Surprise, Surprise

Ok, Luna's kind of OOC in this chapter, but I thought that Hermione wasn't at a point where she could talk to Ginny or anything because of the whole Ron fiasco, so Luna's acting in a way you might expect Ginny to act.


A week had passed since Harry and Hermione had decided upon the name of their child, and everything was pretty normal. Hermione lapsed into depression now and again, overwhelmed with guilt at the fact that their son had died. This depression was most present when she noticed her stomach begin to shrink a little bit from the loss of the other baby, and also when a bit of blood would leak out from the miscarriage. But Harry was always there to keep her spirits up.

One fine March day, March 17th to be precise, Harry called up Neville and Luna, and told them of a plan he was forming, a HUGE surprise for Hermione. They were all for it, and promised to help in any way they could.


"Hermione, I'm going to go get some groceries," Harry called from downstairs, pulling on his jacket.

"I just went out yesterday to do that, though," Hermione called back, confused.

"Well, we haven't any…cucumbers."

"Cucumbers."

"Yes."

There was a long silence.

"Well, you best be off then," she called. "Oh, and Luna's coming over. We're going to do makeovers!"

Harry grinned as he opened the door. "Perfect. I'll see you later, love!"

"Don't be long!" she called.

The door slammed.


A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Merlin, Harry! What did you forget this time?" she yelled as she walked downstairs to the front door, one hand supporting her stomach.

She opened the door and gasped in surprise. "Luna! You're early."

She smiled. "I thought you might want to get a head start on the makeover."

"Well, come in then!" Hermione exclaimed.

Luna walked down the entry hall slowly, taking in every aspect of the home. Hermione noticed her change in attitude, and exclaimed, "Why, Luna, you haven't been here before! I forgot!"

"It's just that so much has been happening in the past 2 years," she continued, "I completely forgot to invite you over since I moved in."

"It's very nice," Luna said dreamily. "You should come and see me and Nev's place sometime."

They climbed up the stairs, Hermione breathing heavily. "Goodness, this baby's heavy!"

Luna smiled. "I knew you were pregnant! I knew you weren't just gaining weight."

"I never told you?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't need you to tell me. The nargles told me. And anyway, we haven't talked since you moved in with Ronald."

Hermione paled at mention of his name, but simply said, "I've just been very busy, that's all."

They reached the doorway and entered Harry and Hermione's bedroom.

"Come on, then," Hermione said, all thoughts of Ron thereby banished from her mind. "It's makeover time!"


Just outside of his house, Harry rushed down the block and around the corner, to where Luna and Neville were waiting in their car, hidden from Hermione's view by bushes and trees. "Let's go!" he said. Luna quickly got out and began walking briskly down the street to their house. Harry got in the car, taking her seat, and Neville began to drive off.

"So, Harry, where are we going?" Neville asked.

"The café where I first brought Hermione after she showed up at my house."

"Ok," Neville said, continuing to drive. "So, how's this gonna play out?"

"I booked the restaurant so it was just us two. And I sent the restaurant all the pictures I have of us together, so they can cover the walls with them. And I'm having them make her favorite, Whipped Hot Chocolate Crème Brulee." (A/N: I just had this at a restaurant the other day and it was delicious, so I decided I'd have this be Hermione's favorite dessert too. I also have no idea how to spell Brulee.)

"That sounds nice," Neville said, pulling into the parking lot. "You…have the…"

"Yeah. I've got it."

"Good," Neville said, and then grinned sheepishly. "When I tried to…you know…to Luna, I… well, I forgot it."

Harry burst out laughing. "You went to propose to Luna, and forgot the RING?" Classic Neville, he thought.

"Don't laugh," Neville murmured, parking the car.


"Hermione, I've finished. You can look now!"

Hermione turned around and looked in the mirror. "Oh my…Luna!"

Hermione's curled hair was pulled back into a bun that managed to look carefree and elegant at the same time. Her lips were soft and light pink, with a bit of gloss and shine. There was a bit of blush on her cheeks, giving her face a nice glow, and the light eye shadow and eyeliner brought out her beautiful brown eyes. Nothing too intense, but she still looked very pretty.

"I knew you would like it," Luna said, smiling. "Now, what about we go out for some coffee or something? Baby must be hungry by now."

"But what about your makeover?"

"I'll be fine," Luna said. "But I'm about to die of hunger. Those damn nargles…"

Hermione didn't ask.

"I should probably get dressed," she said. "After all, I am going out in public. And seeing people, as much as I don't really want to." (A/N: actual quote from one of my friends. We're so anti-social…)

"Well, come on then, let's pick out your outfit! We can't have you going around town with that glorious makeup but with only sweats on, now can we?"

"Sure we can," Hermione grumbled. "I'm pregnant, if you hadn't noticed. I can wear whatever I want."

But she allowed Luna to rummage through her drawers and closet to find a suitable outfit.

Finally, Luna said, "Put this on."

Hermione stared.

It was her prettiest maternity shirt, a flowy white one with flowers on it. But it didn't look nearly as tacky as it sounded.

The pants were black yoga pants that accentuated her curves, but were not so tight that the baby was squashed.

And Luna had even chosen the perfect shoes: White ballet flats with small black bows.

"Luna, you will never cease to surprise me," Hermione said. "I had no idea you were so into style and makeup; you never seemed to care much for either at Hogwarts!"

"It all comes with growing up, I suppose," Luna replied. "Now, hurry up and get dressed! My stomach can't wait much longer."


Harry entered the café, exceedingly aware of the box in his coat pocket. It was barely 2 inches by 2 inches, but it seemed so much bigger at that moment.

