Cedric opened his eyes and shielded them from the harsh sunlight. He tried to sit up but his body was still very weak and he plopped back down on the bed.
'Wait a minute sunlight? Where am I? What happened?' Cedric thought as he looked around and could see that he had somehow ended up in the hospital wing. Then he noticed that Harry was in a hospital bed next to him.
"Harry! Are you alright mate?" Cedric asked worried when there was no response.
His yell drew Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore from her office.
"Ah you're finally awake. I was beginning to worry Mr. Diggory." Dumbledore said smiling.
"What happened to him? Are Ron and Hermione alright!?" Cedric asked panicked.
"Relax Cedric they are all fine. Harry will wake up soon and Ron and Hermione are eating breakfast in the Great Hall as we speak. They have been in here every day to see the both of you."
"How long have we been out?"
"Three days. When Miss Granger came barreling through my office screaming and crying I thought the worst, and if she didn't get to me as fast as she did you would be dead. That poison you drank gives the drinker a terrible fever. Then, puts them in a coma, and finally a few hours later they succumb to the poison."
"What happened to Harry?"
"Apparently Professor Quirrell was not what he seemed. Voldemort was using him as a parasite."
"You mean it wasn't professor Snape that was trying to steal the stone?"
"No my dear boy. I know he isn't always the kindest person, but I trust Professor Snape with my life. You four were brave to try and protect the stone, but there is a reason some people say bravery is just another word for stupidity. I made it so that the stone cannot be found by someone who wants to use it. If Quirrell and Voldemort were in the room alone they would have never been able to find the stone, but since Harry wanted to find the stone but not use it he got it and almost died when Quirrell tried to take it from him."
Cedric looked down sheepishly. "Sorry we were stupid enough to go in there alone." Cedric said.
"It's alright my boy. Personally I think bravery no matter how stupid should be commended. You all did well. You showed you were willing to die for a good cause and you showed fierce friendship for not wanting Hermione to drink from the glass. Even though you didn't have to you four young students were able to stop Voldemort from getting the stone and that is something to commemorate." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"When can I get out of here?" Cedric asked sitting up.
"Let Madam Pomfrey look you over one more time. If she says you're okay you can go to your common room. I think you should wait until tomorrow to start going to your classes again."
"Thank you professor."
"No thank you dear boy." Dumbledore said and then walked out of the hospital wing.
Pomfrey gave Cedric the all clear and Cedric bolted out of the hospital wing and ran to the Great Hall. People in the halls were yelling things like good job, or welcome back, but Cedric ignored them and didn't stop running until he got to the Great Hall and spotted his favorite Gryffindor's at their table.
Cedric smiled and started walking towards them. Out of nowhere Cedric was hit by a flying body that he realized a second later was Marietta. She threw her arms around him and he hugged her back.
"I've been so worried about you! Are you okay? How do you feel?" Marietta yelled squeezing him so tight she was cutting off circulation.
"I'm fine Marietta. I'd be better if I was able to breath." Cedric gasped out.
"Oh sorry." Marietta quickly released him.
"It's oka…" Cedric was cut off by a kiss from Marietta.
"I was so worried." She said as she pulled away.
Cedric heard his name being yelled before another body came flying at him out of nowhere and he knew from the bushy hair in his face that this was Hermione.
"Dumbledore said you would be okay, but I thought he was just saying that to keep us from worrying. I'm so happy you're awake." Hermione cried into his shirt.
Cedric put his arms around her and gave her a comforting squeeze. "You can't get rid of me that easily Granger."
"Hey Diggory." Ron shouted "I'm glad you're okay." Ron said giving Cedric a slap on the back.
"Likewise Weasley. You played a hell of a chess game."
"From what Hermione tells me, you didn't do too bad yourself." Ron said.
Hermione looked at them strangely. "I think that's the first civilized conversation you two had all year."
Marietta cleared her throat.
"Excuse me but my boyfriend just got out of the hospital wing. I'd like to spend some time with him, and I'm sure he'd like to hang out with his real friends. Why don't you little Gryffindor's go find someone else to annoy." Marietta said.
"Marietta…" Cedric said angrily but was interrupted when his quiddich mates came barreling into him.
"We heard you were out of the hospital but we didn't believe it! How you feeling Ced?" Herbert yelled hugging him.
