DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
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Chapter 26: Firsts
"'How does it work?" said Harry nervously.
'Well, when it works correctly, it conjures up a Patronus,' said Lupin, 'which is a kind of Anti-Dementor - a guardian which acts as a shield between you and the Dementor.'"
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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1993
(Cedric and Hermione's past)
Hermione petted Crookshanks while sitting on the Quidditch stands and reading a book. Susan and Terrence were a few steps above her, playing wizard's chess, while Cedric and Ian were still on the Quidditch pitch. The two boys went for tryouts - Cedric as a Seeker, and Ian as a Chaser. They already made it to the team, but there was a meeting.
Hermione was binge reading her favourite book, Hogwarts: A History, to see if there was ever a way for Sirius Black to enter the Hogwarts castle. She really hated to see Dementors instead of a clear, blue sky.
She was still reading when she heard a broom zooming towards her and she practically jumped off her seat, thinking that it would hit her.
Then, she saw a laughing Cedric Diggory, still on his new and shiny Nimbus broom- in front of her. "Oh, Merlin, Ced!" she said in relief and placed a hand on her chest. "I thought your broom was going to hit me!"
Ced laughed and got off his broom to sit beside her and placed a hand on her upper back. "Sorry, little pod. You're too engrossed in your book. You didn't hear me calling you."
Crookshanks made an annoying noise and glared at her.
"See? Crookshanks agrees."
"Sorry," she told both her pet and best friend. Suitor, her mind said, but she brushed it off.
"It's all right."
"So, how's the meeting?" she asked.
Cedric grinned, his grey eyes were fixed on hers, and his hand was still on her back. "Say hi to the newest Quidditch captain."
Hermione stared at him in awe. "That's brilliant, Ced. You're brilliant!" she exclaimed and before she could think, she threw her arms around him for a hug.
She smelled apples, cinnamon, and sandalwood.
He smelt like home.
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It was Halloween and the first Hogsmeade trip. Hermione nervously put on clothes - the ones Susan picked for her last night upon remembering she was going out with Cedric. Normally, she would protest when her best friend would meddle with her when it comes to girl stuff (except braiding her hair), but last night, she didn't.
Cedric was one of the best-looking guys in school and he would be seen with her. She didn't want to give people more reasons to insult her. She was aware that some Gryffindors and Ravenclaws refer to her as 'the bushy-haired girl with large front teeth', or 'the beaver-like Hufflepuff'. And of course, the Slytherins called her a nasty name - Mudblood.
Her mother used to tell her that dressing up adds confidence to people, so she would dress up. She ditched her usual trousers in the closet and put on a knee-length mustard corduroy skirt and white jumper with black stripes just across the chest. Susan also suggested she wear a beanie, for the weather, of course. Then finally, she put on her socks and brown ankle boots.
"You look like a proper lady!" Hannah winked.
She laughed at that. "Are you going with Neville?"
She faked a bored tone. "Who else?" She turned to Susan. "How about you, Sue?"
Her best friend shrugged. "Just with Ian. As friends, of course! Nothing more."
"Join us for lunch," she told Susan.
Sue shook her head. "Nah. I'll be fine. Just enjoy your date with my cousin. I can't wait for us to be a proper family." She was laughing.
"Oh, Hermione's blushing!" teased Hannah.
Hermione grabbed a pillow from her bed and threw it on Susan. "I hate you!"
"Oh, you love me! I'm your best girl-friend. Who else would you have?"
"Hannah," she replied confidently.
"Stop teasing each other. It's time to go down. Who knows what's Mr. Filch's mood today. Get your permission slips," Hannah told them.
"Yes, mother," Hermione and Susan said together, leaving their dormitory.
When they went down to the common room, Hannah was already at the door with Neville, and Cedric and Ian were chatting by the fireplace.
Hermione stopped when she saw him. He was wearing a black newsboy cap, a white oxford over his brown jumper, and a pair of denim trousers.
She sighed and straightened her skirt. "Not bad for Ced," she whispered to herself.
"You're fine," Susan whispered to her in assurance, squeezing her hand before calling Ian's name.
Cedric turned his head in her direction and smiled when he saw her.
"Ced, you take care of my best friend!" Susan told her cousin.
"We'll go ahead!" Ian called out and left with Susan.
Hermione went down the stairs and stopped a few feet away from Ced. Nothing should change, she told herself. You're still friends.
"Hi. You look beautiful," Ced told her, not taking his eyes off her.
She blushed and nodded. "Thanks. You... look handsome, too."
Ced held out his hand. "I guess holding hands is okay?" He was clearly asking for permission. Hermione felt quite happy about that.
She nodded once more and took his hand. They walked holding each other's hand.
When they arrived outside the castle, Mr. Filch was asking everyone for their permission slips grumpily.
"Hey, Potter!" called Draco Malfoy, who, to Hermione's disappointment, was wearing the exact same newsboy cap as Ced's.
Harry Potter was saying goodbye to Ronald Weasley and the twins.
"Can't go to Hogsmeade 'cause you blew up your aunt this summer?" Malfoy said loudly.
