"At today's tryouts we will be seeking to fill up the empty positions of two beaters, one chaser, as well as a reserve for the keeper in the case that Heidi gets injured or has an emergency." Heidi waved to the bright eyed Hufflepuffs, as Cedric nodded her way.

"We will go on a scoring basis. Myself and the remaining team will judge you on your speed, alertness, and coordination. The top two for each position will play as a member for a mock game, and whoever we find that compliments the team the best will be..." Cedric trailed off as he saw his girlfriend's gold and scarlet scarf among the sea of canary yellow and black taking a seat beside Ian and Wendy.

"Diggory?" Smith said as Cedric had not finished his sentence.

"Sorry," Cedric said smiling wider than before. "The best will be chosen to help Hufflepuff win the Quidditch Cup this year!" He ended. On cue all the Hufflepuffs in the stands all cheered.

Hermione looked around her in slight bewilderment at first when all the Hufflepuff's on the benches with her all cheered at Cedric's mention of the Cup. She smiled soon after however. It really amazed her every time, no matter how many times she witnessed it, the unity that was the Hufflepuff house.

Hermione settled her eyes on her boyfriend. Honestly, Hermione mused to herself, how could one person be so damn perfect? Even his hair out of the shower was something out of a shampoo advertisement and the way he was with everyone... Even as captain of the Hufflepuff quidditch team. From the bit she'd seen, he was a perfect combination of strict but supportive of all those seeking to join the team.

Hermione's smile faltered a little as she realized that she still had a way to go to be good enough for Cedric Diggory. She had been more than a little harsh at Luna Lovegood the other day when she seemed to be helping out Harry in a way Hermione was unable to.

"First you will all be tested on speed. Five laps and anyone over 3 mins will be asked to sit down as we narrow it down and time the top five."

"At my short whistle, fly up. Two whistles in a row, begin." Cedric said as Robbie stood beside him with a chart of all the persons trying out so they could keep track.

!~!

Cedric felt pretty satisfied as they finished up the last of the tryouts. Zacharias Smith was chosen as chaser to Robbie and probably Brice's dismay. But they'd also chosen some great Beaters. Kyle O'Grady and Erinna Lysin were as fast as him and Robbie, actually Cedric could almost bet that Erinna was faster than him, being so petite, she moved faster through the air. Looking at her, no one would expect that she had such a great arm. While her swing wasn't as powerful as the others, the aim was impeccable. She could hit her target 10/10 times and Cedric was not going to pass on that for pure brute strength that was not even as close in accuracy.

"Thank you everyone who came out. I was very impressed. To all those that did not make it this year, please take our advice to heart and keep practicing, in fact come out and practice with us on the weekend practices and come back next year."

Hermione looked at Ian in surprise. Angelina Johnson and definitely not Oliver Wood would ever offer to let anyone play with them during their practices. Too many strategies could be revealed, not to mention the distraction.

Ian shrugged. "Hufflepuffs have not won once in the seven years we've been here. So training for the next year, is one of Cedric's strategies, plus, it really brings the house together for games even when we don't have a winning streak."

"You guys are honestly amazing you know that?" Hermione said in awe.

"Mimi," Ian grinned. "You're so cute and sweet."

Hermione gave him a look of bewilderment. "I am?"

"Ian, what are you doing to my girlfriend?" Cedric asked as he floated up to their seats on his broom.

"I'm hugging her because she's so cute." Ian said not letting go.

"You can let me go now Ian." Hermione said blushing now as she was so close she could actually smell Ian.

"Okay," Ian let her go.

Cedric shook his head. "Anyway, how did we look?" He asked.

"Pretty darn good." Ian nodded.

Hermione nodded in agreement.

"I think so too, we might really have a good chance this year." Cedric grinned, very satisfied. "Anyhow, since you're both here, I need to talk to the both of you. And Hermione, bring Harry, and uh Ron I guess so he doesn't feel left out. Madam Bones contacted me by owl the other day."

Hermione frowned. "The one at Harry's trial?"

"Same one."

"When?" Ian asked.

"Now?" Cedric said.

"Well okay then," Ian said whistling.

"Ride back to the castle?" Cedric asked Hermione as he offered her his hand.

"Uh," Hermione looked at Ian and then at her satchel with her homework. "I still have my satchel."

Ian waved her away. "Please, I know when I'm chop liver." He said grabbing her bag and slinging it up over his shoulder. "I'll go get the other two also. Enjoy the flight. Meet us near the herbology greenhouse. The things you do in the name of friendship..." Ian signed dramatically as he made his way down with the mass of other Hufflepuffs.