"I'm okay." Cedric said to them.
"We thought we were gonna have to find a new seeker Ced." Anthony joked putting his arm around Cedric.
"Come on Ced everyone's in the common room waiting for you." Malcom said and they all but dragged Cedric away from his girlfriend and his Gryffindor friend.
"Cedric looked at Hermione and shouted "I'll talk to you later." Then he was dragged out of the Great Hall with dozens of students following them to the Hufflepuff common room.
Marietta rounded on Hermione.
"What did that mean "I'll talk to you later?" She asked annoyed.
"You're a Ravenclaw I'm sure you can figure out I'll talk to you later means that later on in the day Cedric will come and talk to me." Hermione said snidely.
"Look here Granger I don't know why Cedric hangs out with you, but you better watch it. There's only one reason why the famous Harry Potter and the most popular boy in school would want to hang out with you, and it has nothing to do with your brains. If you don't want the whole school to start spreading rumors about you, you better leave MY boyfriend alone." Marietta said and stormed off.
"Jeez what's her problem?" Ron asked.
"She's jealous." Hermione said watching her walk away.
"Don't worry about her. Cedric won't let her spread any rumors about you." Ron tried to comfort her.
"Let's go see how Harry's doing." Hermione said and the two of them began walking to the hospital wing.
Harry didn't wake up that night, but early the next morning as Ron and Hermione left their common room to go to the Great Hall they saw Harry finish walking up the last step to get to the common room.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron shouted.
"You okay mate?" Ron asked
"I'm fine. How about you two?"
"I'm alright." Ron smiled.
"I've never been better." Hermione said.
"How is Cedric?" Harry asked.
"He's still partying it up with his quiddich mates and his precious girlfriend. We haven't seen him since yesterday morning." Hermione said irritated.
"Well come on Harry lets go get breakfast. I'm sure you're starving. I know I am." Ron said.
"When are you not?" Hermione asked.
"Shut it." Ron said but laughed anyway.
Harry smiled at his friends and walked with them to breakfast.
When they got to the Great Hall they saw a crying and distraught looking Marietta at the Ravenclaw table being comforted by her friend Cho Chang.
"Wonder what that's about?" Hermione whispered to Ron.
"Who cares!" Ron exclaimed.
"Hey Harry!" Cedric's voice called from behind them.
"Cedric you alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine what about you? I woke up yesterday and you were in the bed next to mine."
"I'm alright. Voldemort sort of flew through my body and I passed out. That's all I remember up until I woke up this morning."
"What's up with Marietta?" Ron asked.
"Oh her. She told me what she said last night and I dumped her."
"Really?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah I'm not going to date a girl that would spread vicious rumors about my friend. She was kind of clingy anyway."
"And annoying." Ron added.
"And conceited." Harry chimed in.
"And a bitch." Hermione finished.
"Alright, alright you made your point. Just remind me never to date a Ravenclaw again." Cedric joked and the three Gryffindors laughed.
Things went back to normal after that. Since Cedric was single again girls would follow him around sometimes hoping to get some attention from him, but he only hung out with his Hufflepuff friends and his first year Gryffindor's. The end of term came fast and before they knew it the year was over and they were in the Great Hall waiting for the House Cup to be awarded by Dumbledore.
"Another year gone. I would like to congratulate all the houses on a fantastic year. Now, on with the awarding. In fourth place Gryffindor with 350 points. In third place Hufflepuff with 450 points. In second place Ravenclaw with 460 points and in First place Slytherin with 495 points." Dumbledore announced to the school.
Slytherin jumped up and cheered, but Dumbledore wasn't finished yet.
"Recent events must be taken into account. I believe there are still points to be rewarded to a certain few." Dumbledore announced holding up his hand at the Slytherin celebration.
The Great Hall became silent as everyone waited to see what Dumbledore would do.
"To Mr. Ronald Weasley. For the best played game of chess in Hogwarts history I award you fifty points."
"Ron looked surprised as Dumbledore smiled at him and raised his glass to him. The students gave a nice applause to him.
"To Miss Hermione Granger. For the use of cool intellect when others were in great peril I award you fifty points.
There was more applause and Hermione blushed at the attention.
"To Mr. Harry Potter for pure nerve and outstanding courage. I award you fifty points."
