AN: Eh, good enough.
When Cedric woke up, he was back in bed, dressed down to his jeans and shirt. The curtains were open and watery sunlight filtered into the room. Had that been a dream? No. He never would have imagined Hermione would look like that. Unless he was mixing her up with the pretty girl from the Champ de Mars.
But everyone else? He never imagined anyone else.
The door opened and his heart jumped in his throat. Instead, George walked in with a tray.
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," he said cheerfully.
"How long was I out?" Cedric asked.
"Six months."
"WHAT?!"
"Nah, just kidding," he said, setting a tray of food down. "It's just been a few days. It's Christmas, see, but we have guests arriving this afternoon, the rehearsal tomorrow, and then the wedding on Saturday." He handed over a potion bottle. "Here, you have to drink these three times a day. You were close to death, mate."
Ah, he remembered these. Cedric took the bottle and knocked it back, shuddering at the taste. He grabbed the plate and scarfed down the eggs and toast. There wasn't a lot of food, but it still filled him up. He slurped down the coffee and groaned.
"God, I missed this," he said.
"What? Coffee?"
"No. Food. You get used to dumpster diving, but I've really missed a good meal."
George's face twisted up. "Why didn't you come home?"
"I did," he said. "I read the news. I read your letter. I went to Hermione's house to see if it was true and I found it all burned down. The hunter was waiting for me. I… I was almost captured, so I got as far away as possible and I've been cut off from the news. I was worried about getting too close to magical centers."
"And they're still hunting you? The Death Eaters?"
"No, just one person, but I think he's an automaton or something. I haven't had a moment's peace since… well, since I was three, but that's something to unpack another day."
"Mm," George hummed. "I think we should talk to Nia about this."
"Nia?"
"Hermione," George clarified and frowned. "You leaving like you did… broke something in her. She refused to answer to Hermione. The only person who can get away with it these days are her own parents and my mum, but I think she knows Mum is a lost cause."
Cedric cringed and looked down at his lap.
"You know, Fred's probably going to give you a hard time once you're no longer dying," said George. "I mean, Nia told us to make you feel welcome because she figures you've been through enough hell, but… I think he might truly be in love with her and hates the idea of her getting hurt again." He rubbed his neck. "He hasn't said anything, but he did ask her out three times. All jokingly, but I think he did that to try and spare his own feelings. She actually agreed the first time, but he chickened out. Now she won't accept."
"She agreed?" Cedric asked, stunned.
"Mmhm. She dated a few people or at least went on a date. Alejandro, this guy from Hawaii, Robbie, Blaise, Char—"
Cedric covered his ears. "I don't want to hear this!"
"Too bad." George crossed his arms. "I'm telling you this so you don't think you can waltz in and expect her to take you back. If she lets you in and you leave and she's hurt again, then we can't be friends anymore and I won't stop my brother from punching you in the face."
Cedric felt sick to his stomach. "I expected her to hate me. I thought I was doing the right thing. I mean…" He groaned and pressed his hand to his face. "I'm terrified to stay. I'm still being hunted, if any of you get killed trying to protect me, I'll never forgive myself. If I get Hermione killed…"
"I'm pretty sure she's unkillable," said George, getting his good-natured grin back. "Come on, let's go tell her about this hunter that's after you. She'll come up with a plan."
Not up to arguing, Cedric got up and pulled on his boots. He found a shirt to pull on over the one he was wearing.
"My patronus is a monster truck," said George.
"Huh?" He looked down at the messy glow-in-the-dark letters. "Oh. Yeah. I snuck into a monster truck rally. You'd be amazed how well sweaty Americans and fried foods cover up a scent."
"I can see that," said George. "Come on. Everyone went to Sirius' house to celebrate Christmas. He bought a house here so Harry would be away from the danger. Somebody there should know where Nia is."
Cedric followed him through the town. It was Fleur's hometown. Versailles. He hadn't been here since… He shivered and tugged his jacket tighter around himself. Sirius' house wasn't far and the inside was bustling.
"Hey," said George. "Have you seen Nia anywhere?"
"Training room," said Sirius. "Can you let her know we're opening presents soon? Cedric—" he hugged him tightly— "it's so good to see you."
"Yeah, you too Sirius."
"We just gotta tell her about this guy that's hunting Ced," said George. "Then we'll be back."
He nodded and resumed helping Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen.
