.
"I haven't taken anyone else here and as for why I am taking you hear now have a look." He said pointing out in front of him.
Hermione did as he told her to do. In front of her was the most amazing little meadow with a small pond at the middle of it and going into the pond was a small water fall that looked like it belonged in a muggle water park. The floor of the meadow was covered in little blooming wildflowers. There were also fireflies flying around lighting the meadow up like Christmas lights on a tree.
"It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like this. Not even in muggle movies. It makes me think of a fairy tale."
"I'm guessing the muggle fairy tales not the magical ones." Cedric said sitting down on a particularly smooth rock at the edge of the pond.
"I have never read the magical fairy tales." Hermione replied. "So I don't know what they are about."
"Oh there are several. I have a copy of one. I'll show it to you when we get back to the house. The others I don't know the details of just the adlibbed version that my mother told me when I was younger to get me to behave and go to bed."
"My mother had her own version of a story like that too." Hermione said sitting down next to Cedric. "When was the last time you came here with the Weasley's?"
"I came here a few times with them before my fourth year but then Harry came and they all wanted to make sure he was welcomed and Harry didn't want to venture to far from the burrow. I can't say I blame him on that part through."
"I can't either. I love the place there is something warm and cozy about it. Your house is nice too but sometimes it doesn't feel like it's lived in."
"That's all right and the cleanliness would be from my mom. It was the way she grew up. I think if I had a sibling or too she wouldn't be as bad but alas I'm an only child."
"Well I am in that boat with you because I do not see Sirius having another kid but then again Harry is like a brother to me." Hermione told him.
"He is a very good friend to me to I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for him." Cedric said.
"I still can't believe that happened. You and Harry have to be the only two people Voldemort wanted dead but got out of the situation alive. They don't call you the boy-who-lived or any variation of it but you weren't hit with the killing curse."
"That was only because Harry tackled me to the ground." Cedric replied. "He cracked a few of my ribs doing that."
"Cracked ribs are better than what would have happened if he hadn't." Hermione said looking down at her shoes. She grabbed the end of one lace and begun to untie her shoe and took it off when she was done. She repeated the step with the other shoe and then took off both of her socks after which she tried sticking them into the water but the rock was too high and her legs were too short.
"You look peaceful." Cedric said a few minutes later.
"I guess I haven't felt at peace." Hermione replied just as her stomach started grumbling. "And I guess I'm hungry too."
"I have that settled." Cedric said and with a flick of his wand a picnic basket appeared at his side.
Hermione didn't say anything and continued to watch as Cedric set up the picnic lunch he had set up earlier that day when she was busy looking for ways to help Sirius. It was simple since he wasn't much in the way of magical cooking and didn't know all that much muggle cooking. He conjured a blanket and spread it out on the meadow floor and went about setting plates on top of it before he sat down and finally conjured up a few butter beers.
Hermione got up off of the rock they had been sitting on and sat down on the blanket across from Cedric. She smiled at him before taking a sandwich off of the center plate. Cedric had mirrored her after handing over one of the butter bears and setting the rest aside.
"These are good. Your mom didn't make them did she?" Hermione asked quirking an eyebrow.
"Hey I take offence to that. I can make a pretty mean sandwich." Cedric countered. "She did however teach me how to make the desert we will be having so I don't know how bad it will taste."
"I'm not going to be poisoned am I?" Hermione asked.
"I would hope not because I would be in that same boat with you and we would have no way to get back to the house and to St. Mungo's. I do not apparate well when I am sick."
"Why would you apparate when you are sick anyway?" Hermione asked him.
"I was sick and my parents weren't home and I needed my medicine. It was under lock and key so I couldn't summon it."
Hermione looked around the meadow again. The sun was setting now so the fireflies look brighter against the darkening sky. She had almost wished she could bring Sirius here because she knew it would be privet enough for him to be in his human form without threat of being arrested by a magical law enforcement officer or an Auror.
"Are you all right?" Cedric asked.
"Just thinking about my dad." Hermione replied. "He would like it here and he wouldn't have to stay in his Padfoot form."
"He probably would but I would have to stay away from the water if he was." Cedric said.
"Why would you have to do that?" Hermione asked.
"He acts very much like Fred and George and the last time I was here with them they threw me into that pond over there and he is a marauder after all."
"How?"
"Harry told me about the map and everything else." Cedric replied. "Ingenious idea that was. A map that detailed would be nice for the first years but dangerous in other hands."
"Like old Voldemort?" Hermione said.
"Yes. Are you done eating?"
"Yeah. If I eat anymore I'll get sick."
"Then stop eating." Cedric said. "After a while we can go swimming."
"I didn't bring a suit."
"Wear what you have on I can always use the Siccus charm after we finish." Cedric said. "We don't have to if you don't want to and we can't swim that long anyhow, mum and dad have that curfew thing on the house so they know when I'm home and I will not leave you out here alone."
"I wouldn't want to stay out here alone any way. We don't know who could be lurking around in the shadows." Hermione replied. "And after the Battle in the ministry of magic I would like to put off any fighting like that as long as I can."
"Well you don't have to worry. Your dad is going to be in the area soon I assume to see you and Harry off to school and Remus is coming in a few weeks because Molly is making him stay at the burrow."
