Chapter Two:
Disclaimer: Obviously...Harry Potter characters are not mine, and I am not making any money off of this. Characters that are mine are those that are not in J.K. Rowling's book.
Hermione narrowed her eyes and glared down at yet another group of busy nobodies. Ever since Harry's discharge from Madam Pomfrey, curious stares, loud whispers, and fingers have been pointed at him and Cedric. Harry would try and tell her that he's fine with it, that he's used to it, but she wasn't going to stand for their rudeness.
"Honestly," she muttered under her breath as she slammed her hand on the table and stood up. "May we help you with something?" she glared the group of second years down.
"N-nothing," one of them squeaked, "Sorry." They practically ran from her sight as Harry swallowed a chuckle, and Ron looked at her with both fear and awe.
"Explains why everyone seems to be keeping a good ten feet distance from you three," Cedric's amused voice suddenly came from behind them as he stopped by Gryffindor's table and greeted them. "Good morning."
"Morning," Hermione replied tightly as she sat back down.
"Morning, Cedric," Harry smiled as he grabbed a toast. "How are you handling the repeated questions?"
Cedric shrugged, "My house seems to be doing something similar, albeit more subtly." He shot Hermione an amused grin, "What do you do when they pluck up the courage to face your wrath, Granger?"
Ron snorted, "No one does. Not even the Slytherins are giving us trouble with the way she's been going."
Frowning a bit at her tense shoulders, he rested a hand on it and shot her a disarming smile, "You all right there, Granger?" he leaned down and said softly. "Not worrying and stressing anymore are you?"
Hermione scowled at him and rolled her eyes as she shrugged his hand off, ignoring the warmth that went through her shirt and onto her skin, "I am perfectly fine; just extremely annoyed with insensitive busybodies who have nothing better to do than solicit recounts of horror."
Cedric laughed, "Human nature is to be curious. It's hypocritical if you judge them base on that alone." He pointed out with a smile as Harry and Ron gaped at his daring.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "You're calling me a hypocrite?"
"Yes, if you are condemning everyone for their curious minds."
Hermione huffed, "I am not condemning anyone. I am merely stating that it's none of their business to demand recounts from you and Harry. It's insensitive and characteristically rude to point and whisper while they make up some rubbish in their own minds anyway."
Cedric laughed, "It's called the grapevine. Again, human nature, Granger. Besides," he winked, "Harry and I already have a basic wording of what happened that we mindlessly repeat, and it's not that much of a bother, so you just let your pretty little head worry about finals."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Fine, they're asking you two, and if you want to indulge them, go ahead." She crossed her arms. "And you just worry your little empty head about your finals."
"No more of you being cross with everyone then?" Cedric grinned. He raised an eyebrow. "And my little empty head?"
"Ego as big as yours, of course it's nothing but air in there to inflate it so. Anymore, and your head will hit the ceiling." Hermione retorted airily.
Cedric grinned, "You know what they say about men with big egos." His voice dipped low as he smirked suggestively. Ron reddened and spluttered while Harry laughed and choked, "And I'll attest to it for your curious mind only, Granger." He winked as she stared at him in shock from his gall. Chuckling, he straightened his body, smiled at her, Harry, and Ron before walking to the Hufflepuff tables, his hand waved in goodbye as he walked away.
"What man?" Hermione said loudly so he would hear, and causing him to laugh.
It was odd; Hermione found herself in the Hufflepuff's line of sight and company almost as often (if not more) as the times she visited Harry in the Hospital Wing. Before, she almost never saw the older Hufflepuff, but now, it almost seems as if every corner she turned: there he was. Casually leaning against the wall talking with his friends, or walking quickly about with his long legs – but every time, no matter how occupied he is, he always spare some time to greet her with at least a smile.
Harry and Ron have even come to expect seeing the Hufflepuff several times a day now, and would often times greet him before he even sees them. Ever since the third task, Harry seems to look up to the boy and Ron (even though he doesn't admit it) have come to respect the "Pretty Boy." Despite all this, Hermione can't bring herself to greet the kind upperclassman on her own, or even talk to him normally without the boys. Although to be fair, she did have that meaningful conversation with him that one time, but after that, she could do no more than smile or say a polite greeting on her own, or exchange friendly banter with him when Harry and Ron is present.
Sighing to herself as her eyes dazed back, she put the strange thoughts away. How she acted towards him isn't of importance when she has packing to finish.
