⌗ ⌗ ⌗

After they had sneaked back into the Hospital Wing the four friends reunited, telling their tales of time-travel. Completely worn out from their adventures they all quickly crashed, falling asleep immediately.

The next morning when she woke up, Iris found a visitor sitting in the chair placed next to her bed.

"Well hey there, sleeping beauty," Cedric said quietly, grinning at Iris.

"Hey," Iris said in a groggy voice, looking around the room. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all still asleep, "What time is it?"

"Around nine. I came down as soon as I heard you were in the hospital wing. I grabbed you something to eat on the way," he said, handing her a blueberry muffin.

Iris could practically feel her mouth watering at the sight of food. She was starving after all that running around they did that last night. She sat up eagerly, swinging her legs over the side of the cot so her knees were almost touching his. Iris scooted over and patted the mattress beside her, telling him to sit there.

"Thank you so much! I said it once, and I'll say it again, you are the best," Iris said before digging into the muffin.

Cedric sat next to her, chuckling lightly at the remark. He waited for her to finish eating while they spoke quietly to one another.

Iris' eyes shifted back and forth between his, "Y'know, I've never quite felt this way before."

"What, a broken arm?"

She snorted, holding back a laugh as she was trying not to wake the others in the room, "No." Iris reached out and wrapped her small hand around his larger one, "You. I've never felt the way I do about you before... and you could have any girl you wanted --"

Cedric cut her off with a laugh causing her to look at him in disbelief, a grin pulling up her lips.

"What? You can't tell me you haven't noticed practically every girl in the castle drools over you."

He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, looking softly into her eyes with a smile, "Ever since I met you nobody else is worth thinking about.

Iris' face burned and she looked down, failing to hold back a smile. Cedric's hand reached out and lifted her head back up, both of them leaning closer to one another.

Her cheek leaned into his touch as they moved in, just about to meet...

A loud sudden snore broke through the silence of the room, startling the two as they whipped around to see what it was. They found Ron rolling over in his sleep leaving the two to groan as the moment was ruined.

"Seriously, again?" Cedric complained.

Iris giggled as he ran his hand over his face before standing.

He held his hand out to her, "Come with me. I want to show you something."

Iris looked at him with wide eyes.

"Are you kidding? Madam Pomfrey will kill me when she sees I'm gone," Iris said smiling faintly.

"Oh come on," he coaxed her, "You know you want to get out of this room."

"Well, I suppose I could just sneak away. And maybe if I hide well enough, she won't be able to find me," Iris said holding back a laugh.

Cedric shook his outstretched his hand in her face, trying to get her to take it. Iris playfully slapped it out of the way before taking it, the two then quietly creeping out of the hospital wing.

Once they were a few corridors away and were sure nobody would hear them, they started laughing.

"So, where are we going?" Iris asked, skipping backwards to look at Cedric, hand loosely intertwined with his.

"It's a surprise. Just follow me," Cedric gently pulled her along through the school and out into the front courtyard.

They ended at the edge of the Black Lake, where Cedric sat down at the water edge, pulling Iris gently down to sit next to him. She felt a great sense of peace looking out at the bright sun reflected on the rippling water.

Iris heard a shuffling noise and looked over to see Cedric taking bowls of food out of a small black bag. Iris' jaw dropped in wonder. Cedric looked at her and chuckled in amusement at the expression on her face.

"Undetectable extension charm," Cedric explained.

"Ohhhh."

Once all the food was put out, all Iris could do was look at it in amazement. There were sandwiches, cookies, a bowl of grapes, some Honeydukes candy, and a bowl of strawberries.

"Ugh... I love food," Iris said, gazing affectionately at the meal.

After they had eaten a bit, they put the rest of the food away and sat back in the short-cut grass. They stayed like that for just a moment, basking in the tranquillity of nature, then Cedric stood, standing in front of Iris. She watched in confusion, squinting as she looked up at him into the sunny sky, he held his hands out down to her and she took them, letting him pull her to her feet.

"So I suppose it's time I finally ask," Cedric started. "Will you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?"

Iris let out a light chuckle. "Why, yes, I will. Though the honour is all mine Mr Hotshot."

He reached one hand up, the other still holding Iris', and he tucked Iris' hear behind her ear, leaving his hand up by the side of her face.

"I guess it's time I do this now."

Cedric leaned down in one swift motion, Iris meeting him in the middle, as their lips finally met in a kiss.

The kiss was slow and sweet. It was everything and nothing like Iris had imagined it to be like. Everything with the two lovers seemed to click into place like the pieces of a puzzle. After what seemed like forever, they pulled apart resting their foreheads against each other eyes closed.

Iris hummed, pulling back, "Third time's a charm."

Grinning, she sat back down on the grass rolling onto her back. The long-haired brunette started pulling small wildflowers out of the grass, waiting until Cedric sat down to start talking again.

"This year sure has been crazy and hectic, hasn't it? But I don't think I would have it any other way." Iris looked at Cedric, "I mean besides there being a psychotic ex-murderer supposedly after me and my brother, I'd say this has been a pretty good year."

She sat up a second, shuffling over to place her head in Cedric's lap before grabbing her pile of wildflowers and starting to twist them together.

The two sat in a comfortable silence where Cedric played with Iris' chestnut locks while she constructed a crown out of her flowers.

Iris broke that silence asking, "So, tell me about your friends. I see you with them all the time but I haven't actually met any of them yet."

