Chapter 4

The small town of Hogsmeade was eerily quiet. The sky was dark and the clouds looked as though they were about to burst open at any second. Hermione wrapped her cloak closer around her. Why Dumbledore had decided to give them a Hogsmeade trip on today of all days baffled her.

The moment she stepped into the Madam Rosmerta's, the clouds opened up, pouring down at the village.

"Hermione! Over here," a man's voice called her over. She turned to find Cedric sitting at a booth near the window.

"Hey Cedric," Hermione said when she sat down across from him, hooking her cloak on the cloak hanger attached to the side of the booth. "Nice weather we're having."

"I had hoped that it would clear up," Cedric sighed. "Would you like me to get you something to drink?"

"No thank you," Hermione answered. "I'm not thirsty right now." She glanced out the window. The rain was pouring down.

"Okay. Are you sure?" Hermione looked back over at him.

"Yeah."

"What do you think about the Triwizard Tournament?" Cedric questioned, not really knowing what to talk about with her.

"I'm not sure," Hermione answered. "I think it'll be extremely dangerous. The last one that was held at Hogwarts, someone died."

"I'm sure that they're trying to make sure that it's safe for the competitors." Cedric laid his hand on the table next to Hermione's.

"I'm sure they are." Hermione moved her hand, placing it on her lap. She glanced down at her hands.

"I'm thinking about entering," Cedric told her. "My family needs the money."

"I saw."

"Would you like a drink?"

"Yeah," Hermione sighed. "Might as well."

"I'll go get it." Cedric stood up and went over to the bar. A few minutes later, he came back with two butterbeers.

"Thank you." Hermione took the cup and sipped it. She held the mug in her right hand and laid her left on the table. Cedric sat back down in his seat. After a few long minutes of silence, Hermione finally broke it. "So, you're going to enter the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Yeah."

"You think it'll be safe enough?"

"I think it'll be safe enough. Dumbledore will be running the Triwizard Tournament. He'll make it safe."

"Let's hope you get in then." Hermione took another sip of her butterbeer. Cedric placed his hand on top of hers. Hermione looked up at him and then out the window. "The streets are flooding. We should probably head back up to the school before we're stuck here."

"Right." Cedric pulled his hand back. He stood up, grabbing his cloak and hers. She stood up as well. "Your cloak?"

She nodded and he put it on her. "Thanks, Cedric."

"You're welcome." Cedric muttered a quick spell to keep the two of them dry before they ventured out into the storm.