Title: Just Like Magic

Summary: Similar heartbreaks have Hermione seek Cedric at the Yule Ball and, after a string of uncertainties, ultimately bring them together. But with Voldermort's return can it truly last? A "what if Cedric lived and fell for Hermione" story.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

We emerged from the tiny garage. Each of us checking our pockets for identification. Cedric pulled out a Ministry card that read the name "Leonard Higgs." He laughed as he said the name as if it didn't sit right with him.

Ron pulled out his ID card. "In case you're interested, I'm Reg Cattermole, Magical Maintenance Department."

"Mafalda Hopkirk," I smiled, "assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office."

Harry started patting his pockets but found nothing. "I'm nobody."

"You're somebody. Be careful." I reminded.

Just then a lanky wizard strode by. "Morning, Reg! Good luck today."

Confused, Ron responded, "Oh… yeah. Thanks." He glanced at us and jerked his head towards the wizard and we followed. As we approached the public toilets and watched as the wizard dropped down the stairs, Ron asked, "What do you reckon he meant by 'Good luck.'?"

We shrugged and then I separated going to the Ladies' toilets and entering into the cubicle. I stepped up onto the toilet, dipping my heel in gingerly, before withdrawing it and noticing it was completely dry. Perfect. I stepped in fully, reached up, and pulled the chain and was instantly lucked down. Suddenly, I was being shot out of a fireplace into the grand atrium of the Ministry of Magic. The first thing I noticed was the massive black stone statue depicting witches and wizards sitting upon hundreds of naked bodies twisted in pain.

Harry came up beside me. "Are those…?"

"Muggles. In their rightful place." I said with disgust as I read over the engraving "Magic is Might."

Cedric approached just as a balding wizard bumped into Harry. "Move it, will you—oh, Runcorn! Forgive me…" The wizard scurried away, clearly frightened.

"You appear to be quite popular." I stated.

Ron approached, and the pitied looks of co-workers followed him. "I gotta tell you, I'm starting to freak out a bit."

A hang of young, rough-looking wizards entered the Atrium, pushing along a small group of what appeared to be captives. Harry looked on and said, "The Ministry must be hiring young these days."

"They're not Ministry." Ron whispered. "They're snatchers.

Cedric continued. "They hunt Muggle-borns and blood-traitors for a price."

Harry turned towards me. "How long did you say this batch of Polyjuice Potion would last, Hermione?"

"I didn't."

We walked towards the elevators and man strode towards us propping himself between the doors. "Cattlemole! It's still raining in my office. Two days now."

"Really? Have you tried an umbrella?"

The man eyed Ron curiously before he leaned forward menacingly. "You do realize I'm on my way downstairs, don't you, Cattermole?"

"Downstairs…?"

"To interrogate your wife! If my wife's blood status were in doubt and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement needed a job doing, I think I'd make it a priority. You've got one hour."

He stepped back and the lift doors clanged shut. We all stared forward as we watched the man storm off. Ron was still in shock. "Oh my god. What am I going to do? My wife's all alone downstairs."

"Ron. You don't have a wife." Harry reminded.

"Oh. Right."

"Look, we'll go with you—"

Ron shook his head. "No. That's mad."

"I'll come with you." Cedric stated before turning to Harry and me. "You two find Umbridge."

"We'll be fine." Ron paused. "But how do I stop it raining."

"Try Finite Incantatem." I offered.

"Of course," Cedric agreed, "if something's gone wrong with an Atmospheric Charm—"

The lift came to a halt and the female voice let us know we had reached level two.

"This is you." I told Ron as I pushed him off the lift. Cedric followed, pulling him alone.

"Finite Incantatem, okay." Ron repeated. "And if that doesn't work…?"

But before I could respond the gold gates of the lift shut close and Harry and I were swept away.

"I don't like them being down there on their own." My voice wavered.

Harry turned to me. "They've been coming here since they were young. It's us you should be worrying about."

