As soon as Madam Pomfrey came by with their after-potion, Cedric went to breakfast. When he entered the hall, all eyes turned on him. Avoiding contact, Cedric sat down at the end of the Hufflepuff table and helped himself to some food. Werewolf transformations burned a lot of calories and since he wasn't on the farm anymore, his muscle definition went more to the lean side. He could feel it in the way his clothes hung a little looser on him.
Werewolf.
Never should have let him back.
I wonder if he really saw Voldemort. I bet he's lying.
Those scars are horrible to look at.
Monster.
Cedric quickly put his headphones on and turned up his music to drown out the loud thoughts of everyone around him. More than anything he wished Hermione was here with him.
She didn't care enough about you to stay, the new voice in his head told him. It had been there ever since the attack. Pointing out every flaw, every insecurity he had.
She made a promise to her parents, he told himself. One more incident and she'll go to Castelobruxo. She's safer there. I want her to be safe.
Winnifred sat down across from Cedric and munched on a piece of toast.
"Good morning," she signed.
"Good morning, Winnifred," he replied, hoping that he was remembering BSL. "How are you?"
Before she could reply, a boy sat down next to her.
"Is it true?" he asked.
Cedric pushed his headphones back. "Excuse me?"
"Are you really a werewolf?" the boy asked, wide-eyed.
"Oh … that." Cedric sighed through his nose and poked at his eggs. "Yes, it's true."
"Cool!"
"What?"
"I'm Cecil Hester," said the boy. "I'm an avid follower of all things Monster related. Vampires, werewolves, Bigfoot, that sort of thing."
"I see." Perhaps a fan was better than being hated…
"So, do you really change during the full moon?"
Perhaps not…
"Yes, I had a transformation last night."
"Is it for all three days or just when the moon is at its peak?"
"When it's at its peak," Cedric replied. His keen ears picked up Hermione calling his name. "Excuse me. Winnifred, still need help with homework?"
"Astoria from Slytherin is helping me." Winnifred smiled. "And Luna from Ravenclaw is too."
"Alright, good."
He got to his feet and drew his mirror from his bag as he left the Great Hall.
"Morning, love," he said. "Isn't it early there?"
"Yes, a bit," she said. She appeared to be walking along a dark street. "Since I signed up late, I was in the earliest slot for the transportation course. First seven months is driver's ed. Last two months is apparition. I thought I might like some company while walking to the library and yours is my favorite."
He felt his ears warm at her declaration and a smile spread on his face.
"They're starting you on apparition that early?" he asked, taking one of the secret passage ways to get to the Room of Things.
"Apparently," she said. "Honestly, I'm just relieved that I'm not behind the wheel yet. Right now it's all driver's safety, traffic laws, and things like that learned in a classroom setting. Still, it's something the board of education deemed important. I suppose it also makes sense that I'm learning to apparate this year since I can perform magic in public now. Who's that?"
Cedric turned around and jumped upon seeing Cecil.
"Is that your girlfriend?" he asked. "She's pretty. Where's she from? Why isn't she here?"
"Cecil, this is a private call," said Cedric, turning the mirror away.
"My brother talks on the phone with his girlfriend all the time," said Cecil, not getting the hint. "It's fun to pick up the other line and listen to them, but sometimes it gets a little gross."
Cedric bit back a biting retort and knocked on the frame of a portrait, quickly closing it behind him. He ran all the way to the seventh floor and took refuge in his workshop. He collapsed on his bench and rested the mirror on the table.
"Sorry about that," he said. "Normally questions don't bother me but his seem to. Kid's a werewolf fan."
Hermione made a face. "Oh dear… he does realize that it's not actually glamorous being a minority, right?"
"He doesn't," said Cedric, shaking his head and removing his prosthetic. "I don't want to talk about him, tell me more about Castelobruxo and your classes."
