Chapter 18: For the Best
It was breakfast on their final morning in the wizarding world. Unsurprisingly, the actual diplomatic discussions, once they'd begun, were very quick and to the point. The serious diplomats were finished with their business within days.
Naruto, with the encouragement of the old guards, had begun to warm to the strange peoples of the wizarding world. The groundwork had been laid for future relations and now was the time to regroup. To Kakashi, their course was clear, but to others it was not so.
From where he sat, Kakashi could see both Cedric and Kurenai. Cedric approached her slowly, almost as if he thought Kurenai was going to run away like a wild animal if startled. As Cedric sidled up to her, she became as stiff as a board. Her replies to Cedric's prompts, if she replied at all, it was hard to tell, were quick and through a half-closed mouth. When Cedric stood in her field of vision Kurenai put her hands on her hips and listened as if to a lying child.
Seeing him watching the pair, Ebisu spoke up, "do you know what's going on with them? They've been like that since yesterday."
Guy cleared his throat, "I believe they're having trouble deciding where to go from here. Kurenai can't stay here and Cedric can't come with us."
Kakashi quirked an eyebrow. "Why can't he come with us?"
The two other men stared at him in astonishment. "Wizards are so fragile," Ebisu sputtered.
"What would he do in our world? Despite his upbeat attitude, Cedric would lack a means to support himself. The kind of work he's used to wouldn't be open to him. He could work in a shop I suppose," Guy thought aloud.
"He could help me with paperwork," Kakashi quipped.
"This isn't funny Kakashi," Ebisu said. The special jonin's dark eyebrows furrowed, pushing his glasses forward. He irritably pushed the spectacles back into place.
The Hokage sighed contentedly; he'd missed people talking to him normally. No one was tripping over themselves in their haste to bow or calling him by his title. He raised an eyebrow thoughtfully. Naruto was going to have a hard time getting used to that.
Kakashi rose from the table. "I'd better finish packing." With that statement he left the Great Hall with Guy looking after him. He knew Kakashi didn't have anything left to pack.
The Hokage wandered the halls for awhile, taking in the sights and smells of Hogwarts. This would be his last visit for sure, it had to be. Each time he'd left this fortress of learning he'd thought he'd be seeing it for the final time. But each time he came back it got harder to leave.
No matter what the Hogwarts missions had thrown at him, it was always the good memories that outweighed the bad. Boggarts were beaten by Christmas presents at the foot of his and his teams' beds. Ambushes in graveyards paled in comparison to Guy's many defense meetings. Frustrating clients, bizarre floor layouts, countless dangers, hidden rooms, endless forests, and foolish children were remembered fondly because the same place in his memories also contained care-free students, visits to Hogsmeade, interesting food, warm beds, spars in the Great Hall, dragon wrestling, and a team he could count on no matter how odd things got. Those missions, strange and unusual as they'd been, were some of the happiest memories of his adolescence.
Kakashi reached out and touched the stones of the ancient castle. He was getting sentimental again, he knew. Must be my old age, Kakashi thought to himself and snorted. He pushed off from the cold, gray stone and headed back down the hallway in which he'd come. He'd wandered for quite awhile but he should make it back in time.
"You're late," Sakura barked. All of the delegates from the Elemental Nations were waiting in Leaf Tower. Kakashi had been the only one absent.
Many of their magical friends had said their goodbyes at breakfast. However, Harry and the others still lingered.
"Fred and George will be sad to have missed you," Harry said, not liking the way his words were thickening as they left his mouth. "I'll tell them you say, 'hi'." Kakashi nodded. He wanted to ask about the twins but, seeing Harry's flushed face and watery eyes, figured he'd ask Ebisu later instead. The former captain and his old charge shook hands. Then they pulled into a hug, patting each other on the back.
As Kakashi said goodbye to the other Hogwarts students, now adults, that he'd gotten to know so well, his eyes couldn't help but glance over at Kurenai and Cedric. It was déjà vu. Over a decade had passed and it was still just the same. He'd thought for sure this time they'd go through with it. Cedric had seemed so sure before but now he just looked sullen. The group made their way out onto the grounds where several officials tailed them onto the lawn.
