DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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Chapter 27: The Hufflepuff Captain and the Know-It-All
"'I know that, but we can't prove it,' said Wood bitterly. 'And we've been practising all those moves assuming we're playing Slytherin, and instead it's Hufflepuff, and their style's quite different. They've got a new captain and Seeker, Cedric Diggory -'
Angelina, Alicia and Katie suddenly giggled.
'What?' said Wood, frowning at this light-hearted behaviour.
'He's that tall, good-looking one, isn't he?' said Angelina.
'Strong and silent,' said Katie, and they started to giggle again.
'He's only silent because he's too thick to string two words together,' said Fred impatiently. 'I don't know why you're worried, Oliver, Hufflepuff are a pushover. Last time we played them, Harry caught the Snitch in about five minutes, remember?'
'We were playing in completely different conditions!' Wood shouted, his eyes bulging slightly. 'Diggory's put a very strong side together! He's an excellent Seeker! I was afraid you'd take it like this! We mustn't relax! We must keep our focus! Slytherin are trying to wrong-foot us! We must win!'
'Oliver, calm down!' said Fred, looking slightly alarmed. 'We're taking Hufflepuff very seriously. Seriously.'
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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1993
(Cedric and Hermione's past)
"Quidditch match on Saturday."
Hermione looked up from her Ancient Runes translation. Across from her at her favourite library table, Ian sat, looking exhausted. Cedric took a seat beside her.
Hermione frowned. "I thought next month?" she asked, both turning to Ced and Ian.
"Madam Hooch said that the Slytherin Seeker's still injured. We're playing against Gryffindor," Ced explained.
"Why is Malfoy injured?" she asked, frowning.
"Attacked by a hippogriff," explained Ian.
"I'm pretty sure it was his fault," she said dismissively and reached out for Ced's hand. "Good luck."
Ced smiled at her fondly and squeezed her hand. "Thanks, little pod."
"Maybe Malfoy wanted to play against Ravenclaw. Who's their Seeker?" she asked the two.
"Cho Chang," replied Ced casually.
"Oh." She was taken aback. So if Malfoy wasn't injured (it was weeks ago since she saw him wear a sling), Cedric would be playing against the beautiful Ravenclaw Seeker.
"Do you think you'll still be a gentleman during the game?" Ian wondered as if reading the question Hermione had in mind.
"I wouldn't definitely push or physically attack anyone," Ced shrugged.
Hermione didn't say anything. She continued with her Ancient Runes translation while the two fifth-years conversed in low voices. The entire time, Ced was playing with her plait.
"Hi, Ced."
Hermione frowned at the female voice. She didn't look up but she noticed someone standing on Cedric's other side. He didn't stop playing with her plait. She smiled inwardly at that.
"Hi, Cho."
Her heartbeat doubled.
"Good luck on Saturday," the Ravenclaw said carefully. "I was hoping we'd play against each other, but well... maybe next time."
"Thanks, Cho. It would be great if you catch the Snitch before Malfoy does."
Hermione knew Ced flashed his crooked smile. The two Seekers bid each other goodbye and Cho left.
Hermione sighed, eyes still on the book. She was hoping Ced or Ian didn't notice anything. She was afraid there might be changes in her facial expressions. She wasn't good at hiding her feelings. Especially when she was annoyed.
"Hey, Granger!"
Hermione cringed at the voice of Ronald Weasley. She looked up and he was towering over her. Harry Potter was beside him, placing a firm hand on the redhead's shoulder.
"Ron, let me," said Harry quietly but Hermione still heard him.
Hermione, Ian, and Ced exchanged looks and then they all turned to the two Gryffindors.
"Ron's pet rat is sick," Harry explained. "Maybe your cat scared him."
She sighed. "Crookshanks is doing what other normal cats do: chase a rat. Maybe lock him up at the Gryffindor tower. Bring him to Professor Hagrid. Surely he knows what to do."
Harry turned to Ronald Weasley with an 'I told you so' look. Ronald didn't look happy.
"Hagrid can't. He's busy with Buckbeak's case," Ronald told her coldly.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"Er, the hippogriff that hit Malfoy," he explained.
"So Malfoy did the 'my father will hear about this' speech." She shook her head in disapproval.
"Yeah. Hagrid's busy researching," Harry nodded.
"Well, I can't do anything about your pet, Weasley. Just lock him up in your dorm," she said dismissively, turning to her book again.
"Why did you have to buy that monster?" he spat.
Cedric stood up, a hand still resting on her back. "Hey, none of that!" he said sternly. Hermione saw Ian smirk across from her. "First of all - Hogwarts allowed owls, toads, and cats. I don't remember the acceptance letter mentioning rats as pets. Second, you are eight floors up. Hermione's right. Keep your rat."
Hermione was amazed because Ced sounded calm while scolding Weasley. She clearly saw why he was chosen as a Prefect.
Weasley didn't say anything, but his cheeks turned pink. Harry nodded. "Sorry. We'll go now." Then, he walked away, pulling Ron with him.
