The moment Cedric grew nervous, Harry and the others realized something was up.
After a little questioning, they learned that Yi Qianqian, the female Champion from Nanyang Magic School, had also come to the United Kingdom over Christmas to spend time with Cedric.
As Easterners, Yi Qianqian's family did not celebrate Christmas. Having already graduated, she was now doing research and had a fairly flexible schedule with plenty of free time, so she had come to the United Kingdom to see Cedric during his holiday.
The two of them had arranged this before the holidays began.
Yi Qianqian had flown to London first, then spent some time looking around the city. By an extraordinary coincidence, she had run into Hermione and Jacob, who happened to be out shopping.
Naturally, Yi Qianqian had not gone over to play third wheel, but had quietly told Cedric about it instead. When Cedric saw Hermione, he had casually asked her about it, never expecting to let slip what was going on between himself and Yi Qianqian as well.
Under Harry and Ron's merciless teasing, he once again fled in disarray.
"Cedric can't go on like this." Watching Cedric flee, Harry shook his head repeatedly with the air of someone who had been through it all. "He blushes every time anyone brings it up. Every single time! He can't keep making the girl take the initiative to come and see him."
"Not everyone's as thick-skinned as you," Hermione said, rolling her eyes at Harry in distaste.
"What do you mean, thick-skinned?" Harry clearly could not accept Hermione's description. His eyes widened as he said, "This is obviously Gryffindor courage."
Hermione answered him with an even bigger eye roll.
The train arrived at the Hogsmeade docks a little earlier than it had at the start