"Well, my classes are a little difficult, I can barely keep up," said Hermione. "It's not just that it's more advanced, I think. It's more that we go through a lot more material in a shorter span of time. My capoeira class is pretty awesome and Shakira is an amazing instructor and…"
She and Cedric talked for a little while before she had to get to her homework. The rest of the day, he holed up and worked on filling orders for radios and boomboxes. When he was done, he walked to Hogsmeade and had them delivered through their postal service so they could go all around the world. Satisfied, he went to dinner where Cecil was waiting to bombard him with more werewolf related questions.
All week, Cecil had something new to ask him and seemed to show up out of nowhere. It drove Cedric mad.
"Do you have dog-like tendencies in human form?"
"Do you have heightened senses like sharper smell and hearing?"
"Are you color-blind?"
"Are you allergic to chocolate?"
"Can you talk to dogs?"
"Is your fur itchy?"
"Do you howl at the moon?"
Cedric had had enough of it. The morning Viktor replied to his letter, Cecil had thought of more questions.
"Would a silver bullet actually kill you?" Cecil asked.
"Who wouldn't that kill?" Cedric retorted.
"If you bit me right now would I become a werewolf?"
Cedric froze and turned around. Cecil realized he said the wrong thing and took a step back.
"Listen, Cecil," Cedric growled. "I didn't ask to become a werewolf. There's actually a very good population here who think I would be better off dead! Do you know what could be done to me if you even insinuated that I tried to bite you?"
Cecil shook his head.
"A fate worse than death," said Cedric. "All they need is an excuse. Now please, don't ask me anymore werewolf questions, I'm trying to forget that I'm a monster."
He left the Great Hall and read his friend's letter.
Cedric,
It took some time to figure out what you were saying but what you are describing is a Black Quill. Karkaroff used them as punishment on students like my friend Milo who were not well accomplished and only at Durmstrang by influence. They don't normally have an enchantment to keep you from speaking of it, but that could be a new thing. Who is using it on you? I have connections to the Bulgarian Ministry, I could have someone intervene if need be. You're my friend, Cedric, and I don't want you to suffer any more than you already have.
— Viktor
Cedric knew no Ministry would be likely to intervene for the sake of a crazy boy and a werewolf. He had no other choice but to transfer. That evening, in his room, Cedric penned out five letters for Mahoutokoro, Rockwell Academy of Practical Magic, Castelobruxo, Beauxbatons, and Uluru.
Dear Headmaster/Headmistress,
I would like to request an application for a mid-semester transfer. The education system at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is severely lacking this year and I feel my education could be better finished at your fine institution. Attached is a letter of recommendation from my Head of House…
Professor Sprout wrote him one as soon as he asked and promised to keep his transfer a secret just in case it didn't work out. He didn't want to lose his status as Head Boy in the meantime.
…as well as a transcript of my academic record and a copy of my contract with the East Asian Ministry to prove I have a job lined up upon graduation. I do not currently have a guardian to speak for me, but I do have money for transfer fees and textbooks.
Sincerely,
Cedric Peregrine Diggory
He would wait to mail them when Stephen Squawking would undoubtedly show up with his birthday present.
~o0o~
School was just under three weeks in and Cedric was growing paranoid. Anything could get him a detention and he was working so hard to avoid it. He tried to stay in his own lane: complete homework, hold Quidditch in the mornings, and perform duties as Head Boy. At least he had a little bit of a distraction.
This year, Cedric wasn't sure what to give Hermione for her birthday. Last year, he gave her wonderful gifts that she absolutely loved. He wanted to give her something special for her sixteenth birthday.
He couldn't get her another jewelry item and a book was just lazy. But then, he remembered some things she loved. Oversized sweatshirts. Tea Mugs. Proving she was right. And him.
So, he ordered in a black sweatshirt, wore it for a couple days, and painted Get at the top and then a drawing of the molecular geometry of a trigonal planar with two bonds and one lone pair. He remembered it because it made her laugh really hard. He also got her a mug that read Pureblood Tears on the side.
