DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

A/N: Thanks for the positive feedbacks! I truly appreciate them. :)

CHAPTER 2

Edward felt Hermione pressed her body to him even more. "I've missed you, too," Hermione whispered against his chest. Then, she pulled away and they met each other's eyes again. "I know everyone calls you Edward, but for me, you're still Ced. My Cedric…"

He gave her a tender smile. "Of course, I'm yours. I've tried to find you again, eight years ago. But, I only found your grave at Hogwarts."

"It was a sham," she replied. "I've been wanting to see you. I wanted to search for you, but I needed some time alone after my... I mean, after the attack. So, I went to Australia where my parents are. I secretly watched over them for six years after finally deciding to leave them. I'm glad that I've returned to Europe. I wasn't expecting to meet the three brothers again. Most of all, I wasn't expecting to see my first love."

Edward could feel the love in her voice, though she didn't have her normal beating heart anymore. He didn't care if there were at least ten other vampires watching. He dipped his head and planted a kiss on her lips. But Hermione was no more a fragile girl, he thought, so he wasn't surprised when she deepened the kiss.

When they broke the kiss, they stared at each other, then, someone chuckled. Aro. "What a happy reunion, Hermione and Edward… We will let you go in a minute, but Marcus has something to say."

Edward placed his arm around Hermione's waist and they both faced Marcus who was still sitting in his throne. For the first time since he arrived, Marcus smiled and spoke. "Edward has never stopped loving you, dear little witch," he said to Hermione. Then, he met his eyes. "I believe you've already found your mate."

Edward smiled and shifted to face Hermione again. She was beaming as well and they shared another embrace.

"Hermione, dear, you can take your time with Edward," said Aro in a fatherly manner. "We'll talk about the job later."

Hermione beamed. "Thank you, Aro, Marcus and Caius."

The three brothers nodded and Edward muttered his thanks to the three as well. He even thanked Felix and Jane.

Hermione led him out of the throne room. They went upstairs and continued walking until they reached a room which resembled to a library. They sat on the couch and snuggled to each other., just like the old times. Edward had to close his eyes to remember the Hogwarts library's Muggle section. Merlin, I've missed this!

"Ced, I can't believe that you're here now, with me," she whispered, kissing his neck.

He opened his eyes and smirked. He also ran his hands on her soft curls. "I can't believe this, too. Tell me everything that happened," he requested.

Hermione met his eyes. "I will. We have all the time in the world, now that we're together. But don't hate me for falling with Ron Weasley two years after you left."

He looked at her lovingly. Of course he wasn't expecting her to pine over him, though they fancied each other, and later on, fell in love three years after they met. He died as Cedric Diggory and left; he returned to being Edward Cullen. He was a vampire and she was a teenage witch, always surrounded by her two male best friends. "He was your best friend. Did he treat you right?"

Hermione shook her head. "Doesn't matter. Whe only shared one kiss and that was it. How about you? Found someone prettier than me?" she teased.

He gave Hermione a faint smile. "Not prettier than you," he replied politely. Hermione and Bella were two different people, both beautiful in their own ways.

Bella was beautiful to the eyes of the teenage boys. She had a heart-shaped face and pale skin. She was more of an introvert, book lover brunette and emotionally fragile. She would act before thinking and was fickle-minded as well. He actually felt guilty for still leading her to a relationship he doubted would work. She was human and though she wanted to become like him, he didn't want to be more selfish and take her mortal life.

Hermione, on the other hand, wasn't the campus crush. During their Hogwarts years, she had wild, curly brown hair and rather large front teeth. She used to wear large school robes which hid her curves, but during the Yule Ball, she was a sight. She was also a brave, friendly and brilliant witch. She was the brightest witch in her year and her two Gryffindor friends surely would have died early if it wasn't because of her wit. While Bella 'just loved reading', Hermione used to search for the answers, solve a puzzle or riddle and find a way to save her friends. She was organized, compassionate and as loyal as a Hufflepuff. Her compassion and loyalty were the reasons why she rejected his offer to elope after revealing his true identity. She chose to be with her family and help Harry Potter fight Voldemort. Edward was heartbroken, but the fact that Hermione loved him but he wasn't her world, was one of the reasons why he admired her.

"Just because I can let you go and live without you doesn't mean I don't love you anymore. I will fight and help Harry defeat the Dark side, so I could live in a peaceful world. Then, love will come next," she said many years ago.

