DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter 38: His Favourite Student

"'Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger,' said an icy voice right behind them, 'I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor.'" - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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1994

(Cedric and Hermione's past)

Hermione felt Susan's comforting hand on her knee when the Hogwarts headmaster started talking. In a few minutes, the Goblet of Fire would be revealing the names of the Champions.

Cedric was on her side, as always, and had an arm wrapped around her waist. She could tell that he was nervous, too, so she reached for his hand under the table, and they entwined their fingers together. Then, her eyes went to the staff table. The Hogwarts staff were joined by several new faces this time: the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Madame Maxime; the newest Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation and Percy Weasley's new boss, Minister Aloysius Wood (who could be related to Oliver Wood); the grumpy-looking headmaster of Durmstrang, Professor Igor Karkaroff; and of course, Minister Ludo Bagman of Department of Magical Games and Sports.

But Hermione was searching for a specific wizard with dark hair. There he was, sandwiched between Professors Lupin and Moody, with an unreadable look. He must've noticed that someone was staring at him, so his obsidian eyes found her, and Professor Snape gave her a curt nod. If it wasn't for him, Hermione would not be extremely anxious. The Potions master seemed so sure that the impartial judge - the Goblet of Fire, tuns out - would be picking Cedric.

Then, the headmaster started announcing the Champions. Viktor Krum was the Durmstrang Champion. There was loud applause for him, even from Hogwarts students, particularly the Slytherin. Fleur Delacour, the beautiful witch sitting near Cho Chang at the Ravenclaw table, was the Beauxbatons Champion.

"And finally..." announced Professor Dumbledore, and the hall fell into a deafening silence, "the Hogwarts Champion would be Cedric Diggory!"

The Hufflepuff table roared and cheered for him, and the other three houses as well (even the Slytherins). Hermione's eyes sought her Potions master, and he was looking at her as well. He was clapping politely but gave her an encouraging look.

She felt Ced's both hands on her waist, making her face him. She did, and they hugged each other tightly. She wanted to cry but contained herself. Ced pressed a kiss on her forehead before walking away from the Hufflepuff table to shake hands with their headmaster. Then, he went to the chamber at the back of the staff table where the other two Champions went.

Half an hour later, there was a celebration in the Hufflepuff common room. Ced was not yet back, and they were all waiting for him.

When he finally arrived, he was tackled by Ian and Terrence, and his Quidditch teammates. Hermione watched them with a content smile, waiting for him to find her. She knew he would find her.

"All right, all right, off to bed, you lot!" The seventh-year male prefect announced. Their housemates started to depart the common room, but Hermione stayed where she was - on a wingback chair near a bookshelf in the far corner.

Ced finally found her and gave her a small smile. She smiled back as he approached and tugged her wrist gently, encouraging her to stand up, only to take a seat and pull her to his lap.

She made a startling noise, but they laughed together. She flung her arms around Ced and nuzzled his neck.

Silence. There was a comfortable silence. Ced just continued to hold her and stroked her plaited hair.

"Stay with me tonight," he whispered after a while.

Hermione looked up to him and nodded gladly. "Of course."

One of the things Hermione discovered recently was the reason why it was forbidden in other houses like Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin to share a bed with the opposite sex and boys, can't go up to girls' dormitories.

In Hufflepuff, they can't only enter a dormitory if someone inside wasn't dressed properly, or it was heavily warded, and they could share a bed with the opposite sex because nothing inappropriatewould happen, thanks to Helga Hufflepuff's spells.

Susan mentioned something about anti-sex charms she heard from her aunt and Hermione didn't ask further questions. She just wondered why some Gryffindors like Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil said once that they were envious of them, the Hufflepuffs.

Hermione went up to the fourth-year dormitory first to change into modest pyjamas, and Ced waited outside. They went to the sixth-year boys' dormitory together and lied on their side, facing each other. They shared a few chaste kisses, but they couldn't touch each other everywhere, so they just talked in hushed tones until both of them fell asleep.

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"I forgot to tell you about my new friend, Luna Lovegood," she told Ced the following morning at breakfast as she saw Luna approaching their table, smiling at her.

"Hi, Cedric! Congratulations on being the Hogwarts Champion!" Luna said in her usual dreamy voice.

