Chapter 12: Broken Hearts and Christmas Break

I Own Nothing, Nadda, Zilch! But I would love some feedback.

Thanks to my beta, Chloe_Diggory_Hale, you rock.

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I woke up Monday morning with the sun shining on my face warmly. Winter break was approaching fast. I could tell it was getting colder outside. I sat up and looked out my window wincing, it was snowing. I groaned getting up and pulling on my uniform, I put on my boots instead of Mary Janes for warmth. I left my curls down wishing they could heat the castle a little better heated. I pulled my robe closer to me for warmth, cursing the snow and the cold. I made my way down to the common room, where Harry and Ron were waiting for Lavender and I. Neither of them were wearing their robes and they had their sleeves rolled up. I sidled up in Harry's arms enjoying his natural warmth.

"How is it your always warm?" I asked listening to him chuckle above me kissing the top of my head, wrapping me up tighter,

"I'm on the quiditch team." He whispered hugging me for a few more minutes allowing me to heat up, before we made our way down to breakfast with his arm draped casually around my shoulders. One of the advantages of dating Harry after having been his best friend for years was that no one would stop and stare at us when we would walk by as a couple. I looked over at Lavender and Ron. It broke my heart knowing that she was right. I remember last year when they started going how he would hang off her every word, and now he barely looks at her. I nudged Harry,

"Are Ron and Lavender fighting?" I questioned worried, Harry raised an eyebrow at me,

"I don't think so; I guess Ron just is being his usual self." I looked at how sad Lavender was and I wasn't so sure. I know Ron's a prick, but would he really treat his own girl friend like this? I sighed nibbling on some bacon not really hungry after my conversation with my mother last night and that vision yesterday.

"You okay Hermione, you seem distracted?" I nodded resting my head on Harry's shoulder.

"I'm worried about my Father, I haven't heard from him all year, and I'll be seeing him in a couple weeks. I'm sorry." Harry looked at me bewildered before kissing me,

"What's there to be sorry for Hermione, you didn't ask for any of this." He kissed me again lightly causing me to sigh.

"Your too good for me Harry." I sighed contently allowing him to coddle me gently. I smiled softly enjoying being treated well by Harry.

"Nah Hermione, I'm pretty sure you're too good for me." Harry said smiling down at me kissing me again and I sighed into his kiss. We've been together for a little over a month and things are still good between us.

***

That night we sat in our cave just sitting there. We all looked different, tomorrow was the beginning of Christmas break and we'd all be going home.

"I don't feel like going into the realms tonight." Lavender whispered sighing her head resting against her knees as she looked thoroughly depressed, I nodded,

"I agree I don't either." I mumbled leaning against my rock, Luna and Padma nodded in agreement, Luna looked around anxiously I know she was wanting to see Emmet. Padma leaned against one of the walls looking nervous,

"I don't want to go home, I am so sick of being compared to Parvarti!" She exclaimed slamming her fist into the hard ground causing an echo. I looked up at her waiting for her to continue, "Parvarti is so sweet, Parvarti is so smart, Parvarti always brings home such wonderful boys, why can't you be more like Parvarti, Padma?" Padma mimicked in a high aristocratic voice, "Forget Parvarti, I'm my own woman." She spit angrily that I could understand, that feeling second best because of things she couldn't control, "Forget perfect, special Parvarti, soon I'll show them all, I'll be more powerful than her." Padma said resting her dark hair against the wall behind her,

"Ron's different, he never talks to me anymore, he says he doesn't want to hang out over break, he says he'll be too busy with Harry." My ears perked up,

"Lavender, Harry is spending break here at Hogwarts, and Ron is going home." I could see the tears welling up in her clear blue eyes and she broke down in tears,

"I hate him, I wonder if he is cheating on me, he pays awful close attention to Luna these days, I hate that it's not me he stares at anymore, I miss having it be me as his perfect that girl." Luna's eyes shot wide open staring at Lavender,

"Lavender I- I swear, I've don't nothing with Ron, I wouldn't do anything to compromise our friendship, besides there is someone else I'm interested in and it isn't Ron I swear." Lavender looked up at me sniffling,

"But what if that changes? What if Ron leaves me for you, I don't know if I could handle losing him to anyone." Lavender sobbed leaning her head against the wall behind her the tears streaming down her face, Luna flushed red,

"Trust me, Ron's nothing compared to Emmet." I looked at Luna was she really ready to tell the secret she wanted to cling to. Lavender and Padma looked up at her a eye brow raised as Luna clapped a hand over mouth surprised at her own words,

"Who's Emmet, there are no Emmet's at Hogwarts." Padma prompted with a giggle. Luna blushed madly and I sighed looking at her with a sweet smile on my lips,

"Don't be shy Luna, I'll tell them." I cleared my thoat with a smile, "Remember, that day when we first met here and we ran into each other in the woods Padma?" She nodded solemnly as if wondering where this was going and how many secrets I would reveal,

"Well I wasn't reading, I found our bible here in these woods. I tried to find my way back to Hogwarts but I got lost and I found a vampire coven called the Cullens, they have a boy named Jasper Hale with them too but that's not important, anyways, that next day I went back and took Luna with me, go on Luna finish the story. You know the rest better than me," I smiled sweetly so that she knew it was okay. She coughed and continued on the story,

"We were met by Emmet so we could find our way to the camp, Alice, his sister stole Hermione off to talk to her, Emmet and I sat talking for awhile. I-I've been sneaking out for the past month to see him." Lavender gasped clasping her hands over her mouth.

