AN: Thank you for all the support! It is very deeply appreciated!
Hermione didn't know who she was looking out for: Ron or a stray cameraperson. It was never a good sign when the waitress sat her in the center of a restaurant. None of the other patrons appeared to be eying her, which meant there was a small chance they were simply people enjoying a good meal. She was always on the lookout for unwanted members of the paparazzi though. Even if a reporter wasn't an animagus, they could find a way to pop out of the woodwork looking for the perfect shot.
As sweat formed on her brow, she scanned the room once more. Why was she in the center of the restaurant where there was so little privacy? Had Ron requested this table? If not, was there time to find another place to sit?
"Sorry I'm late, 'Mione," Ron plopped in the seat across from her, grinning ear to ear. Unlike the other patrons who were at least in dress pants, he was still in his auror uniform. At least there weren't any foods stains on it. She had to give him credit for that. "Work kept me a little later than I intended."
"That's fine." She picked up her menu. "I assume work went well."
"It went great," Ron's eyes lit up. "They had a special at Zander's Cafe where aurora got free donuts for breakfast."
"How many did you have?"
"Three." He raised his fingers and counted. "Yeah, three."
"Between that and the sandwich I packed you, you must be fairly full."
"Not at all." Ron lifted up his menu. "I'm starving."
"Of course you are." Hermione looked at her menu, wondering how she could have ever thought Ron was full. If there was one thing which stayed consistent over the years, it was Ron's voracious appetite. Even if his day consisted of mostly desk work, he always had room for another sandwich.
"I'm glad I'm hungry," Ron lowered his menu. "If I'm going to pay this much for a sausage flatbread pizza, I'd better eat it all."
"There are always leftovers if you can't eat it now," Hermione suggested.
"Yes, but you know I hate leftovers."
"Yes, but it would save us money to eat them every once in awhile."
"There's more to life than saving money, like good food."
"True, but being fiscally responsible is important."
"It's always about the money with you, isn't it?"
"No, but I would like us to keep our finances under control."
"Our finances are fine right now." He lowered his voice. "And they'll be fine once you quit that minimum wage job."
"It isn't a minimum wage job." She frowned. "It's my potions apprenticeship."
"It barely pays above the minimum wage."
"It's still better than nothing, and when I'm done I can be a potions mistress."
"It's taking forever to finally become one."
"It's only been two years. Most people finish their apprenticeship in four years."
"You're the brightest witch of our age. Surely you can finish your mastery sooner if you make Snape give it to you sooner."
"I can't just ask Professor Snape to give me my potions apprenticeship."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to get my apprenticeship through hard work, not have it handed to me."
"You've already worked hard by winning the war. Tell Snape you're the brightest witch of your age, the woman who saved his arse, and make him pass you."
"I can't do that."
"Why not?"
"There are potions I need to perfect before I can earn my mastery." Her mind wandered to the potions Severus was brewing, the ones he still wouldn't let her help him with. What could they be? More importantly, did he need her help more than he was letting on?
"Tell Snape to make you brew them then."
"I'm trying, but that's going to take time," her voice was louder than it should've been. At the moment, she didn't care.
"How much time?" The volume of his voice matched hers.
"More time away from you than you'd like."
"What, you wouldn't be working weekends, would you?"
"As a matter of fact, I would be."
"For how long?"
"For a good few months at least."
"But that's more time away from me than I want," he was on the verge of whining.
"Well, that's what it's going to take for me to finish the mastery."
"May I take your order?"
Both Hermione and Ron turned their attention to the waitress. Hermione bowed her head. It was embarrassing enough to have these arguments in front of friends and family members. Had they gotten to the point to where they were arguing in front of strangers? What did that say about them?
"Yes," Hermione ran her hands along her burgundy dress. "I would like a Riesling from White Springs Vineyard."
"And you?" She turned to Ron.
"I'll take an Ogden's Old Firewhiskey," Ron replied.
"Okay," the waitress scribbled down the order. "Are we ready for our food?"