George led Cedric down to the basement. The training room turned out to have a set up very similar to the room the D.A. met in, only with actual workout equipment. On one wall were chin up bars and that's where Hermione was. Cedric's heart beat a little faster. Her back muscles flexed as she did pull ups. In her workout gear, he could see multiple tattoos across her brown skin. She had a band around her bicep, flowers wrapped around her calf, a beautiful watercolor turtle swam on her shoulder blade, a vibrant fox sat next to text on her left forearm. And just barely peeking out from beneath the band of her sports bra was text. Perhaps another quote.
George crossed the room and tapped her leg. She held onto the bar with one hand and paused her music. When she turned her head, Cedric could see stars trailing behind her ear. Hermione dropped to the ground and grabbed her water bottle.
"Glad you're up," she said.
"Er… yeah," he said, looking down at his boots. Damn she looked cool. "See… I have to tell you, I'm still being hunted."
"Yeah, you mentioned that last night." She rested her hands on her hips. "Tell me about them."
"Well, there's just one. He started hunting me late September, early October of last year. Up until then, I was staying at a werewolf colony in Montana. They helped me out a lot with my lycanthropy, gave me a job, and they told me about Orion."
"Is that his real name?"
"No, it's something he's called because he never slows down in his pursuit and it doesn't matter how long it takes, he doesn't stop until his target is dead. He almost managed to get me twice."
"Wizard?"
"Smells like one, but he favors weapons." Cedric tugged his collar aside to show the scar from the barbed bolt. "I used up the last of my dittany healing this."
"Know why he was sent?"
"To retrieve the prophecy and to kill me. He told me once if I handed it over, he would make my death painless. I haven't been able to lose him for long. I know when he's close though, I can… I can smell him."
She hummed and did her cool down stretches. "You've been here since Saturday and in Paris for who knows how long, which means he's likely to catch up any day now."
"If I leave now…" He trailed off and thought, 'Ask me to stay. Tell me you still love me. Don't let me be alone anymore.'
"He'll catch you on your way out and you'll be helpless," she said. "You're still so weak. Like a little kitten."
He felt his face heat up. Was it getting hot in here?
"A man like that has probably killed many innocents," she continued. "So we stay here, use you as bait, and take him out."
"I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to you because of me," he said.
"Too late." She gathered up her gear. "It will be alright, Cedric. When he's gone, you can go wherever you wish. In fact, you can finish your schooling in Kilokilo and finally start that job."
"Do I still qualify?" he asked. "Doesn't dropping out of school and being wanted for murder null it?"
"If you'll remember, one of the edits I made to your contract was that you will begin once you receive your N.E.W.T.s no matter how long it takes," she said. "Mom told me they wanted to tear up your contract, but couldn't. Literally. Magical contracts are ironclad, and despite continuing the tax payments to Rosehill, you still have enough from your radio royalties to pay to take exams."
"How—"
"Gringotts sends me your bank statements."
"Oh."
"Sirius said we're almost ready to open presents," said George helpfully.
"Start without me. I've got to shower and get dressed and we still have to prepare for the arrivals."
And then she was gone.
"Bloody hell, she's so cool," said Cedric.
"I can see why Fred is in love with her," said George. "She raises hell via malicious compliance and exploiting the system."
"Still… she's so different now," Cedric murmured. "She's moved on and changed and I'm… still the same." He sighed heavily. "I'm a fool."
"Yeah." George slung an arm around him and yelped, "Ouch! Spikes! Come on, Fool, let's go upstairs before Lee flies into a jealous rage."
"Are you… official?"
"Yeah. Mum kind of ignores it," he said as they went upstairs. "I guess that's better than her rejecting me completely."
"I guess."
The living space was crowded with people and presents stacked up so high they obscured the tree in the corner and the stockings hung past the fireplace.
"Cedric!"
Fleur tackled him into a hug.
"I'm so happy you are here!" she said. "I know it's short notice, but will you be a bridesperson?"
He blinked, taken aback. "Er, yeah, of course. Um… the dress?"
"Is a suit and taken care of," said Esperanza. "I will just need you to come in for a fitting sometime today."
"Yeah, alright."
"Bonne!" Fleur kissed his cheek and pulled away.
Oh, her face…
"Greyback," he said, without thinking, then winced. "I… sorry."
She ran her fingers across her face. They were healed over, no doubt the work of jélvre gel, but she was still… well… disfigured.
"I know, they are not pretty to look at," she said and he regretted reacting at all.
