Keogh

~***~



Remus Lupin had agreed to be questioned under veritaserum. As had Ron and Hermione. Harry had not been invited to testify as everyone already knew what he thought and, Hermione suspected, the Wizengamont did not want to give him the chance to start talking about You-Know-Who again.



The hearing went on for hours and in front of the full Wizengamont. They had to recount all that had happened their third year of school. Lupin recounted how his friends became unregistered animagi in order to keep him company during those times he was a werewolf, with Peter Pettigrew’s other form being that of a rat. He admitted that he, too, had thought that Sirius must have betrayed them until he had learned that Peter was still alive.



Ron and Hermione recounted their side of things. How Ron’s pet rat had turned into Peter Pettigrew. How the man admitted to having betrayed Lily and James Potter out of fear. And how Pettigrew had made a run for it when Lupin had changed that night.



Healers were brought in to examine them and confirm that they found no trace of the witnesses being confunded or bewitched. Not all of the Wizengamont was convinced, but they had managed to win over more than one half, nearly two thirds. Sirius Black was cleared of the murder of Peter Pettigrew and the muggles caught in the crossfire. He was to be awarded one million galleons for every year under false imprisonment in Azkaban less one million as a fine for failure to register as an animagus, which was now part of the public record.



Sirius was at last a free man.



Peter Pettigrew was now wanted for the kidnapping of Harry Potter and Cedric Diggory as well as the attempted murder of Cedric Diggory.



Fudge was not pleased.



Hermione and Ron could not wait to join the others. Lupin was grinning like a fool as he led them from the courtroom alongside Amos Diggory, eager to get back himself. “I believe we should stop and get something for an impromptu celebration, don’t you? Sirius is likely to want to out and about tonight, but no place he’ll want to frequent will be suitable for underage wizards.”



They were too happy to question any of it. Remus and Amos were to see them safely to headquarters, Hermione’s things having already been taken there and Ron’s entire family already safely tucked in. Mrs. Diggory had taken Cedric there the previous morning. Dumbledore had thought it prudent to remove him to safety with the others given that he was there the night Voldemort had returned and thus might become a target as well.



The house at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place was dark and unwelcoming. It was almost as though the house detested their presence. Hermione could not suppress a little shiver as she went inside with Ron, who was making quite the disgusted face. “I hate this place. It’s creepy.” He kept his voice at a low whisper.



“Why are we whispering?”



“Because we don’t want to wake her up.” He jerked his thumb towards a pair of dusty curtains in the entry hall. “She screams her bloody head off when you do.” Hermione frowned and looked over at the curtains, but did not question any further.



Remus led them into a basement kitchen, filled with the scent of freshly baking bread and slowly cooked roast. Sirius looked up from a stack of maps he had been perusing with Bill, his expression curious. It was Amos Diggory who broke the news. “Cleared of all charges! Well, save failure to register as an animagus, but you’ve just got to pay a fine for that.”



Sirius gave a shout and leapt from his seat, looking very much younger than he had the last three times Hermione had seen him. He engulfed Amos into a fierce hug before letting him go and giving one to Lupin that pulled the man off the floor for a brief moment. Remus laughed. “And the Ministry has seen fit to award you the galleons to pay your fine and then some. We made certain the funds were put into your account before we left the Ministry.”



Black set him down and frowned. “Funds?”



“Restitution for your false imprisonment. One million galleons for every year in Azkaban. Likely they hope to buy your forgiveness so that you don’t tear into them for how you were treated. So that’s twelve million, eleven once you subtract the fine.”



Bill and Mrs. Weasley gaped at him. Sirius blinked. “What do I need more galleons for? They couldn’t empty out the family vault. The goblins would never have relinquished the gold.”



Remus gave a shrug before pulling up a chair and accepting a cup of tea from Molly. “As I said, it’s likely false hope that you’ll refrain from pointing out how bad of an error they made.”



Sirius fell back into his chair, beaming. “Cleared of all charges. At last! And they’ve got a warrant out for Wormtail now? Good.”



“How’d it go?” Everyone turned around to see four newcomers into the kitchen. Ginny, Fred, George and Cedric had walked in. They were covered in cobwebs and dust and looked as though they had been hard at work cleaning something unpleasant. Cedric caught sight of Hermione and she felt as though everything about them gave a little pause. Did he smile at her?



Fred asked again. “How’d it go, Remus?”



Sirius spread out his arms. “Cleared of all charges! A free man again in every way!”



The twins gave a loud whoop. Ginny laughed and clapped her hands before rushing over and throwing her arms about Sirius’ neck. Hermione was still finding it difficult to turn her eyes off Cedric. He looked all right. No more screaming. He did not look to be hurting at all. He looked like had before; tall and handsome. “Hi.”



Cedric’s small smile got a bit bigger. “Hi.” He moved a bit closer, stopping a couple of feet away from her and shoving his hands into his pockets as though not quite certain what to do with them. “So, you made it.”



“Yeah. Right after the inquest.” She motioned over her shoulder. “We stopped to pick up some things to celebrate.”



