DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter and Twilight.

A/N: Thanks ever so much for your reviews! Love them and please keep them coming!

Apologies for the late update. Been busy at work and I only had thirty minutes of lunch break.

CHAPTER 10

"CEDRIC DIGGORY CATCHES THE SNITCH! HUFFLEPUFF WINS!"

Then, Hermione and Teddy heard a roar of laughter from Harry, Ron, Ced and Ginny at the sound of Lavender's voice.

"Hey, I'm not a Hufflepuff and will never be!" yelled George who was still on his broom.

The two Weasley boys, Harry and Ced were playing Quidditch in the paddock. Ron and Harry versus George and Cedric. It was safe now to call him 'Ced' because Bill and Percy left already with their own families.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with my old House, you know!" said Ced with a chuckle.

"Yeah, right," replied George sarcastically. Then, he began to sing an unfamiliar song. "*Brave Godric Gryffindor favoured the strong, those who had courage and knew right from wrong. And Rowena Ravenclaw taught only the best, so kind Helga Hufflepuff would teach all the rest.*"

"My Mum was a Hufflepuff and you all said she was the coolest witch you ever met!" came Teddy's voice.

All men turned around and were surprised to see Teddy standing beside Hermione.

"And Harry told me, during the Battle of Hogwarts, no one in Hufflepuff left. They all fought until the end!" he added indignantly.

"Oh, buddy, we didn't mean that," said George affectionately. "Sure, Hufflepuffs are loyal. It's just that... Grandma Molly wouldn't be pleased if I wasn't a Gryffindor."

Teddy rolled his now brown eyes. "Yeah, right," he replied sarcastically.

Hermione giggled with Ginny and Lav. "Teddy, mate, don't mind George. Hufflepuffs are cool!" said Ron with an exaggeration. "Tell you what? I wanted to be one."

Teddy sighed. "Really, Uncle Ron? I'm eight, not four."

And the witches giggled once more. Hermione knelt on the ground and gave Teddy a brief hug. "So smart, Teddy!" Then, she spotted Ced standing behind Harry, smiling at her and the little boy. "Tell you what? I can give you several reasons why you should befriend a Hufflepuff! But first... I'd like you to meet my mate, a former Hufflepuff. I believe he was a first year when your mum was in her seventh year."

She stood up and took Teddy's hand. Ced moved forward to stand in front of them. "Teddy, he's Edward Cullen. We also call him Cedric Diggory and I will tell you later why. But to be safe, call him 'Edward' for now, all right?"

Teddy nodded. "All right." Then, he looked up to Ced. "Hello. I'm Edward Lupin, but you can call me 'Teddy'." He extended his little hand.

Ced looked down at the boy with fondness and shook his hand. "Edward Cullen."

Teddy snatched back his hand. "Merlin, your hand's so cold!"

"Apologies," replied Ced.

"Is it because you're a vampire?" asked Teddy reluctantly. "Grandma Molly and my gran said that Hermione and her mate are vampires. Good vampires."

"Yes, Teddy. That's true," she replied. "How about, we go back to the house and we'll tell you and Mrs. Tonks something?"

"Sure. But, hey, I call all of them," he gestured to Harry and the Weasleys, including Lavender, "uncle and aunt. Can I call you Aunt Mione and Uncle Edward?"

Hermione and Ced exchanged smiles before looking down to the boy. "Sure," they said together.

"Well, come on, Aunt Mione and Uncle Edward." Teddy took each of their hands and walked back to the house.

.

It took a lot of convincing from Teddy to make Andromeda decide to go with them to America. Hermione and Cedric assured them that they would have their own house close to the Cullens. Harry also gave out his inheritance from Sirius because he thought that Teddy and Andromeda deserved the Black money more than he did.

Andromeda also remembered that Fenrir Greyback was the Alpha wolf in Britain and it wouldn't be good for Teddy to stay. In America, they could start over again. Hermione promised that she would always brew Wolfsbane potion for Teddy. She and Cedric also promised that they would stay by his side when he would be in his werewolf form.

