I finally completed the cover for This is Why. Keep in mind the design for Hermione is how she will look sixth and seventh year, especially regarding her hair. You can check it out on the becausewhynotofficial blog on tumblr or if you're on desk top you can check it out on this website.
Now that he was in charge of study hall every morning and three times a week after class, Cedric had managed to keep himself out of torturous daily detentions. He didn't particularly like teacher work, but once he had proven himself useful he seemed to have changed the minds of some of the younger years. The study hall was open to anyone with homework trouble and several prefects were assigned to help.
Though Defense was Harry's specialty, Cedric managed to bring him in as well to help the younger years in other subjects so as to not raise suspicion of their defense club. If anybody overheard someone talking about Harry's teaching skills, then they could just say they're talking about study hall. Professor McGonagall thought it was an excellent idea and Umbridge couldn't say anything just yet because Heads of Houses had final say on how detentions were served. They didn't touch the topic of Defense Against the Dark Arts during these study halls, but Harry seemed to thrive in helping the younger years with spell work.
He had a knack for explaining things so that others could understand and was more patient than he realized.
"I just don't want to make them feel how Snape does," said Harry when Cedric pointed it out.
"That's why you would be a good teacher," he insisted.
"Well, what about you?"
"I'm more of a workshop man," said Cedric. "Yeah, I can explain concepts and help with homework, but it's draining. I wonder how much of it is actually me pushing the information with legilimency."
"I think that's fair. Hey, uh, what is that thing you and Hermione were talking about the other day?"
"Ah, that." He did hate the idea at first, but once she explained it, he couldn't say no. He wasn't sure how much good it would do for himself, but it might give Harry a chance. "What are you doing for Valentine's Day?"
"Uh…" Harry's mind immediately went to a date and was shocked to find himself flustered by the thought. Immediately, he put up a barrier, but Cedric had already seen it.
If he were honest with himself, he felt a bit pleased by that. He still had it.
"We're going to give an exclusive interview," he said, saving Harry the embarrassment. "Someone is going to print the truth about our experience and let the public decide for themselves what that means. Which reminds me… I need to find an editor who will print it."
"You mean you don't already have one?"
"I'll have it handled. Just meet me at Hogsmeade that day. If you have a date, just make sure they know you have an interview and schedule around it."
Harry's cheeks turned red. "Yeah, I don't really see anyone wanting to date me right now."
"You might be surprised."
"What, did you hear something?"
"No, I just said you might be surprised." Cedric scratched his neck and decided to change the subject. "How's Ron doing? I heard he's… got self-esteem issues."
Ron was Gryffindor's Keeper. Cedric was surprised that Cormac guy didn't get it, but learned that he hadn't tried out because Fred and George had dared him to eat doxy eggs the night before so their brother would have a fighting chance to make the team this year. Not that they would tell him that.
"That's putting it mildly," Harry sighed. "When he doesn't let his nerves get the better of him, he's really good, but he gets flustered and lets it throw him off. Angelina, Katie, and Alicia have been working with him, extra practices and all that. I think even Ginny has been getting up early with him to train. I've just been trying to catch the snitch before the other team makes too many points, but we're up against Hufflepuff next. Well… you've seen him play haven't you?"
"No. I taught Lee how to use the soundboard and I've been leading the Hufflepuff team in warmups, but that's the closest I get. Sitting in the stands just makes me upset, you know?"
"Yeah, I get that," said Harry. "I'm still surprised she let me keep playing. I suppose I have Dumbledore to thank for that."
And yet Dumbledore hasn't done much in the way of help. Umbridge was still using those quills whenever she could, she was still making everyone's lives miserable, and Cedric was losing more and more of his support system every day. The Prophet was spreading awful rumors about werewolf packs and there was talk of expanding the Werewolf Capture Unit. Anyone suspected of being in contact with werewolves was under inquiry as they might also be in contact with Fenrir Greyback.
Because obviously all werewolves knew each other.