"Gryffindors," Ian huffed.
Hermione turned to Cedric who was back on his seat. "Thank you."
Cedric didn't say anything but gave her a wink that made her blush. It was a flirty wink.
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During their D.A.D.A., Hermione was a bit shocked and at the same time happy when the Potions master entered the classroom. He explained that Professor Lupin was sick and needed a few days to recover.
Harry Potter made a grand entrance- he was late and looked like he'd seen a ghost when he saw Professor Snape.
"Today, we're going to talk about werewolves," he drawled, waving his wand to the board.
"But Professor- " Dean Thomas interrupted.
"Turn to page three-hundred and ninety-four!" he said more firmly.
The other Gryffindors exchanged looks with them, and Lavender Brown looked at her like she was asking for help.
"Sir," she raised her hand for the first time in a long time. Professor Snape gave her an inquiring look. "We are supposed to do Hinkypunks -"
"Miss. Granger," he whispered dangerously. "I said, turn into page three-hundred and ninety-four."
Hermione did as told.
"Who can tell me thoroughly the difference between a werewolf and a true wolf?" Professor Snape stood in front of them and narrowed his eyes.
No one raised a hand. Not even Hermione. She knew the answer, of course, but she didn't want to raise her hand.
"No one?" He sneered.
"Hermione's told you, Professor," said Dean Thomas. "We're not supposed to tackle werewolves today."
"I cannot imagine how you all survived three years without a competent teacher..."
"Professor Lupin is competent!" cried Harry Potter.
"Yeah! He's the best D.A.D.A. professor we've ever had!"
"You are easily satisfied," the professor sneered once more. "I don't see the Hufflepuffs complaining. Perhaps they are just as dunderheads as you Gryffindors are."
It was too much for Hermione. She stood up and inhaled sharply. Everyone looked at her in shock. "A werewolf, Sir, is a human being who is suffering from lycanthropy, and has no choice - they transform during the full moon -"
"Miss Granger," Professor Snape drawled again, stopping her. "Are you that desperate to prove that you are not a complete dunderhead? You are not, you insufferable know-it-all."
Hermione felt betrayed. Her favourite professor - the Potions master she looked up to and the one she spent her Saturday afternoons with- had just insulted her for the very first time. She bit her lip to stop herself from crying and sat down.
Beside her was Susan. She squeezed her hand under the desk in an attempt to comfort her.
The lesson went on and none of the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs talked back to Professor Snape anymore.
"Homework: eighteen inches essay on werewolves. Miss Granger, remain for your detention."
Hermione felt her fellow Hufflepuffs' comforting hands on her back and shoulders.
"Will be waiting for you outside," said Susan.
"Neville and I will wait for you too, Hermione," Hannah whispered.
"Hermione, don't let him bring you down," whispered Ernie and she gave him a small smile.
"Remember, you're bright and hardworking. Forget what he said," added Justin, also whispering.
She gave them all a small smile before they left, then she approached the professor's desk.
Professor Snape waved his wand to the door, warding it. Then, he clasped his hands on the table and met her eyes.
"Miss Granger, for the things I said earlier, I sincerely apologize."
Hermione's eyes widened. Not only did Professor Snape apologized, but his voice was gentle. When he saw the look on her face, he sighed and rolled his eyes.
"Miss Granger, it was you who figured out that I was a double-agent years ago. That's why Mr. Diggory sought my help for D.A.D.A. lessons, do you remember?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes, Sir."
"Then you know that people will question me if my Slytherins found out and told their parents that I am defending and rewarding points to a Muggle-born."
Hermione nodded. Of course, she told herself. There's always a reason.
"I understand now, Professor. I'm sorry, too, if I doubted you for a moment," she replied sincerely.
"Well, see you on Saturday, Miss Granger. You may go," he said dismissively, sounding bored. But Hermione left the classroom with a smile.
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It was the day of the first Quidditch match, Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor. When Hermione woke up, Ced and Ian were not around anymore. Terrence said they woke up very early for final practice and meeting. The three of them - Hermione, Susan, and Terrence went to breakfast together with the latter's sort-of girlfriend, Daffodil. She was pretty, kind, and gentle. Hermione liked her for Terrence.
"Oliver Wood looks shite," muttered Terrence across from her.
Hermione's back was to the Gryffindor table so she had to turn around. She saw a group of people wearing their Quidditch robes. Oliver Wood was snapping at everyone while Ronald Weasley was urging Harry Potter to eat.
"We heard them talking about Cedric yesterday, Wood, Weasley twins, and company," Daffodil told them who was sitting beside Terrence. "Wood's worrying because they practiced with the Slytherin tactics in mind. One of the Weasley twins told him not to worry because the last time they played Hufflepuff, Potter got the Snitch, but then Wood insisted that it's different this time because of the new captain and Seeker." She smiled at Hermione.
Terrence snorted. "That's right. They should take Ced seriously."
