Just Like Magic (Cedric Diggory and Hermione Granger Fan fiction)

Chapter 29: Weakness

Reaching into my knapsack I grabbed a much needed change of clothes. Even though Georgina's daughters clothing was fine for drying out; the baggy pants would do nothing for me if they were to fall down while running away from our death. I slipped into an empty corridor and changed into a pair of jeans and a blue jumper and joined Cedric on the sidewalk. My hair was still in its messy ponytail with random tendrils falling haphazardly.

"Ready?" He asked as I approached him.

"As I'll ever be."

Together we made our way towards the guest entrance to the Ministry. It was nearing dark and I wondered exactly if they would allow a couple of students in this late at night. We didn't exactly have an appointment and with everything going on with Voldermort, security had to be tough.

"Cedric, how exactly are we going to get inside?" I asked.

He smiled smugly towards me. "I phoned Mr. Weasley while you were getting dressed. He's staying late at the Ministry and we have an appointment."

"Have I mentioned lately how clever you are?"

I leaned over on my tippy-toes and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek. He blushed slightly before we both continued on our way. This was risky business and I only hoped I would be able to do all that was expected of me. Sure, Cedric was by my side but this was my self-proclaimed mission and at the end it would be up to me to finish it.

We stepped into the cramped phone booth and I reached into my pocket to pull out my "muggle money" and slipped it into the slot. A few moments later the phone booth slid down into the ground as another one replaced it. Darkness surrounded us until light began to seep through the bottom and we were in the grand entrance of the Ministry of Magic.

Cedric and I stepped out and walked towards the elevators. We figured it would be best to stop by Mr. Weasley's office before heading down to the Department of Mysteries. Mr. Weasley had been promoted to Head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects since we had finished school for the summer. The new minister, Rufus Scrimgeour had been trying to go through the Weasley's in an effort to bring Harry in as a mascot. Dumbledore had told them it was foolish to do so since this was a deadly matter but they still continued to try. Harry, of course, wanted nothing to do with the Ministry after the way they had treated him after the Tri-Wizarding Tournament. Still, the Ministry was trying to win Harry over through the Weasley family.

We approached Mr. Weasley's office and I tapped lightly on the door.

"Coming." A muffled voice answered. Within seconds the door opened and Cedric and I were ushered inside by a distraught looking Mr. Weasley. "Hermione. Cedric. It's good to see you."

"Is everything alright, Mr. Weasley? You don't look so good." I spoke.

He tried to organize the chaos that was on desk and I began to feel that our little mission had made us miss out on what was happening in the wizarding world. Mr. Weasley looked haggard and worn out.

He sighed and fell into his chair. "Death Eaters. They've been everywhere. Between everything Scrimgeour has been doing and my allegiance to the Order... it's been weeks since I've seen the kids."

"We're sorry we kept them from you tonight." Cedric stated. His voice was full of concern.

Mr. Weasley held his hand up. "This is an important matter. One my family understands. Harry is hiding it well but he's distraught over Sirius. When this whole thing is over I was always prepared to welcome Harry in as one of the family but it would be nice if he had Sirius to rely on."

"You were always very loving of him, Mr. Weasley. Harry knows you think of him as one of your sons." I smiled weakly. "It means a lot to him that you've done that. Considering the amount of sons you have already."