Cedric was pacing up and down as thoughts of fire breathing dragons and bushy haired Gryffindors plagued his mind. He heard the tent flap open. He turned his head to look. It was Harry Potter. A bit paler and shakier than Cedric had ever seen but nonetheless it was Harry Potter.

Cedric gave him a small smile. Harry just grimaced in return. Cedric didn't blame him one bit.

Then he continued pacing.

"… your task is to collect the golden egg!" Bagman exclaimed rather comically.

Cedric knew exactly what they were going to have to get the eggs from. Dragons. Of all the creatures, dragons were probably the most protective of their eggs. Cedric felt like he was going to be nauseous.

When it was time to pick their dragons out of the bag, Cedric paled even more as he got his Swedish Short Snout. It unfortunately had the unlucky number one on it.

Glancing over, he saw Harry's dragon. The Hungarian Horntail. Now that was a vicious thing. Cedric gave Harry a pitying look. The poor boy really had the worst luck Cedric had ever seen. First with the wand and house elf situation to the name being called out and now the dragon. At least his dragon wasn't known for their carnal appetites.

!

Cedric felt like as if he was in a haze as he got the golden egg. Time seemed to stop and Bagman's voice just drifted off. But then all the pain came rushing in. His slightly burnt leg, his bruised rib…

The next thing he knew he was in the first aid tent.

"Dragons, dragons, I swear once I get my hands on the person that made up this ridiculous idea. I will throttle them…" Madame Pomfey muttered as she bandaged his ribs. "You my boy take this." She shoved a vile looking greenish potion at him. Cedric made a face. "It heals wounds inside out." Madame Pomfey said sternly.

Cedric grimaced as he took the vile medicine. Just as he took the last sip there was the sound of the tent flap opening.

"Oh my god, are you hurt?" A female voice asked concerned.

Cedric stared at the brunette in front of him. Surprised wasn't even enough to cover his feelings at the moment. Ecstatic, shocked were just a few definitions. He hadn't even really known her til the day of the World Cup, had heard about her of course, but… it was amazing for her to be right here, standing in front of him.

"It's nothing." Cedric said weakly.

Hermione's brown eyes widened. "Nothing!" She cried outraged. "How can you say that it's nothing! You just almost got eaten by a large blue dragon and all you can say is, it's nothing. I thought Hufflepuffs were known for their loyalty not their stupidity!"

"Why are you here, even my friends aren't here, so why are you?" Cedric asked then cringed. He hadn't meant to sound rude.

"I'm here because I was worried about you." Hermione said like as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "Your friends probably aren't here because they are all busy watching Fleur the part vela hoping the dragon will burn her shirt off. Merlin knows that's what Ron and my other male classmates want." Hermione said shaking her head slightly out of disappointment.

Cedric suppressed the urge to laugh at the girl's seriousness. "Well they're guys."

"Like that's an excuse." Hermione rolled her eyes.

Cedric smiled. "So can I ask…" Cedric didn't get to ask his question because Fleur was just coming in along with her medical attendent.

"I'm so sorry but I have to go, I can't miss Harry… though if I'm going to survive I'm not sure. I was nervous enough watching you. I don't know how I'll handle his." Hermione gushed.

"Hope you feel better Diggory." Hermione said then gave him a quick hug.

"Call me Cedric please."

Hermione looked up at him curiously. Cedric blanched at his forwardness, but then Hermione smiled.

"Okay, see you then… Cedric." Hermione said waving once more, then was gone as fast as she appeared.

!

Time seemed to pass and Cedric had to admit he was bored. He really wanted to go and check out how the others were doing but Madame Pomfey wouldn't let him. Even though Fleur got to go but then again, she was then escorted back to the Beauxbaton's carriage. Where she was probably getting more attention.

Cedric found himself drifting off a bit but was brought back at the sound of the tent flap opening once more. Cedric peered and saw Harry.

Then mere minutes later the flap opened again. This time Cedric heard Hermione's voice as she praised Harry. Cedric felt his stomach twist in a knot.

He listened as Ron sort of in a way apologized to Harry before Hermione began shouting, "You two are so STUPID." and running out. Cedric was about to go out to chase after her because it seemed neither one of the boys on the other side were but was stopped by a look from Madame Pomfey that could've stopped a pit-bull in its tracks.

Cedric almost cried out when both Harry and Ron left the tent.

"Mr. Diggory really, I haven't tended to all your burns yet." She said shaking her head.

Cedric fell back on the bed giving up and just closed his eyes.

"Cedric?" A timid voice could be heard.

Cedric opened one eye and saw Hermione leaning over him concerned.

"Hey." He said softly.

Hermione gave a smile. "Hey to you too. Here I went to make a sandwich for you. I figured that you got here even earlier than Harry so you barely had anytime to eat or even ate anything at all really. Merlin knows Harry took one bite of his eggs then he looked as if he was going to throw up. You probably ate nothing at all, if I had to guess."

