The Ghost of Cedric Diggory
Summary: Hermione stumbles across Hogwart's newest ghost, Cedric Diggory and befriends him. With a ghost's help, Hermione is able to find herself and find love. Hr/R, Hr/C friendship
A/N: This is not a Hermione/Cedric romance story. But they are the major characters. This is a Hr/R story, don't be mistaken. I hope you like it. I'm looking for a beta, if anyone is interested please e-mail me at The beta I want has to be reliable and I want them to feel free to offer tips and advice as well as grammatical corrections! Thanks!
Chapter One - See Through
Hermione's stomach growled loudly at her. 'Shhh stomach, we're almost to the feast and I can get some good food.'
She and her three best friends walked into the gates of Hogwarts Castle along with the rest of the students, minus first years of course. It was their first day back and they were headed to their fifth feast at Hogwarts where the first years would be sorted into the four separate houses.
At the moment, Hermione was ready to eat and go to her room. The entire trip there had been boring. For some reason the book she had been reading just couldn't keep her occupied. Ginny and Harry had spent the entire ride snogging or cuddling, which made both her and Ron very uncomfortable. Ron had "accepted" the relationship, but Hermione noticed when she would look over at him, that he was always staring straight at the new couple red-faced.
To say that the relationship between the Golden Trio wasn't the same lately would have been an understatement. In fact, Harry was solely focused on Ginny lately, mainly due to the fact that there had been no real death eater activity. There had been not one death in the news, which had been calming for the entire summer. Without Harry, Ron and Hermione spent most of their time together. Hermione couldn't count on ten hands how many times she had to tell him to "shut up about Harry and your sister, you bloody psycho". Besides his obsession over his sister's new relationship with his best friend, Ron had actually been very pleasant with Hermione.
She and Ron helped Mrs. Weasley around the house mostly. They also spent time exploring the grounds or playing Chess. Ron even let Hermione pester him into getting a start on schoolwork. But that was only because Hermione had let Ron attempt to teach her to fly. That lesson had crashed down in flames from the moment Hermione had crashed into a tree. She didn't speak to him for two days until he stuck up for her when the twins started making fun of the incident. And that only drew her in even more. Yes, Hermione Granger liked Ronald Weasley. What a surprise, right?
Not only was Hermione in love with the stupid git, she had actually started to sink to Lavender and Parvati's level. At night she would pull out his picture and dream about what it would be like to kiss him or she would wish that it was her and Ron having the perfect summer romance instead of her best friends. Hermione would then feel selfish and ashamed of her thoughts, but her not-so friendly feelings were still there.
If only Ron felt the same way.
"Come on Hermione, I thought you were hungry!" The object of her affections interrupted her thoughts and she ran to catch up. She matched her pace to the tall boy's next to her as they trampled into the Great Hall. Harry and Ginny were quick to sit next to each other leaving Hermione and Ron to sit down opposite to them.
"I wish the sorting could hurry. I'm starved." Harry said pulling Ginny close to him. The younger girl smiled lovingly and brushed her hair behind her ear. 'So cute.' Hermione thought smiling at them.
"Yeah, mate. My stomach's about to rip and I think Hermione's growled awhile back." Hermione chose to ignore him, but a twinge of red had risen on her cheeks.
Not a short while after that, the young first years were brought in and sorted. Hermione joined in with the rest of her house in cheering for the new Gryffindors. Dumbledore stood up and the hall fell silent.
"I want to welcome everyone back for a new year. As you all remember, last year was laden with the loss of a very dear student, Cedric Diggory." Dumbledore's eyes fell on Harry, who had dropped his gaze to his empty plate. Hermione reached over and squeezed his hand tightly. "Last year we also found out that Voldemort has returned so this year we will be very diligent in our studies, especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I urge all of you to work very hard this year in your studies. And in closing I would like all first years to acknowledge that the forest outside the school grounds is forbidden. Now, let's eat."
Hermione dug into her food hungrily and soon she was full. A feeling she was glad to have. A squeal from Ginny caught her attention. Harry was tickling her and Ron had jumped up.
"Hey mate…" Harry stopped with a laugh and shut up on Ron's account. "Sorry Ron."
"You wanna check out that new quidditch shop in Hogsmeade next weekend? We can pick up some new supplies." Harry sighed and shook his head.
"Sorry mate, I'm taking Ginny out on a date. Next trip." Ron glared at Harry and stood up.
"Harry, just cause you're dating my sister doesn't give you the right to abandon me and Hermione. Ginny can handle herself for five minutes by herself!" Harry's face darkened and he jumped.
"I said the next time Ron and it's not my fault you don't have a girlfriend. Besides, if you HAD a problem with it before you should have said something!" Hermione sighed and grabbed a roll while Ginny shook her head and tried to pull Harry down.
"Ron! Harry! This is nonsense, sit down!" Ginny yelled standing up.
"Shut up Ginny!" "Don't you tell her to shut up, she's your bloody sister, you arse!" At that Hermione jumped up and pulled on Ron.
"Alright, that's enough you two. Apologize!" Ron just shook Hermione's arm and command off and climbed out of the bench.
"Shove off, all of you." With that, Ron stalked off.
"Stupid, jealous, arse." Harry mumbled sitting down. Ginny sighed and rubbed his arm. "He'll get over it, love." Harry nodded and the couple looked over at Hermione who was watching Ron's retreating figure. They smiled knowingly.
"Hermione, why don't you go cool him off?" Hermione nodded without acknowledging them and left.
Part 2
Hermione found Ron at the quidditch pitch slumped in the stands. "Ron, why do you have to be such a git?" She softly asked with humor in her voice. Ron, not seeing her light expression, jumped up.
"Come to make fun of me? If so, leave." Quickly, she shook her head and grabbed his arm.
"I'm not going to make fun of you, Ron. You miss your friend. I miss Harry too. This will pass. It's a new relationship and they're in that can't keep your hands and eyes off of each other stage. Soon, they'll realize that they need their friends too." Ron sat down next to her and she shivered. It was quite windy up in the stands and she was beginning to get cold. Doing something, completely un-Ron like, he wrapped his arm around her. Basking in Ron's warmth only lasted for a bit, when Ron jumped up.
"That bloody wanker! Look down there, he brought my little sister out to the quidditch pitch! I'm gonna kill him!" Before he could go, Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Ron! Wait, just let them be! I mean, we could just spend time…alone." Ron didn't even notice what she was saying as he stared down onto the pitch. Feeling hurt, Hermione let go of his arm.
"Ron! Just stop being a jerk! They just want to be happy! If you would stop being obsessed about those two, you could have something for yourself!" He whipped around angrily.
"Oh REALLY, Hermione? Like who? Who would like me?" He said stalking off.
"I do." She whispered.
"What a bloody moron." At the strange voice, Hermione shrieked and turned around.
"Oh my God." And right in front of Hermione was Cedric Diggory.
And she could see straight through the floating boy.