Title: Happy Ever After
Characters: Cedric/Hermione
Notes: AU. A continuation of After the War which was set 10 years after the Second War. I'm not sure why I decided to continue it, I just felt like it.

Also, please, please, please do not read this story if you haven't read After the War:) It won't make any sense! As usual, unbeta'd. All mistakes are mine and I'll fix them when I find out about them. :)

Sorry it took me so long to upload this story to I've had it on my livejournal for ages but just hadn't got around to putting it here! So sorry.

Important note: This story is FINISHED but I have only posted the first chapter here. To read the whole story please click on my USER NAME, this will take you to a link to my livejournal where you can read the complete story.

"Mmph," Hermione murmured lazily and Cedric smiled slowly, his eyes wandering over her drowsy face warmly, lingeringly..

Although the narrow single bed was very cramped, far from complaining, Cedric was very conscious of the benefits of such a small bed. It was true that they were squashed up against the wall and Cedric's legs were almost hanging off the end of the bed - but every movement brought him even closer to Hermione. Perhaps it brought Hermione closer to him. Whichever it was, he was very aware of the fact that the young woman slumbering peacefully in his arms was filling him with a rather simple and straightforward emotion that was as novel as it was overwhelming.

He felt happy.

Her dark lashes rested on her cheeks as she slept, her breathing even and quiet. To his pleasure, she turned towards him even in sleep, curling up against him trustingly. He watched over her, his fingers traced over her shoulder, down the smoothness of her arm and lightly played down her slender hip. He touched her very lightly so as not to wake her and his fingers slid through her long brown hair which lay in a thick tangle around her bare shoulders.

They had alighted from the Knight Bus quite late the night before. Diagon Alley was uncharacteristically quiet and Cedric had carried their trunks as Hermione had unlocked the front door of a bookshop. Books and Learning the conservatively lettered sign read and he had stepped inside and glanced around with interest at the rows upon rows of books. The shelves were almost bursting to capacity. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall, ladders everywhere. It was a bookworm's paradise.

Recap note: As mentioned - this story is FINISHED, to read the rest please click on my USER NAME, this will take you to a link to my livejournal where you can read the complete story.