DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 15: Jealous, too?

"It was as though something large and scaly erupted into life in Harry's stomach, clawing at his insides: hot blood seemed to flood his brain, so that all thought was extinguished, replaced by a savage urge to jinx Dean into a jelly." -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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"Hey, Ced, can you pass me the pumpkin juice?"

Cedric turned to her with a shocked expression. Ian winked at his mate when Cedric turned to his two best friends. It had been more than twenty-four hours since Ian 'confronted' her at the library.

She thought about it last night and all day. Sooner or later, Cedric would ask someone he fancies on a date to Hogsmeade, and as a good friend, she would have to listen to him talk about other girls.

"Your wish is my command," he said playfully and filled her goblet with pumpkin juice, then rested a hand on her back, gently playing with her plait while he continued talking to Ian and Terrence, and she started eating.

"All Lockhart did was brag about his achievements," groaned Terrence.

"Oh, so you had your D.A.D.A. already?" she asked the three fourth-years.

"Yeah," replied Terrence unhappily.

"We'll have it tomorrow. So, what happened?" she asked them.

"It's just that, we feel like we won't learn anything again this year. We'll be O.W.L. students next year. We are not making any progress with D.A.D.A," replied Cedric.

"No study group for D.A.D.A., right?" she asked.

"There is, but it's just theories, no actual practice," said Ian.

"Guess we have to do things on our own," said Cedric.

"How about we ask Professor Snape?" she suggested.

The three fourth-years turned to her as if she were a ghost. "Are you mad? That's Snape!" Ian reminded her.

"Yes, but he wanted the D.A.D.A. position, so he might be skilled."

"But Hermione, he is Snape," Terrence reminded her as if she didn't know what she was saying.

"And I thought you are all Hufflepuffs," she told the three of them. "Hufflepuffs are supposed to be fair and just and see the goodness in people."

"When it comes to Professor Snape, I'm not that kind of Hufflepuff," Ian told her.

Terrence shook his head. "Maybe it's just you, Hermione."

Cedric was silent. He stopped playing with her hair and patted her back before drawing his hand away. But Hermione caught his arm with her two little hands. "Ced please..." she pleaded, tightening her hold to him. "Please, let's ask Professor Snape to teach us. Just give it a try."

Ced turned to her with a look of surrender. "Okay, let's try."

"Oh! Thank you, Ced!" she squealed uncharacteristically and even rested her head lightly on his shoulder like what she would do when her Dad gave her something she really wanted. She was greeted by a scent of something masculine with a hint of apples and lemon. Susan, who was speaking with Hannah and Neville, turned to her and frowned slightly, causing her to release Cedric.

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"I think you should ask Professor Snape alone," suggested Ian when they were in the dormitory that night.

"Hermione said we'll ask him together," he replied from his bed.

"Mate, he might make Hermione cry. He's an unpleasant man," reasoned Ian. "At least he tolerates you, maybe because your mum was kind to him at school before."

Cedric remembered his parents telling a story. His mother was a fifth-year Prefect when Professor Snape was a second-year student. She used to look after him even though they were from different houses. She would defend them from his tormentors - she didn't tell him who.

"We don't know how he would react towards Hermione. Yeah, he hasn't shown hostility towards her directly, but we never know," said Terrence.

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Professor Snape did not sneer, surprisingly. He just looked down at him (Cedric was standing, but the professor was very tall, taller than Cedric) with a blank expression.

"I must have misheard you, Mr. Diggory," he said nonchalantly.

Cedric gulped and looked on the desk between them. "We want to be prepared for our O.W.L.s, Professor. Someone said you are capable of teaching us the Dark Arts - "

"Because I'm a Slytherin? And there are rumors about me being in the social circle of the fallen Dark Lord?"

"Because you were a double agent," he replied courageously, meeting his obsidian eyes.

Professor Snape's eyes narrowed. "Is this some assumption you made up in your sett?"

He frowned for a moment at the word the professor used, then he remembered that the place where badgers live was called a sett. He shook his head to reply. "It was Hermione's guess, professor."

"Hermione Granger," he enunciated the name. There was no bitterness or disdain.

He nodded. "Everyone knows you were a spy... Professor Dumbledore told everyone during your -" He stopped dead.

"You can say it, Mr. Diggory. Trial."

"Trial," he repeated.

The professor inhaled sharply. "Miss Granger wouldn't have to worry about her O.W.L.s yet."

He frowned subconsciously.

Professor Snape quirked up an eyebrow. "Well, is it not Miss Granger who suggested that you come to me and seek help?"

"She did that, Professor," he admitted shyly.

"I will tutor you, but only you. Pass the knowledge to your friends. We'll start this week, every Saturday, an hour before dinner."

Cedric was in shock - very shocked! He couldn't find the words to say, so Professor Snape left with the billowing of his robes and he was still standing frozen in front of the desk.

Two hours later, Cedric was excited to tell Hermione the good news. He and his friends quickly went to the courtyard where he was sure Hermione would pass by from her Herbology class in one of the greenhouses.

