I had spent the three days later avoiding the Hufflepuff corridor and any other place where I could have 'bump' into Cedric.

Scott had come to the Gyffindor common room (asking a first year to call me) to take some news about me and my actual state of mind. Ron had snorted and I had heard him mumble " Doesn't he have some friends to bother? " before I left.

Then, after that my days were simple to sum up: lessons, great Hall (eating incredibly fast), common room. I had even deserted the library, I didn't really need books at the moment for my essays, and concerning my 'personnal work', I had the good volume.

I began to get used to the common room walls by dint of living as recluse between them.

I knew that Cedric was certainly looking for me, but I just couldn't talk to him yet. Not now. It was still too painful. I was sure that he would be respectful enough for not coming through the wall to speak to me, and this was a good point in a way.

I also spent those last three days to glare at Cho Chang: everytime I caught a glimpse at her, speaking with her friends, or lonely walking along a corridor, the head down, I couldn't help myself to despise her, to hate her. Yeah, that was probably unfair: after all, she had Cedric first but I just couldn't help myself to feel jealous and even maybe possessive of him. He is everything I was looking for, everything I like, everything I need, but he never would be mine. And I think that is unfair.

A positive aspect: Cho had been keeping away from Harry, certainly feeling consuming by guilt. But now, how ironical it was, I would have loved to see her again with my best friend. Yeah, it is a selfish thought, but it won't go further, I would never act selfishly with Cedric: if he loves her, I would make anything to get them together. Yes, I hated Cho Chang with all my heart, but damn it I loved Cedric too much. I could never deprive him of his happiness, he deserves it, I've always thought it, and I still do. I don't know who said ' Love is not selfish ', but he was so damn right. I am the victim of my own feelings.

The worst part is the longer I kept alone, far from him, the more I missed him. I...it was like I was uncapable to hold a grudge agaisnt him. Those three days had been a real torture to me, and this statement was terrifying.

The fourth day was the Hogsmeade trip. I needed to get the first ingredients like I had planned it some days ago.

I quickly dressed, ate my breakfast in the great Hall, told my friends that I wanted to go to the village alone and that I'll be back soon. I walked towards the exit and quickly gave a glance at the Hufflepuff table: Scott who usually enjoyed winking at me just because he likes to see me flush gave me a friendly smile. A few seats further, Aaron McCoy was talking with some of his friends, he turned to me and gave me a confused look, a half-companiable and half-threatening one like " Watch out, don't hex another student ". I looked away and made my way outside. I reached the doors and took a deep breathe of air.

I walked along the road, trying to empty my mind. I had spent the last three days brouding with myself, I just wanted to forget for a day my hurt feelings.

I was now farther from the castle when I saw a silhouette patiently waiting up the road. It was Cedric. My heart was beating fast, I felt like I couldn't properly breathe anymore, but I knew this moment was going to come, I couldn't seriously expect to not see him again, and even try the Spell without him with me! When I finally reached the place he was, my eyes were eager for his gaze but I restrained myself and looked away.

" Hermione " he murmured with a guilty and uneasy voice.

I glanced up at him, he looked sad.

" What are you doing here? " I asked with a harsh voice -even if I blamed myself just after that for being so rude.

" I know I hurt you and I'm so so... "

" What are you doing here? " I cut him off firmly. I didn't want him to remind me what I was working hard to forget.

He sighed, but not in an annoyed way.

" I want to go with you to Hogsmeade " he said calmly.

" I've already told you that I could do it by myself " I responded.

" And you know what my answer was " he said.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.

" If you want to come, alright...but I have nothing to discuss with you, okay? ".

Cedric nodded, even if he looked disappointed but relieved at the same time.

" Thank you " he whispered, grateful.

I sighed, exasperated by his calm behaviour and by the fact that I would have to spend a whole day with him. Great.

When we were finally in the village, I wordlessly made my buyings in every shop I needed to go to: powders, some liqueurs we used to take in potions class with Snape, and a lot of other things I've never heard about (yeah, really, I know it was surprising for me too). Cedric had never stopped to follow me, always quiet and respectful of my condition to stay with me.

A couple of hours later, I had several baggies in the hands.

" Okay, I think it's enough for today " I muttered.

Cedric gave me a polite nod.

We walked accross the plaza and got to the road leading to the school.

I gave a quick glance at my ingredients and the list to be sure I hadn't forgotten something. I could feel Cedric staring at me. I snorted. He sighed.

" I'm sorry, I hadn't planned to make you have a bad afternoon " he murmured.

I stopped and looked up at him.

" Why did you come, then? " I asked.

Cedric shrugged.

