Hello my fellow Romione shippers!

So, that JK Rowling, aye? I can't say I was too pleased to hear the news (quite offended and feeling betrayed to be more precise) and it took me a few days, but I've recovered from my emotional trauma. Henceforth, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to everyone who knows what's what, because Romione's Canon! I understand that people ship Harmony and I respect them for their decisions though I do not agree with them.

Anyway, enough with the heavy stuff. Time for the proposal, and I think it's pretty good, if I may say so myself. Then again, I haven't slept in 24 hours and I've been writing for the last five… but I'll let you decide!

Chapter 25 – A Hundred Words

Hermione's POV (June, 2000)

"Thank you," I told the waitress as she set the large platter of dessert in front of us. It was anything and everything a person could ever want; vanilla ice cream cake with chocolate frosting dribbled with caramel and hot fudge coating, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. Ron's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. I grinned at him and picked up my fork. "What do you think, can we finish it?"

He nodded eagerly, taking a large forkful and stuffing it into his mouth. "With time and patience, anything is possible," he said in a wise tone I would usually consider uncharacteristic to him. He took another heaping mouthful. "Want the cherry?" he mumbled around it, struggling not to spit as he spoke.

I rolled my eyes, telling myself it would do no good to chastise him over his poor manners even though we were at my favorite fancy Muggle restaurant. "Yes," I said as I picked the cherry from the top and gracefully set it in my mouth, rolling my tongue around it and sucking the pulp off to leave the pit unburdened. I smoothly pulled the remnants out of my mouth by the stem and set it on my napkin. Returning my attention back to the dessert and Ron, I realized he had already worked a fourth of a way through the monstrosity. "Ron!" I yelped. "Slow down! You're going to get a head ache!"

"Worth it."

I blinked at him, slightly irritated. "I want some, too!"

"Go on, no one's stopping you."

So that's how he wanted to be. Fine, I could play along with that. I shoveled a rather large bite onto my fork and shoved it in my mouth, knowing it would take a lot more than that to catch up with him. I ate swiftly and was rewarded on my third bite with brain freeze. "Argh! No, not worth it," I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. Ron laughed across the table and I scowled, attempting to appear offended. As the freezing pain subsided, I looked back up to where Ron was smirking smugly at me. Not thinking too much, I did the first thing that came to mind and ran my finger through the cream, leaning over and smearing it on his nose. It was humorous, how ridiculous he looked – dressed up in his fancy suit with whipped cream on his nose. I leaned back and crossed my arms, satisfied. "You have cream on your nose, by the way, did you know?" I giggled, pointing at my own nose. "Right there."

Ron gave me a fake angry glare as he used his napkin to wipe his nose clean. "You're the one to speak," he scoffed, dipping his index finger straight into the dessert in a most uncivilized manner. "When you have ooey gooey stuff on your nose!"

I didn't try to dodge the 'ooey gooey stuff', knowing it could have resulted in a sticky mess if I attempted to do so. "So very mature of you, Ron," I snorted, grabbing my napkin to clean myself of the sticky mess. "It's nice to know how grown-up my boyfriend is."

"Well, I am pretty grown-up," Ron said, his voice suddenly taking a serious edge. "Y'know how I can be mature and responsible at times, right?"

I nodded, pushing the vacuum incident of '99 out of my head. "Of course, Ron, we've both matured a lot over the last few years. Otherwise I'm positive that we would have broken up a few months into our relationship." I tilted my head at him, curious as to why he'd been slightly put-off by the maturity comment. "Don't you agree?"

"Yes," he responded quickly, taking another bite of the dessert which he now had fixed in an intent gaze. "I believe that we've done a great job with our relationship so far, what about you? I mean, we don't fight all too often, we make a pretty good salary, we've got a small house, what do you think?"

"I agree," I said. "We are on fair living conditions and you don't destroy the house all too often. If you ask me, that's a good life right there." I smiled at him, hoping to calm the tension he seemed to be experiencing.

It worked. He nodded happily, setting his fork down on the edge of the plate and beaming up at me widely. "Well, I'm stuffed," he said. "The rest is yours if you want it." He motioned to the gargantuan mass of food, only half way eaten through.

"Er… I think I'll have to pass."

We got the bill from the waitress. Ron found the correct amount of money to pay for the meal without me having to aid him too much and we left. We walked out of the restaurant and down the street in comfortable silence (apart from people and cars and everyday whatnot). The sky was dark, illuminated by the streetlights shining above in a surprisingly beautiful way. I entwined my arm in his, pulling our bodies together and enjoying the feeling of him at my side. I briefly leaned my head against his shoulder, allowing myself to inhale his subtly sweet scent; untainted by the strong smell of cologne so it was purely 'Ron'.

"'Mione," Ron said quietly as we walked, "where do you see us going from here?"

I lifted my head and glanced at his profile. He was gazing sternly ahead, his face set in a stony, serious expression. "All the way," I answered honestly, knowing I had nothing to hide from him. We'd had this discussion before. "Marriage, a family, that. A normal, happy life with children that won't have to fear for their lives, thanks to the world we've created. Why do you ask?"

Ron turned to me, a stiff grin tugging at the edges of his lips. "No reason," he said in a voice that contained more of a smile than his face. "Just thinking ahead." He slowed our pace to nearly a stop, glancing down an alley way. "I believe this is our stop," he said in a way that told me he was trying to change the subject.

