Hermione let herself get lost in the crowd of rich red silks and sharp black dress robes. She let the noise attack her ears, individual conversations mingling with the throbbing bass, until all that could be discerned was the twang of foreign accents. She was jostled, enveloped and then spat out, into the cold, by her peers. There was a knot in her throat and a shake to her hands. Blood rushed to her cheeks and pulsed across her sweaty brow, anger becoming a salve. She sat burning until her indignation was chilled by the frosty air. Ron had managed to ruin her first date with his foul, sour mood and Harry just sat there gawking as usual. Now here she was, left slumped in the cloak of the night alone again. That is, mostly alone. She couldn't help but cringe at the giggles that came from nearby benches.

She looked up. Two familiar figures had emerged from the Great Hall and Hermione blinked, stunned. It was Harry and Ron. They had come after her, looking for her. Her breath hitched and she raised her hand, to call them over but... their eyes looked past her, and she realised that they weren't here for her, or to apologise. They were here because Ron wanted to take his sulk on tour. Hermione drew in a shuddering breath and watched through stinging eyes as they wandered leisurely down another path. She hid her face and began to cry.


Cedric was a little distracted. While everyone around him was spinning and swaying all he could think of was the task, the mermaids in the black lake and how exactly he was going to hold his breath for an hour. While he pondered, he gazed blankly in the direction of his dorm mate Toby Baker. His friend threw him a confused look but it went unnoticed.

He winced as Toby elbowed him in the abdomen. He had somehow managed to sashay around the crowd, and was now standing directly beside the third champion. Toby began to jab his elbow into his best friend's side for a second time when Cedric caught his arm.

"Hell Toby, why are your elbows so damn bony?" Cedric said leaning against his shoulder.

"Bony? I'm not bony! My abs are coming along nicely, thank you very much." Toby ran a hand down his deep blue dress robe, lifting his eyebrows suggestively. A manicured hand quickly slapped Toby's arm away from himself, leaning across Cedric to do so.

"Pack that in Toby you freak." Pepper shook her head laughing while Cedric guwaffed squashed between the two.

"I was just telling lover boy here to pay more attention to his lady friend." Toby nodded his head in the direction of Cho Chang, an extremely pretty fifth year who was busy shaking it with her flamboyant clique. But Toby was right in his appraisal, as every few beats her eyes would flutter to Cedric's side of the circle, checking out her competition.

"Toby shut up. Go entertain yourself somewhere else. No seriously. Go get Soph a drink." Pepper pushed Toby aside, and he staggered head still bobbing to the music.

"There's only so much spiked punch that girl can take." He shouted as the crowd screamed the newest Weird Sisters catchy chorus. Nevertheless he started carving a path away through the crowd, heading towards the drinks stand.

"He spiked the punch!" Pepper cried, jaw dropping.

"No he can taste it. I think it was Nathaniel, sharing his stash out of the goodness of his heart." Cedric gripped a hand to his chest. Pepper rolled her eyes swinging her hips to the beat of the music.

"Cedric maybe you should go take Cho for a drink." Cedric's eyes darted across to Cho, who was slowing down her dancing as the song came to an end.

"Okay. Yeah, I think I will." Pepper smiled pleased, teeth sparkling in the golden light. "See you later Peps."

"Bye Cedric. I think I better find Soph, if she's drunk we're all doomed." She laughed and headed off as Cedric turned to approach Cho in the opposite direction.

"Hey, do you want to grab a drink?"

"What?"

"A drink, do you want one?" She shook her head, painted features a picture of confusion as the band amped up the crowd. Cedric smiled, taking her hand and guiding her through the throngs of people until they could hear themselves think.

"I was just wondering if you wanted a drink."

"Oh yeah, Thanks, some pumpkin juice would be nice. I actually need the ladies," Cho added timidly.

"Sure I'll just wait out here." He pointed to the newly erected grotto, twinkling through the great hall doors that sat ajar.

"Okay. I'll be back in a minute." She smiled and retreated, tottering across the hall.

The winter air hit him like a smack to the face. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness slowly seeing the flickering glow that emanated from the fairies, and reflected off the faces that emerged from the near was Savoy Nelson closest to him. Then Amilia Hopkins. Stu Knightly. Palma Frolic. Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger, crying. Alone. In the dark.

Damn.