"But vampires they drink your blood!" She exclaimed as Luna shook her head smiling,

"Not these, their vegetarians, they don't drink human blood, and Emmet, he's so perfect." She sighed, and then pouted, "I really wanted to see him tonight." I looked out the cave then smiled wickedly knowing I was about to expose my own blood sucking secret.

"Want to dance with vampires tonight?" I asked with a wink the other girls giggle and nodded and followed me out of the cave. We all light our wands and just started wondering, I knew eventually we would find them I wasn't stupid, Emmet and Cedric would smell us and meet us. I sighed in relief when to dark shapes appeared over the horizon. I smiled I had missed seeing Cedric so much. I smiled walking slowly with the others as Luna ran off running into Emmet's arms allowing him to hug her tightly kissing her hair and lips. I smiled wishing Harry was passionate like that sometimes instead of always sweet. I looked away focusing my sight on Cedric who was close enough to see it was him. I could hear Padma gasp,

"It's Cedric Diggory!" She whispered harshly, "He's back, Cedric's back." I smiled as we met in the middle and he hugged me and I him.

"I missed you." I whispered smiling as he inhaled my sent,

"I missed you too. Why are you out so late, it's more dangerous for you." I shook my head and smiled,

"We always do this Cedric. Don't worry." He brushed some hair off my face smiling then winced,

"You smell like Potter." He hissed recoiling I had forgotten I had been wearing his sweat shirt tonight,

"Sorry," I whispered not wanting to fight, "I can't help that, I'm still with him." Cedric glared in the direction of the castle,

"I never thought I would have a reason to be jealous of him, anyways let's get you guys to the camp." He muttered as Emmet and Luna appeared Luna on his back her head resting on the crook of his neck as we all slowly made our way towards the camp. Once there we all sat around the fire they had built so they could see at night. I pulled Harry's sweatshirt closer to me and tightened the scarf around my neck, Cedric looked at me concern in his eyes,

"You shouldn't be out tonight; it's too cold for you. Look at all the snow." He whispered touching my cheek gently allowing me to lean into it.

"I'm leaving tomorrow for home, we were going to go into the realms but we didn't feel like it and Luna wanted to see Emmet… And- and I missed you." I whispered wanting to take his hand in mine. He smiled with a laugh, before getting serious,

"Hermione, the realms aren't safe you and your friends can't go into them. Do I have to fight you on those just like the visions?" He hissed in a low voice and I glared back,

"I haven't had one since that day." He snorted,

"And how soon will the next on be? Huh Hermione, how bad will it be, will Luna or I be there to take care of you after it hits you again." He stated so harshly that it stung, I recoiled like he slapped me and I glared good and hard at him.

"I'm ready to go back; we have a train to catch in the morning." I announced standing up brushing the dirt off my jeans. Carlisle and Jasper stood, and smiled at Padma and Lavender,

"We'll take you ladies back." Carlisle explained holding his hand out to Padma loading her onto his back, and Jasper took Lavender onto his back they looked at me and Luna confused as we got onto Cedric and Emmet's back's.

"Um, how are we getting back?" Padma inquired confused beyond reason,

"Running of course, if you get motion sickness I'd shut my eyes if I were you." Emmet said teasingly to Padma soliciting a giggle from Luna. Lavender's eyes widened and she dug her head into the crook of Jasper's neck. I chuckled resting my head on Cedric's neck even though I knew he was wrinkling his nose at the scent of Harry. I smiled leaning my head against his feeling his smile on my cheek. Soon the four vampires took off and I didn't mind the blur of the tree's we were flying past. I climbed down off Cedric's back once we reached the edge of the woods just as the other girls were doing, Emmet and Luna were saying their goodbyes and kissing, Lavender and Padma went out of the woods to give us our privacy I guessed. I looked up at Cedric's waiting face.

"I'll miss you." I prompted placing my hand to his cheek; he leaned into my human warmth with a smile on his face.

"I love you." I sighed looking up at his thinking face, "You know what I want for Christmas this year?" He questioned placing his arms around my waist; I looked at him with a smile,

"Hmm?" I muttered slightly tired, he laughed brushing a stray curl off my face,

"A kiss from you." I thought for a second before stretching up onto the top of my toes placing a kiss on his lips wrapping my arms around his neck and his tightly around my waist.