Cedric's friendship circle was significantly smaller after that got around. He tried not to let it get to him. He just had to keep acting like his same kind, friendly self and maybe after the article was released he'd get all his old friends back.
Right?
Of course right.
Cedric bid Harry goodbye and used the Marauder's Map to find Luna. She was with the Annual Club, which was being heavily censored by Umbridge. They weren't allowed to print anything relating to real world news so they'd been filling up the empty space with dumb questionnaires and the like. Luna wasn't even allowed to report on her conspiracies or magical creatures anymore as they were deemed "too outlandish and bound to give children wrong ideas", whatever the hell that meant.
"Hello," he said, averting his gaze as he poked his head into the room. He knew exactly who was afraid of him. "Sorry to interrupt, I just need to have a word with Luna."
"Have a sentence even," said Luna, skipping out of the room to chat with him.
Even though it had been years since her injury and her limp was practically non-existent, Luna still insisted on skipping everywhere like he had suggested.
"Do you think your dad would print an article for me?" Cedric asked.
"Absolutely," she said. "We've been trying to spread good werewolf propaganda."
"This isn't about lycanthropy," he said. "It's about our good friend Morty."
Luna's eyes widened ever-so-slightly and she nodded.
"I see."
"Hermione has a way to get Rita Skeeter to write a straightforward non-embellished article about the whole truth of what happened that night," he continued. "So Harry and I are going to tell her and we would like her article to be printed in the Quibbler."
She frowned.
"I still haven't forgiven her for what she did to Esperanza and Hermione," she said. "Do we have to pay her?"
"Oh, haven't you heard? The Quibbler never pays its writers. The reporters submitting the articles are just happy to see their stories in print."
His cousin's smile returned.
"Alright, I will let Daddy know to expect the article," she said. "We'll make it a special issue and ensure no detail is missed, embellished, or censored."
"You won't need to embellish it," said Cedric. "It was horrific enough to live through."
Luna touched his arm lightly.
"Will you be okay telling it?" she asked.
Cedric shrugged. "People need to know the truth. I plan on talking with Hermione after the interview."
"It might be time to see a Mind Healer like Ginny," said Luna.
"One) I can't afford it," Cedric scoffed. "Two) who the hell would take me as their patient? I mean, I know María would, but she's all the way in D.R."
"Couldn't you use the mirrors?"
"I guess, but still… I don't want Hermione's family knowing my bad parts."
"You don't have bad parts Cedric," said Luna, tweaking his ponytail. "You are a growing, fluid human being, ever changing and always learning."
He didn't quite believe her, but knew she wouldn't steer him wrong. He just worried that Mimi's family might decide he wasn't good enough to join and would shun him and abandon him just as everyone else he was friendly with was starting to do. It was a ridiculous notion, he knew they loved him from the moment they met him, but the thoughts were still there.
"I'll write to Daddy and let him know to expect the article," she said. "I might tease Rita, let her think that other articles are more important than yours, but we'll print it as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Luna."
"Cedric! Hello?"
"I oughta go, Hermione's calling me."
"See you later." Luna went back into the club room.
Cedric found a secluded area, took out his mirror, and gazed down at his girlfriend. She had changed her hair. Now they were in twists all gathered to one side. Brown at the top and dyed the same shade of blue as her Larimar ring at the bottom. She looked good.
"Hello, my beautiful girlfriend," he said. "Did you get back to Castelobruxo alright?"
"Yeah," she said. Why did she look so sad?
"What's wrong?"
"Who said anything was wrong?"
"Your eyes did."
"Nothing gets past you."
He knew why she was reluctant to say anything. She felt that because his life was hurtling towards rock-bottom that anything she had to complain about would be superficial. Yes, the nasty part of him would think that, but at the same time her feelings were her feelings and she should be allowed to feel them no matter what anyone else was feeling or going through. He loved her and he was going to listen to her woes.
"Talk to me," he said.
She shrugged. "I guess I just don't know who I am here and I don't really have friends who can tell me. My family can't really tell me, because the me they know is different."
"Well, you're in all those clubs, yes?" Cedric asked. "Aren't you making friends there?"