"None of your business, Malfoy," Weasley spat.
"Well, just give the weasel some galleons to buy treats for you. Put your money to good use," the Slytherin prat continued.
"And it's not safe for you, Potter," said a Slytherin girl Hermione recognized as Pansy Parkinson. She heard some Gryffindors call her 'Pug-faced Parkinson'. "There are Dementors in the village, you know. Awwooo!"
"Hey, that's enough!" Cedric said sternly. Malfoy looked taken aback and then stared at Cedric's Prefect badge. The Slytherin didn't say anything. He just sneered and left.
"Come on, Mione, let's find a carriage," he pulled her gently by the hand.
When Hermione turned her eyes on the way, she saw the sadness in Harry Potter's face once again.
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Hogsmeade was beautiful - if you ignore the Dementors looming around. Hermione was amazed by the architecture of the shops in Diagon Alley, but this village she was visiting was gorgeous! It was like traveling back in time- during the period of her grandparents. Everything looked old, except for the witches and wizards' clothes.
Ced brought her first to The Three Broomsticks for breakfast. She missed the breakfast at Hogwarts because it was a Sunday - she woke up late because she slept late, studying, last night.
The middle-aged witch at the counter greeted Cedric happily and gave her a small smile.
"Well, well, well... Look who's the newest Hufflepuff Prefect!" the witch said jovially.
"That's Madam Rosmerta," he told her as they occupied a table by the window.
"She looks friendly," she commented.
"Hufflepuff," Ced grinned.
They sat across from each other, but since the table was small and just right for two, their hands that were on the table were touching.
"What's your order, dears?" Madam Rosmerta asked them when she approached with the menu.
Ced gave her an encouraging look.
Hermione quickly checked the menu. "Pumpkin pasty and tea, please."
"I'll have a French toast and Butterbeer." When Madam Rosmerta left, Ced turned to her. "Don't you want to try Butterbeer?"
"I haven't had any breakfast yet. Future healer, health-conscious," she grinned.
They ate breakfast while Ced told her about some shops in the village. She had read about them already, but of course, it was different hearing Ced's experiences with the boys. After eating, Ced walked her to the bookshop: Tomes and Scrolls.
And that was when she saw the book: Discover the Animal In You by Flavius Belby. The cover was beautiful - it had a picture of a silver dolphin over a frozen lake.
Hermione reached for the book and scanned it. "Brilliant," she gasped when she saw moving pictures of Patronuses inside.
"That's a nice book."
She looked up and Ced was giving her an appraising look. "The Dementors in the village are kinda scary, don't you think?" she chuckled.
"They are worse," murmured Ced unhappily. "If you weren't here with me, perhaps I would feel what Dad felt before when he had to go to Azkaban for work."
She frowned slightly. "What?"
"He felt like he was never going to be happy again."
"Oh, that's too bad. I don't want to feel that way, ever."
"Dad said, he kept on reliving the memory of my grandfather's death. Over and over, when there was a Dementor around."
Hermione shook her head. "This is bad. Did I tell you that we had a lesson on Boggarts? Professor Lupin made us defeat it, but I never got my chance... Anyway, Harry Potter's boggart was a Dementor. I knew it wasn't real, but it still scared me..." She sighed, remembering that day in D.A.D.A. Then, she turned to Ced again. "I don't know what my Boggart is, but... teach me the Patronus charm, will you?" she asked him quietly.
Ced gave her a small smile and a squeeze on the shoulder. "Sure. You can ask me anything, anytime."
Hermione's heart leaped. Perhaps, Ced saw the look in her eyes... He gently pulled her close, as if asking for permission to hug her. She moved closer and wrapped an arm around his torso. When they gave each other a side hug, she felt him kiss the crown of her head and inhaled her hair.
She thanked Merlin for Susan's sunflower anti-frizz serum.
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"Hey! How was your date with my cousin?"
It was the first thing Hermione heard when she entered the third-year female dormitory. Susan and Hannah were on their respective beds, already doing homework.
She opened her package to check the books she bought. Poor Ced had to carry all of them. She bought him sweets and Butterbeer before going back to the castle to make it up to him.
"Good," she replied shortly before flopping on her bed with her book on Patronus Charms. "He's a gentleman, as always." She glanced at the two girls and smiled.
"How was your day with Neville?" she asked Hannah after a couple of minutes.
"Hmm? It was fine," replied Hannah without looking up from her homework. "A dime a dozen."
"But you're dating, right?" Susan sounded confused.
"Yeah," replied Hannah. "But we've been best friends for like, two years, and we're comfortable around each other, so the boyfriend and girlfriend labels don't matter to us."
Hermione grinned at that and nodded in approval. Susan saw her and gave her an inquiring look. "You too?"
"We're not yet a couple, because we want to take things slowly... but maybe when we finally decide, it'll be like Neville and Hannah's relationship."
Susan pouted. "Shall I find myself a new best friend, too?" Then, they all laughed. "Anyway, Ced is pushing me to get a boyfriend."
Hermione chuckled. "Oh, no. He's just saying that, but he doesn't mean it. I doubt he would be happy to see you holding hands with a boy. He's very protective of you."
