Hermione woke up and rubbed her eyes. Looking around she didn't recognize where she was but then remembered she wasn't in her room at her house. She was at Grimmauld place.
"Ginny." Hermione said.
There was a groan.
"Gin."
"Whhhattt." Ginny said.
"Never mind." Hermione said at last.
"Ugghhhh." Then Ginny went back to sleep.
Hermione looked at Ginny one more time and just laughed. Well now she knew exactly what trait Ginny and Ron shared. Their inability to be pleasant when being woken up.
Hermione slipped out the door with her bundle of clothes so that she could take a shower and change in the bathroom.
Hermione couldn't help but give a delighted sigh at the feel of the water. Unfortunately in her haste to take a shower she forgot to lock the door.
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Cedric had been awake for a long while but hadn't wanted to get out of bed yet knowing no one else was. Last night was like every other night. He dreamt again about what happened in the maze. Harry, the girl…
The nightmares were recurring and he couldn't remember the last time he had a decent night's sleep. No he could. That night Mimi had stayed with him in the Hufflepuff's dormitory.
He finally got himself out of bed and halfway to the bathroom. Because of his tiredness he completely missed the fact that there was the sound of water running.
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Hermione turned off the water and grabbed the towel hanging on the rack. She wrapped it around herself as she stepped out of the shower.
When Hermione had stepped out completely the doorknob turned and slowly opened.
Hermione looked up at the sound of the door opening and before she could help it, she gave a shriek of shock.
Unfortunately the shriek of shock woke up the all so lovely late Mrs. Black.
"Filthy Mudbloods and Blood Traitors. In my home. Oh the shame!"
Whomever hadn't woken up at the sound of Hermione was soon woken up by Mrs. Black's yelling.
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Both Hermione and Cedric's faces were still red as they sat down for breakfast.
Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Diggory really did not know what to say.
The twins both had this glint in their eyes that Hermione knew was not going to lead to anything good.
Ginny was smiling as it was the most entertainment she'd had in a while that hadn't had to do with finding a dark spell or creature.
Ron was red too though not in the same way as Cedric and Hermione. He also couldn't help but glare at the handsome Hufflepuff.
Sirius, Tonks, Remus, and Mr. Diggory had found it quite hilarious. Professor Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes.
The other adults tried to pretend nothing had happened. Such as Professor Snape and Mad Eye Moody.
"So Hermione, Cedric," Fed began.
"Is there anything you two," George said.
"Should be telling us?" Fred said as he and his twin wiggled their eyebrows.
Hermione dropped her jaw and glared at them.
They both gave cheeky grins.
Cedric took Hermione's hand and thread their fingers together.
Hermione looked up at him. Cedric shook his head as if telling her to ignore them.
"I think I will barf." Snape said in his dry tone.
Both Hermione and Cedric couldn't help but blush.
Ginny and the twins snickered.
Mrs. Diggory threw her son and his girlfriend both sympathetic looks.
"Oh young love." Tonks sighed. "Don't you remember it?" She asked Sirius.
Sirius gave Cedric a wink. "Oh yes."
"Oh my god." Hermione couldn't help but mutter.
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Breakfast finished and Hermione and Cedric were headed to the place they were expected to clean up, when Tonks had asked them to wait up.
"Hi I didn't get to formally introduce myself yesterday." Tonks said as she stepped in front of Hermione.
"Hi." Hermione said.
"My name's Nyphadora Tonks. I prefer Tonks." She smiled.
Hermione watched mesmerized as her hair turned a vibrant shade of Green.
"Are you a Metamorphmagus?" Hermione said in awe.
"Wow you got it right. That's amazing almost no one- well I can definitely see why people say you're the cleverest witch of your age."
Hermione had the grace to blush.
"Mudblood, a mudblood in my home. How I am glad to be dead than face the-"
"You are bloody dead Mother. Shut up now!" Sirius hollered.
"How dare you speak that way to me. My blood traitor son."
"Oh you." Sirius began.
"Mrs. Black could you please." Cedric said getting between Sirius and his mum.
The head on the wall looked down at Cedric and calmed automatically.
"Of course. I will be the mature one here. Not that I'm that old." She winked.
Hermione's eyes bugged out.
George and Fred both snickered. "Even she isn't immune to the charms of Cedric Diggory." They said together then broke into laughter.
Even some of the adults had to chuckle.
Sirius closed the curtain to his mother's head. "It is a bit creepy how taken my mother is with you."
Cedric blushed. "I have no clue why."
"I bet." Fred said.
"Hermione could tell us." George finished both laughing their heads off.
Hermione whirled dangerously around.
"Ohhh not good." They said simultaneously. And with a pop they apparated away.
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Much of the day Hermione spent catching up with all of the people there. And introducing herself to the new ones. She found it quite fascinating meeting the real Mad Eye Moody.
