Chapter 2: If We Roll Together
"Hermione Granger."
She looked up from her book and saw hims standing with his books on his arm.
"Can I sit here with you?" He asked.
She looked behind him and saw a group of female students staring at Cedric Diggory and glacing confusedly between them.
"Why?" She asked back.
"Because I want to."
Silence.
"Alright."
He occupied the chair opposite her. I can see why you like to sit here.
She looked at him.
"Great view." He explained, gesturing the window by their side, letting them see the Black Lake and the Forbidden Forest.
They stayed silent for a moment.
"Are you trying to prove a point?" She asked, as she put her book down.
He shook his head. "I'm taking a stand."
She chortled. "And you expect people to follow you?"
He shook his head again. "I was hoping you d do the same."
"Why me?" She sighed. "Why can't you convince you friends, or someone else?"
"Because you're the one that matters."
She paused at his words. "I don't understand."
"Yes you do." He said, looking at her. "You can't keep hiding. These small things, he pointed at them both, These are the ones that matter. If we sit together, why do their judgment have to worry us?"
She stayed silent. For someone known as the brainless pretty boy, he does make a good point.
They started sitting together at that particular window seat of the library.
Even when people began to whisper why Cedric Diggory and Hermione Granger were laughing closely together, they paid them no mind.
Even when Cedric s friends couldn t understand why he was often in the library with her, he told them no lie.
Even when Harry raied his eyebrows at her, she bit her lip from telling him that they were just studying together.
Hermione found her match with Cedric. He was not brainless at all. On the contrary, he was rather full of wit, sensible opinions and vast knowledge. Cedric, at first, was somehow interested that Hermione never blushed, never stuttered, or even bat an eyelash whenever they talked. But as he went on, he found her snarky remarks, smooth comebacks and intelligent perceptions alluring.
Their conversations were, as one might say, weird and completely off-base. It was also rather witty and challenging.
Maybe masks are removable after all.