The café owner was just sweeping up, preparing for Harry's arrival. "Oh, you must be Mr. Potter! And where's the lucky girl?"

"She'll be here any minute," he said excitedly. "Is everything ready?"

"Oh yes," the woman said, "everything's in order." She gestured to the walls with a flourish of her hand. "Just look!"

Harry spun around to look at the large, previously blank wall behind him. It was now no longer blank, but covered in all the photos he'd sent in.

"This is great," he said, smiling. "Now, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Oh, no, sweetheart. You just sit right down and wait for her. I'll just go check on the dessert."

And so, Harry sat, squirming with anticipation. He got more and more impatient as time passed, and his nervousness swelled until it was almost spilling out of his throat.


Hermione started out the door, a jubilant Luna beside her. Something was way off about how Luna had been acting since she arrived, but Hermione decided not to let it worry her too much. After all, perhaps it was just the nargles, whatever they were.

There was a car waiting for them, Neville at the driver's seat. "You called Neville?" Hermione asked. "You didn't have to do that. I have a car."

"It's alright," Luna said. "He was headed this way anyhow." But in reality, Neville had come straight there after he had dropped Harry off at the café. Neville the Chauffeur, he thought to himself as the girls got in. Has a nice ring to it.

"Where to, ladies?" he asked, as if he didn't already know.

"The café, just a few blocks away. You can't miss it," Hermione said.

"You know," she commented, "Harry took me there on our first…date."

Luna was grinning profusely in the front seat, but her head was facing forward so Hermione wouldn't see.

"Oh did he now?" Neville said, humoring her.

"Yes. In fact, I think he was going to take me here tonight."

Now, the whole front of the car was silent. Hermione rambled on about Harry and how wonderful he was until the car pulled into the parking lot of the café.

"We're here already? That was fast," Hermione remarked as she made to leave the car. "Luna? Aren't you coming?"

"Oh, you go on ahead and grab a table. I just have to talk to Nev really quickly."

Hermione nodded and heaved herself out of the car, and proceeded to waddle to the door of the café.

Once the pair was satisfied that she'd gone inside, they pulled out and drove away, speculating about what would happen.


Hermione pushed open the door to the Café a la Rue (A/N: French makes everything sound fancy, even "Café on the Street." Direct translation) and gasped when she saw a familiar face seated at one of the tables.

"Well, you look beautiful," he said, grinning like a 5 year old.

"Harry, what are you doing here? I thought you went shopping for cucumbers!"

"I decided to surprise you. I thought you and Luna might want to come here."

"Well, you thought right," she said, pulling out the chair to sit. "Speaking of which, where IS Luna?"

"Oh, I'm sure she'll be coming along. But, I did take the liberty of ordering for you."

"That's good. Rosie's hungry," Hermione said, rubbing her stomach where her daughter resided. "What did you order?"

Just then, the owner came out, holding a bowl of Whipped Hot Chocolate Crème Brulee.

"My favorite!" she squealed. "Thank you!" She leaned over the table and kissed him on the cheek, and then began to ravenously devour the chocolately goodness.

"Oh, this is HEAVEN," she moaned.

Harry fidgeted nervously and reached his hand into his coat pocket. He felt his fingers close around the velvet box, and he pulled it out and slipped it into his jeans pocket. Harry looked up just as Hermione wolfed down the last of the dessert and leaned back, smiling blissfully. "That was delicious."

"That was 3 minutes."

She grinned sheepishly. "Eating for two."

"Well, erm…LOOK AT THE WALL!"

"What?"

Harry flushed red. That was the stupidest thing he'd said in years. But Hermione didn't notice, as she had indeed turned to the wall. She gasped.

"Harry, did you do this?"

He nodded.

She stood and walked over to the wall to examine the pictures further.

There were many that were taken at Hogwarts, and a few taken otherwise. There was one of the two of them eating cake at Neville and Luna's wedding at the same table. This was before they got together. Another was of them dancing, where they were she didn't know. And finally, right in the middle, was the torn-out half picture of her and Harry that Ron had defaced.

Only, this time, there were no horrid words written on it, no broken hearts drawn in pen. Just her and Harry, laughing together like they had in simpler times.

A tear ran down her cheek. She turned around to tell Harry how much she loved it…

And there he was, down on one knee, a small velvet box in his hand. A diamond glinted from its depths.

Hermione was speechless. Her mouth dropped open, and she started to cry. Silently, though, not wailing or sobbing. The tears just slipped out of the corners of her eyes and made their way down their face, in no hurry to fall.

"Hermione, I have known you for most of my life. You are my best friend and only love, and I don't know where I would be without you. You believed in me when others did not, you were always there when I needed someone, and, well, you're carrying my child!"

She smiled a bit, but never stopped crying.

"You are my savior. I couldn't imagine my life without you. So, I must ask you…"

"Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"

She nodded furiously, unable to form words, until finally she managed to squeak out,

"Yes! Yes, of course I'll marry you!"

And with that she rushed forward, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him like she never kissed him before.


I'm a big fan of when I put "in no hurry to fall" in the first chapter, when she had the awful flashbacks, and here, during the happiest moment of her life.

Well, probably aside from her daughter being born.

But that hasn't happened yet, so this'll have to do.

Sorry this took so long to get put up. I have a disease called Challenge-addiction-itis, which I acquired shortly after discovering the magical world of forums, and it really takes a toll on a writer who has a long story and fans waiting for it to be finished.

I'm SORRRRRRRY!

Anyway, you should read those stories too. (Totally not self-promoting here…but it's my story, so I guess I can do that here.)

I hope this shall appease you until I can get the next chapters up. 2 left, I think. And THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL!

YAYSTERS!

~justaclassicgirl