I stared at him, noticing the yellowing of his teeth. "You have horrible teeth, you know that."

The lift stopped as we reached level one. Harry quickly whispered, "I say if we don't locate Umbridge within the hour, we go find Ron and come back another day. Deal?"

But before I could respond the gates opened and we both froze. There, with her neck wrapped in a fuzzy pink scarf, was Dolores Umbridge. Hatred welled up inside me. She looked up from the clipboard in her hand and looked directly at me. "Ah, Mafalda! Travers sent you, did he? Good. We'll go straight down." She shifted her eyes to Harry. "Albert, aren't you getting out?"

Harry nodded mutely, before he stepped out. As the lift descended, I watched Harry anxiously as he rose out of sight. The lift continues downward until we stopped at a dark torch-lit stone passage way. As we moved further alone, I noticed my breath becoming visible. We entered the large courtroom and my eyes instinctively drifted upwards. There swirling above are the tall black-hooded Dementors, only held back by a cat-like patronus, I guessed to be Umbridges.

Umbridge took her spot in the centermost seat and I sit beside her, eyeing the Dementors.

"Come on, Mafalda. Not used to them yet?" Umbridge stated in her nails-on-a-chalkboard voice.

A man came stumbling into the courtroom accompanied by a pair of Death Eaters. "I'm a half-blood! A half-blood!"

The Death Eaters breathed in and the man's face became distorted. Umbridge began the hearing and listened to none of the man's pleas as he tried to fight for his life. I jotted down notes using the stack of parchment in front of me, utterly disgusted. He was sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss and brought away just as Ron, pulled by Harry and Cedric walked in.

Umbridge leaned forward and I followed Harry's gaze. There it is. The locket.

A frail woman is brought in and she calls out in a feeble voice. "Reg…"

Ron turned and stared at the woman, chained to the chair, and her face brightens. He glanced at Harry, who simply nods, urging him on. Ron moved beside the woman and hesitantly placed his hand upon her shoulder before glancing at me.

"Marry Elizabeth Cattermole?" Umbridge addresses.

"Yes." The woman faltered.

"Mother to Maisie, Ellie and Alfred? Wife to Reginald?"

May looked up at Ron with fear glistened eyes. He smiled at her in assurance and she looked away to reply. "Yes."

I looked on as Harry eyed the necklace. As if drawn forward, he began to drift towards the balustrade where were sitting.

Umbridge continued her questioning. "A wand was taken from you upon your arrival at the Ministry today, Mrs. Cattermole. Is this that wand?" She displayed a cherrywood wand and Mary nodded. "Would you please tell the court from which witch or wizard you took this wand?"

"But I didn't take it." Mary pleaded. "I got it in Diagon Alley, at Ollivander's, when I was eleven. It chose me."

Umbridge leaned forward, teeth glittering as the car slinked by and brief illuminated her face and the chain at her neck trembles like a snake. I caught my breath as Harry, stood clearly in view, his eyes narrowing as he reached into his pocket.

"No, no, I don't think so, Mrs. Cattermole." Umbridge disagreed. "Wands only choose witches. And you are not a witch."

"But I am!" Mary cried. "Tell them, Reg! Tell them what I am!"

Ron started to speak but Umbridge shifted her gaze to Harry and the hand raising his wand that was currently pointed at her.

"What the devil are you doing, Albert?"

"You're lying." As Harry spoke, his own face rippled through Runcorn's as the Polyjuice Potion began to wear off. "And one mustn't tell lies, Dolores… Stupefy!"

A flash of red light hit Umbridge and she slumped, her forehead striking the balustrade. Instantly, the silver cat vanished and Dementors stirred. The man next to her drew his want but Ron caught him and took him out with a single blast. Cedric ran towards me as I stripped the locket from Umbridge's neck and leaped down. He caught me without hesitation. Our breath began to come in plumes as the Dementors drifted forward.

"I missed that face." I gasp as Cedric's face bubbles out.

