After a few months of dating, Draco pulled Hermione to the beach where they had met again. It was a special place for them, and he needed somewhere special for what he was planning.
"Draco, it's too cold for the beach," Hermione protested as he pulled her onto the sand.
"Come on," he said. "This will only take a minute."
"Draco. What will take a minute? You're in a suit. Which I know isn't exactly unusual behavior for you, but I'm in a dress. What are we doing?" She was rambling as she followed him, incredibly grateful that she had chosen flats that day instead of heels.
"Just trust me," he said as he continued down the sand.
"I do trust you Draco." Hermione nearly tumbled into him when he stopped. "I'm still dating you after all. I just wish you would tell me what we're doing here when it's not the right time of year to be at the beach."
Draco took a deep breath. This was it. The moment of truth.
"Hermione, I love you," he said.
"I love you too, but that doesn't have anything to do with this place."
"Actually it does," Draco said. "This was where we met again. And this is where we kept meeting, until I finally asked you out."
"And what does that have to do with now?" Hermione asked.
Draco smiled. "I'll explain if you let me finish."
"Sorry." Hermione blushed. She should know better. Draco had a point, and would probably get there faster if she didn't interrupt him.
"I love you. I'm so glad that I ran into you on this beach," he said. "But I'm afraid I have a question for you."
Hermione couldn't help the puzzled look that came over her face. If Draco had a question, he should have just asked it. Instead of dragging her out to the beach in the middle of winter.
Draco knelt down, taking a hold of Hermione's hands.
"I never thought we'd be here. I never thought a chance meeting would bring us back time and time again. But I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Will you marry me?"
Tears prickled in Hermione's eyes. She hadn't expected that. Especially not so soon. But she wasn't about to trade it for the world.
"Yes," she said bending down to kiss him. "I'd like nothing more."
They stood, brushing the sand from their clothes. Thankfully the sand had been dry where they were, so it wasn't sticking to them in clumps.
"I was under the impression that there was supposed to be a ring with a proposal," Hermione teased.
Draco reached in his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. "I have one. But I didn't want to let go of you." He squeezed her hand.
"You never have to let me go."