"I don't think we'll recognize him after Mrs. Weasley gets done with him."
"That would be a good thing with him. He always looks sickly each time I see him."
"That is because it's after the full moon or just before a full moon before he goes into hiding." Hermione told him. "Now come on if you want to get any swimming in we better do it now before it gets to be too late."
"Okay I'll race you." Cedric replied getting up from the ground.
Hermione followed and got up to. Cedric cleared the remains of their picnic away with a wave of his wand. Hermione looked him in the eye.
"You still want to race?" she asked.
"Sure I do. Now on the count of three we go." Cedric said. "One… two…"
Hermione didn't wait for him to get to three she took off for the pond and jumped inside of it. The water was surprisingly warm against her skin. She figured it was part of the magic of the whole place. She was twirling around with her head back resting on the water when Cedric made his way into the water splashing her.
"Cedric." She screamed. "You could have jumped where I wouldn't have gotten hit by your splash pattern."
"I'm sorry." Cedric said. "I didn't mean to."
"I'm not mad." Hermione told him. "Well a little bit but that was because it was so peaceful and your splash ruined it."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize." Hermione said. "It was an accident and I have had too many people tell me in the past year or so they were sorry. They were sorry my dad died. They were sorry my mom died. Sorry that I almost got killed helping Harry. They shouldn't be sorry that I almost got killed, I was only doing what a good friend would do and nothing at all less."
Cedric didn't say anything to Hermione he just swam over to her and pulled her in close to him and wrapped his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around him. They continued to say nothing and drifted around in the warm water.
"Hermione I would love to stay in the water longer but I have to get home and if we stay any longer we will turn into giant human prunes."
Hermione untangled her arms from around Cedric and swam to the edge of the pond and climbed out. Cedric did the same but waited to see if Hermione got out okay. Also true to his word Cedric dried them both off with the Siccus charm. He also cast a weak warming charm on Hermione to keep her warm until they got home.
The dirt road they walked down was darker than that of the meadow. There was nothing magical about it. Hermione liked it. She liked it more than she ever did the city while the bright lights of the city were pretty and amazing they held nothing compared to the peaceful silence that a long deserted country road could. The only think about the country she didn't like and could not stand was the smell of manure if the wind happened to blow just right.
Halfway down the road Cedric grabbed her hand. Hermione thought about pulling her hand away but decided there was noting that could be seen as wrong by holding someone's hand. She liked his hands it felt weird for her to think that but Cedric had nice hands in her opinion. They weren't to smooth like a woman's or to rough like a muggle farm workers hands not that there was anything wrong with muggle farm workers (they just had rough hands). Cedric's –in the words of goldilocks—were just right.
The Diggory house came up too soon for Hermione's likening. The lights were aglow but only for those of magical heritage. The house was pretty during the night time. Cedric let go of her hand since the gate to the yard had to be open by no magical means as most wizards didn't bother with keys or any form of muggle protection when it came to their homes.
"I still like that your parents incorporated muggle things in to their protection. Most witches and wizards don't." Hermione told Cedric.
"I know that's why they do because the purebloods that sided with you-know-who don't bother to listen to the ideas when they are being discussed. That even applies to food. I think hand made without magic food is better than food that is." Cedric said.
"I feel the same way the food at Hogwarts is good but I found myself several times throughout my time there whishing for grilled cheese sandwich made by my mum."
Cedric hadn't said anything to Hermione. When she looked up at him Hermione realized that Cedric's attention was held elsewhere. She followed his gaze and saw that his attention lay on front steps of the Diggory's home. There was a shadow of something on the porch.
"Get behind me Hermione." Cedric said letting go of her hand.
Cedric took out his wand and had it ready as they walked closer to the shadowy figure and as they got closer to it the taller it got and the more is started to look human.
"State your name and reason for being here." Cedric yelled at them.
"Put your wand down boy I'm not going to hurt you." The rough voice said coming out into the open.
"Sirius." Hermione whispered.
"Yes." The man replied.
"What happen to you?" Hermione asked.
"Just an injury I got as Padfoot when I was hanging around Remus." Sirius said. "He keeps apologizing for it but I don't think he needs to."
"That's Remus though. He would apologize a hundred times if it was his parchment that gave you a paper cut." Hermione told him.
"True but as much as I would like to talk out here I can't so can we get inside?" Sirus asked.
"Sure." Cedric replied.
Cedric went up to the door and unlocked it and stepped aside to let Sirius and Hermione in before him. Sirius sat down on the couch in the sitting room and Hermione sat next to him. Cedric locked the door again before he went to join them.
"So why are you hear Sirius?" he asked. "It's kind of dangerous for you to be out and about isn't it?"
"Yes but I've been given a mission that takes me out of the country. I wanted to say goodbye to Hermione before I left."
"Where are you going and is it dangerous?" Hermione asked.
"I am going to North America right now and no it is not dangerous." Sirius told her. "All I have to do is see if American witches and wizards will give us any help with our fight against Voldemort."
"When do you leave?" Hermione asked.
"I leave in about a week and now, Hermione, I promise to come see you Christmas time."