"It just shows how brave my wife is," said Bill, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her temple.
"It wasn't the full moon, was it?" he asked.
"No, he was part of an attack on Hogwarts," she said. "He attacked William, so I ripped his eye out. He got lucky and took me out."
"There was an attack on Hogwarts?"
"They killed Dumbledore," said Draco Malfoy. "Actually, Unc— Snape did."
Cedric looked at everyone, mind spinning with their versions of events. Guess he was getting his strength back if his legilimency was working well. He swayed. A meow brought him back to reality and Belle, his cat, ran into the room and clawed her way up his trouser leg. He caught her in his arms and she cozied up to him, purring all the while.
"I think I need to lie down," he said and plunked onto the couch, stroking his cat's soft fur, then blinked and looked at Draco. "Why are you here?"
"Nia saved my life," he said, most unhappy about his predicament. "If you start calling me 'Duckie' I'm lopping off your other arm."
Cedric mouthed the nickname in disbelief.
"It's best if you talk to Nia about it," said Ron. "She's the only one who actually knows everything."
"Oh. I see." He rubbed his temple trying to sort everything he learned so far out.
"Welcome home, Cedric!" said Apolline, wrapping him up in a hug.
"Stay as long as you like," said Bastien.
The gesture nearly made him cry.
"Thank you," he said.
"I'm passing out stockings," said Percy by the fireplace.
He gathered the full stockings in his arms and passed them around, calling out the name of the person.
"Fred. George. Lee. Duckie."
"I will smother you in your sleep."
"Blaise."
"Thank you."
Percy bit back a grin. "Won-Won."
Ron hurled the apple he'd been munching on across the room while Fred and George laughed.
Cedric felt lost. He missed so much.
They did end up starting presents without Hermione. Cedric had none and was sitting and watching the others while they talked. The only other people not participating in presents were Cássia and Quripuma, but they didn't celebrate Christmas and had politely declined gifts ahead of time. Lee was Jewish, but since it was the second day of Hanukkah, he participated in gift-giving. Alejandro claimed Trolls didn't have gift-giving holidays and wanted to see what the fuss was about.
"Sorry I took so long," said Hermione, rounding the staircase. "I was debating whether to wear this, but it's Thursday."
Esperanza nodded. "It's Thursday."
She donned baggy black trousers, a red, long-sleeved shirt, and layered a black Selena concert shirt on top. She had charmed her hair all white and put on black lipstick. Cedric would've never imagine her wearing this type of attire, but thought that she rocked it.
She went over to the present pile, removing what was hers. There were still parcels for family members arriving that day, but they had been put at the bottom. She picked one up off the pile and handed it to Cedric.
"What's this?" he asked, taking it.
"A present. It has your name on it." She sat as far away from him as possible, next to Draco, and opened up her presents. "Is that a present from Astoria? Please, tell me it's embarrassing."
"Shut up! She's not some idiot who goes around giving embarrassing gifts. Don't be stupid!"
"You know, there's a lot of attitude around here," she said tightly. "Don't make me get one!"
Draco clammed up and Hermione backed down to open her gifts.
Cedric figured he should stop staring at her before she directed her wrath at him, or worse, got uncomfortable. Instead, he looked down at his present. It did have his name on it and claimed it was from an angelito. He tore away the wrapping and opened the lid to find sets for his piercings. There was one set in silver, another in gold, and a third in iridescent colors. Plus some barbells and earrings in various styles.
He looked up at the ceiling. "Thank you."
He realized he missed the weight of his piercings. They must've been removed while he was out.
"I contributed," said Sirius. "I didn't realize they were wrapped or I would have mentioned you had a present."
"These are great," he said. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
"Of course. By the way, where's my motorcycle?"
Cedric hesitated and made a face. "Please don't be mad."
The grin slid off Sirius' face.
"Cedric, where's my motorcycle?"
"Well, see, I was being chased," he shrank down. "And I kicked it off to fly and then I got shot down. I only survived because I crashed in a river and cast a bubblehead charm before letting the current sweep me away into a magical underground cave system." His eyes lost focus. "I was lost in those tunnels for weeks. You get used to eating cave crawlers."
Sirius turned green. "Cave crawlers?"
"Yeah, you boil them and salt them up, they taste like a weird combo of shrimp and chicken."
"He's not wrong," said Quripuma.
"You've eaten cave crawlers?!" Ron squawked, horrified.