"This is for the best," Kurenai said in a monotone. The statement was made all the less convincing by her blank face.
"We can take it slow," Cedric agreed, something dimming in his gray eyes.
"It's just so complicated," Kurenai added weakly. She looked at the numberless blades of grass at her feet.
Luna and the other Elemental Delegates had split off and were already heading down to the front gate. Most of the Leaf ninja lingered. Kakashi, Ebisu, and Guy were bidding their old friends farewell one last time. Guy and Draco shook hands and were exchanging last minute encouragements. Harry and Kakashi were both side-glancing at Cedric and Kurenai while pretending to look at pictures of Harry's children.
Hinata was similarly watching the scene through sharp eyes. She resolutely held onto Naruto's hand, anchoring him in place. The blond tried to ask what they were waiting for but his wife shushed him.
Cedric nodded, his voice stronger. "When Luna brings the first wizarding delegation, I'll be with them."
Kurenai nodded, fully aware that neither of them knew when that would be. But it was foolish to think that Cedric didn't have a life, a job. He needed time to get his affairs in order before volunteering to go live in another country, another world. He'd take the steps as soon as they were available and follow the procedures.
Kurenai turned to go but Cedric snatched her hand, resolve overcoming him. He held it fast and her shocked face turned to meet his. Cedric smiled, the same carefree smile he used to give Kurenai when she'd watch his Quidditch practices. His eyes sparkled as he looked at her. It was as if a bright light were shining out from within him. "No," he said firmly, "not this time. This time, I'm going with you. Right now." He squeezed her hand. Kurenai felt that it was the only thing anchoring her to the ground.
There were several long moments of silence. No one dared to say anything after this declaration. Harry turned and gave Draco a very insistent look. If he'd been within range, Harry would have kicked him. The Malfoy raised his eyebrows. He and Harry seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation.
Finally Draco sighed but his voice was business-like, if a bit jovial. "I can file the appropriate paperwork. I believe the Minister of Magic would be thrilled to have such an," he paused for a breath as he sought for the right word, "esteemed and trustworthy officer volunteer to return with the Elemental Delegation. His work in getting to know the culture and customs of our potential allies would be invaluable. What do you think Minister?" Draco turned to look at the British Minister of Magic who'd been waving goodbye to the delegates. The uncharacteristic smile, that he'd plastered on his face for the gesture, fell.
Greyford scowled at them all, unsure of the circumstances that had brought this about. He looked from the original Team Hogwarts, to Mr. Diggory, to Mr. Malfoy. Mr. Potter seemed to be nodding at him encouragingly as if to a child learning to walk. It was very off-putting. The minister responded with a raised eyebrow at the collection of hopeful faces. They had, of course, discussed sending an officer back with the Elemental Delegation but the wizard hadn't expected anyone to actually volunteer. "If the Lord Hokage approves, of course," Greyford said formally, passing the ball from his court into Kakashi's.
"Mr. Diggory would be under my personal protection Minister Greyford," Kakashi replied with an inclination of his head. "But I would hate to relieve you of such an important member of your ministry." The volley continued.
Harry barely restrained a snort. He and Cedric had no illusions about what they did. Their work was important, yes, but not as vital as Kakashi made it sound.
The noise caught Cedric's notice and he laughed, drawing everyone's attention. Reigning his laughter in, Cedric said, "Harry Potter is my immediate subordinate Minister, been after my job for years I'm sure." This was met with another scoff from Harry. "There's nothing we do that he can't handle without me."
The Minister considered his two employees as reality set in with Harry. Cedric was leaving and he was being promoted? Harry's excitement about Cedric and Kurenai finally being together was tempered by the fact that he would be losing one of his closest friends and colleagues. At his serious look the Minister was satisfied. Greyford turned to Draco, "you'll see to the paperwork then? Good."
"We'll also have to contact payroll to find some way to get Mr. Diggory's salary to him," Draco inserted smoothly. "Some diplomats receive it by owl but this diplomat is a special case obviously…" he trailed off.