"Indeed, it is." We entered the dark alley and I pulled out my wand. Once we made sure no Muggles were in sight or earshot, we quickly Apparated home to our front porch. I countered the wards protecting our house and we entered, wasting no time to get out of our fancy Muggle restaurant clothes. It was about 9:30 on Saturday night; not too late to fit in a bit of relaxing before bed.

Ron changed into his shorts and a Chudley Canon's tee while I pulled on a pair of shorts and one of his old, well-worn T-shirts that I wore to bed. While I had my own pajamas, his clothes were comfier and they smelled like him.

I seated myself on the couch, reading The History of the Ministry – A Complete Guide to the Laws of Wizarding Kind. It was a long, detailed book explaining all laws proposed, passed, and vetoed by the Ministry of Magic. I figured it would help me in my career if I read it thoroughly.

"That book again?" Ron asked, taking the spot beside me. I grunted, not looking away from the page I was reading. "You've been reading the same book all week. Don't you want a little… I don't know, variety? Something new? I'm sure it wouldn't kill you to put that down for a few minutes and look at this. I bought it special for you."

Intrigued, I glanced over at him. He was wearing a sly grin as he offered me a gift-wrapped present, thought it was obviously a book beneath the wrapping paper, complete with a large bow on top. Putting in my bookmark, I set the law book on the table beside the couch and gave him my full attention. He breamed triumphantly. "Happy two-year anniversary," he said, handing me the present.

I rolled my eyes. "That was last week," I reminded him.

"I know."

He definitely knew. After I had given him a gift he had claimed that he was still working on my gift as opposed to forgetting our relationship's anniversary altogether. It had been a short-lived row followed up by the promise to take me on a romantic date to the cinemas and my favorite Muggle restaurant, henceforth the date earlier that night.

I neatly tore the paper, folding it to a square and setting it on my law book as I inspected the new book. "A Hundred Words," I read. "Author, Anonymous." I glanced at Ron, confused. "What's this supposed to be?"

Ron shifted, obviously excited. "Open it up," he said. "I think you'll find why I chose it pretty quickly."

Questioning his intents, I opened to the first page. It was an article. "Alohomora," I read aloud. "The Unlocking Charm; counter to Colloportus. Hand movement: backward 'S'. Uses: Opening doors, chests, and other various locked items." I looked up at Ron, slightly curious now. "What's this book about?" I asked.

Ron simply shrugged. "Keep reading."

And so we did. The book was so short it took roughly ten minutes to get through it, but it was clear within the third page what it was about. It was us. The Levitation Charm, Trolls, Hippogriffs, House-Elves, and basically anything else that had anything to do with our relationship was in that book, all the way up to a page about roses which displayed a picture of us before our first date as we met in the Weasley's backyard, decorated extravagantly in roses.

"It's beautiful, Ron," I grinned as I leaned over and kissed him firmly on the lips. When I leaned back, he was watching me intently. He wore a crooked grin and was blushing faintly around his pale brown freckles.

"There's one more page, Hermione."

I eagerly flipped the page, granting the book my undivided attention. The last page held a collection of words. I wasted no time as I began to read them.

"How the years have flown. Occupied by rowing and jealousy; each one as interesting as the last. I once thought that was how it was always going to be, thought that you would always look at me with that irritation. I could not have been more wrong. I don't know how I ever lived without your smile, and I'm positive I never want to again. You were my Deluminator when the times were dark and the voice of common sense when I needed it most. I want to spend the rest of my life at your side. Hermione Jean Granger,"

"Will you marry me?"

My head snapped up from the book, and there was Ron. Down on one knee right in front of the couch, in his everyday pajamas, a ring and box extended toward me, wearing the most nervous expression I'd ever seen in my entire life. I stared at him for a moment, my brain reeling to comprehend the situation as a whole. Ron was proposing. Ron was proposing. Ron was Proposing!

My hesitation was a mistake; his face showed anxiety fading into fear and a slight bit of panic. I beamed widely, the realization of what was happening finally making sense. "Oh, Ron, yes! Of course!" I exclaimed. I grabbed his arms and pulled him back up to the couch, kissing him as soon as he sat down. "Yes," I whispered again, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly, holding him as if I never wanted to let go because I didn't. Perhaps this whole proposal thing meant I wouldn't have to.

Ron hugged me back just as tightly, laughing quietly in relief. "Thank you," he breathed into my ear.

I couldn't help but laugh as I pulled away to look into his brilliant blue eyes. "First thing you say to me after you propose is 'thank you'," I teased.

Ron shrugged lightheartedly, pulling me in for another quick kiss. "You should try on the ring," he said quietly, bringing around his arm which still held the ring and box. I inspected the ring giddily. It was pretty much a plain silver band with a sapphire gem on it, yet breathtakingly beautiful in its simplicity.

I took the ring from the box and put it on the fourth finger of my left hand, pleased to find it fit perfectly. "It's flawless, Ron," I said, testing my hand with the ring. "I love it. I love you."

Ron brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and kissed my earlobe in the most wonderfully irritating way possible. "I love you too, Hermione."

Good? Bad? Meh? Feel free to let me know via the nice little review box located directly beneath this Chapter! Anyway, Allons-y! Until we meet again.