DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 19: Eavesdropping Again

"'Albus Severus,' Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, 'you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.'" - Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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1992

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

When Cedric returned to the common room, he found his cousin and three friends in one corner, heads very close to each other and whispering.

He walked briskly towards them. "Hey, what happened?" he hushed behind Hermione.

They all looked up and moved to give him space. Of course, he sat beside Hermione on the rug.

"Potter asked Hermione if her parents are safe. He was eavesdropping at the headmaster's conversation with Professor Snape," Susan informed him.

"So we went to Professor Sprout to ask about the situation of Hermione's parents," quipped Ian.

"And they are safe, right?" he asked Hermione.

Hermione looked relieved and nodded. "Yeah."

"Good. Professor Snape's right, then," he sighed.

Hermione gave him a questioning look. "Explain."

Cedric turned to her and their friends hesitantly. None of the three other Hufflepuffs were leaving - they all wanted to hear him explain. But he didn't mind. Susan was his cousin and Hermione's best friend. Ian and Terrence were the brothers he never had.

"I kinda heard your conversation with Potter - I will explain later how." Hermione accepted his words because she nodded and gestured for him to go on. "I asked him who the other Dumbledore is, but he thinks the headmaster would not want anyone to know, of course. And he assured me that your parents are safe. They were talking about another event."

"You should've asked him what event that was," commented Ian.

He shook his head. "He sent me out after that... And oh," he turned again to Hermione. "I don't know how, and I swear I wasn't bringing a flask of your potion in my pockets, but he smelt me! He knew that you perfectly brewed..." he leaned to her closer to whisper. "The Polyjuice Potion."

Hermione froze for a moment. "Oh."

He gave her a questioning look.

"Well, he's a potions master, so he must've smelled the scent of the potion in your clothes," she explained. "You stood in front of my cauldron earlier after lunch, remember?"

He sighed unhappily. "He knows you're experimenting. I'm sorry, Hermione. I couldn't lie to him."

Hermione patted his knee. "It's okay. You should not lie to him, anyway. He helps us a lot - he tutors you in Defence."

"Speaking of which," said Terrence, "Ced, teach me the non-verbal spell."

"Hermione, can you help me with the Charms essay?" That was Susan.

Cedric and Hermione exchanged smiles before turning to help their friends.

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July 2020

(the present)

Albus Severus Potter could not believe where he was right now.

Diggory residence: Cedric Diggory was alive. The man was an Unspeakable - the Unspeakable helping him, taking care of him while he could not still go back to his own time.

Family Dinner: Aunt Mione Diggory! Rose and Hugo Diggory - not Granger-Weasley, his mind was screaming.

Last, Severus Snape: The man my father looks up as a hero, he thought rather emotionally, looking at the man beside Hugo (who was direct across him at the dinner table). Was it true, what they told me at Hogwarts? Dad gave me the name 'Severus' because I had green eyes - just like Grandma Lily?

"Excuse me. I'm done eating. I'll be outside for a cigarette."

Albus was pulled from his musings when Severus Snape stood up unhappily and suddenly, glaring at him.

"Severus?" Aunt Hermione sounded dismayed.

"Will not be going home yet, Hermione," the dark man said without looking back.

Al stood up as well. "I'm sorry, I'm done. Excuse me."

He didn't meet anyone's eye contact. He went straight to the kitchen door and searched for the former professor. He found him outside, near the kitchen door, but not smoking. Albus startled when Severus Snape strode towards him, and their faces were suddenly inches away from each other.

"Who are you?" he asked harshly.

"I'm Al," he replied nervously.

"Severus!" came Aunt Hermione's yell.

Severus Snape stood straight and stepped away from him. "Pardon me, Hermione. I did not use Legilimency on him. His thoughts were simply very loud. You wouldn't tell me who he is."

"Because he's involved in Cedric's work," Aunt Hermione said calmly and sounded relieved - maybe because the potions master was no longer near Al.

"A time-traveler, then," he snorted and looked away but only for a few seconds. He turned to her in disbelief. "The time-traveler?"

Albus turned to face Aunt Hermione but she just raised an eyebrow, and then her expression was calm again. "Ask whatever you want to ask, Sev, but please, don't scare him," she said with a plea.

And they were alone again.

"I'm sorry if my thoughts were too loud," he bravely started.

The former professor still would not meet his eyes; would not look at him. "Was it true, then? Harry Potter named you after me?"

"Yes."

He snorted. "James Potter would be rolling in his grave, then."

"Excuse me," he said coolly, feeling annoyed suddenly. "I would appreciate it if you won't talk about my grandfather like that."

The potions master turned to him sarcastically. "Oh, so your father did not tell you what your deceased grandfather did to me?"

Albus frowned. Honestly, his father had too many secrets. He didn't even know that the former potions master and one of his namesakes had a thing for his father's late mother if not for Hogwarts gossips. "He was a great man. He sacrificed for my father."

Severus Snape sneered. "Yes. He was a good father, a good husband. But that doesn't make him a good human being. I hope Cedric finds a way soon to send you home. I do not wish to hear my name associated with a Potter."

And Al was left alone.

Dad, what were you hiding? Why were you hiding from us?