Now Cedric Diggory had been a shoulder to cry on for more than his fair share of girls. When you're best friends with three females, and share a dorm with ladies man Nathaniel Hastings, it's only to be expected- Cedric still shuddered at the memory of last year, broken hearts around every corner- however he tended to be the strong and silent type. Toby was the one to change the sobs to laughing hiccups. But he didn't have it in him to just leave her there.

Steeling himself he strode over to the bench, plonking himself next to her weeping figure. Hermione quickly drew a hand across her eyes however, he could still hear her snuffling.

"Hi."

"Hi." She responded faintly.

"You look really nice, Granger." She pressed her lips together and looked in the opposite direction, down one of the twisting paths that made up the grotto. He scanned his thoughts, conjuring up their last conversation, trying to think of something that would distract her from her thoughts. The clue.

"I figured out the egg by the way."

"Really!" She gasped looking up into his pleased face, wide eyed. "Congratulations! That's amazing! How did you..." All the newly ignited happiness drained out of her expression, like bath water out the plug "No. Don't- don't tell me... Just- can you. Can you tell Harry for me. How to get the clue out of the egg I mean. I know it's against the rules but..." She shrugged avoiding looking him in the eye.

"Why can't I tell you? Then you can tell Harry if you want."

"It wouldn't look good. Ron's getting paranoid about the competition."

"Ron Weasley? Yeah, I've got to say I was surprised when you arrived with Krum." Hermione scowled, ready to snap back a retort when Cedric finished, "I thought you'd be coming with him." She deflated peering into his hazel eyes. She waited a moment before quietly admitting,

"I thought so too."

"But Krum beat him to the pulp." He grinned, but Hermione shook her head. "Ah, he couldn't pluck up the courage to ask you." Hermione silently shook her head again, and Cedric suddenly had the feeling that this was not the best subject to broach.

"He actually forgot I was a girl."

"Well, at least we know he's not gay." Hermione's jaw fell and she watched stunned as Cedric tried to hold in his amusement. "I'm sorry," He chuckled, "but you can not be serious. What made you think Weasley thought you were a boy?"

"No, he didn't think I was a boy." Hermione rolled her eyes in distain before she stopped short her brow furrowing. "I don't think. He just seemed to forget I was a legitimate candidate as a partner for a heterosexual teenager of approximately the same age. And before you ask, I know this because he told me so. Not in so many words, obviously. His exact phrasing was," She cleared her throat, dropping her chin, and mimicked a deep baritone voice, "Wait, Hermione you're a girl. You can just take me or Harry to the ball." Cedric couldn't help the upturn of his lips at her wildly inaccurate impression of a fourteen year old boy. His grin almost made her smile too. Almost.

"He must be blind!" He laughed. Hermione froze resisting the urge to look down at herself. Cedric saw her face and quickly began to backtrack.

"I, um, just meant that," Shit." You're so, well, pretty and- and anybody would be a fool not to notice it, that, you." He rushed tripping over his thoughts, eventually deciding that it would be best to just shut up at this point. He gulped, feeling awkward and jittery. But he hadn't lied. Hermione Granger was indeed pretty. She had wide doe eyes, a cute turned up nose and a beautiful smile. It was a shame she didn't use it much. Hermione softened at his words a small, gentle smile graced her features.

"When did he say all this anyway." Cedric got out, hoping to force the conversation onto a different, less treacherous, topic.

"Oh, two weeks ago? He and Harry where still searching for dates and I was going with Krum but I hadn't told them yet for obvious reasons." She scowled, but her eyes remained mercifully clear of tears.

"He was acting a bit jealous." Cedric nodded.

"Jealous?"

"Yeah you know grumpy, growling, all round bad tempered." His eyes caught sight of a white dress train as it disappeared around the main oak doors. Hermione's own eyes narrowed.

"Yeah," She affirmed lengthening the two syllables, glaring down the same empty path as before.

"He's jealous. Sorry but I've got to go, Cho's looking for me. You should go find Victor, he's probably looking for you too." He smiled. "I'll see you around Granger." He began strolling off, but turned and started walking backwards, hands tucked into his pockets. "Oh, and I'll tell Harry. About the egg. I'll just... slip it into conversation somehow." He grinned, finally earning the laugh he had been looking for. Hermione raised her hand in goodbye and, objective achieved, Cedric jogged off chasing Cho's cloak tails.

Chapter 3: Pleased as Punch


Authors Note: Say hi to my OC's! I hope you like them, and keep a look out for Toby, he will be back, and please leave a review if you feel in anyway inclined!

BlushingBelle