A/n: A bit of a shorter chapter, but I hope it's all right. I know what I want to happen... "later" in the story right now, but I'm really struggling with these "filler" chapters. Thanks to anyone and everyone who has reviewed before and is planning to review in the future. You guys rock. Anyways, enough of me saying pointless stuff. Read on.

Chapter 17

Hermione went straight back to the castle without stopping or letting anyone know where she was going. She assumed they would figure it out when she had not returned to the Three Broomsticks by the time they were ready to leave or if they ended up seeing Cedric without her.

After crying for so long on the log, she basically just felt numb. Sad and angry as well, but mostly chilled and numb. She didn't want to speak to anyone nor have anyone speak to her, so she kept her head down to avoid any questions about why her eyes were so red and puffy. She did not run so as to give the impression someone needed to chase after her or take notice of her, though she kept her pace extremely brisk. She wanted to get to the comfort of her bed as soon as possible.

Although it was barely late afternoon, when Hermione reached the dorms, she crawled miserably into bed pretty well as soon as she reached it. She pulled the hangings shut around her and clutched her pillow tightly to her chest, willing it to make things all better.

For quite some time she stayed like that, her thoughts swirling around in circles about the fight with Cedric. What she could have said better, why he got so angry, why hadn't she told him sooner, why did she like him so much, why couldn't he be alive where she belonged, why oh why had she ever made that stupid wish…

Eventually, she heard voices ascending the stairs to the dorm and recognized them as Pansy and Ally. They entered the room and immediately feel silent, seeing Hermione's bed hangings firmly shut. They exchanged worried glances before Ally ventured,

"Hermione? Everything okay?"

Leave. Hermione thought. Please just leave me alone.

When there was no reply, Pansy asked, in a voice equally as tentative as Ally's, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Still, Hermione remained silent.

"Are you coming down to dinner?" Ally questioned a second or two later.

Another moment of silence passed before Hermione croaked, "No. Please just go."

"Are you sure?"

Hermione nodded even though her friends couldn't see her. They must have understood her silent reply anyways, however, as Pansy moved towards the door saying,

"Well… alright then…" She shrugged. "We'll bring you back something."

"Just talk to us as soon as you're ready, okay?" Ally said, following Pansy reluctantly out the dorm door.

The second they had gone, Hermione wished she had asked them to stay. At that moment, she was feeling exasperatedly complicated. The moment her friends had walked in the door, she'd asked them to leave and had only wanted to be left alone. The moment they were gone, she felt like calling them back just so she wouldn't feel so alone. Her heart hurt so much from the fight with Cedric that she wanted to cry and scream. Yet she was glad because she knew she had to detach herself from this world that wasn't hers to keep living in. She wanted so badly to see Ron – her Ron – and tell him how much she appreciates everything about him, and tell her Harry how glad she is to have him as a friend. But then why does the ache of wanting to see Harry and Ron get monstrously overpowered every time she thinks of Cedric?

She curled herself in a tighter ball, wishing she still had a wish left on the wishing coin. She wanted to go back to the beginning, where none of this had ever happened and she didn't have to try and sort all these ridiculously contradicting feelings out and just concentrate on getting good grades and Christmas Holidays…

A few more tiny tears slid down Hermione's cheeks and soaked into the extra pillow that she was not crushing against her chest. Somehow she managed to doze off before Ally and Pansy returned from supper.

The next day was Sunday and Hermione was eternally grateful not to have classes that day. She didn't think she was up to facing Cedric just yet. Nott had another Quidditch practice for Gryffindor scheduled, but Hermione opted out on account of feeling sick. Nott had raised his eyebrows skeptically until Pansy had so graciously mentioned that it was "a girl thing", accompanied by a significant look. Nott did not ask questions, but left early for practice rather hastily.

Hermione only ended up having breakfast after Ally and Pansy returned from their own and forced Hermione out of bed. When Hermione had finished eating the meager amount of food her friends had practically force-fed her, they convinced her to tell them exactly what happened.

"So then, he yelled 'Fine' and I yelled 'Fine' and…" Hermione took a breath as renewed tears splashed down her face like little rivers. She'd begun crying when she'd got to the part about how Cedric had been so disgusted with her for claiming he was "murdered" in her "world". "And then… he walked away."

Hermione crumbled and began crying all over again, and hating herself for it. She'd never cried this much and she felt pathetic for it, though she felt like she couldn't help it, because she'd liked him so much and now losing him the way she did hurt so bad.

Ally comfortingly patted her friend's back and tried to murmur reassuring words. Pansy rubbed Hermione's arm and had her head cocked to the side sympathetically.

Hermione tried desperately to gain control of herself and was unable to for quite some time. Every time she thought she her tears or the pain in her chest under control, some tiny thing would pop into her mind to remind her of the horrible fight and she'd start crying again. She hated this feeling of hurt and even more, hated the crying. She hated how she felt when she was done crying and hated how she felt while she was crying. She despised the fact that it was her crying and she couldn't seem to make it stop when she wanted it to, though she sort of vowed she would get a hold of herself once and for all.

"It'll all work out in the end, Hermione." Ally soothed. "You'll see. Don't worry."