“Oh, I’ve got a different idea of how to celebrate.” Sirius was leaning back in his chair so that it balanced on its hind legs. Remus gave him a look.



“The kids are too young to go scouring muggle clubs for girls, Padfoot. Seventeen isn’t of age for muggles.”



“We can whip up something that says we’re old enough,” volunteered Fred.



“Yeah,” agreed George. “Hermione, you got an ident card of some kind we can use for a pattern? Ouch!” He rubbed the spot on his head where his mother had just struck him with a spoon.



Black chuckled, but shook his head. “I’m not going clubbing, Moony, although the idea has merit. No, I think it’s past time that I paid a visit to Petunia Dursley and delivered my condolences of the loss of her sister. And while I’m at it, I might as well pick up my godson and bring him back here for the rest of the summer.”



That finally got Hermione’s eyes torn away from Cedric. “Harry’s not here, yet?”



“Dumbledore felt that he should be with his aunt and uncle a bit longer.” Black scowled, clearly finding the idea distasteful. “Harry’s under the protection of a charm that keeps him safe as long as he has a residence with a blood relative, which leaves his aunt. Lily cast it the night she sacrificed herself for him, and it means that he has to return to the Dursley’s for at least a small amount of time each year.” He shrugged. “As far as I am concerned, he’s been there quite long enough for one summer.”



She felt Cedric step a bit closer behind her, one arm bracing against the wall above her head. His voice was directed towards Sirius when he spoke. “Shouldn’t you clear this with Professor Dumbledore, first?”



Sirius waved off the concern. “He only has to return for a little while, and we were planning to bring him here eventually at any rate.” He smirked and looked over to Lupin. “Feel up to taking a trip, Moony?”



Remus waved his cup carelessly. “I thought you’d never ask.” He downed the rest of his tea in a gulp and pushed away from the table. “But you really should get cleaned up first, Padfoot. You look a fright.” The other wizard kicked out at him with a foot that did not connect before getting up as well.



Hermione watched them as the two wizards left, but turning as she did brought her face-to-face with Cedric. “Oh.” She blushed, suddenly feeling uncertain of herself. “You look well.”



“All better.”



She tilted her head to one side. “Really?”



Cedric gave a shrug. “A twinge now and again, and they say I might feel a bit of stiffness when the weather changes, but nothing too terrible.” He peered at her. “How are you doing? They said you collapsed.”



“I’m fine.”



Cedric looked like he wanted to say something more, but thought better of it as he looked up and saw that there were still quite a few people present. “Come somewhere private with me? Where we can talk?”



Hermione swallowed and nodded. He stepped back a bit and motioned for her to come with him out of the kitchen while the Weasleys and his dad were all chatting amongst themselves. They made their way into a little sitting room that still smelled of disinfectant and wood soap, though the cushions on the chairs were threadbare in places and there was still an air of gloom clinging to it.



“Smells like you’ve been busy.”



“Yeah. I just got here yesterday and I’m already beat. Mrs. Weasley is a slave driver. According to the twins she’s had them scrubbing anything that sits still too long.”



“I imagine that’s how she copes with stress. She likes to keep busy and take care of people.”



“Sounds about right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Are you certain you’re all right. None of them managed to hit you with anything that night, did they?”



She blushed and shook her head. “No. I managed to keep clear.” She chewed on her bottom lip a bit, her chest hurting as though it were going to burst. “Cedric, I swear I had no idea it would hurt you that much. I really didn’t!” Her eyes were burning and she was aware that she was dangerously close to tears. “You were just there and they said that they could… I just reacted without thinking. I couldn’t stand the thought of you… being gone.”



He shushed her, one hand reaching out to steady her face, the palm resting against her cheek. “Hermione, I’m not sorry to be alive. I’m not angry with you for having me… I’m not sure what it is you did, actually, but I’m grateful you did it.”



She searched his eyes, looking for any sign that he might be sparing her feelings. “But you were in so much pain.”



“That was the curse, Hermione. Dark Magic is nasty stuff, and it hurts like hell. But the killing curse isn’t meant to stay with you. It’s supposed to get its job done and fade off. Sure it hurt to survive it, but I’d rather go through the pain than be dead. No offense, but it wasn’t very pleasant the short time I was in there.”



“No, I don’t suppose it was. I understand it’s rather… well.” She looked down at her hands, not certain what to say next. She was torn between wanting to hug him and tell him that everything would be all right and wanting to make a run for it.



“I didn’t tell them you were there.” She looked up at him. He gave her a slight smile. “About a dozen different people, aurors and healers both, asked me to recite what happened that night but I didn’t tell them you were there. I let them think what Professor Dumbledore suggested; that Pettigrew used the killing curse but didn’t have the power to pull it off properly. Of course, since the Death Eaters aren’t likely to admit to being there, I don’t think they’re going to admit that someone was attacking them from the shadows. Sorry I couldn’t have been of more help.”



“You were injured, Cedric. You and Harry both. I just wanted to get them away from you so you could get out of there, and I almost failed you both.” She shuddered. “I lost my focus, seeing you like that. I almost got us all killed.”



