DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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A/N: I'm glad that FFN is working properly again. Did you read Chapter 29 (Part 30)? I'm wondering 'cause there were only like 30+ views for that chapter while Chapter 30 (Part 31) had a hundred.

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Chapter 31: Wet

"'Well?' Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. 'How was it?'

Harry considered for a moment.

'Wet,' he said truthfully."

-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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1994

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

"Hey, Hannah! How's the Knight Bus?"

"Dreadful!"

Hermione turned around and saw Susan pulling their roommate in a hug.

"And your summer?"

"Good! I was busy with gardening, but thank Merlin for this idea! I need a break!"

They were at the Granger residence for a 'girls' night out', as Susan suggested. Hermione's parents were quite happy about it, especially her mum. They wanted her to have a normal teen life, be a normal teenager – hang out with friends, and do silly things. Her mum was a late bloomer (and a nerd), and she didn't want Hermione to experience the same thing.

So, she wrote to Susan and invited her to stay in her parents' house for a few days. Her female best friend was so excited that she suggested inviting Hannah, too. Hermione thought it was crazy, but when she mentioned it to her parents, they promptly agreed, and she could see the excitement in her mum's eyes.

Hermione moved to greet the other girl. "Hey, Hannah."

Hannah pulled her into a hug. "Glad to see you, Hermione. Where are your parents?"

"Oh, they're at work. They usually go home around five," she replied.

"And how are you and Cedric?" she teased. "Did you guys kiss already?"

Hermione felt her cheeks warm and she playfully slapped her friend on the arm. "No, silly! We're not even an official couple yet!"

Hannah's eyes widened. "What are you still waiting for?!"

"For him to ask the question?" she asked, uncertain.

"Well, we're going to the Quidditch World Cup next month..." quipped Susan. "Maybe he will grab the chance to pull you aside and ask you. The question is... are you ready to say 'yes'?"

Hermione just smiled and bit her lip.

Susan and Hannah exchanged excited looks and grinned.

"Don't say anything!" she warned them, but still blushing. She turned to Hannah. "So, which do you like to do first? Eat, rest, or watch a movie?"

Hannah smiled brightly. "Are you kidding? Movie, of course! I've never watched one in my whole life!"

The three girls laughed and soon, they were all on the couch, eating sugar-free snacks while watching a family drama called Free Willy'.

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August 2020

(the present)

"So, how did your uncles, Fred and George, start their joke shop?" he asked Albus curiously. The boy requested kindly for treats from Weasley Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop of the Weasley twins located in Diagon Alley. He paid the twins a quick visit during his lunch break and bought everything on Al's list. George was very surprised to see him and asked him to come back again. Fred, despite his sarcasm, looked glad as well and even gave him freebies for being a 'first-timer shopper in a long while'.

"How did they start here?" asked Al, toying with unopened Tongue-Tied Toffee.

"They started after Hogwarts, mail order. And then, I believe Sirius Black funded them, requesting that there should be a section in their shop called The Sirius Corner."

Al gaped. "What? Dad's godfather?"

Cedric grinned and nodded. "Better world, remember?" he teased.

Al frowned. "So, Uncle George and Uncle Fred... were not drop-outs?"

Cedric quirked his eyebrow and shook his head. "No. But they spent the last year in Hogwarts inventing and selling items. Some of them were even confiscated because of me."

Al snorted. "I reckon they cursed you... Hang on, what happened to your Triwizard Winnings?"

"I opened up my own account at Gringotts and saved it for my future. It wasn't enough to buy a house, you know."

Al nodded. "In my time, Dad got the winnings... Mr. and Mrs. Diggory gave it to him, but he gave the money to my uncles to start the joke shop."

"That's so generous of him," he replied casually and a bit absent-mindedly, reviewing some documents.

"He... didn't want it because of what happened, I guess," Al almost whispered.

Ced looked up slowly. "Because the Cedric Diggory there was killed in front of his eyes."

Al nodded slowly with sadness in his green eyes.

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1994

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

Hermione was awoken by a loud knock on the front door.

When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was in the living room, fell asleep on the couch, and that the TV was still on.

Susan and Hannah were lying on the carpet, asleep.

Earlier this afternoon, her parents called to inform her that they would be going home late because their secretary, Miss Keithley, had a heart attack. Dad had to bring her to the hospital, and Mum volunteered to look after the secretary's kids.

She looked at the wall clock. It was just nine p.m. She heard the loud noise from their American neighbor's house. They were partying like there was no tomorrow.

She drifted from her musings when she heard the loud knock again. It was too loud, and rather aggressive, making her heartbeat double. She woke Susan and Hannah up and put a finger on her lips to tell them to be silent.

"Who's that?" whispered Hannah.

"I don't know," she whispered back, crawling to hide in front of the couch.

"Shall I call my auntie?" asked Susan.

"But your aunt said she's sure Hermione's place is safe from dark wizards, right?" asked Hannah.

"Yes," nodded Susan. "She said someone's protecting this place from the dark wizards because it's heavily protected..."

That was still a puzzle to Hermione. Who would put protective charms in their village? She was the only magical person in the area, and according to Susan's Aunt Amelia, there was no specific policy to cast protective charms in the areas of Muggle-borns, though appreciated by the ministry.

"What are you going to do with those?" Susan asked, eyed the vases Hannah was holding.

Hannah managed to crawl and reach for two vases on the shelf.

"Just in case it's a drunk Muggle man from the party in front..."

"You'll have to explain to my parents if you break those," she managed to joke even though she was nervous. "They're so treasured... shall I get a kitchen knife?"

"I'll Floo my aunt?" Susan was asking them nervously.

"Did you register Hermione's fireplace?" asked Hannah.

