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The Lioness And The Badgers	By : sawahhaych Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Cedric Views: 7550 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter (Although I am British I am unfortunately not the amazing JK Rowling!). I do not make any money from the writing of this fic.

Chapter List
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After eating our late breakfast of sausage and egg I go and sit by the opening to the girls tent for some peace, the boys and Ginny were all wrapped up in a big discussion of who would win tonight, the minister and Bagman who is in charge of magical sports are also in on the discussion.

I pull out my old worn copy of my favourite muggle book and begin to reacquaint myself with the world of Austin. I have been reading for a while, scenes of country dances and snarky comments from Mr Darcy dancing in my head. Elizabeth has just turned down Mr Collins proposal when a voice startles me, a few inches from my face.

“Anti social are we?” I look into the steel grey eyes of Cedric Diggory to scowl at him.

“The alternative seems to be to sit over with the others and confess my undying love for Viktor Krum like Ron, seems overkill me to, I will enjoy the game later but I am not interested in psychoanalysing the players to death.”

Cedric smiles at that. “When you put it that way I may have to just sit here with you lest my reputation as intelligent Hufflepuff be sullied.”

I snort at this. “Can't have that can we? What would your gaggle of female admirers think? Though they aren’t present so you may be safe.” This happens sometimes, when I have been reading Pride and Prejudice I will talk and even think in that old style of speech for a while.

“So how do you like it?” He asks gesturing around us with a wave of his large hand.

I think on this for a second, Cedric doesn’t interrupt my silent musing. “It is strange. I know there are thousands upon thousands of witches and wizards out there… but to see so many here, all at once.” I look down at my hands. “It is a little overwhelming… but amazing at the same time. I just mean…” I stop again to get my thoughts straight. “…The casual use of magic, the magical tents, the brooms, the sheer scope of it all, I haven’t seen anything like it before and I cant stop glancing up all the time.”

Cedric reaches out for the book still handling from my hand, I hand it to him and he examines the tatty cover. “Stopped looking long enough for this though?” He asks looking right in my eyes. I don’t answer him, his tone was light and teasing. “Good book this.” He comments placing it on the small table separating us.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “You've read it?”

“Find that hard to believe?” He asks with a quirk of his own eyebrow. “It is actually one of my favourite muggle books.”

I think about this for a second, I know that both of Cedric's parents are wizards and he lives near Ron in a section of 'all wizard' Britain in Devon but other than that I don’t really know anything about him apart from his school house, position on the Quidditch team and any rumours I have heard around school. “I just didn’t think non muggleborns would read non wizarding books.”

Cedric shifts his sitting position so he is angled more to face me. “For a muggleborns you are a little closed minded, You would be surprised I suppose to know I have read Austin, Cookson, King and The Bard to name a few.”

“You have read Shakespeare?” I ask tilting my head.

“Only Romeo and Juliet but that was quite enough for me.”

I smile and shake my head. “You didn’t like it I take it?”

“Merlin no!” He replies making a face. “It wasn’t a love story, it was an infatuation story, one that I find highly inappropriate for people now to call the greatest love story ever told, total bollocks. This…” Cedric say picking up my book again “…Is a proper love story, including the most important element of a proper romance, getting to know each other!”

I giggle at his criticism of The Bards greatest known story and his profanity, I am no stranger to it having been around the twins and Ginny who I scold swears like there’s no tomorrow. “What is so wrong with it? It's romantic, fighting against the world for the one you love, fighting to be together.”

Cedric really gets going after that comment, after throwing my book back on the table he sits forward in his seat to ensure he has my full, undivided attention. “They didn’t love each other, they wanted each other because it was forbidden, it’s just human nature, you cant have something so it means you think you want it more but once you have it you don’t give two shits about it.”

I wet my lips slightly before speaking. “But they didn’t know who each other were when they first met and fell in love at first sight.” I argue back, not really meaning it, Romeo and Juliet always struck me as the ‘this is how not to do it’ guide to a relationship.

Cedric snorts his disapproval. “Again, that was not love, that was lust and infatuation, Romeo shouldn’t have even been thinking about Juliet, he was already taken or have you forgot about his girlfriend?”

I smile at this. “No, but I think he did.”

Cedric studies me for a second; I turn away from his gaze, which feels overly intense. “You agree with me.”

“Was that a question or statement of fact?” I shoot back with a half smile.

Cedric laughs and points right at me. “Ha! You do agree.”

“As you have said yourself Mr Diggory they only wanted each other because they couldn’t have each other, it’s the old 'big red button' theory.”

“Big red what?” He asks looking genuinely confused.

“If I were to put a big red button in front of you which said do not push on it then left you alone with it how long do you think it would take you to push it?”

