A new story! I'm so excited, mainly because this has been hanging around in my head for a while and it may be the first long, long fic I actually will attempt to finish. So…..yeah. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own this fandom, fabulous as it is.

Review and tell me what you think?

Chapter 1: The Proposal

Diagon Alley was packed. Shoppers scurried about their business, not managing to avoid the occasional brush of a shoulder, or accidental impact of a body. Some of them stopped to talk to the friends they glimpsed on their way, and some of them strode quickly to their destination, eyes trained on the ground, never pausing to look up.

It was a fine day, Hermione mused, watching it all. As if she had anything better to do. Currently stuck in a shop selling Quidditch supplies as Ron spoke to the wizard behind the counter, she fidgeted quietly, wishing more than anything to be in Flourish and Blotts which was conveniently opposite.

As she tried to observe the books in the window from afar, she wondered why Ron had took her to Diagon Alley today. Aside from the fact that he had literally dragged her up at the crack of dawn, they were in need of nothing.

He knew that she could easily transfigure one of his socks into literally anything he needed almost as well as he knew the fact that she was a late riser during the weekends. Psh. It was fair to say that Hermione was rather annoyed. It was written all over her face.

Hermione glanced back at Ron, who was gesturing animatedly with his hands as he spoke to the wizard which was smiling and nodding. He didn't bother to look at what she was doing. And he knew that she did not really like Quidditch, even if she hadn't said it outright.

Hermione went to the Quidditch matches during Hogwarts only when called by Harry or Ron, normally preferring to return to the deserted library and do some reading. On the occasions that she did, though, her eyes were usually trained on the Slytherin seeker, a fact that both of her best friends never noticed.

Oh, it didn't really matter. She had harboured a crush on him for most of her teenage years, and it only grew when he matured into the man that he was today, no longer prejudiced and a prat. Suffice to say, she had only ever saw pictures of him in the Daily Prophet articles that reported his many conquests or his successful company, Malfoy Industries after the final battle.

Dating Ron had helped to lessen the crush a little bit, but it still flamed inside her whenever someone spoke of him. She knew it wasn't right to be with one man when her heart clearly belonged to another, but she couldn't help it.

After the initial rush of their relationship, she had realized that she and Ron, well, weren't really suited to each other. Even though she remained faithful to him, her feelings towards him had started to become cold, no longer there.

She didn't like to way he eyed other witches when he thought she wasn't looking, or that he seemed to love fame more than he valued her. She hated that he degraded her to insult her in the best way possible. They constantly argued with each other, and the fact that she was in Diagon Alley this day reinforced the fact that he didn't understand her.

Hermione huffed. What could they be possibly talking about for so long? She decided to take action. She walked over to the chatting pair.

She stood beside Ron and smiled sweetly at the wizard. The wizard glanced at her briefly before continuing to chat with Ron, who hadn't noticed her presence. She tapped her foot against the floor impatiently.

Ron paused to look at her and raise his eyebrows. She scowled angrily at him. He seemed to get the message, anyhow, and straightened up. They said their goodbyes, and Ron winked at the wizard as though they shared a secret.

Hermione didn't have time to think over his mysterious behaviour, though, as Ron was already walking her towards the door. She hissed lowly at him.

"What were you even talking about for so long? Nothing is so important, even if it is about the Chudley Cannons." It would do well for him to remember that she didn't take well to being ignored.

Ron didn't seem to realize his mistake. He spoke back at her angrily. "I actually have important things to do with my many good friends. I'm not like you, not knowing anything but to read and work all day. You wouldn't even have friends if it weren't for Harry and me."

Hermione stopped, rage bubbling up inside her. She wanted to contradict his statement so badly that it hurt. She also wanted to break down and cry, for he had abused a sensitive part of her soul. It was true, she didn't have many friends. She preferred to have a small, close company of people she could trust around her after the Battle of Hogwarts.

But she couldn't do anything in front of the shoppers of Diagon Alley, who whispered and pointed as they went past. Ron smiled smugly at them, then at her. She wanted to slap that smirk right off his ugly face.

As she went to turn into Flourish and Blotts, she was yanked back by the arm. She turned furiously to see Ron's face. She was about to scream at him when he pulled her back into the middle of the street as people started to gather around them.

The unthinkable happened.

Ron got down on one knee, removing a small box from his pocket as he did so. Hermione's rage evaporated completely to be replaced by pure, numb shock as she realized what was happening.

Ron opened the box to reveal a thick gold band with three large rubies on it. Hermione didn't like it at the least.

"Will you marry me, Hermione?"

She flinched away from him as she noticed flashes of cameras around them. The wizard Ron was speaking to for so long inside the shop also held a camera among the many reporters, taking pictures. So this was what they were planning.

"Ron… I don't think-"

"Hermione, please. After all we've been through. I've done so much for you. I love you, Hermione. Marry me, please." Ron said pleadingly. She knew it was all a façade, though. All for the newspapers.

She had tried. What could she do?

"Okay."

Ron got up and slipped the ring on her finger. It was heavy. It left Hermione wondering what she had gotten herself into now.

As she left Diagon Alley amidst the crowd of chasing reporters, she didn't notice the pair of dark silver eyes that were following her every movement from afar.

Oh, Hermione. His time will come. Next chapter, we will see what transpires!