Chapter 9
Ultimate Love and Train Rides
The weeks went by. Tests and homework kept the eight friends very busy. Snow began to fall on the ground outside. The whole outside looked like a winter wonderland. White blankets covered the mountains and hills and the tops of all the buildings were covered in white fluff.
On the Friday night before Winter Break started all eight of the friends were in the Gryffindor common room sitting in the big cushion chairs, couch, or just on the floor in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace. Harry sat with his legs wrapped around him on the chair. Ron was laying on the couch facing the fire with Hermione laying on his chest reading "Hogwarts: A History, Special Edition" taking up the rest of the couch. Directly across from Harry on the other chair sat Ginny, all curled up half asleep, reading "Potions of the 6th Year". Draco sat with his back to the chair Ginny was sitting in and Raya had her head on his shoulder with a book laid on her lap, they were both reading the same book. Harry looked up at everyone. The fire caught Ginny's hair making it seem like it was on fire, shimmering; she looked really pretty.
"It's hard to believe," Harry thought to himself, "that this is the same Ron's little sister that I had to save from Tom Riddle. The same shy little 1st year that was too timid to talk to me. Barely even getting my attention. And now all she has to do is sit there to get my attention."
There was no noise in the common room. It was completely silent. So quiet that Ron could feel Hermione jump slightly when the noise of Raya turning the page of her book reached their ears.
"Ron?" Hermione whispered as quietly as she could, so quietly Ron didn't hear her. She shifted and whispered directly in his ear, "Ron!"
"Hmm?" questioned Ron looking into her eyes. God, he loved her eyes.
"Take a walk with me," requested Hermione.
"What about Hogwarts: A History?" asked Ron.
"It can wait," said Hermione.
Ron's eyes went wide.
"What!" whispered Ron in shock.
"Shut up and just come with me," smiled Hermione.
They got up.
"Where are you going?" asked Harry, startling everyone. Ginny who had finally given in and went to sleep snapped her head up so fast Draco and Raya heard it crack.
"Out," answered Hermione and she pulled out her wand, "Accio cloak, Accio Ron's cloak."
Their cloaks floated to them. Ron put Hermione's on for her, making her blush. And then Ron took out his own wand, "Accio scarves."
Ron and Hermione's scarves floated over to them.
"See you in a little bit," said Hermione and they walked out of the portrait.
"Why did you want to take a walk?" asked Ron as they turned the corner and started descending the stairs to the lower level of Hogwarts.
"I just wanted to talk with you," answered Hermione, "we never get a chance to really be alone."
"This is perfect," Ron thought, "I've been waiting so long to get Hermione alone, all to myself."
As they reached the bottom of the stairs the turned for the door that lead outside. As they started for the door they heard a soft meow behind them and turned to see Mrs. Norris standing behind them with that cat grin on her face.
"Shove off Mrs. Norris," said Hermione, "we're Head Boy and Girl!"
Ron could have sworn that he saw Mrs. Norris frown as she turned and pranced away down the corridor.
The couple opened the doors outside and stepped into the icy bliss. They walked until they found a bench in the middle of the grounds where they could look out over the mountains.
"Ron," asked Hermione, "how long have you loved me?"
The question took Ron by surprised but then he smiled.
"Forever," said Ron, "I can't remember a time that I wasn't in love with you."
Hermione smiled.
"In fact," added Ron, smiling as well, "I think I loved you before I met you."
Hermione laughed. Not a giggle. But the kind of laugh that makes all the hurt and pain go away.
"What about you?" asked Ron.
"I loved you ever since I had a sleepover with my muggle friends from muggle school," answered Hermione, "we were talking about the perfect guy. That night I had a dream about it. I didn't know it then but I was dreaming of you."
Ron smiled and put his hand on Hermione's cheek and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
"I love you so much Hermione," stated Ron. "I always have, always you."
"Me too Ron," said Hermione.
They embraced. Hermione buried her hands in his red hair and inhaled his scent. She loved how he smelled, as stupid as it sounds. No matter what he always smelled of cinnamon and lilacs (a weird combination otherwise but on him it was perfect, like everything else about him).
Ron released her and looked at his Hermione.
"Why me?" asked Ron.
"Because Ron," said Hermione, "you are the only one that I have ever looked at that way. There have been boys that are cute. But you are the only man that looked back and saw me. Plus that lopsided grin of yours attracted me."
Ron laughed and rewarded her with a lopsided grin.
"Like that one!" laughed Hermione. "Now let's stop being so soppy, imagine if Harry could hear us!"
Ron laughed.
"I promise we can stop being soppy after you answer one question," said Ron.
"Alright," she agreed.
"Will you always love me?" asked Ron,
"Yes," said Hermione, looking at him with utter trust shining in her eyes, "Always."
