Author's note: Hi. Bonne année! Happy New Year (even if this is a little late, now). Anyway, thanks for all your reviews. And I apologize for my vocabulary mistake "teach"/"learn". It's just that I don't know how to change some mistakes after I had posted the chapter, so when I realise I made something wrong, I can't change it anymore.

Besides, someone has told me that the 'fight scene' between Ron and Hermione was quite added. Yeah, I could tend to agree, but let's say that Hermione and Ron are not very friendly to each other in the story (I don't like this character, he just gets on my nerves so), and Hermione is worn out, and worried about Cedric's meeting with his parents, but also about the students and ministry's reaction when they will learn about his resurrection. She's afraid and fears the consequences of the Spell on Cedric and herself. That might explain her behaviour.

So here is the new chapter, hope you'll like it.

CEDRIC POV

I watched Hermione walk away, quiet and quite serene. I couldn't help to wince a little when I thought I wouldn't see her for a couple of hours. Some people would find this ridiculous in a way, and even some of the teenagers of the Hufflepuff would laugh at me and my overreaction. But Hermione wasn't any girlfriend: she had found me and I can't say I had found her, she's the one who saved me from my loneliness, she had been the only person I could be able to talk to, she was a kind of proof that I was not fully dead. Then, she had helped me to forget my pitious and sad state, she had made me forget -in a way- that I was dead because she had made me feel alive again. With her, I was forgetting the fact that I was a-non-complete ghost, capable of going through walls, and that I was a mistake in the natural life/death processus. With her, I was just Cedric Diggory, maybe not the Golden Boy, the Quidditch captain, the prefect and a Triwizard competitor, and I had never missed any part of those when I was with Hermione. I was just myself, fully myself: neither the dead one nor the popular Hufflepuff. I had shared with Hermione for the last several months every moment, every feeling. She had been here for me when I was upset, when I was mad, when I was in a happy and teasing mood. She had respected every part of my personality without ever judging me.

She had become a landmark, the grisp that was keeping me from falling into oblivion, and soon my best friend.

I assume that feeling the need to have to my side the girl who had saved me in every way that a person can be saved is quite normal, right?

Dumbledore walked towards me and held my shoulder.

" Son " he murmured " I will ask you to be patient with your parents. They might be frightened and even baffled or disbelieving about you coming back from dead, if it happens, just stay calm, and let them open themselves to you. They have lost their only child, they could be shocked when they will see you ".

I nodded silently and glanced away. Dumbledore patted my shoulder in a fatherly way and asked me to go the other side of the office.

I didn't know what would be my parents' reaction, and actually I tried my hardest to not think about it. If I didn't it was sure that I would imagine the worst situation ever: something like my parents asking to kill me because I was an impostor.

The main door opened and the professor McGonagall came in the office. She looked nervous and quite in a hurry.

" Albus. The Diggorys are here " My heart skipped a beat when I heard the last words. She have him a nod and left the office.

Dumbledore got up from his chair and watched my two parents walking accross the room towards his desk.

He waved them the seats and sat back.

My heart was now pounding: they hadn't changed at all (even if I doubt that they could have in less than a year). My beautiful and tender mother was calmly seated, trying to compose a smile at the headmaster. My father looked quite concentrated and maybe worried, waiting of all the explanations. Yeah, they were exactly the same except for one point: their faces were showing that undying big pain and sadness that all parents have when they have lost their child.

I couldn't help but feel guilty for this. It was wrong to have just stayed in the castle and not having ask Hermione to tell them the truth about me and the fact that I was still there, in the world of living.

" Why are we here? " My father asked, confused and a bit angry. " Minerva refused to tell us what was happening? ".

Dumbledore stared at them quietly.

" Amos, if I asked you to come here now, it's because what I'm about to tell you can't be announced lightly " he said with a calm voice.

How could he remain that serene in all the situations?

My father tensed up and got quiet immediately.

" Is it about...Cedric? " My mother murmured now nervously creasing the beige shawl she was wearing.

" Yes, Rose " he answered.

My father sighed while my mother let escape a little gasp.

" Have you found..." my father trailed off " have you found his murderer? ".

I was a little surprised by the use of the word 'murderer'. I had never really thought about what had happened to me. Of course, I knew I had been killed by Voldemort, I knew he didn't have any pity for me and just asked for my death. But I've always refused to let the anger overwhelm me. I didn't want to suffer from something that was caused by someonelse. And I really wanted my parents to not keep focused on the circumstances of my death, that would be worse. Anger, fury could lead to revenge, like an insatiable fire which was little by little burning you from the inside. Being so eager of revenge could be deadly for the one who feels it. That's why I had always wanted to obscure that night in the graveyard, and I had really wished that my parents would do the same.

