DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 25: Otter

"Hermione's Patronus, a shining silver otter, was gambolling around her." -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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1993

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

"How was D.A.D.A.?" Hermione asked the three fifth-year boys when they said beside and across from her at the Hufflepuff table for lunch. They were all grinning.

"He's brilliant!" Ian looked and sounded very impressed.

"Professor Lupin is, by far, the best teacher we've ever had!" Terrence told them - Hermione, Susan, and the other third-years listening to them.

"Yeah. Better than Professors Shafiq and Fawcett," agreed Ced, filling his plate with food, and turned to Hermione, "our professors in first and second years, respectively."

She nodded in understanding.

"And he's so impressed by Ced's Patronus!" Ian grinned at her. "But you know, our Ced here is so modest."

"We have him tomorrow," said Neville across from her happily. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm looking forward to it."

Hermione smiled while watching Neville. He had grown a lot and became more confident. He was now very different from the boy she met two years ago; the boy who kept on losing his toad. She also turned to the girl beside him: Hannah Abbott. The two were really close and always together. Hannah reached for a napkin and wiped Neville's mouth gently to remove a cupcake icing. Neville muttered his thanks and brushed Hannah's hair with his hand. Hermione could not help but remember Ced's actions.

Neville and Hannah obviously like each other, she thought and then turned to Ced.

"He's very kind and brilliant," Ced smiled at Neville. "You will like him."

Maybe he noticed she was staring at him, so he turned to her with a both affectionate and inquiring look.

"So, when are you going to show us your Patronus?" she whispered to him.

He flashed his crooked smile and leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Maybe later. Let's go find a room on the basement floor."

She smiled and nodded. She felt the excitement of seeing Ced's Patronus. "Yeah, okay."

"Oi! You two!" came Ian's voice. "You're doing it again."

They pulled away from each other and turned to their friends. Susan bumped her shoulder to hers playfully and gave her a teasing smile.

"Doing what?" she asked innocently.

"Acting like an old married couple," commented Terrence.

"Don't be silly," she told them dismissively. "We're all best friends."

But she felt Ced tense beside her and when she turned to him, he looked downcast as he sliced his steak.

She picked up her fork to get some chips on his plate and ate them. He gave her a confused look. "What are you doing?" he asked casually and his facial expression softened.

Hermione smiled. "Nothing. I think your chips are better than mine."

Cedric flashed his crooked smile once more. "Be my guest."

Susan coughed. "Married couple."

This time neither Cedric nor Hermione paid attention. They stared at each other, smiles plastered on their faces.

Eight hours later, after dinner, Cedric asked the four of them to come to an abandoned room on the basement floor with him to show them his Patronus.

All four of them slouched against a wall while Ced stood at the center of the room. He drew his wand, closed his eyes - Hermione reckoned he was thinking of a happy memory - and he waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum!"

A silver mist came out from the tip of his wand. It grew and grew until it formed into a long, tailed animal with a slim body and short limbs and short four legs. The silver animal ran around the room chasing its tail.

"An otter!" Susan exclaimed. "That's awesome!"

"Why do you think it was an otter?" asked Ian.

"Because otters are energetic, bright, and intelligent, just like Ced!" she answered happily, looking at her favourite fifth-year. Grey eyes met brown, neither were breaking eye contact.

"And you," he replied to her with his crooked smile.

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The boys were right. Professor Lupin was a kind and brilliant teacher. For a moment, Hermione thought he and Cedric were alike in many ways and wondered if he was a Hufflepuff. He didn't talk about his Hogwarts experience, nor mentioned what house he was in, unlike the other professors. They knew that Professor Vector (Arithmancy) was a Ravenclaw and she was years ahead of Professor Snape. Professor Charity Burbage of Muggle Studies was a Hufflepuff; Professor Hagrid of Care of Magical Creatures was a Gryffindor. He didn't tell them in class, but he was giving the Gryffindors a special treatment. Professor Aurora Sinistra of Astronomy was a Ravenclaw as well, and so was Professor Trelawney of Divination.

When she met the Divination professor in their first class, Hermione noticed that she had the eccentricity she didn't want to have - never wanted to have, so she thanked Merlin for sending Professor Sprout and Cedric in her house that day and for influencing her to be a Hufflepuff, not a Ravenclaw.

She didn't have anything against that house. It was just that, they all look... weird. Professor Lockhart was a fraud. He was a Ravenclaw but used his brilliance differently. Professor Quirrell was also in the same house, but due to traveling a lot, he crossed paths with You-Know-Who and he was possessed. Cho Chang and her Ravenclaw friends were weepy. She passed by the Charms corridor on her way to Transfiguration and they were all crying because Professor Flitwick docked points off of Ravenclaw for something they did. Hermione frowned at that. Professor Flitwick wasn't scary at all - unlike Professors Snape and McGonagall. And she also heard from Cedric, Ian, and Terrence about Moaning Myrtle, a ghost in an abandoned girls' lavatory where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets was located. She was an odd one.

Seeing these people who were and are in Ravenclaw, Hermione reckoned that Professor Lupin was either a Hufflepuff or a Gryffindor. He was brilliant, but in a good way that Hermione liked.

Like the Cedric way.

Ced was amazed by Professor Lupin. Ian and Terrence said that Ced would remain after the class to ask more questions since D.A.D.A. was the last class in the morning. So, Professor Lupin was all ears. Hermione liked it. She was being mentored by Professor Snape while Ced was learning more from Professor Lupin.