"Uh." Hermione looked at Cedric on his broom. "I could still catch up to..."

"Meems, I will not let you fall. Trust me." Cedric said taking her hand.

Hermione closed her eyes as she gave a reluctant okay. It seemed Cedric Diggory was bound and determined to get rid of her fear of heights.

"That's my girl," Cedric said grinning as she joined him on the broom.

"Ugh, what what is this?" Hermione cried.

"What? What's wrong?" Cedric asked alarmed as they floated away from the spectator seats.

"Even your sweat smells good. Like how are you human? Ugh of course you'd be one of those people that smell good sweaty." Hermione groaned as she smelled her boyfriend one more time. Seriously how could one person be this perfect?

"Good to know." Cedric laughed as the broom picked up speed. Hermione Granger actually squealed she held onto him tighter.

!~!

"So what is it that Cedric wants to tell us?" Harry asked the older Hufflepuff as the three loitered the area in front of Professor Sprout's classroom.

"I'm not sure. Something about Susan's aunt though." Ian shrugged.

"Susan?" Ron asked.

"Susan Bones," Ian clarified to the confused redhead.

Ron's face scrunched in thought as he tried to remember who that was.

"She's in our year Ronald." Hermione sighed as she and Cedric landed before them.

Ron could not help but roll his eyes as the Hermione unwrapped her arms from Cedric's waist.

"Hey Harry, Ron."

"Ian said you wanted to talk to us?"

"Yes. But let's go into the greenhouse, I don't want stragglers overhearing us."

"We're allowed to go in?" Harry asked.

"Well Professor Sprout spelled it so that any of us seventh year Hufflepuffs can go in anytime we want to relax and find a quiet peaceful place during N.E.W.T.S." Ian explained as the door opened as he turned the knob.

"Amazing." Hermione sighed wistfully.

"What?!" Hermione practically yelled as Cedric finished up the letter that Madam Bones had sent Cedric.

"Fudge is such a fudging idiot."

They all stared at Ian. Cedric sighed at his best friend. "Ian, you need to have less one on one time with Brice."

"Probably but with you and Robbie focusing on quidditch." Ian mock pouted. "Brice is all I got."

Even Harry and Ron had to chuckle.

"But Inquisitor?" Hermione asked. The last time she'd heard that word, it was her muggle summer school class teaching her about the Spanish Inquisition.

"How is Fudge allowed to decree new laws for Hogwarts? Hogwarts is not the ministry. Does it not need to be approved by somebody? Are ministers that dictatorial?" Harry asked, nearly yelling in disbelief.

"All matters relating to the magical community in Britain are managed solely by the Minister for Magic, and he has sole jurisdiction over his Ministry." Cedric quoted.

"Are you kidding me?" Harry sputtered.

Hermione sadly shook her head as Cedric quoted straight from the Ministry of Magic doctrine.

Harry groaned as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes in disbelief. As he did so, Hermione and Cedric noticed a scar on his hand that had not been there last week. "What is that?" They both asked together.

Harry looked alarmed before he tried to pull his sleeve and cover up his hand.

Hermione though nearly jumped at him. "Harry James Potter what is this?" She asked looking at the ghastly scar on Harry's hand.

Ian and Cedric's eyes nearly bulged. "Black quills," Ian said in shock.

"It's that dreadful woman isn't it?" Hermione said almost looking like as if she was going to almost burst into tears. How did she not catch this before? What kind of friend was she?

"Those are highly illegal." Cedric said coldly. Everyone whipped their heads around to look at him as they had never heard Cedric sound that cold and emotionless before.

"Excuse me, I think I need to have an inquisition with our soon to be Inquisitor." Cedric said nearly spitting his words.

Before any of them could stop him, Cedric was gone.

!~!

That evening all three met up once more before the dining hall.

"Ian have you seen Cedric?" Hermione asked very worried and stressed.

"No, bloody hell, I was hoping he was with you."

"Where could he be?" Harry asked, concerned now too. He'd brushed off Hermione's worries earlier as he figured Cedric was with Ian and his friends, somewhere in the Hufflepuff dorms. Hermione had been walking, well pacing around Umbridge's classroom for almost an hour before dinner before she met up with them to head to the great hall, believing that maybe he'd gone in to do god knows what but she had not seen him and Umbridge had been shocked to see her, almost docking points off until Hermione pretended that she needed to ask a question about the stupid book, Defensive Magical Theory. Hermione almost wanted to spit at the word theory. Although she had finished the whole book in three days despite how dull it was and how much she disagreed with a great portion of the book.

