A/n: Guys, I AM sorry this again took so long to put up another chapter (I think I say this every chapter, but I really do mean it!) but December was insane (final projects and a lost flash/usb drive in the last WEEK of the semester), then holidays (everyone knows how much work you get done during HOLIDAYS) and then the start of semester two (three huge projects right off the first week!) caused me to not even have a chance to touch my fics. Anyways, enough chatter. On to this chapter. (Oh, and because I never said it BEFORE holidays: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!)

Chapter 22

"Are you coming?"

Hermione pretended not to hear, but her cheeks colored, giving her away. So instead of continuing to act like she hadn't heard, she belatedly mumbled, "No."

Ally sighed in exasperation. "Not again! How long are you going to keep this up?"

Hermione didn't look up from her book as her cheeks reddened some more. "What are you talking about?"

"You! This… this not doing anything with anyone anymore thing. I know exactly why you're doing it, Hermione, and I understand why you think you need to."

Hermione chose not to reply but thought, No, you really don't.

Ally crossed her arms over her chest. "You think that if you stop having friends in this world that when you go back it won't be so hard to leave us behind."

Hermione bit her lip and dipped her head.

Ally paused a moment before continuing. "I think that's a terrible plan. Not only do we have to deal with one of our great friends suddenly being cold and uninterested, but it means you'll be leaving on bad terms."

Hermione shifted in her chair.

"You know how they say 'never go to bed angry'? This is kind of like this." Ally sat down on the chair next to Hermione and her tone changed from frustrated to pleading. "Hermione, if you leave with things the way they are now, you'll always wonder what you could have done differently. You'll always wonder why you didn't do this or say that and make things better. Believe me when I say it, because I have those thoughts often about… things."

Hermione regarded her friend curiously. What had happened that Ally regretted?

The instant of sadness for whatever had happened passed quickly as Ally continued. "If you go back to the things were with us, and just live until it's time for you to go, then yes it will hurt to have to say goodbye. But at least we don't all go to bed angry."

The tiniest of smiles lifted one corner of Hermione's lips.

"Just think about it." Ally stood. "We'll be at the Three Broomsticks if you decide you want to join us after all."

As Ally and most of the other Gryffindors left for Hogsmeade, Hermione did think about it. After about an hour or two, she decided Ally was right.

Here she was, hurting others and bringing mountains of guilt upon herself because of it, all so she could "hurt less" when she returned to her world. When everything was back to normal, she would still have to deal with that guilt and like Ally had said, she would wonder what she could have done differently. Or better.

On the other hand, she could start over with her friends, move back to their warmth and their laughter, and later say goodbye properly. It would hurt to leave them behind, to be sure, but then she would have closure and good memories. Contrary to what she had thought before, she felt that this was in fact the "easier" way to go.

With a small smile, Hermione left for Hogsmeade.

Walking towards the Three Broomsticks, Hermione had mixed emotions. Mostly she felt apprehensive of how her friends would be after the way she had treated them. She pulled her coat tighter around her to ward off the falling snow and with a deep breath pulled open the heavy door to the pub. Warmth spilled out as she entered and much of her previous apprehension fell away. She saw her friends almost immediately and her smile faltered.

Ally waved, Draco beamed and the others were doing a combination of both. Hermione swallowed and headed over, the apprehension returning to twist her stomach in knots.

"Hi." She said timidly.

Draco and Pansy scooted over nearer to the middle of the circular booth to create a space for Hermione. She sat and uncomfortably met everyone's eye. None of them seemed to expectant of an apology or explanation, though Hermione felt honor-bound to present one anyway as more guilt washed over her.

"Guys… I'm really, really sorry for the way I've been acting lately." She began and sighed. "I just… I've been messed up with this whole… Cedric and wish thing…"

Vinny patted Hermione on the back. "It's okay, Hermione. We forgive you."

She glanced at him. "I really am sorry."

"Forgiven." Draco piped up.

Hermione looked from face to face.

"We're just happy you're back, Hermione." Pansy smiled warmly and Hermione felt a rush of gratitude and emotion.

She looks nothing like a pug. Hermione thought. I was wrong.

Moments later, it was almost as if nothing bad had ever happened between the six of them. After each complaining about homework and teachers (McGonagall most of all, of course) they moved on to school gossip and finally to funny stories. Draco was retelling one of his favorites from when they were all just first years and everyone was howling with laughter. Hermione downed her Butterbeer in between giggles.

In truth, she felt really good and was having a fun time. The only two problems at that moment were the increasingly unbearable heat in the Three Broomsticks, and less noticeable, the ever present black cloud of her pending departure from this world.

The heat was easier to deal with, though she was finding she desperately needed some cool air or she would surely faint. With the outside cold and the heater in the very crowded pub turned way up to compensate, she was beginning to sweat. She could her friends were too, as nearly as red in the face as she, though they didn't seem nearly as bothered.

"Hey Ally, I'll be right back." She said quietly in her friend's ear.

"Sure. You okay?"

"Yeah. I just need some air."

"Yes, it is impossibly sweltering in here." Ally agreed and turned her attention back to Draco's story.

Once outside, Hermione exhaled in relief. The coolness of the frosty air outside was a wonderful contrast to the stuffy heat of the Three Broomsticks. As she looked around, she noted that since entering the pub, everything had gained another layer of sparkling snow. Little glistening flakes continued to fall from a gray sky and Hermione decide to walk a bit before returning to her friends.

She walked along admiring the way everything looked covered in snow and thinking primarily about her friends back in the pub, but also of memories of her, Harry and Ron walking across snow-covered grounds to go to see Hagrid. Before she knew it, she'd walked to the end of the street was heading in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. Moments later she was standing at the fence, very near the spot where she'd fought with Cedric and all her thoughts turned to him.

