Chapter 423: Memories, like honey

By the time the party ended and they returned home, it was already evening.

After graduation, it had been a while since they'd gathered like this, and Hermione was still quite happy.

She lay on the sofa, let out a long sigh, and stared blankly at the ceiling.

John also sat beside her and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Just thinking, time really flies...

In the blink of an eye, everyone's pretty much settled down and started careers.

Hermione snuggled into John's embrace, lay on his leg, and sighed.

Then she suddenly cupped John's face, looking left and right, and couldn't help laughing.

Just a few years ago you were still a little brat shorter than me.

How did you become my fiancé in the blink of an eye?

Have you been scheming against me for a long time?

John chuckled and scratched her face.

Who's scheming against whom?

It wasn't you who, as soon as you arrived, declared yourself my senior sister, and in front of Professor McGonagall, patted your chest promising to look after me.

Hearing this, Hermione's face flushed slightly.

Back then I wasn't thinking much; I just thought it was strange that someone could actually make Professor McGonagall concerned.

And we ended up like this, even though you were the one who first invited me to spend Christmas at your house.

Hermione was still making excuses, but John wouldn't indulge her and continued.

It wasn't you who invited me first; I actually refused, but then your parents were busy with work and didn't come back, so I kindly took you in.

Later, it was you who took my hand first—do you dare say you weren't scheming against me?

Hearing John's words, Hermione's face reddened further, and she reached out to gently pinch his cheek.

Back then I wasn't afraid you'd get lost...

And... and it was you, this jerk, who first forcibly kissed me.

Hermione complained, her face red.

There was no forced kiss—you had your eyes closed and were enjoying it then.

No way!

Yes there was—I know whether I kissed you or not.

Hermione, annoyed and embarrassed, patted John's chest.

Then she continued accusing: "That makes you an irresponsible jerk."

"After kissing me, you didn't even confess, just silently dragging things out."

Hearing this accusation, John also felt a bit embarrassed.

Because he really hadn't confessed at the time.

"Well, that wasn't the first time—I had a bit of a brain fog..."

"And besides, at the later dance, we went to the garden, and you took advantage of my inattention to kiss me again."

"You didn't make your stance clear either—you're a jerk too."

Hermione immediately blushed again and protested: "No, that's different! I was overcome with feeling and couldn't hold back!"

"You make it sound like I'm not the same!"

The two went back and forth like this, neither willing to admit who first fell for the other.

Finally, Hermione buried her face in John's embrace and mumbled, "So when did you start scheming against me?"

John stroked his chin, recalling.

"You suddenly asking me this makes it a bit hard to think of."

"We gradually ended up together; if I had to pinpoint a moment, it was probably the second half of first year."

"You were poring over documents day and night for the Buckbeak case, wearing yourself out."

"I felt inexplicably sorry for you, so I took you to the garden to rest; you ended up leaning on me and fell asleep, sleeping until curfew."

"After waking up, we still held hands going back, escorted you to the Gryffindor Common Room, and bid each other good night."

"Around that time, I realized I might have fallen for you."

"That's why, at that time, I couldn't help wanting to take care of you more, to make you less tired, to spend more time with you..."

Listening to John's plain yet sincere description, Hermione's cheeks turned red.

After hearing it, still embarrassed, she snuggled further into his embrace.

"I thought you only started liking me in second year when a rival appeared."

Hermione's voice remained muffled.

That rival was naturally Krum; the guy, as soon as he arrived at Hogwarts, showed a different attitude toward Hermione.

Then John, without even realizing it himself, displayed intense possessiveness toward Hermione.

"He, at most, was just a catalyst..."

"If it weren't for him, I might have really gone through a period of indecision..."

John chuckled lightly, then turned the question to Hermione: "And you—when did you start scheming against me?"

"Um......"

Hearing this question, Hermione became even more embarrassed.

Because she clearly knew the moment she first developed feelings for John.

Although it wasn't obvious then, that was the true turning point for them getting together.

To be precise, their relationship was actually initiated by her.

Actually.... it was also when you were in your first year, but earlier than you...

