A/n: A veeery long time for an update, I know. Job craziness, don't ask. Anyways, here is a new chapter and I was a good (smart!) little author this time and wrote the next chapter after this, and I did the same with my other stories too, so the next round of updates will be (fingers crossed) rather quick (in comparison) providing my life becomes a little better sorted (crazy hours at current job, job hunting, switching jobs). Anyways, this a cute little chapter that I hope you will enjoy. Review me, and make me a very happy person. :D

Chapter 13

"SURPRISE!" everyone in the room chorused.

There was clapping and laughing and several popping noises as Hermione's eyes flitted about the room, her mouth wide open in shock. Red and gold confetti spewed from somewhere near the roof. Different colored balloons were tied in brilliant bunches around the room and everything seemed to have a wonderful glow about it. There were more than a few showy-looking banners hanging here and there which read, in shimmering letters, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERMIONE!" Near the back of the room, just past the people, Hermione could see a corner of what appeared to be a long table covered in glorious, delicious food.

"Oh wow!" she exclaimed, merely a second later. "Oh – I – my goodness!" she felt truly at a loss for words.

Everyone giggled, chuckled and beamed at her, delighting in the fact that they had completely fooled her. Mixed in with the numerous Gryffindors were a tiny handful of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, including Cho.

"We got special permission from Dumbledore." Cedric, suddenly at her side, said quietly as the rest of the room broke into song.

"Happy Birthday… to you…"

"Thank you." Hermione whispered.

"For what?" Cedric half-smiled and whispered back.

"For keeping the surprise a surprise."

As the others sang, Hermione happily looked from face to face. Vinny and Greg looked smart and cheerful. Draco looked genuinely happy and honest. Pansy looked pretty – not like the pug face Hermione was used to. Indeed nearly all the people before her looked truly wonderful and Hermione knew it was in huge part because they weren't sneering, sulking, cackling, glaring, mocking, angry, vengeful or bitter.

The song ended and the cake was cut. Pieces were quickly passed out and the noise level escalated significantly as everyone talked and ate and reenacted Hermione's entrance. The cake was fluffy and white with tangy orange flavored icing – her favorite.

Hermione stood off to the side of the food table in a small group which included Cedric, Ally, Draco, Vinny and Pansy.

"All right, so now you have to explain." She said and eyed Cedric suspiciously. "What was with you patting your pocket constantly?"

The small group all laughed before taking turns explaining.

"We each had these coins." Cedric started as he, Draco, Ally and Vinny pulled large silver coins from their pockets. "When I patted my pocket – "

"He was asking us if we were ready yet." Ally interjected.

"We would pat back." Draco put his coin back in his pocket and demonstrated. "Once to say go slow we're almost ready, twice to say STALL LIKE MAD, and three time's to say all's well."

"It'd vibrate in my pocket hard when they mean stall like mad, it'd get very warm when they were ready, and become very cold when they wanted me to go slow." Cedric further explained.

Ally giggled. "Had to keep giving Ced the double vibrations for stall like mad for a while there until we had everything under control."

"And the cake!" Pansy lifted her pointer finger. "Do not forget about the cake incident!"

They all laughed heartily before Draco explained.

"Pansy and Greg went to pick up the cake from the kitchens. Apparently earlier in the day one of the House Elfs had made it with salt instead of sugar, so it had to be re-made."

Hermione covered her mouth and chuckled. "Oh no. What happened then?"

Pansy smirked. "Greg and I stayed and helped them so we could get the cake finished on time."

They all burst out laughing at this last bit, because of, as Draco put it, "the image of Greg in an apron baking a cake with a mess of House Elfs".

"So that's why I didn't see Greg after Herbology…" Hermione said thoughtfully and they al shared another laugh as the image of Greg in an apron stayed in there minds another moment.

After that, there were numerous games, both organized and unorganized, lots of food, chatting and above all, laughter. Hermione had the time of her life and was very easily able to completely forget about everything except the fun that was happening right then.

Several hours later, the crowd had been reduced to just six: Draco, Pansy, Ally, Greg, Cedric and Hermione. Greg was yawning excessively and finally announced that he'd be heading to bed. Draco joked that he doubted that Greg would even make it to his bed at the rate he was going.

Moments after that, Draco made small talk and Hermione found herself wishing she could be alone with Cedric for a little while. She looked pleadingly at Ally who clearly read her friend's thoughts.