Hermione sighed heavily and dug her toe in the snow. Now that she was okay with her friends, she wished she knew a way to fix what she'd had with Cedric.

Cedric exited Honeydukes and hurried on the Three Broomsticks. He'd looked almost everywhere else in Hogsmeade and was really beginning to think Hermione hadn't come at all was still back at Hogwarts. He knew he probably should have checked here first, but some part of him suspected that was most likely where she was and so he would leave it until last so that he might gather some courage along the way.

As he entered the pub, he spotted Ally at once and eagerly made his way over to her table. His hope evaporated when he reached her, however, and saw all of Hermione's friends but no Hermione.

"Er, hey." He said when they broke off their conversation to look curiously up at him.

"Hey Cedric, what's up?" Ally said and then added, "I haven't seen Ewan yet today, if you're looking for him."

"No, actually, I…"

"Have a seat then?" Ally offered and made a space for him.

"Thanks, but I was… I was actually looking for, um, Hermione."

Pansy's eyes widened and she traded significant glances with Ally before Ally replied a little casually, "I believe she stepped outside for some air."

"Thanks." Cedric answered and hurried out.

At first glance, he didn't see her anywhere and feared she'd gone back to Hogwarts. He began walking that way and didn't see her figure among the bundled up passersby heading from shop to shop, nor any of those heading back to the castle. A few moments later, however, he spotted a lone figure standing out at the fence near the Shrieking Shack. Evan at a distance, she was unmistakable to Cedric.

With a deep breath, he walked towards her.

Hermione was leaning on one of the fence post rubbing her temples when Cedric approached. Though she heard his footsteps crunching in the snow, she didn't think it was anyone coming to talk to her and therefore did not turn. At least, not until he spoke.

"Hermione."

She stiffened slightly as she twisted around to face him. "Hi." She said quietly, not sure what to think or say.

Cedric swallowed and looked uncomfortable. "Can I talk to you?"

Hermione thought of a few different responses to that question, first and foremost being, "I'd say you already are." She decided against saying anything at all, as she didn't really trust her voice at that moment and instead went with a small nod. She wondered what he wanted to talk to her about and firmly forced her mind not to race through a range of pleasant and unpleasant possibilities.

Cedric took a few steps forward and when he spoke, his voice was low and his words heart felt. "Hermione, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I see it now. I realize I was wrong and I'm sorry. I am so sorry for what I said to you, what I thought of you, how I treated you… everything." He paused and genuine emotion creased his forehead for an instant. "You were telling the truth all along and I… I was too stupid to see it and understand what you were telling me. I was too cynical to realize you weren't – aren't the same person you were a month ago… that I thought you were. I was too stubborn even consider or believe that what you were saying could be true. And I'm sorry. Really, very sorry."

Hermione bit her lip and dipped her head momentarily. "Ced, I… I've wanted to hear you say that since we fought. But…" Her sentence trailed off.

Cedric shifted another step closer to her and held his hands palm up towards her. "But what? Hermione, listen – "

"No, you listen!" She moved away from him and could feel hot tears burning at her eyes. She blinked hard and forced them away. "I told you. When I go back, you are gone. I can't – we can't…" she sighed in frustration. "I can't return to a world where you aren't even alive."

He smiled a little. "I know, Hermione. I know that when you go back to wherever you came from I don't really exist. But why should that stop us now? Why should we break off and never talk again, instead of living and being together?"

"It's not that easy." Hermione glanced away, her eyes doggedly trying to fill with tears. She fiercely blinked them back. Don't you dare cry, Granger. She snapped silently.

Cedric was standing quite close to her by this point. He placed his hand softly on her cheek and gently turned her head so his eyes met hers. "Of course it's not going to be easy." He said in a kind and quiet voice. "Either way it's not going to be easy. But don't you think it'll be easier to say goodbye in my arms rather than if we're not speaking?"

His comment was intended to coax forth a smile, and he got his wish. The corners of her mouth quirked into a tiny smile, though it disappeared almost as quick.

"The bottom line is that you will have to put up with me being quite nearby until it's time for you to go whether you like it or not. I thought I'd lost you once through my own stupidity and I'm not about to let it happen again."

Hermione's heart was pounding hard in her chest from his words, though definitely more from his proximity. As one lone tear managed to escape her best efforts to keep them in and slid down her cheek, Cedric brushed it away with his thumb. He could see the snowflakes sticking to her eyelashes and dusting her hair. It only made her seem more beautiful to him.

"Hermione Granger, I love you."

And before she could register what he'd said, before she could blink or even breathe, his lips were upon hers in a completely blissful, unexpected, wonderful kiss.

The world stopped turning, she stopped thinking, every trouble she ever had was gone, she was lighter than air, and there was no air. It was marvelous and indescribable, sweet and sizzling, warm and loving.

If she had been able to produce any kind of coherent thought besides the wild emotion blasting her sense, she would have thought of that old Marilyn Monroe movie where her skirt is blown upwards, the excited, gleeful emotion she portrays in that instant. Or in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' after Audrey Hepburn believes she's lost her cat and the man she loves forever, only to find them both at once and share a passionate kiss with that man in the pouring rain.

Time started again when sometime later they pulled apart. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment – Hermione surprised and light as a feather, Cedric thrilled and relieved – before Cedric pulled her close again and hugged her tight.

To his shoulder she whispered, "I love you too."

A/n: Is that the moment you've been waiting for? Did it live up to your expectations? ;D Feedback is love!