"Oh, Wood's taking him seriously. But one of the Weasley twins is not happy with Ced. You know those three girls? The Chasers? They were all giggling while talking about how good-looking Ced is, much to the Weasley twin's dismay." Daffodil and Susan laughed.
"I bet that's Fred Weasley. What else did he say?" asked Terrence.
"Well, one of the girls said that Ced's quiet, and Weasley commented that the only reason Ced's quiet is because he's too thick to string words."
"Excuse me? Just because they make people laugh and Ced is gentle doesn't mean..." Hermione trailed off and felt like she heard a scandal.
Terrence laughed. "See? They should take Ced seriously, or else they will hear from the brightest witch of her age."
Hermione blushed at the title Professor Lupin gave her. Since then, the Hufflepuffs and some Gryffindors referred to her as the brightest witch of their age.
After breakfast, they all went to the Quidditch pitch and sat on the Hufflepuff Quidditch stands. Slytherins were rooting for Hufflepuffs - they would prefer anyone over Gryffindor. The Ravenclaws were neutral. Some of them even brought books, not interested in what was going on.
"The weather's bad," muttered Susan, "but they don't postpone Quidditch games for thunderstorms."
"But it's advantageous for Ced than for Potter," said Terrence. "He's bigger, unlikely to fall on his broom because of the wind."
They didn't wait for too long because soon, there were fifteen brooms on the air - fourteen players (seven wearing canary yellow and black while the other seven were wearing scarlet and gold) and Madam Hooch, the referee. Hermione could identify Cedric because of his body structure and the number on the back of his Quidditch robe - 1. That number, according to the boys, always belonged to the captain.
Cedric shook hands with Oliver Wood, the Gryffindor Captain, and Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Hermione braced herself. The game started.
It was raining cats and dogs. The wind was so strong, too, but Gryffindor Chasers were scoring fast, beating Hufflepuff by fifty points. She saw Cedric zooming around in search of the Snitch while Harry Potter was flying in the wrong direction. He stopped and took off his eyeglasses, putting it in his inner robe pocket. Oliver Wood seemed to notice this, so he called for a time-out.
Hermione put on her cloak over her head and went down to the pitch, not minding Susan and Terrence when she left them. When she was at the pitch, she approached the Hufflepuff team under a large umbrella.
"Ced!" she called.
He turned around with a frown. "Not that I'm complaining, but it's raining hard."
"Harry can't see well," she explained. "He took off his eyeglasses."
Ced sighed. "It won't be fair," he told her and the team. "Do you all agree with me?"
"Of course," Ian replied and the rest of the players nodded.
"Hufflepuffs are fair. We play fair," said one of the Beaters.
Ced turned to her again, placing a hand on her back. "You know the spell to repel water, right?"
She nodded with a smile.
"Go and help Potter," he encouraged.
Hermione couldn't help herself. She hugged Ced and rested her head on his chest. "You're such a great person. A true Hufflepuff."
She heard him smile and felt him kiss the crown of her head. "Go, Mione."
With one last smile, she turned and approached the Gryffindors.
"Harry Potter."
The Gryffindor players all turned to her as if they had seen a ghost. "Ced asked me to help you with your glasses. I know the spell that can repel water and mist."
Harry smiled, not taking his eyes off her, and gave her his eyeglasses.
She waved her wand over the eyeglasses. "Impervuius!"
"Brilliant!" said the team captain in awe and he looked like he wanted to kiss her.
She gave them a small smile. "Well, good luck." And without waiting for a response, she went back to the Quidditch stands.
An hour later, everybody, except for the Gryffindors, was cheering. Ced had caught the Snitch and Hufflepuff won by a hundred points. But Ced and the rest of the Hufflepuff players were not too happy.
They looked concerned because Harry Potter fell off his broom after seeing Dementors - just after Ced caught the Snitch. The Hufflepuff captain struggled to hold the Snitch and the broom with one hand just to reach for his wand - then he cast a Patronus Charm to send the Dementors away. The headmaster and Professor McGonagall also helped; they conjured their Patronuses - a phoenix and a tabby cat.
Harry Potter's broom was destroyed when he fell. It wasn't anyone's fault, but still, the badgers didn't celebrate their victory. Ced tried to call for a rematch, explaining that there were Dementors, but Madam Hooch and the headmaster both agreed that it was a fair game.
On the other hand, the Weasley twins, Oliver Wood, and the three Chasers thanked Ced for his help, and for trying to call for a rematch. The Weasley twins no longer looked annoyed with the Hufflepuff team captain.
Hermione saw the encounter at the hospital wing. She and her friends followed Ced and Ian. The entire Gryffindor team was there, around the bed of an unconscious Harry Potter.
"Hey, Diggory," called Wood before they left the hospital wing. "Thanks for your concern, and for sending Granger to help Harry."
Ced nodded and smiled.
"You're a good bloke," Wood said sincerely.
As they walked down to the basement, Ced took her hand.
"I'm so proud of you," she told him honestly.
Ced stopped and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "I'm glad you are. I want to be a good person not only for myself but also for you."