Not many people know this. But Hermione Granger loves wandering the castle and grounds at midnight. And Cedric Diggory, he loves it too. One night, one conversation brings back memories. Memories she wants to forget. Memories he wants her to remember.

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything. Me, I forever remain in a pool of swirling jealousy at her talent.

Note: Set during the trios sixth year. Time frame: Won Won and Lav Lav are still together.


A Chance Encounter

Hermione sighed contentedly. She loved Hogwarts like this. When the moon gave it a magical glow, and the stars danced in the black sky. She entered the courtyard and smiled. She hadn't felt like this in awhile. She thought about everything that was going on. She let her mind roam and instantly felt bombarded by memories of Harry describing his meetings with Dumbledore, Ron and Lavenders relationship, Harry's potion book, and ridiculous extracts from Hogwarts; a history.

Her mind wandered back to Ron and Lavender. Every time she saw them together she felt her skin crawl. It angered her. Lavender was such a vapid, silly little girl. Hermione knew Ron could be an idiot but really, this was on a whole new level of stupidity, even for him.

Shaking her head slightly to banish the thoughts whirring around in her brain, Hermione pulled the blanket she'd taken from the common room more tightly around her shivering body.

I really should've brought the marauders map, Hermione thought as she remembered the increased security in the school. She never took her eyes off the full moon as she backed towards a bench in the centre of the courtyard. It was so beautiful. It made her think of what they were fighting for. The beauty in the world, magical, non-magical and natural. All of it mattered more to Hermione at that moment than she'd ever realised. She immersed herself in the stars. Her knowledge of them making everything more brilliant. She'd thought astronomy a simple subject until now, but gazing at the millions of stars, she wondered how she'd ever thought that. She focused on her favourite constellation.

"Lynx, from the Ursa Major family, a total of 41 stars in it's constellation, shaped like the mountains surrounding Hogwarts" A warm voice said from nearby.

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. But then she managed to place the voice and without turning around she said sarcastically,

"At least some part of your Hogwarts education stayed with you"

He chuckled before stepping into the light.

"It's named Lynx because it's very faint to the human eye. And is only mainly seen with the eyes of a lynx. How do you see it Ms. Granger?"

"I was a half-cat for a month or so in my second year, I guess it's finally had its advantages. But how do you see it Mr. Diggory? For I don't remembering you being turned into a cat, although maybe you secretly were and that's why you preen yourself so often" She replied lightly.

"Ms. Granger you wound me with your sharp tongue. But as a matter of fact I was never a cat, or half-cat for that matter. I merely spent the last two years of my life in Hogwarts on that exact bench gazing at that same constellation. So I must've trained myself to see it. Yes, I am indeed that fantastic" He said mockingly, avoiding the jab at his vanity.

Cedric walked over to Hermione and nudged her down a bit so that they were both seated on the bench. Hermione returned to her stargazing, Cedric did the same but had a small smirk on his lips as he did so. After five minutes of comfortable silence, Hermione, with her eyes still on the sky spoke,

"Why are you here Cedric?" she asked tiredly.

"I'm on duty. For the Order. It's my turn to be on Hogwarts patrol" He said nonchantly.

"But you could've just sent me to bed. I'm well past curfew. It's mid November. Not exactly the perfect time for a catch-up is it?"

"I didn't want to send you to bed. I wanted a chat. An intelligent conversation about something not related to the war" He said clenching his jaw but still facing the stars.

"So you turn to the best friend of Harry Potter, to 'get away from the war'? What a good idea" Hermione said derisively. Eyes glued to the lynx constellation.

Cedric finally turned his gaze from the millions of stars and planets and turned his eyes on Hermione, and said,

"No. I turned to the most intelligent woman I have the privilege of knowing to help me forget the rest of the world for a few minutes" He said honestly.

Hermione stared at Cedric then. For what seemed like an age they stayed like that, brown eyes meeting gray ones, until Hermione shut hers eyes. He entwined his fingers with hers and sighed contentedly.

"Hermione-" He started softly, but she cut him off.

"I can't do this" she whispered hoarsely, "Just stay away from me" She said, her voice rising an octave as she freed her hand. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked into his confused gray eyes, looking like orbs with the moon reflecting in them. "Leave me alone. Please" she said before standing, wrapping the blanket around herself once more and quickly leaving the courtyard.

Once she was a bit away from it she broke into a sprint and didn't stop running until she got to Gryffindor tower.

"Oh, we are out late. What would Fil-"

"Dragons egg" Hermione let out breathlessly.

The portrait looked annoyed at the interruption but swung open nevertheless. Hermione stepped inside the portrait hole and let it swing shut behind her. She lowered herself down, and leaning her back against it she drew in a shaky breath.

Hermione shut her eyes to banish the tears that wanted to fall, and she closed her mind to every thought that could remotely link back to him. Finally, after half an hour of searching her head for a suitable distraction, Hermione decided on reciting the runic alphabet, each runes properties and what it could or could not react with. After the first five ruins, she was on her way to calming down, so slowly she stood up and made her way to her dorm, not for one second letting her mind wander. It wouldn't do her good to dwell on such thoughts andmemories, not in such dark and dangerous times.


Note: I've been reading a lot of Cedric/ Hermione and I wanted to try a new angle on their relationship. I hope it's ok, and that it leaves you wanting to read more, if it does please review and say so and I will happily comply and update, but this first chapter is just 'testing the waters' you could say, which is why it's so short. If there's a bad response I'll leave it alone. Just let me know. Thanks.

Yours faithfully,

FireboltPheonix

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