"Yeah, but they don't really talk to me outside the clubs," she said. "I think the people in the dance club missed me, but they more missed my sweet skills and not me as a person."
"I hear that," he said. "You're still doing S.A.M.B. right? How's that going?"
"Well, I haven't really done it much," she said. "Maybe I should talk to Dr. Nakamura about it. She's a vampire, maybe she'll give me some insight. I mean, just because Castelobruxo is pretty inclusive doesn't mean that it's the example of society. I think I'll talk to her after class on Monday."
"There she is," said Cedric, seeing the fire spark in her eye. "Hermione Lotulelei-Sanchez y Granger, teen activist."
She smiled at him and he felt his heart lurch the way it always did when she looked at him that way. More than anything he wished he were there with her.
"I've got some homework I need to get done," he said. "Um, did you want to plan a date on the fourteenth? I mean, after the interview with Skeeter."
"Yeah, sure," she said. "We can have it in the room of things. We'll bring our own food and make it all romantic. I might have a little something in the works to send to you."
"I look forward to it."
Hermione kissed the mirror and waved at him. Then his reflection was staring back at him. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He should have been there. If it weren't for Umbridge, then he would have been.
No. He was where he needed to be. He wasn't the only one suffering from Umbridge's wrath. Who was going to protect Winnifred and Bailey and the others? She wouldn't be here long. The defense position was cursed. The only person who made it out okay was Professor Lupin. That one was a head scratcher. How had he avoided the curse? Perhaps because he was already cursed?
"Hey, Ced," said George. "Want to hang with us tonight?"
"Yeah, okay. I do have homework to do, though, so I can't hang too long."
"Ah, yes, because you're aiming to be a respectable member of society," said Fred, slinging an arm around his neck to guide him along. "Just like Lee."
"Please," Lee scoffed. "I'm only twelve percent more respectable than the two of you."
George laughed whereas Fred just smirked.
"Any mayhem I need to have absolutely no idea about and direct the perfect location for?"
"Guess we're not a trio anymore," said Lee, giving Cedric a good natured grin. "Are there actually any good quartets? Movies and books usually focus on trios."
"The Marauders were a quartet," George pointed out.
"Yeah, but Pettigrew betrayed them," Cedric pointed out. "I always did hear that three is company."
"Okay, so the game is name a good quartet," said Fred. "Something that describes us."
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," said Cedric.
"Ghostbusters?" George offered.
"I think we're more like the A-Team," said Fred.
"Or Dorothy and friends from Wizard of Oz," said Lee.
"Alright, but since I look best in gingham, I get to be Dorothy," said Cedric, making them all laugh.
"Sure," said Lee, touching his ponytail. "We'll get you some pretty blue ribbons."
George's jealousy hit Cedric like a brick to the face.
"Nah," he said, playing it off easily so the anger would stop. "Blue ribbons are more Hermione's thing. You know, because she loves Belle from Beauty and the Beast so much."
"Oh, yeah," said Lee. "I'm still bummed about theater club being broken up. George and I had so much fun doing it. The club, I mean."
"What else could you mean?" Fred asked.
"Nothing, just wanted to clarify."
George and Lee evaded eye-contact with each other.
Huh. Is this what people saw when he and Hermione were pining for each other? God, that must have been annoying to witness. He could see how frustrated George and Lee were just living it. Neither could make the first move because the consequences were too high and they both thought there was something there, but again, they thought it was wishful thinking or misreading the signs.
"Lee, Fred, why don't you go on ahead?" Cedric suggested. "I got a question for George about Herbology and I don't want to disrupt everybody's funky flow with school stuff."
"Well, that's mighty considerate of you," said Fred cheerfully while Lee's eye twitched.
Seriously, they did remember he was involved with Hermione, right? Wait, not important.
Once the two were out of ear shot, Cedric steered George away from prying ears.
"You've got to tell Lee how you feel," he said.
George blushed furiously. "Hermione told you!"
"She didn't have to," he said. "I can sense how you feel."
