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

Note: Set during the trios sixth year. Time frame: End November, Ron and Lavender together.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Thenext two weeks past by quickly for Hermione, she was able to tune out Ron and Lavender most of the time, and Harry helped a lot. He kept her sane at the most crucial moments, like in potions. When Ron was writing the most sickliest love letter to his other half, all Hermione glimpsed was,

The sun can not compare to your blinding beauty.

It took Hermione all her self restraint not to vomit or scream and hit Ron. Harry saw it too, and somehow managed to help Hermione to see the funny side of it and they were in silent giggles for the whole class. Ron had no idea what they were laughing at but it frustrated him to no end that he was not included so he left the dungeon immediately when class ended.

Harry was all that kept Hermione going at times, she knew, even if he didn't say anything that his mind was as confused as it had ever been, so Hermione kept him distracted, by purposefully nagging him about his book, by making sure he ate and did homework. She was sure he'd forget his head if it wasn't screwed on at times. So she stayed focused to help Harry stay focused.

It was the eve of the first of December, and Hermione had slipped into a melancholic mood of late. It was just before dinner when she decided she needed to gaze at the stars again, to lift her from her depression. Sitting down next to Harry her spirit felt happier at even the thought of seeing the lynx constellation again.

"You seem happy" Harry observed as he glanced at Hermione smiling slightly. She scooped a huge serving of Sheppard's Pie for herself and smiled warmly at him.

"I feel happy" She confessed. He grinned and started talking to her about Slughorn's party and who they could invite. Ron was sucking the life force out of Lavender and Hermione found it surprisingly easy to ignore them as she chatted with Harry. Harry was thinking of bringing Ginny but then remembered she was with Dean so was back at square one.

"Why would you want to bring Ginny, Harry?" Hermione questioned innocently, knowing full well he'd started to have feelings for the youngest Weasley.

"Uh" Harry searched for an answer as his green eyes widened and his cheeks flushed, he glanced at Ron who wasn't paying attention before muttering, "Just thought she'd be a laugh, you know, as we're friends and all"

Hermione smiled to herself. She really must work on getting those two together, she mused to herself as she poured another glass of pumpkin juice.

After dinner, everyone headed to the common room, Hermione even had a conversation with Ron while he wasn't glued to Lavender. Slowly after half ten, the common room emptied and Hermione declared to Harry and Ron, the only other two left, that she was really tired and headed to bed at quarter to eleven. They grumbled about feeling the same and followed her shortly after.

Hermione lay in bed, eyes open, for an hour. She needed to go and see the stars, they made every problem seem so miniscule when she immersed herself in their wonder. After twenty minutes of changing her mind back and forth, Hermione crept out of her dorm, down the stairs and into the common room in near silence. She put on shoes, a jumper and took the same blanket as she had the previous time. As she neared the portrait hole, she felt a sense of foreboding, but reasoned, after all she'd been through she really, really needed to get away from it all, even if only for an hour.

So she cautiously slipped out, and quickly made her way to the courtyard, only to find Cedric Diggory sitting on her usual bench. She came to a complete halt and gave herself away by hearing her breath hitch, and in the silence of the castle, it echoed quite loudly. Cedric continued to look at the stars but whispered,

"Back again Hermione?"

Hermione was entranced. He looked like he belonged. He shone nearly as bright as the moon. She wanted to flee, to turnaround and never come to the courtyard again, but her feet betrayed her and slowly they carried her to the bench. Cedric silently moved down so that she could fit, and together they stayed like that, each gazing at the many constellations.

Hermione turned to face him and before she spoke she drank every inch of him in. His skin was a creamy pearl colour, his grey eyes reflected every star in the sky and his hair, his hair was everywhere. It made no sense, it reminded her of Harry's unmanageable hair, or her own mane of wild curls, but somehow he seemed to pull it off.

"Hi" Hermione whispered. She knew she shouldn't. She couldn't go back there, not after he'd hurt her so much, but her body was working on its own accord, and refused to listen to the protests of her mind. He slowly turned to face her.

"So we're talking now are we?" Cedric asked in a strangled voice, his eyes hard.

