A/n: All right, it has taken way longer than intended to update, but mostly because of college. This is my first year and it's taking some getting used to, especially after a year of no school at all. Anyways, here's a new chapter. It IS a bit shorter than usual, but the next one is going to be a whopper.

Chapter 20

Over the next week or so, Hermione reluctantly did what she knew she had to do. She began to participate with her friends less and less. She chose to sit alone or with someone else besides her friends in class. Her spare time she devoted to Quidditch when the pitch was available, her potion, or her homework.

Though she believed she was doing the right thing by slowly distancing herself from her friends, it hurt even more inside when she uncomfortably refused her friends' requests, as she could see they were upset and concerned by her sudden withdrawal. By "severing her ties", as she silently referred to it, Hermione told herself she was actually saving herself some pain. It hurt now, to be sure, but she was just as sure it hurt far less now then if she let herself get truly and deeply attached to these people. The people she couldn't be attached to in her real world.

The worst moment in this endeavor came on Thursday, when Ally finally managed to corner her after class.

"Hey, what's going on with you this week?" she asked, her features creased with worry. "You've been acting really off."

"Have I?" Hermione said distractedly and tried to push past her friend. She was mentally counting how many days until her Potion would be ready, which assignments were day the next day, what Theodore had said she needed to work on during their last practice, and reminding herself which books she had intended to pick up from the library that evening.

Ally grabbed Hermione's arm. "What's going on?" she asked firmly.

Hermione made the mistake of looking Ally in the eye. She was flooded with guilt immediately and said quietly, "Nothing." She winced at her obviously fake answer.

Ally didn't let go of her friend's arm. "Look, Hermione, what ever it is, you can tell me. I'll understand. I have so far, with everything that's happened." She paused before adding pleadingly, "Please."

Hermione dropped her eyes for a moment and bit her lip. "Not this time." She whispered.

Ally's eyebrows moved together in confusion. "But – "

"Just please leave me alone." Hermione pulled away, feeling ashamed of herself, and joined the throng of students traveling down the hall. She didn't need to look back to see Ally's face to know how upset the other girl was by Hermione's words.

Finally it was Saturday, the day of the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. Hermione's stomach was in knots, not only because it was her first big match, but also because she was playing against Cedric. If anything could possibly make things between them worse, it was sure to be a Quidditch match. After all, one of them had to lose.

Just as Hermione was leaving the Great Hall after breakfast to head out to the pitch, Dumbledore stopped her.

"Miss Granger, may I have a private word with you?" he asked.

"Yes sir."

They moved off down the Hall a bit, away from other students before Dumbledore studied her critically from behind half-moon spectacles. Hermione shifted uncomfortably, wondering what this was all about and feeling as though she'd been placed under a microscope.

"Is everything alright, Miss Granger?" he said at last.

"Er, yes…" Hermione said unsurely.

"Is there anything you wish to tell me? Anything at all?" he smiled crookedly. "I'm a good listener."

Hermione racked her brain confusedly for a moment. "No, sir, I don't believe so."

"You're potion is going well?"

Hermione nodded.

Dumbledore hesitated before speaking again. "You are sure everything is alright?"

Hermione opened her mouth to answer but also hesitated. No, everything is not alright. She thought and immediately the faces of Cedric, Ally, Ron, and the rest of her friends came to mind. Nothing at all.

She swallowed and replied evenly, "Yes. Everything is fine."

Dumbledore nodded, though he seemed slightly disappointed or concerned by her answer. Before she could tell which, however, his features rearranged into a kind smile. "Good luck today." He said.

"Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore bowed his head a tiny bit before departing.

Hermione didn't understand why that conversation had just taken place, but she would have to think about it later. For now, she needed to get to the pitch.

It seemed far too soon before Hermione was standing with her team, dressed in fresh crimson Quidditch robes, clutching her broom so tight her hand hurt. Her heart was pounding and she was trembling all over with nerves.

"You alright there, Hermione?" Millicent, on Hermione's right, asked.

Hermione swallowed hard, unable to speak, and nodded.

Vinny, on her left, half-smiled. "You're acting like this is your first game."

Hermione glanced sideways at him and almost blurted, "It is." She caught herself just in time, though, and instead merely nodded a second time.

Neither Millicent or Vinny seemed to notice.

"For my first game, I nearly passed out from nerves." Millicent commented. "I didn't, luckily. Managed to walk onto the pitch. After that, everything was fine."

This is completely different. thought Hermione. You have no idea…

"Just take deep breaths, if you are nervous." Vinny advised.

"It helps." Millicent agreed. "And don't worry too much about this game. It's only the first game of the season. If we lose, we lose."

"That's right." Vinny added. "We'll have lots of time to catch up."

The pair of them smiled reassuringly at Hermione, who mumbled out a small "thanks", though she doubted they'd heard her, for at that moment, the large doors leading onto the pitch were thrown open with a loud bang. Her team stepped forward onto the soft grass and were met with deafening cheers. She could see the Ravenclaw team exiting their locker room on the other side of the pitch.

It sure doesn't seem this loud when you're in the stands! Hermione thought.

Looking up at the stands filled to capacity with students, Hermione couldn't help but feel very, very small and out in the open. She hurriedly averted her focus from the crowd to mounting her broom and following her team into the air.

"Formation!" Madame Hooch said cheerily. Hermione did a double take, hardly recognizing the Quidditch teacher. She had fiery red hair down to her waist which had been woven in a tight French braid. She was slimmer and younger looking, too. But there was no missing those unmistakable yellow eyes. "Come along now, formation!"

The players did as they were told and had practiced and moved into proper position.

Madame Hooch released the Golden Snitch almost right away, giving it a good head start (not that it needed it). Hermione could barely hear the commentary announcing the Snitch had been set loose over the noise of the crowd. She could hear it just enough, however, to become quite sure the commentator was not Lee Jordan, who she knew to normally do the commentary for matches. She wondered who it was.

Hermione glanced up at the Seekers as Madame Hooch dropped to get the Quaffle and set the Bludgers loose. Draco and Cedric floated above her and the other players' heads, waiting for the whistle to begin the game. Draco caught her eye, grinned and gave her the thumbs up sign. Hermione smiled back and waved.

Her eyes flicked to Cedric next, who was looking at her with a rather stony expression. Hermione's smile disappeared instantly.

"Good luck, I suppose, Granger." He said tartly and she hardly heard his voice over the roar around them. The use of her last name in such a manner stung, just like when Slytherin Harry or Ron used it.

"Same to you, I guess." She said, equally as curt. She didn't particularly care if he heard her or not. "Diggory." She added sharply.

He stiffened visibly at her use of his last name. Hermione pointedly looked away as Madame Hooch finished pleading for a foul-free game.

"All right? All right then." She cleared her throat. Then, all in one quick motion, Madame Hooch tossed the Quaffle high in the air and shouted, "Begin!"

A/n: Not much happened, I know. I repeat: the next chapter will make up for this one. ;)