"You don't know what it's like being in love with your best friend and not knowing if they love you back!" said George.
Cedric gave him a look.
"Er… fair point," he said, flushing with embarrassment. "But see, it's different. You're a bloke, Hermione's a girl, everyone sort of expected you two to end up together."
"I would love her just as much if she were a guy or neither!" Cedric argued. "I'm bi, George, I've had a fair amount of crushes on boys. Some of them so much so that they hurt knowing nothing could happen."
"It's complicated."
"Yeah, it is," he agreed. "Look, I'm not saying you should come out to the whole school. Actually, I'd recommend against that considering the whole atmosphere of this place, but you can still come out to him."
"And, what, if I don't tell him you will?"
"Not my business to tell," he said. "I know what it's like to have stuff you don't want known blurted for all to hear."
George thought of how Basira outed the relationship Bastien and Apolline Delacour had with Cedric's mother in front of everyone.
"Yeah, I guess you do," he said. "But what if Lee doesn't feel the same?"
"I do know he won't judge you," said Cedric. "Even if he doesn't want to date you, I can sense that he values your friendship too much to let it come between you. Just… think about it, okay?"
George crossed his arms tightly. It was rare for him to close off like this.
"Be honest," he said. "Would you date me?"
Cedric shrugged and tipped his head from side-to-side. "I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it. You're funny and good-looking. I know you often deal with being part of a matching set, but you and Fred are different people with your own personalities."
"Would you date Fred?"
"Nah. I'm still not entirely over him calling me stupid," said Cedric. "I know I pranked you pretty good last year and the year before that."
"Hermione pranked us."
"Who do you think helped her?"
George scoffed disbelievingly and shook his head. "You're an enigma, Ced. I can appreciate that. Anyway, thanks for the bolstering. Um… I'll have to think about it."
"Take your time and don't be jealous of any affection towards me." Cedric cracked a grin. "I'm irresistible. It's my cross to bear. Whatever that means."
With a loud snort, George shoved him and went on to catch up to his friend and brother. Cedric followed, smiling serenely.
The full moon was coming up. He was relieved it was on a weekend. It would give him time to complete his homework and, yeah, Monday would suck but he could rest leading up to his transformation. Not a perfect compromise, but at least Umbridge couldn't stop him from doing that.
That Sunday, he made his way to Professor Lupin's office so they could witness each other taking their doses. When he arrived, the man was pacing the floor and looking worse for wear.
"Professor?" Cedric asked. "Is everything alright?"
"No." He shook his head. "It's not. Umbridge is onto me. She thinks it odd that I'm the one who stands guard over you every full moon and is setting an inquiry on me. What am I going to do? If she finds out the truth, I'll be ruined. I'll never be able to show my face in public again! She might call the Werewolf Capture Unit on me and it could be the final straw that gets Dumbledore sacked. I've worked here over two years, somebody would suspect something by now."
"Professor Lupin, calm down." Cedric opened his backpack and brought out his dosage box. Tucked to one side were clearly labeled bottles in bright yellow compared to the wolfsbane potion's greenish black. He picked it up and held it out. "This will push back the transformation for one moon. You can only use it once every six moons. Twice in a row will cause you to transform midday."
Professor Lupin took the bottle and stared at it in wonder.
"And you're certain this works?" he asked.
"I've never taken it," he admitted. "But Hana is the best potioneer in the Northern Hemisphere. I trust her work."
The older werewolf sighed. "Might as well. If I don't try, I'll lose everything." He broke the seal, twisted the cap off, and knocked it back.
The bottle was put away just as Umbridge let herself into the History of Magic classroom.
"Hem hem," she coughed.
"Ah, High Inquisitor," said Professor Lupin. "I was just administering Cedric's dose."
"Of course," she said.
Cedric knocked back the potion and the three of them went out to the Whomping Willow and took the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack. Cedric could feel the toad woman's disgust at the state of the place. What was she expecting, the Ritz? No, this was one step up from a crack den.
"You're just going to let him roam free?" Umbridge asked in the fake-innocent tone. "What if he tries to escape?"
