A/n: Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this. Thanks to the new reviewer reply feature (which I will SO be making the most of!) I can try and answer any question you might have without getting in trouble from the FF mods. ;) Another good long chapter, and I'm sorry it took so long to get up. Life's rather cramped right now so getting my fanfics up is proving to be somewhat difficult. Lastly, a note to anyone who has commented on it: I didn't realize how much I was using "Ya/Yeah" and I will very much try to refrain from using it in the future. I agree it doesn't sound British at all - I just somehow forget that they're British (and I'm actually Canadian). Anyways, have a read, and please leave me a review. You have no idea how much a review does for a person. ;)

Chapter 12

That Friday seemed slow and boring to Hermione. On one hand, she was happy because there were no surprises and it felt like the first time in weeks that something significant hadn't happened. On the other hand however, this was the one day that she knew something significant was supposed to happen. She'd studied her calendar when she'd got up in the morning and there was no mistaking: today was her sixteenth birthday.

In the past, she usually got several things from her family before she left for Hogwarts and enjoyed a mini celebration with them. Then while at Hogwarts, Harry and Ron would quietly give her something, usually a day or two late, and often after Ginny would give them a scorching lecture on how Hermione was their best friend and they couldn't be bothered to remember her birthday.

Thus far, however, it was nearing the end of Herbology and not a single person had acknowledged that it was her birthday. She herself didn't want to say anything. She wasn't entirely sure why she silently refused to say anything, but perhaps it was because she felt that they should be able to remember for themselves. That was how she felt with Harry and Ron, at least.

She sighed loudly and unintentionally and Pansy nudged her. "You okay?"

Hermione's immediate thought was to just blurt, 'No, I am not okay, because today is my birthday and no one cares.' She didn't of course, and instead said, "Oh, nothing really. It's just that today is – er, an important day for me." She studied Pansy's reaction.

"Oh." Pansy merely said, and returned to her Gloriteldna Grass diagram.

Hermione's shoulders sagged a little further. She didn't even ask why it was a special day! Then a rather startling thought occurred to Hermione: what if today was not her birthday? Not that today wasn't September the nineteenth, but what if Hermione Granger was not born on September the nineteenth? Could it be possible? And if it was, how in the world would she knew which day was her birthday?

Hermione shook her head a little to calm down. She leaned past Pansy and tapped Ally's shoulder.

"Yes?" Ally leaned back so she could talk to Hermione.

"Do you know… er, is anything… important happening today?" Hermione asked, struggling to sound casual and not like she really wanted a specific piece of information.

Ally thought for a second. "Nope. Not that I know of." She smiled lightly. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason. Just wondering." Hermione sighed as she resumed her theory assignment, as she was long finished her Herbology work and had permission to work on something else. Say something! Her mind urged. Just tell them! But she stubbornly stayed quiet until the end of the class.

As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of class, Hermione was packed and rushing out of the greenhouse. She thought she heard Draco yell for her to wait a minute, but she didn't feel like slowing or stopping and kept going full speed ahead. She didn't know why she just wanted to get away, she just really did and sped walked across the grounds, up the steps and into Hogwarts.

She was just ascending the stairs to the first floor when someone in the rush of people around her caught her arm. Draco. She thought immediately.

"Hey!"

Hermione frustratedly turned and saw not Draco, but Cedric. "What?" she said much more sharply then she'd intended.

"What's wrong? I called your name a bunch of times and you just ignored me! Are you mad at me?" Cedric let go of her arm now, his eyes locked on hers.

"No! No, of course not. I'm not mad at you. I just… it's just…" Hermione shook her head and looked away. She felt an overwhelming urge to cry and could felt the tears already tingling behind her eyes. She did not want to cry. She especially didn't want to cry in the middle of the hall with other students milling around her. "Nothing. Nothing important." She started speed walking again but he caught up with her immediately.

"Hermione, wait!" she reluctantly stopped and he gently steered her off to the side, away from the general flow of students. "Does this have to do with yesterday?"

"No, no." she shook her head vigorously and paused. "And I'm really sorry about that, Cedric, I just – "

"Don't worry about it. But what's wrong then?"

"It's just that – " she took a breath to steady her voice and hold the tears back. It didn't help, for when she spoke, a tear escaped down her cheek and her voice shook like it always does when you're about to cry. "Everyone's forgotten my birthday!"

Hermione looked at the floor, feeling very foolish. She'd cried more in the past few weeks than she had in the past few years combined and it made her feel very foolish indeed. She did not want to break down in front of Cedric.

Cedric tried to hide a grin and, unsuccessfully, suppress a chuckle. "Is that all?"

She nodded miserably.

He laughed quietly. "Oh Hermione." And then he did the most wonderful and unexpected thing.

He hugged her.

Before she could even react the wonderfulness of being in his arms like that, Cedric took her hand and began leading her through the hallway which was slowly becoming less crowded. He led her to her next and last class of the day: Transfiguration.