Dumbledore silently observed him, he leant closer.

" This is not the reason I asked you to come ".

Amos stiffened. "Well Albus, there is nothing else you could tell us that we don't already know ". He got up and held my mother's forearm to make her stand up. " We don't want to hear you again saying how sorry you are and what happened to our only son is terrible. We have both to live with it, every day of our lives. The absence of him is everywhere around us, even in the most unlikely places. Don't just remind us what we have to live with: our 17 years old son is dead ".

I shyly looked away, feeling my heart shatter with pain. I couldn't apologize myself for having abandonned them, for having let them in their chagrin.

" Well, that's what I wanted to talk about with you " Dumbledore said, standing up, too.

He tilted the head and waved me to come.

My heart was beating so hard that I thought my chest was going to explode, my legs were shaking and it was like I was unable to find any air to breathe in.

I left my hidden place and walked towards them with an innocent and loving face.

My both parents turned round to follow Dumbledore's look and froze. My mother let out a little squeak, taking a firm grisp at my father arm, who, himself, didn't look quite capable of keeping stood on his legs.

I stopped, I didn't want to scare them more. I decided it would be better to let them some space.

" Amos " my mother whispered with a weak voice.

" What is this? " My father finally asked with a harsh voice, turning to the headmaster.

I controled myself to not wince at my father's words. " What are you playing at? Don't you think we're already in a big suffer to endure this ".

" It's me " I murmured to him.

He quickly glanced at me (even if I should say it was a short killing glare) and looked back at Dumbledore.

" It"s your son, Amos " the headmaster answered finally.

Amos frenetically shook his head, his face turning red (the sign that he was close to the crying time).

" My son was murdered in June 24th. There is no way for him to be here in this room " he cried out.

" Something peculiar and unexpected happened tonight. He was brought back from dead by one of our students ".

My mother was now crying over her husband shoulder. Himself, was shaking the head, like unwilling to accept the truth.

" This is ridiculous. No one can come back to life. It does not exist any magical thing which could change this ".

" Please, Amos. Let's go " my mother sobbed.

" I don't know what illusion spell you used, Albus, but the ministry will learn about this. Be sure of it " My father threatened.

They both turned around to walk towards the exit.

" No, mum. Please " I murmured, unable to properly speak.

I ran towards her and held her wrist.

" Don't touch her " my father shouted shoving me back.

I got back and froze, shocked by his agressive reaction. " You shoud feel shameful, boy, to play with the feelings of bereaved parents ".

I wanted to cry out, and yell that I was their son. That I was the child they have loved for the last seventeen years. That I was still the same than before. That I was...me.

Dumbledore quickly stood between us.

" Cedric. Please, step back " he said to me with a calm voice.

" Don't you call him like that. This was my son's name " Amos shouted, outraged, but most of all, devastated.

The headmaster raised his hands and friendly held my father's shoulders.

" I know this is supposed to be impossible, but I swear you that the boy you're seeing just in front of you is your beloved son. And I feel sad for that poor kid who has to watch his own parents yelling that he's not who he said he is and accusing him to be a liar. He had just got through a powerful Spell and months of loneliness, watching his peers and relatives crying for him. Now, he needs you ".

Amos kept quiet a long minute, he then glanced at me and shrugged.

" That boy whom you persisted to say is Cedric is an impostor. We have lost our son, we don't want a subsitute ".

I silently gasped at my father's words. All this was going like I had feared it to be. They were rejecting me. They didn't want me.

" Come on " my father said grabbing my mother's forearm and leading her to the door. I hadn't noticed but since I had held her hand, she had never stopped to stare at me.

" Wait " she murmured " I want to see him ".

" But Rose, you know this is a lie " my father said, surprised " Cedric is dead ".

She shook her head.

" I KNOW THAT " she yelled. She looked at him. Her eyes were bright but harsh and firm.

" I have to live with this every insignificant and empty second of my life " she sobbed. " Every day I have to pass by his empty room and his tidy bed. When you go to work, I just stay in the house and watch all the memories of him. I don't want to go back home, I know what I'm going to find in it: silence, sadness and desperation. So, please, just let me have a look at him. I know he is certainly not Cedric, but I have to try because I have nothing to loose. I have already lost what I cared the most for. "

I watched the scene, still, unable to voice any word, neither any sound. I wanted to cry at my mother's words. I couldn't imagine what she had been getting through for the last months.

My father looked at her with a confused face. Then, his look turned into a sad and sympathetic one. He sighed and nodded releasing his hold.