Cedric laughs at this. “Oh about a second after you left the room, defiantly…” He pauses a second. “…Actually might be before you leave the room” The last part of the statement has me giggling, in my minds eye I can see Cedric trying to be sneaky and devious hiding in shadows to press the big red button and failing miserably.

“The images that conjures are quite amusing.” I say between giggles.

“What? I can’t be snide?” Cedric asks with mock shock and offence.

Without a seconds thought I shoot back. “No you cant, you are too tall.”

Cedric grins at me. “I notice you didn’t say too honest like most would.”

“I do not know you Cedric Diggory, you could be the most dishonest person in the world, a real no good sort out to lie and cheat and steal your way into fame or fortune.”

Cedric studies me again; this scrutiny is making me shift in my seat. “Well, let me put your mind at rest, I have been likened by one of the most brilliant women in the world to Mr Bingley, who whilst it can be argued is sometimes too nice he is never once criticised as being dishonest.”

My smile falters for a second, I have to know which of his many lady admirers thinks so highly of him. “And who would this amazing woman be?” I reply

Cedric sits back in his seat. “My Nanny Pippa.” He replies hooking his hands behind his head to lean back further, a smug smile on his face.

I take a moment to comment as the knowledge of his admirer sinks in. “Well, no offence to your Nanny Pippa but I see you much more as a Mr Collins myself.” As I say it I try to keep a straight face but fail miserably, especially as I get another fake, hurt and offended look from Cedric.

“You wound me.” He comments, his voice on the edge of play hysteria complete with flinging his hand onto his brow.

“I Suppose I should be getting back to Dad.” Cedric states quietly after a few moments of contented silence have descended upon us.

The sun is starting to set behind Cedric’s head, a plethora of orange, red, yellow and gold making his hair look almost blonde in the dying light.

I look around for the others, they are all back in the tents, probably getting ready to go. “Oh, yes.” I comment. How lame am I? “I guess I will see you at school?” It comes out more of a question than it was meant to. Hermione Granger. Social retard.

Cedric stands up to leave. “Defiantly Granger.”

I watch him walk slowly away into the setting sun, when he is a few yards away I stand and call to him. “Farewell Mr Collins!”

Cedric spins and narrows his eyes at me, even from this distance I can see the corners of his mouth are pulled up into a smile. “Good day! Lady Catherine!” With that he grins for a second at my opened mouthed offence then jogs off before I can respond.

A badly executed wolf whistle makes me jump, I turn and find myself almost face to face with Ginny. “Finally Hermione, I thought you were totally blind to the male species, but now like the rest of us mere mortal girls you have finally discovered the god like creature that is Cedric Diggory.”

I can feel my face turning pink and hot, I am glad the light is fading. “He’s just a boy Ginny, not a god.” I scold.

“I have yet to see any boy, god or not hold your undivided attention for that long before.” Ginny says wiggling her eyebrows at me. “You fancy him!” She says before flouncing off back into our tent.

I follow her inside to get my coat, scarf and gloves but I do not say anything to either confirm or deny her comments, if there is one thing I know about Ginny it is her ability to twist anything around how she wants, anything I say would be an admission of my undying love for Cedric to her.

As I am putting on my left glove Ginny comes over and wraps her arms around my shoulders for a second before releasing me. “Come on Hermione, I was only joking!”

I sigh as I pull the glove on the rest of the way. “I know Ginny, it’s just that…” my speech halts, almost like it is trapped in my throat, Ginny is my best female friend no doubt about it, not that, that means much. I have precisely three friends, Ginny, Harry and Ron, but do I admit to her that I do in fact like Cedric and not just to look at but that today I think I found the other half of my brain locked inside that beautiful boys head? “…I think I do like him…” I admit quietly.

Ginny must have super hearing because she heard my almost silent admission. “Good for you! Look Hermione, you cant spend the rest of your school life just stuck to my brother and Harry and you and Cedric… well… you seemed to be in your own little bubble before, I even came out and said hello to you both but neither of you heard me, you were sitting there in your seats, as close to the edge as possible, noses almost touching…” Ginny falters for a second. “… it was a bit weird to be honest.”

Anything Ginny says after this I don’t know, I am grinning like a fool to myself. Maybe he enjoyed our conversation too? I am not stupid enough to think anything romantic will ever happen between myself and Cedric but a friendship would be nice, and if what Ginny says it true then it’s also possible.

That is the thought that follows me from the camp site to the stadium, so high above, screams of joy leap out my mouth along with the others and I can honestly say this is the best Quidditch match I have ever seen in my whole life.
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The Lioness And The Badgers