"How did you know I had this next?" she asked, suddenly realizing she was sure she's never told him.

Cedric went very pink in the cheeks but did not answer her question. "When the bell rings, wait here for me, okay?" he said.

Hermione nodded, still buzzing pleasantly from his sweet hug and tingling where his hand had held hers.

"Promise?"

Hermione half-smiled. "Sure, I promise. But what for?"

Cedric's eyes twinkled brightly. "A surprise. You'll see."

Potions seemed to pass much slower than usual and though Snape was in his usual good mood, it didn't really make the class any better. She made small talk with her friends, annoyed they had forgotten her birthday, feeling bad about feeling annoyed, and yet feeling sort of pleased when she felt like they knew something she didn't and weren't telling.

At one point, Hermione suggested they study Transfiguration together tonight in the library and Pansy blurted that she had plans. When Hermione asked what those plans were, Ally rushed to explain for Pansy, saying Pansy already had a study group that night with others. Before Hermione could ask who was in that other study group, the subject had swiftly been changed by Draco.

When the bell finally rang, Hermione joined the small rush of students filing to get out. She waited rather impatiently for Cedric by herself as he friends all seemed to have disappeared the instant class was over, before she could tell them she was staying to wait for Cedric.

Finally he came, a small bouquet of pretty looking and wonderful smelling flowers in his hand, and a heart-melting wide grin on his face. "Happy Birthday, Hermione Granger." He said and handed her the colorful bouquet.

"Oh Cedric!" her smile instantly became as wide as his and she could feel her cheeks turning brilliant red. No one had ever given her flowers in this way before. Impulsively she threw her arms around Cedric in a warm hug. Almost immediately she realized what she'd just done and Hermione pulled away. She cleared her throat, her cheeks now very red and hot.

Cedric ignored her embarrassment. "C'mon, let's go." For the second time that day he grasped her hand, sending tingles through her body, as he lead her though Hogwarts hallways.

"Where are we going?" asked Hermione, full of curiosity and suddenly unable to stop smiling.

Cedric glanced over his shoulder at her and patted his pocket. "I'm walking you to – " he stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening. He jammed his hand in his pocket and cleared his throat.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Cedric?"

Suddenly Cedric seemed flustered. "Er, we're – I'm – we're walking to… the, um – the Entrance Hall!"

Hermione giggled. She had no idea what Cedric was up to. "Okaaay…"

He seemed in an all-fired hurry to get to the Entrance Hall, practically bolting through all the hallways. But once there, he seemed to not have any idea what to do next. He looked around and randomly pointed things out.

"Looks like Hufflepuff is leading in House Points!" he said, pointing at the large hour glasses full of shining rocks at the front of the Entrance Hall. "Ravenclaw's not doing too badly… neither is Gryffindor…."

"What exactly are we doing here, anyways, Cedric?" Hermione asked.

"Slytherin is in last, but not by much…"

"Cedric?"

"The marble staircase looks nice and… shiny." Cedric said and rubbed his neck uncomfortably.

"Cedric?"

"The uh, door! It looks nice and… woody." He patted his pocket forcefully.

"Cedric! Why are we here?" Hermione wasn't annoyed that they were there for no reason, she was annoyed by the fact that he suddenly couldn't or wouldn't look at her or answer her.

"Floor is nice and… clean." Cedric patted his pocket again and sighed exasperatedly.

"Cedric, what is going on?"

Again, Cedric didn't answer her question. "How about we go outside? It's nice outside." Cedric swallowed and tried not to meet Hermione's eyes as he pulled her outside. "Yes. Let's go outside."

The sun shone into their faces and a cool autumn breeze flowed past.

"Yes, it is lovely out. But, tell me, why are we out here?" Hermione tried going back to being polite, though she was starting to get very impatient. She was still intrigued and confused by the whole thing, however the feeling of annoyance was steadily growing.

He nodded slowly and again she strongly got the feeling he couldn't look her in the eye. He was looking everywhere but her.

"What's – "

"Okay look!" He blurted, cutting her off. "There's a team out practicing Quidditch!" He pointed towards the pitch and patted his pocket again.

Hermione squinted at the pitch, but could see no one. If there really was a team playing out there, it would be very easy to spot and she wouldn't be squinting. She looked at Cedric.

"Ced – "

"It really is nice out, isn't it?" Again he cut her off and again he patted his pocket. Hermione wondered if that was a nervous habit of some sort and if so, why was he so nervous?

Relief suddenly swept over Cedric, seemingly for no apparent reason. "Aah," he half-sighed, as if he'd just lowered himself into a nice warm bath. "Shall I walk you to Gryffindor Tower then?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not until you tell me what is going on."

He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Um, on the way." He headed back inside without waiting for an answer, and Hermione felt she had no choice but to follow him.