"Than why wait?" asked Ron.
Hermione looked at him questioningly.
"Hermione," said Ron, "when this year is over, I want to stay with you forever. Hermione when the year is over (he paused and took a deep breath) Will you marry me?"
Hermione stared at him. Half in disbelief, half in eternal love.
"Ron," she breathed, "yes."
Ron smiled so wide that there wasn't enough room for it to be lopsided.
"Wow!" said Ron, "this is going to sound really stupid."
"No," said Hermione, "what?"
"I've had this since 6th year," said Ron.
Out of his pocket he pulled of a velvet box. Hermione let out a gasp and covered her mouth. Ron got off the bench and bent on one knee. Tears began to find their way into Hermione's eyes.
"Now let me do this the proper way," said Ron smiling up at her. "Hermione Granger will you marry me?"
"Yes," said Hermione.
He opened the box and Hermione stared in amazement. The ring was perfect. It had a white diamond heart in the center and smaller marquise diamonds on either side. The band was a brilliant white gold. Hermione gasped.
"Ron," she said quietly, she hesitated and bit her bottom lip as if debating something.
"What's wrong?" asked Ron concernedly.
"Ron," said Hermione, and her voice grew quieter, "how did you pay for this?"
"It was my Christmas spending money," said Ron, "I made your present and Harry's presents that year. I spent the money on the ring."
"Ron," said Hermione, "I don't need a ring, take it back and get your money back. Spend it on yourself. Not on me."
"You don't like it?" asked Ron the disappointment evident on his voice.
"No!" said Hermione quickly, "Ron! I Love it! It's just I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew that I had prevented you from spending your money on something you really wanted."
"This is what I really wanted Hermione," said Ron as he slipped the ring on her finger, "You're what I really want."
Hermione smiled.
"We better be getting back," said Ron and he and Hermione walked hand in hand back to the common room.
Raya woke up in the girls' dormitory to light spilling into the room. Being Saturday she didn't mind that it was late. She didn't have the curtains around her so when she propped herself up on her elbows she saw Hermione bustling around getting the last few things into her suitcases.
"Oh! Raya!" exclaimed Hermione, "you're up! You had better hurry and put the last of your things in your suitcase! The train starts boarding in a half an hour!"
Raya got up quickly and went to her large wardrobe. She dressed in muggle looking clothes and started throwing things messily into her trunk.
"More and more like Harry everyday," laughed Hermione.
After a half an hour the girls meant Ginny on the stairs and levitated their trunks down the stairs to the common room. There they saw Harry, Draco, Ron, and Neville all sitting on the couch talking and laughing with each other in the center the busy room.
"Raya," said Ginny watching them. Harry and Draco gave each other a high five when Harry and said something particularly funny, "you did that."
Ginny nodded her head towards Harry and Draco.
"Yeah," said Hermione, "that's all thanks to you."
Raya smiled and they walked down the rest of the stairs. Ron caught Hermione's eye and bounded over the couch and gave her a short sweet kiss on the lips.
"I am really getting used to that!" said Ron happily.
Hermione smiled. The girls and Ron all walked back to the couch.
"Hey!" said Draco giving Raya a hug, "thought you guys decided not to come."
"Are you kidding?" laughed Ginny, "miss out on a one in a lifetime chance to meet the famous Dursley's? Are you mad?"
They all laughed.
"So Ron?" asked Hermione, "did you remember to pack your favorite pajamas?"
"Yeah," said Ron, "I found my Chudley Cannons (pause) wait a second! You guys for the last time shut up! I just used them that once!"
"Well Ron," said Hermione smiling mischievously, "they are yours now."
"They are not," yelled Ron, "they are yours and the only reason that they even were in my room is because you left them there that night!"
The rest of the common room got quiet and looked over. A couple of 6th years all whistled out a catcall. Ron fumed.
"Not like that!" yelled Ron to the entire common room.
Everyone immediately went back to talking or doing whatever he or she was doing before.
Moments later Professor McGonagall stepped through the portrait hole.
"The train has come to the station," Professor McGonagall told the common room, "if everyone will please make their way downstairs."
She turned and walked out of the room.
"Let's go," said Harry and they all levitated their trunks and walked out of the room after McGonagall.
When the got to the hall it was bustling with students walking all around trying to get through with all of their friends. They quickly tried to find Luna. Then they saw her walking through the crowd coming toward them.
"Right here!" called Luna and walked up the stairs next to Hermione. "Hello everyone! We want to try and get a seat in the every back; some of them are twice the size and fit eight people so we can all sit together rather than two groups."
Harry hadn't realized that, or had even thought about seating, and now that he did remember he was glad that Luna had it all planned out. Maybe she really did belong in Ravenclaw.
