Hermione continued to stare at Remus, shocked into silence. Remus opened his mouth to prompt her out of her daydream which was when it happened. A dollop of mashed potato landed on Remus' head. He jumped, just as a missile of more potato was thrown his way. Hermione looked around the great hall in distress, who was doing this to her Remus? For his part Remus stayed on one knee, still holding Hermione's hand. "My love?" He persisted, ignoring the mashed potato in his hair. Hermione reached over to the table and picked up a napkin. She wiped away the remnants of mashed potato from his face and hair and kissed his forehead.
"Of course, Remus." She smiled, giggling when he spun her around. A spattering of applause broke out from those who knew Hermione well and the teachers, the remaining students sat in shock at the bizarre coupling playing out in front of them.
It was Draco who started the chant, Hermione knew that much. His cold, sneering voice rang out clearly through the hall. "Pervert!" Beside him Crabbe and Goyle guffawed and copied him. Before long all of Slytherin were joining in, accompanied by a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. The entire Gryffindor table glowered at the other three houses. Among them Hermione could see Luna and Cho trying to stop their friends from joining in, Cho looking particularly close to tears.
Suddenly Remus froze and fell backwards on the floor. Hermione's eyes widened and she ducked to his side. Luna appeared at her side. "It looks like a full body bind. We should get him away from here, nifflers love nibbling on people in full body binds you know." Hermione nodded, not even registering what her friend was saying fully. Harry and Ron both grabbed Remus and carried him out of the room towards Madam Pomfrey's office, the women herself following them. As Hermione reached the doors her parents showed up next to her. Her mother wrapped a comforting arm around her daughter's shoulders.
"Is he going to be okay Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione was barely in the room when the question left her lips. Madam Pomfrey smiled and pointed to the bed as an answer. Remus was sitting up on the bed looking a mixture of hurt, angry and confused. However he broke into a smile as soon as he saw Hermione. She all but threw herself at him. He chuckled and held her as she whispered apologies into his chest.
When she was finished he pulled her back slightly, smiling kindly at her, "Hermione my dear how exactly is any of this your fault?" She sniffed and muttered something incoherent. Remus snorted. "Draco's buffoonery is not anything you could have prevented; it's something he has been well versed in from birth. As for the other students joining in, that is not your fault either. Some students are simply immature and when confronted with something different they react in the way you saw there." Hermione sniffed and opened her mouth to protest some more. Remus kissed her, "none of this is your fault. If anything you made it a more amazing experience because you said yes to me, I was too happy to notice Draco hexing me in the first place. I'm just glad it wasn't anything more serious."
Hermione finally gave up her protests and hugged Remus again. Then she suddenly remembered her parent's presence and turned around to confront them. "What exactly are you doing here? I thought you weren't able to be here until the day of graduation."
Hermione's mother smiled, "Well we had to tell you something, and Remus has had this planned for a while now. That's what he was talking to your father about a while ago. He was asking for our permission and for us to be there when he asked, he knew how important tradition was to you in that respect." Hermione grinned and glanced at Remus, who was blushing and suddenly seemed fixated with the floor.
"So exactly how long has this been planned?" She asked him, her natural curiosity taking over.
"Just after Harry and Ron found out about us. I contemplated asking you earlier than now, that night we discussed how they were dealing with things, but you were upset so I waited. Then there were your exams and I didn't want you to be distracted, so now seemed like the best time. I've had the ring for a while now though. Speaking of which," he reached into his pocket, "I do believe this now belongs on your finger." He pulled out an eggshell colour ring box causing Hermione and Mrs Granger to exclaim. The boys looked confused so Remus explained. "This particular box contains a Tiffany and Company's diamond ring. It's a most excellent muggle jeweller that many women desire to own something from, hence their reaction." He turned back to Hermione, opening the box up so she could see the ring properly.
Inside the box was an exquisite ring of platinum band with a clear diamond in the middle in the shape of a heart. Remus slid the ring onto her shaking hand and kissed her. "I love you future Mrs Lupin."
She grinned and kissed him back. "I love you too future husband."
