Shipping Bingo: A1 - Crush blush
Spring Bingo: C5 - Books
Trope Bingo: A2 - Big Damn Hero
Team: Earth Tones
Scavenger Hunt: Sp Settings (Library)
Chimera: Love/Hate
Stacked With: FPC; ToS; Star; Shower; BAON: Fence; T3; Ship; Sp/Tr Bingo; Hunt; Chim
Individual Challenges: Gryffindor MC; Hufflepuff MC; Neurodivergent; Rian-Russo Inversion; Ethnic & Present; Setting Sail; hold the Mayo; Lunar Era; Old Shoes (Y); In a Flash (Y); Bucket Listing (Y)
Representations: Hermione is autistic; Budding Relationship; Helping Others; BC Use
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Mouth of Babes; Tomorrow's Shade; Second Verse (Ladylike; Not a Lamp; Found Family; Nontraditional); Chorus (Wabi Sabi; Bee Haven; Peddling Pots)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: T3 (Terse; Terrarium)
Warnings:
Word Count: 560
~o0o~
All her life, Hermione had the misfortune of being a chronic blusher. It was obvious, even against her brown skin. She also fell in love much too easily. Perhaps whenever she was shown kindness she latched onto the relationship and read too much into it. It might be easier to try and shift those feelings towards friendship. She read too many romance stories, she supposed. Not that anyone at this school knew it. She suffered from insomnia and spent many nights reading books under her covers by wandlight. During the day, she stuck strictly to non-fiction lest she be caught daydreaming.
This particular crush was Cedric Diggory. Prefect, Quidditch Captain, Hogwarts' designated heartthrob. He had been nice to her when she first started Hogwarts. Peeves had given her a hard time while she was trying to find her way and he had, for lack of a better term, chased the Poltergeist off and shown her the way to her class. He'd even given her a small sweet from the side pocket of his backpack. He always wore that backpack.
Not that Hermione was obsessed, but whenever she happened to look his way, he was wearing the yellow backpack.
Today's encounter happened to be in the library. Hermione was doing research on the Triwizard Tournament. After all, since they were bringing it back, then it might be good to read up on the history of it. Just in case.
She had found the book she wanted, but it was up too high and the ladder was stuck behind a snogging couple. So, she was jumping up trying to grab it.
"Need some help?"
Hermione faced Cedric Diggory and already felt the heat rise to her cheeks.
"Er, yes," she said and pointed. "That one. I can't reach and Madam Pince will skin me alive if I get footprints on the shelf."
"Nah, skinning isn't her thing," he said. "She seems more like a fava beans and chianti type person." He made a slurping noise and Hermione giggled, clapping her hand over her mouth and no doubt turning a deeper red.
"You see movies?" she asked.
"Yeah. There's a movie theater in town and I go when I'm not doing chores," he said, stretching up on his toes to try and reach the book. He was fairly tall himself and even the book eluded his grasp. "I'm a fan of Muggle things. I'd like to adapt them for Wizard use one day."
"That's a wonderful idea," she said, lowering her voice when Pince came skulking by.
"Glad someone thinks so." He frowned. "Hm… where's the ladder?"
"Other aisle."
Cedric left and returned a moment later realizing exactly why she couldn't get to it. "Ah. Well, I've got another idea that might work."
"Go for it," she said, flicking her fingers, hiding the stimming with her long sleeves.
He stooped, wrapping his arms around her thighs and lifted her up so she was sitting on his shoulder. Wow, he was strong. Catching herself, Hermione plucked her book off the shelf before Madam Pince could return. He gently lowered her to the ground and straightened up.
"So, what are you reading anyway?" he asked.
"Just, erm, Triwizard Tournament stuff," she said, heart fluttering madly at how close he was to her. "Excuse me."
She hurried off, hiding her face with her hair and book.