"Happy Birthday, Cedric," said Tabatha, handing him a box.
"Oh, thanks Tabatha," said Cedric, unwrapping it to find an assortment of sweets.
"How you holding up?" she asked.
"Oh, just fine," he lied. He brightened up immensely when he saw Stephen Squawking soar into the Great Hall and drop a large package in front of him.
"Hello, Stephen," he said and dug into the side pocket of his backpack. "Would you like a peanut?"
"Omigod, omigod, omigod!" Stephen cried and snatched the peanut out of Cedric' hand.
While the bird was preoccupied, Cedric opened the gift and found an assortment of items not just from Hermione, but from her parents and Esperanza. He was touched that they thought of him. Manuia and Hana got him an assortment of books; Esperanza made him new set of clothes, including a fur-lined cloak, and from Hermione he got a single red leather diary with her name inscribed on it.
He opened the notebook and found a message to him in Hermione's small, rushed handwriting.
Dear Farm Boy,
Happy Birthday! Here's the idea that I thought of. Now, instead of worrying about our conversations being overheard, we can write back-and-forth to each other. I call it the Instant Messaging Notebook, or IMN for short. Anything you write here will reach me in real time and that way we can tell each other things as they happen rather than having to wait for a time to call and forgetting what we wanted to say. Isn't that neat?
Love,
Hermione
P.S. Ginny knows about it, so she won't freak out when you're writing in a diary that writes back.
Cedric took out a pencil and wrote back.
Dear Mimi,
Thank you for the present, love! I also liked the presents your parents sent me. I hope you like the presents I sent to you.
All my love,
Cedric
He closed the book and noticed that the yellow dot beside her name disappeared. It seemed it would alert him of any new messages.
"Stephen," he said, "I need you to deliver these letters for me, please."
Stephen nipped a loose lock by Cedric's ear and took the letters before flying away. Cedric felt a figurative weight lift off his shoulders which was immediately replaced by two physical weights.
"Hello, Cedric!" said Fred.
"Happy Birthday!" said George.
"Georgie and I got you a little something," said Fred, placing a box in front of him.
"Your very own Skiving Snack Box," said George. "All you need for a quick get away out of class."
"Thanks," said Cedric. "How did the yarrow work?"
"Brilliantly," they said.
"It would have taken us ages to figure it out on our own," said Fred.
"And that is why you're the best endorser anyone could ask for," said George. "Just say the word and we'll make you a full-time partner of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. We could be Weasleys and Willoughby Wizard Wheezes should you take up a last name."
"Thanks guys, but I'm happy just endorsing," said Cedric. "Pranking isn't my life calling."
"Ah, well, enjoy the snack box anyway," said George.
Since he didn't have DADA on Tuesdays, Cedric didn't feel tempted to use anything in the snack box.
"Go back to the forest, wolf," Atwood spat as he passed.
Cedric suddenly felt himself grow hot as anger boiled in his stomach. He stood and pressed his hand to Atwood's head and muttered the enchantment.Atwood fell over, sound asleep. Cedric straightened up and stuffed his birthday presents into his backpack.
"See you in transfig, Fred," he said. "Later, George."
"Bye, Cedric," they chorused, looking at Atwood with glee.
Cedric smiled when he saw George remove a marker from his pocket and bend over Atwood's face.
Despite everything, it was not an Umbridge free day. Professor McGonagall's class was reviewing human transfiguration when a question popped into Cedric's head. He raised his hand.
"Yes, Mr. Diggory?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Just Cedric, please. It just occurred to me, ma'am," he said, "as a werewolf, might that affect the way human transfiguration works on me? What if someone tried to polyjuice as someone who was a werewolf? Would ingesting even a bit of DNA infect them with lycanthropy? Can a werewolf also become an animagus or would their monthly transformation counteract the spell?"
"I… I am not sure, Mr. Di—Cedric," she said, puzzlement turning into consideration. "This will be something to deeply research."