The Minister nodded, waving his hand at them. "I'll see to the payroll Mr. Malfoy, you see to the transfers." Cedric blinked and the Minister stared at him. "Sending an official I can believe in to learn about this new people? It works out quite perfectly. The other ministers will wish they had someone as trustworthy as you Mr. Diggory."
Cedric restrained a blush. "Thank you sir," he said.
"I'll expect reports every week at least. The International Relations Department will send you the particulars."
"Yes sir," Cedric said promptly.
After a moment the Minister of Magic returned to the castle. Cedric turned to Harry and they embraced. "Good luck Ced," Harry said. "I'll write. Hermione still writes to Ebisu you know." His eyes misted once again but he willed the tears away.
Cedric only nodded and they stepped back. The elated wizard stuck a shaking hand into his robes and withdrew a letter. "Would you give this to my parents?" Harry nodded and accepted the letter. "It explains everything up until now, you can tell them the rest or I'll send it along from Ebisu. I think they'll understand," Cedric ended his sentence abruptly, blinking.
"I know they will," Harry said with a grin.
Cedric was excited and terrified at the same time. He mastered himself and turned away from the school that had taught him so much. Kurenai and the other ninja waited for him. He stepped up to Kurenai's side and they all began to follow the path down to the school gates.
Kurenai started to chuckle and Cedric took her hand. "This is crazy," she stated.
"I could…go back," Cedric said. The statement began joking but ended somber.
Kurenai gripped his hand tighter. "Not without me you're not." After several silent footsteps, no one else was talking the better to hear the two lovers, Kurenai spoke again. "I just keep thinking about Mirai. I don't know what I'm going to tell her, how to begin to introduce you." Kurenai fretted with her dress with her other hand.
"Actually," Kakashi broke in. "She might already know about Cedric, in a way." Kurenai, Ebisu, Guy, Hinata, and Naruto blinked at the Hokage. Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "I filed a report just before we left, an add-on item to our Hogwarts file."
Guy smiled, "only the Hokage and his aids are allowed to read that report."
Ebisu raised a skeptical eyebrow, "you filed a report with yourself?"
"Shikamaru said he was going to scour that particular file," Kakashi continued, habitually ignoring Ebisu's comment. "I may have hinted at the possibility of a certain wizard accompanying us back, if the Hokage approved of course."
"Did you just refer to yourself in third person?" Ebisu asked with a grin.
Kakashi shrugged in response.
Luna and the rest of the group were down at the gates waiting for them. If Luna was surprised to see Cedric there, she did not show it. She was holding a crushed plastic jug in her hand and had her wand behind her ear. "Everyone here then?" She waited for Kakashi's head count and reassuring nod. "Let's begin." One group at a time, with Naruto insisting that Hinata go with the first group, the ninja were teleported back in, more or less, the reverse order in which they'd come.
As the second to last group vanished, Kurenai turned to Cedric. "Last chance to change your mind."
Cedric looked down and met her red eyes. He smiled, a smile that made his shining gray eyes squint and the lines around them crinkle, deepening the wrinkles that had only just begun to form there. The corners of his lips turned upward in a knowing way. The feeling expressed in that look shone through any worries the kunoichi had about him changing his mind.
Kurenai wanted to return that look to him but she couldn't seem to move the muscles in her face. She felt like she was in some sort of dream that she'd wake up from at any moment.
"Kurenai?" Kakashi queried and the kunoichi shook herself. Luna had returned and the last of them were all gathered around the witch. Cedric, who'd waited for her, joined her as she stepped up to Luna's side.
Cedric thought about taking one last look around. He imagined he wouldn't be back to the wizarding world for some time. However, all he could look at was the brunette standing next to him. Somewhere far off, it seemed, he could hear Luna counting down. They all grabbed a hold of the plastic jug.
In those final seconds, Cedric could only stare at Kurenai's profile. With his free hand, he grasped hers. She looked up at him. Their eyes met and the world that Cedric had known all of his life was whisked away. He was on to his next adventure.
The End
Author's Note: thank you all for reading!