“You got us out of there.” He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “It’s a bit humbling, being rescued by a girl,” his teasing voice was the only thing that kept her from scolding him, “but you always were a bit scary.”



She felt herself blushing. “I don’t mean to be.”



"No, you just mean to be Hermione.” He kept his voice low, always mindful that someone might walk past the door. “There’s so much I want to ask you about that night, so much I don’t understand about what happened, but I don’t want you to feel that you have to tell me anything at all unless you really want to. And if you do, I’ll keep your secrets. I promise you that.”



She looked back into his eyes, wanting to tell him everything that had been happening over the past two years. Wanting there to be someone else who knew what she was going through and how upside down her life had become. Hermione knew she could trust Cedric. He had been there to help her from the beginning, just by acting as a shield between her and the Slytherins. She believed him when he said that he would keep her secrets.



A smile touched her lips. She felt a tension she had not even known was there drain out of her. Cedric returned her smile and leaned forward, touching his forehead to hers. They sat like that for an extended moment, not saying anything and yet it seemed to relieve so many burdens from her just by sitting there.



She felt his hand slide down the side of her face until he could hook his thumb under her chin. She allowed her face to be tilted upwards by the gentle pressure he applied there, instinct telling her his intentions.



The door to the sitting room flew open with enough force to bang against the wall. They sprang apart a bit, looking over and spying Sirius smirking at them, his eyes sparkling with humor. “So sorry to interrupt, but Moony and I were just about to leave and get Harry. Either of you want us to pick up anything on our way back? Whipped cream? Chocolate sauce? Key to a hote…”



“Sirius!” Remus moved behind the wizard, giving his friend a scolding look. “Leave them alone.” He grabbed Black by the arm and pulled him away, leaving the pair inside the sitting room with burning faces.



~***~



“I’m warning the both of you now; I mastered a good number of spells for that tournament last year so you’d best think twice before trying anything on me.”



Fred (or was it George) looked offended. “We would never do anything so cruel as play a prank on you, Ced.”



“Yeah, you’re all right for a Puff.”



Cedric rolled his eyes and slipped his wand under his pillow where he would be able to reach it in a hurry if need be. He did not trust the twins any further than he could have physically thrown them.



“But, Puff or not,” began one twin who decided to take a perch on his footboard.



“We’ve been meaning to have a little talk with you,” added the other, who pulled a chair from the battered desk in the corner and sat on it backwards.



He narrowed his eyes at them cautiously. He had a bit of a buzz from the whiskey Sirius had brought back along with Harry, but he had stopped before he could get truly drunk. The twins had a bit more, but they still seemed dangerously sober. Sirius and Remus were likely still downstairs tying one on. “A talk about what?”



“Seems you’ve been getting a might close to a certain young lady.”



“A young lady who happens to be a Gryffindor.



“And who happens to be very close to our family.



“Almost like a sister, you might say.”



Cedric propped himself up onto his elbows, looking from one twin to the other. He did not like that they had positioned themselves so he could not see them both at the same time. “What if I am?”



“She’s a good girl,” said the twin on the bed.



“A very good girl,” added the twin on the chair.



“But even very good girls can let their heads get muddled up by a bloke with a pretty face.”



“And we would hate to see our very good girl get her head muddled up.”



“Wouldn’t do for her to lose her spot as top of her class.”



“Think of all the points we wouldn’t get!”



Cedric was not fooled for a moment. This had nothing at all to do with Hermione’s position as top student. They were trying to intimidate him into keeping his hands to himself. “I would remind you that she handled Krum well enough, and he was likely planning to kidnap her and drag her off to a marriage altar in Bulgaria if he’d had his way.”



“Don’t get us wrong, Diggory.”



“We do think you’re an okay chap.”



“Decent and fair minded and all that.”



“But it is OWLS year for her.”



“And she’s likely to be frazzled, knowing her.”



“And I’m not? It’s NEWTS for us, you know. I’ll be studying just as hard, if not harder. And at any rate, what happens between Hermione and me is none of your concern. And even if it were, I would never press her into anything she didn’t want and wasn’t ready for.”



The twin on the bed gave a smirk. “We’ve used that line before.”



“Loads of times.”



“Yes, well, that’s the difference between a Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff. I actually mean it.” He ignored their sounds of mock outrage. “And at any rate, I won’t bother to waste my time going into detail about my relationship with Hermione. I doubt either of you have the maturity to understand.”



“I think we’ve just been called ‘immature’, Fred,” the twin on the chair said to his brother.



“Yes, well, at least he’s not calling us anything we don’t already know. Just know we’ll be watching you, Diggory.”



“Constantly.”



“And, again, I know a good many spells now, so I caution you against trying anything.” He lay back down on his bed and ignored them as they finally left him alone. Mrs. Weasley must have thought it a grand idea to put him in there with the twins as they were all three in the same year at school, but he would have rather bunked down with Harry and Ron. At least he would not have to worry about waking up with his hair turned rainbow colors or all his shoes stuck together around them.





~***~