Chapter 44 – Kicked Out
GN
The next few weeks in the castle were quiet without the twins, not only for me but for all the other students and even the teachers. I had noticed Hermione's change too, the smile and the twinkle in her eyes she always had when Fred was around was completely gone now. So, when I saw her sitting alone at the Gryffindor table, I sat down across from her instead of sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
"Hiya, Hermione."
"Oh, hey Gwen." She smiled once she recovered from my sudden appearance. "Been awhile, how are you?"
"Getting there. You?"
"Right as rain. But I'm not the one who had a recent breakup."
"Maybe not." I shrugged. "But I know how you felt about Fred. Did he ask you to go to Hogsmeade?"
"I - you knew?" She asked surprised and I gave her a lopsided grin. "He did ask me but then they left, he wrote to me a few days ago but they are too busy with getting the shop ready. Which I fully understand but..."
"Yeah." A moment of silence fell between us. "Are you going with Harry and Ron then?"
"No, they already left. I didn't really feel like going." She said looking back at her book. But she didn't have long to read as I closed the book for her. Hermione looked up confused.
"Then you're going with me and Cedric."
"No, no I can't." She shook her head.
"I won't take no for an answer, young lady." I tried to say in a stern voice, but failed miserably, and we both started to laugh. "Come on." I stood up and nudged my head. Hermione rounded the table, and I looped my arm through hers, guiding her to the Hufflepuff table.
"Odin and Lyra just left." Cedric said as he finished his plate. "Hello, Hermione."
"Hi, Cedric."
"Hermione here, is going to come with us to Hogsmeade."
"If you don't mind, of course." Hermione quickly added and I rolled my eyes.
"Of course, I don't mind." Cedric smiled and stood up. He nudged me aside and he offered an arm to me and one to Hermione. "Ready, ladies?"
"Ready, sir." Hermione and I chimed, and we walked out of the great hall together.
It wasn't the smile Hermione had preserved for Fred, but it was a beaming one, nonetheless. It was a fun day, we visited almost every store in Hogsmeade and to Hermione's delight the three of us spend an hour in the bookstore exploring. Hermione told us that Harry and Ron never wanted to go in with her, so she went in overdrive showing her favourite spots. But we didn't mind, I looked for books on magical creatures and travel. And Cedric looked for books on curse breaking and journalism. When we came out of the bookstore, Harry and Ron spotted the three of us laughing carrying our full bags. If their shocked faces were any indication, they didn't expect Hermione in Hogsmeade, certainly not with me and Cedric.
"Oh, hey."
"I thought you weren't coming?" Harry asked.
"I wasn't until Gwen made me." Hermione said with a grin.
"Do you regret it?" I asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
"Not in the slightest. We just spend over an hour in the bookstore."
Ron looked like she just said she spend an hour in Azkaban, but Hermione didn't pay him any attention as she showed her books to Harry.
"Why aren't you here with Hannah?" Ron asked Cedric.
"Hannah decided to go with someone her own age." Cedric grinned as he nudged his head behind the two boys. And there she was. Hannah was talking excitedly with Neville as they looked through the window of Honeydukes.
"You didn't tell me that." I gasped and slapped his arm.
"It wasn't a big deal. We just didn't have a... connection."
"Hm, we'll find the right one. In time." I squeezed his arm and looped mine through his. I chuckled as I saw Hermione still showing Harry her books. "We're going to the Three Broomsticks next, want to come with us?"
"Yeah, sounds fun." Harry started but was interrupted by Ron. "Nah, we were just heading back."
"But we haven't been to the three broomsticks or Zonko's, mate."
"Ron." I gathered the young red head's attention. "Is it because of me?"
"What?" Hermione's head snapped towards me and Ron. "Of course not."
"Because of what happened between George and I?" I ignored Hermione and kept my focus on Ron. Ron turned red as he looked at his feet.
"It's not our business what happened between them, Ronald. And you shouldn't take it out on her."
"Hermione's right." Harry agreed. "You're going to be family in a few months, so you two should get along."
"Ron." The boy finally looked up to me. "It's fine if you don't want to become friends, but I would like to get along, just as I would be with George in the near future."
He looked at me for a moment. "Alright, we'll go with you." He finally decided and the five of us walked to the tavern. The first five minutes were a bit strained but once Harry told us about Hermione punching Malfoy in their third year, it all went flowingly.
GN
The end of the school year was coming closer, the end of my time at Hogwarts all together was coming to a close. It's been over a month that the twins had left school, almost two months since the breakup. I wasn't looking for a new relationship, I wasn't ready but the boys in the school didn't get the message. It was mostly the Slytherins now if you could believe it. Don't know why; they had been friendly this year, and now with George gone, over-friendly. Lyra and Odin found it hilariously funny, but Cedric was very protective. Lee had looked lost now that his best friends were gone. So, whenever I saw him alone, I dragged him to study with me and the Hufflepuffs, or the opposite and take a break. Just like right now. Cedric, Lee and I were sitting near the black lake, our books forgotten at our feet as we just looked at the clouds.