Hermione swallowed, she'd sort of expected this but still wasn't prepared for what escaped her lips,

"I miss you Cedric" She was surprised to realise she was confessing the truth she'd been trying to forget. She just sat there, inwardly cursing herself. Around him, her brain seemed unable to focus properly. He said nothing. And Hermione found herself explaining how she felt.

"Last year, I didn't know how to feel. It was strange to have someone believe that Voldemort was back when everyone else thought we were mad. And I guess, I found you easy to talk to. You didn't flinch like Ron did whenever I mentioned his name, and you didn't change the subject every time I tried to broach it like Harry did.

You also helped me forget. When I went to the library it used to be to escape from everything, but towards the end of the year, it was to find solace, in you. But then the Ministry happened. And I didn't know what to think" Hermione was twisting her hands to keep her voice from breaking, now was the hard part, she couldn't meet Cedric's eyes anymore, so set her eyes on the stars, she located the Lynx constellation before continuing,

"I thought that after everything we'd been through, you'd surely come and fight. Come and help us… help me. But you didn't. I shouted at you as Umbridge dragged me and Harry to the forbidden forest. I'd thought Snape hadn't understood what Harry had said. You were our last hope. And you just… you didn't even care, you went into the Great Hall and ate dinner as myself and Harry were about to be killed by that nutter of a woman"

Tears were freely flowing from Hermione's eyes now. But she continued on, determined to get everything out.

"So the Ministry happened. And everyone came out of that damaged in some way. You didn't write all summer. And then when I glimpsed you at Headquarters, I called to you. I shouted your name and you didn't even say hi. I saw you cringe, and then you left Headquarters... you left me. And, since then I've tried to hate you. I thought I finally did, and then I saw you two weeks ago and I realised I didn't… I couldn't. And I just thought you ought to know why I reacted like that last time" Hermione finished, shaking from the pitiful sobs she was trying to repress. Every heartbreaking sob of hers, tore through Cedric's body, he was feeling all of Hermione's pain. Cedric cupped her chin in his hand and slowly turned her to face him. His eyes were both angry and sad. It confused Hermione in her fragile state.

"He never told you?" He asked in hard tone of voice. She shook her head not knowing who he was referring to, "Damn that old fool... Hermione listen to me" Cedric said soothingly as he softly wiped the tears from her face using his thumb, "Some of that's true" He admitted, then he looked Hermione in the eyes, he seemed to be searching for a way to phrase something. He must've found a way to say whatever it was because he smiled grimly before starting, "But most of it is what you perceived to have happened. Dumbledore should've told you the truth…

Note: Yes, it's short, but I already have the next chapter uploaded. It continues on straight after Cedric says 'Dumbledore should've told you the truth...' so no time passes between this and the next update! I just want to see if I should embark on a full multi-chapter story and this is the final 'test' if you will! So let me know what you think. The title is about how Hermione thought all these things happened the way she thought she saw them… but she didn't really see so was therefore deceived. I hope this slots into the timeline in the books. And most of all I hope you like and enjoy reading this!

Yours faithfully,

FireboltPheonix

X

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Notes to reviewers:

crazedchick: thanks so much for the review!! Here are some other cedric/hermione fanfics, community(dot)livejournal(dot)com/cedrichermione/, that I've found, its only one site of many. It should keep you going until you discover more though! Enjoy!

saskiawrites: I tried to make Hermione think more before leaving Gryffindor, I hope that seems more in-character. Thank you so much for that tip, as I thought about it the more it seemed like Hermione would have had a bigger guilty conscience than I credited her! Again, thanks!

kag20: I want that to happen, but the way I'm writing this it's more Hermione's not sad, just angry that her best friend is acting so stupid, but it does upset her! I'm glad I've managed to fulfil your thought of the sixth year/graduated dilema! The fancying really kicks in in the next chapter!

gabrielle: thank you for reviewing! They're a really good couple actually! Have become one of my favourites recently!… which admittedly was helped by seeing Rob in Twilight, but he was still gorgeous as Cedric!

ChamberlinofMusic: thank you for the review I hope it keeps your interest!

mz malfoy: thank you for reviewing! I am so glad you like it and think it a bit different than the norm! The next chapter is where it all kicks off! So please update so that I can see the story isn't hated and that people want the next upload. Again, thanks!