He released me and we raced towards Harry who screamed, "Expeto Patronum!" His silver stag soared from the tip of his wand, circling the room and driving the Dementors back.

I walked over to Mary and pointed my wand at her wrists. "Relashio!" The chains that once encircled her wrists dropped like dead snakes.

Mary stood and eyed Harry in amazement as he transformed back into himself. "You? It's you! Reg, its Harry Potter!"

"'Tis, isn't it?" Ron responded as he grabbed her hand. "This'll be one to tell the kids."

We raced to the elevator and waited anxiously as it brought us up to the atrium. When we reached the floor we walk as casually as possible, racing towards the fireplaces, now that Harry, Cedric, and my face are clearly visible. Within moments, Harry's name began to spread like wildfire in the gloomy hush of the floor.

I glanced about nervously. "Harry… they've seen you. We've got to get out of here."

Having heard me. We all quickened our pace. Ron glanced about, and then turned to face Marry as he walked backwards. "Mary. Go home. Get the kids. I'll… I'll meet you there. We have to get out of the country, understand?" Marry shook her head, confused. "Marry! Do as I say!" She stopped, teary-eyed, before nodding dutifully. Ron frowned. "I'm sorry. It's just—"

But, Mary doesn't let him respond as she grabbed his collar and pulled him into a deep kiss. The three of us watched as Ron transformed—during the kiss—back into himself. The real Reg Cattermole walked forward, robeless.

"Mary!"

All eyes turned, as Mary looked up at Ron, now transformed, and jumped back.

"Long story." Ron said with a peck. "Nice meeting you." He was about to reach the fireplace when he spied his brother, Percy. Ron slowed and eyes his brother. Percy went to speak but Ron cut him off with a simple "Piss off."

Security begun to swarm the place and a balding man yelled, "Seal the exits! Now!"

The four of glanced about and broke for the fireplaces while being attacked by various curses. One fireplace after another began to seal. And as we reached the last open grate, we jumped in, together onto the polished marble floor as spells sailed overhead.

The balding man pitched himself into the void and grabbed my robe. Cedric casted a spell to push him off me and I grabbed his arm as to pull him to me as I quickly changed my mind from returning to Grimmauld Place and Cedric released a tortured scream. The world spun and we land atop a bed of leaves and twins and sunlight streamed from the canopy of trees above.

I crawled toward Cedric and all I saw was blood. His arm was clearly spliced from the quick transition and I scream. "Harry, quickly, in my bag, there's a small bottle labeled 'Essence of Dittany.'" I was bent over Cedric as his body convulsed in pain. Tears welled up in my eyes as Ron rushed over and tried to hold down his arm. "Quickly!"

Harry stumbled over with the small brown bottle as I ripped open Cedric's shirt, which is soaked in blood. The flesh of his upper arm looked as if someone had simple scooped a portion of it away.

"Unstopper it, Harry."

"Hermione." Harry breathed. "His arm—"

"Just do it!" I ordered.

Harry handed me the bottle and I sprinkled three drops onto Cedric's bleeding wound. Greenish smoke billowed as the potion began working.

"What happened?" Harry asked. "I thought we were going back to Grimmauld Place."

"We were." I talked quickly in a distraught and anxious voice. "We were there. But that man had hold of me. I knew we couldn't stay once he'd seen, so when he let go I brought us here. Cedric got splinched. I'm… sorry."

"But Sirius! He'll be in danger now!"

"Don't be stupid, mate. Sirius can handle himself." Ron reminded. "You're the priority. He'll get out of there if it's dangerous."

"But we have to go back and at least warn him."

Ron stood and grabbed Harry by the shoulder. "No."

Harry calmed and I looked on with wet eyes as the smoke cleared. Cedric's wound was no longer bleeding. "That's all I feel safe doing." I rose and took out my wand and began to walk in a wide circle, muttering protective enchantments. "Salvio Hexia…. Protego Totalum."

