05

"Now that you are all settled, I would like to introduce some guests from the Ministry of Magic. First, Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He will be watching the three champions compete during the Triwizard Tournament," announced Dumbledore as a plump old man came out and waved to the cheering students. Hermione recognized him from the Quidditch World Cup, he was the announcer.

"Secondly, I would like to introduce Mr. Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, he will be accompanying us and rewarding the winner of the tournament."

The students gasped at the word reward. Really, it was pathetic, the whole point of the Triwizard Tournament was to make friends, not win anything.

"I would like to say a few words before the tournament officially begins." The hall went silent. "Eternal glory. That is one of the things you will win by completing these three very difficult tasks. These tasks will tests your strength. Not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. These tasks will push you until you very desperately want to give up, but you musn't. Don't ever give up, because when you do, you give up a part of yourself. So if you enter this contest, you can't turn back. To enter this contest, one must simply write their name among a piece of parchment and drop it into the goblet of fire," a big chalice with a blue flame appeared next to Dumbledore. "Also, because of the dangers of this tournament, starting this year, all students under the age of 17 are not permitted to enter the Triwizard Tourrnament." The Hall groaned and complained as Professor Dumbledore walked off the podium.

"Well, I think it's quite intelligent of them to only permit older students to participate in the tournament though I don't see why they didn't make that rule earlier," Hermione confessed.

"Hermione, you only think that because you don't have a fun bone in your body," spat Ron as he dove into his dinner.

The Weasley twins were still booing as the food arrived. "This is rubbish! We're seventeen in April! Boo!" They shouted along with other upset Hogwarts students. Eventually, the ruckus quieted down and the students began to eat.

"Ooh, Hermione can't keep her eyes off a certain handsome Hufflepuff!" George shouted when he caught Hermione quickly glancing towards Cedric. Cedric who had heard the commotion, looked up and smiled at Hermione. She smiled back and hit the twin on the arm.

"Shut up," she murmured, growing red in the cheeks.

"Hermione, just go talk to him," said a grinning Ginny.

"No, he's with his friends."

"Go."

"No."

"Go!"

"No..."

"GO."

"Okay."

Hermione shuffled over to the Hufflepuff table and stood awkwardly across the table from Cedric.

"Can I sit?" Cedric nodded and she scooted onto the bench next to Ian.

"Hermione! How are you dear, snog anyone lately?" Ian winked and Hermione went pale, then red again

"Wh-what?"

"You know, a certain someone told me that-"

"Ian! Shh! Shut up!" Cedric grinned and reached to hit Ian from across the table, landing in some rice pudding. "Aww man, my robes. I've got to clean them now, Hermione, can you help me?" Cedric got out of the pudding and stood up, looking at Hermione to follow.

"Oh, yes of course, I know this really helpful charm to clean clothes, here, Tergeo. Ther you go, bye!" Hermione ran back to the Gryffindor table to meet with Ginny, Harry and Ron. Her heart was pounding.

"So how was it? What did he say?" Ginny couldn't see what happened at the table, and she couldn't resist not knowing.

"I'll tell you later Gin. I'm going to the library." Hermione got up and rushed out of the Great Hall, and nearly ran to the back of the library and pulled out her favourite book: Hogwarts: A History. She opened the book to the first chapter when she heard a scuffling and a sniffling noise come from behind the nearest bookshelf. She got up and creeped around the corner and was shocked at what she saw.

"Cho? What's wrong?"

"Hermione? Oh, nothing, I'm fine, sorry to bother you, I thought it was empty back here," she whispered as a tear fell down her cheek.

"Cho, you can talk to me, I don't mind. Besides, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong."

"I don't know, Hermione, can I really trust you? There's so much drama revolved around you and Cedric right now, I think anything I tell you will be found out by someone."

"I think there are much worse people you could confide in than me."

"It's just... Hermione, I'm so flustered. Everyone expects me to like Cedric. Everyone thinks I'm in love with him or something, but really, I just want to be friends, and I feel all this pressure from Marietta, so I just do what she thinks I should do. But I love him like a brother and I want to protect him.. from..."

"Girls like me?"

Cho but her lip and raised her eyebrows in a look of worry.

"I know. It's okay. I look at him, and I see a perfect boy. The boy of every girls dreams, and I like him, I really do, but I feel like I'm too young for him. But seeing the way I hurt him, especially today, the look of hurt on his face when I left, it just kills me. I'm so, so sorry Cho. I'm not trying to hurt him, but I like him so much."

"No Hermione, it's okay, really. It's not just you, all of Ravenclaw is just trying to make me hate you, they say all these bad things about you to try and make me say bad things about you, but I think you're really nice and smart, and I think that you and Cedric should be happy, and plus, I have feelings for someone else," Cho had stopped crying and was now smiling warmly at Hermione. Hermione leaned in and gave Cho a hug.

"Thank you Cho," she whispered. Hermione went back to her book and as Cho left. Another figure appeared from behind the bookshelf.

"Was what you said true?"

"Cedric? You listened? You know, eavesdropping on other people's' conversations is rude," Hermione glared in a playful way at the handsome Hufflepuff prefect who was leaning on the bookshelf in front of her.

"Well, if the conversation is about a specific person, then I don't think the rules of 'No Eavesdropping' should apply to said person," he smiled and walked towards Hermione. He sat down in the chair next to her and took her hand mid changing page. "Hermione, I really like you too. Ever since the moment you fell into me at the Quidditch World Cup, I just couldn't stop thinking about you," he chuckled.

Hermione giggled and covered her face in embarrassment as she remembered the even he was talking about.

Cedric pulled her hands away from her face and held them close to his chest. Hermione could feel his heart beating very quickly as he asked: "Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Oh Cedric," Hermione sighed before kissing Cedric right on the lips and smiled.

"So I take that as a yes?"

"Of course!"