He vividly remembered every word. He remembered that he wanted to fight and helop, too. But he wasn't a wizard anymore, so he just decided to leave her and come back after the war. He did. He came back to check on her, but he what he found was a grave with her name. She fought and her side won. She died fighting, he heard and read.

One of Hermione's best qualities, she could love someone so much without losing herself. At fifteen, her priority was to defeat Voldemort for the Muggle-borns like her to live peacefully. She was a remarkable witch.

Edward had never stopped loving her. While Hermione wanted to save the world and defend the house-elves and werewolves, he entered a mortal girl's life and led her on. Later on, he realized that it wasn't really wise to befriend Bella Swan. Bella wasn't like any other teenage girls who would take things easily. They've only dated for a few months, but she gave him everything. She poured her heart to him: a curious vampire. Someday, when she's older and mature, he would return and apologize for hurting her.

"A galleon for your thoughts?" came Hermione's gentle voice.

He met her eyes again and smiled faintly. "Sorry. Yes, I met someone. Someone who intrigued me because I couldn't hear her thoughts and well, she's so different."

Hermione didn't look angry or jealous, but curious. "How far did you go?" she asked gently.

He stroked her curls and did not take his eyes off her. "We just dated. A couple of kisses. It was just for less than a year."

Hermione laughed beautifully and it was like music to his ears. "Are you telling me that at the age of hundred and five, you had a fling? Or what was that called? High school romance."

He smirked. "Call it whatever you want. While I truly fell for her, it wasn't as deep as something you can call true love. I was smitten and intrigued. After all, I am a man."

Hermione gave him an approving look and clasped her hands to him, just like the old times. "Not jealous? You used to be, before."

She rolled her beautiful eyes. "Oh, please. Mentally, I'm twenty-seven years old. And I've had enough of that drama before, being linked with Cedric Diggory and Ronald Weasley."

He laughed, remembering a jealous fourteen year-old Hermione Granger. She wouldn't talk to him. No, she didn't yell at or hex his fan club members as Cedric Diggory. But she had a different way of making him feel that she was jealous. "Who did you have with Weasley? Did he manage to have a fan club, too?"

"No. Just one person from my year and my roommate, Lavender Brown. But we never really dated. We liked each other, but too busy to help Harry, I guess. So, what we had was just a brief kiss during the battle."

"I've heard and read so much about it," he told her. "But I want to hear your version of events."

Hermione grinned. "All right. Soon."

He stared at her and tried to listen for anything, but her mind was shut. "Who attacked you?" he asked instead.

"Some vampire on Voldemort's side during the wizarding war. Professor Slughorn's friend, Sanguini, saved me. He couldn't just let me die after everything, he said. He took care of me during my first year, before I moved to Australia."

"I have so many questions, but why can't I hear you anymore?" he asked curiously.

She smiled coyly. "Occlumency."

He raised an eyebrow but looked impressed. Well, why was he surprised? That was what Hermione do: perform impressive magic. "When did you learn?"

"My sixth year. Professor Dumbledore asked me to learn, hoping that Harry would learn as well," she replied and he looked uncomfortable hearing Potter's name. He was one of the reasons why she couldn't choose him before.

"Thank Merlin, I mastered it. Being captured by the Snatchers and tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange was hell and if I hadn't worked on Occlumency, Harry, Ron and I would've died that moment."

His hold on her tightened. "Such a brilliant witch. You saved Harry's and Ron's necks. It was a wise decision that you stayed."

She smiled and looked at him, adoring. "Everything happens for a reason, that's what they say. I wasn't really happy at first, being a vampire. But when I thought of you, it just gave me hope."

"Why didn't you come to me sooner?" he asked. If she had come sooner, he would never fall for Bella.

"I needed more time alone, with my parents. I wanted to be on my own, before finding my mate," she explained.

"Well, it's Hermione Granger I'm talking to. She's a woman with a well-organized mind," he said with a chuckle. "Hermione Granger wants to find herself, love herself before loving others."

Hermione beamed. "Well, I can't give what I don't have, can I? And aren't you disappointed that I'm not head over heels for you?" she teased.

"No," he replied honestly. "Because it means, your love is mature and pure. You're not obsessed. You don't put pressure on your partner's shoulders."

She laughed beautifully and pulled him closer. "But don't get me wrong. I've missed you so much. Many times, I was tempted to leave Australia and find you. But I wasn't a disciplined vampire yet. It took me seven years before becoming a vegetarian like you."