"He won't," Professor Lupin assured her. "There are wards activated every full moon to keep him in."
Cedric stumbled over to the couch and collapsed on it. A stubby leg snapped and the furniture lurched, throwing him back and making his head swim. His body felt like it was floating while his head was a lead balloon. He really should take the potion when he arrived at the shack. It would be much easier so that he wouldn't lose his shoe. When did he lose his shoe? Whoa… his toes looked weird.
"He's a dangerous beast," Umbridge stressed.
"Hey…" Cedric looked up at them. "Ever notice how toes look like baby fingers? So crazy."
"Yes, he's a mad man," Professor Lupin replied drily.
"I would feel much better with some precautions," said Umbridge sweetly.
"Very well." Professor Lupin waved his wand and a visible barrier blocked off the windows and anything that he could technically escape through, and it also blocked him from the two teachers.
"Heeey, look," Cedric laughed. "I'm in a zoo! Does this mean I get peanuts if I balance a ball on my nose? Why do they call them peanuts if they're technically legumes? I guess pealegume doesn't quite roll of the tongue as well. Can you imagine? Pealegume butter. Pealegume butter cheesecake. Pealegume M&Ms. I love peanut butter. I especially love to dip biscuits in it and eat them. People think it's weird but I like it. Hermione is the one who introduced it to me. Hermione's wonderful. She's so smart. I like her hair when it's all loose and wild. People tell her she should straighten it, but they're idiots. She changed her hair to braids. I like the braids, too. I wonder what she'll try next. She always looks good. People tell her she doesn't, but they really need to shut up. Don't you hate it when people talk too much? They just go on and on and on and on."
Umbridge dragged her stubby fingers down her face. Cedric was hamming it up for that very reason.
"When is the transformation going to happen?" she groaned.
"Soon," said Professor Lupin, looking at his watch and anxiously glancing out the window.
"Oh, wait I feel something," said Cedric. "Yup… I'm transforming… Yes, the Beast is rising in me!"
He burped and for some reason that was the funniest thing ever. Cedric rolled off the couch and kicked his legs in the air, howling in laughter. For the first time, his euphoria leaked over into his transformation. Perhaps, due to the fact he was at a seven on the pain scale every day, he was growing numb to it. Now, his paws were kicking in the air and he was cackling like a hyena. He rolled onto his side and saw Professor Lupin standing there still a human.
The potion worked.
Umbridge looked most unhappy about this revelation.
"So, I suppose we'll just stand here like this all night," she huffed.
"Well, no," said Professor Lupin. "Research done by the maker of his potion shows that most werewolf aggression comes from boredom. We're going to play with him."
He removed a red ball from his pocket and threw it into the room.
Dog instinct taking over, Cedric ran after it and brought it back to Professor Lupin. He still couldn't pass the barrier, but he dropped the ball and pushed it towards the teachers with his nose.
"Well, you seem to have this under control," said Umbridge tightly. "I expect to see Mr. Diggory in detention tomorrow."
"What did he do?"
"He refused to write an essay on how to kill werewolves."
God, the one practical lesson they had and it was in how to kill him.
"I hate to be the reminder in this," said Professor Lupin, "but Cedric has patrol duty tomorrow."
"I have to wonder, has he been upholding his duties as Head Boy?"
Cedric dropped the ball and sobered up. She couldn't take that from him!
"Professor, you can't remove him from his position as Head Boy. Only the Headmaster can do that and can you imagine the disorder of issuing a new one? They might undo everything already established and approved."
Umbridge hummed and stared Cedric in the eye. "I suppose you're right. For now."
That sent chills down his spine. Umbridge left Professor Lupin to his duties. Once he was sure she was gone, Lupin removed the barrier and sat down against the wall. Cedric loped over and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry, Cedric," he said. "A boy your age shouldn't have to deal with these things. Already, you've experienced more pain and trauma in the past year than most people face their entire lives."
It wasn't forever. He just had to be patient and then he would be free to live his life.
He just had to wait.
He could make it.