Room 308, Friday morning- NFB

[smartestone]

Hermione's just about finished her letter back to Ginny, though she hasn't been doing much lately so it isn't very long. Maybe she had been waiting to do something before she actually sent it. Either way she's just sealing it up and deciding she should take it to the post office when she goes into town for the music festival.

The door's open.


[For Cedric.]

Comments

[smartestone]

"I'm all right. I've been busy," she says, though if she was busy doing anything, it was trying to phrase her letter both diplomatically and in such a way as to avoid being interesting if it was intercepted. "How are you?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I'm well, thank you," he replies. "Not so busy but having a seemingly enjoyable time. Are you overworking yourself, Hermione?"

[smartestone]

"Not at all," she says. "In fact, I think I've managed to not know when the library opened for an entire week."

She almost twitches at this.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I don't think I've visited the library at all yet," he says. "Is it nice there?"

[smartestone]

"Very," she says, though she can't fathom why someone would go that long without even visiting it once. "There's a very good selection and the people there are very nice."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

Cedric nods and then decides to just ask.

"Hermione, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

[smartestone]

"Yes?"

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Have you been receiving mail from back home?"

[smartestone]

"If and when people actually feel like writing to me, there hasn't been a problem," she answers.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Oh." He frowns and looks away for a moment. "I haven't been receiving anything and, given how I left, thought I'd at least get something from my family."

[smartestone]

"Oh. It might be a dimensional issue," Hermione suggests, otherwise at a loss. "Maybe it's easier some times than others."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Maybe." He doesn't sound so convinced. "When you left, there wasn't anything dangerous occurring was there?"

[smartestone]

Hermione's not exactly looking at him when she answers. "Well, something happens every year. The Tournament and all..."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I know. I was in the Tournament," he says. "And I was pulled out before the third event. My family hasn't written to me since I left and I remember what happened at the quidditch match..."

[smartestone]

She frowns, definitely uncomfortable now. "Yes, that... has to be difficult for you."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"When did you come from Hogwarts again?" Cedric asks. "I know there's some time differences."

[smartestone]

"Just before my fifth year," she says, and adds, unnecessarily, "After you."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"After me?" He frowns again. "So, I was there? I finished my time at Hogwarts?"

[smartestone]

Hermione stands up and closes the door. "Not exactly."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly?" His frowns deepens at both the statement and her actions. "What happened?"

[smartestone]

"Cedric," she says, taking a deep breath. "Where I come from, you died."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He laughs because that's about the only reaction that one can have at that.

"You've developed a sense of humor since leaving Hogwarts, I see."

[smartestone]

Hermione shakes her head.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"You can't be serious."

[smartestone]

"I am," she says. "I wouldn't lie about something like this."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"But...how?" He looks down, suddenly very interested in the floor.

[smartestone]

"You made it through the fourth task," she says, swallowing. "You and Harry both did, actually, and took the cup together. It was a portkey, put there by one of You-K-" She sighs, deciding she's just going to have to say it. "V-Voldemort's back. You and Harry ended up in the middle of it."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"Voldemort?" He blinks and, for a long time, is quiet. Very quiet. "Harry? He died too?"

[smartestone]

"He managed to escape," she replies.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I'm alive now!" Cedric stands quickly, looking around. "I didn't die. I didn't die."

[smartestone]

"I know," she says quickly. "You didn't. But the Cedric I knew... he did."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"How did I die?" Cedric asks because he can't not. "How did it happen? How did I die and not Harry?"

[smartestone]

Hermione really doesn't want to tell him this, but he deserves to know. If she knows how he died, he should. "Voldemort needed Harry for the ritual, to come back. One of his followers orchestrated the entire tournament in order to make sure Harry won. They weren't counting on you being there." She really hopes she doesn't have to say anything like You weren't necessary.

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He's already shaking his head. "But I was there. And that doesn't answer the question. Not completely, at least. How did I die?"

[smartestone]

"Voldemort had you killed," she says, and really quietly, adds, "Avada Kedavra."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"The Killing Curse?" Cedric goes pale and coughs. "My family knows I died?"

[smartestone]

She nods, wincing a little. "Harry got a hold of the portkey, and brought you back with him. They know."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"I was going to die," he says flatly. "If I hadn't been sent away, I was going to die. I should be dead."

[smartestone]

"But you're not," she reminds him. "You're still here, and I'm glad you are."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

"But I should be," he says and can't get that thought out of his head. "I should go."

[smartestone]

She nods a little, frowning. "I'm sorry."

[chasingsnitches.livejournal.com]

He just shakes his head, opens the door, and walks away quickly.