The Ghost of Cedric Diggory
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 2 - Figment of Imagination
"Oh my, Cedric?" She stepped forward as if trying to get a closer look. The ghost just stood there staring at her and Hermione shuffled nervously. He was wearing the same outfit he had died in. His yellow shirt was dark with blotches of dirt and blood, as he had been when they were pulling Harry away from his body. She shivered. She pulled her robes tightly around her as questions started to fill her mind.
"What, why, I mean…you died!" At her sudden outburst she held a hand up to her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry Cedric." The ghost finally turned to her and smiled.
"I know I died. Hermione, that's your name right? I'm a ghost! Have been all summer."
"And you haven't spoken to anyone? Does anyone else know you're a ghost?" He shrugged at her question.
"Don't think so. You're the first person I've talked to. I kind of just woke up and everything was white and then when it cleared I was floating in the middle of the quidditch pitch. No one was around."
"It's probably because we had all left for summer break. Oh Cedric! I'm so sorry! You must be so upset." He shrugged again and started to float around her.
"Not really. I mean, sure, I had a great life and it was taken all too soon, but I don't know…being a ghost is very different. I wanted to go up to the castle, but I figured it would be kinda weird, you know? Everyone will stare and make a big ordeal about it."
"Oh, but you can't be here all by yourself! Cedric, come up to the castle with me. Everyone would love to see you and it would be good for you, you know?" She didn't know this boy before he died, but for some reason now she really wanted him to come with her. 'Harry's gonna be so upset.' As if reading her mind, Cedric asked about Harry.
"Harry, how is he?"
"Oh, he's okay…it was tough for him. When he landed with your body under him, he was hysterical over you. No one really knows the full extent of what happened. Every time we ask, he gets very sad and blows it off. Now he's with Ginny Weasley. So I think he's doing okay."
"How's Cho? And my parents? I haven't even thought about all of this. What's Voldemort been doing?" Hermione tried to the best of her abilities answer him without upsetting him. She decided not to tell him about Cho's new boyfriend or how his parents had been very recluse from the ministry since his death. She did, however, tell him all about Voldemort and the lack of activity lately.
"How was my funeral?" Hermione suddenly felt very uncomfortable at the question and shifted.
"Um…it was nice. I cried for most of it. So, I couldn't really say." He nodded and started floating away. Hermione ran after him quickly. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"Somewhere. Don't worry, I'll be around." With that, Cedric floated off and Hermione was left standing there feeling shell-shocked. Had that really just happened? Should she tell Harry? He would be so upset to know Cedric had not passed peacefully, but instead he was haunting the quidditch pitch outside Hogwarts. "Best not to tell Harry then."
Part 2
Hermione reached the Common Room after roaming the halls with her Prefect Badge shining brightly. Neither Ron, Harry, nor Ginny were there so she decided to accompany Neville by the fire.
"Hey Hermione, how have you been?" She smiled at the kind boy and shook her head.
"I've been better. Got into a row with Ron. Again." Neville nodded already knowing that. Ron had stomped in red-faced muttering about losing his friends and being a loser before slamming up the stairs to their room.
"I just don't get boys! You know? They can be so stupid. No offense, but honestly! Is there a secret? Cause I am certainly not seeing it. I need to talk to Ginny about this. Sorry about hammering on, Nev. It's just…Ahh!" Neville laughed at the normally very kempt girl who was currently having a fit. "And then the strangest thing happened on the pitch…"
"Like what, 'Mione?" She glared at Ron's nickname for her and puzzled her eyebrows.
"Well, Neville, I dunno know if I should tell you. Okay, no need to push! But you can't tell Harry, or Ron, or Ginny, or anybody! It's just between us, kay?" He nodded, too intrigued to disagree.
"Well, after the fight, Ron stomped off and guess who I saw?" He shook his head for her to continue.
"Cedric Diggory." Neville's mouth opened to form an 'O' before shaking his head.
"Hermione, that's impossible. He's dead."
"No, Nev, he's a ghost! A ghost! The poor guy has been here alone all summer and he won't come up to the castle. But don't tell Harry. He would be crushed with guilt to know Cedric was here as a ghost." With that she stood up.