Susan laughed and rolled her eyes. "He annoys me."
"But you annoy each other. That's how you show your familial love," she grinned.
"How come you always have an answer to everything?" Her friend looked and sounded amused.
"She's Hermione Granger. She knows everything," commented Hannah shortly with a wink.
Two hours later, they all went to the Great Hall for the Halloween Feast. The boys didn't meet them in the common room this time; they were somewhere else and Hermione and Susan didn't mind. One thing she appreciated about their friendship, even though they were very close, they were not clingy. They give each other time to be alone (except last year when danger was lurking inside the castle).
"So, midget, it's Halloween," Ian said in greeting when she sat beside Ced at the Hufflepuff table.
She frowned at his friend.
"You said something always happens to Potter during All Hallows' Eve," he replied.
"Oh. But it's obvious this time," she replied casually. "A mass murderer is at large, after him."
"And oh, by the way, have you seen Crookshanks today?" asked Terrence.
She frowned. "No. Why?" When Hermione woke up that day, Crookshanks was gone - perhaps to hunt for food or just simply walk around the castle.
Ian and Terrence exchanged forlorn looks.
"What happened to Crookshanks?" Cedric asked in a worried tone, placing a comforting hand on her back.
"We saw Weasley earlier, accusing your feline of going after his pet rat," Terrence informed her.
"And it looks like it because Crookshanks attacked Ronald Weasleys' robe pocket where his pet was hiding," quipped Ian.
"Well, Crookshanks is doing what other cats do," she said, feeling a little downcast.
"Yes, that's right," agreed Ced. "As long as he doesn't hurt or hex Crookshanks... I will talk to the Head Boy."
"Percy? What if he doesn't listen to you?" asked Susan on Hermione's other side.
Hermione looked up at Ced, waiting for his answer.
Ced's hand on her back traveled to her shoulder and pulled her close to him. "Then, there's Penny. She's Percy's girlfriend, you know," he grinned.
Hermione smiled and rested her head contentedly on Ced's shoulder. She reached for his free hand and squeezed it. "Thanks."
After the feast, they all went down to the basement. Hermione and Susan returned to their dormitory with Hannah and retired for the day. Hermione opened the book on Patronus Charms for a bit of light reading, and she didn't even remember falling asleep, until Patricia, the female fifth-year Prefect, woke them up.
"There's an emergency. Wake up!"
Hermione rose from the bed with urgency, ignoring the temporary dizziness she felt. "What's the matter?"
Susan instantly came to her side to keep her from falling on the bed.
"Sirius Black broke into the castle - he made it to the Gryffindor Tower and threatened the portrait," replied Patricia. She was speaking fast.
"Go down the common room and wait with the others. Everyone will sleep in the Great Hall tonight, says Professor Sprout!"
Patricia left in a hurry. Hermione, Susan, and Hannah went down to the common room together where the younger students were waiting and crying. She spotted Ced trying to calm a crying and scared first-year boy.
Hermione fell on a couch. "What happened to her?" she heard Terrence's voice.
She felt Susan's hand on her shoulder. "She just woke up. She's fine."
"Sleeping early nowadays, little bookworm?" teased Ian. "That time-turner must be really beneficial to you," he whispered.
"Wish we could use it to catch Sirius Black, eh?" whispered Terrence.
A few minutes later, they went to the Great Hall in two straight lines. Ced was busy guiding and looking after the first-years. Hermione reckoned he will look for her later.
They saw the Slytherins on the stairs, going up from the dungeons.
"This is ridiculous!" said Malfoy loudly. "Sirius Black can never break into the Slytherin common room. He was a Gryffindor! He detests our house."
Some Slytherins asked Malfoy how he knew about it, and he bragged again about his parents, knowing almost everything.
"Taunt Potter! Tell him the truth!" said Pansy Parkinson happily. "Tell Potter that Sirius Black is his godfather." The Slytherins roared in laughter.
Hermione shook her head in disapproval.
"Prick," muttered Ian behind him.
When they arrived at the Great Hall, the Gryffindors were already in their sleeping bags. Hermione, Susan, Ian, and Terrence went to an unoccupied corner and settled in. Ian laid a sleeping bag beside her, but he didn't lie there. Hermione chose not to comment and covered her face with the blanket to hide her blushing cheeks and grinning face.
A little while later, the candle lights were extinguished and Professor Snape barked they all go to sleep. She heard someone lie down on the sleeping bag beside her. She lowered the blanket and saw the worried face of Cedric. He was looking at her.
He reached out to touch her cheek. "I'm glad you're safe," he whispered.
Hermione smiled and touched his hand that was on her cheek. "Thank you. I feel safe when I'm with you."
They smiled at each other and Ced drew his hand from her face, but took her hand. They lay beside each other, holding hands.
Ian coughed. "Married couple."
Hermione remembered her Grandma Rose's advice many years ago.
"Nothing is better than having a friend and a partner in one. So, someday, I hope you will get married to your best friend."
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A/N: Who was your first puppy love? Where is he right now? How many years have you fancied each other? I'm curious. *smiles*