But on his way to the entrance hall, he saw Hermione and to his surprise, he wasn't with Susan or any Hufflepuff.

He was with the Weasley Twins. Cedric, Ian, and Terrence strode quickly to see what was going on, but they stopped when they heard Hermione's words and Terrence grabbed him to hide in an alcove.

"I do not have a crush on Professor Lockhart!" she almost yelled. "Just because I perfected his quiz - which was all about what he's written in his books - doesn't mean I'm his fan or something!"

"Oh, yeah. That's good," said one of the twins. "We'll be sure to tell Ickle Ronniekins about it."

"And Harry, too."

"What has Potter got something to do with this? He didn't tease me. He doesn't tease me as your little brother does."

"Oh, nothing. Harry's just a nice boy, you know... He also grew up in the muggle world, so maybe you could -"

"Hang out and talk about your similarities."

"You should hang out with boys your age, Granger."

One of the twins handed Hermione something. "Here. Chocolate Frogs. Harry likes them."

"You might like them, too, instead of Sugar Quills."

"Yeah. Bye, Granger."

"We'll send your regards to Harry."

The Weasley twins left and fortunately, turned the other side of the corridor. Cedric turned to his friends, giving them a questioning look.

"You know, mate, if you don't ask Hermione out like next year, Potter will," said Ian.

"Through the Weasley twins," added Terrence.

"She's too young," he said.

Ian shrugged. "Fine. Maybe she should be with guys her age. Like Potter." Then he stepped forward, revealing himself to Hermione. "Hey, little bookworm!"

"Hey, midget!" Terrence went after. "Ced's got some good news!"

Cedric composed himself and stepped out of the alcove and flashed a smile towards Hermione.

He didn't know if it was his imagination, but Hermione's eyes brightened upon seeing him. "Hey!"

Brushing off the thought about Potter and what the Weasley twins said, he reached out and patted her head. "Professor Snape agreed," he said, looking into her brown eyes.

"Really?"

And Hermione's eyes smiled. Yes, smiled, just like his mother. Cedric only knew two people who could smile with their eyes and they were both special to him.

The next thing he knew, Hermione's small arms were hugging him by the waist. He smiled contentedly and rested his chin lightly on her head. "Thank you for trying!"

He sighed. "Anything for you."

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It was another beautiful Saturday; Hermione and Cedric's birthday. Their housemates greeted them at the Hufflepuff table and their friends pulled them by the lake for a picnic.

Hermione gave Cedric new polish for his wand which she bought in summer during one of her trips in Diagon Alley. She was really reserving it for his birthday. She noticed that Cedric's wand was always shiny and polished. He treated it nicely.

In return, Cedric gave her a box of bookmarks with different designs - Muggle designs! There were a 'Starry Starry Night' bookmark and one with Shakespearean quotes.

"So apparently, for Hermione Granger, one bookmark isn't enough!" teased Ian who handed her a box of Sugar Quills. "Here. Better than escaping frogs."

Hermione grinned. "Thanks! But you didn't have to."

"Don't mention it. As long as we get to call you 'midget'."

"Prat!" She gave him a playful slap.

Susan gave her new hairclips and Terrence got her a new feather quill.

The boys played Exploding Snap while Susan and Hermione soaked their feet in the lake and ate some of the cakes the boys brought from the kitchen.

"I've been here for two years now but I don't know any kitchen staff," she said.

"Oh, they are shy. They think they are being good by hiding themselves," Susan replied.

"I would like to meet them sometime. Perhaps we can sneak into the kitchens."

"Yeah, why not?"

"Hey, Hermione! Sue!" Cedric called.

She turned around and saw the boys gathering their things.

"Let's go back to the castle. It's going to rain!" he said loudly.

Hermione and Susan looked up at the sky. It was getting dark and it looked like it was going to rain cats and dogs. She and her friend ran towards the boys and they all walked back to the castle.

When they reached the main entrance, Neville and Hannah approached them. "Hey, Hermione!" Neville sounded and looked anxious.

"Neville, what happened?" she asked, worried. She felt Cedric's arm around her shoulders for support.

"It's all right, Nev. It's not Hermione's fault," comforted Hannah who placed a hand on the boys' shoulder.

"Harry Potter's got detention..."

"Newsflash," commented Ian.

"Because he hexed Malfoy..."

"All right. In for some action," whispered Terrence.

"For calling you a nasty name."

"Mudblood. Excuse me for the term," informed Hannah, giving her a sympathetic look. "That's what Malfoy called you. The Weasleys - the twins and Ronald - and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team were talking about it."

"Why would Malfoy mention Hermione in his argument with Potter?" asked Ced.

"Yeah. Why?" she asked.

"Apparently, Malfoy noticed the way Potter looks at you," replied Hannah.

"Oh, he's got a crush on you!" squealed Susan.

Hermione felt Cedric tense beside her, but thankfully, he did not pull away from her.