Cedric snickered, "Just needed to make sure you were really committed to this relationship before I unleashed the wild beasts on you. They've been begging for me to introduce you for weeks, but I didn't want to scare you off quite yet."

Iris laughed, "You've seen my friends right? I'm sure yours are mild compared..." She knotted another loop in her flowers, "Tell me about them."

Cedric sighed thoughtfully, "Well there's Issac, he's my best friend. And then Kasper and Maddie, well Madison, but she'll kill anyone who calls her that." He chuckled, "She's in her fourth-year right now and the boys are in fifth with me. Kasper and Maddie have been together since the end of last year."

Iris nodded, "I wish Ron and Hermione would just get together already, they obviously like each other, they just don't see it yet. I can though, a perk of being able to see into their minds."

They chatted about their friends for another few minutes until Iris finally completed her crown. When she was done her face split into a grin and her arms reached up to place it on top of Cedric's head. Cedric chuckled down at her and Iris was still grinning as she squinted at Cedric through the sun.

Then, out of nowhere Cedric started tickling Iris. Now, Iris could kill a basilisk and fight off one-hundred Dementors, but she didn't stand a chance against tickling. She pealed into a fit of giggles, squirming around trying to escape Cedric.

"Noo -- sto -- stop it -- ahah --" Iris pleaded through her laughter.

⌗ ⌗ ⌗

Meanwhile, up in Professor Lupin's office, Harry and the werewolf were chatting solemnly. 

"This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving. Parents will not want a -- someone like me -- teaching their children," Lupin told him dejectedly.

"But Dumbledore --"

"Has already risked enough on my behalf. Besides, people like me, well... let's just say I'm used to this by now. But before I go, tell me about your Patronus."

Harry leaned against the large wooden desk as the Professor packed up the last of his things, "Well. At first, I thought it was a horse, but I think it was --"

"A stag," Lupin cut him off.

Harry paused for a moment, wondering how he knew, "Yes."

Remus walked around to the other side of the desk standing in front of Harry, "Your father used to transform into one. That's how he was able to keep me company when I became... sick. He was a great friend James."

Harry frowned a bit.

Noticing it, Lupin spoke quietly, "You should be very proud of yourself after last night."

The older man observed the young son of his late friend, hesitating as he decided whether or not to say his next words.

"There is something... that I should have told you quite a while ago... but I admit, I was scared for how you would react."

Harry, intrigued, urged him on with a curious nod.

"When you and your sister were born... James and Lily made me your godfather."

He hadn't been expecting that. Harry stared at his godfather in disbelief.

"But... why didn't you take me then? After our parents died?" Harry asked confused.

Remus sighed heavily, dragging a heavy hand over his worn face, "With my condition... I didn't think it would be safe to take care of a baby, and I would never forgive myself if I separated you and Iris."

Harry slowly nodded in understanding. He couldn't imagine not growing up with Iris.

Both of their heads moved to look out the open window when a shriek of laughter was heard. They moved closer to watch as Iris finally got away from Cedric's tickling and ran away laughing just for him to catch up and wrap his arms around her waist picking her up off the grass.

"It seems your sister is enjoying herself," Remus commented on the couple, who were now standing, smiling at each other and speaking too quietly for Harry and Remus to hear from their distance.

"I suppose she is," Harry said watching his sister carefully.

He hadn't seen her this relaxed and carefree in months. She was always stressing over school, and now he knew, also Sirius. He missed seeing her happy, and hoped that next year would be easier for both of them. They severely needed a break.

⌗ ⌗ ⌗

Iris was about to tell Cedric they should head back inside when she noticed Professor Lupin leaving the castle with his suitcase and an empty tank in hand.

She turned to Cedric and said, "Stay here, I'll be right back."

He saw who she was looking at and nodded in understanding. Iris turned toward the older man, starting to walk in his direction.

"Professor Lupin!"

The man paused and turned around to wait as Iris jogged up to him.

"Where are you going?" She asked glancing at his luggage, face dropping, "You're not... leaving, are you?"

"I'm afraid I have to, Iris."

"Why?" said Iris, "The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?"

Lupin heaved out a sigh.

"No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives." He sighed. "That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of getting his revenge on Sirius hit him hard. So he -- er -- accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast."

"You're not leaving just because of that! You can't! You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had!" said Iris.

Lupin smiled wryly.

"Your brother said the same thing. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents... They will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Iris. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you... That must never happen again."

Iris realized she wouldn't be able to convince Lupin of otherwise and nodded dejectedly.

"Well, thank you for teaching this year, Professor Lupin. And for everything else you've done for me and Harry this year. I really do appreciate it."

Lupin smiled slightly. "It was my genuine pleasure, Iris, to teach for you this year. And please, I'm no longer your Professor, call me Remus."

 As he was about to turn and leave Iris said one last thing, "You told him, right?"

Iris watched sadly as Lupin gave her one last reassuring smile and turned, making his way to the Hogwarts gates.

Iris watched as he grew smaller and smaller the farther he got away and soon turned, returning back to Cedric. The two made their way back into the castle, hands tightly intertwined.

All was well.

But not for long.

⌗ ⌗ ⌗

AHHH THIRD-YEAR IS OVER!!!

sorry this took a bit longer to get out than I had planned but I ended up being busier today than I thought I would be. I had a great birthday though, and thank you all so much for all your kind messages!

love you all,

see you in fourth-year

-elle