Hermione turned to Ron, who said, "I want a sausage flatbread pizza."
"Good choice," she wrote down the order. "And you?"
"I'll take the chicken piccata."
"Okay." The waitress held out her hand. Once she received the menus, she left.
"Look 'Mione," Ron began. "I don't want to argue with you."
"I don't want to argue with you either," she said.
"I came here because I wanted to make tonight special. I mean, every day with you is special, but I want to make this night extra special."
"That's nice," she drawled. "Is there a certain occasion?"
"Yes," he answered. "I love you."
"I love you too." She relaxed.
"We've been through so much, and I keep thinking about how empty my life would be without you. I mean, how would I have gotten through Hogwarts without you helping me with my homework?"
"Must we mention that?" She tensed again.
"I'm only saying we've known each other since we've been at Hogwarts. We've created a very strong bond, one I know will last forever."
"Indeed we have." She watched two patrons a couple of tables down stand.
"Then when I got poisoned, you were right there with me. When I abandoned you during the hunt, well, you didn't hold it against me."
More people were standing. Their eyes were focused upon her. Her heart rate began to increase.
"We've been through so much, and I was just wondering…"
Her body ran cold as the cameras came out.
"Hermione Jean Granger," Ron got onto his right knee.
No! Her heart was arrhythmic. This was supposed to be a private moment, something shared between the two of them. Not this! Anything but this!
He took her hand and put it into his. "Will you marry me?"
The shuttering of the cameras drowned out any thoughts Hermione had. Her whole body chilled as the cameras moved in for the money shot.
What expression was she going to have in these photographs? She certainly wasn't feeling the overwhelming joy she should have felt. Would the cameras catch her shock, terror, or overwhelming annoyance at the whole spectacle?
How were her actions going to be twisted against her now?
"Well 'Mione?" Ron asked
"I…" She took another glanced at the cameras. They were catching all of this. This was going to make the front page whether she wanted it to or not. How much did she want to be hounded for the next few weeks?
"Well?" Ron's smile remained the same. Either he was overconfident, or he knew he had her right he wanted her.
"Yes." She forced herself to smile. "Yes, I accept your proposal."
Ron leapt into her arms and gave her a sloppy kiss. The other patrons cheered and shouted their congratulations.
He pulled away, allowing her to gasp for oxygen. "This is going to be so great. You and me, we're meant to be together, just like Mum said."
"Yes," she gulped. "Just like your mum said."
"Put the ring on her finger," one reporter ordered.
"Right." Ron held up the ring. It had one of the biggest rubies Hermione had ever seen, in one of the largest gold bands she'd ever witnessed. It had to be at least two months' salary's worth. She'd need to beg Professor Snape for overtime if she wanted to pay rent on time…
He jammed it onto her finger. She bit her tongue to prevent herself from shouting. She was pretty sure he'd cut her finger.
"I love you, 'Mione." Ron gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too." She forced herself to grin. Don't cause a scene. Don't cause a scene…
"When's the wedding?"
Ron opened his mouth.
"Oh goodness, we just got engaged," Hermione cut in, hoping for some minimal damage control. "It's impossible to set a date."
"I want to get married as soon as I can!" Ron shouted.
Don't tell them you want to finish your mastery before you even consider marriage. Just get through this night as unscathed as possible.
"Congratulations!" The waitress set the glasses of wine on the table. "Dinner is on the house."
Hermione huffed. It should be free given how many reporters we drew in for you.
"Oh thank you! This night is perfect!" Ron was beaming. "I have a beautiful fiancee, and now free food!"
"Yes, fabulous," Hermione grumbled.
"Smile for us one more time!"
Hermione forced her lips upwards as Ron clung to her. At least one of them was enjoying the extra attention.
"What a beautiful couple!"
"They're the golden couple Wizarding Britain has always wanted!"
Indeed, she was the girl all of Wizarding Britain adored and envied at the moment.
And all she wanted to do was sink into the sewage system and never emerge.