They all made their way through the throng of students and finally got out through the Hogwarts doors.
"Walk quickly everyone," said Luna, "there is only two compartments that fit eight!"
They began to practically run and the train.
"The every back car!" shouted Luna as the whistle for the train blew.
They quickly boarded the train after someone had taken their bags. As fast as they could on the train they ran to the back and to their relief only one of the two was taken. They squeezed into the other one and locked the door.
"You don't have anything since your Head Boy and Girl right?" asked Harry, remembering how lonely he had felt on the trip to Hogwarts his fifth year.
"No Harry," said Hermione, "I already told you that was just because it was our first time. We only need to go if we think that someone is acting suspicious or something.
Harry sighed in relief.
Then moments later the train started with a lurch.
They all took their seats. Luna, Neville, Harry, and Ginny on one side. Ron, Hermione, Raya, and Draco on the other.
As the train sped on they all listened as Harry told them stories of the dreaded Dursley's.
"So then," continued Harry about a half an hour in to the train ride, "the picture falls out of my scrapbook I keep of all my friends and Dudley picks in up and says, 'Wow! This girl is hot!' and Ron practically jumps him!
Ron smiled. Harry had changed the story a little. He didn't want Ginny to know that he carried a picture of her around in the pocket of his robes.
Finally the trolley lady came over to their compartment and knocked on the door. Ron practically tripped to get to the door he was in such a hurry.
"Anything off the trolley dears?" asked the trolley lady.
"Yes please!" said Ron in a rush and looked over at Harry pleadingly.
"Yeah," said Harry laughing and pulled a bunch of money from his pocket and bought two of everything.
"Yes!" cried Ron happily when he shut the door again.
"I swear Ronald Weasley," said Hermione jokingly, "I think you love the trolley lady more than me!"
"I think she's taken!" joked Ron, "Besides I didn't propose to her, only you."
The rest of the compartment stared.
"You what!" cried Ginny.
Ron and Hermione stared at each other.
"You didn't tell anyone," they both exclaimed at the same time.
"No!" they both shouted at the same time.
"Great," the both groaned at the same time, slapping their foreheads at the same time as well.
"And when were you planning on telling us?" asked Harry. "You guys are getting married! That's pretty big! Were you really going to keep it a secret from me? Us?
"We never intended for it to be a secret," said Hermione, "we just never felt that it was the right time. Please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad," Harry sighed, "Its just! Wow! Married! My Ron and my Hermione."
Hermione smiled and gave Harry a quick peck on the lips.
"This is going to take some getting used to," said Harry happily, "but in a good way."
"I'm gonna be Hermione's sister!" cried Ginny happily!
Everybody laughed, including Ginny.
Raya stood up on gave Ron a hug.
"Congratulations," she whispered.
"You're the best," said Ron and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I know," joked Raya and when she walked over to Hermione.
"Hermione!" squealed Raya and instead of giving her a hug the did some sort of weird handshake.
"What was that?" asked Draco laughing.
"A secret handshake with all the girls," said Raya.
"They have a handshake?" asked Ron and then he turned to Draco and said more quiet, "Why don't we have a handshake."
"Cause that's what girls do," answered Draco, "but of course Ron we know you're a "Hot chick" so we know you want one."
So the seating order changed places. Neville and Harry were pushed the side and Ginny and Luna sat next to each other and Raya and Hermione pushed Draco and Ron to the side so they sat next to each other, though Ron looked about ready to pummel Draco for his Hot Chick comment. Then Raya and Hermione began describing Muggle music to Ginny and Luna.
"Leave it to them to make us go over here while they all talk over there!" said Ron throwing up his hands and slapping them on his legs.
"It's just muggle music," said Draco.
"Well if they like it so much we can go to a muggle store while we're at the Dursley's," said Harry.
"Yeah," said Ron, "I got an idea. What if we all got each other muggle presents this year. That way it would be different than all the other years. Plus I could get my dad a muggle gift. He would flip!"
"Cool!" said Neville, "yeah let's do that. I could also buy my gram something."
"Yeah," said Harry, "but were would be convert our wizarding money into muggle money?"
"Isn't that a banks job?" asked Ron.
"I can't walk into a muggle bank and say, 'Yes can I have the muggle currency in exchange for my wizarding currency.' Yeah that's really keeping the wizard world secret."
"We could ask somebody," suggested Draco, "I bet a lot of people here go home and need muggle money."
The rest of the train ride was spent talking about music, talking about plans to go to the malls and shop, or planning pranks to play on the Dursley's.
Then the train finally came to a halt.
"We're here!" cried Ginny jumping up on her seat and hitting her head on the top of the compartment.
"Whoa! Ginny! Calm Down! Are you okay?" everyone asked different questions.