From Mondays through Thursdays, she had four classes a day, but on Fridays, she had five - three electives, plus Astronomy and double Charms. On Saturday mornings, she would wake up late, hang out a bit with Susan and the boys. In the afternoon, she would brew with Professor Snape - cure for boils, headache relief potion, calming draught, and pain potions. Professor Snape let her work with minimal supervision. He would sit behind his desk, marking papers while she brewed. The more she brewed, the more she was encouraged to be a healer. She mentioned it to her parents in one of her letters.

Ced's tutorial sessions with Professor Snape lessened. They didn't meet any more for practicals, but he gave him books to read because according to the Potions master, they have "a competent teacher, finally," so he was "stepping back". And in Hermione's personal opinion, it was the closest thing Professor Snape could say to compliment someone.

On Sundays, Hermione would rest and read at the library and just spend time in the common room with the others.

On her and Cedric's birthday, they went to the lake again and had a picnic. This time, Hermione personally went to the kitchens and asked the kitchen elves politely if she could have some food. The elves instantly liked her and gave her a huge cake when Susan mentioned it was her birthday. They also started calling her 'Miss Hermy'.

Ian and Terrence's gifts were more useful this time. They gave her books for Ancient Runes. Susan gave her hair accessories, like always. And Ced... he gave her a vanilla perfume. In return, she gave him a brand-new yellow and black scarf.

"I had cast warming charms on it," she told him.

Cedric looked at her with fondness and reached for her hand to squeeze it. "Thanks ever so much, Mione. I appreciate it."

Hermione felt the butterflies in her stomach once more because of Ced's gaze.

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A week after their birthday, the date for the first Hogsmeade trip was announced: October 31st, Sunday; on All Hallow's Eve. Hermione assumed she and Susan would be going with the boys, but Ian informed them one night after dinner that Terrence had asked someone out: a Hufflepuff fourth-year student by the name of Daffodil Smith.

"So you aren't going with us?" she frowned, turning to Terrence.

"It's high time I try dating," he winked at her.

"So it will only be the four of us?" she asked.

Suddenly, Susan stood up. "I remember, I have to get something in the library!"

Ian stood up as well. "I'll go with you."

Terrence was on his feet when a girl passed by. "Hey, Daf!"

Cedric turned to her. "Fancy a walk? We still have an hour before curfew?"

She nodded with a smile. "Sure."

They exited the common room together and walked side by side. Cedric turned to an abandoned empty room near the kitchens. There were no barrels and desks, just a few chairs. The windows were big and the room was illuminated by the moonlight. The moon was beautiful, so Hermione walked to a window and opened it.

She heard Ced's careful footsteps, approaching her. He stood by her side, looking outside as well.

There was a comfortable silence. It wasn't awkward, unlike when she was with other people who weren't close to her. She had no problems when her friends were quiet. She could tell whether there was tension or none.

"Do you feel uncomfortable when they tease use?" she heard him ask carefully.

Hermione's heart skipped a beat again and there were butterflies in her stomach, but she bravely turned her head to face him with a genuine smile. "Not really. No. Why, do you feel uncomfortable?"

Cedric smiled affectionately and shook his head. "No."

She nodded and turned her eyes outside again.

"Hermione," Ced whispered and held her hand that was on the windowsill.

She looked up to him again expectantly.

"I... I like you, more than a friend, I think," he confessed, not breaking their eye contact.

Hermione's mouth went slightly open. She had been asking herself for a while now if there would be a possibility for Ced to like her as well; to reciprocate her feelings. And now he was confessing, under the moonlight. Just the two of them.

"I feel the same way," she breathed. Cedric swallowed nervously and reached out to tuck a curl behind her ear. She let her hair down today because it was a Sunday; no classes.

Cedric's hands traveled to her shoulders and held her gently. "You do?"

Hermione smiled bashfully and nodded. "I was not sure that you would like me back... you're the most handsome wizard in school..." But Ced shook his head. "A lot of girls try to get your attention, always. And you're brilliant and friendly, and loyal... you're caring. You're a great person and any girl would feel lucky if you fancied them. And I'm just Hermione... midget and bookworm."

Ced chuckled. "You're more than that. You're the most compassionate person I've ever met. I feel lucky right now, knowing that my feelings are not unrequited..."

Hermione could not contain her happiness. She couldn't help but grin and move closer to hug him. Cedric returned the hug and inhaled contentedly above her head. After a few moments, they pulled away from each other, but Ced took her both hands.

"I want to start things the right way. I want to give you enough time, to be sure if you really want us that way."

She frowned slightly. "That's very considerate of you, but I don't think I'm following."

"I wish to court you, Hermione... to ask you on dates... but, you don't have to give me your answer now. We can get to know each other well first - just the two of us, without our friends. Take baby steps, you know."

Hermione beamed. Her parents did something similar. His father courted her mum for like two years before they officially became a couple. Her mum said it was better that way. If it didn't work out, she wouldn't be regretful. Also, her mum said that romance should not involve physical intimacy all the time. Her father respected her mum so much. They didn't kiss until they were both sure.

"Are you okay with it?" Ced asked carefully.

She nodded and beamed. "Of course. Thank you for not rushing things."

Ced look relieved and pulled her for another hug. Hermione thought she just had another happy memory, enough to Conjure a Patronus.