Gryffindor table erupted because they now realized they were in first place.
"And finally to Mr. Cedric Diggory. For unwavering bravery and true friendship I award you fifty points."
Everyone cheered and now the Hufflepuffs were going crazy because they were tied with Gryffindor.
"I must announce for the first time in Hogwarts history there is a tie for the House Cup. Congratulations Gryffindor and Hufflepuff on your unique and well deserved accomplishment. I believe a change of decoration is in order." Dumbledore said and waved his hand at the banners lining the Great Hall. They turned from green and silver to yellow, black, scarlet and gold.
Everyone in the Great Hall cheered except Slytherin of course, who had gotten the House Cup taken from them. No one in the Great Hall seemed to be upset for them at all except of course for Professor Snape, but his face always looked like that.
Hermione hugged Ron and Harry who also hugged each other. Fred and George gave Ron a noogie and patted his back, and Neville was so excited he almost strangled Seamus. Harry, Ron and Hermione heard so many congratulations and felt so many pats on the back they couldn't even tell who was saying or giving them. Cedric was surrounded by his own classmates getting congratulations. It had been fifty years since Hufflepuff won a house cup so everyone was understandably proud and thrilled. Cedric looked over at the Gryffindors and made eye contact with a grinning Hermione. If it was possible Cedric and Hermione's smiles got bigger and Cedric gave Hermione a little wink before practically getting carried out of the Great Hall in celebration.
Just like that the school year was over.
Hagrid instructed all the students onto the platform and into the Hogwarts Express. Hagrid saw Harry talking with Hermione, Ron and Cedric and called him over.
"Thought you were leaving without saying goodbye did you?" Hagrid teased reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a photo album.
"This is for you." Hagrid said handing Harry the book.
"What's this?" Harry asked opening it and seeing a moving picture of his mother, father, and himself as a baby.
"Thanks Hagrid." Harry said smiling and giving his giant friend a hug.
"Alright, alright go on with you." Hagrid said getting emotional.
Harry smiled at him and returned to his friends.
"What was that all about?" Ron asked.
"Nothing. He just gave me some pictures of my parents."
"That's sweet." Hermione said.
They heard Hagrid yelling at everyone to board the train.
"Come on we better get in if we want a good seat." Cedric said climbing aboard.
"You mean we better get in before your fan club can find out where you're sitting." Ron laughed.
"Shut it. You're just jealous that I have a fan club and you don't." Cedric said cockily and Ron rolled his eyes.
"Honestly do you two ever stop?" Hermione asked.
"It's his fault. He has a comment for everything." Ron said grumpily.
"What can I say it's a gift." Cedric said smirking and Ron looked at Hermione and pointed at Cedric with an I told you so look.
Hermione rolled her eyes at them.
"Don't fight now. You may not see each other for months." Hermione said.
"Thank Merlin for that." Ron and Cedric said at the same time.
"You know you guys are going to miss each other." Harry said.
"Not likely." Cedric said.
"Come on we saw how upset you got when Ron was knocked out on the chess board." Harry said.
"Oh really." Ron said with his eyebrows raised as he turned to Cedric.
"Wipe that stupid look off your face. I thought you were dead." Cedric huffed.
"Admit it you would have missed me." Ron said elbowing Cedric in the side.
"I'm going to kill you Harry." Cedric said.
Harry just shrugged his shoulders and tried to look innocent.
"If I recall correctly Ronald, you questioned Dumbledore about getting to the poison in time. You asked him about fifty times if he was sure Cedric was going to make it."
Cedric snorted and Ron turned red.
"I wouldn't talk if I were you. I don't know how you even remember what I was doing because you were crying hysterical the whole time." Ron said.
"Yeah but I'm not the one who is trying to hide their feelings about their friend. You both need to grow up." Hermione said.
"You can't tell me to grow up. I'm older than you!" Cedric said in mock anger.
"Shut it Ced." Hermione said as they all took their seats.
"Don't be mad. Like you said we may not see each other for months." Cedric said.
"I'll write to you, and you three better write back." Hermione said.
"Yeah, sure." The three boys mumbled together.
Hermione shook her head at the boys but smiled. She already couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts for her second year. She could only imagine what kind of trouble they would get into next year.