DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter and Twilight.

CHAPTER 49

"Ced, wake up," she whispered, toying his ear with her fingers.

Cedric was lying on his stomach, arms on the pillow and his face was on her. She was lying on her side, still wearing the same satin pyjama set, while Ced was half-naked and sleeping peacefully. They decided to stay in bed the whole day, talking, reminiscing their Hogwarts days, and dreaming happy dreams.

Unlike when she was still mortal, she didn't feel her head and body aching; did not feel the need to use the loo; didn't worry that their family and friends might go looking for them. However, Hermione heard a familiar truck engine approaching, entering the wards. She could also hear Isabella's incessant growling and ranting in her mind. Being a Legillimens - plus a vampire - she could listen to other people's minds if they were thinking too loud; if they were practically screaming. But it was more of a curse, than a gift. She didn't want to hear other people's problems, that was why she learned to block other people's thoughts. But right now, with Isabella Swan, she couldn't help but listen carefully, especially whenever she was thinking of Edward.

Hermione tried to wake her fiancé again by kissing his lips and placing a palm on his cloth-covered cock. This time, Ced stirred and quickly held her hand tighter when she was about to let go of his manhood. His eyes snapped open and quickly shifted on the bed to position himself above her. Without any word, he placed her hands above her head and lowered his head to kiss her neck, her chest and exposed cleavage.

She cursed rather lustful, but heard the truck again. This time, it pulled in the driveway. She met his eyes, but he continued kissing her face and shoulders. "Don't mind her. We'll go down later. Let Rosalie handle her," he whispered between his kisses.

"What brings you here, Bella?" she heard Rosalie say downstairs.

"Alice sent me, but told me to speak with Edward only," replied Isabella, her tone was telling Rosalie that her information was important.

"I'm sorry, but you'd have to wait. Edward is currently engaged with God-knows-what with Hermione in their room. For the meantime, you can sit and make yourself comfortable."

"But Alice had a vision!" Isabella insisted.

"Bella, dear," came Esme's motherly tone. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Esme," replied Bella, obviously trying to sound polite and Hermione had to sneer. Ced, on the other hand, lay beside her, ran his one hand on her body and the other arm was behind her head.

"Did you say that you have news for us from Alice?" asked Esme gently.

"Yes. But she told me to tell it to Edward first."

"Oh. All right." Esme sounded disappointed. "Then, I'm sorry that you'd have to wait. They've been in the room the whole day and clearly, they didn't want to be disturbed. But I hope you're hungry. Our guests from England, Ginny and Lavender, are baking. Come."

"But - "

"I'm really sorry, Bella. They really don't want to be disturbed. But I am sure if they heard you, they would come down," Esme said apologetically.

"O-okay..." Isabella sounded defeated.

"Ladies, meet Isabella Swan, a family friend," said Esme.

"Hello, Isabella," greeted Ginny. "I hope you like pastries. Here, taste Lavender's treacle tart," she offered.

"It's nice to see you again, Isabella." Lavender greeted the newcomer casually. "Help yourself."

"Thanks."

"What were you telling me again, Lav? About Pansy Parkinson jumping off a cliff?" asked Ginny casually. Hermione couldn't help herself from giggling.

"How very Slytherin of her," commented Ced with a smirk.

"Oh, yes. You know, Pansy's been obsessed with Drakie-poo since we were eleven," replied Lavender conversationally. "They shagged each other a lot, according to some Ravenclaw girls, but whenever Drakie-poo was away, Pansy would play. Some Ravenclaws caught her in a broom cupboard with Theo Nott."

"But Nott's close friends with Malfoy."

"Exactly. So, Drakie-poo lost his interest on Pansy and started dating Daphne Greengrass' sister, Astoria."

"Yeah, I remember her! She's pretty and smart. Unlike Pansy who's pug-faced and brainless witch. She could only insult Hermione for her hair, teeth and blood status, but she was a nightmare! And then, what happened?"

"Well, Draco and Astoria got married, but after two years, she died because of a curse." Lavender's voice faltered.

"Yeah. Heard that, too. Not a single Healer could find a cure," replied Ginny in a sad tone. Hermione could tell it was true.

"Then, Pansy came to rescue Drakie-poo. They were shagging each other again. After five years, Pansy was expecting that Drakie-poo would marry her. When he said that he wouldn't, she threatened to kill herself and their unborn child."

"Merlin's beard! Was she pregnant?"

"No, she wasn't. Because Draco Malfoy admitted that he could never have children, due to Voldemort's punishment when he failed to kill Dumbledore."

"Oh, shit!" cursed Ginny. "So, what happened to Pansy?"

"Got depressed for months. Jumped off a cliff, but was rescued by some Muggle police officers. At the moment, she's a resident of Janus Thickey Ward in St. Mungo's."

"What do Muggles call those who have her condition? I think it's schizo..."

"Schizophrenia," supplied Rosalie.

Ginny sighed. "As much as I hate her, I still hope she will be cured. She focused too much on Draco; thinking that she would be the wife of Lord Malfoy. She's pure-blood and wealthy. Why would she obsess herself with him?"

"Maybe because of his looks and name. And status," replied Lavender. "She's always been a materialistic person. She cares a lot of what others would think about her. She saw Malfoy as a perfect, pure-blood wizard who's every pure-blood girl's fantasy."

Ginny made a vomiting sound. "I wasn't one of them!"

Lav chuckled. "I know, because there was only one wizard for you. Someone with raven-black messy hair, round spectacles and a lightning bolt scar on his forehead."

"Excuse me! There is only one wizard for me. But I love him for who he is, not for being the Boy Who Lived."