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1992

(Hermione and Cedric's past)

Justin Finch-Fletchley was petrified, along with the Gryffindor ghost, Sir Nicholas. The Fat Friar - Hufflepuff's ghost - refused to leave their house and that didn't help the students because no one wanted to eat at the Great Hall anymore.

"Maybe we can just eat here in the common room?" someone suggested.

Hermione and her friends were sitting on the common room floor. Most Hufflepuffs were around, saddened by what happened to Justin, and brainstorming what to do to avoid danger.

"They say, Potter is the Heir of Slytherin. After what happened at the Dueling Club," Ernie said.

"But he's a Gryffindor, and he's a half-blood," said Neville.

"Yeah, right," agreed Hannah.

"They're just rumors," a fifth-year said. "Just because the Gryffindor ghost pressured Potter to attend a Deathday Party doesn't mean he would attack him. That's absurd."

"Yeah. And Justin's a nice boy. Potter does not have a reason to be mad at him," another Hufflepuff said.

"Maybe he got pissed when Justin would ask about his Muggle life?" suggested Ernie.

"Anyway," said a seventh-year prefect. "Professor Sprout agrees that we eat meals here. But how about other stuff? Classes? Going to the library? We should always go in groups."

Cedric groaned. "I don't like this."

"Who does?" came Terrence's disappointed tone.

"I can't let a day pass by without going to the library!" she complained to her friends.

"Me too!" Susan sounded very frustrated. "Hermione, let's go and borrow loads of books! Cedric will escort us!"

"Right now?" she asked her friend.

Susan stood up and pulled Cedric's arm. "Come on, Ced. Please?"

Cedric rolled his eyes at his cousin but stood up. "Fine."

"Hang on! Don't leave us here," said Ian. "We want library books, too!"

"Yeah. The more, the merrier," quipped Terrence.

Hermione turned to the two fourth-years. "Since when do you borrow library books?" she asked sternly.

"Since now. We can't brew potions, so you are going to teach me potions by the book," grinned Terrence.

Cedric chuckled when Hermione made a face. He pulled her to his other side (Susan was on his right) and placed an arm around her shoulders.

The five of them walked together to the library. Hermione had been thinking about something, and when she knew no one was around, she decided to tell them what was bothering her.

"Hey," she stopped near a tapestry.

The four stopped. "What's wrong?" asked Susan.

"First of all, I don't believe that Harry Potter's the Heir, all right?" she whispered.

All of her friends' eyes and ears were on her.

"Justin is a nice boy, so I need someone else's perspective here... When I asked Harry if I was the only person who asks about his Muggle life... he said something. He said, a lot of people ask, including Justin but I'm the only one who cared. And I could not erase in my mind the bitterness in his tone when he said Justin's name."

"Hermione, you said it yourself, Potter's not the Heir of Slytherin," said Terrence.

"Weren't you listening?" Susan slapped Terrence.

"My point is... Is it just Potter and his bitterness? Or maybe Justin really annoyed him, Heir of Slytherin or not?"

"Maybe he just misinterpreted Justin's talkative nature," said Susan. "Justin is friendly, but maybe people from other houses don't quite understand him."

"Yeah, I agree with Susan," said Cedric.

"And maybe he didn't mind you asking about it because he's got a crush on you," said Ian casually.

Hermione sighed in relief, not minding what Ian said. "Yeah. Maybe they just misunderstood some Hufflepuffs like Justin. Anyway, thanks, you lot."

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"Potter, Potter?"

All heads turned to Malfoy, walking towards Potter outside the Potions classroom.

"Is that true? Finch-Fletchley annoyed you about your Muggle life and you petrified him?"

Hermione's eyes widened and she turned to Susan. She had the same reaction. "How did he..."

Malfoy must have seen her face. He walked towards her, narrowing his grey eyes - not like Ced's warm ones. "Next time Granger, make sure no one's behind a tapestry before you tell a secret to your friends," he whispered to her with a grin and turned to Harry Potter to taunt him some more.

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"What are you doing here?" Ronald Weasley drew his wand when he saw her outside the Gryffindor common room.

"Put your wand away, Weasley," said Cedric beside her. "She's here to talk to Potter."

Another Weasley came into the view, the girl, this time - Ginny. She stood beside her brother, Ronald, and glared at Hermione.

"Why do you always look at me like that?" she asked her with confusion.

"Because you're a traitor!" accused Ronald Weasley.

"Excuse me?" she asked incredulously.

"Ron." Harry Potter placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'll speak to her. I'm okay."

"Harry!" protested Weasley.

Ginny Weasley strode forward to face Hermione. "Leave him alone," she told her sternly, chocolate brown eyes glaring daggers at her.

"Ginny, that's not necessary. We'll just talk," said Harry.

The youngest Weasley listened and walked back to her brother's side.

"Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my friends," Harry told her.

"Harry, I'm sorry. It was Malfoy. I didn't know he was behind a tapestry," she said with urgency. Ced placed a comforting hand on her back.

Harry Potter nodded. "Malfoy. Yeah. Okay."

"Harry, I'm so sorry," she says sincerely.

Harry nodded and left without a word. "He forgives me, right?" she asked Ced, worried.

Ced looked down on her and smiled. "Anyone could forgive you for that, Hermione. Harry knows it's not your fault."

"Geez. Thanks."

Cedric wrapped an arm around her shoulders protectively. And as expected, Hermione felt safe. Like always.