DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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A/N: I'm sorry for not updating every day. We have a lack of water supply and a bad internet connection, both due to the typhoons. Yes, plural.

But I think of Ced and Mione every day, so I am not going to abandon this fic. Thanks again for your support.

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Chapter 36: Witty

"'Luna's in my year, but in Ravenclaw.'

''Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure,' said Luna in a sing-song voice.'"

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

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1994

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

After her conversation with Professor Snape that day regarding the safety of the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione felt a bit relieved and made up her mind. She was not going to stop Ced from entering his name, even if there was a possibility that he would be chosen by the impartial judge to be the Hogwarts champion.

Well, he was her boyfriend so she might be a bit biased, but if Marcus Flint was Ced's competition, Hufflepuff might just beat Slytherin again. She saw the seventh-year bloke. He looked grumpy all the time. In Hermione's opinion, he wanted to look dangerous. He wanted to be feared, like Professor Snape.

But Marcus Flint didn't have the stern demeanour of his Head of House. He did a poor job imitating him.

She also heard that Angelina Johnson, one of the Weasley twins' girlfriend and a Gryffindor sixth-year, was also planning to enter because she would be of age before All Hallows' Eve. Hermione didn't have anything against the older witch. She looked friendly and nice, but she wasn't on top of her year, according to Ian. and the Ravenclaws? The seventh-years were too busy with their studies and the sixth-years who were coming of age looked offended when Professor Dumbledore said that the champion would be exempted from the exams.

Hermione snorted when she heard the Ravenclaws' reasoning. She would never truly and fully understand them.

It was lunchtime when Hermione remembered that the sixth-year Hufflepuffs were coming from the greenhouse. Meaning, she would make it to the Great Hall before them. But she wanted to make it up to Ced and at the same time, do something new. So, she decided to be the one to fetch and wait for him.

She told Susan to go ahead to the Great Hall and reserve them seats, then, she dashed to the greenhouses. The sixth-years were already leaving when she arrived, but she could see that Ced was still inside, speaking with Professor Sprout. Both of them were looking at a parchment, so they must be discussing an essay.

Ian and Terrence ruffled her hair when they passed by, much to her irritation but they teased her and said they'd go ahead.

Ced parted ways with Professor Sprout with a smile, but his expression changed when he spotted her. He froze.

"Hi," she replied meekly. they were still ten feet away.

Ced looked worried but still approached her. "Hey," he greeted back. He sounded nervous. "What are you doing here?" he asked hesitantly.

"Uhm, I have something to tell you..."

Cedric's eyes widened, and with just a few steps, he was right beside her. He took one of her hands, and the other rested on her shoulder. "My-knee, please. Don't break up with me. I won't enter my name anymore! Please..."

"What?" she almost shrieked. Thankfully, they were alone. "Break up with you? Why would I do that?"

Cedric froze and frowned, searching her eyes. "You're not cross with me?"

Hermione rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Ced, it was just last night! It's now even a whole day, and you're thinking I'm breaking up with you?"

Cedric laughed and hugged her. He buried his face into her curls. "Thank Merlin. Don't ever ignore me again, please."

Hermione patted his back and then urged him to let her go. "You're the one who's ignoring me. I mean, whenever I say something about the tournament."

Ced seemed to have just realized that. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you," he told her sincerely.

She smiled. "We're good, then. And I won't stop you from entering."

Ced bent down to kiss her forehead, then her nose, and finally, her lips. "I will never, ever, let go of you, My-knee. I love you so much. I can forget that eternal damn glory for you."

Hermione chuckled at that. "No, our housemates will throw you out."

Ced laughed as well and placed an arm around her shoulders. "Guess you're right."

They started walking back to the castle.

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"Ced, teach me the Summoning Charm," she asked lovingly as they were sitting under a tree by the lake. He had an arm around her shoulders, and she was leaning her head on his shoulder. Ced was watching their friends play Gobstones a few feet away, while she was reading her new book about nonverbal spells, Ced's birthday present to her.

It was their birthday, and as always, they had a picnic outside. She gave Ced a book on Advanced Transfiguration because she learned that one of the Triwizard Champions before used a lot of Transfiguration spells and won.

They weren't still sure if Ced would make it, but a week before their birthday, she mentioned to Professor Snape that she was planning to brew some potions for Ced to help him with his studies. But instead, the Potions master suggested a book that would be very useful 'if ever he would be the Hogwarts champion'. And if now, then, Ced could still use it, especially for his N.E.W.T.s.

"You can cast it already," he reminded her with a pinch on her nose.

"But not non-verbally," she replied.

Ced laughed. "You, little bookworm!" He squeezed her even more to his side. "The rest of the fourth-years are just learning the charm this year and you want to learn how to do it non-verbally! You sure you're not a Ravenclaw?" he teased.

"It's your fault for giving me this book," she complained playfully.

"You little..." Ced looked like he wanted to pinch her and tickle her. "even if I didn't give you that book, you'd still read advanced textbooks!

They laughed. "Good point," she said and then leaned her head on his shoulder once more, clutching his arm.

"Teach me," she asked him again after a while in her sweet voice. She rarely spoke to him that way.

"You're the boss, then."

She looked up to him and grinned. "You really love me, huh?"

Ced rolled his eyes and faked an annoyed look. "Conceited."

She hit him playfully on the arm.

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August 2020

(the present)

Hermione sighed contentedly, lying on her side, facing her husband. She didn't bother to cover her nakedness and Ced was running a hand on her back, down to her bum.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what brought this on? The kids said you weren't feeling well," he smirked.

"I wasn't," she closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. "My infant patient didn't make it... but I went to Severus, and he gave me Calming Draught." Then, she opened her eyes to meet his beautiful grey orbs, then ran a hand on his jaw, tracing his five o'clock shadow. "Then, I met someone outside Severus's apothecary... That person was getting a divorce. When I arrived home, I just realized how lucky I am to have you... to meet you at a young age; lucky to marry my best friend whom I know will never divorce me."

He must've tickled him because he laughed and gently removed her hand on his jaw, but held it and kissed it. "What's in my jaw?" he asked in amusement.

"I've always been attracted to your chiselled jaw, then later on your five o'clock shadow," she smiled. "You didn't answer me."

"What was your question?"

Hermione frowned and then laughed. "Right. It wasn't a question... well, I just know you will never leave me. Right?"

Ced grinned and inched his face to kiss her lips. "Never. I love you, I love you more, and I love you most."