5th year
Hermione nodded and smiled as her best friends slash neighbors Anya and her brother Andrew took her to the shopping plaza. Well actually it was more like Anya dragged Hermione and Andrew with her. There was also Christy one of their other friends and consequentially Andrew's girlfriend. For how long was questionable. Andrew wasn't known for having long lasting relationships.
Hermione and Andrew walked side by side just behind Anya and Christy.
"I'm so glad that you came with us." Andrew said rolling his eyes as his girlfriend and sister stopped again to window shop.
"Really."
"Yes, I might've gone postal with these giggling things. Or worse yet I might begin to be convinced that Orlando Bloom is cute." Andrew shuddered.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "How tragic."
"I know that at least with you, I'll be able to have an intelligent conversation and stay sane enough." He grinned.
"What are you two laughing and grinning about?" Anya asked as she and Christy had stopped so they could catch up.
"Quantum Physics." Andrew said with a straight face.
Anya and Christy just blinked.
"You're kidding." Christy said.
"Quantum value is Planck's constant which is-" Hermione began.
"Ugh." Anya grimaced. "You two are such nerds sometimes."
"Did you know the word nerd was invented by Dr. Seuss in the book If I ran the Zoo." Hermione said brightly.
"Really? Wait, wait. It's summer. We have less than a month of summer, I do not want to learn anything or thing about school. Enough with Quintim"
"Quantum." Both Andrew and Hermione corrected her.
Anya gave them both stern looks. "You know what I meant."
Hermione bit her lip to stop from laughing. Andrew didn't even try.
Christy looked between the three. "You three are so weird." She said before taking Anya's arm.
Andrew shared a look with Hermione.
___
"You know Andrew is in love with you whether he knows it or not." Christy said as she laid a dress over Hermione.
Hermione just looked at her unsure of what to say. "Christy."
"Not your color." Christy said. "Oh sorry, yes?"
"Andrew's not in love with me."
"Okay so both are you in denial."
"No it's not that. Andrew's your boyfriend and I'm in love with my boyfriend.
There was a sound of a hanger dropping. Well two hangers actually.
"Wait what?" Anya said. While Christy looked at her like as if she had sprouted another head.
"I have a boyfriend guys." Hermione said sheepishly.
"Since when?" Anya asked shocked.
"Well before school ended."
"So he's from your boarding school."
Hermione nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Anya almost yelled. "Aren't I your best friend? Why wouldn't you tell me you have a boyfriend!"
"Oh look at that skirt." Hermione said then she began to walk to it.
"Hermione Granger!"
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"Why's my sister glaring at you?" Andrew whispered to Hermione.
"I told her I have a boyfriend."
"Wait what?" He stopped.
Hermione looked back. "She and Christy have this absurd idea that we're in love. So I told her I have a boyfriend." She smiled. "Oh my gosh there's Eason's bookseller! I'm going to head there. I'll meet you and the girls at the restaurant in twenty minutes." She smiled again then ran to her favorite store.
"Wait..." But she was already gone. "Do you have a boyfriend then?" He asked to no one.
------------
Hermione took a deep breath as she entered the store. The smell of new books and a hint of coffee. It was almost as good as being in the Hogwarts Library the only thing missing was Cedric.
"I wonder what you're doing right now Cedric." Hermione whispered as she ran her fingers down a row of tomes.
Little did she know that he was near, very near.
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Cedric got out of the automobile and looked at the mailbox. It was the right number.
Cedric turned the letter to make sure he had the right house. Yes it was right. Same address. He took a look at the odd button thingy before knocking on the door.
It swung open to reveal a lovely dark haired blonde woman.
"Hello m'am."
"Well hello."
"My name's Cedric Dig-"
"Cedric Diggory, the Cedric?" The woman said astonished.
"Um well. Yes." He said unsure.
"How delightful. I've heard so much about you. Come in, come in."
"Thank you, but I was wondering where Mimi is?"
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Hermione thumbed through the pages of a book when someone wrapped their arms around her waist. Hermione jumped and almost shrieked until she recognized an all too cheeky voice as it said "Hello Meems."
Hermione whirled around and faced an all too familiar chest. Then glanced up upon her boyfriend's much too handsome face and beautiful grey eyes.
"Cedric." She said almost breathlessly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I missed you." He said as he placed a kiss on her forehead, then one on her nose. Then just as he was about to kiss her lips...
"Hermione?" Two voices cried out at the same time. One female, one male.
Hermione turned still in Cedric's embrace though.
Anya's eyes were wide as saucers as she stared at her best friend in a REALLY good looking bloke's arms.
Hermione and Cedric reluctantly let each other go.
"Um hi guys."
There was silence.
"This is Cedric, um he's my yeah boyfriend that I mentioned earlier." Hermione bit her lip.
"Oh." Christy said taking the words right out of everyone's mouth. "Hi."
