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Sequel to Mere Technicality.

Don't own any characters. Only storyline. AU. Cedric didn't die.

You don't necessarily need to read Mere Technicality but it would help.

It had been a few weeks since the 'incident' as Hermione was now referring to it. She and Krum had broken up, he immediately started going out with a Veela and couldn't be happier.

Cedric, however, was still with Cho.

Hermione, who was in her dorm packing the last of her things, felt silly. She had believed Cedric when he said he fancied her. Hermione snorted as she threw a pair of socks into her almost full trunk. They'd be going home in three hours time, after breakfast and after Dumbledore had wished them a happy holiday. She sighed and shook her head. Why would Cedric Diggory like normal, level headed Hermione? He was a Quidditch pro, and not to mention a sex symbol. But so was Viktor... she reasoned.

"Ok, Hermione, stop thinking about it. It could be worse." She said. He could be spreading rumours, and making fun out of her to his friends...Oh God, was he spreading rumours and making fun of her to her friends? Hermione took a deep breath and shook her head again, why was she letting this affect her so much?

Hermione stood and put her robes on over her white shirt and grey school skirt. She didn't bother putting her jumper on, it was far too warm for that. She made her way down to the common room to meet Harry and Ron and make their way down to breakfast. She smiled when she saw them laughing together.

"Well, ready?" She asked as she reached them in their armchairs.

They nodded enthusiastically and Ron rubbed his belly. Hermione laughed skipped over to the portrait hall, her bad mood forgotten.

They got to the great hall in a few minutes and sat down next to their friends. Seamus and Dean were joking around, throwing bread rolls at each other and levitating glasses over each others heads threatening to spill it. Hermione knew she was going to miss everyone deeply. She wasn't going to the burrow until late in the summer so she wouldn't see any of her friends.

"Hey, Hermione... Why's Cedric Diggory staring at you?"

"What?"

"Diggory is staring at you."

Hermione turned around and saw that Ron was right.

"Oh, I don't know. I helped him after the triwizard final. He was covered in cuts."

"Is that why you weren't there when Harry got back?" Bellowed Ron.

"Ron, don't shout..."

"No, Hermione... Is that why you weren't there?"

"Yes, it must be. I was helping him a while. Those bushes nearly tore his skin off"

Both Ron and Harry glared at Hermione and she knew they weren't talking to her. She sighed and dropped her head to eat her breakfast. A few seconds later a small piece of parchment dropped in front of her, Hermione looked up and enclosed it in her hand. She read it inconspicuously under the table and saw Cedric's handwriting.

Hermione,

Meet me in the prefects bathroom in 10 minutes.

I need to talk to you.

Yours,

CD

Hermione rolled her eyes but decided she'd rather do that than sit here and be completely ignored than her two "best" friends. She finished her breakfast and stood.

"Where are you going?" Demanded Ron

Hermione ignored him and walked out of the hall. She sat on the edge of the empty bath as she waited for Cedric. She didn't have to wait too long as he appeared few minutes after her.

"Hey..."

"Hi"

"Look, I'm sorry..."

"Just don't Cedric. You shouldn't have told me you liked me if you didn't."

"I do, Hermione. Let me explain."

"Why should I?"

"Because you like me and you want to give me a chance" Cedric said with a small smile.

Hermione smiled despite herself. She shook her head and shrugged.

"Go on then."

"Well, I tried to break up with Cho. And she completely broke down before I had a chance to say anything. She was telling me about her Grandma dying, and she clung to me all night. I didn't see her for days and I just couldn't. Not because she was my girlfriend, but I wouldn't do that to anyone. I tried to talk to you but she wouldn't leave me alone. I really am sorry. I wanted to see you so much..."

Hermione thought about it. Cho did disappear for a few days the week earlier. Hermione sighed and smiled slightly, standing up she walked over to Cedric who gingerly reached out and hooked one of his fingers with hers. Hermione smiled more and Cedric closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her.

"God, Granger, you scared me there..."

Hermione laughed and stood back from him. He slipped his hands around her waist and they stayed like that for a few minutes, just smiling at each other before they remember they had to get to the carriages.

"Listen, I'm guessing you don't have a phone so here's my address. Owl me!" Said Hermione, writing her address on a scrap of parchment. Cedric gave her his in return and she smiled at him. Cedric was staring at her in the entrance hall. She glanced arond nervously and drew her arms up around his neck, got on her tip toes and kissed him lightly. He smiled and pulled her tighter to him, kissing her more deeply. She pushed him away.

"Cedric, plenty of time for that later. I don't want the boys to see when they're not talkin to me anyway..."

"Because of me?"

"Hmm.. Yeah"

"Oh, don't sugarcoat it..."

Hermione grinned and kissed him again quickly. She pulled him outside to find a carriage to take them down to the train and got the last one. Two second year Slytherins were in there with them. Cedric did everything possible to assert his masculinity. He sat with his legs apart, his arm around Hermione with his top button undone. When they got out of the carriage and onto the train Hermione started laughing and shoved Cedric playfully.

"Could you be more manly, Diggory?"

"Oh, Diggory now is it?"

"Indeed."

"Well, Granger, I think I'm man enough. Do you?" He asked and came incredibly close to her. Hermione blushed but boldly said.

"Well, we'll just have to wait and see..." Before she spun and walked down the corridor to find an empty carriage.