"I bet you could write a paper for Transfiguration Daily Magazine with those findings," Cedric suggested. "Understanding lycanthropy is one step closer to a cure."
A few people didn't believe him. Fred was looking at him, eyebrows raised. These questions had never occurred to him and now he wanted to know the answers, too. He had a mind for experimentation.
Honestly, with Fred and George's ambition and cleverness, Cedric was surprised the two of them weren't in Slytherin. Perhaps it was ingrained into them that Slytherins were evil and so the Sorting Hat knew better than to sort them where they might not be accepted. If only it had better foresight.
"Hem, hem!"
Cedric flinched and turned his eyes to his paper.
"Dolores," said Professor McGonagall tightly. "I thought you were quite satisfied when you set an inquiry on my duties as Deputy—oh, good Lord!"
The class whipped their heads around and gawked. Professor Umbridge looked like she got in a fight with the Whomping Willow and lost. She had tried to intercept the letters Stephen Squawking was carrying to see what they entailed. She had stunned him, which only angered the bird, and he attacked her when she tried to take the letters. He had gotten away without them being read.
"This is not quite an inquiry, Minerva," she said. "I was hoping you could tell me what student owns a large, green bird."
"The bird's name is Stephen Squawking," said Professor McGonagall.
"I didn't ask what the bird's name was, I asked who it belonged to," she said crossly.
"The bird belongs to a former student, Miss Hermione Granger," said Professor McGonagall.
"And did Miss Granger have a habit of keeping dangerous creatures?"
"No, but she did seem to have a habit of making sure teachers remained competent and rule-abiding," Professor McGonagall retorted with malice.
"And where is she now?"
"She transferred to Castelobruxo," said Professor McGonagall. "To be with her family."
"I see and, uh, I would like to speak with Mr. Diggory."
Cedric kept his eyes unfocused and moved his pen around his notebook as if he were taking notes.
"We are in the middle of class, Dolores," said Professor McGonagall.
"Then I'll keep this short," she said. "Who were you writing to, Mr. Diggory? Look at me when I'm speaking to you."
Cedric stood up and turned to face her. "It is my birthday today. I sent thank you letters to my well-wishers. That is all."
"Detention for your lies!" said Umbridge. "And for failing to rein in your friend's pet!"
Cedric twitched. He had suspected as much.
"Dolores, detention for thank you letters and a bird that only attacks unless provoked?" Professor McGonagall asked incredulously.
"Students need to learn," she said sweetly. "And let this be a lesson to the rest of you."
"Very well," said Professor McGonagall, "however, as Deputy Headmistress, I declare that his detention will be served with me. Since Cedric has a way with animals, I could use his assistance with the creatures for next week's Third Year class."
"Very well." Professor Umbridge turned on her heel and left.
Cedric exhaled, plunked into his seat, and thunked his head on the table.
"Head up," said Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry, ma'am," he said.
Thank whoever was listening that Professor McGonagall used her powers as Deputy Headmistress to save him from another night of torment. For now.
"It's quite alright," she said and continued in a tone that said quite plainly there would be no more interruptions. "Now, as I was saying…"
Cedric stared down at his notebook and realized he had scrawled out Help Me.
During his free period, he opened up his IMN to see Hermione gushing over the sweatshirt and mug he gave her.
Hello, love. He wrote. Brilliant present.
Isn't it? I was rather proud when I came up with it, though I wouldn't be surprised if it was thought of before. How is your day going so far? I can talk now, I'm at lunch.
Cedric hesitated and just wrote out about his day, leaving out Atwood's comment and Stephen attacking Umbridge. He didn't even want her to know he was transferring until he was certain he was accepted somewhere. Anywhere. As long as it was far away from here.
Will you be available for a call tonight? I miss your beautiful face.
Yes, I think I can manage a window of time. :)
~o0o~
The next day, Umbridge was appointed High Inquisitor of Hogwarts and her first rule was that all detentions would be determined by her.
Dammit.