"Cho," Cedric half sighed half growled as he frustratingly pushed back the hair out of his eyes, "I really don't think we should see each other anymore."
"Why?" she demanded, all shrilly and on the verge of tears.
"I've said it before, Cho," Cedric looked at her in exasperation, "and we agreed that we'd try, but it isn't working anymore."
"What do you mean it isn't working anymore?" she whined in anger now. "We were perfectly happy before the tournament!"
"And what about now?" he retorted.
"You're the only one unhappy!" she shouted before realizing what she said, "I can change. We can change!"
"No!" he dodged the hands that reached out to him. They stared at one another for several long moments, her eyes full of hurt whereas his filled with regret. "Cho," he said softly again, "I don't feel the same way that I did anymore, and I don't think you do either."
She looked up at him in surprise and before she can retort, he shook his head.
"You're only concerned over what happened in the third task now. What happened to me that night, and what happens now because of it." He shook his head. "There's no more us, it's just you and me and what happened that night." He paused as he searched for words, "Do you understand?"
She shook her head, slowly at first before shaking it in absolute disbelief. "I'm only worried about you, and how that night affected you! You've changed, Cedric!"
"There are other aspects that could cause you concern!" he shouted now before berating himself inwardly. "Cho, it's not just that; it's me also. I just don't feel the same way about you anymore. Like you said, I've changed."
Cho looked at him in clear disbelief and anger. "It seems like," she slowly raised her voice in frustration, "you only smile or laugh with Hermione now!" she crossed her arms. "Is that it? That little hussy stole you and now you're spouting all this bullshit to break up with me?" she yelled.
Cedric's face contorted to exasperation. "I don't even know where to start correcting with how wrong you are."
She glared at him, "There's nothing you need to correct," she said steadily, "I understand that you don't want to be with me anymore, and that's that. I am not the type to beg and plead for some guy whose heart isn't mine." With a huff, she spun on her heel and walked with her head held high away as tears streamed down her face. She was wrong to think Hermione a hussy, but the girl was no friend either.
"You can say good-bye to her, too," the light eyed boy said lightly as he crossed his arms and leaned against the train rail. He stood and watched as his friend looked on at a wild haired girl hug and waved good-bye to the international Quidditch athlete.
The boy turned, still keeping the girl in corner eye view, and shrugged. "I don't need to say good-bye when I'll be seeing her." He smiled with fake confidence and walked past his friend. "We better find a compartment, Darin."
Darin shook his head and watched as the younger girl smiled widely as she watched her two idiotic friends. How can the blind girl have such a hold on Cedric, he'll never understand.
"Interesting, what filth you can find walking up and down the compartments, huh?" Darin smirked as he kicked Draco's face. Never did like him.
Shrugging, Cedric knocked politely on the compartment door before opening it. "Mind if we crash?" he grinned.
Darin loyally followed his friend into the lions' den.
"So, what are your plans for the summer, Hermione?" Cedric smiled as he once more beat her at her own Muggle card game.
Her eyebrows furrowed before she frowned at the cards and looked up at him. "I can't believe this; I am excellent at this game!"
He laughed, "Yes, and I am more than excellent. Now what are you doing this summer?"
She opened her mouth, about to retort, before closing it and pursed her lips, looking at the cards again. "Did you charm the cards?" she demanded.
Fred and George laughed loudly to their side as they looked at Hermione's affronted state.
"Of course not," Cedric chuckled, "You did beat everyone else. You should give yourself some credit," he smirked, "You're just not good enough to beat me."
She glared at him angrily, before shouting, "Again!" Her eyes sparked fire.
Hermione loved the summer. The sun, the air, the grass, but what she loved most of all is seeing her friends again.
She clapped loudly as Jennifer danced on with her odd footsteps. Hermione had always envied the girl's confidence – that she wouldn't be seeing these people ever again anyway, so it doesn't matter how much of a fool she looks, not that she ever looked the fool. She was more of a nymph if anything; her footsteps exude grace and her body moved fluidly with the music in the air. Hermione cheered.
Allen bonged away and easily grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at a rather tall, good looking guy passing by. Hermione laughed louder when the guy's eyes widened and practically ran away. She turned back to Allen, only to see him shrug in good cheer and winked at her with the same easy smile. At least the guy dropped a pound or two into the bucket before dashing off.
Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled back. She's really going to miss them.