"Yeah," said Ginny standing up holding her head with her hand, "I'm okay."
They walked off the train.
"We have to get that compartment again!" said Harry.
Then he stared. Over in the corner he saw a black dog looking over at him he cocked his head just like Sirius. Harry thought maybe this was Sirius. He was about to go over to the dog when an older wizard yelled, "Midnight! Here boy!" The dog bounded over to the other wizard and Harry saw the new student, Shahlaa, board off the train and hug the dog.
"You saw him for a second there didn't you?" said a voice behind him.
He turned to see Raya staring at the dog.
"It looked like Padfoot didn't it," said Raya finally tearing her eyes away from the dog to look at Harry, her eyes blue and intense.
She took his hand.
"C'mon," said Raya, "it doesn't sit well with my heart to look at that dog."
Raya slowly dragged along Harry until he looked away and walked towards his friends who had been talking with a familiar looking figure.
"Harry!" cried Hermione, "its Oliver!"
"Oliver Wood!" cried Harry and he gave his former Quidditch captain a hug.
"Harry!" said Oliver, "how's Quidditch going?"
"He is still the greatest seeker to pass through the Hogwarts doors since the first of the Weasley children!" Ron boasted about his friend.
"That's good to hear!" said Oliver, "and I hear that you, Ginny, have been made a chaser!"
"A pretty good one if I do say so myself," said Ginny.
"Harry?" asked Oliver, "introduce me."
He motioned towards Raya.
"Oh! Sorry!" stumbled Harry, "Oliver this is my sister Raya."
"Your sister!" said Oliver, "I didn't know you had a sister."
"Neither did he before this year," said Raya, and she extended her hand for a handshake.
"Well it's a pleasure to meet you," said Oliver, "do you like Quidditch?"
"Yes," said Raya, "I try to follow it as closely as I can. Who's your favorite team?"
"I would have to say the Wasps," answered Oliver, "and yours?"
"By far the Chudley Cannons," said Raya, "but they need a better keeper. Hensley hasn't been keeping up his keeper skills, he would make a better seeker. He is the one that always seems to see the snitch first. And their seeker, Brimfield, should be their keeper. He has a very good catch and block reflexes."
Ron looked at her in pure love.
"I knew I liked her!" said Ron to Harry then he went up to Raya, "you like the Cannons?"
"Of course," said Raya, "it's the team I've always supported."
"I love them!" said Ron, "I think we should write a letter telling them to switch the players. I've thought they needed to switch for a while!"
Raya and Ron began talking about the Cannons.
"I have to be going," said Oliver, waving over to an older looking wizard that looked very much like Oliver, must be his father.
"It was nice seeing you again Oliver," said Harry.
"You'll see me again!" said Oliver, "I'm going back to teach flying at Hogwarts. And monitor the Quidditch matches. Bye!"
"Bye!" they all called as he ran to catch up with his father.
Then Harry turned to the rest of his friends.
"Let's go through the wall," said Harry, "the Dursley's won't do it."
One by one they all went through the barrier between the two train stations and worlds. As Raya, the last to go through the hole, emerged Harry called her over. She walked over to see three people coming up the walk towards them. One very large man, one very large boy, and one skinny pale woman.
"Harry," said the very large man, Uncle Vernon, in a voice dripping with distaste. "You and your friends follow me."
The follow the Dursleys outside and the all climbed in the back of the car. There wasn't much room so Raya, Draco, and Ron wound up sitting in back.
"So Harry," said Dudley, "I see your back with your freak friends."
"We are not freaks!" said Ginny.
"You're the girl from Harry's picture!" said Dudley.
"That I am! Harry told me all about the incident!" said Ginny and she tossed her head to look out the window.
"So Harry," said Aunt Petunia, trying her best to pretend to care "tell me your friends names."
"This is Ginny," said Harry pointing at Ginny, "and you know Ron."
Mrs. Dursley grimaced remembering her living room again.
"And this is Neville," said Harry, Neville waved quietly, "and this is Luna."
Luna smiled pleasantly.
"This is Draco," said Harry, "and this is my sister Raya."
Uncle Vernon swerved to the side of the road and slammed on the breaks so hard that everyone felt that their necks were going to snap.
"This is why I prefer broom travel," said Ron loudly in complaint.
"Your what?" asked Uncle Vernon turning around.
"I'm his sister," said Raya, "Raya Lily Potter."
Aunt Petunia spun around.
"Lily never told me that she had two children," she said.
"Yes," said Raya, "she had twins."
Uncle Vernon looked forward again, started the car again and continued to drive.
"Well," Harry whispered to Raya, "that went better than I thought it would."
Please tell me what you think! I love your comments! Lots of funny stuff to come!