"Oh, hi Luna!" Ced greeted.

Hermione cast the two a questioning look.

"Oh, we know each other... we're neighbours," replied Luna.

"Really? I didn't know!" she said to Luna and then she turned to her boyfriend. "I stayed at your house."

"Oh, Hermione, I don't go out and interact with neighbours," explained Luna, placing a hand on her shoulder. "In fact, the last time I saw Cedric outside Hogwarts was when he and his mum went to my mum's funeral years ago."

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Luna smiled. "It's okay. By the way, I also came to tell you that the girls tried to steal my shoes again, but of course, they couldn't." Then, Luna looked down.

Hermione saw that she was wearing a pair of socks and shiny black shoes. She grinned at her. "Brilliant."

"Thanks again, Hermione. Cedric is very lucky to have you."

Ced flashed his crooked smile while Hermione felt her cheeks flush. "Thanks, Luna," her boyfriend said. "Have a great day!"

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August 2020

(the present)

"Severus Snape, show your arse in here!" Hermione called loudly when she stepped out of the Floo and entered Severus's flat above his apothecary. "Severus Snape!"

"Stop acting like a teenager and like we're of the same age," came a hiss from the kitchen.

Hermione strolled towards the kitchen. She found him unboxing cupcakes. The box was too feminine for her friend's liking and she also noticed that there were two cups of tea on the table. One of the cups had a lipstick mark on it.

She turned to her friend with a mix of playful yet suspicious look, but he just glared at her. The toilet door opened, and to Hermione's surprise, she saw a woman around her age. She had brown curls just like her, but of a different shade and more tamed. The woman was also wearing a green fit and flare dress with short sleeves and a v-neckline, and a pair of wedges. She was modestly dressed and kind-looking.

I like her already, she told herself, giving Sev a knowing smile.

"Oh, you have a visitor," the guest said shyly in an Australian accent.

"Hi! I'm Hermione Diggory, Sev's best friend," she introduced herself happily.

"Just a friend," drawled her former professor.

Hermione rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "If that's how you treat someone who's been there for you for three decades."

"You're his former student, aren't you?" the woman grinned, reaching for her hand. "Martha Whitehead, Severus's new friend."

"His favourite student," she winked. "Nice to meet you."

"If that's what helps you sleep at night, insufferable know-it-all," drawled Severus and Martha chuckled.

"She is definitely your best friend, Severus," Martha said, chuckling and then turned to her with a warm smile. "It's nice to meet you, Hermione. Severus has told me a lot about you. Please excuse my rudeness, but I have to go. I've been here longer than expected."

"Of course! I'd like to see you again, Martha!" she grinned.

"Me too, Hermione." The other woman squeezed her hand.

Hermione tried to pretend to inspect the cupcakes and making herself a cup of tea while Severus and Martha were saying goodbyes in the living room.

When Severus came back, he was throwing her piercing glares.

"Oh, come on," she grinned. "Explain."

"It doesn't concern you," he replied, taking a seat at the kitchen table across her. "Why are you here?"

Hermione decided to let the 'Martha issue' pass for now. "Well, I've heard an interesting story from our young time-traveller..." Her tone turned serious. "Apparently, the other Severus Snape, from another universe, gave his memories from 1994 to 1998... did you see them in 1991? Was that why you were so sure that Ced would make it?"

Severus nodded. "Yes. Also, the reason why I warded your parents' village if you can still remember."

She smiled at him appreciatively and reached out for his hand on the table. "Thank you, Sev. For everything."

Sev gave her a fatherly smile. "Of course." He took a sip of his tea and pushed a plate of cupcakes towards her. "Martha baked them and no, don't ask about her for now because it's not the purpose of your visit. So, what else do you want to know about the past?"

Hermione laughed but picked up a cupcake. "You're bossy. I don't know why I'm even friends with you!"

"Well, I was your beloved mentor and favourite professor, aren't I?"

"If that's what helps you sleep at night," she repeated his words.

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A/N: And there you go, Sevvie's love life! I decided to give him someone Hermione's age because I would like to think that he wasn't insecure anymore and that he didn't care anymore what other people might think. He was free and he could do whatever he wanted; date whomever he liked. Thank you!