So...

Please don't hate me. I wouldn't blame you if you all did though.

I so fail at this. However I promise that I am not giving up!

Anyway on with the story!

P.S.

New cover courtesy of Summerintheclouds! How do you like?

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In the end Ginny was unsuccessful in getting Hermione to come down for dinner as the latter had managed to tire herself out so much, she fell asleep before dinner.

"Cheer up mate, it's not like as if she's breaking up with you." Brice unhelpfully piped.

Cedric looked away from Ginny's retreating figure to give him a look devoid of emotion.

"And captain tactless strikes again." Ian said as he and Robbie both whacked their friend.

Cedric though just sighed before he went back to his planning of Hufflepuf's Quidditch team tryouts. They needed to replace Malcolm Preece, Anthony Rickett, and Maxine O'Flaherty, all of whom graduated last year. "Robbie," He said getting his friend's attention. "Is Heidi still playing for us this year?"

"Definitely." Robbie confirmed. "As am I."

"Well I wasn't really going to really give you a choice." Cedric grinned at his friend and fellow teammate. "But we still have to find a chaser and replace our two beaters."

"Oh ouch, both?" Ian made a face. Luck just never seemed to be on their side when it came to quidditch.

"Ugh, I'm so tired of the mocking. It's our last year!" Wendy scowled while Brice mumbled, "We're dead and we haven't even started."

"Cedric's really our only bright light we've ever had when it comes to Quidditch." Ian sighed along with them. It was their last year and honestly he wanted to end it with a bang and what better way than with the Cup?

"Gee, I feel the love." Robbie sarcastically replied.

"Well we all know Ian's true love is Cedric. Edgecombe never had a chance." Brice snickered. "Too bad Granger's all Cedric wants. Hufflepuff's very own tragic love triangle for the ages." He added dramatically.

Ian aimed a roll at Brice's head as their friends all laughed at his expense, even Cedric was trying not to chuckle. "I hate you all," He muttered when he could feel the Ravenclaw girls' eyes bore into his back. If they heard even one of their names, they all stopped what they were doing, gossipers the lot of them.

"Aye, Cedric." Zacharias Smith said, yelling across the table. "When are tryouts? And the head girl told me to tell you that she needed to talk to you about the next Prefect meeting."

"Two day's time," Cedric answered despite practically hearing his mother scold him that it was rude to yell across the table. But other interested heads had stopped to look his way.

"Please don't let that kid actually-"

"If he's good Robbie, we need all the talent we can get." Cedric siged.

"But he's just an annoying little shit." Brice spoke what none of them could bring themselves to admit.

"Preach," Ian toasted just as an offended gasp could be heard from the other end.

Cedric just shook his head before looking in the Slytherin table's direction. Sure enough Alexi Illium was looking straight at him. Her ice blue eyes penetrated his before he ducked, looking away. He'd fallen for those eyes long ago and almost lost his best friend in the process. He was not repeating that. This time he had what could possibly be another best friend and the love of his life wrapped in one.

!

Hearing the chatter of her dorm mates, Hermione lifted her head but feeling like as if it weighed a ton, it dropped back down to her pillow which happened to be littered with various scrolls. Rubbing her cheek, feeling the imprint of one scroll, Hermione mentally berated herself for falling asleep! There was so much to do and here she was falling asleep! Trying to straighten herself up, she didn't notice anything until Fay Dunbar gasped. There was a figure floating just outside their window.

"Dementor!" Lavender all but shrieked.

"Meems?" The hesitant voice of Cedric Diggory drifted through their gold drapes causing Lavender to immediately stop, her eyes widening before she shrieked again and touched her face, some kind of goo that Hermione was sure was a Witch Weekly beauty trend.

Hermione yanked the curtains open, low and behold, it was her almost too romantically perfect boyfriend hovering just so on his broom. The worried look on his face fading away as a brilliant smile took its place upon seeing her.

Even though both had much to say, Hermione's brain seemed to shut down and only his name emerged.

"Hi there," He smiled, flying just a little closer to her.

"Hi," She said in return, drawing out the word before looking curiously at him. Her look practically asking him what he was doing.

"You missed dinner..."

Hermione's lips formed a thin line.

"Again. And I haven't really seen you in a week." He finished.

This time she looked guilty. "Cedric I didn't meant to!" She scrunched her eyes closed.

"I know," Cedric tried not to laugh at her guilty expression. "So I was thinking to make up for it... You'd accompany me to Hogsmeade and have dinner." He gave her a look, puppy dog eyes as she'd once told him.

Hermione blinked. "Wha- what?" She said, not even hearing her dorm mates jealously gasp. Lavender was back, sans goo not that either noticed, a little too preoccupied with each other. "Now?" Hermione asked as Cedric continued to look at her, his grey eyes larger than normal.