" Because I wished we could have talked about what had happened "

" There's nothing to add, I think. You told me enough " I snapped at him.

" Actually, I didn't " he exclaimed.

I took a deep breathe and rubed my temple (I felt like Aaron with Malfoy). I glanced at him, he was looking me deep in the eye.

" Okay " I said " Don't hold a grudge against Harry. I'll tell him to stay away from Cho ".

Cedric's features tensed up, he looked particularly annoyed.

" I don't give a damn about Harry " he shouted, infuriated. I lightly jumped in surprise. It was surprising to see him like that. He tried to cool down. " I wasn't mad at Harry ".

My heart beat faster.

" So it's all about me, right? " I said more like a statement than a real question. " I didn't know that...Cho " I added akwardly " means that much to you ".

His eyes fill in with a big sadness, a sadness that was close to hole my heart.

" I wish you had understood " he murmured barely audible.

I frowned and sniffed.

" How could you say this! You yelled at me how much you love her " I shouted. I painfully breathed, ready to repeat his hurting words " 'You are so far from the truth. You don't know what Cho means to me', remember? ".

" I do remember " he answered. " I said those words, but you didn't understand them...I thought during a moment that you would have, but maybe I had always been mistaken ". His voice was calm but sounded 'bruised'.

" What is that supposed to mean? " I asked, surprised.

Cedric walked up to me and took a grave face. He raised his hand towards my cheek to stroke it. I wanted to scream at him to do it, but it would feel wrong for him, for Cho, for me. And it was like he read my mind because he just dropped his hand and sighed.

" Go ask Scott about the Starcatcher Spell " he murmured. Before I could ask him why he was playing at, he had already left with his non-complete ghost speed.

I frowned and kept silent in the middle of the road, wondering about our talking and about Scott. What could he learn me more about this spell that I already know?

I reached the castle, went to the common room, hid my baggies under my bed and then got to the Great Hall.

I took a place on the bench and looked all around me. I saw Scott coming in the Hall, followed by his friends. He sat and began to chatter with them. I stared at him, silently. Should I talk to him? I was torn between two opposite feelings: I was dying to run at him and ask him everything, but in the other hand, I was afraid of what I would learn.

Scott glanced up at me and gave me a wave, mouthing me to come to his table. I smiled and shook my head, I mouthed a ' maybe later ' and turned back to my own table.

After dinner, I went back to my bed, and I spent the whole night -or almost- thinking of the daytime I had. I could not cherish anymore what could never happen. Cedric belongs with Cho, and she belongs with him. I am the one who was in excess.

I sobbed on my pillow and finally fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up and greeted all my truly friends, who would never abandonned me and would help to get over my feelings in a near future. Yeah I could be a little dramatic sometimes. This thought made me giggle when I remembered Cedric on his knees clearly joking at my overreacted behaviour. I felt a twinge and got rid of this memory.

It was sunday today, and we were all lazy to go to the breakfast too soon (actually they were, I just stayed with them to comfort them that even Hermione Granger, the bookworm, could just do nothing for once).

Harry looked a little worried, and I guessed it was about Cho. Oh Merlin, why all the men of my life have had a thing for my biggest rival? I tried to reassure him, but I had no enthusiasm at all. Harry thanked me and patted my hand trying to make me understand " Don't worry, I handle the situtation ". Handle the situation, my foot!

We finally got out of our common room and join the rest of the school in the Great Hall.

After lunch, I calmly left the hall and I saw Scott, leaning agaisnt a wall.

" Are you waiting for something? " I asked him.

" Not something. Someone. You, actually " he answered mechanically. " Could we have a talk? "

I nodded and he led me to an empty corridor.

" What is it? " I asked.

" I wanted to make sure you were alright since the last time " he answered. " So are you? " he asked.

His behaviour made me have a smile.

" Don't feel forced to ask for me. I'm fine "

Scott snickered.

" I can't do that. I'm like a superhero. You know like your muggle one, Supermuscle. " he said.

I laughed (yeah, I really did).

" Superman " I corrected him.

Scott smiled. He took a more serious face.

" I was just a little worried for you. I know that what you're getting through is not easy. If you need any support, it will be a pleasure to make you laugh again " he said.

I gave him a grateful smile and nodded.

He turned his back at me and made his way when my mouth called him.

" Do you know something concerning Cedr...him and a spell " I trailed off " The Starcatcher Spell".

Scott turned to me with a surprised look.

" Okay, now I begin to freak out. How can you know all these things? " he said.

I gave him an innocent smile. His face softened. " You won't tell me, right? Not even for how you got the Hufflepuff password ?".

