"I'll make study schedule's tomorrow, we have to start soon especially if you two want to be aurors," Hermione said and she and Harry walked out side to the lake. It was their first day of their seventh year, and they had been dating each other since the end of their second. Harry who loved to converse with Hermione was quiet tonight, unable to really speak, Hermione though, had taken no notice and continued talking.
"Ron has to get his grades up in transfiguration, other wise he will be forced to drop the class, speaking of Ron, where is he? Doesn't he normally come out at this time too?" she asked looking back at the castle. Harry took a seat on the rock next to the lake, this rock had meant so much to them. It was where they had both confessed their feelings about one another, and shared their first kiss. It was where they had come every year after the battles that Harry had faced, and it was where they both felt comfortable.
"he was tired, plus I think he wanted to spend some time with Luna," Harry mustered out. Be a man, he thought. I have fought Voldemort himself, and I can't even do this? Wimp! He said as he watched Hermione turn towards the lake. She played with a small necklace Harry had given to her for her sixteenth birthday. It was a small silver bow, that she had never taken off, and did not intend to. it had been Lily's, something he had retrieved in his vault at Gringotts and knew it was the perfect gift for Hermione.
Hermione thought it impossible to love a man, more than she loved Harry. They had such a story, such a history together. True, Harry may not have been the smartest at school, or possibly even the best looking, although Hermione found that hard to believe, but Harry was the man that she loved, and he loved her. He was the man that she had been by his side, when he was at his saddest and most happy of times. She was the girl he looked to in crowds every time he caught the snitch at a Quidditch match, and she was the girl who had his heart. As much as she loved him though, she never realized how transformed their relationship had become over five years. Thinking it was only that the two had grown older, she had not said anything, not even thought anything was odd.
"I can't believe I have to share a common room with Malfoy," she cried as she remembered hearing the devastating news last night, that Malfoy was the Head Boy, as she was the Head Girl, and that they would be sharing a common room together once the room had been refurbished.
"I'll be in there as much as you want me, you can spend most of your free time in the Gryffendor common room, you'll barely have to see him," Harry comforted her, putting his arm around her shoulder. She rested his head on his shoulder.
"you're right, but the very idea makes me sick, Draco Malfoy, of all people, you're a hundred times the man he is, why couldn't have McGongigal made you head boy?" Hermione complained, but Harry didn't need to answer, they had both known why.
This was the year, they all felt it. the final battle was approaching, and it was up to Harry to save the Wizarding world. he talked about it rarely with Hermione, she tried to remain calm, but the thoughts of loosing Harry to the Dark Lord himself had proven too much for her to handle. She had never let Harry seen her worried or upset by this, for if he knew that she were, she feared he would become unfocused and it would prove fatal. Instead she had supported Harry, telling him that she would be by his side the whole time, but over the past year, she had been less and less. He wouldn't tell her when he was going out with Dumbledore the year before, he hadn't told her anything that he was doing, or how close he was to killing Voldemort, but by the long trips, Hermione knew it was soon.
What bothered her more, was that her best friend Ron, had been confessing less and less to Hermione as well. He had been Harry's right hand man, always with him, on all the trips, on all their late night's researching. He knew all that Harry did, but for some reason, probolly the same as Harry, had not told her what was going on. Pushing the thoughts out of her head, for she did not feel like worrying her self at the moment, she turned towards Harry.
"I still think you should have been head boy," she put her chin on his shoulder and took his right hand. She traced the faint scar that had been on his hand since their fifth year, since Umbridge and her midevil ways. He played with her fingers.
"its too much work," he smiled and she rolled her eyes.
"you can be such an under acehvior sometimes Harry," she said. it was the time, Harry felt it.
"Hermione," he began, hiding all stammor and shakes in his voice. He pulled something out of his pocket, but she didn't notice.
"hmm," she said looking into his eyes, she pushed some of her hair out of her eyes. over the years she had tamed it, it was still curly, but bushiness that had once covered her beauty was long gone.
"I love you," he began.
"I love you-," he put a finger to her lips and she gave him a puzzled look.
"Hermione Jane Granger, I love you like I never thought capable of loving a person. You were the one who made me want to go on, even when I thought it impossible. You were the one who was there every time I couldn't get up, when the world gets to heavy, you are the one to lighten it up. Hermione, I look into your eyes," he cupped her chin. "and I know that I can win this war, I know that I can do this, just because of your smile, and the twinkle in your eye. It gives me something to fight for." Hermione sat watching him, no idea of what he was doing. He showed her the ring box, and then he slowly opened it. she sat there with a smile of happiness and confusion on her face, tears filling in her eyes. what was happening? It was a small and subtle ring. The kind that was perfect for her. It was gold and had three diamonds on it. it sparkled in the moon light. "Hermione, will you marry me?" he asked slipping the ring onto her finger, it fit perfectly.
"Harry," she said and he wiped away a tear from her face. "I don't know what to say. I love you."
"is that a yes?" he asked he held her hand. She waited a moment.
"we're so young," she said looking down. she wanted to scream out yes, but she couldn't, something wouldn't let her.
"Hermione, the war is approaching. I need to know that once its over, regardless of who wins, regardless of what happens, that we will be together," Harry said. he enveloped her into his arms and held her close.
"Harry I love you, I will be by your side the whole time, I will be by your side after the war-," she said searching for the rest of the words to finish her sentence. She couldn't find them. Yes was at the tip of her toungue, but that's as far as it was getting.
"then say yes Hermione," he said not even realizing he was pressuring her. "I need to know that I will be with my one true love after the war." Hermione held back some tears, that were a mixture of joy and terror. She pulled away and saw a face of wonder. Harry was terrfied that she would say no, she couldn't.
"let's make it a promise," she insisted and leaned her forehead on his. "lets make it a promise ring. That after the war is over, and good has won, that yes Harry James Potter, I will marry you." She smiled and he couldn't help but smile back. They kissed passionately for a few minutes. They were staring into the eyes of their future spouse. For Harry it was the most uplifiting moment in his life that he could remember, but for Hermione, she was instantly plagued with a feeling of doubt and wonder. Something had hit her like a brick just then, but she refused to admit it.