She wiped her tears away and hesitantly made her way towards me, like if I was a kind of dangerous monster. She stood just before me. She looked up and digged her big grey and sad eyes into mine. I kept quiet and waited, praying that she would recognize me.

She stepped closer and frowned, never breaking her gaze on me. It was like she was trying to look straight at my soul.

My father and Dumbledore were stood aside. Amos was noisily fuming, obviously he didn't agree with his wife's sudden envy to have a look at an impostor like me.

My mother's look was quite sceptical, but desperatly hoping for a miracle. Then, her look softened little by little.

She brushed one of my locks then stroke my cheek, still holding her gaze. A big hopeful and happy smile appeared on her face.

" Cedric " she whispered lightly.

I dumbly nodded, unable to do more.

She held my face in her two hands and let out a relieved little laugh while a heavy tear was rolling down her cheek.

" My son " she exclaimed.

I gasped, unable to contain my emotion anymore. She bumped into me and hugged me tight. She stroked my hair and I could feel her breathe brushing the back of my ear.

" I was so desperate to live that moment again. Feeling you " she whispered, sobbing.

I raised my hands and hugged her back.

" Rose " My father complained, worried to have to handle later a crying and depressive wife.

" That's him, Amos. I know that's him " she exclaimed. " I know this is supposed to be impossible, but this boy is our son. I do recognize his look."

" Your wife is right, Amos " Dumbledore said " Go to him. You will see by yourself that this boy is your son ".

My father's eyes widened. He staggered but finally made his way towards me.

Rose broke her hug and stepped back to let him some place, even if she kept on holding my hand.

He looked at me with an already convinced look. This was all my father: always listening to mum. If she says something so there is no way she could be wrong. Also, between the both of us, my father was definitely the most trusting one. When I needed something, I was used to come to him, I was sure to get it.

He let out a big laugh and cried. He hugged me, patting my back.

" My Cedric " he said, still sobbing.

My mother joined us and hugged us both. I didn't control myself anymore and cried. I had become again the little boy I used to be when I was 7. It doesn't matter that I was a big teenager now and soon a man, I was just, at that precise moment, my parents' child.

" Who is this student? " My mother asked, seated on the chair, never letting go my hand.

Dumbledore was looking at us with a smile which quickly turned to a concerned look.

" Hermione Granger " he answered.

" And she was here with you. Always? " she asked me.

I nodded.

" I want to thank her and tell her how grateful I am " my father explained. My mother cleared her throat. " I mean, we want to thank her " he corrected with a little voice.

Dumbledore and I both smiled, probably for the same reason. They were living again.

" We take you home " she murmured to me.

" No, Rose " Dumbledore said with a calm tone. " The ministry will soon be informed about Cedric. He will be safe in the castle "

" That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard " my mother answered back " Why wouldn't he be safe in his own house? ".

" Darling, Albus is right. Cedric needs to get safe which it means that he has to stay away from the city and any other place where journalists could appear in. Hogwarts is protected, this is the best place ".

" And what are we supposed to do, now? To go back home and act like Cedric's still dead "

" As I said, the ministry will soon learn about Cedric, this is just a matter of time, actually.

Of course you'll be free to come in the castle anytime you will feel the need to see your son " the headmaster said.

" This sounds good to me " my father said, content. Rose looked daggers at him just like he had delivered me to the Death Eaters.

She then noisily sighed and shrugged.

" Fine, we'll do like you said, Albus Dumbledore " she lightly spat." But as soon as Cedric will be pretty much safe, he'll go spend a couple of days in the house "

" Of course " Dumbledore smiled.

It had been now practically two hours that we were in the office.

My parents sorely said me good bye, promising me that they will be back the next day.

My mother quickly winced at the headmaster, upset that he was forcing them to leave.

They both hugged me and made their way to the exit.

Surprisingly (or not so much finally) my father was the most reluctant one.

" Come on Amos. Your son will still be there, tomorrow. " Rose exclaimed.

My father sighed and they both left.

Dumbledore smiled at me with this victory light in the eyes.

" I'm proud of you, Cedric. You're handling the situation quite well ".

I nodded and smiled at him. Actually, I hadn't done something special. I had just kept quiet and had waited for my parents to recognize me. But then I understood that the headmaster was like congratulating me, exhorting me to be patient for the following. That was going a lot more complicated to handle.

McGonagall came in the office, with a concerned face.

" Minerva, didn't you take the Diggorys to your chimney? " Dumbledore asked.

" I asked Filch to lead them to my office " she quickly explained. She then walked accross the office. She gave me a worried and sad glance then turned to the headmaster. " Albus, miss Granger is in the Hospital Wing. She fainted after casting an overpowerful spell. "

They both shared a silent look, like they were now having a telepathic conversation. To be honest, it made me want to shout at them.

