"This is nice, isn't it?" I said after our roast chicken hotpots were placed down in front of us as we were sitting in our seats in our booth at the Three Broomsticks Inn.
"Yeah" Cedric replied as we both picked up our knife's and forks. "It's nice that we have been able to get away; it has been so busy lately" he smiled as we started to enjoy our meal.
"I know" I replied as my mind started to think about how busy our work and family life had been recently for the pair of us. Cedric was close to getting a promotion in his office in the department; which I was so proud of him for. He had worked so hard to help rebuild the Ministry; and I was over the moon that he was getting the recognition that he deserved.
It was also nice that me and Cedric were in the same office; it meant that we could spend some time together – however we did keep things professional of course. And it wasn't if we spent all day together; we both had our own projects that we were working on in the department. I was currently working on putting forward a proposal to have some of the more harsher house elf laws looked at. If I had my way most of them would be abolished - and this was my goal in the long run.
Things had been changing within our families as well; my little brother was a year and a half now and he was such an active little guy. I still couldn't believe that he came to us in a point in our lives where we had all been torn apart. I loved him so much and I loved spending time with him. However due to work we couldn't see him during the week so every weekend me and Cedric went to spend some time with my parents and him when we could.
"However-" I stated as I broke myself out of my daydream. "This is technically a business trip" I added.
"Maybe" he smiled. "Maybe not" he winked at me.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
"Nothing" he answered; and I threw him a stern look. I knew that there was something going on here; part of me wanted to know what as there were moments like this where he peaked my curiosity. There was also a part of me that told me to leave it; as it looked like he had this planned for a while – but when he was acting mischievous like this it was hard to let it go. "What?" he questioned.
"Back to the riddles Ced, really?" I teased. "Why can't you tell me what business you are on?" I added.
"Because it is top secret" he replied as we continued to eat our food.
"Even a clue?" I hinted hopefully.
"Fine" he sighed. "A small clue" he advised. "But you still won't get it" he stated.
"Ok" I nodded. "Come on then" I urged eagerly.
"Always eager to try and figure something out" he chuckled back at me. "The brightest witch of your age" he smiled and I mirrored his actions and chuckled at him.
"Well when you act like this-" I sang. "Yes" I nodded. "So what's my clue?" I winked at him.
"My reasoning for being here is to-" he started but stopped and I watched as he thought about to tell me. "Continue to build upon a relationship" he decided; and we both went quiet as I took in this information. The only relationship that I could see that we could be hear for would be house elves – or was I missing something?
"Is this about the house elves?" I enquired in confused.
"Mione!" he whined. "I can't tell you anything else" he urged.
"Ok" I nodded again. "I'll drop it" I advised. "This is obviously something that means a lot to you" I noted.
"It is" he confirmed. "Thank you" he smiled before taking a drink.
"Is there anything else you wanted to do while we are here?" I enquired.
"No" he answered. "Well-" he started. "We could do a little bit of shopping" he suggested.
"Looking for anything in particular?" I enquired.
"Nah!" he said as he pulled a funny face at me. "But that's part of the fun" he stated and we both chuckled at this.
"Cedric-" I began.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"When we get back home will you look at my proposal please?" I questioned.
"Really?" he asked; and I nodded at him.
"Mione you know your work" he reminded me warmly.
"I know" I answered. "But I still would like you to look at it" I stated. "I trust your opinion and you know how to word things; you know the proposal committee more than me" I finished.
"That maybe true" he agreed as he nodded. "But you are part of the Golden Trio" he reminded me and I couldn't help sigh at this. I hated that what me, Harry and Ron had done was always going to influence my future work; I wanted people to value my work due to its own merits not what I had done during the war. "No one in their right mind would ever say no to you" he stated.
"Cedric" I sighed. "You know how I feel about that" I reminded him. "I want them to accept my work because of the premises I have included; not because of what I have already been involved in" I added.
"I know baby" he replied. "But you know that people do respect you for the work you do; but we have already been through this-" he continued. "Your past is always going to play a part in the work that you do now" he finished; and I started to remember the countless conversations that me and Cedric had already had in the past about this.
"Yeah" I agreed. "Well if there was a way to change that attitude I would" I smiled meekly.
"Let's not dwell on this my love" he offered. "We can't change this" he half smiled at me. "So there is no point in stressing over this" he added and I nodded at this. "If you really want me to then I will look over your proposal; even though it probably won't need any amendments" he smiled warmly at me.
"Thank you" I smiled warmly back at this.
"You're very welcome" he returned. We both then went on to have a lovely private meal together; I loved having time with Cedric like this. Yes our lives had changed which meant we were able to spend more time together. But this time felt different; it felt like we weren't as out in the open as usual. Yes people knew we were there but we were given privacy – which was something that we weren't always afforded.