CONTENT WARNING: MATURE CONTENT & THEMES

13

Cedric sat down next to Hermione on the sofa and started tracing images on her exposed collarbone with his warm fingertips.

"Cedriiiic," she whined. "I'm trying to read."

"Sorry love," Cedric smiled before kissing the top of her head. He leaned back and placed his head on Hermione's shoulder. She put her book on her lap and looked over at him, running her fingers through his hair.

"You need a haircut," she muttered. "But I don't want you to shave. This stubble is a really good look for you."

"Oh, so you like my beard, do you? 'Rius said that you most likely wouldn't."

"Well, he was wrong. I think it's quite a good look. Very sexy," Hermione smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Oh really?" He smirked and leaned in, pausing in front of her face to look closely into her eyes. Hermione giggled as he rubbed noses with her. "You know what else is sexy?" He asked.

"What?" Hermione squeaked with a large grin. Her doe eyes stared straight back into his with equal fire and intensity.

"Everything about you," he replied before getting rid of the space between them. He crashed his lips into hers and their mouths moved in sync as they passionately and heatedly snogged. The two broke for air, with their cheeks red and hot, they panted for breath, touching foreheads and smiling.

"I missed you," Cedric grinned. "I love you."

Hermione sat on Cedric's lap, wrapping her legs around him. "I love you too," She whispered before shifting to let Cedric stand up and carry her to his bedroom.

*

Hermione and Cedric lay in their bed as they heard the front door swing open. They jumped up and rushed to put their clothes on and tame their messy hair.

"Where's my left sock! Cedric!" Hermione whisper shouted as she dashed around the room trying to find it. After crawling on the floor for a few seconds she spotted it in the far corner underneath the bed. Trying to reach it, she ended up nearly all the way under the bed before not being able to move forewords and more. "Cedric," she sighed.

Cedric pulled out his wand immediately and knelt down. Pointing it was the sock, he summoned it. "Accio sock," he said. The sock zoomed towards him and hit him the the face. Spitting and sputttering, Cedric peeled the sock off of his face and handed it to Hermione, who was now out from underneath the bed.

"Thanks," She whispered before running from the room towards the couch as fast as she could to get to her book on time, only to see Fred and George sitting there, smirking at her and Cedric.

"Why is it always you two?" Hermione sighed as the twins wiggled their eyebrow and laughed.

"The real question here is why is it always YOU TWO?" Laughed Fred. "I mean you really can't keep it in your pants, can you, Ced?"

Cedric growled. "You two have three seconds to leave before I come and kill you," he spat.

The twins laughed and ran, Cedric chasing them down the cold, creaky halls of Grimmauld Place. Hermione felt a small smile rise to her flushed face as she sat back down on the couch and continued to read her book.

As soon as Hermione read the first word on her page, Ron, Ginny, and Harry walked in. "I swear! Mum says that we never help, but I carried a grocery bag in from the car!" Exclaimed Ron as he drastically sighed and fell onto the couch across from her.

"Yes Ronald, ONE bag. Mum carried about five on her own! Honestly, pay attention to what's happening around you sometime!!" Ginny shot back. "You have to appreciate what she does for us. She goes out and asks us what we want for supper, when she could very well feed us potatoes every night, so take your head out of your -"

"Alright, Gin. We get it," said Harry. He looked over at Hermione and saw the book in her hand. "What are you reading?" He asked.

"Just Hogwarts, a History. My favourite, you know," she replied.

"We know," the three said in unison.

"Honestly, I don't know why we ask anymore, Mione. You're always reading that bloody book, never something interesting," said Ron.

"Well, Ronald, if you bothered to buy me an 'interesting' novel for Christmas, then I would read it."

"Matter of fact, I did buy you an interesting book, Hermione!" Ron pulled out a bright blue book with an image of three barely clothed girls with guns on the cover, and the words 'Martian attack' written on the bottom. Hermione rolled her eyes and took the book from Ron's hands to read the summary aloud.

"Hot and sexy newscaster Holly Hills is having a normal day with Christopher, her built, tanned lifeguard boyfriend, when a spaceship comes to earth and martians try to take over. Holly and two of her supermodel friends Maria and Celeste steal supersonic weapons from the government and fight off all the martians in a sexy and thriving battle." Hermione rolled her eyes and threw the book at Ron as Ginny scoffed and Harry looked uncomfortable. Ron simply grinned and pulled the cover off the book to reveal a simple plain blue shell with the words 'A Guide to the Books of the World.' He tossed the book back to Hermione, who rushed to hug him. As she did, Cedric walked into the room and sat down next to Hermione's seat. He smiled at his girlfriend as she sat back down next to him.

"I figured the best gift to get you was a book about books," Ron smiled. "I just threw on that cover to trick you. Fred and George gave me the idea."

"Of course they did," Hermione laughed. "Those two are always trying to get people into messes. Anyways, I love the book, Ronald, and I can't wait to read it. I hope you like your new hat as well, it took me nearly three months to knit."

"Oh, yes, it was brilliant Hermione, if you hadn't slept in this morning, you would've seen my mum shed a tear as everyone opened up your knitted gifts. She was so proud," he replied.

"What about you, Cedric? Did you like your scarf I made you?" Hermione asked.

"Oh of course, Mia! It's so cozy and warm, and I love the yellow, it reminds me of the Hufflepuff colours."

Hermione smiled and hugged Cedric lightly. She could hear his heart beat quicken ever so slightly as she placed her head on his chest and sighed to herself. She closed her eyes and drifted off to the warmth of Cedric's chest and to the sound of the crackling fire and her best friends' laughter.