On Monday, Hermione woke feeling rather miserable. When a tear or two slipped out and onto her cheek, she frustratedly wiped them away before she climbed out of bed.

Enough of this ruddy crying. She thought. Get a bloody grip. You can get through this.

Shakily she got ready and not once more did a tear slide out. She was completely determined to forget everything nice about Cedric Diggory, if not forget him altogether. Her mouth was set in a grim line as she headed down to the Common Room.

She dug deep and pulled out the Granger determination and courage that had gotten her through several rough situations in the past. She immediately thought of her first year when she, Ron and Harry had worked their way through the many obstacles set up by the Professors to protect the Philosopher's Stone. She allowed herself the tiniest of smiles as she snatched up the rest of things and made her way down to breakfast.

At first, she continued to feel inwardly and understandably hurt and gloomy. Her friends continued to gaze at her with sympathy in their eyes, including Draco, Vinny and Greg who apparently must have heard what had happened from Ally and Pansy. Even so, they talked cheerily and naturally about everything, though careful to avoid any subject associated to Cedric or the fight. Hermione picked at her food, not joining in, but content to merely listen.

She looked up at one point, when she noticed Cedric entering the Great Hall. He looked defiant and detached, and when he caught Hermione looking at him, he raised his chin a little higher and decisively turned away.

Hermione straightened in her seat, a spark of anger flashing through her. Fine. She thought. If that's the way you want to be about it… well, two can play at that game.

Her demeanor changed instantly. She held her shoulders back firmly and quickly joined into the conversation between her friends whole-heartedly, feeling better in spite of herself. Her friends were a bit surprised and exchanged glances with each other, but happily accepted the abrupt shift in Hermione's mood and continued talking.

If any of them noticed Cedric scowling from his table or the way Hermione seemed to be trying too hard to make herself feel better, they didn't say anything.

Since the day's classes (double Transfiguration with Slytherin and a Potions session with Hufflepuff) did not involve Ravenclaw, Hermione found it surprisingly easy to ignore and avoid Cedric. It was even easier to do so when he was "returning the favor" and going out of his way to avoid her, too.

The problem, was that during the past month that Cedric and Hermione had become close friends, his friends had become good friends with Hermione's friends.

Things became quite awkward after lunch when Ally and Hermione were heading to their second Transfiguration class while Cedric and his best friend Ewan were going off to their class, and Ewan stopped the girls to say hi to Ally.

Hermione refused to meet Cedric's eyes while he refused to acknowledge her as well. Hermione adamantly ignored the stinging feeling somewhere around her heart. When she spoke, it was directly to Ewan and Ewan only.

"Hello Ewan, how are you today?" she said.

He looked slightly uncomfortable and his eyes flicked very briefly to Cedric before he answered her question. "I'm doing all right. And how – "

"I'm great." Hermione said as emphatically as possible.

Cedric crossed his arms and though he looked hard at her for a moment, Hermione was decidedly looking anywhere else and missed the clear hurt and frustration in his eyes.

"How are you, Ally?" Cedric asked, in a nearly demanding tone.

Like Ewan, Ally glanced quickly at her friend before carefully and uneasily answering, "I'm fine, but – "

"I'm perfect." Cedric said much more firmly than necessary. "I have never been better." Though it was obvious to Ewan and Ally that Cedric's smile was quite forced, it wasn't to Hermione who felt a stab of emotional pain in her chest.

And though Ewan and Ally saw the unmistakable look of pain cross Hermione's features, Cedric didn't because he was gazing doggedly at anything but Hermione.

"Neither have I." said Hermione sharply, but quietly, causing Cedric's attention to snap to her. This time she stared right at him.

They both lifted their chins defiantly and tried to read the real emotions behind the other's angry masks. In a span of about four seconds, Ally and Ewan grew even more uncomfortable with the situation and concerned for their friends, while Hermione and Cedric replayed the fight in their minds as they stared at each other unblinkingly.

Hermione's eyes stung and she mentally forced her tears away.

Cedric swallowed guiltily and relaxed his stance.

Both looked like they were both about to say something, and before the situation could grow any worse, Ally and Ewan hastily intervened.

"Well, I hope you girls have a good day!" Ewan said loudly and nudged Cedric in the direction they'd previously been going before meeting up with the girls.

"Oh, and you too!" Ally tugged Hermione by the arm in the direction of the Transfiguration classroom. "See you 'round!"

"Bye!" Ewan pushed and steered Cedric one way while Ally pulled and guided Hermione the other way.

After that, Ally shook her head and exhaled in relief. Hermione said absolutely nothing, truly unsure whether she wanted to thank or snap at Ally. Ally followed her friend's lead and also said nothing, though she really didn't know what to say either anyways.

Class began and it was its usual rottenness, accompanied by the usual unfair treatment from McGonagall and followed by the usual snide comments from the Slytherins. By now, Hermione was too used to it all to notice much, and cheered herself with the thought of completing the Wish Reversal potion and getting things back to normal.

She didn't see Cedric once the rest of the day.

A/n: Oh those crazy kids... What did you think? Let me know! Tell me your every thought... related to this story.