Edward frowned. "But your smell isn't that strong," he said. Vampires who drank human blood smelled so strong for him. It was like smelling meat in the wet market. Vampires like himself and his family didn't have that strong smell because they would only drink animal blood.

Hermione smirked. She pulled away from him and stood up in front of the couch. She closed her eyes and turned to an animal of that resembled the weasel, with fairly long body with broad back. Its skin was loose, the head was small and flat, with a short muzzle. It had short and study legs, with five toes on each foot. The feet were armed with very strong claws. Its tail was short and covered in long hairs.

Edward looked at her with awe. Hermione turned to a beautiful honey badger, similar to the animal that symbolized the Hufflepuff House. His house.

After a few seconds, before he could even speak, Hermione turned to her human form. He pulled her to his lap. "Beautiful," he murmured. "Honey badgers are fearless for they catch larger reptiles. Never afraid of larger than life challenges. Just like you."

She beamed. "Do you think it's a coincidence that I have the traits of a honey badger and you were in my mind while learning to be an animagus?"

Edward kissed her forehead. "No. I think you really had it in you."

"I love you. You know that, right? I can't just stop loving my first best friend and first love." Her voice was so sweet and she planted another kiss on his neck.

"I know and I love you, too," he replied. "It wasn't easy for you to decide when I tried to convince you. I felt the pain, too. But, why can you still transform when you're already a vampire? Does it mean that you're not really frozen like me?" His knowledge of magical vampires were limited because he didn't know anyone before Hermione.

"Magical vampires are different. We only stop ageing and crave for blood. We stop breathing, too. But only when in human form. I was already an animagus before I was bitten," she explained. "Therefore, I can bear a child if I want to, but that child won't be like the vampire children who were not in control of themselves. Sanguini and his wife had a child."

He felt a different kind of happiness with what she said. "Merlin, Hermione, we can be a family!" he replied, looking into her honey eyes.

She beamed. "Let's take our time," she replied. "I'm not yet a fully disciplined vampire. I might harm my child." He raised an eyebrow. Hermione chuckled. "All right then, our child."

He kissed the top of her head. "I understand. I'll be there by your side. Always. But what was Aro saying about your job, and how did you meet them?"

Her smile faltered. "It's complicated," she replied. "You see, they were recruited by Voldemort before, but of course, they refused. They made it to Voldemort's list, so they coordinated with the British Ministry of Magic for their safety. After the battle, they requested to meet me, Harry and Ron to express their gratitude. Apparently, they didn't want to end up like Voldemort, so they agreed with Minister Shacklebolt to change their ways."

Edward stopped stroking Hermione's hair. The three brothers don't smell anymore like before. "They don't hunt for people anymore, do they?"

Hermione smiled hesitantly. "They have murderers and dark wizards for food. But when there are no available sinners, they hunt animals. You know, wizards can destroy non-magic vampires with one single spell," she replied matter-of-factly.

He chuckled, clearly amused by the events. It never crossed his mind that the Volturi would submit themselves to the Ministry of Magic and would fear a bastard half-blood like Voldemort. "Ced, they might hear you," she scolded but smiling.

He pulled her for a passionate kiss, to which she eagerly responded. "You really are a hero," he whispered. "You just didn't save the wizarding world from the darkest wizard. You're also saving our kind."

"I'm glad you're not upset that you weren't my priority," she said with tease.

"How could I be upset? Hell, my mate was a hero. She saved many lives. By the way, did you pursue S.P.E.W.?"

She grinned. "Of course. All elves are free and well-compensated," she replied proudly.

"Now I feel like a bad guy," he half-joked. "I've messed up a mortal girl's life and made her fell in love with me," he said in a low voice.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Can you elaborate?"

Edward chuckled and smoothed her hair. "I will. Soon. Tell me about your plans. Are you going to stay here?"

"Aro is good friends with the Italian Minister for Magic," she began. "They offered me a job at the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Doesn't ring a bell?"

He smiled faintly. "My other father," he replied.

Hermione gave a satisfied look. "Well, I said I want to think about it and the three brothers are happy to have me as their guest until I made a decision. If ever, will you stay with me here in Italy?"

He beamed and kissed her forehead. "Of course. Like I said, I will be by your side from now on. I'm never letting you go."

Hermione responded by giving him a passionate kiss and straddling his legs.

I'm in heaven.