After the war, Hermione finds that she had drifted apart from Harry and Ron, as their lives head in different directions. As new opportunities come to her and she makes new friends, will the Golden Trio ever reconnect? Cedric lives. HG/CD.
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Disclaimer: Not mine, don't own it – I wish! Unfortunately, Harry Potter belongs to JKR and not to me; I'm just playing in her sandbox.
Author's Notes:
» This story is has been written in full and updates will be posted at the rate of approximately one chapter a week.
» Thank you to my beta, the wonderful StrongHermione, for all her help and support.
» Thank you for all the reviews, alerts and follows; they're all appreciated.
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Chapter 11
Three days later, having successfully and fatally fulfilled their promised to introduce George and Ginny to The Simpsons (George had loved the programme and Hermione was practically having nightmares as to just what this would inspire in him, much to Cedric's amusement!) Hermione and Cedric were standing in the Diggory's home saying their farewells.
"Don't forget you're welcome to visit us any time," Hermione advised Amos and Amaryllis. "We're expecting you for Christmas. I've invited Minerva too, so perhaps you could persuade her to leave the school in Professor Flitwick's and Professor Sprout's capable hands for a couple of weeks and join us. I don't think she's taken a break since the Final Battle and I'm sure she'll need one by then."
"We'll do our best to drag her along with us," Amaryllis laughed and instructed them, "Keep in touch."
"Of course we will," they reassured her.
One last hug and the portkey activated and returned them back to Hermione's parents' home. Although they had left Britain first thing in the morning, it was already afternoon when they arrived and Hermione and Cedric knew it would take them a few days to readjust to being on Melbourne time again. Hermione called her mother's mobile phone to let her know that they were back and she and Cedric went off to unpack. That done, they sat happily cuddling on the sofa until her parents returned home from their dental practice. When she heard the car in the driveway, Hermione jumped off the sofa and dashed outside to greet her parents.
"Mum, Dad!" she cried, running into their welcoming arms.
"Welcome back, sweetheart," they smiled, hugging her tightly.
Arms around each other, they made their way back inside, where John and Helen gladly welcomed Cedric back. They decided to go out for dinner that evening, to celebrate the return of the young couple, so instead of bustling about preparing the evening meal they sat down over a cup of tea to talk.
"When will you receive your exam results?" John inquired.
"Probably by the end of this week. They're rush-marking the exams, as the results need to be in before the new school year starts on the first of the month. The OWL level students need to know what subjects they can take next year and my age group needs to know if they passed or if they'll need to go back to school this year. I think I did well enough to be accepted to university. I'll probably be a wreck when the envelope arrives and I have to open it and see what my results are but until then, I'm trying not to think about it."
"I'm sure you did well enough, Kitten," Cedric reassured her. "I know how well you know the material, so unless your mind went blank during the exams and you forgot everything you know, you should have passed everything with good results. I'll try not to jinx it by suggesting I'm sure you'll have achieved Outstandings in everything." He winked at John and Helen as Hermione huffed with frustration and nerves.
"Did you tell your parents about your job offer?" he asked his indignant girlfriend.
"No, not yet. I refused the offer, after all, so I figured it could wait until we came back. Professor McGonagall offered me a teaching position and Head of House post at Hogwarts, to replace her now that she's Headmistress. She offered me an apprenticeship and teacher training, during which time we'd share the classwork and Head of House duties and after which, I'd take over from her fully. It was very flattering but I hadn't planned on pursuing a Mastery in Transfiguration and I didn't want to tie myself to Hogwarts. Right now, I'd rather be here with you."
"I agree it's an extremely flattering offer and I'm honoured that she thinks so highly of my daughter. We would, of course, have supported you fully if that's what you wanted to do but I'm quite glad you refused the offer, sweetheart. Your father and I have been looking forward to having you home again for a while," Helen told her daughter.
"That was my main reason for refusing. I'm happy here in Australia for now and I really want to spend time with you two as well."
John and Helen both smiled with relief. While they had always supported Hermione once she decided to pursue her magical education, they could not deny that they regretted having spent so little time with their only daughter over the past seven years. They were looking forward to making up for lost time now.
"Well, we also have news," announced John, slightly misty-eyed with emotion. "Your Minister for Magic – what's his name, King something?"
"Kingsley Shacklebolt," said Cedric.
"Yes, that's it. I should have remembered. Anyway, he contacted the Australian Ministry of Magic and they contacted the Muggle authorities and we're officially John and Helen Granger again. The story that we're telling people is that your mother and I were on witness protection but now that the danger is over, we've got our names back."
"What do you tell people when they ask why you were on witness protection?" asked Hermione, curiously.
"We say that legally we're not allowed to talk about it. They usually stop asking after that. The Ministry of Magic has also arranged for us all, and that includes you two, to be issued with all the documentation – long-term visas, work permits, et cetera, et cetera – that we need to live here until you've finished university and are ready to return to Britain. I understand that if we decide not to go back, all you need to do is tell the Ministry of Magic and the paperwork will become permanent."