"So, Lee what are your plans after school?" Cedric asked not taking his eyes away from the sky.
"I actually just applied for a position at a radio station and one for a commentator for the English quidditch matches."
"You'll do great in either of them." I tore my eyes away from the sky and looked to my right where Lee was lying and placed my hand on his. "Let me know, yeah?"
"I will." He squeezed my hand softly. I knew he wanted to say more by the frown on his face but didn't continue.
"Lee, tell me."
"What?" He looked at me in surprise.
"I know there is something you want to say. If it's about the twins, just say it." I smiled. "How's the shop going?"
"Thank Merlin." He sighed and sat up. Cedric and I followed his lead. "They've been busy, but it's getting along. They should open at the start of summer break."
"That's great." I smiled a real honest one. "The moment they open the door, it will be filled with people."
"They really make great things, can't wait to visit the shop." Cedric added.
"How are you doing, Jenny?" Lee asked softly.
"I'm good, really. It took time, of course. Our breakup may have been only in March, but we've been drifting apart since right after Christmas break. But I'm not ready for that." I nudged my head at the approaching Slytherins, and Cedric and Lee scooted closer against me. "Hey, Nate, Gregor."
"Hey, Guinevere." Nate smiled at me while ignoring the others. Gregor just looked bored standing there with his hands in his pockets. "I was wondering -"
"She's taken, mate." Cedric grumbled as he and Lee wrapped their arms around me.
"What?" Gregor laughed. "With one of you two? Don't make me laugh. And we all know that red headed giant-"
"I will stop you there, Gregor." I put up my hand, and he stopped talking in an instant with a dumb look as though a woman should never speak to him like that. "No, I'm not taken. But I'm also not interested." I turned to look solely at Nate. "You're a great guy, Nate. One of the few in Slytherin, I might add. But I'm not ready to go out with someone."
"Maybe if our paths cross again." He said formerly.
"Maybe." I nodded my head and the two Slytherin boys disappeared. "You know I don't need you two to hover over me, I can handle them myself."
"We know." Cedric started.
"But old habits die hard." Lee grinned.
"You two are incorrigible." I laughed. "Now back to studying, our break has been long enough." I leaned forward to grab my book, so I didn't see the amusing look the boys gave each other.
GN
Two weeks later, I was studying in the library on my own for once. A dozen of books were spread all around me, five long pieces of parchment were rolled up next to me and I was writing on the six one. The only noise in the library was the scratching on parchment, pages turning, or the occasional cough. It was a weekday and I had come to the library after my last class, and the sky has already turned dark.
I nearly jumped out of my own skin when someone put their hand on my shoulder.
"Sorry, Gwen. I didn't mean to scare you." Lyra whispered as the others in the room glared at them.
"It's okay. I was just focused on my work. Weren't you studying with Odin?"
"I was." She sat down next to me. "We want to take a break."
"You mean you want the room to yourself." I chuckled softly.
"Well, yeah." She grinned at me.
"It's okay, I'll crash in Odin's bed then. Let me clean everything up and I'll come with you." I said already standing up. As is gathered my things, Lyra put the library books away on the shelves. About twenty minutes later, we were back in the Hufflepuff common room. I went to grab my things for my night at the boys' dormitory and let the two lovebirds in our room.
"I heard I have a new roommate for tonight." Cedric grinned as he was waiting for me next to the door and pushed himself off.
"You heard correctly." I smiled as he opened the door to the boys' dormitories.
"And I heard you've been locked up in the library for hours."
"Again, you heard correctly." I stopped in front of Cedric's room.
"I have a little surprise then." He grinned mischievous before he pushed the door open. In front of his bed was a blanket spread on the ground, a picnic basket and drinks were placed on top of it.
"Cedric." I dropped my things on his desk and walked closer to the middle of the room.
"You've been so busy with exams and everything. I thought you needed a break." He said a little uncertain, rubbing his neck.
I stepped closer to him as I wrapped my arms around him. "Thank you." I whispered against his chest and his grip tightened around me.
"Anytime, love." His breath moved my hair.
"Ced, I don't want to seem presumptuous but, is this a date?" I asked pulling back, looking up at him. He leaned his head against mine slowly.
"I know you're not ready. But this is my way to say that I'm not going anywhere, and that I'm still very much in love with you."
"I thought -"
"That I had moved on?" He shook his head against mine. "Never. I accepted your relationship with George, and I even started to like the twins, but I never fell out of love with you."
"Ced." I whispered with my eyes closed.
"You don't need to say anything. I'll wait, I'll always wait."
My heart pounded fast in my chest at his words. I knew I loved him, but I thought the love had shifted to just friendship. But ever since George had started pulling back, I started spending the time I usually spend with George with Cedric. He never did or say anything. Even after George and I broke up, he just acted like a best friend. Or maybe I was too blind to see it, or too focused on my studying. It's only a little over two weeks until school ends, and now we're standing here both with a stammering hearts and clammy hands.