Petrichor

This stupid quicksand Life of mine

It was commonly known in the Wizarding World that soulmates were a real thing. Every witch or wizard born in a wizarding household was brought up with that knowledge, likely having heard from their parents or grandparents tales of how they found the one that was destined for them. They were taught how essential and sacred the bond between soulmates was, a bond that could only be broken by death. Questioning it was like questioning Magic itself, which was unthinkable. Of course there were the sceptics, primarily muggle-borns who usually associated the concept with Divination, which was admittedly unreliable at best. But even they would eventually see reason and accept soulmates for what they were. Because once a witch or a wizard turns 17, all it takes is a look, sometimes a touch, and your fate is sealed forever.

That's what was currently running through Cedric Diggory's mind, while sitting at the Hufflepuff table in the Great Hall waiting for the Welcoming Feast to begin. It was happening more and more often lately as his 17th birthday was rapidly approaching, just two weeks away now. His friends were chatting amicably beside him and had noticed his lack of interaction but didn't question it. They didn't need to. They too would become of age this year and could understand if Cedric was in a world of his own right now.

He just couldn't help but wonder about the details of one of the most life-changing events that could happen to a witch or a wizard, like when it would happen or how.

Would she be younger? Would she be from his own house or another? Did he already know her?

Merlin, what if she didn't attend Hogwarts?

He sighed softly. Somehow, he knew that was not the case and he would be lying if he said he didn't have a certain bushy haired girl in mind when thinking of probable answers to his questions.

At that thought his gaze automatically shifted from the empty plate in front of him to the Gryffindor table looking for the witch occupying his thoughts, who was sitting in between Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, as usual.

Cedric had met Hermione Granger for the first time that summer at the Quidditch World Cup and since then their encounter had been running through his mind again and again. True, it wasn't the first time she caught his attention, hard not to when she and her friends had a habit of finding themselves in dangerous situations from which they would always come out unscathed or, well, mostly unscathed. But he had held only a mild admiration for the little witch back then. Now he couldn't help but think that she was incredibly fascinating. She was smart and witty and her enthusiasm when discussing a topic of interest was contagious. Her eyes though, those endless pools of chocolate brown were what Cedric found himself fantasizing about the most. The way they shone with intelligence and warmth, it was difficult for the young wizard to not lose himself in her expressive gaze.

So, it was only natural for Cedric to think, and hope, that his interest in Hermione was more than just that.

The Hufflepuff Prefect had to force himself to tear his eyes away from the brunette, who was thankfully not facing him and couldn't see that he had been staring. His friends had noticed though, if the amused expression on their faces were anything to go by.

"Glad to have you back, Pretty boy. Found anything interesting at the Gryffindor table?" Asked a smirking Malcolm Preece from his left, while Graham, his other traitor of a friend, was snickering from the seat opposite Cedric.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He replied with forced nonchalance, refusing to meet their eyes and choosing to concentrate instead on the food that had started appearing at the centre of the table.

"So there was no particular reason why you were staring, rather intently might I add, at the Gryffindor princess, right? I mean, I wouldn't blame you. She really grew into her looks this summer and have you seen he-"