A/n: Wow, so sorry for the wait. I am swamped in schoolwork. Being a high school sophomore is really un-fun. Anywho, thank you sooooo much for all the lovely reviews. I promise to try to update as often as possible.
Disclaimer: I own nada.
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Chapter Two - Magnetism
Cedric was contemplating the books in front of him on the table. It was quite a stack but one more certainly wouldn't hurt. Selecting a large leather bound volume entitled Secrets and Dangers of the Tri-wizard Tournament. Satisfied, he lifted the stack into his arms and began making his way blindly towards the exit. Little did he know, a small bushy-haired girl was headed right towards him with an even larger stack of books obscuring her view.
Madame Pince, however, spied the potential collision and cried out in fear for her precious books. "Mr. Diggory!"
But Cedric was too absorbed in his own thoughts and didn't hear her warnings. He rounded a corner and rammed into something very solid and very human. Next thing he knew he was on the floor with two extremely large, heavy books on his chest. The rest were spread out around him in varying disarray. Just then he noticed that he was not alone on the floor. Resurfacing from behind a pile of books he saw Hermione, looking a little worse for wear. She had the large words "-OGWARTS A HISTO-" imprinted on the side of her check, as if the offending book had nailed her in the face.
Cedric chuckled, then offered his hand. "I believe it's called magnetism, Granger."
Hermione looked at him quizzically. Before Cedric could explain, Madame Pince was upon them.
"Look what you've done to my books, you idiot boy!" She shrieked at him as she bent to retrieve torn pages and fragments now strewn across the floor. "Get out! Both of you!"
"I'm sorr-" Cedric began to apologize, but was interrupted when Hermione, grabbing his arm, wrenched him forcefully from the library. Once safely out of earshot of the furious librarian, she turned to face him.
"Trust me," she muttered under her breath. "An apology wouldn't have made the slightest difference."
"Right." Cedric glanced around awkwardly, searching for a topic. Abruptly, he became quite aware of something, a warm liquid, slowly dripping down his face. Reaching up, he felt a gash the size of golf ball on his forehead.
"Bloody hell!" Hermione jumped back in surprise. "You're bleeding quite badly."
Cedric forced a grin. "Nonsense. I'm perfectly fi.n..e…" All of a sudden he was hit with a nauseating wave of dizziness. The next thing he knew he was on the floor with Hermione peering cautiously down at him.
"Come on." She lifted him up and placed his arm gingerly around her shoulders. "It's off to the hospital wing with you."
As they walked, Cedric found his attention begin to waver. The shapes of portraits and doorways began to blur into one big fuzzy mess. Hermione's arm felt warm and welcoming around his waist, supporting him. He couldn't think straight. He found himself wanting to say things to Hermione that he'd never said to anyone before. He opened his mouth to speak, then shut it at the sight of the hospital wing doors.
"Hermione, wait," Cedric stopped, pulling him around to face him. "I, uh, well…thank you."
Hermione smiled. "Think of it as payback for the other night."
Cedric didn't reply. He was staring at her dreamily, as though in a trance. Before Hermione could register what was happening, he was leaning in towards her. She could feel his hot breath against her check as his lips brushed against her skin.
"You're a real pal," he said, grinning at her stupidly. Then, without so much as a backward glance, he hobbled happily into the infirmary.
Hermione turned down the hallway, completely speechless. She could feel her check burning hot where his lips had touched. She shook her head to clear her mind. 'He must have lost a lot more blood than I thought,' she mused to herself.
A/n: I promise the next chapter will come sooooon. Like, less than a week. Please review.