"Neville, I'm counting on you. Don't say a word." He nodded and smiled and waved goodnight.
"Alright, see you tomorrow. Night, Nev." He waved her off and stared into the fire. 'I can't believe Cedric is a ghost. Hermione must be crazy.'
The next afternoon, Hermione made her way out to the pitch. There were some students milling around on their brooms or doing their homework in the stands. It was a beautiful day outside; one of those no clouds in the sky, windy days and most of the kids were taking advantage of it.
Nervously, she scanned the crowd searching for him. Currently, she was standing at the same spot she had seen him, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Cedric?" She called, trying not to draw attention to herself. "Hey, Hermione!" Harry. He lay on his broom five feet above her with a smile. "How's my best friend?" She laughed.
"Hey Harry." He landed and sat next to her.
"Whatcha doin' up here? You looked lost." She smiled and shrugged.
"Just walking around. It's such a pretty day out here I thought I would do some homework in the sun." He nodded with a confused face.
"So where is your homework?" She jumped up with a nervous laugh and patted him on the back.
"Right! Forgot! I guess I had better go…get that." With that, she ran off with a 'See ya Harry!' and left.
For the rest of the afternoon she worked on her homework, but kept her mind on Cedric. Where had he been?
Over the next few days Hermione would venture out to the pitch in search of Cedric, but she had yet to see him. By the end of the week she was giving up and had started to believe that he had only been a pigment of her imagination. In fact, she had spent most of the week alone. Ron had barely been around, probably still in a sour mood, but she knew he would eventually get over it. Speaking of Ron, he had just rounded the corner on the way out of Potions. He spotted her and walked over.
"Hey." She smiled and gave him a polite 'hello'. The moment he had stepped near her, butterflies had rippled through her stomach.
"Listen, I'm sorry I snapped at you the other day. I guess…I miss you. Ya know?" She smiled and nodded and grabbed his arm.
"Me too Ron. Now come on, let's go get some dinner."
Part 3
The next day was Hogsmeade and Hermione had promised Ron they would spend the day together. Not that she had a problem with it. So they walked with Harry and Ginny down to the village and parted ways shortly after.
"How about we go get some sweets and then check out the new quidditch shop?" She nodded and followed him into the sweets shop. Of coarse Ron bought as much as he could afford, but she opted for one chocolate frog and stuffed it in her bag. She stared out of the candy shop waiting for Ron and caught sight of Harry and Ginny across the street. With a sigh she fell into a daydream. 'Stupid girlish ways.' To her surprise though, Ron's warm, masculine hand grabbed hers and pulled her with him.
"Ready?" She blushed and nodded. He didn't drop it for a few seconds. Hermione had most definitely noticed that.
At the end of the day most of the students were making their way back up to the school. Ron and Hermione had eaten lunch a while back and were now just walking around joking with each other. Making their way back up the path, they caught sight of Ginny kissing Harry's neck next to a tree. Ron's face went red and Hermione grabbed his arm.
"Not now. Please." He ignored her of course. "Hermione, not now."
And Hermione did the only thing she knew to do. Which turned out to be a very bad thing. She pushed him against a tree of their own and grabbed his face with both of her hands. "Ron, shut up." And she kissed him. It was short. But for her it felt like a millennia. But Ron pushed her back and the look on his face was not what she wanted to see.
"Oy, Hermione! What are you getting at? Can't have Harry so now you want me?" She stepped back in disbelief.
"Agh! You are such a bloody moron!" She shoved him backwards and ran off.
She ran all the way to the pitch, knowing she could have peace there. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. She had just thrust her heart out to the boy she liked and he stomped on it. "What an arse." She muttered thumping down to sit on the ground.
"Let me guess…Weasley." She jumped up and there he stood. Floating and everything.
"Cedric!"
A/N: Well, I added another chapter for your benefit. Review if I should continue! Chapter 3 is already in works and it will be out soon. Expect more people to find out about Cedric and Cedric will help Hermione confront Ron. Lots of Cedric/Hermione bonding in the next chapter. Friendship ensues!