Strawberry and Vanilla (Cedric Diggory AU)

Chapter Sixteen: Jack In The Box

"You like me," Hermione started, sitting down in their usual library corner and pulling out a second chair so he could sit easily. "And I like you. So it makes sense for us to date. But I need to know a few things first and I need you to promise me a few things."

          Cedric took his seat quickly and nodded, placing his crutches against the wall. He started in an extremely monotone voice, "I'll sign whatever contract you have." He watched smiling as Hermione suppressed her laugh. She shook her head, swallowing the joke he made about her bookish ways of organization.

      "No contract, surprisingly, just questions," she chuckled and Cedric smirked. "I guess I can just jump into it. I'm curious as to which girls here at Hogwarts are your past girlfriends...?"

     "There's only three. Nothing to worry about." Cedric explained kindly. Hermione fiddled with her hands. "You know Violet Summers, head girl. We have history, but she likes girls now. Then there's Cho Chang who is the most recent and I really regret being with her to tell you the truth."

    Hermione nodded. She did know Violet and Violet was really nice. She understood why one may like her romantically. Hermione was confused on one point, though. "You said three, but only said two girls. I understand if you won't share and I won't force y-"

      "Natalia Sharp," Cedric interrupted, "Storytime, now, I suppose. She was my best friend from first year to the end of third year and she moved off to go to Ilvermorny in America. She didn't say goodbye or break up with me. I suppose it didn't matter, we were only children. It makes me laugh, sometimes. But Talia is now having triplets due to a man who treated her wrongly. Did... wrong things without her permission. He's in muggle prison now and Talia is getting married in August, to the man who has been treating her right."

     "Oh my," Hermione gasped. "She's happy? Are you invited?"

        Cedric nodded, "She is happy, yes. She's only recently owled me to tell me her story and invite me to the wedding. Next question?"

     Hermione nodded and bit her lip, "Er- how many girls have you kissed?"

      Cedric laughed at this, smiling his full grin. He pretended to count on his fingers, passing ten and twenty. Hermione shook her head trying not to smile. She was also a bit nervous about his answer. "Five," he concurred, finally stopping. "And if you're wondering who, I'll tell you in order. Talia, Violet, another girl who isn't important because I met her over the summer and she kissed me at a party while intoxicated, Cho, and most importantly, you."

        "Me?" Hermione covered her face.

       Cedric put his chin in his hands, looking as dream-created as ever. "I kissed you, didn't I? Was I dreaming?"

       "I hope not!"

      "Score," Cedric whispered quietly, smiling at her and resting his head on his arm that lay outstretched on the table. He bat his eyelashes and made direct eye contact with her, looking right into her wide brown eyes. "Hermione, you are so pretty."

    She didn't take the time to think. "So are you-" she face-palmed and grinned almost hysterically. "Sorry, my brain is still a mess. It's all so fast. I denied my feelings for longer than I had known and now suddenly I can express them and I have so much yet so little to say! I want to kiss you, I want to date you, I want everything, I want you. I don't want you to be done with me in a matter of weeks because I'm not everything you had thought me to be. I don't want to ruin anything by being some buck-toothed nerd who everyone hates for being a know-it-all! If I'm not good enough, I don't know what I'll do."

      "I'm yours, Hermione," Cedric assured her, chuckling. He understood her doubt and he ignored how she seemed to think he was the kind to hop from girl to girl. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. Not with the way I feel about you. I promise you I'll do everything it takes to prove me fit."