"Oh, thank you, Kingsley!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'll write to him later and thank him properly. So everything is completely sorted and we're official now? We're all Grangers and we can be honest about my being your daughter? We can stay here as long as we want? All of us, including Cedric?"
"Yes, yes, yes and yes," smiled Helen and Hermione squealed in delight. After tackling both her parents in bear-hugs again, she dashed off to write to Kingsley before they needed to leave for dinner. Her parents and boyfriend smiled at her antics.
"She's looking very happy. Thank you, Cedric."
"There's nothing to thank me for," he replied. "The end of the war and being here with you is what's making her so happy."
"Oh, I think you have a lot to do with it too. Not just because you offered to let her stay with your parents while you were in Britain but because of you, yourself. I'm very glad she's managed to find herself such a caring, supportive and admirable young man. Thank you for agreeing to move to Australia for the next several years. I'm sure it must be hard for you to be so far away from your parents," said Helen.
"I'm beginning to understand what Hermione went through over the past few years. I hadn't realised just how difficult it is for Muggle-borns to stay close to their families while in Hogwarts," he acknowledged.
Helen and John smiled ruefully. "It was very hard but we're extremely proud of our daughter and we plan to make the most of her being back home with us. She's an adult now and she'll move out sooner or later but with her no longer spending most of the year in a castle in the highlands of Scotland that we can't see or visit, we'll have plenty of opportunity to spend time together as a family."
Hermione soon rejoined them. "We can post this letter in the muggle mail on our way to dinner but do you think we should get an owl, Cedric?"
"I'd like to get an owl," he agreed. "It'll be easier for me to write to my parents that way."
The next morning, Hermione and Cedric visited the magical district. They were both due to start at Gringotts on the first of September and that was only a few days away. They wanted to sort out everything they needed to before beginning work. Hermione needed some smart work robes, as she only had her old school robes and they would not be appropriate to wear to work. They went to a clothing shop that had been recommended by Jonesy and she quickly selected half a dozen robes in a variety of colours and styles.
After that they went to a nearby magical creatures shop. "We're looking for an international post owl," Cedric told the shop keeper.
"All my owls are international post owls," he replied. "With the vast distances they have to cross in Australia alone, it makes sense for them to be bred and trained for international deliveries at the same time."
"But how do they manage to cross oceans?" asked Hermione curiously. "I don't think regular owls can cover long distances. They'd have to stop for rests along the way. What makes magical owls able to do it?"
"Magic," joked the shop keeper and they all laughed.
"Seriously, I've no idea how they're trained or how they're able to do it. I just sell them. You'd have to ask an expert on magical creatures, who specialises in breeding and training post owls," he said.
"No, Hermione. You don't need to start searching out magical creatures experts to ask them," said Cedric resignedly.
"I was just wondering," she said peevishly. Then she smiled and kissed him. "You're right, of course. I can't resist learning new things but I don't really need to know this. All I need to do is trust in our owl and leave it to him or her."
They heard an approving hoot behind them and turned round to see a Greater Sooty Owl whistling and flapping its wings at them.
"That's unusual," said the shop keeper. "Greater Sooties are usually very quiet – although their whistle could strip paint off a wall. She must like you."
Grinning at the comment about the owl's bomb whistle, Hermione walked over to the owl and looked into her eyes. Despite being opposite in colouring, she reminded Hermione very much of Harry's late owl, Hedwig. "Hello," Hermione said softly. "Would you like to be our owl?"
She whistled again and Cedric laughed. "I'd say that's a yes."
"It's a yes from me, too," said Hermione happily.
They quickly paid for the owl and while the shop keeper bundled up all the necessary supplies, they stood stroking her gently. "What should we call her?" Hermione asked Cedric.
He looked at the owl, his eyebrows creasing together in thought. "What about Nyx?" he suggested.
"Nyx, Goddess of the Night. She's certainly beautiful enough to be a goddess," Hermione mused, as the owl preened at the compliment. "Do you like that name?" she asked their new pet, who responded by flying up to perch on Hermione's shoulder and rubbing her head against the witch's cheek in approval.
"Nyx it is then," Cedric agreed in amusement. "Do you want us to apparate you home or would you prefer to fly there yourself?"
The owl flew towards a window, which vanished to let her fly through it. Laughing, Hermione and Cedric gathered up their purchases. Thanking the shop keeper, they left and returned home. They had just finished setting up a beautiful perch made from Purple Heartwood when Nyx arrived. The black owl seemed to approve of the regal colour of the wood and settled happily on the perch. When Helen and John returned home from work that evening, Hermione introduced them to Nyx.
"Oh, aren't you beautiful?" said Helen as she gently stroked the black owl. "Welcome to the family."