"They hunt and cook giant ones at the Hearthstone," said Alejandro.
"They're best barbecued," said Hermione, admiring a pair of teal biker gloves decorated with gold studs.
"You've been feeding me cave crawlers?" Blaise asked their boyfriend.
"Yeah?"
A wave of emotions flickered in their dark eyes, though their face remained neutral. In the end, they shrugged.
"Well, as long as I don't have to see one butchered."
"So my bike is gone?" asked Sirius, circling back around to the start of the conversation.
"Er… yes."
He sighed heavily and Remus patted his arm. "Well… not like I have much use for it now anyway."
Cedric covered the earrings back up and hugged the box to his chest. He didn't deserve this. He knew he didn't, but he was still desperate to have a family and friends again. If he hadn't broken away all contact… taken the IMNs, the mirrors… Then he never would have thought she was dead. She would have told him he could come home. He looked back at her to see her chatting with Blaise and Alejandro.
"My exams went through," said Blaise. "So starting next month, I will be attending Beauxbatons."
"Know what you're going to do?" asked Hermione.
"Well, my boyfriend is in crystal production, so I'm thinking of learning jewelry making."
"If you need a mentor, I know a few people who might be willing to take an apprentice if I ask."
"I'll keep that in mind."
This was the troll Hermione dated. From the sound of things she rebounded to him days after their break up. Urgh, there was that jealous bit of himself he didn't like. Alejandro seemed to be a very nice and easygoing person, er, troll.
When everyone reached the point of sitting around and talking, Hermione rose to her feet. The room silenced and looked to her. She never used to be able to command attention like that. It was good to see.
"People are about to start arriving," she said. "I will be putting them through security to make sure everyone is who they say they are as well as ensure there are no imperius curses."
"Would that really happen?" Mrs. Weasley asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Happened at Dumbledore's funeral," Hermione said. "Fred, George, come with me. I will need you to escort family to the houses if they're staying there. If this lasts longer than two hours, Ginny, Percy, you take over for them."
"Yes, ma'am!" said Ginny, saluting.
Hermione, George, Fred, and Bastien left the house to get back to the hotel. Cedric stayed put, not sure what to do with himself. The only alternative was to follow Hermione around like the lovesick puppy everyone knew he was. When everyone started cleaning up, he was told to sit down and not worry about it.
"You should worry about something," said Esperanza, lifting up a lock of his hair. "You need a makeover. You look like you've been crawling around in dumpsters."
"I have been crawling around in dumpsters," he said. "How else was I going to eat?"
"Mm, wrong choice of words," she said. "Anyway, vamos!"
It would be good to change his hair. Even if all Esperanza did was shave it off and let him start over. He was pretty sure the broken pack of Kool-Aid he stole was lying about being sugar-free. He, Esperanza, and Viktor went back to the hotel since that was where she had everything set up.
"Ah, you should know, Esperanza and I are engaged," said Viktor, smiling.
"Really? Oh, that's great. I'm so happy for you," he said.
"Nia is my Best Man, but I was hoping you would be groomsperson," Viktor continued. "We don't know when we'll get married yet, but we have considered elopement."
"Well, why not?" said Cedric. "Miguel will be here, right?"
"Yes," said Esperanza. "Fleur invited him."
"So, just elope with friends and then have an official ceremony later," said Cedric. "the official one will probably be a media circus anyway with your fame."
They looked at each other and nodded.
"There is courthouse," said Viktor. "We will have it the day after Fleur's."
"Makes our anniversary easy to remember," said Esperanza, kissing his cheek.
"I'll… I want to be there," said Cedric. "I want to stop running, but I don't know if he'll let me. The hunter."
Viktor's thoughts buzzed but were unreadable.
"Nia has been hunted as well," he said at last. "That battle? The one where Fleur was hurt? They were not just there to kill Dumbledore."
"They wanted Nia, too," said Esperanza. "They said so."
He felt sick to his stomach.
"It wasn't because of you," she said. "You have to know. He found out about the… the… you-know-what. Or at least, he knew she had the locket. And since then he's been afraid of her. That's what happened last Christmas. The attack. She apparated us to safety. And they've been after her since until recently."
"Why did they stop?" Cedric asked.
Viktor hesitated. "She should tell you."
"Why would she? She hates me."
"No, she doesn't," said Esperanza. "If she did, she wouldn't have stayed by your bedside while you were recovering. She wouldn't have asked us all to make you feel welcomed, she wouldn't have given you those earrings."
