Chapter 16

The Polyjuice potion didn't really help much. Malfoy didn't know who opened the Chamber of Secrets either, so they were back at square one. Hermione spent much of her time in the library doing research and Harry found a diary in the girls' bathroom after hearing voices again.

Cedric usually accompanied Hermione to the library but wasn't much help with the research. He was currently hunched over the table snoring softly with his head on top of an opened text book.

Hermione smiled despite his uselessness he did look rather funny. She let him sleep and continued reading her text book.

Harry came running into the library "You won't believe what just happened to me!"

"I'm reading Hermione I swear!" Cedric jumped awake with a start. He looked around and realized he had been caught sleeping.

Hermione laughed and Cedric blushed.

Harry told them about the diary being Tom Riddles, and how Tom showed him what happened the last time the Chamber was opened. Hermione and Cedric didn't believe that Hagrid was the one accused of opening the Chamber.

"How could it have been Hagrid? What killed the girl?" Hermione asked.

"Hagrid was hiding something in the school he called Aragog." Harry said.

"I don't believe it. Hagrid wouldn't do something like that and he can't be the heir of Slytherin. Who is this Tom Riddle guy anyway? Why should we trust what he showed you?" Cedric asked frustrated.

"I don't know but we have a quidditch game soon so you better start getting ready." Harry said as he got up to leave.

"How can you think of Quidditch in a time like this?" Hermione asked the boys.

"Harry shrugged and Cedric smiled.

"There's no such thing as an inappropriate time to think of quidditch." Cedric said and Hermione rolled her eyes.

Harry left them in the library and Cedric started closing his books.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked.

"Getting ready to leave. I thought we were done?" Cedric said.

"Do we know what has been petrifying students?" Hermione asked.

"Well…no."

"Then we're not done. You still have an hour before your game starts but you can leave if you want. I'm staying." Hermione said beginning to read her book again.

"Fine then I'll stay." Cedric sat down and opened his text book again but didn't read it.

"You don't have to stay. I know you hate being here." Hermione told him.

"I'm not going to leave you alone while something is going around petrifying students!" Cedric said like it was obvious.

"Thank you for your concern but I will be fine." Hermione said annoyed.

"I'm still going to stay." Cedric shrugged.

"I know how much your precious quidditch means to you…"

"Would you stop that? I know I say stupid things sometimes but I'm not an idiot. I know this is more important than some quiddich game!" Cedric whisper yelled to Hermione.

"Well you could have fooled me. You should be careful with that book the pages might still be wet from your drool." Hermione whisper yelled back.

Cedric turned red from embarrassment or anger. Hermione wasn't sure which.

"I'm here to help you. I may not be the best help but look around, I don't see anyone else here to help you. Maybe if you weren't so condescending I wouldn't be the only one here."

Cedric regretted that as soon as the words were out of his mouth. He knows how sensitive Hermione is about everyone in school not liking her, but he was angry and he was not about to apologize.

"Just get out of here. I don't want your help anymore." Hermione said successfully holding back tears.

Cedric stared at Hermione for a second as he debated if he should apologize or just leave. He really did want to apologize, but he was still annoyed. He decided he should go cool off before he said something else he would regret.

Cedric slammed his book closed and left the library. He wasn't sure how this argument escalated so quickly. They were getting along five minutes ago and now she kicked him out of the library and rightfully so.

Cedric ran his fingers through his hair in frustration as he walked down the many staircases. The Quidditch game was starting soon so Cedric figured he might as well head over to the pitch.

Cedric fought with himself the whole way to the pitch about whether he should go back to the library or go play quiddtich.

'She doesn't want me there. She said so herself, but I want to be there.' Cedric thought as he walked.

'Nothing is going to happen to her.'

'But what if it does?'

'It won't!'

'If anything happened to her I'd never forgive myself.' That was the deciding factor and instead of walking the last few feet to the pitch Cedric turned around and began running back to the library.

He had to wait for some stair cases to move. It took him far too long to get back upstairs. He only had 20 minutes until his quidditch game, but he needed to apologize and make sure Hermione was okay.

When he finally reached the library no one was there.

"Bloody hell!" Cedric said to himself as he set out to look for Hermione.

He walked in the direction of the Gryffindor Common room figuring that would be the best place to look.

Cedric turned a corner and saw a huge snake going in the opposite direction. Thankfully the giant snake wasn't facing Cedric who was frozen in place. It was slithering in the opposite direction. When it turned another corner Cedric ran to where the snake had been. He saw Hermione lying on the floor with a mirror in her hand petrified.

"No! Hermione!" Cedric yelled. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't just leave her with a giant snake around. He felt a wave of guilt hit him like a punch in the gut.

"I'm so sorry Hermione. I'm so sorry." Cedric cradled her face in his hand. It felt strange like she was made of stone or something.

"I shouldn't have left!" He said clutching Hermione's petrified hand.

He felt something in her hand and pulled it out. It was a piece of paper from one of the books. It was a description of a Basilisk. It said spiders flee before it, and if you look into its eyes it will kill you. Cedric instantly knew what the mirror was for.

"You're brilliant Hermione." Cedric whispered feeling a swell of affection for the little witch in front of him. He had to tell someone so he picked up the mirror Hermione was using and put the paper in his pocket.

"Don't worry Hermione I'll get help. I'll be right back." Cedric said to the petrified girl not knowing if she could hear him or not.

Cedric started to make his way to Dumbledore's office. He used the mirror to look behind each corner. He was about halfway to Dumbledore's office when he saw the Basilisk through the mirror. Before he had time to scream or run or even realize what was happening he was petrified too.