Lavender chuckled. "Good girl. Even if you're head over heels with Harry since you were what? Ten? You didn't end up in Janus Thickey Ward when he left you."

"Because I love my family. I imagined how Mum and Dad would react if they saw me half-dead just because of young love. Imagine, Mum would probably blame herself and she would think she failed as a mother. She would think that the love she gave us wasn't enough. Imagine my brothers. They would probably hunt Harry down and kill him even before Voldemort could."

"That was so selfless of you, Gin. You always think of your loved ones," said Rosalie affectionately.

"Well, I just thought that, even my parents couldn't give everything we want, they did their best to raise us properly and continued to love is despite our flaws. Letting yourself fall is such a poor way to repay them."

"That's my girl!" came Harry's voice.

"Harry!" squealed Ginny happily.

She heard Harry greet Isabella and the girl greeted him unhappily.

"Where's Mione?" asked Harry.

"Making out with Ced, I guess," said Ginny with a giggle. "They've been in their room for like eight hours now."

"You could've just told me that she's with him in their room. No need to tell me the details," groaned Harry. "She's my sister, you know."

Hermione and Ced laughed.

"I think it's time we go down," suggested Ced with an amused look on his face. She nodded with a smile and made themselves presentable to meet their family and friends.

Ginny and Lav giggled. "But, Harry, we all know that she's still a virgin! Those two had been madly, deeply in love with each other since 1991, but they won't cross line until they're married."

"Now, now, Ginny, best friends don't embarrass each other," she said as they entered the kitchen.

Ginny's face lit up upon seeing her and Ced and wore a playful smirk. "Oh, but it's a maid of honour's duty to say something embarrassing about the bride."

Hermione saw Bella cringe at what Ginny said. She shook her head and smiled. "Who says you'd be my maid of honour? For all I know, we're allowed to have a man of honour and in my case, it'd be Harry," she teased.

Ginny pouted and her friends laughed, but they were interrupted when someone cleared their throat. Hermione gave Isabella a quizzical look.

"Bella," greeted Ced casually. His arm was wrapped around Hermione's waist. "I see, Alice asked you a favour."

Isabella raised her head, acting like she was an important person. "Yes. She had a vision about Victoria's attack on Sunday at Mr. Olympus."

Hermione heard several gasps. "Edward, tell us everything," demanded Rosalie.

Ced stared at Isabella and the silly girl blushed. Hermione shook her head inwardly for she could hear Isabella screaming his love and longing for Cedric.

After a few minutes, Cedric nodded to Isabella. "Thank you, Bella. I heard the details. We will contact Jasper and I am sure, Harry and Ron are willing to help for they are trained Aurors - that's policemen in our world. Can you please ask Jacob if he and his pack could meet my family near the Treaty line?" He sounded so polite and friendly.

Isabella blushed even more and nodded. "I'm... I'm going to tell Alice and Jake. Thank you. I better go."

"Let me walk you," Ced offered before giving he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

She stayed in the kitchen with her friends and joined the conversation, but she couldn't help listening to Ced and Bella's conversation.

"Thank you for coming here, Bella. I appreciate it," came Ced's friendly tone.

"Anything for you," replied Isabella without any hesitation.

"How are you and Jacob? I hope he's treating you right?" asked Ced with a hint of concern.

"He does. But you know how I feel about him. About you."

Ced sighed. "Bella, I hope you're not using Jacob to make me jealous."

"Is it working?"

Hermione snorted. What a bitch!

"Honestly, no," replied Ced promptly. "Bella, have you learned anything from the things you saw in the Pensieve?"

Nothing.

"I thought you want to be a better friend? To Jacob? I thought you care for him?"

"I do! That's why I'm giving him a chance," Isabella replied and her voice was shaking. "But it doesn't mean that I'm over you."

"Bella, Jacob and his pack are loyal and protective. Like dogs, they're loyal. But they can be your worst nightmare once you hurt them," said Cedric calmly. "Please, don't hurt Jacob. Don't use him. Have you seen Emily Young's scarred face? It was Sam Uley's doing because he got mad while he was in his wolf form."

"But they love each other..."

"I think it happened before the imprinting. Bella, my point is, don't get too physical with Jacob. Time will come, he'd have to leave you for his true mate. Don't give him something you can't take back and you don't love him like that."

"Why do you care?" she snapped. "This is my life. You... You don't care about me anymore so stop. Just stop."

"Bella, if I don't care about you anymore, I won't protect you against Victoria. Hell. I might've fed you to her."

"But you... You don't care about my feelings."

"No, Bella. YOU don't care about my feelings. You are being too selfish. Why can't you let go?" Ced sounded hurt. "Why can't you accept - "

"Because you're the only one that I want! Can't you see how much I love you? If that Granger girl can't give you something... I can give it to you!"

Ced snorted. "So that's why you were imagining me while Jacob was touching you? You disgust me, Bella. Please go home before you could embarrass yourself more."

"You cannot stop me from doing what I want. My body, my rules. If you really care about me, you'd prove it. You'd come back to me," said Isabella stubbornly.

"What a crazy girl," commented Rosalie beside Ced. "And here I was thinking that you're a gentleman."

"Bella's too stubborn. I need to say it straight to her face. She's not like any other girl who would get what you want to say once you gave clues. Bella needs to hear it."

"What an obsessed girl. I still hate Alice for bringing her in the family."

"Rose, stop it. That's not a good thing to say," came Esme's stern voice.

Rosalie didn't say anything and she appeared in the kitchen again with Ced.

"So, let's plan for Sunday?" asked Harry, breaking the silence.

Hermione nodded. "Yes."

"Yes," seconded Ced who stood beside her and pulled her close to him.