Soon, Teddy and Andromeda were ready and saying goodbye to the Weasleys and other family friends. But Hermione had to do one more thing: meet the Cullens.

She was really nervous when the day they were scheduled to go to the Cullens' home in Wales. It would be just her and Ced. They would introduce Teddy and Andromeda - her new family - the following day.

You can do this, Hermione. You've faced the Volturi and Voldemort. They're just your mate's family, she told herself.

But the other part of her mind contradicted. They're not just Ced's family. It'll be a problem if they wouldn't approve of you. Remember, he is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Do you think he'd be happy to leave his family for you?

She sighed, though she didn't need it. A pair of familiar, strong arms wrapped around her tiny waist. She tilted her head and allowed Ced to kiss her neck. "Stop over thinking," he whispered. "They love you already."

"Except for Alice," she stated. "She prefers Isabella."

"No, she doesn't prefer her as my mate. She only wants to stay friends with her," he replied in a comforting tone. "She would love to get to know you."

She smiled and nodded even though she wasn't really convinced. She could tell that she and Alice would never be friends. They were just too... different. While she could tolerate Luna's uniqueness, she just couldn't do the same for someone who sees the future through visions. She felt like, Alice was just another Trelawney.

Well, Ced could hear Alice's thoughts. Everything she was thinking, while Hermione could only hear parts of it, when she really wanted to listen. But still, she couldn't see it coming - her, being friends with Alice Cullen.

Too bad, she's Ced's favourite sister.

"Before we go, I'd like to give you something."

Before she could ask what it was, he held out a golden necklace that holds the charm of a...

"A badger?" she gasped upon seeing closely the form of the golden charm.

"A honey badger," he said with a nod.

She gave him an appreciative smile. "It's beautiful, Ced."

"Let me put it on you," he said and she nodded. Hermione held out her hair and let him place the necklace around her. She moved to the vanity mirror to check her reflection. The golden badger was now resting above her chest and it looked perfect there for she was wearing a v-neck top.

"It suits you," he said fondly and hugged her from behind.

"Thank you. Did I miss any occasion?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No, you didn't. I just want to give you something. Consider it as eight years worth Valentine present."

She turned around to face him and locked her eyes with his. "Then, I should give you something, too."

He smiled. "There's just one thing I want," he said. "And been planning to do since my sixth year at Hogwarts, but never had the chance after the Triwizard Tournament."

She frowned, looking puzzled. She couldn't remember anything he wanted years ago, so it must have been something he didn't tell her. "What is it?"

Ced reached to the inner pocket of his coat. She was half expecting a box, but there was no box. Just a ring. A Princess cut diamond engagement ring.

She slightly shook her head in disbelief and her eyes darted back to Ced's.

"Marry me," he whispered in his sweetest voice. It was the same tone he used to make her stay with him the night before the First Task. She stayed with him in his dormitory, not caring if there were five other boys in the room. She just couldn't say 'no' to him. To that tone. To that loving voice.

And now, he's asked her for a lifetime commitment. He was the only mate she wanted. Why would she say 'no'?

"Do you remember when my grandfather passed away before my third year?" she asked rather emotionally. Though looked puzzled, he still nodded. "Well, after his funeral, grandma gave me a piece of advice and I've decided to go for it."

"What did she say?" he asked rather nervously.

She smiled and leaned to him; her lips were only a few centimeters away from his. She cupped his handsome face. "Marry your best friend," she whispered and claimed his lips.

Ced quickly responded and deepened the kiss, until their tongues played against each other. Before their hands could travel anywhere, they pulled away and rested their foreheads against each other.

"We'll do things the right way," he promised. "Even if your parents aren't here anymore, I still want to keep my promise: to treat you right. Always."

She grinned and pulled her to an embrace. "Oh, I love you so much, Ced."

"And I love you most." He replied and kissed the tip of her nose.

.

A/N II:

*The Sorting Hat by Riddle T.M.

I've heard this song in a Harry Potter themed café. Listen to it, too. It makes me wish Hogwarts is real.