Once inside and heading in the general direction that would lead them to Gryffindor Tower, Cedric was walking extra slowly, as if he were some tourist in an extravagant museum, seeing everything for the first time and trying to take it in all at once. Indeed, he was almost acting like it, gazing around at all the paintings and suits of armor and doors and carpets and looking pretty well everywhere except at Hermione.

Under different circumstances, Hermione may have considered walking very slowly through Hogwarts with Cedric to be a touch romantic. But the way he had acted so strangely moments before and the way he just wouldn't look at her, made her feel very annoyed instead of a touch romantic.

Fed up, Hermione stepped ahead and stood in front of Cedric, stopping him in his tracks. He looked a little surprised to see her standing there. "Er… what's up?" he said, trying to keep his tone light and casual and failing miserably.

"Will you please explain to me why we are touring Hogwarts like we've never been here before? Why we stood outside and looked at Quidditch players who were not playing?" She tried not to sound completely demanding, with one hand on her hip and the other tightly holding the lovely bouquet.

"Uh…" Cedric dropped his gaze to the floor and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. He cleared his throat. "I… well, you see…" he looked up, though not at her. Something to the left of her head held his eyes as he rubbed his ear. His cheeks went a little pink and he glanced briefly at her before returning his gaze to the floor.

Hermione felt less annoyed now and more confused. What was so hard for him to say? She inwardly calmed herself down and softly encouraged, "I'm listening." She hoped the fact that she was no longer angry-sounding helped to ease his nervousness.

He cleared his throat again, bit his lip and finally turned his eyes up to meet Hermione's. His cheeks flared pink before he even spoke. "I just wanted to spend time with you… away from everything else." He swallowed but didn't drop his eyes again. "I guess I'm just not good at it."

Hermione's irritation completely melted away and the hand that had been firmly on her hip now sagged at her side. He just wanted to be with her? Had she really heard right? Her cheeks were growing warm and she felt pleasantly odd.

"P-pardon?" her stomach clenched and unclenched and she didn't know why.

This time Cedric wasted no time in repeating himself and he seemed more confident, talking louder and clearer than before. "I wanted to spend time with you. Away from others."

Her heart was beating very fast… very fast… surely a heart beating that fast wasn't healthy… her mouth was open slightly… she couldn't close it… such a small comment had such a big effect and she didn't know why…

"Really?" her voice was merely a whisper. Perhaps she was reacting this way because no one had ever said something like that to her before. Viktor had complimented her, of course, though much differently. And when Viktor had complimented her, she had taken it graciously, enjoying his attention for what it was, knowing they would only ever end up as friends. Of course, part of it had always been to make Ron see she wasn't just like him and Harry. She wasn't just one of the guys.

"Really." He said and smiled. It was that grin that made Hermione's knees wobble.

She took a breath to control her insides, as they seemed to be going crazy and she feared her skin was the only thing keeping her from going everywhere at once. He wanted to spend time with me… just me…

"Thank you." She said, truly not knowing what else to say.

From there, the two continued on to Gryffindor Tower talking occasionally but mostly just in a comfortable silence, merely enjoying each other's company. When they arrived at the Fat Lady – who, for the moment didn't notice them – Hermione let out a sigh. She didn't want this to end.

"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" she said.

"Of course!" Cedric smiled widely before leaning in to gave her a tight hug. "Happy Birthday, again."

"Bye." She said quietly as he let go of her and took a few steps back.

"Bye." He said, matching her tone and didn't make any more of a move to leave.

Hermione tore her eyes away from Cedric, walked the last few steps to the Fat Lady and said, "Lefitoldna."

The Fat Lady seemed a little surprised to see Hermione standing there and then seemed to eye Cedric suspiciously over Hermione's shoulder. "And you're sure that's correct?" She kept a very wary eye on Cedric.

"Oh, he's – um, just leaving." Hermione explained hurriedly.

"Yes. Just leaving." Cedric began backing down the hallway. What Hermione didn't notice right then was the instant non-verbal exchange between Cedric and the Fat Lady as they each winked.

Hermione cleared her throat politely, wondering why the Fat Lady was taking so long to let her in, but deciding not to question it as it really didn't matter all that much. The Fat Lady opened unusually slow, saying, "I suppose I ought to let you in…"

Hermione raised an eyebrow but still said nothing. The Fat Lady could be odd at times, and she merely assumed it was just one of those times. She turned and gave Cedric a tiny wave, which he returned, before entering the Common Room. As soon as her feet hit the crimson carpet of the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione received one of the most pleasant shocks of her life.

A/n: Whaddya think? Leave me a review and I will love you forever, lol. Oh, and also, just FYI for anybody who cares: the Cedric that I write about/of is not the Cedric from the new GOF movie. I have nothing against Movie!Cedric, but he's just not the guy who's in this story. Lastly, again, in regards to the "Ya" thing: when this story is done, I plan to go back and completely retouch it, meaning take out all the "ya"'s and replace them with something better, fix all the typos, etc. Right now I'm just getting the story done, picking up tips, and trying to improve as I go. More soon! :D