It was that time when Kruk Mountain kept catching Banban, and then Ron made me cry.

You were worried about me, searched the whole castle for me, and finally found me at Hagrid's Hut.

Seeing you drenched in sweat, clearly exhausted, yet still looking for me and then showing that "I found you, great" expression, my heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Then I realized, I seemed to see you not just as a junior needing care......

Now it was John's turn to be surprised.

I never expected Hermione to have such different thoughts about me this early.

At that time, John still remembered it quite clearly.

Back then, his relationship with Hermione wasn't really close; it was only because of Professor McGonagall that they had some interaction.

He would go look for Hermione entirely because, earlier, when he had a conflict with Professor Snape, Hermione helped him find Professor McGonagall to back him up.

Then, seeing Hermione made to cry by Ron, and reminded by Luna-sister, he remembered to repay this favor.

As a result, he never expected that this search would end up dragging him in as well.

"Nananana, you say you didn't fall first, but clearly you were the one scheming against me." John pinched her cheeks.

"I was literally a first-year student back then; how could you scheme against a child?"

"I'm only in third year, I'm still a child too!" Hermione retorted, blushing.

"Besides, your behavior back then wasn't at all childlike... looking at you, you actually seemed more mature than me...

This is no nonsense, I'm a reborn.

John silently complained in his heart, but said aloud: "That's not the reason you like shota, Miss Hermione."

"You... you're talking nonsense!" Hermione's face turned even redder, and she lightly punched him.

Then, as if remembering something, she questioned him.

"You dare say you had no feelings for me back then?"

"After you came to find me, you ate one of Hagrid's Bogeyworm Stews and ended up in the school infirmary."

"I was taking care of you then, fell asleep beside your bed."

"You secretly stroked my head and said... you said I was really cute...."

Hermione described that scene, and he naturally remembered it as well.

"Oh, so you were pretending to sleep to entrap me." John immediately turned the tables.

"I wasn't pretending to sleep; I was woken up by you stroking my head!" Hermione hurriedly defended, her voice growing softer.

However, Hermione's words really made John recall more past events.

Back then, he indeed had a different feeling toward Hermione.

But at the time he only thought he was living a second life, immersed in youthful vigor, and occasionally felt a hint of affection for this smart, kind, and strong-willed girl, never deeply considering what it meant.

As a result, later on.

Hermione often sought him out, and he greatly enjoyed spending time with her.

"Hiss......"

Could it be that I'm really a lolicon?

He quickly shook his head, tossing that dangerous thought away.

Then he rebutted Hermione again.

"Even if I had feelings for you back then, it wasn't earlier than you."

"At least I was a few hours later than you."

"As expected, it was still you who first schemed against me."

Hermione's face turned red as a ripe apple, yet she stubbornly lifted her head and glared at him: "So what!"

"I am scheming against you, what are you going to do, bite me?" she said, deliberately leaning in, showing a "what can you do to me" expression.

John couldn't take this stimulation; he cupped the back of her head, pulled her close, and lowered his head to kiss her.

"Mmm!... Hmm..."

Hermione first blinked in surprise, then closed her eyes, her hands unconsciously climbing onto his shoulders.

This kiss lasted a long time; with lips and teeth intertwined, it was nothing but a confession and response of their years of mutual affection.

Until they were both somewhat out of breath did they part.

Hermione's eyelashes trembled lightly, her cheeks flushed crimson.

She once again buried her face in John's neck crook, murmuring softly: "You... you're cheating..."

John held the little person in his arms, greedily tightening his embrace.

"So what? Anyway, you're already mine." John whispered in her ear, his voice tinged with a smile.

Hermione's ear tips were completely red, yet she couldn't help but rub against him in his arms, like a spoiled little cat.

"John......"

"Back then, you being able to come find me was really great."

"Being able to like you was also really great."

"... Being able to be with you is truly——great."

Hermione finally stopped hiding her feelings, curled up in John's arms, her voice muffled as she confessed her liking for him.

Hearing Hermione's these unguarded confessions, John's heart felt as if it had been violently struck, soft yet scorching.