"Sure. Auntie was so paranoid. She wouldn't let me go without securing this place first and connecting the fireplace to our Floo."

Hermione was about to reply, but she heard her parents' car. "Be quiet," she shushed them, squeezing their hands.

Then, she heard the car engine turned off, followed by footsteps.

"Hey! Who are you?"

Hermione felt relieved and at the same time, she wanted to cry hearing her father's voice. Then, she heard running and her mother's yelling, telling whoever the intruder was to go and never come back.

She heard the keys and her parents talking. She quickly got up and the moment the two dentists stepped in, Hermione pulled them into a hug.

After reassuring each other that they were fine and the bloke was just someone drunk, not a dark wizard, the three girls went to bed - in Hermione's room. They didn't sleep soon. They still laughed at what happened earlier. Hermione was nervous earlier, but she was kind of glad it happened. She just had a memorable experience with her girl-friends.

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The days quickly passed; July turned into August. Today was Hermione's first night at the Diggory residence. Mrs. Diggory wrote to her parents last month, asking permission if they could take Hermione with them to the Quidditch World Cup and then spend the remainder of the summer holidays with them. Hermione's parents agreed. They said they would prefer that she spent time with friends rather than just reading at home (and most of the time alone).

Mr. Diggory and Ced showed up again on their doorstep and was greeted by her parents. Her dad pulled Ced aside. They talked in the shed, and Ced wouldn't say anything about the conversation, though Hermione knew it was something good because Ced wasn't uncomfortable after that. She was glad for the magical beaded bag Ced gave her last Christmas - she could bring many books without worrying about heavy luggage. Mr. Diggory shrunk her trunk so that it would fit in the small bag.

Hermione promised her parents that she would write to them as often as possible. In return, they also promised they would be at King's Cross on September 1st.

Like the last time, she helped around. Mrs. Diggory was still glad for her presence. She volunteered to wash the dishes after dinner and Ced cleaned the kitchen, urging his parents to have tea in the sitting room. Hermione suspected something, and she guessed Mrs. Diggory, too, but the matriarch didn't say anything other than appreciation and praises for Ced.

"Hey," he whispered to her while she was washing the dishes. Hermione looked up and gave him an inquiring look. Ced was leaning his lower back on the sink and crossed his arms over his chest. He had grown taller again and through his thin cotton shirt, Hermione could say that his chest was broader and muscular. His soft hair was parted in the middle, his jaw was more chiseled, and above all, he smelled so good.

"Yeah?" she asked casually.

"Let's go out when you're done."

She turned to him, confused. "Where?"

"Just... there, by the tree..." he replied shyly.

"Do we tell your parents?" she asked, turning to the kitchen door.

"Of course."

Hermione smiled and nodded. "Good boy, Diggory."

He laughed and pinched her nose. "You make me sound like a dog."

Thirty minutes later, Ced was helping her climb a treehouse. There were a blanket and pillows on the floor, making her nervous and stop moving.

"I'm sorry it's not what you think," came his voice behind her, sounding really shy.

She scolded herself for doubting his gentleness and honesty even for a few seconds, then turned to face him. "I know."

She removed her shoes and sat on the blanket and Ced did the same.

"So, when did you build this treehouse?" she asked conversationally.

"Almost ten years ago... This was repaired by Dad many times," he replied, looking up and then around. "Because he knows I like spending time here - taking a nap after flying, or just think after they would scold me."

Hermione snorted. "You get scolded? I don't believe it."

Ced flashed his crooked smile. "Why, 'cause I'm such a good boy?"

"Yeah, you're a good person," she admitted, looking at their legs touching instead of his eyes. There was just something about the way he looked at her... She wasn't uncomfortable, but she could not help the warming of her cheeks when his eyes would meet hers. "You're the most selfless person I've met... brilliant, helpful, loyal..." Then, she looked up to meet his eyes. "You're just perfect."

Ced frowned slightly. "I am?" he asked in disbelief.

Hermione nodded.

"Oh, Mione."

It sounded like 'My-knee' and it made her smile, especially when Ced reached for her hand.

"You are perfect as well. I sometimes think you're not aware of how brilliant and good you are."

His voice was so sincere and gentle that it brought butterflies in her stomach once again.

With his free hand, Ced tucked a curl behind her ear. "I feel like I am so lucky that I found a special person at an early age, and that she is my best friend. You make me happy, Mione, and I am glad to know that I am also one of the reasons for your happiness. I am thankful that you stayed as my friend through the years despite our age difference... you're a friend, and hopefully more..."

Hermione gaped at his declaration but smiled. She squeezed his hand as well. "I feel the same," she admitted, ignoring the doubling of her heartbeat. "I want... more, and I am thankful that you chose me, of all people."

Ced smiled sincerely and brushed her curls with one hand. His other hand was still holding hers. "So, since we're on the same boat... Hermione Granger, will you be my girlfriend?"

Hermione's heart was jumping with joy and she was sure she was grinning from ear to ear. She could not open her mouth to utter words, so she just nodded.

Cedric released her hand only to pull her to him closer. He held her by the waist, and their foreheads and noses touched.

"Thank you," he murmured.

She shook her head. "No. Thank you."

Ced released her hair so that both of his hands were on her waist. Hermione clasped her fingers behind Ced's neck. "Mione... I can't resist it anymore. I'm going to kiss you."

She closed her eyes and nodded. "Yes."

As soon as the word escaped her mouth, he kissed her. Hermione felt something- a different sensation in the lower sensitive part of her body but decided to ignore it. She focused on the kiss that soon became very, very wet. She could feel his passion, his eagerness, so she responded with equal passion.

And so far, that was the best moment of her teenage life.