Chapter 3
Well a few weeks after the troll incident Ron, and Harry began talking to Hermione more often and now considered her a good friend. Cedric began hanging out at the Gryffindor table and was getting along with Harry and Ron too… well Harry at least.
"When are you gonna learn how to do your own homework Weasel?" Cedric said annoyed that Hermione was doing Ron's homework again.
"If you call me Weasel one more time I'm gonna shove this wand…"
"Ron!" Hermione interrupted and Cedric let out a chuckle. She glared at Cedric.
"When are you gonna sit at your own table. In case you forgot you belong at the reject table." Ron said pointing behind him.
That got to Cedric. He got up and was ready to launch himself over the table but Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Cedric don't please. He isn't worth it. Please don't fight him." Hermione whispered.
Cedric looked at Hermione and felt his anger melt away. He took a deep breath.
"Fine. He said pulling his arm back. You shouldn't do their homework for them. If they're just friends with you because you do their homework then they're not really your friends." Cedric said sighing. "I'll see you around Granger." He looked at Harry and nodded his goodbye."Potter…Weasel. See you later."
"Bye." Hermione said smiling as Ron's face turned the color of his hair as he glared at Cedric's retreating figure.
After lunch Hermione, Harry, and Ron had Potions. On their way they ran into Malfoy.
"Blimey Hermione you really think we hang out with you just because you do our homework?" Ron said.
"Well it makes sense. You didn't hang out with me before I started to do your homework." Hermione replied.
"Harry would you please tell her we're her friends she won't listen to me!"
Just as Harry was going to say something Malfoy interrupted.
"Who would be friends with a Mudblood like? Your kind shouldn't even be in this school." Malfoy said his voice dripping with detest.
"Take that back Malfoy before I make you." Ron said with an equal amount of detest.
"Not likely. You and Potter are the biggest disgraces to pure bloods in the wizarding world. I guess that should be expected… the way you were raised and all.
"That's it" Ron said as he tackled Malfoy to the ground.
Harry tried helping Ron but Crabbe and Goyle grabbed him and pushed him up against the wall.
"Fight!" Dean Thomas yelled.
"Stop it! You're going to get in trouble!" Hermione yelled at the boys.
"Granger!" Hermione heard someone shout through the crowd of students behind her.
She turned around and saw it was Cedric.
"What the bloody hell is going on Granger?"
"Malfoy was saying stuff about me, Ron, and Harry. Then Ron just tackled him."
"Merlin Harry needs some help" Cedric said as he went to Goyle and grabbed his arms.
"Wow you must feel really tough fighting two against one. Break it up. You're all going to get detention." Cedric said trying to drag Goyle away.
Goyle got an arm free and punched Cedric in the face. He staggered unprepared for the blow but then steadied himself and punched Goyle in the nose.
"What is going on here?" Came a cold voice. Everyone froze. They knew they were in trouble because Snape had just caught them.
"Ron just attacked me for no reason." Malfoy explained.
"What! Not bloody likely! He called Hermione a mudblood and he insulted Harry's and my family!" Ron shouted.
"And Cedric was just trying to break them up." Hermione said nervously.
Snape looked at the four students in front of him with that permanent scowl that was always on his face.
"The four of you will have detention with Hagrid tonight." Snape said as he turned to go back in his classroom.
"Professor that isn't fair. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle deserve the same punishment as we do." Cedric said defiantly.
Snape turned around quickly.
"Don't talk to me about fair Diggory. You have just earned yourself detention with me tomorrow night." Snape said.
"Professor please. That is highly unnecessary. I will tell professor Dumbledore about this." Hermione said raising her voice.
Every student standing around them gasped.
"Are you threatening me Miss Granger? I think you will join Mr Diggory and myself tomorrow evening, and 50 points will be taken from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Now get in my classroom.
After class Cedric met up with the three Gryffindors to discuss their punishment before his next class.
"Bloody hell Hermione that was… MENTAL, but great." Ron said with admiration in his voice.
"You shouldn't have done that. I heard Snape's detentions are horrible." Harry said worried.
Hermione shrugged with a worried look on her face.
"Don't worry little cubs I've done this before. It's not so bad." Cedric said cockily but Hermione could see right through his cocky appearance. He was just as scared as she was.
"Oh really. Then tell us what you had to do." Hermione said.
"Well um… okay fine I didn't have detention with him but I know some guys who did and they all survived, so we should too. Right? Cedric wasn't getting reassurance from the three young Gryffindor's worried faces.
"I have never gotten detention before. What if this goes on my permanent record?" Hermione said.
"Awww Granger don't worry your squeaky clean record is still intact." Cedric laughed. "It's just detention. You are acting like we got expelled!" Cedric shouted.
"Cedric have you ever had detention with Hagrid before?" Harry asked.
"No, but one of my friends did. He said Hagrid took him to the dark forest to look for a flower Snape needed for a potion."
"The dark forest! Isn't that a little dangerous for detention?" Hermione yelled. "There are centaurs and spiders and Merlin knows what else!"
"Don't worry Granger I'll protect you." Cedric said smoothly as Ron and Harry rolled their eyes.
"Yeah right. The only way you'd save me is if I followed the dust trail that you'll leave behind you as you run out of the forest." Hermione said snarky.
"Why do you hurt me Granger? Fine if a centaur attacks you don't come running to me to save you." Cedric said feigning hurt.
"You're such a goofball." Hermione said shaking her head but smiling.
Cedric smiled. "Yeah but you like it."
"Bloody Hell you two get a room." Ron said rolling his eyes.
Hermione blushed and Cedric was about to retort but one of Cedric's friends Herbert Fleet called to Cedric.
"Hey Ced come on we're gonna be late for Divination!" Herbert yelled as he threw an arm around Cedric and started dragging him away. "Hi guys." Herbert said glancing at the Gryffindors.
"I'll meet you guys outside the great hall for detention!" Cedric shouted as he was dragged away by his friends.
Harry Ron and Hermione went to their transfiguration class in the opposite direction as Cedric and his Hufflepuff friends.
"I know you're a weird guy Cedric, but why are you friends with three first year Gryffindors?" Herbert said.
"Yeah especially that little book worm Granger." Malcolm Preece said as he and his other friends started laughing.
"Hey!" Don't make fun of her." Cedric yelled.
"Jeez she's eleven Ced. Don't tell me you're crushing on her." Anthony Rickett said in disbelief.
"Of course Cedric the school heartthrob who can get any witch he wants including the older ones I might add would want to get with a buck tooth bushy hair know it all first year." Malcolm laughed.
Cedric pushed Malcolm into the wall. "I said shut up." Cedric said seething with anger.
All his friends stopped laughing and Cedric walked away from them.
"Hey Cedric come on we didn't mean it!" Herbert yelled after him, but Cedric just kept walking to Divination alone.
