Hermione did not go to the Three Broomsticks with Harry and the others. She ran into several older Ravenclaw girls outside Zonkos Joke Shop, then went to a small bookshop in Hogsmeade.
This left Harry and Neville slightly relieved.
Being caught between Hermione and Ron was a little uncomfortable.
Ron, however, did not seem to mind much. At the moment, his mind was probably filled with nothing but Madam Rosmerta.
Somewhat unexpectedly, they ran into Cedric outside the Three Broomsticks. But Cedric was not heading into the Three Broomsticks; he was going to the Owl Post.
"The post office?" Harry asked curiously.
After Harry had saved Cedric during the last competition, their relationship had become a little strange.
Of course, no special sparks had flown between them. Although Harry still looked more like a girl than a boy, he was absolutely all man on the inside.
As for Cedric, at least for now, he had shown no signs of straying in that direction.
What made their relationship unusual was that Cedric now considered himself and Harry good friends. Whenever they ran into each other in the castle, he would greet Harry enthusiastically, sometimes even coming over to sling an arm around his shoulders or punch him in the chest.
Harry, however, was rather bewildered.
Mate, are we really that close? How come I didn't know?
Still, there was no denying that Cedric's sunny smile was very friendly. By now, even Neville and Ron had developed quite a liking for him.
Harry could only reluctantly accept that Cedric was now a good friend of his too.
Harry was rather puzzled, though, that Cedric had actually come all the way to the Owl Post to send a letter.
Although the Diggory family Cedric belonged to was a small one, both his parents