You Don't Have To...
"Ah. It seems you have created yet another horribly twisted potion that will not give nightmares to a single creature in this world, let alone give it pleasant dreams! Why I bet anyone who was stupid enough to drink such a foul potion as this wouldn't sleep at all, their stomachs wouldn't allow it!" Yelled Prof. Severus Snape at poor Neville.
It was the last period of the day and everyone was tired. I mean Neville would have messed up the Dark Dreams Potion anyway, but he made more mistakes because he was so worn out. The Gryffindors had spent the better part of their day running around Hogsmeade trying to finish up their Christmas Shopping. Harry had gotten sweets for Hermione as well as the special edition copy of A Masters Guide to Transfiguration. For Ron he had gotten a large poster of the Chudley Cannons and a complete set of jet-black gobstones that squirt acid at you if you lose. He was confident that his friends would have liked whatever he picked out for them, but he had wanted to make this Christmas special. Especially for Hermione. Harry wasn't sure why, but his feelings around Hermione had really changed since last Christmas. He had started wanting to impress her and make her happy. Harry had a dreadful feeling of what he was starting to feel and do, but he didn't want to think of it, so he pushed those thoughts as far back as he could into his mind. Instead he concentrated on what Prof. Snape was saying. Something about how Neville had added the Ravens Feathers too late so they didn't completely boil. Whatever! Just then the bell rang, Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't think he could hold out listening to Snape yell at Neville for another ten minutes. He hurried to catch up with Hermione who had rushed on ahead. "Wait a second Herms! I want to show you something!" he called out.
Harry took a deep breath. He had been waiting for this. He had spent nearly all of his time at Hogsmeade to find this and had spent over 30 Galleons on it, but it would all be worth it when he would see the look on Hermione's face. Hermione stopped and headed back. Harry pulled her into a spare classroom and motioned for her to sit down in one of the desks. "Is this going to take long, Harry? I don't want to miss any of Arithmancy." Said Hermione, she acted worried, but Harry saw in her eyes that she wanted to stay.
"No, it won't take long." He lied quickly, "Listen, um, I've been wanting to talk to you. There are a few things I wanted to say, but I was too embarrassed to. See, um, I really, really like you..." Harry stumbled here, he was blushing bright red, but he pressed on, "I really like you and I...I got you something."
Harry couldn't look Hermione in the face, instead he pulled out a small, crimson box. It was tied with gold ribbon and had a tiny card attached. Harry placed it on her desk and fled the room. Hermione hesitated, what if this was all a trick, and Harry was just playing at her! She didn't think she could stand another prank like that! Oh, well, it couldn't hurt to open it... she thought, praying that the box wouldn't contain rubber snakes or bugs. She carefully untied the ribbon and opened the box. There, lying innocently on a bed of silk, lay a diamond ring. Hermione gasped. Harry couldn't want to go that far! I mean they were only in their second year! Harry and Hermione had been going out for ages, but the thought of, well you know, had never entered her mind! Hermione shut the case delicately and quietly stood up. Just then a small piece of paper dropped to the floor. The note! Hermione snatched it up quickly. She opened it and read the dark, loopy script. You don't have to say yes...