DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter

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Chapter 24: Busy Bee

"'But look,' said Ron, laughing, 'see this morning? Nine o'clock, Divination. And underneath, nine o'clock, Muggle Studies. And - ' Ron leant closer to the timetable, disbelieving, 'look - underneath that, Arithmancy, nine o'clock. I mean, I know you're good, Hermione, but no one's that good. How're you supposed to be in three classes at once?'

'Don't be silly,' said Hermione shortly. 'Of course I won't be in three classes at once.'" - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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1993

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

"Oh, thank Merlin you're safe, Ced!" Hermione hugged her best friend when he entered the compartment.

Cedric chuckled and sighed in relief, returning her hug. "I'm all right. It's Potter who fainted."

"That was amazing, mate. We heard the others talking," said Ian, causing the two of them to pull away. Hermione went back beside Susan who gave her cousin an affectionate look.

"Thanks."

"What was the form of your Patronus?" asked Terrence with deep interest.

"It was a -"

"Just show us, Ced!" exclaimed Susan.

Ced shook his head. "Maybe some other time. It was rather draining..."

Hermione placed a comforting hand on his back. "It's okay. You don't have to show us now."

The last three hours of the train ride was much more normal. They ate, chattered, and took a nap again. Ced went to patrol for an hour and then came back just in time when they arrived in Hogsmeade station.

He took care of their trunks and Hermione carried their pets in their respective cages.

"Ced, just go to another carriage with Hermione!" Susan told them, hopping on a carriage with Ian's help.

"Yeah. And avoid giggling Ravenclaw girls, will you?" Ian winked at Cedric.

Ced shook his head and looked for an empty carriage. "Come on, 'Mione, this way..."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat at the new nickname he gave her, and followed Ced, praying that Cho Chang - or any other girl - would not join them.

The carriage they thought was empty was already occupied by Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. "Hey, Diggory, you can... uh, join us, you know," said Harry when he saw them.

Ced helped her to get in first before loading their trunks, then sitting beside The Boy Who Lived. Hermione reached out for her handkerchief and wiped Ced's sweaty forehead. "Thanks", he muttered appreciatively.

Hermione just smiled and sat contentedly beside Ronald Weasley as if the redhead wasn't there.

"Listen, Diggory," Harry began when the carriage moved. "I want to thank you for saving me from the Dementor."

"The guy we're sitting with was about to cast the same spell," Ronald Weasley reminded Potter.

"Oh, Professor Lupin, yeah," said Cedric casually. "Of course, he's the new Defence teacher. Sorry, didn't know he was in your compartment."

Harry shook his head. "You don't have to apologize. Thanks again for saving me back there."

"I didn't know it was you. I would do it for anyone, but you're welcome," Cedric replied gently. Hermione felt proud of his modesty. That was Cedric, her best friend: always humble, gentle, and kind.

"Hufflepuffs," whispered Ronald bitterly.

When they arrived at the castle, she and Cedric walked side-by-side while Potter and Weasley went ahead. Professors McGonagall and Sprout were outside the entrance.

"Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall strode towards the boy, looking very concerned. "Are you all right? Professor Lupin sent us a message and told us what happened."

"Yes, Professor, I'm fine," she heard Potter replied. "Cedric Diggory saved me from the Dementor..."

"So it's true, then?" Professor McGonagall looked taken aback, probably because she was too surprised. She turned to the Herbology professor, then to Cedric.

"A Patronus Charm, Mr. Diggory?" asked Professor Sprout. "Very impressive! I say, fifty points to Hufflepuff for a very advanced charm and saving a student." She turned to Professor McGonagall as if asking for permission.

Professor McGonagall nodded, but still look shocked. "Very well." She turned to Potter again. "Come with me, Mr. Potter. Poppy has to make sure you're all right."

"Cedric, Hermione, come with me. Leave your luggage at the Entrance Hall," Professor Sprout told them in her usual motherly tone.

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"A time-turner?" her four friends all gasped when she showed them her 'necklace'.

"Shh!"

They were in one corner of the common room, heads touching each other, and whispering.

"But why?" asked Ian.

"'Cause Hermione's taking all the electives!" whispered Susan.

"Even Muggle Studies?" Terrence looked confused.

Hermione nodded. "I want to see it from a witch's perspective."

"And Divination?" asked Ian.

"I know I want to be a Healer, but I shouldn't just stick to dream A, right? I should have other options... Maybe I could be a Ministry worker or a researcher just like Ced's mum."

"But are there conflicts in your schedule?" asked Susan.

"No, but I would need a break. I can only go back in time for a maximum of three hours a day," she replied in a low voice. "Professor Sprout gave me a journal. It appears that using the time-turner will affect my age..."

"And you're telling us because?" asked Ian.

"Because you're my best friends and I could use some help in recording. I've read that this time-travel thing could be confusing. People lost track of time, got confused, and some even ended up at the Janus Thickey Ward."

