A Fluke of Sorts

Let Me Be Yours?

"Where were you last night?" Cedric looked up from his bacon at Haden. "Missing from your bed at oddly late hours, returning with a humming of a tune I couldn't possibly figure out, and now eating with such relish." Haden stated. "Just what are you bloody up to Diggory?" Haden demanded.

"Nothing."

"Remember Diggory, being your friend for six years and counting grants me permission to tap into your social life."

"That's just a rubbish rule you've created for yourself Whitlock." Cedric snorted.

"Irrelevant. Now stop being an insensitive prat and tell me what's going on with you. What – Is Granger and Potter together now?"

Cedric immediately turned around at Haden's words. His gaze fell onto the entrance of the Great Hall as Hermione and Harry walked in and headed straight to the Gryffindor table. Cedric's eyes shifted downwards and caught sight of their clasped hands. Hermione appeared to be in a silent conversation with Harry. She was whispering close to his ear and Harry seemingly mumbled in response with slight movements of his head. Inevitably, giggles and murmurs, and snickers courtesy of the Slytherin table, arose within the Great Hall, though those seated at the far end table – Gryffindor, continued with their breakfast and conversations as if nothing unusual happened. Cedric mechanically sat up straight as he leaned back a little to try to catch Hermione's eye. She didn't look up at all, much to his surprised disappointment. Hermione sat down with Harry, their hands unclasped, but still in a silent conversation of their own as they ignored everyone else. Cedric wasn't sure what to make out of it but averted his gaze away to focus on his breakfast instead. Unbeknownst to Cedric, Hermione and Harry had been discussing about the Umbridge situation and the predicament surrounding Dumbledore.

"Well, with all that's said, we are still defenseless aren't we?"

"Quite." Hermione heaved a heavy sigh. Ron was already at the table, wolfing down his second bowl of porridge. "Ron, the food's not going to run away. It hasn't got any legs." Harry snorted in laughter. Hermione shook her head and tucked into her warm breakfast of bacon and eggs. She glanced up for a moment as she chewed on her eggs to look at the Hufflepuff table. She recognized Cedric's back which was facing the Gryffindor table but since he didn't turn around, Hermione turned her attention away – just as Cedric looked over his shoulder. Seeing her preoccupied, a diminutive half frown materialized and he looked away again. When Cedric finally looked over again, his eyes widened before half of his body turned around in surprise. Hermione was already by the doors of the Great Hall, leaving with Harry and Ron.

"Can't wait for the upcoming match against Slytherin." Ron said as they walked up the marble staircase. "Malfoy's really getting on my nerves."

"The match's in a week's time – Angelina has been going on and on about winning. Though not as wordy as Wood, but I reckon she's gotten some lessons from him." Harry winced.

"When's the next practice?"

"Tomorrow. The Hufflepuff team booked the pitch for today."

"Diggory must be really looking forward to the Quidditch Cup." Ron commented with a smirk.

"That's what every house wants Ron."

Ron turned to Hermione as they stepped into their History of Magic classroom. "Are you meeting Diggory at the pitch again today?" Harry looked at her as well, interested in her answer.

"I don't think so." Hermione mumbled as she hurried to her seat, slightly flushed in the face at the unexpected question. For the rest of their morning as they went from class to class in different floors, passing corridors and going up and down the staircase, Hermione found herself looking for steel grey eyes. The very ones belonging to a certain Hufflepuff. She finally found herself graced with his presence, in the most unforeseen manner, when the Gryffindor fifth-years were heading towards the stairs after Charms. Cedric appeared at the head of the stairs, a floor above them, having just left the library with Haden and James.