Chapter Five

Giving Gifts

10:21 P.M.

"Hello Viktor," Hermione greeted happily, doing her best to flounce into the seat beside him.

"Herm-own-ninny, verr haff you been? I haff looked everywhere. I haff drinks," Viktor rambled, trying to relate his worry at having possibly lost her.

"Oh thank you. I'm sorry I disappeared for a while. I just needed some fresh air."

"But I looked in the gardens. You vere not there."

To save herself from answering, Hermione took a sip from the fuller of the two drinks and pulled him onto the dance floor. "C'mon, they're playing my favorite song."

o.0.o

Cedric slipped discreetly back into the Great Hall and, just as discreetly, crept up behind Cho. "Miss me?" he whispered into her ear, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Of course!" she exclaimed, after jumping a bit in her seat. "Where were you?" she asked, rising to hug him.

He returned the sentiment, forcing himself to hold her. "Just taking a walk, that's all. I needed to clear my head."

"Well, I'm glad you're back. I was lonely. Now let's dance. They're playing my favorite song." She pulled him, laughing, onto the dance floor.

Across the crowd, Cedric saw Hermione with Viktor. She raised her eyes, mid comment, and froze as he smiled to her. She smiled back, but immediately returned her eyes to Viktor, most likely explaining why her attention had wandered. He, in turn, returned his attention to Cho.

While the both of them pretended to be happy, somewhere in the back of their minds they both knew that they had left happiness in that empty classroom.

o.0.o

12:36 A.M.

Teary eyed, Hermione rushed up to her room. It was much later and she had just fought with Ron… again. Why did he have to do things like that? Why couldn't he just be calm about things? If only he knew… if only he knew that Krum was not the one who had stolen her heart.

Thoughts of Cedric made her dissolve into tears even faster. Why did she always have to sacrifice what she wanted for the sake of the world? For once, she would just like to be the girl who got a wish… she wanted some sort of happy ending. She tried to flop onto her bed, but was interrupted by a crinkling of paper. Annoyed, she read it quickly, and the annoyance vanished.

Meet me in our classroom as soon as you get this. I will be waiting. –C.

Hermione didn't even think about an invisibility cloak or any excuse, She just rushed out of her dormitory and out of the Common Room.

o.0.o.

12:44 A.M.

Cedric paced the classroom. He hoped that he had done the right thing. After leaving the ball, he had decided to help Harry – because he was Hermione's friend. He had wanted to do something for her, but could only think of helping her friend. Of course, he had told Harry that it was in exchange for the tip off about the dragons. But then an idea had sprung on him. It was Christmas, after all… or at least the day after Christmas.

Hopefully everything would still be perfect to prove that their forty-five minutes hadn't been some fluke of reality. Hopefully, he could be the Prince.

The door creaked open and he smiled, knowing it had to be her. "Cedric…" Her voice was like an angel's.

"You came…"

"Do you want me to say, 'Of course I did. You asked me to,' to make this very quaint?"

"It's not necessary." He turned to her and held his hands out to her. "Come here."

She crossed the room with uncanny grace and stopped before him, her head cocked to the side in curiosity. "Alright, I'm here." With one of his coy smiles, he got down on one knee. "What are you doing?"

"Shh… it's ok." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a glass slipper. "I found this and thought that it might belong to you." He unbuckled her dress shoe and placed the slipper on her foot. "Look. Perfect fit. Must be the girl for me."

"Cedric you…"

"Shh. Don't say anything."

"But – "

"Hermione, don't you know what happens now?"

"We live happily after?" Her voice was so hopeful.

"Before that."

"I don't know."

He smiled softly, placing his hands on her cheeks gently. "We kiss."

"We what?"

"Merry Christmas, Hermione Granger." He placed his lips cautiously on hers. The caution soon disappeared, and in the center of the classroom, the most beautiful kiss in Hogwarts history was ever shared. It was moment that was never to be repeated or recorded, but forever remembered.

Hermione felt herself smiling inside. And I didn't even have to leave a slipper…