"Why are you leaving again this time?" Jennifer pouted slightly as she musses her hair in frustration, causing several strands to fall all over her face. She blew on them before combing them back with her hand as Hermione watched enviously as they all fall back into place.
"They need me." Hermione always said that.
Harry needed her because she was like family to him. He had confess to her once that he felt at odd being the only one outside the Weasley family, and she knew he found great comfort in her being there as well. Ron needed her because despite his unreasonableness and stubborn insecurities, he felt more comfortable with himself when she was there.
However, it wasn't just that this year. It wasn't as if Voldemort wasn't there every year, but it is different now. He's back, and not just in followers or sprit, but in every sense of the word now. Her family could be in danger, they could be in danger, and she is already in danger.
Allen stared at the girl in front of him. The short (although tall for an Asian, she must always add that) girl crossed her arms and glared right back up at him. Her dark brown eyes and hair sparkled with cold fire, ready to burn him should need be, and her cool gaze chilled him. His light auburn hair wouldn't stand the burn nor do well in the chill air. He shook his head as his vivid blue eyes affirmed.
Her whole demeanor immediately lit up.
Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. "Jennifer, Allen…what are you doing here?" she had told her two friends that she'd be leaving today, and they had exchanged their farewells two days before. (Jennifer always insisted that she spend the last full day she has with her parents, and Hermione always appreciated her family values which she felt she lacked at times.)
Jennifer took advantage of her dazed state to move past her through the doorway, and Allen followed. "We don't believe that you should be putting every summer aside for these friends at school of yours." Before Hermione can retort, she continued. "If you're putting aside your dear summer, who knows what you're putting aside at school for these idiots, and if you need to take care of them so much, you're not their friend – you're their hen mother." The Asian girl delivered her verdict so easily that even Allen was surprised before he realized who he was dealing with.
"Point is, hon," Allen cut in, "Are you taking care of yourself as you should, or is Jennifer right in her reading?"
Hermione mimicked a fish quite well at this point, so surprised she was at their sudden confrontation.
"Hermione, dear!" Helen's voice echoed to them as her head appeared down the hallway. "Your friend, Ron is here!" she noted two other figures. "Oh, wonderful! Jennifer and Allen, you never did meet Hermione's school friends did you? I'm so happy Hermione is having you meet them. Come in, and later, you can have some breakfast with us." She smiled brightly.
Jennifer smiled widely and bowed her head, "Thank you so much!"
Helen laughed, "You know I always love you two here." She winked before disappearing as Jennifer immediately walked down the hallway towards the living room.
Hermione recovered then, and rushed towards her but Jennifer has always been a fast walker.
"Hello, Ronald Weasley," Jennifer had already said before Hermione could say anything.
Allen saw that Jennifer had greeted the boy before she even saw him. He inwardly flinched at the bright orange, red hair. Honestly…this is the company Hermione keeps at school?
She outstretched her hand at the gaping freckled boy as Allen frowned, "I'm Jennifer Tran, and this is Allen Hanes."
The boy slowly took her outstretched hand as he looked questioningly towards Hermione. "I'm Ron Weasley," he replied in a small, awkward voice.
The more Allen heard and stood in his presence, the more he disliked the boy.
"I am here to inquire whether or not you've been taking care of Hermione during the school year." She said with a bright smile.
Straight down to business with absolutely no tact (not to mention the smile that Hermione and Allen know full well to be aware of).
The boy blinked several times as suddenly a larger figure appeared behind him from the kitchen.
"Hello," the figure greeted them. Tall, lean, short hair, five o clock shadow, and a happy, charismatic demeanor; Allen liked.
"I'm Allen," he immediately walked to the figure with an outstretched hand, "Hermione's friend," he grinned as he noted that he merely came up to the man's shoulders. Firm grip…
He didn't have to look to know Jennifer had rolled her eyes. What he didn't know was the quirk of an eyebrow that came after it as she saw Hermione paled.
"Professor Lupin," Hermione said slightly shakily. "These are my friends," she paused briefly before emphasizing, "not from school."
The man raised an eyebrow and Jennifer caught the slight realization dawning on him before he smiled widely and ushered Allen back towards Hermione and herself. "It's wonderful to meet you both –"
Jennifer immediately stepped forward, "I'm Jennifer, and you're a Professor at Hermione's school?" she friendly smiled.
The man laughed a deep, light rumble. "I was a Professor, but am now working with an organization of sorts run by the Headmaster. Hermione is to come to the organization today and meet her friends there," and for Hermione's sake, he added, "and it is best that we are not late."