" What happened? Is it serious? " I asked.

They both glanced at each other with this annoying kwoning look.

" Mr Diggory. You have to wait here, until we learn more about her state. She's still unconscious ".

I didn't wait more. Coming from dead didn't suppose to stay prisonner in an office, not when Hermione might be in danger.

I rushed out of the office and slided down the stairs at full speed.

I ran along the corridors, and then reached the busy one.

All the students, from any House and any years were now staring at me with an odd look.

" That's Cedric Diggory " some of them began to whisper.

" But he's dead " replied others.

I didn't even glance at them. I didn't give a damn of what they could think or say. The only thing that matters at that precise moment was Hermione. Actually, I was just thinking of her. I didn't think about the consequences, the ministry, the journalists, the criticisms. I was just sure of one thing: Hermione needed me, and I needed to be next to her.

I ran more speedily and finally reached the Hospital Wing. I didn't control my overwhelming concern, because I just slammed the door and began to call for Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey ran towards the door with a very annoyed face. When she saw me, she turned pale and widened her eyes.

" How is she? " I just asked.

" Mr Dig...How could you? " she exclaimed, close to pass out.

" Where is she? " I said louder.

" Lead Mr Diggory to miss Granger. Then I'll explain you everything " Dumbledore smoothed her (well, me).

I could have wondered how the headmaster had caught me up so quickly, but I was too worried to think about this detail.

Madam Pomfrey nodded and pointed me with a shaking finger the background corner of the big room. I turned and saw a big white curtain that was hiding the bed.

I ran towards it and drew it with firmness. I glanced at Harry who jumped from the bed and stared at me with an incredible pale face.

" You...you...how you..." he mumbled. His hand reached for his wand, obviously ready to hex me.

" Don't be afraid Mr Potter, this is Cedric Diggory " McGonagall said, coming from behind me.

Harry frowned and tilted his head to have a glance at Dumbledore who was talking with madam Pomfrey.

I would have probably smiled at him in other circumstances, but now, I was just uncapable of doing it.

I turned and saw her. She was lying on the bed. I walked closer towards her but Harry stepped up between me and the bed.

" Harry, she has been there for me for months, I think it's time to turn the table" I murmrued to him.

" What do you mean? " he mumbled, shocked a little more at every new second.

" Your Christmas present " I simply answered, knowing that the boy would understand quite quickly " Now, please, let me see her ".

Harry lowered his wand. His eyes got wet and I was pretty sure he was close to busrt into tears.

Nonetheless, he composed himself and stepped back. I gave him a thankful glance and slowly walked towards the bed. I leaned over her and observed her peaceful face. It was like, she was just sleeping and ready at any moment to wake up. The only signs that could make us all doubt about her sleeping state was the big circles under her eyes and her little too pale skin.

I ran my eyes over her all body and noticed the splint on her leg.

" She fell down the stairs and broke it " Madam Pomfrey said, coming next to me, followed by Dumbledore " I'll fix it during the night ".

I nodded even if I couldn't forget the pain I was feeling.

" When will she wake up? " I asked with a murmuring voice, trying to block the sobs that were close to erupt.

The nurse and Dumbledore shared that exasperating quiet glance that now I hated to watch.

" We don't know " she finally said.

I shook my head and quickly glanced at Harry, begging him to give me an explanation.

" But what happened?...I...I just don't understand. Did she hit her head? " I mumbled with a half-panicked voice. Like I said, I was really trying my hardest to not freak out in front all those people. If there was something I hated most of all, it was definitely to not understand, and feel like people were hiding something from me.

Madam Pomfrey gave a shy glance at the headmaster and stepped back like if I was raising a subject that didn't really suited her competences. Dumbledore came closer towards me and Harry.

" What happened to miss Granger was caused by...magic. I can't tell you more about what she got, but I promise I will tell you as soon as I'll know more about her state ".

Harry looked devastated, and I would have probably doubt about his feelings for Hermione if I wasn't sure he was like her brother.

" So what must we do, now? " the boy asked.

" Unfortunately nothing except waiting " he murmured with a calm but concerned voice.

I pulled the chair which was near the wall and sat on it, holding Hermione's hand. I don't know how long it would take her to wake up, but I would wait, I would be patient, just as much as she had been with me. When I had needed someone she was there, now she was the one who needed me.

" I'll stay with you " I whispered.

Okay, guys. Hope you liked being from Cedric's POV. You'll learn more about Hermione's state in the next chapter. Thanks again for reading my fiction since the beginning. Hope you still like it. I don't own Harry Potter.