Hermione decides to bring Ron, but when he gets jelly of Cormac and lavender snogs Ron, she decides not to. She avoids Cedric/Cormac all night and her and Luna spend some time together on the balcony and she tells them some stuff about her and Cedric last year and how she felt terrible and sad and everything. Cedric comes onto the balcony and hears what she said
He apologizes and they talk for a bit
They make up but don't get back together. Hermione tells Ron that Cormac is Cedric.

06

Hermione was arguing with Ron, again. This time, they were in Herbology class: at first it was about The Prince. It was always about The Prince. Didn't Ron remember that his own sister was possessed by the memory of Voldemort, which was stored in a book? It didn't help that Hermione couldn't find anything on this 'Prince.' Who gave themselves such a nickname anyways, and then wrote it down in textbooks?

Now, however, the topic had changed to Slughorn's Christmas party. She was determined to get Harry to go, no matter how upset she was with the boys. She couldn't stand being alone Cedric and his goons of friends. Once Hermione had mentioned that they were allowed to bring guests, Ron seemed particularly upset.

"Well I suppose you'll be bringing McLaggen, won't you? He's more your type," Ron had said.

Hermione's blood began to boil. She wanted to slap Ronald. After all she had done for him, and after what he had done to her, she couldn't believe he had the audacity to speak to her in such a manner. She took a deep breath. "I was going to ask you, actually," she said with deadly calm.

"You- you were?" Ron's face formed into an expression of shock.

"Yes, now grab the bloody snargaluff pod so I can pop it."

Ron grinned to himself and reached his arm into the thrashing spike-covered snargaluff plant and grabbed the pod. The plant tried to eat at his arm, tried to pull him in, but Hermione grabbed the plant and pulled it away. He successfully put the pod into their glass bowl and grinned even larger.

Throughout the rest of the day, Hermione noticed how differently Ron was acting towards her. He seemed kinder than usual, and he wasn't arguing with her. She was grateful, Sure. At least they weren't fighting anymore, but it made it even more difficult to stay upset with him. And she was planning on staying upset with him for a long time.

Hermione was walking towards the Great Hall for dinner when Ginny ran up from behind her.

"Hey, Hermione, do you have a minute?" She Asked as she tried to match Hermione's pace.

"No, sorry, I'm going to the library."

"Really, Hermione? The library's the other way."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm stopping at Professor McGonagall's office first."

"No you're not, I saw you go in there earlier today. Look, Hermione, I just want to talk for a moment."

"Fine. What do you want?" Hermione asked, pulling Ginny into an empty classroom.

"Why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not avoiding you," Hermione lied.

"Yes you are! You leave every time I enter the same room as you! It's not just me, either. Harry and Ron noticed it too. Why are you avoiding us?"

"I'm not! I just have a lot of school work, that's all. I'm a N.E.W.T. student, aren't I?"

"So are Harry and Ron, and I don't see them doing nearly as much work."

"But I'm in more classes than them."

"Barely!"

"What do you care? You've barely got time anyways, between class and quidditch and Dean..."

"Is that what this is about? Dean? Because he and I are in a really good place right now!"

"No! I don't bloody care about Dean, alright? That's not what this is about. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be off." Hermione left Ginny in the classroom and made her way outside, towards her favourite tree by the lake. After sitting down, Hermione rested her head against the back of the tree and closed her eyes. She longed to talk to Ian; he always knew what was going through her head, even when she didn't.

A shuffling nearby made Hermione jolt back to reality and she held out her wand in a defensive position. "Who's there?" she called.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry for startling you, Hermione," said the voice of Luna Lovegood. "I was going to see the thestrals. Would you like to come?"

Hermione sighed. What was the worst that could happen? "Sure, I'll come, Luna."

"Excellent! You don't happen to have any raw meat, do you?"

"Er-- no, sorry."

"Oh, it's no problem. I'm sure I've got enough for the both of us to feed them."

Hermione smiled as the two girls made their way into the tree-line of the forest, where three thestrals waited eagerly for them to approach.

"What are you so upset about, Hermione? Did someone finally tell you about what happened at the ministry?" Luna asked.

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks. "You were there, you knew?"

"Well, I was at the ministry, if that's what you're asking, but no. I wasn't with you and Harry, I was with the other group. But I did have my suspicions that you died. Your aura-- the Thestrals are attracted to it. The scent of someone who should be dead. Look, see? More are coming our way."

Luna was right-- tens of Thestrals were now surrounding them, and Hermione started to back away slowly. "Don't be frightened, Hermione! Thestrals are very kind creatures. They would never cause harm to a living thing."

Just as Luna finished saying that, a thestral came from behind Hermione and nuzzled it's head on her hand. The contact made Hermione jump and let out a shriek. The thestral backed up quickly and looked scared. Guilt creeped up Hermione's throat and she calmed herself.

"I'm sorry," she told the thestral, slowly lifting her hand as a welcome for the creature to advance. It seemed to be analyzing the situation before it took a few gentle steps forwards and rested it's head in Hermione's hand.

Hermione stroked the top of the skeleton-like stallion and it closed it's eyes in pleasure. Hermione smiled and let out a soft laugh.

"Aren't they magnificent?" Luna asked.

"They are. They're incredible," Hermione grinned.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the ministry," Luna said. "I only had suspicions, nobody ever actually told me what happened."

"It's fine, Luna. Nobody told me either until about a week ago."

"How is Cedric doing?" Luna asked. "How does he like being in Gryffindor?"

"How did you--?"

"He's been staring at you almost minute of every day. He also ran into me in the corridors and called me by my actual name, and not 'Looney.'"

Hermione smiled before remembering that she was upset with Cedric.

"Truth is, I wouldn't know how Cedric's doing. I've been avoiding him."

"It's because of the Ministry, isn't it?"

"Well... yes. I just am shocked that he didn't tell me, especially after what happened to him two years ago. It just seems like he's a different person."

"Wars change people, Hermione, you of all people should know that. I reckon Harry's changed in a million different ways since You-Know-Who came back."

"Yes, but that doesn't justify what he did. Not telling me something so important to my life-- I just never expected him to do that. Even if Dumbledore told him not to."

**THIS FIC HAS BEEN ABANDONED. ANY FOLLOWING CHAPTERS WILL INCLUDE ONLY A BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE BEFORE ABANDONMENT**