"Cedric these are my friends, Anya, Andrew, and Christy."
Cedric smiled. "Hello."
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"You did not say he was this hot!" Anya hissed grabbing Hermione's arm as they walked to the restaurant.
"Seriously." Christy said. "No wonder you shot my theory down so fast." Said on her other side.
Hermione blushed. "You guys."
"No really he's like completely gorgeous. Oh god how I wish I went to your boarding school now." Anya swooned.
Cedric tried to act like as if he couldn't hear a word the girls were saying but it was hard. He looked back to check on them and couldn't help but smile as he saw her blushing like mad as her two friends linked their arms in hers and were giggling.
Andrew looked at Cedric from the corner of his eye. He was almost the last person Andrew had expected to be Hermione's boyfriend. Heck he never imagined Hermione having a boyfriend. She would always be that girl that ran away when he tried to kiss her when he was six and thought that boys were stupid. But then again she was now the pretty girl next door that his classmates constantly teased him about. He'd even had to punch out a couple for daring to say they wished they could land her.
He closed his eyes to shake his thoughts away from the forbidden territory. He shouldn't be thinking about Hermione like that nor about hiring a hit man to off the... bloke standing beside him.
Cedric held the chair out for Hermione, which Christy and Anya couldn't help but sigh at. Hermione gave them both a look while Cedric just smiled. Andrew grunted.
"So Cedric you're from Hermione's school right?" Christy asked.
"Yes."
"How much older are you?" Andrew asked rather bluntly.
Anya elbowed her brother but he didn't even notice.
Cedric looked at him then at Hermione then back at Andrew. "Not another Viktor." He muttered under his breath.
This time Hermione elbowed her boyfriend.
Cedric sighed as he looked pointedly at her. "I'm three years older and two grades above Mimi's. It's my last year actually."
Anya whistled.
"Mimi?" Andrew asked.
"It's my nickname." Hermione interjected.
"You said you hate nicknames." Andrew retorted.
"Oh dear lord. Andrew really. She just hates your nicknames. What girl in her right mind wants to be called Hermy or wormy for that matter. Or my personal favorite Germy." Anya rolled her eyes.
Cedric coughed to hide a laugh.
"So what's everybody getting?" Christy asked.
"Not sure." Anya answered.
"What do you suggest?" Cedric asked Hermione.
"Fish and chips." Hermione said.
"What's fish and chips?" Cedric whispered.
"It's fried fish and French fries."
"What's fried fish taste like?"
"It's good really."
Cedric scrunched his nose. "Well...I don't know. Maybe I should just order beef stew."
"Try something new Cedric."
"I will, I'll just eat off your plate." Cedric said cheekily.
Hermione looked at him and shook her head.
Anya wanted to pinch herself to make sure what was in front of her was real. Her best friend and neighbor since forever, the girl that read books like people breathed air was here and had a boyfriend. Not just any boyfriend either. One that cared about her and if the looks that he gave her were any proof, that he loved her.
Well actually she didn't have to pinch herself. She only needed to look at her brother's sour face. Poor Christy. Dating someone that was in love with someone else. Anya sighed. Her brother was so stupid sometimes.
"How did you guys start dating?" Christy asked when their food got there.
Hermione's face flushed while Cedric couldn't help but grin as he looked down at her.
Taking a fry he asked. "You want to do the honors or me?"
Hermione just groaned.
"Meems was dared to kiss the next guy that entered the hall. I happened to be the lucky one."
All three jaws dropped.
"Our Hermione?" Anya asked just to be sure.
Hermione covered her face in embarrassment.
"You don't even like to play truth or dare." Christy said.
"I know!" Hermione groaned.
"So that's how you two started? She was dared to kiss you and you fell in love right away?"
"Me yes. I don't think so much for her." Cedric said. "It took a little longer and you wouldn't believe how bruised my ego was when I found out she only kissed me on a dare."
"Good thing your ego's large enough that a little bruising wouldn't hurt it." Hermione smiled innocently.
Every time Andrew saw Cedric steal a bite of Hermione's food, his stomach twisted and he felt sick.
When the check came around Cedric took out his wallet but looked at Hermione as he didn't quite know the muggle currency. He'd just had some of his money exchanged for pounds.
"Meems, I don't really know?"
Hermione blinked then her mouth opened to form an O. Looking at the wallet her eyes widened.
"Cedric you have a lot of money on you."
Cedric shrugged. "I just exchanged some of my money." He whispered. "Is it enough?"
Hermione snorted. "It's enough to pay for all of us at least ten times over."
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing." Hermione said much too fast.
Anya and Andrew both looked at her unbelieving.
"Actually I'm buying lunch if you all don't mind." Cedric said.
"What?!" Several of the people at the table exclaimed.
"You said I had enough money." Cedric said looking pointedly at Hermione.