Hermione and Ron had spent an hour catching up. The last half hour though their conversation drifted to Harry. Hermione worried about Harry.
It was later that evening after dinner was over did Hermione and Cedric finally find time to be together without anybody else interferring. Namely the twins.
"If those two interrupt us again. I hope they're prepared to suffer." Hermione said as she joined Cedric on the floor near the fire.
At the end of the sentence there was a pop.
Hermione smiled gleefully. Cedric couldn't help but laugh.
"We're alone at last." Cedric laughed as he pulled Hermione next to him.
"Yes. Finally." Hermione sighed as she leaned into him. "Is it just me or do you also feel the gloom in the atmosphere?"
"It's not just you love." Cedric wrapped both his arms around her.
"I don't blame the people for not wanting him to come back but I wish they were not so ignorant."
"Me too. There's something dark in the air and everybody wants to pretend it's just a slight breeze."
"What's going to happen this year Cedric?"
"I don't know."
"I wish just once that it didn't feel like as if someone was aiming to have Harry killed."
"I really can't say much to that."
Hermione sighed. "Cedric."
"Hmmm?"
"Are you still having the nightmares?"
Cedric didn't say anything. He tightened his grip and rested his chin on the top of her head. "I'm just glad you're here."
"Same."
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Mrs. Cara Diggory came down to check on her son and Hermione Granger, the girl he was quite taken with.
She found the two asleep on the rug near the fire.
Hermione was snuggled into Cedric's chest. His arms' wrapped protectively around her. Both were breathing easily.
She couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. Her only son was growing up much too fast. Seeing him now with his girlfriend both broke her heart as she knew he was no longer the small boy that depended on her but now was a man that was coming in his own. He now lived for more than just himself but also for the person in his arms. Even though she was sad, she was marvelously happy that her son had found his happiness which just so happened to be named Hermione Granger.
She conjured a blanket and softly laid it over the two of them. She couldn't help but smile. She'd let them deal with the teasing they were bound to get tomorrow by themselves.
It was when she was halfway up the stairs that she realized this was the first time in a long time that she had checked on him and he was sound asleep rather than his usual tossing and turning. Even occasionally he would cry out in his sleep. That was just another thing she had to thank the Hermione Granger for.
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"Ohh la la." Fred said as he saw the couple snuggled asleep near the fire place the next morning.
"Morning Sleeping Beauties!" George yelled.
Cedric grumbled at the noise and lazily opened one eye. He wished he hadn't. The ever persistent Weasley twins were at it again. He groaned. Another day of the same.
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"Okay I am so jealous." Ginny said as she sat on the bed while Hermione changed clothes. "You and Cedric are like the ultimate couple. He's like the perfect boyfriend!" Ginny squealed.
Hermione smiled back sheepishly. "He is isn't he?"
"Sorry about my brothers you know, they're so lame they have to live vicariously through you two, since they can't get GIRLFRIENDS THEMSELVES." Ginny yelled as she glared at the door.
On the other side of the door, there was the sound of scrambling and groans.
"I might one day take those ears and stick it up their-"
"Ginny!"
"I was just going to say their pea sized noggins."
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "Sure."
"It's true. So I've been dying to ask this question."
Hermione looked at her expectantly.
"How do you land a hottie like Cedric Diggory? Like seriously Hermione."
Hermione gave her a unsre face. "I'm really not quite sure honestly."
"Hermione!" It was Ginny's turn to protest.
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After a week passed by, Hermione had gotten used to the routine and loved being with her second family. She'd even gotten used to be yelled at by the late Mrs. Black though she wasn't quite used to the head on the wall having a massive crush on her boyfriend. That was still some getting used to.
Cleaning in all was not all that much fun but cleaning with the Weasleys and Cedric, she had found to be quite entertaining. Though she wished the twins would quit with their teasing about her and Cedric. Not only was it embarrassing them but it made Ron quite agitated too.
Only once had she had an accident with a Bogart. Her fear had changed from Professor McGonagall telling her she was failing all her classes to seeing the lifeless body of Harry and Cedric.
She had also gotten letters from her parents asking her if she'd settled. Some from Andrew and Anya. Both wished she was still there with them and while Andrew's contained fascinating conversations, Anya's had a lot of questions about how hot the guys at her school was and if Cedric had a brother or a close related cousin.
There were some from Harry too. They were short and seemed a little angry. He knew that Hermione was with Cedric and Ron. He wished to know more but all three were restricted form telling him. The more letters that passed, the more his writing seemed agitated. And even a couple of times Hedwig had bitten her and Ron. For some reason though he didn't bite Cedric.
It was the second week when things exploded. Mr. Weasley and some of the other adults had come in with a grim face and announced that Harry had an accident with Dementors.