He lowered his head, his lips lightly touching her crown, his voice low and gentle: "Me too."

Just as they were immersed in their deep affection.

Kruk Mountain leisurely jumped onto the sofa, squeezed between the two, and let out an dissatisfied "meow".

It seemed to be protesting that they were being affectionate without bringing it.

Upon seeing Kruk Mountain, both couldn't help but laugh.

"Speaking of which, our fate seems to have been brought about by Big Orange," Hermione laughed softly.

"That's right." John nodded.

That afternoon many years ago, the two's destinies were quietly intertwined because of this orange cat.

That day the boy helped an orange cat, and the girl, because of that orange cat, noticed that unusual boy.

From then on, their story had a beginning.

Big Orange, as if knowing what they were saying, proudly flicked its tail.

"Back then, was it Big Orange that led me to you?"

"Really? I was curious back then—how did you say Kruk Mountain brought you here?"

After sharing their hearts, they completely opened up and chatted about more past events.

John also shared his experience in full detail.

"Hmm, back then I searched the whole castle for you, thinking, 'Your feet move so fast, you disappeared in no time.'"

"Later I was about to give up, but Big Orange suddenly appeared, meowing at me to signal me to follow."

"And then I followed it all the way to Hagrid's Hut."

"You know, back then I didn't even know Hagrid, so I never thought of that place."

Hermione couldn't help laughing upon hearing that, and immediately picked up Kruk Mountain.

"Mmm, good kitty, it wasn't in vain to dote on you~"

"And you even knew to bring me a good husband back." Hermione kissed Kruk Mountain's forehead, then lifted her eyes to John, her eyes full of smiles.

Hearing Hermione's address, John blinked slightly, momentarily at a loss for a reaction.

His heart skipped a beat, thinking he had misheard.

Although they were already engaged.

but they had never formally called each other "husband" and "wife".

Even the so-called "fiancé" and "fiancée" were rarely spoken, only occasionally used to tease each other.

Now hearing Hermione say it so naturally, he felt inexplicably.

His heart raced, his ears slightly heated.

Seeing John's appearance, Hermione first froze.

Then, as if discovering a new continent, her eyes lit up.

"Oh dear, is our John shy?" Hermione deliberately leaned in, her voice tinged with mischievous amusement.

"Nothing of the sort." John affectedly cleared his throat to appear calm.

Seeing him like that, Hermione laughed even more, deliberately leaning to his ear to repeat those two words again.

"Husband~?"

John's body instantly trembled.

Seeing this, Hermione smiled even more triumphantly, like a little cat that had stolen a fish.

Then John glared at her annoyed, reached out and gently pinched her cheek: "I've noticed you're getting bolder and bolder."

Hermione didn't dodge or avoid; instead she lifted her face, eyes sparkling as she looked at him: "That's still because you indulge me."

Having said that, she once again wrapped her arms around John's neck.

She lightly pressed a kiss to the corner of John's mouth.

"Shouldn't you also call me something?" Hermione looked expectant and sly.

John looked at her sparkling eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he finally gave in.

He lowered his head, leaned to her ear, his voice low and hoarse yet with a hint of solemnity: "... Wife."

Hermione instantly felt what John felt, as if scalded, her whole body shrinking into his embrace, burying her face in his chest, she murmured in reply: "Mm."

Feeling the soft, fragrant presence in his arms.

John finally couldn't take it anymore.

He straightaway stood up, scooped Hermione into a horizontal hold, and strode toward the bedroom.

Kruk Mountain was startled by John's movement, nimbly leapt from Hermione's arms, landed steadily on the windowsill, flicked its tail, wearing an expression that said "I knew this would happen."

Hermione let out a startled cry, instinctively wrapping her arms around John's neck, her cheeks flushing: "What are you doing?"

John fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Again, an inch."

Hermione:?

The next moment she also understood John's meaning, her face flushing completely red.

This time Hermione didn't resist, merely burying her face in the crook of John's neck.

In such a passionate atmosphere, she thought ending it would be too late.

Or rather, she didn't want to end it either.