"That's why Dumbledore shouldn't have allowed you to take all your classes and gave you that device." Cedric looked unhappy.

"But I want to study everything and at the same time, I don't want my health to suffer..." she explained.

"You're not just a bookworm. You're a true Hufflepuff," sighed Cedric.

She gave him an inquiring look.

"You're a busy-bee."

Hermione chuckled. "True Hufflepuff, then."

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"Potter, you fainted? Really? And you were calling your mummy?"

The Slytherins and Ravenclaws just finished Potions. Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were waiting outside when Malfoy spotted them and displayed his evil smirk.

Hermione pushed Harry Potter gently into the dungeon classroom without saying anything to Malfoy. "Don't mind him." She eventually released him once they were inside.

"Thanks," he muttered.

She went to sit with Susan, and Harry went beside Ronald Weasley.

"You're acting like his mother," frowned Susan.

"Sue, Malfoy was taunting him and if he snapped back, they could've ended up in detention," she explained.

"Are you sure you don't like him?" she asked curiously.

"I told you, I like someone else," she said through her gritted teeth.

"You won't tell me who," she pouted.

Hermione shook her head. "If I tell you, I have to tell the boys as well. I don't want that. Besides, I don't know how he feels about me, so... telling you, I might get my hopes high."

Susan grinned. "So, if he likes you, too, and confesses, for example, you will tell us?"

Hermione shrugged. "Probably." She remembered the moment on the train last night; when they ate chocolate balls, and when he kissed her head before leaving the compartment...

Could he possibly like me too?

Hermione drifted from her musings when Professor Snape entered the room and waved his wand on the board.

After their classes, Hermione asked Susan to go ahead because she wanted to ask Professor Snape something.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" The professor was sitting behind his desk, marking papers. He didn't look up when she approached him.

"Sir, I'm wondering if I could brew in your lab again this year," she said carefully.

Professor Snape met her eyes, looking displeased. "You are taking twelve classes this year and you still want to continue your experiments?"

Hermione nodded. "I don't think it's a good idea, Miss Granger. I do not wish to be blamed if you end up in the hospital wing because of overfatigue. Unless you can be in two places at once, this conversation is pointless."

"I can do it, Professor. I promise," she replied solemnly.

The professor sighed exasperatedly. "Fine. I could use some help brewing infirmary potions... No more experiments on your own. Saturday afternoons, from after lunch until an hour before dinner."

Hermione's eyes widened. She couldn't believe it! Professor Snape was allowing her to brew with him! "All right, Professor. No more experiments. Thank you!"

He rolled his eyes. "Out!"

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July 2020

(the present)

"Hermione, what the fuck - "

"Language, Potter!" snapped Susan.

"- is happening? Why does that boy look like my son, Arthur?"

Hermione was checking Albus's (still unconscious) vital signs using her wand and Susan was writing on a clipboard. "Allergies. I can't figure out what exactly it is, but food allergy, Sue," she was saying. She checked the wall clock in the room. "It happened an hour ago - he must be at the Ministry... Have you heard from Cedric?"

"No news. Maybe he's currently engaged in a meeting, and so are the rest of the Unspeakables," replied Susan. She gave her the chart. "Have to check on another patient, sorry, Hermione."

She nodded appreciatively. "Thanks for your help, Sue. I can handle this."

Susan glared at Potter and then gave her a questioning look.

"Yeah, even Auror Potter."

Susan nodded kindly but gave Harry a piercing look.

"Hermione..."

"It's Healer Diggory, Auror Potter," she corrected kindly. "I'm sorry, but given who your wife is, I thought it was clear to you that we can't be friends."

Harry looked away but nodded. "Right. I was just... still hoping that maybe, we could be friends... But it's Ginny, isn't it?"

"You know that your wife and I cannot be friends. Will never be friends," she said softly, almost sadly. Maybe, if Harry Potter didn't marry Ginny Weasley, or if the redhead witch didn't spend so much time loathing her during their Hogwarts years, she could actually be friends with Harry. There was a time when they were almost close friends, despite his best friend Ronald's behaviour towards her and other Hufflepuffs. Even Cedric was nice to Harry and Ginny, and the other Weasleys.

"Guess there will never be a universe where we could be friends," Harry said unhappily.

"Wrong."

Hermione's eyes widened and she turned to the boy lying on the bed. Albus's green eyes went to Harry Potter. "In my universe, you were best friends."

"Albus!" she exclaimed. "We shouldn't - "

A silver otter - very similar to Hermione's Patronus -only taller - appeared in front of her. "We're coming." It was the voice of her husband.

Harry Potter gave her a questioning look when the otter vanished. "A time traveler?"

Hermione shook her head in disapproval. "Out, Auror Potter. His case doesn't concern you, I swear."

But Albus began crying, still looking at Harry. The latter looked reluctant to leave, but Hermione gently pushed him out of the room. "You can talk to the Unspeakables later."

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A/N: For Cedric's Patronus, I didn't make it up. I actually took a test for him via MagiQuiz and that was the result.