"What sort of organization is it?" Jennifer smiled as she bowed her head a bit, "Hermione doesn't talk much of her accomplishments and her activities; modest she is with us. Allen and I get worried sometimes." She laughed lightly.
Lupin laughed, "Well, she is the brightest girl I know her age."
Hermione blushed at his kind words before recovering. "We're leaving soon, and I don't want to be late." She breathed and seeing the two's passive faces, she added, "You two should go now." She said almost pleadingly.
Allen rested a hand on Jennifer's shoulder.
After a moment or two, Jennifer forced a smile that didn't fool Hermione or Allen. "All right then, Hermione." She said softly. Smiling at the older man and the red head in good bye, she headed towards the door, Allen behind her. "Do tell your mother goodbye for us," she said softly. "Bye, Hermione Granger."
Allen stopped then, and looked between Jennifer's distancing figure and Hermione's stunned face as she heard those words. He shot Hermione the brightest smile he could before following Jennifer out the door.
She cried silently outside.
Remus rested a light hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Are you all right, Hermione?"
She nodded, mutely.
"Oh, honey," Helen came out and wrapped her daughter in her arms as Remus took a step back and merely watch.
"Do you think…?" Hermione whispered, her words muffled against her mother.
Helen released her and looked down into her eyes. "She'd be mad to."
Ron didn't know what was going on, but he wanted to do something to make her feel better. She always did say a lot of things were his fault. "I'm sorry…?" he offered.
Hermione laughed, and stealthily wiped the tears away.
It hadn't been a surprise to see Cedric at Grimmauld's. That had been a huge lie. Hermione was majorly surprised. So surprised, that almost all thoughts of Jennifer blew from her mind – almost. That was a lie, too. She really ought to kick this bad habit of lying to herself and nip it from the bud – it is entirely unhealthy.
Cedric might not be on firm standings with the twins, but at least he and the twins have a common respect for one another. The youngest male Weasley, on the other hand, was an entirely different story. Yes, they were friendly, but the boy had almost no consideration for others and is absolutely thoughtless in his words. He supposed that if you look past all that, Ron is an all right guy.
"I don't know," Ron shrugged and spat, "I don't see what the problem is at all. The girl just said bye, and Hermione looked like she was about to break down right there. Lupin tried to comfort her, and then her Mum came out and hugged her."
He could have stopped there when Cedric asked what happened when they went to pick Hermione up. Cedric knew that he should have gone, but deprived himself that because he didn't want to encourage these confusing feelings.
"If you ask me, she's overreacting," Ron chuckled, "she's so stupid sometimes with her emotions. Silly, right?"
Cedric gave him a disgusted look and immediately Ron reddened in embarrassment.
"I see you."
Hermione whipped her head at the sound and stared frantically at the slightly grinning blonde. "Did you always scare people when you greet them?"
He shrugged. "Only when you're involved. Others find my voice soothing and angelic."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Did you need something?" she sighed as she turned back to her book. It wasn't as if she was really reading it. The large library had brought upon a large bubble in her chest that popped away the second she thought of how Jennifer would have laughed at her child expression of seeing a most wanted toy or candy.
Cedric planted himself beside her and forcefully turned her chair with her still in it to face him. "A real smile would be a nice start."
She raised an eyebrow and clicked her tongue. "What are you playing at, Cedric?"
"You're upset with unresolved issues. Have you even thought about them?" he raised an eyebrow.
She frowned. "What's it to you?"
"You're dragging me down."
She blinked, not quite registering his meaning.
He inwardly sighed and after a minute or two, he smiled, "Now you try, it's not that hard really," he grinned as he poked her side, causing her to jump in her seat. He caught a glimpse of her reflexive smile. "Smile, or I'll poke you some more."
Hermione made a face before forcing a smile.
Cedric shook his head. "No, you're smiling like this," he forcefully made a horribly slanted mouth shape with a scrunched up nose, and thin eyes.
She laughed.
Cedric was proud of himself that night. He had made her laugh, and what a beautiful laugh that was to him. Sure, it was a tad bit loud and there is that slight hyena sound to it, but he didn't care. All he knew was that he wanted to hear more of it.
Hermione laughed that night, and her eyes were lighter than they had been when she had first come to Grimmauld's Place. Everyone had an idea why – well, not everyone – but there's no need to name who.