"Well an owl is certainly a big change from a cat," observed John. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't mean to upset you. I know you miss Crookshanks."
"It's all right, Dad," said Hermione. When she, Harry and Ron had gone off on the horcrux hunt, Hermione had left her cat at the Burrow with the Weasleys. When the Weasleys had to leave the Burrow and move in with their Aunt Muriel, they had taken Crookshanks with them but he had disappeared not long after. Hermione had searched the countryside around Muriel's home and the Burrow after the war but he had not reappeared. The bushy-haired witch had mourned him, for she had adored her pet, but over the course of telling her parents about everything that had happened during the war, she had managed to put her grief over the loss of her feline friend behind her.
"Besides," added impishly, "we still have a cat."
"Did you get a cat as well?" asked Helen, puzzled, as she looked around for the presence of a second pet.
"No, we didn't buy a cat today. I am one though."
"What do you mean, you're a cat?" asked John in bewilderment.
"It's possible for magicals to turn into animals," explained Hermione. "We can't just turn into whatever animal we want, and we don't have multiple animal forms. It's one animal per person, the one that suits them best. Not many manage or want to make that transformation but I perfected it while we were on the run. I thought it would be an added measure of defence if I were secretly an Animagus, as I could just transform and no one would know the animal was me. I never actually had the opportunity to use my Animagus form for that purpose, though. The one time it might have helped, there was no time to transform – besides, it would have meant abandoning Harry and Ron, which I would never have done."
"So your Animagus is a cat?" asked Cedric.
Hermione smiled and stood up. A moment later, she had transformed into a mackerel striped tabby cat, with amber eyes, medium-length fluffy fur and a bushy tail, reminiscent of Hermione's bushy hair. She was cream coloured with stripes in an unusual pinkish peach colour. The Animagus cat jumped up onto the sofa and padded over to Cedric, butting his hand with her head until he started stroking her, making her purr in bliss.
Helen took one look at her daughter's Animagus form and burst out laughing. "Bagpuss!" she cried.
"Mum, Bagpuss was male," Hermione chided her mother reproachfully when she had turned back into her human form.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but you really do look like him," Helen replied.
"What's a Bagpuss?" asked Cedric perplexedly.
"Bagpuss was the main character in a children's television programme," John explained. "He was a cloth cat with bright pink and white stripes that lived in a junk shop. He and his friends, who also lived in the shop, used to tell stories to each other about the items that were brought into the shop. Hermione loved that programme when she was little. She was always entranced by books and stories, from a very early age."
"Hermione's Animagus cat isn't bright pink, though," Cedric commented.
"No, she isn't, is she?" Helen mused. "She's certainly an unusual colour. There's a definite pinkish tinge to her colouring but it's more peach than anything else, I suppose."
Cedric grinned. "Peaches and cream! Why don't we call your Animagus form, Peaches, Hermione?"
"It sounds a bit frivolous," she answered, screwing up her face in distaste.
"What's wrong with frivolous?" Helen demanded. "Sometimes you're too serious for your own good, sweetheart. I like Peaches as a name for your cat. Do you know that when I was pregnant with you, I had a craving for peaches?" Hermione shook her head mutely.
"I couldn't get enough of them," Helen stated. "I practically lived on them for the majority of my pregnancy."
"Peaches it is then," Cedric announced. "It's like it was meant to be."
Hermione smiled and agreed. "I guess my cat's unusual colouring will be my personal identifier when I finally go to register as an Animagus," she said.
"Actually, you don't need to register," Cedric told her. "In Britain, all Animagi have to register because our Ministry likes to keep tabs on everyone. In Australia, you only need to register an Animagus form if you're caught using it to break the law."
"So I don't need to register until we move back to the UK – whenever that may be? That's good. I didn't really want my Animagus form to become a matter of record yet. I know I'm being a bit paranoid given that the war is over, but it gives me an extra safety measure if it's not common knowledge that I'm an Animagus. I can always transform in a dangerous situation and no one will know the cat is me."
Cedric hugged her tightly. "It may be a bit paranoid, Peaches, but it's understandable. And I agree with you. It makes me feel better too, knowing that you have this protection."
"You're not going to call me Kitten any more, are you?"
"Nope. You're still a cat but you're not a kitten any longer, my sweet, little Peaches," he teased his girlfriend.
Helen took one look at the expression on her daughter's face as she listened to her boyfriend and burst out laughing again. Hermione's face was again screwed up with distaste at Cedric's almost nauseatingly sweet sentimentality but, equally, she looked as though she was about to melt into a puddle of mush at the genuine emotion and love in his voice, and the combination was just too funny for words. Peals of laughter rang out as John and Cedric both gave up any hope of keeping straight faces and joined Helen in her merriment. Hermione tried to huff in offence but could not resist the infectious mirth and began to giggle along with everyone else.