Cedric grimaced. She was right. He hadn't eaten anything at all. Cedric looked at the sandwich, seconds later  his stomach growled at the sight. His face flushed.

Hermione giggled. "Just eat it Cedric."

He gladly took the sandwich. "Thanks. You are one of a kind Hermione Granger."

Cedric didn't notice as Hermione blushed.

"Your transfiguration was really good Cedric."

He looked up from his sandwich. "Thanks." Cedric said smiling.

Hermione gave a laugh. "Um you have lettuce in your teeth."

"Oh."

Hermione smiled. "Hey it just proves you're not perfect like everyone keeps insisting."

"Is that a compliment?"

Hermione shrugged. "You decide."

"Mr. Diggory, I have the paste ready." Madame Pomfey announced.

Cedric made a face.

"Okay I'm going to go. I need to check on Harry and Ron." Hermione said laughing.

!

The next morning.

"Wiss pritty boy storen this way for." Rona asked with food in his mouth.

"That's disgusting Ronald." Hermione said grimacing at the food.

"What, you didn't hear, Hermione kissed him just a few days ago." Lavender said sliding into the seat beside Parvarti, three seats away from them.

"What!" Ron said this time spraying food.

"That was utterly grotesque." Hermione said wiping her uniform of eggs.

"When, why did you kiss Cedric Diggory?!" Ron shouted attracting a lot of attention. "You're supposed to be Harry's best friend!"

"Excuse me?" Hermione yelled. "Of course I'm Harry's best friend and vice versa. If I remember correctly, I wasn't the one that ditched him when the whole school believed him to be some sort of cheat!"

"But you didn't answer my first question!" Ron sputtered.

"Look it's none of your business Ron." Hermione sighed.

"Of course it's my business. You kissed Pretty boy!"

"Cedric isn't only Pretty. He's smart and good enough that the Goblet chose him! Don't stereotype people."

"Cedric is it! I can't believe you kissed him. I didn't think you were ever so easy."

Hermione stared at him mouth agape. "Easy! You're the first one who's even said that Ronald Weasley. I did kiss Cedric Diggory, and guess what. He's a good kisser. Way better than you may ever be!" She yelled then stormed off.

The whole breakfast hall broke into hushed whispers as Ron stared at Hermione's seat in shock.

!

Cedric listened to the whole conversation. He was started to choke on his food halfway through. Ian kept thumping his back.

"Ian that doesn't help." Cedric said hoarsely.

"Oh sorry. Blimey that was… amazing. I can't believe I just witnessed it."

"Ced apparently she thinks you're a good kisser." One of the boys said before making kissing noises and puckering his lips at Cedric.

"Maybe she likes you Ced." A girl said.

"But poor thing he can't like her she's only a fourth year with bushy hair and buck teeth." Another girl said.

"Cedric'll break her heart if she's not careful." Another person commented.

"Oh shut up." Cedric mumbled. "I'm gonna… go."

Cedric just let his feet take wherever. He soon found himself in the library.

"Well Cedric you're already here might as well figure out the egg." He said to himself.

He found the bookshelves where magical eggs were but found that he wasn't alone. A certain Gryffindor that had been haunting his thoughts for the past three days was also there, buried in a large tome.

"Hermione?"

The girl looked up, tears streaking her face.

"Oh hi Cedric."

"You okay?" He asked concerned as he came closer to the girl.

"Oh yes I'm fine." She said rubbing her cheeks. Cedric frowned. She looked anything but fine. "Are you here because of the egg?"

"Yeah." He said taking a seat on the floor beside her. "You too?"

Hermione bit her lip.

"I know you're helping Harry, everyone would be more shocked if you weren't."

"Oh. Yes I'm just trying to help out."

"Harry's lucky to have you on his side."

"Thanks." Hermione said blushing. "Aren't any of your friends helping?"

"Not really." He shrugged. "They don't exactly take this very seriously."

Hermione looked up at him appalled. "How can they not take this seriously. People have died!" Hermione hissed.

"No they know that but they think I have this in the bag."

"That doesn't mean you can't get killed." Hermione said rolling her eyes.

"Yeah." Cedric said looking at her.

"Well if your friends won't help I will." Hermione announced. "I'm not sure how much I can do considering I'm only a fourth year, but I'll try my best."

Cedric looked at her surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I can't see why the school has to separate just because you're from Hufflepuff and Harry's from Gryffindor. You're both competing for Hogwarts. That's all I see it as. Now come on, you can help me find the books about magical eggs. Before Krum and his gaggle of fans come disturbing the peace."

"Krum comes here?"

"Every bloody day." Hermione muttered darkly.

Cedric gave a laugh.

Hermione turned to look at him sharply giving him a dark look. "It's not funny I can barely think with all the aggravating giggling from those girls or maybe stalkers is a better definition."