Chapter Eleven
Hermione looked up at sirius, her expression unclear. "Sirius…" Hermione started in shock. "You don't have to answer now. I know it's only been a few months of us actually dating and i know that we said we would take our time, so i am not expecting an answer from you now. Take as long as you like, just not so long that i'll be in azkaban before you answer." he said quickly with a slight smile. He wrapped the box up in her hands, pushing it towards her.
"Sirius, it feels so complicated…" She said "I know, i'm sorry i should have waited, it should have been more romantic" he said slumping down on the ground. "Oh no Sirius! It's not that at all. It's just a lot to take in. We have known each other for years. Others will just find it a bit sudden that's all." Hermione said sitting next to him.
Sirius knew what she meant, and loved her for being so open with him. "I will promise you this, i will keep it and i will wear it on a necklace. When the time comes, i will give you my answer. Is that okay?" she asked him.
Sirius smiled and kissed her deeply. "Of course"
"I haven't told anyone that i was proposing, Hermione. I wanted it just between us. I knew...that you might say no" He said quietly looking out at the shimmering water of the black lake. Hermione responded "It's just a hard situation. I hope you understand. We should get back inside, James and Remus asked if i could help them study remember? You should be studying too" She mentioned pointedly. Sirius smiled Sheepishly. He stood and helped her to her feet. Walking hand in hand, they made their way to the Library.
The end of year exams had rolled around quickly. Due to having the same timetables, Hermione and Lily had been studying like crazy together. In their breaks, they usually talked about their career choices. Today, however, hermione thought she saw Lily blush as James walked past. 'Could it finally be happening? How long for?' Hermione grinned and Lily looked at her book trying to ignore the question that would follow "So Lily, hows your love life? I talked about Sirius and I many times these last few weeks. What about you? Anyone noteworthy?" She pried. Lily blushed but denied everything.
"Nope, I haven't had the time with all this studying."She stated. "I seem to remember you having to miss a couple last week due to having a stomach bug." Hermione said pointedly. Her blush deepened. "Okay! You caught me" lily burst with happiness and spoke behind their mountain of books in a hushed voice "I've sort of been seeing James in secret. You know how Remus spent his christmas break with his parents in guam...and Sirius spent his here with you?" Hermione nodded
"Well I ran into James and his family when we went to the White mountain National forest for the Ski season. We were staying in lodgings on the mountain. Turns out James and his family own a set of the ski lodgings and were staying one street over from us." Lily stated.
"So i guess, you ended up getting to know James quite well while you were there?" Hermione asked. "Yeah, i didn't really have much of a choice in the matter but he got to me and we got quite close. I told him i wanted to keep it between us until after we graduated."
"I wondered why he has been so happy since he came back!"Hermione pointed out smartly, only to be hushed by lily. "Sorry, so when are you going to make it official? Doesn't it annoy you that you can't go on dates in public?" Hermione urged. Lily sighed and nodded. "But i need to focus on my studies or i won't be able to be a healer." She said. Hermione's eyes saddened and she turned to lily.
"Trust me when i say, you need to live while you can. You are the smartest witch i know, you can afford to have a few Es on your grade sheet. Please trust me on this. Spend as much time as you can loving james, don't deny it, its written all over your face." Hermione smiled. She knew she wasn't meant to meddle with time but this was going to be for the best in the long run.
Lily smiled widely, closing her books and spelling them back into her tote. "You're right." she said before walking over to the table James was sitting at with Remus and Sirius. She Grabbed James by the collar and kissed him. Hermione laughed at the confused look on sirius' face as James went from shocked and melted into the kiss from his girlfriend. Sirius howled with excitement and punched James in the arm in congradulations when lily let him go.
"What was that about, Lily? I thought you wanted to keep it a secret until we graduated" James said with a slight blush in his cheeks as lily sat next to him. "I realised that I have been studying most of my life and i want to enjoy the last month of school. In order to do that i want to be able to enjoy our relationship, rather than hiding behind books all the time and lying to our friends."
"Who are you and what have you done with Lily Evans" James said jokingly. Lily smacked him on the arm playfully. They both stood up and walked with their totes on their backs, hand in hand out of the library.
Hermione watched them leave. Maybe she should follow her own advice. Maybe there are more important things in life than books and grades. It had been a two months since Sirius had asked her to marry her and she hadn't given it much thought until now.
She noticed Sirius looking at her with a loving smile, which she returned. Slowly she reached into her top and grabbed out the chain around her neck holding her beautiful engagement ring. Undoing the clasp, she slipped the ring off and stared at it for what felt like an eternity.
Sirius was holding his breath. Was she going to give it back to him?