"What're you doing?" Harry asked.

"Protective enchantments." I answered, transfixed. "I don't fancy another visit like Shaftesbury Avenue, do you? Especially with Cedric like this. You and Ron can get going on the tent…"

"Tent?" Ron asked.

"Where are we supposed to find—" Harry stopped, remembering my bag. "Right."

"Repello Muggletum…." I continued. "Muffliato…"

The tent glowed under the starlit sky as I poured tea from a kettle into cups for the boys. "How're the mushrooms? Seem to be the only edible things growing around here."

Ron grimaced as he chewed. "They're great."

"Make sure to leave some for Cedric."

"No problem." Harry mumbled under his breath. He set his plate aside and plucked up the locket. It dangled in the firelight. He took a glance at Cedric, who was sound asleep on a cot, his arm wrapped in gauze. "How bad is he?"

"He'll be alright in a few days. Hopefully. If we could take him to Hogwarts, to Madam Pomfrey—" Harry stopped me with a look, confirming my foolishness.

Ron changed the subject. "So where do we go next?"

"Dumbledore had a theory. He felt that the Horcruxes would not be made out of random objects. And he felt they wouldn't be hidden randomly either. We know of three so far. The ring, which according to Dumbledore belonged to Tom Riddle's grandfather. The diary, which belonged to Tom himself. And this, which—again, according to Dumbledore—belonged to his mother."

I eyed the locket as it glimmered in the firelight. "It scares me a bit, that, thinking it's a piece of Vol—"

"No, don't!" Ron screamed, clamping his hand on my mouth. He waited a few moments, listening. "Don't say it. It's taboo—You-Know-Who's name. That's how they track people now. It's how they found us in the café that night."

"How d'you know?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"I overhead a bloke from the Enforcement office talking about it at the Ministry. Blimey, what's that smell?"

I walked over to the stove and in a weary voice answered, "Dinner?"

"Not bloody likely. Smells like something Ginny would cook. Or Luna."

"Tea?"

They both nodded. As I tended to the tea, Harry handed Ron the locket. He turned it over in his and frowned before looking at Harry no nodded. "I know. I felt it too." I stared at them in confusion. "It's… it's like its ticking or something, like it has a tiny metal heart, like its—"

"… alive." Ron finished.

I eyed it coldly. "I hate it. It's like he's here with us."

"That's why we're going to kill it." Harry stated as he stood.

The next day we set the locket on a nearby tree stump. Cedric was leaning against a tree, his face pale as we all surrounded the locket. I nodded to Harry who raised his wand.

"Dissendium!"

The locket spun in place but remained whole.

"Incendio!"

Flames engulfed the locket and its metal flesh turned scarlet, but the flames died out.

"Expulso!"

The tree stump exploded sending the locket into the marsh, unmarked.

"Confringo!"

The ground beneath the locket cratered, but the locket remained untouched. Ron and I lowered our wands in defeat but Harry continued on, determined and almost possessed. I studied him, oddly, until he finally stopped. Silence engulfed the forest until a ticking sound, from the locket, takes over.

"It's angry." Ron whispered.

I shivered and Harry stepped forward, kneeling before it. He picked up the locket by its chaining and slung it over his neck.

"What're you doing?" I asked.

"We have to keep it safe until we can figure out how to destroy it."

"I'll put it in my bag—"

"No."

"Seems strange, mate." Ron stated. "Dumbledore sends you off to find a load of Horcruxes, but doesn't bother to tell you how to destroy them. Doesn't that bother you?"

Harry studied the locket as the ticking slowed before he walked off. Cedric and I eyed Ron, who returned our glance who then stormed off slowly in the opposite direction. I walked over and sighed before I sat next to Cedric, completely baffled at what to do.

A/N: Since this is mostly canon storyline, it's pretty easy to move through. Once I get to the good stuff I'll slow down a bit because that'll be original and a tad confusing.

R&R

Xx Jenn