"It must have just been that girl thing right?" Ron suddenly stated out of nowhere as he, Cedric, Ginny, Hermione, Fred, and George sat near the fireplace. At their confused faces, he added, "Time of the month?"
Fred and George shook their heads and walked away.
"Excuse me, Ronald?" Ginny snapped.
He put his hands up in defense.
Boy's going to need a lot more than just that.
"What? I'm just saying," he shrugged, "You were all down in the dumps, Hermione," he turned to her, "but tonight you're all suddenly fine. What else am I supposed to think?" he shook his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Idiot!" Ginny seethed, rolling her eyes and smacked his arm. "She's happier for a reason!"
Cedric smiled lightly as Ginny chastised her brother. He's grown used to it by now. Out of the corner of his eyes though, he made sure to note Hermione's reaction to Ginny's reply. Her eyes reflected the fireplace's flames, and he could see a light blush creeping up her neck slightly. Hermione Granger blushed well, and he plans on taking that secret to the grave – after using it to its utmost, of course.
Because Cedric was older, he was privy to more high end detoxing of Grimmauld's Place. In other words, he took care of the nastier things. Hermione would always laugh when he came back with a clear pout on his face as dirt and soot make themselves at home on his body.
"I never pout," he always claim.
It was during one of these laughs on the stairways that he had asked, "Why don't you owl your parents a letter to your friend?"
She immediately stopped, and turned away from him. "If you've taken care of the attic, we can go there now, can't we?"
Cedric took her note, and looked straight ahead rather than at her. "I wouldn't recommend it. Just because I cleaned it, doesn't mean it's absolutely safe. Best to wait for Remus or Sirius to run through it first. Truthfully, I'm not all that confident that I cleaned it out completely. And, why won't you even write a letter to your friend? Didn't you say that when you came home, she made the effort to call you the second day and every day after that?"
Hermione remained quiet.
"If she can make the effort to call you every day like that, save for the first so that you can rest, you should be able to mail her a single letter, couldn't you?"
After what seemed like several minutes, which it probably was, Hermione sighed. "Writing her a letter wouldn't solve the problem. I'll probably still won't be able to explain and make them understand why I am here, and…I'm a burden for them. They worry about me when I'm at school, and they worry about me when I'm here during the summer."
"Doesn't that relationship seem familiar to you?"
She turned to him with questioning eyes.
Cedric smirked, and grabbed her wrist as he stood up. "We better head down 'fore everyone thinks we eloped." He winked.
Hermione blushed and kicked him, "How is it familiar to me?" she asked.
Cedric acted as if he heard nothing.
A couple days of thinking later, Hermione finally put a pen to paper and borrowed the Weasley's family owl. Her letter was short but deliberate, and she sincerely prayed that Jennifer would reply.
For those couple of days that there was no reply, Hermione was restless. She attacked cleaning like they have seriously wronged her.
"Why are you treating those dust bunnies as if they ripped your books?" Cedric chuckled as Hermione swept away his charmed dust buddies.
She turned ruthlessly towards him. "You're not helping."
"Don't you think they're cute?" he smirked as a dust bunny hopped onto her foot and started sniffing her ankle.
She looked at him as if he was crazy. "They're as endearing as you are." With a dramatic pause, she kicked the bunny off her shoe, sending it flying, and slammed the broom on the dust bunny. The dust bunny stood no chance as it reduced itself to dust and she swept it into the pan with a triumphant smirk at a gaping, aghast Cedric.
He continued to stare at the cruelly disintegrated dust bunny before turning back to her. "Have you always been a sadist?"
Hermione turned red and glared at him. The glare didn't last long before she broke out laughing.
He grinned widely before laughing along. When the two sobered up some, he straightened his face with an innocent inquiry, "No, seriously, how long have you been a sadist?"
"If you don't want to end up like your endearing," she mocked, "dust bunny, then I suggest you best keep this to yourself." She threatened, "I can easily make this broom larger and charm it to sweep after you, you know."
He absolutely believed she could. "No you won't," he replied with a smirk, "You like me too much for that."
She huffed, turning away, "I like you as much as I did that dust bunny."
He paused a bit before finally saying, "A letter will come back, and you can walk away from the situation now that you've done something," he saw her stiffened frame, "She'll write back."
Hermione smiled wryly as she turned back to him. "She'll find it extremely odd that she can't just shoot me an email, text, or give me a phone call, but instead have to write a letter." She laughed dryly, "Probably think I'm odder than she already thinks I am."