A sly smile crept across Ally's features. She giggled suddenly and whispered something to Pansy, who immediately went very red in the face.

"I couldn't!" she hissed.

"Pardon?" said Draco and Pansy went even redder.

"Pansy needs to talk to you, Draco." Ally said, trying hard not to grin. "Alone."

Draco's cheeks flushed a little bit. "Er… o-okay." He stood and awkwardly headed for the portrait hole.

Pansy shot Ally a death glare, Ally let herself smile from ear to ear, and the Pansy followed Draco into the hallway.

"What did you say?" Hermione asked, her mouth wide open.

Ally laughed. "Something to the effect of: wouldn't you just love to be alone with Draco right now so you can confess your undying love to him?"

Hermione opened her mouth wider, trying not to laugh, as she heard Cedric snort beside her. "Ally!" she chided.

"Oh please. I'm doing her a favor." Ally said matter-of-factly. "She's liked him forever, long before you dated him – "

Hermione reddened at the mention of her dating Draco. Ew. She thought and immediately felt bad for thinking it.

" – which was never a sore point, so don't feel bad." Ally looked as though she could have gone on, but then she got a funny gleam in her eye and eyed Cedric. "Speaking of liking people…"

Hermione's eyes widened and she shot Ally a panicked look that clearly said, You wouldn't!

Ally giggled and stood. "Off to bed for me then!" she skipped to the girl's dorm, all the while loudly whistling "L-O-V-E".

Hermione made a mental note to strangle Ally in the morning if she didn't hug her in thanks first.

She and Cedric were quiet for a few moments, Hermione's heart pounding the whole time. She didn't know what to say or what he was going to say or if he was going to say anything or how she should act or how he should act or if he was going to do anything at all…

"So, how was your birthday today?" Cedric asked, turning to her.

Hermione smiled. "Absolutely wonderful." She meant it. "Thanks for being a part of it." she added.

"No problem."

They were quiet for another few seconds before Cedric spoke again.

"Look, I don't know if it's been bothering you or not, but I have to say it." he paused and Hermione wasn't sure what he was talking about. "Earlier today, when I was stalling for time… I wasn't stalling… exactly. I mean I didn't… it wasn't… er…"

Hermione quirked an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Okay, that's not what I mean. They wanted me to stall and so I was walking slowly and everything, but…" he gave a frustrated sigh, bit his lip and inhaled deeply. Suddenly he took both of her hands in his. "When I said that I wanted to spend time with you away from everything else, I wasn't lying or stalling. It was – is the truth."

Hermione's breath caught in her throat.

"Having the party and being the one to volunteer first to be the one to do the stalling was just a very convenient way to accomplish that." He smiled small.

Hermione felt overwhelmed at the pure kindness and warmth radiating from Cedrc's eyes and the way he spoke so genuinely.

"Really?" she whispered, her mind blank.

He chuckled. "Really."

She had the urge to spill everything right then – to tell him about the wish and everything that went with it. But she didn't want anything to destroy the moment, and so she said nothing, fearing that the truth could very well wreck the way the very air around her seemed to be tingling.

He tentatively began leaning towards her.

He's going to kiss me! She thought, glee and adrenaline suddenly rocketing through her. She slowly leaned forward as well to meet him in the middle…

Their lips were mere inches away when the portrait hole opened noisily, causing them both to jump back. Pansy and Draco came stumbling into the Common Room, laughing rather raucously.

"Oops! They're still here!" Draco said and then began whispering loudly. "Sorry!"

"Don't mind us!" Pansy whispered, equally as loudly.

They covered their mouths and unsuccessfully attempted to muffle their laughter before dashing up to their respective dormitories.

Hermione turned back to Cedric and disappointedly noted the moment had very much passed. She half-smiled.

Cedric sighed a little. "Its getting real late. I'd better go." He said.

Hermione nodded and stood with him. "Yeah." She walked with him to the portrait hole. "G'night Ced. See you tomorrow."

"Night Hermione." Cedric planted a quick, sweet kiss on her cheek. "Happy Birthday." He said and disappeared out the portrait hole.

Hermione lightly touch the spot on her cheek that Cedric had kissed with trembling fingers. That was the best birthday gift she'd yet received.

A/n: Aww... how many people freaked out that they didn't kiss and said "aww" when he kissed her on the cheek? ;) Let me know! Review me and I will love you forever!