I shook my head in reply. Scott sighed, obvously resigned.

He made me sit on a bench.

" The Starcatcher Spell is a very powerful spell, that a few wizards know. Cedric learned it from his father a couple of years ago, before the Triwizard tournament. " he told.

I watched him carefully, my heart beating like it was its last seconds. Scott mused and had a little chuckle.

" Cedric is someone very complicated to figure out. He was as popular as he was shy and modest. And, unfortunately for him, he was known more for his Golden Boy status, only the Hufflepuffs knew who he really was " he paused " Anyway. One day, Cedric told me about the Starcatcher Spell. I asked him to show it to me but he..." Scott smiled " told me to bugger off ".

I frowned. Scott took a wondering but evident look. " If there's something you need to know about Ced, it's that he could be particularly shy with girls, he was also quite romantic, but not fluffy " he added like being romantic for a boy was a shame or an offence. I slightly rolled my eyes. " Cedric explained me that his father had used this Spell, once in his whole life, for Ced's mother when they were still teenagers ". My heart skipped a beat when I understood what Scott was getting at. Scott gave me a smile. " Cedric always knew he would be too shy to say to a girl he is in love with her, so, like his father, he had promised himself, he would only practice this Spell, once in his life, so did his father, for the girl he fell deeply in love with. If he couldn't have been able to tell her, he would have showed it to her in a way ".

I jumped from my bench and stared at Scott who gave me a surprised look.

" Are you sure about the meaning of this spell to Cedric? " I asked.

Scott smirked. " I am. I remember I had taken the mickey out of him for two whole weeks because of this ".

" Thank you " I answered, more grateful that he could never guess.

Scott got up from the bench and peered at me. " Are you alright? " he asked.

I nodded, unable to speak anymore. I gave him a big and heartfelt grin. Scott shrugged, his mind thinkig out loud " Girls! " then he left.

I ran my hand through my hair: everything was so clear, now. Cedric was right, I hadn't understood his words, actually, I had understood the whole contrary. Yes, I had definitely been far from the truth concerning Cho, and what she meant to him.

I then felt incredibly silly. Oh Merlin! What was he going to think of me, now? I had acted like a child. I felt ashamed. Even if embarrassment wasn't a nice feeling, I didn't give it a damn at that moment. I was just too happy, and I couldn't find the words to express it. I wanted to yell something, but before I needed to make it 'sure'.

So, I ran along the corridors and went to the Hufflepuff one. It was empty. I saw him, seated on the bench, not even staring at the empty piece of wall where his frame had been before, he was looking away, thinking about something else.

" Cedric " I called him and I ran up in front of him. He gave me an inquisitive, confused and hoping look.

" Hermione! " he said surprised, standing up. I put my finger on my mouth. " Hush " I whispered.

Cedric obeyed. I took a deep breathe: I needed to say it. " Do you remember that day when you asked me what I would like to have the most. I told you I didn't know. Do you remember? " I asked.

Cedric frowned and stared at me.

" I...I don't understand " he said.

" Please " I cut him off, shaking my head, my finger on my lips.

Cedric nodded. " I remember " he answered.

" What did you say? " I asked.

" I said that was because you hadn't found it out yet..." he murmured " But why are you asking me this? ".

" You were right, Cedric. You told me that it was something that will make me want it so hard, and that it could be anything: power, money, knowledge, life..." I paused. " I found it " I said. Cedric peered at me. " I found it, but it took me time to understand. It was once I thought I had lost it that I realised. But it's not power or knowledge... " I paused, close to hyperventilating " It's you " I murmured. Cedric's eyes widened. " And I also realised you were right concerning a lot of other things. I've never opened my heart to someone. But you made me different, Cedric. That's why I love you. " I finally let go.

Cedric looked me deep in the eye and smiled. He reached out his hand and put it on my cheek. " How could you have thought I would want someone else? You are the reason I thank magic I had become this kind of ghost. No one can replace you in my heart ".

I laughed in relief and I put my hand over Cedric's one. Now, I could yell it: Cedric was mine, and I was completely his.

Author's note: And they did it! Thanks God, I, myself, was tired to see them playing cat and mouse. But phew, it's done. Okay, it's a little fluffy at the end, I'm sorry, but well Hermione Granger, the bookworm, is supposed to open her heart to the boy she loves, a non-complete ghost, what could we expect?

Please give me your feedbacks, did you like it?

Oh by the way, to answer Hrist Valkyrie: no, Scott doesn't have a thing for Hermione, he just likes her a lot. ^^ thank you guys, for all your reviews, I'm close to reach hundred reviews, so just push the button.