TILL DEATH DO US APART
Chapter 1- Three's A Crowd
Hermione couldn't believe it as she looked out the window at the lively green landscape contrasting with the dark, gray sky. How had their seventh year come so fast? She remembered the first time she met him. How young and naïve she had been when she stumbled into his compartment. What had she said? Oh yes, "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one." She had not realized what she had stumbled upon. She saw the two boys sitting there, a red haired boy and...him, the boy who lived, none other than the famous Harry Potter, who was currently sitting along side her aboard the Hogwarts Express. They were alone in their compartment.

He was currently attempting to pull her closer for a kiss, but she was resisting him. Her excuse was, "I need to go over this information before we reach Hogwarts. Give me fifteen more minutes!"

"Oh I see how it is!" he told her jokingly and pulled out The Standard Book of Spells Grade Seven. She turned to him and smiled. He smiled back even wider. They were so happy. Nothing could ever keep them apart.

Fifteen minutes later Hermione put her book down and Harry immediately followed suit. She had just begun to snuggle in close to Harry when they heard the compartment door slide open.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you two love birds," Ron told them surpressing a giggle. "I'll just be two compartments down if you need anything." They told him goodbye and he left.

"Now where were we?" Harry asked with a grin. They began to pick up where they had left off; Harry stroked Hermione's hair softly. Hermione gently reached over and removed Harry's glasses. They were nose to nose and both giggled. Harry turned his head to kiss her and—

"Hey, you don't mind if I stay in here, do you? Ron has been teasing me and I haven't talked to you guys in a while," Ginny said as she entered.

Harry opened his mouth to say no, but Hermione nudged Harry and said, "Of course we don't!" By then everyone knew of Harry and Hermione's relationship. Let's just say, not all of the girls were as happy about it as Hermione was. Ginny had seemed very depressed the last time Hermione saw her, but it seemed she was taking the news quite well by now. Hermione was not about to turn Ginny away.

"Harry what have you been up to this summer?" Ginny inquired.

"Um, stuff," Harry told her. He was obviously still annoyed with her intrusion.

"Oh Harry! You're so funny!" Ginny said hysterically laughing at this comment. Harry stared at Hermione with a look of anger on his face. Was Hermione just being sensitive, or was Ginny actually flirting with Harry? It didn't matter because just then Ron, Neville, Parvati, and Lavender came bursting in laughing. Ron had apparently told them what he interrupted earlier, which they found very amusing.

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Classes soon began and everything slowed down to their normal hustle and bustle. Harry and Hermione were spending a great deal of time together, much in the library to Harry's displeasure, but they promised themselves they would not let Ron slip away as a friend.

Hermione looked at the gold ring on her finger and then at Harry, who was engaged in a conversation about Quidditch with Ron. It was less then a year ago that Harry had given her the ring, and made her promise that one day they would get married. If he asked her now, she would have hopped up and dashed to the nearest church. She knew that it would not be the wisest choice though, her and Harry still being in school and all.

"I don't see why everyone is so fascinated in Quidditch!" Hermione told them. She was frustrated because they were keeping her from being able to concentrate on her homework.

"Does that mean you're going to stop coming to my games?" Harry inquired.

"Have I ever missed one of your games before?" Hermione replied with a smile and said, "Come here, you!" Harry walked over and picked her up as he hugged her. He swung her around as they laughed.

Ron turned to Lavender, who was sitting beside him and said, "Oh Lavender!" in a mocking tone as she threw her arms around him. He picked her up dramatically and they soon collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles from imitating Harry and Hermione.

"Have I missed anything?" Ginny said as she walked nonchalantly into the room. She seemed to be sporting her new hairdo that looked like she would soon be going to a banquet with royalty. Her hair was done up into an elegant looking bun with small twists and curls.

"Where are you off to?" Ron asked casually.

"Oh, I just thought that I would try a new charm I found in the Witch Weekly," she seemed to slyly reply.

"That's nice Ginny, you can leave now," Ron retorted.

"That's no way to treat your cute little sister!" she said playfully as she sat smack dab inbetween Hermione and Harry on the couch they had just sat down on. Hermione glanced at Harry looking very annoyed and said, "I'm really tired, so I think I'll call it a night." Harry soon said, "I'll come with you to make sure you're protected from trolls and Snapes on your way." The rest laughed and bid them goodnight. Well, almost all. Ginny looked as though she had bit into a lemon and showed them a forced smile.

Hermione was the first one to enter her dormitory that night with Harry, so they both sat down on the bed. "What's going on with Ginny?" Harry asked Hermione. "I have no idea, I'm just as puzzled as you are. But it seems like she has gained some new self-confidence, which is good for her," Hermione told him. "But not good for us," Harry said, pulling her closer.

"Nothing could ever come between us. Till death do us apart." They sat there and talked for an hour before Hermione realized how late it was. "I better get changed for bed, turn around," she said. He turned around and they continued talking as she changed and afterwards she joined Harry sitting on the bed. Her speech became slower and slower as she felt she was drifting off onto Harry's shoulder.

Harry finally agreed to let Hermione have her sleep when she fell completely asleep on his shoulder and began to drool. He lifted her up and lay her down under her covers. She pulled them up close to her chin as he tucked her in around the sides. He leaned over hoping for a nice kiss and she playfully gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey!" he said. "You call that a kiss?" She pulled him over and gave him a long passionate kiss goodnight. Harry left with a dazed look on his face and Hermione fell asleep immediately.