"Well yes but that doesn't mean..."
"Thank you really Cedric." Christy said.
"No problem. Especially since I might owe you all."
They all gave him a confused look.
"I'll need to take Hermione with me for the rest of the summer and we'll go straight to Hog- school after it's over."
"When?" Andrew asked.
Cedric grimaced. "Today. If she can."
"Well if my parents..."
"They already agreed." Cedric said.
"How?"
"How do you think I got here and knew right where you were?"
Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. "My parents."
"So then you're riding the bus home with us?" Anya asked.
"I believe so." Cedric looked at Hermione for confirmation.
She nodded.
-----------
Hermione and Cedric sat next to each other as did Christy and Andrew, and then Anya and her shopping bags.
The first person to get off was Christy as she didn't live in the same neighborhood as Hermione.
She gave Andrew a quick kiss on the lips and a hug to both the girls. She gave Cedric a nod and smile.
Hermione leaned her head against Cedric's chest and relished in the movement of his chest and the sound of his heartbeat. It wasn't too long ago she was scared she would never hear it again. She was surprised she didn't have grey hairs from the Triwizard tournament.
"It's our stop!" Anya sang.
"Whose car is that?" Andrew asked as he spotted a unfamiliar car in Hermione's garage way.
"That's mine." Cedric said rather sheepishly.
"You can drive?" Hermione whirled around to look at him.
"Yeah, it's actually how I got here."
"Since when have you had a car?"
"Few months now." Cedric said thoughtfully.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Because I wanted to surprise you." He grinned.
Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Come over so we can say good bye before you have to leave. And it was nice to meet you Cedric." Anya said as she hugged Hermione before heading to the house just left of Hermione's. Andrew flicked Hermione's hair and made her promise before leaving too.
"Come on follow me to the garden." Hermione grabbed Cedric's hand.
She led him to the garden where the porch swing her mom and she always sat in, was.
Both settled on the porch swing. Cedric sat on one side and Hermione right next to him.
"Oh god." Hermione said as she leaned against Cedric. "How's the wizarding world been?"
"Not good. It's split at the moment. There's some that believe me, Harry, and Dumbledore. While there are others that don't want to believe you- know, I mean Lord Voldemort is back. They say,"
"Dumbledore's off his rocker."
"Precisely. How'd you know?"
"I still get the Daily Prophet though I think I may want to cancel it soon if it keeps calling you and Harry Liars."
Cedric stroked Hermione's hair. "It's okay but everything's changing and..."
"And what?"
"I can't tell you here."
"That sounds suspicious."
"I know love but I can't. I'll just have to show you."
"When?" Hermione raised her head from Cedric's chest and looked straight at him.
"Soon but not yet. Let's enjoy the peace while we can. I don't think we'll have much soon." Cedric sighed as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"Really now."
"Yes really." Cedric gave a laugh as he placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
"What kind of kiss was that? I haven't seen you in months and you kiss me like that?"
Cedric gave a full blown kiss. "Your parents are watching from the window love."
Hermione's eye widened like a doe's as her face went as red as a cherry.
---------------
They were all packed and all of Hermione's stuff was in Cedric's car including Crookshanks.
"You take care of my girl." Mr. Granger said to Cedric as Hermione's mother hugged her.
"Oh course sir." Cedric nodded.
"I'm so depressed. I was so looking forward to going shopping more." Anya gave a sad sigh. Thankfully she missed Hermione's look of relief.
"I'll miss you so much." She threw her arms around both Anya and Andrew.
"We'll miss you too." Andrew said hugging her fiercely. Over Hermione's shoulders he stared at Cedric whom stared back unblinkingly.
"You guys write to me okay? Send it to my parents so that I can receive them. I'll do my best to come back at soon to see you guys."
"You better."
Hermione finally sat in the passenger seat of Cedric's car and continued to wave at them goodbye until they could no longer be seen.
"You know from the way we part. You would think this was my first time leaving them." Hermione gave a sad smile and a laugh.
"They care for you Meems."
"Oh I know that. It's just I wish the wizarding world wasn't so separate from theirs you know?"
"Yes. I understand."
Hermione leaned against the car door. "Do you mind if I take a nap? Shopping with Anya just wears me out."
Cedric laughed. "From what I've seen of her, I bet. Go ahead Meems. It's a while drive away anyway."
"I love you."
"And I love you with my every breath." Cedric answered back.
Hermione smiled before settling into a nap.
-------------------
It was two hours later and Cedric had arrived at their destination. At upon seeing Cedric's car, a few people came out of the house.
Cedric lightly shook Hermione awake.
"Ceeedddric." Hermione yawned.
"Mimi. We're here, we're at 12 Grimmauld Place. Some people are anxious to see you again."
"You can count on that." Two identical voices said at the same time.
Then before she knew it, she was hugged by several people at once. Many of them with red hair.