"They were from her…"
"We pitched in, but she asked us to," said Viktor. "Please, my friend. Don't leave again."
"I… I won't."
Cedric realized he didn't want to leave. Now that he was here and he knew Hermione was alive and that year without her was the darkest and most miserable of his entire life. He couldn't bear to be apart from her again. If she was giving him a chance, he wouldn't waste it.
There was a long line outside the hotel with redheaded Weasleys, platinum blonde veela, massive swan maidens in feather mantles, and dark-haired Delacours queueing up.
"Zdrasti Viktor!" called a veela from the line.
Several people looked over and were stunned to see a world-famous Quidditch star standing there. In a hideous Christmas sweater no less.
"Zdravey Bily," said Viktor. "Wait. Who is watching Meatball?"
"Vanya is."
"Fashion emergency, coming through!" Esperanza announced, cutting ahead while using Cedric as a human plow.
"Stop." Hermione held up her hand and covered her brown eye, scanning them. "Okay. Go."
Bastien was at the concierge desk, checking everyone in. Esperanza led the way up the stairs, her room was on the second floor. The other set of stairs were farther down the corridor.
"Hold on," Cedric panted when they reached the second landing. "I need a moment."
There were only two landings looking down into the lobby, the other floors were full. Cedric leaned against the bannister and inhaled deeply, exhaling a cough.
"Are you alright?" Viktor asked. "Still feeling sick?"
"I've been sick for months," he said. "I'll be alright, just a few more potions in me and some rest, I'll be right as rain."
While catching his breath, he stared down at Hermione through gaps in the crystal chandelier. One of the Weasley relatives was yelling at her about being made to stand in line and wait to check in, but she didn't even flinch, much less cry. She really had changed, hadn't she? He watched her wave along the old woman, then snap her head around to look right at him.
Jumping, like he was caught doing something wrong, he hurried along with Viktor and Esperanza to their room.
They had a suite, but the space was crowded with her sewing station and racks of clothes. A beautiful wedding gown sat on a dress form, sparkling and soft like freshly fallen snow, all laced up in the back with soft pink ribbons. On the racks were seven champagne-colored three-piece suits and seven sage-colored three-piece suits, all with white shirts, pink ties, and pink handkerchiefs. There were a few other outfits as well. Jackets that looked to be made of dragon skin and decorated with gold studs and then some simpler attire.
"Have a seat," said Esperanza, pulling out a chair for him.
He shed his jacket and sat down. Esperanza bustled around with everything necessary for a makeover. She handed him some eyedrops.
"Here, your eyes look agitated," she said. "We used magic on your teeth, your gums were bleeding."
"I probably had scurvy or something too," he muttered and rubbed his face. "Urgh, I never wanted Mimi to see me like this."
"You were on the brink of death, my friend," said Viktor. "You are lucky we found you."
"I know. I'm grateful. Just… it didn't have to be this way."
Esperanza hummed and messed with his hair. "Your hair is disgusting."
"Esperanza!" Viktor scolded.
"No, she's right," said Cedric. "Just… do what you have to do."
When all was said and done, Cedric almost felt like himself. His hair was brushing his shoulder blades and was back to its luscious raven. He'd had a face mask and his nails were fixed and painted a beautiful pale pink with gold designs laid down by magic. He'd put in the gold piercings and in his ear lobes put in the beautiful pair of ruby and emerald teardrop earrings. He stood for a fitting for his bridesperson suit and Viktor let him borrow a white cable-knit jumper so he wouldn't be walking around in his monster truck t-shirt. He returned to his room for a nap and was woken up hours later for dinner.
He was famished.
They had a buffet for everyone in the ballroom, the same place the rehearsal dinner would be tomorrow.
"Where's Hermione?" he asked.
"She took dinner to her room," said George. "Said she needed to take care of some things."
"Oh, I see."
"She keeps her door unlocked," said Cecilia, helpfully. "At least until eleven o'clock when she goes to bed. So people can come in and talk to her. You should talk to her after dinner."
"Not sure if she wants to talk to me," he said and gave up all hope of acting casual. "Why? Has she said anything?"
"She doesn't say much these days unless it is to make a plan," said Fleur. "Actually, until the day we found you, she had gone mute."
That shocked him. "She did?"
"Yes, I worry if something else horrible happens, it will steal her voice entirely and nothing will bring it back."
She smiled serenely.
