Chapter One: The Beginning of the Rest

It was a fairly mild day in August and Hermione, now 21 and well on her way with a spectacular job in the Daily Prophet, was busily

making her bed when she heard a knock at the door.

"Coming," she called out as she quickly finished folding the blanket neatly and set it on the bed.

She quickly rushed to the door and slowly turned the door knob and saw an especially smiley Ron.

"Oh! Hi, Ron!" Hermione said as she stood aside as she let Ron in.

"Good afternoon love," Ron replied as he kissed Hermione softly on the cheek.

"What brings you over here?… I thought we were going out later…" Hermione asked, slightly confused.

"I know. I know," Ron taunted in a rather childish voice, "but I just couldn't wait to see you."

Hermione blushed, which made Ron smile. "So I was thinking about the two of us going by the lake," Ron finished.

She simply agreed, taking Ron's hand as they both walked out of her borrow, leaving her chores and cares behind.

When they reached the lake, Hermione was absolutely in awe. "Wow," she said, "this is beautiful."

"Yes, but no where near as beautiful as you," Ron responded sweetly, making Hermione smile & blush once again.

As they continued to walk, Ron cherished the moments in which he held that satin-smooth hand in his.

He loved looking at the twinkle in her chocolate-brown eyes.

He loved everything about her. Then and there, it struck him.

This was the woman that he wanted to be with for the rest of his life. Hermione was the woman for him.

"Uhh.. Hermione?" Ron asked nervously, his voice beginning to crack.

"Yes, Ron." Hermione replied in a slight giggle.

"I love you… so much," he said, looking deep into those unforgettable, indescribable, innocent eyes of hers,

"And I want to prove it to you…"

Half hesitant, Ron went down on one knee. He was so nervous, his whole body felt numb. Not to mention his legs.

Hermione was shocked. So shocked in fact, that she constantly had to try and catch her breath as she listen to

Ron stumble over his words.

"Hermione Jane Granger," Ron began, trying not to studder, "will you marry me?"

Hermione started to cry tears of joy as she struggled to say the answer that would bring happiness

and joy for the rest of her and Ron's lives.

"Yes Ron, I will marry you," she answered with all of her heart.

Ron slid a beautiful diamond ring on Hermione's ring finger as he gently pulled the love if his life into a tender kiss.

Hermione's glossy lips felt like heaven against Ron's. After years, the magic & fire was still there.

That's how Ron knew that she was the one.

When they broke apart, they both smiled. This was the beginning of forever; The beginning of the rest of their lives.

Hermione walked into her flat in a daze. Asking herself questions such as Did this really just happen? and Am I dreaming?

She just had to get it all out. She needed to write her feelings down. Drown herself in paper like she used to when she was a child.

Then she remembered her diary. That red and gold colored diary that she used to never let go of.

It had to be around here somewhere. "Aha!" Hermione said aloud in a type of self-triumph.

She smiled to herself as she turned pages until she finally flipped to the first page that she wrote in that diary.

It read:

Dear Diary,

Today was my first day at Hogwarts. It was the most wonderful day and I met the most wonderful boy, his name is Ronald Weasley. He's cute, i'll admit that. But incredibly unaware of his surrounding. Maybe I should help him. I doubt that he's red Hogwarts, A History. Oh! And Cecily met a boy too. And you won't believe this, his name is Harry Potter!

Yes, the boy who lived...Harry Potter! I can tell, even this early, that they like for each other. you should see the way that he looks & smiles at her. He's not that bad looking either.

Going onto another subject... I hate to say it, but I think Cecily's secret will be found out sooner or later.

I mean, the sorting hat almost put Cecily in Slytherin! Harry's even beginning to catch on. H'es quite the cunning one.

Oh… and speaking of the little devil... I better go... Harry wants to ask me something.

Goodnight!

Look at how far Ron and her had come from then. She couldn't believe that this day had finally come after all these years of loving Ronald dearly.

And Cecily. My, how she missed that girl. Harry, too. They were all the best of friends in school. But oddly, haven't spoke in years. All because of a stupid fight that Ron and Harry had the last week of their last school year. Hermione remembered it well.

They were in the common room. All four of them. Cecily was in her silky pajamas, her infamous blonde hair trailing down to her shoulders. Harry was in a grey tanktop with plaid-style pajama bottoms. Ron was wearing an orange 'Chudley Cannons' tshirt with pajama bottoms similar to Harry's. Hermione, herself, was in a peach colored nightgown that went down just below her knees.

Just as if it were yesterday, the memories had played in her head like a movie. Harry had just accused Ron of cheating in their last quidditch match. After all, Harry was the captain. Ron, of course, would not stand for it. He defended himself. Which resulted in the decision to never talk again. And that's exactly what happened. They didn't talk. Once. Even at the graduation party.

Still, Hermione took a pen and began to write a letter to Cecily.

Dear Cecily,

It's been ages since I've talked to you and I just wanted to see how you were doing; with Harry and all.

You won't believe what just happened!! Ron proposed!!

It was so romantic. The sun was setting when he asked and everything! Oh I still can't believe it!! I'll be

Hermione Weasley!! And it's all thanks to you and what you did back on school. Please write back as soon

as you are able to. I'll be looking forward to it!

Hermione

She called her newest owl, Nutmeg, and strapped the letter to the brown colored owl's leg and said, "Take this directly to Cecily."

And with those words said, the owl flew off in a heart beat.

Hermione plopped on her bed and laid there, dazed, not even thinking at the moment, just laying there.

Like a thoughtless body. She felt as light as a feather. Nothing could bring her down today. Nothing.

Mrs. Hermione Weasley Hermione thought after a while in the depths and privacy of her mind I like the sound of that.

She looked at the beautiful diamond ring on her finger and muttered "Mrs. Hermione Weasley," again and again until the sound of the wind blowing through the trees lulled her to sleep.