Ian sat with the Gryffindor's that night as they all waited for any sign or head of hair of their Head boy. Alas dinner had ended and still no one had seen Cedric all day after the quidditch tryouts.

But they had received a letter from Percy Weasley warning them about an article, that they were sure was what Madam Bones had written to Cedric.

!~!

Hermione trudged herself to the Great Hall for breakfast looking quite worse for wear having not slept all night.

As she took her seat, Hermione stared at the food before her. As she heard the seat beside her get occupied, her heart almost jumped out of her chest as she expected it to be Cedric. Alas it was only Harry, who also looked like death's friend.

"Morning Hermione,"

"Morning," She gave him a half smile. A minute later, on cue, the owls flew by and Hermione's copy of the Daily Prophet was dropped right by them. Hermione's morning managed to get worse as she saw the paper confirm her fears.

The rest of the morning passed by like a blur. Although Hermione had been more than a little angry and annoyed herself while in Umbridge's class that she actually spoke up when the lesson was on counterjinks.

"Blimey Hermione, did you really read the whole book?" Ron had to ask again, amazed.

"Yes," Hermione sighed.

"You know, Umbridge was impressed despite herself even though she tried to hide it when you quoted the book itself."

"Yes but she took points off our house because she's an idiot that does not like hearing anyone else's opinions but her own." Hermione muttered.

!~!

That evening over supper Hermione angrily berated Harry on earning more detentions with the godawful women, that she was on the verge of tears, her stress over Cedric pouring over.

"Hermione, I'm sorry, please don't." Harry said feeling awful as one of his best friend's looked ready to cry and pass out any minute.

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his shoulder, trying not to sob as her body felt ready to completely collapse.

Harry patted her the best he could even when it felt like her extremely bushy hair today was trying to suffocate him. He also knew that he was not the one that Hermione really wanted to be hugging at the moment. But while he was gone, Harry had to at least try to comfort Hermione best he could.

Just as dinner was being cleared away and Ron and Ginny had managed to coerce Hermione into eating at least some mashed potatoes, the doors of the Great Hall opened to reveal their Head Boy followed by three people who had been at Harry's trial, one of which was Madam Bones, and lastly the Minister himself... along with Percy Weasley his shadow it seemed. Meanwhile their desserts popped up, for once, unseen by most of the student population. Professors Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, and Albus Dumbledore himself stood up to offer their seats to the guests.

Harry wanted to snort when he saw Fudge immediately take Dumbledore's seat, but not before Umbridge actually tried to curtsy for him. More than a few gags could be heard upon seeing that. Harry could only bet it took all of her willpower not to look at them all and declare all points taken off of Gryffindor for being rude to the Minister.

"Good evening and thank you for gracing us with your appearance tonight." Cedric started as the whole hall hushed to hear their Head Boy, well except the Slytherins, however a piercing look from McGonagall and consequently Snape upon being also looked at by McGonagall had rightfully shut them up.

"Of course," Fudge said with a nod. "What is this important matter that you speak of, that must be audience by us?"

"As Head boy duties include looking over, watching, and protecting the student body of Hogwarts, school of wizardry, I believe that it is my duty and in Hogwarts best interest to question Dolores Umbridge's occupations as both a Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and an Inquisitor."

A gasp could be heard as Dolores Umbridge could no longer hold all of herself together upon hearing Cedric's speech.

Cedric however continued, as if he did not hear her at all. "I believe that if the High Inquisitor is necessary, that said inquisitor cannot both be a professor who must work with her peers to put student's best interest first, and an inquisitor who is to judge and make changes to other professors' class regiments. I believe that tips the scale in a very unjust manner. Instead of building comradery amongst professors whose goals are to ensure student's learnings, instead there may be unnecessary toil that will disrupt the ability for teachers to cohesively put students' education first." Cedric Diggory finished to a deathly silent Great Hall.

!~!

Hey guys,

Hope that you guys aren't too bored yet! I'm sorry it seems the story is moving super slow. To be honest I love the Order of the Phoenix but compared to Goblet, it really is slow and I ended up following that pattern! Anyhow the quote about the minister is from Pottermore... So uh scary right? Anyhow hope you all liked! 

Next will be Simply Irrefutable!