"Now," He confirmed with a mischievous spark in his grey eyes.

"But, but... is that even..."

"Professor Sprout needed some supplies and she gave me permission."

"And we're going to find these supplies during dinner?"

"I may or may not have pulled some strings and have them already waiting for us at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. So we have plenty of time."

Hermione bit her lip, trying not to smile at her all too innocent boyfriend but the feminine side of her was kinda swooning. How many other blokes would go out of their way like Cedric to ask her on a date? Still a laugh and a smile escaped her lips as she replied. "Yes, always."

Cedric's smile widened before he offered her his hand. "Your chariot awaits."

This scenario had never occurred to her, not even in a million years. It was the kind of gesture, crazy and romantic Lavender and Parvarti bemoaned about. Yet her it was before her and who was she to not throw caution to wind every once in a while. With that she took Cedric's hand, not even caring what her dorm mates would think and joined him on his broom.

"Hold on," Cedric said hovering closer to the edge of the tower before straddling the broom and using both hands to help her sit in front of him.

"Please don't make me regret this... I still have a slight fear of..."

"I wasn't named Quidditch Captain my fifth year for nothing." He said rather smugly.

"Well I hope that cockiness translates to your abilities."

Cedric just laughed. "Trust me Hermione Granger. I would never let anything happen to you. Ever." He kissed the top of her head before flying off.

From anyone else, Hermione might not have relaxed as she had but with him, she couldn't help but believe him.

!

It had been utterly romantic. Neither had eaten dinner before hand, thus both had eager appetities.

Cedric had chosen to use that time to plan tryouts as well as discuss with the Head Girl Prefect rounds though the latter was annoyed at prying ears, telling him that it was a one time thing.

The place was nearly empty, only a few people well older than them whom paid them no mind. The place was filled with romantic candle light as well as the aroma of fresh made bread in the air. It was a slice of heaven on earth for that moment.

While waiting for their food, both ordering differently so Cedric could not discreetly sample Hermione's meal, they discussed the major stressors in their present lives. O.W.L.S. and N.E.W.T.S. Quidditch for Cedric, SPEW for Hermione as well as both Harry and Umbridge for completely different reasons.

"Cedric, I never thought that I would say this but... even I prefer Twelawney over that atrocious pink monstrocity." She made a horrified face, her hands straddling her cheeks. She hated mouthing baout Professors but Umbridge... just brought out a nasty part of her. Cedric though looked confusingly at her causing her to confess her first and only class with Twelawney.

Her confession though caused Cedric to burst into laughter because who knew, there was apparently a professor not enamored by his girlfriend. Other than Snape that was... but even Cedric believed that the latter had a begrudging respect for her... he'd called her far less names than he'd ever called Cedric or his group of friends.

"Look who's talking." Hermione muttered as she eyed her laughing boyfriend who was enjoying her embarrassing story far too much.

"I know love, but..." He smiled so wide she knew he was trying to behave and not laugh any more.

"Oh whatever. Who needs Divinition." Hermione sulked.

"You're too cute sometimes."

Hermione stopped her sulk to glance from her tea to Cedric, who only had a contented smile on his face, not a trace of mocking in sight.

"Well you're too handsome all the time. The Fat Lady's been asking me why you haven't been around. Almost too eager to think we're over in my opinion.

With that Cedric's smile momentarily faltered causing Hermione to laugh. But soon enough, they were both laughing together just enjoying that it was them and all of their worries temporarily forgotten as they could catch up on each other's lives.  Keeping the romance alive, his mother would have called it. 

!

Cedric flew Hermione back to the Gryffindor Girl's tower. Hermione took off his robes to hand back to him as she placed both her feet near the edge, Cedric's hands around her waist to help her steady. She turned around as she sat down on the ledge, not quite wanting to say goodbye yet.

"I have to ask. Tonight was romantic and all but why?"

"Because I love you." He leaned down to gently kiss her lips. "And we both needed this."

"How did you know I needed this, when I didn't know it myself?" Hermione sighed as she leaned towards him to brush her lips against his.

"Cause you're a huge part of my world..." He trailed off as he kissed her forehead one last time before straightening up to fly back to the Hufflepuff tower. "And you may have the first round of nightshiftswithParkinson. Love you, night!" He said quickly before flying away.

Hermione opened her eyes seeing his retreating figure. "Did he just say... Parkinson?" Hermione repeated to herself before fully registering his words. "Get back here!" She yelled after her boyfriend but he was long gone. All she'd done was inspire more ire from her dorm mates who had all turned from their activities to vicariously swoon at the couple.

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Promise to update so much sooner next time!

Hope you all enjoyed. Thank you so much for reading.