Cedric laughed, "Then you know she's your friend if she still contacts you despite that." He paused and appeared to ponder over something of great significance.
"What?" she asked curiously as she leaned down a bit to take in his thinker face. A hand under his chin, eyes unfocused and casted slightly upwards, and head tilted to a side.
He turned his face and gazed directly into her eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Does she know about your sadism?"
Hermione whacked him on his lower calf with her broom as she went back to sweeping.
Cedric hated the little house elf. He couldn't understand how Hermione could show such kindness to the thing. He growled as he saw the little, twisted thing stealthily walked behind Hermione. "Kreacher!"
Hermione, stunned by the anger and hate in his tone, jumped as Kreacher immediately lowered his head.
"Pureblood, blood traitors they are," Kreacher muttered as he keep his head lowered, but looking up at Cedric with disdain every now and then, as he walked towards him. "You called, young sir…messing with the Mistress' home. She'd just die, she would, if she knew what these blood filth were doing to her home. Yes, punish Kreacher she would." He paused before grinning sadistically, "Torture and kill Mudblood she would."
"Stay," Cedric emphasized as he kept his gaze on the elf before him. Demented he may be, but no excuse (well, maybe it is) is it for him to torture Hermione. "Away. From. Her. You understand me?"
Kreacher glared at him, but kept his face lowered to the ground. "Yes, young sir, I will, blood traitor sir."
"You will not call her names, follow her, or give her anything, or I promise you," he said in cold anger, "I will tell Sirius and have him punish you."
"Cedric, you will do no such thing!" Hermione said shrilly.
Cedric kept his gaze on the mental elf. "Do you understand me?" Only a rare few have ever seen him in such cold anger. He rarely displayed it, but when he did, he knew he scared even his parents. His mother had told him once that the magic air about him chilled.
The little elf nodded in slight wide eyed awe.
"Now leave us." The elf immediately cracked away.
Raising his face, he looked back at a shocked Hermione. He didn't fail to note the slight fear in her eyes. Great, he sighed tiredly in his mind, but he wasn't done yet. Upon seeing Hermione open her mouth, he quickly cut in. "You have to take care of yourself, too. Do not follow or listen to whatever that twisted, little elf says, and do no pity him. Ignore him, and just go about your business. Don't give him the chance to hurt you because he will." He kept his authoritative tone but was softer to her than he had intended. He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair with a wry smile. "I worry you know, the first time you came, and he gave you that box that almost bit your fingers off, I've been trying to watch where that little elf is this whole time. That box isn't the only thing that he has, and your kindness towards the mental elf isn't going to change him."
Hermione pursed her lips, and nodded. "I'll keep myself safe, and be wary of him, but that doesn't mean I won't stop trying."
Cedric sighed deeply then as he deflated a bit. That's the most he can hope for, he supposed.
"This year is your N.E., right?" Hermione grinned as she lay back on the attic floor with her eyes closed and arms over her stomach. "What do you plan on doing after Hogwarts?"
He didn't like where the conversation was headed, but he answered her anyway as he looked out the small, circular attic window, enjoying the cool breeze as the window tilted inwards. "I'm thinking of becoming an Auror," and joining the Order.
He didn't have to say the last bit.
Hermione didn't say anything for a minute or two, and he turned to see her eyes opened and staring at him. It was another minute of meeting his eyes did she finally said something. "What do your parents think about it?" she asked her face unreadable.
He shrugged casually. He's been in more than one too many arguments with his parents over the issue. "They understand," they just don't agree nor feel the need that he should be directly involved.
Hermione continued to regard him in those deep, chocolate eyes of hers and Cedric felt unnerved. He hoped he didn't appear that way, but it felt as if she could read his whole being with the way she was taking him in.
When her eyes closed once more, he let out an inaudible sigh of relief. He hadn't known he was holding his breath, and started breathing deeply again as he turned back to look through the window.
"I want to be involved in the efforts that are deciding my fate as well."
Her easy statement froze him. He knew that she was always with Harry and Ron, and he knew they plan on becoming Aurors, so it would only be sensible that she would join them. It was logical. Making the sense in his mind was one thing, but hearing her say it however, was a complete other. He never took it in – never had to, and now that he did, he found he didn't like it one bit; even if, she seems to be in agreement with his reasoning as well. He wasn't about to let other people decide his fate when he can have a hand in shaping it. It is his right…just as it is hers. Shit.
