Just then, Harry felt someone behind him. He turned and saw the youngest Weasley, who quickly averted her gaze when he looked at her.
"That looks like a Dark Arts object, it's dangerous, you shouldn't—" Ginny was cut off by George clamping a hand over her mouth. Fred took the opportunity to quickly shove the golden skull under his robes.
"Don't worry, Ginny's just hungry. We're taking her to the kitchens for a bite."
With that, the Weasley brothers practically dragged Ginny away, leaving Harry standing there, utterly bewildered.
Hermione was a bit distracted as she walked, still thinking about what Harry had said a few days ago. So much so that she didn't notice the footsteps approaching around the corner of the corridor.
"Ouch!" Hermione clutched her head, feeling a sharp pain. "Sorry, I wasn't looking—Malfoy?"
It was Malfoy around the corner, clutching his head, looking utterly miserable. A package lay on the floor beside him.
"Can't you look where you're going, you silly Granger? Do you need Potter to tell you how to walk?" Malfoy snapped angrily.
Hermione found it odd that Goyle and Crabbe weren't with him, and Pansy wasn't there either, but she wasn't about to back down. "Well, why don't you watch where you're going, you cowardly dung-beetle?"
(The "cowardly dung-beetle" nickname came from Chapter 15, when Harry and Malfoy were serving detention in the Forbidden Forest, encountered Fluffy, and Malfoy ran off, earning him this delightful moniker from Harry.)
Malfoy's ears immediately flushed red at the insult. "You great front-toothed—!"
Cedric, who had been looking out the corridor window at the Quidditch pitch, where the Ravenclaw team was having practice, heard the sudden argument from around the corner and quickly went to investigate.
"What's going on—" Cedric raised an eyebrow, looking at the two. One was a Gryffindor, the other a Slytherin. He seemed to know exactly what was happening. "If you two are going to fight, I'll have to tell a professor."
"Sod off, you great lummox!" Seeing an older student, Malfoy grumbled and stomped away.
"We weren't fighting," Hermione clarified. She'd heard the Gryffindor girls talk about him; he was quite popular around school.
Malfoy suddenly reappeared, picked up the package from the floor, and roughly shoved it into Hermione's arms.
"Tell Potter I've brought what he wanted. Tell him to bring my stuff to the usual spot tonight."
Malfoy emphasized "usual spot," as if fearing Hermione wouldn't understand.
Watching Malfoy's swaggering retreat, Cedric hesitated before saying, "It seems your relationship isn't as bad as the rumours suggest."
Hermione didn't want to speak ill of Malfoy behind his back, so she simply shook her head, intending to leave.
"Wait a moment, erm," Cedric called out to Hermione. "I just heard what Malfoy called you... 'great front-toothed'?"
Hermione, who hadn't blushed even during her argument with Malfoy, suddenly flushed beet red. "You... you... you..." Hermione stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not here to mock you. I just thought perhaps you might need some help," Cedric said with a kind smile.
Hermione stood silently, looking at the boy with suspicion.
"Sometimes it's easier to talk about things with a stranger," Cedric said gently.
Looking at the kind older boy, and recalling what the girls said about him, Hermione suddenly felt she wanted his opinion. She'd been driving herself mad lately.
"Diggory, do you also think my teeth are a bit big?"
"What does Harry think?" Cedric didn't answer directly, asking instead.
"Harry's never said he thinks they're ugly, but a few days ago..." Hermione hesitated.
"I won't tell anyone. Actually, a lot of girls come to me for relationship advice," Cedric said, looking a bit troubled. "But no one seems to remember I'm just a fourth-year."
"Harry said if I could straighten my teeth, I'd be quite pretty." Having said it out loud, Hermione felt a sense of relief.
"Hermione, if I may call you that. Harry must be very important to you, otherwise you wouldn't care so much about his opinion. But the most important thing is what you think."
"I don't know," Hermione said with a wry smile. "Actually, my parents are dentists, and they've always told me to let my teeth be natural—"
"Hermione, I'm asking for your thoughts, not your parents' or Harry's," Cedric interrupted, speaking with earnestness.
Hermione paused, then after a moment's thought, smiled. "Thank you, Diggory. I think I know what I need to do."
"I didn't do anything. You were just too focused on your parents' and Harry's opinions, and overlooked your own," Cedric refused Hermione's thanks.
"May I call you Cedric? I think I know why so many girls like you now," Hermione mused.
"Does that include you?" Cedric joked, smiling.
"You're not him," Hermione replied, shaking her head with a smile.
After bidding Cedric farewell, Hermione didn't go to the library. Instead, she headed to the Hospital Wing.
Harry watched, surprised, as Hermione pushed open the common room door. Usually, she'd stay in the library until dinner. Then he narrowed his eyes, noticing a particular detail.
"Harry, this is from Malfoy," Hermione said, presenting the package Malfoy had given her, casually revealing her teeth.
"Hermione, do you have mouth ulcers? Do you want me to get some Dittany essence?" Harry asked, feigning ignorance.
"No!" Hermione took a deep breath. "Harry, do you have any juice? I'm suddenly a bit thirsty."
"You can get water in your dormitory," Harry said, straight-faced.
"Harry, I just read a book and was practicing my smile. Could you give me your opinion?" Hermione persisted.
"Alright, alright, you practice in front of a mirror first. I'll see if Hedwig is among the owls flying outside," Harry was trying his best not to burst out laughing and turned his head, pretending to look for Hedwig.
Hermione, exasperated, threw the package at Harry, then turned her back to him and sat on the sofa.
Seeing that Hermione was truly annoyed, Harry slowly said, "You look very pretty today, Mione."
Hermione then realised Harry had noticed her teeth changed all along, and suddenly felt a fire burning within her. Harry watched Hermione's ears slowly turn red.
After a long moment, Hermione turned around.
"Harry, Malfoy said to meet him at Hagrid's hut tonight, and to bring the Hand of Glory," Hermione said, her voice unusually gentle.
Harry, who was looking at the book Malfoy had brought, felt goosebumps erupt all over him at Hermione's soft tone.
"Harry, why aren't you saying anything?"
Hermione watched Harry's dumbfounded expression, secretly pleased.
"Hermione, did you drink Snape's potion instead of pumpkin juice?" Harry asked, swatting at the goosebumps on his arms.
Hermione silently dropped her smile, clenching her fists.
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