Guilt trip. They were guilt tripping him into staying. It was unnecessary. Now that he was here, he didn't want to leave and that just ate him up inside because it felt selfish. He didn't know what to do. He supposed the next step would be to talk to Hermione. Beg for her forgiveness. Hope she cared enough to let him be a part of her life. He had missed his best friend and hoped she was still there and he hadn't completely destroyed everything.
"Sorry we're late!" a voice called.
Two people with platinum blonde hair entered, both wearing serene but slightly perplexed expressions.
"LUNA!" Ginny took off across the room like a shot and kissed her square on the lips, much to the shock of multiple family members.
Cecilia took out her wand and pointed it at them, casting the revealing charm and a cancelling charm. Nothing changed and she put her wand away, turning back to her meal.
Ginny kissed Luna thrice then gestured towards Cedric as she spoke animatedly. Luna looked over her shoulder and her eyes widened. She took a straight shot across the room knocking him out of his chair as she threw her arms around him.
"We thought you were dead!"
"Nearly," he said, wincing as his back cracked. "I would've been if I hadn't been found."
Luna got up and pulled him to his feet. "Look at you. You're so thin."
"It's good to see you, Looney-Tune," he said.
"I have new pronouns. Xe/xem."
"Xe/xem, I'll be sure to use them."
Xe smiled and hugged him tightly. "Are you here to stay?"
"Yeah, I'm not— Not going anywhere." He patted xyr back and they righted themselves in their chairs. "So… you and Ginny."
"Yes. It took us some time, nearly as long as you and Nia."
"Glad to see you happy."
"Hello, Cedrichard, you look well," said Uncle Phil, patting his shoulder.
The second he sat down, Viktor stood up.
"No need to get up, there's plenty of chairs for all," said Uncle Phil.
Viktor's expression was cold. "I do not break bread with Grindelwald supporters. I believe I must retire."
Esperanza stood up. "I have some last minute tailors to finish."
"It is not Grindelwald's mark, dear boy," said Uncle Phil. "It is the mark of the Deathly Hallows. If you knew the history of these wondrous items, I'm sure you'd have quite a different attitude."
Viktor scoffed and rolled his eyes. Something he never would have had the guts to do a few years ago. Cedric had a feeling there was a lot to unpack there, but now was not the time for it.
"Er… anywho… we should catch up, Luna," said Cedric.
"Yes, we must. Though, I see another person is on your mind and will continue to be so. We shall speak tomorrow." Xe squeezed his arm and turned to Ginny.
"You heard xem," said Cecilia.
Cedric felt his cheeks warm and hoped he wouldn't faint again. He wasn't sure he'd be able to eat anymore until he had spoken to her, so he pushed his chair in and went upstairs. She was supposedly next door to his, so he tried the one on the right, finding it locked, then went to the room on the left. He knocked and poked his head in.
Hermione looked over from the desk. Her hair was loose and she was wrapped up in a thick bathrobe. His heart beat heavily in his chest just looking at her.
"Sorry," he said, stepping across the threshold. "Am I interrupting?"
"Just recording my thoughts," she said, looking down at the recorder on the desk. "Anything to declare?"
"I love you."
She paused and hit the stop button. When she turned to look at him, he regretted speaking at all. The betrayal and hurt she felt dug its claws into him.
"You lied to me, hid things from me, used the sleep spell on me, and then you disappeared off the face of the earth without even a word to whether you were okay or not!"
"I—"
"You were right about one thing, I was a danger to everyone all on my own."
"I'm sorry."
"You still said it." She stood up and crossed her arms. "You didn't even let us have a way to communicate!"
"I didn't… If I couldn't come home, I didn't want to torment you," he said.
Saying it out loud, he realized it was cowardly, not noble.
She snorted. "Seems no solution would have worked. Not hearing from you tormented me and perhaps hearing from you would have tormented me even more. They were looking for you, but I think we could have hid you in the Larimar mine until the heat died down.
"You left to keep us safe and yet I brought danger upon everyone. I just…" She started pacing. "I get why you did what you did and I almost made that decision myself a few months ago, but I knew if I kept running, they would not let me stop. And I'm still so angry and hurt! You say you love me, but I wasn't enough for you! I needed you and you weren't there!"
She stopped, inhaled sharply, and sighed. "You needed me and I wasn't there." She stared at nothing. "I couldn't keep my promises."