Immediately upon Harry's welcome, a tiff emerged between the Golden Trio. Harry was miff about being left in the dark for so long, and Ron and Hermione were frustrated with his blaming. That night, no one was exactly happy.
Cedric caught the boy on the stairs and exchanged a bright smile for his soft one. He looked up as if in prayer for the strength, before plopping himself down on a stair below Harry. "Mind if I sit here?" he asked after sitting down, not facing the younger boy.
Harry didn't say anything for a bit before replying, "No."
They sat in companied silence before Harry finally busted, "Why hasn't anyone tell me anything? The Daily Prophet thinks I'm crazy, and my friends decide that its better off that I don't know?"
Cedric sighed, and leaned back as he shook his head. "Harry, is that really what you think Hermione and Ron are doing? What everyone here is doing?"
Harry silenced. Cedric knew he knew the answer to the question, and had merely not thought about it until now. After another minute or two, Cedric turned, grinned at the now irate boy. Cedric stood up, brushed off the dust on his jeans and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder with a tired but wide smile. "Don't beat yourself up too much. Friends forgive one another, and you'll both be saying sorry to each other at the end of the day."
Cedric turned and left then. He paused a bit and chuckled, "Well, maybe not the end of the very day."
Harry laughed behind him.
Hermione approached the pensive older boy with slight hesitation before frowning. She didn't like the cloudy expression and fog over his face and eyes. "Cedric," she called.
Immediately, he snapped his head to her direction and blinked out of his haze with a polite smile. "Yes, Granger?"
Hermione cleared her throat shared the smile. "Thank you for what you said to Harry."
He shrugged before looking back out the window. "It was nothing." Several moments later, Hermione still there (as he hadn't heard her leave), he turned to face her again.
She met his gaze readily, and looked at him expectantly. When he still didn't say anything, she sighed and smiled, shaking her head. She walked up to him and stood a feet apart from him, staring out the window as well. "Your parents will never apologize to you."
He blinked several times at her before chuckling. "That's not exactly the way to cheer someone up, Granger."
She shrugged, "I'm merely being sensible. Your parents are never going to apologize. It's in their right to protect their son, no matter how old he is, and their chastising is just that."
"Chastising?" he laughed incredulously. "More like yelling and screaming and shrieking and shouting and roaring and howling and bellowing and – "
"Enough!" Hermione cut in his deadpanned list. "It's all just that, and you know it. You just have to forgive them and get over it!" she huffed before sighing frustratingly and tucking her hair behind her right ear. "Listen, I'm no good with my parents either, but what I've learned – what I know – is that no matter what it is they do, they do it out of love for you. It doesn't make sense sometimes, it steps on your toes almost all the time, but that's just how it is. They suffer all that, your anger, your yells, your look of pure hatred sometimes, they suffer through that, all because of this undeniable love for you." She paused as she struggled with her words. "You just have to understand that, and not let it get to you no matter how much it hurts because..." she placed a hand on the nook of his elbow then, causing him to turn and face her. She smiled softly, eyes suspiciously misty, "because you love them, too."
Cedric have never seen anyone look so caring, understanding, sincere, and wonderful at that moment. He smiled brightly, a weight suddenly gone from his shoulders (at least, temporarily), "Thank you, Hermione."
She smiled before grinning playfully. "It's nice to know that the Hufflepuff Prince gets yelled at, too."
Cedric laughed heartedly, not just at her statement, but at everything. Everything she said just now, his argument with his parents, his responsibility, himself – everything – it just seemed ridiculously funny at the moment. Calm once more, he replied with a crooked grin, "It's nice to know that the Gryffindor Bookworm takes her head out of her books every now and then and notices people, too."
She frowned, affronted now. "My head is not always in a book!"
He shrugged before casually turning and saying without looking back as he walked towards the door, "Your nose then!" he yelled and laughed as he jogged out the door and down the stairs.
"You prat!" she yelled after him, "Come back and face me like a man!"
"What man?" he laughed after his shoulder.
Cedric and Hermione frequently run about Grimmauld's Place now, and the trampling on the wooden stairs usually echoed their laughter. Cedric always enjoyed a good chase, and Hermione wasn't some demure girl either.
a/n: Terribly sorry for not putting separation lines...dots...circles...things between different times. I feel that the different times can be read sequentially without too much confusion...? But if I start putting it in, there will be so many that I get confused. haha
Thanks for the Reviews :D