Title: Honeydukes
Pairings: Cedric/Hermione
Summary: "Right sonny and I'm Merlin."
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I can only dream it's mine but we all know it belongs to JK Rowling.
Warning: Prequel to Possessed but can stand alone :P

Author's Note: So yeah it's not suppose to be in here but my plot bunny just jumped at me with this prequel


He always waited for the weekend for when the bells would tinkle loudly and the morning crowd rush would come in with their bundles of scarves, hats, and coats but never bother to look at them past that. The only one he ever really searched for in the crowds was a girl with a busy mane that he had come to find very cute and endearing.

Taking his eyes away from the crowd, Cedric started to ring up the purchases that many of the first years had brought up to him. With each first year that came up to him, he would smile brightly and make some small talk. As the crowd started to die down, Cedric took to watching the door again but discreetly as his elderly boss watched him with knowing eyes.

"Yeh know son, yeh can't just stand there and wait fer her," Mr. McPhair spoke.

"Wait for who?" Cedric asked dumbly but he could feel his face reddened as her image flashed by his mind.

"That pretty little lass yeh keep starin' at."

"I don't stare."

Mr. McPhair snorted as he continued to stock the Chocolate Frogs, "Right sonny and I'm Merlin."

Taking his eyes from the door, Cedric busied himself with the counter cleaning up invisible bits of sweets with his towel. They worked together in silence for while before his boss' voice resonated through his mind.

"She's not goin' te wait 'round forever, if yeh don't tell her now."

"Why do you say that?"

"'Cause I almost lost Addie that way. I almost waited too damn long for her to come around when I knew that I shoulda made the move."

"I talk to her," Cedric said a bit uncertainly.

"No yeh don't. Yeh make small talk and don't tell me that's talkin' boy. The trick of real talkin' is to actually ask her to drink a cuppa tea with yeh. Don't be like me and wait for 10 years to pass before yeh meet again at some friends' reunion. My heart almost broke that night when she said she mighta married that bloke but I tell yeh, the best thing that ever happened to me was when she said she was jokin'."

"That doesn't sound like a good joke," Cedric mumbled.

"Yer right, I almost had a heart attack."

Cedric stopped a bit and chuckled before he stopped as he saw her walk by. He let a small sigh he didn't know he was holding but watched her as she lost her boys in the crowd. He continued to watch as she patiently looked around and saw her frown when she couldn't find them. Hearing the back door open, he turned around to greet Mrs. McPhair. She waved at him slightly before giving him an encouraging wink. He reddened again at her amused face but when he saw Mr. McPhair kiss and hug his wife, Cedric couldn't help but think that could be him in 40 years with a loving wife and a family that he didn't know he wanted.

"Take a break. Go on and help the poor girl," Mrs. McPhair called out to him.

Cedric was taken aback just a bit but smiled at them nonetheless and out of Honeydukes, looking for the girl that he hope won't give him a heart attack with a funny joke in 10 years time.