2 weeks had passed since her being chosen as the fourth Champion. People still ignored her, but they started to wear button around supporting Cedric Diggory, the true Hogwarts Champion. Even Gryffindors, her own house, were wearing them. Though she had been alone most of her life, never had she felt so isolated. Maybe this competition will bring relief of that, one way or another.
Students were millings about the Great Hall, settling in for breakfast. She had, of course, gotten there ages ago. She preferred to get ready for the day on her own. No girls to make fun of her in the showers, no boys god-awful burping to interrupt her early morning reading. Perfect. Except with the sound of flapping wings indicating the owls coming closer, she knew more and more people would be coming in to receive their mail.
She, personally, hasn't received make since her Hogwarts letter, so when a thick piece of parchment landed on her plate, splattering the crumbs, it certainly surprised her.
Running her tongue over her teeth in annoyance, she closed her book. No one was looking at her, at least from what she could tell from not moving her head. It was probably just a hate letter, after all, when the immature student body realized she would not react, at least in the open, to their bitter and harsh words, they often started to send notes.
Pulling at the ribbon, she let the parchment unfurl.
There was nothing written.
Confused, she lifted it up and peeked underneath. Nothing.
She was about to roll it up again, after all, she could always use more parchment, when a word started to write itself.
Hello
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a quill.
Who is this
Who do you think?
She could just picture an annoying smirk, though she did not have a face to put it to.
Weasley? If its you, I don't have time-
No! It isn't a Weasely. But it is also not important who I am. What is important are Dragons.
She rolled her eyes, and once again was ready to roll up, or rather rip, the parchment when a loud cough echoed across the great hall. Her eyes snapped to the Hufflepuff table, where Cedric Diggory was making furious glances down with his eyes.
Cedric?
Yes, now back to the dragons. They are the first task.
How do you know? And why should I trust you?
Because, if one person needs an advantage, its you. Meet me at the edge of the forbidden forest at 9.
She waited for him to write more, but when she looked up, she saw him leaving with his friends.
OoOoOoO
Hermione debated all day whether to meet him or not.
What if it all turned out to be a trick? After all, what proof did he have?
She nearly turned back towards the castle, when a hand shot out of the darkness, and grabbed her wrist.
She almost screamed til she saw Cedrics face gleaming in the moonlight.
Yanking her hand out of his grasp, she stumbled back a step.
"How do you know its dragons?"
"Way to get to the point."
"Cedric." She whispered in a stern tone, and he grinned, eyes sparkling.
"Follow me." He tilted his head, before heading off.
Just what she needed, to go off into the woods with a man she only knew through rumors. She could only imagine the taunts.
They didn't trek for long, and only when a large burst of fire lit up the sky, did she start to believe him. Moving in closer, they crouched behind bushes.
She could see everything clearly. The trainers, and four large beasts in cages, one was sleeping, but the rest were banging, and prowling restlessly in their cages.
"That's horrible. They should be kept in cages" She hissed.
"We are literally facing creatures set out to kill us, and you feel bad for them." He looked at her in astonishment.
"Of course, no creature deserved to have it freedom taken away." Cedric sighed, shaking his head.
"The green one is a Welsh Green, and that one is..." He started to point out all the dragons, some looking friendlier then the rest. "And that one is the Hunarian Horntail. Pray to every God you don't get her." Hermione gulped just looking at the creature. It was by far the most agitated. Snapping it tail against the bars with every pass.
"Why are you telling, or even showing, me all this." She said, disbelief lacing her tone, "Why are you helping me?"
Cedric sighed, taking a seat in the ground.
"I guess I feel bad," He held up a hand when she was about to interrupt. "I signed up for this, not you. I knew the dangers of entering, but whoever entered you obviously doesn't and thinks this is just some big prank."
"Why do care?" She felt like she was repeating herself, she was her own responsibility, not his.
"Is it such a crime?" He voice raised a little, showing the conviction. "Maybe I think... maybe I thought that this tournament was about glory, but, I don't want to see someone die before they can live all because a stupid prick entered your name for fun."
Hermione was speechless, no one had ever show so much emotion toward her.
With a sigh she sat down next to him, giving her knees a break. "So, are you gonna train me or what?"
AN: Still having trouble reaching a thousand words per chapter, but I am getting there.
Julia