Her thoughts were behind a wall. He couldn't see anything and only felt guilt and hurt and shame. Those were likely his own emotions. Cedric chanced a step closer, but kept his hands in his pockets.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't want to lose you and ended up doing so anyway. This past year, thinking you were dead killed me inside… I couldn't stand the thought of being in a world without you in it, but I made it happen anyway."
"If you really loved me you wouldn't even think of leaving," she said, her eyes hardening.
"I told you, the hunter will stop at nothing," he said, keeping his distance. "But I want to stop running. I will do whatever it takes to regain your trust. Even if it takes a hundred years. I want my best friend back and I refuse to lose you again."
"I believe you." Hermione crossed back over to her desk and opened a jewelry box. That's when he noticed the splints on her hands. He noticed her wearing a bunch of silver rings earlier, but now she had foam splints keeping her hands and fingers stiff and nearly immobile. She plucked out a small object using magic and brought it to him. "You never sent this, did you?"
He caught it out of the air and saw it was his mother's ring. He looked at her in surprise and shook his head.
"When he nearly caught me… he got this. It was on a chain around my neck." He pointed to the scars across his throat. "You never got the postcard I sent?"
"You sent one?"
"Just one, on our birthday. I… I missed you and wanted you to know I was thinking of you and I was safe at this Werewolf Colony," he said. "I thought it was stupid after. I told you not to wait for me, how could you if all I did was remind you of everything?"
"I never received it," she said. "Did you transfigure it from something?"
"No, I used invisible ink." He turned the ring over and slid it onto his finger. They were so thin now it slid on easily. Speaking of fingers… "What happened to your hands?"
She looked down at them. "Mm, my hands were cursed from that necklace so they were weak. I went on a triple date with Bernice and Márcia and during the beach party, my date attacked me. I punched him and broke nearly every bone in my hand. It hadn't healed right, so I wear goblin-made splints during the day and these when I sleep."
"I'm sorry. If I hadn't—"
"It would have happened anyway," she said. "I would've had to pretend you were in hiding, Kai would have set me up because he was too chicken shit to ask Márcia out on a one-on-one date, and I still would have been attacked. It's fine. I mean, it's not fine, but I don't want you feeling guilty about it. I oughta feel guilty, I went out with Alejandro solely because I was on the rebound and furious at you. I'm lucky that he broke up with me after three weeks when he realized he just liked me as a good friend. Of course, that didn't stop me from agreeing to every date offer I received."
Cedric didn't want to hear this, but she put up with his years of dating every girl that smiled at him; he could handle this. He could squash down the little green monster. After all, he broke up with her. He told her not to wait for him because he didn't know when he could come home and didn't want her to resent him. He just didn't expect her to rebound.
"I had the same rule for Robbie," she said. "I was helping him out, his partner broke her leg three weeks before the Championship, it was totally like a movie. He gave me quite the kiss when Miguel gave him a job offer, because I arranged for the audition, but we agreed going in that we would call it quits when school began. I didn't want to do the long distance thing again. Blaise and I went on one date and we snogged once. They asked me for a bet and we split the winnings. Turns out they and Alejandro are perfect for each other."
Cedric wasn't entirely sure he was processing it. Those matches just didn't compute.
"How did you befriend him—them and Draco of all people?" he asked.
"Mm, long story short, I got sorted into Slytherin and according to them I acted like you, which people liked."
He stared at her. "I'm sorry, I think I hallucinated, you got sorted into Slytherin? How?"
"I went back to Hogwarts."
"Why? Why would you do that?"
"I got expelled, but I would have gone back anyway. I didn't want a repeat of you…" her voice broke and he sensed a huge spike of anxiety. "What am I doing? It's late, I have wedding stuff to do tomorrow and you need sleep. I put another potion in your room, make sure you drink it."
"Mimi…"
She finally looked at his face. "What?"
"If there's anything I can do tomorrow to help…"
"Just—just be at the Temple de L'Amour for rehearsal at three," she said and ushered him out the door. "Someone will show you the way."
She shut the door and locked it. Cedric stared at it for a long moment, hoping she'd open it again, then sighed and went to his room. He felt similar to how he did before the Yule Ball three years ago. He really messed up and he didn't know how to fix it. The place they were in was weird. She understood, she was in the same boat as he was, but she hadn't run away. He thought he didn't have a choice, but he still betrayed her trust regardless of choice.
"Fuck!" he hissed and went over to his bed. He plunked down, buried his face in his hand, and cried.