Disclaimer: LOL, like I could ever write like J. K. Rowling! Harry, Ron, Hermione, and yes, sadly, Malfoy, all belong to her!

Dedicated: This fanfic is dedicated to my girls at the Refuge:)

Little notes: Okay, okay, I stole the last line from Braveheart. LOL! Sue me:) Maybe I'll do a wedding, I haven't really come up with a good idea yet.

"Children"

Being 17 isn't easy. There's so much to think about. It's not just schoolwork either. It's more important things like-what am I going to do after this is all over? I used to think I had it all planned out. I was going to be Ministress of Magic one day. I'm not a child anymore. I can't keep having childish dreams. The fact is, I don't know what I want to do.

Children. I've been thinking about that a lot lately. I don't know if it's just because of the age I'm at, but recently my thoughts have focused on the thought of having children. I really want to. And now. I mean I know it's the proper thing to wait until after marriage, but most days I want to have them now. After all, why should I have to wait for something as special as children? But then logic comes back into play and I remember how hard it is to take care of children, let alone have them. I've never really discussed it with Ron. I don't think he knows how much I truly do want to have children. We're basically children ourselves. He'd probably laugh at me. But I don't know. Maybe he wouldn't. I mean besides, we're not even out of Hogwart's yet.

"Hermione?" Ron said, squeezing my shoulders. "Hmm?" I asked, smiling. "Want to go for a walk?" "Sure." He takes my hand and I sigh. I'm so content.

I remember back in second year. Boy did I have a crush on Ronald Weasley. Nobody could've ever gotten me to admit it. I mean, he was supposed to be one of my best friends. Wasn't there a rule somewhere that you can't date your best friend? Of course I had no idea he felt the same way about me. When he tried-and I say tried because you have to give him that much-to hex Malfoy because he called me a "Mudblood" I thought he was just being a "best" friend. After all, that's what friends are for. But in fourth year, when he became so "jealous" of my relationship with Viktor Krum. I knew. I knew that something was happening. My so-called crush was no longer a crush. I was madly in love with him. Yeah, how can someone be 14 and madly in love? That's the story of my life. When he kissed me for the first time that Christmas. That nightmare. He told me he loved me that night-that he wasn't going anywhere. He slept with me. He protected me. He gave me a locket. To let me know that Harry would be there for me always as well. And now, here I am. On a walk with the man I love. The leaves are changing. Just like my life.

"You know what I was thinking?" he asked me. "Hm?" I questioned, fluttering my eyes to meet his. "Christmas is coming. Can't you just see, a few years from now? Christmas at the Burrow. Harry and Ginny. You and me. Our children playing in the snow." My eyes grow big, "Children?" "Children." He simply states. Tears fill my eyes and I try to blink them back. "Really?" "Really." "Oh, Ron," I said. I threw my lips upon his. He kissed me back with more fervor than he had ever possessed before. "I love you Hermione. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I know we're young, but I want to marry you." The tears fall now, freely. I smile and he smiles back. "Is that a yes then?" "Aye, that's a yes." I replied.

**** "Any help here would be hot!" ~Jar Jar Binks /Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace\