Just Like Magic (Cedric Diggory and Hermione Granger Fan fiction)

Chapter 1: Comfort

Ronald Weasley was such a git.

I watched as him and Harry continued their way up the stairs and towards the Griffandor common room and ultimately to their respective bedrooms. Harry peeked over his shoulder with a sad smile on his face. He was trying to reassure me but it wasn't working.

All Ron had to do was ask me.

Viktor had been nagging me constantly about going to the Yule Ball, but I respectively refused in hopes that Ron would finally set aside his fears and ask me to come with him. Days passed. Weeks. Then finally, I didn't have any other choice and I said yes to Viktor. Biggest mistake of my life.

Viktor was all hands and no talking. I wanted substance. This whole night was a mess and I hated myself for starting to have feelings for my best friend. I knew Harry could tell, he always could. We never talked about it but we just knew these things about each other. Just like I knew it was killing him to see Cho with Cedric.

I wandered down the hall to an empty corridor and sat on the bottom step of the closest stairs. My head went immediately into my hands as frantic sobs escaped me. How could I have been so stupid? I, Hermione Granger, was the most stupid person alive.

I felt several of the tendrils from my hair slip out of their pins but I couldn't care less how I looked at the moment. Ginny helped me get all dolled up in hopes that Ron could see what he was missing, but once again it didn't work.

I must've been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't hear someone enter.

"Hermione?" a soft male voice questioned. "Hermione, are you okay?"

The footsteps came closer to where I sat, and I peeked through my fingers and saw black dance shoes. I dropped my hands and looked up to see Cedric Diggory peering down at me with concern on his handsome features.

"I-I'm okay. You should get back to the dance."

Cedric sat beside me on the step and pulled his long legs close to his chest and placed his elbows on them. He was close enough to touch but still giving me my personal space.

"The dance is a bore." He paused. "Are you sure you're okay? Did Viktor do something?"

I heard the edge in his voice as he said this. He probably thought Viktor had overstepped his boundaries and disrespected me.

"No."

"Oh, good." He breathed in relief. "I'd love to defend your honor and all that but I'm afraid I'd get my arse handed to me."

I chuckled weakly. "My honor is still intact. I appreciate the sentiment."

We sat there in silence as I tried to stop the tears from falling. I knew more than anything that I needed to rid myself of any romantic notions towards Ron. He saw me as just a friend and that was all we were going to be. The sooner I realize that the better it will be for the both of us.

"Where's Cho?" I asked.

"Back in her dormitory." He answered in a hard voice.

"Something you want to talk about?"

He shook his head at me. "Conflict of interest. You understand?"

I nodded knowing this meant Cho's disappearance was something he'd rather not have me knowing the reason for. A voice inside of me told me it must have something to do with Harry. Everyone in Hogwarts knew how close we were.

My eyes wandered towards the cobblestone flooring. I was fighting back tears at the moment but rather than being alone in my sorrows I relished in the warmth Cedric's presence was bringing me. It shouldn't be doing it but it was.